God Works Through His Church

And so we have finished the exposition of the book of Acts.  The spread of the gospel is God’s work, and He works through His church.  He filled the church with His Holy Spirit, empowering His people to live the gospel, to communicate with boldness, and to persevere in faithfulness.  Luke records some amazing things accomplished in the early church, but that is because an amazing God was working through ordinary people submitted to Him. The same has been true through history – we are the same church, with the same mission, and the same indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Acts ends with an unfinished task. Now it is on us to take up the mantle to communicate the gospel to our generation. This is not merely a call to duty, but an invitation to live in the outflow of the amazing grace, love and power of Christ who created us for Himself and who redeemed us to reconcile us.  In Him we have forgiveness, we are new creations, and we are blessed with the powerful presence of His Spirit (Acts 1:8). We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, to  proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), and who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14).

There are four necessary components to communicating the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ:

1. Creator/community – God, who is community, created us to draw us into communion with Himself and enjoy Him forever.

2. Sin/separation – Sin separates us from God like a branch broken off the tree. That separation is ultimately his holy, necessary wrath.

3. Son/Savior – God, from eternity, had a remedy for our sin in place. His Son came to us, like us, lived a perfect life, then died on the cross taking God’s wrath in our place.

4. Righteousness/reconciliation – Because Jesus rose again, our surrendered trust in Him gives us His righteousness, so that we can be reconciled to God and enjoy Him forever.

There are various ways to communicate the gospel simply and clearly. Last Sunday I introduced you to two compelling gospel presentations. I promised to send you videos so you could learn them, so here they are, the 4 Chairs, and the 3 Circles. I encourage you to master them, then ask God’s Spirit to cross your path with another’s for a redemptive encounter. May His Spirit sharpen your sensitivity to His promptings.

O church, arise to the ministry of reconciliation…

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:18

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Christ Lives In Me!

Part 2
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
 

The one who is in Christ – the one that has been justified by God and reconciled to Him – must daily and habitually acknowledge that good exists in him or her. That “good” is Jesus Christ. The believer has been made partaker of His divine nature. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The theological truth of being “born of God” speaks of parentage and passing on divine character. Here is the profound truth:  if you have been made “the righteousness of God” and through faith you are “in Christ,” then everything that Christ is dwells in you.
 
New Testament writers Peter and John speak of this reality using the metaphor of a seed – God’s seed and the incorruptible seed.  A seed is small, and it must germinate and grow to produce and realize all the potential that is packed within.  And so it is with Christ in the believer. We are instructed to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18).
 
By growing in Christ we undertake two important tasks that have life-changing implications. First, we put off the old man (Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:8). The “old man” is the expressions of the mind and body habituated in sin, that is – things that are contrary to God’s character and His purpose for us. But just taking away leaves a vacuum. A replacement is necessary. Growing in Christ also means the manifestations of Christ developing in and through the one who is in Christ. The old becomes replaced with the new. Therefore, secondly, we are called to put on the new man (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10) which is the outward expression of God’s presence and work in the believer.
 

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Christ Lives In Me!

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
 

To become all that one can and was designed to be requires genuine change.  In God’s economy this change comes through transformation as opposed to mere self-governance or “turning over a new leaf.” This change arises out of the new life (regeneration) that God implants into the one who surrenders himself through faith to the Creator/Redeemer.
 
We see this progression in Paul’s statement:  I have been crucified with Christ is the surrender of faith. More than mere knowledge of truth, it is life commitment to that truth with steadfast conviction as to it’s trueness.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me is the positional truth of the one committed to it. Therein resides the power and potential of transformation that goes beyond the limits of self-help.
 
The issue then becomes: How does one manifest this power and tap into the potential of genuine transformation? Here is the apostle’s answer: the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.  The element of this statement that cannot be overlooked is that I now live in the flesh.  This means that newness exists within the context of that which is yet to be redeemed – the flesh.
 
It was Paul himself that lamented:   I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells. I (my flesh) am habituated in that which opposes the character and purpose of God. Simply put, I am naturally selfish and self-preeminent. It is natural for me to think that I am the greatest and most important reality.  But living by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me rescues me from that plight.
 
The one who is in Christ must daily live habitually acknowledging that good exists in the one that has been justified by and reconciled to God. That “good” is Jesus Christ. The believer has been made partaker of His divine nature through the Spirit of God.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Access

…through whom also we have access by faith
into this grace in which we stand.

