7 Things Christians Should Do Today

 

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” John 17:1

In a recent Sunday School lesson we learned that there was a specific timeline in which Jesus was to fulfill the task of redemption.  Here in John 17:1, Jesus tells the Father that, “the hour is come.” Jesus did fulfill the will of the Father on the cross. This plan for the salvation for all mankind was laid before the foundation of the earth, to be completed in His “hour.”

Believers of Christ were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26). This label was given to those believers for the way they lived and practiced their faith. They were known for what they did in their “hour.” We too have an “hour” of time to fulfill the call of God upon every believer, “Christian,” today. Now is our time. Now is our “hour” to walk as Christ.

It is our turn to…

  1. Believe as Christians

    Jesus asked Martha a question in John 11:26 that we should be asking ourselves, “Believest thou this?” To be a Christian one must first believe on Jesus for their salvation. This is only the beginning of our faith that grows with time and with the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).

  2. Walk as Christians

    In our daily lives we are to be like Christ. Every day we need to pray, to read God’s Word, be kind to others and show the life of Christ. (Phil. 1:27)

  3. Talk as Christians

    The way we talk reveals the company that we keep. If we walk in the ways of those who speak bad words or profanity, there is the possibility of one of those words slipping from your tongue. May our company be that of Christ and that His words that flow from our heart. Kind words, loving words, helping words, and encouraging. The words of Jesus should flow from the mouth of a Christian. (Luk 6:45)

  4. Love as Christians

    As believers we make up the family of God. A Christians we show forth the love of Christ to the saved and to the lost. It is the hallmark of our spiritual family is to demonstrate Godly love. (John 13:35)

    5. Forgive as Christians

    The forgiveness that was given to us by Christ for our sin is reason enough for us to forgive others. The heart of a Christian is to bring forgiveness not destruction. A Christian’s desire is to be one of restoration. Bringing the wayward one back into the fold is our call from God. (Gal 6:1, Matt 18:15)

  5. Give as Christians

    A giving spirit is a blessed spirit. We were given the greatest gift, eternal life, how can we continue as Christ and not give. Blessings come from giving (Acts 20:35). It is by our giving that we can reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  6. Go as Christians

    We have all been given the command to go and to tell the good news (Matt 16:15). Going and living is a wonderful thing from each Christian, yet it is in the telling that gets the job done. Romans 10:14 tell is that the lost world needs to “hear” and that they need to hear from a “preacher”. That’s You!

 

Amid all of the turmoil of this day and this “hour.’ Let us shine the light of Jesus.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Mt 5:16



What Good Music Does

 

Eph 5:18-19  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

There are many criteria to evaluate music.  (technically, poetically, structurally, stylistically)

These and other various judgments on the subject of music lead to some wide variations in response to the question, “What, exactly, is – good music.”

I would not pretend to be able to assert with absolute assurance that I know the exact totally definitive answer to that question.  (I am honest enough to admit that, which puts me slightly ahead of a few other commentators.)

The specifics of these evaluations can (and will) be debated and discussed; asserted and argued; critiqued and criticized.  The limitless variations of opinions and positions will establish “firm ground” for a high-minded few to point the finger of accusation at some and to extend a certification of “acceptable” to others.

I am convinced that these matters will not be settled until we all are singing perfect music in the presence of the Lord Jesus in Heaven.  Given the stark differences of earthly opinions that are so pronounced among people who are otherwise in such unified agreement on every other area faith and practice, I wonder if there are going to be some red-faces of embarrassment in the celestial choir.  Is it possible that some folks (from one side or the other, or both) are going to be singing some music in Heaven that they once deemed as “unacceptable” on earth?

 

For now, I submit that THE first and basic criterion that must be brought to bear is to determine what the music does.  Other measures and evaluations can certainly be factored in.  But, if the music fails to achieve a valid Biblical purpose then it is worthless regardless how highly it is regarded in other areas.  The glorious melody lifting to great emotional heights a lush poetic lyric that comes to a thrilling climax in a glorious musical arrangement – yet fails to meet a Godly purpose is vapid of spiritual significance. The technically precise, traditionally styled anthem with only organ accompaniment that only succeeds in demonstrating the skill and talent of the performers also fails to achieve valid spiritual purpose.

