The Four E’s of Discipleship: Empowerment

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

(CSB)

Jesus ascension to heaven meant Jesus physically left earth to be with God the Father.  However, this did not leave His followers powerless because after Jesus left, he sent the Holy Spirit to empower them.  Even the most established and encouraged believer in Christ can fail in their witness for Christ due to lack of empowerment in their lives.  Believers are also in the middle of a spiritual battle and in need of the Holy Spirit’s power to effectively use the spiritual weapons of warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

The context of Jesus’ discourse with the Samaritan woman at the well was regarding where to worship God (John 4:19-20).  At that time, the place of worship was the Temple in Jerusalem with the presence of God in the most holy place.  However, when Jesus said it is finished, the veil was torn signifying anyone choosing to could now enter into God’s presence in worship (Matthew 27:51).  However, where did the presence of God go?

The answer is in each believers heart which is why Jesus told his disciples not to immediately leave Jerusalem spreading the good news of the Gospel but to wait for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).  During the coming of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts 2:1-4 the Holy Spirit did not just enter the room, he entered each individual in the room.  Therefore, the presence of God is in the heart of everyone choosing to believe in Jesus as their savior. 

Jesus also told the Samaritan woman that true worshipers of God worship in Spirit and truth.  Unfortunately, much of the reason for failure to mention the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in many churches is an over emphasis on the spirit part of worship by some.  What I am talking about is the ongoing dispute over whether one must speak with tongues as a sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. 

While it is true those receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost spoke with tongues, Acts 2:5-6 explains why.  Pentecost was one of three Jewish holidays requiring people travel to Jerusalem.  However, people of many other ethnicities were present in the city as well.  (1)  Therefore, the speaking of tongues is not a sign of one receiving the Holy Spirit but instead a miracle of God, empowering the 120 to declare the message of the Gospel in the diverse languages of those in the city.  In other words, the coming of the Holy Spirit was empowerment to declare the message of the Gospel, which in this case meant speaking in tongues and not as some form of disorderly worship in public services. 

However, there are two other instances of the coming of the Holy Spirit on believers accompanied with the speaking in tongues that needs explanation.  The first of these instances occurs in Acts 10:46, occurring in the context of Peter sharing the Gospel with Cornelius, a Gentile.  Prior to this occurrence, the belief was the Gospel was only for Jews and not Gentiles.  Therefore, the speaking in tongues was a sign for Peter, indicating that the Gospel was not just for Jews, but Gentiles as well since Peter was one of the 120 at Pentecost. 

The third instance of speaking in tongues recorded in Scripture is the twelve disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus recorded in Acts 19:1-7.  After their baptism into the name of the Lord Jesus, Paul laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit accompanied with speaking in tongues.  These twelve men were disciples of John the Baptist and may have viewed their baptism into the name of the Lord Jesus as like the baptism of repentance of John the Baptist.  However, the accompanying sign of speaking in tongues told these twelve men something different had occurred in their lives. 

In the contentious post-Christian culture of modern society, it is increasingly important for disciples of Christ to minister with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  The thief, Satan has one goal, the destruction of humanity John 10:10.  This was his objective in the Garden when the serpent deceived Adam and Eve, separating them from God.  Then the unexpected happened, God sent His only Son to take the death penalty for the sins of humanity providing eternal life (John 3:16).  The calling of the church is making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and to do this effectively requires the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). 

1. Schiffer, Kathy. The People in Jerusalem on Pentecost: Who Were They? www.patheos.com. [Online] Seasons of Grace, June 8, 2014. [Cited: October 28, 2018.] http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kathyschiffer/2014/06/the-people-in-jerusalem-on-pentecost-who-were-they/.

The Light of Jesus in a Dark World

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 5:8-10

 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light[c] consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

(CSB)

The first election in which I could vote was the election of 1976.  Since then I have voted in many elections.  All elections are by nature contentious as each candidate bombards media and the public with ads on how they represent the best choice for the office they are seeking.  This part of the electoral process is actually beneficial for it opens the door every two years to public discourse on the issues facing the nation.  However, when the rhetoric of the campaign becomes vial and violent in nature, the peaceful discussion of issues arriving at solutions ends.  Such is the darkness of the current electoral process in the United States. 

