FIXING THAT WHICH IS BROKEN: A LESSON FROM…

In the early 90s, “Indian Summer” opened in theatres. This movie was about childhood friends who return to summer camp as adults only to find that things were not as they once were. When returning to camp, the friends remember wonderful experiences they had as children and even discuss buying the camp and restoring it to the way it used to be.

Even though we have been told that it is counterproductive to live in the past, it is not always a bad thing to desire things to be as they once were and to take the necessary steps to restore that which has been lost. In the book of Nehemiah, the Israelites are returning from exile and are longing for things to be as they once were. When Nehemiah hears that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and that its gates had been destroyed by fire, he begins to ask for forgiveness for the wickedness of the Jewish people and prays for God’s favor to return to His people.

When Artaxerxes allows him to return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah calls for the nation of Israel to rebuild. He says, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the walls of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision” (2:17). By the provision of God and the leadership of Nehemiah, the walls are rebuilt in fifty-two days.

A major point in this story is not Nehemiah’s concern for the city, but for the condition of his people. Nehemiah knew that God and Israel’s relationship had been broken and he longed to see it repaired. The state of the people of Israel is similar to man’s situation today. There was a time when man was in good standing with God, but he rebelled and sin entered into the world destroying everything God created perfect.

Because Adam (our representative) failed, all of mankind has a broken relationship with God. This relationship can only be restored by one turning from his or her sin and making Christ Lord. Men and women will not be right with God until they hear from other believers about the fellowship that has been lost and how it can be repaired.

"Quote" of the Week

"Reconciliation is the process by which God and people are brought together again. The bible teaches that they are alienated from one another because of God's holiness and human sinfulness...Through the sacrifice of Christ, people's sins are atoned for and God's wrath is appeased. Thus, a relationship of hostility and alienation is changed into one of peace and fellowship." -F. F. Bruce

OUR CHAIN OF COMMAND

Whether we are in the armed forces, working in the business world, unemployed and/or still living at home, we all follow a chain of command. Although one is supposed to receive and follow orders from the person directly above him or her, it is understood that if that person gives orders that are in conflict with the person above them in the chain of command, an appeal is to be made to the one with greater authority.

On Sunday, I asked our children if they would obey their brother and/or sister over their parents. Of course they all answered no because they understand that their parents have more authority than their siblings. Believers must also understand that the Lord has all authority and must ultimately obey His commands. This does not mean that Christians are to be lawless. God’s word is clear that we are to obey the laws of the land, pay our taxes, and be model citizens. In fact, many of the laws in the United States are the same as God’s law; however, believers must understand that if a law was ever past that called for one to disobey the laws of God, that ruling is not to be followed.

On Sunday morning, I told our children the story of Daniel and how a decree was past that said that he was not to pray to anyone, but King Darius. Daniel disobeyed this decree because God’s law is clear that His people are to have no other god’s before Him (Exodus 20:3). Because of Daniel’s disobedience, he was thrown into a den of lions. God, however, overruled this decision and sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.

There are two important truths from this story. One is that the Lord has all authority and His word is to be obeyed above all others. The second is that obedience to God results in a non-guilty ruling; no matter the accusations. A better example than Daniel is that of Christ. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by men, but raised to life by the Father on the third day. During his sermon at Pentecost, Peter affirmed, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death” (Acts 2:22-24).

"Quote" of the Week

"Christ rules over all spheres of authority whether angelic or human (Matt. 28:18; 1 Pet. 3:22). His kingdom in a direct sense is the church, the body over which He is the head, governing it by His word and Spirit (Eph. 1:22, 23). As for the state: it is not related to the kingdom of God as it was in the Old Testament. The sword is not to be used to enforce Christ's kingdom (John 18:36), but Christ uses secular authority to maintain civil peace and order, and commands His disciples to submit to rulers (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-7). Christians seek in every sphere of life to do His will, reminding themselves and others that all are accountable to Christ as Judge, whatever their position in life may be (Matt. 25:31; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10)." -R.C. Sproul

THE TRUTH, HALF TRUTHS, AND EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH

This past Sunday a consistent theme found in both our children and youth lessons was the importance of recognizing and communicating all the attributes and the entire message of God. Often times half truths are communicated that mislead the hearer, which results in him or her believing something that is fictitious. An important truth about half truths is that they fail to communicate the truth.

