Dear Readers around the world! The entire Foreign Mission board prays that each of you would have a most Blessed New Year and that the light of the world, Jesus Christ, would be shining brightly in and through each of you!
This week our article is written by the late Reverend Andrew Mickelsen. He was truly a beloved Pastor from my childhood and he was a most faithful servant of the Lord for many years! Please Enjoy, John
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people
Israel. (Luke 2:29-32) The first thought revealed to us in this text is this: Simeon was ready to depart in peace for he had seen the salvation that God had prepared before all the people. What greater blessing could befall man than to be ready to depart in peace from this world of sorrow and sin and to dwell in the land of the righteous forever? This was the goal that Simeon had sought, and it is the goal toward which all true Christians
are striving. Is this the goal toward which you are
also striving, dear friend? If it is, let us examine how Simeon reached this goal.
The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had
seen the Lord’s Christ. When he saw the Savior, on whom all the promises of the Word
of God hinged, he was ready to depart in peace because he had believed those promises.
This is what happens to all who see the Lord as He is: full of grace and truth. They find
the peace of God that drives away the fear of death. Have you seen the Lord in this
manner? You may think this is impossible because He is not in the flesh as He was in the days of Simeon. But does not the Bible say, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people?
Therefore all may see Him. But do all know Him as their Savior? Great multitudes saw Him when He was here on earth, but did they know Him as their Savior? He performed
miracles and wonders that never had been seen before and He spoke as no one had ever spoken before. But Simeon knew Him though he only saw a babe in the arms of His mother. This teaches us that some requirements are needed in order to come to know the Savior when He appears to us. The Bible tells us that Simeon was just and devout, and the Holy Ghost was upon him. The definition for just and devout is one who is upright and impartial, devoted to studying and obeying the Word of God. Those requirements are necessary; namely, that we honestly and impartially study and obey God’s Word in the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Then we shall know the Savior whenever and wherever He appears to us. The natural eyes may see only a babe, or a Christian mother or father, sister or brother, but to the humble, sincere soul the Spirit reveals the Savior in and through them. The rationalist says that is foolishness. The atheist says that is superstition. The intellectualist brushes it aside as ignorance.
Apostle Paul says, The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1:25) Let us take St. Paul as an example. The Bible introduces him to us as Saul of Tarsus in the eighth and ninth chapters of the book of Acts. He had seen the Lord with His disciples, but did not know Him as his Savior because at that time he was not upright and impartial, although he may have entertained such thoughts about himself. He no doubt was sincere in his belief that he was serving God when he persecuted the Christians, but the Holy Ghost was not upon him, enlightening and guiding him.
Not until the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus in such brightness that his natural eyes were blinded did he know the Lord, and that not by sight for he was blind. He knew Him through the words of introduction revealed in His response to Saul’s question, Who art thou? when the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (Acts 9:5)
Now, though Saul was blind, he received spiritual light and guidance to become upright, impartial and submissive, asking, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6) Jesus commanded him to go into the city and that he will be told what he should do.
Why did Jesus Himself not tell Saul what to do? Because He wanted Saul to know Him through His followers and His Word. Had He justified Saul on the way, he would never have come to know Jesus in His followers and would have taught men to seek and find the Lord in secret, as many teach today. This experience taught Saul to seek the Lord in His followers and to find Him in His Word. When he received the blessing of the Lord, he received his sight and the Holy Ghost by believing that the words which Ananias spoke to him were just as authentic as if they had been spoken by the Lord.
Therefore, Paul teaches, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God, (IICorinthians 5:20) and To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave
any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. (II
Corinthians 2:10) Note that Paul says, forgave I it in the person of Christ. Thus from
experience he says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Romans 10:17)
The light that shines from Jesus first enlightens the heart and conscience of man to take note of his utterly lost and condemned condition. Then it shows man what he must do to be saved. Therefore, Paul says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God, (Romans 3:23-25)
and also these words, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7) Now the sinner becomes aware of the grace of God in the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.
Dear friend, has the light of Jesus enlightened you in this manner? If so, you are indeed blessed and you have the peace of God, which is the peace of a good conscience. My new year’s wish for you is that you keep faith and a good, peaceful conscience to the end of your journey. On the other hand, if you have not been enlightened, pray to God that the light of Jesus may shine into your heart and that He would give you strength to repent of your sins and to believe them all forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. Then you also
will have peace in the new year that has just begun, and the Sun of Righteousness, which rose to its glory on the cross of Calvary, will warm your heart to sing His praise for the salvation of your soul throughout the new year.
May the peace of God be
in and with you all! Amen.
The late Andrew Mickelsen
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Blessed Christmas Greetings!
Dear Readers around the world! The Foreign Mission desires and prays that each and every one of our friends would have a most Blessed Christmas season. Jesus our Friend Most Precious, is the entire reason for this season! Jesus is also the entire reason that we get together for this weekly reading, and is why we desire to even worship together one day.
What a force for unity Jesus has been even this year, has He not? We are separated by many miles, languages, cultures, traditions, and so many other things. However, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can be one in Him.
What a difference the birth of Jesus has made in the world. Even people that do not yet believe in Jesus unto the Salvation of their souls, know about Christmas. There is no other figure in all of history that so many people know about. Even though many do not know him personally, He is so present that He is hard to miss. The fact that Christmas is celebrated so far and wide, must make many people at least wonder about Him at this time of year.
Even the calendar that we all use has the days of the week. Our maker, the one who created Heaven, earth, and all things, did all His work in six days and rested on the seventh. Calendars in all parts of the world have seven days per week. There is no escaping God’s greatness.
Also, we are now in the year 2009 AD. This date is related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Also, if you study the languages of the world, many words and sayings come directly from the Bible.
Have you ever wondered how a dog is a dog in all countries? What about a lion, tiger, elephant, cat, cow, or any other animal you want to name. They have the same name throughout the entire world. How is this possible? It is because of our Almighty God the Creator and Adam who named all the animals.
Now it seems like I have strayed away from the Christmas story. Not really, I do not believe. Can you agree with me that our Lord Jesus has always been and always will be? You can see in Genesis 1:26 that Jesus was with God even during creation, (note the underlined)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
As time went on, it was not long when man fell into sin. Remember Adam and Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit. Our wonderful Creator cared so much about us His created, that we know and believe as it says in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is how much God loves us! In order to make this become a reality, God in His infinite wisdom saw fit that He would send Jesus into the earth. Yes, He sent His Son Jesus as a baby so no man can say he is not worthy to come to him. This event we know very well and study especially during Christmas time when we celebrate his birth.
I will not go into the whole Christmas story now, but I just want to point out a couple things.
Remember John the Baptist. He was a forerunner, or a messenger of Jesus Christ. I believe each one of us can also be a messenger through the Gospel of Jesus that now lives within us in the form of the Holy Ghost. Spread the Gospel of Jesus in your neighborhood, in your villages, in your country!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still as valid and worthy of praise today as on that first Christmas night when the angels proclaimed to the shepherd, Fear Not! The Lord is born! Oh that we could be the sounders of the trumpet to the lost and unsaved. Heavenly Father, use us as your mouthpiece to let them know of the Saving Power of the Lord Jesus!
The star showed the way to Jesus. The star lit the way for the wise men! Wise men today still seek the Lord. Are we willing to be used even as the star, to point the way to Jesus? The light that we have is not our own, and we know that scripture says in John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jesus is our light. Dear Lord, even this Christmas season, let the Light of Jesus shine in us so brightly that He will draw all men unto him! John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Praise and thank God for the gift of Light, His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Together in His love, let us raise our voices of praise and thanksgiving in two words that we all share in common, no matter what our language is!
Hallelujah, AMEN!
On behalf of the entire Foreign Mission Board,
May God grant you a most Joyous and Blessed Christmas!
John Ruotsala, Administrator
What a force for unity Jesus has been even this year, has He not? We are separated by many miles, languages, cultures, traditions, and so many other things. However, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can be one in Him.
What a difference the birth of Jesus has made in the world. Even people that do not yet believe in Jesus unto the Salvation of their souls, know about Christmas. There is no other figure in all of history that so many people know about. Even though many do not know him personally, He is so present that He is hard to miss. The fact that Christmas is celebrated so far and wide, must make many people at least wonder about Him at this time of year.
Even the calendar that we all use has the days of the week. Our maker, the one who created Heaven, earth, and all things, did all His work in six days and rested on the seventh. Calendars in all parts of the world have seven days per week. There is no escaping God’s greatness.
Also, we are now in the year 2009 AD. This date is related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Also, if you study the languages of the world, many words and sayings come directly from the Bible.
Have you ever wondered how a dog is a dog in all countries? What about a lion, tiger, elephant, cat, cow, or any other animal you want to name. They have the same name throughout the entire world. How is this possible? It is because of our Almighty God the Creator and Adam who named all the animals.
Now it seems like I have strayed away from the Christmas story. Not really, I do not believe. Can you agree with me that our Lord Jesus has always been and always will be? You can see in Genesis 1:26 that Jesus was with God even during creation, (note the underlined)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
As time went on, it was not long when man fell into sin. Remember Adam and Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit. Our wonderful Creator cared so much about us His created, that we know and believe as it says in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is how much God loves us! In order to make this become a reality, God in His infinite wisdom saw fit that He would send Jesus into the earth. Yes, He sent His Son Jesus as a baby so no man can say he is not worthy to come to him. This event we know very well and study especially during Christmas time when we celebrate his birth.
I will not go into the whole Christmas story now, but I just want to point out a couple things.
Remember John the Baptist. He was a forerunner, or a messenger of Jesus Christ. I believe each one of us can also be a messenger through the Gospel of Jesus that now lives within us in the form of the Holy Ghost. Spread the Gospel of Jesus in your neighborhood, in your villages, in your country!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still as valid and worthy of praise today as on that first Christmas night when the angels proclaimed to the shepherd, Fear Not! The Lord is born! Oh that we could be the sounders of the trumpet to the lost and unsaved. Heavenly Father, use us as your mouthpiece to let them know of the Saving Power of the Lord Jesus!
The star showed the way to Jesus. The star lit the way for the wise men! Wise men today still seek the Lord. Are we willing to be used even as the star, to point the way to Jesus? The light that we have is not our own, and we know that scripture says in John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jesus is our light. Dear Lord, even this Christmas season, let the Light of Jesus shine in us so brightly that He will draw all men unto him! John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Praise and thank God for the gift of Light, His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Together in His love, let us raise our voices of praise and thanksgiving in two words that we all share in common, no matter what our language is!
Hallelujah, AMEN!
On behalf of the entire Foreign Mission Board,
May God grant you a most Joyous and Blessed Christmas!
John Ruotsala, Administrator
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS
Dear Readers around the world! This week our article is written by one of our Pastors here in the USA, Pastor Phil Wilson. Please enjoy, and may the Lord Bless you and yours during this season and always!
The Joy of Christmas
It is difficult to look at the Babe, Jesus, lying in the manger, who possessed all
that is so endearing in a precious little one, while remembering the whole
message of the angel: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
What message did the angel bring? The message of the angel bore our need for a
Savior, the promise fulfilled of a Savior, and what this Babe of humble Bethlehem must endure in being our Savior. What was given unto us that first Christmas day? A
reason to get together as a family, an excuse to lavish gifts on each other, a guide for our temporal lives, another helper in our life of goodness?
No, for unto us was born a Savior. It was not the poet’s intent, nor is it mine, to turn Christmas into Good Friday, but let us marvel in this: The plan of salvation, which was from the beginning, was set into motion with the first human breath of Immanuel.
After 400 years of no prophecy, the tender plant appeared out of a dry ground. The longawaited Messiah had come!
Oh, heavenly tidings of great joy could now be applied to the hearts of men!
But for this great joy to be realized, must this precious little Babe first be despised and rejected of men, must He appear before the chief priests, elders, and scribes,must He suffer in bearing our grief and sorrow, and must He die on the cross?
How much easier it would be if we could continue to think of that precious little
Babe of Bethlehem than to look at the suffering servant, but, by God’s grace, we can
look and still find joy. We have joy in this, that our sin debt has been paid, and death has been vanquished by the heavenly gift, enshrouded in mortal flesh but for a season.
It is not a grievous thing which God has revealed to us, for we know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (I John 3:5)
Enjoy the Christmas season as you gather with family and friends, sharing in
the natural gifts that we have been given. My prayer for your time spent, as well as
mine, is that we would use that time wisely; that we would read and reread the
old, old story of Jesus and His love, sing the carols of old, and teach our children what it cost for God to give us of Himself, and what it means to us as recipients of that gift.
The Christmas season gives us an opportune time to share the story of Jesus with
many: the clerk at the store, the bell ringer, the mailman, and our neighbor. As we may be caught in the hustle and bustle of busy malls and shopping, placed under the
burden and stress that the world has to offer at this time, and bombarded with “Happy
Holidays,” let us reply with infinite joy in our hearts.
We have already received the greatest gift offered to mankind. We have a Savior, who now reigns in the heavens and in the hearts of the believers.
He can be your Savior,too. What greater gift could be received or given?
