Sibling in Christ Jesus the Lord,

First John has a lot for you, including some strong comforts.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1:9)

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (2:27)

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” (3:1)

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:” (4:2)

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (5:1)

These words present at least five inescapable truths:

1. God completely forgives those who confess their sins.

2. God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit is sufficient for the hearers of God’s words to remain in God.

3. God regards us as his sons regardless of the world’s ignorance.

4. If you affirm the historical Incarnation of Jesus Christ you are of God.

5. Trusting that Jesus is God’s Anointed One means you are born of God.

Never be lead into doubt that you are not of God or that your salvation is somehow shaky. These verses cited prove that you are of God and that your salvation is sure. Yes, you should guard yourself against falling away, but, how are you going to do that? The word, the word, the word. The comfort that is given you in the word is also the operation of God in this world on those being saved. And this includes you. Enjoy reading his word.

Do you breathe? Do you drink water? How about eating? Clothes, do you wear them? Got some shelter? You might think that because you have these things you are being kept alive. You know full well that when you hear the words of God you are even more alive, with everlasting life, and as for those material things-they will be dissolved (II Peter 3:7), but God’s words and the life they give will never reach an end.

Rest in the promises God makes when and where you find them. You won’t find his promises out in the world. You won’t find them out in nature. You won’t find them by following your heart. You will find them by following God’s heart, which lead him to become incarnate, be born, live, die and from the tomb live again forever-in the holy scriptures. God is preparing a place for you. And you, you can make it a place where others will dwell with you.

“… Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)

 

Hey Pastors!

Just in some reading I came across something in the fifth chapter of I Peter. I found it valuable and I think you will too. Lay Christians should also see what God thinks about the role of pastors in the congregations.

I’ll let you read it for yourself-it’s right there at the beginning of the chapter. I want to touch on some certain words that are used there.

-Feed the flock-

Indeed. Your hearers don’t need your personality, the doings of your family members, dramatic nonsense and you don’t need these things from your hearers. Feed the flock. You’ve got to resist getting hung up on what your congregation is not hungry for. They might not even know what fills them. The word does. Feed the flock.

You’ve got to be about the Word, the Word, the Word. This is what will sustain them. This is what will guide them. This is what will stay with them when you are gone, if you are gone, and at least when you are not around. Feed the flock.

-Taking the oversight thereof-

Man up. You watch over their souls. Is a wolf coming? Lock and load. Draw the Word of God from it’s scabbard and strike. Cut down the enemy of God’s people: the enemy of God’s people is false words (fake knowledge). Be ready to strike such words down.

Don’t do these out of -constraint-. Don’t do these -for filthy lucre-. Don’t do these -being lords- over God’s people. Jesus is Lord. And you are his servant. You are their servant. You set out food. You go on the attack. You serve diligently.

How should you do the work committed to you? Do it ‘willingly-. Do it with a -ready mind-. Do it -being examples- for God’s people. Jesus is Lord. Be glad you work in the salvation business. Ready your mind by reading the Bible, out loud even, to yourself, first. This will ready your mind. Come to the rescue with real know how, doing things that others can copy.

If you are not doing such things you ought to be ashamed, going against scripture. Get with what scripture says.

You are forgiven! The doctor should take his own medicine and he should trust it fully. Nothing but forgiveness will set you right to be ready to teach and guide others.

These are the things pastors are about. To hell with things that distract from God’s word and feeding God’s people. There is no time for such nonsense. Take no part in such things.

Hey pastors, “feed the flock” as God says.

When Fear Grasps You

What do you do when fear, apprehension and doubt snatch you? I’m not talking about fearing God-which is respect. Rather, timidity and cowardliness-what do you do about these? When these happen to you, you need to remember that another grasps you, another holds you, even clenches you, laid upon his shoulders. You need to remember that Jesus Christ is carrying yo. The Good Shepherd has you draped upon his shoulders with all of your matted sheep belly filth, yes, filth and all.

“Be their shepherd and bear them up forever” says a psalm. Another one sings “…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Really? A sheep in the house? Yes really. He calls his friends together to celebrate. Indeed.

Proper fear has it’s place and time. Timidity never has a place with God. God is stronger than timidity. He holds tighter, even if our hearts, even if our minds, feel, or think, differently. God does what he does regardless. He went to a grave and called a dead man forth: Lazarus. And love, love is greater than proper fear even. The new creation that God makes in those who believe on him naturally do the things contained in the Law. The new creation can’t do otherwise. It has it’s root in the vine. It get’s life from the vine Jesus.

