To teaching and fellowship

To teaching and fellowship

In the book of Acts we read,

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42.

The early believers in Christ Jesus followed the teachings of the apostles. The men that had sat under the teaching of Jesus. The men, that knew Him best.

This is how we should be today.

We as believers in Christ Jesus should be reading the scriptures and putting what they say ahead of any other teaching about God and Christ.

While there is room and indeed need for Christian study books where men and women of God expound what they have learned about God from the scriptures. These teachings should never supersede the teaching of the Bible.

The Bible is the inspired word of God. Thus it should always be the primary source of our knowledge of God.

Men make mistakes. Some people even twist the scriptures to suit their own way of thinking. Some even twist the scriptures to as someone has said “fleece the flock”, take advantage of people for their own personal gain.

That is why all believers in Christ Jesus should be praying and reading the Bible for themselves asking God to reveal Himself and His ways to them.

Question... Are you listening exclusively to preachers, teachers and evangelist to get your knowledge about God, or are you praying and reading what the Bible for yourself to see what is truly from God?

Please think about it.

Present the gospel with respect

 Present the gospel with respect

The apostle Peter states,

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"1 Peter 3:15.

First of all I think many Christians are not prepared to give and answer to people asking them why they believe in Christ Jesus. They seem to have the attitude “the bible says it I believe it” or such and such a pastor or evangelist says it so I believe it. Which is not an answer to non-believers.

Another thing many calling themselves Christians fail to do is present the gospel message with gentleness and respect. The result it is to turn people away from Christ.

We must respect others. We must respect those of different faiths and lifestyles. We should never demonstrate against them or speak disparagingly against them, or judge them.

We must as Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

Please think about it.

Admit it or not

 Admit it or not

Isaiah the prophet stated,

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:6-8

An anonymous author wrote,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and bater all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                         Anonymous  

For centuries those who oppose God. Those who say God dose not exist have said the Bible message will ultimately fade away. Yet it has not. In fact those who believe in the Bible. Those who believe in Christ Jesus, are growing in number.

At the very beginning of the Christian movement two of Jesus’ disciples were on trial for preaching in his name when a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up and said,

“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:39.

I truly believe Gamaliel was right. Jesus and all he taught is of God as is the Bible. And those who are fighting against it are fighting God. Whether they want to admit it or not.

Please think about it.

The Bible or the Constitution?

  The Bible or the Constitution?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others." 

                                                                 Philippians 2:4.

The year is 2020 a year like no other for everyone on the planet. A year that tests Christians. A year in which I am amazed at some American Christians. They say they believe the Bible yet are forgetting the words of the apostle Paul who said,

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others." 

                                                                 Philippians 2:4.

Instead they are demanding “their right to assemble in large groups without social distancing or masks”. 

As I understand it no one is stopping Christians or any other group from worshipping. All that is being asked is that they follow health guidelines to protect those around them. They are being asked to look to the interest of others.

Sadly all to often in the United States especially, the constitution written by fallible men, takes priority over the infallible word of God. With personal rights coming before the rights of others. This is certainly not what the apostle Paul taught. 

If you are an American reading this which is more important to you, The Bible or the constitution?

      If you are living outside the United States which is more important to you the constitution of your country or the Bible? And don’t say both your can’t serve two masters.

Please think about it.

Christians?

Christians?
Harper Lee in her book to Kill a Mockingbird said,
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)...” Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
This is completely true.
Throughout the years I’ve seen many calling themselves Christians quoting the Bible as a way to justify their actions. Actions that are not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus. The apostle Paul said there would be people who claimed to be believers in Christ Jesus who were not. People who had turned away from the teachings of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
Jesus himself said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
It is very easy to go to church, read the Bible and claim you are a Christian. But just because you do so does not mean you are a true believer in Christ Jesus.
Sadly many people around the world claiming to be Christians have caused great harm. They have protested against everything “they” see as wrong. Such people it seems lack Love and compassion for those they protested against.
Believers in Christ Jesus are not meant to protest against anything. Jesus and the apostles did not protest. Nor should we.
As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to show love and compassion to those around us.
Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
I firmly believe we should be known for our love and compassion not for what we are protesting against. Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.
Please think about it.