Biddeford Church of Christ

With Thanksgiving only days away, it is a tradition that I do a lesson about thankfulness, and this year will be no different for the most part.  Let me begin by sharing with you what happened during our trip to visit our son and his family.  While there, I finished my daily Ephesian scripture reading and started reading Philippians. I read through chapter one, listening to Paul’s endearing words to those he sincerely cared for.  Then came Sunday and the opportunity to worship with the saints in El Paso. We were greeted by friendly faces, welcoming us to the area.  The preacher got up and shared some initial thoughts, and he was good.  Then he shared the text for the lesson, Philippians 1:3 and 6, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  Lord willing, I want to focus next week on v6, but for today, I wish to consider v3.

In his introduction to his lesson, after sharing some thoughts, he asked a question that surprised me.  The question was, “What do you thank God for?”  If you are like me, in my mind, I began to list things: wife, family, church, job, clothes, and the list could go on.  There is nothing wrong with being thankful for these things.  James writes, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadowing of turning” (James 1:17).  God is the source of all we have, so, when was the last time I thanked God for being my God?  Weird, right?  Yet is He not worthy of such gratitude from His children?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks…” (1st Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Although this part of the lesson is much like the ones from years past, I invite you to allow God to remind us of how important thankfulness is to the Christian’s daily walk.  The Greek word translated as “thanks” in the verse above means to be grateful and feel thankful.  It combines two Greek words, eu meaning “good” and xaris meaning “grace.”  This call to gratitude, as you know, is not an uncommon theme in the bible.  In our recent Colossian journey, Paul spoke of all that is ours through faith in Christ and how we should be “abounding in it with thanksgiving” (2:6).  He exhorted the Philippians to lace their prayers “with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6). He urged the church in Ephesus, he encouraged them to give “thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). Why is thankfulness, so crucial to the believer? In a study, two psychologists had people write a few sentences each week for ten weeks.  Broken into three groups, they each wrote about one thing; either things they were grateful for, daily irritations or events that had affected them, and finally, writing about events but not noting whether the event impacted them negatively or positively.  I suspect I need not share the results, but I will.  Those who wrote about what they were grateful for were more optimistic and felt better about life.  God knew long before phycologists ever studied it that thankfulness, the art of gratitude, is critical to the well-being of mankind, more importantly, to the redeemed.  So, this brings us to the actual emphasis of this article: the ultimate object of our thankfulness.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16)

For most of us, we can quote the remainder of that verse, but the question I asked earlier causes me to quote this part.  Once again, the question, “What do I thank God for?”   As I stated before, the list, we often make deserves much gratitude from us all.  God has blessed us so much, especially in this part of the world.  But what happens when that list is impacted in some fashion?  The loss of a job, our house burns down, can’t afford things (inflation), you know what I am talking about.  Gratitude is sometimes elusive, not because there is nothing to be thankful for; but because what we are grateful for in life is often temporary.  So, to the verse above, my thoughts were drawn and for a good reason. God gave of Himself because He loved the world…me!  Because of His love for us, he gave Jesus knowing of the deprived state of this world…of me (Romans 5:8).  There are so many things for us to be grateful for, none other so precious and unchanging than His love for a lost and dying world of which, I was once a part of.  Placing faith in what He did through the gift of His Son, I have received the greatest gift of all, salvation.  Thank You, God, for loving me so much!  Thank You, God, for giving Your Son in place of me and my sins!  Thank You, God, for the redemption that is now mine! No matter what happens in this chaotic world, there will always be reasons to thank my God.  Let us praise Him because He is faithful and loving.

Dennis

I want to thank Antonio for an email he sent that shared a bible verse that was truly encouraging.  For the last several weeks, he has been guiding our mid-week bible class through a study of the book of Hebrews.  This letter is most likely written to Jews who had converted over to Christianity: that is, placing their confidence in Christ as both Lord and Savior.  Last week I did a lesson from Hebrews and in it I shared the following verse, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is before us…” (Hebrews 12:1).  Once again, I love the simplicity of the ETRV which says in part, “So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit.  We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.”  The battle with sin is very real!  There is a spiritual war that goes on within many of us (Galatians 5:17).  Thoughts which conflict with the righteousness of our Savior and ones we are called to “capture…and make it give up and obey Christ” (2^nd Corinthians 10:5).  For the last several Sunday’s, I have sought to paint a picture of our glorious Lord and the beauty of His amazing grace.  Thanks to Antonio, I wish to stroke that picture once again with the paint brush of God’s word, reminding us again of how God wants us to see Jesus.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14)

Never quit!  Have you ever quit something?  I know, that is a rhetorical question.  I guess the better question could be, “Why did you quit?”  Well, if there was ever a reason to quit that sounds reasonable from an earthly perspective, it is found in Hebrews 11:36-38, which says, “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”  I have used this text many times and struggle to wrap my head around what it is saying.  I know the apostle Paul taught that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2^nd Timothy 3:12).  What would keep them from quitting?  It is found in the exhortation which says “…let us hold fast our confession.”  HOLD ON!  The word hold means to use strength, i.e., seize or retain.  Hold on to what?  What they had come to learn about Jesus Christ and the hope that is found only in Him.  He is the “great High Priest,” who “with His own blood…entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).  Why? Hebrews 9:28, “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” For these early Christians, they needed to cling by faith to the reality that “you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (Hebrews 10:34).  Okay, I know the reason why I need to hold on, but what can help me know as I wait?

