The Silent Outcry
John R. Petrilli
The annals of human history are filled with crying episodes. These episodes are personal as well as national in scope. They’re born out of intense and prolonged injustice, cruel enslavement, the ravages of poverty, the devastations of world wars, economic collapse, religious persecution, natural disasters, and a whole host of other social ills.
In Genesis 4:10 we discover the first instance of outcry as Abel’s blood summons the personal justice of God upon man’s initial act of homicide. Centuries later the Hebrew plea to God for national deliverance from Egyptian oppression appears (Exodus 3:7-9). The book of Judges cites repeated occurrences where the people of Israel fell under foreign domination and cried out for divine deliverance (Judges 2:18). Millennia later they found themselves again seeking deliverance, this time from under the crushing boot heel of Imperial Rome.
Human outcry will be mankind’s sad song until history as we know it comes to a close, and God answers the cry for divine vengeance articulated by a heavenly throng of martyred saints (Rev. 6:9-10). Modern instances of outcry were heard during the Jewish holocaust of WW II, the genocidal atrocities in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and most recently in the Sudan. Then there’s the endless chorus of countless voices crying out for relief from the epidemic of grinding global poverty. Sometimes these outcries become public knowledge, while at other times they remain hidden for posterity to discover. These outcries take two different forms, the audible and the inaudible or silent form. The inaudible cries lie silently buried in the hearts of the suffering. The subject of this article belongs to this latter category.
Tens of millions of human voices have been crying out for justice here in America, as well as all around the world. One might expect that they wear the face of racial discrimination or social injustice, but these voices belong to neither of those important categories. Surprisingly, these voices have had little press coverage, and, for the most part, their cries have gone unheard, unnoticed, and woefully unaddressed. Most shockingly, these voices come from the children of our society.
I speak of the outcry of the nearly 50 million unborn lives that have been snuffed out by abortion in our land over the past four decades. Just as in the case of Abel, their innocent bloodshed cries out for justice. As their lives are offered upon the altar of convenience, they silently scream out from the very womb designed to protect them. Whether it’s death by curettage dismemberment, saline chemical burns, or partial-birth abortion, each of these precious lives has gone to a premature grave vocalizing it’s excruciating pain, with the rest of society not hearing so much as a peep. All this has been hidden from our ears as well as our eyes. The works of darkness thrive on obscurity and anonymity (John 3:19-20).
But what if we were granted an audience within the womb of the unborn? If we could hear their outcry, what might they be trying to communicate to us?
First, they’re crying out for Mercy. They never asked to be conceived, but have found themselves the victims of one of history’s most heinous holocausts. They desperately seek relief from their excruciating pain. Will we hear their plea for mercy?
Second, they’re crying out for the Chance to see the Light of Day. They’ve been sheltered for days and months in the quiet darkness of their mother’s womb, and wish to bath in the warm and joyful light of birthday morn. Will we honor their simple request for the right to be born?
Third, they’re crying out for Deliverance. Individually they’re unaware of the social evil being wreaked upon them, but their corporate voices rise in thunderous protest against the laws that have made their executions “safe and legal”. Won’t someone listen to their appeal for judicial protection?
Fourth, they’re crying out for Justice. God has never turned a deaf ear to murder, and never will. These 50 million victims have had crimes perpetrated against them that call for a swift and appropriate response. Failure at this point has led to a culture that’s become hardened to the murderous nature of the act, growing increasingly callous to and willfully ignorant of its grisly realities (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Won’t somebody do something to end this horrendous holocaust? Who will answer their call for justice?
In the event we fail to wake up and hear their cries, be assured, Somebody IS listening them. When the Hebrews cried out for deliverance from Egyptian tyranny, their outcry passed up through earth’s atmosphere far into the heavenlies where the Founder of all human rights resides. God was totally aware of what was going. His tender ear picked up on every one of their groans, and what He heard brought deep concern to His heart (Exodus 3:7b,9). The Lord listened to their silent and audible heart cries and sent personal relief in the form of Moses, national deliverance in the form of the exodus, and perfect justice in the form of a towering deluge that sent the entire Egyptian army to a watery grave. He continues to answer the timeless global heart cry for redemption by offering salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The death toll rises with each tick of the clock … fifty-million and counting. The silent outcry continues unabated and unheard as Americans are deceived by a lethal game of pro-death semantics, distracted by far more trivial pursuits, deafened by a vocal immoral minority, and drugged to sleep by the blind pursuit of personal peace and affluence.
