Getting Along
By Tony Cooke

Every book of the New Testament has something to say about how we are supposed to get along with other people. Every single NT book has at least one (and some have several) verses about getting along.

1. How we are to love and treat each other (encouraging, edifying, etc.)
2. How to proactively build positive relationships with each other
3. We see individuals navigating through difficult relationships – sometimes well, sometimes not so well
4. We are challenged to overcome the inclination to rip each other apart.

Let’s do a quick scan of the books of the New Testament to see what they tell us about “getting along.”  Sometimes the reference is a commandment. At other times it’s an observation or a description, but how we relate to others, and the significance of our interpersonal relationships, is a major theme of the New Testament.
        
The Gospel of Matthew
5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
5: 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
18:15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

The Gospel of Mark
9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.

The Gospel of Luke
17:1 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him."

The Gospel of John
13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
17:20 (NLT) I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Acts
2:1 …they were all with one accord in one place.
2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house…
4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul
20:30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Romans
12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

1 Corinthians
3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
6:6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
11:18 …when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you…
13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

2 Corinthians
12:20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish… lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults…
13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace;

Galatians
5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."   15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephesians
4:1 …walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Philippians
1:27 …stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…
2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
4:2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

Colossians
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

1 Thessalonians
5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

2 Thessalonians
1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because… the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other…

1 Timothy
1:4 …disputes rather than godly edification
5:1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. 3 Honor widows who are really widows.
5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
6:1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor…

2 Timothy
2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition…

Titus
3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

Philemon
15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave — a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Hebrews
10:24 (Amp) And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, 25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

James
3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

1 Peter
3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;   9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

2 Peter
1:5 …giving all diligence, add to your faith… 7 brotherly kindness…

1 John
2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.
4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

2 John
5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.

3 John
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Jude
16 (NLT) These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.
19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. 20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith…
Wilmington translates that, “Strengthen yourselves, and others as well.”

Revelation
2:4 (NLT) But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

The Bible recognizes that relationships are a two-way street. You may have noticed that Paul told the Romans, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (12:18). Even in relationships that don’t work well based on the decisions and actions of others, we can still keep our heart right, stay positive, and walk in love. The bottom line is that we can do the right thing and keep a good attitude even if another person does not. Our assignment is to do the best we can at cultivating and maintaining the best relationships possible.

Freedom From Fear
By Rev. Tony Cooke

Click Here to order the audio CD where Tony preaches this message.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones, the great Methodist missionary, made the following outstanding statement:
“I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath–these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely–these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, ‘We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non- worriers, but that is a fact.’ But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.”

When Jesus responded to a question posed by His disciples (Matthew 24:4-8) about future events, Jesus indicated the following would occur:

* Great deception in the earth
* Wars and rumors of wars
* Nation would rise against nation
* Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places

Amazingly, in the midst of that seemingly pessimistic forecast, Jesus gave an outstanding command: “See that you are not troubled!” One translation of that verse says, “Stop being alarmed,” and another says, “See that you are not frightened or alarmed.”

Before she passed away, Ann Landers (who at that time was receiving around 10,000 letters a month seeking advice) was asked about the most common topic of the letters she received. She answered that “most people seem to be afraid of something.” She indicated that people were often afraid even when there seemed to be no reason to be afraid and said, “Ours is a world of fearful people.”

Sometimes we think of fear as an intense, panicked feeling, the kind you would expect if a bear or lion attacked you. Far more people, though, are dealing with what we might call a seed of fear… a low-grade condition that annoys, irritates, and distracts, and keeps them from truly enjoying life. One person described that kind of condition as follows: “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through our mind. If it continues, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”

What follows are five steps we can take in conquering fear when we sense it affecting us. These simple points include:

1. ACKNOWLEDGE it!

Denying the existence of a problem doesn’t make it go away, and acknowledging it doesn’t create it. If you’re dealing with fear, you’re dealing with fear. Be open and honest with God. Don’t be ashamed of the problem and try to hide it from God. In Psalm 56:3, David said, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” In other words, David had a strategy in place for what he would do when fear presented itself to him.

Never let the fear linger in the subconscious where it will just gnaw away at you. Bring it to the light! Ephesians 5:13 (Amplified) says, 13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.