So when fear grasps you, repent. Repent and relent. Turn and be sure, be certain, to let Christ take the burden, the full burden. He is Savior after all. He makes the rescue. He grasps the fallen-like he grasped Peter who walked on the water with him: when his eyes were on him. When the eyes of Peter were on Jesus, Peter did the impossible. That is the one who grasps you. Many blessings you in him.

You Are Right With God

You are right with God. This is the teaching of the Bible. The Christian life is not about a set of restrictions, or, a laundry list of things to do to make you right with God. Being right with God is something he has already done. You are too late. And even if you were on time, you couldn’t right yourself with God. You are right with God, by him and his work.

Why then, being right with God, are you not experiencing pure blessedness, happiness and joy, only. And why are you not maybe floating on a cloud, strumming a harp, or riding a unicorn through the meadows of heaven? It is because God has a much greater purpose for you.

The world is not right with God. It is passing away, dissolving, and right now; right now is the opportunity, now is the time, for others to be made right with God. Faith is the means by which you have been made right with God because it takes hold of his words. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God. (See Romans 10:17). The end of the world will come when the gospel is preached in all the world. (See Matthew 24:14). Then there will be perfection.

So it is time to be like the Moon, and shine, shine the gospel in the dark night. The Sun scorches and beats down, dries up and even enkindles a barren, dry land. The Moon shines just enoug to keep some from tripping, to let the world that the Sun is still there, and coming soon. The Moon is like the people of God who talk about him. The Sun is like God who is an all-consuming fire.

You know it’s true, you know that there were times when God could not be approached directly and he did not approach directly. God used to walk in the Garden of Eden but later on he spoke through the prophets. He told Abraham not to look on him directly but look upon his hinder part. The Ark of the Covenant was not to be touched but carried by staves. God is holy, burning up sin, burning up everything.

And so he draws people to himself slowly, with guidance, in faith. Faith sees what the eyes can not look upon. Faith observes the loving God that the heart disdains and has no room for. Faith trusts the message of Christ crucified despite the hurtful, hateful hands which lifted him up.

What is there then to do while waiting for his coming? Keep your lamps burning, bright enough to give light to others. Get the light from God, hearing his word, and letting it reflect from you, saying his word. Be like the Moon that is lit by the Sun. Receive the light and give the light you have received. The Moon is not part of this world but shines upon it. Be like the Moon. You are right with God. Let others be right with God.

What Is Your Boast?

“He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” From I Corinthians 1:31

Which is greater, your sin or the forgiveness of God? Which is heavier, your wrongdoing or the body of Christ-who was dead but who lives forevermore? Glory to the Hebrews was heaviness, weightiness. Do you glory in your guilt regarding your sins? Do you add more weight to them than you should? There is something that weighs more than your sins: The forgiveness of God weighs more than your sins.

It is the work of God to bring you sorrow, yes. But, this is only the beginning of his work. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom has a beginning. Scripture also teaches that perfect love drives out fear (I John 4:18). God takes you to two places in your journey with him. He comes to where you are and simply turns you around, and picks you up, and carries you to his home.

You begin with the knowledge that he is your shepherd, and that he guides you away from all danger. You end with dwelling in his house forever (Psalm 23), a place where no danger may approach, forever. God wants you to see your need long enough to meet that need. Mercy is without restraint with him. God is good to all.

Sometimes you might get caught up in your guilt so much that you might forget the end of his work. Why is it that of: faith, hope and love; love is what remains? It is because perfect love, God’s love towards you, that love drives out fear.

So if you glory, if you boast and if you gloat, let your glorying, your boasting and your gloating be in one being: the Lord. And glory in his love for you, his love for the for the world,  his love for your neighbor. Make your boast in the Lord who loved you, the world and your neighbor. And gloat, gloat against the devil about the real Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, and affirm against what Satan claims, that the real Lord is greater than sin, stronger than death, and has mastery over hellfire. God has saved you from hellfire. You are free from death, you live forever in blessedness, and the body of Christ Jesus the Lord, which once was dead but is alive forevermore, bought that for you in a sacred purchase.

What is your boast?

“He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”