truth alive:: june 2014
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Dr.C.V. VadavanaFounder & Chairman, Sathyam Service Trust
EDITORIAL MESSAGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
A.V. John
Joji A. Mathews
Sam C. Vadavana
Dr. C.V. Vadavana
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Dr. David H Mills
Dr. Jonathan Marshall
Pastor Mike Harrison
Dr. Sunny Ezhumattoor
CHIEF EDITOR:
Dr. C.V. Vadavana
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Marykutty P.J
MANAGING EDITOR
Sam C. Vadavana
EDITOR IN CHARGE
Athira Aniyan
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Abraham Markose
PUBLIC RELATIONS
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JULY 20142
Dear Readers,
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV
SOULS THROUGH GOD’S WORD
One of the uniqueness of God is newness and abundance. Everything He touches gets renewed and abundantly blessed. Everything we see around us, He called out from nowhere as if it pre-existed. He made everything unique and in abundance. There is no scarcity for anything in His presence. He completes everything everywhere for His name sake. The Spirit of God always wishes to move freely and do His new work in us. No matter how damaged our past is, He can always give a new beginning. But, we can stop the move of God by holding on to our grudges, failures, bitterness or unforgiveness. The attitude of our heart can stand as a hindrance to the free moving of the spirit. When we release that which we are holding strongly into the hands of God, He does His wonder to it.
Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past, for the past is not there anymore. It's gone by and no one can add length to their life by worrying. Our God is a God of new beginnings and He surpasses our scarcity. He is still potent to regain our strength, renew our youth and restore the years of our life that was eaten away by the locust. He declares, I am doing a new thing and now it springs up can’t you understand? Your holding to the past can deprive you from enjoying the present goodness that God has started. By making ways in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, He will accomplish for you things possible only by Him to His glory. God works in mighty ways beyond our comprehension or understanding. Things that we can hardly fathom or grasp with our common sense or wisdom, but when His work is completely revealed we will acknowledge and admit those mighty hands that worked behind the scenes.
In this issue of Truth Alive you will get to read a set of articles written by blessed men and women of God. The article “Sin” is a reflection on the seriousness of the global pandemic that has infected humanity. The article “Build with care” explicit that the small and big choices that we make everyday determines the strength and durability of what we build up in Christ. May this issue of Truth Alive open your minds to see the rising of new dawn beyond the horizons.
Richest Blessing!
Contents4 The Unity Plan - Part 2 - Dr. David H Mills
6 The Possibilities of Prayer - E. M. Bounds
7 Steps to Abundant Living - Dr. Billy Graham
9 Walking in the Spirit - Pastor Mike Harrison
11 We are the Home of God on Earth: A Monthly Commentary on Ephesians - Dr. Jon Marshall
12 Pastor’s Annual - T.T. Crabtree
13 Commitment in Marriage - Dr. Thomas Kulanjiyil
14 Hunger Cries Unanswered - Athira Aniyan
17 Digging Deeper - Dr. Alexander Kurian
19 When Christians Clash - Dr. Daniel Borg
20 Six Seismic Shifts - Rev. Ivan Veldhuizen
21 SIN - We have all been infected by a global Pandemic
- Pastor Marvin J. Rosenthal
23 The Way Things Work - Rev. Barney Kinard
25 Faith is the Springboard for Our Lives - Amy Anderson
26 Build with Care - Bob Shank
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A SHELTER FOR CHILDREN
4
Dr. David H Mills
The Unity Plan Part 2:
Dr. David Mills is a graduate of Prairie Bible Institute and Talbot Theological seminary and took his Ph.D in church planting. His passion for the word and his ability to communicate the Gospel in an effective manner has been a big part of his successful ministry. He has written and published books including “Leadership in 5 words” and “God’s Word of Art”. God has gifted Pastor David for this unique calling, and he receives such great delight from seeing lives transformed by the Sovereign love of God. Rev. Dr.David Mills is a husband, dad and the senior pastor of a growing church in Southern California. He presently lives happily with his wife, Rinette and their three grown children Joshua, Elizabeth and Catherine.
JULY 2014
‘I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” (Mother Teresa)
Unity has been described as being; teamwork, synergy, and the potential to do greater work. Author, John Maxwell, has written many books about teamwork. Two of my favorites are entitled, “the 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork”, and “Winning With Others.” He has famously coined the phrase, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” The essential need for teamwork to thrive is summed up in one word, unity!
Is it actually possible for unity to succeed, or is the idea and desire for unity to be just a dream and never a reality? What are the reasons that unity seems so difficult to achieve and maintain? What stops unity? Why is it hard for us to work with others? Consider the following realities in life and in many relationships that could easily contribute to the hard work and even destroying of unity;
1. Ignorance of each other
2. Poor communication skills
3. Inability to resolve conflicts
4. Misunderstanding of each other
5. Multiple agendas or conflict in purposes
6. Lack of trust
7. Past wounds with other relationships
8. Different world views, tribal distinctions, or racial perspectives
9. Moral corruption
10. Love of independence
11. Laziness: because the more people we include, the harder it is, and the longer and more work it becomes
12. Personal success
13. Busyness in ministry
14. Spiritual insights that can even divide us Luke 12:51-53
15. Other…
It is pretty clear to all of us that unity is neither
simple nor easy to accomplish, and that it requires hard
work to overcome the natural process that often leads
to the disintegration of unity. Ephesians 4:3 states that
we must be “diligent” (NASB) or work hard, labor in
tensely, to secure the unity of the church.
What must exist for unity to succeed? Where do we
start the hard work of building this unity?
We must unite around, or where, what God wants us
to unite…Passion, focus, and clarity for the main
things, instead focusing and emphasis of the secondary
things. (James 3:17)
It has been quoted from Augustine, Martin Luther,
William Penn and so on, that we are to “have unity
when it comes to the main things, liberty when it
relates to secondary things and love in all things”.
James 3:17 states “the wisdom from above is first pure
then peaceable…” “First pure” refers to being clear as
to what we believe, “then peaceable”, or impassioned
and focused on unity. Therefore, unity is an outcome,
not the foundation. What that helps us accomplish this
unity is being clear in our thinking regarding what is
most important. “Pure”, meaning we are “dedicated to
the main things of the Bible”,from this position we are
able to then sort out the secondary things that may
divide us. Some refer to this as”keeping the main thing
the main thing”. What are the main things? This
constitutes a word we use today called “evangelical.”
We are not latitudinarian but, rather, are fundamental
in our thinking. We believe that the Bible is our
authority and that it is God’s Word. The Apostles’
Creed is a good foundation to start the conversation
with someone from another denomination; it paves the
way for building a unity that can work. Jesus’ Deity
and Incarnation, the virgin birth, the Person and Deity
of the Holy Spirit, the power of transformation and
regeneration in being born again, the return of Christ,
ZEPHANIAH
K n o w Y o u r B i b l e
5
Author: Zephaniah (Means defended by GOD)
Date of writing: B.C 640 – 621 BC
Purpose: Pronounce God’s judgement over the evil ways of the nations
Key Verse: Zeph 1:14, 2:3
Key People: for Judah and all other nations
Brief Summary: Prophet Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of Judah, under the evil reign of King Manasseh. Zephaniah was the fourth-generation descendant of Hezekiah; a notable king of Judah hence had considerable social standing. Zephaniah comes with the message of God's wrath and judgment over the evil and ungodly ways of the nations. He condemns the idolatrous worship of the Canaanite and Assyrian deities; he predicts doom of the heathen nations that surrounded Judah: the Philistines, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Ethiopians, and the Assyrians. Zephaniah also foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, at the same time declares the glorious redemption of Judah if they turn from their rebellion and idols. Zephaniah ends his pronouncement of doom on the positive note of Judah's restoration by
Yahweh, the"King of Israel".
