In our calling, we must choose the kind of knowledge we will have. Our challenge is to walk in the light of truth and not walk in darkness of evil. We are called upon to practice the truth in order to come to the light. Furthermore, the Church of God is to present the truth of God just as Jesus Christ did.
Dave Harris
The First Day
A very important aspect of keeping God’s commanded Holy Days is to understand the meaning behind them. They outline the great master plan of God, and we find in them the message of our salvation and the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. For Christians, the observance of this first day of the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures our deliverance out of the spiritual slavery of sin.
Thank You!
A quite remarkable statement is found in chapter five of Acts. It
has to do with how the founding apostles reacted upon being threatened,
imprisoned and then beaten–all for teaching in the name of Jesus
Christ: “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).
One
of those apostles, Peter, reminds us of the approach we are to have:
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16).
This teaching lies at the heart of Christianity, because it is the way in which Jesus lived His life.
Rejoicing
and glorifying God in the face of persecutions is, undoubtedly, a great
challenge for Christians, but what happens when we suffer for our own
mistakes? What kind of attitude must we show when we are corrected?
When
things just don’t go well in our lives, do we become discouraged? We
all do, but we must never give up–even if our trials seem
overwhelming. Consider what is said in Hebrews: “‘My son, do not
despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are
rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every
son whom He receives'” (Hebrews 12:5-6).
When we make mistakes,
God–because He loves us–will discipline us! He does this in order
that we can complete our calling and “…that we may be partakers of
His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). God has very specifically chosen to call
each one of us at this time! He is offering us an opportunity to be in
the first resurrection, called “a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35),
because those who attain this will not be subject to destruction, that
is, the second death (Compare Revelation 20:4-6).
Because we have
been given this incomparable calling, God is working with us to insure
our success. That means there will be times when we will have to face
and endure correction: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews
12:11).
James addresses this aspect of our calling with a
stunning challenge: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials” (James 1:2).
When you become discouraged, when
life seems to overwhelm, when there just appears to be no help–take it
to God! Take time to realize that God is still there for you and with
you–regardless of whether you are suffering as a Christian or you are
being corrected.
What are we to say in times such as these? As
paradoxical as it might appear to others, our response should be one of
gratitude to God. You might consider starting your conversation with
God with these words–Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Eternal Death
Mankind has a choice to make. That choice will lead to either eternal life or eternal death. The awful reality is that some both have and will choose to disobey God and bring upon themselves destruction in the lake of fire. We need to understand the kind of choice we are making!
Help!
There are times when we really need help!
That need may arise
because we find ourselves caught up in disaster–such as the terrible
plight we have witnessed in the devastating tidal waves of Asia; or the
hurricanes in the southeastern United States; or the heart-rending
starvation in parts of Africa; or the countless other traumas that
continue to scar this earth with unrelenting persistence.
Many
governments, as well as individuals, have generously responded with
help for those who could not help themselves, but the need is simply
greater than either the willingness or the ability of those who can
help.
In that massive landscape of trouble, we might feel helpless–but that is not the case at all! Not for those who serve God!
Note
what God says–a statement that we need to be reminded of, especially
when we need help: “‘Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is
there anything too hard for Me?'” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Among many
Psalms that reveal God as our Helper, one by the sons of Korah is
particularly reassuring: “God is our refuge and strength, A very
present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the
earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains
shake with its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).
Add to this the
confirmation that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, now stands as our High
Priest: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Sadly,
this world and its inhabitants in this age of Satan’s rule do not have
this help (Compare Ephesians 2:11-13; 1 John 5:19; John 18:36). But it
is different for those whom God has called out of this world.
Considering this contrast of Satan’s rule to our unparalleled promises,
we have reason for hope in times of need. However, along with this
comes responsibility to fulfill our own calling by being willing to
help–to do as Jesus did by doing our part in proclaiming the good news
of God’s Kingdom to this world–and to continue teaching those who
respond.
Speaking of the time that immediately precedes God’s
intervention in order that He might help and save this world, this is
stated: “He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no
intercessor…” (Isaiah 59:16); Also: “‘I looked, but there was no one
to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold…'” (Isaiah
63:5).
That indictment testifies to the utter helplessness of a
world that will soon face its own destruction, should God not intervene
to save it! The way we can help (and find help for ourselves) is to
continue to proclaim the wonderful truth and the certain hope that God,
with whom all things are possible, ultimately will give this world the
greatest possible help–He “will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no
more pain…” (Revelation 21:4).
Perfect Love
The Bible speaks of love in many ways–it even mentions “perfect love” and of us being “made perfect in love.”
However, Jesus warned that the love of many will grow cold among those living at the close of this age. This sermon considers the perfect love we should have toward our Father and Jesus Christ; toward our brethren; toward our neighbors in this world; and, the love we are to have for ourselves.
The Bride
We are among the first of those who have been called into the Church of God–to be the bride of Jesus Christ–to become helpers “comparable to[H]im”–to become united in a permanent relationship within the Family of God! The extraordinary future that we are to have with Jesus Christ involves marriage on the spiritual plane, transcending the physical parallel, because this union will last forever!
The Glorious Gospel
The Gospel is absolutely central to the calling we have received from God. However, many people simply don’t understand what the Gospel really is. We who do understand have been entrusted with a job–a great commission–to boldly proclaim what Jesus Christ taught and what all His faithful servants have and will continue to make known.
It’s Time to Flee!
Right NOW–it really is time to flee! But what should we flee from and where should we flee?
Throughout New Testament Church history, the people of God have
anticipated a time when circumstances would necessitate a hazardous
escape in times of eminent peril. Jesus said as much in Matthew 24 when
He specifically identified events that would signal unparalleled world
turmoil, and He told His disciples to be ready (Compare verses 15-22).
In addition, we find His stern warning to watch and pray in order that
we might escape the calamitous end-time events heralding His return to
the earth and the end of this age (Compare Luke 21:34-36). Without
question, this will be a time for Christians to flee to the physical
safety that God will provide for those who are faithful and obedient.
However,
there is another time to flee. There are circumstances and reasons for
Christians to flee–right now! We must flee from sin. Paul succinctly
said: “Flee sexual immorality…” (1 Corinthians 6:18). He instructed
Timothy to flee the enticements of money and to “…pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness,” and to
“Fight the good fight of faith”; to “lay hold on eternal life…” (1
Timothy 6:11-12).
We also find this vital key to withstanding the
influence of the perverted spiritual ruler of this age: “Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Our focus must be to come out of this world–we must even, at times,
take the position of fleeing from sin (Compare Revelation 18:4). We
can’t afford to snuggle up to those things that are wrong, because,
inevitably, we are lured into a series of descending compromises that
end up in full-blown sin. That sin leads to death (Compare James
1:14-15)!
If we want life–the kind that God promises that is
eternal–we must be prepared to separate ourselves from what is
often times the easy and familiar. We must develop an attitude of
urgency! We must turn totally to God’s way! We must not go along in a
sleepy-eyed slumber, because our life really is on the line!
When
you confront sin–any sin–it’s time to flee! Turn to God and flee to
Him. Do what God says and you really will find safety–both now and in
all of the dangerous circumstances that certainly lie ahead for all
Christians!
The Word of God
The Bible, synonymously called the Word of God, powerfully and unmistakably challenges mankind to hear, to believe and to keep what God says. Furthermore, the unique relationship of Jesus Christ being the Living Word of God is destined to also describe our relationship with the Father.