 
“Access” comes from two words: “to bring” and “facing”.  It is used of a person who brings another into the presence of a third party. In Romans 5:2 (above), it speaks of how Christ introduces us into the presence and acceptance of the infinite, holy Creator.  Both words, “have” and “stand” are written in the perfect tense communicating a process having reached its finished state.  In Christ alone our acceptance before God is a fixed position, which is why Paul states that we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).
 
This grace in which we stand means that we are rescued from futility and destruction – the despair of a pointless existence. In Christ alone are met the divine requirements for righteousness. Our existence is of inherent worth and great value because God created us in His image. Though we have rebelled and deserve the righteous judgment of holy God, He has redeemed and reconciled us to Himself. We can be accepted before perfect, holy God through surrender to Christ, who alone can escort us into His presence.
 
Because of this, let the Creator be your definition – the truth anchor of who you are and why you are here. Let Him be your delight – the focus of your affection as you draw near with boldness. Let Him be your direction – the singular objective of pleasing the One who made you, laid down His life for you and before whom you will stand. Francis Schaeffer summed it up well: “We have returned to the purpose of our creation.”
 

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Invitation to Freedom

Imagine standing before heads of state and giving them a gospel invitation. That’s what Paul did before Governor Festus and King Agrippa (Acts 26). Trying to determine what charges to write against this controversial figure before he was sent to Rome so the emperor could decide his case, the king and governor decide to listen to him. Paul took this wide-open opportunity to share the gospel of hope. His message was simple, nothing but what the prophets said – Scripture –  and that it all came true in Jesus.

Upon hearing this Festus blurts out, Paul, you are out of your mind! Paul’s response was immediate and winsome, I am speaking true and rational words.  The gospel of grace in Jesus is true and rational.  It is not propaganda or myth but anchored in real life of One who walked this earth, died for the debt of our sin, and certified this truth by walking out of the grave. Therein is hope, for Jesus said, because I live you shall live also.

Jesus’s story is true, and it is better than any other narrative imagined or propagated by human ambition.  The true and better story of Jesus and what He has done for us is what we proclaim. This is what Paul, the prisoner, proclaimed to his audience of a governor and a king. In the boldness of his freedom Paul looked directly to King Agrippa and asked, Do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.  King Agrippa’s answer was a bit of a put off, but not an outright refusal. 

Paul’s invitation was that his listeners might become such as I am. That was not an I-am-better-than-you disposition, but by God’s good grace, reconciled, free and full of hope. Paul spoke and acted as a man who was free even though at that moment he was bound by chains.  As a free man in Christ, he was fighting for the freedom of others.

May we take Paul at his invitation to follow him – to live as people who are free. For our position of reconciliation is true and better, and by it we invite others to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Hope

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."  The fact that we can have a sense of hope, that we can look for something higher and better, that we have thirst and desire implies that there is satisfaction available. This is our imago dei at work. We were created by God and for Him which makes Him our highest good and our deepest satisfaction.  In this life under the sun we can have a taste and a glimpse of the satisfaction that is His goodness, but it is inevitably mixed with the disappointments, frustrations and setbacks of the broken created order. Prejudice, selfish ambition, partiality, even hatred will continue until the day that Christ makes all things new. Until that day, we will never experience the complete satisfaction for which we were intended.
 
Peter wrote to people who were displaced from their homes because of prejudice. There was no denying that it was a significant hardship. That is why he challenged them to persevere with the eyes of their minds fixed on the eternal hope that was promised. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials (1 Peter 1:6). The apostle emphasizes the temporary nature of our adversities.  This, too, shall pass! If our confidence is in Christ, then our inheritance is in Christ - not a man-made utopia - and the current adversities will result in the realization of the  promises made by the infinite, benevolent Creator/Redeemer. We shall see Him, we shall be like Him, all will be made new, and every tear will be wiped away.  Only then will we realize the complete satisfaction that God designed and desires for us.
 
As followers of Christ, we seek to bring comfort to the suffering and remedy to the broken with bold compassion. We must do justly and love mercy in the outflow of our humble walk with God for that is what His Son did, and we follow Him. So let us walk the path of sacrifice, let us invest ourselves in the lives of those who feel the blunt end of their brokenness and that of others. Through all this, as sojourners and exiles, we must remember that complete satisfaction is not possible under the sun. We can only have a foretaste that creates in us a longing for the full and complete rest for our embodied souls.