In God’s peace,
Pastor Phil Wilson
Ridgefield, Washington
The Joy of Christmas
It is difficult to look at the Babe, Jesus, lying in the manger, who possessed all
that is so endearing in a precious little one, while remembering the whole
message of the angel: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
What message did the angel bring? The message of the angel bore our need for a
Savior, the promise fulfilled of a Savior, and what this Babe of humble Bethlehem must endure in being our Savior. What was given unto us that first Christmas day? A
reason to get together as a family, an excuse to lavish gifts on each other, a guide for our temporal lives, another helper in our life of goodness?
No, for unto us was born a Savior. It was not the poet’s intent, nor is it mine, to turn Christmas into Good Friday, but let us marvel in this: The plan of salvation, which was from the beginning, was set into motion with the first human breath of Immanuel.
After 400 years of no prophecy, the tender plant appeared out of a dry ground. The longawaited Messiah had come!
Oh, heavenly tidings of great joy could now be applied to the hearts of men!
But for this great joy to be realized, must this precious little Babe first be despised and rejected of men, must He appear before the chief priests, elders, and scribes,must He suffer in bearing our grief and sorrow, and must He die on the cross?
How much easier it would be if we could continue to think of that precious little
Babe of Bethlehem than to look at the suffering servant, but, by God’s grace, we can
look and still find joy. We have joy in this, that our sin debt has been paid, and death has been vanquished by the heavenly gift, enshrouded in mortal flesh but for a season.
It is not a grievous thing which God has revealed to us, for we know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (I John 3:5)
Enjoy the Christmas season as you gather with family and friends, sharing in
the natural gifts that we have been given. My prayer for your time spent, as well as
mine, is that we would use that time wisely; that we would read and reread the
old, old story of Jesus and His love, sing the carols of old, and teach our children what it cost for God to give us of Himself, and what it means to us as recipients of that gift.
The Christmas season gives us an opportune time to share the story of Jesus with
many: the clerk at the store, the bell ringer, the mailman, and our neighbor. As we may be caught in the hustle and bustle of busy malls and shopping, placed under the
burden and stress that the world has to offer at this time, and bombarded with “Happy
Holidays,” let us reply with infinite joy in our hearts.
We have already received the greatest gift offered to mankind. We have a Savior, who now reigns in the heavens and in the hearts of the believers.
He can be your Savior,too. What greater gift could be received or given?
In God’s peace,
Pastor Phil Wilson
Ridgefield, Washington
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Prayer
Dear Readers around the world! This week I feel led to ask all of us around the world to be united in prayer. We know that the world of God says in James 5:16… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Since Christians know the power of prayer, it is a wonderful thing when we can pray one for another. The first most important desire and prayer that Christians have should always be as it is stated in Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
The people of Israel are God’s children. All people are God’s children, however not everyone has repented and believed yet. God created all people, and He desires that they would be saved! We truly desire that all would be saved. Jesus died for all! Please pray that more and more people would be become believers in the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus during the time of grace.
There are so many things that we can prayer jointly for! Imagine; Christians from all corners of the world praying to God in Heaven in Jesus name for the same things. I will list a few common items here.
Please pray for:
• The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America and it’s leadership and boards, and congregants.
• The Foreign Mission of the ALCA and its board and administrator.
• The United States so that it would turn toward God for strength and directions
• All the churches, pastors, and congregants that the Foreign Mission of the ALCA is in fellowship with in the following countries: Guatemala, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, India, Russia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Sri Lanka,
• Pray that the word would be preached in truth and purity in all these countries.
• Pray for Foreign Mission of the ALCA’s work being done in China, Kenya, Pakistan, Haiti, Napal, Malawi, Vietnam, Congo, Mexico. Pray that the missions can expand further into these countries.
• Pray that the Foreign Mission in the future would be able to work in a greater way in even more countries as God leads. It surely is our desire to be obedient to the Word of our Lord Jesus when He said, “ go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
• Pray for mission work in your own neighborhoods and outback areas. Not all mission work has to be foreign, close to home is just as important.
• Pray for all Christian missionaries everywhere.
• Pray for the health and safety of all of God’s people in all of the countries listed above, as well as others not listed here that I may have forgotten to list.
• Pray for the children, young people, elderly, and infirm.
• Pray for the financial condition in the USA, that it would improve so more people can afford to support Foreign Mission work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
• Pray that the people in the USA as well as in all the countries that the Foreign Mission works in; would be lead to give financially to the church from their first fruits of God’s blessings. Remember the widow’s mite!
• Pray for all the other servants in the Church worldwide! The ladies in the kitchen, the cleaning people, and all those other so very important jobs that are so appreciated in God’s eyes.
• Pray for humbleness.
• Pray that we would not have envy.
• Pray that we would not be covetous.
• Pray for unity. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
• Remember God word says: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20 Pray for the unbelievers and backsliding.
• Pray for contentment
• Pray for Peace and Joy! (not only in this season but all year)
I need to stop due to length. We each have our own items that we can add to this list!
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thes. 3:1
May God Bless your week!
Since Christians know the power of prayer, it is a wonderful thing when we can pray one for another. The first most important desire and prayer that Christians have should always be as it is stated in Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
The people of Israel are God’s children. All people are God’s children, however not everyone has repented and believed yet. God created all people, and He desires that they would be saved! We truly desire that all would be saved. Jesus died for all! Please pray that more and more people would be become believers in the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus during the time of grace.
There are so many things that we can prayer jointly for! Imagine; Christians from all corners of the world praying to God in Heaven in Jesus name for the same things. I will list a few common items here.
Please pray for:
• The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America and it’s leadership and boards, and congregants.
• The Foreign Mission of the ALCA and its board and administrator.
• The United States so that it would turn toward God for strength and directions
• All the churches, pastors, and congregants that the Foreign Mission of the ALCA is in fellowship with in the following countries: Guatemala, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, India, Russia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Sri Lanka,
• Pray that the word would be preached in truth and purity in all these countries.
• Pray for Foreign Mission of the ALCA’s work being done in China, Kenya, Pakistan, Haiti, Napal, Malawi, Vietnam, Congo, Mexico. Pray that the missions can expand further into these countries.
• Pray that the Foreign Mission in the future would be able to work in a greater way in even more countries as God leads. It surely is our desire to be obedient to the Word of our Lord Jesus when He said, “ go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
• Pray for mission work in your own neighborhoods and outback areas. Not all mission work has to be foreign, close to home is just as important.
• Pray for all Christian missionaries everywhere.
• Pray for the health and safety of all of God’s people in all of the countries listed above, as well as others not listed here that I may have forgotten to list.
• Pray for the children, young people, elderly, and infirm.
• Pray for the financial condition in the USA, that it would improve so more people can afford to support Foreign Mission work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
• Pray that the people in the USA as well as in all the countries that the Foreign Mission works in; would be lead to give financially to the church from their first fruits of God’s blessings. Remember the widow’s mite!
• Pray for all the other servants in the Church worldwide! The ladies in the kitchen, the cleaning people, and all those other so very important jobs that are so appreciated in God’s eyes.
• Pray for humbleness.
• Pray that we would not have envy.
• Pray that we would not be covetous.
• Pray for unity. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
• Remember God word says: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20 Pray for the unbelievers and backsliding.
• Pray for contentment
• Pray for Peace and Joy! (not only in this season but all year)
I need to stop due to length. We each have our own items that we can add to this list!
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thes. 3:1
May God Bless your week!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Password
Dear Readers around the world! We are now entering into the Advent Season! We are so thankful for Jesus, that this time of year is quite exciting. However all who are Christians have the right to be joyous and at rest in Jesus all year long, not just in this season.
Yesterday I experienced computer problems in my office. The internet stopped working. For no real reason that I could tell, it just stopped working. The thing was, the computers still worked, the cables were all hooked up and everything seemed in order. I surely could not tell by looking or inspecting why the internet stopped working. Since my job demands that I always have internet access for communications around the world, this was quite a problem.
I earnestly set about to try to correct this problem. I spent a total of probably 6 hours on the phone during the course of the day and evening. I talked to people as far away as India and the Philippines that work for the customer service departments of these major companies.
Finally at the end of the day, a nice lady in the Philippines was able to enter the correct code numbers in the proper places in the multiple levels of internet security and set up, to make the internet work again. During this lengthy call I was able to share about Jesus, and she promised to come to our services in the Philippines in March. God is Good!
I tell you this story to make a point about Jesus, who is our passage to heaven. You see, even though a person may look good on the outside, and even though they seem to be doing all the correct things, this does not mean that they are saved. The good appearance and the works that they are doing will not amount to eternal salvation. Man can never work his way to Heaven. Ephes. 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
No, dear reader, without the Lord Jesus, no flesh shall be saved. In the picture about my computer, codes were needed to be put into my computer in order for it to work. Likewise, Faith of and in our Lord Jesus is the only way to heaven. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Dear Reader, share with all whom you know about this passage to heaven. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If there is someone reading this today that does not know the way to heaven yet, the Holy unerring Word of God has the answers. Please turn to the Holy Bible and read it, and listen to the preaching from truly believing Christian preachers in accordance with Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Dear Pastor and readers, remember that God’s Word teaches us in 2 Cor. 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Also Jesus said in Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
We have been given the password and codes to get to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Way! Let us pray together than many would yet come to faith before it is too late! Let the calling voice of our Lord be heard in our day and in this Advent season!
May God Bless your week! John
Yesterday I experienced computer problems in my office. The internet stopped working. For no real reason that I could tell, it just stopped working. The thing was, the computers still worked, the cables were all hooked up and everything seemed in order. I surely could not tell by looking or inspecting why the internet stopped working. Since my job demands that I always have internet access for communications around the world, this was quite a problem.
I earnestly set about to try to correct this problem. I spent a total of probably 6 hours on the phone during the course of the day and evening. I talked to people as far away as India and the Philippines that work for the customer service departments of these major companies.
Finally at the end of the day, a nice lady in the Philippines was able to enter the correct code numbers in the proper places in the multiple levels of internet security and set up, to make the internet work again. During this lengthy call I was able to share about Jesus, and she promised to come to our services in the Philippines in March. God is Good!
I tell you this story to make a point about Jesus, who is our passage to heaven. You see, even though a person may look good on the outside, and even though they seem to be doing all the correct things, this does not mean that they are saved. The good appearance and the works that they are doing will not amount to eternal salvation. Man can never work his way to Heaven. Ephes. 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
No, dear reader, without the Lord Jesus, no flesh shall be saved. In the picture about my computer, codes were needed to be put into my computer in order for it to work. Likewise, Faith of and in our Lord Jesus is the only way to heaven. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Dear Reader, share with all whom you know about this passage to heaven. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If there is someone reading this today that does not know the way to heaven yet, the Holy unerring Word of God has the answers. Please turn to the Holy Bible and read it, and listen to the preaching from truly believing Christian preachers in accordance with Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Dear Pastor and readers, remember that God’s Word teaches us in 2 Cor. 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Also Jesus said in Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
We have been given the password and codes to get to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Way! Let us pray together than many would yet come to faith before it is too late! Let the calling voice of our Lord be heard in our day and in this Advent season!
May God Bless your week! John
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Jesus and the Woman at the Well
Dear readers around the world. Thank you for your prayers for our travel to Guatemala. God granted us safe passage, and a wonderful time while we ministered to both Christians and those that are not yet Christians there in Guatemala.
This week’s article is way too long, more than double the normal length, so please forgive me for the length. I could not figure out how to shorten it and still complete the story. (Of coarse, it is still not completely said, that would take so much more writing!!)
This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the USA. This is when we as a nation pause to thank the Lord for the Blessings the He provides us. I am thankful for each of you that are in contact with The Foreign Mission through this method! May God Bless you and yours!
Jesus and the Women at the Well
This story found in John chapter 4 is another one of those wonderful portions of God's Word. So much is revealed here about the heart of our Lord Jesus. Let’s take a short look at this story, as the Lord permits!
We notice that Jesus was going from Judaea to Galilee. Verse 4 says the He must needs go through Samaria. Going through Samaria was the most direct route, but the Jews took the long way around because they despised the Samaritans. Since these people were only part Jewish, the Jews felt these people were a lower class people and wanted to have no part of them.
Our Jesus however, did not partake in these feuds; rather, he had a “divine appointment.” It was not by accident, or just to take the shortest way, that Jesus went by way of Samaria.
When Jesus got to Sychar, he came to Jacob’s well. Scripture tells us that Jesus sat on the well. Jesus is weary, He sat on the well. This show’s Jesus was true man. He was tired from the journey. This shows his humanity. He walked the dusty roads; he got thirsty, tired, and weary. Jesus has experienced all the discomforts, aches, pains, trials, and temptations that we experience today.
We notice in many places in the Bible that God, perfect in power, is also perfect in Love, and deals with us in our weakness, not His strength. Augustine wrote, “The strength of Christ created you, the weakness of Christ created you anew.” Jesus died on the cross for me (us/all)! He could have called 10,000 angels to destroy the world and save His life, but He died upon the cross for you and for me!
Notice Jesus was at the well alone. He was there before the woman came. He was there at the sixth hour, which was high noon. In Palestine no one goes out to the well at noon; it’s too hot. No one, that is, except a social outcast like this Samaritan woman. In this we may take heart: if Christ is willing speak to a Samaritan, a woman which is an outcast from society, just who is He unwilling to touch? No one!
