Dear Weekly Readers!
Please enjoy this week's article written by Pastor Andrew Kandoll!
May God Bless your week!
Dear Friends in Christ,
God's peace! The Lord Jesus Christ is precious to all who believe. It is our desire to walk in His footsteps and be obedient unto Him in all things.
Proverbs 14:2 says, He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. Solomon contrasts the word "fear" with the word "despise." Despise means "to look down upon; to have the lowest opinion of; to disdain; to scorn." Also contrasted are two different types of people: those who "walk in uprightness" and those who are "perverse in their ways." Perverse means "to be turned aside from the right; turned to evil." These contrasts are given that we might discern between the righteous and the wicked.
The meaning of the Third Commandment "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy" is "We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it."
The fear of the Lord then does not necessarily mean terror or being afraid of God, for the word "fear" has several definitions. The fear of the Lord is not just an emotion or something we feel. In this passage and in most passages, especially in Proverbs, it has the meaning of reverence, respect, awe, and highly esteeming the Lord and His holy precious Word.
Jesus Christ is the living Word (And the Word was made flesh… John 1:14) Through faith in His name and His precious shed blood we receive the forgiveness of our sins and inherit eternal life. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings… (Malachi 4:2) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts… (Malachi 3:16-17)
May God give us great grace that we may walk humbly in the fear of the Lord, turning aside from evil and doing what is good, and highly esteem the precious name and shed atoning blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May His blood speak forgiveness to our hearts. God bless you!
In God's peace and love,
Pastor Andrew G. Kandoll
Champion, Michigan
"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
Monday, January 28, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Jesus Christ the Same
Dear weekly readers!
This week we have an article by Pastor Gene Mixon from Seattle, WA which reflects back on the last year and looks forward to the future.
May God bless your week!
Jesus Christ the Same
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
When we look back at the year past and honestly assess it, we find that it has been a year of change. Some changes have been small and almost seemingly unnoticeable and others have been large and unmistakable. There have been good changes that we have welcomed. There have been hard changes that if we could have avoided we would have, and even now we lament their occurrence and desire their reversal. In this assessment of the past year and the years that have come before it, we see that nothing in our physical existence in this world has any permanence. We find quite the opposite.
Everything in this life is changing or, more clearly put, passing away. This is how our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus put it in Matthew 24:35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Our Lord portrays for us in these words a clear distinction, that which is temporary and that which is permanent or eternal. The temporary is the world in which we exist at present, as well as everything that is visible to the eye, including the body that we bear in this life. The permanent, or eternal, are His Words, the Word by which He joins Himself to us.
In the verse from Hebrews with which we began, we are directed to our unchangeable Savior, Lord and God Jesus Christ. We are clearly told that He is the same yesterday. The passage of time has no power over Him as it does over this world that is passing away. He is the same today. The very moment that we live in now finds Jesus exactly the same as He was yesterday, at the very beginning of time, even from eternity. He is the same forever. Tomorrow He will remain unchanged from yesterday and today. If the Lord gives us another day here on earth, we will wake to a multitude of changes in this world. Again, they will be big and small, welcomed and unwelcomed. They will take place because this world is passing away. Jesus and His Words, on the other hand, are not passing away. They are permanent, eternal.
The context of Hebrews 13:8 is bound to the entirety of the whole book. I would encourage you to read all of Hebrews at one time, in one sitting. I will tie verse 8, for the purpose of this short meditation, to the preceding verse, Hebrews 13:7: Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Those who have spoken the Word of God to us have delivered the only source of permanence there is, the unchangeable crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, the same enduring Word that Jesus said would not pass away. Yes! Jesus is His Word; Jesus is the Word of God.
