A Divider, Not a Uniter
Rev. Tony Cooke

At the beginning of his first term in office, President George W. Bush made an appealing pledge to be “a uniter, not a divider.” Regardless of one’s political affiliations or preferences, most people would agree that uniting all people, with their diverse opinions, beliefs, and philosophies, is nigh impossible. As a matter of fact, Jesus Himself didn’t even try to “unite” everyone.

Jesus, in one of his more difficult and startling statements, said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt 10:34). Luke renders that statement, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). The word division here means “disunion.” Jesus came to break our union with darkness and unite us unto Himself.

Why is Jesus’ statement (that he came to bring division) so shocking to us? I think that we’ve been conditioned—even subconsciously perhaps—to believe that Jesus is more like “the Candy Man” than the real Redeemer portrayed in Scripture. Do you remember the song popularized by Sammy Davis Jr. about the Candy Man?

Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with choc’late and a miracle or two
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can ’cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

Equally frivolous is another song that also came out in the early 70’s…

I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I’d like to uy the world a Coke and keep it company.

Isn’t that quite a message? If we just buy everybody in the world a Coke and a Milky Way bar, we’ll all live happily ever after! (If you believe that, someone’s got some great ocean-front property in South Dakota that they’d love to sell you.)

Scripture make no pretense of Jesus being a glorified “Candy Man.” He was, in fact, very controversial and divisive. Consider the following about Jesus:

• John 7:43 – So there was a division among the people because of Him.
• John 9:16 – And there was a division among them.
• John 10:19 – Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.
• Acts 14:4 – But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (8:14). Holding the infant Jesus, Simeon foretold that “this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against” (Luke 2:34).

Remember also that the One who will separate the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:24-30) will also separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-33). “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”

John the Baptist said of Jesus, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12). Wow! That’s quite a separation!

When you read the Old Testament, you get the very clear impression that God was adamant that His people not only know the difference between holy and unholy things, but that they be separated unto Him. Consider these stern words that came through Ezekiel (22:26, The Message). “Your priests violated my law and desecrated my holy things. They can’t tell the difference between sacred and secular. They tell people there’s no difference between right and wrong. They’re contemptuous of my holy Sabbaths, profaning me by trying to pull me down to their level.”

In the New Testament, this call for “distinction” or separation is also clear. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, Paul admonished believers saying, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.”

Paul went on to say (verses 17-18), “Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

Paul also said (1 Corinthians 11:31) that “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” The word Paul used when he referred to judging ourselves means “to separate thoroughly, to make a distinction, or to distinguish between.”

Jesus is still a Divider. When John saw the glorified Jesus in a vision (Revelation 1:16), “out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” He is still bringing division, separating the holy from the unholy. As the world promotes the idea that every belief and behavior is equally valid, we must recognize that not all division is bad division.

Granted, none of us like petty quibbling over non-essential issues, but Jesus still separates truth from error, light from darkness, sin from righteousness, and right from wrong. He is a Holy Savior, not a Candy Man! He doesn’t promote a false unification that is devoid of moral standards or lacking in a foundation of truth. In closing, consider these statements:

“Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell.”
– J.C. Ryle

“Separation from evil is the necessary first principle of communion with Him… Separation from evil is His principle of unity.”
– J.N. Darby

“To part with truth to show charity is to betray our Lord with a kiss. Between those who believe in the eternal verities and those who constantly cast doubt on them there can be no union.”
– Charles H. Spurgeon

“Diversity and division are infinitely more precious than a satanic unity.”
– John Whitcomb Jr.

These strong statements and the principles we’ve discussed don’t preclude us operating in gentleness, wisdom, and humility. We should certainly avoid a haughty attitude that projects “I’m right and everyone else is wrong.” Yet we must maintain the awareness that God’s Word forever stands as the standard of truth. It is the line that has been drawn in the sand, and we want to be on the right side of the Great Divider’s “line” in our thinking, our attitude, our words, and our conduct.

Our prayer for you for 2010 is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (Amp): “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).”

 

Diamonds in the Rough Rev. Tony Cooke

I recently visited with a pastor who went through some rough years as he grew up.  His mother was a determined woman who trusted God, and in spite of his misbehavior, she would say of her son, “My son is a wise son who makes his mother’s heart glad.”  Others were only seeing the problems in his life, but his mother could “see” the grace of God and sense the purpose that God had for her son.  She wasn’t oblivious to or in denial about the challenges, but she saw beyond the problems of that moment and trusted God to bring out the godly potential in this young man’s life.

That mother’s ability to see a diamond in the rough reminds me of one of my favorite Bible Characters—Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement.  He was always seeing the good and potential in people that others seemed to overlook.  He saw diamonds in such characters as Saul (Paul) and even in Mark, when others could only see the rough. 

A great example of Barnabas’ gracious insightfulness is seen when the Gentiles started getting saved.  They didn’t fit the mold.  They didn’t have the right customs or the right social etiquette.  They probably weren’t singing the right songs.  And yet these Gentiles were accepting Jesus.  What were the established leaders going to do?  Fortunately, they had the wisdom to send someone of Barnabas’ temperament to these new, “different” converts.

Acts 11:22-24 says, “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

More refined and established believers might have looked down upon these new converts as inferior, but Barnabas didn’t focus on the cultural and background differences.  He located common ground and built a relationship that edified and strengthened them.  Culturally, there would have been many differences Barnabas could have focused on, but he “saw the grace of God” and was glad.

You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right

Have you ever known someone who felt that his or her way of seeing things was the only correct way?  David Brinkley even once wrote a book entitled (humorously, I assume), “Everyone Is Entitled to My Opinion.”  Another individual said, “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you.”

Granted, there are some absolutes in the universe, and on some topics, we see the Apostle Paul being very dogmatic.  When the essence of the Gospel was at stake, he referred to, “…false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Galatians 2:4-5).  No flexibility there! 

When it came to the heart of the gospel, Paul showed no trace of compromise (see Galatians 1:6-8).  Also, when it came to issues of truth and error, Paul was no advocate of gullibility (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Thess. 5:21).

As strong as Paul’s position was on essential truth, he also celebrated the wonderful truth of diversity when it came to varying methods, assignments, and styles (what we might call the less essential issues).  Paul’s approach to ministry (or we might say, his target audience) was different than that of the Jerusalem leaders, but a mutual respect was established in spite of their differences. 

Galatians 2:7-9 says, “…when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

It took security and maturity on both of their parts to celebrate and honor each other’s respective assignments.  There is a natural, human tendency to feel threatened by those that are different (“If they’re right, maybe that means I’m wrong”) or to feel a sense of superiority (“I know I’m right, so they must be wrong.”).

Peter had also grown in grace and recognized diversity of how the grace of God is expressed through different ones.  In 1 Peter 4:10, he admonished his readers, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  The Amplified refers to “God’s many-sided grace” and “the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians,” while the NIV refers to “God’s grace in its various forms.”

