MAKING THE MOST OF THE LORD'S DAY

1.      Check your motivation.  There are right and wrong reasons for going to church.  Guard against the spirit that would view church attendance with a sense of mere obligation or duty.  You were Spirit-led with love for Jesus to first enjoin yourself to the fellowship of believers.  Be motivated in attending church by that same Spirit-empowered love for Jesus, His truth, and His people (Cf. John 14:23; Psalm 119:140; John 13:34-35; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 2:4-5).

2.      Set apart Sunday as “The Lord’s Day” (Cf. Revelation 1:10).  According to statistics church attendance is declining to an all-time low in our country.  It is the “habit of some” to forsake assembling together with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).  They and the church both suffer harm as a result and the testimony and ministry of the church is diminished.  Christ loves His church and He bids us to do the same (Cf. Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25).

3.      Anticipate Sunday worship with the saints and encourage others to do the same (Cf. Psalm 122:1).  We anticipate the prospect of attending various kinds of special events (sporting events, concert, etc.)—in our excitement we might even count down the preceding days and tell and invite our friends—let’s anticipate church with an even greater degree of anticipation.

4.      Be mindful of Satan’s attempts to distract or detour you from Sunday worship (Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:3).  The endeavor to do God’s will and work in our lives is always met with spiritual opposition.  That’s true whether we determine to pray, study to obey God’s Word, or go to church.  It’s easy to generate countless reasons and excuses for dismissing these spiritual disciplines.  See church not as an obligation to fulfill but a privilege to delight in and be excited about.

5.      Pray for the Sunday gathering of the saints (Cf. Ephesians 6:18-19).  The Spirit of God must be the “worship leader” if our worship is to be pleasing to God (Cf. Philippians 3:3).  Pray for yourself and others—that we might be Spirit-led to behold the glory of Christ and hear and respond to His truth (Cf. John 16:14).

6.      Get a good night’s sleep the night before.  We instinctively know that to be at our best we must get adequate rest.  A last Saturday night will likely translate into a drowsy and inattentive Sunday. 

7.      Arrive at church early.  Most wouldn’t think of showing up late for work, yet church frequently doesn’t rate the same degree of punctuality.  An attitude of anticipation will work to overcome reasons for delay.

8.      Go to church, not with the intent to be served, but to worship God and serve others (Cf. Philippians 2:3-4, 21).  In our self-worshipping culture it is easy to think of church in a similar way—to go to church to be served by others.  But Christ has called us a different and better way of life.  He is our example.  To have the mind of Christ is to put the needs of others ahead of one’s own.  “He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35).”

9.      Don’t let minor offenses, etc. get in the way (Cf. Ephesians 4:32; 4:27).  You’ve no doubt heard that little ditty, “To dwell above with saints we love, Oh that will be glory; to dwell below with saints we know, well that’s another story.”  The fact is that the Spirit has put us into the body with other blood-bought (1 Corinthians 8:11b), Spirit-indwelt brothers and sisters.  Learning how to forgive others is an important aspect of growing in Christ.  Sometimes people avoid fellowship because they have refused to forgive.  Don’t let the Devil use your own bitterness to lead you away from fellowship.  You are going to be with the saints above for a long time—it’s best to learn to love them here below.

10.  Actively look for ways to encourage and serve others (Cf. Hebrews 10:24-25).  “Out in the highways and byways of life many are weary and sad.”  That’s true not only outside but in the pews.  How precious is a word of encouragement or demonstration of concern to someone who is struggling!  Proverbs 15:23, “How delightful is a timely word!”  Pray for and look for ways to encourage. 

11.  Make it a point to greet/welcome visitors and new attenders.  I remember visiting a church, years ago, where I was never greeted—indeed my presence amongst them was never even acknowledged.  By way of contrast I once attended a church in Uganda where seemingly every member greeted and hugged me and my fellow visitors.  Determine to “pay special attention” to every visitor no matter their status or attire (Cf. James 2:2-3).

12.  Engage yourself in the corporate prayers (Cf. Acts 4:24).  Don’t go to church as a spectator, but as a participant.  The early church “lifted their voices to God with one accord” in prayer when confronted with an urgent need.  Enjoin yourself “in the Spirit” in times of corporate prayer (Ephesians 6:18).

