Assembling not the question...

Assembling is not the question. The purpose of the assembly is as is the benefit experienced. If everything is focused on the Father as in worship, where is the spiritual growth of the members as in edification and building up of the church?

Batsell Barrett Baxter said:

"Man grows physically in body, intellectually in mind, socially among those about him and spiritually in soul. The last of these, spiritual growth, is supremely important, and this is where the church becomes involved. Edification, one of the three major works of the church, stimulates, encourages and nurtures spiritual growth."

In the spiritual realm, for example, growth does not take place without plan and effort. It can be achieved only by conscious desire and diligent work.

Ira North said:

One of C.J. Garner's favorite expressions was, "as the Sunday School goes, so goes the congregation."

So much depends upon our knowledge of the Word of God. We are comforted by the Word of God, we are kept by the Word of God, we are led by the Word of God, and we grow by the Word of God. The congregation that goes all out for its educational program, encouraging every member to attend, and providing the proper incentive, motivation and training for its teachers will be the congregation that will look forward to healthy growth.

The Christian Chronicle recently reported The Church in America is marked by decline. Now we know to be true what has been suspected. One truth we cannot deny is, "what we are doing is not working." We apparently are not being built up nor edified nor encouraged to love and good works. My boss at Mead used to say, "Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting a different result" thus my questions in my previous note.

It seems to me, with the church declining, with the number of the people electing not to attend Bible classes, not being involved in various activities, the average age and health of our members, this would be a topic worth addressing. But maybe that is what elders can do, someday.

Status of the GSMCOC?

One of the issues in churches of Christ today is the concern of something happening during the Sunday service that separates "me" from God: examples being a piano in the room and possibly being played, other individuals raising their hands or clapping during a song, engaging in multiple "acts of worship" simultaneously, drama such as plays with male AND female actors and etc.  Apparently something separating "me" from God was not a concern of the church at Corinth nor the churches of Asia. If not for them why for us?

 

We say Sunday is a worship service. Why do we say that? In John when Jesus was talking to that woman at the well he said people would worship he did not command worship. Logical…worship cannot be commanded. The early Christians are said to have met to "break bread" commonly considered the Lord's Supper and / or to remember Jesus? Other things such a preaching and singing and praying occurred but where are they called acts of  "worship?"

 

Paul says everything done in the assembly is to be for the edification of, the building up of the church. The Hebrew writer says we meet to encourage each other to love and good works. Neither refers to worship as a reason for the assembly.

 

Questions:

 

What Biblical support is there for us to consider Sunday services are for worship?

 

What does edification and / or building up the church mean and how do we recognize it?

 

What does encouraging to love and good works mean and how do we recognize it?

 

As a congregation without elders in its foreseeable future that continues to have meetings with tempers and emotional outbreaks and a majority who intentionally decide not to attend classes and assemblies, what evidence is there that our Sunday services edify and or build up or encourage to love and good works? In other words are we spiritually where we claim to be? Are we spiritually stronger this January than we were the previous January and how do we recognize it?

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato (Doesn't Make Much  Sense When You Read It)

Cafeteria Religion

Gregory Alan Tidwell:

Reference your article: Cafeteria Religion, December 2008, Gospel Advocate.

You mention Oprah Winfrey leveraging her celebrity status.

Oprah is an example of problems we are seeing in the church today. She is an overweight billionaire but her audience believes she can relate to them, and they to her, as she tells them how to lose weight. Though an immoral, adulterer / fornicator she is idolized by Christians.

Christians have told me how reading "The Shack" changed their lives. How watching the Mel Gibson movie about the crucifixion of Christ strengthened their faith. How after reading "90 Minutes in Heaven" they do not fear death. According to research by George Barna as well as others these same people do not read the Bible.

People fall for cafeteria religion as a result of not recognizing truth.

Nice article..

Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com/
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato (Doesn't Make Much Sense When You Read It)

In the name of Jesus

In the Name of Jesus

We read in the New Testament:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

We read in John that in response to a question from Philip Jesus said to his disciples:

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)

We have presumed that to mean we must say "In the name of Jesus."

There is power in praying in the authority of Jesus Christ, by the authority He has given us according to His will.

It's like when a police officer says, "Stop in the name of the law." The police officer is saying that because he is standing in the place of the law and speaking on behalf of it. To the degree that he speaks for the law, he can enforce the law and has authority. When he steps outside of the law, he has lost his authority even though he still says, "Stop in the name of the law."

When we step outside of Jesus' will we have lost our authority though we still say, "In Jesus' name."