2. ANALYZE the Fear.

Analyze is not a bad word! In Isaiah 1:18, God said, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD…” God wasn’t against us using our reasoning powers, but He wants us to reason with Him and His Word, not against Him and His Word. Romans 12:2 tells us that we are, “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” not by the removing of it.

Analyzing the fear will help us to know whether we’re dealing with a real or an imaginary problem. There is rational fear and then there is irrational fear, and most of the fears we face are not really grounded in reality. While we do want to analyze our fears in the light of God’s Word, we don’t want to do this exclusively. To spend too much time in this arena leads us into the “paralysis of analysis.”

3. ARM Yourself With the Word of God!

Find and embrace the promises in the Bible about trust, confidence, and overcoming fear! The word of God is “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).

Joshua 10:25
25 "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage…”

Psalm 27:1-3
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

Psalm 46:1-2
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Proverbs 3:24-26
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 54:14
In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Mark 5:36
…"Do not be afraid; only believe."

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Hebrews 13:5-6
5 He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
6So we may boldly say:
"The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"

4. ACTIVELY Resist Fear.

We can resist fear with our thoughts, words, prayers, and songs. Notice what Isaiah said about resisting the verbal assaults of the enemy.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness Is from Me,"
Says the LORD.

Really, the best way to resist fear (a negative) is to be saturated with a positive: the love of God. 1 John 4:18 tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.”

5. ASSOCIATE with People Who Build You Up!

Fellowship with faith-filled people is essential. Paul drew enormous strength from others when he was facing difficult times, and we should too. Ultimately, our trust has to be in God, not in people. However, God is good to bring people into our lives who can encourage and help us.

One time, when Paul was going through a particularly difficult time, God used Titus to encourage him. Consider Paul’s words:

2 Corinthians 7:5-6
6 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Know that God fashioned you for faith, not for fear! The one who made you to live free from fear will certainly help you as you decide to live as God ordained.

Click Here to order the audio CD where Tony preaches this message.

Fill in the Blank
Rev. Tony Cooke

God is ________________.

What is the first thing that came to your mind?  There are many “correct” answers.  Many people reading this probably thought, “God is love.”  You certainly can’t argue with that.  Others may have thought, “God is good.”  Correct again.  What about awesome, great, powerful, wonderful, or mighty?  Obviously, these and many other answers would be accurate.

But I wonder how many people completed that sentence this way?  God is happy.

I appreciate what Oswald Sanders said in “Dynamic Spiritual Leadership.”

“Paul acclaims the good news of Jesus Christ as “the glorious Gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:11).  Rotherham appropriately translates it, “the gospel of the glory of the happy God.”  This rather beatific title describes God not as One who is the object of blessing, but as One who enjoys in himself the fullness of joy.  He lives in the sublime atmosphere of his own eternal happiness (Hebrews 1:9).  Jesus himself possesses a surplus of joy that he has bequeathed to his disciples, a storehouse which can supply us with unique blessings for our lives.”

Sanders goes on to say, “Thus Paul encourages Timothy to believe that the Gospel he is to preach arises out of an environment of joy – the happy heart of God, which is perpetually overflowing.”

So many people see God as anything but happy.  They see Him as angry, impatient, fault-finding, critical, demanding, upset, disappointed, irritable, and short-tempered.  They see God as One who is reluctant, grudging, and hesitant toward us.  However, the truth is that God is eagerly and proactively benevolent toward us.  He doesn’t miserably tolerate us; He joyfully celebrates us!

What Would He Say to You?

In talking with many people over the years who were struggling with guilt, condemnation, shame, etc., I have often asked the question: “If Jesus were to walk into this room, sit down, and speak to you, what would He say?”  Almost without exception, the individuals have said something like, “He would probably tell me how disappointed He is in me, and would point out all the ways I’ve failed, fallen short, etc.” 

While God certainly does correct us when needed, it springs from His heart of love (Revelation 3:19).  When He does bring correction into our lives, it is never to beat us down or denigrate us, but so that we might be partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).  God is not the accuser or the condemner, and we need to be fully convinced of His heart of joy and pleasure toward us.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)
17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Luke 12:32 (NLT)
32 "So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

We know that God the Father loved, accepted, and celebrated His Son, Jesus.  At Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17), God declared from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  We are inclined to think that was because Jesus had done so many wonderful works, but that was BEFORE Jesus ever preached a single sermon or healed a single sick person.  God’s love for Jesus was based on God’s own nature, not on Jesus’ works or performance.  Likewise, God loves us based on His own nature as well.  In John 17:23 (NLT), Jesus was praying to the Father, and He said about all of His disciples (including us), that “…you love them as much as you love me.”  What a staggering thought!  The Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus.  That’s not my doctrine or my idea; those are Jesus’ own words!

