Theme for 2012

Remembering Christmas 1996

I just wasn’t in the Christmas Spirit 15 years ago.  Maybe it was because I was up until 1:00 a.m. putting together a couple of Christmas presents.  Or maybe it was because I was disturbed at 5:00 a.m. – not by my children, but by the fire department.  They were banging on my front door and informed me that our church was burning.  Was I dreaming?  It sure seemed like it for the next few hours.  By the time it was all over (about 10:00 a.m.) our church building was completely destroyed. Many church members were at the house and we were all crying – trying hard to believe what we were going through – especially on Christmas.

Faith Baptist Church Building - Christmas Morning 1996

We had planned on going to my in-laws for Christmas Day celebration in southern Ohio.  We had to call them and let them know we were going to be late.  We left in the early afternoon.  We came back the next day.

What started out as a bad Christmas ended up being a blessing.  We had a church family meeting at First Baptist.  Everyone was there, including media.  What happened at that meeting was a true unity of our church.  Over the next few months miracle after miracle happened.  What some thought impossible happened.  Within 10 months we were in our new building. Most said we would be lucky if we could settle on the architectural plans.  God brought the right people at the right time to get the job done.  It was a good ending to our church’s ‘Christmas Carol.’

Before his first ‘Christmas,’ Joseph didn’t exactly jump for joy when he heard of Mary’s pregnancy In fact, he decided to break of the engagement. things changed dramatically when God explained it all to him in a dream:

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph.. do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’ (Matt. 1:20).

Matthew’s account sounds somewhat unemotional, but Joseph must have felt quite relieved when he awoke. His humbug situation was turning into a hallelujah outcome.

What are you doing to make sure your Christmas will have a good ending? Are there some humbug potholes in your path? Will Christ be honored through the way you celebrate Christmas? has something unexpected intervened in your holiday plans? If you’re felling humbug-like, why don’t you try saying this hallelujah prayer:

Lord, I feel humbug about _________________________.  Help me to find hallelujah in this situation. Amen.

 

PROVISION – Acts 28

A man rubbed a bottle and a genie came out, “OK the genie said what’s your wish” The man said “I want all ladies to love me”, and he turned into a bar of chocolate.

 

If God gave you one opportunity to ask for anything you could, and He would give it, what would you ask for?  Money, Health, Family, Job, Time?  Paul said, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory” (Phil. 4:19).

 

Acts 28 shows us some of the things God provides abundantly!

 

1. 1.     Protection

 

These men were in a fierce storm and God protected every one of them.  They all landed on the shore of Malta/Melita.  Later in the chapter we find the incident with the viper.  This is another mark of God’s protection on His people.

 

‘God is my refuge and my fortress; my god; in him will I trust.’ (Psalm 91:2)

 

1. 2.     Favor

 

I don’t think anyone traveling with Paul anticipated the warm welcome they received when they finally struggled ashore on Malta.  All of the, including Paul, would have been satisfied just to feel the solid earth under their feet once again.  But God often does much more than we ever expect.  Do you think Paul or Luke prayed for it?  I don’t think any of them did, but this incident shows us how God can take care of us.

 

‘When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.’ (Ps. 16:7)

 

1. 3.     Friendship

 

Paul introduces us to Publius, the chief official of the island.  He showed hospitality to Paul and his friends.  God did not overlook this.  He used Paul to heal his father and others on Malta who were diseased.  These people showed their gratitude by supplying Paul and his companions with provisions for their journey.  Paul’s kindness to the islanders was reciprocated.  Love begets love. Kindness begets kindness.

 

Quote: god doesn’t give you the people you want, He gives you the people you need.

 

 

 

1. 4.     Freedom

 

When Paul got to Rome, he was allowed to live by himself.  I’m sure that though he was a prisoner, God’s care of him allowed his superiors to realize he was not a threat and gave him more liberty.

 

‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.’ (2 Cor. 3:17)

 

1. 5.     Ministry

 

Even in chains, Paul was able to continue his ministry.  The Jewish leaders in Rome arranged for a meeting with Paul. This was not just a Q & A, but an evangelistic opportunity. He persuaded them; he tried to convince them to place their faith in Jesus Christ. He was not there to pass on religious information. He wanted to start them on the road to heaven. He opened the Word of God – both the Law and the Prophets – to them. He was in no hurry. The session lasted all day. He preached as long as they listened. Some believed, and some did not.  This wasn’t the end. For two years Paul ministered the gospel in Rome. His two-fold ministry: preaching the gospel and teaching the converts.