13.  Engage your mind, will, and emotions in the singing.  Sing with enthusiasm (Cf. Colossians 3:16).  In our entertainment crazed culture it is not surprising that some think that the purpose of music in the church is to entertain.  But music in the church is for worship.  To be pleasing to God it must be “in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24).  Worship in singing is the result when we are Spirit-filled and richly indwelt by God’s truth (Cf. Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16).  The most enthusiastic singing I’ve experienced has been in settings where there were no song books, no sound systems, and only a drum for accompaniment.   Sing songs of praise to Jesus as if you mean it.  God is far more concerned with what comes flows from our hearts though our lips than what comes out of the sound system.

14.  Listen to the sermon with the intent to obey (Cf. James 1:22; Revelation 1:3; Psalm 1).  God’s word repeatedly promises to bless those who listen to it and then obey what it teaches.  It is not enough to merely hear it taught (Cf. Matthew 7:24-27).  J. I. Packer, “Congregations never honor God more than by reverently listening to His Word with a full purpose of praising and obeying Him once they see what He has done and is doing, and what they are called to do.” 

15.  Examine everything carefully, but not with a critical spirit (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Acts 17:11; James 2:13).  Any good Bible teacher deems it a good thing when his teaching is met with Spirit-led discernment.  Subservient to the authority of the Word his goal is not adherence of his audience to him, but to the Word.  Take care to listen measuring what you hear against the standard of God’s inspired Word (Cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).  Our guide must always be “What does the Word of God say” when it comes to matters of faith and practice.  That being said, be careful to guard against a “critical spirit” which would call into question the motivation and every detail of those who serve in the body of Christ. 

16.  Consider taking notes (Cf. Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15).  It is good practice to listen to a sermon with a Bible open and a notepad in hand.  Look up referenced verses so that you gain familiarity with your Bible.  Write down important points or verse references that you want to refer to later.  We once had visitors from California who attended our church.  They had taught their two children (ages 10-12) to listen carefully to the sermon and take notes.  At the end of the service they showed me what they had written.  They both had drawn pictures which illustrated the main point of the sermon along with relevant verses that spoke to their hearts.  It can help in listening to write things down.

17.  Endeavor to take home at least one truth from Scripture that God can use to change you (Cf. Psalm 119:18; 139:23-24; Hebrews 4:12).  God’s Word is living and active and able to penetrate deep into our hearts.  The Spirit of God applies the Word of God to our hearts that He might transform us into the very image of Christ.  The process is step-by-step and the Spirit is well equipped to speak to us in our particular point of need.  Be responsive to the truth in a spirit of humility (Cf. Isaiah 66:2b).

18.   Find ways to teach and admonish others in the truths that you learn.  Truth is imparted to be passed on (Ezra 7:10; 2 Timothy 2:2).  Growth to maturity in Christ is a corporate affair.  It is as we are “speaking the truth in love” that we “grow up in all aspects into Him” (Ephesians 4:15).  Being richly indwelt with the Word we are to “with all wisdom (be) teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16).  The gathers for edification and scatters for evangelism.  We gather that we might be prepared to scatter, taking the truth with us.  Throughout the week we will likely have countless opportunities to “speak the truth in love” (and especially the gospel) with others.  View Sunday as the opportunity to be instructed and encouraged that you might prove yourself to be a blessing to someone else in your coming week.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Independence Day reminds us of the beginnings of our great country and the high price that was paid to win our freedom.  Divine providence led a group of men to deliberate and declare their freedom.  They signed their names to a document knowing full well the cost that would be borne.  Freedom was costly then and remains so in our day.  Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”  Sadly, in our day, the freedom envisioned by our founders and won by the blood of patriots is waning.  The great light of freedom that has been a beacon to the world does not burn so brightly anymore.

Nations come and go.  Political freedom is relative.  Many in the world today have no freedom to worship as they please or express their own ideas.  What we take for granted, others only dream of.  But political freedom is earth bound and transitory.  It prospers or vanishes at the hands of those who wield power and yearn for more.