Regarding some of the non-essentials (issues not related to salvation), Paul exhibited flexibility and honored the liberty of peoples’ personal choices and convictions.  In Romans 14:5, he said, “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind,” and went on to encourage people to not judge or hold other brothers in contempt over more peripheral issues.  It’s good to be secure in our own calling and identity, and to live out our assignment with confidence and assurance.  At the same time, it’s good to celebrate others whose lives and ministries are expressing truth. 

Certainly, I want to be discerning regarding truth and error, but like Barnabas, I also want to be sure I see the grace of God in others and rejoice in it.  I don’t want to be so caught up seeing the “rough” that I miss the diamond that is there.  Like the early apostles, I want to celebrate other ministries whose assignments, methods, and strategies vary.

DO YOU HAVE A “DISCIPLE” OR “CHURCH” MENTALITY?
Rev. Tony Cooke

We just recently conducted a “second generation” In Search of Timothy seminar. This seminar builds on the concepts presented in the book and in the original seminar. One of the principles we cover in this new seminar involves an observation a minister friend recently shared with me about the usage of the words “disciple” and “church” throughout the New Testament. Of course, we know that both of these are good words, but the frequency and ratio with which they are used as the New Testament progresses is very interesting.

In the gospels, the word church appears only 3 times, while disciple (or disciples) appears 242 times. That’s a pretty lop-sided ratio. In the book of Acts, things balance out a bit. Church or churches is used 20 times, while disciple or disciples is used 32 times. There’s a dramatic shift in the other direction, though, when we move into the epistles and the book of Revelation. There, church or churches is used 87 times, and disciple or disciples is not used a single time.

Is there significance in this changing ratio? I think there is. Here is one thought: A person could consider himself to be a disciple (a student, a learner, or pupil) on his own. If a person was stranded alone on a desert island with his Bible, he could learn about Jesus. However, he would still be lacking a spiritual community even though Jesus might be very precious to him.

A person can start out as a disciple of Jesus individually, but the farther he progresses in following the Lord and His teachings, the more he is going to be drawn to and integrated into the church—into vital, inter-dependent relationships with other believers. It’s not that we lose our individual relationship with the Lord; that will always be important. But the farther we go spiritually, the more the emphasis should be on we, not just on me.

Our personal relationship with God will always be vital and foundational, but that relationship will find enrichment, enhancement, and expression through mutually beneficial relationships with others in the Body of Christ. We can always profit from private time with God in prayer and study, but we should avoid excessive isolation from others. Can we know and love God individually? Certainly. But there is something very powerful about what David expressed in Psalm 34:3: “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

Michael G. Moriarty expressed concern about the issue of excessive isolation when he said, “In evangelical individualism people think of their personal relationship with God in isolation (‘Just me and Jesus’) and forge their destiny apart from any church authority. While holding relatively low opinions of history, traditions, and the church, they turn to the experiences of self and isolate themselves from their brothers and sisters in the faith. True spirituality is perverted as it becomes a quest for inner stimulation rather than growth in biblical knowledge and the application of truth in community. Healthy Christians do not live in isolation.”

Our heart is to promote partnership in the Body of Christ, and we trust that you are enjoying and benefiting from the kind of teamwork that makes the dream work!

The Strange Case of Brother Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Rev. Tony Cooke

You’ve probably never heard of “Brother” Jekyll before. For this article, I’ve made a slight adjustment to the title of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel that was first published in 1886.

In Stevenson’s book, Dr. Henry Jekyll is a seemingly good, polite, decent, and respectable man. An experimental potion designed to purify his good side has the unfortunate effect of magnifying his darker side, which results in the emergence of his alter ego, Edward Hyde. Hyde is evil, monstrous, hateful, and murderous. He is the embodiment of evil. More than 100 years later, when people hear the term, “Jekyll and Hyde,” they still think of a person who is radically different in his moral character and behavior from one moment to another.

The reason I changed “Dr. Jekyll” to “Brother Jekyll” for this article is because I want to look at similar dynamics as it relates to a believer (or a so-called believer).

David expressed incredible pain in Psalm 55 as he described a betrayal that occurred at the hands of a Brother Jekyll-turned-Mr. Hyde that he described in the following way: “it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God” (Psalm 55:13-14, NLT). A few verses later, David said, “His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers” (Psalm 55:21, NLT).

Jesus exposed some Brother Jekyll’s when he said to the most religious people of his day, “…you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25, 27-28, NLT).

Paul had run-ins with more than one Brother Jekyll. He said, “I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not” (2 Corinthians 11:26, NLT). In the Message version of 2 Thessalonians 3:2, Paul says, “And pray that we’ll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all ‘believers’ are believers.” How about you? Have you encountered some ‘believers’ who weren’t really believers? Or if they were, they sure didn’t conduct themselves as believers.

Believers (even spiritual leaders) being duplicitous is something that has been observed throughout church history. Because of their increased influence, the problem intensifies when it goes from being “Brother Jekyll” to “Rev. Jekyll”

• Augustine said of certain preachers, “With their doctrine they build, and with their lives they destroy.”
• John Bunyan said, “Saint abroad, and a devil at home.”
• Charles Spurgeon, known as the Prince of Preachers, said, “It is a terribly easy matter to be a minister of the gospel and a vile hypocrite at the same time.”
• Spurgeon also said, “It is of no use for any of you to try to be soul-winners if you are not bearing fruit in your own lives. How can you serve the Lord with your lips if you do not serve Him with your lives? How can you preach His gospel with your tongues, when with hands, feet, and heart you are preaching the devil’s gospel, and setting up an antichrist by your practical unholiness?”
• In “Lectures to My Students,” Spurgeon said, “We have all heard the story of the man who preached so well and lived so badly, that when he was in the pulpit everybody said he ought never to come out again, and when he was out of it they all declared he never ought to enter it again.”
• C.S. Lewis said, “Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst.”

As ministers and Christian leaders, our primary responsibility is not to look and act good publicly; it is to be truly transformed people. Genuine Christianity is substance-based, not image-based. That’s why the Apostle John said, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

George Whitfield was once asked if a certain individual was a good man. He wisely responded, "How should I know that? I never lived with him." I don’t think that God judges our spirituality or godliness based on how we act when people we want to impress are watching. I’m not saying that how we act in public or at church is unimportant, but I believe the ultimate test of spirituality is how we act at home with our spouse and our children, and how we act when no one is watching. John Maxwell said, “Image is what people think we are. Integrity is what we really are.”

As I write this (and as you read it), I pray that we are not like the self-righteous Pharisee that Jesus spoke of who, “…stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men…’” (Luke 18:11). Rather, I hope that we follow the example of David, who prayed, “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, AMP).

May we daily consecrate ourselves before the Lord, and may we daily bear the fruit of Spirit in our lives. I pray that our lives will be singly expressive of God’s nature and character, and that no “Brother Jekyll, Mr. Hyde” business will tarnish our testimony or bring offense to others.