There have been many preachers of the cross of Jesus Christ in our lives. Some of them are still here with us and continue to point us to the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. Many others have passed from life in this world, because this world is passing away; it is changing. In Hebrews 13:7, we are directed to remember them and to follow the faith they received in this life by hearing the Word of God that they preached and believed for themselves, the Word that told them and tells us that Jesus Christ was crucified and shed His blood for the remission of our sin and rose from the dead for our justification before God. We are to consider the outcome of their life, or their conversation: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
The implications of this are without limits. Because God sent His Son to suffer, die and rise from the dead, sin has been paid for and death has been overcome. Those who have passed from this life having faith according to God's grace in Jesus Christ are not dead, but live. The changes in this life have no permanent or eternal impact on them, even the death of their bodies, because they knew they would receive a new one according to the Word of God.
As we step off into another year, let us, according to the grace of God, rest in the Word that has been spoken to us and trust in the Word that has saved us in spite of ourselves and that never changes, Jesus Christ. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus is sufficient for us. Let us be content with what we receive in this life, because all the riches of the world cannot compare with the riches of God in Christ. Our Savior says in John 11:25-26: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Believe it! It is true, because it is the Word of God spoken to you.
May our heavenly Father establish and keep our hearts according to His holy grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pastor Gene Mixon
This week we have an article by Pastor Gene Mixon from Seattle, WA which reflects back on the last year and looks forward to the future.
May God bless your week!
Jesus Christ the Same
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
When we look back at the year past and honestly assess it, we find that it has been a year of change. Some changes have been small and almost seemingly unnoticeable and others have been large and unmistakable. There have been good changes that we have welcomed. There have been hard changes that if we could have avoided we would have, and even now we lament their occurrence and desire their reversal. In this assessment of the past year and the years that have come before it, we see that nothing in our physical existence in this world has any permanence. We find quite the opposite.
Everything in this life is changing or, more clearly put, passing away. This is how our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus put it in Matthew 24:35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Our Lord portrays for us in these words a clear distinction, that which is temporary and that which is permanent or eternal. The temporary is the world in which we exist at present, as well as everything that is visible to the eye, including the body that we bear in this life. The permanent, or eternal, are His Words, the Word by which He joins Himself to us.
In the verse from Hebrews with which we began, we are directed to our unchangeable Savior, Lord and God Jesus Christ. We are clearly told that He is the same yesterday. The passage of time has no power over Him as it does over this world that is passing away. He is the same today. The very moment that we live in now finds Jesus exactly the same as He was yesterday, at the very beginning of time, even from eternity. He is the same forever. Tomorrow He will remain unchanged from yesterday and today. If the Lord gives us another day here on earth, we will wake to a multitude of changes in this world. Again, they will be big and small, welcomed and unwelcomed. They will take place because this world is passing away. Jesus and His Words, on the other hand, are not passing away. They are permanent, eternal.
The context of Hebrews 13:8 is bound to the entirety of the whole book. I would encourage you to read all of Hebrews at one time, in one sitting. I will tie verse 8, for the purpose of this short meditation, to the preceding verse, Hebrews 13:7: Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Those who have spoken the Word of God to us have delivered the only source of permanence there is, the unchangeable crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, the same enduring Word that Jesus said would not pass away. Yes! Jesus is His Word; Jesus is the Word of God.
There have been many preachers of the cross of Jesus Christ in our lives. Some of them are still here with us and continue to point us to the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. Many others have passed from life in this world, because this world is passing away; it is changing. In Hebrews 13:7, we are directed to remember them and to follow the faith they received in this life by hearing the Word of God that they preached and believed for themselves, the Word that told them and tells us that Jesus Christ was crucified and shed His blood for the remission of our sin and rose from the dead for our justification before God. We are to consider the outcome of their life, or their conversation: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
The implications of this are without limits. Because God sent His Son to suffer, die and rise from the dead, sin has been paid for and death has been overcome. Those who have passed from this life having faith according to God's grace in Jesus Christ are not dead, but live. The changes in this life have no permanent or eternal impact on them, even the death of their bodies, because they knew they would receive a new one according to the Word of God.