Last night, one of our students asserted that there are two different half truths that are often times communicated when one is explaining the character of God. One extreme emphasizes the justice of God and His wrath. Author Thomas Williams stated, “(Some) might see God as highly demanding, strict, and judgmental, giving us a list of rigid rules and watching us through surveillance cameras with a frown on his face as he records every misdeed in a thick book.” This is not, however, the God of the Scriptures. The psalmist affirms, “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness” (Psalm 130:3-4).

The opposite extreme solely emphasizes His mercy and grace. Many pastors have stated openly that they avoid preaching about sin and condemnation to focus exclusively upon God’s unconditional love. Although it is not a popular topic of discussion, God’s promise of judgment is also prevalent in His word. The Lord clearly affirms, “You say, ‘I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgment” (Jeremiah 2:35).

Some might ask, “Since God is both just and merciful what determines how He will act toward each individual?” To understand God’s actions, one must understand His message. During Kids’ Church I told the story of Jonah and made the point that God’s message of good news contains some bad news. I instructed our children that they must accept the bad with the good. Jonah informed the Ninevites that God’s judgment would come if they didn't turn from their wicked ways. Because they repented, God forgave them and showed them mercy. God offers forgiveness and restoration to a repentant person. He makes a promise to Solomon and the Jewish people that apply to us today. He says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

"Quote" of the Week

What then does the church, and all who profess membership in it, need in order to be faithful to the God-given mandate of evangelism? The answer is, a spiritual revival and renewal in which individual believers, enabled, freshly motivated, and reenergized by the Holy Spirit, focus their attention on the glory and majesty of God, and out of love for and delight in Him eagerly fulfill their spiritual duties and conscientiously follow the divine blueprint for the church. This means reversing the trends that have made the evangelical church a popularized institution that continues to eliminate every offense from its message. It means not ministering on the basis of pragmatism, psychology, or simply what feels right but rather according to biblical principles." -John MacArthur

FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND TO PRESS FORWARD

Last night at youth, I talk to our students about how living in the past can hinder a believer from pleasing God in the present. If we are honest with ourselves, many of us are controlled by our past. Scores of books and movies have displayed this theme and are popular because the audience can relate.

Believers are to avoid being controlled by the past. Author Warren Wiersbe affirmed, “The believer should be future oriented.” The Apostle Paul demonstrates this mentality by stating, “But one thing I do: ‘Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead’” (Philippians 3:13). Paul did not block certain events of his past from his mind, but refused to be influenced by those things. According to Wiersbe, “No mature person can forget what has happened in the past. We may wish that we could erase certain bad memories, but we cannot. ‘To forget’ in the Bible means ‘no longer to be influenced by or affected by.’”

To not be hindered by the past, one must understand, as Paul did, that godliness has not been attained and is to be pursued. One who is focused on past failures and/or successes will be slowed in their pursuit of godliness. Wiersbe asserted, “One mark of (Paul’s) maturity is the knowledge that he is not perfect! The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself and strives to do better.” For example, we would not expect an athlete to pull up before the finish line and take time to marvel or criticize the race he or she has run. In the same way, believers must not let the past negatively affect their present quest for godliness.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Philippians. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volume 2. Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 89.

"Quote" of the Week

"Although God will grant Christlikeness to us when Jesus returns, until then He intends for us to grow toward that Christlikeness. We aren't merely to wait for holiness; we're to pursue it. 'Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy,' we're commanded in Hebrews 12:14, for 'without holiness no one will see the Lord.' This leads us to ask what every Christian should ask: 'How then shall we pursue holiness? How can we be like Jesus Christ, the Son of God?' We find a clear answer in 1 Timothy 4:7-'Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness'" (NASB).
-Donald Whitney