 

The Blood Still Speaks

This is an illustrated sermon. It not only includes a message, but also involves a dramatization of a courtroom scene portraying the victorious redemption brought to the believer through the shed blood and broken body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Cast

Pastor: _____________________ (wireless headset)

Judge: _____________________ (mic at Judge’s table; wears black robe; carries himself with dignity and confidence; has a kind demeanor; knows the end from the beginning)

Bailiff: _____________________(wireless headset; wears Law Enforcement uniform; very sober and business-like)

Advocate: _____________________ (wireless headset; carries himself with great poise and confidence; pleasant, comforting, and reassuring to the accused; knows before trials starts that he’ll win, but not cocky; wholesome and sharply dressed)

Voice: _____________________ (will be reading from mic at the Sound Booth; dignified voice, convicting and sincere, but not overly dramatic)

Accused: _____________________ (wireless headset; wears normal street clothes – looks like the average guy on the street – not overly dressed up; goes from nervous at the beginning to confident and victorious at the ending; he does trust the Advocate, but is troubled by the happenings and the accusations)

Prosecutor: _____________________ (wireless headset; slick, crafty; very sharply dressed… preferably in black)

Props

* Judge’s Bench with Witness Stand
* Black Robe
* Scales
* Very Large Bible
* Gavel
* Chalice with Juice in it
* Bread with "Easel" to hold it up
* Handkerchief for the Advocate
* Table for the Prosecution with One Chair
* Large Stack of Paperwork (the prosecution’s evidence) along with box of video-tapes
* Two-wheeler
* Table for the Defense with Two Chairs

Introduction by Pastor

Our world today seems to be full of courtrooms and trials.

* Perry Mason
* LA Law
* Law and Order
* Family Law
* Divorce Court
* Judge Judy
* Judge Joe Brown
* Judge Mills Lane
* Judge Wapner’s Animal Court
* The Peoples’ Court
* Cable Channel: Court TV

It seems like people in society today are obsessed with issues of guilt and innocence, with conviction and acquittal.

Even though Perry Mason may have achieved 100% accuracy when it came to the guilty party being convicted, it’s commonly known that human justice is not perfect.

Innocent people have been convicted of crimes they did not commit, and guilty people have sometimes gone free due to a lack of evidence or some loophole in the law.

There is a Court of Justice, however, where the Judge rules in Absolute Righteousness and with Perfect Flawlessness.

His throne is one before which we have been invited to come boldly; it is called "The Throne of Grace."

Those who resist Him, and oppose Him, however, will one day stand before what the Bible calls "The Great White Throne Judgment."

One way or another, we will all stand before Him.

Today, I want us to look at some Scriptures and an illustrated story that I believe will help us understand that Judge and his System of Justice.

GENESIS 4:8
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let’s go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

4:9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don’t know," he replied. "Am I my brother’s keeper?"

4:10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Abel’s blood, according to God, "said something."

1. It spoke on behalf of the innocent victim.
2. It pronounced judgment on the offender.

In the book of Hebrews, the author begins to speak of the Law, and of course, there were penalties that were connected to the breaking of the Law.

HEBREWS 12:18-25

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

The blood of Jesus speaks a better word than that of Abel’s blood!

• It was good that the blood of Abel spoke on behalf of the innocent victim, but it is better that the blood of Jesus speaks on behalf of the guilty sinner!
• It was justice that the blood of Abel pronounced judgment on the offender, but it is mercy that the blood of Jesus brings salvation and forgiveness to the offender!

This bread has something to say to you today!

This cup has something to say to you today!

It’s not the physical symbol audibly communicating to your physical ear.

We are not trying to tell you that inanimate objects have vocal cords and utter syllables, but many things have a message and a story…

A trophy speaks of accomplishment.

A scar speaks of a past wound.

A smile speaks of pleasantness.

Litter speaks of someone’s carelessness.

The Statue of Liberty speaks of freedom and opportunity.

You need to know today that the blood of Jesus speaks!

It speaks for you and to you.

Why is this important?

(Prosecutor enters)

Because Adam’s transgression speaks against you.

Your past speaks against you.

Your sins speak against you.

The Law of Sin and Death speak against you.

Satan himself, the one called "the accuser of the brethren," speaks against you.

I want you to listen today as we witness a courtroom scene… to a trial… that I believe portrays what every Christian must come to terms with.

Beginning of Skit

The Prosecutor has entered from stage right. He is pushing a two-wheeler loaded with documents. He has a look of evil glee on his face as he brings his mounds of evidence to the trial. He carefully unloads and stacks his evidence on the table – piles of paper and boxes of video tapes. He has "the goods" on the accused, and he knows it. He is arrogant and haughty. When the accused comes in, he begins to make taunting, intimidating gestures toward the him.

Once the Prosecutor begins to get his stacks of evidence in order, the Advocate and Accused enter from the back of the sanctuary.

PROSECUTOR (to audience): I absolutely love trials that are a slam dunk! I’m going to absolutely destroy this guy! I’ve got so much evidence on him that it’s unbelievable. I’ve got documentation, both written and on video, of every rotten thing this guy’s ever done. (holds up a couple of pieces of his documentation as he says it)

Everybody thinks that this is a pretty good guy, but he’s nothing but a sinner. He’s come way short of the glory of God. He’s sinned, and we all know what the wages of sin are, don’t we? Death!

The Advocate is calm and confident. He walks as though he’s ready to "take care of business." The accused, however, is a bit un-nerved. He’s tagging right behind the Advocate, and is asking questions nervously. The Accused listens as the Advocate calmly reassures him, but still remains quite apprehensive and uncomfortable. Close to the front of the sanctuary, they both stop, and the Advocate takes his handerkchief out and wipes the brow of the Accused. (None of this interaction is out-loud at this point.) They make their way to the Defense table and are seated.

PASTOR: The charges that are being brought against this defendant are more serious than misdemeanor charges. They are more serious than felony charges.

The verdict that will be reached is an eternal one. Not only does the temporal well-being of the accused hang in the balance, but also his eternal destiny.

Exactly what kind of a trial is this?

It is a criminal trial — the accused is a spiritual lawbreaker!

It is a custody battle – the accused had become the child of the wrong family… he had become the citizen of the wrong kingdom.

It is an inheritance dispute – the accused had been stripped and robbed of the glorious inheritance that was meant to be his.

Let’s listen in and see how this trial progresses:

ACCUSED TO ADVOCATE: (Distressed) Do you see the evidence he’s got! Thousands of pages, and the videos! How on earth do I even stand a chance with the past I’ve got?

ADVOCATE TO ACCUSED: (Calmly, but confidently, putting hand on the Accused’s arm to calm him down) Don’t worry. You’ve accepted me as your Advocate. I am representing you today. I have never lost a case when I have been accepted and trusted. By the way, I’ve got some witnesses here today that will testify on your behalf.