Praying in the name of Jesus is when we come to God not in our power, not in our righteousness. We come on the merits of Jesus, not on our merits" and God hears us for Jesus' sake

In the prayers of the Bible we never see a prayer that ends with the phrase "In Jesus' name. Amen," even though the same text teaches us to pray in Jesus' name. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to draw the conclusion that we are, first, to pray in the name of Jesus, and second, praying in the name of Jesus doesn't mean ending our prayer with the phrase "In the name of Jesus. Amen." It is never done in the New Testament.

Acting in the name of someone, in the sense that the Bible authors used it, was what the person stood for, the substance of their character, or their authority.

When we pray in the name of Jesus or baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, what we are doing is acting in their authority, in their stead, according to their command, and consistent with their desires.

When we pray in the name of Jesus it might be better for us to drop the phrase "In the name of Jesus" altogether because generally we don't mean, "I am praying in the authority of Jesus Christ." Practically speaking, it means the prayer is over. That is the Christian exit. Amen.

Dispense with the empty words. Instead, approach the throne of God based on the authority of Jesus Christ. If we are thinking that way and that is our attitude, it doesn't matter what we say at the end of the prayer. God will hear us according to His promise.

"Grace to you and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ." That would be an example of a prayer that we see often at the beginning and sometimes at the end of Epistles. Paul says, "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father", he reflects a prayer there. "I pray that the eyes of your heart might be opened that we would understand the length and breadth and depth of the love of Christ which is beyond comprehension." Paul gives a prayer.

Giving Jesus Proper Acknowledgment

It is surprising that any Christian would pray to our Father, without invoking the name of His Son, Jesus. Without Jesus we have no access to the Father.

God acknowledged Jesus as his Son, how can we do less; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." If we fail to acknowledge Jesus before men or if we deny Jesus before men, he will deny us before our Father who is in heaven.

All things have been handed over to Jesus by our Father, and no one can know Jesus, the Son, except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Real and False Prophets vs God's Will

In the Old Testament God told the people of Israel how they could identify if a prophet was a real prophet or a false prophet.

 

    And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?'— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:21-22

 

Seems kind of simplistic, if what is prophesied happens the prophet is a real prophet. If what was prophesied does not happen the prophet is a false prophet.

 

Maybe if we say, as James tells us to say "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" God's will is whatever happens. Maybe it is like prayer. God does not need for us to pray, we need to pray. God knows his will we do not. We must show ourselves we are willing to accept God's will. So whatever our attitude that is what happens. Because we all know God's ultimate will:

 

    "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16  

 

    The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

 

  

   

 

 

Man of God

Hi Ray,

 

Periodically I read articles where the author mentions there are not enough men coming out of the Christian Colleges and Universities planning to be preachers and that the result will be empty pulpits.

 

I am reading a book by Shawn Mathis entitled Man of God. It is 29 essays on the life and work of a preacher. One of the essays is by Larry Mathis, the minister at Southside Church of Christ in Dresden, Tennessee titled Expectations of the Man of God.

 

He writes:

"Men of God are expected to perform well in areas which bear little or no resemblance to the role revealed by God.

 

God's man is expected to positive and motivated. The modern preacher is expected to preach positive sermonettes which keep constituents happy, calm, and contented. God's man is expected to be a dynamic performer.

 

In some places his task is to be visionary and to dream up new ideas and then push every work to fruition.

 

A second expectation is that God's man should possess administrative skills comparable to top executives in the secular world. In some cases God's man is loaded down with administrative responsibilities which are demanding and time consuming.

 

He may have the responsibility of regulating the work of a staff. Part of his work may consist of making sure the assistant ministers, secretary, and janitor all put in a day's work for a day's wages. He is their supervisor.

 

It is not uncommon for the local minister to be responsible for organizing everything from the nursery to advertising for the annual gospel meeting. He may be expected to collect news tidbits for the church bulletin, change the marquee message, and monitor the committees in the congregation. He is often expected to be on every committee in the church, work with all the special interest groups within the congregation, and in some places he draws up the proposal for the annual budget.

 

He is also frequently expected to: counsel, perform weddings, baptisms, sit with the dying, conduct funerals, hold seminars, write for local papers, act as purchasing agent, host a radio or television program, work with the youth, visit the sick, shut-ins, hospitals and nursing homes. The preacher is expected to teach or conduct day Bible camp, oversee vacation Bible school, and be active involve din community organizations and functions. All of this is to be done while still produce highly motivational sermons every Sunday."

 

Suppose we have arrived at the time Paul told Timothy was coming?

 

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4:3, 4

 

With churches fading away and the lack of young men wanting to "fill the pulpit" the question becomes can we find the concept, in the Bible?