Jesus spoke of a greater freedom that He alone can provide—freedom from the penalty and power of sin.  That freedom was won for believers at a higher cost—the precious blood of the only begotten.  The true Independence Day took place two millennia ago on a hill and a cross.  Jesus uttered his own Declaration of Independence on that day when He cried “It is finished!”  In dying once-for-all for sin Jesus has done all that is necessary so that a sinner can be set free from sin.  He alone has the power to transform a rebel sinner into a worshipper of God.

True freedom is not the freedom to do whatever we want, but the freedom to do what we ought to do—what we were created to do.  It is for this freedom that Jesus came and died.  It is to this freedom that He saves.  To be free indeed is to be unleashed from the dominion of sin and set free to worship Him who alone is worthy of all praise and adoration. 

Thank God for those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom, but ever more so should eternal thanksgivings be made for the Lord Jesus and His willing sacrifice on the cross.  His cause of independence will never wane or falter and cannot be thwarted by earthly powers or the spiritual forces of darkness.

Pastor Jerry

A TIME TO PRAY

Acts 4:23-24, “And when they had been released, they went to their own companions, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to heaven with one accord…”

Confronted by opposition and threats Peter and John returned to their companions, their fellow believers, and they all joined together in prayer.  With one accord they acknowledged God to be the creator of all things (Acts 4:24) and sovereign ruler over all (4:25-28).  They prayed that God would grant them confidence in their great commission ministry (4:29-30).  God answered by shaking the ground beneath their feet and by granting them strength to speak the word of God with boldness (4:31).

If there were ever a time in the history of America for believers in Christ to devote themselves to prayer it is now.  The church in America is entering into a period of unprecedented opposition.  The Bible is pervasively disdained in public discourse.  Those who hold to its truths are mocked.  New laws and policies are adopted to eradicate the mention of God (the God of the Bible) from public settings and institutions. 

The church has been given a task that rises above all others in importance–to preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23).  But the task and the message are too often set aside in the pursuit of lesser concerns.  The gospel itself is frequently misrepresented.  Many shrink back from declaring its essential elements amidst the concern for ‘political correctness.’  The church has long held to a Laodecean approach to ministry that overvalues its own ability and assets.  Too often neglected is the warning of our Lord Jesus: “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Peter and John and the members of the early church were Spirit-led to a correct response to the challenges of their day.  They prayed.  They asked God to do that which they couldn’t do for themselves.  They needed boldness and confidence in proclaiming the gospel--a Spirit-borne confidence that God alone could provide (Acts 1:8).  They asked God for it.  He readily provided it for them.

Prayer isthe activity of worship and it has various aspects (the ACTS model for example speaks of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and prayer).  But boiled down to its essence prayer is talking to God about our needs and praising and thanking Him in His response.  As believers we are exhorted to come before the throne of grace (bringing our needs before Him), “that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  If our eyes were opened to see who is coming before the throne of grace what might we see?  Would we see the throne devoid of petitioners?  Would we see the larger proportion of our brethren coming from places that are more sensitive to their ongoing dependence upon God?  The persecuted believers from around the world.  Those living in great poverty.

Is it possible that our prosperity (as American Christians) have blinded us to our need?  The rising opposition to the truths we hold dear is a cause of concern to us, but what is our response?  To think that we can respond to these matters in a God-honoring way according to our own strength and wisdom is a tragic mistake.  What is needed is a Spirit-borne compassion for souls, A Spirit-enabled understanding of truth, and a Spirit-empowered boldness is proclaiming the gospel.  No amount of human wisdom or ability can substitute for that which the Spirit of God can provide.  He is able to empower us to do things that we could never do on our own.  The Apostle Paul himself recognized his need and asked for prayer on his behalf (Ephesians 6:19).

Given these realities—the urgent need of our day and the present anemic condition of the church—you would think that God’s people would humble themselves before God and cry out to Him for help, but that is not the spirit of our day.  Prayer meetings have long since been abandoned or are left unattended.  Those left praying are oftentimes more concerned with Aunt Bertha’s big toe than the need for boldness in fulfilling the gospel mandate (Lest I’m misunderstood I’ve got nothing against Aunt Bertha and I think it is perfectly acceptable to pray for her sore toe, it’s just that far too often our prayers are earth-bound when they need to ascend to a higher plane of concern; Cf. James 4:2-3).

