Turn Weakness Into Power!

A troubled Christian was in desperate need of counsel. His concerns were that he had no interest in reading Scripture, no delight in prayer, and no victory in his daily walk, regardless of how hard he tried. As he listened, the missionary Andrew Murray immediately recognized the problem. This Christian did not understand the principle of God’s strength being made perfect in man’s weakness.

Adam and Eve gave in to temptation, Cain was not able to conquer his anger, Sarah was unable to have children, Moses could not speak eloquently, and Paul suffered with a “thorn in the flesh.” We can see the weaknesses and inadequacies of mankind throughout history.

When Paul entreated God three times to remove Paul’s thorn in the flesh, God responded: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” When Paul realized that the power of God’s grace would be upon his weakness, he responded: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

Based on the principle of God’s strength being made perfect in man’s weakness, Andrew Murray counseled the man to completely accept his failure and his own inability to live righteously instead of striving against it. With this acceptance and confession, he could then sink down before God in utter helplessness. There he would learn that unless grace gave him deliverance and strength, he could never do any better than he had done before, but if he relied on the Lord for strength, that grace would indeed accomplish what he could not.

We know that the temptations Jesus faced on earth were just as real and strong as the ones we face, yet He did not succumb to them. (See Hebrews 4:15.) Why was this? Jesus recognized the inherent weakness of His humanity and wisely prepared through prayer for the great spiritual battles that would lead up to His crucifixion.

Peter, on the other hand, was oblivious to the spiritual warfare and temptations that he would soon encounter and drifted off into sleep while Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. We know from Peter’s own words spoken previous to this night that he placed great confidence in his flesh, claiming that he would never deny Christ, even if all of the other disciples did. (See Matthew 26:33.) Peter’s failure to watch and to pray as Jesus had commanded caused him to be caught off guard when the temptations came, and he quickly gave in to them.

Paul learned the lesson that when I recognize I am weak in my own strength, then I can be strong. Peter learned that when I think that I am strong, then I prove that I am really weak.

Every morning I look forward to falling on my face before God, acknowledging my total weakness and inability to do anything for Him, and asking Him to give me the power of His grace, His wisdom for decisions, and the Holy Spirit to walk in victory. I strongly urge you to do this also! Prayer really does turn weakness into power!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Church of Oprah?

"New York University professor Paul Vitz once observed, "Contemporary psychology is a form of secular humanism based on the rejection of God and the worship of the self." In her substitution of psychology for theology, Oprah Winfrey has become a high priestess and icon of the psychologization of American society. When she features prominent New Age figures on her television show, she helps to mainstream New Age influences and philosophies among millions of Americans. Her substitution of spirituality for biblical Christianity, her promotion of forgiveness without atonement, and her references to a god "without labels" puts her at the epicenter of a seismic cultural earthquake." (Taken from http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2005-11-29 )

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
The Holy Bible : King James Version. (Heb 1:1-4).

2 Tim 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
The Holy Bible : King James Version. (2 Jn 7-11).

There is no Christ-less gospel! Anything that exalts itself above the name of Jesus or claims victory over sin without the blood of Jesus or declares true and ultimate freedom without Jesus' resurrection is simply a false doctrine! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Christ in you is the hope of glory!

God bless Oprah and give her the grace she needs to carry such a responsibility with fear and trembling as she ought! Let her fully understand the impact that she has on people and therefore use it for your Kingdom! Lead her not into temptation and deliver her from evil!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Presenting Our Bodies

Rom 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

This is the scripture I had on my mind when I woke this morning. As I was spending time with God meditating on this verse I found myself praying for the reality of this scripture in my life!

By the mercies of God! Everything we do is realative to the wonderful mercies of God! "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (La 3:22-23).

Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice!
1 Cor 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
1 Cor 6:20
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Daily rising and presenting our body and will to God to be used as He sees fit! Allowing the Holy Spirit within to lead and guide, speak and touch through our mortal bodies even as He did through Jesus' mortal body.
Mark 1:35
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

We have been made holy and acceptable to God by the blood of Jesus!
1 Pet 2:5
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Which is our spiritual worship! The presenting of our will and body to the will and body of Christ (His Church) is our spiritual worship! It says what David said of Jesus, "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." (Ps 40:7-8). Luke 22:42 says, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Sometimes submitting our will and body to God will be easy and our delight and sometimes it will be like a bitter cup to drink but each morning we rise to declare today I offer my body and will to God for Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever! Amen.