Outline:
Zeph 1:1 “The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi.”
Zeph 1:2 “I will sweep away everything from the face of the ear th , “dec lares the L O R D .I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”
Zephaniah 1:4 “I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place”.
Zeph 1:14-15 “That terrible day of the LORD is near. Swiftly it comes-a day of bitter tears, a day when even strong men will cry out.
Zeph 2: 1-2 “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree
bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you.Zeph 2:3 seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger”.
the Salvation we receive by faith alone… These are
some of the central themes in the Bible upon which all
“evangelical” believers agree.
So we do not unite with a Jehovah Witness or a
Mormon to preach God’s Gospel. We do not unite
with other faiths like Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhism.
But saying this, we may unite with them for other
reasons. ie; national safety, freedom of religion,
medical emergencies, protecting the citizens of our
country or city in a particular matter, abuse, or
injustice. But in matters of faith we only unite with
those who agree on the major points of our Faith.
Ephesians 4:4-6 calls upon all followers of Christ to
unite on these truths; there is One God, One faith, One
church body universal, One Spirit, and One hope that
we all have in Christ!
To strive for unity may be difficult and seem
unnecessary, but it is what Jesus prayed for our
churches. He, Himself, prayed that we “may be One
even as He and the Father are One”. We follow His
passion. It is what He died for, one church purchased
with His blood. Can we overcome our prejudices
and/or our opinions in secondary matters and put
them aside to work together to bring the Gospel to our
city or area where we have been called? This must, and
always start with the leaders! Will you be a leader who
creates division or will you lead those under and
around you into unity? Consider what you will do!
Our Father, You are the One and Only God and Father
who has made us alive in Your One and Only Son. Forgive
us for when we have divided over secondary teachings in
Your Word. Forgive us for using what You wrote to unite us
in such a way as to focus on minor truths and to actually
divide ourselves from each other. Give us the right spirit of
being open and free where we should be, and teach us to be
able to allow others to have different opinions than we do
when it concerns the minor doctrines. Give us clarity and
courage to unite with those who hold the same truths we hold
and to bring the Gospel of reconciliation to a divided world.
In Jesus Name, alone, I ask it. Amen
6 JULY 2014
The Possibilities of PrayerE.M. Bounds
(to be continued...)
The many statements of God's Word fully set forth the
possibilities and far-reaching nature of prayer. How
full of pathos! "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I
will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Again,
read the cheering words: "He shall call upon me, and I
will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will
deliver him and honor him." How diversified the
range of trouble! How almost infinite its extent! How
universal and dire its conditions! How despairing its
waves! Yet the range of prayer is as great as trouble, is
as universal as sorrow, as infinite as grief. And prayer
can relieve all these evils which come to the children of
men.
There is no tear which prayer cannot wipe away or
dry up. There is no depression of spirits which it
cannot relieve and elevate. Where is no despair which
it cannot dispel. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and show thee great things and difficult, which thou
knowest not." How broad these words of the Lord,
how great the promise, how cheering to faith! They
really challenge the faith of the saint. Prayer always
brings God to our relief to bless and to aid, and brings
marvelous revelations of His power. What
impossibilities are there with God? Name them.
"Nothing," He says, "is impossible to the Lord." And all the possibilities in God are in prayer.
Samuel, under the Judges of Israel, will fully illustrate the possibility and the necessity of prayer. He himself was the beneficiary of the greatness of faith and prayer in a mother who knew what praying meant. Hannah, his mother, was a woman of mark, in character and in piety, who was childless. That privation was a source of worry and weakness and grief. She sought unto God for relief, and prayed and poured out her soul before the Lord. She continued her praying, in fact she multiplied her praying, to such an extent that to Old Eli she seemed to be intoxicated, almost beside herself in the intensity of her supplications. She was specific in her prayers.
She wanted a child. For a man child she prayed.
And God was specific in His answer. A man child God
gave her, a man indeed he became. He was the creation
of prayer, and grew himself to a man of prayer. He was
a mighty intercessor, especially in emergencies in the
history of God's people. The epitome of his life and
character is found in the statement, "Samuel cried unto
the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him." The
victory was complete, and the Ebenezer was the
memorial of the possibilities and necessity of prayer.
Again, at another time, Samuel called unto the Lord,
and thunder and rain came out of season in wheat
harvest. Here are some statements concerning this
mighty intercessor, who knew how to pray, and whom
God always regarded when he prayed: "Samuel cried
unto the Lord all night." Says he at another time in
speaking to the Lord's people, "Moreover, as for me,
God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing
to pray for you." These great occasions show how this
notable ruler of Israel made prayer a habit, and that this
was a notable and conspicuous characteristic of his
dispensation.
Prayer was no strange exercise to Samuel. He was
accustomed to it. He was in the habit of praying, knew
the way to God, and received answers from God.
Through him and his praying God's cause was brought
out of its low, depressed condition, and a great national
revival began, of which David was one of its fruits.
Samuel was one of the notable men of the Old
Dispensation who stood out prominently as one who
had great influence with God in prayer. God could not
deny him anything he asked of Him. Samuel's praying
always affected God, and moved God to do what
would not have otherwise been done had he not
prayed. Samuel stands out as a striking illustration of
the possibilities of prayer. He shows conclusively the
achievements of prayer.
Prayer - Its Possibilities (continued)
Dr. Billy Graham
7
Steps to Abundant Living
( )continued in page 8...
Someone said, “The secret of happiness is not to do
what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.''
Too many people think that happiness is discovered by constant and relentless searching. Happiness is not found by seeking. It is not an end in itself.
Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.'' The “things'' that Jesus spoke of were the basic needs of life: food, drink, clothes. He told us not to make these the chief goal of our lives but to “seek... the kingdom,” and these needs would be supplied.There, if we will take it, is the secret of happiness: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,... and all... shall be added unto you.”Steps to Abundant Living
The more we read the Sermon on the Mount, the more wisdom we see in it and the more convinced we are that if we apply it to life, a richer happiness will ensue. Here are several steps to finding the abundant life:We must recognize our spiritual poverty. Don't let pride say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.'' Remember that our own “righteousnesses are as filthy rags'' and that salvation is “not of works'' but is the “gift of God'' We need to keep in mind the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.''God measures people by the dimension of humility and not by the bigness of their achievements or the size of their capabilities.We must make sure we have received Christ. It is not creeds or culture or even respectability that saves us. It is Christ. The Bible says, “As many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name.”
To know about Christ is not enough. To be convinced that he is the Savior of the world is not enough. To believe that he has saved other people is not enough. We don't really believe in Christ until we commit our lives to him and receive him as our Savior.We must maintain a contrite spirit: “A broken and
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” It was to Christians that the Apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.''