Years ago Leonard Ravenhill wrote of the need for God’s people to pray: “The Cinderella of the church today is the prayer meeting.  This handmaid of the Lord is unloved and un-wooed because she is not dripping with the pearls of intellectualism, nor glamorous with the silks of philosophy; neither is she enchanting with the tiara of psychology.  She wears the homespuns of sincerity and humility and so is not afraid to kneel….Poverty stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer.  We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers; few pray-ers; may singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters.  Failing here, we fail everywhere.”  One wonders what he would think of the current state of affairs.

Our own church has had its challenges in this regard.  We have regular times of prayer and have a prayer list that transcends mere earthly concerns, but to get to the point of the Acts 4 example of one accord praying for boldness in fulfilling the gospel mandate—we’ve got plenty of room to grown.  I’m encouraged though by some recent developments.  Years ago when I first came as pastor our Bible Study/Prayer meeting generally consisted of the two elders and their wives and my wife and myself.  Week after week went by when that was all who were in attendance.  We would pray for the various needs put before us—and that was that.  Over time the Bible study/Prayer meeting would vacillate in its emphasis in either Bible study or prayer, but was never particularly well attended.  It’s grown, however, in recent weeks and my repeated assertion that--“If there was ever a time for Christians in America to pray it is now”—required that we work to facilitate that.

After my return from my recent trip to Uganda I spent a couple of weeks in our Bible study focusing on the need for us to pray.  On one such occasion the Bible study took up so much of our time that it left little time to do so.  We have a dear 94 year old brother who attends.  He challenged me that we were not devoting sufficient time to pray.  “You call that a prayer meeting” he said, and gave some examples by way of his own experience of how it was in days gone by when God’s people were more attentive to such things.  He later asked for my forgiveness for confronting me in the matter, but I was glad that he did.  We changed the way that we do things.  Prayer comes first now in our Bible study.  We have 15-20.  We have a prayer list but are not bound by it.  We pray for the health of the church, for boldness in our witness, for the leaders of our country, for the health of our marriages and families, for our children and teens—and yes, for our physical needs also.  It brings joy to my heart as I witness God’s people making their way to the throne of grace with their requests. 

Given the current spiritual decline of our country, the growing opposition to the cause of Christ, and the anemic state of the church--it is high time for the church to humble itself before God in prayer.  Casting aside all ill-conceived notions of self-sufficiency, in confession of sin, and with Spirit-borne faith in God, let us gather ourselves before the throne of grace.  Like our early church brethren let us cry out to our Sovereign that He might strengthen us with heavenly resolve and power that opposition to the cross might be met with divinely powerful resources.  The God who shook the earth and emboldened our brothers is able to do the same in this needy day.  Now more than ever it is a time for the church to pray.

Pastor Jerry

CRUCIFIXION IN THE FIRST CENTURY

Early Christian artists refrained from drawing scenes of Christ’s crucifixion until the early sixth centuries AD (about 200 years after crucifixion was legally abolished by the emperor Constantine). And while the literary sources indicate that tens of thousands of people were crucified in the Roman Empire, it was not until 1968 that a single victim of this horrifying method of execution had been discovered archaeologically. This discovery in some Jewish tombs in Jerusalem has significantly advanced our understanding of crucifixion and gives us a fuller appreciation of the suffering of our Lord.

NOT A NEW METHOD

Many people assume that crucifixion was a Roman invention. In fact, the Assyrians, Phoenicians and Persians all practiced crucifixion during the first millennium BC.

Crucifixion later became popular among the Greeks. After Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, crucifixion was employed by the Seleucids (who governed Syria) and the Ptolemies (who governed Egypt).

The traditional method of execution among Jews was stoning (cf. Deut. 21:22-23). Yet certain Jewish tyrants occasionally used crucifixion during the Hasmonean period. According to Josephus, Alexander Jannaeus crucified 800 Jews on a single day.

The Romans adopted crucifixion as the official punishment for non-Romans. Initially, it was a method of punishing slaves. Since its main purpose was to punish, humiliate and frighten disobedient slaves, the victims were usually removed from the cross before death occurred.