Grace and Peace,
Ed

What stage am I in?

John 2:13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

Heb 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

When Christ came to earth, He came to manifest to mankind the gospel of the Kingdom. Over the centuries, the Church has tended to emphasize only a portion of the gospel. That portion is the gospel of salvation. However, Jesus came that we might have more than just salvation. He came to give us a whole new life that was accompanied by signs, wonders, and His Spirit living in us and revealing Himself to us daily. He came so that we might walk on this earth as He did. If our lives are not reflecting the same things as Jesus' did, we must ask why?

The scriptures above shows three distinct stages of spiritual growth believers go through. First, we come to Christ out of a need for salvation. Our hearts have been touched by His call on our lives. We reason and analyze the claims of Christ and make a decision for Him. It is the convenient time to accept Him in our lives. This first stage is often characterized by a "Bless me, Lord" attitude toward God. It is the first stage that primarily brings salvation into our lives. It is Christian infancy and some never really go past this first stage. A form of spiritual retardation.

The second stage is the crisis stage. As young Christians crisis takes place in our lives, and we are motivated to seek Christ with a whole heart. However, this motivation is not out of pure love for Christ; rather, it is motivated by the desire to get out of the pain of living. The motivation is to solve "the what" versus "the why" in my life at the time. This stage is best characterized as "Help me, Lord."

In the third stage we begin to experience the gospel of the Kingdom. It is the place where Jesus resided in His walk with His heavenly Father. It is the place of conviction. The number of people who live at this level are quite few, but these people are experiencing the reality of a walk with God that is foreign to all others. They are seeing daily occurrences of His involvement in their lives. They are motivated by a deep love for Him. They know Him. These people have an attitude characterized by these thoughts, "Have me, Lord; though He slay me, still will I trust Him."

Where are you today? We should not rush through these stages as they are natural stages of growth and each serves a purpose in our lives and we must fully understand and experience each level of maturity but we must assess from time to time that we are not "stuck" inappropriately. How long have you been "saved"? Have you merely accepted His salvation to simply float along? Or do you seek Him with a whole heart only when a crisis occurs? His desire is for you and me to live a life of conviction, motivated by our love for Him and His love for us. This is where we will experience the full gospel of the Kingdom. Father, help us love you and each other as you first loved us and gave your Son as an example and a sacrifice for us.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Prayer

As I was communing with God last night I was reminded of the power and importance of prayer. What we call "The Lord's Prayer" in particular. I was impressed that I don't put enough emphasis on prayer in my life and as a result see less and feel worse than I should. I was reminded of the entire scripture taken in context and with Jesus' extended teaching on the subject. My spirit focused on The Kingdom, Bread and Importunity. Jesus is the Kingdom, heaven is his heart! Jesus is the Bread. I need to step up my importunity and He'll manifest the present reality of His presence on earth through His church His body of believers.

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
 “ Father, hallowed be your name.
 Your kingdom come.
 Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Lk 11:1-13).

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Communion

We had a great communion service this past Sunday. The usheres rolled out the tables during our praise and worship and Pastor Ray began to exhort on the importance and awesome value of the communion. And we then all partook together with Pastor Sam declaring the blessing of the bread that was broken for us and Pastor Nick declared the blessing over the cup sybolizing our new and better covanent ratified in Christ's own blood which He shed for us all.

According to Websters online dictionary Main Entry:
com·mu·nion
Pronunciation: \kə-ˈmyü-nyən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin communion-, communio mutual participation, from communis
Date: 14th century
1: an act or instance of sharing

2 acapitalized : a: Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ b: the act of receiving Communion ccapitalized : the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received

3: intimate fellowship or rapport : communication

4: a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline

Ah, but communion is much more than that. It is an act of intamacy between the individual believer, the corporate body of believers and the Lord Jesus Christ! An act of oneness!

Early Christians observed the agape (Gk.) or love feast prior to the Lord’s Supper. This food was reckoned as a thank offering to God, blessed by the bishop and presented as a thank offering (Gk. eucharist) to God; hence, the meal came to be known as a thanksgiving or offering.
Enns, P. P. (1997, c1989). The Moody handbook of theology (427). Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press.

