[Note: each of us has in our mind a statement of faith about what we believe to be true. It may be unwritten, yet it is a pattern which we use as we evaluate and compare events and hopes for the future. It may be thought of as a motto rather than a creed. But it is basic to what we see as our relationship to God. RDI]
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Rhoderick D. Ice
In 1979 there were two congregations in a northern city. Both contained students from the Big University. One was "mainline." The other "renewal." Joint talks were held to explore the possibility of joining forces as one congregation. These are some topics of discussion. As part of this discussion, a joint Sunday evening service was held, with the "renewal" group leading and structuring the worship. Eventually a Statement of Faith was drawn up to investigate "Who We Are."
*. "We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only." As members of the Lord's church, we do not intend to write a creed nor a test of fellowship. We feel a need to put something down on paper as to the general identity of this congregation. Certainly, each Christian may answer only for himself/herself, since our personal faith must be in Christ Jesus Himself. The church cannot be a substitute for Christ Jesus; nor the Bible a substitute for The Holy Spirit.
1. Who we are.
a) We are members of the church - the Body of Christ which includes every saved person. Our obedient faith in Jesus - His Doing & Dying & Rising Again - has brought us into the Family of God (Colossians 1:13). It is our intention to reach back through the ages of time to recapture the simple vibrant faith and life of the believers we see described on the pages of the New Testament. We want to use the freedom of each congregation and each Christian to deal with those areas which are not directly matters of faith, but of opinion and expediency (note Romans 14).
b) We share an association with the "Restoration Movement" through our historical roots (Churches of Christ; Christian Churches; Disciples of Christ). We share some attitudes in common with conservative religious people known as "Evangelicals," (and with others). It is the Lord Himself who draws lines of demarcation (2 Timothy 2:19). The Lord knows who His People are! We do not want to be sectarian nor denominational in our thinking.
c) While we do stand united in Christ Jesus, we know that some diversity existed in the first century church. Some differences in Christian thought and lifestyle existed - even though they did "speak the same thing" and were united in mind and purpose. We want to widen our horizons to the extent we see the Apostles doing, and to be a church marked with Christian love, freedom, and mutual tolerance.
2. Other "churches."
a) Campbell disliked using the word "church," because of its sectarian connotations. "Church" in the Bible is the Kingdom, the spiritual congregation of the saved. Christ is the King of the One Kingdom. Not "one kind of Kingdom" with "branch locations" in various places. The Kingdom is the stone cut out without hands of Daniel 2:34,44,45 - which filled the earth! We identify with all those past, present, and future, who have responded to God's call (John 6:44-45), by taking Jesus as the Lord of their lives ["obeying the gospel"]. God has added these to the one church; "...brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son." Note the Enormous Crowd of Revelation 7:9-12.
b) Paul shows the diversity in unity which exists (compare 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; also Acts 21:20-25) in the church of the first century. Each generation, then, must rethink the Eternal Verities which God has given in the Bible. As we try to face this challenge, we affirm our freedom in Christ to believe and practice according to our knowledge of the Christian faith, as The Spirit gives us help (compare 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:26-27).
3. The Bible.
a) God has spoken to us in a Book. The Bible is a "magic door," a time tunnel which permits us to listen to the people who walked and talked with Jesus. The Holy Spirit guided these Bible writers so that they wrote what God wanted written. God Acted in History through Christ Jesus. The message of the Bible centers around God the Son: His humanity and divinity, His atoning sacrifice, His righteousness and His victory over sin and death.
b) We affirm the Bible has authority over our lives. Not, as a written code of laws, but as a friendly guide, pointing us always to Jesus the Christ and instructing us how we are to live by faith in Him. God forbids sin and commands righteousness and justice. God shows His love and His wish for all to come to Him and live eternally.
c) We recognize the Bible must be interpreted. The Old Testament develops type, symbols and figures which help explain the role of Christ Jesus. In fellowship with others, we make decisions as to the meaning of the Bible, and just how the Bible applies to present Christian life as we live daily in this world.
We recognize that the Bible arose as God worked in and through the church, and should be understood and interpreted in the broad context of Christian community. It is right to learn from the experience of the past.
d) We understand that the Bible is a complex book. Our knowledge can never be "complete." Yet surely God does intend us to understand the Bible. We dare not permit human sin and ignorance to conceal the glory of God. We therefore invoke The Spirit of God to call our lives into question, and to deepen our grasp of the will of God. (Note Romans 12:1ff).
4. Fellowship.
a) We accept our uniqueness, within the framework of Scripture, which can be a source of growth and strength. Each member is called upon to exercise a greater degree of tolerance and understanding. (Note Romans 14:12-13).
b) While recognizing our human variety and diverseness, we also maintain the fundamental unity of basic Christian Faith and the Eternal Verities. We do our best to preserve the unity which The Spirit gives by the peace that binds us together (Ephesians 4:3).
c) We intend to help each person develop and serve to his/her full potential according to ability and "calling." We wish each to find fulfillment in the life of the local church.
d) We wish each member to seek to aid, encourage, and challenge each other in Christian discipleship (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Timothy 1:7). We want to extend the Lordship of Christ Jesus into all aspects of our lives. [But we do not intend any cultic tendencies.]
e) We desire to be a fellowship of mutual service to one another, in which each person's needs are a concern of the others (note Acts 6:1).
5. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
a) We believe every believer should be baptized according to the command of Jesus and the practice of the first century church. The meaning of baptism in the New Testament is associated with beginning the Christian life (Acts 22:16; Matthew 28:19). We view faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and God's gift, the Holy Spirit - as a package deal. We believe that every person upon coming to faith in Jesus Christ will be immersed according to the New Testament example. And so we practice as a church.
Long standing believers who enter our fellowship must make their own decision as to the validity of their past baptism. David Lipscomb, a gospel preacher of the last century, believed faith in Christ and a desire to please God were the essential prerequisites to baptism, with remission of sins being one of the results, also the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32). Status and acceptance must to some degree rest upon one's personal convictions about his/her faith and obedience to Christ.
b) We believe the Lord's Supper - the Holy Meal - was a vital part of the worship and Christian community of the first century church. This Holy Meal is central to the church's understanding of her life and mission. In the Lord's Supper we call to mind that we have been summoned into a common life with Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). We share in this Holy Meal each Sunday when gathered for worship. We neither invite nor forbid any to share in this with us. All believers are free to 'judge themselves' and join in this participation.
6. Our Ministry of Service.
a) We wish to be a community of fellowship centered around the historical act of God in Christ-on-the-cross. We wish to show the love of God to this world by our actions (Matthew 5:16; 25:31-46). We realize that we cannot perform all ministries and fulfill all needs that might exist around us.
With what resources we have:
1) we wish to teach and share the message of Christ with those who do not yet believe.
2) we want to care for and heal persons whose lives are broken by evil or unfortunate circumstances.
3) supply where we can for the needs of the poor.
4) speak and work for the right in our jobs, neighborhoods, cities and nation.
* The unanimous confession of the first century Christians was: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior!!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
TIME FOR A STANDARD CHURCH
ISN'T IT TIME YOU HAD A STANDARD CHURCH FOR YOUR BIBLE?