 

‘Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.’ (1 Peter 4:10)

 

God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply – Hudson Taylor

 

There was a man who got lost in the desert. After wandering around for a long time his throat became very dry, about that time he saw a little shack in the distance. He made his way over to the shack and found a water pump with a small jug of water and a note. The note read: “pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need”. Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. If it didn’t work he would still be thirsty and he might die. Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die. After thinking about it the man decided to risk it. He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. So much water came out he drank all he wanted, took a shower, and filled all the containers he could find. Because he was willing to give up momentary satisfaction, he got all the water he needed. Now the note also said: after you have finished, please refill the jug for the next traveller.” The man refilled the jug and added to the note: “ Please prime the pump, believe me it works”!  We have the same choice to make, do we hold on to what we have because we don’t believe there are better things in store for us, and settle for immediate satisfaction? Or do we trust God and give up all that we have to get what God has promised us? I think the choice is obvious. We need to pour in all the water, trust God with everything.  Then once we have experienced what God has to offer, the living water, we need to tell other people, “Go ahead prime the pump, believe me it works”!

GUIDANCE – Acts 27

There was a preacher who was on a diet and prayed as he drove to work- “Now, Lord if it is your Will for me not to have any donuts this morning You make sure there are no parking places in front of the donut shop.” And he later said, “I ate the donuts because there were two places right up front on only my 8th trip around the block.” We need to make sure we don’t play the game of making God’s guidance fit what we want rather than seeing if what we want actually fits His plans.

 

When I talk with Christians the subject of how to determine God’s will always comes up.  How do you discover God’s will for your life?  We must recognize that God is far more interested in revealing His will to us than we are concerned about seeking it.  He is far more interested in leading us than we are to be led.  He wants to guide and direct His children and has promised to do that.  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go..” (Psalm 32:8). But through what means does He guide us?

 

1. 1.     Circumstances

 

One obvious means of guidance found in Acts 27 is the simple unfolding of circumstances.  God made a promise to Paul and then step by step He arranged the circumstances which accomplished His will.  So Paul boarded a ship bound for Rome.  God can guide us through circumstances by either opening or closing doors.

 

I high school I surrendered to be a preacher and was ready to go Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in southern California in January of 1979.  However, in the Fall I had a car accident that left me without a vehicle to drive.  I couldn’t afford to go to California, so I took the money I had and bought a plane ticket to Springfield, Missouri to go to Baptist Bible College.  On Day One I got in the registration line with hundreds of other students and found myself behind a cute girl. It was Judy.  God closed the door to California so I would go to Missouri to meet my wife.

 

1. 2.     Word of God

 

Another means in which God reveals His will is through His Word. God had made a promise to Paul – he would stand before Caesar to present his case.  In spite of the circumstances, Paul believed God’s Word.

 

Have you seen those GPS guidance systems that you can get for your car? Some are built in and some are portable. You can plug them into your lighter or cell phone connection in your car. Then you can touch the screen and tell it where you would like to go and it will give you the directions. My son gave me one for Christmas last year. I don’t use it often, but it comes in handy. It talks to you I have a pleasant ladies voice that speaks to me. And if I miss turning at the street or intersection where I am supposed to go, she will talk to me and tell me where to go or what to do next. Many times in life we don’t know which direction to turn or what to do. We all need some kind of spiritual GPS guidance system. Psalm 119:9-11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands (or direction). I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” There is our spiritual GPS system

 

1. 3.     Presence of Jesus

 

Another means of guidance found in Acts 27 is the presence of Jesus, or as we understand it – the Holy Spirit. On the trip to Rome, all on board realized their lives were in danger and began throwing their worldly goods overboard.  People will gladly sacrifice material possessions to save their own lives.  Although many of the passengers feared the worst, Jesus never abandoned Paul.  He reminded the crew that he had advised them not to leave Crete and added that Jesus had told him everyone would be kept safe.  As the storm raged, Paul never lost his faith.  Paul knew he was safer on a storm-tossed sea, while living in the will of God than if he was resting comfortably at home, living disobediently outside the will of God.  When a Christian is where God wants him to be, he is safe in the Lord.  The power and assurance of his presence and guidance is always with us.  God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

 

Erwin McManus, a pastor in Los Angeles, tells a great story about recognizing God’s voice. My son, Aaron, was five or six when he began asking me, “What does God’s voice sound like?” I didn’t know how to answer. A few years later, Aaron went off to his first junior high camp. In the middle of the week, I went up with another pastor at Mosaic to see our kids. Aaron, I learned, had started to assault another kid but had been held back by his friends. He was unrepentant, wanted to leave camp, pulled together his stuff, and shoved it into the car. I asked him for a last talk with me before we drove away. We sat on two large rocks in the middle of the woods. “Aaron,” I asked, “is there any voice inside you telling you what you should do?” “Yes,” he nodded. “What’s the voice telling you?” “That I should stay and work it out.” “Can you identify that voice?” “Yes,” he said immediately. “It’s God.” It was the moment I’d waited for.  “Aaron,” I said, “do you realize what just happened? You heard God’s voice. He spoke to you from within your soul. Forget everything else that’s happened. God spoke to you, and you were able to recognize Him.” I will never forget Aaron’s response: “Well, I’m still not doing what God said.”

