Epaggelia

As a church, we really must emphasize the need for male spiritual leadership. It is sadly lacking in the world and most families suffer from the absence of a man that will take a stand spiritually for the health and safety of the family God has given him. During the next couple of Sundays our congregation will look at the possibility of asking our Elders to shepherd us with the assistance of appointed Deacons. Our Elders want us to have Deacons that will be fully qualified male spiritual leaders, ably suited to fulfilling responsibilities needed to keep our congregation working and meeting God’s expectations.

The word “Deacon” is a special word and has it’s root in the ancient Greek idea of a servant that follows up on a work. He is a worker that can see a project to the end. Efficiency and accomplishment are his middle name. He is not just a worker, he is an experienced and proven laborer that makes sure a job is done right.

In Acts 6, we have an example of what Deacons are supposed to be, and the word is used as a verb, instead of a noun in verse 1, translated, ministry. It is a little like the word describing what an Evangelist does by doing evangelism. Likewise the word describing what a Deacon does is ministry (Diakonia). These men which the Apostles appointed in verses 3-6, are ready to do a physical job, while holding spiritual qualifications. There is so little told to us about them, so the Apostle Paul elaborates on the qualifications in his letter to Timothy (1st Timothy 3:8-12). The reason these men are holding qualifications, is because they will be held accountable for their work by the Leaders of the church which appoints them.

It is very interesting that the Christian named Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25 is called a minister-leitourgon, brother-adelphon,
co-worker-synergon, messenger-apostolon, and a soldier-systratroten, but he is never referred to as a Deacon! Yet it was obvious that Epaphroditus did the work of a Deacon. It is obvious that he didn’t hold the position because he was never appointed. Perhaps he was missing one of God’s qualifications? Who knows, maybe he wasn’t married? Whatever the case, his example is set for all of us to follow in service for each other. Just because you don’t hold all the qualifications does not mean you should not be busy working for the Lord. Another example is a sister Phoebe, commended by Paul (Romans 16:1). She is called a deacon of the church in Cencherea by Paul, but she was obviously not an appointed Deacon who held the qualifications, because of what Paul wrote to Timothy. One of the qualifications of a Deacon is that he must be a husband, and that was impossible for Phoebe. She was probably the wife of an appointed Deacon and did the work of a Deacon with her husband. The likely reason for Paul describing her as a Deacon is because of her unity with her husband as an appointed Deacon. But obviously she didn’t hold the office, and it was her husband that would be held accountable if anything went wrong with their ministry.

Being a husband, is one of the requirements a man must have proven, before he can be appointed a Deacon. Why? Because a Christian husband is fully aware of how much physical work is involved in executing spiritual leadership in a family. Providing your wife and children spiritual food, worship, teaching and an example, means that a husband must work to get that all accomplished physically. It’s not just about leading a prayer at the dinner table, but rather, the physical work involved in encouraging your wife and children to be a integral part of the church. There is real labor needed in getting this job done so well, that the leaders of the church can see that your wife and children actually want to be a part of the church. That is why Deacons are appointed servants of the church which have proven they can finish a job well, they are personally involved in the details of meeting people’s physical needs for a spiritual purpose.

Let us pray and learn that a Deacon should be exactly what God’s word shares with us. Therein lay a Church that can be working to please God, and not ourselves.

