Amen!

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? (1 Corinthians 14:16 KJV)

Two words in this caught my eye while studying another subject. Paul was explaining that spiritual gifts were to be used to edify the church. In verse 14, he explained that if he prayed in an unknown tongue, that understanding was not fruitful. By verse 19 he’s saying that it would be better to speak five understandable words than a thousand that were in an unknown tongue.

All of that is a very good lesson for us to be direct in what we’re saying, to be understandable to those who hear (or read) us. But what caught my eye was “say Amen.”

We started going to church regularly when I was ten. We were taught to be reverently quiet when we were in the sanctuary. For several minutes before the services our organist would play softly, and some of those hymns became my favorites over the years, preparing our hearts to listen to the preacher give the message.

As we moved, the other churches attended were quite similar. Then we moved to Cottondale. Nope, you won’t find that as part of our address. The post office was closed decades ago, but the community exists and the First Baptist Church is active. Very active!

It was the first service in a generation where I heard people practice this verse. I remember it from my grandmother’s church in the middle of the last century. I’ve come to participate myself.

Oh, I’ve said “Amen” before. The Lord taught us to use it, giving the example in His prayer, closing with “So be it.” But it has another meaning, to affirm that what was said is true, an expression of agreement with what was said. It is also one of the titles of Christ.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14 KJV)

“Do I hear an Amen?” I’ve heard a preacher say, which usually raises one from the congregation. It would do so often in our congregation when we agree with what the preacher is saying. We also say Amen in thanks for what we’re hearing. During any given service, you’ll hear Amen from a wide variety of people, for any one or all of the definitions given.

It’s a Hebrew word, existing in the oldest of Hebrew texts. It was brought to the Greek through Jewish synagogues, passed into Latin and then into our own English. In the King James Version, where Jesus says “verily”, the Greek word is “amen”:

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18 KJV)

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Matthew 6:16 KJV)

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Matthew 13:17 KJV)

So, whether you pronounce it with a long A (ay-men) or the short A (ah-men), feel free to express your affirmation of the truth as it is faithfully spoken.

Demas

Chronologically, Philemon comes before 2 Timothy, though it appears later in the New Testament. That’s important to know when looking at references to Demas.

We first read of him as Paul closes his epistle to the church at Colosse.

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (Colossians 4:14 KJV)

Next in the timeline is in the letter Onesimus carried from Rome to Philemon.

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. (Philemon 1:23-24 KJV)

We do hear of him a bit later, when Paul writes again to Timothy.

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. (2 Timothy 4:10-11 KJV)

The Greek word used here for “loved” is agapao – derived from agape, the spiritual love between God and man. Instead of loving God, Demas left Paul for instant gratification. We know nothing more of his story, though speculation continues. Many would make excuses for Demas, trying to explain that this happens often in life.

Paul said nothing more about Demas, no condemnation, no recriminations, no comments regarding his future and no pleas for his return. Paul states facts, not judgments.

James puts a bit more perspective for those who chose the world – and he doesn’t define when this choice takes place, before or after committing one’s life to Christ.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4 KJV)

Paul also wrote of the sorrow of the world.

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV)

We know nothing more of Demas. But, we are faced with the same choices – follow Christ or enjoy the pleasures this world has to offer without Him. Some have chosen well, some have forsaken their faith for things important only in this world.

Of course, if a person believes this is the only life there is, why not? I’ve chosen to believe there is more to life than this present world. My doing so harms no one, even when I state there are consequences for not believing so. Others do not believe.

If the Bible is wrong, we will never know. If the Bible is God’s word, our choices determine our eternal results. The stakes are very high and the question deserves careful consideration.

"Paul in Prison" by Rembrandt, 1627 (Wiki Commons)

December, Again!

Here it is – December! Hurry, scurry, planning, purchasing, packing it up and shipping it off. And, the arguments begin.

Retailers wishing to be “politically correct” and not wishing to lose even a small percentage of their possible markets go for the generic “Holiday”. This covers a multitude of celebrations occurring during the winter, stretching their sales. This includes creating Holiday cards.

I found those in our largest local retailer.

These Holiday cards had lovely winter scenes. Many show soft cutesy animals frolicking in pure white snow, with maybe a flake or two still falling. Silly as can be! I’ve seen new-fallen snow and it is beautiful – for the time it takes for something to run through it, or the weather warm up enough to turn it into muck. Creating an idyllic moment for the front of a winter solstice card is ridiculous to me.

Or one with a roly-poly Santa Claus? Nope, that’s not for me. I wouldn’t expect that one to be appropriate for Chanukah, Eid or Kwanzaa, either.