When I was a young Christian, I thought Jesus was the nice side of God while the Father was the angry side of God.  In other words, I saw the intercessory ministry of Jesus as Him trying to talk the Father into doing something the Father really didn’t want to do (accept us), or in trying to talk the Father out of doing something He really wanted to do (punish us).  But then I read what Jesus said in John 16:26-27 (NLT): “Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly…”

If God Himself is, in fact, “The Happy God,” then where does that leave us?  A phenomenal example of a believer’s attitude in life is found in Paul’s defense before Agrippa.  Circumstantially, Paul had experienced months and years of great challenge and difficulty, and yet he said (Acts 26:2, NKJV), “I think myself happy, king Agrippa…”  I love that phrase!  While most translations render it something along the lines of, “I consider myself fortunate,” I love the idea of “thinking myself happy.”

If we think God is always angry, perturbed, and frowning, what right would we have to be happy and full of joy?  But if God is smiling over us and rejoicing over us, it would seem right for us to do the same.  After all, we are His children, created in His image and in His likeness!  Having read this, our prayer is that you, too, will begin to “think yourself happy!”

Overcoming the Fear of Man
Tony Cooke

Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)
25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.

Fearing man goes beyond fearing physical harm. Many fear rejection, ridicule, or disapproval.  Some even become “approval addicts,” obsessively pursuing human approval at whatever cost and anxiously brooding over what others think of them.  As a matter of fact, the Message version paraphrases the above verse, “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.”

That makes me wonder how much we in the Body of Christ – believers and leaders – have been paralyzed and had our potential minimized due to fearing man.  A classic example of “the fear of man” is found in the way certain individuals responded to Jesus.

John 12:42-43 (NLT)
42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

When individuals are ruled by the fear of man, they will shrink from their convictions and violate their own conscience.  We can see from this verse (and perhaps from our own experiences and observations) that “peer pressure” doesn’t simply affect teenagers.  If we are overcome by the fear of human opinion, it is probably because we’ve magnified man and minimized God in our thinking.

Isaiah 51:12-13 (NLT)
12 “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?  13 Yet you have forgotten the LORD, your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth.

When we reverence God properly in our lives, and realize that His opinion is the one that ultimately matters, we will avoid the snare, disability, and paralysis that comes from cringing before the potential disapproval of man.  Paul’s maturity in this regard was evidenced in the following:

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.  4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

Paul wasn’t arrogant, but neither was he apologetic.  He was assertive, though, in his walk with God, and this confidence was based on knowing God and not fearing man.

Commenting on these verses in “Growing Up Spiritually,” Kenneth E. Hagin said, “Paul had grown in grace to such an extent that he sought only to commend himself to God.  He was not influenced or affected by what others thought of him.  He did not get in bondage to anybody.  It was not a carnal independence – but a saintly dignity.”  He went on to say, “The mature believer is God-conscious.  And ever conscious of what God’s Word says about him and to him.  Because he is able to testify with Paul, ‘It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man’s judgment,’ he is free to walk in and voice his convictions.”

Jesus followed this same pattern even when He was twelve years old.  When His parents finally found Him in the Temple, Mary really unloaded on Jesus with much emotion.  Luke 2:48 (NLT) records her saying: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

Not everyone responds well to such a statement, but Jesus’ response reveals much.

1. He did not respond with arrogance.  Arrogance would have said, “I’ll do what I want, when I want, and how I want, and I don’t want any lip from you.”
2. He did not respond apologetically.  An apology would have said, “I’m so sorry.  I’ll never do anything ever again that upsets you.”
3. He did respond with assertiveness.  Jesus simply said (Luke 2:49), “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  He was so secure, calm, comfortable, and confident in God’s acceptance and approval that He did not need to bristle with arrogance or cower in intimidation.

If we are insecure in the Father’s love and acceptance, we will often try to fill that void in our life by the approval of people.  The fallacy of this is revealed when we recognize that man’s love and approval is typically conditional, fickle, and temporal.  As a result, we are never truly secure because man’s love can be very subject to change.  However, the love of God is unconditional, unchanging, and eternal.  In Him we find true security.  That’s why it is so much better for us to walk in the reverential fear and awe of God than to be on the emotional roller coaster of seeking man’s approval.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)
5 …God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

This is the type of confidence every child and ever servant of God should have.