As believers in Christ, we can all relate to being in darkness for it is where we all came from (Romans 3:23).  However, when we invited Jesus into our lives, we invited the one who said He was the light of the world (John 14:6).  Whether we live as children of light by allowing the light of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to shine from our hearts, is dependent upon how well we live lives of obedience to the Word of God. 

Ending the vial and violent parts of the electoral process as well as the darkness in other parts of the culture requires letting our light shine with the fruit of the light living within each believer.  This requires believers living in obedience to the Word of God for it is then that our lives shine with the fruits of the light, effecting transformation in the world around us.  Obedient believers in Christ shine with the fruits of,

1)      Goodness – Obedient believers in Christ do not wish violence on those disagreeing with their Christian faith for they understand the darkness they lived in apart from Christ.  Therefore, even though the lives of those living in darkness places them in disagreement with many Godly principles, instead of wishing them harm, they will pray for them.  This does not mean they necessarily pray for them to come to agreement with them politically but that they would come to know Jesus as their savior, transforming their lives and minds (Romans 12:2).  Such is the fruit of goodness in the heart of a believer in Christ. 

2)      Righteousness – Not a righteous based upon what we have done for that is a righteousness of filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  The fruit of righteousness bringing transformation to a lost world is righteousness based upon what Jesus did on the cross.  Jesus death on the cross fulfills the legal requirement of death for sin.  His burial took those sins away and with His resurrection brought justification or a right standing with God the Father (Ephesians 2:11-22). 

3)      Truth – Perhaps the greatest contribution believers in Christ can make to a dark culture is the contribution of truth.  The world has the greatest truth available to it in the Bible.  Believers in Christ have the advantage of having a personal relationship with the author and inspiration of scripture in the person of the Holy Spirit.  This presence in the heart of a believer provides understanding of scripture and empowerment to apply its truth to their lives.  However, a believer can only realize this benefit by deciding to live in obedience to these truths. 

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to pray with me now and open the door of your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ so the fruits of light bringing transformation to a dark world can shine from your life. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations, you have now escaped the dark world of sin and have the light of God in your heart, whether you feel it or not.  The next step is to begin practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, talking to God; studying the Bible, the source of truth; and finding a church that teaches the Bible and provides association with other believers.  I also encourage you to share this blog posting with others, so they too can escape the dark world of sin.  May God bless everyone reading this post.  

The Four E’s of Discipleship: Encouragement

By Dale Weckbacher

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

(CSB)

There is no lack of discouraging news in the information age.  Even the church which should be a place of encouragement can become discouraging.  Fortunately, for the church in Thessalonica, it was a place of encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  The world identifies disciples of Christ by their love for one another (John 13:35).  Therefore, to fulfill the mission of making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), the church must become a loving place of encouragement. 

God commanded Moses to encourage his successor, Joshua, to strengthen and empower him to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:38, 3:28).  After Moses’ death God continued the encouragement (Joshua 1:1-9).  This encouragement contributed to Joshua’s strong commitment to follow the Lord (Joshua 24:15).  For encouragement and strength in a post-Christian culture, the church must.

1)      Be disciplined in prayer, the Word, and meditation on the Word – The members of the early church met daily in the Temple (Acts 2:46).  However, this does not mean we are to physically meet daily in a church building but instead a call to spend time daily in prayer, Bible study, and meditation on what we read in the Word of God.  I can personally attest to my day going much better after spending time in the morning with God in prayer and Bible study.  I have also begun journaling about what I read in scripture, so I can meditate on what I read throughout the day.  The encouragement from time with God is our connection to encouragement from God that is unlike any encouragement we could receive from the world. 

2)      Connect regularly with other believers in Christ (Hebrews 10:25) – When facing persecution for our Christian faith or some struggle in life, the enemy attempts to isolate us.  This isolation brings discouragement as we begin believing nobody else has ever experienced what we are experiencing.  The biblical truth, however, is that others have experienced similar situations (1 Corinthians 10:13) and can provide guidance but if we isolate ourselves, we will not be able to receive this guidance.  We therefore need regular connection with other believers to either receive or give encouragement. 