What I’m looking for is a card that specifically celebrates the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah. In Greek, that’s Christ, and the Greek letter Chi is insufficient to stand in for His title. Yes, title. His name is Jesus. His title is Christ. Angels said so.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11 KJV)

That second chapter of Luke is so beautiful to me.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:13-14 KJV)

Now that’s worth shouting about even today! Of course, it wasn’t enough for the shepherds, and those words shouldn’t be enough for us today, either. We should take a serious look at what has been made known to us.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:15 KJV)

They didn’t waste any time getting to the manger, either, to confirm what they had been told – a baby, in a manger, with his parents. Nothing outstanding in that – except for what they had seen, and what they had been told was fulfilled. Of course, not everyone had seen the angels.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:18 KJV)

There are people still wondering at these things which are told them again and again. Year after year over millennia this same message goes out and some believe.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:20 KJV)

Free Christmas Themed Sketchy Vector Graphics from Spoon Graphics

Some who hear do not.

Right of Way

I could hear the siren, but sitting on a two-lane bridge waiting for a light to change, we could not pull over to yield right-of-way as the ambulance came around the corner. So we sat quite still. Then another siren, this time a fire truck came through the intersection, making a left turn against the light.

All vehicles yielded their right to continue through as directed by signal lights.

Of course, I can see a lesson in that. Yes, there are times we know we are right. We can cite the documentation, whether it be the constitution of our country or local regulations defining what our rights are. Sometimes we have to yield our rights.

That sort of goes back to the “legitimate differences” I mentioned in an earlier blog. The difficulty comes when it is a matter of principle, of a belief upon which we have built the foundations of our life. Unfortunately, many of those rights people cling to are based on personal desires instead of foundational principles.

The Bible refers to those as things of the flesh. Quite often people equate those with sexual activities, and the Bible does address those specifically, defining right and wrong. There are other personal desires that people long for as their right. It reminds me of Jabez’ prayer.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!

That “enlarge my coast” would mean taking something that at that time belonged to another. At face value, the prayer appears somewhat greedy – me, my, me, me, me. Yet he acknowledged God’s position as well as His ability to provide – the God, thou, thine, thou – but fewer references to God than to his own desires.

Verse 4:9 does tell us that he was more honourable than his brethren, but was that enough? Apparently. The end of the verse completes the story.

And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV)

Just as the traffic stopped to allow the emergency equipment right of way, we need to sometimes yield our non-essential matters to those life impacting ones. We need to think in terms of cause and effect. Actions and consequences. What we do – or leave undone – does matter. Upon what do we base those life-altering decisions? Ourselves? Our experience? What we’ve been taught? Or the answers we seek for life’s greatest concerns?

Have we found them? Are we even looking for them? Are we as Jeremiah wrote:

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV)

Or have we waited too long, as the Pharisees heard?

Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. (John 7:34 KJV)

The choice always has been ours.

Ephesians 4 - Spiritual Gifts Again

Last Monday I wrote about Spiritual Gifts and the results of a survey. Our Youth Sunday School classes completed their surveys and it was such a blessing to see the room full of young people responding to their Youth Minister’s teaching. Once their answers displayed their talents, he had places for them to best use their talents.

Let’s take a look at them.

Administration – not many of the students excelled in this. Understandable. The administrator, or organizer is decisive, delegates, makes jobs look easy, is attentive to details. However, our teens would fit well in completing and following up.

Giving – managing money well and helping others. Even teens earn money and learning about tithing and managing theirs now will help them all their lives.

Evangelism – our Youth Department has a soul winning emphasis group that meets on Monday nights. Every student ranking high in this area would benefit by participating in spreading the good news.

Exhortation – several were high in this area, which means they get to encourage. They can encourage others to be faithful in attendance, Bible reading and their prayer time. They can be of help to others in the midst of problems.

Mercy – believe it or not (perhaps it is easily believed!) this was my lowest score. Those with this spiritual gift can be helpful to others going through difficulty; they empathize as they interact.

Pastor – this is a great gift. 1 Timothy 3:1 says this is something to be desired. It is a calling, but God will call those who can accomplish His will. Young men rating high here should be learning how to preach. Our Youth Minister began preaching at church in his teens – and did several other young men now serving our Lord in other churches. It is a blessing to work with such students.

Prophesy – these would be helpers who work to direct and help disciple those who were disruptive in services, and explaining to them what God’s word says about their actions and why they are to be respectful

Serving – there are tremendous opportunities for those with service in mind: decorating or making the church look better; helping to set up classrooms or fellowship rooms; cleaning up after meals/fellowships. There’s always work available there.