Communion is often called the Lord's supper. It was His last meal. Even unbelievers know the importance of a man's last meal. Words spoken and gestures made become more important and meaningful as it is the last wishes of a man before his death.

LOVE FEAST. The Christian duty to love one another has always been expressed in gatherings for fellowship. Such fellowship was realized from early times by participation in a common meal, and love feasts, agapai, are mentioned by Jude (v. 12; cf. 2 Pet. 2:13, rv). Among the Jews meals for fellowship and brotherhood were common, and similar convivial gatherings took place among the Gentiles. It was natural, therefore, that both Jewish and Gentile Christians should adopt such practices. The name agapē was later given to the fellowship meal. It is an anachronism, however, to apply it in its later sense to the conditions described in Acts and 1 Corinthians. ‘The breaking of bread’ referred to in Acts 2:42, 46 may describe a common meal which included both Agapē and Eucharist (see F. F. Bruce, Acts of the Apostles, 1951). St Paul’s account (in 1 Cor. 11:17-34) of the administration of the Eucharist shows it set in the context of a fellowship supper. His farewell discourse at Troas which continued till midnight was delivered at a fellowship meal on the first day of the week which included the Eucharist (Acts 20:7ff.).
v. verse
cf. confer (Lat.), compare
rv Revised Version: NT, 1881; OT, 1885
ff. and the following (verses, etc.)
Wood, D. R. W. (1996, c1982, c1962). New Bible Dictionary (702). InterVarsity Press.

Embrace the New Covenant!
Flashes of lightning, claps of thunder, smoke, and fire accompanied the establishment of the old covenant. (See Exodus 19.) A quiet dinner setting was the atmosphere when the new covenant was instituted. God designed the old covenant for the entire nation of Israel. The new covenant is for any individuals whom God is making into “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” (I Peter 2:9).

God desires that each person would enter into this new covenant with Him by repenting of sin and turning to God. This is made possible through faith by trusting in the finished work of Christ for salvation (see Galatians 3 and II Peter 3:9).

Both covenants were accompanied by promises for obedience and penalties for disobedience (see Deuteronomy 29:1, 9, 19–21 and I Corinthians 11:25–31). The old covenant was dated, while the new covenant is everlasting. “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13). The old covenant was based on the blood of animals, but the new covenant is based on the blood of Christ.
If the blood of animals purified the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ “purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God”? (See Hebrews 9:13–14.)

When Jesus told His disciples to drink of the cup, in essence He was asking them to remember the terms of the new covenant in His blood. Covenants involve certain elements that make them binding. First, there is a statement of terms that must be agreed upon by all parties involved. Second, there is an oath made by each party to observe the terms. Third, a curse is invoked by each party upon himself if the covenant is disregarded. Finally, there is a formal ratification of the covenant by a solemn external act. (See Genesis 26:28–30, 31:44–54; Ezekiel 17; and Deuteronomy 27:15–26.)

That “solemn act” of ratification of the new covenant was the shedding of Jesus’s blood on the cross. Just as the old covenant had penalties for violations, so there are serious consequences for violating the terms of the new covenant, which are these: to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as Christ has loved us (see Luke 10:27 and John 15:12).

Jesus instituted the new covenant during the Last Supper, which took place at the precise time that the Jews were celebrating the Passover feast, thus signifying that He was the Passover lamb to be sacrificed for the new covenant (see I Corinthians 5:7). The Passover commemorated the Israelites’ deliverance from the oppression of Egypt. Through His death, Jesus unveiled a far greater deliverance from sin and all of its destructive bondage.

However, in order for that bondage to be broken, each one of us must enter the new covenant through faith in Christ. When Jesus stated, “Take, eat … and … Drink” (Matthew 26:26–27) He was speaking in symbolic terms, affirming our need to receive the sacrificial lamb and feed upon Him for our spiritual growth. (See John 1:12, 6:56–58.)

Just as Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart …” (Jeremiah 15:16), let’s do the same with the terms and message of the new covenant—particularly the teachings of Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Uninvited Guests Sometimes Bring The Best Gifts!

"These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." - 1 Peter 1:7

One of the great tragedies of the Christian life is that if we fail to enter into a relationship with God that is born of the Holy Spirit, we are left with a religion, not a relationship. Many a person today lives with an intellectual belief in God, but without a relationship that is based on two-way communication. This is the greatest tragedy of all. It's like having a brand-new car but never having the gas to run it. It can't move you anywhere. It only looks pretty, but one cannot enjoy the ride or smell the newness inside.