It is important to realize that this freedom from the fear of man does not mean that we should have the kind of attitude that says, “Bless God, I don’t care what anybody thinks or says about me.”

It is one thing to be so secure in the acceptance of God that you do not cringe before human rejection or disapproval.  It is another thing to have a rebellious, arrogant, and carnally independent attitude that leads one to disregard and disrespect others.

To properly understand what our position should be, we not only need to observe Paul’s perspective in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (… it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you), but we also need to hear the balancing wisdom he expressed later in the same book.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NLT)
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.  33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Did Paul just contradict himself?  We know that Paul said elsewhere (Colossians 3:22) not to be a people-pleaser, but now he’s describing how he always tries to please everyone.  This may be a bit paradoxical, but it is not contradictory.  Paul is actually talking about two entirely different issues.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul is not describing an insecurity or fear-based pursuit of approval for his own benefit, but rather, a love-based effort to serve others for their benefit.

Notice Paul’s qualifiers:

1. First, he says we should do things for the glory of God.
2. Second, he says we should avoid giving offense, or being an unnecessary stumbling block that would keep others from God.
3. Third, we see he seeks to please others (not just himself).  He does this not for his own personal benefit (to meet a need in his own life) but for the benefit of others that they might be saved.

When we look at the harmonious blend of all these Scriptures, it becomes clear that we are not to insecurely fear man.  But having found our security in God, we are to proactively seek to remove stumbling blocks and express a love-oriented, confidence-based servant’s attitude toward others.  May God help this be realized in all of our lives.

 

You Are Fashioned for Faith
By Rev. Tony Cooke

Click Here to order the audio CD where Tony preaches this message.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones, the great Methodist missionary, made the following outstanding statement:
“I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath–these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely–these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, ‘We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non- worriers, but that is a fact.’ But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.”

When Jesus responded to a question posed by His disciples (Matthew 24:4-8) about future events, Jesus indicated the following would occur:

* Great deception in the earth
* Wars and rumors of wars
* Nation would rise against nation
* Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places

Amazingly, in the midst of that seemingly pessimistic forecast, Jesus gave an outstanding command: “See that you are not troubled!” One translation of that verse says, “Stop being alarmed,” and another says, “See that you are not frightened or alarmed.”

Before she passed away, Ann Landers (who at that time was receiving around 10,000 letters a month seeking advice) was asked about the most common topic of the letters she received. She answered that “most people seem to be afraid of something.” She indicated that people were often afraid even when there seemed to be no reason to be afraid and said, “Ours is a world of fearful people.”

Sometimes we think of fear as an intense, panicked feeling, the kind you would expect if a bear or lion attacked you. Far more people, though, are dealing with what we might call a seed of fear… a low-grade condition that annoys, irritates, and distracts, and keeps them from truly enjoying life. One person described that kind of condition as follows: “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through our mind. If it continues, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”

What follows are five steps we can take in conquering fear when we sense it affecting us. These simple points include:

1. ACKNOWLEDGE it!

Denying the existence of a problem doesn’t make it go away, and acknowledging it doesn’t create it. If you’re dealing with fear, you’re dealing with fear. Be open and honest with God. Don’t be ashamed of the problem and try to hide it from God. In Psalm 56:3, David said, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” In other words, David had a strategy in place for what he would do when fear presented itself to him.

Never let the fear linger in the subconscious where it will just gnaw away at you. Bring it to the light! Ephesians 5:13 (Amplified) says, 13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.

2. ANALYZE the Fear.

Analyze is not a bad word! In Isaiah 1:18, God said, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD…” God wasn’t against us using our reasoning powers, but He wants us to reason with Him and His Word, not against Him and His Word. Romans 12:2 tells us that we are, “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” not by the removing of it.

Analyzing the fear will help us to know whether we’re dealing with a real or an imaginary problem. There is rational fear and then there is irrational fear, and most of the fears we face are not really grounded in reality. While we do want to analyze our fears in the light of God’s Word, we don’t want to do this exclusively. To spend too much time in this arena leads us into the “paralysis of analysis.”

3. ARM Yourself With the Word of God!

Find and embrace the promises in the Bible about trust, confidence, and overcoming fear! The word of God is “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).