Later crucifixion was used by the Romans to execute rebels. During the revolt of Spartacus in 71 BC. the Roman army lined the road from Capua to Rome with 6,000 crucified rebels on 6,000 crosses. During Titus’s siege of Jerusalem in AD 70, Roman troops crucified as many as 500 Jews a day for several months.

THE AUTHORITY FOR EXECUTION

Outside of Italy, only the Roman procurators possessed the authority to impose the death penalty. Thus when a local provincial court prescribed the death penalty, the sentence of the Roman procurator had to be obtained in order to carry out the sentence.

THE PROCEDURE

During peacetime, crucifixions were carried out according to certain rules by special persons authorized by the Roman courts. They were to take place at specific locations, usually outside the city walls (i.e. Golgotha).

Once a defendant was found guilty and condemned to be crucified, the execution was supervised by a Roman official known as the Carnifix Serarum.

1.      Taken from the tribunal hall, the victim was taken outside, stripped, bound to a column and scourged. The scourging was done with either a stick or a flagellum, a Roman instrument with a short handle to which several thick thongs were attached. On the ends of the leather thongs were lead or bone tips. The number of strokes imposed was not fixed, but care was taken not to kill the victim.

2.      Following the beating, the horizontal crossbeam of the cross was placed upon the condemned man’s shoulders. This he carried to the execution site, usually outside the city walls.

3.      A soldier at the head of the procession carried the titulus, an inscription written on wood, which stated the defendant’s name and the crime for which he had been condemned. Later this titulus was attached to the victim’s cross.

4.      When the procession arrived at the execution site, a vertical stake was fixed into the ground. The victim was then placed on the cross either by ropes or with nails.

5.      If ropes were used, the victim, who was already bound to the crossbeam, would simply be hoisted to the vertical beam and his feet would be bound with a few lashes of rope. If nails were used, the victim would be laid on the ground with his shoulders on the crossbeam. His arms were held out nailed to the cross. The victim’s feet were then nailed down against the vertical stake.

THE CROSS

Without any body support, the victim would die from muscular spasms and asphyxiation in a period of two to three hours. In order to prolong the agony, the Romans devised two instruments which would extend the ordeal of the victim.

1.      A small seat (sedile) was attached to the front of the cross. This device provided support for the victim’s body and explains the phrase used by the Romans, “to sit on the cross.” To increase the victim’s suffering, the seat was pointed, thus inflicting great pain as body weight rested upon it.

2.      A second device was a foot support (suppedaneum). With the use of this support, victims could be kept alive on the cross for several days. Josephus refers to three crucified Jews who survived on crosses for three days.

3.      Normally the Romans left the crucified person undisturbed to die slowly of physical exhaustion, thirst, and asphyxiation. However, Jewish law required burial on the day of execution (Deut. 21:22-23). Therefore, in Palestine the executioner would break the legs of the crucified person in order to hasten his death and thus permit burial before nightfall. This practiced is mentioned in the Gospels (John 19:33).

SOURCE

1.   Edwards, William D., etc., “On the Physical Death of Jesus,” Journal of the American Medical Association (March 21, 1986): 1455-1463.

2.   Fitzmyer, Joseph A. “Crucifixion in Ancient Palestine, Qumran Literature, and the New Testament” in To Advance the Gospel (New York: Crossroad, 1981): 125-146.

3.  Vassilios Tzaferis, “Crucifixion: The Archaeological Evidence,” Biblical Archaeoloqy Review (January-February, 1095): 44-53.

 

GALATIANS 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."

BROAD WAY LIVING

Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Matthew 7:13, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.  For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

You can believe what you want and behave as you like on the broad way, the problem lies with its destination.  It is a well-traveled path.  The sons and daughters of Adam have a natural affinity for it (Romans 5:12; Colossians 1:21).  They are drawn to it.  That path is well-worn—the footsteps of countless generations have left their mark and the path is easy to follow.