Copyright © 2022 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Release

The key phrase in a popular song on the Disney channel was: “your heart will tell you no lies.”  Having discussed this with my children around the dinner table we concluded that this line is the one lie to rule them all.  It is a lie firmly rooted in human autonomy.  The idea of “freedom” for the natural man is the liberty to do whatever he pleases. Unrestrained desire, however, is anarchy; it is enslavement to one’s own passions and is a brutal form of bondage. It is bondage of the soul that plays out in bodily pursuits driven by the senses instead of reason, truth, or principle.

Contrasting the redeemed with the unregenerate Paul states that we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). How can desires be so tyrannical? Because they wage war against the soul (I Pet.2:11) and against the law of my mind (Rom. 7:23); they are the passions that are at war with in you that cause conflicts (James 4:1) and that plunge men into ruin and destruction (I Tim. 6:9).

Could it be that David Hume was correct in supposing that “we are slaves of our passions – ‘rational’ only in the purely instrumental sense of being capable of employing our intellectual power to, in Thomas Hobbes’s words, ‘range abroad and find the way to the things desired?’”* This is man’s affirmation of what God has revealed – that we were slaves of sin.

But part of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ is knowing that in Christ we have been redeemed from every lawless deed (Titus 2:14); we have been released from the enslavement of sin which held us under the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13) required by the demands of God’s holiness. The believer can look back at what he was and what had enslaved him but no longer does. That is the believer’s positional reality. What was the cost of this redemption? John informs us that Jesus Christ was the propitiation for our sins. This means that He absorbed the wrath of God for us – for our release from the clutches of sin, its empty, aimless way of life and its resulting destruction.

The nature of redemption must be remembered:  we did not climb out of this pit on our own – we were rescued! We were bought at a price to be set free to live the way our Maker designed us. Redemption is not only what we have been released from, but what we have been liberated to.

*Princeton University professor, Robert P. George, in the commencement address at Hillsdale College, May 10, 2003.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Family Acceptance

Paul used the metaphor of a body to instruct the Corinthian church about their conduct at the Lord’s Table. The body, though comprised of many different parts, is a single unit, vitally connected and moving in one direction.  No part of the body can act without all the other parts being affected. The beauty and attractiveness of the church is that the bond of the gospel of grace transcends man-made divisions among people. The unity of the church is a testament to God’s grace. Therefore, to fellowship or engage in worship in a manner that is exclusive or divisive means that one does not recognize the body and invites the Father’s chastisement (1 Cor. 11:29). God considers the heart attitude more important than the outward participation of worship.

The Gospel of grace is championed as Jesus Christ is remembered during the rite of the Lord’s Table. Our Lord considered it essential that we regularly focus on His redemptive sacrifice – not just for the sake of doing it – but so that our remembrance would move us to walk worthy of Christ and His gospel. The gospel lived is what points people to God’s goodness. So, it is fitting that we should focus on the Lord Jesus this way as we move on to yet another year that He has entrusted to us under the sun. This Sunday, December 26, we will gather at the Lord’s Table at 10:00 a.m. It is the table of His acceptance based on His redemptive and reconciling work. Those who have received His righteousness by faith are invited to commune with the family of God in the Spirit of Christ.

Since this is the first Sunday that we will all be together in one worship service, there are a few things I would like you to consider in preparation. We anticipate the auditorium will be rather full. There will be chairs set up in the Gathering Room, as well as an “overflow” section at the front of the auditorium facing the platform from the side.  Please come prepared by thinking “up and in.” It will be helpful – particularly for visitors – if the regular attenders move up and move in on the rows. The deacons will be available to assist in optimizing the seating. We will also need help with parking space.  Those of you who are not elderly and do not have young children, please consider parking in the lower (grassy) parking lot. It would also be meaningful to leave the parking spaces near the entrances for our visitors.

Thank you, Grace, for your consideration and for your generous spirit. I hope you have a very blessed Christmas – because of Christ.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Why God As Man?

Notes from Rich.

Why God as Man?