R. D. ICE
What might a standard church be like? Would there be a three-ring manual giving exact details of all the services down to the smallest detail? Would all the church-buildings be clones of the pattern? SciFi writers ask what if a brotherhood of churches were set up as a franchise, much like the Fast Food industry does.
The entrance room of First Church is, of course, just like all the others in the franchise. A picture of Evangelist Brother Billy-Bob is placed so you will see it as you enter. A stylized picture of Jesus receives the emphasis. A counter sits to one side, done up in fake wood so it looks like something from an old church. Behind the counter, an elderly lady sits, a flimsy sort of choir robe thrown over her shoulders.
There's a little rack along the front of the counter bearing gospel tracts, free for the taking, donation requested. The lady types some stuff into the computer. The worshiper snaps her Visa © card down on the fake wood counter top; it sounds like a rifle shot. The lady pries the card up, then she swipes the card through its electromagnetic slot with a carefully modulated sweep of the arm, as though tearing back a veil, hands over the slip, mumbling that she needs a signature and daytime phone number. Since cash and checks are no longer used, the collection must be taken up before the service. (We are to "lay by in store.").
Then it just remains for the "Word from On High." But computers and communications are awfully good these days, and it usually doesn't take longer than a couple of seconds to perform a charge-card verification. The little machine beeps out its approval code. "Thank you for your donation," the lady says, slurring the words together into a single syllable.
The worshipper hurries toward the double doors. The song leader has already walked to his place to convene the service. The interior of the church is weirdly colored. Fluorescent fixtures are wedged into the ceiling. Large colored light boxes simulate stained-glass windows. The largest of these, shaped like a fattened Gothic arch, is bolted to the back wall, above the pulpit, and features a waterfall pouring into a river basin. The baptistery is placed beneath this. The song leader announces the first number and the singing begins.
But what is the church? Campbell disliked the word church, because, he said, there were too many unreal ideas attached to it. In his "Living Oracles Version" he used the word congregation. "As Jesus was going to the district of Cesarea Philippa, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of Man is? They answered, Some say, John the Immerser; others, Elijah; others, Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets. But who, returned he, do you say that I am? Simon Peter answering, said, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replying, said to him, Happy are you, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I tell you, likewise, you are named Stone [Peter]; and on this rock I will build my congregation, over which the gates of Hades shall not prevail. Moreover, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Matt. 16:13-19 Living Oracles Version
Jesus preached: "Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand." If you will substitute the word kingdom for church, you will find you cannot say some things. And Paul the Apostle wrote: "who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son: by whom we have redemption, even the remission of sins." Col. 1:13 Living Oracles Version
"Now, then, you are no longer strangers and sojourners; but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the foundation corner stone; by which the whole building being fitly compacted together, rises into a holy temple of the Lord; in which you also are builded together for a habitation of God by the Spirit." Eph. 2:19-22 Living Oracles Version
[For the believer, the Church is a reality of an entirely different order. The Church is a mystery at once visible and invisible, given the task of making real the Gospel of Jesus Christ and translating it into action for each new generation. But the Church is activated by God The Holy Spirit, clothed with His power and possessing His pledge of loyalty. Compare 1 Cor. 12:12-13.]
What the question really asks is: "Can I find a church like the one I [think I] remember from my childhood?" This writer remembers a small church in Columbus, Ohio, that has not been there for many years. It was replaced by a Disciples Church. The small church was rural in nature, even though in the city. The Disciples Church was city-oriented. The small church had a series of preachers who Kept Things Just Like They Were. Then a new preacher came Who Thought Big. There was some difference in doctrine, yet basically the emphasis was still on Jesus and the gospel. But they began to Do Things and as population grew in the Columbus area, so did they! To several hundreds! [If preaching the truth means we will continue to be small - what about the Jerusalem Church? They baptized thousands!]
But when we say "standard church" we set the boundaries of the answer. The Roman Catholic Church to some extent grew out of a wish to produce a STANDARD CHURCH WHICH WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME EVERYWHERE. Centralized Authority ruled that each (local) Church would follow the matrix-pattern: Latin language; Latin Vulgate Bible; fixed order of worship; priestly ministers trained and certified by Authority. But even this eventually has had to change. The charismatic movement has changed even the Catholic Church. And now many speak in the language of the people.
The Old Testament does not describe in detail just how worship was done under The Law (even though we are told certain things they did). The New Testament does not show us in detail a worship-service under the Gospel. Certainly we have an opinion of what things were done, but not all the fine print details. And certainly a Jew and a Gentile did the same things "differently." [Campbell stressed FACTS over words and theories.]
"God is not impressed with what other people think of us, or even with our own opinion of ourselves. He sees what we really are, and He knows our motives as well as our deeds.... Christian worship, with familiar psalms, hymns, prayers and readings from the Scriptures, brings God the praise 'in spirit and in truth' which He seeks (John 4:23)." Wallerstedt
An English writer of the 19th century wrote: "The whole world is a temple and man is everywhere a worshiper." This is in harmony with the "living sacrifice" which Paul speaks about in Romans 12. We worship God with purity and holiness and good works and especially love. We intend to be faithful throughout our whole life. [Surprise! The Judgment is about how we treated others. Matt. 25:31-46]
Solomon's Temple was destroyed. The Jews were sent to Babylon. Temple worship was no longer possible. Certainly by God's design the synagogue was developed. Jews came together at a location to worship God, to study the Scriptures, and to share Jewish life and culture. This predates the pattern of the Christian community - the church. The synagogue was both visible and invisible. Their loyalty and relationship to God was invisible. When they met for worship they were visible.
Christians are commanded to meet together as a worship-community. "Don't give up the habit of meeting for worship." And even during times of severe persecution we see Christians meeting in secret as a group to worship their Lord and Savior. Some belittle the "institutional church," yet we see huge congregations at Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, etc. Many blessings for the individual Christian and a pooling of energies and abilities exist only in the Institutional Church. Note Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.
But all this doesn't see the one factor common to each local church congregation - God The Holy Spirit. "...that He may abide with you forever." "...but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me.'" "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" "in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
Jesus said in John 4:14, "But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Note the inspired explanation of what Jesus is saying, in John 7:37-39. [Jesus was glorified in the Cross & Resurrection.] It surely cannot be right to deny grace and try to explain it away. Nor to try to depersonalize The Holy Spirit and say "It is just a power like electricity" as some do. Nor to fail to elevate JESUS in our lives and worship.
A good case can be made for the fact that it is the presence of God The Holy Spirit who "standardizes" the church The Book of Acts could be spoken of as the "Acts of The Holy Spirit." God indwells the church (The Congregation of the Saved) by The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). God indwells each Christian by The Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:6,18). It isn't necessary that we become "Pentecostal" in what we do (nor JW's in what we don't do). But to "DENY" The Holy Spirit places us on dangerous ground. [Few would admit to denying The Spirit. But what are we doing? We should look carefully.]
Someone has written about Christian believers and worship.