Jesus was already there when the woman came. He was waiting for this sinful woman. It is no accident that Jesus was there. It was also no accident Jesus was there in the other stories in the Bible when He showed up to heal, to care, to save. Even today, Jesus waits for sinners in need, and is willing and able to forgive.
Jesus came by a way that a Jew would not come. He ministered in ways that the church in those days would not do. Can we agree, that we should also be ready to minister, and that we should minister in ways and places other than the customary, usual ways of the church. Jesus is always willing and able to listen and to forgive. He will never leave or forsake us.
Can we understand that Jesus loves all mankind? Here he says to the woman, Give me to drink. Jesus started the conversation. The Jews were not even supposed to talk to Samaritans, much less ask them for help. The woman recognized this right way as we see in verse 9. Then Jesus answered in: John 4:10
If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Living and eternal water is what Jesus offers. This living water is spoken about very often in the scriptures. Man often does not understand this even today. This woman surely did not understand whom she was talking to.
The women told Jesus that he had nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Jesus answered in John 4:13-15
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Then the woman said unto him in verse 15, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Now she wanted some of this special water. She envisioned never having to drink again, or come to the well in public, where her shame would be shown. She did not yet see her sin; she was not yet penitent or repentant. She was not yet ready to die, so that she could live. Notice how Jesus dealt with her at this point. He wanted the process in her heart to proceed, but watch the gentleness with which he handled her. Love is a mark of Jesus. Jesus not only loves all of us, He loves each of us!
Now Jesus told the woman, go call your husband. She said I have no husband. Jesus already knew this, and He said you have had five husbands, but you said correctly that the one you are with now is not your husband. Jesus did not come down fiercely on her, but rather dealt with her with so much patience. He even found something that she was correct in saying, and gave her credit for that. Jesus put the best construction on her. Do we do this? Jesus goal was to get her to see her who he was, and that He could save her.
Let this be a lesson to all believers today. Let us deal with the sinner as Jesus did. Let us have patience, and above all point them to Jesus. The most important thing is that they would come to see Jesus, come to know Jesus by faith.
Let this portion of Jesus being able to see this woman's sin also be a lesson to people in our day. We cannot hid from God. Man sometimes think that they can have "secret" sins. Well, maybe they can be hid for a short while from people, but God sees all.
Now the woman understands that Jesus is a prophet. But she goes on to say again about the proper worship of the elders. She said they worshiped on this mountain, but you say to worship in Jerusalem. She wanted to hang on still to the old ways and traditions, but Jesus tells her what is important. In, John 4:21-24
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus gets to the point lovingly with this woman. He said you don’t know what you worship. Going through the motions and methods of worship is not enough. But the time will surely come that true worshippers will worship in Spirit and in Truth. God is a Spirit; we must truly worship in spirit and in truth. It has to come from the heart; it must be true and not false. It must be the One True God, no other God’s. Jesus is God. It is him that we worship! It must be real and fresh. It is not good enough to be just going through the motions because our family has done it for years. Our worship must be because we desire and appreciate the Living water, and that we know and see Jesus.
The woman now says that the Messiah is coming, which is called Christ, and He will teach us all things. She still could not SEE Jesus. Our loving Lord is so long suffering, He said, “I speak unto thee am he.” He wants all of us to see Him. What unending love and patience. He revealed Himself to this woman. Do we understand this? Do we see Jesus? Do we have this living water? Dear sinner, Jesus is calling for you, He is waiting for you! Do you hear him?
Now the disciples finally came back and started asking; why are you talking to this woman? The woman left her water pot, and went to proclaim about Jesus.
No longer was the woman concerned about the natural water. She had been in the presence of the one that could provide the living water, the water that will last forever. She no longer needed the water pot, since she had the Living water.
She was a sinful woman who came to the well in shame when she thought no one else would be there. Now she is leaving a new woman, and goes straight into the city in front of all the people and told about Jesus. She wanted to share. She could not be held back. She shared of Jesus. Do we do this? Are we so excited that we leave the church and want to share about Jesus? Let all bring their sins to Jesus, and leave them there at the cross. Let us leave all our cares and our burdens with Jesus, repent of our sins, and begin or continue to walk by the Power of the Holy Spirit going forth into all the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus to every creature.
If there are any reading this message, or that hear this message from you’re telling of it, who cannot believe, encourage them to go to a Christian or to a Christian pastor and confess their faults and sins. Dear Christian, encourage them with the blessed message of the Gospel that Jesus has forgiven all there sins through His death on the cross, the shedding of His blood, and through the limitless power of His Holy Name. Encourage the unbelieving sinner to believe this complete message of the Gospel for their soul’s salvation! The woman in our story was a great sinner. Jesus waited for her and spoke so lovingly to her. She saw Jesus! Oh that this story could repeat itself so many more times, that the sinner would see Jesus.
This woman became quite an evangelist. She went forth and presented Christ. Each one must come to experience new birth and Christ for themselves. She had now experienced so she went into the city to share, to witness! This woman proclaimed the Jesus knew all that she had done. She admitted she was sinful. She did not care who knew know, she had been visited and she had seen Jesus. She was no longer shackled by her sin.
Let us also be witnesses for our Lord. Let share with whoever will listen about the Jesus that knows all things, and see all things. Let us share about the Living Waters supplied by Christ Jesus. This is the water that when one has partaken, they will never thirst again!
In the beginning of this story, Jesus was thirsty and asked for drink. He did this so He could share of the Living Water. Do you know of someone thirsty that you can share with them of this water? Believe the Bible as it states in John 7:37-39
If any man thirsts, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Praise and Thank the Lord for the Living Water! JR
This week’s article is way too long, more than double the normal length, so please forgive me for the length. I could not figure out how to shorten it and still complete the story. (Of coarse, it is still not completely said, that would take so much more writing!!)
This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the USA. This is when we as a nation pause to thank the Lord for the Blessings the He provides us. I am thankful for each of you that are in contact with The Foreign Mission through this method! May God Bless you and yours!
Jesus and the Women at the Well
This story found in John chapter 4 is another one of those wonderful portions of God's Word. So much is revealed here about the heart of our Lord Jesus. Let’s take a short look at this story, as the Lord permits!
We notice that Jesus was going from Judaea to Galilee. Verse 4 says the He must needs go through Samaria. Going through Samaria was the most direct route, but the Jews took the long way around because they despised the Samaritans. Since these people were only part Jewish, the Jews felt these people were a lower class people and wanted to have no part of them.
Our Jesus however, did not partake in these feuds; rather, he had a “divine appointment.” It was not by accident, or just to take the shortest way, that Jesus went by way of Samaria.
When Jesus got to Sychar, he came to Jacob’s well. Scripture tells us that Jesus sat on the well. Jesus is weary, He sat on the well. This show’s Jesus was true man. He was tired from the journey. This shows his humanity. He walked the dusty roads; he got thirsty, tired, and weary. Jesus has experienced all the discomforts, aches, pains, trials, and temptations that we experience today.
We notice in many places in the Bible that God, perfect in power, is also perfect in Love, and deals with us in our weakness, not His strength. Augustine wrote, “The strength of Christ created you, the weakness of Christ created you anew.” Jesus died on the cross for me (us/all)! He could have called 10,000 angels to destroy the world and save His life, but He died upon the cross for you and for me!
Notice Jesus was at the well alone. He was there before the woman came. He was there at the sixth hour, which was high noon. In Palestine no one goes out to the well at noon; it’s too hot. No one, that is, except a social outcast like this Samaritan woman. In this we may take heart: if Christ is willing speak to a Samaritan, a woman which is an outcast from society, just who is He unwilling to touch? No one!
Jesus was already there when the woman came. He was waiting for this sinful woman. It is no accident that Jesus was there. It was also no accident Jesus was there in the other stories in the Bible when He showed up to heal, to care, to save. Even today, Jesus waits for sinners in need, and is willing and able to forgive.
Jesus came by a way that a Jew would not come. He ministered in ways that the church in those days would not do. Can we agree, that we should also be ready to minister, and that we should minister in ways and places other than the customary, usual ways of the church. Jesus is always willing and able to listen and to forgive. He will never leave or forsake us.
Can we understand that Jesus loves all mankind? Here he says to the woman, Give me to drink. Jesus started the conversation. The Jews were not even supposed to talk to Samaritans, much less ask them for help. The woman recognized this right way as we see in verse 9. Then Jesus answered in: John 4:10
If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Living and eternal water is what Jesus offers. This living water is spoken about very often in the scriptures. Man often does not understand this even today. This woman surely did not understand whom she was talking to.
The women told Jesus that he had nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Jesus answered in John 4:13-15
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Then the woman said unto him in verse 15, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Now she wanted some of this special water. She envisioned never having to drink again, or come to the well in public, where her shame would be shown. She did not yet see her sin; she was not yet penitent or repentant. She was not yet ready to die, so that she could live. Notice how Jesus dealt with her at this point. He wanted the process in her heart to proceed, but watch the gentleness with which he handled her. Love is a mark of Jesus. Jesus not only loves all of us, He loves each of us!
Now Jesus told the woman, go call your husband. She said I have no husband. Jesus already knew this, and He said you have had five husbands, but you said correctly that the one you are with now is not your husband. Jesus did not come down fiercely on her, but rather dealt with her with so much patience. He even found something that she was correct in saying, and gave her credit for that. Jesus put the best construction on her. Do we do this? Jesus goal was to get her to see her who he was, and that He could save her.
Let this be a lesson to all believers today. Let us deal with the sinner as Jesus did. Let us have patience, and above all point them to Jesus. The most important thing is that they would come to see Jesus, come to know Jesus by faith.
Let this portion of Jesus being able to see this woman's sin also be a lesson to people in our day. We cannot hid from God. Man sometimes think that they can have "secret" sins. Well, maybe they can be hid for a short while from people, but God sees all.
Now the woman understands that Jesus is a prophet. But she goes on to say again about the proper worship of the elders. She said they worshiped on this mountain, but you say to worship in Jerusalem. She wanted to hang on still to the old ways and traditions, but Jesus tells her what is important. In, John 4:21-24
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus gets to the point lovingly with this woman. He said you don’t know what you worship. Going through the motions and methods of worship is not enough. But the time will surely come that true worshippers will worship in Spirit and in Truth. God is a Spirit; we must truly worship in spirit and in truth. It has to come from the heart; it must be true and not false. It must be the One True God, no other God’s. Jesus is God. It is him that we worship! It must be real and fresh. It is not good enough to be just going through the motions because our family has done it for years. Our worship must be because we desire and appreciate the Living water, and that we know and see Jesus.
The woman now says that the Messiah is coming, which is called Christ, and He will teach us all things. She still could not SEE Jesus. Our loving Lord is so long suffering, He said, “I speak unto thee am he.” He wants all of us to see Him. What unending love and patience. He revealed Himself to this woman. Do we understand this? Do we see Jesus? Do we have this living water? Dear sinner, Jesus is calling for you, He is waiting for you! Do you hear him?
Now the disciples finally came back and started asking; why are you talking to this woman? The woman left her water pot, and went to proclaim about Jesus.
No longer was the woman concerned about the natural water. She had been in the presence of the one that could provide the living water, the water that will last forever. She no longer needed the water pot, since she had the Living water.
She was a sinful woman who came to the well in shame when she thought no one else would be there. Now she is leaving a new woman, and goes straight into the city in front of all the people and told about Jesus. She wanted to share. She could not be held back. She shared of Jesus. Do we do this? Are we so excited that we leave the church and want to share about Jesus? Let all bring their sins to Jesus, and leave them there at the cross. Let us leave all our cares and our burdens with Jesus, repent of our sins, and begin or continue to walk by the Power of the Holy Spirit going forth into all the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus to every creature.
If there are any reading this message, or that hear this message from you’re telling of it, who cannot believe, encourage them to go to a Christian or to a Christian pastor and confess their faults and sins. Dear Christian, encourage them with the blessed message of the Gospel that Jesus has forgiven all there sins through His death on the cross, the shedding of His blood, and through the limitless power of His Holy Name. Encourage the unbelieving sinner to believe this complete message of the Gospel for their soul’s salvation! The woman in our story was a great sinner. Jesus waited for her and spoke so lovingly to her. She saw Jesus! Oh that this story could repeat itself so many more times, that the sinner would see Jesus.
This woman became quite an evangelist. She went forth and presented Christ. Each one must come to experience new birth and Christ for themselves. She had now experienced so she went into the city to share, to witness! This woman proclaimed the Jesus knew all that she had done. She admitted she was sinful. She did not care who knew know, she had been visited and she had seen Jesus. She was no longer shackled by her sin.
Let us also be witnesses for our Lord. Let share with whoever will listen about the Jesus that knows all things, and see all things. Let us share about the Living Waters supplied by Christ Jesus. This is the water that when one has partaken, they will never thirst again!
In the beginning of this story, Jesus was thirsty and asked for drink. He did this so He could share of the Living Water. Do you know of someone thirsty that you can share with them of this water? Believe the Bible as it states in John 7:37-39
If any man thirsts, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Praise and Thank the Lord for the Living Water! JR
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Ticket
Dear Readers around the world! It sure is wonderful when we can communicate each and every week through and with God’s Word. God’s Word is so complete, that no matter what our station is life is, or where we live in the world, there is God’s word to encourage us, uplift us, and give us strength to go on.