When we break God's Law, when we utter a bitter word or think an evil thought, immediately we should confess this sin to God. And in accordance with his Word, he will forgive us and cleanse our hearts.We must be sensitive to the needs of others. We should be sympathetic and understanding: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Remember the second Beatitude: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Don't be content to have too much when millions in the world have too little. We need to remember every time we read the Bible that millions have no Bible to read. Let our lives, our means and our prayers be shared with those millions who at this moment are wondering whether there is any relief from their distress.We must not be a half-Christian. Too many Christians, so-called, are like chameleons, which adapt their coloration to that of their surroundings. Even a critical world is quick to recognize a real Christian and just as quick to detect a counterfeit. The world has a profound respect for people who are sincere in their faith.We must live surrendered lives. People who have moved the world have been Spirit-filled. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the first disciples “turned the world upside down.'' Filled with the Holy Spirit, the reformers started the spiritual blaze that became the Reformation. Filled with the Holy Spirit, John and Charles Wesley saved a great nation from moral and political collapse. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Francis Asbury, George Fox, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney and David Brainerd set the mountains and the prairies of the United States aglow with the fires of Christianity. Filled with the Holy Spirit, D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey shook two continents out of spiritual lethargy.
What does it mean to “be filled with the Spirit''? It is
8 JULY 2014
not necessarily an emotional experience, nor will it necessarily give us a spiritual experience that is obvious or open. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit. It is to be so yielded to Christ that our supreme desire is to do his will.We must seek to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.'' You may say, “I am powerless to produce such fruit. It would be utterly impossible to do so!''
With that I agree! We cannot produce this fruit in our own strength. When the Spirit of God dwells in us, he will produce the fruit. It is ours only to cultivate the soil of our hearts through sincere devotion and yieldedness that he might find favorable ground to produce that which he will.As Christians, we have the Spirit of God in us. But ours is the responsibility to keep sin out of our lives so that the Spirit can produce his fruit in us.We must become grounded in the Bible. As Christians, we have only one authority: the Word of God. It is our sure guide in an unsure world. We should begin each day with the Book, and let the Word speak its wisdom to our souls. Let it be the firm foundation on which our spirit is nourished.We must witness to Christ. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.......Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Our faith grows by expression. If we want to keep our faith, we need to witness!We must practice the presence of God. Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Christ is always near us. We should say nothing that we would not say in his presence. We should do nothing that we would not do in his presence. We should go nowhere that we would not go in his presence. But he is not with us just to judge or condemn us; he is near to comfort, protect, guide, encourage, strengthen, cleanse and help us. He will be with us until the “end of the world,'' and he will be with us throughout eternity.We must learn the exercise of prayer: “[We] ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Jesus said, “Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.'' Prayer is not just asking. It is listening, for God's orders.
Establish a time for communication with God. The Christian will never regret such a practice, for the “fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.''We must develop a taste for spiritual things: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.''
It may not be easy at first to read the Bible, to pray and to witness. But after we experience the strength that can come from these means of grace, they will become part of our routine, as much as breathing and eating are. These are the things that give strength to the soul.We must not be critical of others. Habitual criticism can stifle our spiritual growth. We must not build up ourselves at the expense of others. If we condemn others, they in turn will condemn us. If we praise others, then they may praise us. Criticism begets criticism, praise begets praise. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.''We must not be envious of others. Envying others can create havoc in our spiritual lives and sap us of our spiritual strength. It can weaken our Christian testimony. It can destroy our happiness and rob our lives of sweetness.We should love everybody: “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.'' The love of Christ, unhindered and unblocked by our prejudices and our malices, will embrace everyone. Christ in us will go on loving even the unlovely if he is not hindered by our selfishness. We need to realize the difference between loving a sinner and hating his sin.We should stand courageously for the right. Christ needs people today who are made of martyr stuff. Dare to take a strong uncompromising stand for him.We should learn to relax in Christ. These are turbulent times in which we live. People are harassed with tensions, fears and phobias. Nothing can relieve the tensions of life like a valid faith in Christ.We must not be victims of paranoia. I am talking here about an excessive sensitivity to what others say or do about us, which causes us to become overly absorbed in worry and anxiety over what people think about us. If people never actually criticize us, we at least imagine that they do.We must remember we are immortal and will live forever. In the Beatitudes Jesus said that in this life are persecution, slander, libel and deception. But he also said, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.''
Christians think and act within the frame work of eternity. They are not embittered when things don't turn out the way they planned. They know that the “suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Many thousands of people have found happiness in Christ. You can too! But you will never find happiness by searching directly for it. As the Lord of happiness said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Pastor Mike Harrison
Walking in the Spirit
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
Paul wrote to the churches in the region of Galatia in
order to combat the legalistic teachings that were
taking root within the fellowships there. You see,
influential men from Jerusalem had come to the
churches in that region--churches that were
established during Paul's first missionary journey--
and were teaching that to go to heaven or to grow into
Christian maturity a believer must add the Law of
Moses to belief in Christ. They argued that if Judaism
was the cradle of Christianity doesn't it make sense
you would need the Law to have a true Christian
experience. Subsequently, they taught that Galatian
(Gentile) male believers must take the sign of the Old
Covenant, circumcision, upon themselves in order to
be a true believer. And the Galatian Christians
apparently embraced it wholeheartedly. This shocked
and scared Paul, and it also stimulated him to write the
letter to the Galatians to reemphasize his teaching, that
salvation is received by faith in Christ, and Him alone.
By instructing believers they must adhere to the
Law, the Judaizer's were proclaiming that the Law
could change a person's sin nature. In chapters three
and four Paul took great pain to prove that the Law can
define what sin is, can regulate a person's behavior,
can convict a person of their need for a Savior, but it
can never transform our old nature into a new one--it
cannot give spiritual life or remove carnal desires.
Religion is full of rules and regulations. Religion
says that if you do this and don't do that you can please
God, grow spiritually and quiet the flesh. But that is
legalism. And legalism turns Christianity into a bunch
of do's and don'ts. Because the flesh cannot be
regulated by law, many become frustrated and
fatigued with Christianity when they try to do so (See
Romans 7). Some give up walking with Christ
completely. They surmise His radical claims to
transform the life of a believer are false because they
have tried and found they still struggle with the same
old things, or worse, they struggle with a whole bunch
of new things as well.
On the other hand, a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a bunch of do's and don'ts, rules and regulations. Relationship with Jesus produces an "I get to" attitude towards doing for God. I don't have to read my Bible, I get to. I don't have to pray, I get to. I don't have to obey scripture, I get to. I don't have to assemble with other believers, I get to. I don't have to share my faith, I get to. I get to walk in the Spirit, in Jesus and with Jesus! It is the love of Christ that compels me to do for Him (2 Cor. 5:14). And as I do what I get to do in the liberty Christ has given me I will have no desire to give in to my old fleshly desires. If I take my eyes off of Jesus--like Peter walking on the sea--I sink back do into the waves of temptation. But as I walk in the Spirit I shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It's as simple as that.
Believe you can and you're halfway there.