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness,

but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Seeing someone accomplish an extraordinary task is inspiring to me.  These early Jewish Christians came from a system that they would have revered in many ways the high priest in the Levitical priesthood.  Yet, that high priest was just like them, a sinner in need of redemption.  Hebrews 5:3, “Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.”  Jesus was different and far superior.  On the one hand, He can “sympathize with our weaknesses.”  The Greek word translated weaknesses carries the idea of feebleness or frailty.  The word sympathize means to have compassion.  As the ETRV says, He is “able to understand our weaknesses.”  Well, so could the earthly high priest.  This is where the superiority of Christ is revealed, for although He was “tempted as we are,” He was “without sin.”  This word tempted means test and/or entice.  One commentator writes, “These words show the nature and the limits of this sympathy of Christ. He suffers with His people, not merely showing compassion to those who are suffering and tempted but taking to Himself a joint feeling of their weaknesses. He can do this because He has passed through trial, has Himself been tempted.”  He knows what it is like to be human and the challenges that it brings.  If there is anyone who can help us become victorious over the sin that so often entices us, it is the One who has been there and was victorious every time.  Let Jesus be our inspiration.

When we by faith grasp the superiority of Christ, it opens opportunities for His followers.  We can “come boldly to the throne of grace” because He has compassion on His followers.  He invites them in and to do with confidence.  Why?  Because He know we need mercy, and He promises to provide it.  He knows within us, we are incapable of being victorious over sin, but through Him we can find “help in time of need.”  What is the greatest need we have, forgiveness.  Hebrews 2:17, “For this reason, Jesus had to be made like us, his brothers and sisters, in every way. He became like people so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then he could bring forgiveness for the people’s sins.”  Thank You Jesus for coming to this earth and becoming like us, Your creation.  Thank You for Your compassion and willingness to give Yourself on the cross to redeem us from the consequences of our sin.  May You be praised every day for the hope we have and the promise of eternal life.

Dennis

I have thought long and hard about this article and the lesson which will come from it. As I considered things, a question came to mind, “From where do I look?”  To help you understand the question, I need to state some things concerning the scriptures. The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1^st Cor. 10:12).  In the next verse, he speaks about temptation and our need to be vigilant, if you will, concerning it.  Why?  The Bible makes it clear that those in Christ can “become estranged from Christ,” resulting in one falling “from grace” (Gal. 5:4). The issue with the church at Galatia concerned their possible choice to put their trust in the Old Law and thus, nullifying the redemptive work of Christ.  The fact is, we can “wander from the truth” (James 5:19) and need someone’s help to “turn a sinner from the error of his way” (James 5:20).  Sadly, left unchecked, believers can become “entangled in them and overcome” (2^nd Peter 2:20): the “them” being “the pollutions of the world.”  This world is so polluted with things that pull at us, seeking to draw us away from Christ.  There are multiple other Bible verses that could be shared to reveal that salvation can be lost. that the notion that someone is saved and can never lose their salvation is simply not biblical.  But is it possible in seeking to defend that truth, that we inadvertently fail to grasp another biblical truth that can bring assurance to a Christian’s walk?  That truth is God’s overwhelming faithfulness towards His children.

Okay, for the last couple of sermons, I spoke about our hope in Christ and the comfort of knowing how forgiving He is towards His children who are in Christ. Can I get an amen?  Far too many people are unable to say amen with any real confidence.  Why is that?  It could be from where they look for hope.  For the Christian, our journey homeward is filled with missteps, moments where temptation or ignorance got the best of us. We come before our Lord and humbly ask for His forgiveness, and it is graciously provided (Remember 1^st John 1:5-10). God is so good!  Right?  So, let me ask the question again, “From where do you look?”  If I constantly fear losing my salvation, am anxious about every move, and worry whether I have failed Him somehow, how can I have that joy, peace, and hope?   Is God bigger than our sins?  Gracious enough to forgive us?  Is He faithful?  Can I trust Him?  It is these types of questions that can consume a believer that I wish to help answer.