"Without God The Holy Spirit,
God is far away,
Christ stays in the past,
The Gospel is a dead letter,
The Church is simply an organization,
Authority is a matter of domination,
Evangelism is a matter of propaganda,
Worship is no more than calling on a
deity who isn't there,
Christian living is only a slave morality."
WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT, ALL THIS CHANGES!!!
The Creation is resurrected and groans with the birth-pangs of the Kingdom (Romans 8:18-23).
The Risen Christ is there.
The Gospel is the power of life.
The Church shows forth the life of the Trinity.
Authority is a liberating service (cf. Luke 22:25-26).
Propagation of the Faith is a "Pentecost."
Worship-service is both memorial and anticipation.
Human action becomes "in the image of God."
Consider the following which I have adapted from a letter.
"I had been a member of the church for 48 years and was about as strict a Bible-Christian as anyone could be. I never missed Worship and was there every time the "church" met. Then I discovered through the Holy Spirit that what I had been trying to do for 48 years by works and service to the church, had already been done 2,000 years ago at Calvary [Hebrews 1:3]. At that moment I knew the only way to heaven was through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. As I tried to share this truth with others, I got a severe lecture from the preacher. He said I could not get to heaven by grace but had to work out my salvation through the church. Sadly and reluctantly I was forced to leave. It was so strange being both in the 'Lord's Church' and on the verge of being kicked out because of my belief in salvation through grace as Paul taught."
What Jesus taught is not the normal human way of looking at things. God The Father deals with us as we deal with our children. Not punishment in the sense of revenge. But chastisement to protect and mature. God's response to the prodigal who brings himself back is to receive him home! Note what Paul said in Philippians 3:8-11. The righteousness that is given through faith in Christ! "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The average person is "soft" on forgiveness. They cannot believe that God forgives sins. Note this from one of our brothers in Romania. "In general Romanians do not trust each other, prompted by their communist experience. Associated with this is the difficulty of believing in God's grace. To them, the older brother in Luke 15 is a hero and the father inexcusably unfair in receiving the prodigal back."
The "older brother" was loved and accepted by the father. Yet the older brother had problems with the "grace" extended to the prodigal. Perhaps he felt no need of grace for himself. He had works and faithfulness! Yet his acceptance by the father also involved his own acceptance of the returned prodigal. Note 1 John 4:20. "...for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" Our own love of God is circumscribed by our love for our "brother."
And take note of what God said to Jonah. "But the Lord said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left--and much livestock?"
Jonah 4:10-11 (NKJV)
R. D. ICE
What might a standard church be like? Would there be a three-ring manual giving exact details of all the services down to the smallest detail? Would all the church-buildings be clones of the pattern? SciFi writers ask what if a brotherhood of churches were set up as a franchise, much like the Fast Food industry does.
The entrance room of First Church is, of course, just like all the others in the franchise. A picture of Evangelist Brother Billy-Bob is placed so you will see it as you enter. A stylized picture of Jesus receives the emphasis. A counter sits to one side, done up in fake wood so it looks like something from an old church. Behind the counter, an elderly lady sits, a flimsy sort of choir robe thrown over her shoulders.
There's a little rack along the front of the counter bearing gospel tracts, free for the taking, donation requested. The lady types some stuff into the computer. The worshiper snaps her Visa © card down on the fake wood counter top; it sounds like a rifle shot. The lady pries the card up, then she swipes the card through its electromagnetic slot with a carefully modulated sweep of the arm, as though tearing back a veil, hands over the slip, mumbling that she needs a signature and daytime phone number. Since cash and checks are no longer used, the collection must be taken up before the service. (We are to "lay by in store.").
Then it just remains for the "Word from On High." But computers and communications are awfully good these days, and it usually doesn't take longer than a couple of seconds to perform a charge-card verification. The little machine beeps out its approval code. "Thank you for your donation," the lady says, slurring the words together into a single syllable.
The worshipper hurries toward the double doors. The song leader has already walked to his place to convene the service. The interior of the church is weirdly colored. Fluorescent fixtures are wedged into the ceiling. Large colored light boxes simulate stained-glass windows. The largest of these, shaped like a fattened Gothic arch, is bolted to the back wall, above the pulpit, and features a waterfall pouring into a river basin. The baptistery is placed beneath this. The song leader announces the first number and the singing begins.
But what is the church? Campbell disliked the word church, because, he said, there were too many unreal ideas attached to it. In his "Living Oracles Version" he used the word congregation. "As Jesus was going to the district of Cesarea Philippa, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of Man is? They answered, Some say, John the Immerser; others, Elijah; others, Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets. But who, returned he, do you say that I am? Simon Peter answering, said, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replying, said to him, Happy are you, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I tell you, likewise, you are named Stone [Peter]; and on this rock I will build my congregation, over which the gates of Hades shall not prevail. Moreover, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on the earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Matt. 16:13-19 Living Oracles Version
Jesus preached: "Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand." If you will substitute the word kingdom for church, you will find you cannot say some things. And Paul the Apostle wrote: "who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son: by whom we have redemption, even the remission of sins." Col. 1:13 Living Oracles Version
"Now, then, you are no longer strangers and sojourners; but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the foundation corner stone; by which the whole building being fitly compacted together, rises into a holy temple of the Lord; in which you also are builded together for a habitation of God by the Spirit." Eph. 2:19-22 Living Oracles Version
[For the believer, the Church is a reality of an entirely different order. The Church is a mystery at once visible and invisible, given the task of making real the Gospel of Jesus Christ and translating it into action for each new generation. But the Church is activated by God The Holy Spirit, clothed with His power and possessing His pledge of loyalty. Compare 1 Cor. 12:12-13.]
What the question really asks is: "Can I find a church like the one I [think I] remember from my childhood?" This writer remembers a small church in Columbus, Ohio, that has not been there for many years. It was replaced by a Disciples Church. The small church was rural in nature, even though in the city. The Disciples Church was city-oriented. The small church had a series of preachers who Kept Things Just Like They Were. Then a new preacher came Who Thought Big. There was some difference in doctrine, yet basically the emphasis was still on Jesus and the gospel. But they began to Do Things and as population grew in the Columbus area, so did they! To several hundreds! [If preaching the truth means we will continue to be small - what about the Jerusalem Church? They baptized thousands!]
But when we say "standard church" we set the boundaries of the answer. The Roman Catholic Church to some extent grew out of a wish to produce a STANDARD CHURCH WHICH WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME EVERYWHERE. Centralized Authority ruled that each (local) Church would follow the matrix-pattern: Latin language; Latin Vulgate Bible; fixed order of worship; priestly ministers trained and certified by Authority. But even this eventually has had to change. The charismatic movement has changed even the Catholic Church. And now many speak in the language of the people.
The Old Testament does not describe in detail just how worship was done under The Law (even though we are told certain things they did). The New Testament does not show us in detail a worship-service under the Gospel. Certainly we have an opinion of what things were done, but not all the fine print details. And certainly a Jew and a Gentile did the same things "differently." [Campbell stressed FACTS over words and theories.]