Theodore Roosevelt
9
No, this is not about diet! It concerns winning the race of the Christian life.Can you imagine anyone running in a race with a heavy weight in each hand? That's foolish and that person will never
be a winner that way. He or she won't be disqualified, but he or she will certainly never be a winner.Early Christian is entered in the Christian race. It is how he lives the Christian life. Some eagerly run as hard as they can; learning more and more what pleases our Lord and obeying all His wishes and commands. They will be winners whether their race is only a few or most of their life on this earth.
Others may start well and then get tired and even drop out of their race to sit on the sideline. They lack endurance. Still others pick and choose what they will do for the Lord, pleasing themselves rather than Him. They are self-centered Christians.
Do you want to be a winner? If so, then the writer of Hebrews says you must lay aside every weight. Strip yourself of anything and everything that would hinder you from giving your all to the Lord. A weight is not necessarily wrong; it's a hindrance and may become wrong if it keeps you from giving all to Him at full speed.
Your weight will not necessarily be the same as someone else's. Neither will it be the only one you will have to eliminate from your life. Some weights will always be there to temp you. Others may be laid aside. New ones will come.Keep running as if there will be only one winner, and that will be you.
10
LOSE WEIGHT
JULY 2014
Charles C. Ryrie
A Monthly Commentary on Ephesians
We are the Home of God on Earth:
Ephesians 3: 1- 6
11
Dr. Jon Marshall
Jon Marshall lives in California with his wife and three young children. A graduate of Talbot School of Theology (with C.V. Vadavana) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Jon enjoys teaching the word of God to his church in Los Angeles and students at Eternity Bible College. His heart for India began over a decade ago when he began supporting Indian pastors and visiting the country. He regularly prays for revival to break out across the nation.
(Continued in page 18)
12 JULY 2014
Pastor’s AnnualT.T. Crabtree
( )continued in page 16...
Title: The Grace of God and Our Salvation
Text: “For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men” (Titus 2:11 RSV). Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-14
Hymns: “O Worship the King”
“Great Redeemer, We Adore Thee”
“Amazing Grace”
Offertory Prayer: Thank you, Father God, for being the God of grace and mercy. Thank you for giving your Son Jesus Christ that we may receive the gift of eternal life. Help us, Father to be generous, even as you have been generous, to give our all to advance your kingdom in the world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Introduction
Our newspapers are filled with bad news. As we listen to news reporters on television relating the tragic events happening around the world, we can easily become fatigued with the tragedy of what is taking place.
Our text contains some good news for this new year and for every year. It informs us that the grace of God has appeared in a remarkable form to make possible the salvation of all people. Paul had grown up in a world that believed only good Jewish people experienced salvation. The Great Commission was a new statement affirming that the grace of God had appeared for the salvation of all. Paul himself was included though he was a persecutor of the church. You were included; I was included; and thus we need to ask ourselves, “What is this great salvation that has been made possible by the grace of God?”
The apostle John affirmed, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17 RSV).The Jewish people considered the law as primarily being given to them. Both John and Paul proclaimed that the grace of God has come through Jesus Christ to all people.
The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greeks thought of grace as a favor conferred freely on
a friend .In Hebrew’s thought God's grace is his unmerited favor freely conferred upon those who have made themselves his enemies. The grace of God is something much more than a favor conferred on a friend. It is God moving toward the undeserving sinner, offering freely the gifts that we so desperately need but do not deserve.
What, then, is this great salvation for all people that Paul is talking about?
I. Salvation by grace includes the new birth or rebirth (John 3: 3 - 7)
A. There is no salvation apart from the spiritual birth of which Jesus speaks in his conversation with Nicodemus
B. The appearance of Jesus has given humankind a chance. Christ's work on the cross has made it possible for a sinful race to look to Jesus Christ by faith and receive this miraculous spiritual birth (John 3:14-16)
II. Salvation by grace includes spiritual rescue (Luke 19:10)
A. The grace of God brought Jesus Christ into the world as a seeker of the lost. We, by nature, do not seek God. The Holy Spirit seeks us b sending believers to communicate the good news of God's love to us.
B. We have been rescued from our wanderings by the Good Shepherd, who searches for those who have strayed from God.
III. Salvation by grace includes spiritual restoration (Luke 19:10)
A. The apostle Peter says that we have experienced restoration to God because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for us (1 Peter 3:18) He speaks of the substitutionary nature of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for a guilty race. He affirms that it is by means of this that our Lord seeks to restore to the Creator God the sinful creature that was driven out of the garden because of sin.
B. God the Father is eager to bring about the restoration of everyone who is willing to turn from sin to him through faith in Jesus Christ.
Dr. Thomas Kulanjiyil
13
Commitment in Marriage
Dr. Thomas Kulanjiyil, PsyD; PhD. Currently he teaches Philosophy and Religious Studies at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL. He is anexperienced family counselor, educator and researcher in culturally appropriate mental health care to the Indian American community. He is co-founder of Parivar International, a Christian family organization that serves South Asian immigrants. Dr. Kulanjiyil is a gifted song writer and a music composer as well.
Having a firm commitment to make marriage work
under any difficult and challenging circumstances is
mark of a resilient marriage. Marriages are not always
lustrous and idyllic and there will be times when
couples will come across alarming difficulties on their
paths that will test their patience and loyalty to each
other. These may include significant relational
conflicts between spouses; mounting financial
pressure resulting from the loss of an employment or
business, or due to long-term unemployment.
Couples can be overwhelmed by grief and sorrow
because of the loss of a child or a family member,
illness of a spouse or a child. Many other similar
problems could overwhelm a couple and test their
marriage.
People handle these adversities quite differently.
There are those who respond to these life
circumstances with dejection and loose the will to
fight the odds against them. Some blame themselves
and their circumstances and get angry at themselves
and others. Some emotionally isolate themselves and
socially withdraw, and some give into addictive
behaviors. Some are tempted to give up on marriage
and abandon family responsibilities. Testimonies of
people who have taken these disparaging paths reveal
that their actions had devastating effects. Their actions
were not carefully chosen and they have lacked the
patience and practical wisdom to manage problems
efficiently. However, couples who have approached
their problems with patience, receiving emotional
support, wise counsel and guidance from others,
report that they managed their hardships reasonably
well. Many of them also have benefited from spiritual
resources such as prayers, meditation, and spiritual
support. By having mental and emotional grit to
make their marriage work, even in most desperate
circumstances, those couples have supported and
encouraged each other to hope and to persevere.
Couples who are sincerely committed to marriage are
much more prepared and stronger to encounter
problems that come their way.
Another characteristic of a functioning marriage is that couples are not shortsighted by mere personal fulfillment and pursuit of happiness. Transcending sheer personal ambitions is crucial to a healthy marriage. While personal fulfillment has a part to play in marital satisfaction, we must recognize that entering into marriage only for personal happiness and self-fulfillment is quite self-fish. There is much more to marriage than personal wellbeing. Marriage involves great sacrifices. Just as parents care for children sacrificially, spouses are to care for each other sacrificially. A mother who readily gives up a career to take care of a sick child that needs long-term care, a father who skips a promotion to spend more time with the family, a parent who earns supplementary income to meet some pressing needs of the family, a spouse who is devoted to caring for an ailing spouse, are all examples of great sacrifices. Only in these ways great marriages and families can be built up.
Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale
14
Athira Aniyan
Hunger cries unanswered
JULY 2014
Hunger remains the No.1 cause of death in the world followed by Aids and Cancer.