“For He, Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

We will get to two significant words in this verse in a moment. First, though, it is essential to remember that the writer of Hebrews is quoting Deuteronomy 31:6. The change of guards is taking place where Moses is stepping away, and Joshua is stepping in to lead God’s people. The promised land was theirs for the taking, and the Lord says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you” (Deut. 31:6a).  Where would their strength and courage come from that would enable them to journey forward?  What follows are these words of great assurance, “He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  The One that goes with you can be trusted!  This same promise is given to Joshua in Joshua chapter 1:5, as well as to Solomon from his father David in 1^st Chronicles 28:20.  It was important for them then, as it was for the early Christians, to place their trust in the unwavering character of God.  His promise was absolute, “I will NEVER LEAVE you…” The Greek word means to let up, i.e., slacken or desert. One commentator writes, “I will never relax my grasp.”  The writer of Hebrews is seeking to empress on the minds of these young Christians that God is faithful in His promise.  A faithfulness that was no different even under the Old Law, for God is a promise keeper and always has been!  He knows you struggle with sin.  He knows you will never be perfect.  He knows you are a work in progress and wants you to progress in that work called transformation.  That said, He wants you to believe in His promise never to leave you.  Although somewhat redundant, the word of God builds on this idea using another word. He will NEVER FORSAKE you! This word is similar in meaning; that is, to leave behind in some place. Once again, we get this idea of someone deserting another, which God will never do. He didn’t back then, and He won’t now.  With such confidence, Christians can boldly say…

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:6)

Much like those of old, the journey before these early Christians was filled with unimaginable trials (Hebrews 11:32-38).  They were encouraged to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).  Sin was as much a part of their journey as it is ours today.  Even so, they were called to run.  As they ran, their focus was on “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).  Why?  Because if they didn’t, they would “become weary and discouraged in their [your] souls” (Hebrews 12:3). They needed to stay focused on the One who brings true meaning to the words joy, peace, and hope.  To the One that is always faithful and promises never to leave or forsake them as they ran homeward to be with Him forever.

So, from where do you look?  Is your focus on your efforts and how you seem to fall short more than you would like to admit?  Our minds wrestle with the idea, “If I only…” or, “Once I can…then He will.”  You get the idea, a hope that is ever present but seemingly unattainable.  Such a view makes it difficult to see God’s incredible love and His unrelenting faithfulness towards His children.  Or do you look at those same sinful acts through the lens of a gracious God that yearns for you to grow, but understands that you are on a journey toward Christlikeness?  And as we saw a couple weeks ago, if you are honest with Him, He will be faithful to you and forgive you of all your sins.  Why?  Because He is a faithful God that is true to His word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  May our hope rest entirely in Him.  For He is the only true constant in this world of ours.

Dennis

 I am still very focused on the verse from last week’s lesson, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).  Of course, the believing part is centered on Christ and what He has done and continues to do to set us free from the consequences of our sin.  I use the word continues, because what He did on the cross some two thousand years ago and what He did when we obeyed that gospel, still goes on today.  Thus, there is reason for joy, peace and hope to be present in our daily walk with Christ.  What I would like to do for the next few weeks is remind us of some of those things are which should cause us to leap for joy, as well as bring us peace of mind.  Our hope is not just in what is to come, but in what Christ promises to do each day we walk with Him.  So, I thought I would start with what some may say is the central objective of Christ’s sacrifice, forgiveness.

The power of forgiveness is far reaching, going beyond the believer.  Yet, its ability to do so is dependent upon the conviction we have about our own struggle with sin to this very day.  You may remember from the series of lesson on Colossians, that those early Christians were exhorted to forgive one another “even as Christ forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).   I can’t tell you how many times I have asked someone the question, “You know you are forgiven, right?”  Only to hear back, “I hope so.”  That sort of hope was not what I spoke about last week.  And if I were to be honest, I have thought that way on too many occasions during my walk with Christ.  So, when such doubt seeks to rule my thoughts, I seek to take it captive with the following text.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  1^st John 1:7

I will say it right up front; we have obligations if we are in Christ.  If we were to try and put it into words, we may simply say we are called to “walk in the light.”  The ETRV say, “We should live in the light, where God is.”  What does that mean?  One commentator writes, “Leading lives of holiness and purity; that is, the Christian must be characteristically a holy man, a light in the world, by his example.”  This thought is rooted in biblical truths (1^st Peter 1:16; Matthew 5:14-16).  That said, no one is perfect after they come to Christ, right?  Right!  The apostle Paul’s words from Romans 7:15 cry out, “I don’t understand why I act the way I do.  I don’t do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate” (ETRV).  I can so relate to this verse, can’t you?  In our journey of transformation, we will find ourselves fighting the battle against sin, and we will not always be victorious.  Our hope need not waiver, because “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  CLEAN!  Because of Him we can claim holiness!  One commentator writes, “There is no stain made by sin so deep that the blood of Christ cannot take it entirely away from the soul.”  Do you believe it?  You cannot know true freedom if you don’t.  You cannot have real hope if you can’t.  The good news is not for a day when we obeyed the gospel, it is for a lifetime for those who trust in His work on the cross and seek to walk in His light, as imperfect that may be.  So, if that wasn’t enough, the Holy Spirit felt it necessary to repeat this very idea.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1^st John 1:8-9