In evaluating the results or accomplishments of music, there are some easily understood “minimum standards” for good music drawn from the unchanging not-for-personal-interpretation instructions of the Word of God.  

From the Bible we can see what good music does.

I. GOOD MUSIC PROCLAIMS BIBLICAL TRUTH

We are to teach with music.  We know that music is a powerful teaching tool.

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Teach what?  We must teach that which we are commanded to learn – The Bible

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Luke 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

If we are to teach the Bible with music, then the music in our church must follow the purposes of scripture.

2Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The words, lyrics and themes of the music must be accordance with Bible.  As we would demand doctrinal purity in the preaching so must the music be doctrinally pure.  In music God has provided a powerful tool for Christians to proclaim Bible truth.

II. GOOD MUSIC PREACHES JESUS

There are many Bible topics that music can address BUT there must be a heavy dose of Jesus in our overall repertoire of church music.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Some beautiful so-called “Christian” music has no mention of God, the Lord or Jesus Christ.  Good music exalts and glorifies Jesus Christ the living Son of Holy God

John 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Even our songs of testimony should point the glory UP to Jesus!

2Cor 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus‘ sake.

III. GOOD MUSIC PRAISES GOD

Psalm 150:1-2,6  Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness… Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Who He is – His attributes

Ps 148:13  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

What He does – His activity

Ps 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

What He says – His affirmations

Ps 119:171  My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

It is always appropriate to praise the Lord!  It is never out of place.

Ps 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

IV. GOOD MUSIC PRODS THE HEARERS

Byron Foxx “We want to produce music that touches the head, heart, and the will (volition)”

Yes, music speaks to our emotions.  There is a  word to describe music that has no emotional element – boring.  Good music does stir our emotions.  But, that is only a part of it’s overall effectiveness in us.  If it is only an emotional experience – then nothing has truly been accomplished.

Good music speaks to our head (intellect) in the language of our heart (emotion) so as to direct our spirit (will).

Ps 86:12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Good music ought to urge us, move us, push us, prod us:

… to conviction

… to conversion

… to commitment

… to consecration

… to communion

… to comfort

V. GOOD MUSIC PRIORITIZES THE CHURCH

    Col 3:16   teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

Calling believers to action!

“Rally round the flag, boys” – believers, “rally round the Savior, Christians!”

“Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war!”

Stirring the church to move out into the world … 

Obeying the Great Commission  (Go, make disciples)

Encouraged by the our Great Commander

Recognizing that, in Him, we have already conquered!

Thrilling the church to expressive appreciation of God’s power at work in our lives.

CONCLUSION

Eph 5:18-19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Obviously there is music that God intends for us to sing as Holy Spirit filled believers.  It is incumbent upon us (using Bible principles) to sing music that produces spiritual results.  THIS is what “good” music does.

 



Redeeming the Quarantine

 
Ephesians 5:16 says, “Redeeming the time because the days are evil.”
It may seem that this time is only good for sitting around and feeling bored; but we should think of it as an opportunity to get things done that we have been putting off. I know for me, this has been a good time to get some extra family time in, and it has also given me a chance to really emphasize my Bible reading. In order to make the most of this down time, I would encourage you to do a couple of things:
First, lean into your Bible study, don’t waste this time.
Second, make a list of goals you want to accomplish before this is over, and get after those. It could be something simple like, one of my friends is trying to throw a disc golf disc 400 meters. This goal is kind of silly, but it’s something to work toward and it keeps him active. Maybe, you want a harder goal like learning an instrument, or finishing up some projects on your house, but whatever you do put your effort into it.
In Ecclesiastes 9:10 the Lord tells us, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
The Bible is telling us that once our life is over on earth, that’s the end of our ability to work for God. This does not mean the time of our life doesn’t count; on the contrary, we should make the most of the time that we have. So, bringing it back to having personal goals; goals are good to keep us on track and can act as a benchmark for us to look back and see progress. Goals can be helpful, but the most important thing is really trying to live for God. No one has ever looked back on time serving the Lord and felt it was wasted time. Serving the Lord is one of the few things that never leaves us feeling guilty or regretting the time invested. So, if the pandemic and quarantine have you feeling trapped in your house, or in unending boredom. Remember to redeem the time, because you cannot get it back. 


