Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

Acts 6:1-4   And in these days, as the disciples were multiplying in number, a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews occurred, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily dispensing.

And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, It is not fitting for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

But brothers, look for seven well-attested men from among you, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.

But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.

 

I’ve been impressed with the importance of prayer in relation to so many things.  And here in Acts chapter 6 we see what the early disciples had practiced.  They were first a praying people.  They just didn’t go out and do things randomly without praying first.  Second they were given to the ministry of the word!  How awesome!  But these two go together.  They are inseparable.  Don’t divorce yourself from prayer!  How many people are bold to speak many things in the name of God.  But how much prayer is there before God?  This is the real test.  This is a principle in the bible.  Another sidebar is that they were not alone they were a group.  There is something to be said for praying with others in twos or threes or more.  When we pray together there is more firepower (Matthew 18:19-20).  Their prayer afforded them the divine strength and power needed for the ministry of the word.  So their speaking had impact and surely was the Lord’s speaking.  They were truly the Lord’s continuation on the earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those Who Are Sleeping

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are sleeping, that you would not grieve even as also the rest who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him.

 

 

John 11:11   He said these things, and after this He said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going that I may wake him out of sleep.

12 The disciples then said to Him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.

13 But Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

14 So Jesus then told them plainly, Lazarus has died.

 

 

Those who are “sleeping” as pointed out in the verses above, refer to the believers of the Lord who have died.  But the Lord did not say that were dead, he said that they were sleeping.  Meaning that they will be awakened by the Lord at his coming back and will be raised from the dead.  The Lord said the same thing concerning Lazarus.  He referred to Him as one who has fallen asleep.  All of the dead believers will rise first when the Lord Jesus comes back (1Thes. 4:15).

 

 

 

 

Christ died for Her

1 Peter 2:24 Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose bruise you were healed.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

We have all heard of Christ being our savior, our redeemer.  We have all heard that he has died for our sins.  This is all correct of course according to the word of God.  Galatians 2:20 shows us that Christ, the Son of God gave himself up for us!  But it doesn’t say us.  It says “me”.  Specifically “me”.  On the one hand Christ died for all ( 2 Cor.5:15) but here the Apostle Paul says that Christ died for “me”.  This is very sweet and personal.  How comforting to realize and declare Christ died for me!  However, Christ just didn’t die for you only.  He died for HER!!! (Eph. 5:25).  In Ephesians 5:25  we see that Christ died for “her”.  Who is she?  The her in that verse refers the church!  So on one hand yes he died for “me”, but his dying was with her in view, that is the church.  This is corporate.  The church is a corporate entity composed of every genuine believer on the planet.  All of us together comprise the “her” in verse 25.  What a revelation!  To take away sin merely is not the goal.  It was the love of God that motivated him to give us his Son that we may not perish but would be regenerated having the eternal life and it was love that motivated him to give himself up for us not just to deal with our sins but for her!  The goal is to gain her!  Wonderful!  Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

 

 

 

 

 

The Indispensability of the Members of the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, it is not that because of this it is not of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, it is not that because of this it is not of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were the hearing, where would the smelling be?

18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He willed.

19 And if all were one member, where would the body be?

20 But now the members are many, but the body one.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 But much rather the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

 

Each member of the Body is vitally necessary and absolutely indispensable!  May the Lord deal with our Independence  and individualism!

 

God bless you.  And may God bless all of us to see the revelation of the Body of Christ.

 

 

God has called us into His Eternal Glory

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in leading many sons into glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, He who has called you into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself perfect, establish, strengthen, and ground you.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 So that you might walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Additional references:  Rom. 3:23, 8:30, Eph. 3:21, Rev. 21:9-10, 11

God has called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus!  Here it or anywhere in the bible for that matter does it mention calling us into or going to heaven.  Rather it clearly reveals that we have been called into God’s eternal glory in Christ Jesus. He has called us into his own kingdom and glory.  In Hebrews it even says that he is leading many sons into glory!  Glory is the expression of God himself.  Christians have been duped for centuries thinking that “going to heaven is the destination or goal of the christian life and we just kind of wait around.  This is quite a false teaching and deception.  The goal of our salvation is glorification.  Praise the Lord for his glory and the many sons of God!

 

 

 

 

The Second Birth of Christ: In Resurrection

Romans 1:1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2 Which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

3 Concerning His Son, who came out of the seed of David according to the flesh,

4 Who was designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord;

*Also see Acts 13:33, Psalm 2:7 for additional references.

Hope everyone had a great weekend during the holiday festivities.  Traditionally around this time of year we normally focus on the birth of Christ.  But I would like to call your attention to the second birth of Christ according the Word of God.  Christ actually had two births.  The first birth is in his humanity to bring God into man. The second birth happened after his crucifixion and during his resurrection.  In which his crucified humanity was begotten of God and brought into his divinity.  This is why Romans says that he was designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead Jesus Christ our Lord!  He was already the only begotten Son of God.  But after incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection he had put on human flesh which needed to be processed according to his eternal purpose.  This is also why the bible calls him the Firstborn Son of God! (Rom. 8:29, Heb. 1:6).  

 

The Lord’s Second Coming: The Coming of the Son of Man

Matthew 24:27 For just as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 Wherever the corpse is, there will the vultures be gathered together.

29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30 And at that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 

The Lord Jesus came to us in his incarnation the first time (John 1:14).  However he will come again a second time to the earth!  The traditional concept is that we go to heaven.  But the bible is emphatic concerning God coming to the earth, a second time.  This is spoken of in Matthew 24:27-30 which is the open coming of the Lord to the earth after the great tribulation during which he will be manifested for all to see.  And concerning the Lord’s second coming there are two aspects.  Open and secret coming.  The aspect of the secret coming will be the topic of another post.

I love these verses!  It says the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  WOW! What a wonderful sight that will be!  All the tribes refer to the jews in the holy land who will repent and turn to the Lord which will be discussed in another post as well.

 

COME LORD JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

The Holy Spirit as the Pledge of Our Inheritance

13 In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,

14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance unto the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

Praise the Lord for the gospel!  The good news!  We’ll I have nothing but good news today.  And that is the Holy Spirit as the pledge of our inheritance.  This pledge is a foretaste, a downpayment or guarantee of the full payment!  We will inherit God in full, but the pledge, the foretaste is the Holy Spirit!  Wonderful.

 

 

 

We must all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ

Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God,

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done through the body according to what he has practiced, whether good or bad.

Romans 14:12 So then each one of us will give an account concerning himself to God.

Every believer must stand before the judgement seat of Christ concerning his life after he/she were saved.  Concerning our living, our work, our words and all the things done through the body whether good or bad!  How sobering!  This has been the most sobering matter since I have been a Christian.  Knowing that one day I will have to personally give an account to God.

This is a serious warning to us!

 

Love and Shepherding

John 21:15 Then when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs.

16 He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep.

17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved that He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

 

Peter had experienced a failure while following the Lord.  He was so confident and bold in himself that he told the Lord that he would die for him.  But the Lord responded by saying will you lay down your life for me?  “Truly, truly, I say to you, A rooster shall by no means crow until you deny Me three times” (John 13:38).  The Lord knew Peter would deny him not just once or even twice but three times!  What a failure to Peter!  He must have been devastated.  But the Lord came to him after his resurrection to come and not only restore his love to him but also his shepherding of others.  He asked him do you love me three times then he mentions shepherding his sheep.  If you love the Lord you will shepherd others.  This is the Lords desire.  Actually our taking care of others must come out of our love for the Lord.