When it comes to those in Christ, I have found few who believe they are without sin.  Many simply wallow in their awareness of personal sin, being held captive to their own past, no matter how recent it may be.  I have been there; you know, trying to cover my sins.  If I were to be honest, that feeling at times resulted in me being far more judgmental towards others, all to try and ease my conscience.  It didn’t work!  What does?  Being honest with God.  The word confess means to acknowledge.  Proverbs 28:13, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”  God is faithful and will fulfill His promise to forgive.  He will “cleanse us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” This confession is at times done with another brother or sister in Christ who will lift it up in prayer (James 5:16).  Whether with another or with the Lord, you can be assured of forgiveness.

Okay, so let’s connect some dots here.  If the Good News is only good the day we obeyed the gospel, how good is it?  Joy, peace, and hope would be nothing but a fleeting thought.  But when we grasp that the real essence of the Good News is for a lifetime, that it is as real today for me as it was over thirty years ago, than there is reason for joy, peace, and hope.  True, I need to be real with the One who makes all this possible.  That involves a desire to walk in His light.  But it also means being honest about our battle with sin.  Thus, we humbly and maybe sometimes embarrassingly, acknowledge our sins before God.  And when we do, He will always fulfill His promise.  Forgiveness.

Dennis

A few days ago, in one of my emails, I shared this scripture, “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17:13). It has been on my mind ever since we covered it in our young adult study. What does hope mean to you? One person writes, “Hope that is reduced to the level of wishes and dreams can be like soap bubbles that look beautiful to the eye but disappear at the slightest touch.”   Jesus wanted His joy to fill His apostles. Why? Because it would be central to all they would soon proclaim concerning Christ. The writer of Hebrews wrote long ago, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). The source of our hope, of course, is Christ, but our understanding of this hope comes from the Scriptures. Paul writes, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us” (Romans 15:4, ETRV).  Hope is something we learn about, and like the algebra I learned long ago, it is something we can easily loss sight of over time.  As you may have guessed, today I want to talk about hope. But not simply hope for us as individuals but how that same hope can empower us as a church family

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

As Paul says this brief prayer, his desire, in part, was for the church in Rome to “abound in hope.”  The idea of abounding means to superabound, be in excess, and be superfluous. The word hope carries the idea of expectation or confidence. So, Paul wants the church in Rome to be overflowing with the hope of Christ in their lives. Now it is the context that makes this so important to grasp. As the gospel spread, Jewish and Gentile believers had to work through years of hostility and unite for the cause of Christ. Paul wrote, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6). Why was this unification of minds, centered on the hope that is in Christ, so important?   It was so they could “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  He would repeat this idea in the very next verse, “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).  Hope realized as a church family glorifies God!  Bible verses flood my mind:  1^st Peter 1:13, “…set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”  Ephesians 1:18, “…that you may know what is the hope of His calling…”. Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”  The list can go on and on. Hope is central to our ability to bring God glory.

According to Paul, the source of hope, which is God, will fill us with two things that appear to be characteristics of hope itself: sort of a by-product.  I had to laugh when I first looked at the meaning of “fill.”  It means to make replete, i.e., to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify. You may have guessed that it was “to cram” that I chuckled.  But maybe it is what God desires to do, cram us full of His wonderful message of hope.  A hope that has joy; that is, gladness, cheerfulness, i.e., calm delight, as well as a hope that has peace.  Paul says that “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  Who among us would not want to be filled with joy?  Or peace, for that matter?  God was willing to provide them with it; they only needed to have faith that He would.  It is no different for us today.

I reflect on the quote about the soap bubbles earlier. Joy and peace, like hope itself, can seem so fickle at times. Why is that? It could be rooted in what we have as a source of joy, peace, and hope.  So often, it is in transitory things that are here today and gone tomorrow. For Christians, our belief needs to be focused on the hope that is found in Christ and Christ alone.  This hope is central to our mission to share the gospel of Christ with those around us. 1^st Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”.   Fill us anew, Lord, with the hope of Christ.  Fill us till it is overflowing, and we can do nothing but talk about You with others.  Make joy, peace, and hope so real within us, that people will notice and ask why? Why? Because we believe in YOU! Amen.

Dennis

As I give thought to this article, I am mindful of the catastrophic storm that is bearing down on the east coast of Florida.  It weighs a little more on my mind because two of Debbie’s brothers live in Florida and are in the path of the storm.  One heeded the warnings and moved to safety, the other has chosen to roll the dice, so to speak.  Such warnings always have hope within them.  Leave where you are and come find shelter here from the storm.  This has caused me to think of our Sunday morning study of Hosea and Amos, two prophets who were used by God to encourage, exhort, and yes, warn God’s people of the coming catastrophe.  But such warnings are not void of hope, “Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1). 

