The Power of the Word

After his Edmonton Oilers lost the 1983 National Hockey League Championship to the New York Islanders, Wayne Gretzky walked past the Islander locker room.  He did not hear loud celebrations as he expected.  Instead, all the Islanders players were sitting down with ice packs on knees, hips, ankles, and other joints.  They were beaten, bloody, and bruised in their quest to win the championship.  Gretzky recognized that if he and his teammates desired to win a championship their bodies would have to pay the price.  Gretzky and his teammates would go on to win five championships in the next seven years.

One would think that being a child and disciple of the Almighty God would bring a life of comfort, ease, and peace without any troubles or trials.  One would think, but reality is much different.  There is a price to pay for the disciple of Christ who lives in a world that denies and hates Christ.  There are consequences for the child of God who lives out their faith unashamedly.  But though the cost of living for God is high the rewards are eternal.  For the power of the Word of God, namely the Gospel message, has a power to change, mold, encourage, convict, renew, and equip the believer of Jesus Christ into all righteousness.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we dig deeper into 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and seek God’s wisdom and guidance as we search out His truth for our lives.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

The Word Cannot Be Bound

Recently, the Islamic State executed dozens of Christians on the shores of Libya.  But as horrific an event as it is, many people are unable to see beyond the futility of such an act.  ISIS is attempting to eradicate the Christian faith by killing and inducing fear.  It is the same action that the Jewish leaders took to silence Jesus by hanging him upon the cross.  It is the same action that Rome took in sending thousands of Christians to the arena to be torn to shreds by wild animals.  It is the same action that Communist China, both in the past and today, has taken when Christians are jailed, tortured, and killed for their faith.

Such action is futile because, though the people of God be jailed, tortured, and killed, the gospel message that makes them the people of God does not stop moving.  It is active and saving souls even in the midst of war and death.  The body may die and the mouth may no longer be able to speak the truth of the gospel message, but the Word of God cannot be stopped.

In 2 Timothy 2:8-9, Paul reminds Timothy that though Paul is bound by chains the Word of God cannot and will not be bound.  How is this encouraging to us as His people?  How does this affect my life as a disciple of Christ?  Should I fear the persecution of God’s people? 

Join us this week as we study God’s Word, encouraging one another, and growing in our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

J.C. Ryle: The Security of the True Church

"There is a glorious promise given by the Builder, 'The gates of hell shall not prevail.'

"He who cannot lie has pledged His word, that all the powers of hell shall never overthrow His Church.  It shall continue and stand, in spite of every assault.  It shall never be overcome.  All other created things perish and pass away, but not the Church which is built on the rock.

"Empires have risen and fallen in rapid succession.  Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Tyre, Carthage, Rome, Greece, Venice - where are all these now?  They were all the creations of man's hand, and have passed away.  But the true Church of Christ lives on.

"The mightiest cities have become heaps of ruins.  The broad walls of Babylon have sunk to the ground.  The palaces of Nineveh are covered with mounds of dust.  The hundred gates of Thebes are only matters of history.  Tyre is a place where fishermen hang their nets.  Carthage is a desolation.  Yet all this time the true Church stands.  The gates of hell do not prevail against it.

"Has the true Church been oppressed in one country?  It has fled to another.  Has it been trampled on and oppressed in one soil?  It has taken root and flourished in some other climate.  Fire, sword, prisons, fines, penalties, have never been able to destroy its vitality.  Its persecutors have died and gone to their own place, but the Word of God has lived and grown and multiplied.  Weak as this true Church may appear to the eye of man, it is an anvil which has broken many a hammer in times past, and perhaps will break many more before the end.  He that lays hands on it is touching the apple of His eye (. 2:8)."
Zech

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.

The Effect of the Gospel

During World War Two, a young man named Dietrich Bonheoffer was an influential preacher and teacher in Germany while the power of the Nazi regime blazed its way across Europe.  He had been a believer for much of his life but when the Nazis came to power he was faced with a choice.  Join the Nazis or fight against the Nazis through words and actions.  The Gospel had such an effect upon him that he chose to speak and act against the tyranny of Hitler and the hatred for which the Nazis stood.  Eventually, this stand for the Gospel message led to his execution in 1945.

 

The Gospel not only had a major effect upon Bonheoffer it also affected the policies of the Nazis in Germany.  Hitler introduced laws that condemned Biblical truth that was contrary to his agenda and “Final Solution” and in the end many Christians like Bonheoffer were rounded up, imprisoned, and executed.  Such was the effect of the Gospel.

 

In Acts 19:21-41, a riot arises against the teachings of Paul and those who believe and follow “the Way.”  The silversmiths in Ephesus began to notice that their bank accounts were not nearly as full as they used to be and blame was immediately put upon Paul and the Christians.  These Christians had turned away from pagan worship which meant that idols made of silver were no longer needed or desired.  This effected the silversmiths’ bottom line and they decided to take action. 

 

The Gospel message effects not only the hearts of individuals but will also have an effect the world outside of the Church.  With changed hearts come changed actions and when hearts are changed an inevitable confrontation with society will arise.  And so, disciples of Christ should never be surprised if when a stand taken is against the values of society, persecution (emotional, spiritual, societal, or physical) begins to take place.

 

This week at First Baptist in Emery we will study this passage in Acts 19 and our desire is for the Gospel message to have an effect upon us and the world around us.  May we be prayerfully prepared and eager for the Holy Spirit to work upon our own hearts this week through His Word.

Does Church Make Us Fatter?

I have long told others that persecution is coming for the church.  Those who teach or preach against issues such as homosexuality will soon be prosecuted and persecuted by the government.  We are already seeing this happen in Canada and it will only be a matter of time before it begins here.  I don't desire to create any conspiracies or think that Big Brother is out there (which he probably is), but this story from foxnews.com I believe is just the beginning.  At first it seems silly to think that churches make people fatter.  I have always believed that people make themselves fatter.  But this might be just the study the government uses to attempt to regulate churches just as it has restaurants.  You may laugh, but mark my words.  It will happen sooner than you think.

Is the Narrow Way Really That Hard?

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
¹³"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Rightfully, this verse has been used to speak about our salvation in Jesus Christ.  The road to destruction (Hell) is wide and easy, but in the end all on that road will suffer for eternity.  On the contrary the road to life (Heaven) is narrow and hard, but in the end all on that road will life in the presence of their creator forever.  I cannot and will not disagree with these statements because they are true.  But many times I have overlooked a simple word in verse fourteen that not only speaks about salvation, but the life of the one saved.

The life of a Christian is not an easy one.  It is filled with persecution in many different forms and comes with a changed life from one of the flesh to one of the Spirit.  But why do many believers (including myself at times) get upset when life throws us hard times?  Sickness comes, jobs are lost, family members pass away, money is short, and we seemed surprised.  It's as if we expect life to never have problems because we know the Creator God.

But in reality, the narrow way is hard.  There is a reason that very few find it.  It's so darn hard. 

The life of one individual was particularly difficult.  He was rejected by his friends and family.  He was continually badgered and harassed by those who despised him.  He was accused of a crime that he did not commit.  And in the end he was even rejected by God.  If the life of our Savior Jesus Christ was hard why should we expect anything different.  If the word rejects God it will reject His children.  But in the end life is awaiting us on this narrow road.

Amen.