3)      Disconnect from discouraging news and people – Romans 12:2 teaches us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  What we feed into our minds goes into our heart.  If we feed our minds with biblical truth through regular Bible study and meditation on scripture, we are feeding our mind a nourishing, encouraging, and transforming diet.  However, feeding our minds with the negativity of what is in the media, represents an empty diet that can defile the mind (Matthew 15:19-20).  However, this does not mean total disconnection to the point of not staying informed but disciplining ourselves to balance this information with even more time spent in the Word of God and prayer.  When I hear discouraging news, I try to take it to the Lord in prayer and leave it with Him. 

A discouraged world seeks encouragement and should receive it from believers in Christ and the church.  In a post-Christian world, the church must discipline itself in prayer, Bible study, and meditation on the world to receive encouragement.  Believers in Christ must also meet regularly to encourage one another while limiting their exposure to discouraging media.  Following this advice will not only make believers better disciples for Christ but empower them to encourage others so they too will want to become disciples for Christ. 

Living a New Life in Christ

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 4:22-24

 to take off^[a] your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[b] in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[c] the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

(CSB)

The culture of the early church was a culture of Roman occupation, oppression both from the Romans and the religious elites, and the threat of martyrdom.  However, in the context of this oppressive culture, the church brought cultural transformation wherever it went proclaiming the Gospel message (Acts 17:6).  While Christians in many parts of the world live in oppressive cultures like the culture in which the early church functioned, in many other parts of the world, the oppression is more mental and emotional.  To bring transformation to oppressive cultures, believers must live a new life in Christ that others will find attractive and beneficial in their lives. 

This process of life transformation begins at salvation when we accept Jesus as our savior.  This represents an instantaneous process of conversion as God forgives our sins by the shed blood of Jesus at the cross (Ephesians 2:8).  Acceptance of this substitutionary sacrifice for our sins provides instantaneous forgiveness of sins with the rewards of eternal life and escape from Gods condemnation (John 3:16-17).  Failure of one to accept this gift leads to a life of eternal condemnation and separation from God.  If you are reading this and have not accepted this gift from God, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

While the process of salvation and forgiveness of sins is instantaneous, the process of life transformation to living a life of obedience to God is an ongoing process of mental and spiritual transformation (Romans 12:2).  This process involves one adhering to foundational theological principles.  The good news is that one does not need a PhD in theology to incorporate these principles into their life but must simply believe in these non-negotiable truths.

1)      Creation and the fall (Genesis 1-3) – One of the main objections some have to accepting Jesus as their savior is how a loving God could allow the evil, death, and destruction seen in the world.  The truth is that God did not create these things but that they came about because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve.  What God created was Good (Genesis 1:31) and only became cursed through the sin of humanity (Genesis 3:8-19).  This sin caused separation of humanity from God the creator with Adam and Eve evicted from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23-24), but with the promise of a redeemer to restore the lost relationship between humanity and the creator (Genesis 3:14-15). 

2)      Israel and the law (Genesis 15:1-6; Exodus 20:1-17) – The nation of Israel is the nation God chose for the promised redeemer to come from (Isaiah 7:13-14).  This promised redeemer from the lineage of King David is the fulfillment of the promise God gave to David of an eternal kingdom with someone of his lineage eternally reining on the throne (2 Samuel 7:14-16).  The foundational principles of the law contained in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are God’s expectations of living a Godly life.  As one honestly studies these laws, they must admit to violating as least one of them at some point in their lives.  With just one violation of the law separating one from God, the law illustrates the hopeless state of humanity (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23) and the need for a redeemer. 

3)      Christ and the New Covenant (John 1:1-5) – That redeemer is Jesus Christ who as God in the flesh, lived a sinless life.  This living of a sinless life allowed Jesus to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God who once and for all provided forgiveness of sin, reconnecting fallen humanity with God their creator (2 Corinthians 5:21).  However, the sacrificial lamb did not remain in the grave but resurrected on the third day, conquering death, and then ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father, administering a New Covenant of grace and reconciliation with God the Creator (Hebrews 1:3). 

