Sunday, March 2, 2014
Messages From Heaven: Eternity in Heaven Is God’s Promise to All Who Tru...
Messages From Heaven: Eternity in Heaven Is God’s Promise to All Who Tru...: Heaven is the final eternal destination for all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, many believers have unanswered and unsettling qu...
Eternity in Heaven Is God’s Promise to All Who Trust in Christ!
Heaven is the final eternal destination for all who put their faith in
Jesus Christ. Yet, many believers have unanswered and unsettling
questions about what this future home will be like, and whether they
will actually even make it there.
The writer of Proverbs 30:4 penned, “Who has ascended to heaven and come down?” The apostle John answers that question in John 3:13. “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” In any study of heaven, the focus must be kept on the One who alone opens the way there—Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
What did Jesus say about entering heaven? His message to the thief on the cross was, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Today! Not in the distant future, but this very day you will be with me in Paradise. And that promise is for all who put their faith in Christ. If you are trusting in Jesus you will be with Him in Paradise when you die.
Because of this promise, there’s no need for you to fear death. Our Savior has conquered the enemy of death. “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
The Bible doesn’t answer every question we have about heaven. But it does reveal that God is going to make a new heaven and a new earth, which will be a perfect environment in contrast to this present, broken world. The best part about heaven is that Jesus is there!
Joni Eareckson Tada, the well-known Christian author and speaker who has been confined to a wheelchair since an accident in her teens, says, “I still can hardly believe it, I with shriveled bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees and no feeling from the shoulders down will one day have a new body, light, bright and clothed in righteousness, powerful and dazzling. Can you imagine the hope that this gives someone spinal-cord-injured like me?”
You have probably experienced some of the pain and sadness that this life and your own brokenness can bring. But if you place your faith and trust in Christ, then your sins are forgiven, and you too are given this incredible gift of perfect, eternal life.
So whether Christ returns first or you die first, your final destination is the same: heaven is your eternal home. May this truth grip your soul and warm your heart. Rejoice knowing that soon, and very soon, you shall be forever with the Lord.
The writer of Proverbs 30:4 penned, “Who has ascended to heaven and come down?” The apostle John answers that question in John 3:13. “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” In any study of heaven, the focus must be kept on the One who alone opens the way there—Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
What did Jesus say about entering heaven? His message to the thief on the cross was, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Today! Not in the distant future, but this very day you will be with me in Paradise. And that promise is for all who put their faith in Christ. If you are trusting in Jesus you will be with Him in Paradise when you die.
Because of this promise, there’s no need for you to fear death. Our Savior has conquered the enemy of death. “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
The Bible doesn’t answer every question we have about heaven. But it does reveal that God is going to make a new heaven and a new earth, which will be a perfect environment in contrast to this present, broken world. The best part about heaven is that Jesus is there!
Joni Eareckson Tada, the well-known Christian author and speaker who has been confined to a wheelchair since an accident in her teens, says, “I still can hardly believe it, I with shriveled bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees and no feeling from the shoulders down will one day have a new body, light, bright and clothed in righteousness, powerful and dazzling. Can you imagine the hope that this gives someone spinal-cord-injured like me?”
You have probably experienced some of the pain and sadness that this life and your own brokenness can bring. But if you place your faith and trust in Christ, then your sins are forgiven, and you too are given this incredible gift of perfect, eternal life.
So whether Christ returns first or you die first, your final destination is the same: heaven is your eternal home. May this truth grip your soul and warm your heart. Rejoice knowing that soon, and very soon, you shall be forever with the Lord.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Messages From Heaven: Dealing with Problem People!
Messages From Heaven: Dealing with Problem People!: Let me give you a simple but profound statement about the church: The church is the only society in the world in which membership is based ...
Dealing with Problem People!
Let me give you a simple but profound statement about the church: The
church is the only society in the world in which membership is based on
a single qualification — the candidate must be unworthy of membership.
Therefore, every local church is an assembly of sinners who have been
saved by God's redeeming grace, and you and I are among them.
It should come as no surprise that there are problem people in every church. In fact, if you assess yourself biblically, you'll have to agree that every Christian is a potential problem — it's a difference of maturity and obedience. But there are some in the church who are perpetually difficult. And others go through periods of growth or testing, during which they can become hard to deal with. In either case, you and I are called to serve them as we work out our commitment to love one another. So it's not a question of whether to serve, it's a question of how.