HUNGER is not an appetite; it is a deep craving an
intense human urge that needs to be fed, at the same time it's the basic right of every human being. Hunger can make man do anything and its one thing for which the entire world goes to work, to earn as much so as to keep away from starving.
But, it's a fact that there are thousands in India and around the world who goes to bed with a hungry stomach. Hunger remains the No.1 cause of death in the world followed by Aids and Cancer.
In rural India we can still find children, women and men with sunken eyes and weak bodies pleading helplessly to quench their hunger. It is estimated that over 7000 Indians die of hunger every day. In the 2013 Global Hunger Index India ranks 94th out of 199 countries.
Though India was classified as middle-income country by the World Bank and the third largest economy by GDP in 2012, despite economic growth and self-sufficiency in food grains production, high levels of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition persist in India. India is the second most populous country in the world with an estimated 1.2 billion population. The country is home to a quarter of all undernourished people worldwide.
India remained on the same position for the last 12 years on the Global Hunger Index and it's a shock that even the war-torn Rwanda fared better. India's ranking comes as a shocker particularly when the mid-day meal scheme, the world's largest school-feeding programme, is claimed to benefit 12 crore children in the country. The index has been worked out by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) as a composite of three equally weighed indices - under-nourishment, child mortality rate and proportion of underweight children.
India still has the high level of endemic hunger, malnourished children and poorly fed women. The extent of India's hunger problem is perhaps most evident in its children. Reports reveal that everyday 3,000 children die in India due to hunger. There are thousands more who don't get enough to eat
Some sobering statistics find that 42 percent of Indian children less than 5 years of age are underweight and 59 percent have stunted growth.
15
Which is double the percentage of children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Almost a third of Indian babies are born with low birth weight and this is a very high number. Lack of access to food, no access to drinking water, lack of sanitation facilities and
gender unfairness contribute to child malnutrition.
In 2012 the total number of people below the poverty line was estimated to be 250 million, but more recent surveys by the World Bank in 2014 give a figure of 148 million people. Another estimate by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that out of 868 million undernourished people worldwide, 217 million people live in India.
Since independence, the government has formulated more than 50 programmes targeting the poor to alleviate poverty. In 2013, the Government of India passed the National Food Security Act (NFSA) which gives more than 800 million people across India the 'right to food'. Based on predicted population growth and urbanization, food and water demand will create greater challenges by the year 2050. - Despite these facts India remains as one of the countries with a high rate of food wastage.
Nearly 30 per cent of the country's fruits and vegetables perish due to lack of cold-storage facilities, while thousands of tons of food-grain rot in ill-equipped warehouses. Between 15 and 20 per cent of cooked food at weddings, parties or restaurants is wasted as well. While people go on without food and remain undernourished, the amount of food that is wasted in the country every year was more than 40% valued at 58,000 crore.
It's probably hard to feed the thousands along the length and breadth of the Nation, but there are simple things that each one of us can do on a daily basis to meet the crisis.
We can definitely contribute to improving the situation by
Sparing, not wasting and controlling over consumption
Volunteering at a local Food Cycle group. Nutritious, safe, and untouched food can be donated to food banks to help those in need.
Freeze, preserve, or can surplus fruits and vegetables
Sharing: Share your food with those in need.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor – Prov 22:9
16 JULY 2014
IV. Salvation by grace includes spiritual renewal (Rom 12:1-2)
A. Salvation is more than just a ticket to heaven, and it is more than just being accepted by God on the basis of our faith. It involves a renewal of the mind.
B. Paul challenges believers to respond to God's mercy by
presenting their total being to him. He encourages them
to refuse to be squeezed into the mold of a wicked,
ungodly world and to experience renewal of mind that
they might know and experience that the will of God is
good, perfect, and right.
C. God wants us to be like Christ in action and attitude-
indeed in our very nature.V. Salvation by grace includes some revolutionary change (2 Cor. 5:17)
A. The conversion experience is described as a spiritual resurrection (Eph 2:1, 5)
B. The grace of God that appeared in Jesus Christ for our salvation came to transform us.
C. The Father is eager to help each of us experience our full potential as his children
Conclusion
The Good News is that the grace of God brings salvation for all people – including you. This salvation is experienced through the faith that makes Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Today, if you have not already done so, let him become not only the Savior of your soul, but the transformer and enricher of your life.
Salvation is by grace: you cannot buy it, earn it, or steal it. You can receive it as a gift by faith when you open the door of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor’s Annualcontinued from page 12
Bi-lingual English-Malayalam Bible
Readers Digest Bible (4 Volumes)
Thompson Answer Bible
Prophesy Study Bible
Ryrie Study Bible (Malayalam)
Your life preaches all weekStudy universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two: your life preaches all week. If Satan can only make a covetous minister a lover of praise, of pleasure, of good eating, he has ruined your ministry. Give yourself to prayer, and get your texts, your thoughts, your words, from God.
Romans 9 (Exposition) - Dr. Alexander Kurian
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Digging Deeper : The Gospel of God
Dr. Alexander Kurian as a minister at-large has developed a global ministry of evangelism, teaching, training and equipping for the last 35 years. He has also served as the academic dean and professor of pastoral ministries at Asian Christian Academy of India. His latest book on Biblical leadership is published by GLS, India in Nov.2013. Dr. Kurian has a passion to be conservative in guarding God’s revelation and radical in our application of it in a postmodern world. He and his wife Valsa live in Dallas Texas, worshipping the Lord with the people of God at Edmonds Lane Bible Chapel.
Israel's Unbelief and Rejection of Christ
(Rom.9:1-5)
Paul emotionally expresses his sorrow and concern
for the unbelieving Jews. Paul suffers from great
anguish because his Jewish kinsmen are unsaved. In
chapter 10:1 also the same sentiment is expressed:
“Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for
them is for their salvation.” Paul's pain was so great
that he was willing, if possible, to be separated from
Christ.
“Accursed” means devoted to destruction in hell.
Paul uses it here by way of a hyperbole, to show the
intensity of his desire for the salvation of fellow Jews.
As he said in the beginning of verse 3, “I could wish.”
The depth and genuineness of his heart's desire for
their salvation is expressed in this unbelievable
declaration. Paul is speaking emotionally here, not
theologically. This is an awesome statement of his own
genuineness and self-sacrifice though he uses a
hyperbolic expression.
In verses 4-5 Paul lists some of the great privileges
of Israel. It includes adoption as a nation, glory
(reference to the glory of God in the tabernacle and
temple), covenants (God's eternal promises to them),
Law, the temple service (worship), and the promises
(saving promises or promises of deliverance).
“Fathers” is a reference to the patriarchs (Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob) who also come from Israel. Their
supreme privilege was that the Christ (Messiah) came
through them, who is over all, God blessed forever.
Amen.” “Paul's anguish over the Jews' rejection of
Christ drives him to avow his own recognition of Him
as God” (Ryrie Study Bible, NASB, 1715).Jesus Christ is by far the greatest blessing of the
Jews. Some scholars consider the last part of verse 5 as a separate sentence, a doxology or a benediction. The apostle intentionally equates Christ with God. These words are both a doxology and an affirmation of the full deity and lordship of Christ.