"God is not impressed with what other people think of us, or even with our own opinion of ourselves. He sees what we really are, and He knows our motives as well as our deeds.... Christian worship, with familiar psalms, hymns, prayers and readings from the Scriptures, brings God the praise 'in spirit and in truth' which He seeks (John 4:23)." Wallerstedt
An English writer of the 19th century wrote: "The whole world is a temple and man is everywhere a worshiper." This is in harmony with the "living sacrifice" which Paul speaks about in Romans 12. We worship God with purity and holiness and good works and especially love. We intend to be faithful throughout our whole life. [Surprise! The Judgment is about how we treated others. Matt. 25:31-46]
Solomon's Temple was destroyed. The Jews were sent to Babylon. Temple worship was no longer possible. Certainly by God's design the synagogue was developed. Jews came together at a location to worship God, to study the Scriptures, and to share Jewish life and culture. This predates the pattern of the Christian community - the church. The synagogue was both visible and invisible. Their loyalty and relationship to God was invisible. When they met for worship they were visible.
Christians are commanded to meet together as a worship-community. "Don't give up the habit of meeting for worship." And even during times of severe persecution we see Christians meeting in secret as a group to worship their Lord and Savior. Some belittle the "institutional church," yet we see huge congregations at Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, etc. Many blessings for the individual Christian and a pooling of energies and abilities exist only in the Institutional Church. Note Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.
But all this doesn't see the one factor common to each local church congregation - God The Holy Spirit. "...that He may abide with you forever." "...but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me.'" "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" "in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
Jesus said in John 4:14, "But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Note the inspired explanation of what Jesus is saying, in John 7:37-39. [Jesus was glorified in the Cross & Resurrection.] It surely cannot be right to deny grace and try to explain it away. Nor to try to depersonalize The Holy Spirit and say "It is just a power like electricity" as some do. Nor to fail to elevate JESUS in our lives and worship.
A good case can be made for the fact that it is the presence of God The Holy Spirit who "standardizes" the church The Book of Acts could be spoken of as the "Acts of The Holy Spirit." God indwells the church (The Congregation of the Saved) by The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). God indwells each Christian by The Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:6,18). It isn't necessary that we become "Pentecostal" in what we do (nor JW's in what we don't do). But to "DENY" The Holy Spirit places us on dangerous ground. [Few would admit to denying The Spirit. But what are we doing? We should look carefully.]
Someone has written about Christian believers and worship.
"Without God The Holy Spirit,
God is far away,
Christ stays in the past,
The Gospel is a dead letter,
The Church is simply an organization,
Authority is a matter of domination,
Evangelism is a matter of propaganda,
Worship is no more than calling on a
deity who isn't there,
Christian living is only a slave morality."
WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT, ALL THIS CHANGES!!!
The Creation is resurrected and groans with the birth-pangs of the Kingdom (Romans 8:18-23).
The Risen Christ is there.
The Gospel is the power of life.
The Church shows forth the life of the Trinity.
Authority is a liberating service (cf. Luke 22:25-26).
Propagation of the Faith is a "Pentecost."
Worship-service is both memorial and anticipation.
Human action becomes "in the image of God."
Consider the following which I have adapted from a letter.
"I had been a member of the church for 48 years and was about as strict a Bible-Christian as anyone could be. I never missed Worship and was there every time the "church" met. Then I discovered through the Holy Spirit that what I had been trying to do for 48 years by works and service to the church, had already been done 2,000 years ago at Calvary [Hebrews 1:3]. At that moment I knew the only way to heaven was through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. As I tried to share this truth with others, I got a severe lecture from the preacher. He said I could not get to heaven by grace but had to work out my salvation through the church. Sadly and reluctantly I was forced to leave. It was so strange being both in the 'Lord's Church' and on the verge of being kicked out because of my belief in salvation through grace as Paul taught."
What Jesus taught is not the normal human way of looking at things. God The Father deals with us as we deal with our children. Not punishment in the sense of revenge. But chastisement to protect and mature. God's response to the prodigal who brings himself back is to receive him home! Note what Paul said in Philippians 3:8-11. The righteousness that is given through faith in Christ! "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The average person is "soft" on forgiveness. They cannot believe that God forgives sins. Note this from one of our brothers in Romania. "In general Romanians do not trust each other, prompted by their communist experience. Associated with this is the difficulty of believing in God's grace. To them, the older brother in Luke 15 is a hero and the father inexcusably unfair in receiving the prodigal back."
The "older brother" was loved and accepted by the father. Yet the older brother had problems with the "grace" extended to the prodigal. Perhaps he felt no need of grace for himself. He had works and faithfulness! Yet his acceptance by the father also involved his own acceptance of the returned prodigal. Note 1 John 4:20. "...for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" Our own love of God is circumscribed by our love for our "brother."
And take note of what God said to Jonah. "But the Lord said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left--and much livestock?"
Jonah 4:10-11 (NKJV)
Friday, December 3, 2010
FORGIVE FOR YOUR OWN GOOD
A FORGIVENESS PRAYER 11-14-2000
Rhoderick D. Ice
David wrote: "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitudes of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight --" Psalm 51:1-4
Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they wrong you, your spiritual Father will forgive you, too. But if you don't forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your wrongs." [Matthew 6:14-15 Jordan].
Paul said Love is the greatest of all [1 Corinthians 13:13]. Christian love is key to everything else, especially dealing with the difficulties of life. LOVE enables us to FORGIVE. [1 Peter 4:8]
There are some who use unforgiveness to dominate others. They think they have power because of their harsh and unforgiving ways. And so long as we refuse to forgive them, we become a slave to our resentment and anger. Which is what they intend. But we can escape from their domination by bringing them before God’s Throne of Grace and FORGIVING them. Paul wrote: “Be angry, and do not sin”; do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” Eph. 4:26. The GNB words this: “’If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day.’ If revenge is due, let God take care of it. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, ‘I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will make him burn with shame.’ Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21 GNB. For after all, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance.
A member of a mission team felt the team leader had treated him unfairly. For months he nursed a grudge against the leader. He paid a physical toll for this as his stomach tied in knots and his health deteriorated. Finally in desperation he knelt and prayed, "Father, I forgive Steve (not his name) and I release him from my anger. I believe he was in the wrong, yet I cannot continue in this way. I ask You to bless him and give him wisdom. Fill my heart with Your peace! In Jesus' name, Amen." His health began to improve from that day. And, he found it easier to work with Steve.
Forgiveness is a choice - an act of will - rather than a feeling. If we pray for a person, we can be assured that we have forgiven that person. Visualize the person and say to the Lord: "I love him/her because You love him/her." 1 John 4:7-21. Christian love is not an "ooey-gooey feeling," but relating to others through Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness is a life long obligation. This does not mean that we excuse trespasses against us. It does mean that we do not allow ourselves to be held hostage by unforgiveness and bitterness.
Jesus said: "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." [John 15:12 NKJV]
Jesus said: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." [Mark 11:25-26 NKJV]
Peter asked the question: "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." [Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV] Jesus is saying that one of His disciples should never stop forgiving.