The apostle Paul helps us by identifying the problem groups we will all encounter in the church. See whether you find yourself, or others you know, in one of these groups: "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
That verse gives three main categories of problem people, and if your church is going to grow, you must embrace ministry to individuals from each group. Going to church is not just showing up on Sunday morning. The Lord wants you to understand those people, and He wants you to use the gifts He gave you to serve them. When you do, you'll be blessed to see how God uses you to help them change. And it will be your greatest joy to see them mature enough to help others.
The Wayward
Group number one is "the unruly." Let's call them the wayward. They're never in step. "Get with the program" is a slogan that suits them. When everyone else is moving ahead, they're going backward. Out of either apathy or rebellion, they've gone spiritually AWOL, and they're not interested in learning or serving.
How do you deal with the wayward? You admonish them. The Greek term means "to put sense into someone in light of the consequences." If you see believers who aren't doing their duty — not using their gifts, not being supportive of the team effort — come alongside them and put some sense into their heads. It's to be a gentle, loving warning, yet also have some passion in it. You should be motivated by a compassion that says, "I don't want you to keep going in that direction because God will chasten apathy and rebellion."
When you truly love someone, you don't hesitate to warn — you want that person to avoid the negative consequences, which are inevitable, and to enjoy the blessing of spiritual involvement. So confrontation is necessary. When you come to church, don't sit idly by while others struggle spiritually. Be involved in other believers' lives — especially the troublesome ones. They need you.
The Worried
The second group is "the fainthearted," a term that means "small souled." They are the worriers. Challenges threaten or frighten them. They hate change, love tradition, and avoid risk like the plague. All the issues of life seem far more than they can bear. They're usually sad, perpetually worried, sometimes in despair, and often discouraged. Consequently, they experience none of the thrill that adventure brings.
To deal with the worried, Paul said simply, "Encourage them." The idea is to come side-by-side and comfort them. If you know someone like that — fearful, worried, melancholy, or despairing — the Lord wants you to come alongside and develop a friendly relationship with that person. If you tend to be that way yourself, develop friendships with godly people who will console, comfort, strengthen, reassure, cheer, refresh, and soothe you from God's Word.
What kinds of encouragement bring the most relief? Here's a short list:
- The encouragement of prayer to the God of all encouragement
- The encouragement of a secure salvation
- The encouragement of our sovereign God working out everything for the believer's good
- The encouragement of the love of Christ
- The encouragement of the final resurrection and the righting of all wrongs
All that and more will help the worried to abandon sinful anxiety, embrace Christian joy, and participate in the adventure of the Christian life.
The Weak
Paul calls the last group "the weak." They are the "weaker brethren" of Romans 14-15 and 1 Corinthians 8. Often these people come to Christ out of a particularly sinful lifestyle — they can be so hypersensitive to sin that they see things as sinful that aren't really sinful at all. A stronger Christian should never condemn a weaker brother for his over-scrupulous attitudes, but should rather restrict his liberties so he doesn't become a source of stumbling (Romans 14:13) — never teach him that it's okay to violate his conscience (Romans 14:23). If you are the stronger brother, be patient with and kind toward your weaker brother. Teach him so his conscience will be better informed, and help him to become a strong, vital, and productive member of the Body. There are others in the "weak" category who tend to fall into the same sins over and over. They are spiritually and morally weak because they haven't developed habits of self-discipline. They embarrass themselves, their church, and their Lord. And thus they require a lot of attention.
How do you help them? Paul's word for "help" means "hold tightly to," or "support." Here's what that looks like in action: "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2). You help the weak by picking them up and then holding them up.
At the end of 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul sets the tone for our ministry to the problem people: "Be patient with everyone." Don't hurry them; don't be harsh with them; and don't drive them. Gently and tenderly lead them along. Watch your own behavior and leave the results to God.
Ministry to the problem people requires intimacy in fellowship. The church grows when the sheep help take care of the sheep — you must care enough to admonish the wayward, encourage the worried, and help the weak. That kind of ministry necessitates your involvement in other people's lives. When you commit yourself to that involvement, you'll avoid being numbered among the problem people; instead, you'll be part of the solution.