4)      Heaven gained, and Hell feared (John 3:16-18) – This new life in Christ means one gains eternity with God in heaven and escapes the condemnation of Hell (John 3:16-18).  From this restored foundation, one’s faith can come alive manifesting in Good works (James 2:14-26).  When an unbelieving world sees a believer in Christ doing Godly works in the context of an evil and oppressive world, some will want to know more about how a believer finds the strength to do these good works.  This opens the door for sharing the Gospel with them, fulfilling the “Great Commission.” (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

One choosing to make Jesus their savior has an instantaneous identity shift.  However, at conversion God does not transport a new believer from the earth and instead calls them to be ambassadors for Christ in an ungodly world (2 Corinthians 5:20).  The duty of an ambassador is to demonstrate the benefits of citizenship of their country in a foreign land.  Through the consistent practice of prayer, Bible study, meditation on Scripture, and coming together for encouragement, believers in Christ can become good ambassadors for Christ, promoting the benefits of accepting Jesus as Savior.  I therefore urge everyone reading this to join me in dedicating themselves to living a new life in Christ. 

The Four E’s of Discipleship: Establishment

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Romans 6:4

Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness^[a] of life.

(CSB)

Jesus Christ is the source of the 4E’s of discipleship.  His death on the cross opens the gate of evangelism and a restored relationship with our creator (Ephesians 2:8).  He then ascended to be at the right hand of God the father to establish us in our faith through provision of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12).  God has provided His Word for encouragement and the Holy Spirit for empowerment.  This post will focus on establishment in one’s Christian faith. 

The world is currently experiencing a major cultural shift.  Countries like the United States where the culture once considered Christianity a beneficial contributor is transforming to a post-Christian culture.  The recent contentious confirmation hearings of Justice Kavanaugh brought this to the forefront.  During these hearings we witnessed the moral decline of the culture as what should have been a job interview on the qualifications of judge Kavanaugh to become a Supreme Court Justice turned into a reality show.  This reality show hearing became a discussion of woman’s rights as legislators and the media asked the public to believe unsubstantiated claims of a woman with no collaborating evidence over the often investigated and collaborated claims of Judge Kavanaugh.  Liberals and feminists asked the public to believe the woman simply because she was a woman. 

The Kavanaugh hearings also illustrated the contentious political and cultural divide in the nation.  So ingrained is this divide that the hearings ignored the qualifications of Judge Kavanaugh and instead voted based upon their political and cultural views.  It did not matter who President Trump nominated for the position of Supreme Court Justice for the vote would have been the same because President Trump was the president making the nomination.  The contentiousness in the media and social media illustrate that this divisiveness is more than just political but also cultural in nature. 

The combination of this lack of morality and contentiousness is becoming violent.  Violent protesters are taking to the streets of Portland dragging people from their vehicles.  (1)  Instead of arresting and resisting these lawless protestors, law enforcement in Portland allow these lawless rioters to block streets.  (2)  The contentiousness has led to childish behavior with protestors knocking and clawing at the door of the supreme court in some effort to prevent the swearing in of Judge Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice.  (3) 

Establishment of one as a disciple of Christ is no longer socially acceptable in such an immoral, contentious, and potentially violent culture.  The church therefore must do more to establish, encourage, and empower disciples for Christ in this shifting culture.  Establishment of strong disciples of Christ in this culture involves,

1)      Practice of saving faith (James 2:14) – James 2:14 appears to question whether someone claiming belief in Jesus who does not express that belief in good works has a faith that saves them.  While it appears James is questioning Romans 3:28 and Justification apart from works.  While Ephesians 2:8 teaches that our salvation from sin has nothing to do with our good works and is totally due to the finished work of Jesus on the cross, one having a genuine belief in Jesus as their savior will demonstrate good works out of love.  In a post-Christian world, Christians must make an effort to standout from the secular world through their good works becoming beacons of God’s light and love.  The early church understood this and turned their world upside down (Acts 17:6)

2)      Daily practice of spiritual disciplines (Acts 2:42) – Not only did the early church establish itself through its good works, it was also established through the practice of spiritual disciplines.  It was a church devoted to the teachings of the Apostles, the Bible of their time.  It was a church devoted to prayer and fellowship.  Even though the early church was a persecuted church operating in an oppressive culture, the church remained spiritually disciplined and flourished. 