On Saturday my wife, my son, and I boarded a plane and headed to Florida. On Sunday AM I shared with a congregation about the work that the Lord is doing through the Foreign Mission of the ALC throughout this world. I am always encouraged when Christians here in America have an interest in being obedient to the words of our Lord when He said “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Many of you that believe by faith are spreading the Gospel in your countries as well. To God be the Glory now and forever. No glory goes to man for the work done in God’s Kingdom. We only desire to be willing tools in the Lord’s workshop.
From Florida we travel this week to Guatemala. This little country has very much poverty, and has so many people that are in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray that the Word would be spoken in truth and purity on this trip. Because of this, I most likely will miss one or two weeks of this weekly email blog, since both time and internet service will be very short.
As we travel by plane, bus, or train, one thing we notice is that before we can ride on the train to our destination, we need a ticket. Without a ticket we cannot travel. If we forget our luggage, our toothbrush, or any other thing, we can still travel. However, without a ticket we are left at the station.
If we liken this to our life here on earth, we can quickly come to understand that if we want to go to heaven, we need to be prepared in advance with the only ticket that will get us there. We need the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ! We need to believe by the faith which is given to us by our Lord. Without this faith, we cannot enter into heaven! We may live a good life; we can remember to have all the other items in life in the proper order. We can plan and prepare all we want, but without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How does this faith come? The Word tells us in Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Then God tells us: Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Now dear reader, do you believe by faith? If you do believe by faith, then are you willing to be the preacher? I am not talking only to pulpit preachers here, but to all Christians. We have been called on and given a task to share God’s word in the verse above, so that other’s can hear God’s Word during this time of Grace! This could mean speaking to them at work, school, Sunday school, bus stop, or wherever we are. This could sometimes mean not using words at all, but just being an example of Christ to them!
Let your light shine before men! This is the Light of Jesus! The One that lights up the world! Do not hide this light under a basket, but let your life be like a city on a hill, which cannot be hid!
May God Bless your week!
Again, please pray for this trip to Guatemala!
On Saturday my wife, my son, and I boarded a plane and headed to Florida. On Sunday AM I shared with a congregation about the work that the Lord is doing through the Foreign Mission of the ALC throughout this world. I am always encouraged when Christians here in America have an interest in being obedient to the words of our Lord when He said “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Many of you that believe by faith are spreading the Gospel in your countries as well. To God be the Glory now and forever. No glory goes to man for the work done in God’s Kingdom. We only desire to be willing tools in the Lord’s workshop.
From Florida we travel this week to Guatemala. This little country has very much poverty, and has so many people that are in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray that the Word would be spoken in truth and purity on this trip. Because of this, I most likely will miss one or two weeks of this weekly email blog, since both time and internet service will be very short.
As we travel by plane, bus, or train, one thing we notice is that before we can ride on the train to our destination, we need a ticket. Without a ticket we cannot travel. If we forget our luggage, our toothbrush, or any other thing, we can still travel. However, without a ticket we are left at the station.
If we liken this to our life here on earth, we can quickly come to understand that if we want to go to heaven, we need to be prepared in advance with the only ticket that will get us there. We need the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ! We need to believe by the faith which is given to us by our Lord. Without this faith, we cannot enter into heaven! We may live a good life; we can remember to have all the other items in life in the proper order. We can plan and prepare all we want, but without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How does this faith come? The Word tells us in Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Then God tells us: Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Now dear reader, do you believe by faith? If you do believe by faith, then are you willing to be the preacher? I am not talking only to pulpit preachers here, but to all Christians. We have been called on and given a task to share God’s word in the verse above, so that other’s can hear God’s Word during this time of Grace! This could mean speaking to them at work, school, Sunday school, bus stop, or wherever we are. This could sometimes mean not using words at all, but just being an example of Christ to them!
Let your light shine before men! This is the Light of Jesus! The One that lights up the world! Do not hide this light under a basket, but let your life be like a city on a hill, which cannot be hid!
May God Bless your week!
Again, please pray for this trip to Guatemala!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Faith and Hope
Dear Readers around the world. Please enjoy our weekly blog which is written this week by Pastor Orval Wirkkala. May God Bless your week! John
Faith and Hope
KJV Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith means to trust God, believing God for our future. We are trusting our life in the hands of God, for the future that He has in store for us. Hope we think of as our desire, something we would like to see happen, but in biblical language hope refers to the future promises of God, which have not yet taken place, but will most certainly happen. Our hope is like the anchor of the soul, for we believe God for our future.
Hope is the certainty of the future promises of God. Hope is faith looking forward. Do we believe that Abraham Lincoln was our President during the civil war? Yes, we do, for we believe in those things that have already taken place, and we trust that those events happened. In this sense, we tend to think about faith in the sense of looking backward and hope as trusting in the future. Even though faith and hope may be distinguished from each other, yet they are very closely related. Faith is what gives substance to our hope.
How do we know that the future promises of God will come to pass? Because we trust God, for people of faith are those who trust God. It is because of the faithfulness of God that we have assurance for the future. Because we have faith, there is hope. Without faith, there is no hope. People have hope today, but not all are putting their hope in God, which means they have a hope that is not biblical and it is a hope that will leave them disappointed.
When we succumb to unbelief, it causes us to fear the future, by making assumptions about the future. Here are two examples of our forefathers who looked to the future, one lacked faith and the other possessed faith. David thought he knew the future, but did he? He knew that Samuel had anointed him to be king of Israel, but fear caused him to lose sight of God's promise.
KJV 1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
And Apostle Paul's faith
KJV 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Is tomorrow seen by us? No, we are finite humans and cannot see tomorrow. We don't know about tomorrow, but we know who holds tomorrow. Many things about tomorrow, we don't understand, but we know who holds our hand as we look to the future.
Recently when I asked a brother as to how I could pray for him, this is what he said: "Pray that I would trust in God who is unseen and that I would not fear the seen circumstances!"
May that be our prayer for one another today.
Bound together by faith with hope for the future,
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Faith and Hope
KJV Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith means to trust God, believing God for our future. We are trusting our life in the hands of God, for the future that He has in store for us. Hope we think of as our desire, something we would like to see happen, but in biblical language hope refers to the future promises of God, which have not yet taken place, but will most certainly happen. Our hope is like the anchor of the soul, for we believe God for our future.
Hope is the certainty of the future promises of God. Hope is faith looking forward. Do we believe that Abraham Lincoln was our President during the civil war? Yes, we do, for we believe in those things that have already taken place, and we trust that those events happened. In this sense, we tend to think about faith in the sense of looking backward and hope as trusting in the future. Even though faith and hope may be distinguished from each other, yet they are very closely related. Faith is what gives substance to our hope.
How do we know that the future promises of God will come to pass? Because we trust God, for people of faith are those who trust God. It is because of the faithfulness of God that we have assurance for the future. Because we have faith, there is hope. Without faith, there is no hope. People have hope today, but not all are putting their hope in God, which means they have a hope that is not biblical and it is a hope that will leave them disappointed.
When we succumb to unbelief, it causes us to fear the future, by making assumptions about the future. Here are two examples of our forefathers who looked to the future, one lacked faith and the other possessed faith. David thought he knew the future, but did he? He knew that Samuel had anointed him to be king of Israel, but fear caused him to lose sight of God's promise.
KJV 1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
And Apostle Paul's faith
KJV 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Is tomorrow seen by us? No, we are finite humans and cannot see tomorrow. We don't know about tomorrow, but we know who holds tomorrow. Many things about tomorrow, we don't understand, but we know who holds our hand as we look to the future.
Recently when I asked a brother as to how I could pray for him, this is what he said: "Pray that I would trust in God who is unseen and that I would not fear the seen circumstances!"
May that be our prayer for one another today.
Bound together by faith with hope for the future,
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Behold, I Stand at the Door
Dear Readers around the world! Today our article is written by an elder pastor from our church here in the USA. He
is no longer able to preach due to his health. Some of my most special early childhood memories include listening to this Pastor preach God's word
when he visited our area. May God Bless each of you through the coming week! John
Now, Pastor Holmgren
These words of Jesus are often applied to the
unchurched—specifically, those living outwardly in sin and
in defiance of the will of God as it is revealed in the Word of
God. Taken in context, they present a startling revelation! Jesus
was speaking to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. He
was the minister (messenger) of that church and was held as a
star in the right hand of Jesus (Revelation 1:20).
It is apparent he was not in fellowship with the Lord. The
words paint a graphic picture of the Savior standing at the door
seeking entrance. It’s alarming to think that this angel’s spiritual
life had deteriorated to the extent that he was no longer in
communion with his Lord and Savior. The Master, in whose
ministry he served, appeared outside of the door of his heart.
He was in a lukewarm condition, in a state of spiritual
indifference. He had lost consciousness of his sinfulness and
his need of grace and developed such spiritual independence
that he felt rich and increased with goods and in need of
nothing. This self-sufficient, lukewarm condition resulted not
only in complacency, but also in spiritual blindness of the
magnitude that Jesus said that he did not know that he was
wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
The better way was found by the Lord in the hearts and
spiritual lives of two angels of the other churches addressed in
these divinely inspired letters. The Lord knew the works,
tribulations and poverty of the angel at Smyrna but comforted
him with the statement that he was rich nevertheless
(Revelation 2:9).
The Lord also approved the condition of the
angel at Philadelphia, whom, He said, had a little strength, had
kept His Word and had not denied His name (Revelation 3:8).
It is evident that the condition of the angel at Laodicea was
deplorable in the Lord’s sight because He said …I will spue thee
out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16) Yet Jesus showed him the
way back to spiritual health by counseling him to buy of Him
gold tried in the fire so that he might be rich, white raiment so
that he would be clothed and his nakedness would not show,
and eye salve so that he would be able to see (verse 18).
What prompted this straightforward message to this angel?
The love of the Lord shines in every word He spoke, even in this
seemingly stern admonition. As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20) Jesus’
words teach us the essence of Christianity is communion with
Him. There is no substitute for this relationship. Communion
with Jesus is the only means for restoring and preserving a
living relationship with God. Through His Spirit, He imparts to
us the gifts of grace which enable us to feast upon His truth.
Then we can say with the Psalmist, My heart is inditing a good
matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the
king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer
than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore
God hath blessed thee for ever. (Psalm 45:1-2)
Pastor Alvin Holmgren
July 1988 CM
is no longer able to preach due to his health. Some of my most special early childhood memories include listening to this Pastor preach God's word
when he visited our area. May God Bless each of you through the coming week! John
Now, Pastor Holmgren
These words of Jesus are often applied to the
unchurched—specifically, those living outwardly in sin and
in defiance of the will of God as it is revealed in the Word of
God. Taken in context, they present a startling revelation! Jesus
was speaking to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. He
was the minister (messenger) of that church and was held as a
star in the right hand of Jesus (Revelation 1:20).
It is apparent he was not in fellowship with the Lord. The
words paint a graphic picture of the Savior standing at the door
seeking entrance. It’s alarming to think that this angel’s spiritual
life had deteriorated to the extent that he was no longer in
communion with his Lord and Savior. The Master, in whose
ministry he served, appeared outside of the door of his heart.
He was in a lukewarm condition, in a state of spiritual
indifference. He had lost consciousness of his sinfulness and
his need of grace and developed such spiritual independence
that he felt rich and increased with goods and in need of
nothing. This self-sufficient, lukewarm condition resulted not
only in complacency, but also in spiritual blindness of the
magnitude that Jesus said that he did not know that he was
wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
The better way was found by the Lord in the hearts and
spiritual lives of two angels of the other churches addressed in
these divinely inspired letters. The Lord knew the works,
tribulations and poverty of the angel at Smyrna but comforted
him with the statement that he was rich nevertheless
(Revelation 2:9).
The Lord also approved the condition of the
angel at Philadelphia, whom, He said, had a little strength, had
kept His Word and had not denied His name (Revelation 3:8).
It is evident that the condition of the angel at Laodicea was
deplorable in the Lord’s sight because He said …I will spue thee
out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16) Yet Jesus showed him the
way back to spiritual health by counseling him to buy of Him
gold tried in the fire so that he might be rich, white raiment so
that he would be clothed and his nakedness would not show,
and eye salve so that he would be able to see (verse 18).
What prompted this straightforward message to this angel?
The love of the Lord shines in every word He spoke, even in this
seemingly stern admonition. As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20) Jesus’
words teach us the essence of Christianity is communion with
Him. There is no substitute for this relationship. Communion
with Jesus is the only means for restoring and preserving a
living relationship with God. Through His Spirit, He imparts to
us the gifts of grace which enable us to feast upon His truth.
Then we can say with the Psalmist, My heart is inditing a good
matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the
king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer
than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore
God hath blessed thee for ever. (Psalm 45:1-2)
Pastor Alvin Holmgren
July 1988 CM
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Declare His Glory!
Dear Readers around the world!
Psalm 96:1-3
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 2Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Our text for today is a wonderful and beautiful portion of God’s Holy Word! It is a song of rejoicing, praise, and instruction! The rejoicing and singing can begin NOW for each believer. Let the cup of our hearts run over with praise! Our God is so mighty, powerful, loving, and eternal! He has done so many mighty works!
Declare his glory among the heathen. Do you have heathen in your countries? We surely have them here in the USA. What does the scripture here tell us? Declare His Glory!! Tell of His wonders!