The world, the flesh, and the Devil are glad to direct souls along that way (Ephesians 2:1-3).  Imagine it to be as a great multi-land freeway crammed with travelers.  Rush hour traffic is the rule.  People speed along the path, passing others at every opportunity, rushing “helter-skelter to destruction with their fingers in their ears.”  The Devil, the great deceiver, serves as tour guide, and keeps broad way travelers blinded to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4).  The world, in its anti-God sentiment, entices weary travelers and keeps them hemmed in (1 John 2:15-16).  Most heroes and public figures (entertainers, politicians, many educators) of our day are proponents of the broad way--they tout its benefits as to fortune, fame, and fun.  All beliefs and behaviors are accepted on the broad path—anything and everything is tolerated except serious talk of Jesus and His cross.   People encourage each other along the way.  No one stops to ask where the path is headed.  It seems “right to a man” and that enough for them (Proverbs 16:25).

It is a hopeless and unhappy pathway (Ephesians 2:12), but no one seems to notice or care.  Broad way travelers are given to humanistic pride, selfishness, violence, greed and all kinds of sinful maladies (Romans 1:28-31; 2 Timothy 3:2-5).  Though enslaved in sin (John 8:34), they trumpet their supposed freedom to do as they please.  The strong bonds of sin’s enslavement constrain them to the path.  Everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

Billboards line the path with messages like: “There is no god (Psalm 14:1),” “What is truth (John 18:38)?”; and “If it feels good, do it.”  The unhappy travelers along the way give “hearty approval” to those who practice broad way living (Romans 1:32).  “Fools who march to win the right to justify their sin” defy their creator (Romans 1:18-27).  And everyone agrees that with so many following the path it surely must be the right way to go.

That destruction lies at the end of the path is without question. One by one broad way travelers fall untethered into an unfathomable abyss.  Their pain of their sin-burdened, short-lived lives pales in comparison to the agony of the Christ-less eternity that awaits each and every one (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Luke 16:24).  Though millions have gone that way, still “death and destruction are never satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20).

Most travel that path.  But there is another.  The path less-traveled knows of its own challenges and obstacles.  It is the path that Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2), first traveled.  It took Him to the cross.  He died there for broad way travelers, to rescue them from that evil way (Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15).  He rose from the dead victorious over sin, and death, and the devil himself (Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:14).

The entrance to the narrow way is through a narrow gate.  Despite the deceiver’s claim, there is but One Way of salvation—by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9).  He is well-pleased to rescue lost sinners and put them on the better path (1 Timothy 2:4).  The narrow way leads to life—eternal and abundant (John 3:36; 10:10). 

Life on the narrow way is characterized by adherence to the truth.  Love for Jesus, love for others, and obedience marks the lives of the narrow way travelers (1 John 3:10; John 14:15).  Though they be mocked and threatened (2 Timothy 3:12), their provision and protection along the way is assured (Romans 8:32, 37).  God Himself will bring all narrow way travelers “safely home to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:8).  They will “marvel at” Him (2 Thessalonians 1:10).

The prodigal son was a broad way traveler, but then he came to his senses (Luke 15:17).  The thief on the cross was too, ‘til his eyes were opened to the truth (Luke 23:42).  Saul of Tarsus was on the broad way (there are plenty of religious folks on that way), until Jesus met him and changed his life (Acts 9:1-19; 1 Timothy 1:12-17).  What about you?  Do you know the destination of the path you are now traveling?  Jesus holds forth this invitation to all broad way people: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  Jesus can put you on the better path.

Pastor Jerry

THE SPIRIT'S WORK

From a sermon George Whitefield preached entitled “The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment”: 

“We have seen how the Holy Ghost convinces the sinner of the sin of his nature, life, duties, and of the sin of unbelief; and what then must the poor creature do? He must, he must inevitably despair, if there be no hope but in himself. When therefore the Spirit has hunted the sinner out of all his false rests and hiding-places, taken off the pitiful fig-leaves of his own works, and driven him out of the trees of the garden (his outward reformations) and place him naked before the bar of a sovereign, holy, just, and sin-avenging God; then, then it is, when the soul, having the sentence of death within itself because of unbelief, has a sweet display of Christ's righteousness made to it by the Holy Spirit of God. Here it is, that he begins more immediately to act in the quality of a Comforter, and convinces the soul so powerfully of the reality and all-sufficiency of Christ's righteousness, that the soul is immediately set a hungering and thirsting after it. Now the sinner begins to see, that though he has destroyed himself, yet in Christ is his help; that, though he has no righteousness of his own to recommend him, there is a fullness of grace, a fullness of truth, a fullness of righteousness in the dear Lord Jesus, which, if once imputed to him, will make him happy forever and ever.”