3)      Stronger Christian communities (Acts 2:42) – Not only was the early church disciplined in practicing saving faith, its members also maintained connection with others through fellowship and breaking of bread.  When one holds to a belief that is contrary to mainstream culture, one can feel isolation through rejection by those holding to mainstream beliefs.  Add the instantaneous nature of social media, and these feelings of isolation can go viral with those disagreeing with our beliefs not only unfriending or unfollowing them but also adding vicious comments.  However, through regular connection with like-minded people, these feelings of isolation disappear (Hebrews 10:25). 

Establishment of one in their Christian faith requires moving beyond simply professing Jesus as savior to spiritually disciplined living, practice of saving faith through good works, and regular connection with the Christian community.  This establishment of faith carries not only the reward of eternal life but the reward of a life of joy in the middle of the turmoil of struggle and an anti-Christian culture (James 1:2-4).  Establishment in faith is also an ongoing process of service, spiritual discipline, and connection with fellow believers.  However, even the most established Christian can become discouraged when living in a post-Christian culture and need encouragement which is the topic of next Wednesday’s posting. 

1. Sang, Lucia I. Suarez. www.foxnews.com. Portland Antifa protesters caught on video bullying elderly motorist, woman in wheelchair. [Online] Fox News, October 11, 2018. [Cited: October 14, 2018.] https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-antifa-protesters-caught-on-video-bullying-elderly-motorist-woman-in-wheelchair.

2. Fox News. Portland Journalist: Police Allowed Antifa Protesters to Block Off Streets, Confront Drivers. www.insider.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, October 10, 2018. [Cited: October 14, 2018.] http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/10/10/portland-antifa-protest-over-police-shooting-journalist-describes-situation-tucker.

3. Youtube. Anti-Kavanaugh protesters bang on the doors of the Supreme Court. www.youtube.com. [Online] Youtube. [Cited: October 14, 2018.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRnmnxVtDqg.

Unified Diversity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 4:1-3

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

(CSB)

God’s creation is not only magnificent but also a demonstration of his like for diversity.  No two human beings have the same fingerprints, and our DNA is unique.  No two snowflakes are of the same exact shape.  However, the same God creating diversity tells the church to live in unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).  The calling of the church is simple, spreading the Gospel (Mark 16:15) and making disciples of the nations (Matthew 28:19-20).  To accomplish this calling, the diverse Body of Christ must unite with purpose through unified diversity. 

Before looking more deeply into Ephesians 4:1-16, let us define some terms.  Calling is that vocation the church body and each individual believer has from God.  While the missional calling of the church is simplistically outlined in Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19-20, each individual believer has talents and gifts that give them a unique calling (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).  Unified diversity occurs when these unique callings merge behind the common missional calling of the church. 

However, to bring these diverse talents and gifts into unity, there must be a conductor bringing it all together.  This conductor is the Holy Spirit who has the role of conducting the diverse orchestra of the Body of Christ.  However, if the orchestra does not follow the direction of the conductor, the result will not be a beautiful sounding piece of music but instead noise.  This is what Paul means by unity of the Spirit in the Body of Christ.  It is this unity of the Spirit that allows the diverse talents and gifts of the individual members of the church to blend into a beautiful sounding symphony glorifying Christ. 

The church is not a building or organization but a gathering together of diverse individuals with the unified purpose of fulfilling their missional role.  Unfortunately, however, as church congregations grow, they can become more obsessed with maintenance of facilities and programs, losing their first love and purpose (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20; Revelation 2:1-7).  Unified diversity insures focus on the missional purpose of the church with each diverse individual taught and directed to find their unique contribution to the missional role of the church (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11). 