Are we aware of how large a portion of Scripture is occupied with the subject of prayer? Within the first pages of the Bible we read, “At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 4:26) The closing plea is “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) Throughout God’s Word are many examples.
Abraham prayed for Sodom & Lot, (Genesis 18:23-32) Jacob wrestled with the Lord and called upon Him (Genesis 32:24-30). Moses begged in prayer for the deliverance of Israel (Exodus 33:12-18) Elijah prayed to prove the power of God in defeating idolatry (1st Kings 18:24-39) Samuel prayed and revealed it is a sin to neglect to intercede in prayer for God’s people, (1st Samuel 12:22-24). Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:6-10). David struggled with sin and strife, his Psalms are full of his expressions in prayer. Jesus prayed always and taught that we should persevere in prayer (Luke 18:1-8) Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God even when persecuted (Acts 16:25). We are certain that whatever God has made prominent in His word, He intended to be emphasized in our lives. Since He has highlighted prayer, He knows we have much to learn about it. So huge are our necessities here, that until we are in Heaven, we must never stop praying. We should continually lift up our requests for strength, wisdom and guidance for our self and this troubled world. To show humility in daily living, and being eager to talk about God’s saving grace. Rejoice in the privilege of God’s presence. Never forget the command of God through Paul, “Be devoted to prayer, be alert in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2)

Some Christians fail to even try to pray like Jesus prayed, they seem to take prayer too casual to their own spiritual detriment. We live in an age, where things are a little too easy and we think prayer should be that way. Point and click! Digital cameras today have made taking a photo as simple as that. And yet sometimes the image returns with the background in perfect clarity and the intended subject fuzzy. The key is to position the camera in such a way that the main point of interest is centered in order to ensure an accurate focus. To stay centered and focus, is important in our spiritual work of prayer. The example of Jesus and the teaching of Paul is related to a constant attempt to pray and stay focused in prayer on God and His grace & wisdom. God teaches us to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12) This is a reminder that no matter what the picture, whether one of joy or trial, we can capture it in prayer. The use of the word constant implies a sense of being steadfastly attentive. It’s not an ongoing “snap and go” approach, but one of continuous awareness and purposeful petitions. We must pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. What are your prayers concentrated on? Is the emphasis on the background or the main subject? In all things, prayerfully keep a vertical focus with God as the center point. Spend time today living with the Lord and placing Him at the core of your prayers. Ask that He be glorified through your personal circumstances, and pray for His will to prevail in your daily lifestyle. “ Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

Praying in the Spirit is a task we must accept as a challenge, especially in view of the order Jesus gives us to pray for our enemies. Hostilities exist. “There is no ignoring the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God.” So spoke President Franklin D. Roosevelt on (Dec. 8, 1941) the day following what is marked on my calendar, as Pearl Harbor Day. Jesus did not deny that enemies exist…nor persecutors. It was true then, true on the “day of infamy” and is true today. Nations will rage against nation and people against one another. So does the command to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors sound like mission impossible? Jesus taught clearly, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:44) The truth is that only through God’s love and grace shown to me & you in Jesus Christ can each of us recognize that you and I were once His enemy, but He loved us anyway. In our thoughts and actions, He was injured by us. But even Jesus Himself prayed, “Father, forgive.” Today, rise up in the strength of His forgiveness shown to each of us and pray as Jesus instructed. Intercede just as lovingly for who ever our enemy is to find His grace, no matter what we feel they have done against anyone. Read Luke 6:27-36. The effect of this prayer and faith is a reality in our personal lives, and it can be a reality elsewhere. Do you pray like this? God is bigger than us and can forgive in greater ways, but as His children, we can do it too, personally, one day at a time. Try praying like Jesus did, He works!

Jesus was definitely dead! Pilate had professional soldiers confirm the death of Jesus. Buried in a Tomb! From the event to present day, no one is on record historically to deny the tomb is empty, neither does anyone produce a body. Jesus was placed in an identifiable tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea with burial preparations and women watched as the body was placed in the tomb, when they returned with more preparations, they found it empty. The heavy stone covering was very large, and had been officially sealed by enemies of Jesus, providing an unanswerable witness to the fact that the disciples could not have stolen the body. The official guards of the tomb, faced the possibility of execution upon failure to carry out their duties. The only thing found in the tomb were grave clothes, tidily unmoved, yet stained with the precious blood, the redeeming price for the sin-filled souls of guilty humanity. Jn. 19:38-20:10. It is more than interesting and notable that a certain rich man named Joseph of Arimethea (who seem to want to keep his faith in Christ hidden or out of the public’s eye) was actually the man God used to make a public venue that would prove to the entire world, Jesus died & is now risen.

