The Force that Binds: Unity in a Divided World

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(ESV)

The United States experienced one of the most divisive elections in my lifetime in 2016.  I do not say this lightly for in my lifetime as a voter I have participated in many contentious elections.  I remember my first election in 1980 where Ronald Reagan defeated an incumbent President, something historically difficult to do.  This is primarily because incumbents enjoy "Name recognition; national attention, fundraising and campaign bases; control over the instruments of government; successful campaign experience; a presumption of success; and voters' inertia and risk-aversion."  Even with these advantages, the incumbent has lost 3 of the last 10 presidential elections where an incumbent was running.  (1)

Then there was the contentious 2000 election where George W. Bush defeated Vice President Al Gore.  I remember the numerous recounts, and court hearings wondering if everything would be settled prior to Inauguration Day creating a constitutional crisis leaving the nation without a president.  The 2000 election was the election that seemed to go on forever.  (2)  I would label the 2016 election as the one we could not wait to be over for it was an election filled with vile hatred and negativity.    

The electoral process however is not the only place where divisiveness dominates our culture and society.  The shootings of police officers in Dallas illustrates the racial divide still present in the United States.  (3)  While the Bible teaches marriage is between a man and a woman (Genesis 5:2) and explicitly condemns homosexuality (Romans1:24-27), the church has a quandary for while it is on scripturally solid ground in taking a stand against the practice of homosexuality along with constitutional protection under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it also is to extend the message of the Gospel to those caught up in this lifestyle.   (4)  The divisive issue of abortion also continues to cause divisiveness in our societies.  This abundance of divisiveness leads us to ask the logical question, what can be done to restore unity to our nations and cultures. 

Erroneously, many well-meaning Christians believe Jesus came almost 2000 years ago to restore unity but as Jesus said in Luke 12:51, He came to bring division.  However, in what could be viewed as a contradiction, Jesus later told his followers to live in unity with one another (John 13:34-35).  Paul went on to emphasize this call for unity in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:1-16).  To resolve this contradiction, we must view these passages of scripture in context and take note of the audience being addressed. 

In Luke 12, Jesus is addressing his followers cautioning them against false teaching (Luke 12:1-3) and encouraging them to prepare for His return (Luke 12:35-48).  In John however, Jesus is addressing his disciples at the Last Supper, instructing them to live in unity as believers while living in opposition to the sin in their world.  Similarly, Paul is instructing the church in Ephesus to live in unity as a church body standing against the sin and pagan worship of their community. 

Unfortunately, the church has historically failed to follow the instructions of Christ and the Apostle Paul to live in unity and instead has a history of internal divisiveness.  (5)  In fact, the most dangerous guy in the church is not someone of a different race than us, someone with a differing sexual orientation, or someone who is pro-choice but instead it is the one bringing division in the Body of Christ.  (6)  The key, therefore, to bringing unity in our cultures is a church unified in fulfilling the great commission (Mark16:14-20).  This does not however mean that different bodies of believers cannot have differing interpretations of minor theology but that we all must unite behind the mission of spreading the Gospel for this was Jesus final word to his followers. 

It is this unity of purpose that shows our divisive world that we are disciples of Jesus (John 13:34-35) and what will draw the lost to accept Jesus as their savior for it declares that Jesus came to die, be buried, and conquer death through His resurrection (John 12:32).  I therefore urge everyone reading this that is a believer in Jesus as their savior to put aside their petty theological differences and unite in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a divisive world in need of a Savior. 

If you are reading this and have not made Jesus your Savior, I encourage you to pray 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.

Next Wednesday I will be letting my readers know about an event coming in June where many churches across the globe will have an opportunity to unite in sharing the good news of the Gospel with the lost in their communities. 

1. Weeks, Linton. Why It's Good To Be The Incumbent. www.npr.org. [Online] NPR, June 11, 2012. [Cited: May 13, 2017.] http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2012/06/11/154745966/why-its-good-to-be-the-incumbent.

2. Pruitt, Sarah. 7 Most Contentious U.S. Presidential Elections. www.history.com. [Online] History, April 26, 2016. [Cited: May 13, 2017.] http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/7-most-contentious-u-s-presidential-elections.