The recent contentious confirmation of Justice Cavanaugh illustrates the main tactic of Satan in spiritual warfare the tactic of division.  This tactic is not new for it was what Satan did in the Garden dividing Adam and Eve from God (Genesis 3).  This tactic divided Jacob’s family leading to Joseph’s sale into slavery (Genesis 37:12-36), although that ended up turning into a blessing saving them (Genesis 45:4-5).  Satan used this tactic to divide the nation of Israel leading to their abandonment of God and exile (2 Chronicles 10).  This tactic of division also led to Jesus rejection as Messiah by the religious leaders of His time who instead of accepting their King, called for his crucifixion (Matthew 27:22). 

The only unifying force that can end these contentious divisions is the unifying force of the Holy Spirit.  The first step in bringing this unifying force into our lives is acceptance of Jesus as our savior.  If you have not already done so, I urge you to take this first step by praying with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

This is the first step in the process of unified diversity.  It is now important to find a group or body of other believers in Jesus as savior to establish, encourage, and empower you to find your unique gifts and talents enabling you to take part in the unified missional role of bringing the much-needed message of the Gospel to the world.  I also encourage coming back to this blog on Wednesdays and Saturdays for encouragement and empowerment to take part in bringing the Gospel to the world. 

The Four E’s of Discipleship: Evangelism

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 2:8-9

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast.

(CSB)

Acts 17:1-9 records the account of the brief ministry of the Apostle Paul in Thessalonica.  The account mentions that the brief ministry was successful with many of the God-fearing Greeks persuaded to join with Paul as believers.  While believers in Christ view this success as beneficial, it created jealousy in the hearts of some Jews and wicked men.  Their anger was due to the reputation of the Paul and Silas as among those that had turned the Roman world upside down (Acts 17:6).  Two thousand years later we must ask if a similar mob would find the church guilty of a similar crime. 

Pastor Joel Osteen has taken heat for statements that he does not preach about sin and damnation or anything hard to hear due to his belief that people need encouragement.  (1)  Granted, encouragement is one of the four E’s of discipleship and something we will discuss in a couple of weeks, but for discipleship to be complete it must include all four E’s, evangelism, establishment, encouragement, and empowerment.  This posting concerns the first E, evangelism. 

Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  As the sinless Lamb of God who while knowing no sin, took our sins upon him so we can have reconciliation with God through acceptance of Jesus as savoir, is the gateway to discipleship, and therefore, the first E of discipleship.  Jesus is the gateway to a relationship with God, seeking to establish, encourage, and empower disciples for Christ.  However, to enter into discipleship without entering the gateway of evangelism is like breaking into a house without the key. 

When one thinks of evangelism, they think of the late Billy Graham.  During his ministry, Dr. Graham preached the Gospel to an estimated 100 million people with an estimated three million responding to the invitation to accept Jesus into their heart.  (2)  While Billy Graham’s messages were not primarily fire and brimstone messages about hell, they did present people with the choice of choosing Jesus and eternal life or a life of sin leading to eternal separation from God.  Billy Graham served in obedience to Mark 16:15 by spreading the gospel message and Matthew 28:19-20 by taking many through the gate of evangelism by inviting them to accept Jesus as their savior.  The message of evangelism is simple and,

1)      Free through the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8) – Prior to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, those following God had the law.  The law was illustrative of how one must life if they are to please God.  The foundation for God’s law is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).  Every person reading this that cares to be honest with themselves, must admit to breaking at least one of these commandments.  This truth means everyone reading this is on death row with God (Romans 6:23).  While God is a just God and must administer the appropriate penalty for sin, he is also gracious and allows a substitute to take the penalty for sin.  This is what Jesus did for all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:21) but it is not a blanket pardon and must be accepted for someone to realize its benefit.   

2)      Necessary to escape the eternal death of separation from God (Romans 6:23) – The truth of the substitutionary taking of our death penalty by Jesus is the evangelistic message of the Gospel, opening the path to discipleship while closing the door to condemnation from God (John 3:16-18).  There is no other way to avoid going down the pathway to eternal death and separation from God for the Gospel is not a fork in the road, but an offramp taking us to eternal life and away from death.  The purpose of evangelism is pointing people to the offramp. 

