One Baptism

1 Corinthians 1:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV; We are united in one baptism; by faith. It is a gift from God!

Upset By The Truth

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."

                                                                                   Acts 23:1-11 KJV

The truth has a tendency to upset people who insist on living their own truth, which is no truth at all; but, a justification for our sinful beliefs and lifestyles. They will rebel and this will attack those who speak the truth in attempts to make themselves look good and right.

With much turmoil, Paul testified to the resurrection of the dead in Jerusalem. The uproar that accompanied it was so horrific that the troops had to get Paul out of there for his own safety. "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and told said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'” (vs 11) And, so he will. Under guard Paul will be taken to Rome to testify to the truth in Jesus Christ again. He will witness to the resurrection and eternal life in Christ even as he makes that journey.

Where is our journey taking us? Along "The Way," will we be witnesses of the love of God in Christ Jesus; regardless, of how many might attack us because their lives are upset by the truth? How many lives will be changed by hearing the Word?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Get Behind Me, Satan!

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
                                                                                                                     (Mark 8:31-33 NIV)

I am pretty sure that if I told anyone to "get behind me, Satan!" it would cause a bit of a ruckus. I once told an elder, in regards to his universalist beliefs and teachings within the church, "anyone who believes that is going to hell." Yup, if you guessed that he left the congregation, you would be correct. He left. But, he is no longer teaching (at least not around me) that everyone is saved no matter what they believe. He probably still believes it. I do not believe his mind has been changed; but, he now has a much smaller audience to repeat that lie to.

Not everyone appreciates the truth. Peter did not want to hear that Jesus was going to be killed. He rebuked Jesus for predicting and for accepting his own execution. Jesus turned around and rebuked Peter in front of the rest of the disciples. "Get behind me, Satan!" If that were said by any one of us that would probably be the end of any possible positive relationship between us and the person we spoke to. It would most probably even cause dissension within the community. But, not so with Peter. Peter handled the rebuke. He heard the truth and he did not turn his back on Jesus because he was uncomfortable with the truth. He did not leave the community of followers.

The truth is we often reject the truth. We reject the will of God. We often consider human concerns even when it comes to the visible church, the church building, before we consider the will of God. Even though we pray so often "Thy will be done" we don't always mean it. His will meant the death of Peter's and our beloved Jesus. His will might mean death to us and especially to our egos and our wills.

We must be cautious that we are not doing the will of the evil one by promulgating lies. Following Jesus is not a picnic in the park. There will be trials. There will be temptations. There will be refining. But, he will be with you as you walk that path; as you follow in his footsteps.

Let us always speak the truth whether we are comfortable with the truth or not. We are not saved by any good works that we think we do. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus the Christ who lived, who died, and who lives again for us.  

God's Peace - Pr. J  

Keep On Sharing The Good News!

Acts 4:23-31 NIV
 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.

 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Why, indeed, do the people plot in vain; rising up against the LORD and His Anointed One?
 
At times, it can be very difficult proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. The world seems to have set up obstacles all around. There seems to be way too many times when the proclamation that would bring comfort to the people is hindered simply because the time is being spent on distractions caused by dissension. (Rom 16:17-20) Peter and John had been confronted by the authorities for proclaiming the Good News and for the healing of the lame man. But, they did not allow this distraction to hinder them. They continued to pray and to trust that the LORD would enable them, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak His word with great boldness. They prayed that the LORD would stretch out His hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the Jesus.

Do not let the world stand in the way of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom for all people. The Good News is for all people; but, all people have not heard it. Someone must speak it. Know that God is with you to do just that, guiding and empowering you by the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shine Like The Stars!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Philippians 2:24-26 NIV

I read and sometimes even watch a little news every morning. Lately, the amount I subject myself to has become very, very little. The grumbling and arguing of the pundits and the people has become more than a bit much. Fake news has hit an all time high. Fake news being fabricated stories; lies and slander. Do we really have time for all of the dissension and division that goes with it?

We live in a warped and crooked generation. I suppose there are many reasons for this negativity. Mainly; though, I believe, it comes from one's desire to advance their own personal agendas.

It is not just the media who advances the grumbling and negativity for the benefit of their personal self-serving agendas.  Many others, politicians, movie stars, athletes, even Christians, participate in this negativity. But, it does not have to be. It can change. The world does not have to so terribly steeped in dissension. There are an awful lot of Christians in the world (including politicians, movie stars, professional athletes) and if we would but hold firmly to the word of life and share that word; the light of Christ will shine throughout the world. The light will shine and the darkness will disappear from around us. The "stars" of this world are not the shining lights that can guide anyone on the path of life. Only the light of Christ can do that.

Do not get caught in the trap of grumbling or arguing about everything little thing according to your own will. Focus on God's word and His will. Hold firmly to the word of life that his light might shine forth through you, so that the world may see the truth, who is Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Value Others Above Yourself

Youth Choir at Zion Lutheran, Skanee sing to

help children in need at the Toys for Tots Concert.

According to their calendar, this year's concert at Zion is on Sun, Oct 30 at 2 pm.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

The world around us just seems to work a whole lot better when we look out for each other. We are not to be considering our own desires before the very real needs of others. They, in turn, ought to be looking to support us in our needs. Some call it is karma. Others might say that they have each others back. Others, still, call it love. Love is truly the summation of the law and the prophets. Without this loving concern for the welfare of others the world is in chaos. Look around you. Is your world filled with loving concern for others or filled with dissension because everyone is putting their selfish ambitions before the love of God and neighbor?

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matt 7:12

May God fill your life with caring neighbors even as He empowers you to be a good neighbor.

God's Peace - Pr. J