Joshua 10:25
25 “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage…”

Psalm 27:1-3
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

Psalm 46:1-2
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Proverbs 3:24-26
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 54:14
In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Mark 5:36
…”Do not be afraid; only believe.”

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Hebrews 13:5-6
5 He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
6So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

4. ACTIVELY Resist Fear.

We can resist fear with our thoughts, words, prayers, and songs. Notice what Isaiah said about resisting the verbal assaults of the enemy.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness Is from Me,”
Says the LORD.

Really, the best way to resist fear (a negative) is to be saturated with a positive: the love of God. 1 John 4:18 tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.”

5. ASSOCIATE with People Who Build You Up!

Fellowship with faith-filled people is essential. Paul drew enormous strength from others when he was facing difficult times, and we should too. Ultimately, our trust has to be in God, not in people. However, God is good to bring people into our lives who can encourage and help us.

One time, when Paul was going through a particularly difficult time, God used Titus to encourage him. Consider Paul’s words:

2 Corinthians 7:5-6
6 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Know that God fashioned you for faith, not for fear! The one who made you to live free from fear will certainly help you as you decide to live as God ordained.

Click Here to order the audio CD where Tony preaches this message.

Faith and Medicine
by Tony Cooke

Question: I was diagnosed with a certain disease and have been taking medicine for that condition. I have recently been learning about Divine healing. I am very excited about what I am hearing, and I am trusting God for healing. My question has to do with the medicine I am taking. Should I discontinue my medication as an act of faith? Is taking medicine a contradiction to my faith? I am a little bit confused as to what I should do along these lines.

Answer: The questions you present are very good ones. Actually, many people have had questions and experienced confusion about these very same issues. It seems that no matter what subject is being discussed, people tend to go to one extreme or another. It is like a driver who can’t keep his car out of the ditches on either side of the road. On the subject of faith and medicine, some people teach that God no longer heals, or if He does, it is very rare. They state that the age of miracles has passed away. Others go to the opposite extreme and state that not only does God still heal, but that it is a sin for a Christian to use doctors or take medicine in pursuit of healing.

The problem with the first teaching is obvious. It denies the Bible truth that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The Bible simply does not teach that God’s power was to be relegated to a certain time frame. We serve the same Jesus who lived and healed nearly 2,000 years ago. We have the same Holy Spirit who anointed Him to do the wonderful works He did. The compassion and mercy of God have not changed, and neither have His promises.

The danger of the second extreme is also clear. Much reproach has been brought to the Body of Christ by individuals who have preached against doctors and against the use of medicine by Christians. I have collected a number of articles from newspapers over the years relating how people have suffered and even died needlessly because of this type of approach. In some cases, parents have withheld medical help from their children on religious grounds. Beyond the public spectacle and the physical suffering this creates, many people have suffered emotionally and spiritually because of the guilt, shame, and condemnation heaped upon them by those who have embraced and advocated this erroneous ideology.

I believe it is unfortunate that some people have chosen to pit medicine against faith as though they were somehow adversarial. I believe these two forces should be seen as complementary, not as contradictory. After all, both your faith and the doctor are aiming at the same goal: your wholeness and healing. My persuasion is that medicine and faith can be integrated. They do not need to be isolated from one another.

Please consider the following as you seek to resolve this issue in your own thinking:

1. In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus related a story about a man we call "The Good Samaritan." In this story, the Samaritan man came across an individual who had been beaten badly and was seriously injured. He treated the man’s injuries with oil and wine (the best medicines he had access to in that day) and bandaged his wounds. Further, he made sure the man had time to recuperate and recover from his injuries. Jesus commended that man for his merciful actions, and said that his was an example worth emulating. Apparently Jesus was not against the use of medicine when it was necessary.

2. Proverbs 3:27 says, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so." There are times where we have something at our disposal that is good and helpful. The Bible tells us when we have the means, the resources, and the wherewithal to do good, we should not withhold it from the person in need. Would the principle conveyed in this Scripture apply when a parent has access to medicine that will help an ailing child? I think so.

3. In the Septuagint version (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) of Proverbs 18:9, we read: "He who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide." This is a powerful verse! In this, we see that God expects us to do what we can do to help ourselves. If you accidentally put your hand on a hot stove, you will instinctively and quickly pull your hand away. Why? When God designed us as human beings He built instincts within that cause us to do whatever we can to protect ourselves and keep ourselves safe. A person would have to override his God-given instincts to not do what he could to help himself.