 

Pogo said it well … "We have found the enemy and he is us."

 

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

Pythagoras Math Team: It's Hip to B^2

Becoming Spiritual

Becoming Spiritual is a matter of growth: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:7-10.  It does not happen suddenly, miraculously or by some overwhelming change of being possessed by the Spirit or experiencing Spirit baptism. Pet wrote" But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

 

Spiritual growth is not achieved by one process, then another and another in sequence. It is achieved by an intermingling of several factors simultaneously.

 

First, to grow spiritually one must have a desire to be spiritual. Jesus said "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." John 7:17

 

One must have a strong desire to achieve a goal before he will put forth the necessary effort to do so. One must draw close to the Spirit to become spiritual. A spiritual being separated from God but constantly attached to the flesh will languish and die. A spiritual being constantly drawing near to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can receive spiritual nourishment and grow.

 

Second, a strong, deep, and obedient faith is essential to become spiritual. "… without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6 But Paul teaches that "… faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17. Abraham became spiritual because he believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. Paul became spiritual because he believed, trusted and obeyed God.

 

Third, the preacher must study the Bible extensively, systematically and thoroughly in order to become spiritual. The Bible is the source of our faith. Through revelation we know God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Study must be done in many settings, privately and personally. Christians must know God's will, memorize it, lay it up in the heart, meditate upon it and apply it in life. Ezra set the correct example. "… Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." Ezra 7:10.

 

Fourth, Christians can grow more spiritual by thinking, reflecting and meditating on spiritual things. Paul wrote: "… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8.

 

Fifth, as one must protect the physical body against disease to grow strong, one must protect his own spirit against sinful things. Christians must stress ethereal things not physical; eternal things not temporal; godly things not devilish; spiritual things not carnal or fleshly. Many Christians spend too much time in the sinful world with sinful world activities and people. They spend too little time with spiritual people and in spiritual activities. To be spiritual a Christian must read spiritual books, attend spiritual activities, and look up to spiritual people.

 

Sixth, to become spiritual Christians must communicate with God through prayer. The truly spiritual Christian will pray often, fervently and in faith. To do this effectively requires much study of prayer.

 

Paul urges us to pray that we might become spiritual. "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19

 

Spiritual people in the Bible were people who prayers. David's prayers are numerous in the book of Psalms. Nearly every one of Paul's letters reflect that he was praying for all of the members of all of the churches to whom he wrote.

 

Seventh, the fruit of the Spirit not only gives evidence of spiritual growth and development but also as practiced become sources of even greater and stronger spirituality. Paul lists this fruit in opposition to the works of the flesh. "… walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:16-25. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control. Such is the result of listening to and obeying the Spirit. However, as Christians bear fruit and exhibit it, they become more spiritual and stronger spiritually, thus being more able to overcome the flesh.   

 

Confidence vs Fear

While Christians are to have confidence it must be a realistic confidence that coincides with the Bible and not just wishful thinking. Many people have confidence that they are saved but they have intentionally not followed examples in Acts. Does their lack of fear indicate a mature love?

After Uzzah died David was angry with God and then we see that David was afraid of the Lord that day. The word afraid according to Strong's Concordance #3372 is defined as to fear, fright, or reverence. David had gone from angry to realizing his position and a bit of fear stepped in. In Psalm 111:10 the word is #3374 defined as dreadful, exceedingly, reverence.

Paul told the Romans that the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. That is correct only for those who are children of God. Is he stating what is or is he saying what would be if? Who was Paul referring to with the "our" and "we?"

Jesus said not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Do we presume all of the Roman church was doing the will of the Father?

How can a person who does not read the Bible, does not evangelize, does not study know what the will of the Father is so they can do it?

Many do not fear nor respect God. Not Christians, not non-Christians. One who believes that God exists and rewards those who serve him would surely do everything possible to learn what he expects or wants of them? Many presume God will like anything they do.

We need to be sure our lives match up so the Spirit can bear witness with our spirit that we are a child of God and then fear will be "cast out."

Reverence: a feeling or attitude of deep respect, love, awe

Awe: a mixed feeling of reverence, fear, wonder,

Enrolling widows different than enrolling single women and married women?

Would the church pay a woman to do the work in Pigeon Forge that Irma is doing in Honderas? Have we put her into a situation where when she marries she will be abandoing her faith? Otherwise what is Paul telling Timothy?

 

1 Tim. 5:9-12   
    Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, [10] and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.  [11] But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry  [12] and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 

 

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

Kinetic Energy: Pass It On.