The very essence of effective "healing" is forgiveness. Healing may be needed in a relationship with a father, mother, sisters or brothers, friends, church leaders, brothers & sisters in Christ. Most people require healing in self-relationship. The doorway to being "perfect" is almost always forgiveness.
To begin, visualize Jesus putting His hand on your head, saying: "I have come to liberate you today. Go deeply into the valley of forgiveness and be set free!" [compare 1 John 4:20-21; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7]
At times we tend to blame God when things go wrong. It is right to complain to God, but not to murmur and blame Him. Note the many examples in the Psalms; also Job 13:15. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my ways before him." Job defended his own ways before God, and so will we. This was not presumptuous, nor murmuring, but a child reaching up to his Father.
"Holy Father, there is so much that I do not understand. I forgive You (but it was I who was at fault) for the times death has come into the family, hard times, financial difficulties, or things that I thought were punishments sent by You. People said, 'It's God's will,' and I became bitter and resentful toward You. Purify my heart and mind today. Help me to look always to You and Your Glory."
"In life, we all have unfair things that happen to us. We can choose to hold on to the hurt, become bitter and angry, and let it poison our future; or, we can choose to let it go and trust God to make it up to us. You not think that you are able to forgive because someone hurt you so badly. You might say, “Joel, you don’t know how I was raised.” “My ex-spouse caused me a lot of pain.” “This friend betrayed me.” “I just can’t let it go.” But realize, you don’t forgive for their sake; you forgive for your own sake. When you forgive, you are taking away their power to hurt you. But if you hold on to that offense and stay angry, you are only poisoning your own life and disconnecting yourself from God." Osteen
In Acts 7:55-59 Stephen prayed to Jesus. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit....Lord, do not charge them with this sin."
"Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive everyone in my life. I know that You will give me the strength to forgive. I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself." [compare Psalm 130]
Many have trouble accepting the reality of God's forgiveness. It will be necessary for me to forgive myself - to accept the fact that God has forgiven me - to release myself from guilt and despair.
"Heavenly Father, I forgive myself for all my sins, faults and failings. [compare Psalm 51 in this context]. I forgive myself for unbelief in Your goodness, and for not truly believing in Your love for me. I release stored up bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. I forgive myself for not spending enough time in prayer, for allowing myself to be distracted from praise and worship to You. I forgive myself for any sins against purity, for compulsive behavior, for hurting my parents or friends, for wounding people with words and behavior. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the grace to forgive myself and the power to change."
The past is gone forever, and we cannot change it. Yet we cannot blot it out of our minds. But we must move on to tomorrow. Forgiveness is key to moving on.
"Heavenly Father, I forgive my mother for any negativity and unlove she may have extended to me throughout my life. I forgive her for any times she may have hurt me, resented me, been unreasonably angry with me, or punished me unfairly."
"Heavenly Father, I forgive my father for any negativity and unlove he may have extended to me throughout my life. I forgive him for any nonsupport, lack of love, affection or attention."
"Lord, I extend forgiveness to my sisters and brothers, my spouse, my children, my mother- in-law, father-in-law, son/daughter in law, and other relatives by marriage, who may have treated my family with a lack of love. For all their words, thoughts, actions or omissions which injure and cause pain, I forgive them."
"Heavenly Father, I forgive the leaders of the church who may have been harsh, cold or overly strict with me in my formative years. I forgive them for any expression of negativity or unlove. I forgive them for any lack of support, affirmation, bad sermons, lack of friendliness, not providing me or my family with the inspiration we needed, for any hurts they have inflicted on me or my family, even in the distant past. I forgive them today."
Children may misunderstand the words and actions of church leaders. Sometimes children are ignored and pushed aside. Adults may experience these same things. Church leaders may appear to be insensitive and unloving. Yet we forgive and do our part to correct the situation. We are all One in Christ!
"Heavenly Father, I forgive those who have hurt me the most, those who are the hardest to forgive. I now choose to forgive, even though I may still feel angry and hurt. I also make peace with the one family member, the one friend, the one church leader who has hurt me most in life."
"Lord, I beg pardon of all these people for the hurt I have inflicted on them, especially my mother and father, and my marriage partner. I am especially sorry for the three greatest hurts I have inflicted on each one."
"Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed from the evil of unforgiveness. I praise You and Thank You for granting me repentance and forgiveness and setting me free. I want to offer my life to You as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. In Jesus' name, Amen."
"Holy Spirit, pour the love of God into my heart [Romans 5:5]. Fill me with Holy Joy, Christian Love, and all the Fruit of the Spirit. Mold me and make me. [2 Corinthians 3:17-18] I claim the Victory, in Jesus' Name. Amen."
"Blessed Trinity: Father, Son, Spirit. I lift my voice to You. Thank You for giving me life and existence. Thank You for sending Jesus to be the Lamb who takes away sin. I claim the Victory which He won and I claim all Your blessings. In Jesus' name, Amen."
“Thank You, Lord, for forgiving me! You said that You would forgive my sins and no longer remember my wrongs [Hebrews 8:12; Psalm 130:3-4]. You said that if I would confess my sins and weaknesses to You, that You would forgive my sins and purify me from all wrongdoing [1 John 1:9]. I do confess my sins and my weaknesses. I do want to be right with You. Fill me with all Your love and mercy and blessings through the Holy Spirit. I claim it all in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
PS: The devil uses "unforgiveness" to destroy souls. Phil. H was harsh and unforgiving, very extreme in his attitude toward his own family as well as others. Finally his wife left him, and he attempted suicide. Joe C. was also very extreme and unforgiving. He suffered a heart attack and this destroyed his "faith." Eventually he shot and killed himself. It is so very important to be able to come with boldness and confidence to God's Throne of Grace to seek His forgiveness and blessing. Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22; 2 Cor. 2:10-11.
"Holy Father, we know it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us. We know You love us and want us to come to You. We do have faith; help our unbelief. Increase our faith and hope and love. Through Christ, Amen."
Rhoderick D. Ice
David wrote: "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitudes of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight --" Psalm 51:1-4
Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they wrong you, your spiritual Father will forgive you, too. But if you don't forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your wrongs." [Matthew 6:14-15 Jordan].
Paul said Love is the greatest of all [1 Corinthians 13:13]. Christian love is key to everything else, especially dealing with the difficulties of life. LOVE enables us to FORGIVE. [1 Peter 4:8]
There are some who use unforgiveness to dominate others. They think they have power because of their harsh and unforgiving ways. And so long as we refuse to forgive them, we become a slave to our resentment and anger. Which is what they intend. But we can escape from their domination by bringing them before God’s Throne of Grace and FORGIVING them. Paul wrote: “Be angry, and do not sin”; do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” Eph. 4:26. The GNB words this: “’If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day.’ If revenge is due, let God take care of it. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, ‘I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will make him burn with shame.’ Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21 GNB. For after all, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance.
A member of a mission team felt the team leader had treated him unfairly. For months he nursed a grudge against the leader. He paid a physical toll for this as his stomach tied in knots and his health deteriorated. Finally in desperation he knelt and prayed, "Father, I forgive Steve (not his name) and I release him from my anger. I believe he was in the wrong, yet I cannot continue in this way. I ask You to bless him and give him wisdom. Fill my heart with Your peace! In Jesus' name, Amen." His health began to improve from that day. And, he found it easier to work with Steve.