It should come as no surprise that there are problem people in every church. In fact, if you assess yourself biblically, you'll have to agree that every Christian is a potential problem — it's a difference of maturity and obedience. But there are some in the church who are perpetually difficult. And others go through periods of growth or testing, during which they can become hard to deal with. In either case, you and I are called to serve them as we work out our commitment to love one another. So it's not a question of whether to serve, it's a question of how.
The apostle Paul helps us by identifying the problem groups we will all encounter in the church. See whether you find yourself, or others you know, in one of these groups: "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
That verse gives three main categories of problem people, and if your church is going to grow, you must embrace ministry to individuals from each group. Going to church is not just showing up on Sunday morning. The Lord wants you to understand those people, and He wants you to use the gifts He gave you to serve them. When you do, you'll be blessed to see how God uses you to help them change. And it will be your greatest joy to see them mature enough to help others.
The Wayward
Group number one is "the unruly." Let's call them the wayward. They're never in step. "Get with the program" is a slogan that suits them. When everyone else is moving ahead, they're going backward. Out of either apathy or rebellion, they've gone spiritually AWOL, and they're not interested in learning or serving.
How do you deal with the wayward? You admonish them. The Greek term means "to put sense into someone in light of the consequences." If you see believers who aren't doing their duty — not using their gifts, not being supportive of the team effort — come alongside them and put some sense into their heads. It's to be a gentle, loving warning, yet also have some passion in it. You should be motivated by a compassion that says, "I don't want you to keep going in that direction because God will chasten apathy and rebellion."
When you truly love someone, you don't hesitate to warn — you want that person to avoid the negative consequences, which are inevitable, and to enjoy the blessing of spiritual involvement. So confrontation is necessary. When you come to church, don't sit idly by while others struggle spiritually. Be involved in other believers' lives — especially the troublesome ones. They need you.
The Worried
The second group is "the fainthearted," a term that means "small souled." They are the worriers. Challenges threaten or frighten them. They hate change, love tradition, and avoid risk like the plague. All the issues of life seem far more than they can bear. They're usually sad, perpetually worried, sometimes in despair, and often discouraged. Consequently, they experience none of the thrill that adventure brings.
To deal with the worried, Paul said simply, "Encourage them." The idea is to come side-by-side and comfort them. If you know someone like that — fearful, worried, melancholy, or despairing — the Lord wants you to come alongside and develop a friendly relationship with that person. If you tend to be that way yourself, develop friendships with godly people who will console, comfort, strengthen, reassure, cheer, refresh, and soothe you from God's Word.
What kinds of encouragement bring the most relief? Here's a short list:
- The encouragement of prayer to the God of all encouragement
- The encouragement of a secure salvation
- The encouragement of our sovereign God working out everything for the believer's good
- The encouragement of the love of Christ
- The encouragement of the final resurrection and the righting of all wrongs
All that and more will help the worried to abandon sinful anxiety, embrace Christian joy, and participate in the adventure of the Christian life.
The Weak
Paul calls the last group "the weak." They are the "weaker brethren" of Romans 14-15 and 1 Corinthians 8. Often these people come to Christ out of a particularly sinful lifestyle — they can be so hypersensitive to sin that they see things as sinful that aren't really sinful at all. A stronger Christian should never condemn a weaker brother for his over-scrupulous attitudes, but should rather restrict his liberties so he doesn't become a source of stumbling (Romans 14:13) — never teach him that it's okay to violate his conscience (Romans 14:23). If you are the stronger brother, be patient with and kind toward your weaker brother. Teach him so his conscience will be better informed, and help him to become a strong, vital, and productive member of the Body. There are others in the "weak" category who tend to fall into the same sins over and over. They are spiritually and morally weak because they haven't developed habits of self-discipline. They embarrass themselves, their church, and their Lord. And thus they require a lot of attention.
How do you help them? Paul's word for "help" means "hold tightly to," or "support." Here's what that looks like in action: "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2). You help the weak by picking them up and then holding them up.
At the end of 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul sets the tone for our ministry to the problem people: "Be patient with everyone." Don't hurry them; don't be harsh with them; and don't drive them. Gently and tenderly lead them along. Watch your own behavior and leave the results to God.
