Epaggelia

Today, 7 crewmembers of the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff 23 years ago. Why? Because they had a job which demanded a risk filled adventure. A job which was glorious and beneficial for so many people in the future.  But at what price? The ultimate price was paid, they left their families and this earth forever, to help our education and field of science and to promote industry and our governments expectations. What kind of job do you have? If you are a Christian, you have a job with eternal consequences, a job full of adventure in the will and wisdom of God. From day to day, there are ways you can glorify Him and do His will. Those Christian tasks, attitudes and acts of service may seem menial to you, and no one may ever give you credit for them, but they are all known by Jesus and our Heavenly Father. Jesus said that if you give as much as a cup of cold water to one of His children in need, it is as if you gave it to The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, (Read Matthew 25:34-40). He knows the price you are paying for being a Christian. Is it a high price? Is the price you pay for being a Christian of great value? What price would you put on your discipleship? Jesus put the price of his own blood on your life, don’t waste it. Use everyday of your life as a way of serving Jesus Himself, even if the people closest to you couldn’t care less. Why? Because Jesus cares infintely. Christian’s are  going to be remembered in more glorious ways than NASA’s 7 crewmembers ever dreamed of being remembered. Then again, who knows? Were any of the crewmembers lost 23 years ago, actually Christians? How sure would your friends be of your discipleship to Christ, if you died tomorrow?

The answer is G (Grace), O (Omnipresence) and D (Discipline), God makes a Dad great. There is no such thing as a perfect Dad, except for our Father in Heaven which is Eternal. Omnipresence is a big word which just means, always everywhere.  Wouldn’t it be great to have a Dad who was always there when you needed him?  This is where human fathers fail.  We cannot always be there! Every good Dad wishes he could be there, but it’s physically impossible.  Most kids are thankful, thinking it would be just fine, if we didn’t have Dad around all the time, that way, we are free to do as we please. But good kids can usually look far enough ahead to understand that spells trouble.  Fact is, if Dad’s with you, he is there to help pick up the pieces, helping to correct our foolishness.  A good Dad will be there when you need him most to help you recover, not to give you recovery on a silver platter, but to assist you and build your confidence.  Confidence in God. Remember where the prodigal son’s Dad was, for his recovery.  Read Luke 15:11-32 and rejoice with Him.

The adoption of our flag in the USA, happened on the 14th of June  in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Later in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established  today as Flag Day and in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.  Our pledge of allegiance to the Flag maintains a faith in God. No citizen can pledge honestly without a faith in God. Never quit praying for our Nation to honor God and do not forget it’s words, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”. God reminds us that “righteousness exalts a Nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” – Proverbs 14:34.  Have you ever asked yourself, “in what way is our Nation right?”  If you can’t answer that question then you need to pray for God to show you the answer. Our Nation does many things right and wrong, there is no such thing as a perfect Nation. But we CAN honor God and Country by praying for our Nation’s Politicians to be given God’s wisdom and strength to do what is right and less of what is wrong!

Paul wrote this letter for many different reasons, but here are three.

• Romans 1:11-15, to make a personal gift.

• Romans 4:1, 6:1, 7:7, 8:31, 9:14-30, 16:17, to help them understand the difference between truth and error in The Faith.

• Romans 1:17 & 12-16, to help empower them to live by faith and imitate Christ. See Habakkuk 2:4.

Paul begins and ends his message with the phrase, “for obedience to the faith”, 1:5 & 16:26. Everything in between is like fuel for our faith. Now we need to fill our tanks, then we can go and do what is right in God’s eyes.

Paul addresses Christians with the following descriptions:

“The Called”, 1:6, this is fulfilling the prophetic desire of God from Isaiah 48:12. The Spirit of Christ calls us, “the called”, Rom. 8:28. See 1^st Cor. 1:9 & 1^st Pet. 2:9.

“Beloved of God”, 1:7. Duet. 33:12, has a clear inference to this affection of God. See Colossians 3:12.

“Saints”, 1:7, in the New Testament, this word is always in the plural. Showing us that God views us as holy when we are together in fellowship. We can not stay separated long and stay holy and pure. See Acts 9:32, there are many more verses that call Christians “saints”. The Catholic idea of only a select or exhalted Christian being called a saint is not God’s view of SAINTS.

Paul knew that Christians must have a correct and focused view of the environment they live in. Rome was morally polluted and God had given up on many people around them, 1:24-28, this is one of the saddest verses of the entire Bible. But with Christ in the middle of Rome, hope was present and alive. What put their neighbors at such a disadvantage with God? Vile passions and debased minds, 1:25, 28. Our friends in the world have a shining light amongst them, in you! Keep yourself away from anything that is immoral, 1^st Cor. 6:9. We must fill ourselves up with God’s righteousness, Mt. 12:4-45.