Today I would like to share some of those wonders as they come to mind here in the early morning dawn on this colorful fall day.
Our God created all things. The sun, moon and stars, He created them all! The heathen worship these, yet they were created by God whom we worship!
God created the dry land, the sea, the flowers, the trees, the fish, the animals, the birds, and all else!
The God of the Bible is the one that caused the huge flood when it never rained before. He opened the gates of heaven and the rain came down. Our God caused that 8 souls were saved in Noah’s arc, which He gave the plans and instructions for!
God parted the Red Sea in the time of Moses. Imagine the power!
God stopped the river so the children of Israel could pass over on dry ground.
All the miracles of the Old Testament are we accomplished by the One True God.
God did not stop with Old Testament miracles. He knew that when Adam and Eve fell into sin, a Saviour was required. The blood of the innocent animals that died for sin in the Old Testament, were a picture of the innocent blood of His own Son that would be shed for the Redemption of Mankind.
Jesus was True God, and also True Man. Jesus was born of a virgin. This was truly a miracle. The Lord Jesus, turned water into wine. He healed the sick, He made the blind to see. He feed the 5000; He made the lame to walk! He cleansed the leper, He stilled the sea! Are you getting the picture! Who but the Lord could ever do such! I could go on and on... He brought the dead back to life, He restored the withered hand, He walked on the Sea! Yes, He walked on water! The very thing that was the problem in the sea, the rough waves, He walked on! The waves were under His feet. Our problems can also be under His feet. He has control and authority, if we but let Him!
Jesus filled the nets with fish, He put the ear that was cut off back on, and He made the mute man talk!
Today, I pray that He would make me talk when I am mute. I pray that He would cause me to declare His name among the heathen. I pray that He would fill the nets with fish (souls of men) that many could be saved through this declaration! I pray the ears would hear so that faith can come by hearing!
Those that have sin sickness, I pray that they would repent, believe, and thereby be healed! Those that are burdened and can’t walk uprightly as a Christian let them be renewed and begin walking and leaping and praising God!
What a wonderful and Mighty God and Saviour we have, He is truly worthy of all Praise, Honor, and Glory!
Declare His Name dear Pastor!! Declare His Name dear Reader! Declare it to the heathen! Declare His Name to the entire world!
May the Worker of Miracles, do another miracle yet today, causing you and me to Declare His Glory!
May God Bless Your Week!
To read more about our Church and our Mission please visit www.themissionsite.com
Here you can follow links to read other websites. Please read the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ as taught by the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, among whatever else you have time to read! I know most of you have to read on a computer in an internet cafe.
Psalm 96:1-3
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 2Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Our text for today is a wonderful and beautiful portion of God’s Holy Word! It is a song of rejoicing, praise, and instruction! The rejoicing and singing can begin NOW for each believer. Let the cup of our hearts run over with praise! Our God is so mighty, powerful, loving, and eternal! He has done so many mighty works!
Declare his glory among the heathen. Do you have heathen in your countries? We surely have them here in the USA. What does the scripture here tell us? Declare His Glory!! Tell of His wonders!
Today I would like to share some of those wonders as they come to mind here in the early morning dawn on this colorful fall day.
Our God created all things. The sun, moon and stars, He created them all! The heathen worship these, yet they were created by God whom we worship!
God created the dry land, the sea, the flowers, the trees, the fish, the animals, the birds, and all else!
The God of the Bible is the one that caused the huge flood when it never rained before. He opened the gates of heaven and the rain came down. Our God caused that 8 souls were saved in Noah’s arc, which He gave the plans and instructions for!
God parted the Red Sea in the time of Moses. Imagine the power!
God stopped the river so the children of Israel could pass over on dry ground.
All the miracles of the Old Testament are we accomplished by the One True God.
God did not stop with Old Testament miracles. He knew that when Adam and Eve fell into sin, a Saviour was required. The blood of the innocent animals that died for sin in the Old Testament, were a picture of the innocent blood of His own Son that would be shed for the Redemption of Mankind.
Jesus was True God, and also True Man. Jesus was born of a virgin. This was truly a miracle. The Lord Jesus, turned water into wine. He healed the sick, He made the blind to see. He feed the 5000; He made the lame to walk! He cleansed the leper, He stilled the sea! Are you getting the picture! Who but the Lord could ever do such! I could go on and on... He brought the dead back to life, He restored the withered hand, He walked on the Sea! Yes, He walked on water! The very thing that was the problem in the sea, the rough waves, He walked on! The waves were under His feet. Our problems can also be under His feet. He has control and authority, if we but let Him!
Jesus filled the nets with fish, He put the ear that was cut off back on, and He made the mute man talk!
Today, I pray that He would make me talk when I am mute. I pray that He would cause me to declare His name among the heathen. I pray that He would fill the nets with fish (souls of men) that many could be saved through this declaration! I pray the ears would hear so that faith can come by hearing!
Those that have sin sickness, I pray that they would repent, believe, and thereby be healed! Those that are burdened and can’t walk uprightly as a Christian let them be renewed and begin walking and leaping and praising God!
What a wonderful and Mighty God and Saviour we have, He is truly worthy of all Praise, Honor, and Glory!
Declare His Name dear Pastor!! Declare His Name dear Reader! Declare it to the heathen! Declare His Name to the entire world!
May the Worker of Miracles, do another miracle yet today, causing you and me to Declare His Glory!
May God Bless Your Week!
To read more about our Church and our Mission please visit www.themissionsite.com
Here you can follow links to read other websites. Please read the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ as taught by the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, among whatever else you have time to read! I know most of you have to read on a computer in an internet cafe.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Prayer
Dear Readers around the world! May God’s Peace be with each of you!
This week I am busy getting ready for a meeting of the Foreign Mission board which is going to be held here in my office in NH USA during the later parts of this week.
In preparation for this meeting, I am again reminded of the importance of prayer. I would respectfully request that each of you pray for this meeting. Many important decisions will be made that will affect our mission work in the coming months. We surely desire that this meeting would go according to God’s will, and that we as the Foreign Mission board, would be willing tools in His Kingdom, desiring to do His will.
Let’s look into scripture about prayer since we are on that topic today. First of all, we have that most perfect prayer that Jesus taught us. This is the Lord’s Prayer, with which we are all familiar I am sure. It is a most wonderful prayer which is found in Luke 11:2-4
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil………….
At the very beginning of this prayer we see that Jesus said, OUR FATHER. This is wonderful. Jesus had the same Father as you and I. Also, you and I have the same Father. There is only one true Father of All. Together we worship this one true God, our Father. By praying Our Father, Jesus showed that He was true man as well true God.
Jesus truly knew the power of prayer. Very often in the Bible He exhorts us to pray. Jesus did not only exhort us to pray, He led by example. Do you remember that when after being with the multitudes He went apart and prayed? He prayed on the mountains, He prayed in the garden, He prayed for His friends, He prayed for those that were against Him. He prayed on the cross when He said, Father forgive them!
This is the kind of Jesus that we have! Jesus cares for us. Jesus led by example. Jesus knew when He was on earth that our (His and ours) Father was in heaven. He knew that when we pray the Lord’s prayer in our day, that OUR Father would still be in heaven all these many years later. Our Father is not leaving the throne of Heaven. He is always there waiting all of those that are covered by the blood of His Son Jesus to come home! He is always there watching over His children.
Let us never leave Our Father and the precious atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus goes on in our text to say Hallowed by thy Name! God’s name is Holy! God is Holy! Let us never forget that He is our Holy God. Many places in the bible testify of His Holiness! For instance: Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:
Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
Our Holy God is also our Father. Even a natural father loves his children. This love is very small compared to how much our Heavenly Father loves us. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to live here on earth so he could become acquainted with our grief, our fears, pain, temptations, and everything else that we experience in this life. He came here to earth to make atonement for our sins. Jesus came to fulfill all that we cannot fulfill. God sent Jesus to suffer, bleed, and die for our sins. The Good Shepherd gave up His life for His sheep. God’s son Jesus died on the cross of us! Payment for our sin was made in full!
What a Wonderful Father we have. What a wonderful Christ Jesus our Lord we have. Just in the first few words of the prayer that Jesus taught us, we cannot even come close to explaining all the could be said in this short letter. I suppose the reason for this is explained in John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
And Amen! May God be with you through another week!
This week I am busy getting ready for a meeting of the Foreign Mission board which is going to be held here in my office in NH USA during the later parts of this week.
In preparation for this meeting, I am again reminded of the importance of prayer. I would respectfully request that each of you pray for this meeting. Many important decisions will be made that will affect our mission work in the coming months. We surely desire that this meeting would go according to God’s will, and that we as the Foreign Mission board, would be willing tools in His Kingdom, desiring to do His will.
Let’s look into scripture about prayer since we are on that topic today. First of all, we have that most perfect prayer that Jesus taught us. This is the Lord’s Prayer, with which we are all familiar I am sure. It is a most wonderful prayer which is found in Luke 11:2-4
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil………….
At the very beginning of this prayer we see that Jesus said, OUR FATHER. This is wonderful. Jesus had the same Father as you and I. Also, you and I have the same Father. There is only one true Father of All. Together we worship this one true God, our Father. By praying Our Father, Jesus showed that He was true man as well true God.
Jesus truly knew the power of prayer. Very often in the Bible He exhorts us to pray. Jesus did not only exhort us to pray, He led by example. Do you remember that when after being with the multitudes He went apart and prayed? He prayed on the mountains, He prayed in the garden, He prayed for His friends, He prayed for those that were against Him. He prayed on the cross when He said, Father forgive them!
This is the kind of Jesus that we have! Jesus cares for us. Jesus led by example. Jesus knew when He was on earth that our (His and ours) Father was in heaven. He knew that when we pray the Lord’s prayer in our day, that OUR Father would still be in heaven all these many years later. Our Father is not leaving the throne of Heaven. He is always there waiting all of those that are covered by the blood of His Son Jesus to come home! He is always there watching over His children.
Let us never leave Our Father and the precious atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus goes on in our text to say Hallowed by thy Name! God’s name is Holy! God is Holy! Let us never forget that He is our Holy God. Many places in the bible testify of His Holiness! For instance: Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:
Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
Our Holy God is also our Father. Even a natural father loves his children. This love is very small compared to how much our Heavenly Father loves us. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to live here on earth so he could become acquainted with our grief, our fears, pain, temptations, and everything else that we experience in this life. He came here to earth to make atonement for our sins. Jesus came to fulfill all that we cannot fulfill. God sent Jesus to suffer, bleed, and die for our sins. The Good Shepherd gave up His life for His sheep. God’s son Jesus died on the cross of us! Payment for our sin was made in full!
What a Wonderful Father we have. What a wonderful Christ Jesus our Lord we have. Just in the first few words of the prayer that Jesus taught us, we cannot even come close to explaining all the could be said in this short letter. I suppose the reason for this is explained in John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
And Amen! May God be with you through another week!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Great Shepherd!
Dear Readers around the world!
I am praying and trusting that you have had a safe week, as well as one that you were able to read His Word, to be in prayer, and were able to be in fellowship with other believers!
Last week I shared with you briefly from Hebrews 13. One of those two verses spoke about our Great Shepherd.
Today, I would like to expand on the Great Shepherd portion of that scripture. I suggested that you read the entire 23rd Psalm. That Psalm is so precious to many of us Christians.
There is part of one verse from this Psalm that I would like to share with you, as well as comments upon it that I recently heard spoken. Our dear brother in Christ, Pastor Steve Wauri, from Canada, formerly of the USA, and whom had been for many years on our church federations Central Board, was speaking only about 2 weeks ago at his son’s funeral.
Yes, sadly, Steve and his wife Jackie, lost there 24 year old son, as he was killed in an accident by a train. As you can imagine, this was a very tragic event in their lives.
As Pastor Steve spoke at his sons funeral, he commented on Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…. Steve said, that on the day his son died, they felt like they were entering into the valley of the shadow of death. It was so precious for me to hear Steve go on to say, that by the end of the week, after feeling the prayers, and seeing the love of the Christians, it truly became real to him that this verse actually says, that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..
He said to notice that the word says through the valley, not into the valley…. He said that they could feel the Lord carrying them through the valley. God was and is fulfilling His promise taking care of them in their time of grief.
God will all take care of us in all our times of grief, troubles, and problems. His word and promises are so wonderful and true! He will lead us through. Remember, the God of the mountains, (those good times in life) is the same God as the God of the valleys! (the bad times)
Our Lord is trust worthy. He will lead us through all events that come up. Remember to be like sheep and hear his voice. The animals that are called sheep that we see in our countryside, hear the voice of their shepherd. They know the voice of their shepherd. If there is another shepherd in the same area, they will not be fooled into going with the wrong shepherd because they know the voice of the one they belong to.
Let us as Christians be like sheep even in this way. Let us listen to the voice of the preacher. Let us listen to the small still voice of the Holy Ghost within us. Let us make sure we follow the voice of no other shepherd, other than the Great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let this voice be heard among us always, and let us hear no other!
May God Bless your week! John
I am praying and trusting that you have had a safe week, as well as one that you were able to read His Word, to be in prayer, and were able to be in fellowship with other believers!
Last week I shared with you briefly from Hebrews 13. One of those two verses spoke about our Great Shepherd.