ACCUSED TO ADVOCATE: I’m glad to hear that… especially since he has thousands of pieces of evidence. How many witnesses do you have?

ADVOCATE TO ACCUSED: Two.

ACCUSED TO ADVOCATE: Just two?

ADVOCATE TO ACCUSED: Trust me, that’s all we’ll need. By the way, did I tell you that the Judge is my Dad?

(Accused seems surprised and somewhat relieved, but still fairly inquisitive as to what all is happening)

Bailiff and Judge walk in from stage left. Bailiff takes his place, and the Judge goes to his chair.

BAILIFF: Please rise for the Honorable Righteous Judge… His court is now in session… You may be seated.

JUDGE: (Raps Gavel) What are the charges being brought this day?

PROSECUTOR: Your Honor, this man (pointing to the accused) is nothing but a rank sinner. He’s broken every Law in Your Book. You know the 10 Commandments? He’s broken every one. You know the 6 things you said you hate? Proverbs 6? He’s done all of those, too.

I’ve got all the proof you’d ever need. Caught him in the very act. Bottom line is that he’s a rank sinner. You yourself said that the wages of sin are death!

BAILIFF: Would the accused please stand. (Accused and Advocate stand)

JUDGE: How do you plead to these charges?

ACCUSED: (Hesitates considerably, looks back and forth from the Advocate to the Prosecutor; Finally, the Advocate leans over and whispers in his ear) Your Honor, I plead the blood. (Prosecutor falls over backward in his chair.)

ADVOCATE: Your Honor, I have a witness (signals to Bailiff) whose testimony today will make null and void every accusation brought against my client. So much so, that once this witness has spoken, all of this so-called evidence will be deemed inadmissible.

Your Honor, I call the cup to the witness stand.

(At this point, the Bailiff has gone to the Communion Table, gets the chalice, and brings it to the witness stand)

BAILIFF: Please state your name.

(Once the cup begins to speak, all parties should focus on it)

CUP: I am the cup of the Lords Table. I am the emblem of the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the blood of the everlasting covenant.

BAILIFF: Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

CUP: I do.

JUDGE: Tell us what you know.

CUP: The things spoken by the prosecution and his evidence were true at one time. However, that is before I got involved.

The One in whose veins I flowed, Jesus the Son of God, lived sinlessly. Then He gave His life as a Ransom for many, as a Sacrifice for all people.

As His Body hung on the cross, I was flowing from Him, from where the nails pierced His hands and His feet. I was flowing for the Remission of this man’s sins.

Because He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as His Savior…

* I have cleansed him.
* I have washed him.
* I have purified him.
* I have justified him.
* I have delivered him from the Kingdom of Darkness, and have translated him into the Kingdom of God’s own Son.
* I have made him "nigh unto God," given Him peace with God, and made him a Son of God.
* I have purged his conscience from dead works so that he might serve the Living God.
* I testify that I, the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, did in fact redeem this man, and through me, he is totally forgiven.

JUDGE: I accept the testimony of the cup. I pronounce the defendant not guilty by testimony of the blood.

PROSECUTOR: All right! Maybe the spiritual and eternal penalty has been taken care of. But your Honor, it’s not right that this defendant should get off that easy.

Sickness and disease have every right to rule in this man’s body while he’s here on this earth. Even if his sins are forgiven, sickness and disease are a very small price for him to pay considering all he’s done!

ADVOCATE: Your Honor, I would like to call one more witness (signals to Bailiff) – the Bread – to the witness stand. (Bailiff goes to the Communion Table, gets the bread, and sets it on the Witness Stand next to the cup)

BAILIFF: Please state your name.

BREAD: I am the Bread of the Communion Table. I am emblematic of the broken body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

BAILIFF: Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

BREAD: I do.

JUDGE: Your testimony?

BREAD: Even as the blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins, I was broken for the healing of bodies.

Stripes were laid upon me so that man could be whole in every sense.

I bore man’s sicknesses and diseases.

I bore his pains and infirmities.

I carried it away and made full provision for man to be well.

What I bore, he need not bear.

What I carried, he need not endure.

The blood provided spiritual sustenance, but I provide physical sustenance.

(The Prosecutor becomes increasingly dejected and deflated as the bread speaks… toward the end, he slinks out of the courtroom, exiting stage right.)

JUDGE: Would the defendant please stand?

On the basis of the testimony of the Cup and the Bread, I declare you to be innocent, forgiven, and free.

I want you to take these elements with you.

(Bailiff hands the Accused the cup and the bread)

If you ever feel guilty.

If you ever feel condemned.

If you ever feel ashamed.

If the Accuser ever speaks to you again…

Look to these…

Listen to these…

They will always speak to you, and they will always speak for you.

You are free.

Case dismissed! (Raps Gavel)

Prosecutor is already gone.

The Bailiff, The Judge, the Accused, and the Advocate all exit stage left.

End of Skit

Concluding Comments by Pastor

We read earlier that the blood of Christ speaks of better things than that of Abel’s.

I’m here to tell you today that you need an Advocate with the Father.

Everyone of us will stand before God, and the fact is, that we’ve all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.

These scales represent justice and judgment. What will happen when your life is placed on the scales. Will sin and unrighteousness cause you to be found wanting? Or will the testimony of the blood of Jesus, speaking on your behalf, cause the scales to tip in your favor?

You will be the one to decide.

1JOHN 2:1
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have (an Advocate) one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Altar Call

Recommended Concluding Song: One Drop of Blood, by Ray Boltz

 

Birth and Growth
Tony Cooke

I recently saw what I thought was an interesting quote by the late Dallas Willard, and I posted it on Facebook. His statement was:

"In many seeker-sensitive churches, the focus is on getting people to confess Christ as a basis for going to heaven when they die. I don’t want to diminish the importance of that, because you’re going to be dead a lot longer than you’re alive, so you ought to be ready for that. But it is possible to lose sight of character transformation as a serious element for the people you’re bringing in. We need to do both of those things."

As people responded, I realized that for many, the critical issue was the usage of the phrase “seeker sensitive.” To some, that phrase means an abdication of the gospel and a renunciation of the involvement of the Holy Spirit. To others, it simply means that churches should think through how their message and ministry is coming across to unbelievers, and endeavor to communicate the gospel effectively to them.

With this and other hot-button topics, it is absolutely essential that we define our terms. For example, the term “faith movement” was a bane to some, while to others, it was a blessing. Some saw it as a materialistic, name-it-claim-it attempt to manipulate God, while others saw it as a refreshing emphasis on the integrity of God’s Word and a rediscovery of wonderful, scriptural truths such as our identity in Christ, the authority of the believer, and our redemptive rights and privileges.

When you stop and think about it, it’s not a term itself that’s right or wrong. It’s how we apply the concepts and ideas—whether we stay scripturally accurate—that determines whether we are staying true to God and His Word.