As we step off into another year, let us, according to the grace of God, rest in the Word that has been spoken to us and trust in the Word that has saved us in spite of ourselves and that never changes, Jesus Christ. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus is sufficient for us. Let us be content with what we receive in this life, because all the riches of the world cannot compare with the riches of God in Christ. Our Savior says in John 11:25-26: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Believe it! It is true, because it is the Word of God spoken to you.
May our heavenly Father establish and keep our hearts according to His holy grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pastor Gene Mixon
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The End of the World
Dear Weekly Readers!
God’s Peace be with you! Here
is an interesting article sent by a guest author. Many of you may have heard of the predictions
of the end of the world in December.
Well, as we know it did not happen.
Let us turn to God’s Word on this topic, as we should with whatever
questions we have!
May God Bless your week! John R.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE “END OF THE
WORLD”
The “end of the world” has been, and still is, an interest
and fascination of many people throughout the ages. Prediction and prophecies have all proved
false because they all do not take God into account.
A current “buzz” that had some people disturbed was the
prediction of the Mayan culture, or religion.
The Maya are a native Central American people, primarily in Mexico,
Guatemala, and the northern part of Belize (formerly known as British
Honduras). The Mayan culture arose in 250 AD, but its founder is unknown. It flourished until about 900 AD, and
continued to thrive in various places until the Spanish conquest in the early
1500s. At its peak, the total population
may have reached 2 million people, the majority of whom lived in modern-day
Guatemala. Their
religion was characterized by 1) the worship of nature gods
(especially the gods of sun, rain and corn), 2) a priestly class, 3) the
importance of astronomy and astrology, 4) rituals of human sacrifice, and 5) the
building of elaborate pyramidical temples.
What caused some renewed interest about “end time” events these days is the Mayan Calendar. The Mayan’s
believed there are five periods of time or “recreations of the earth”. These units were used in the Mayan Long Count Calendar, which calculated that
time elapsed from a zero date set at August 11, 3114 BC, which they determined
was the dawn of the last creation period.
During the 2012 winter solstice, time runs out on the current era of the
Long Count Calendar. The Maya wrote that
date, which preceded their civilization by thousands of years, as Day Zero. The Mays calendar doesn't end in 2012, as
some have said, and the ancients never viewed that year as the time of the end
of the world, archaeologists say. But
December 21, 2012, (give or take a day) was nonetheless momentous to the Maya.
Anthony Aveni, a Maya expert and archaeoastronomer at Colgate University in
Hamilton, New York, wrote that it is the time when “the largest grand cycle in
the Mayan calendar—1,872,000 days or 5,125.37 years—overturns and a new cycle
begins.” In December 2012 the lengthy
era ends and the complicated, cyclical calendar will roll over again to Day
Zero, beginning another enormous cycle. "The
idea is that time gets renewed, that the world gets renewed all over
again—often after a period of stress. (Aveni,
author of The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of
2012. It is this that has caused some speculation as
to what might happen on this day.
Scientists have rejected the
Mayan prediction because no planets are aligned to cause any natural
catastrophes, no meteor is racing towards the earth to cause a collision
knocking the earth out of its orbit, and the magnetic force of the sun and moon
is not strong enough to alter the earth’s magnetic field.
Both the Mayans and the
scientists have not considered God’s creative power and his purpose for mankind
in their teaching. Leave God out of the
picture, and you have no picture; only a collection of puzzle pieces that do
not fit together.
What does the Bible say about God’s work in nature and for
all of mankind? Right from the first
verses of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, we read that God spoke a word, and
what he said came into being. Nine times
in Genesis 1, we read: “God
said…´and things came into existence.”
In the first three verse of the Gospel according to St. John, we
read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. All things were
made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made..” A few
verses later we are told that Jesus is the
Word made flesh (vs. 14). Christ,
the God-Man, is the center of all that is or ever will be. In Hebews
1:1-3, this is affirmed for it says: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins…”
God in his majestic wisdom devised all the laws of nature by which
everything in all the galaxies and solar systems function precisely as he has
designed. God still holds everything
together by the word of his power. This, also,
means that God is in control of the time when he will bring everything in the
present universe to an end. He will
choose the time. He will speak the word
and it will happen.