Ministry to the problem people requires intimacy in fellowship. The church grows when the sheep help take care of the sheep — you must care enough to admonish the wayward, encourage the worried, and help the weak. That kind of ministry necessitates your involvement in other people's lives. When you commit yourself to that involvement, you'll avoid being numbered among the problem people; instead, you'll be part of the solution.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Messages From Heaven: The Best Way to Fight Temptation!
Messages From Heaven: The Best Way to Fight Temptation!: Temptation. There is no escaping it. But know this: it can help you to deepen and grow spiritually, causing you to cling that much tighter ...
The Best Way to Fight Temptation!
Temptation. There is no escaping it. But know this: it can help you
to deepen and grow spiritually, causing you to cling that much tighter
to the Lord Himself.
It’s been said, “Christians are a lot like teabags. You don’t know what they are made of until you put them in hot water.” Perhaps you’re in the “hot water” of temptation right now. God has given you a weapon to use, and it’s called the Bible.
When Jesus faced His temptation in the wilderness, He gave us an example to follow, a template to apply. Being God, He could have sent Satan away or even removed Himself from the place where the enemy was. Instead, He faced Satan as a man and stood on ground that we too can occupy.
Each time Jesus was tempted, He quoted the Scripture. We read in Luke 4:12, “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It is written, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”’” You need to know and quote Scripture when you are tempted. The psalmist wrote, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” and “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (Psalm 119:9, 11 nkjv).
It’s good to carry a Bible in your briefcase, backpack, or purse. But the best place to carry the Word of God is in your heart! Why? Because Satan can quote Scripture to you too! Satan entices you, trips you up, and then tells you “God will not forgive you!” We pull out the Sword and reply, “It is written, ‘If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us . . .’ ” (1 John 1:9 nkjv).
Satan whispers in your ear, “You’ve sinned, and now God condemns you!” We can come back with, “It is written, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ . . .’ ” (Romans 8:1 nkjv). The devil tells us, “You’re not going to make it. I’ll get you. You’ll fall again!” You reply, “It is written, ‘And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand’ ” (John 10:28 kjv).You can also say, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 nkjv).
Perhaps when tragedy hits, the enemy will say, “Your life is over, and ruined. God has abandoned you.” You come back with God’s Word! It is written, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 nlt).
When a loved one dies, the enemy says, “That’s it. They are gone. Death is the end!” You reply, “It is written that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord” (see 2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25 nkjv).
I encourage you to memorize and use the Word of God when being tempted. It will make all the difference.
It’s been said, “Christians are a lot like teabags. You don’t know what they are made of until you put them in hot water.” Perhaps you’re in the “hot water” of temptation right now. God has given you a weapon to use, and it’s called the Bible.
When Jesus faced His temptation in the wilderness, He gave us an example to follow, a template to apply. Being God, He could have sent Satan away or even removed Himself from the place where the enemy was. Instead, He faced Satan as a man and stood on ground that we too can occupy.
Each time Jesus was tempted, He quoted the Scripture. We read in Luke 4:12, “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It is written, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”’” You need to know and quote Scripture when you are tempted. The psalmist wrote, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” and “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (Psalm 119:9, 11 nkjv).
It’s good to carry a Bible in your briefcase, backpack, or purse. But the best place to carry the Word of God is in your heart! Why? Because Satan can quote Scripture to you too! Satan entices you, trips you up, and then tells you “God will not forgive you!” We pull out the Sword and reply, “It is written, ‘If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us . . .’ ” (1 John 1:9 nkjv).
Satan whispers in your ear, “You’ve sinned, and now God condemns you!” We can come back with, “It is written, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ . . .’ ” (Romans 8:1 nkjv). The devil tells us, “You’re not going to make it. I’ll get you. You’ll fall again!” You reply, “It is written, ‘And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand’ ” (John 10:28 kjv).You can also say, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 nkjv).
Perhaps when tragedy hits, the enemy will say, “Your life is over, and ruined. God has abandoned you.” You come back with God’s Word! It is written, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 nlt).
When a loved one dies, the enemy says, “That’s it. They are gone. Death is the end!” You reply, “It is written that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord” (see 2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25 nkjv).
I encourage you to memorize and use the Word of God when being tempted. It will make all the difference.
Messages From Heaven: When Does Temptation Come?
Messages From Heaven: When Does Temptation Come?: Have you ever been minding your own business, when wham! you are hit with a heavy-duty temptation. It might be an evil thought, a lustful o...
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