3)      The mission of the Church (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15) – The most important aspect of evangelism is that it is the primary mission of the church (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15).  When ministers of the gospel ignore the importance of evangelism in the discipleship process, they are asking people to take the offramp avoiding eternal death and separation from God without opening the gate.  If one were to attempt to exit a freeway when a large steel gate blocked the road, the result would be a massive crash.  Perhaps the reason the church today is not guilty of turning its world upside down stems from a loss of evangelistic focus. 

If you have never taken the offramp of the Gospel and accepted Jesus as your savior.  If so I invite you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You have now entered the offramp of discipleship and a reconciled relationship with God.  Over the next three Wednesday postings to this blog, we will look at the other three aspects of discipleship which insure a vibrant and fulfilling relationship with God.  I encourage you to bookmark this page and join along. 

1. Idleman, Shane. Joel Osteen: Preach God's Truth; Don't Avoid Sin, Repentance. www.christianpost.com. [Online] The Christian Post, May 29, 2016. [Cited: March 30, 2017.] http://www.christianpost.com/news/joel-osteen-truth-sin-repentance-160365/.

2. Shelley, Marshall. Evangelist Billy Graham Has Died. www.christianitytoday.com. [Online] Christianity Today. [Cited: March 3, 2018.] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/billy-graham/died-billy-graham-obituary.html.

Prayer for Empowerment

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit 

(CSB)

Knowing the struggles and persecution the church would experience, Jesus commanded the early believers to gather together and wait for empowerment through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).  Fortunately, the early disciples obeyed Jesus command and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).  In a powerful demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit enabling one to minister effectively, we see once timid and fearful Peter stand up in front of a crowd that just a few days before, was calling for Jesus’ crucifixion (Acts 2:14-41). 

Unfortunately, many churches today have abandoned the call of Christ to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and the command to wait for the empowerment and leading of the Holy Sprit prior to ministering (Acts 1:4-5).  In many ways, the church of today resembles the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-20).  Paul’s prayer for spiritual power in Ephesians 3:14-21 comes from a concern for the church at Ephesus losing its power and comprehension of the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love.  Unfortunately, it appears they did not maintain their connection to the power of God with the church at Ephesus among the seven churches in Revelation, mentioned as a church losing its first love (Revelation 2:1-7). 

Instead of gathering each week to worship in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit learning the truth of the immense love of God towards humanity, many churches worship wealth and materialism.  (1)  Instead of spreading the good news of the Gospel, the focus is on building and maintaining large facilities and preaching a health and wealth gospel as a means of getting members to give more in order to fund the expensive facilities.  A sex obsessed world that cannot even confirm a Supreme Court Justice without a trip through the gutter needs the church to detach from its infatuation with managing facilities and return to the message of the Gospel that brings transformation to a sinful world (Acts 17:6). 

The prayer for empowerment recorded in Ephesians 3:14-21 provides direction for the church returning to its once powerful world transforming position.  The process for this transformation involves,

1)      Prayer (Ephesians 3:4-16) – After teaching on the implements of the armor of God, the Apostle Paul concludes with urging us to pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, interceding for the saints.  Just as our cell phone is useless without the power of its battery, believers in Christ are powerless without the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  Prayer is an important spiritual discipline that connects a believer with God, their power source.  Intercessory prayer unleashes that power on others in need of salvation or a touch from God. 

2)      Empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16) – The church is not a building and why churches lose their focus when they become overly concerned with management of their facilities rather than on God.  Instead the church is an assembling together of believers in Jesus Christ.  However, if these believers lack the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they too can quickly lose their Christ-centered focus.  Prior to His ascension, Jesus commanded His followers to wait for the filing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).  This is also good advice for the church today keeping the church strong and uncompromising in the sinful world in which we live.    

3)      Faith (Ephesians 3:17) – While empowerment from the Holy Spirit is necessary, it is useless without faith for without faith we cannot please God.  In addition to pleasing God, faith is also a shield empowering believers to resist the attacks of the enemy (Ephesians 6:6-16). 

