Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. Men and women throughout the world are seeking after heaven, or eternal life and striving to gain it through means that are contrary to God’s way. In effect, they are struggling violently to push their way into heaven by their own strength or virtue or good deeds.
Yet Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, 14 that we have to "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” When you combine these two pictures presented in the scripture, you can imagine the people of the world blinded by sin, struggling to find the door, and perhaps even fighting to enter, only to discover too late that they entered the wrong door, the door that leads to destruction.
The rich young ruler typifies the approach that many are taking to reach the door. He came thinking he was keeping some standard of righteousness acceptable to his social status, puffed up in his religious fervor, perhaps earnestly seeking eternal life, only to be rebuffed by Jesus who demanded that first he forsake his riches and give them to the poor and then follow Him. The Bible says that he went away grieving because he had a lot of possessions.
The door to the kingdom of heaven is too narrow to bring anything with you. You have to be willing to leave everything on the other side. Jesus said in John 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture". Many are seeking the kingdom and think they have found the door. But we need to be careful not to be attracted to the biggest, shiniest, most popular door. The door that Jesus offers is the least popular, the narrowest, the unattractive door, yet it is the one to the greatest spiritual blessings.
There is only one way into the kingdom of heaven, only one door and that is Jesus Christ. And there is only one way through that door. Naked, poor in spirit, beggars who realize that they have nothing to offer or barter with. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last, first.” Matt. 19:29,30 No matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, be sure you are seeking the right door. There are many doors, but only one leads to life.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
the cost of eternal life
A few years ago I was working outside on a pool and heard a noise which sounded like a pumpkin hitting the ground. Looking back across the street, I noticed an older man that had been working on a scaffold on a house had fallen off backwards and was lying on the driveway. As I rushed over and began assisting him, the lady of the house called 911 as it was apparent the man was in a bad way. A few minutes later, he became unconscious. Soon after that, he stopped breathing, his eyes rolled back in his head and I could find no pulse. He was dead. We were shouting at him to stay with us, but he was gone. I began CPR, praying aloud that God would bring him back, but with a rising panic that this man was gone. Just when I was ready to stop chest compressions and give up, he coughed, and suddenly he began to breathe again. I really believe that for a while there the guy was dead. No amount of shouting or pleading would make him respond. He could not feel me pounding on his chest. But when his life finally returned, by the time the rescue squad arrived he was able to converse with the responders.
I am reminded of that story whenever I think of the verse found in Ephesians 2:1. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” From birth, I believe the Bible teaches us that we inherited the sinful nature from our parents, going all the way back to Adam. And as a result, we were estranged from God, without hope, dead in our sins. Like the man laying there in that front yard, we are incapable of having a relationship with God because spiritually we are dead. Jesus said that He came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. A lot of people want to think that means that once saved we get to enjoy all the best things this world has to offer. But really it means that this dead body receives spiritual life and that is true life as it was really intended to be. We get back what was lost in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned - a spiritual relationship with the Father.
The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 realized that he was lacking something and came to Jesus asking “what good thing shall I do to obtain eternal life?” He had the right idea. But eternal life isn’t just the idea of living forever, it means becoming spiritually alive. He recognized that in spite of keeping all the commandments he still didn’t have it, and he was hoping that Jesus had the answer. In our churches today, we hear a lot about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. And the seeker friendly model that most churches employ seems to convey the idea that all you really need to do is have a desire to go to heaven and live forever. But the answer that Jesus gave to the rich young ruler is definitely not in keeping with the seeker friendly handbook. Matt. 19:23 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor , and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.” But before you think that only applies to rich people, look at Luke 14:33, “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”
There is a cost to eternal life, to having a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. And the cost of that life is everything you hold dear. “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” The answer is everything.
I am reminded of that story whenever I think of the verse found in Ephesians 2:1. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” From birth, I believe the Bible teaches us that we inherited the sinful nature from our parents, going all the way back to Adam. And as a result, we were estranged from God, without hope, dead in our sins. Like the man laying there in that front yard, we are incapable of having a relationship with God because spiritually we are dead. Jesus said that He came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. A lot of people want to think that means that once saved we get to enjoy all the best things this world has to offer. But really it means that this dead body receives spiritual life and that is true life as it was really intended to be. We get back what was lost in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned - a spiritual relationship with the Father.
The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 realized that he was lacking something and came to Jesus asking “what good thing shall I do to obtain eternal life?” He had the right idea. But eternal life isn’t just the idea of living forever, it means becoming spiritually alive. He recognized that in spite of keeping all the commandments he still didn’t have it, and he was hoping that Jesus had the answer. In our churches today, we hear a lot about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. And the seeker friendly model that most churches employ seems to convey the idea that all you really need to do is have a desire to go to heaven and live forever. But the answer that Jesus gave to the rich young ruler is definitely not in keeping with the seeker friendly handbook. Matt. 19:23 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor , and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.” But before you think that only applies to rich people, look at Luke 14:33, “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”
There is a cost to eternal life, to having a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. And the cost of that life is everything you hold dear. “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” The answer is everything.
