Looking Ahead

It’s good to remember. Years ago I ran across some magazines called the “Good Old Days.”  The magazine highlighted objects and happenings from the past.  Writers would submit stories about the glory of the simpler and somehow better, days gone by.

While I like the idea of simpler times, they weren’t always so much better. Cars were easier to fix, but they didn’t have A/C, power windows, etc.  And often our own memories will tend to soften past occurrences.  Even we, as Christians, tend to glorify the early church, until perhaps we notice the references to church leaders being stoned to death, beheaded, and persecution scattering the believers.  The fact of the matter is, times changes and as the saying goes, you can’’t go back.

But our goal isn’t to go backward but to go forward. The current times have unique issues and challenges.  I like the words of Paul when he says,  “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14).  Actually I believe better days are yet to come. New technology means more ways to get the word of God out, and more people coming to Christ.  And I look forward to Christ coming to receive a pure bride without spot or wrinkle.

When reminiscing with a friend about our past days of serving God together, one thing we realized was that we knew so little, and as a result we sought God about everything.  That is worth revisiting.  If there is anything we should go back to its shear dependence on God.

Amen?

Paul

TRANSITION

“This is the most exciting thing I have ever seen the Lord do.” That comment came from a member of our church in reference to the transition we are now undertaking.  What makes the above comment especially telling is that it comes from a seasoned saint who has seen numerous miraculous healings.  What transition am I referring to? The transition in leadership where I will take on a more outreach oriented role and the lead pastor role of the church will be taken up by Kirk Martin, who founded the Alliance Christian Center some 33 years ago.

Details of how this transition came about are described in a sermon I preached on Sunday Sept 11, 2011, entitled “How the Lord is Leading Us”. You can  listen to the sermon here

Although this may have come as a surprise to us in leadership, it was no surprise to the Lord…and although the Lord may be leading us in this direction, it is still up to us to walk it out, and that can be scary.  We read in the book of Acts how Barnabas and Paul were set apart by the Holy Spirit, but it was still up to them to get on a boat and go.  There was a lot of uncertainty there.  Paul may have alluded to his feelings when he described his plights to the Corinthian church:  “I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers” (2 Corinthians 11:26 NIV). But ultimately Paul had to trust in the Lord that sent him, and so must we.

As I have said before, I am not going anywhere, and I am here to help, in this transition, particularly those who are struggling with it.  So please contact me with your concerns.  Also, be advised that I and the others on the leadership team are committed to pray for Gods guidance as we make this transition, and you can help with that as well. So let us know what God is speaking to you.

These are exciting times, but they can be somewhat scary as well.  But as we enter into a new phase in the life of our church, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Amen?

Paul

 

Exciting Times

I love to read the book of Acts.  Acts unpacks for us how the church was formed and grew.  It also speaks of the problems they faced and how the Holy Spirit was working in their midst.  It tells us of healings, people being saved, persecutions, and the Holy Spirit guiding and directing the church (check out Acts 2:4, 4:31, 9:31, 10:44, 13:2&4, 15:8, 16:6, 20:23, 21:11). Frankly, the book of Acts just drips with excitement:  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47 NIV).

I have often heard people lament that the church today, in some ways, does not measure up to the early church and they long for a return to those exciting times.  The standard answer to that concern is that the book of Acts spanned  some 30 years and all those things didn’t happen at once.  Yet, I believe we live in exciting times right now.

Consider what is happening right now.  In the past year we have seen a number of people saved and water baptized.  The churches in Alliance are working together as never before, including praying together on a monthly basis.  We are about to start a Bible School which will equip our future leaders for the work of the ministry, and even send out new churches.  We are planning on missions trips to two parts of the world where the need is great, and our young people have stepped up to the plate.  We have a number of outreach opportunities coming up.  And I am excited about a new outreach to young men in the Alliance area that is currently in the planning stages.

I believe we live in exciting times and it is up to us as individuals to step “into the fray” so to speak and get involved.  Maybe you’re a prayer warrior, we have something for you to do.  Perhaps you have a burden for the lost, why not consider a mission trip.  Perhaps you are artistic, get involved in the Christmas play.  There are a lot of opportunities.  Let’s join in the excitement.

Amen?

Paul

Why A Bible School?

They say if you get lemons, make lemonade. That seemed to be the Apostle Paul’s motto (although, I doubt he would have ever even heard that phrase) as he worked to advance the Kingdom of God among the Gentiles. In the book of Acts we see that the Apostle Paul often went into synagogues to speak. But in Ephesus, he ran into trouble with some of the people. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. (Acts 19:9 NIV)

The province of Asia (not to be confused with the continent of Asia), was in what is the nation of Turkey. It contained major cities that Bible scholars would be familiar with, including: Pergamum and Ephesus. And in two years of Paul’s teaching in the lecture hall of Tyrannus all the Jews and Greeks in that region heard the Word of the Lord. That is an area, slightly larger than the state of Ohio. It is amazing that God used the ministry of His Word in one lecture hall to proclaim His Word to such a large area in such a short time.

That is the heart behind starting a Bible School at the Alliance Christian Center. Everyone is called to minister in some way. But we all need to be equipped (Eph 4:12). The vision of the Bible school is to create a vehicle by which people can learn foundational truths from the Bible to be used in ministry. Who is the Bible school for? Anyone, man or woman, who feels called to minister in some way, whether you feel called to be a pastor, or a Christian author, or to conduct Bible studies in your home.

I believe we stand at a critical point in the history of our society, and we need to provide well thought out Biblical answers to the questions that our society asks. By learning foundational Biblical truths we can achieve that goal. And perhaps we will see everyone in the State of Ohio hearing the Word of God.   Amen?

Taking God at His Word

Up the mountain they walked. They had a sacred mission to accomplish. They had to obey the word of God. I can not imagine they talked much, but at one point Isaac broke the silence. “Father,” Isaac said, “The fire and wood are here but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham’s answer was cryptic, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Gen 22:7-8) Actually, Isaac, himself, was going to be the sacrifice. That is what God had told Abraham and that was what Abraham was going to do.

Abraham could certainly have concluded that God would never make such a request as that. He could have reasoned that the voice he had heard was not God’s. He could have refused to obey. Today we know the rest of the story, but Abraham didn’t. In the book of Hebrews we get a glimpse of what was going on inside Abrahams head. “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead” (Heb 11:19). So, Abraham was confident that, although God had told him to sacrifice Isaac, that God would raise him from the dead because God had told him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned” (Heb 11:18). And Abraham took God at His word.

How often do we think we know better than God? We have God’s word for us in written format, clearly outlining His will. Do we take God at His word? Or does our own spiritual “impressions” supersede the Word of God? What “”trumps” the Word of God in our lives? Perhaps it is too hard, or doesn’t fit our “modern” interpretations. But Abraham serves as an example to us as someone who took God at His word, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend” (James 2:23 NIV). We would do well to do the same. Amen?

 

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