Prayers of Paul

Ephesians 3:16-19

    that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

Ephesians 1:17-19

    that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 

 

Philippians 1:9-11

    And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

 

Colossians 1:9-12

    And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 

  

The weather and flu that we often mention in our prayers are usually of little consequence. That is not to say that weather should never be an object of prayer or that prayer for the sick is of no value but it is to say prayer should reflect the real concerns of those praying. Do we really care about it? If not, why ask God to? If we really care about it what are we doing in an attempt to help? The Christian's concern should not be for the removal of the inconveniences of life but for achieving the purposes of God.

Group Prayers at Appointed Times

In our public assemblies we routinely have prayer to "open" the service. We have it again on Sunday night on Wednesday night, and at the close of every meeting. What do we pray about? Our prayers commonly include generalities about several things and a few particulars. We may cover the same points in the closing prayer that we did in the opening prayer---and maybe even at some prayer in between. We have learned to say a certain prayer and use it for all occasions. Repetition is not within itself bad. Jesus in Gethsemane prayed the same prayer three times. It was so important to Him that he was sweating as drops of blood. But, if repetition is simply for a lack of something else to say, it becomes empty words.

 

In the New Testament, prayers were focused on the work the Christians were doing. Wouldn't it be more meaningful for ours to be? One of our songs says "work and pray." Let us pray for our workers overseas and work for them. Maybe it is not healthy for us to ask God to bless all the missionaries everywhere if we are not involved in that task---not that we never have concerns that we think ourselves unable to do anything about, but it is wrong to ask God to do the work when we are not trying. It is nice to pray for all the hungry people of the world, but it is more meaningful to be involved even in some small way of sharing with others. There was a connection between the work Jesus was doing and his prayers. In the prayer in Acts 4 there was a connection between their work and their prayer. We should follow their pattern. Having prayers in our meetings is not just to fulfill an obligation to have group or public prayer. The purpose is to come to the feet of God for help in doing His will. We do not pray just because it is time for prayer. We pray because of a felt need, and the absence of a felt need makes prayer empty words.

 

The praying done in a worship service probably represents the current spiritual level of the church. A lack of focus in prayer is likely a representation of a lack of focus in that church. Either that church has no current real concerns or the prayer leader is not a participant in these concerns. It may be urgent that the church get some focus in its activities. Then the prayer leader should know what this church is trying to do and prayer about it. None of the recorded prayers of Jesus or of the church were general, all-purpose prayers. Most of them were short---and all of them had one point.

What can we learn from the early Christians use of prayer?

What can we learn from the early Christian's use of prayer? The prayer in Acts 4 was in response to a current situation and need they felt. It brought them into God's presence and allied them with those who went before. It enabled them to find a solution to their present challenge. It was not a routine or ritual prayer. We may not be able to identify this prayer with those in our routine Sunday assemblies. Our leaders are not under court order to stop preaching. The church will not always be in crisis but shouldn't the church always have something that it is trying to do for the Lord? Are all battles over? Most of the meetings of the church recorded in Acts were action meetings. There were challenges in benevolence, challenges in doctrine, and challenges in evangelism. In Acts 4 they prayed about the action the government had taken and about their response to it. They asked God to empower them to participate in the solution. The solution was a spiritual one. It was a decision in their hearts to preach boldly, even though opposed. And they did. We know from

 

Acts 8:1

    And Saul approved of his execution.

    And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

 

that they all had to leave town because of the decision. The prayer of faith was answered though we suppose the consequences of that answer had not been foreseen.

 

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

Kinetic Energy: Pass It On.

My Yoke is Easy My Burden is Light

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) 

    Come to me, all who labor (2872) and are heavy laden (5412), and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (2218) upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly (5011) in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  [30] For my yoke (2218) is easy, and my burden is light."

 

• 2218 – to join, a coupling, servitude, (law or obligation)  
• 2872 - to feel fatigue, by impl. work hard, labor, toil, be weary
• 5011 – humiliated in circumstances or disposition, base, case down, humble or low degree
• 5412 – to load up, fig. To overburden with ceremony, or spiritual anxiety

 

 

Jesus has invited all that labor and are heavy-laden, to come unto him. In some senses all are so. Jesus invites all to come to him for rest to their souls. Whoever will, let him come. All who thus come will receive rest as Christ's gift, and obtain peace and comfort in their hearts. But in coming to him they must take his yoke, and submit to his authority. They must learn of him all things, as to their comfort and obedience. He accepts the willing servant, however imperfect the services. Here we may find rest for our souls. There is no need to fear his yoke. His commandments are holy, just, and good. It requires self-denial, and exposes to difficulties, but this is abundantly repaid, even in this world, by inward peace and joy. It is a yoke that is lined with love. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. The way of duty is the way of rest. The truths Jesus teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. Such is the Redeemer's mercy; and why should the laboring and burdened sinner seek for rest from any other quarter? Let us come to him daily, for deliverance from wrath and guilt, from sin and Satan, from all our cares, fears, and sorrows. But forced obedience is a heavy burden. We come to Jesus to find rest for your souls.