 

We have the hardest time finding God in the middle of the storms, but that is when He is most evidently at work in our lives.

 

There is a certain Italian harbor that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three huge poles. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger. God has also provided three beacons to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply – the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance are 1. Circumstances (divine providence)  2. The Word of God (objective standard)  3. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness).  Together, they assure us that the directions we’ve received are from God and will lead us safely along His way.

EVANGELISM – Made for a Mission

These 40 days have gone fast. We’ve looked at the fact that life is preparation for eternity. We’ll do four things in heaven forever. And God wants us to practice these things here on the earth.
Worship – knowing and loving God.
Fellowship – learning to love each other.
Discipleship – learning to become like Jesus.
Ministry – learning to serve others

That brings us to the 5th purpose- the only purpose we can only do on earth. We were made for a mission – evangelism. Evangelism is simply sharing the good news about Jesus. Once I know the good news – that God loves me in spite of my sin, that Jesus died to pay for my sins, that I am forgiven when I turn form sin and trust Jesus, that Jesus sets us free, and that God has a purpose and plan for my life – then God wants me to pass it on.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

Look at that word witnesses. God’s not looking for defense attorneys. You don’t have to defend God. He’s not looking for salesmen. You don’t have to sell God. He’s looking for witnesses. A witness is someone who just says what he’s seen. God just wants you to tell people what’s happened to you. Tell people what He has done in your life.

Where? I start at home to the people close to me. I go to people nearby who are culturally different. And I go to everybody else.

Three places to be on mission:

1. I am made for a mission here… locally.

… you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem…Acts 1:8

I must share with those in my world. Where does your mission start? at home. Why don’t we do this? We think people aren’t interested in spiritual issues. But polls and surveys say that Americans are more interested in spiritual things now than ten years ago.

There are thousands of ways you can witness. Today we are going to introduce you to a little tool called “Steps to Peace with God.” It’s simple and to the point. You can carry it in your wallet or purse. All the verses are written out right there in the booklet. And it links you to a well-respected leader, Billy Graham. It’s non-threatening. It helps you share your story when you say, “Here’s how I came to know a peace with God.” I encourage you to share it with someone this week.

Why in the world should you take the time to share that with somebody else? It’s the reason your heart is still beating. We can worship in heaven. We can fellowship in heaven. We will be like Jesus in heaven. We will have a ministry of serving God in heaven. But what we can’t do is share the good news with people who don’t know it yet. The only reason we are left on this earth after we have come to Christ is because God wants us to share the good news with people who haven’t heard.

Every once in a while, people will say, “Greg, isn’t our church big enough?” Part of me agrees because my job was a lot easier when we had 100 people coming here.” We don’t grow for our benefit. We grow because more people need to be set free. “Aren’t we too big?” Wrong question! How can we help more people meet Jesus?” Right question! When we forget we were made for a mission – when we fail to evangelize – we are saying to the world, “Hey! I’m in. Best of luck to you. Hope you make it!”

2. I am made for a mission there… regionally.

It’s not enough for us to care about the people who are around us. We must dare to reach beyond our own little world. Love demands that we move beyond our comfort zone to people with different backgrounds, educations, languages, cultures.

… you will be My witnesses… in all Judea and Samaria… Acts 1:8

I don’t just seek to reach people who are like me. We build bridges, not walls. We must dare to reach beyond our world.

Next Sunday, we will have some boxes in the church lobby. What we want you to do is to fill them up with non-perishable food items. We are going to distribute these groceries to needy families in our own community, to the City Rescue Mission, to the Fishes & Loaves food pantry.

3. I am made for a mission everywhere… globally.

God cares about the whole world.

… you will be My witnesses… to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. If you are not fishin’ you’re not followin’. He says, “Go everywhere because I want the whole world to hear the good news.”

We can reach our world through our missionaries.  When you give to missions, you give to reach the ends of the earth.  Not everyone can go to the mission field.  But everyone can reach the mission field by giving to missions.

I am made for a mission here, there, and everywhere.