3. Clement, Joel Achenbach and Scott. America really is more divided than ever. www.washingtonpost.com. [Online] The Washington Post, July 16, 2016. [Cited: May 13, 2017.] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/america-really-is-more-divided-than-ever/2016/07/17/fbfebee6-49d8-11e6-90a8-fb84201e0645_story.html?utm_term=.9bd77887c8c0.

4. Lawrence, William B. The most divisive element in American church life is no longer racism; it's homosexuality. www.dallasnews.com. [Online] Dallas News. [Cited: May 13, 2017.] https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/11/22/divisive-element-american-church-life-longer-racism-homosexuality.

5. Williams, Bob. A History of Church Divisions. www.biblelessons.com. [Online] Biblelessons.com. [Cited: May 13, 2017.] http://www.biblelessons.com/church.html.

6. Raymond, Erik. WHO IS THE MOST DANGEROUS GUY AT YOUR CHURCH? blogs.thegospelcoalition.org. [Online] The Gospel Coalition, August 5, 2015. [Cited: May 13, 2017.] https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/erikraymond/2015/08/05/who-is-the-most-dangerous-guy-at-your-church/.

Faith Study (Part 3): The Object of Faith

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

Hebrews 12:2

 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

(ESV)

In February of 2012, as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebration for Queen Elizabeth, the Arch Bishop of Canterbury welcomed the Queen to a multi-faith event at Lambeth Palace.  At the event were representatives of eight non-Christian religions, each presenting an object of their faith.  (1)  While religious objects can serve the purpose of reminding us of our faith, the Word of God is clear that we are not to worship such man-made objects (Exodus 20:4-6). 

Christianity has the objects of the cross, communion, and baptism but we are not to worship these objects only to let them serve as reminders of the one who is the object of our faith, Jesus Christ.

1)      The Cross – reminds us of the death of Jesus Christ for our sins.  However, in the protestant faith, the cross is empty indicating that Jesus is not there for he has risen from the dead.  As a Christian I do not worship the cross but instead use it to remember that Jesus is Lord of my life and my belief that God raised Him from the dead.  The importance of this knowledge is that this knowledge is what saves us (Romans 10:9-10).

2)      Communion – There is a difference in how Catholics and Protestants view communion.  For Catholics the belief is that once the priest consecrates the bread and wine, these implements become the body of Christ.  Non-Catholics may not participate in communion.  (2)  With Protestants, the implements serve as symbolic reminders of the broken body of Christ and his shed blood (1Corinthians 11:23-26).  While anyone, Catholic or Protestant is saved through a profession of faith in Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, the belief that the implements of communion become the body and blood of Christ borders on worship of these implements instead of their proper position as reminders of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

3)      Baptism – Baptism serves as a public expression of something that has occurred in someone’s heart.  The act of Baptism is not what saves someone as some faiths believe (3) but symbolically represents someone surrendering their life to the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4). 

Luke 7:11-17 records the miracle of Jesus raising a widow’s son from the dead.  Scripture records that this widow not only lost her husband but this was her only son.  In ancient Jewish culture a widow without a son would be financially destitute with no means of economic support.  (4)  Every visible object of financial support this woman had has vanished.  She is mourning and no doubt wondering what will happen next.  Where will she receive her next meal?  Will she be homeless?  Will she live the remainder of her life in destitution? 

With knowledge of her plight, we see Jesus, out of compassion, reaching out to this desperate woman.  Jesus’ first words to her were “Do not Weep” (Luke 7:13).  Scripture does not tell us if this woman had ever heard of Jesus but since Jesus was just starting His ministry, it is highly possible she had no idea who he was.  This means she may have looked at Jesus and wondered who this guy was. 

Fortunately for her, Jesus then went over and touched the bier, told the bearers to stand still, and commanded the young man to arise (Luke 7:14).  I am sure the widow, and all the others witnessing this miracle, stood in shock.  I am also sure that any wondering about who this man was vanished as the widow now knew she would have a son to care for her financial needs.  Bereft of any visible object of faith this widow discovered the only object of faith with the potential of meeting our needs, Jesus Christ. 

