No Proper Ending

Mark's Gospel records the beginning of the gospel by John the Baptist in the first chapter. He states there that John's baptism was a baptism of "repentance." That repentance which was professed by water was a preparation for the people to be able to receive the Lord!

Acts 19:3, we see Paul asking some believers if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed? They said they had not and then the Apostle asked them what baptism they had received? They said John's baptism! Paul told them it was a baptism of repentance.

In Acts Chapter Two we see Peter lay out the Gospel as being Triune: 1. repent 2. baptism for the remission of sin 3. and you will recieve the promised Holy Spirit. OK, the point of what is to be understood is the difference between the begining of the gospel, which is repentance from dead works that "are past" (Rms. 3:25; Heb. 9:15) and a Christian Baptism that deals with sins that are present and future! That's why Paul rebaptised the believers in chapter 19.

Most Evangelicals are really still practicing John's baptism of repentance because they do not understand the difference between "repentance" and "remission" by often calling remission "forgiveness." Repentance is the begining of the gospel, not the middle and the end!

Remission of sin is like the remission of cancer! If cancer is in remission it is not opperating in your body during that remission! When a real Christian Baptism is undertaken by a believer, sin is reckoned to be dead to the end it is not walked in anymore! "Do you not know that those of you who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death?" "If we died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?" Dead men don't sin!

Have you died with Christ Jesus to sin? That is the true Christian Baptism! Repentance being a "change of mind" about sin and Remission being a "death to sin." You see, we can be a believer and not have died to sin! In order to be a saint however, we must "die with Christ to sin!" Jesus said, "he who has my teaching and obeys it, is he who loves me, and the Father and I will make our abode with him!"

Sin being in remission allows us to receive the promised Holy Spirit, as Peter told the Sanhedrin, "He gives the Holy Spirit to those that obey Him." The 'gospel' that teaches repentance but does not "go on to perfection" (Heb. 6:1 KJV), is an incomplete gospel! Will an incomplete gospel save you from the bondage of sin and its stated result? See Jn. 8:31-35. "If the righteous are scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

Those who hold to a gospel that only teaches repentance will find themselves repeating many sins. That is why the false teachers insist Christ died for even "willful sin." Beware, Heb. 10:26 is one of many verses they ignore.

ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

LET ME HIDE MYSELF IN THEE

BE OF SIN THE DOUBLE CURE

SAVE FROM WRATH AND MAKE ME PURE

Steadfastness

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him." (Luke 9:51-52)

In view of His suffering to come, Jesus had a definite destination, and he knew what it held for Him. It meant Jerusalem with its sorrow, Gethsemane with its travail, the judgment hall with its injustice and shame, the cross with its anguish, and even the hiding of the Father's face.

For Jesus, there was no royal road to the throne of Israel. For Him the only path lay by Jerusalem and Calvary. It was a long and weary road, but Jesus took every step.

He was tempted to turn aside from His goal, to be sure, and He was tempted in His sufferings. His friends wished to draw Him aside from His sufferings. Peter rebuked Him when He spoke of them. Satan tried to perplex Him, and His own soul trembled when the time for His crucifixion came. Yet, He knew that He had reached the point of no return, and He proceeded in the midst of the storms of sin and doubt about Him to go toward the cross where He would be victor once and for all.

In looking at Jesus' life, one thing that should impress us is His steadiness. He was never shifting, or even driven about. The throb of His life was constant and perfect.

His example of steadfastness, given to us through Word and sacrament, should portray our lives today as we serve an Almighty God in our daily walk. When others see us, do they see Jesus?

Boldness

Acts four records the second out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. Jesus had told them to wait at Jerusalem for the promise of the Father before he vacated this world for the last time. In fact, he told them the primary reason they would need that promise: Power!

We see again in chapter four the 'first element' of that power! Boldness in their witness! Why is not Christianity growing in the U.S.? Church attendance has held steady for the past five + years. But personal witness drives seem to only be performed by the LDS or The Watch Tower people! Lay hold of that in your spirits and consider what I say.

Political Correctness and a misunderstood application of "judging not" could have helped cause some of this lack of Steadfastness in witness, however, from the passages in Acts four, one could conclude the real problem with the church's lack of Power (boldness) is the absence of the real manifestation of the Holy Spirit! Power in witness!