There are three feelings in the human heart.  Thanksgiving, Forgiving and Giving Compassion.  When we feel resentment towards anything or anyone, it is a clear signal that our heart is lacking forgiveness. We try to ignore it by quoting phrases like “to err is human and forgive divine”, while we justify our resentment. But forgiveness is a desire, it’s not always a goal that is met, but it is a desire. Jesus wanted to forgive people that put him on a cross. Why can’t we want to forgive each other? Here are 4 Common Problems:

1. I can NOT forgive.  We should rephrase that feeling with I WILL not forgive. See James 2:10. The example of Joseph and Stephen are both goals for us to create in our heart a desire to forgive and prevent resentment.

2. I’m going to forgive, but in future I’m not having anything to do with you.  The goal we must set for our self is love God shows in his kind of forgiveness, Ephesians 4:32.

3. It’s a favor from me to you.   In fact, the reverse is true. We should freely forgive one another, see Colossians 3:13.  The repentant offender can be forgiven by God without me extending forgiveness, but with a self-righteous attitude, I cannot be forgiven unless I  try to forgive the person I offended. So when I freely forgive, I put myself in good standing with God and my own conscience.

4. I’m going to forgive, but I’m not forgetting”  God does not keep a filing system and neither should we. There is a way to work on our memory and there is a way to work on our “forgetter”.  We forget all kinds of shopping lists. Why can’t we forget past sins?  Hebrews 8:12, 10:17.

Parenthood can be a good tool, which God uses to teach us about His nature and will.  Sometimes parents make promises of gifts for children’s good behaviour in return for the gift.  That is obviously trying to strike a deal for both parent and child to benefit.  Sometimes parents make promises of punishment for the child’s bad behaviour, trying to prevent future pain, loss and suffering. God is a great and good Father, making both kinds of promises.  We need to tell people that our Heavenly Father always keeps His promises of gifts and benefits to us on conditions, but because we are sinners, His promises of punishment are made without conditions. The wages of sin is our own physical death! Romans 6:23, 2^nd Thes. 1:8. Equally true, the wages of Christ’s death is eternal life with God in love with His creation. Here are some aims of God’s Spirit. God has many purposes and promises in His word. The Holy Spirit Himself wants to teach us about His purposeful and promise filled presence in the Christian’s daily life.

1.      Being Born of the Spirit, John 3:1-8

2.      The Indwelling Presence of the Promised Spirit, Acts 2:39, Rom. 8:9, Gal. 3:14.

3.      The Supply, Fellowship & Unity of the Spirit, Philippians 1:19-2:1, Eph. 4:3

4.      The Law and Sword of the Spirit, Rom. 8:1-5, & 1^st Cor. 2:14, Jer. 31:31-33, 2^nd Cor. 3:6 & Ephesians 6:17

5.      The Firstfruit/Earnest/Seal of the Spirit, Rom. 8:23-27, 2Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13-14

6.      The Love & Fruit of the Spirit, Rom. 15:30, Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 5:9.

7.      The Sanctification of the Spirit, 2^nd Thes. 2:13 & 1^st Peter 1:2

Do you believe God’s Spirit promises the following?

1. New Life.

2. His Presence.

3. Unity with other Christians.

4. Writing His law of faith in Christ on our heart.

5. Sealing our hearts with a guarantee of an eternal inheritance.

6. Pouring out His love into our heart.

7. Helping us grow in sanctification.

“Whatever it’s glorious truths, the Bible looms as an intimidating, hard-to-understand book full of esoteric names and mystifying practices” – (G. Gallup Jr., “The Next American Spirituality”). There are five words quick becoming the mantra of the new millennium: “I’m into spirituality, not religion”… More and more people are viewing the Bible as more about feeling good and not being good, more about stress reduction than salvation, more therapeutic than theological, it’s as much about the body as it is the soul. What should a Christian’s reaction be?

“The Bible is outdated, mistranslated and not essential for learning the truth”. Many agnostics are of this view. What should a Christian’s reaction be?

“You can trust the Bible, but not it’s interpretation”. This false view is sometimes found in the Church and abounds in the denominations. What should our reaction be?

Our view of the Bible directly affects how we use the Bible. Charles Spurgeon said, “How do you defend the Bible? The way you defend a lion, open up the cage and let it out!” Remember there are two lions in the world, the lion of the tribe of Judah (Gen.49:9-10 & Rv. 5:5) and the roaring lion (1Pt.5:8) Peter mentions seeking to devour anyone of us. In the Bible, the spirit of Judah’s lion wants to exercise His power and word on your heart and the hearts of others you talk to.

The best view of the Bible is found in Hebrews 4:12. The writer claims that the Bible is alive and active. What is your view and reaction towards others? Perhaps the most interesting truth about this activity and power the Bible has, is that it’s not going to push itself into our heart. The Holy Spirit of Christ simply opens hearts when they are submitted to Him, that is what the message of the gospel does. The question is, can we submit our heart to His word? Do we ask for more faith in His promises?

Our reaction to differing viewpoints about the Bible, really ought to be a prayerful reaction. Like the apostle Paul said, my prayer and heart’s desire is for others to be saved. (Romans 10:1) Can you ask God to help your friends to submit the desires of their hearts to their Creator, Father and Lord? Of course you can. The best view is a prayerful view.