In his book Unspeakable, Os Guinness tells the story about a well-known Christian leader whose son had been killed in a cycling accident. Although the leader was devastated, somehow he managed to suppress his grief, even preaching eloquently at his son's funeral. His display of hope in the midst of tragedy earned him the admiration of many.

But a few weeks after the funeral, the man invited Guinness and a few friends to his home. According to Guinness, this man spoke and even screamed "not with the hope of a preacher but with the hurt of the father—pained and furious at God, dark and bilious in his blasphemy." In his agony, he blamed God for his son's death.

Rather than rebuke him, one of Guinness's friends gently reminded the enraged father of the story of Jesus at Lazarus' tomb. On three occasions in that story, Jesus expressed anger, and even furious indignation, in the presence of death. When Jesus came to earth, he became a human being just like us, feeling the abnormality of our suffering. In Jesus' humanity we see God's perspective of our pain: the beautiful world God created is now broken and in ruins. Jesus will heal this broken world and our broken lives, but first, he came to earth in order to identify with our anguish.

Guinness concludes that when we understand Jesus' humanity, it frees us to face the world's brokenness just as Jesus did. Like Jesus, we must never accuse God of wrongdoing or blaspheme God, but like Jesus, we are "free to feel what it is human to feel: sorrow at what is heartbreaking, shock at what is shattering, and outrage at what is flagrantly out of joint … . To pretend otherwise is to be too pious by half, and harder on ourselves than Jesus himself was."

Source: Os Guinness, Unspeakable (Harper, 2005), pp. 144-145

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Christmas Spirit

Imagine a scene in eternity past where the triune Godhead purposes the creation of humanity in His image – loved ones to be drawn into affectionate communion with God. Then He decrees their redemption and reconciliation necessitated by their revolt. At what cost would such an achievement be accomplished? A cost that only a holy and good triune God could provide. The second Person of this Trinity would willingly limit Himself by entering the creaturely life of these loved ones in order to live perfectly, only to be sacrificed and experience separation from the Father, Whom He had enjoyed eternally. What must have been His first thought? His first thought was not of Himself. It must have been of the love He had for His Father – His desire and delight to please Him and do His will. His first thought must have included the love He and His Father had for these image-bearing creatures.

This was not only His first thought, but His continual thought – His attitude. Yes, there was a sting in it. The cost would be great – almost too much to bear. But this was a charge He received from His Father, and He laid down His life of His own accord (John 10:18). This attitude of humility is made clear and celebrated in the Christmas story.

His commissioned messenger, Paul, gives this charge to the church, Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5 HCSB). In every encounter and decision, your first thought is not to be of yourself i.e., “How does this impact me?” “What does this do for me?” “What will this cost me?” “What will I get out of this?” “How does this line up with my agenda or what I want?” But rather, “How does this align with God’s character and purpose?” “Will this point others to Him?” “Will others sense His goodness, His grace?” “Will this provide remedy to human brokenness?” This is the humble attitude of Jesus. This is the Christmas spirit. So may this season foster in us not only a spirit of giving, but a habit of making my own attitude that of Christ Jesus.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Soul Care

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul
Ps. 19:7

Soul care is the business of the church. The leaders are charged with keeping watch over your souls (Heb. 13:17). Paul instructed the congregation to encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11). Soul care begins with the admission that we are prone to wander. When we are bludgeoned with the blunt end of brokenness – whether our own or of another – we are easily distracted from the beauty of the One Who is perfect in all His ways. Therefore, the reviving of the soul means the return of the soul with the tone of restoration. While under the sun we must be continually restored to the One who is our highest good and our deepest satisfaction.

When you are hungry or thirsty you return to food and drink. When a device runs out of power you return it to an outlet. This is also true soulishly in the community of grace, and none of it is done in isolation any more than your hand functions on its own without the aid and impact of the rest of the body. We are called to walk with each other in a God-ward direction. That means more than just being able to quote Bible verses at a problem or saying, “I’ll pray for you” and then walking away. The “one another” statements of the New Testament i.e., bear with one another, be kind to one another, encourage one another, show hospitality to one another, build one another up, love one another, submit to one another, outdo one another in showing honor, welcome one another, stir one another up to love and good works… are the nuts and bolts of soul care. Far from just a list of things Christians should be busy doing, this is a call to invest in each other deeply as Christ invested Himself in us. That is the essence of grace; it is the practical workings of discipleship.