4. 1 John 3:17 says, "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" The Amplified Bible here refers to "…resources for sustaining life…" While John may not have been speaking specifically of medicine here, I believe the principle still applies.

5. The Apostle Paul advocated the use of something "natural" for a chronic physical problem that was experienced by his young assistant, Timothy. 1 Timothy 5:22 says: "No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for your stomach’s sake, and your frequent infirmities." The New International Version Bible Commentary says this about Paul’s comment: "Apparently for medicinal purposes, Timothy is told not to restrict himself to drinking water but to ‘use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.’

6. Ask yourself the question: "Who gave the doctors and researchers the wisdom to be able to develop medicines and treatments that help the sick?" I believe it was God Himself.

7. Remember that faith does not imply denying the existence of a problem. David did not deny the existence of Goliath. He believed that God would help him overcome that challenge. In the same way, trusting God for healing does not mean that we deny the existence of a physical problem. When Paul’s friend, Epaphroditus, was sick, Paul was very realistic about the situation. He did not play word games and deny the existence of the problem. He said, "For indeed, he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him" (Philippians 2:27a). Some people have gotten into trouble because they thought that it was an act of faith to deny the existence of a problem.

8. Keep in mind that Paul said we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), not by the removing of the mind. God is not against people using good sense when dealing with the challenges of life. It seems good to me that when a challenge comes, to hit it with every weapon we have available. Don’t neglect the practical and the physical by focusing only on the spiritual, but neither should you neglect the spiritual while trusting only in the practical and the physical. Use the good that the world has to offer, and benefit from whatever help is available in the natural realm, but make sure that you are trusting God first and foremost.

If you use medicine or have surgery, continue to trust God, and look to Him as your Great Physician. Use good sense in bringing every tool available to your aid. Trust God to not only work through the natural means available, but trust Him to work above and beyond whatever help man can offer.

In closing, let me offer a few pastoral thoughts. In more than three decades of ministry, I have seen many people healed as a result of faith and prayer. I believe strongly in God’s goodness and His mercy, and I believe He is still in the healing business.

I have also seen situations where it seems people operated in foolishness or presumption by electing to disregard or neglect medical advice. I have seen situations where a medical condition had advanced to an acute, critical stage that could have been taken care of had the person acted earlier. I believe it is very unfortunate when a person neglects available care or a prescribed treatment, especially when a condition is at a very treatable stage.

As a general rule I encourage people to work with their doctor, to receive medical care, and to follow their doctor’s counsel. At the same time I encourage people to trust in God and look to Him as their Healer. Saturating yourself with God’s Word and God’s promises concerning healing is the way to build your faith and to keep your faith strong. Your physician may or may not believe in Divine healing, but he can tell when a change has taken place in your body. Whether this change occurs by natural means, by supernatural intervention, or by a combination of the two, your doctor can recognize this and modify or discontinue whatever medications or treatments he has prescribed for you. In my opinion, this approach reflects the wisdom of God. It does not put faith and medicine in opposition to one another, but integrates them into working together for the good of the people whom God loves.

EXPECTANCY + ACTION = RESULTS
By Rev. Tony Cooke

God wants us to live with a great sense of expectancy. However, we need to keep in mind that great things don’t just happen. They occur when we walk with God and cooperate with Him. The Apostle James was known for being a very blunt and outspoken minister, and he had some powerful things to say about the Christian not merely saying he believes, but acting on his faith!

James 2:19-25 (The Message Bible)
19 Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them?
20 Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
21 Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar?
22 Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"?
23 The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God’s friend."
24 Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
25 The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God?

There are a couple of phrases here that I really like – the “mesh of believing and acting” and the “seamless unity of believing and doing.”

All of us periodically have certain opportunities that enable us to act on our faith… to take a step in the direction of our dreams. We need to make certain that we don’t let these opportunities pass us by. I trust you are inspired by the following:

“When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
– Alexander Graham Bell

“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been.’”
– John Greenleaf Whittier

“The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.”
– John Burrows

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
– Thomas Edison

“I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.”
– Frederick Douglass

I remember hearing Brother Hagin preach a message years ago in which he presented a very simple and profound truth. He said, “Missed opportunities bring regret.” Our prayer for you is that you will miss no opportunity that God sets in front of you—that you will truly seize each day and live life to its fullest for His glory!

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