God’s Kind of NEW!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5.17

Being “in Christ” carries with it a special feature that we may fail to recognize. Since we are “in Christ”, we are a new creation. When something is new, it stands in stark contrast to that which is old. Here is this special feature of which I speak: “old things are passed away … ” When you look at your life, what “old things” do you notice have passed away? Have your old desires passed away? Has your arrogant pride passed away? Has your brash manner with others been banished from your life? What other “old things” still need to go? Are you willing to take them to God and ask for His help in dealing with those elements of your life that do not bring glory to Him? That could make all the difference in your New Year of 2018.

“behold, all things are become new.” Behold – observe … pay close attention. “all things are become new.” Do you think God has the expectation that after we are saved all of the things in our life will be new – different? It seems to me that is what is being said in this verse. All is very inclusive. It does mean all things. Would it be a good idea for each of us take time for a close look at our lives and ask God what kinds of things He wants to change so that all things really are new? If we want this sin-sick world to see Christ in us, then we must make certain that all things are new in the way God wants them to be new. Not new in the sense of weird, we have enough of that in our world. But new in the sense that it is drastically different from the world and only God could be responsible for our behavior. Just my thoughts …

Where Are You Hiding?

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119.114

About the time I think I have learned as much as I can learn from David, he throws me another nugget. This verse is one of those nuggets. Have you ever felt like you just needed to go someplace and disappear – hide from everything life is throwing at you? Man, I sure have. During those times we feel all alone. But David brings a divine element into this kind of circumstance. He said to the Lord, “Thou are my hiding place … ” These words take me back to Psalm 91.1-2: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

There is no one else who can provide the security and the protection we need like our Heavenly Father can. When we are hidden, no one can see us – not even the Evil One. God has us completely covered. Not only are we hidden, but God is also our shield. We know that a shield is used to protect us from the attacks of our enemy. The question has never been will our enemy attack us, but rather, when he does attack us, who or what is our protection. The answer is found here – “Thou art my … my shield … ”

What is it that enables David to speak so confidently about his God? We find it in the last phrase: “I hope in thy word.” He doesn’t just hear what God says; he believes what God says. Where do you stand in this matter of hearing and believing? Can you say with certainty, “I hope in thy word”? The question is not whether God will tell us the truth. The question is whether or not we will believe what God tells us and rest in what He says. Just my thoughts …

Go? Really?

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28.19

Have you ever read these verses and thought, “Man, those early disciples had a big job on their hands?” Have you ever read those verses and thought, “Man, we have a really big job on our hands?” Here we are on the cusp of a New Year and we live in a world that is in great need of a Savior. The need to “teach (disciple) all nations” is greater than it has ever been.

Do we see this New Year as an opportunity to further carry out Christ’s great commission or are we content to remain complacent in the midst of this world’s chaos? It seems to me that complacency is not an option. Mankind cannot be any more lost than they already are. The Second Coming of Christ has never been nearer than it is right now. With the affluence of our society, the New Testament church has never had more money available for global missions than it has right now. Much of that money remains in the pockets of God’s people, because they have not yet seen the need or recognized the command to “teach (disciple) all nations”.

What would it take for every one of God’s children to realize that this Commission is for us? We are NOT innocent by-standers reading this verse some 2000 years after Christ spoke it. We are active participants in a global economy that desperately needs hope and we have that hope – and that hope is Christ. In just three days we will embrace the year 2018. Is it too much for us to ask God to give us a broken heart for the lost around us? We are never going to want to reach the heathen across the sea if we are not willing to reach the heathen across the street. Just my thoughts …

Yes – I Can!

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40.31

I think all of us would agree that the New Year is an empty slate and none of us knows what it will hold for us. We will live in a world of uncertainty and we all live lives that are built on the uncertainty of tomorrow. Having said that, I find great encouragement in the words of the verse above.

“they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength … ” Wait upon the Lord – what does that mean? We are so accustomed to living in an instant world. We have microwaves that can cook anything in a matter of minutes. We can reach almost anybody we want with our cell phone. So when we are told to wait upon the Lord, and that introduces a new concept. God’s timetable is NOT the same as my timetable. Waiting on God renews our strength. Waiting gives God time to accomplish other things in our lives that will build our strength.

“ … they shall mount up with wings as eagles … ” The unique thing about an eagle is that he achieves a perspective that others do not have. He sees things in a way no one else sees them. When we allow God to give us His perspective, we begin to see things in a different way. We read these words in Psalm 73.16-17: “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; (17) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” We need to ask the Lord to help us see things from His perspective.

“ … they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” With our renewed strength, we are able to run and not be weary. Sometimes we do not know how long we will need to run, but God promises strength for the journey no matter how long it is. Walk and not faint – when we are faced with the daily drudgery of life, we are able to walk and not faint and that is enough. Let’s face the New Year with God’s promise in this verse. Just my thoughts …

Don’t Do It Without Him!

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41.10

In six days we will be entering a New Year and none of us knows what this New Year will hold. Some will make resolutions, some will embark on a weight loss program, or some other program to make their life better in the New Year. As I read the words of this verse, I see here great words of encouragement – especially for the New Year. Let’s take a fresh look at these words.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee … ” Every time we read the words “fear not” in the Bible, we can be assured that God has a reason for them. The only One who has the authority to tell me to “fear not” is God. There is no situation too great for God. There is no issue too great for God. There is no problem too complex for God.

“be not dismayed; for I am thy God … ” Dismayed = shocked, taken aback, thrown off track. God is saying we must not be thrown off track by any situation we encounter. And why would He say that? Because He says, “I am thy God … ” This is Jehovah – this is Elohim – this is the God who is there and is not silent. He is there to do what no one else can do.