Forgiveness is a choice - an act of will - rather than a feeling. If we pray for a person, we can be assured that we have forgiven that person. Visualize the person and say to the Lord: "I love him/her because You love him/her." 1 John 4:7-21. Christian love is not an "ooey-gooey feeling," but relating to others through Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness is a life long obligation. This does not mean that we excuse trespasses against us. It does mean that we do not allow ourselves to be held hostage by unforgiveness and bitterness.
Jesus said: "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." [John 15:12 NKJV]
Jesus said: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." [Mark 11:25-26 NKJV]
Peter asked the question: "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." [Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV] Jesus is saying that one of His disciples should never stop forgiving.
The very essence of effective "healing" is forgiveness. Healing may be needed in a relationship with a father, mother, sisters or brothers, friends, church leaders, brothers & sisters in Christ. Most people require healing in self-relationship. The doorway to being "perfect" is almost always forgiveness.
To begin, visualize Jesus putting His hand on your head, saying: "I have come to liberate you today. Go deeply into the valley of forgiveness and be set free!" [compare 1 John 4:20-21; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7]
At times we tend to blame God when things go wrong. It is right to complain to God, but not to murmur and blame Him. Note the many examples in the Psalms; also Job 13:15. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my ways before him." Job defended his own ways before God, and so will we. This was not presumptuous, nor murmuring, but a child reaching up to his Father.
"Holy Father, there is so much that I do not understand. I forgive You (but it was I who was at fault) for the times death has come into the family, hard times, financial difficulties, or things that I thought were punishments sent by You. People said, 'It's God's will,' and I became bitter and resentful toward You. Purify my heart and mind today. Help me to look always to You and Your Glory."
"In life, we all have unfair things that happen to us. We can choose to hold on to the hurt, become bitter and angry, and let it poison our future; or, we can choose to let it go and trust God to make it up to us. You not think that you are able to forgive because someone hurt you so badly. You might say, “Joel, you don’t know how I was raised.” “My ex-spouse caused me a lot of pain.” “This friend betrayed me.” “I just can’t let it go.” But realize, you don’t forgive for their sake; you forgive for your own sake. When you forgive, you are taking away their power to hurt you. But if you hold on to that offense and stay angry, you are only poisoning your own life and disconnecting yourself from God." Osteen
In Acts 7:55-59 Stephen prayed to Jesus. "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit....Lord, do not charge them with this sin."
"Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive everyone in my life. I know that You will give me the strength to forgive. I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself." [compare Psalm 130]
Many have trouble accepting the reality of God's forgiveness. It will be necessary for me to forgive myself - to accept the fact that God has forgiven me - to release myself from guilt and despair.
"Heavenly Father, I forgive myself for all my sins, faults and failings. [compare Psalm 51 in this context]. I forgive myself for unbelief in Your goodness, and for not truly believing in Your love for me. I release stored up bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. I forgive myself for not spending enough time in prayer, for allowing myself to be distracted from praise and worship to You. I forgive myself for any sins against purity, for compulsive behavior, for hurting my parents or friends, for wounding people with words and behavior. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the grace to forgive myself and the power to change."
The past is gone forever, and we cannot change it. Yet we cannot blot it out of our minds. But we must move on to tomorrow. Forgiveness is key to moving on.
"Heavenly Father, I forgive my mother for any negativity and unlove she may have extended to me throughout my life. I forgive her for any times she may have hurt me, resented me, been unreasonably angry with me, or punished me unfairly."
"Heavenly Father, I forgive my father for any negativity and unlove he may have extended to me throughout my life. I forgive him for any nonsupport, lack of love, affection or attention."
"Lord, I extend forgiveness to my sisters and brothers, my spouse, my children, my mother- in-law, father-in-law, son/daughter in law, and other relatives by marriage, who may have treated my family with a lack of love. For all their words, thoughts, actions or omissions which injure and cause pain, I forgive them."
"Heavenly Father, I forgive the leaders of the church who may have been harsh, cold or overly strict with me in my formative years. I forgive them for any expression of negativity or unlove. I forgive them for any lack of support, affirmation, bad sermons, lack of friendliness, not providing me or my family with the inspiration we needed, for any hurts they have inflicted on me or my family, even in the distant past. I forgive them today."
Children may misunderstand the words and actions of church leaders. Sometimes children are ignored and pushed aside. Adults may experience these same things. Church leaders may appear to be insensitive and unloving. Yet we forgive and do our part to correct the situation. We are all One in Christ!
"Heavenly Father, I forgive those who have hurt me the most, those who are the hardest to forgive. I now choose to forgive, even though I may still feel angry and hurt. I also make peace with the one family member, the one friend, the one church leader who has hurt me most in life."
"Lord, I beg pardon of all these people for the hurt I have inflicted on them, especially my mother and father, and my marriage partner. I am especially sorry for the three greatest hurts I have inflicted on each one."
"Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed from the evil of unforgiveness. I praise You and Thank You for granting me repentance and forgiveness and setting me free. I want to offer my life to You as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. In Jesus' name, Amen."
"Holy Spirit, pour the love of God into my heart [Romans 5:5]. Fill me with Holy Joy, Christian Love, and all the Fruit of the Spirit. Mold me and make me. [2 Corinthians 3:17-18] I claim the Victory, in Jesus' Name. Amen."
"Blessed Trinity: Father, Son, Spirit. I lift my voice to You. Thank You for giving me life and existence. Thank You for sending Jesus to be the Lamb who takes away sin. I claim the Victory which He won and I claim all Your blessings. In Jesus' name, Amen."
“Thank You, Lord, for forgiving me! You said that You would forgive my sins and no longer remember my wrongs [Hebrews 8:12; Psalm 130:3-4]. You said that if I would confess my sins and weaknesses to You, that You would forgive my sins and purify me from all wrongdoing [1 John 1:9]. I do confess my sins and my weaknesses. I do want to be right with You. Fill me with all Your love and mercy and blessings through the Holy Spirit. I claim it all in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
PS: The devil uses "unforgiveness" to destroy souls. Phil. H was harsh and unforgiving, very extreme in his attitude toward his own family as well as others. Finally his wife left him, and he attempted suicide. Joe C. was also very extreme and unforgiving. He suffered a heart attack and this destroyed his "faith." Eventually he shot and killed himself. It is so very important to be able to come with boldness and confidence to God's Throne of Grace to seek His forgiveness and blessing. Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22; 2 Cor. 2:10-11.
"Holy Father, we know it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us. We know You love us and want us to come to You. We do have faith; help our unbelief. Increase our faith and hope and love. Through Christ, Amen."
Thursday, December 2, 2010
LET'S HAVE CHURCH
LET’s HAVE CHURCH!
R. D. Ice
[When we look back some years (when such things were common), we are impressed by the faith & power of the Gospel of Christ - Crucified, Risen, Coming again! Some today have pulled the plug on power, Christian love, holy joy, and the fruit of The Spirit. Paul warned: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Look back with me to those days of glory.]