This was Paul's charge to the Ephesian Elders: "I have proclaimed to you the whole council of God...therefore, I am free of 'blood guilt!" The clergy of Peter and John's day were astonished at their boldness! They "took note that they had been with Jesus!" May I suggest, that a sign of having been with Jesus will be your Boldness in witness? May the promise of the Holy Spirit be sought again by us who need His Power. For indeed, He will guide us into all truth and Truth acquired is not to be put under a bushel.

The Name of the Lord Held in Low Honor

At last offering entitled Boldness I mentioned the 'first element' of the Holy Spirit's promise being "Power to witness." This is given to those who willingly die to their sin in baptism! The Holy Spirit then purifies our hearts by faith (Acts 15:9; 1Pt. 1:22; 4:1). These verses define faith!

From that point in Acts chapter four through chapter nineteen we can find many believers mentioned. I want to point out the 'second element' of the promised Holy Spirit to the Church of the Living God: "confirming the word with signs and wonders." I am not going to promote some Sect's church dogma here, rather, I want you to see what happened to some who were recorded in the passage who "believed!"

The apostle Paul, yes, and some Christians today, actually do (even as Paul cast out evil spirits then) perform exorcisms, also called being delivered! In 19: 13-16, we see seven Jewish priest's sons trying to order this event without being part of the Christian Brotherhood!

You see, the evil spirit in that passage didn't know them! Why? They were not "in Christ!"

Jesus told the 70 He sent out in the Gospel's, "do not marvel that the evil spirits are subject to you, rather, rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven!"

When the seven sons of Sceva, a chief priest, were beaten to a pulp and stripped bare by one demoniac man, the "believer's" in that region became afraid and thereby came to understand spiritual matters more fully! What evidence is revealed there that these believers became serious about their faith? Some time back a recording artist had a hit song, his name was Joe South. Some of the lyrics went like this: people walking up to ya, singing glory hallelujah, then they try to sock it to ya, in the name of the Lord, oh yah, going to teach you how to meditate, read your horoscope and cheat your fate, furthermore, to hell with hate, come on get on board!

You see, those who believed came and "confessed their evil deeds" and those who did not believe now held the Lord's name in high honor! This is lacking in both camps today in the good old USA. Church people belonging to: "secret societies," dabbler's in the horoscope, placing defiled and "evil things in front of their face," like pornography (most TV programs are at best, soft porn and many are promoting witchcraft). Do "believers" hold the Name of the Lord In High Regard that have not repented of these "evil deeds?"

The Evangelical that teaches we can never stop sinning in this life is a believer that 'holds the name of the Lord in low honor!" How can I say such a thing? Easy! That Teaching promotes license! And, it denies a Christian Baptism that Peter said requires "suffering in the flesh" in order "to cease from sin!" This honorable truth is taught in 1Pt. 3:18-4:1. It is also: THE FULL GOSPEL

Jesus said of his people then, "they honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me!" And addressing the people present at His return, "will I find faith?"

Getting There

"Master, where dwellest Thou? . . Come and see." "Come with Me." John 1:39 "They abode with Him that day." That is about all some of us ever do, then we wake up to actualities, self-interest arises and the abiding is passed. There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.

"Thou art Simon, thou shalt be called Cephas." God writes the new name on those places only in our lives where He has erased the pride and self-sufficiency and self-interest. Some of us have the new name in spots only, like spiritual measles. In sections we look all right. When we have our best spiritual mood on, you would think we were very high-toned saints; but don't look at us when we are not in that mood. The disciple is one who has the new name written all over him; self-interest and pride and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

Pride is the deification of self, and this today in some of us is not of the order of the Pharisee, but of the publican. To say "Oh, I'm no saint," is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It literally means that you defy God to make you a saint, "I am much too weak and hopeless, I am outside the reach of the Atonement." Humility before men may be unconscious blasphemy before God. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you one. It would be all right, you say, if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is just what He will do! "We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Make no conditions, let Jesus be everything, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for ever.