As we discovered last Saturday, faith is knowing we need Jesus, believing Jesus is the Son of God and capable of meeting our need, and trusting Him to meet our need.  We also discovered that the greatest challenge for most of us is moving from belief to trust.  When we make Jesus and God’s Word, and not some object or ritual, the object of our faith, it becomes easier to trust God for our needs. 

This widow did not pray and ask Jesus for help yet Jesus gave her the miracle she needed to rescue her from a life of destitution.  Her faith was not based upon some great solid theology or some eloquent prayer of faith.  Her faith was not based upon observance of some ritual or some man-made object.  No, her miracle was provided by the only object of faith capable of meeting all our needs, Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19).

Next Saturday we will look at the struggle of faith, doubt.

1. Williams, Dr. Rowan. Faith Communities Display Sacred Objects to the Queen. rowanwilliams.archbishopof canterbury.org. [Online] Arch Bishop of Canterbury, February 15, 2012. [Cited: May 6, 2017.] http://rowanwilliams.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2355/faith-communities-display-sacred-objects-to-the-queen.

2. DW.com. The main differences between Catholics and Protestants. www.dw.com. [Online] DW Made for Minds. [Cited: May 6, 2017.] http://www.dw.com/en/the-main-differences-between-catholics-and-protestants/a-37888597.

3. Vatican.va. Catechism of the Catholic Church. www.vatican.va. [Online] The Vatican. [Cited: May 6, 2017.] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm.

4. Henrich, Sarah. Comentary on Luke 7:11-17. www.workingpreacher.org. [Online] workingpreacher.org. [Cited: May 6, 2017.] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=597.

Always on Time: God is Never Late, it is us Who Are Impatient

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Luke 12:40

“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

(ESV)

We live in a culture of instant gratification where the idea of waiting for something is unheard of.  We have instant access to information on the internet with the word google now becoming a verb.  We have microwave meals where we can enjoy a warm meal in minutes.   However, instant gratification is not the way of the Lord for Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that our strength is renewed when we learn to wait on the Lord for God is always right on time and never late. 

Impatience and instant gratification is contrary to our fleshly nature and nothing new.  After their eviction from the Garden of Eden, Eve conceived a son (Genesis 4:1).  In her statement “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord” Eve was expressing her belief that the son she bore was the one to fulfill Genesis 3:15 only to have her belief shattered when Cain murdered Abel.  (1)

Another example of impatience in the Bible is found in Joshua 7.  In a rush to occupy the land Joshua sent men from Jericho to spy out the land.  The nation of Israel had experienced a tremendous victory at Jericho and thought they could just march in and conquer Ai without inquiring of the Lord first.  This impatience resulted in an embarrassing defeat.  Fortunately, this defeat was turned to victory after Israel confessed their sins to God (Joshua 8:1-29).  

Fortunately for us all, God’s timing is always perfect.  Take the timing of Jesus first coming for example.  Jesus first coming occurred during the Roman occupation of Israel.  As such, the people had no freedom and lived under the oppression of the Roman government and were desperately seeking a savior (Luke 2:1).  However, zealots in the time of Christ believed Messiah would march into Jerusalem and take over from the oppressive Romans.  (2)  Jesus however spoke out against such a violent take over (Matthew 26:52) and Instead died on a cross, rose from the dead, and after showing himself to many, ascended to heaven with the promise he would return.  It is at the time of His second coming that he will establish his Kingdom on earth with all earthly nations bowing to Him (Romans 14:11). 

The first coming of Jesus also occurred at a time when the Romans had constructed a system of roads and navigable routes on the seas to connect their vast empire.  It was these roads and waterways that made the spread of the Gospel possible.  At the time of Christ, Greek was spoken in most of the world making it possible for the written word to spread like the epistles.  (3)  With these tools, early Christians were able to spread the Gospel and turn their world upside down (Acts 17:6).

