Four Encouragements for Disciples

As a father of three beautiful children, I am constantly reminded of its blessings and difficulties.  The blessings of parenting include seeing your child’s face brighten as you walk through the door from a day at work, cuddles, wrestling, and hugs (only to name a few).  But one of the difficulties of parenting is the seemingly constant need for reminding children of the difference between good and poor decisions. 

One difficult instance occurred when one child was “pushing the buttons” of their sibling.  I could see the anger and frustration rising in the one being “pushed” and the need suddenly arose for the father to step in to remind them to find self-control.  Self-control does not come easily or naturally to any of us.  It takes time, effort, and constant encouragement.  In this case, I encouraged them to calm down by going to their room to let out their frustrations.  After this “calming session” they were able to rejoin life with the family without the danger of retaliation.

In 2 Timothy 2:3-7 Paul encourages Timothy to remember four things that are needed for him to fulfill his holy calling from God.  As the children of God we too need a reminder of how to live out our holy calling.  Join us this week as we look into these four reminders and may we find encouragement together as we look into His Truth, the Word of God.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

Be Bold, Not Fearful

“5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper.  She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone.  ‘It's dark in there and I'm scared.’  She asked again, and he persisted.  Finally she said, ‘It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you.’  Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it.  He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: ‘Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?’"  (Charles Allen, Victory in the Valleys.)

It is natural for us to be fearful.  Noises in the dark that remain unseen, avoiding things our mind tells us will cause harm, and situations that force us out of our comfort zone such as standing on stage in front of a crowd.  We all have fears.  But when it comes to obeying the commands of Christ (love God, love others, and make and teach disciples) fears can overtake our desire to be bold for Christ.

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul encourages Timothy to be bold in his faith.  He also urges Timothy to use his God-given gifts with boldness, not fear.  “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).  What does this mean for us today?  How do we fight our natural fear of sharing our love for Christ?  What happens when we move through life with spiritual boldness?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community as we strive to understand God’s Word and wrestle with these questions and more.  Come prayerfully prepared to hear the truth of the gospel message and how God uses his people for his glory.

Striving to know Christ and make him known,

Mark

Gospel-centered Resolve

Maria and Varia, 18 years old, U.S.S.R., 1960s

From behind bars Varia said, “If they would free me, I would do it again and tell them about the great love of Jesus. Don’t think that I suffer. I am very glad that the Lord loves me so much and gave me the joy to endure for His name.”

Varia and her friend Maria were two Russian classmates. Because of Maria’s love for her, Varia became a Christian.

At a school assembly, Varia witnessed to those gathered about Jesus her Savior. Afterwards, Varia was taken away and imprisoned in a Siberian labor camp. She wrote the following words to her friend Maria:

“My heart praises and thanks God that, through you, He showed me the way to salvation. Now, being on this way, my life has a purpose and I know where to go and for whom I suffer. If feel the desire to tell and to witness to everybody about the great joy of salvation that I have in my heart. At work, they curse and punish me, giving me extra work because I cannot be silent. I must tell everyone what the Lord has done for me. As long as my lips can speak, I will witness to every one about His great love.” (Jesus Freaks, pgs. 100-102)

Varia was willing to endure much pain, suffering, and persecution for sake of the gospel message.  We find that same resolve in the life of Paul.  Acts 22:1-20 is the testimony of Paul given to the Jews who were trying to kill him.  He knew that his witness of God’s work in his life would not go over well with many of those who listened.  But he had to tell it none the less.  Paul, and Varia, had a gospel-centered resolve.  They were not confident in their flesh.  Their confidence came from their Savior, the gospel message come to life.

Where do we put our confidence and strength?  As disciples of Christ does our resolve to preach the Good News come from our flesh or from the Gospel itself?  May we be prepared to hear the Spirit’s movement in our own hearts and lives as we study His Word together this week.

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.

The Holiness of the Church

This week we will be exploring the nature, purpose, and result of the letter from the Jerusalem council to the believers in Antioch (Acts 15:22-35).  There is a reason for our studying this letter and it’s results more closely because though this letter seems simple and obvious on the surface its implications affect the church today, thousands of years after it was read in Antioch.

The holiness of the church was a major concern for the early church.  As more Gentiles became disciples of Christ, more baggage was brought into the church.  Many of these new believers came from a background of paganism and idol worship.  This background can have a major effect on not only the individual believer but also the church as a whole. 

What does it mean to be holy?  Why is holiness so vital within the church?  What type of idolatry are we participating in that affects not only our own growth into holiness but the church’s growth as a whole?  What is holding us back from growing into holiness?

May we prayerfully be prepared for the Spirit of God to speak to us this week, revealing to us our own hearts, and giving us the courage and encouragement to strive for holiness.