Israel's rejection and God's Purpose (Rom.9:6-13)The rest of the chapter deals with God's sovereignty
and eternal purpose. It is traced through Israel's unbelief and rejection.
God's purposes and promises have not failed. Not all the physical descendants of Jacob inherited the promises of God. From Abraham's life also Paul proves his point (verse 7). Physical descent is no guarantee of a place in God's family. Abraham had two sons, Ismael and Isaac, but only Isaac inherited the promises. The line of promise is traced only through Isaac (Gen.21:12). In verse 10 another illustration is given – the children of Isaac. God's promise to Isaac was never intended to be fulfilled through Esau. This proves Paul's argument that God did not promise that every person of Jewish descent would be saved. Though Jacob and Esau had the same father and mother and were even twins, yet God chose Jacob and not Esau.
9:11: God chose Jacob over Esau before they were born. Neither had done anything good or bad at the time the choice was made. It was not based on their merit or works; it was solely based on “Him who calls.” God's purpose will be fulfilled because it depends solely upon His sovereign will. “God's just and righteous character does not allow the possibility of his failing in any of His promises” (John MacArthur, Romans 9-16, 25).
9:12-14: The promise given to Rebekah was that God had chosen the younger Jacob over the older Esau (Gen.25:23). In 9:13 Paul cites Mal.1:2-3. “Hated” is in the sense of rejected. Esau was not the object of God's choice – electing purpose. Hated is an idiom used to express lesser degree in an emphatic way. For example, Gen.29:30 says that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, but the next verse (31) literally translated says that Leah was hated. In the context of God's choice (election) the word hated should be interpreted not by human passions but by the divine choice.
This passage is a reminder that no one deserves to be chosen by God. God remains just in not choosing any one. The salvation of anyone at all comes by God's mercy and grace.
18 JULY 2014
We are the Home of God on Earth:continued from page 11
1
1. Clint Arnold's translation makes this clear for us, see Arnold, ZECNT, 182-183.
SATHYAM MINISTRIES WANTED
1. Administrators- Graduates with good administra-tion and co-ordination skill and capable of working with minimum supervision.
2. Communication Co-ordinators- Graduates with good command over English and should have a Christian Mission commitment.
3. Social Workers- Should have Msw qualification.
4. Accountant- B.com / M.com graduates.
5. Editor and proof reader- Candidates with Biblical Knowledge and good command over English and Malayalam language.
6. Office Secretary- Should have good Command over English and good knowledge of computers. Should have a Christian mission commitment.
Contact: 9447126182
Dr. Daniel Borg
19
When Christians ClashDealing with Difficult People
Daniel Borg In 1980 he graduated from Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota with a Master of Divinity degree has served in four churches: Olivet Baptist Church (Robbinsdale, Minnesota), First Baptist Church (White Bear Lake, Minnesota), Emmanuel Community Church (Oakdale, Minnesota), and currently as the senior pastor of Bethany Church on the Hill (Thousand Oaks, California). He is also currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Converge Southwest (Southwest Baptist Conference). For ten years Daniel taught courses as a part-time instructor in Biola University’s BOLD program. He also taught a course titled, “Dealing with Difficult People” and “Change and Conflict in Christian Ministry”
When Christians Clash came out of Daniel’s thirty years of pastoral experience and his doctoral studies. He has an ongoing passion to help Christians everywhere to manage conflict in redemptive ways according to biblical principles.
Over the last several months I've written about basic
principles of conflict management. I've organized
them around the acronym A -C-T-I-O-N:Assess the
Level of Conflict, Choose Your Conflict Style, Target
Your Interests, Identify the Stakeholders, Open
Communication, and Negotiate a Resolution. It's
easy to find both teaching and examples of these in the
Bible. When applied at the right time in the right way,
these principles will help you manage conflict in
constructive ways that lead toward a positive
resolution.
However, not all people strive for peace and not all
conflicts are resolved peacefully. Romans 12:18 says,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone.” It says, “If it is possible.” That implies that it's
not always possible to live at peace with everyone,
because there are people who will choose not to live at
peace with you. To place the expectation upon
yourself that you will live at peace with all people all
the time is unrealistic. Sometimes you will have to deal
with difficult people. In conflict, people can be
difficult in a variety of ways. They can intimidate,
manipulate, deceive, distort, threaten, gossip, blame,
or even play the victim in order to get the upper hand.
Making peace with them is like petting a porcupine. Be
careful that you don't get stuck. Here are a few
guidelines for dealing with difficult people.
Be cautious about judging others as “difficult
people.” Just because someone opposes you doesn't
mean they're unreasonable, unfair, or difficult. They
may just have different viewpoints or different
interests. To wrongfully or prematurely judge them as
a difficult person makes you the one who's difficult. At
times I have judged others that way only to discover I
was the one standing in the way of peace.
Communicate clearly. Clear communication is
always a good thing, but especially so when you're
dealing with a difficult person. In a conflict, whatever
you say may be used against you. So be careful not to
say anything that you will later regret. Choose your
words carefully and communicate clearly.
Don't put yourself in a vulnerable position.
Difficult people take advantage of situations that make
their opponents weak and vulnerable. As much as
possible, avoid those situations. If someone wants to
hit you, don't provide the club.
Don't be overly accessible. Sometimes difficult people
are overly demanding of your time and attention.
Difficult people thrive on power. Your accessibility can
give them an increased sense of power. If your door is
always open to anyone at any time, sooner or later
you'll encounter someone who will walk through your
door all the time.
Develop and enforce ground rules. Ground rules
allow conflict to be resolved in an atmosphere of fair
play. They minimize the use of “dirty tricks.” They are
especially important when dealing with difficult
people.
Accept the fact that some people are just difficult.
Don't let them get to you. It's not your job to change
them; it's God's. Your job is to control your own
behavior and to deal wisely and fairly with those
around you. If God softens their hearts and changes
their behavior, that's great. But while God is doing His
work in their lives, you just may have to accept difficult
people for who they are. Sometimes it's wisest to back
off and say to yourself, “That's just a porcupine
showing his quills. Porcupines do that, and I'm too
smart to get stuck.” Don't fight with a porcupine. Don't
pet one either.
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Six Seismic ShiftsRev. Ivan Veldhuizen
JULY 2014
In Converge International Ministries, we have
recruited a diaspora missiologist onto our leadership team (Dr. John Baxter) to be sure we are aware of and effectively engaging in this diaspora movement. We are seeking to better mobilize the majority world (non-westerners) in strategic mission endeavors, sending internationals into places our traditional missionaries can rarely go. Our training of missionaries now includes living among a people group here before we send missionaries across the ocean. We also stand by to assist our districts and churches to succeed in reaching the nations that are now living among us.FROM ISOLATION TO COLLABORATION
For generations, denominations and mission organizations formed ministry agendas in isolation that were carried out in solitude. The motif of missions past has been more competitive than collaborative. But a beautiful trend is emerging in recent years. A kingdom mind set has permeated the Christian church at large. We have finally learned that doing things together is better than going solo. As a result, mission agencies are sharing information, strategizing regional efforts, and supporting each other in prayerful and practical ways.