The Disciples of Jesus, before his death, they proved to be cowards, but after the resurrection, James his own physical brother had a change of heart, Peter’s past denial turned into a proclamation, Thomas’s skepticism turned into confession and in all of them, the message of the resurrection brought upon them brave sacrifice and sometimes even martyrdom. They did not expect Jesus to rise! So why would they plan to steal the body, as falsely reported? If the resurrected body of Jesus was a hallucination, they would need to have had an expectation to have seen it. They were brought to belief after the resurrection against their own will by Jesus himself, who forced them to face the truth, because of his undying love for them and you. Jn. 20:19-29. The change in Saul and the Apostles is proof that the burial & resurrection are key to making our salvation. Without those events, there could be no life changing event in any of us. 1st Corinthians 15:1-17 & 2nd Corinthians 11:22-28.

The Appearances of Jesus, are noted in over 15 occasions in varying times, places and by different people. Sometimes being in small groups or in a large crowd. People saw him, touched him and even ate with him. Eye-witnesses are the best proof for undeniable truth which can never be proven false in the future. In order to logically disprove the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the unbeliever must produce some evidence contrary to these reports. Evidence which could out-weigh eye-witness records in the most authenticated historical document the world has ever known, the New Testament.

The Establishment of the Church verified by the New Testament was completed and recorded within the lifetimes of people who could argue against it’s claims and provide the body of Jesus as evidence against their teachings, but it never happened, and yet the resurrected body of Jesus was central to the church’s message. The new religion was so different, they forever revoked their holy day as the Saturday Sabbath to the Sunday “Lord’s Day” because of the resurrection. The church’s most public displays of faith are the Communion and Baptism, both of which focus their purpose on the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Whenever the day arrives for the unbeliever to present evidence against the resurrection, the Church will dissolve. Until then, the burden of evidence rests on the unbeliever, not Christians. On which side is faith better evidenced?

God was gracious to Moses, after he shattered the original 10 commandments in anger. But the majority of God’s law and activity through Israel was harsh legalities and stringent holiness. However, God, even in the Old Testament was seen as gracious; read Exodus 34:1-9.

God is not going to leave people constantly seeking. Since the beginning He had a plan to let us know Him better than just the creation around us reveals.

You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10)
Jesus said … “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10) But sadly, there are people who God does forsake! (Romans 1:20-28)

However, God still offers people that he has given up on, forgiveness and eternal life with Him. He presents His Son as a gift to account for our sin so that we may know Him. But it is up to us personally to accept His gift. God does not promise an easier life, but He does promise a more fulfilling life. That is why He gave the world, more than His Son and more than His Word; The church is a gift that exists to bridge the gap between Him and those who have forsaken Him. Jesus said, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Recognize we are sinners. We are separated from God because of our sin. We cannot know God until our sin is taken away. It is because of this, that God sent Christ as a sacrifice. He died so our sins could be forgiven, and so our relationship with God can become a reality. Admit that we cannot rescue our self from the consequences of our own sin. Only God can decide the WAY of forgiveness and salvation, and He declared that people can be forgiven only through Jesus’ obedient sacrifice, (Acts 4:12)

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8)