As we anticipate the second coming of Jesus, we can also rest assured that it will occur at just the right time.  We can also know that God is already setting things up for this glorious event.  For example, we have our own version of the famous Roman Roads in the information superhighway.  Through social media, email, and blogs on the internet, the message of the Gospel can now be instantaneously spread to anyone in the world from anywhere.  (4)  In addition, google even has the technology to translate text, such as what you are reading now, into other languages making it possible for them to hear the message.  (5)

The second coming of Jesus is delayed because in His mercy, God is not willing that any should die without the opportunity to be saved (2 Peter 3:9).  In this age of instant gratification God has also provided powerful tools such as the internet, social media, and even blogs like this one empowering us as believers to fulfill the great commission of spreading the Gospel to every nation (Mark 16:15).  In addition to these cyber tools, we can also share with those we meet face-to-face while living our daily lives.  Unfortunately, a tool left in the toolbox is useless.  I therefore encourage everyone reading this that is a believer in Jesus as their savior to use these tools to insure everyone has an opportunity to accept Jesus as their savior. 

If you are reading this and have not made this decision, I want to encourage you to do so now.  Romans 3:23 says that we all have sinned and Romans 6:23 tells us that the penalty for our sins is death.  However, in fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, God sent his only Son, Jesus to die for our sins and provide eternal life for anyone choosing to believe (John 3:16).  All we must do to be saved is confess Jesus as Lord of our lives and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans10:9-10).  I therefore encourage anyone reading this that has not accepted this gift of salvation from God 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.

Now, use the tools you have available and share this good news with everyone. 

1. Stewart, Don. What Did Eve Mean, I Have Gotten a Man from the Lord. www.blueletterbible.com. [Online] Blue Letter Bible. [Cited: May 4, 2017.] https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_713.cfm.

2. Reed, Doug. Who Were the Zealots. www.thorncrownjournal.com. [Online] Thorncrown Journal. [Cited: May 4, 2017.] http://www.thorncrownjournal.com/timeofchrist/zealots.html.

3. Jeremiah, David. Why Did Jesus Come When He did? www.cbn.com. [Online] The Christian Broadcasting Network. [Cited: May 4, 2017.] http://www.cbn.com/special/TheNativityMovie/articles/DavidJeremiah.aspx.

4. Wise, Justin. Social Media and Christian Ministry: Reaching the World for the Kingdom of God. www.christianitytoday.com. [Online] Christianity Today. [Cited: May 4, 2017.] http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/february/social-media-and-christian-ministry-reaching-world-for-king.html.

5. Agapiev, Borislav. How does Google translate work? Do they have database for all words of a particular language? www.quora.com. [Online] Quora, December 4, 2016. [Cited: May 4, 2017.] https://www.quora.com/How-does-Google-translate-work-Do-they-have-database-for-all-words-of-a-particular-language.

Faith Study (Part 2): Definition of Faith

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

(ESV)

One definition of faith found in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”  (1)  Hebrews 11:1 provides a more Biblical definition that on the surface seems to somewhat agree with the definition found in the dictionary for both seem to portray faith as some blind belief in something unseen.  However, Biblical faith is not something that is blind for even though it is a faith in an unseen God, it is not something without proof.

Luke 7:1-10 provides the account of Jesus’ healing of the Centurion’s Servant.  While Hebrews 11:1 provides a general definition of faith as being an assurance of things we hope for and a conviction in the existence of things not seen, the account in Luke provides a more detailed definition of Biblical faith and is something we should look at more closely.

1)      The Centurion had a need (Luke 7:1-2) – The Centurion had a highly-valued servant that was sick to the point of death.  The fact that the Centurion had a need is not an indication of lack of faith but something everyone reading this, and might I add the one writing it, experience in our lives.  While many of us like to think of ourselves as independent and able to handle our needs, the truth is we are all dependent.  For example, you do not want me to fix your car for I lack expertise in auto mechanics.  As such I am dependent upon others to fix my car when it breaks down.  Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all have sinned and fallen short God’s standard.  The consequence of this sin in our lives is death (Romans 6:23) but because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can all be rescued from this death sentence.  Therefore, we all need a substitute to die for us in order to escape this death sentence.  That substitute is Jesus Christ.  If you have not accepted Jesus substitutionary death for your sins, I invite 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.

2)      The Centurion knew about Jesus (Luke 7:3) – At this point in His ministry, Jesus had performed many miracles of healing.  Having heard of these reports, the centurion sends messengers to Jesus.  When we have a need the next step is finding someone we know can meet that need.  Using my car analogy again I know and have a good mechanic that can fix my car when it breaks down.  I know this mechanic is good because of my history with him and good word from others using his services. 