In our life group meetings, we have been discussing various ways we can seek to be effective in proclaiming the gospel of Christ.  Some of our discussions have been about friendship evangelism.  Lately we have considered the church and its uniqueness, and how it might play a role in reaching out to others.  But at the very core of it all is the Gospel.  A message of such great hope, of which there is no doubt.  Paul writes that “the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church” (Ephesians 3:10).  For close to two thousand years, the church has been given the joyful task of proclaiming Christ.

Okay, so what does all this have to do with Jeremiah 20:9, since it is the verse I said I would speak about today.  I think it might have more to do with it than you might think.  Let’s consider it briefly and make some application.

But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,”

his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut in my bones.

I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.  (NIV, Jeremiah 20:9)

To understand this verse, we need to go back to chapter 19.  Much like the prophets Hosea and Amos, Jeremiah has a difficult task in front of him.  He is to inform the people, “Behold, I will bring such a catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears of it, his ears will tingle” (Jeremiah 19:3).  How many of us would like that responsibility?  Well, if we skip down to 19:14-15, we find Jeremiah “in the court of the Lord’s house” prophesying to the people this very message.  As you might have expected, the response was not well received.  Pashhur, “the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the Lord” (20:1) “struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks” (20:2).  What comes next is the conflict Jeremiah felt concerning the ministry he was given by God: one commentator calls it “a psalm of passionate complaint.”  Listen to the ETRV translation of v7, “Lord, you tricked me, and I certainly was fooled.  You are stronger than I am, so you won.  I have become a joke.  People laugh at me and make fun of me all day long.”  Have you ever feared that such a response from people if you were to talk about Christ?  I know I have, more than once.  Such authenticity from the prophet Jeremiah.  So, let’s grasp the backdrop for a moment:  he is given a task to exhort God’s people which resulted in him being placed in stocks.  On top of that, he has become the laughingstock in the community.  Is it worth it?  You know, to speak up for God?  As one commentator put it, “The sense of a hopeless work, destined to fail, weighed on the prophet’s soul, and he would fain have withdrawn from it…”.

Now we come to Jeremiah 20:9 and find the resolve of the prophet amid this ever-present conflict within.  On the one hand, there is this option, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name.”  Have you ever wanted to give up on something?  The early church was faced with a similar situation, as the gospel began to spread.  Some reacted with great resistance to the message preached by Peter and John, commanding them “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18).  In Acts 5:18 the apostles were put in prison and in Acts 7 we know that Stephen lost his life after proclaiming Christ.  A “great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1).  Do we face such obstacles today?  As much as things change, they remain the same.  For most of us, we are not facing imprisonment, but I suspect some may face being laughed at by our secular world.  We to must face the temptation to be silent and not speak His word, most importantly, the hope of Christ.  So, what helped Jeremiah to go beyond what he was feeling within?  His conviction about the message he had heard from God was louder than his fears and frustrations.  His resolve is found in these powerful words, “his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut in my bones, I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”  I think of the words of the apostle found in Acts 5:29 as they were faced with the decision to speak up or shut up, “We ought to obey Gad rather than men.”  Then there is the early church’s prayer in Acts 4:29, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.”

So, what are the take aways from the above thoughts?  First, I find comfort knowing that God is not bothered with authenticity.  Jeremiah was being real about the things he faced when it came to proclaiming God’s word.  What things hinder you from talking to others about Christ, His church, and His teachings?  I suspect we all can relate in some way to Jeremiah.  I encourage us all to just be honest with God about it and pray that God would give us all boldness.  Second, remind yourselves about the gospel you came to know and the God who loves you so much.  Remind yourself of the Christ who gave His life to give us life.  It is true that Jeremiah’s message was not very joyful, and if we were to be honest about things, some of the gospel itself is not joyful.  To get to the Good News, we must talk about the bad news concerning sin.  Much like Jeremiah, the conviction of God’s word that is within us, will inevitably come out.  Why?  “Jesus is the only one who can save people.  His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone.  We must be saved through him!” (Acts 4:12, ETRV).  May God strengthen us as His church to mention the risen Savior to a lost and dying world.  Be blessed church.

Dennis

As our journey through Colossians comes to a close, It reminds me of how important we are to one another and the ministry of the gospel. As the apostle Paul begins to close his brief letter, he begins to list several individuals involved in some fashion with the work in Colosse. First, there is Tychicus, “a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord” (4:7), and “Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you” (4:9). Paul plans to send them to the church for two reasons: to “tell them all the news about me” (Paul), and “that he may know your circumstances and comfort (nu 3870, encourage, console) your hearts” (4:8). Then there is Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus who send greetings to the church in Colosse, who are ”fellow workers for the kingdom of God” with Paul. Paul says, “[T]hey have proved to be a comfort to me” (4:11) because, at the time of writing this letter, Paul was in prison. He would mention “Luke the beloved physician” and Demas, who also sent their greetings. Again it reminds me of the close weave of far and near relationships that play an essential role in the growth and strengthening of the church.