International Ministries has 17 major global partners and uncounted regional partners working with us to effectively carry out the Great Commission. One of our eight ministry shaping values states that “we are partnership driven.” We value working together in relationships with individuals, churches, or groups who are like-minded in strategy and theology. As varying members of Christ's body, we are better together than alone. This includes working with local Christians, churches and mission agencies on our fields, as well as collaborating closely with districts and churches throughout the United States.FROM MISSION STALWARTS TO MISSION SAMPLERS
In days past, there were mission stalwarts who
lived, ate and breathed missions. Many of these didn't
even go to the field, but they learned about the world,
connected with those called to go, and supported them
fastidiously in prayer, finances, and encouragement. A
small remnant of that generation remains. No—they
didn't have everything right and, on occasion, were a
little blind to the errors of missions and the humanness
of missionaries. But one thing they had that the church
now sorely misses is the relentless commitment to
bring the gospel to the nations of the world.
Some have observed that the western church in the
United States has moved to an age of mission
samplers—heavy on creative missions and low on
outcomes, hopping on board with the latest trendy
initiatives, failing to delineate between a real mission
outreach trip versus a cross-cultural experience, with
missiology and mission engagement determined by a
few minutes of internet searches. We are often fuzzy
about the clarity of what missions should be about –
that of making disciples. We've too often let the
urgency of peoples' plight overshadow the importance
of peoples' eternity.
We need courageous committed leaders and
champion collaborative churches that will embrace the
mantle in this new day of missions. We need those who
will do missions with the zeal of past stalwarts along
with the wisdom of a current missiology. A great task
remains for us in this modern era of missions.
Converge churches have a tremendous opportunity for
God-honoring global impact as we return to the
biblical case for missions, collaborate to find synergy in
our efforts, and elevate global impact over people's
wishes to be “hands-on.” There's nothing wrong with
hands on missions as long as this isn't the driving
motivator in what we do and how we do it. The
command to make disciples of all nations is way too
important to be held hostage by a modern era of
samplers who desperately need stalwart leaders.
Converge International Ministries is poised to help
lead a movement of cutting edge, effective, biblically
sound mission initiatives so that every nation, tribe,
people and language can offer their praise to God for
the gift of His Son.
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Born and raised in a conservative Jewish home, Marvin Rosenthal placed his trust in Jesus as a teenager by following the godly examples of his mother. He
served in the pastorate for six years, before serving The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. as director for sixteen years.In that capacity, he was editor of
the magazine, Israel My Glory. He is currently the executive director of Zions Hope, Inc., editor of Zions Fire and is a much sought-after conference speaker,
often addressing the prophetic implications of current world events and the explosive Middle East.
Pastor Marvin J. Rosenthal
SIN – We Have all Been Infected By a Global Pandemic
Dear Friend,
Let me say it up front – unadorned and without fear of contradiction – the supreme malady of the human race – the seed cause of man's labyrinth of problems – is the virus called sin. It is universal in scope, deadly in effect, and beyond the cure of any man-made antidote, even if men knew the sin problem existed, which, tragically, most don't.
Sin is Satan's ultimate weapon. It is at the heart of
his opposition to God. Sin is the root cause of:
Death Disease
Natural catastrophe
War
Corrupt government
Broken and ruined families
Crime of every sort
False religion of every kind
Greedy business practices
Godless, humanistic philosophy
Educational institutions – good on facts,
disastrous on wisdom, ever learning yet never
coming to knowledge of the truth.
And a judicial system so out of control and
injurious to society that it should itself be on
trial.
Many social scientists, educators, psychologists,
and “religious teachers” disagree. They reject the
concept of sin. They are wrong – disastrously so. In
rejecting the implications of sin, they play the fool,
endanger their own eternal souls, and misguide
multitudes who, in ignorance, march to their cadence.
God fashioned man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into him the breath of life. From this man,
God fashioned a woman to be his companion. Adam
and Eve were placed by God in a perfect environment –
the Garden of Eden. In that garden, everything was
provided to sustain them, to occupy their time, and to
satisfy and fulfill them. And best of all, into that garden
their Creator would come to commune with them.
This man and woman were of an infinitely higher
order than the animals who were also created by God,
and who also dwelt in that garden paradise. The first
couple was unique. They alone were created in the
image and likeness of God.
Man possessed a mind that could think God's thoughts
after Him, a heart that could respond to God's love, and
a will that could do God's bidding. Man possessed
intellectual capability, emotional capability, and
volitional capability. In that image and likeness of God
is to be found the dignity, nobility, and worth of
humankind. Man could think, feel, and act God-ward.
The animal world also possesses intellect, emotion,
and will. My wife and I have a pet dog named Cookie.
Cookie has intellectual capability. We have been able
to teach her some tricks and basic commands. Cookie
has emotional capability. She showers my wife and me
with affection. Cookie has volitional capability. She
sees a squirrel. I say, “Come.” She takes off in pursuit of
the squirrel, and I take off in pursuit of Cookie. Cookie
has intellect, emotion, and will. But there is a vital
difference. She was not created in the image and
likeness of God, and she cannot exercise her intellect,
emotion, and will God-ward.
Man is not a computer. The computer can only out-
put what is programmed into it. A computer is not
responsible for its actions – neither must it give an
account for them.
Sin is universal in scope, deadly in effect, and beyond the cure of any man-made antidote.
(to be continued...)
JULY 201422
23
Rev. Barney Kinard
The Way Things Work
Hitting your finger, instead of the nail, is a painful way to learn How Things Work. Hitting the nail on the head takes some practice and a steady stroke. A Systems Approach
The systems approach to How Things Work is helpful to understand here. If you take a rubber band around all your fingers and move one finger, the pressure is felt on the others. So what happens to one, somehow impacts the others in a system. When one member is sick in a family, it impacts them all. In a Staff, when one is not pulling their weight, that one might have an impact on the total ministry. In an Elder run church, decisions made at that level trickle down into the staff and congregation, whether it is a decisive or indecisive decision. Every church has a culture—“the way we do things here!” When you understood How Things Work, you have more permission to “work the system.”
Every church culture requires a leader who can understand How Things Work—children's ministry is no exception. Failure to do so could hurt a whole lot more than hammering your fingers. Learning to assess policies, procedures and protocols can help you get things done. Challenging the system on every hand can be laying the groundwork for your early departure. Unfortunately, I have seen it happen.
Here are few things to watch for that might assess How Things Work in children's ministry in your church.1. Watch and Listen!
You can learn a lot by observing and keeping your ear to the ground. Do not interfere, if you perceive it to be privileged information. Don't share it!2. Ask Questions and Keep Confidential
No one will trust you, if they feel you cannot keep information confidential. There is a time to gather information. You will learn more by being quiet about what you know. Teachable moments will come later with more accumulation.3. Notice how decisions are made
Is there a pattern in the way decisions are made? Can anyone else make a decision, except the Pastor? “It's your program, you decide, but check back with me first?” He may be asking for your accountability. Do staff members have both trust and authority?