3)      The Centurion believed Jesus could heal his servant (Luke 7:3) – Just knowing Jesus is insufficient for even demons know Jesus (James 2:19).  Knowing must become a belief that Jesus can meet our particular need.  Most medical doctors display their diploma in their offices.  While this diploma is just a simple piece of paper, it symbolizes the fact the doctor has completed a level of training in medicine.  The displaying of the diploma is to help instill belief that the doctor treating you has expertise in the field of medicine and able to treat your illness.  Our faith in God it is found in the written accounts in God’s Word that help instill belief. 

4)      The Centurion humbly trusted Jesus (Luke 7:4-7) – So humble was the Centurion that he did not even feel worthy to have Jesus come to his house.  So trusting was this Centurion that he trusted that just a word from Jesus would heal the servant.  It is this trusting part that most of us, including myself, struggle with.  We know we have a need, we know of Jesus, and we believe the Word of God is true yet when it comes to trusting God with our personal need, we have doubts and believe we need to fix things ourselves.  Some of us may even be like the elders of the Jews, believing we are somehow worthy of a miracle based upon our good works (Luke 7:4-5).  In the Centurion however, we see a humble man not even feeling worthy to have Jesus visit him yet a man understanding Jesus authority from God and trusting this authority granted Jesus the power to heal his servant with just a word (Luke 7:6-8). 

This passage in Luke concludes with Jesus commending the Centurion for his great faith and using it as a teaching moment (Luke7:9-10).  May we all strive to have a faith defined by the Centurion who knew of Jesus, believed he could perform a miracle for his servant and trusted that just a word from Jesus had the authority to perform a miracle. 

Next Saturday we will explore the object of our faith. 

1. Merriam-Webster. Definition of Faith. www.merriam-webster.com. [Online] Merriam-Webster. [Cited: April 30, 2017.] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith.

It’s a 4-year Term not a 100-day Term

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Isaiah 40:31

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

(ESV)

Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  I find that when I face something, pray, and nothing happens, this verse reminds me that I must wait on the Lord to receive an answer to my prayer and trust that the answer I receive is exactly what God wants for me.  In these troubling times, it is wise for us all to learn to wait humbly and patiently on the Lord for He is never late and his plans for us are for our good (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Daniel experienced the pain of waiting when he spent three weeks in mourning over the plight of his people (Daniel 10:1-13).  In this passage, Daniel finally has a visitation from an angel that tells him his prayer had been heard three weeks earlier but that the Prince of Persia stood against him and with the help of Michael the angel was able to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayer.  Often the answer to our prayer may be obstructed by the spiritual battle we are in at the time and we must wait, as Daniel did, allowing the Lord to renew our strength. 

Ever since FDR, new Presidents in the United States have been judged by what they accomplish their first 100 days in office.  (1)  While this measurement provides a benchmark measuring progress towards the agenda the new President campaigned on and sets the tone for what is to come, it is unfair to judge the new President a failure based upon failures during the first 100 days.  This is because in the United States, Presidents are elected to a 4-year term and not a 100-day term. 

Unfortunately, however, in our instant gratification society, voters can be fickle and change when they become impatient.  Couple this with a media out to destroy the new President and his agenda, (2) and you have an electorate easily manipulated by a liberal media or like what President Trump calls it, fake news that does not report the truth but instead promotes a liberal agenda. 

In addition to the media spreading fake news, the Trump Administration is also dealing with hold overs in the bureaucracy or what some call a shadow government or deep state.  (3) (4)  Since these holdovers are government employees and not appointees of the President and since they are unionized, it is difficult to get rid of them.  This is nothing new for all modern presidents have faced this challenge.  I recall the opposition President W. Bush endured when he fired 46 U.S. Attorneys.  (5) 

President Trump also faces challenges from Congress who is not 100 percent supportive of His agenda.  One would believe a Republican President with a Republican House and Senate would have smooth sailing with his agenda but many within the Republican party view President Trump as an outsider.  This means members of Congress may agree on some issues but long-term questions still loom.  (6)  The recent failure of passage of a bill to repeal and replace portions of Obamacare is an example.  While most all Republicans, including the President, ran for office promising to repeal Obamacare, the debate over the legislation revealed questions over how to go about it.  Similar questions are coming up regarding the funding the Donald Trump’s signature issue, the building of a wall along the southern border of the United States.  However, before everyone supporting Trump in the elections bails on him, we must be patient and give the President Trump an opportunity to work out the details of the deal so Obamacare can be repealed and the wall built. 