Teaching – we are all on different milestones in our Christian lives. Some of our youth are very mature Christians and are able to help others who do not understand the current lessons or preaching. After services are a great time to share what God’s word says about life situations.

None of the above should be confined to youth. Our adults should be discipling these young people, showing them years of examples from their own experience.

Where were you in church today, or any day this week? Have you a ministry built on spiritual gifts? Have you fulfilled scripture?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

Content

The devotional I received by e-mail is so appropriate for all that has happened this past week. I receive one almost every day from an ex-co-worker that has as deep a faith as I do that the Lord provides in all circumstances. It brings to mind the deep contentment achieved by those who have trusted Christ with all their heart. The verses referenced are from Philippians:

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(Philippians 4:10-13 KJV)

From my friend, Sukylan by way of In Touch Ministries:

Think about the times when you have felt truly satisfied. What caused you to feel that way? For most people, a sense of well-being comes when their environment is just the way they want it, but that wasn’t the case with Paul. He learned to be content in every circumstance, good or bad.

We’d do well to learn a few lessons from him. After all, we can’t avoid all difficult situations, so we might as well discover how to face them with a tranquil, settled spirit rather than with frustration and anxiety.

Contentment isn’t governed by external circumstances. Changing the situation may bring temporary relief, but satisfaction based on circumstances will always be sporadic and fleeting. It’s a matter of how you think, not what you have.

Contentment flows from an inward attitude. The apostle’s inner calm came from a mind set on Christ. Choosing to trust the Savior no matter what, Paul allowed the Holy Spirit within him to rule his emotions and shape his responses.

Contentment is learned experientially. You cannot acquire it from a book or a sermon because it’s a process that must be lived out. Paul learned contentment on the road—in persecution, suffering, and prison. The Lord used every difficulty to transform him.

Situations that cause frustration, anxiety, and dissatisfaction are also the ones God uses to produce contentment in us. When you are fed up with your own grumbling, disappointment, and dissatisfaction, then you are ready to let the Lord teach you His new way of living—in joyous trust!

That’s the true abundant life – one lived with Christ at our center, removing the discontent of not having things our own way. For a moment I thought of how wonderful our world would be without the greed, the violence, the hatred that dwells in some of God’s creation. They should not set my path. I need not allow them to determine how I see God or how I respond to Him.

I will not allow others to determine how I see or how I reach God and receive the peace He offers. That comes from the relationship we build together.

My Sister-in-law, His Witness

I thought about writing this since my Sister-in-law called me and the decision she made kept running through my mind. Her options were limited. Heart/lung transplant; with an A positive blood type, the opportunities for such a transplant were as slim as her chances of surviving the operation. Mechanical heart; again, slim survival percentages. Two previous open heart surgeries added complications.

Wait. As with the rest of us, wait for what the future will bring.

As Hezekiah was given fifteen years, she’s had more than forty after winning a battle against cancer.

Back then the radiation used to treat her Hodgkin’s Disease was successful. She was able to bear her son, raise her three children, see them married, enjoy her grandchildren and her parents and for all of that we are grateful. What was not known at that time was the long-term effects of that radiation. For her, calcification of her heart valves is one of the effects. Which brings us to the three options for the failing heart.

Many others face similar decisions. But I’m not as close to them as I am to her.

Although we married brothers, we met in the middle of our marriages, not at the beginning. Our husbands were separated as children, mine adopted, hers remaining with their mother. Not until we were in our 40’s was the family reunited. We’ve never lived in the same town, and only once in the same state. Yet, we’ve become very close, largely because of our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior.

It is her faith that brightens the world around her. It is that faith that comes across when she says, “I’m at peace with the decision.”

We need to be, too. You see -- we are all dying. That’s the only sentence given once we’re born. It is the natural progression in this world, occurring each and every day. We ignore it. Doesn’t change the fact that it will occur. Hebrews tells us it has been this way since the foundation of the world.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)

She (and I) wants you to understand that it’s not the “once to die” that is a concern, it’s “the judgment.” And, not for ourselves. We have asked God the jailer’s question in Acts 16:30 and we’ve followed Paul and Silas’ answer in verse 31. It is for those we love who have not yet understood the question applies to them as well.

This morning on Facebook, she wrote: “God is good and I feel very blessed. When I had cancer in 1968 I was told I had a year to live. I prayed that he would let me live long enough to raise my 3 kids. He not only did that but I have seen 11 grand kids and 4 great grand kids. So He gave me 41 more years then I ever thought I would get. So I ask one thing of you pick up a Bible and read John 3:16. Then tell me if you have been blessed or not,”

I have been blessed – by the reading of His word and the witness of His child.