Friday, October 15, 2010
funny how time slips away
The older I get the heavier my watch seems on my wrist. When you’re young, time is your friend. “Oh, Mom, I’ll do it later. I have plenty of time.” Time, for a while, seems to be almost standing still. You’re always looking ahead and tomorrow never comes. But when you get older, time starts to become your enemy. “There is just not enough hours in the day” is a popular expression. We can never find the time to do so many things we intend to do.
A recent conversation between a few of us older surfers the other day reminded me of how time is slipping away and how as we get older we try desperately to hold on to the illusion that there will always be more time. All of us had crossed that dreaded half century threshold and we were debating how many more years we might have left that we might be able to surf and still be relatively decent at it. Knowing how bad I am already, I was probably the least optimistic of the bunch. Whether I want to admit it or not, there will come a time, sooner than I would like, when I will find that though “the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak”.
All around us, signposts show how fleeting time is. Babies are born, children grow up and marry, friends and relatives pass away. Still, we think we have got plenty of time left. Plenty of time to get serious about our faith. Plenty of time to speak to that person about the Lord. Plenty of time to get to work for the Kingdom of Heaven. The devil only has to whisper in our ear to put it off for just a little while longer, and before we know it, it’s too late. Our opportunity is gone. Maybe that person that you meant to speak to has moved away to college. Maybe that opportunity you had to share your faith at work disappeared when you procrastinated. One of the saddest lines in the Bible is found in Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
We need to make the most of our time. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. But we have been given today. Let’s not waste it. James said, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:13,14
Speaking of the summer passing, we have moved our Sunday services indoors here at Surfers Fellowship for the winter months. We will continue meeting at 8am in Bethany Beach, at the Christian Conference Center behind the playground in the center of town. We rent the octagonal building. Hope you will plan on joining us this week.
A recent conversation between a few of us older surfers the other day reminded me of how time is slipping away and how as we get older we try desperately to hold on to the illusion that there will always be more time. All of us had crossed that dreaded half century threshold and we were debating how many more years we might have left that we might be able to surf and still be relatively decent at it. Knowing how bad I am already, I was probably the least optimistic of the bunch. Whether I want to admit it or not, there will come a time, sooner than I would like, when I will find that though “the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak”.
All around us, signposts show how fleeting time is. Babies are born, children grow up and marry, friends and relatives pass away. Still, we think we have got plenty of time left. Plenty of time to get serious about our faith. Plenty of time to speak to that person about the Lord. Plenty of time to get to work for the Kingdom of Heaven. The devil only has to whisper in our ear to put it off for just a little while longer, and before we know it, it’s too late. Our opportunity is gone. Maybe that person that you meant to speak to has moved away to college. Maybe that opportunity you had to share your faith at work disappeared when you procrastinated. One of the saddest lines in the Bible is found in Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
We need to make the most of our time. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. But we have been given today. Let’s not waste it. James said, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:13,14
Speaking of the summer passing, we have moved our Sunday services indoors here at Surfers Fellowship for the winter months. We will continue meeting at 8am in Bethany Beach, at the Christian Conference Center behind the playground in the center of town. We rent the octagonal building. Hope you will plan on joining us this week.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
the greatest deception
Lately, I have become convinced more than ever before, that the greatest danger in Christianity today is the belief that there is some other authority in addition to the inspired Word of God. False teaching is taking the place of sound doctrine at an alarming rate. Everywhere we turn, we are confronted with false revelations, convoluted theologies, and flat out lies masquerading as truth.
In almost every case it’s because someone has lifted themselves or someone else up in authority equal to or greater than Scripture. Think about it. Every cult is the result of someone believing that they received some revelation in addition to the Bible. Every false teaching is the result of someone coming up with their own prophecy or doctrine and then twisting Scripture around out of context in order to justify it. There are more people running around saying “Thus sayeth the Lord” than you can shake a stick at. Everybody it seems, wants to be a prophet. But the Bible tells us that we are to be discerning, testing every spirit, because many false prophets are in the world. 1John 4:1
Jude 1:8 says “Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.” Sounds like their visions resulted in rejecting the authority of Scripture.
2Peter 2:1,2 “ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies… Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;” The truth will be maligned means to slander or defame the Word.
Ezekiel 22:28 "Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken."
There is only one reliable source of truth. Jesus, praying to the Father said, “Your word is truth.” John 17:17. There is only one source of inspiration. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. “ 2 Tim. 3:16
Inspired means God breathed. He breathed every word of Scripture to the prophets and writers of the Bible. It’s His words and He doesn’t appreciate people putting words in His mouth. John warns in Rev 22:18,19 “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”
Finally, the Old Testament tells us that a false prophet will be judged by whether or not his words are true. And the punishment for prophesying something that did not come true was stoning to death. Unfortunately, perhaps, we don’t stone false prophets anymore. But we certainly need to be aware that they are out there and as the time grows closer, the Bible says they will increase. Be vigilant, for your adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. And Satan is a master at making a lie look like the truth.
October 10 is our last service on the beach this season. We hope you will join us if you can as we study God’s word. Of course, we will also be continuing all winter indoors in the octagonal building in the Christian Conference Center behind the playground.