President Trump became a billionaire working real estate deals.  These deals always involved back and forth negotiations and thus did not happen immediately.  However, Donald Trump’s massive success tells us he usually prevails in negotiating a successful deal.  Therefore, we the voters and citizens of the United States must be patient and allow President Trump to work out the details of the deals, remembering that Donald Trump did not run for President for personal gain but out of love for his country.  Therefore, let us not confine President Trump to a 100-day window and instead give him his four-year term.  Let us also continue to pray for President Trump and our other government leaders, praying that God’s will is done for our nation.

1. Elving, Ron. The 'First 100 Days' Presidential Benchmark Goes Back To FDR And Napoleon. www.npr.org. [Online] NPR, April 23, 2017. [Cited: April 24, 2017.] http://www.npr.org/2017/04/23/525310208/the-first-100-days-presidential-benchmark-goes-back-to-fdr-and-napoleon.

2. Bardella, Kurt. Yes, it's war: How the media should fight back against Trump. thehill.com. [Online] The Hill, February 21, 2017. [Cited: April 24, 2017.] http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/media/320400-yes-its-war-how-the-media-should-fight-back-against-trump.

3. Graham, Chris. What is 'deep state' and is a shadowy network of Obama holdovers undermining Donald Trump? www.telegraph.co.uk. [Online] The Telegraph, March 11, 2017. [Cited: April 24, 2017.] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/11/deep-state-shadowy-network-obama-holdovers-undermining-donald/.

4. Greenwood, Max. GOP rep: Obama running 'shadow government' to undermine Trump. thehill.com. [Online] The Hill, March 10, 2017. [Cited: April 24, 2017.] http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/323457-gop-rep-obama-running-a-shadow-government-to-undermine-trump.

5. Pamela Brown, Laura Jarrett, Kevin Liptak, and Theodire Schleifer. Anger mounts over handling of US attorney firings. www.cnn.com. [Online] CNN Politics, March 10, 2017. [Cited: April 27, 2017.] http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/10/politics/us-attorneys-resignation/.

6. Cowan, Susan Cornwell and Richard. Trump, U.S. Congress will agree on some issues, long-term questions loom. www.reuters.com. [Online] Reuters, November 9, 2016. [Cited: April 27, 2017.] http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-congress-idUSKBN13416D.

Faith Study (Part 1): Overview

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

(ESV)

Faith is an important part of our relationship with God.  In fact, Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that it is impossible to please God without it.  The context of this verse contained in Hebrews 11 which is what some call the hall of fame of faith.  As we read this passage we see that everyone mentioned lived prior to the birth of Christ.  In other words, their faith was in the future coming Messiah.  Likewise, those of us following Christ today do so based upon a belief in Jesus who came to die for our sins based upon a belief of eye witness accounts recorded in scripture, coupled with a faith and belief that Jesus will return to establish his earthly kingdom on earth.

Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions about what faith is such as,

1)      Faith is some mystical force only possessed by an elite few – In the Star Wars movies one of the most famous lines is “may the force be with you.”  This line is in reference to some mystical force empowering people and holding the universe together.  While there is a miraculous component to faith that results in miracles of healing and deliverance, the true biblical definition of faith is a belief in God.  Initially for believers this is a belief that Jesus died for our sins and rose again providing salvation for fallen humanity (Romans 10:9-10).  This faith then grows as we learn to rely on the promises of God contained in scripture and learn to trust God for our needs.  The mystical force of our faith does not lie in the quantity of faith we possess but instead is a reliance on an all-powerful God that can supply our needs.  In other words, faith is available to anyone choosing to believe and trust in God. 

2)      Great miracles require large faith (Matthew17:20) – The violent eruption of Mount St. Helens essentially blew off one side of the mountain.  (1)  The movement of this mountain required a great amount of force estimated to be that of a nuclear bomb.  (2)  However, this great force only moved part of the mountain yet Jesus tells us that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move the entire mountain.  It is not the size or quantity of our faith that matters but who our faith is in for that is the force behind our faith.