You’ve got four possible responses.
Moses – “Who me?”
Jonah – “Not me.”
Habakkuk – “Why me?”
Isaiah – “Send me.”

You will never regret saying “Send me” to God. Because God will use you to set people free. A point to ponder: My goal – to go to heaven and take as many people with me as possible.

 

Jimmy Carter, in his autobiography WHY NOT THE BEST? shared an incident that made him aware of his lack of witnessing to people. Each year Plains Baptist Church holds a one-week revival service. In preparation for the week, the congregation would venture into the community inviting non-churched members to the services. As a deacon, Carter participated in this exercise. He would visit a few homes, read Scriptures, have prayer, share some religious beliefs, then talk about the weather and crops and depart. Carter wrote: “I was always proud enough of this effort to retain a clear conscience throughout the remainder of the year.” One day Carter was asked to speak at a church in Preston, Georgia. The topic he was assigned was “Christian Witnessing.” As Carter sat in his study, he decided to make an impression on the audience by sharing with them how many home visits he made for God. He figured in the fourteen years since returning from the Navy he had conducted 140 visits. As Carter sat there, he reflected on the 1966 governor’s election. As he campaigned for the state’s highest office, he spent sixteen to eighteen hours a day trying to reach as many voters as possible. At the conclusion of the campaign Carter calculated that he met more than 300,000 Georgians. Sitting in his study the truth became evident. “The comparison struck home–300,000 visits for myself in three months, and 140 visits for God in fourteen years!” Are we in the same boat as Jimmy Carter?

Missionaries Elia & Julia Manduzio

WWJD – The Real Deal

There are a lot of ‘Make-over’ shows on TV & cable.  People getting a new nose, a new figure, new teeth, a new dress, a new bedroom, kitchen and yard – a whole new house. Even your car gets a makeover. Interesting, isn’t it, that we want our bodies and our stuff to get a makeover, but not our hearts? You can have a made over body, but if you have the same heart what good is it? Why are we so concerned with our outer appearance and so little concerned with our inner condition? The Bible says, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). If God is truly looking at my heart, then I want my heart to have a makeover.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is more than just becoming a Christian, it is progressing in the Christian life so that you are actually being transformed into the image of your Savior. Really living WWJD – What Would Jesus Do! This is the purpose of all life – being changed into the likeness of God’s character. Nothing else is more important than this, and without this, nothing is important. But how do we become a serious disciple of Jesus Christ?

There are the obvious tools that can be used, like a consistent devotional life and practicing the spiritual disciplines, but let me suggest one that may surprise you – God uses troubles to teach us to trust him. I’m not sure abut you, but I have never enjoyed having troubles. They are unpleasant, bothersome and seem to be such a waste of time. I could be doing something useful while I am having to take the time to deal with the troubles in my life. But when I look back on my life, I see that the troubles I have faced have been the furnace that God has used to refine and purify me. God does not cause these problems, nor does He deliberately bring them into our lives, but He will definitely use them. This gives me great confidence and joy, because when I am faced with a problem I can say, “Lord this really is painful, but I know that You are going to use this bad thing for good. You are going to teach me lessons, and make me a better and stronger person as a result of this situation, and I thank you for it.” There is nothing so bad that God cannot use it to bring some good in my life. That does not mean the situation is good, but His plans for that situation are good.

Troubles have a way of maturing us like nothing else. They force us to depend on God and lean on him – which is the way we should live all the time. Paul wrote that we were to, “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15).

So, even though I can’t get rid of all of your problems, I hope and pray that all of your problems make you more like Christ.

Fellowship – Putting the YOU in Church

God wired us for community.  We call this fellowship.  Don’t let that word ‘fellowship’ throw you.  It’s simply loving God’s family.  Some people say that they love Jesus but not the fellowship of a church.  But that won’t fly with Him.  Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is His bride. If you came to me and said “I love you, Greg, but I don’t want to have anything to do with your wife”, you wold be in big trouble with me!  And you’re in trouble with Jesus if you don’t love His bride, the church. 

You are formed for God’s family.  You are formed for fellowship.  You are not meant to be here on earth alone – to go through life on your own.  Life is not a solo act.  The fact is: we need each other.

Sometimes I hear people say something like, “I’m a follower of Christ, but I don’t want to belong to a church.”  That’s too bad because the church is where we learn to live out what it means to be a Christ-follower.  You wouldn’t say, “I’m a football player, but I don’t want to be part of any team.”  Or, “I’m a tuba player, but I don’t want o be part of a band.”  Or, “I’m a bee, but I don’t want o be apart of a hive.”  God meant us to be part of a church family.  God wants believers to become belongers.  It’s the way we fulfill this purpose called ‘fellowship.’