Having said that, please go back to the above quote by Willard, try not to get hung up by the term “seeker sensitive,” and consider what he says.

The insight I thought was helpful in this quote was that our focus, as ministers of the gospel, should include both “new birth” and “growth.” I don’t want to just see people born-again (although I recognize that is primary and essential). I also want to see people grow in Christ, hence, “character transformation.”

These dual, complementary goals of ministry are seen consistently throughout the New Testament.

In Galatians 4:19, Paul said, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” He had labored (in the gospel, by the power of the Spirit) for them to have been born-again to begin with, and now his goal is to see them continue in Christ unto maturity.

In Colossians 1:28-29, Paul states, “Him [Christ] we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

The dual-focus of new-birth and growth is also seen in Colossians 2:6-7: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught…”

Paul admonished the Romans to, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). The point? While we want people to be Spirit-born, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-led, we also want to promote people being Spirit-formed.
 
Peter also promoted character transformation/development among those to whom he ministered (2 Peter 1:5-8): “…for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

All spiritual life and growth is a work of the Holy Spirit and is based on the redemptive work of Christ. However, that does not make us passive, distant, or uninvolved observers in the process. Peter said, “…Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:1-2). Apparently, we have some role in the process. I don’t believe we are our own “source” in any way, but we do cooperate with God, yielding to what He has done for us and is doing in us.

Of course, we look to the ministry of the Word and the Holy Spirit to see the new birth and spiritual growth (or character transformation) take place. It is not something we do apart from Him, but we do have a part to play. Paul said, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

When I have the privilege of preaching the gospel and seeing people respond to God, I recognize that “I” did not save that person. What brought about the new birth in that person is the power of the Holy Spirit working on their heart through the gospel. When I teach the word of God and people are helped, strengthened, or grow spiritually, I recognize that “I” am not their source or the real “change agent” in the process, but all of us, as ministers and encouragers, are privileged to be a part of that process. I think this idea is reflected in Paul’s statement, “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Again, the insight I thought was helpful in Willard’s quote was that our focus, as ministers of the gospel, should include both “new birth” and “growth.” May God bless you richly as you labor to see all of God’s plan fulfilled in the lives of people.

How Precious is This Book?
By Rev. Tony Cooke

“So great is my veneration for the Bible that …the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.  I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year.”
– John Quincy Adams

“I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you, Search the Scriptures!  The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice or thrice through, and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions of one or two chapters every day, and never to be intermitted, unless by some overruling necessity.” 
– John Quincy Adams

“In what light soever we regard the Bible, whether with reference to revelation, to history, or to morality, it is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.” 
– John Quincy Adams

 

“The first and almost the only Book deserving of universal attention is the Bible.” 
– John Quincy Adams

“The Bible is no mere book, but a living Power that conquers all that oppose it.” 
– Napoleon Bonaparte

 

“The American nation from its first settlement at Jamestown to this hour is based upon and permeated by the principles of the Bible.”
– Justice David Joseph Brewer, Supreme Court Justice

 

“I believe the Bible because it is the Word of God.” 
– William Jennings Bryan

 

“I know the Bible is inspired because it finds me a greater depth of my being than any other book.” 
– Samuel Taylor Coolidge

 

“It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people.  The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.” 
– Horace Greeley

 

“I have always believed in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, whereby they have become the expression to man of the Word and will of God.” 
– Warren G. Harding 

 

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.” 
– Patrick Henry 

“That book, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.” 
– Andrew Jackson 

 

“The Bible contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer strains of poetry and eloquence than can be collected from all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been written.” 
– Sir William James

 

“Of the hundreds of thousands of artifacts found by the archaeologists, not one has ever been discovered that contradicts, or denies one word, phrase, clause, or sentence of the Bible . . . but always confirms, and verifies the facts of the Biblical record.” 
– Dr. J.O. Kinnaman

 

“In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.” 
– Robert E. Lee

 

“All the good from the Savior of the World is communicated through this Book . . . All the things desirable to man are contained in it.”
– Abraham Lincoln

 

“I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible.  Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.” 
– Abraham Lincoln

 

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.  All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” 
– Abraham Lincoln

 

“In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man.  All the good Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this Book.  But for this Book we could not know right from wrong.  All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.  To you I return my most sincere thanks for the elegant company of the great Book of God which you present.” 
– Abraham Lincoln

“I consider an intimate knowledge of the Bible an indispensable qualification of a well-educated man.” 
– Dr. Robert A. Milliken

 

“We account the Scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy.  I find more sure marks of authority in the Bible than in any profane history whatever.” 
– Sir Isaac Newton

 

“I thoroughly believe in a university education…but I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without the Bible.  Everyone who has a thorough knowledge of the Bible may truly be called educated.” 
– Dr. Wm. Lyon Phelps, Yale University

 

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” 
– Theodore Roosevelt

 

“Make it the first morning business of your life to understand some part of the Bible clearly, and make it your daily business to obey it in all that you do understand.” 
– John Ruskin

 

“There is only one Book – the Bible.” 
– Sir Walter Scott

 

“The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible.”
– William Henry Seward

 

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.” 
– Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“You ask me what I think of Christ?  He is the Chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely – my Lord, my Saviour, and my God.  What do I think of the Bible?  It is the infallible Word of God, a light erected all along the shores of time to warn against the rocks and breakers, and to show the only way to harbor of eternal rest.” 
– William Strong

 

“The Bible is the moral code of civilization.”
– Harry S. Truman

 

“A loving trust in the Author of the Bible is the best preparation for a wise and profitable study of the Bible itself.” 
– H.C. Trumbull

 

“After all, the Bible must be its own argument and defense.  The power of it can never be proved unless felt.  The authority of it can never be supported unless it is manifest.  The light of it can never be demonstrated unless it shines.” 
– Henry Van Dyke

 

“I cannot too greatly emphasize the importance and value of Bible study—more important than ever before in these days of uncertainties, when men and women are apt to decide questions from the standpoint of expediency rather than on the eternal principles laid down by God Himself.” 
– John Wanamaker

 

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” 
– George Washington

 

“If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures.  If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” 
– Daniel Webster

 

“The Bible is our only safe guide.” 
– Daniel Webster

 

“A man had deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived himself of this, a knowledge of the Bible.  When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness and your own duty.” 
– Woodrow Wilson

 

“I am sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day.  I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and of the pleasure.” 
– Woodrow Wilson

“It is very difficult for an individual who knows the Scripture every to get away from it…it forms a part of the warp and woof of his life.” 
– Woodrow Wilson

 

“This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.  Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.  Read it to be wise, believe in it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.  It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.  It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character.  Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.  Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.  It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.  It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.  It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever.  It involves the highest responsibilities, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”
– Unknown

 

The text that led to Martin Luther’s conversion, and inspired the Reformation:  “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”  (Romans 1:17)

 

The text which more deeply influenced the life of John Knox:  “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

 

The text which saved William Cowper from suicide:  “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:24-25).