One of the burdens of pastoral ministry is being aware of the abundance of brokenness and investing in those who are acutely impacted by it. At times the need can be overwhelming and distracting. But pastors must acknowledge that the burden is not ours alone. The church is God’s instrument to come along side the hurting and the weary. It is fitting that we have a ministry of Grace that is focused on soul care. The counseling ministry is expanding to meet the need in our community, both inside and outside our church. The intent of Grace Counseling Ministry is not to do all the soul care for the church, but to teach and equip the church to rise to the call of caring for one another and bearing one another’s burdens. This expands the horizons of our vision to be an intentional community of grace that loves God, demonstrated by loving people in a culture of discipleship.

Our brokenness under the sun can be daunting and discouraging. But then I hear of those in our congregation who rise to the occasion of coming along side another who is hurting or drifting – and I am comforted. Because when the church is being the church, she is beautiful! And that is a powerful witness to a confused and thirsty world.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.Sou

The LORD is Good

Woe be unto me if I prescribe how people should talk. I have made it known that I do not like to use the phrase: “God has been good to me” because there seems to be an implication in that statement that God’s actions toward me are sometimes less than good. I have interacted with those who joyfully proclaim the goodness of God when things have been pleasant. But when confronted with unpleasant circumstances, they are quick to hold God accountable and question His trustworthiness.

It is natural for us to judge the worthiness of our object of trust by the benefits we receive. Satan’s accusation against God was that Job worshiped Him only for the privileges he received from God. Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to your face (Job 1:10–11). In other words, in Himself, God is not worthy of Job’s trust and worship. Yes, God is free to do as He chooses – no argument there. But He bribes Job for his confidence. Job’s response is instructive, The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). Job’s focus did not remain on his immediate situation for his reality was anchored in a bigger picture; I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold (Job 19:25–27).

Certainly, Job expressed a great deal of lament, and he questioned God’s silence. But when God finally spoke, Job was reminded that his understanding was far from complete – as is ours. God has perfect understanding; He knows perfectly what is good for us. His purposes for us are only good. His goodness is not just in His actions but is one of His attributes. The Lord is good. Therefore, everything He does is good. The Psalmist recognized this when he stated, You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord (Psalm 119:65). Yes, that sounds like “The Lord has been good to me”, but the context is unpleasantness. He has experienced an affliction, and in its wake, he declares the Lord’s goodness. Why? Before I was afflicted I went astray (v67), but You are good and do good (v68). Then, it is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes (v71).

It is acceptable to use the phrase “The Lord has been good to me.” But one must be consistent. Is the Lord good when things are pleasant, but not when things are unpleasant? Gracious gratitude expresses the goodness of God in the wake of unpleasant circumstance because it is anchored in who God is, not in the pleasantness of my experience. Indeed, part of the goodness of God is that the brokenness of this fallen created order directs our gaze to His perfection and creates a thirst for His presence. Do you know one who has suffered long and hard, yet affirms that God has been good? There are some among us – they are God’s gift to you. Thank Him.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Prepare to Say, “Thank you”

This simple phrase is a significant decoration of human life. It is also too easily neglected. When we overlook gratitude, it is revealing. Much can be said about the ignorance and defiance of our hearts, but one thing Paul pinpoints is ingratitude: For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21).

Why would I overlook gratitude? It could be that I am focused on what I think I should have. I don’t feel thankful. This was the adversary’s tactic from the beginning. I fail to remember that every good gift is from above coming down from our Father (James 1:17). Pride inhibits gratitude. I don’t want to appear needful or dependent; I want to be known as self-sufficient. But when I awake from my delusion of self-ownership and recognize that I am fundamentally a contingent being, my attention is turned to the One who gives me good gifts. You are good and do good, says the Psalmist (119:68). I am grateful. “Thank you” is an expression of sanity and humility.

In 1 Corinthians 4:7 Paul asks, what do you have that you did not receive? Stop and think about that. We are entering a busy time of year. Stress and expectations can be like suckers on a tree that rob it of water and nutrients. Snip off those suckers. Set appropriate margins for your time and activity. Take time on purpose to contemplate and reflect. Be thankful for what you do have. And remember, the most precious things in life are not things.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Scenic View

Perspective is helpful and important to appreciate context, beauty, and order. That is why at times as I have hiked around state parks at higher elevations, I would find a rock on which to sit and enjoy the view and contemplate. But perspective is limited and can be distorted. An inadequate lens will misrepresent the perspective, then important things will be missed, and the resulting attitude or action will be impacted negatively.