Let’s be honest about Abraham…the man had issues. Failing to trust God for his protection, he told his wife Sarah to pretend to be his sister. His fear was that the local king would kill him if he learned that Sarah was his wife. They didn’t have buses back then, so you might say that Abraham threw Sarah under the chariot. The plan backfired when the king, Abimelech, realized he had been deceived, and a curse fell upon the royal family. But Abraham, sinful as he was, turned everything around through prayer. Despite his fear and failure, he was a man of God who faithfully interceded for strangers! He asked the Lord to heal Abimelech’s family, who had been stricken with barrenness. Abraham’s prayer did more than just get him out of a pickle; but also had an impact on future generations. Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife (Genesis 20:7). They had children, whose existence God used, and was real because of Abraham’s prayer. Who knows how far your prayers will reach? Your prayers are not just for today. Do you understand what God wants, so well, that you are able to have faith in what you pray about? Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him’. (Mark 11:23) So the question Jesus has for me & you is this: Do we say what God wants in our prayers? Are we praying about what God has at heart? Do we want what God wants and talk about it in prayer? The New Testament teaches us what we should pray about, here are just a few items on God’s agenda:
1. God’s Strength & Wisdom, Ephesians 3:14-16, James 1:5.
2. The Father’s name is sanctified, “hallowed” or glorified, John 12:27-28, 1st Ths. 3:11-13, Jn. 17:22-26, Mt. 6:9.
3. Our thankfulness to grow, 1st Thes. 5:18-19.
4. Laborers, sowers & reapers, to perform God’s work, His kingdom’s will be done, so that God may grant repentance, Eph. 6:19, Col. 4:3. Rom. 15:30 & 2nd Cor. 1:10-11, 2nd Tim. 2:25, Mat. 6:10,13, 9:36-38 & Jn. 4:33-35.
5. People in Government to use authority for the promotion of peace, godliness & dignity, 1st Tim. 2:1-2, Rom. 13:4, Psa. 46:9.
6. Persecuted Saints, Hebrews 13:3 & Acts 12:5.
7. Enemies of The Church, Mat. 5:44.
8. Forgiveness for our self the sinner, and the salvation of your neighbor, Rom. 10:1, Heb. 7:24-25 and also the sinning saint, Mt. 6:12, Ac.10:4, 8:21-24, Luke 23:34 & 17:1-5.
9. Personal daily necessities, Casting your care upon Him, Mt. 6:11. Matthew 27:46 & 1st Peter 5:7.
10. Physical healing, 3rd John v2, Php. 2:26-27.
Pray Hard, Life is short!

The effect Jesus Christ has had throughout the centuries and all over the globe has been amazing. Why? Because He was born intrinsically royal and divine, yet into a peasant family with all the odds stacked against him. Yet he still is the greatest kind of King, we have ever known.
One of the world’s greatest Kings was Solomon. When he prayed, God listened. Not because he was great, but because Solomon was humble when he prayed in this way,.. “have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God” (1st Kings 8:28) you see, Solomon understood who God was…and he understood who he was himself. Solomon had riches, wisdom and power, but he knew he was nothing compared to the Almighty God. In this knowledge Solomon, in all his prestige, was a humble man. He knelt before the altar and prayed to God on behalf of all Israel. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that when Solomon prayed and glory filled the Temple that God was The God and Solomon was just Solomon.
Listen, Christian and consider, “Your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit” (1st Corinthians 6:19) and, “We have this treasure in jars of clay.” (2nd Corinthians 4:7) On this Christmas Day do not forget who the treasure is and who the pottery is. When Jesus was born, He was born as the greatest King that ever lived on earth, yet He was born in extreme poverty. Why? To prove to us that greatness is not in riches and the prestigious influence of powerful positions. No, but real everlasting greatness is in the mere presence of God, be it in a barn, or in a mansion. In Jesus Christ is where we want to be, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
1st John 4:4.

Immanuel – God with us! You can hear that word in Christmas carols and read of it in the Bible. In ancient days God was with His people. When He sent Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses feared, but the Lord assured him, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) Today, the Lord lives IN His people. Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He promised His disciples He would send a counselor, the Holy Spirit. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23) The words “we” and “our” tell of God’s presence as Father, Son & Spirit in Christ. “For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, ….” (Colossians 2:9-10) What a privilege to be called a Christian! The Lord also craves your obedience and attention, for “He yearns jealously over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us.” (James 4:5) During this Christmas season, tell people of His presence in your heart, not just on a hay filled feeding trough wrapped in swaddling clothes at Bethlehem. Is He in your heart?