 

John Bunyan’s favorite text:  “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).

 

The text which challenged David Livingstone:  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

Just use me – I am the Bible.

I am God’s wonderful library.

I am always – and above all – The Truth.

To the weary pilgrim, I am a good strong staff.

To the one who sits in gloom, I am a glorious light.

To those who stoop beneath heavy burdens, I am sweet rest.

To him who has lost his way, I am a safe guide.

To those who have been hurt by sin, I am healing balm.

To the discouraged, I whisper glad messages of hope.

To those who are distressed by the storms of life, I am an anchor.

To those who suffer in lonely solitude, I am a cool, soft hand resting on a fevered brow.

O, child of man, to best defend me, just use me!

– Unknown

The Bible in 50 Words

God made, Adam bit, Noah arked, Abraham split, Jacob fooled, Joseph ruled, Bush talked, Moses balked; Pharaoh plagued, people walked. Sea divided, tablets guided, Promise landed. Saul freaked, David peeked, prophets warned, Jesus born. God walked, love talked, anger crucified, hope died. Love rose, Spirit flamed, Word spread, God remained.

Bearing False Witness
Tony Cooke

In the Bible, the first time the phrase “false witness” is used is in the Decalogue—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:16 says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” The last time the phrase is used is in Paul’s epistle to the Romans (13:8-9): “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Harm, hurt and pain is exactly what happens when lies are told about a person. Proverbs 25:18 (NLT) says, “Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.” The Talmud teaches that, “The slanderous tongue kills three; the slandered, the slanderer, and the person listening to the slander.”

David was lied about terribly, and responded with these words in Psalm 52:2-4 (NKJV). “Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness. You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.”

Charles Spurgeon reminded us that godly leaders should realize that facing criticisms and even falsehoods are not uncommon. He said, “God had a Son that had no fault, but He never had a son that was not found fault with. God Himself was slandered in paradise by Satan. Let us not expect, therefore, to escape from the venomous tongue.”

I recently heard of a pastor who had been criticized harshly in an internet article. The blogger spoke of attending a specific service at that man’s church and watching him in the lobby as he (the pastor) interacted with people. The blogger went into detail about the pastor being disinterested in people, and about how uncaring and aloof he was. His “pastor’s heart” was called into question along with his sincerity and character. It was a complete smear job.

What’s amazing is that the pastor—a very good and godly man—who was being criticized was traveling that particular Sunday. He wasn’t even in the church service where his alleged unloving conduct was “observed” and besmirched. Hundreds of people read that blog, and I wonder how many of them just assumed that the information was the truth. How many people could have accepted the inherent offense in that article, and quit attending that church? Or if they had considered going there, decided never to attend?

This kind of occurrence makes me wonder how many good men and women have been trashed by people who lack morals, ethics, and integrity. Edgar Allen Poe said, “To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.” Modern technology has exponentially raised the potential damage from people who bear false witness. People today can hide behind their computers and completely manufacture and fabricate complete falsehoods of every kind.

John Calvin said, “It is a sign of a perverse and treacherous disposition to wound the good name of another, when he has no opportunity of defending himself.” Likewise, A.B. Simpson commented, “I would rather play with forked lightning, or take in my hand living wires with their fiery current, than to speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ, or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christians are hurling on others, to the hurt of their own souls and bodies.”


Those are powerful statements, but far more important is what Jesus Himself said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37, NLT)

We understand that bearing false witness against a neighbor is just one form of lying, and the Bible, including the New Testament, addresses the overall topic of lying very specifically. Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor…” The Amplified renders that, “Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor…”

We need to make sure that we understand that it’s not simply a blatant lie that is wrong, but we should avoid any communication or expression that is misleading or misrepresentative of the truth. This would include exaggeration or embellishment to “paint a picture” in the mind of a listener that does not reflect reality.

Speaking of Satan, Jesus said that he, “…does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44, NKJV). The Apostle James acknowledged the universal problem: “…the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself” (James 3:6, NLT).

Ephesians 4:29 in the Amplified Bible provides a great guideline for how we are to speak. “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.”

Peter presents Jesus as our model to follow… “He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered” (1 Peter 2:21-23, NLT). Peter then proceeds to prescribe the path of life for the believer, and much of this “prescription” involves our words.

1 Peter 3:9-10 (NLT)
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”

We know from many, many passages of Scripture that our tongue can be used constructively or destructively. Proverbs 12:18 (NKJV) says, “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” May those of us who belong to the Lord always be able to say with Proverbs 8:8 (NKJV), “All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.”

Note from Tony: We wouldn’t think of using the following excuses to neglect making a house payment, yet these same kinds of excuses are used by individuals who neglect to tithe.

Eight Reasons Not to Make Your House Payment

A Parable by David Sumner

1. The only time I ever hear from the bank is when they want money.  They never pay attention to my other needs.

2. I’m upset at the bank president.  He said some things I don’t agree with.

3. That house payment is a tenth of my income.  That’s a whole lot more than I can really afford.

4. I’ll give them what I can every month.  But I don’t want to make any long-range promises.

5. We went on vacation last month.  The bank will have to wait while we catch up on other bills.

6. I’ll support the bank with my prayers.  That ought to do more good than my measly little payment.

7. The bank spends too much money on itself. When it starts giving more away, then I’ll start making house payments again.

8. The bank has a lot of rich customers.  It can get along fine without my little payment.

Seven Things You Need to Know About God’s Commandments
Tony Cooke

Last month we addressed the topic, “What Does ‘I’m Not Under the Law’ Really Mean?” We established that we are not lawless even though we are not under the law of Moses. God has ordained spiritual influences to govern our lives, and they especially include His word, His Spirit, and His love. This month, we’re going to examine Scripture to see how pertinent the commandments of God are to the life of the believer.

If there are no commandments for the New Testament believer, then the Lordship of Jesus is merely a vague, abstract term that is without relevance or tangible application in our lives. And if God has no clear directives for our lives, then the concept of obedience is equally meaningless. The believer, then, would be free to live a self-willed, self-determined life. If there is no governing authority in an individual’s life, he will likely replicate the behavior of “…doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; 21:25).

God’s Word, including the New Testament, is full of commandments from God for His people. It is true that there are many Old Testament regulations that are not binding upon believers today, nor do we take God’s directives and “try to become righteous” by the perfection of our efforts and compliance. No, righteousness comes to us as a gift from God’s grace, is received by faith, and is based squarely on the finished work of Christ. Nevertheless, God exercised His Divine prerogatives and gave us, His children, clear and authoritative directives on how to live.