Clouds and Darkness

"Clouds and darkness are round about Him."
(Psalm 97:2)

A man who has not been born of the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when you are baptized with the Holy Ghost, you find "clouds and darkness are round about Him." When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first insight into this aspect of things. The only possibility of understanding the teaching of Jesus is by the light of the Spirit of God on the inside. If we have never had the experience of taking our commonplace religious shoes off our commonplace religious feet, and getting rid of all the undue familiarity with which we approach God, it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and familiar are those who have never yet been introduced to Jesus Christ. After the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable darkness of realizing Who He is.

Jesus said: "The words that I speak unto you," not the words I have spoken, "they are spirit, and they are life." The Bible has been so many words to us - clouds and darkness - then all of a sudden the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us in a particular condition. That is the way God speaks to us, not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God it is by the most simple way of words.

That They May Be One

I believe in the unity of the Spirit. The unity of the Spirit means that every child of God is born of the self-same Spirit. Every true child of God whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life is born of the self-same Holy Spirit. There is only one Spirit. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of God at Ephesus in the fourth chapter beginning with the first verse, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Now Dear Ones, we can make excuses for the present situation that the world finds itself in, but part of the blame must fall on those who profess to be followers of Christ because people have been satisfied with splintering and dividing and the creation of many so-called religions. This brings a picture of confusion to the world, and to further complicate the matter, each religion professes that others can believe whatever they want and we should not in any way say that another religion is wrong. I am not a spokesman for the Lord to condemn anyone. I want to point you to the Word of God. What I would like to do by the help of God is to open your eyes so that you see some thing, you get a vision, you get a glimpse of what God ordained for the Church to be. He did not ordain for the Church to be mass confusion, but He ordained the Church to be one in Christ Jesus, one in Spirit, one in body, one in hope, and one in doctrine, for there is something to be learned by all of us concerning the truth of God’s Word.

Notice what Paul said. There is one body and one Spirit; there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. In other words, it matters what we believe. And in order for children of God to have fellowship with each other, we must be agreed. Amos 3:3 tells us, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” And then the Apostle John wrote in I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” So we must walk in the light.

What is the light? The light is the truth of the Word of God. Whenever we come to the knowledge of a given truth, we must have the desire to walk in that truth. And, if I am walking in the truth and you are walking in the truth, we are walking together down the self-same road, headed in the self-same direction and having fellowship one with another.

God wills that His ministry see eye to eye. The prophet Isaiah said in 52:8, “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.” This simply means that the message that goes forth over the pulpit of the true Church of God should be the same——eye to eye. There should not be confusion. There should not be a cloud and a wonderment among the people as to what is right and what is wrong.

It is God’s will that we speak the same thing according to the words of the Apostle Paul as recorded in I Corinthians 1:10. You see, there is a difference between the unity of the Spirit and the unity of the faith. Back to Ephesians, chapter four, this time beginning with verse 11, “And He [Jesus] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Christ is the head of His church and His ministry will endeavor to bring people together, and not break them apart. Unity is the message of the hour——oneness in Spirit, oneness in body, oneness in truth. We must pray together and labor together till we see eye to eye, till we bring to the world and show to the world a united front and say, “This is Christianity. This is what Jesus Christ taught. This is how people should live. This is what the world needs.”

Friends, if every true child of God would seek the mind of the Lord and reach out for a closer walk with God, we would be led together in the same direction with more power from on high, even as the early morning church had.

Father's House - Many Mansions

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:1-10

I’ve seen these verses bring a smile to many faces as the readers anticipate their mansion, their big house decked with ornaments in the sky. I’ve seen and heard many fantasise about their real estate in Heaven on a gold-paved street overlooking the crystal sea.

I cannot help but wonder how a heavenly being of a spiritual nature, could gain eternal pleasure from such a material treasure. I look around me in the world today and see many souls who have obtained such wealth and earthly possessions and they still are not satisfied. There is still an agonizing emptiness within even the most wealthy. How then, can the soul of a Christian be satisfied with such a material description of Heaven?

