God's Work, Our Blessing

This week at First Baptist we have the privilege to witness and share in the incredible work of the Lord in the lives of twelve individuals through the act of baptism.  This seemingly simple act of descending into the water has a profound impact on the heart of every true child of God.  For as we willingly lower ourselves fully into the baptismal waters we are acknowledging the amazing, powerful, and beautiful saving work of God in our lives.  We were once dead in our sins, but through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are alive in Him. Christ commanded us to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  And it is through the obedience to Christ’s command that we receive a blessing which is beyond ourselves and only from our Creator.

These twelve individuals have acknowledged before the spiritual leaders of this church the saving work of Christ in their lives and this Sunday they will do the same before the entire church family.  Praise God for His work upon their lives.  Pray for them as they willingly take this important step of obedience.  May others who witness their obedience be stirred in their hearts to follow their example.  Join us, celebrate with us, and witness God’s work through and blessing upon His people when they obey.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Elders - A Solemn Charge

On January 2, 2013, Richard Winters died.  He was the commanding officer of Easy Company, the Army unit who fought from the beaches of Normandy in June 6, 1944 to the capture of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest at the end of the Second World War.  In speaking of their commanding officer, one member of Easy Company said, “He was the first one out there, yelling.”  He led by example so that his men would follow him into whatever danger awaited them.

Paul gives the elders of the church in Ephesus the same type of charge.  Where Richard Winters was leading his men into the face of death to fight the Nazi war machine, Paul leads those under him into the face of persecution and possible death to fight the enemy of God.  Acts 20:13-38 provides for us a small window into the mindset and desire of Paul as he speaks to these Ephesian elders whom he will never see again.  His heart pours out to them, charging them to follow his example of fearless faith, protection of the flock under their leadership, and a willingness to give their lives sacrificially for the sake of the body of Christ and His gospel.

Paul makes clear to us the role of the spiritual leaders within our local congregations.  They are to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ.  Are we willing to submit to the leadership over us, which is placed upon them by God, and allow them to lead in a Godly manner?  How are we encouraging those in spiritual leadership positions?  Are we willing to follow their Godly example or do our own desires of independence dominate our walk with Christ?

May God give us the courage and desire to follow the Godly spiritual leaders placed over u
s.

God's Will Be Done

“What should Christians do when they disagree with each other about a certain course of action?  Christian A thinks it should be done this way.  Christian B insists on a [completely] opposite view.  All of us have experienced this in some form: your best friend thinks the decision you have made is unwise, and yet you prayed about the course of action to take and felt good about the decision you made.  Godly Christians can and do disagree” (Derek Thomas).

What is the will of God?  How can we know the will of God?  The Bible is clear that believers in Jesus Christ can know the will of God.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

But what if someone who is a child of God disagrees with your course of action which you, through prayer, sense is the will of God?  How are we to handle this type of situation?

Acts 21:1-16 speaks of such a predicament in Paul’s life.  He is told twice not to continue on to Jerusalem.  What’s more, those warning Paul received this message from the Holy Spirit.  What is Paul to do and why does he chose the course of action that he takes?

As we explore and study this passage in the Word of God may we be prayerfully prepared for God’s leading in our own lives.  May we know and discern the will of God and encourage other believers in our midst to do the same.

Encouragment

On January 8, 1956, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, and Jim Elliot landed on a sandbar in a remote part of the Ecuadorian jungle in order to reach the Waodani people.  They had recently made contact with the tribe and were eager to speak to them again.  But after their first meeting a man they called George lied to the tribe about the intention of the missionaries.  As the plane landed on that fateful day, warriors from the tribe came out of the jungle and murdered the five men.

In a journal kept by Jim Elliot these words are penned:

“I pray for you, that all your misgivings will be melted to thanksgivings. Remember that the shadow a thing casts often far exceeds the size of the thing itself (especially if the light be low on the horizon) and though some future fear may strut brave darkness as you approach, the thing itself will be but a speck when seen from beyond. Oh that He would restore us often with that 'aspect from beyond,' to see a thing as He sees it, to remember that He dealeth with us as with sons.”

There will be circumstances in our lives that cause discouragement.  These five men knew the possibilities that awaited them as they strived to reach a tribe who had never heard the Gospel message.  They paid the ultimate price to follow the will of God.  And if this event is viewed only in the present it would continue to be discouraging.  But difficult circumstances always pass us by and “when seen from beyond” they indeed are “but a speck.”

In Acts 20:1-12 we find a passage that begins and ends with encouragement.  And even the death of a young man during one of Paul’s sermons cannot stop his encouraging fellow believers.  Are we willing, like Paul, to face discouraging circumstances with the future in mind?  Are we willing to view our lives through the eyes of a God who is greater than any circumstance?  The shadow that circumstances cast is longer than the circumstance itself.

May we see our lives through as God sees them and to remember that He never forgets his children.  May we experience encouragement from Him today through His word and the example of Paul.