God did not provide suggestions, hints, innuendos, or options for the believer; He gave commandments. I once heard “commandment” defined as “an order given by one in authority about which there is no choice and from which there is no retreat.” As a result, Christians are not to live fickle, arbitrary lives, governed by their moods, making unprincipled decisions, and possessing no true moral compass. God has given us directives on how to live and has empowered us by His Holy Spirit to obey Him. Let’s look at just some usages of the word “commandment(s)” in the New Testament:

1. Jesus Operated Under God’s Command

John’s Gospel

• For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (12:49-50)
• …just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (15:10)

2. Jesus Taught & Gave Commandments

Matthew’s Gospel

• “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (22:36-40)
• …teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (28:20)

John’s Gospel

• A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (13:34)
• “If you love Me, keep My commandments. (14:15)
• He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… (14:21)
• If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love… (15:10)
• This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (15:12)
• You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (15:14)
• These things I command you, that you love one another. (15:17)

Acts 1:2, 4
2 until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen…
4 And being assembled together with them, He [Jesus] commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father…

3. Commandments are Prevalent in the Book of Acts

Acts

• So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” (10:33)
• And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. (10:42)
• For so the Lord has commanded us: “I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (13:47)
• Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent… (17:30)

4. The New Testament Epistles are Full of Commandments

Romans 13:9
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Corinthians

• Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. (7:10)
• Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (7:19)
• …the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. (9:14)

Ephesians 6:2
2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

1 Timothy 1: 5
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith…

John’s First Epistle

• Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (2:3)
• And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him… (3:22-24)
• And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (4:21)
• By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (5:2-3)

5. The Book of Revelation Refers to Commandments

Revelation

• Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world… (3:10)
• Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (22:14)

Not only does one of the very final passages in the Bible (Revelation 22:14) refer to God’s commandments, but one of the very early verses in Genesis also refers to God’s divine decree toward man (Genesis 2:16), “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying…”

6. God’s Commandments Were Conveyed Through His Servants

The Apostle Paul was not a power-hungry, domineering individual who was seeking to micro-manage everyone’s life. Actually, he was very careful never to abuse his apostolic authority. He spoke of, “…the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction” (2 Corinthians 13:10; see also 2 Corinthians 1:24). Likewise, Peter instructed pastors, “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example” (1 Peter 5:3, NLT).

However, we see in Scripture that Paul was not hesitant to instruct people in the ways of God with great authority, and we also see that he advised his protégés to do the same. Consider the following Scriptures concerning how Paul (and Peter) ministered:

Acts 10:48
48 And he [Peter] commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord…

1 Corinthians 14:37
37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians

• for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. (4:2)
• that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you… (4:11)

2 Thessalonians

• And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. (3:4)
• But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. (3:6)
• For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (3:10)
• Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (3:12)

1 Timothy

• These things command and teach. (4:11)
• And these things command, that they may be blameless. (5:7)
• Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (6:17)

Titus 1:5   
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you…

7. God’s Authority Goes Beyond Usages of the Word “Commandment.”

Please don’t think for a minute that the only commandments God has for us are when Scripture uses that specific word (commandment). I encourage you to read through the New Testament and look for statements that are Spirit-inspired commandments for your life. For example:

Ephesians 4:32
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

What is that verse to you? Is it a good idea? A suggestion? An option? Merely an ideal? Simply a principle for successful living? Or is Ephesians 4:32 a commandment to you? Is it an authoritative directive from God for your life? We should think about this in terms of how we read and apply the myriad of New Testament directives for our lives.

Concluding Thought

Jesus is not merely Savior, but He is also Lord. That implies His rulership and mastery over our lives. God does not give commandments to be legalistic burdens, but to lead us in the path that will bring glory to Him, benefit to others, and blessing to our lives. May God enrich and empower us as we live submitted lives of obedience to the commandments of God.

Five Things You Need To Know About The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that follows salvation.

The Holy Spirit is involved in the New Birth!

John 20:22

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

The event described in John 20 occurred on the very night of Jesus’ resurrection.

After this, the lives of the disciples changed.

• Their minds were opened to the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).
• They worshipped Jesus (Luke 24:52).
• They had great joy (Luke 24:52).
• They were continually praising God (Luke 24:52).
• Even Thomas, the one who had doubted, said: "My Lord and My God" (John 20:28).
• They experienced unity (Acts 1:14; 2:1).

Every Christian has a definite relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Believer is…

• Convicted of his sins by the Spirit (John 16:7-9).
• Drawn to the Lord by the Spirit (Revelation 22:17).
• Sanctified (or set apart unto salvation) by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).
• Born of the Spirit (John 3:6, 8).
• Baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
• Witnessed to by the Spirit that (s)he is a child of God (Romans 8:16).
• Indwelt by the Spirit (John 14:17; Romans 8:9).

Even though these disciples were born-again and had the type of relationship with the Holy Spirit described in the Scriptures above, Jesus still wanted them to experience an additional dimension in their relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 – Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which, He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Pentecost was 50 days after the Passover, which is when Jesus was crucified). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was not symbolized by a gentle breath as He had been on the night of the resurrection. At Pentecost, He was expressed as a rushing mighty wind.

Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Baptism of the Spirit is also seen as an experience that followed salvation in Acts 8.

Acts 8:12, 14-17

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 9, Jesus appeared to Saul, a man who was trying to destroy the church, in a spectacular way. Paul calls Jesus "Lord" and obeys him. Ananias was a disciple in Damascus who received direction from the Lord about ministering to Saul:

Acts 9:17 – And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Different dimensions of the believer’s relationship with the Holy Spirit is presented in two different aspects of Jesus’ teaching:

1. With, In, and On – in John 14:17, Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit, saying, "…for He dwells with you and shall be in you." Then in Luke 24:49, he spoke of the disciples being "endued with power from on high."

2. Jesus also used the analogy of water to portray different dimensions of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer.

John 4:14

But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.    

2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for believers of all generations.

Some have said that the Holy Spirit baptism was only for the first Christians – those who lived during the ministry of the first 12 apostles, but what does the Bible say?

Acts 2:38-39

Then Peter said to them, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

"The promise" refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus used this same terminology in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4.

Some have tried to use Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 13 to insinuate that tongues (which is directly connected to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit) has passed away. But a careful, contextual reading of the passage makes it clear that this is not what Paul was saying.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.For now we see in a mirror, dimly, then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Some people take the phrase, "tongues will cease" out of context and try to prove that the gifts of the Spirit are not for believers today. To come to this conclusion, you would also have to say that knowledge has vanished away. Thus, you would need to say that you’ve arrived at such a point of spiritual maturity that you now know everything fully, just as you have been fully known by God.

No, we’ve not arrived at that place yet. The partial things (tongues, prophecy, and knowledge) are still necessary. It’s not until we arrive in heaven that we’ll be interacting with God "face to face." Then we will know just as we are known.

3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is given for a distinct purpose.

Acts 1:8

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The Holy Spirit coming within you was for your benefit. The Holy Spirit coming upon you is for the benefit of others. We receive comfort and assurance personally from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But we are divinely enabled to be powerful witnesses through the Holy Spirit coming upon us.

4. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is followed by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues.