Our Lord exhorted us to not seek after the material earthly possessions, but rather be satisfied with the spiritual blessings in Heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: The truth is, we are taught to not harbour a desire for these things that appeal to the flesh because we are not people of the flesh. If we are spiritual people we would walk after spiritual things. If we are spiritual people we would desire and follow the spiritual blessings, not earthly. Romans 8:4-9

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

These verses make it very clear that only those that live by the flesh follow after the material things that please the flesh, the carnal nature. How then can we believe that the glory of Heaven is in the satisfaction and fulfillment of every fleshy and carnal desire? How can we, who long for spiritual blessings be content in Heaven if all we are promised are the things of the world?

This very concept of a purely material heaven was birthed in the lusts of Babylon, false religion. It could only have come from those who still regarded a desire for the things of the world in their hearts. There is good news for the saints. The dwelling place in the Father’s House that Jesus spoke of, is not a building made of bricks and mortar in the sky. It is something much greater than cannot be valued with a sum of money.

To fully understand what this mansion is, we must answer two questions:
1. What is the Father’s House?
2. What is a mansion?

Is the Father’s House a place in the sky populated by big houses? Ephesians 2:19-22 will help us. Ephesians 2:19-22

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The Father’s house is here titled the household of God. Ephesians 2:19 clearly tells us that we are not going to become part of the household of God in the future, but that we, those that are born again, are part of it now. We are told in these verses that we are “fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God.” Verse 22 says the saints are built together for an habitation of God, that is a dwelling place of God.

We are to be part of God’s household, the Father’s house today. We should not be waiting for a day in the future after this life is complete to dwell in the Father’s house. John 2:16

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

In this verse Jesus was rebuking those who had been selling and making profit in the temple which was sacred. His exact words were “make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” In this verse he was referring to the temple as the Father’s house. Under the Old Testament the temple was referred to as the Father’s house, the house of the Lord and the house of God. Under the Old Testament, the Spirit of God inhabited the holy of holies within the temple in a very real way. For this reason the temple was very sacred and was a place of worship. This is why Jesus was so angry when the temple was used as a market place.

At Jesus’ death on the cross, the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place was torn in two. This symbolized that God would no longer dwell within the temple; he left the physical building in Jerusalem to take up another dwelling place. The Spirit of God moved on to another house. The Spirit of God now dwells within the Church. The Church of God, the united saints world-wide have now become the habitation of God spoken of in Ephesians 2:22. the Church of God is now the Father’s House. Revelation 1:12-20

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Jesus reveals Himself to John as being in the midst of the candlesticks. Verse 20 tells us the candlesticks are the seven churches in the book of Revelation. While there were 7 different congregations existent upon the earth at the time John was told to write this, there is only one Church of God upon the earth.

There are 7 distinct time periods throughout the gospel day, and the Church of God was existent in each. The 7 churches in Revelation represent the universal Church through each of the 7 phases of the gospel day. By seeing Christ in the midst of the candlesticks, we can conclude that Christ dwells within the Church. God dwells among His people. The house of God the Father is the Church.

Paul’s letter to Timothy affirms this. 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

We can now see that the Father’s House referred to in John 14:1 is the Church of God as this verse tells us the house of God is the Church of the living God. Now we must clarify what the mansions are that Jesus promised.

Today the word “mansion” refers to a big and beautiful house. However the meaning of this word found in John 14:1 is “a dwelling place”. In John 14:1 Jesus is promising us all a dwelling place within the Church.

Many people may be disappointed to find they are not assured of a grand building of their own to house their soul when they get to Heaven. Many would be disappointed to find that Jesus’ promise was a dwelling place within the Church – membership in the Church of God.

A place within the most free, powerful and united entity upon the earth is far greater than any material building. This dwelling place is not something we must wait and hope for in the future. It is something we may claim for now, today. God’s building, His Church is complete today and our place has been prepared. John 14:2-3

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus Christ went to the cross to prepare a place for us within the Church. When His death on the cross was final, He cried “It is finished”. The first covenant was finished, the temple in Jerusalem was no longer to be the habitation of God and a new covenant was ushered in.

Shortly before His ascension, Jesus issued a commandment to the people. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus promised His followers that on obedience to His commandment to tarry in Jerusalem, they would receive the presence of the Father. The book of Acts tells us that 120 were gathered in an upper room Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It is here in verse 4 that we see the Holy Ghost fill the believers like never before.