While reading Acts 7 I was struck by Stephen’s scenic view, and even more so by the impact of that perspective on his attitude. Stephen was experiencing physical violence, during which he was given a glimpse of Jesus Christ. His focus in that dreadful moment was on the perfection of Christ and the majesty of His glory. As a result, his expression was one of trust. He was redeemed by Christ, he belonged to Him and was His precious possession. This led Stephen to joyful anticipation; Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. This violent moment was but a door to a far greater beauty and reality to be experienced – the very presence of God, face to face with Jesus, his sovereign Creator and gracious Redeemer, in whom is no darkness at all. The One in who’s presence is fullness of joy and pleasures evermore.

With this finish line in view, we are called to endure the marathon of this life under the sun with all its obstacles and frustrations. If we don’t lose sight of the One who is our soul’s reward, then we can say with the Psalmist, what can man do to me? Yes, we can and will be “kicked.” Each one of us takes our turn on the blunt receiving end of people’s broken sinfulness – including our own. Rarely will it be at the level that Stephen experienced. So, let’s learn from his experience, because how he responded is attributed to his scenic view. He not only had a good perspective, but an accurate lens through which he was able to appreciate the beauty and context of his reality.

The light of God’s self-disclosure shines in our hearts and minds, illuminated by His Spirit, to help us gain Stephen’s perspective. And what does that look like in the harsh realities of life? Gratitude in privation, for God is good and gracious. Joy in adversity, for one is simply satisfied in the perfections of God and His Son, Jesus. And finally, Stephen’s scenic view was manifested in a spirit of forgiveness; Lord do not hold this sin against them. So captivated by the gracious forgiveness of His Savior, Stephen did not focus on himself (i.e., what they were doing to him), but prayed with compassion for those who were captive to their own rebellion against a good and gracious God. This is the power of a godly scenic view – the right perspective with an accurate lens. Gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Unity

The last 18 months have been a challenge for the unity of the church everywhere. From necessary format adjustments to varying perspectives on the pandemic, along with waning commitment, the evangelical church in many places has struggled; some have had to shut down. I am very happy to report that, even though there have been some transitions, Grace has maintained a clear direction forward and our family bonds are still intact. It has been such a delight to be in the presence of folks that we have not encountered face-to-face for a long time. Gathering – being in each other’s presence – is designed and desired by God. I will quote Jonathan Leeman in Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential (free copies of this book are available). "What makes gatherings so powerful? The fact that you are physically there. You see. You hear. You feel. Unlike watching something on a screen, in which you’re bodily removed from the thing you’re watching, a gathering literally surrounds you. It defines your entire reality. God made us soul and body, and somehow, mysteriously, he intertwines them so that what affects the body affects the soul."

We have maintained the conviction that the gathering of God’s people is essential to the health of the body of Christ. Our desire for unity is compelling. In June we made the transition back to our pre-pandemic worship format. Now, half a year later, seeing the space that is available in two morning worship services along with the desire to worship together as one body, we are pleased to announce that we will transition to one worship service on Sunday mornings. Please note that this will require adjustments for everyone, so I ask you to seek the Lord to prepare each of us with the mind of Christ – consider others more important than yourself – for what this will entail. This current opportunity has its pros and cons, but we feel the unity of the church outweighs other factors.

When will this happen? The last Sunday of 2021 is on the calendar as a day we celebrate communion. So, on December 26 we will gather at the Lord’s Table at 10:00 a.m. (no other classes/service) for all to come together as His family to remember and celebrate what He has done for us.

It is my desire that our gatherings have the sense of children gathering with their Father in His family room both to honor Him and to hear Him. In this gathering our reality is informed and transformed with His truth, by His Spirit. So, beginning the first Sunday in January, ABFs and children’s Sunday School will be offered from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. Then we will all gather with Abba, Father in His family room at 10:00 a.m. with ample time to make much of Him, ask of Him, hear Him, and respond to Him. A children’s church teaching time will be available. Also, extra seating in the auditorium and the Gathering Room will be added.