4. Observe how problems are solvedAre problems really solved or just handled
temporarily? Are people processed well with the resolutions or details associated with outcomes? 5. Has there ever been any Church Discipline? How was that handled? Was there any opportunity for restoration or restitution? Were there any winners and losers? What was the role of forgiveness and grace?6. How would you describe the Church's state of health? Financial condition? Saying one thing—doing another? Are they involved in the community? Surviving? Flourishing? Any People Blindness here? That is not really seeing the real needs of people?7. Is there a Program Priority? Some Programs are always funded first with no discussion? This program can dominate agendas and gets on the calendar first—it just goes without saying. Is it assumed? Is children's ministry a low priority?8. Describe What Works in Writing Writing down what works helps you to understand the pattern used for getting things done. Have you noticed any leveraging to get things done? Are there some “land mines” to avoid? How about “keep out” signs?9. Observe how a New Idea Gains Momentum for Change in the System (I.e., Pastor goes to a conference and comes home with new program idea) Can you observe the implementation process with the staff and power structure? Where is the push back? Often the implications for the children's ministry are not thought through. You might have to do that!10. Good Ideas Are My Ideas! Bad Ideas Are Your Ideas! Is there consideration and respect for alternative thinking associated with problem solving? Can authority be challenged? Can anybody else be right? Does someone need the credit? Are your ideas for reaching and teaching children getting respect?This is another reason why those in children's ministry should not introduce too much change in the first year. Understanding How Things Work is vital to being able to affect the system in some permanent ways. Change should be deliberate, thoughtful and done in small increments with plenty of time for “processing the troops.” Understanding How Things Work in your ministry can help you make change, work better and longer for reaching more children.
24 JULY 2014
Reader’s Feedback
Dear in CHRIST JESUS!
This is Rev.Mohan Gowda from Bangalore; I read
your magazine TRUTH'S April edition. Each and
every article is very useful.
Thanks once again
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AS ONLY HE CAN.
Mohan G
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The merit of persons is to be no rule of our charity;
but we are to do acts of kindness to those that least
of all deserve it.
William Law
A serious call to a devout and holy life, Gal 2:19, 20
Those that least of all deserve it
25
Faith is the Springboard for Our LivesAmy Anderson
Adapted from a sermon given at Whittier Area Community Church on March 9. 2014
God’s promises are often beyond what we can
fathom, and that is why this is the key verse when it comes to faith. Abraham was justified, and brought into relationship with a holy, righteous God because of his faith, because he believed God’s promises.
And this is what Paul is emphasizing in his response to the debate in the early church. Faith is the answer to our question: What is required to receive the blessing of God’s promises? Paul explained Abraham’s faith in this way: “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith” (Romans 4:13)
God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. But, as we know, the covenant child, Isaac, did not come until 25 years after God first promised this gift to Abram. In those 25 years of pilgrimage, after leaving their home, their family, and their friends behind, to venture out in obedience, into the land that God had promised them. During those 25 years they endured famine, war, opposition, relational conflict, jealousy, and strife. And, by the time the promised child came, Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90: long past child-bearing years. But, Abraham chose to believe God despite all the circumstances that would have made it impossible.
Even years later, when Isaac was a young boy, when God called upon Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Abraham’s faith and obedience did not waver. Even then, in what would be the ultimate test of his faith, Abraham believed that nothing would be impossible for God. Abraham trusted that God would be faithful; he trusted that God would provide. This is the mighty faith of Abraham that made him fully acceptable before God.
It was not something that Abraham did that made
him righteous in God’s eyes, but it was Abraham’s
trust, the state of his heart, his belief that God would do
what he said he would do. This complete and utter
trust in God’s faithfulness made Abraham acceptable
in God’s eyes.
This is the mighty faith that Paul points us to in
Romans. “Even when there was no reason for hope,
Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would
become the father of many nations. Abraham never
wavered in believing God’s promise. …He was fully
convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as
righteous” (Romans 4:18-22).
We look to Abraham’s example of faith, and we are
filled with admiration and inspiration. We know from
his life that faith is believing in God, and believing that
God will be faithful to his promises.
Well, how do we live a life of faith? Why is it so
important that we have faith? Have you ever thought
about the reality that we all have a God-shaped void in
our heart? There is a void that cries out to be filled – a
void that asks if there’s anything more to life than the
daily grind.
Blaise Pascal wrote about this: “There is a God-
shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, and it can
never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled
by God, made known through Jesus Christ.” Bascal
describes the void in human hearts, and he describes
the only answer, Jesus Christ. Through faith, believing
in God and trusting that God will fulfill his promises,
the void in our hearts is filled.
So, to answer our question, how do we live a life of
faith, I want to encourage you today that drawing near
to God in your daily life is one of the first, and most
important steps that you can take in living a life of faith.
As your relationship with God continues to deepen
and grow, so will your relationships with the people
that God brings into your life.
26
Bob Shank
Bob Shank has been a successful business leader, the pastor of a large evangelical church, and is, today, the founder and leader of a ministry to Christian
leaders called The Master’s Program. His primary emphasis is helping successful career professionals find and fulfill their Kingdom Calling. He has
been married for 43 years to Cheri; their family includes two married adult daughters and five grandchildren, with a sixth coming soon by adoption, from
South Africa.
( )Courtesy: Taken from Bob Shank’s weekly Point of View email column
BUILD WITH CARE
JULY 2014
A question, for graduates: “What's your goal in life?”
Ask that question 10 times, and you'll get a few serious answers, and numerous frivolous responses. Wait about a decade, and the intensity might rise. The longer one lives, the more you feel the weight of the significant. What's your goal?
Paul's reply: “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” (2 Corinthians 5:9) Why did his goal line go so far from the immediacy of his daily life and demands? “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (v 10) The certainty of accountability raised the importance of knowing the ultimate objective!
How in the world can a person know – in the most practical sense – what it takes to please God? Isn't that like trying to buy a gift for a person who lives on another continent, without knowing much about them? How can people living in the limitations of a fallen world have a clue about pleasing God?
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
There's the catalytic ingredient: if pleasing God is the goal, faith is the crucial factor that must be found in the answer! That's a generic quality that needs definition to be sure it is the type and style that matches God's preferences: what brand of faith does He favor?
Two things have to be in the ingredients list for the faith He'll certify: 1) a belief that He really exists; and, 2) the certainty that He rewards the people who perform above the baseline.
Take a survey; How many people believe in God? In
America, 78% say “yes,” and 15% say they'll buy a
“higher power,” without denoting God. Does that
mean that eight-out-of-ten Americans meet the
“belief” test? Or, is He talking about us believing what
He has revealed about Himself in His Word? Does a
watered-down belief in a Mr. Potato Head god –
constructed from cultural portrayals that have no
resemblance to His self-portrait, in the Scriptures –
meet the test?“Must believe that He exists… and that He
rewards…”It's impossible to please God (v 6) until my beliefs
get in alignment with the facts: who He is, and the
promise of accountability and restitution that is
portrayed in the New Testament teaching on Eternal
Rewards. God puts those two primary convictions in a
life that will succeed in pleasing Him.“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a
wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
The foundation is Jesus Christ: we must believe that
He is. The construction – the life we build on that truth
– is what He – Jesus Christ – will evaluate when we see
Him. Our everyday decisions go back-and-forth
between the temporal (wood/hay/straw) and the eternal
(gold/silver/costly stones); He will filter the mundane
from the marvelous, and… what?He'll reward each Christian – the ones with the
foundation of Jesus Christ – based on the choices they
made in this life. Suffer loss… or, receive a reward.
Who determines the outcome? We do…