This is where God filled His Church. At the death of Christ, the veil in the temple was torn in two to symbolize His departure from the dwelling place in the temple, and here in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost we see Him making His dwelling place within the Church which was built and completed in Christ’s life and death upon the earth.

This was all the beginning of the new covenant. The Father’s House had been prepared by Christ and was now built and complete. God’s glory filled the Church and now all who come to Christ have a dwelling place in the Kingdom of God. All who are born again have a membership in the Church. Their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and they have their part in God’s Kingdom. They have a mansion, a dwelling place in the Father’s house. John 14:1

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

I pray that you may also have this assurance within your heart that you now have a dwelling place in the Church of God. You need not wait for the future to fulfil all your desires and bring satisfaction. You may have that today while living in the Father’s house, the Household of God. We will not be able to enter Heaven in the future when our life on earth is complete, unless we have taken up our dwelling place in the Father’s House in this life.

We Will Know Joy!

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)

"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them shout for joy . . ." (Psalm 5:11) The lyrics from a Christian song prompted me to write this message. These words continually run through my mind: "We will know joy ~ we will know peace ~ when we hear Him say, 'Well done!' We'll come before the throne of God ~ we will know joy when we see Jesus!"

"Joy" is one of God's greatest gifts! His Kingdom, "is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17) Paul prays in behalf of his readers that God may "fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

The fruit of of the Spirit is like a string of precious pearls, including these: "Love, joy, peace, patience . . ." (Galatians 5:22) "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then I will teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." (Psalm 51:12,13)

The chief source of the joy of Christians is Jesus Christ, who, having completed our salvation, rose from the dead to put our joy on a firm and permanent footing. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy." (1Thessalonians 2:19,20)

Paul says that one of the great things he anticipates when Christ comes to receive His church will be the opportunity to see these people whom he had led to the Lord. The Thessalonian believers whom he had won to Christ were a joy for him here and will be hereafter.

Now . . . something for us to think on ~ Is anyone going to be in heaven who will come up to us and thank us for having a part in giving out the Word of God? Have we been giving our support to missions? If so, someone we have never known, possibly someone from the other side of the earth, may come up to us and thank us for our support. They will thank us for being interested in getting out the Word of God that reached them and enabled them to be saved! That, brothers and sisters, is going to be part of the reward that we will get in heaven. It is a wonderful hope to look forward to the time when Christ Jesus receives the church. It is even more joyous to know that someone who trusted Christ because of your witness and support will go along with you to meet the Lord!

"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." (1Thessalonians 1:6) There is not a person today who is enjoying the world's entertainment and is suffering at the same time. The world cannot put these two together. Paul says that the Word was received "in much affliction" ~ there was suffering, persecution, and heartache. But there was the joy of the Holy Spirit also. That is the bittersweet of life; like the Chinese dish they call "sweet and sour." For the Christian there can be that which is sour and bitter in life, while at the same time there is sweetness in heart and life.

"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:11) We joy in God! What an awesome statement! It means that right now, wherever we are, whatever our problems are, we can joy, rejoice, in God! Just think of it! We can rejoice that He lives and that He is who He is. We can rejoice because He has provided salvation for us and is willing to save us sinners and bring us into His presence one day. He has worked a plan to save us because of His love for us. Isn't that enough to fill us with joy? Isn't that enough to make us rejoice?

God's R.S.V.P.

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24)

Sometimes we get invitations asking us to reply. R.S.V.P. is a french abbreviation for "Please Respond."

God invites us to pray, and He promises to answer every one of our prayers. Isaiah even tells us that sometimes God answers even before we ask! Although this may seem impossible, we must always remember that we pray to a God who is able to do all things.

God knows all our needs and wants. Yet, He still invites us to go to Him in prayer with any and all of our requests. He is capable of granting us anything He wants for us, fully answering all our petitions according to His good and gracious will.

However, God does not desire to grant His beloved children the things that would harm them. So, at times He is compelled to answer "No." BUT . . . He always answers, and always in our best interest, just as a loving father will answer his child. Sometimes "Yes," Sometimes "No," And sometimes, "Wait". . . But always in love.

May we all learn to accept God's reply in faith and trust in His good will.

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