We are delighting in what God is doing among us, and we are looking forward with the vision He has entrusted to us for the mission to which He has called His church.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Trust

God is faithful to continue the work of forming you. He has begun a good work in you, and He will continue it to completion (Phil. 1:6). But the sharp edge of the chisel clearing away the hindering bulk and debris is not pleasurable. Luke’s gospel gives an intimate view of this reality. Peter’s denial of Jesus is commonly known, but let’s look at the details (Luke 22:31-34). Jesus give’s Peter a heads up; Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat. The adversary was going to shake things up for the disciples (“you” is plural); their lives were going to get rattled. The picture of sifting is like the farmer grinding the wheat enough to remove the chaff from the grain, then turning it with a shovel to let the wind blow the useless chaff away while the weight of the grain keeps it in the pile. The test is one of worthiness – weight. Was Jesus worthy of their confidence and trust or were they trusting in something unworthy of their confidence?

Peter helps us with his reply to Jesus’ warning, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death. Jesus knew that when the moment of trial came, Peter’s confidence would be in his own strength and resolve. He would trust himself, and that is not a worthy object of trust. Peter’s affirmation was his flesh talking. A rut into which we can all easily slide. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:12).

Here is where we see the faithfulness of Christ. I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. This time the “you” is singular. Take this personally – Jesus prays for you. And when He prays, He does so perfectly in the Father’s will. Such requests the Father delights to answer. Jesus was confident that after Peter’s failure from trusting himself, he would return to Christ as the only worthy object of trust. The useless bulk and debris of mere human self-confidence would be chiseled away. The result was the handiwork of God, molding this fisherman turned apostle into the image of Christ, who then manifested a confidence just like Jesus – trusting His Father who is worthy.

God is faithful to do this in each of us. It is most often painful, but productive. We should never forget that the enemy of our souls constantly wants us to question God’s worthiness of our trust. Because your faithful Redeemer/Reconciler intercedes for you, His perfect goodness and strength compels you to flee from idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14). Reject – walk away from – anything that dares to take the place of Christ as your object of trust in the battle.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Solid Food

The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Ps. 119:130

One of the key claims of those who call themselves “progressive” is that they are “open-minded.” The idea of progress should assume a clear direction, yet no one can satisfactorily define the direction of such “progress.” The conventional thought is that the journey, not the destination, is what is important. Truth is, no one is really satisfied by that.

The verse from the Psalm above helps define the issue. Simple, in the Hebrew, is a word that means “open,” “roomy,” or “wide,” implying open to enticement due to a lack of discernment. In other words, it speaks of a vacancy ready to be filled with the next thing that comes along. The “simple” are the ones who need understanding. What is championed today is that all ideas or beliefs have equal value, so we must leave our minds open to all truth claims and find their inherent value. This sort of “enlightenment” only masks the darkness, where one is “never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7).

In contrast, the Psalmist affirms: “The entrance of Your words gives light.” The light of God’s revelation gives correction and direction in the sense of ultimate progress – toward the true Light (Jn.1:9; Rev. 22:5), a God-ward life. This is why the Psalmist exclaimed: “Your testimonies are wonderful (miraculous), therefore my soul keeps them” (v.129). The sense of “keep them” is to focus upon them. Delitzcsh explains it as “attentive contemplation that is prolonged until a clear, penetrating understanding is attained.”

Open-mindedness is not a goal or an end. Discernment is key to following the information available toward a solid, justifiable conclusion. The writer of Hebrews calls it “having your senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). In line with the Hebrews metaphor of “solid food,” may our resolve be equal to that of the Psalmist: “I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments” (Ps. 119:131).

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Habits of Thought

A life of integrity is a necessary component to being an ambassador for God. The word integrity comes from the Latin, integritas, meaning “wholeness” or “completeness.” Warren Wiersbe points out: Integrity is to personal or corporate character what health is to the body…. A person with integrity is not divided. He or she is “whole.” People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Their lives are open books. This is important to understanding what it means to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” It is a complete surrendering of one’s whole self to God in thought, desire, and action.