Today, I would like to expand on the Great Shepherd portion of that scripture. I suggested that you read the entire 23rd Psalm. That Psalm is so precious to many of us Christians.
There is part of one verse from this Psalm that I would like to share with you, as well as comments upon it that I recently heard spoken. Our dear brother in Christ, Pastor Steve Wauri, from Canada, formerly of the USA, and whom had been for many years on our church federations Central Board, was speaking only about 2 weeks ago at his son’s funeral.
Yes, sadly, Steve and his wife Jackie, lost there 24 year old son, as he was killed in an accident by a train. As you can imagine, this was a very tragic event in their lives.
As Pastor Steve spoke at his sons funeral, he commented on Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…. Steve said, that on the day his son died, they felt like they were entering into the valley of the shadow of death. It was so precious for me to hear Steve go on to say, that by the end of the week, after feeling the prayers, and seeing the love of the Christians, it truly became real to him that this verse actually says, that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..
He said to notice that the word says through the valley, not into the valley…. He said that they could feel the Lord carrying them through the valley. God was and is fulfilling His promise taking care of them in their time of grief.
God will all take care of us in all our times of grief, troubles, and problems. His word and promises are so wonderful and true! He will lead us through. Remember, the God of the mountains, (those good times in life) is the same God as the God of the valleys! (the bad times)
Our Lord is trust worthy. He will lead us through all events that come up. Remember to be like sheep and hear his voice. The animals that are called sheep that we see in our countryside, hear the voice of their shepherd. They know the voice of their shepherd. If there is another shepherd in the same area, they will not be fooled into going with the wrong shepherd because they know the voice of the one they belong to.
Let us as Christians be like sheep even in this way. Let us listen to the voice of the preacher. Let us listen to the small still voice of the Holy Ghost within us. Let us make sure we follow the voice of no other shepherd, other than the Great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let this voice be heard among us always, and let us hear no other!
May God Bless your week! John
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Power and Life in The Blood
Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace from the God of Peace!
This Sunday in my sermon I was led to preach from Hebrew chapter 13 verses 20-21. I will try to share some main points from this text which is so rich and full as is all of God’s Word. This very short portion of God’s word seems to contain so many of the essential elements of our faith in just a few short words.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
GOD OF PEACE! This is the kind of God we have, one of Peace! Our God is a God of Peace! He wants us to be at peace, to have peace, to experience peace, to share the good news of peace. He wants us to have the peace of a good conscience.
How and when do we have or obtain peace??
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Then out text goes on to say that He brought again Jesus Christ from the dead:
What power, how amazing! Jesus arose on the third day! The grave could not contain such a mighty power! Read the verses below that show what this event means for us!
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2 Cor. 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Ephes. 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Our text then speaks of our GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP
There are so many times in scripture that the children of God are referred to as sheep, and our Lord as the Shepherd! He is so Great, and He has a great number of sheep!
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… Read the entire 23rd Psalm
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Our text goes on to say THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING CONVENANT
1st Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, THIS IS TRULY EVERYLASTING ……
Other scriptures pertaining to the Power and Life of the Blood of Jesus…….
Ephes. 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev. 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev. 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Verse 21 of our text for today, goes on to explain that first He made us perfect, (we are only perfect by and through Christ Jesus) and that He is working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. Pray that each of us would allow the Lord to do His work on and in us, so that we can be a light and a witness of His great Love to this dark world.
There is Power in the Blood! Mighty, wonder working power in the Precious Blood of the Lamb!!!
May God Bless your week!
In His Service! John Ruotsala FM Admin.
This Sunday in my sermon I was led to preach from Hebrew chapter 13 verses 20-21. I will try to share some main points from this text which is so rich and full as is all of God’s Word. This very short portion of God’s word seems to contain so many of the essential elements of our faith in just a few short words.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
GOD OF PEACE! This is the kind of God we have, one of Peace! Our God is a God of Peace! He wants us to be at peace, to have peace, to experience peace, to share the good news of peace. He wants us to have the peace of a good conscience.
How and when do we have or obtain peace??
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Then out text goes on to say that He brought again Jesus Christ from the dead:
What power, how amazing! Jesus arose on the third day! The grave could not contain such a mighty power! Read the verses below that show what this event means for us!
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2 Cor. 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Ephes. 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Our text then speaks of our GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP
There are so many times in scripture that the children of God are referred to as sheep, and our Lord as the Shepherd! He is so Great, and He has a great number of sheep!
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… Read the entire 23rd Psalm
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Our text goes on to say THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING CONVENANT
1st Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, THIS IS TRULY EVERYLASTING ……
Other scriptures pertaining to the Power and Life of the Blood of Jesus…….
Ephes. 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev. 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev. 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Verse 21 of our text for today, goes on to explain that first He made us perfect, (we are only perfect by and through Christ Jesus) and that He is working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. Pray that each of us would allow the Lord to do His work on and in us, so that we can be a light and a witness of His great Love to this dark world.
There is Power in the Blood! Mighty, wonder working power in the Precious Blood of the Lamb!!!
May God Bless your week!
In His Service! John Ruotsala FM Admin.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Watchfulness
Dear readers around the world! Today our article is about watchfulness! This is an important lesson for all of us to understand. It was written by a speaking (pastor) brother of mine and a true friend! I hope you enjoy it! May God Bless your week! John
Have you ever been outside with your friends on a warm summer evening looking
up into the clear night sky waiting to see a “shooting star” go racing across the inky blackness as it appears for just a moment then vanishes from sight? If so, you might recall how after patiently watching someone will exclaim, “Look, there goes one!” Immediately all heads turn, hoping to get a glimpse of this unique nighttime phenomenon. But too late for some, the meteor, rocketing through space, enters the earth’s atmosphere and is quickly consumed in a blaze of intense heat and disappears
from view. Having done this on many occasions, I can now almost hear the disappointed response from someone in the group, “Oh, I missed it!” followed by the excited observer’s exclamation, “Wow, you should have seen it! It was awesome!”
What I have described above serves as one small example of the necessity of being “watchful.” In this case, the star gazers all had a desire to witness this nighttime spectacle, and they all believed it was possible to catch a glimpse of these dashing meteorites if they kept their eyes focused on the heavens and patiently waited for the fiery objects to appear. So the question remains: why did some miss the opportunityto observe this nighttime event?
I can tell you from experience that, in most cases, the chance to see this heavenly exhibition is lost when, after a few minutes of looking skyward and watching intently without success, the stiff-necked watcher becomes tired and weary and begins to lose interest. Or the sudden appearance of a firefly blinking its greenish light in the nearby thicket causes a distraction, and before long, good intentions of careful watching give way to other immediate interests close at hand.
Can you see the spiritual lesson in this example? We are taught in the Scriptures and we believe in our hearts that our Lord is coming again, but Jesus doesn’t come in the first watch or the second, so we become tired of watching, and weary with waiting, and before long, our eyes and hearts are feeding on earthly things. And like the intriguing glow of the firefly, which calls us to follow it into the shadowy night for a closer look, the world, filled with distraction and commotion, plays its tempting songs that can easily lull us into a state of careless slumber. The result of this diversion will not deprive the would-be watchers of a meteoric glimpse but may very well rob them of their greatest blessing, eternal life in heaven.
It was for this very reason Jesus warned His disciples, Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35-37)
Dear bride of Christ, listen carefully and you will hear the midnight cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh!” And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans13:11-14)
Cal Niemela
Tapiola, Michigan
Have you ever been outside with your friends on a warm summer evening looking
up into the clear night sky waiting to see a “shooting star” go racing across the inky blackness as it appears for just a moment then vanishes from sight? If so, you might recall how after patiently watching someone will exclaim, “Look, there goes one!” Immediately all heads turn, hoping to get a glimpse of this unique nighttime phenomenon. But too late for some, the meteor, rocketing through space, enters the earth’s atmosphere and is quickly consumed in a blaze of intense heat and disappears
from view. Having done this on many occasions, I can now almost hear the disappointed response from someone in the group, “Oh, I missed it!” followed by the excited observer’s exclamation, “Wow, you should have seen it! It was awesome!”
What I have described above serves as one small example of the necessity of being “watchful.” In this case, the star gazers all had a desire to witness this nighttime spectacle, and they all believed it was possible to catch a glimpse of these dashing meteorites if they kept their eyes focused on the heavens and patiently waited for the fiery objects to appear. So the question remains: why did some miss the opportunityto observe this nighttime event?
I can tell you from experience that, in most cases, the chance to see this heavenly exhibition is lost when, after a few minutes of looking skyward and watching intently without success, the stiff-necked watcher becomes tired and weary and begins to lose interest. Or the sudden appearance of a firefly blinking its greenish light in the nearby thicket causes a distraction, and before long, good intentions of careful watching give way to other immediate interests close at hand.
Can you see the spiritual lesson in this example? We are taught in the Scriptures and we believe in our hearts that our Lord is coming again, but Jesus doesn’t come in the first watch or the second, so we become tired of watching, and weary with waiting, and before long, our eyes and hearts are feeding on earthly things. And like the intriguing glow of the firefly, which calls us to follow it into the shadowy night for a closer look, the world, filled with distraction and commotion, plays its tempting songs that can easily lull us into a state of careless slumber. The result of this diversion will not deprive the would-be watchers of a meteoric glimpse but may very well rob them of their greatest blessing, eternal life in heaven.
It was for this very reason Jesus warned His disciples, Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35-37)
Dear bride of Christ, listen carefully and you will hear the midnight cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh!” And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans13:11-14)
Cal Niemela
Tapiola, Michigan
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Cease from Labor
Dear readers around the world! This week I am heading back home after traveling for about 3 months for my job as administrator for the Foreign Mission. I have enjoyed visiting different congregations each week to raise awareness about the work that the Lord is doing around the world through the Foreign Mission of the ALC have toward the work in His Kingdom! These travels are done in hopes that even in this bad economy, the Lord’s people would be reminded to share of the Lord’s blessing to help the FM as it endeavors to be obedient to the word of our Lord when He said in Mark..go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
On Monday of this week all the people in the United States celebrated a holiday called Labor Day. Naturally thinking, this can sound like a strange holiday. We are celebrating Labor, or work, but we all take the day off. In a way, one might think that if work is celebrated, then perhaps one should work?
This holiday did remind me however, that as Christians, we have also ceased, or have stopped from our own labor, and have entered in His Rest!
Hebrews 4:10 (KJV)
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
All work and labor for our salvation has been accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing more needs to be done! Our work has ended when we have died to self, when we have repented and believed the Gospel. 2 Tim. 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
It may be at first hard to understand how we become dead with him. Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The baptism spoken about here I believe is not only water baptism, but rather also baptism as a word in it’s original and literal meaning, which means to become one. If a person dyes a white cloth with red dye, the cloth is now red through and through. This is an example of what happens when we are buried with him by baptism into death. It is after we have repented, died to self, that then we have newness of life!!
When we have newness of life, we are in His Rest. Just like God rested after creating all things, we are able to have total rest after Jesus has created us anew! What a joy to have rest, to cease from our labors. What a wonder, how amazing, that we have been given such great blessings! Just think, NO more Labor for our Salvation. In the USA we had the one day off to celebrate with no labor, after which we all have to go back to work. In Christ’s Kingdom, our labor is totally over!
Does this mean we can just sit and do nothing? On the contrary! Remember the verse above said we are alive with HIM! Living Christians are not idle! Now that one is a believer, we understand that we are tools in His workshop. We have a desire that more and more lost sinners would be able to have this same peace and rest in Jesus Christ! We want our families, friends, and all we know to have peace and rest! This is no longer us laboring, this is us sharing of Jesus, and witnessing of Him who has given us HIS rest!
The scripture tells us that this glorious rest is not available for the ones that believe not..
Hebrews 3:18
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
This rest is available for all, but it cannot be attained until one repents and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dear believers reading this, enjoy your rest in the Lord. Rest from now through all eternity in the perfect peace of our Lord!
To all non Christians reading this, may the Lord work a desire in your heart for His Word. May He allow you to come to understand that all are sinners and in need of repentance… Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We as people are no different; we must all come in through that straight gate, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
May you be one of the few ( in comparison to the total people of the world) that find the Lord Jesus so you can also enter into His Glorious rest! John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let us pray one for one another that we would be in the truth, and have His life and rest!
May the Lord Bless your week!
On Monday of this week all the people in the United States celebrated a holiday called Labor Day. Naturally thinking, this can sound like a strange holiday. We are celebrating Labor, or work, but we all take the day off. In a way, one might think that if work is celebrated, then perhaps one should work?
This holiday did remind me however, that as Christians, we have also ceased, or have stopped from our own labor, and have entered in His Rest!
Hebrews 4:10 (KJV)
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
All work and labor for our salvation has been accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing more needs to be done! Our work has ended when we have died to self, when we have repented and believed the Gospel. 2 Tim. 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
It may be at first hard to understand how we become dead with him. Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The baptism spoken about here I believe is not only water baptism, but rather also baptism as a word in it’s original and literal meaning, which means to become one. If a person dyes a white cloth with red dye, the cloth is now red through and through. This is an example of what happens when we are buried with him by baptism into death. It is after we have repented, died to self, that then we have newness of life!!