4)      Unity and love (Ephesians 3:17-18) – A politically divided world needs an example of unity and love.  Our love for one another within the church is that example to the world (John 13:34-35).  However, the enemy, Satan, has succeeded in causing divisions within the church, causing the church to appear no different to the world than any secular organization.  Jesus taught the woman at the well that true worshipers of Christ worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:23).  A dangerously divided world must see the example of the church, unified in love, and empowered by the Holy Spirit that declares the truth of the Gospel through empowered believers in Christ. 

5)      Centered on Christ (Ephesians 3:19-21) – What we treasure most in our hearts is what empowers us (Matthew 6:21).  When a church congregation becomes focused on management of a large facility, its empowerment comes through numbers attending services and contributions.  While these are vital to the church, the treasure and source of empowerment must remain a Christ-centered focus on spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  My prayer for the church today is for a return to the Christ-centered focus like that of the early church in Ephesus and a return to the first love of the church, Jesus Christ.

Like the early church, the church today faces struggles and persecution.  However, a divided world is seeking something to bring unification and not finding it in politics or sinful pleasures.  May the church break free from its Laodicean tendencies and return to its Christ-centered focus that turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6), becoming an example of people unified behind the love and truth of the Gospel. 

1. Hevener, Dr. Fillmer. Is the Modern Christian Church a Second Laodicea? www.southsidemessenger.com. [Online] The Southside Messenger, October 27, 2016. [Cited: September 30, 2018.] http://southsidemessenger.com/is-the-modern-christian-church-a-second-laodicea/.

Psalms of the Ascents: A call to Worship the Lord

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Psalm 134:2

Lift up your hands in the holy place
and bless the Lord!

(CSB)

As we conclude our study of the psalms of the ascents, it is interesting that the final psalm involves the topic of evening worship (Psalm 134).  It is not surprising that one of the psalms is a call to worship.  It is also not surprising that the psalm is part of what those making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem would say on their arduous journey to Jerusalem.  What is interesting is that it is a cry to evening worship. 

Jesus promised us that each day would bring trouble (John 16:32-33).  Fortunately, good news accompanies this bad news with Jesus saying He has overcome the world.  However, as we go through the challenges of each day it is easy to end the day in exhaustion, forgetting to end the day with worship of the one that helped us overcome the struggles we faced during the day. 

James 1:2 reminds us to consider it joy when we face trials.  My first reaction to hearing this was “are you kidding, I am struggling here and you want me to be joyful.”  Our problem with this verse is our equating joy with happiness.  The Greek word for joy in this verse is cara (1) which means cheerfulness, calm delight, and gladness.  In other words, those experiencing a trial can have a calm delight, cheerfulness, and gladness in the Lord.   Happiness involves gladness over good happening in our lives while joy is a calm delight at knowing God is in control of the circumstances occurring in my life.  When these circumstances involve a trial in our life, we can find joy in the Lord, knowing that this struggle is there to make us stronger (James 1:3-4). 

I encourage those reading this to join me in practicing the spiritual discipline of ending the day with prayer and worship of God.  I remember as a child having my mom make sure I said my prayers before going to bed.  Unfortunately, as I have grown older, I have ceased this practice in my life due to exhaustion at the end of the day and falling right to sleep.  My hope is that as we begin this practice, we can sleep better and wake up with the joy of the Lord in our hearts, giving us strength to face the day (Nehemiah 8:10). 

This concludes our study of the Psalms of the ascents.  Next Wednesday we will begin a study of the four E’s of discipleship.  The scriptural foundation for this study will be Ephesians 4:11 but instead of studying the five ministerial offices, the study will focus on the four E’s of discipleship, evangelizing, establishing, equipping, and empowering.  Please invite others who either do not know Jesus as their savior so they can begin the discipleship process through evangelization or know Jesus and desire establishment, equipping, and empowerment in their lives to become better disciples of Christ. 

1. Godrules.net. Cara. www.godrules.net. [Online] Godrules. [Cited: September 30, 2018.] http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre5479.htm.