3 Reasons Why Your Children Need Church

I once heard the story of a pastor who was preaching to his church about Christ loving the little children. At one point in his message he said the very familiar phrase, “Children are the future of our church!” When the service was over, the pastor stood at the door, greeting everyone as they left. A little old lady walked up to him and said, “Pastor, I disagree with what you said.” The pastor, very nervous, asked, “What did you disagree with?”
 

The little lady smiled and said, “Children are not the future of our church, they are the church right now!”

The truth is, children are not par of some far off future that the church has, children are an integral part of the ministry today. I find that churches that lack the laughter of small children are often very sad places.

Why should you be serious about bringing your children to church? Here are a few reasons why:

It shows them where your priorities lie

When I was growing up there was no question what we were going to do on Sunday. To take it a step further, there was no question about what we were doing on Wednesday night. We were going to be at church. Why? Because church was seen as important in our home. My parents also took us to church when we were on vacation. We would try to find a good church in the area and we would attend on Sundays. If we couldn’t find a good church where we were vacationing, my dad would preach and we would have church in our hotel room. It was never a question, growing up, what was important to my family. It has been said, “What you sow in emphasis, you reap in reward,” in fact, that phrase comes from the passage from the Bible that says, “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7)”. Taking our children, consistently, to church every Sunday shows how important we see it to be, and that importance that you place on church will eventually carry over into your children’s decision making.

It reinforces what you are teaching them at home

It must be said that it is not the church’s job to raise your children. That is the job of the parent. The primary place for your children to learn Biblical principle is at home. Biblical principles are taught, modeled, and demonstrated in the home. The church does not take the place of the Biblical upbringing of the home, it serves as a reinforcement of the upbringing of the home. This reinforcement adds validation to what you are teaching your children as a parent. As parents, we all have had the experience of our children having a hard time listening to us, but then they will listen very easily to someone else. Sometimes it just takes a different voice, saying the same exact thing, to get a truth into your child’s heart. The best ally that you have in raising your children is the church, it would be foolish not to use it!

It provides opportunities to fellowship

When your children grow up, they will likely spend a majority of their time around unsaved and unchurched people. That is one reason why church is so important for adults: We are being bombarded by the world all week long, it is great to pull aside on a Sunday (and Wednesday night) and experience the rest that comes with Christian fellowship. Our children need to get into the practice of fellowshipping with other Christians now. This may not sound incredibly important, but it absolutely is. Why? Because the people you are most comfortable with will end up becoming the people you spend time with; and the people you spend time with will end up being the person you become. If your child is more comfortable spending time with unsaved people rather than saved people, they will end up becoming like those unsaved people. Transversely, if you foster your children’s relationships within the church and around saved people, they will end up being more like those people. The type of people your children spend time with it very important.

Your children need the church, and the church needs your children! Let us be a help to you in raising this next generation for Christ!



5 Unsearchable Riches

Would you say that you are:
  poor, middle-class, or wealthy?  The answer depends on your perspective.  Few would say, “I am very rich.”  But every believer – can say, “I am very, very rich!”   As God’s children we all enjoy access to the RICHES of God in Christ.  It is nothing we have earned nor deserve.  They are nothing to which we should be entitled to yet, we have wealth, riches, and resources beyond measure.

Ephesians 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Based on our standing in Christ, God the Father gives to us these unsearchable riches that are beyond comprehension.  They are far greater than we can fully understand or appreciate.  

 

Riches of His Wisdom and Knowledge

 

Romans 11:33   O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

He is God; His wisdom and knowledge are boundless.  He grants us the priceless access to His own comprehension and understanding. We can know what He knows.  We can operate in total confidence that His way is the best way. 