 

 

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

Kinetic Energy: Pass It On.

And He Told Them a Parable

And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'  And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."  Luke 12:16-21

 

Have we ever considered that when we work so hard for financial security we are falling into the same trap the rich man fell into?

 

And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." Luke 12:22-31 

 

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."  Matthew 7:7-8

 

Paul wrote to Timothy:

 

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  1 Timothy 2:1-4

 

Paul is telling Timothy that prayers are to be offered that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in everyway so we can be about our Father's business.

 

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 

 

Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace, in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, he who has ears, let him hear.  Matthew 13:40-43

 

Not all of the called out will be saved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Prayer of a Group in Jerusalem

When we pray individually we know our concerns but when leading a group how can one know what they are concerned about? Look at Acts 4:18-31.

 

[18] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  [19] But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."  [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.  [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

 

Peter and John, key men in the church at Jerusalem had been arrested and put into jail. The next day a hearing was held. The court ordered them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus and released them. Peter and John met with the church and reported the court order. After the report, the group prayed.

 

[23] When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God

 

They were praying out of a felt need for help from God. Their leaders had been arrested. The government was opposing them and forbidding their preaching and teaching about Jesus.

 

Their prayer begins with a recognition of the sovereignty of God. They seek the help of Him who created the Heavens and the earth. They believe in God.  Next they remember the description in Psalm 2 of the nations raging against the Lord.

 

        [24a] and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,  [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

 

    " 'Why did the Gentiles rage,

        and the peoples plot in vain?

    [26] The kings of the earth set themselves,

        and the rulers were gathered together,

            against the Lord and against his Anointed'—

 

They remember how Herod and Pilate and Israel opposed Jesus.

 

[27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 

 

Then they ask God to empower them to be bold in the face of their opposition and to continue to work through them to proclaim Jesus.

 

[29] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,  [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."  [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

 

It is interesting they did not ask God to remove the opposition. They might have been a legitimate interest as indicated by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:2

 

   ... that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.

 

Instead they asked for courage to face the opposition. They remembered who they were and who God is. Prayer should help us remember who God is and what he has done in the past. Out of this know who God is and what he has done we can find  help in our present situation. We pray believing. Recognizing who we are helps us to know what we must do. Peter and John recognize themselves as servants of god. They were joining the company of those in the past who had suffered for God. In the name of Jesus they went out and spoke the Word of God boldly.

    

Public Prayer

Hi Ray,

 

Public praying, praying in a group, produces social pressure, even when we are not praying to be seen of men. We are aware of people listening and we may experience the same nervousness as when we are giving a speech; being in the presence of people can and quite often does, replace being in the presence of God.

 

When Jesus prayed he was simply talking to/with God, His Father. He did not use phrases he did not use in ordinary conversation. As I mentioned earlier "ready recollections," "beds of affliction," "praying for those for whom we have a duty to pray," the constant reference to Father," other expressions that are never heard in any other setting and repeated requests for the forgiveness of sins are just examples of needing to fill time.

 

We learn those phrases from hearing what others in public prayer have said and we repeat those words rather than learn to talk to God from our personal needs.

 

Jesus' prayers came out of his work and concerns of the moment. No set rituals. Jesus was working for the kingdom of God and was trying to get something done. His prayers came from his need for God's help in his work, to help him bear the loads, to make good choices, to get the apostles to be a cohesive group. He was working and praying for that which he was working.

 

In the assembly prayer is led because it is time to pray. We have our main prayer that covers all points, thanksgiving praise, repentance, petition (especially for the sick or those on beds of affliction), for evangelism, missions, for the preacher, for the poor or those less fortunate that ourselves, for the church. We then have a closing prayer that many times repeats the main prayer.

 

Other than for acknowledging we are in God's presence why do we pray in our assembly? Think specifically…what are the activities our congregation is involved in or wants to be involved in that requires God's help?

 

Prayer group or groups could work as long as the individual prayers were specific, focused, limited and not repetitive, superfluous, redundant, wordy, excessive, or overabundant.

 

Intermission….

 

Regards,
John Jenkins

865-803-8179 cell

Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@yahoo.com 

Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

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