In almost every case it’s because someone has lifted themselves or someone else up in authority equal to or greater than Scripture. Think about it. Every cult is the result of someone believing that they received some revelation in addition to the Bible. Every false teaching is the result of someone coming up with their own prophecy or doctrine and then twisting Scripture around out of context in order to justify it. There are more people running around saying “Thus sayeth the Lord” than you can shake a stick at. Everybody it seems, wants to be a prophet. But the Bible tells us that we are to be discerning, testing every spirit, because many false prophets are in the world. 1John 4:1
Jude 1:8 says “Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.” Sounds like their visions resulted in rejecting the authority of Scripture.
2Peter 2:1,2 “ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies… Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;” The truth will be maligned means to slander or defame the Word.
Ezekiel 22:28 "Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken."
There is only one reliable source of truth. Jesus, praying to the Father said, “Your word is truth.” John 17:17. There is only one source of inspiration. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. “ 2 Tim. 3:16
Inspired means God breathed. He breathed every word of Scripture to the prophets and writers of the Bible. It’s His words and He doesn’t appreciate people putting words in His mouth. John warns in Rev 22:18,19 “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”
Finally, the Old Testament tells us that a false prophet will be judged by whether or not his words are true. And the punishment for prophesying something that did not come true was stoning to death. Unfortunately, perhaps, we don’t stone false prophets anymore. But we certainly need to be aware that they are out there and as the time grows closer, the Bible says they will increase. Be vigilant, for your adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. And Satan is a master at making a lie look like the truth.
October 10 is our last service on the beach this season. We hope you will join us if you can as we study God’s word. Of course, we will also be continuing all winter indoors in the octagonal building in the Christian Conference Center behind the playground.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
How not to build a church
There is a lot of attention today focused on the best way to build a church. Many books have been written and many studies have been made. One of the most popular methods is known as the “seeker friendly” church model. Then there is the “purpose driven church” model and along those lines comes the newest addition to man’s attempts known as the “new emergent church”. The result in church growth across America is phenomenal. Today there are mega churches on every other street corner. You’re not considered relevant (no pun intended) unless you have at least a couple of services, and some churches have as many as five or six services on Sunday mornings. I almost get discouraged just driving to our service on Sunday as I witness a couple of the big ones in the area and the people pouring into the parking lots. While I’m just hoping someone shows up on the beach, they need a traffic cop.
A lot of times the early church of Acts is held up as an example of the ideal church, and I believe it should be. They too had phenomenal growth. But it wasn’t because of the worship band, or the drama team, or their magnificent buildings. The power of God was there. That’s a good thing, but it’s also a fearsome thing. In Acts 5 the story is told of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a piece of property. Many new believers were selling all that they had and bringing in the proceeds to give to the Lord. Ananias and his wife coveted the kind of recognition that would bring. So they sold this property, but held back some of the money and brought in the rest, claiming it was the full price.
Well, Peter recognized their hypocrisy, declared that they were lying to the Holy Spirit, and they both fell down dead and had to be carried out. Wow. That’s not the way you want to go about building a mega church. If the Holy Spirit started killing off hypocrites today we would have a bunch of empty church parking lots in no time. Verse 13 affirms that by saying, “But none of the rest dared to associate with them”. It was dangerous to go to Peter’s church. But notice the rest of the verse. “However, the people held them in high esteem.” But then the next verse is really a mind blower. “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”
In our study this week in Matthew 18 we will be looking at one of the first times Jesus used the term church in talking to the disciples. In this passage He is laying down the foundation of church discipline. In verse 20 Jesus reveals that the churches attitude towards sin is foundational for building a church where Christ will be in the midst. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I will be in their midst.” I don’t know about you, but that’s where I want to be. I want to be where Christ is going to be glorified in the truth, whether or not it’s popular.
A lot of times the early church of Acts is held up as an example of the ideal church, and I believe it should be. They too had phenomenal growth. But it wasn’t because of the worship band, or the drama team, or their magnificent buildings. The power of God was there. That’s a good thing, but it’s also a fearsome thing. In Acts 5 the story is told of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a piece of property. Many new believers were selling all that they had and bringing in the proceeds to give to the Lord. Ananias and his wife coveted the kind of recognition that would bring. So they sold this property, but held back some of the money and brought in the rest, claiming it was the full price.
Well, Peter recognized their hypocrisy, declared that they were lying to the Holy Spirit, and they both fell down dead and had to be carried out. Wow. That’s not the way you want to go about building a mega church. If the Holy Spirit started killing off hypocrites today we would have a bunch of empty church parking lots in no time. Verse 13 affirms that by saying, “But none of the rest dared to associate with them”. It was dangerous to go to Peter’s church. But notice the rest of the verse. “However, the people held them in high esteem.” But then the next verse is really a mind blower. “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”
In our study this week in Matthew 18 we will be looking at one of the first times Jesus used the term church in talking to the disciples. In this passage He is laying down the foundation of church discipline. In verse 20 Jesus reveals that the churches attitude towards sin is foundational for building a church where Christ will be in the midst. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I will be in their midst.” I don’t know about you, but that’s where I want to be. I want to be where Christ is going to be glorified in the truth, whether or not it’s popular.
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