3)      Giving increases our faith – Acts 8:9-25 contains the account of Simon the Magician coming to believe in Jesus as his savior.  Acts 8:14-24 records the account of Simon witnessing the receiving of the Holy Spirit by some new believers in Samaria.  Witnessing this miracle through the laying on of the Apostles hands moved Simon to offer the Apostles money so he too could perform this miracle.  Simon no doubt believed that what he had witnessed was some magic trick performed by the Apostles that he could purchase with money.  Unfortunately, throughout its history the church has had its share of charlatans who promise people a miracle if they send them some money.  Faith is not something anyone can purchase for it is a gift from God provided through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is a free gift only requiring a mustard seed amount of belief and trust. 

Instead faith,

1)      Provides us with a new identity – When we place our faith in Jesus as our savior we receive,

a.       Freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1)

b.       A right standing with God (2 Corinthians 5:21)

c.       An identity as a child of God (1 John 3:1)

2)      Frees us from loneliness – The second portion of Hebrews 13:5 contains the promise that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.  Interestingly the first half of the verse contains a warning to free ourselves from the love of money, learning to be content with what God has given us.  In other words, feeling lonely and abandoned is not something satisfied with having more possessions or money but something attained through faith.

3)      Is based upon what we already have (1 Peter 1:3) – The power of faith is the divine power of God dwelling in us through the saving work of Jesus on the Cross. 

4)      Trusts God with the future (Jeremiah 29:11) – Even though in the middle of some trial it may not seem like it, all God’s plans for us are for our welfare and not evil.  We therefore must trust God with the future (Proverbs 3:5-6).

5)      Does not worry about difficulties ahead – With the knowledge that Jesus will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5), we can face any difficulties knowing we are not alone.  Romans 8:28 also teaches us that all the difficulties we may face have some good purpose for those choosing to love God. 

Over the course of the next 4 Saturdays, we will be looking at faith.  In this study we will,

1)      Define faith

2)      Discover the object of our faith

3)      Look at the struggle of faith

4)      Discover the product of faith

We all face struggles and challenges in our life here on earth.  My hope and prayer is that this study will help us through any struggles we are currently in or may face in our lives and find victory in Christ. 

1. Futurism. Earthquake Swarm Shakes Mount St. Helens. futurism.com. [Online] Futurism. [Cited: February 15, 2017.] https://futurism.com/earthquake-swarm-shakes-mount-st-helens/.

2. Huffman, Shea. The Eruption Of Mount St. Helens Was As Powerful As A Nuclear Bomb. www.allday.com. [Online] All Day. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.allday.com/the-eruption-of-mount-st-helens-was-as-powerful-as-a-nuclear-bomb-2180804606.html.

The Game is not Over: One More Move Remains

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Revelation 22:20

 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

(ESV)

As we scan the news it is easy to become discouraged believing all is over for humanity.  Jesus told his disciples that prior to his return there would be wars and rumors of wars but that when we hear of these things the end is not yet near (Matthew 24:6).  The good news is that the end Jesus is speaking of is not the end of humanity but the end of the reign of Satan in our world and the ushering in of the millennial reign of Christ.  In other words, the game for humanity is not over for one more important move remains. 

Tensions around our world are at a high rate as I write this.  The threat of a nuclear Iran providing nuclear weapons to radical Islamists with one goal, the elimination of all infidels that do not adopt their beliefs remains high.  (1)  While the world is yet to experience a nuclear terrorist attack, the world has witnessed the willingness of radical Islamists to carry out brutal attacks upon those not adopting their beliefs even when it means sacrificing their own lives.  In 2016 alone there were 1274 Islamic attacks in 50 countries resulting in the death of 11,774 people and the injury of 14,303.  (2)  The thought of these radicals coming into the possession of nuclear weapons is unconscionable.  