It was just before WWII in one of the large cities of the South. Trucks rolled into the inner city and the crew began putting up the Gospel Tent on the vacant lot where the Circus came each year. Loudspeaker vans went through the city streets blaring the congregation singing: “There’s POWER In The BLOOD.” The song leader’s voice could be heard shouting: “Gospel Meeting tonight in the big tent! Everyone come!”
And people did come. A rainbow of ethnic groups. Many of the poor and dispossessed. Some in suits & ties. Old people and young children and those in between. But they came and they filled the Gospel Tent. Finally everyone was seated on the rickety folding-chairs.
“Let’s all sing!” shouted the song-leader. “Everyone join in and sing as loud as you can!” He began singing: “Would you be FREE from the BURDEN of SIN? There’s POWER in the BLOOD!’”
The people sang with enthusiasm! “POWER, POWER, Wonder working POWER, in the BLOOD, of the Lamb, there is POWER, POWER, Wonder working POWER, in the Precious BLOOD of the LAMB!”
They were lifting the VOICE of JOYFUL PRAISE to the Lord. Would the Apostle Paul have done what this tent evangelist was doing? Read what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, and compare Philippians 1:15-18.
Brother Ed, the Evangelist, stood up to speak. “Glory to God!” he shouted. “The Bible says Jesus came so that the world through Him might be saved! I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL! There is POWER in the BLOOD!”
“Let’s have CHURCH!” he shouted. He waved his Bible in the air. “Let's have CHURCH! - Unashamed! With Power! Jesus- Worshipping! Sin-Busting! Devil- Chasing! Bible-Loving! Saving! Renewing! Praising! and With All The Joy The Holy Spirit Provides!!!”
(And I remembered 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”)
Brother Ed continued: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of how Christ died and rose again from the dead! Jesus is a Hero! He rescued us from sin and death. The real Day of Atonement was that Day when Jesus was Nailed to the Cross. The Lamb of God took away the sin of the world! Jesus said that when He was lifted up on the cross, He would draw everyone to Himself. Everyone who believes Jesus was raised from the dead will come to Him!”
Brother Ed said: “I have never heard anyone say, ‘When I studied geography my whole life changed.’ But I do know that when I studied Jesus Christ I was set free from sin! I don’t beat my wife or abuse my children. I am honest and pay my debts. I try to do good to everyone. The love of Christ fills my heart and soul! I want to share this Love with everyone who will listen!”
“Church, let’s have POWER! When God’s people of old prayed - things happened! Elijah prayed and God turned off the rain for three and a half years. Elijah prayed again and the rains came down. Every Christian has the authority to PRAY! Let everyone who is FREE IN CHRIST come to the Foot of the Cross in prayer and praise and let us lift ONE VOICE to our GOD!”
“It is time for a Christian revolution,” he shouted! “We are in the battle for the hearts and souls of mankind! If God crushed Satan beneath the feet of the Christians at Rome [Romans 16:20], HE certainly is able to do the same today if we reach up to Him in prayer. God is saying, ‘By thy faith command thou Me!’ When we believe and then ACT - our God will do what we cannot do!”
Perhaps we do need a more aggressive faith (not an arrogant faith); certainly a more joyous faith. The Tent Evangelists came into an area and practiced “Guerrilla Evangelism.” People would come to a tent service who would not consider going to a “church.” On Pentecost in Acts 2, crowds of people were reached and 3,000 were baptized into Christ that one day. Thousands more flooded into the Kingdom and the Jerusalem Church grew to perhaps 100,000 believers. When these people were scattered by persecution in Acts 8, they took CHRIST with them everywhere they went! Like gasoline poured on a fire, these believers exploded the Gospel of Christ across the First Century world. Certainly God-The-Holy- Spirit was enabling them [Compare Acts 1:8,14].
The Gospel is the POWER of God at work - saving all who believe and obey! The Word of Christ cannot fail! Revelation 7 speaks of the great number of the Saved!
A huge crowd of people,
too many to count them all,
standing in front of
the Throne and the Lamb.
They are from every race
and language, every nation
and tribe, dressed in white,
the sign of Victory!
Who are these? Where do
they come from?
They came through the
terrible persecution.
They’ve washed their robes,
scrubbed them clean
in the blood of the Lamb.
They stand in praise and worship
standing in front of the Throne,
serving Him day and night,
in the Eternal Temple.
The Lamb is in the center of
the Throne. He will shepherd
the people of God, and lead them
to Eternal spring-waters of Life.
No more tears, no sickness,
no sorrow, no persecution,
no death! All is new!
Oh, Yes! I’m on my way!
I’ll soon be there!
Come! Lord Jesus!
God-The-Holy-Spirit is vital to the life of Christ’s church. Note John 7:37-39.
Jesus stood
on the final day of the Feast.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come
to Me and drink.
Rivers of living water
will brim and spill out
of the depths of the one
who believes in Me.”
Jesus said this about
The Holy Spirit Who
would be given when
He - Jesus - was glorified
in the Cross and Resurrection.
God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah!
If you sewed together arms, legs, a body and a head, you might make a “baby.” But without the “spirit” it would not be living. In every generation a Movement arises that seeks to duplicate the New Testament church of the Apostles. They install elders and deacons, and all the known programs of the apostolic church. They set in order baptism and the Lord’s Supper. But without the life-giving Holy Spirit it is just a copy. The church is built for a “habitation of God through the Spirit” [Ephesians 2:22].
Campbell stressed “head” religion. If we merely impart knowledge of the scriptures and biblical principles, we have not made them “spiritual.”
Stone stressed “heart.” The Eunuch went on his way rejoicing. We need both “head” and “heart” in our life in Christ Jesus. It is said of those first Christians: “Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
No person or institution has the power to produce spirituality in someone. There are no shortcuts. Only God The Holy Spirit does that. We need to stress the “renewing of the Holy Ghost” [Titus 3:5] “which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” The Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us [Romans 8:26-28]. Christians are being changed into the “same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord." [2 Corinthians 3:18]
We Christians have been sanctified and we must live holy lives as living sacrifices to God [Romans 12:1-2]. The God who called us is holy, and we are to be holy too in our conversation/ conduct [1 Peter 1:15-16]. We Christians are to shine as lights in this dark world [Matthew 5:16]. Our hearts are to be full of Christian love, holy joy, and all the fruit of the Spirit! [2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Galatians 5:22-25; Romans 8:31-38].
We remember You, Lord Jesus,
in the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Meal.
Your body of flesh was nailed
to the cross, Your blood was
poured out for the sins of us.
Your death and resurrection
is the atoning sacrifice for sin.
You are the Scapegoat who
carried away forever the sins
that have been forgiven.
You purged our sins and sat down.
You give us the authority to say
Abba, Father, to God the Almighty.
You make us joint heirs with Yourself.
Oh God, our God, how majestic is
Your Name above all the earth!!!