It is not surprising that this letter closes by mentioning Epaphras, “who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf” (1:7). And it is here that we find ourselves considering the act of prayer that was so important to the work then. How important? Remember, the apostle Paul mentioned how he was “praying always for you” (1:3) and how he did “not cease to pray for” them (1:9). He prayed for the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:3, 9), for the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:16), for the church in Rome (Romans 1:9) and others as well. Whether it was through the influence of Paul or not, Epaphras also was a man of prayer when it came to his ministry and those he served.

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring

fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

 Colossians 4:12

In a young adult class that is taking place at my house, Angel is walking us through a discussion and study about zeal. I mention this because Paul says of Epaphras that “he has a great zeal for you, and for those who are in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis” (Colossians 4:13). Instead of zeal, your translation may say “working hard,” “deep concern” or “much labor .” The New Living Translation reads, “he prays hard for you.”  Maybe in part, this was because he was “one of you,” but I suspect it was because he believed in the power of our prayer and how his work desperately needed to include his God in things. So, Paul talks of how Epaphras was “always laboring fervently for you in prayers.”  The ETRV reads, “He constantly struggles for you in prayer.”  Another translation uses the word “wrestling.”  In Luke 13:24, the same word translates as “strive,” and in John 18:36, “fight.”  It carries the idea of struggling, like being engaged in an intense athletic contest or warfare. As one commentator writes, “The KJV here seems to capture more of the weight of the word in rendering ‘laboring fervently.'”  Still, another writes of the “greatest fervency of desire and affection in prayer” that Epaphras had for them. His passion for them is revealed partly through his prayer life for them.

His prayers were specific, for he yearned that they would “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  Perfect? Remember what Paul previously wrote about concerning their proclamation of Christ. He said “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (1:28). This idea of being perfect involved attaining “to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding” (2:2). It appears that both of these words, “perfect and complete,” play off one another. The Greek word for “perfect” seems to carry the idea of maturity. The Greek word for complete means being totally assured of something. It translates as “being fully assured” in Romans 4:21. As one commentator writes, “The desire was, that they might maintain their Christian principles unadulterated by the mixture of philosophy and error, and completely perform the will of God in every respect.”  Epaphras, being from that area, knew the challenges before them and the pull of those Jewish philosophers. Paul wanted to assure them of who Christ is and, in so doing, continue in their journey of seeking out His will in all areas of life.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I spoke of the need to keep me in your prayers (Colossians 4:2). It is my turn now, as I am reminded of the importance of praying for the Lord’s church here in Biddeford. It reminds me of something Paul said to the church in Corinth, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1st Corinthians 3:7). I think Epaphras had a good handle on this idea. As much as he worked for the kingdom, he remembered that only One is truly in control of things, and that is God. Thus, Epaphras found himself going to his God, our God, and fervently praying for the church in Colosse. He prayed for their conviction concerning Christ and that it would lead to greater levels of maturity. This maturity, of course, would result in lives that seek His will. Heavenly Father, may You continue to help Your church here at Biddeford to be convinced of the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek Your will in all areas of life. For You alone are worthy of all glory and honor. In Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen. May we all unite in faithful prayer for the Lord’s work here in Biddeford. Thank You, Lord for this church family.

Dennis

A short while ago, I heard a news anchor say something that shocked me.  In his effort to quiet the Christian community on abortion, he made the following statement, “Let me just say, as a Southern Baptist, I grew up reading the Bible, maybe a backslidden Baptist, but I still know the Bible. Jesus never once talked about abortion. Never once.” I did not use that quote to criticize the Southern Baptist organization but instead reveal the lack of insight, or what I would like to call, the wisdom of some who profess to have it. Wisdom! It has always been important for God’s people to seek wisdom. James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives it liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Solomon says in Proverbs 2:6, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…”.   Again, he says in Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” The value of wisdom can also be seen in these words, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16). The worth of wisdom cannot be overstated. The simple truth is that if we want to navigate this world of ours with the desire to bring Him glory and honor, it becomes crucial to seek wisdom. As we look at Paul’s letter to the church in Colosse, we see that things have not changed.

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”  (Colossians 4:5)

Paul writes in chapter 1, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” (1:9-10). How we walk is vital to the gospel and our mission to share it with others. John wrote, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1st John 2:6). So, what is the Holy Spirit urging the church to do? What does it mean to “walk in wisdom”? One commentator writes, “Deal with them on the strictest principles of integrity so that they may not have occasion to reproach the religion which you profess.”  The focus here is how they interacted with unbelievers. The ETRV says, “Be wise in the way you act with those who are not believers.”  Paul echoed this same idea in Ephesians 5:15 when he says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The days were evil in Paul’s time, and they are still evil today. The effort to “walk in wisdom” has a purpose. That purpose is the “redeeming the time.”  The word redeeming comes from a Greek word that means to buy up, i.e., ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss. Wisdom will surely equip the believer against the external dangers around them, but that is not its only purpose. It should also help us to “make full use of external opportunities,” as one commentator puts it. Still, another writes of wisdom, “embracing and improving every opportunity of doing good, particularly of gaining souls to Christ.”  Paul urged the Galatian church, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all…” (Galatians 6:10). So, to walk in wisdom, at least in this instance, is with the intent to influence others for Christ. Paul builds on this idea with the following.