North Korea presents an even more eminent threat for they already possess nuclear capability and are performing missile tests in an effort to develop a delivery system capable of delivering a deadly nuclear weapon to any place in the world focusing mainly on targets in the United States.  (3)  North Korea already possesses medium range missiles capable of hitting targets in the Pacific such as Japan and South Korea which is why the U.S. has begun deployment of the Thaad Antimissile System in South Korea.  (4)  In addition to this antimissile system, the U.S. recently dispatched a nuclear sniffer in order to detect any nuclear testing or detonations in the region.  (5) 

Syria also presents another of a rumor of war.  There has been an ongoing civil war in Syria since 2011 that has resulted in the death of an estimated 400,000 Syrians.  (6)  While some may believe other countries should not interfere with internal struggles within a nation, when it was discovered the Syrian government allegedly carried out a chemical attack on innocent people, including children in a northern held area of the nation we must ask if civilized people can just sit back allowing such brutality to go unchecked.  (7)  Believing civilized people should act against this brutality, President Trump called for a missile attack against the base launching this brutal chemical attack.  (8) 

The wars and rumors of wars predicted in Scripture will continue and most likely escalate until the triumphant return of Jesus to establish his millennial kingdom on earth.  This, however, does not mean we as civilized people and especially the people of God should remain silent when brutal attacks against humanity occur but instead, have an obligation to speak out and act against those perpetrating such attacks.  For this reason, we must monitor nations like Iran seeking nuclear capability, North Korea that already possesses nuclear capability seeking an intercontinental delivery system, and maniacal dictatorial regimes like that in Syria having no remorse against murdering innocent citizens and children with illegal chemical weapons.   

Easter Sunday or Resurrection Day is the most momentous event that has ever happened in the history of humanity.  This is because in our fallen state due to Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden we were unable to be in the presence of God.  Thankfully, however, humanity was not left to suffer an eternal sentence of separation from God for God mercifully sent his only Son, not to condemn us but to provide salvation and a restored relationship with God (John 3:16-17).  While this event was the greatest event so far in human history, one more move remains but are you ready for this event?

John 3:16, the most quoted Bible verse, tells us that the path to eternal life is through belief in Jesus God’s only Son.  In Ephesians 2:8 we are reminded that salvation is a free gift from God and not dependent on our own works.  Romans 10:9-10 tells us that the path to accepting this free gift is believing and confessing or telling someone that Jesus rose from the dead. 

If you have not done so already, I invite you to make that confession 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.

Congratulations, you now have eternity with Jesus to look forward to.  You now have confidence, knowing that when you witness the escalation of wars and rumors of wars, it only means the return of Jesus to establish his earthly kingdom is at hand.  Now tell someone so they too can enjoy eternity with Christ in his earthly kingdom once he returns. 

1. Kantor, Moshe. The growing threat of nuclear terrorism. www.washingtontimes.com. [Online] The Washington Times, March 23, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/23/nuclear-terrorism-a-real-threat/.

2. Thereligionofpeace.com. List of Islamic Terror: 2016. www.thereligionofpeace.com. [Online] Thereligionofpeace.com. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/terror-2016.htm.

3. BBC News. North Korea's missile programme. www.bbc.com. [Online] BBC News, April 20, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17399847.

4. Gordon, Gerry Mullany and Michael R. U.S. Starts Deploying Thaad Antimissile System in South Korea, After North's Tests. www.nytimes.com. [Online] The New York Times, March 6, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/world/asia/north-korea-thaad-missile-defense-us-china.html?_r=0.

5. Burke, Dave. US sends its nuclear 'sniffer' plane on 'emergency sortie' in Korea amid fears of new nuke test by Kim Jong-un. www.dailymail.com. [Online] Daily Mail, April 20, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4429662/US-sends-nuclear-sniffer-emergency-sortie-Korea.html.

6. CNN Library. Syrian Civil War Fast Facts. www.cnn.com. [Online] CNN, April 9, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/27/world/meast/syria-civil-war-fast-facts/.

7. Gordon, AnneBarnard and Michael R. Worst Chemical Attack in Years in Syria; U.S. Blames Assad. www.nytimnes.com. [Online] The New York Times, April 4, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/world/middleeast/syria-gas-attack.html.

8. Courtney Kube, Alex Johnson, Hallie Jackson, and Alexander Smith. U.S. Launches Missiles at Syrian Base Over Chemical Weapons Attack. www.nbcnews.com. [Online] NBC News, April 7, 2017. [Cited: April 22, 2017.] http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-launches-missiles-syrian-base-after-chemical-weapons-attack-n743636.