R. D. Ice
[When we look back some years (when such things were common), we are impressed by the faith & power of the Gospel of Christ - Crucified, Risen, Coming again! Some today have pulled the plug on power, Christian love, holy joy, and the fruit of The Spirit. Paul warned: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Look back with me to those days of glory.]
It was just before WWII in one of the large cities of the South. Trucks rolled into the inner city and the crew began putting up the Gospel Tent on the vacant lot where the Circus came each year. Loudspeaker vans went through the city streets blaring the congregation singing: “There’s POWER In The BLOOD.” The song leader’s voice could be heard shouting: “Gospel Meeting tonight in the big tent! Everyone come!”
And people did come. A rainbow of ethnic groups. Many of the poor and dispossessed. Some in suits & ties. Old people and young children and those in between. But they came and they filled the Gospel Tent. Finally everyone was seated on the rickety folding-chairs.
“Let’s all sing!” shouted the song-leader. “Everyone join in and sing as loud as you can!” He began singing: “Would you be FREE from the BURDEN of SIN? There’s POWER in the BLOOD!’”
The people sang with enthusiasm! “POWER, POWER, Wonder working POWER, in the BLOOD, of the Lamb, there is POWER, POWER, Wonder working POWER, in the Precious BLOOD of the LAMB!”
They were lifting the VOICE of JOYFUL PRAISE to the Lord. Would the Apostle Paul have done what this tent evangelist was doing? Read what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, and compare Philippians 1:15-18.
Brother Ed, the Evangelist, stood up to speak. “Glory to God!” he shouted. “The Bible says Jesus came so that the world through Him might be saved! I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL! There is POWER in the BLOOD!”
“Let’s have CHURCH!” he shouted. He waved his Bible in the air. “Let's have CHURCH! - Unashamed! With Power! Jesus- Worshipping! Sin-Busting! Devil- Chasing! Bible-Loving! Saving! Renewing! Praising! and With All The Joy The Holy Spirit Provides!!!”
(And I remembered 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”)
Brother Ed continued: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of how Christ died and rose again from the dead! Jesus is a Hero! He rescued us from sin and death. The real Day of Atonement was that Day when Jesus was Nailed to the Cross. The Lamb of God took away the sin of the world! Jesus said that when He was lifted up on the cross, He would draw everyone to Himself. Everyone who believes Jesus was raised from the dead will come to Him!”
Brother Ed said: “I have never heard anyone say, ‘When I studied geography my whole life changed.’ But I do know that when I studied Jesus Christ I was set free from sin! I don’t beat my wife or abuse my children. I am honest and pay my debts. I try to do good to everyone. The love of Christ fills my heart and soul! I want to share this Love with everyone who will listen!”
“Church, let’s have POWER! When God’s people of old prayed - things happened! Elijah prayed and God turned off the rain for three and a half years. Elijah prayed again and the rains came down. Every Christian has the authority to PRAY! Let everyone who is FREE IN CHRIST come to the Foot of the Cross in prayer and praise and let us lift ONE VOICE to our GOD!”
“It is time for a Christian revolution,” he shouted! “We are in the battle for the hearts and souls of mankind! If God crushed Satan beneath the feet of the Christians at Rome [Romans 16:20], HE certainly is able to do the same today if we reach up to Him in prayer. God is saying, ‘By thy faith command thou Me!’ When we believe and then ACT - our God will do what we cannot do!”
Perhaps we do need a more aggressive faith (not an arrogant faith); certainly a more joyous faith. The Tent Evangelists came into an area and practiced “Guerrilla Evangelism.” People would come to a tent service who would not consider going to a “church.” On Pentecost in Acts 2, crowds of people were reached and 3,000 were baptized into Christ that one day. Thousands more flooded into the Kingdom and the Jerusalem Church grew to perhaps 100,000 believers. When these people were scattered by persecution in Acts 8, they took CHRIST with them everywhere they went! Like gasoline poured on a fire, these believers exploded the Gospel of Christ across the First Century world. Certainly God-The-Holy- Spirit was enabling them [Compare Acts 1:8,14].
The Gospel is the POWER of God at work - saving all who believe and obey! The Word of Christ cannot fail! Revelation 7 speaks of the great number of the Saved!
A huge crowd of people,
too many to count them all,
standing in front of
the Throne and the Lamb.
They are from every race
and language, every nation
and tribe, dressed in white,
the sign of Victory!
Who are these? Where do
they come from?
They came through the
terrible persecution.
They’ve washed their robes,
scrubbed them clean
in the blood of the Lamb.
They stand in praise and worship
standing in front of the Throne,
serving Him day and night,
in the Eternal Temple.
The Lamb is in the center of
the Throne. He will shepherd
the people of God, and lead them
to Eternal spring-waters of Life.
No more tears, no sickness,
no sorrow, no persecution,
no death! All is new!
Oh, Yes! I’m on my way!
I’ll soon be there!
Come! Lord Jesus!
God-The-Holy-Spirit is vital to the life of Christ’s church. Note John 7:37-39.
Jesus stood
on the final day of the Feast.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come
to Me and drink.
Rivers of living water
will brim and spill out
of the depths of the one
who believes in Me.”
Jesus said this about
The Holy Spirit Who
would be given when
He - Jesus - was glorified
in the Cross and Resurrection.
God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah!
If you sewed together arms, legs, a body and a head, you might make a “baby.” But without the “spirit” it would not be living. In every generation a Movement arises that seeks to duplicate the New Testament church of the Apostles. They install elders and deacons, and all the known programs of the apostolic church. They set in order baptism and the Lord’s Supper. But without the life-giving Holy Spirit it is just a copy. The church is built for a “habitation of God through the Spirit” [Ephesians 2:22].
Campbell stressed “head” religion. If we merely impart knowledge of the scriptures and biblical principles, we have not made them “spiritual.”
Stone stressed “heart.” The Eunuch went on his way rejoicing. We need both “head” and “heart” in our life in Christ Jesus. It is said of those first Christians: “Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
No person or institution has the power to produce spirituality in someone. There are no shortcuts. Only God The Holy Spirit does that. We need to stress the “renewing of the Holy Ghost” [Titus 3:5] “which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” The Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us [Romans 8:26-28]. Christians are being changed into the “same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord." [2 Corinthians 3:18]
We Christians have been sanctified and we must live holy lives as living sacrifices to God [Romans 12:1-2]. The God who called us is holy, and we are to be holy too in our conversation/ conduct [1 Peter 1:15-16]. We Christians are to shine as lights in this dark world [Matthew 5:16]. Our hearts are to be full of Christian love, holy joy, and all the fruit of the Spirit! [2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Galatians 5:22-25; Romans 8:31-38].
We remember You, Lord Jesus,
in the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Meal.
Your body of flesh was nailed
to the cross, Your blood was
poured out for the sins of us.
Your death and resurrection
is the atoning sacrifice for sin.
You are the Scapegoat who
carried away forever the sins
that have been forgiven.
You purged our sins and sat down.
You give us the authority to say
Abba, Father, to God the Almighty.
You make us joint heirs with Yourself.
Oh God, our God, how majestic is
Your Name above all the earth!!!
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