When we have newness of life, we are in His Rest. Just like God rested after creating all things, we are able to have total rest after Jesus has created us anew! What a joy to have rest, to cease from our labors. What a wonder, how amazing, that we have been given such great blessings! Just think, NO more Labor for our Salvation. In the USA we had the one day off to celebrate with no labor, after which we all have to go back to work. In Christ’s Kingdom, our labor is totally over!
Does this mean we can just sit and do nothing? On the contrary! Remember the verse above said we are alive with HIM! Living Christians are not idle! Now that one is a believer, we understand that we are tools in His workshop. We have a desire that more and more lost sinners would be able to have this same peace and rest in Jesus Christ! We want our families, friends, and all we know to have peace and rest! This is no longer us laboring, this is us sharing of Jesus, and witnessing of Him who has given us HIS rest!
The scripture tells us that this glorious rest is not available for the ones that believe not..
Hebrews 3:18
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
This rest is available for all, but it cannot be attained until one repents and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dear believers reading this, enjoy your rest in the Lord. Rest from now through all eternity in the perfect peace of our Lord!
To all non Christians reading this, may the Lord work a desire in your heart for His Word. May He allow you to come to understand that all are sinners and in need of repentance… Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We as people are no different; we must all come in through that straight gate, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
May you be one of the few ( in comparison to the total people of the world) that find the Lord Jesus so you can also enter into His Glorious rest! John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let us pray one for one another that we would be in the truth, and have His life and rest!
May the Lord Bless your week!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Fresh Start
We approach the fall time of the year we begin anew and afresh with church activities as well as continuing to manage our personal lives. Our Lord has given us much direction concerning the duties of life, instructing us to seek His kingdom first and depending upon him to give us that which we have need of. He does not want us to worry about the things of this life which are necessary, but He does call us to plan and carry out our duties with diligence.
Here is the foundation of our approach to having our needs met:
KJV Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We are to ask, seek and knock:
KJV Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
KJV Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
We are not to worry, but make our requests to Him;
KJV Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing;(don't worry) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We pray;
KJV Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
The example of Jesus in prayer;
KJV Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
KJV Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
We seek wise counsel from others;
KJV Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
KJV Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We put our plans into action.
KJV Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
KJV Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
KJV Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
KJV Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
KJV Proverbs 27:25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
KJV Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
We are open to possible changes in direction.
KJV Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
KJV Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Questions for us to consider… . How are we planning and working our plan?
Where is our planning strongest? Why? Where is our planning weakest? Why?
What can we plan to do better?
May God Bless You!
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Here is the foundation of our approach to having our needs met:
KJV Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We are to ask, seek and knock:
KJV Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
KJV Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
We are not to worry, but make our requests to Him;
KJV Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing;(don't worry) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We pray;
KJV Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
The example of Jesus in prayer;
KJV Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
KJV Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
We seek wise counsel from others;
KJV Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
KJV Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We put our plans into action.
KJV Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
KJV Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
KJV Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
KJV Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
KJV Proverbs 27:25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
KJV Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
We are open to possible changes in direction.
KJV Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
KJV Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Questions for us to consider… . How are we planning and working our plan?
Where is our planning strongest? Why? Where is our planning weakest? Why?
What can we plan to do better?
May God Bless You!
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Grace, Mercy, and Peace!
Dear Readers around the world! May the Grace, Mercy and Peace from God our Heavenly Father, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all, now and forever! Amen!
So precious are the greetings that are given from one Christian to another! Christians have abundant measures of Grace, Mercy and Peace! These are wonderful gifts given to each person that has believed in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ by Faith for his own salvation. These are given to each one that has repented and believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Do we understand the difference between Grace and Mercy? Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. It is the unmerited favor in the sight of God. Ephes. 2:7-8
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Such a wonderful word is Grace! All the riches and glories of heaven above are given to the believers! What could be finer than that? Nothing at all!
Mercy is a similar but yet very different word. Mercy is when God does not give us what we do deserve. 1 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We have deserved nothing but punishment. Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
We all are all together unworthy. However, Jesus Paid it All, all to Him we owe!
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What a wonderful word Mercy it is when we understand that it is of the Lord’s Mercy that we are not consumed. Jesus died for us as sinful men so that we can be saved! What never ending Mercy for mankind!
Peace! Now believers have such a peace! When we understand God’s Grace and Mercy, then we surely can be at peace. Philip. 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
There is no other peace worth having in this world, other than this peace of God! If you not have this peace, turn to His Word. Turn to the Christians around you! Pray often for the comfort which comes from the Holy Spirit according to Jesus promise when He said in John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Holy Spirit which is the comforter abides in the hearts of all true believers! Scripture tells us: 2 Cor. 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
This Liberty is for the believers only. This is not liberty for our flesh to do as we wish, but rather this is Liberty to have peace, joy, happiness, in the Holy Ghost. The children of God are free, and they have every right to be the most joyful people on earth.
Do you dear reader, have this Peace and Liberty today? I pray that you are a possessor of this Peace and Liberty. Remember however, that if you are not counted among the elect of God today, or if someone you know is not yet a believer, today is the day of Grace. Today is a day of Grace and Mercy if man would humble himself, repent, and believe by Faith. Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
May these few verses from God’s word find a lodging place in the hearts of one or many of the people that God Loves, which as we know is everyone!
May God Bless your week!
So precious are the greetings that are given from one Christian to another! Christians have abundant measures of Grace, Mercy and Peace! These are wonderful gifts given to each person that has believed in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ by Faith for his own salvation. These are given to each one that has repented and believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Do we understand the difference between Grace and Mercy? Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. It is the unmerited favor in the sight of God. Ephes. 2:7-8
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Such a wonderful word is Grace! All the riches and glories of heaven above are given to the believers! What could be finer than that? Nothing at all!
Mercy is a similar but yet very different word. Mercy is when God does not give us what we do deserve. 1 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We have deserved nothing but punishment. Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
We all are all together unworthy. However, Jesus Paid it All, all to Him we owe!
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What a wonderful word Mercy it is when we understand that it is of the Lord’s Mercy that we are not consumed. Jesus died for us as sinful men so that we can be saved! What never ending Mercy for mankind!
Peace! Now believers have such a peace! When we understand God’s Grace and Mercy, then we surely can be at peace. Philip. 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
There is no other peace worth having in this world, other than this peace of God! If you not have this peace, turn to His Word. Turn to the Christians around you! Pray often for the comfort which comes from the Holy Spirit according to Jesus promise when He said in John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Holy Spirit which is the comforter abides in the hearts of all true believers! Scripture tells us: 2 Cor. 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
This Liberty is for the believers only. This is not liberty for our flesh to do as we wish, but rather this is Liberty to have peace, joy, happiness, in the Holy Ghost. The children of God are free, and they have every right to be the most joyful people on earth.
Do you dear reader, have this Peace and Liberty today? I pray that you are a possessor of this Peace and Liberty. Remember however, that if you are not counted among the elect of God today, or if someone you know is not yet a believer, today is the day of Grace. Today is a day of Grace and Mercy if man would humble himself, repent, and believe by Faith. Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
May these few verses from God’s word find a lodging place in the hearts of one or many of the people that God Loves, which as we know is everyone!
May God Bless your week!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Who are you?
WHO ARE YOU?? IN CHRIST JESUS
Dear Readers around the World. Last weekend, I did a Foreign Mission presentation for about 200 young people. As I was wondering what to share with them, the Lord gave me a thought that it is so important for all of us to be encouraged as to who we are in Christ Jesus. This thought led me to many questions. These questions started with our very creation.
I will share today with you, some of the questions that I asked these Christian youth, and God’s Holy Word that answers these and all of the questions that we may have!
Remember that we know that many reading this article around the world are not yet believers in the one true God and in Salvation through the Redemptive work of His Only Son our Lord Jesus Christ! To all of those readers I say, please keep reading this blog even if you do not believe it yet. Just remember that the Bible is the Word of the God of the universe, and what it says is the absolute and unerring truth. Man can and will often make mistakes, but God’s word is never incorrect!
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Now on to the questions!
HOW WERE YOU CREATED?
Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
WHAT MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS?
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…
HOW DID WE BECOME WHO WE ARE NOW THE WE BELIEVE?
2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
WHO ARE WE NOW, ONCE WE HAVE REPENTED AND BELIEVE?
Galatians 3:26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephes. 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
WHAT KIND OF MIND DO WE NOW HAVE?
Philip. 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
BECAUSE OF THIS WHAT ARE OUR GOALS?
Philip. 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
WHAT IS NOW YOUR NEW NAME?
Philip. 4:21
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.
ARE WE ALONE IN THIS BATTLE?
Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
WHO CAN HARM YOU?
Romans 8:39-9:1
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Cor. 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,
WHY ARE WE HERE? (on earth)
Ephes. 1:12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. .
Ephes. 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
WHAT MINISTRY DO WE NOW HAVE?
2 Cor. 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
I pray that the Word of God would work in the heart of all those reading this article according to His Will and Purpose. When we speak, write, or talk to any group, we do not know each person’s heart. However, God does! Let us continue to search God’s Word prayerfully.
May God Bless Your Week!
Dear Readers around the World. Last weekend, I did a Foreign Mission presentation for about 200 young people. As I was wondering what to share with them, the Lord gave me a thought that it is so important for all of us to be encouraged as to who we are in Christ Jesus. This thought led me to many questions. These questions started with our very creation.
I will share today with you, some of the questions that I asked these Christian youth, and God’s Holy Word that answers these and all of the questions that we may have!
Remember that we know that many reading this article around the world are not yet believers in the one true God and in Salvation through the Redemptive work of His Only Son our Lord Jesus Christ! To all of those readers I say, please keep reading this blog even if you do not believe it yet. Just remember that the Bible is the Word of the God of the universe, and what it says is the absolute and unerring truth. Man can and will often make mistakes, but God’s word is never incorrect!
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Now on to the questions!
HOW WERE YOU CREATED?
Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
WHAT MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS?
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…
HOW DID WE BECOME WHO WE ARE NOW THE WE BELIEVE?
2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
WHO ARE WE NOW, ONCE WE HAVE REPENTED AND BELIEVE?
Galatians 3:26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephes. 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
WHAT KIND OF MIND DO WE NOW HAVE?
Philip. 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
BECAUSE OF THIS WHAT ARE OUR GOALS?
Philip. 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
WHAT IS NOW YOUR NEW NAME?
Philip. 4:21
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.
ARE WE ALONE IN THIS BATTLE?
Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
WHO CAN HARM YOU?
Romans 8:39-9:1
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Cor. 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,
WHY ARE WE HERE? (on earth)
Ephes. 1:12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. .
Ephes. 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
WHAT MINISTRY DO WE NOW HAVE?
2 Cor. 5:19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
I pray that the Word of God would work in the heart of all those reading this article according to His Will and Purpose. When we speak, write, or talk to any group, we do not know each person’s heart. However, God does! Let us continue to search God’s Word prayerfully.
May God Bless Your Week!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Indenity in Christ
Dear readers around the world. God's Peace!
Today our article is penned by a brother in Christ, Mark Sunnarborg. He has a prison ministry that he faithfully attends to. I asked him if he would share some thoughts with us, so today I have decided to share one of his writings. I agree with Mark that it is most important to know our identity. I have shared with many of you in the past about this identity is Christ.
This is the actual reality of being found in Christ. We then know who we are, where we came from, and where we are going! What a joy this is! We are so blessed to know all of these things! The unbeliever is still wondering if they evolved, or if there is a God, or will they come back after they die as a pig or goat or something. The unbeliever does not know the one true God, but may think that there are many Gods. We thank God that through the great redemptive work of His Son Jesus Christ, we as believers have a new identity. We are found in Jesus Christ! When we are found in Him, we have not only this new identity, but we have a new life, and eternal life in glorious heaven above waiting for us! Here is Mark to continue!
Who are you?
Who are you and where did you come from?
Are you what you do for a living? Master home builder, big shot in some business? Or rather, are you a new person in Christ Jesus? The new man in Christ must go forth, for old things are passed away. You can be defined by what you do as to who you are. Before you were in Christ you were defined by what you did or by your works. You were only defined by what your works were (deeds are filthy rags). Is that who you are? I think not!! You are new each day in Christ and are not defined by what you did in the flesh, which is to sin. Each day the new man in Christ must rise above the old man defined by his deeds which are sin. Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Do not sin for you are not of the devil. Sin is what you are, not who you are. From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, yes both feet. Remember who you are in Christ.
Isa 51:1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. You came from your parents and that also defines who you are. Red and yellow, black and white, in Christ Jesus we are all brothers, and we are defined by the faith that he has given to us. By faith each day we are to put on this definition. Remember where you came from, the pit of hell, but now as believers soar to the skies or heavens. Isa 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. This is who you are. See what God has done he has raised you up from sin to faith in his Son Jesus and to eternal life forever with him in glory (heaven).
I asked who are you, not who you are. There is a difference. Look and examine what Jesus has done for you already, not what he will do. It’s not what Jesus would do it’s what he has already done. Have you examined who you are today?
Your brother in Christ
Mark Sunnarborg
Rhinelander, WI
Today our article is penned by a brother in Christ, Mark Sunnarborg. He has a prison ministry that he faithfully attends to. I asked him if he would share some thoughts with us, so today I have decided to share one of his writings. I agree with Mark that it is most important to know our identity. I have shared with many of you in the past about this identity is Christ.