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt,

that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6)

Returning to the news anchor above and his foolish thoughts about abortion which he spoke on national TV.  There was another news anchor I listened to who opposed the first one by calling him stupid. This caused me to think that one might be right, but in their rightness, they could be wrong because of a missed opportunity. Does that make sense?  As God opens a door, our words can quickly and unwittingly close it. So, let your speech always be with grace. Grace here speaks to the idea of leaning towards to share benefits. One commentator explains it as “the kindly, winning pleasantness which makes the talk of a good and thoughtful man attractive.”  Still, another writes, “Even the smallest leaf of the believer should be full of the sap of the Holy Spirit.”  Paul builds this further with the words “seasoned with salt.”  Jesus wants His followers to remember, “You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13). It is true that how we use our words is important to the church (Ephesians 4:29), but they also matter to those lost around us. Words, like salt on various foods, can make a conversation wholesome and palatable. As one commentator writes, “Whatever be the topic, the spirit of piety should be diffused through it – as the salt in our food should properly season it all – whatever the article of food may be.”  As much as it depends on us as believers, this is our approach to those around us.

The definition of civility is formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech. For the Christian, it is the byproduct of godly wisdom and a means, I believe, that God uses to open doors. You don’t have to compromise truth for this to happen; you only need to be wise in how you speak it to others. Thus, it makes sense that God would encourage these early Christian to “walk in wisdom.”  Not merely to protect themselves from external threats, but equally important,  to ready themselves to talk about Christ and the hope found only in Him (1st Peter 3:15). How? By seeking to speak with grace, we make our words attractive. So I leave you with this question, “How attractive is your speech?”  Be blessed this day, and may we all commit ourselves to walk like Him.

Dennis

If there is a discipline in which many Christians say they fall short, it would most likely be their prayer life.  A study revealed that in 2007, some 58% of us adults prayed daily. In 2014 that went down to 55%, and in a more recent survey, it has gone down to 45%. Why might this be the case? In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes, “You will never have time for prayer; you must make time.”  Time!  Is your prayer life sporadic? Have you ever used the lack of time as a reason?  Once again, Richard Foster writes, “If you are too busy to read, you are too busy.”  We could apply that to prayer as well, don’t you think? Martin Luther once said, “To pray well is the better half of study.”  As you might have guessed, prayer is our focus today.

Paul has covered many topics in this brief letter, each intended to help these young Christians in their stance against false teachers and give them insight into what it means to embrace the transformation process. Such effort by Paul was not to give some idea that they could somehow gain redemption. All this was “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you” (Col. 1:5-6a). His exhortations continue now, inviting them to take full advantage of this disciple called prayer.

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving….”

Colossians 4:2

The apostle Paul spoke of how they were “praying always for” (1:3) the Christians in Colosse.  And, how they did “not cease to pray for” (1:9) them. The first was to thank God for their conversion to Christ (1:3-8), and the other was to ask God to help them grow spiritually (1:9-11). He encourages them to be people of prayer and “continue earnestly in prayer.”  The NIV says, “devote yourselves to prayer.”  The Greek word “continue earnestly” means to persist, persevere in, continue steadfast in.    In Luke 18:1-8, we find Jesus teaching the subject of prayer in the parable of the persistent widow. Listen to the first verse, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart….”  Prayer helps the believer not to lose heart. Such appeals are numerous within our Bibles: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…” (Philippians 4:6), “continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12), “pray without ceasing” (1^st Thessalonians 5:17) are just a couple. In Ephesians 6:10-20, the apostle Paul encourages his readers to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (v11). Armor is generally defensive. But he does speak of going on the offensive by using “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17) The very next verse catches my attention, “…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). Could it be that prayer is a sort of offensive weapon? We know it has power (James 5:16). Is that why Paul spoke of it so often in his letters? He knew of its power and wanted them to tap into it.

“.…meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the

mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

Colossians 4:3-4

Before I consider the above verse, let me say something about the idea of being vigilant. The ETRV translates that part of the verse this way, “Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful.”  Could it be that the challenges we face in this world at times catch us off guard simply because we forget to pray? Think about it. As you do, also consider how the apostle Paul now turns their attention to the proclamation of the gospel and the role that prayer can and should have in it. He invites them to be part of his and Timothy’s ministry in sharing the gospel. How? Pray that God opens the doors for the word’s proclamation. Presently in chains, “he earnestly desires to have the liberty to preach the gospel” (Barnes). Evangelism, something we are learning about in our life group meeting right now, needs the power of prayer if it is to be successful. We go back to Ephesians 6 and find Paul not only asking them to pray “for all the saints” (v18) but also “for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (v19). Wow! How many of us realized the profound power of prayer in spreading the gospel?