The Psalmist describes his surrender in this way: It is time to act, O Lord, for they have broken Your law. Therefore I love Your commandments…I hate every false way (Ps.119:126-128). His resolve to act in surrendered obedience called for well grounded, reliable knowledge – God’s precepts. Notice, however, that the Psalmist did not say, “I need to apply Your commandments.” Instead, he said, “I love Your commandments.” This man exercised a delight in God’s Word; Scripture molded his habits of thought.

This is how we must develop that godly integrity – as Peter put it, “add to your faith, virtue” (2 Pet.1:5). It is a matter of being “renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph.4:23). In other words, don’t just try to apply God’s Word, but let God’s revealed truth mold your habits of thought. This will mold your desires, your actions – your character. We are transformed, as Scripture says, not by applying God’s truth, but by the renewing (renovation) of the mind through God’s truth. W.E. Vine describes this renovation as “adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision to the mind of God.” The first step in this process is the “duty” of delighting, as recorded in the 119th Psalm:

Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. (v.24)

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. (v.35)
I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. (v.47)
Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. (v.92)
Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble (v.165)

Integrity is not a put-on – it comes from the core.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

The Joy of Experience

There can be so many things that we think about doing. Things that we think would bring us a sense of joy, satisfaction, pleasure, and things that would be accomplishments or bless others. How often do we think about good things to do, but never actually do them?

One activity I have thought about doing is driving on the Blueridge Parkway during the Fall foliage in my Miata with the top down. Right now I’m only in the thinking-about-it mode. I’ve thought about routes, time frames, dates, what I might want to take along, how fast I would go…. So you can say I’m caught in the thinking stage of things. I can dream of taking in the beauty and joy of the experience, but I haven’t acted. I’m not actually out there experiencing it.

The blessing of experience is possible only when we take that first step and move out. That one step is the difference between thinking about and doing. This is a distinction that Jesus made as He taught His disciples right after He had washed their feet – a filthy menial task reserved for slaves. But He served them. Think about that – the Creator serving this rugged, self-focused band of creatures by washing their feet. “I have given you an example,” Jesus said, “that you also should do just as I have done to you.” Then came the punch line, “If you know these things, blessed (happy, fortunate) are you if you do them.”* There it is – the joy and blessing of experience versus thinking about it. James makes it clear that if all we do is just think about it (just being hearers) and never do it, we are deceiving ourselves. That would be like me sharing with you my exhilarating experience of thinking about driving the Blueridge Parkway. What difference does it make?

Take action. Take that first step. Who can you bless? Whose feet can you wash? Where can you experience the joy of serving as Jesus promised. Maybe you could bless a young mother by taking her place in the nursery on Sunday. Maybe you could take a colleague to lunch and listen to his concerns about balancing family and work. However great or small the task, take action to invest in others. You will point them to the One who is the point.

Anyone up for a ride on the Blueridge?
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*John 13:15-17

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.

Your Unique Place

The apostle Paul contextualized the gospel – meaning he fit the message to the audience he engaged at the time – but he did not dumb down the gospel to make it more palatable. So when he spoke to the Jews in the synagogue it was like evangelism in the church. When he spoke of Jesus and the resurrection in the marketplace it was like having conversations at the mall or at the corner of 4th and Cherry St. downtown. Paul also spoke to the Areopagus, which was like speaking in the lecture hall filled with professors at the local university. I want you to hear from John Stott about this:

Neither church evangelism nor street evangelism would be appropriate for them. Instead, we should develop home evangelism in which there is free discussion, “Agnostic Anonymous” groups in which no holds are barred, and lecture evangelism, which contains a strong apologetic content. There is an urgent need for more Christian thinkers who will dedicate their minds to Christ, not only as lecturers, but also as authors, journalists, dramatists and broadcasters, as television scriptwriters, producers and personalities, and as artists and actors who use a variety of art forms in which to communicate the gospel. All these can do battle with contemporary non-Christian philosophies and ideologies in a way which resonates with thoughtful, modern men and women, and so at least gain a hearing for the gospel by the reasonableness of its presentation. Christ calls human beings to humble, but not to stifle, their intellect.1

We are all in ministry with various skill sets, gifts, and contexts. Your workplace and FRAN are your unique place to live the gospel and plant seeds of truth. Steward the resources and relationships God has entrusted to you to share the love and the light of Christ.

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all,
that I might win more of them.
1 Corinthians 9:19

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1John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts, p.281

Copyright © 2021 Grace Bible Church, All rights reserved.