Acts 2:4

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

Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as we have? As he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 19:1-6

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John’s baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts 8:17-20

Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, Saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money."

Keep in mind — Simon had been a sorcerer. He was prideful and loved amazing and impressing people.

When Simon saw the healings, miracles, and deliverances performed by Philip, he was amazed. But when he saw the imparting of the Holy Spirit, he wanted to buy that power! Apparently there was some type of outward manifestation that was very fascinating to him.

Acts 9:17 – the story of Saul (Paul) receiving the Holy Spirit – the Scripture does not here say he spoke in tongues, but we know he did, because he later said: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you" (I Cor. 14:18).

Speaking in tongues is the common denominator. Tongues is the initial physical evidence of the infilling of the Spirit. Other elements were also present…

• Declaring the wonders of God (Acts 2:11)
• Joy (Acts 13:52)
• Praising God (Acts 10:46)
• Prophesying (Acts 19:6)

5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is described in various ways and through various terms in the Scripture.

Sometimes various words and phrases are used to describe the same thing.

For example, depending on what part of the country you are in, someone might ask you if you want a soft drink. Another might ask if you wanted a soda. Yet another might ask if you wanted a pop. They’re all asking the same thing, but they’re using different words.

Likewise, one person might ask you if you want to play basketball. Another might ask if you want to shoot some hoop. A third person might ask if you want to play a little roundball.

What are some of the different phrases used in conjunction with this experience involving the Holy Spirit?

A. "Receiving the Holy Spirit" is used to describe this experience.

This phrase is used eleven times in the New Testament.

It is used by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38) in assuring his audience that they could receive the same wonderful experience the 120 had just received.

Acts 8 – Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15).

Paul asked the Ephesians, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (Acts 19:2)

All of these scriptures emphasize the fact that this glorious experience is A GIFT that is simply to be received!

Luke 11:11-13

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will you heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

B. "Falling on them" ("being poured out upon," or "coming upon") is used to describe this experience.

Peter explained in Acts 3:33, "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear."

Samaria – "For as yet He had fallen upon none of them" (Acts 8:16).

Cornelius’ household – While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word" (Acts 10:44).

Ephesus – "And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them…"

These types of references occur ten times in all.

All of these Scriptures indicate that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift from HEAVEN. He is not an earthly personage, but is the Divine Holy Spirit.

C. The word "baptism" is used to describe this experience.

The figure of baptism is used six times in the New Testament in reference to this experience with the Holy Spirit.

Baptism involves submersion, a complete immersion in something.

Water baptism involves:

• Yieldedness
• Cooperation
• Relaxation
• Surrender

When a person is baptized in water, he goes in one way (dry) and comes out another way (wet).

When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the change is spiritual, but it is just as real!

D. "Filled" is yet another term used to describe this experience.

• Acts 2:4 – And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…
• Acts 4:8 – Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…
• Acts 6:3 – The men chosen to serve in helps ministry were men "full of the Holy Spirit."
• Acts 7:55 – Stephen was "full of the Spirit" as he faced martyrdom.

The phrase "filled" represents not merely an experience of having received the Spirit, but a condition and a state of becoming filled and remaining filled with his Divine Power.

Being "filled with the Spirit" was not meant to be a one-time experience, but an on-going state. Note Paul’s experience in Antioch Pisidia:

Acts 13:50-52

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

    (Wms) …and the disciples continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

    (Gdspd) But the disciples continued to be full of joy.

    (Wey) …and as for the disciples, they were more and more filled with the joy…

    Ephesians 5:18 – And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

    (Wey) …drink deeply of the Spirit…

    (Wms) …but ever be filled with the Spirit

Summary of Main Points

1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that follows salvation.

2. The Baptism of the Spirit is for believers of all generations.

3. The Baptism of the Spirit is given for a distinct purpose.

4. The Baptism of the Spirit is followed by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues.

5. The Baptism of the Spirit is described in various ways and through the use of various terms.

(All Scripture quotations in this message are from the New King James Version of the Bible.)

The Four-Wheel Drive Christian by Rev. Tony Cooke

Having lived in Oklahoma since 1979, we never saw much need for four-wheel drive.  However, living in Colorado this past winter presented a whole new perspective.  There were several times when we would be driving tentatively (and prayerfully) in heavy snow, and we would be passed by confident drivers who had far better traction.  Their grip on the road was far superior to ours in difficult conditions, and they weren’t slipping or sliding the way we did at times.

What was the difference?  They had all four tires working for them, and we didn’t!

Spiritually speaking, God never intended for us to try to get through all of the challenges and difficulties of life with just one tire spinning, either.  We all appreciate having a specific “word” quickened to us when we need guidance or help from heaven, and such illumination from the Holy Spirit can provide an amazing amount of strength and comfort.

However, in the overall scope of our lives, God did not intend for us to embrace one specially “highlighted” Scripture (or theme) while ignoring the compreheAnsive counsel of God.  We are to look at Scripture from an integrated perspective, not from an isolated perspective.  Notice that Jesus said that man shall live, “…by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), not merely by selected or isolated words of God.

Let’s illustrate this.  The Apostle James demonstrated how various spiritual forces can and should work together cooperatively, especially in hard times.  He said:

James 1:2-5 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

We might say that James was encouraging every believer to be a “Four-Wheel Drive Christian.”  In this case, the four-wheels are joy, faith, patience, and wisdom.  One person said, “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves never stands alone!”

We’ve all seen people endeavoring to “stand in faith,” but perhaps they’d lost their joy, or were not exercising any patience, or were not using wisdom in their life.  As valuable and as important as faith is, that’s not the way to get the best results in life.  These spiritual forces were designed by God to be complimentary, and they need to work together!

Joy is what gives buoyancy and “lift” to our lives as we trust God.  It is related to cheerfulness, gladness, and rejoicing.  According to Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Patience (or endurance) is what gives staying power to our faith.  We’d all love it if every desired result in life was instantaneous, but we know that often there is a process involved.  I believe that’s why Hebrews 6:12 tells us that it’s through “faith and patience” that we inherit the promises.

Wisdom is what enables us to make accurate and precise application of our faith.  Some people say they are trusting God, but their very words, attitudes, and actions (or lack thereof) are totally undermining the results they say they are believing God for.  Because of a lack of wisdom, they are sabotaging their own potential success.

Faith, as we know, is a powerful, God-given force.  But God still ordained that faith in our lives be surrounded and supported by a number of other spiritual forces.  Paul and Peter both promoted this cooperative approach.

Romans 15:13
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:5-8 5 …giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are several ways we can look at this.  We could call these “the cooperating powers of God.”  We could call it “the faith team.”  Or we can simply aspire to be “four-wheel drive Christians” who get good traction and are able to keep moving even in turbulent times.

Our prayer for you is that you are developing comprehensively in the various components of biblical spirituality, and that you will continue to abound in the manifold grace of God.