When
will this happen? Jesus tells us, “…of that day and hour knoweth no man, no,
not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Mt. 24:36) Why only the Father? The Apostle Peter gives us a hint in his
second epistle. We read in 3:3-4, that people will become
scoffers, “walking after their own
lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” Peter give the answer where he writes: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
That, my dear friend, is
why only the Father knows the time of the end.
God being so merciful, loving, kind, and compassionate, his desire is
that all men would repent and be saved.
So be delays the end. No matter
how vile things become for us on earth, he delays to declare his word of final
judgment. Like the father in the parable
of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32),
our heavenly Father is a waiting father.
Though none of us knows when
the Father will speak his word in which the world will be destroyed by fire, we
all know that “today is the days of
salvation, therefore do not harden your heart.” Our own departure from this world may be
sooner than we think. Repent and believe
the Gospel!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The Armor of God
Dear Weekly Reader!
God’s Peace!
I pray that you have had a Blessed Holiday Season, and I pray that you would have the most wonderful New Year in the Lord!
For this week, as we look forward toward this brand new year before us, let us consider God’s Word as to how we are going to face whatever comes our way!
My thoughts today are led to Ephesians Chapter 6:10-18.
The Armor of God!
It may seem out of place that we would start the year meditating on a portion of scripture that says Finally, my brethren. Well, I think it is not strange at all when we look at what we are told. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might (V10). That should always be our starting point! Be strong in the Lord. Be in His mighty power! Be kept by His power! 1 Peter 1:5: Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
It is by His mighty power we are kept! He has endless, limitless power! He promises to NEVER leave us, nor forsake us! Do you believe He has strength and power? Can we see now how we can be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might? Be meek and be ruled and led by Him. Allow God to fight our battles for us! Allow God to watch and keep us each day!
Now, in practical terms that we can all understand, what does this mean for our everyday life? Well, Verse 11 instructs us to Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Here we see that our armor is of God and not ourselves! What a good and wondrous God we have. He provides all that we need to go through this life! Jesus knows what we face: principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places (V12) and so forth. So He provides us the armor so that we may be able to withstand in the evil day (V13).
Loins girt about with truth (V14). This indicates to us, that as in putting on armor, it must be first things first. The very first layer of protection, the very first thing we must have is the Word of God! That is the Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Jesus is the Word that dwelt among us! First we must read, study, and know God’s Word. We must hear it spoken, and believe it to the saving of our souls!
Breastplate of righteousness (V14). When we have been given the robe of righteousness by what Jesus has done for us, then we have a strong armor to protect our heart! Our heart is our breast, and that is where we need to be filled and protected by the Holy Spirit!
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel (V15). Have you been prepared to share God’s Word? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15. Have you had your feet washed? Are you ready to face the new day and year? If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:14. Oh, that we would be clean through the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Clean because of what Jesus has done in forgiving us our sins through His death on the cross.
Shield of faith (V16). This allows us to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (V16). A shield is to stop the attacks from winning over us. A shield does NOT mean attacks will not come. It is meant to stop them when they do come! We will be tempted, tried; we will have our troubles. Remember, Ephesians 2:2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. The devil rules the air, God rules the heart and gives us the armor to fight off the poison and fiery darts of the devil. What wonderful promises we have been given!
Helmet of salvation (V17). We know the devil works on our minds. Scripture says in Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. Our good God gives us a helmet of protection even for our minds. In Philippians 4:7, the word of God tells us of a different kind of mind also. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. These texts assure us of the protection of our mind! Christ Jesus is our Salvation! He is our Helmet of Salvation! We need no other! Rest in Jesus Christ.
Sword of the Spirit (V17). This is the only offensive weapon we have. However, it is such a mighty weapon. The Holy Spirit of God is God! God in us! Wow, just think of that! God in us! 1 John 4:2: Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. It is so important to remember that the Spirit of God dwells in our flesh here on earth! Do you believe that Jesus Christ lives in you? We know and believe that He came to this world in the flesh, but do we believe and know that He is our Saviour living in us? The Spirit of God living in us is the Sword of the Spirit! It will guide us, keep us, warn us, convict us, ensure us, and encourage us! In other words, fight off the devil! We have such a mighty offensive tool, this sword of the spirit!