“I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Do you see God’s promises here? He will strengthen us. He will help us. He will uphold us. Can anyone else do all of these things for us the way God can do them? The answer is no! As you enter the New Year, remember His promises found in this wonderful verse. Just my thoughts …

A Child WAS Born! Merry Christmas!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9.6

It would have been a rich experience to be sitting with Isaiah when he penned these words. “Unto us … ” Was he thinking, “Me?” What are you thinking as you read these words? “Unto me?” Wrapped up in these words is the totality of God’s love for sin-sick mankind – including you and me. The day He was born is not nearly as important as the truth that He was actually born.

Whatever form it Isaiah acknowledged the reality that God had a Son and His Son was coming into this world to do what only God could do – address the question of sin. Sin in whatever form it appears breaks the heart of God. And His Son was the only perfect sacrifice who was qualified to meet the demands of this Holy God.

His name shall be called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” Is there any way that you or I can quantify this word wonderful? Knowing that God is wonderful and having any concept of how wonderful He is are two different concepts. Counsellor – have you ever come to God with a problem He did not understand or did not know how to handle? The answer is an obvious no! He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is without doubt The mighty God. He does not see problems because He is the solution to our problems. That is quite a Christmas present.

The everlasting Father – some reading this have a father who is still alive. Others have already lost their father to death. BUT we have this Everlasting Father. He is not going away – ever. But this Christ is also The Prince of Peace. Does this world need peace? Do the hearts of men need peace? The answer to both questions is yes and Jesus is the Prince of Peace! Merry Christmas! Just my thoughts …

Condemnation? No!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3.16-17

One of the most favorite verses in the Bible is John 3.16. Children memorize it early on in their lives. Pastors preach from it. It is used in sharing the gospel with those who are lost. But we discover great truth when we link verse 16 with verse 17. We discover WHY the coming of Christ into the world was so important.

“God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world … ” There are some who think of God only as a severe judge whose only purpose is to send men to a Christless eternity called hell. There are others still who say that God is such a God of love that He could never send anyone to hell. Neither of these assessments of God is true. If all men are going to heaven anyway, then why did Jesus have to die?

But here is the good news we all need to hear … Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to offer to all who would accept Him a ticket out of this world into an eternity with Him and His heavenly Father. This is how John says it: “that the world through him might be saved.” If men hear the gospel, and know why Jesus came, but they still refuse to accept Him as Savior, God has not condemned them to a Christless eternity. They have condemned themselves by refusing to believe the truth. But what about those who never hear, who never have an opportunity to accept Christ because they do not know who Jesus is or why He came? Then I believe their blood is on our hands as New Testament churches because we have neglected to take the gospel to the “uttermost part of the earth.” Of all the good news that will be shared at this Christmas season, let us go, and/or give, and pray that all the world may know! Just my thoughts …

 

He Loves Me How Much?

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4.9-10

Over the years of ministry I have heard so many people say, “How do I know God loves me?” The answer is found in these verses. Don’t just read these words, but rather absorb them into your heart. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world … ” If one says, “I don’t believe Jesus ever came”, they are denying a fact of history. That must be a conscious choice. Jesus did come into this world and He came to show this sin-sick world that God loves us. The name Emmanuel means “God with us.” This is how John says it: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1.14) In the opening verses of John 1, John had identified Jesus as the Word – the personification of God in human flesh.

When the Word came in the flesh, God was saying in the clearest way possible not just “I love you,,” but “This is how I love you and how much I love you.” And then He said, “Watch what I allow men to do to Him to prove My love for you.” Let your mind move to the cross and hear the sound of each spike being driven in. Watch as the crown of thorns is jammed on His head. Observe the roman soldier as he jabs the spear into the side of Christ. And remember these words: “he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Just my thoughts …

What a Wonderful Gift!

“And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1.21

She = Mary. Mary has been a part of this picture since Genesis 3.15: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy see and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Her seed is the seed of the woman, Mary. There has never been another conception or birth like this one. And that’s the way it should be. The angel said to Mary, “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon the, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be call the Son of God.” (Luke 1.34-35) The only blood in this baby’s veins was God’s blood – He was the Father. Think about it! Human blood was tainted by sin. The blood shed on the cross needed to be without the taint of sin.

We read in Matthew 1.23: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, ad shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” God chose to enter this world as a baby – a form that made Him vulnerable but acceptable. God chose to be with us so He could save us. Can you imagine the thoughts running through Joseph’s mind as the angel reveals these truths to him? His head must have been spinning, but he believed what he was told and he acted on what he was told. I’m so glad God had all this planned from eternity past to enable you and me to have a Savior. What a wonderful gift at Christmas! Just my thoughts …

Never Ashamed!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1.16

The gospel of Christ – what does that mean to you? Can you give a clear presentation of the gospel of Christ? If we are not to be ashamed of it, we need to know what it is and how to explain it in the simplest possible terms. Paul gives a very clear definition of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15.3-4: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Those are the facts of the gospel. But what do we do with the facts?

People need to understand the need for a Savior, thus the need to know that all men are sinners (Romans 3.23). People need to understand that the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6.23) and Christ came to take those consequences for us. People also need understand that God has done everything necessary for them to be saved, so their need is to ask Christ to save them (Romans 10.13).

It is important for us to realize that EVERYONE needs to hear the gospel. Everyone we KNOW is a sinner and in need of a savior (unless they have already received Christ). The gospel of Christ “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” That power is able to transform any life that will let God do His work – the work of moving one from the family of Satan to the family of God. May we freely share this good news at this special time of year when people want to be religious but may not know the Savior? Just my thoughts …