ONE DAY IN UGANDA

It’s Tuesday, February 17th—our third day in Uganda.  I wake up to the sound of roosters crowing and birds chirping.  Getting a shower (cold) and coffee (hot) is my immediate concern.  Another beautiful Ugandan sunrise greets me as I make my way from the guest house.  I pray for the day as I walk through Kabaale Village—past the smelly cow stalls, the rustic outdoor school kitchen; the school, the outhouse, to the school yard—the sights and smells of the increasingly familiar village fill up my senses.

Breakfast is eggs and fruit and toast.  Then it’s time for devotions, prayer, and off to work.  Ben and Jennifer Bogle, Jennifer Fremstad, and Debbie Kennedy head off to the clinic where they will be joined by Ugandans who are receiving training in basic medical skills.  Julie Smith, Carissa, and me jump in the car and head off to Muge Village and Abundant Grace Bible Church (AGBC)—a seven mile trip on dirt roads and paths.

Enock Mujuni is pastor of AGBC and leader of Arise and Shine Christian School.  He privileged me to have a part in naming the church back when it was started.  Since then, LCBC’s been praying regularly for the church and helping financially in various ways.  The church recently moved from its too-cramped facility along the main road to its new temporary shelter on a one acre parcel. 

We bounce up and down in our seats (glad that the Toyota has handles to hold on to) as we drive down a path that’s not designed for vehicle use—but undeterred we make our way through farmland and then across a lumpy soccer field—through the goal posts—to the church.  Children run to greet us.  Enock leads me on a tour of the site as we wait for the conference to begin (Schedules are flexible and all functions begin and end on “African Time”).

The temporary church building has no walls—roofing (made up of a combination of tarps and metal sheets) is supported by a structure consisting of poles (vertical) and limbs (horizontal).  Only half the structure is covered, the rest awaits available funds.  Once the roof it finished, then the construction of the walls will proceed.  They will be made of clay. 

The conference begins with singing and prayer.  Attendees include church members and pastors from nearby churches.  Two women neighbors of the church, one Catholic and one Muslim, are also in attendance.  Our theme for the conference is “God’s Glorious Gospel.”  And I’m doing my best not to be distracted from it by either the flapping tarps or buzzing flies or hot African sun (or the breast-feeding Mom seated on the ground 10 feet in front of me).  We are in the second day and my plan is to summarize what we’ve learned by going step-by-step from the Lugandan gospel tract.  Once finished, I ask Carissa if she’d like to share using the “Wordless Book.”  At this point we’ve been sharing good news truth for a day and a half—needless to say we all rejoiced when both neighbors responded to the gospel and trusted in Jesus for salvation!

That was a special day.  I returned to the village glad-hearted for what God had done.  The work in the clinic continued on through our two week visit.  Workers were trained in the morning.  People came to the clinic in the afternoon.  Ben and the two nurses responded to some serious and difficult medical needs (including a 2 year old who drank some insecticide, a girl who stuck a bean in her ear, and several people diagnosed with HIV—one later died).  Julie and Carissa worked with the children at Arise and Shine Christian School and then at Desire Junior School.  They shared the gospel and played some games.  I finished the conference at ABGC by observing the Lord’s Supper with them (something I taught on for two sessions) and then repeated the instruction in another conference at Our God Reigns Church.  I also led a three day small group study for pastors in Bible study methods.  We visited Our God Reigns Church on our first Sunday and People of the Way Church on the second Sunday.  It was good, very good, to share from the pulpit in both settings (the people were quite attentive to the Word; at Our God Reigns seven people expressed their desire to trust in Jesus).

It was a good trip, a wonderful trip.  The people there are so welcoming, so loving, and so incredibly thankful.  We were blessed to be privileged to serve in various ways and left behind some tools that should prove helpful (Cf. Acts 20:35).  Thank you for your gifts that helped us to go and your prayers through which we were equipped and enabled to serve!  Praise God for all that was accomplished!

Pastor Jerry