Our text ends with exhortation to pray. V18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints! Let us face each new day by putting on the whole armor of God, and by praying. AMEN!
May God Bless your day, week, and year! John R.
God’s Peace!
I pray that you have had a Blessed Holiday Season, and I pray that you would have the most wonderful New Year in the Lord!
For this week, as we look forward toward this brand new year before us, let us consider God’s Word as to how we are going to face whatever comes our way!
My thoughts today are led to Ephesians Chapter 6:10-18.
The Armor of God!
It may seem out of place that we would start the year meditating on a portion of scripture that says Finally, my brethren. Well, I think it is not strange at all when we look at what we are told. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might (V10). That should always be our starting point! Be strong in the Lord. Be in His mighty power! Be kept by His power! 1 Peter 1:5: Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
It is by His mighty power we are kept! He has endless, limitless power! He promises to NEVER leave us, nor forsake us! Do you believe He has strength and power? Can we see now how we can be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might? Be meek and be ruled and led by Him. Allow God to fight our battles for us! Allow God to watch and keep us each day!
Now, in practical terms that we can all understand, what does this mean for our everyday life? Well, Verse 11 instructs us to Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Here we see that our armor is of God and not ourselves! What a good and wondrous God we have. He provides all that we need to go through this life! Jesus knows what we face: principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places (V12) and so forth. So He provides us the armor so that we may be able to withstand in the evil day (V13).
Loins girt about with truth (V14). This indicates to us, that as in putting on armor, it must be first things first. The very first layer of protection, the very first thing we must have is the Word of God! That is the Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Jesus is the Word that dwelt among us! First we must read, study, and know God’s Word. We must hear it spoken, and believe it to the saving of our souls!
Breastplate of righteousness (V14). When we have been given the robe of righteousness by what Jesus has done for us, then we have a strong armor to protect our heart! Our heart is our breast, and that is where we need to be filled and protected by the Holy Spirit!
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel (V15). Have you been prepared to share God’s Word? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15. Have you had your feet washed? Are you ready to face the new day and year? If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:14. Oh, that we would be clean through the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Clean because of what Jesus has done in forgiving us our sins through His death on the cross.
Shield of faith (V16). This allows us to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (V16). A shield is to stop the attacks from winning over us. A shield does NOT mean attacks will not come. It is meant to stop them when they do come! We will be tempted, tried; we will have our troubles. Remember, Ephesians 2:2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. The devil rules the air, God rules the heart and gives us the armor to fight off the poison and fiery darts of the devil. What wonderful promises we have been given!
Helmet of salvation (V17). We know the devil works on our minds. Scripture says in Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. Our good God gives us a helmet of protection even for our minds. In Philippians 4:7, the word of God tells us of a different kind of mind also. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. These texts assure us of the protection of our mind! Christ Jesus is our Salvation! He is our Helmet of Salvation! We need no other! Rest in Jesus Christ.
Sword of the Spirit (V17). This is the only offensive weapon we have. However, it is such a mighty weapon. The Holy Spirit of God is God! God in us! Wow, just think of that! God in us! 1 John 4:2: Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. It is so important to remember that the Spirit of God dwells in our flesh here on earth! Do you believe that Jesus Christ lives in you? We know and believe that He came to this world in the flesh, but do we believe and know that He is our Saviour living in us? The Spirit of God living in us is the Sword of the Spirit! It will guide us, keep us, warn us, convict us, ensure us, and encourage us! In other words, fight off the devil! We have such a mighty offensive tool, this sword of the spirit!
Our text ends with exhortation to pray. V18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints! Let us face each new day by putting on the whole armor of God, and by praying. AMEN!
May God Bless your day, week, and year! John R.
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