Peter tells us that until our faith is proved genuine, we will never be able to give praise, glory, and honor to Jesus, because until such testing He will not be revealed in our lives. Peter describes this in the verse before: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Pet. 1:6). Trials are designed to bring us to a level of trust and experience with God that we would never know otherwise. These "faith experiences" with God allow us to know firsthand the faithfulness of God, the love of God, and the personal nature of God. If you cannot recount several instances when God has met you personally, then chances are your faith has not been born of the Holy Spirit into a living relationship with God. It is easy to fall prey to a relationship to God that never experiences His real presence; rather, it is based on knowledge only. This is a tragic place to be.

If this is where you have been in your Christian experience, ask God today to make Himself real to you. Ask Him to show you His personal nature and love. He desires to do this. Those whom He has called know His voice. He will show Himself to those who are His. "He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him" (Jn. 14:21b).

Grace and Peace,

Ed

My Aunt Frannie Died

My step-mother's cousin died Saturday, April 5th at 11am in Good Samaritan Hospital. She was 90 years old. I can remember going "downtown" to see Aunt Fran, Aunt Mary and Aunt Sadie (who was aunt Frannies mom). Man could they cook. One famous meal I remember was at Aunt Marys, the whole gang was there and they made homemade sausage and zepoles with powdered sugar. While, in the living room the men were watching TV as the immortal words were spoken " One small step for man, one giant step for mankind." And we put a man on the moon. Lots of smiles that day.

Frannie moved in with us 17 years ago when she could no longer stay in her brothers home. She was going to move in to an assisted living community against her will and was experiencing bouts of depression. As a family we prayed about what the right thing was to do and my wife woke up the next morning saying that she dreamed about aunt frannie living here with us. So we had a family meeting, My Dad, my step-mom, my wife and I and we decided to drive to Brooklyn and offer aunt fran to live with my parents downstairs.

It was real good when my dad was alive. He kept the balance and they seemed to enjoy each others company. After Dad passed away tensions got tighter downstairs until my mom passed away from complications of a broken hip. So it was my imediate family upstairs and aunt fran downstairs. We moved my oldest daughter down for company for fran and privacy for my daughter. They had seperate entrance and seperate bedrooms.

Aunt Fran had been the healthiest person I ever knew personally. She was hopitalized at 9 with pluracy and stayed in the hospital for months. She never saw a hospital again for over 75 years! A few years ago she slipped and dislocated her shoulder and the emergency room doctor reset it and sent her back home to us. On March 29th Frannie was having some trouble breathing and had fallen. My daughter took her to the hospital emergency room where she was given a bed and diagnosed with pneumonia. She never recovered. She has a burial plot with her brother and his wife in Brooklyn. I'll be going to Brooklyn on Wednesday to say one last good bye to Aunt Fran. Ciao, Bella

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Phillips Bible Translation

I love the Phillips translation of the Bible. It is like the Amplified Bible but easier and more natural to read. Read this for example, II Corinthians 6:3–10: “…We want to prove ourselves genuine ministers of God whatever we have to go through—patient endurance of troubles or even disasters, being flogged or imprisoned; being mobbed, having to work like slaves, having to go without food or sleep. … Our sole defence [sic], our only weapon, is a life of integrity, whether we meet honour or dishonour, praise or blame. Called ‘imposters’ we must be true, called ‘nobodies’ we must be in the public eye. Never far from death, yet here we are alive, always ‘going through it’ yet never ‘going under.’ We know sorrow, yet our joy is inextinguishable. We have ‘nothing to bless ourselves with’ yet we bless many others with true riches. We are penniless, and yet in reality we have everything worth having.” (J. B. Phillips Translation)

Man, if that doesn't describe the Christian's walk! How often we forget that we experience a dual reality. While possessing nothing we posses all things. We are like Christ in this world and for the same purpose. This life is for them. To live is Christ and to die is gain. We are a drink offering for our brethren.

So let us rejoice this Sunday that God has deemed us worthy to suffer persecution and misunderstandings along with Christ. Let us celebrate His Victory! In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world and because He lives we can and will face tomorrow. This is the Victory that overcomes the world, even our faith!

Grace and Peace,

Ed