Colossians 2:2-3, Proverbs 2:3-5, Proverbs 4:7   

 

Riches of His Mercy

 

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, …

We deserve NOTHING from God except His judgment and wrath.  Anything and everything He gives us beyond that is a granting of mercy.  As His redeemed, we don’t go to Hell because of His mercy.  We go to Heaven because of His mercy.  We are secure eternally because of His mercy.  We are sustained and provisioned because of His mercy.  The prophet Jeremiah reminds us, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,”

Psalm 32:10;  57:10;  86:5;  119:156;  136:1  

 

Riches of His Goodness

 

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; 

Romans 2:4 …despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Mercy and goodness are listed together often in scripture.  This reminds us that God’s mercy to us is not because He MUST to be merciful to us.  It is only because God is good that He extends His mercy to us. 

In the record of Creation at each day of His creative work God assessed it as “good.”  It is only after He creates man that He evaluates the work as “very good.”  God has invested His most significant goodness toward humans, first at Creation then at Calvary.

Romans 11:22, Psalm 34:6-8, Zechariah 9:17;  Psalm 23:6;  100:5;  Psalm 145:9

 

Riches of His Grace

 

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Beyond the deliverance from judgment and wrath, the Lord gives us position in His family.  Beyond that, He bestows on us the standing of adult children – heirs of all that God has.  Beyond that He makes us joint-heirs with Christ. God’s amazing grace to us is always enlarging as we make room for Him in our lives.  He giveth MORE grace, James 4:6

Ephesians 2:6-7, Romans 5:17, 2Corinthians 8:9, 2Corinthians 9:8 

 

Riches of His Love

 

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Ephesians 3:17-19  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,…

The essence of love is giving.  Someone wrote, “You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.”  God gave His only Son to die for us.  No love that any human experiences can compare to the love God has for us.  Because His love flows from His holiness.

Romans 5:8, 1John 3:1, 1John 4:8  

Conclusion:  These riches are available to ANYONE and EVERYONE who is willing to let the Lord lead you into His treasures.

Romans 10:12  …for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.



5 Ways To Smile Through The Mask

Louis Armstrong sang the famous song “When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You). Today, smiling is hard to do while wearing a face mask. Across our country, Governors, including ours, have mandated the wearing of facial masks. We know that this is for our protection and for the protection of others. These masks are a real inconvenience. Face masks are not a joy to wear, especially when your glasses fog over, and you cannot see very well. It isn’t fun being the one that runs into the doors, misses steps, and drops things when you know for sure there was a table there.

It is by these inconveniences, embarrassments, and more that we really do not want to wear these masks. Yet, we can still be an encouragement and a blessing to those around us while still wearing a mask. This all starts with a simple smile. But those around me cannot see my smile behind the mask. My answer is, “O yes, they can see your smile through the mask.”

Here are 5 ways to smile through the mask:

 
By Our Eyes
 

“The eyes are the windows to the soul.” This popular phrase is related to the Bible verses Matthew 6:22 that says,  “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light!” Our eyes can be full of light.  Not only can this light be seen inwardly, but also outwardly. Let us smile with our eyes shining that light.

By Our Ears
 

One can be looking but not listening. One can be there, but not “all there.” We demonstrate a smile by our positive listening skills. When someone is talking, smile through the mask with purposeful listening with the ears.

By Our Actions
 

You may have heard someone once say, “I cannot hear what you are saying because your actions speak louder than your words.” We may be looking and listening, but if our body language is saying something else, well, that is something that even a mask cannot hide. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:13, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance…” It is this countenance or energy that comes forth as a smile.  

By Our Tone
 

Our words are very important in smiling thru the mask and so is the way that we say those words. This is in our tone of smiling. Our emotions are demonstrated in the tones we project. There are loud tones, soft tones, harsh tones, calm tones, happy tones, and sad tones. It is by our tone of voice we can smile through the mask.

By Our Smile
 

Yes! We can smile from behind the mask and it will show through for all to see. This smile affects our eyes to make them cheery and bright. This smile affects our ears to hear what is being said. This smile affects our actions and reactions to the things around us. This smile affects the tone in our voice with a chuckle, even a laugh here and there.

We are God’s children and we have too many things to smile about to be affected by a little mask.

Keep smiling!