This is the actual reality of being found in Christ. We then know who we are, where we came from, and where we are going! What a joy this is! We are so blessed to know all of these things! The unbeliever is still wondering if they evolved, or if there is a God, or will they come back after they die as a pig or goat or something. The unbeliever does not know the one true God, but may think that there are many Gods. We thank God that through the great redemptive work of His Son Jesus Christ, we as believers have a new identity. We are found in Jesus Christ! When we are found in Him, we have not only this new identity, but we have a new life, and eternal life in glorious heaven above waiting for us! Here is Mark to continue!
Who are you?
Who are you and where did you come from?
Are you what you do for a living? Master home builder, big shot in some business? Or rather, are you a new person in Christ Jesus? The new man in Christ must go forth, for old things are passed away. You can be defined by what you do as to who you are. Before you were in Christ you were defined by what you did or by your works. You were only defined by what your works were (deeds are filthy rags). Is that who you are? I think not!! You are new each day in Christ and are not defined by what you did in the flesh, which is to sin. Each day the new man in Christ must rise above the old man defined by his deeds which are sin. Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Do not sin for you are not of the devil. Sin is what you are, not who you are. From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, yes both feet. Remember who you are in Christ.
Isa 51:1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. You came from your parents and that also defines who you are. Red and yellow, black and white, in Christ Jesus we are all brothers, and we are defined by the faith that he has given to us. By faith each day we are to put on this definition. Remember where you came from, the pit of hell, but now as believers soar to the skies or heavens. Isa 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. This is who you are. See what God has done he has raised you up from sin to faith in his Son Jesus and to eternal life forever with him in glory (heaven).
I asked who are you, not who you are. There is a difference. Look and examine what Jesus has done for you already, not what he will do. It’s not what Jesus would do it’s what he has already done. Have you examined who you are today?
Your brother in Christ
Mark Sunnarborg
Rhinelander, WI
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
United by the Bond of Love
Dear Readers around the world! God's Peace! Our article this week is by a Pastor who was at our annual convention! I hope we all can learn together more about love! The title of the article is:
United By The Bond Of Love
(Article written by Pastor Chuck Bylkas, who is also a Central Board member)
Dear Friends,
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one: and that the world may know that Thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”John 17:20-22
At our recent church convention there was considerable discussion on the subject of unity in the Body of Christ. The Kingston congregation had selected “Bind Us Together in Love” as the theme for the convention. While this sounds like an obvious goal for Christians, how do we go about achieving such unity? Because we are selfish by the old nature, we tend to get along only with those who agree with us. We agree to unity if others see things our way. We try to come to a sense of compromise or general agreement on matters of principles or practice, but such efforts only result in a cosmetic unity, or it fails because we rarely agree completely with anyone on anything.
We cannot solve this problem. True oneness cannot be achieved by the efforts sinful human beings, but rather by the work of the One Man, Jesus Christ. When Christ prays the High Priestly prayer in John 17, He is not praying for something that He hopes may happen, but rather what He knows will happen. God the Father answers the High Priestly prayer, and His answer is the Cross. Because of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are united with Him and one another by faith.
The Apostle Paul asks the question to a church in Corinth that was selfish and divisive “Is Christ divided?” The answer is a resounding “No!” Indeed, we are all uniquely different, but we are all part of the same body; the Body of Christ. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all…Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular. ” I Corinthians 12:4-6, 27
As members of the Body of Christ we are united by the bond of love and called to use our gifts to edify one another. To paraphrase Dietrich Bonhoeffer, unity is not something that we hope to create, but rather a new reality in which we are allowed to participate. May God grant us grace to recognize the unity that He has established in the Body of His Son and enable us by the power of the Holy Spirit to build one another up in love.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:17-19
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Chuck Bylkas
United By The Bond Of Love
(Article written by Pastor Chuck Bylkas, who is also a Central Board member)
Dear Friends,
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one: and that the world may know that Thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”John 17:20-22
At our recent church convention there was considerable discussion on the subject of unity in the Body of Christ. The Kingston congregation had selected “Bind Us Together in Love” as the theme for the convention. While this sounds like an obvious goal for Christians, how do we go about achieving such unity? Because we are selfish by the old nature, we tend to get along only with those who agree with us. We agree to unity if others see things our way. We try to come to a sense of compromise or general agreement on matters of principles or practice, but such efforts only result in a cosmetic unity, or it fails because we rarely agree completely with anyone on anything.
We cannot solve this problem. True oneness cannot be achieved by the efforts sinful human beings, but rather by the work of the One Man, Jesus Christ. When Christ prays the High Priestly prayer in John 17, He is not praying for something that He hopes may happen, but rather what He knows will happen. God the Father answers the High Priestly prayer, and His answer is the Cross. Because of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are united with Him and one another by faith.
The Apostle Paul asks the question to a church in Corinth that was selfish and divisive “Is Christ divided?” The answer is a resounding “No!” Indeed, we are all uniquely different, but we are all part of the same body; the Body of Christ. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all…Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular. ” I Corinthians 12:4-6, 27
As members of the Body of Christ we are united by the bond of love and called to use our gifts to edify one another. To paraphrase Dietrich Bonhoeffer, unity is not something that we hope to create, but rather a new reality in which we are allowed to participate. May God grant us grace to recognize the unity that He has established in the Body of His Son and enable us by the power of the Holy Spirit to build one another up in love.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:17-19
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Chuck Bylkas
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Let not your heart be troubled..
Dear Friends! God's Peace! This week our letter is written by Pastor Rod Johnson.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
True peace will never be complete in this world in which
we live. That peace depends on many various factors that
will always be very uncertain at best, for there are so many
things in life over which we have no control. It is for this reason
that Jesus directs our thoughts and desires to Him and His
Word in the above quote from the Gospel of John.
For the very reason of human concern, Matthew 6:33-34
records these words of Jesus: But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added
unto you. Take therefore no thought (do not be anxious) for the
morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of
itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (or its own trouble)
thereof.
Recently, worldwide, we have heard of many serious
situations: natural disasters, hurricanes, cyclones and ongoing
wars. Commonly we deal with health issues, financial concerns,
persecutions, etc. as daily aspects of life here on earth. Even
today the fear of the disaster of the US economy is reported in
the news media. The Word guides us in this, Love not the
world, neither the things that are in the world… (I John 2:15)
When our love is to the Lord, the things of earth grow strangely
dim as we rely on the graciousness of God!
So what do we do? Worry, fret, complain, curse God as Job
was told to do? Or, by faith, commit all things into the hand of
God, trusting in His promises and grace? Jesus clearly told us
what to do in the verses above; but because our sin nature
always wants to be in control and have assurances that everything
will be well we may have anxieties that overwhelm us.
We have hopes in this world, but they are often unfulfilled.
We pray, but the Lord does not always grant our will because
He has other plans that go beyond our knowledge. Therefore,
our only sure hope and peace must be found in Jesus Christ
and His assurance that lasts into eternity that we may possess
the peace that passes all human understanding.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah,
being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which
he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:6-7) Noah relied on the providence
of God for all things unseen or unknown, trusting that
God was faithful to His promise. The future was in the Lord’s
hand for him as it is also for us.
In the Gospel of John, in what is known as ‘The High
Priestly Prayer,’ Jesus prays for victory for His own over that
which is of the world. He forewarned us that we will have
trouble in this world but not to give up hoping in Him. Therefore,
He said, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Living in His peace! Praying that you are also!
In the Love of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Rod Johnson
Laurium, Michigan
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
True peace will never be complete in this world in which
we live. That peace depends on many various factors that
will always be very uncertain at best, for there are so many
things in life over which we have no control. It is for this reason
that Jesus directs our thoughts and desires to Him and His
Word in the above quote from the Gospel of John.
For the very reason of human concern, Matthew 6:33-34
records these words of Jesus: But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added
unto you. Take therefore no thought (do not be anxious) for the
morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of
itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (or its own trouble)
thereof.
Recently, worldwide, we have heard of many serious
situations: natural disasters, hurricanes, cyclones and ongoing
wars. Commonly we deal with health issues, financial concerns,
persecutions, etc. as daily aspects of life here on earth. Even
today the fear of the disaster of the US economy is reported in
the news media. The Word guides us in this, Love not the
world, neither the things that are in the world… (I John 2:15)
When our love is to the Lord, the things of earth grow strangely
dim as we rely on the graciousness of God!
So what do we do? Worry, fret, complain, curse God as Job
was told to do? Or, by faith, commit all things into the hand of
God, trusting in His promises and grace? Jesus clearly told us
what to do in the verses above; but because our sin nature
always wants to be in control and have assurances that everything
will be well we may have anxieties that overwhelm us.
We have hopes in this world, but they are often unfulfilled.
We pray, but the Lord does not always grant our will because
He has other plans that go beyond our knowledge. Therefore,
our only sure hope and peace must be found in Jesus Christ
and His assurance that lasts into eternity that we may possess
the peace that passes all human understanding.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah,
being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which
he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:6-7) Noah relied on the providence
of God for all things unseen or unknown, trusting that
God was faithful to His promise. The future was in the Lord’s
hand for him as it is also for us.
In the Gospel of John, in what is known as ‘The High
Priestly Prayer,’ Jesus prays for victory for His own over that
which is of the world. He forewarned us that we will have
trouble in this world but not to give up hoping in Him. Therefore,
He said, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Living in His peace! Praying that you are also!
In the Love of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Rod Johnson
Laurium, Michigan
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Christian Friends!
Dear Readers around the World!
God’s Peace!
Our long journey around the USA continues, as I am doing presentations for The Foreign Mission in many different ALCA churches. The travel can get a little tiring, but it is such a great joy being with Christians in so many places.
As I pondered what topic to write on this morning, I thought writing about the benefits and joys of having Christian friends would be appropriate. It has been so comforting to find so many welcoming Christians on this journey.
Sometimes we can feel like we are alone in our problems and struggles. Remember that the Word of God says Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
As Christians, we are not in this battle alone. There are other believers we can turn to with our problems, with our struggles. If we have sins that we have fallen into, remember, these Christian friend have the power of the keys given to us by our Lord Jesus when he said, . Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
It is a wonderful time that we live in when brother can turn to brother and say, thy sins be forgiven thee.
We are encouraged in Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. What a beautiful thing it is if we can live peaceably with all men.
2 Peter 3:14 ….. be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Our peace is complete in the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not need to be, and must not be in unrest and turmoil with men here on earth. If we have this problem, we need to search our hearts, and ask the Lord to reveal to us, where we are going wrong. Have I strayed from the love of the brethren because of something I have done?
The scripture also gives us these words of instruction.
James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren….
2 Thes. 3:15
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
We are able to find so many such verses all throughout the Holy Word of God. Our Lord wants us to love one another. How then can we have troubles with other people and even other believers in our lives? I believe it is because we ourselves have not taken full heed to God’s Word. I know that some men are very hard to deal with, and can give us trouble that we did not cause. However, even in these times there is instruction for us in the Word of God. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
You see, we need to look at other Christians as ones that can and will help us on our journey to be with our Lord Jesus in heaven one day. Do not look upon them with covetousness or jealousy. Rather, let us be refreshed by our brothers, as we read in
Philemon 1:7
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Be encouraged, all my dear brothers and sisters that know and believe by faith in the complete saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb, that one day soon, we will be united fully in Heaven! We will then have complete joy as together be praise and glorify our Lord eternally!
God’s Peace!
Our long journey around the USA continues, as I am doing presentations for The Foreign Mission in many different ALCA churches. The travel can get a little tiring, but it is such a great joy being with Christians in so many places.
As I pondered what topic to write on this morning, I thought writing about the benefits and joys of having Christian friends would be appropriate. It has been so comforting to find so many welcoming Christians on this journey.
Sometimes we can feel like we are alone in our problems and struggles. Remember that the Word of God says Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
As Christians, we are not in this battle alone. There are other believers we can turn to with our problems, with our struggles. If we have sins that we have fallen into, remember, these Christian friend have the power of the keys given to us by our Lord Jesus when he said, . Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
It is a wonderful time that we live in when brother can turn to brother and say, thy sins be forgiven thee.
We are encouraged in Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. What a beautiful thing it is if we can live peaceably with all men.
2 Peter 3:14 ….. be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Our peace is complete in the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not need to be, and must not be in unrest and turmoil with men here on earth. If we have this problem, we need to search our hearts, and ask the Lord to reveal to us, where we are going wrong. Have I strayed from the love of the brethren because of something I have done?
The scripture also gives us these words of instruction.
James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren….
2 Thes. 3:15
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
We are able to find so many such verses all throughout the Holy Word of God. Our Lord wants us to love one another. How then can we have troubles with other people and even other believers in our lives? I believe it is because we ourselves have not taken full heed to God’s Word. I know that some men are very hard to deal with, and can give us trouble that we did not cause. However, even in these times there is instruction for us in the Word of God. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
You see, we need to look at other Christians as ones that can and will help us on our journey to be with our Lord Jesus in heaven one day. Do not look upon them with covetousness or jealousy. Rather, let us be refreshed by our brothers, as we read in
Philemon 1:7
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Be encouraged, all my dear brothers and sisters that know and believe by faith in the complete saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb, that one day soon, we will be united fully in Heaven! We will then have complete joy as together be praise and glorify our Lord eternally!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)