As Paul invited them, he also asked us. Commit yourself to prayer. Be earnest and vigilant when it comes to prayer. Realize that it plays a significant role in our walk with Christ, helping us to grow in His likeness (i.e., transformation), as well as being helpful against the devil’s schemes. Be persistent! In persistence, don’t forget to be thankful. Prayer can remind us of how good God is to us all. And finally, pray that God will open doors for the gospel to be preached. And don’t forget, if you pray that doors will open, pray that He can encourage you to walk through them. Thank You, Lord, for the hope found in none other than Jesus Christ.

Dennis

History is a time of reflection that can create a sense of pride within us. The wars others have fought, and the freedom they achieved through selfless sacrifice can be an inspiration to all of us. Not all history is the same.  The horrific treatment of others mars that same history, most notably that of slavery. Like the old wars, most of us are distant from these events. Our feelings about them are rooted in what we have heard rather than experienced. Why do I say this? Our text today deals with the relationship between the slave and the master. Our challenge is to place ourselves in that time, in those circumstances, and glean from the Scriptures what we can apply today to the glory of our Lord. So, I invite you to take a moment and put on the sandals of an enslaved person and listen to your Lord’s invitation.

“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh,

not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.”

Colossians 3:22

Depending on your translation, this first word could also be servant or slave. This idea of enslaved people and masters was part of history back then and is part of other countries today. Remember, Paul has talked about the husband and wife relationship, the father-child relationship, and the child to the parent relationship. He does so not merely to promote the spiritually healthy family at home but also to promote the growth of a healthy church family. At this time in history, masters and bondservants were obeying the gospel; thus, their way of interacting with each other would need to change. First, the Lord calls the bondservants to obey their master. The word obey means to hear under, to listen attentively, and by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority. These words catch my attention: “not with eyeservice, as men-pleases .” I suspect we have all experienced it when a coworker suddenly changes when the boss comes on the scene.  In a way, I think this is what Paul is confronting. The ETRV says, “Don’t just pretend to work hard so that they will treat you well.”  I think of 1^st Peter 2:18, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh.”  I know that comparing slavery to the workplace is like comparing apples and oranges. Still, many of us know the challenges of being Christlike in a work environment where the boss is unfair, shows favoritism and is harsh. In such situations, the mind of the slave (and worker) needs to be vertical more than horizontal. Who were they to please? Not men! Not the boss! Not the master! With a sincere heart, they were to obey their masters “fearing God,” “as to Christ” (Ephesians 6:5), and “with a conscience toward God” (1^st Peter 2:19). The desire is to do “the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6-7). Listen to the ETRV of Ephesians 6:7, “Do your work, and be happy to do it. Work as though it is the Lord you are serving, not just an earthly master.”  This attitude should be our approach, not only to those masters who are “good and gentle” but also to those who are “harsh.”

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that

from the Lord, you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:23-24

Incentive! Concerning this idea of incentives, one person writes, “The surest way to get people to behave in desirable ways is to reward them for doing so – in other words, to provide them with incentives.”  The word incentive means a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something. The Holy Spirit is guiding these enslaved Christians to stay the course, don’t give up, don’t compromise what they know to be true concerning what it means to live for Christ. How, though, especially when your master is unfair, let alone harsh? The answer is simple on paper, but it must have been difficult. Look down the road! Don’t let your present realities in this physical world distract you from your course. Now that they are in Christ, they have been “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Ephesians 1:14). There is a reward coming that will make all this more than worth it! To the slave, this is where the rubber hits the road. Where spiritual realities yet received collide with the often brutality of this world.  Peter would write, “But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (1st Peter 2:20).  It will all be worth it!

I realize that I know little about what it means to be a slave to someone in this world. Still, I know that this topic found within the pages of God’s inspired word can give guidance in this present age. If this was how enslaved people were to conduct themselves with their masters, even those who mistreated them, how much more should we apply these principles to the workplace? Our worship of God is to obey our bosses and do what is right, even when they are not watching. Not bad mouthing them to others when they are not around. We do this sincerely because we want to please our Lord. There is no doubt in my mind we need these principles today.

One final thought as I close out this article. In 1^st Peter 2:21, as he speaks to those enslaved of that time, Peter writes, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us as an example, that you should follow His steps…”. One of the reasons for the Christian to live such a life is because there is something more than worth it down the road. But there is also another reason. It is the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is He whom we are to mimic in this world. Let’s commit ourselves to be like Him.

Dennis