Not only do you need the church to fellowship, the church needs you. CH__CH.  What’s is needed?  UR.  Years ago President John Kennedy said, “Ask not what what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country.”  That’s a great concept needed for today in America.  But I’d like to state in a different way: Ask not what your church can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your church.

UR needed in the church. When you’re missing, it’s just not the same. This church needs you to stand up for Christ. We need you to show up. Showing up matters. But we also need you to speak up with words of encouragement. We need you to step up in service and leadership. And let’s make no bones about it. If there is something between you and someone else, the church needs you to make up.

Ministry – What is in your hand?

A college professor, an avowed atheist, told his class that he intended to prove to them that God didn’t exist. Addressing the ceiling he shouted: “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you 15 minutes!” The lecture room fell silent. You could have heard a pin fall. Ten minutes went by. Again he taunted God, saying, “Here I am, God. I’m still waiting.”

He smiled at the class as he counted down to the last couple of minutes. Near the rear of the class, a student looked around and quietly stood up. He was a big guy, a Marine – just released from active duty and newly registered in the class. The Marine walked up to the professor without saying a word. He approached the teacher, reared back and hit him full force, and sent him tumbling from his lofty platform.

The stunned professor just lay there for a minute! The students were shocked. The young Marine took a seat in the front row and sat silent. When the professor finally came around, he looked up at the young Marine. “What’s the matter with you? Why did you do that?” he demanded. “God told me to tell you he was busy so He sent me!”

It may not be exactly like that but God has an assignment for you today. He wants to send you into his service. We were shaped for God’s service. The Bible terms this purpose-ministry.

The story of Moses provides a good case study for our look into the purpose and nature of ministry. God speaks to Moses from the burning bush. He has some good news and some bad news. First, the good news! The Lord knew the plight of the Hebrew people and he was going to do something about it. He was going to set his people free. Moses was all for it. Now for the bad news-Moses had been selected to lead the way.

Some are reluctant to get involved in ministry. Moses certainly was. At least four times, Moses tells God that he must have made a mistake. “Who am I for such a task?” “How can I convince them?” “Nobody will believe me.” “Please, send somebody else.” Our assignments may not be as big or bold as Moses’ but we can identify with his doubts.

Moses didn’t feel qualified. He knew his weaknesses. He knew his past. He had failed before. Maybe he was afraid to fail again. Or maybe it was just the opposite. A lot of us are just as fearful of success as we are of failure. We’re afraid we will get in over our heads. If things succeed, we might lose control. Sometimes we’d rather not try than risk that.

Worship – Making your Father smile

I remember when my children were small and they would buy (or make) me a birthday or Christmas present.  They were always excited to watch me open it to see if I like it.  And no matter what it was, I always liked it.  Do you know why?  Because it was from them. 

As we journey through the 40 Days of Purpose, this week we have been looking at our first purpose – Worship.  We were planned for God’s pleasure.  Is God pleased with our life?  David tells us in Psalm 51:16 that God does ‘not delight in sacrifice… (or) take pleasure in burnt offerings.’  Even though these were commanded by God, it was not the sacrifices that delighted God or gave Him pleasure.  But according to verse 17, ‘the sacrifices of God (the thigns he really does want) are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.’  In order to please God our heart must be right, then the gift will give God pleaure.  that’s why Psalm 51:19 goes on to say taht once our hearts are right ‘then there will be righteous sacrifices, whle burn offerings to delight you…’

So I encourage you this week to examine your heart.  Confess your sins to Him and be brutally honest with yourself and Him.  Refuse to accept sin as being normal and acceptable.  Don’t refuse to offer Him your service and gifts as pleasing to Him.  Just as it is improper to serve God if our heart is not right, it is not right to have a heart that is right but refuse to serve Him.  Remember, He is King and deserves all our praise.

England was once ruled by a Danish king named Canute.  King Canute tired of hearing his countrymen flatter him with extravagant praises of his greatness, power and invincibility.  So he ordered his chair to be set down on the seashore, where he commanded the waves not to come in and wet him.  No matter how forcefully he ordered the tide not to come in, however, his order was not obeyed.  Soon the waves lapped around his chair.  Legend tell us that fro that time on, he never wore his crown again, but hung it on a statue of the crucified Christ.  This king understood his kingship to be a gift to Jesus.  And he understood that his gift was only acceptable if his heart was humble.  So also, it’s only when our hearts are right that our gits become acceptable to God.  No matter what gift we might give to God – if our hearts are right – then we will give God pleasure and delight.  And God will smile.