What will it take for us to hear their cries and save them? It took over two decades for William Wilberforce to end the British slave trade, and considerably more decades to end the trafficking of African slaves in America. How long will it be until we rise up and declare, “Enough is enough!” ?
There’s an infant choir now in heaven numbering in the multiplied trillions, waiting to see if we will act decisively to stop this modern-day massacre of the innocents.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Real Energy Crisis
The Real Energy Crisis
John R. Petrilli
Hybrid cars. Wind-generated power. Ethanol. Vegetable oil fuel. Fossil fuels. Offshore drilling. Alternative fuel sources. Nuclear power. Green technologies. Solar-powered generators.
An all-time high demand for affordable power combined with an insufficient supply has driven prices at the pump into the ozone layer. As a result, gas in Ireland has skyrocketed to over sixteen dollars per gallon. Americans who have historically paid far less per gallon (thanks to huge price breaks due to huge volumes of consumption) are now paying record-high prices for the “black gold” that drives their economy as well as their vehicles. Rising star countries like India and China are having an earth-shaking impact on the world’s natural energy resources via industrial booming and millions of first-time automobile owners. As the East catches up to and bypasses the West, the entire world is scrambling to come up with emergency solutions to what has become an energy crisis of global proportions. Will mankind’s ingenuity enable him to successfully meet the high-tech challenges and make the significant personal sacrifices necessary to change over from oil to other means of power generation? At this point it appears only time will tell.
This having been said, there’s another energy crisis that’s also global in scope and dwarfs the former in terms of impact. This energy crisis looms over the Church of Jesus Christ. What started out as a tiny first century movement known originally as “The Way”, quickly blossomed into a faith that was like the proverbial “shot heard ‘round the world”. Thanks to the commercial advantages of a global Roman transportation network and the international communications capability made possible by the lingua franca of the Greek language, news about the risen Messiah traveled fast and far (Col. 1:23 ; Rom. 1:8 ; 1 Thess. 1:8). The church’s rapid expansion during it’s first one-hundred years carried over into the following five centuries, reaching as far south as Africa (c. A.D. 125), as far west as Britain (Gaul, c. A.D. 250), as far north as Germany (c. A.D. 311) and as far east as China (c. A.D. 635 ). According to research done by longtime missions expert J. Herbert Kane, “By the end of the fifth century Christianity had, with varying degrees of success, become established in all parts of the empire and even beyond, from the Sahara Desert in the south to Hadrian’s Wall in the north, and from India in the east to Spain in the west” (A Global View Of Christian Missions).
Which brings us to the question at hand, and a crucial question it is. What was the secret behind the early church’s effectiveness? It can’t be found in their financial resources, for they were poorly endowed at best, and struggling for survival at worst (1 Cor. 1:26 ; 16:1 ; Acts 1:27-29 ; Rom. 15:26 ; James 2:2-7 ; Heb. 10:32-34). Neither can their success be attributed to public popularity or currying political favor, for, by the end of the first century they’d become the most despised group of humanity on the planet (Matt. 10:17-20 ; Acts. 8:1 ; 11:26 ; 26:11 ; 1 Pet. 4:12-19 ; 5:13 ; Rev. 2:8-11). Nor can their effectiveness be traced back to clever methodologies, for the modern church growth movement with all its ‘expertise’ was still 2,000 down the road. In summary, it wasn’t the church’s possessions, popularity, power, or procedural approach that gave it such phenomenal success. So from whence came this head-spinning success?
J. B. Phillips explains it this way: “
W. Graham Scroggie says of the book of Acts, “Christ is the theme, the church is the means, and THE SPIRIT IS THE POWER” [caps mine] (Believer’s Bible Commentary).
Respected authority on evangelism Michael Green states, “If we are to believe the Christians themselves it was not merely for these (aforementioned) reasons that the gospel spread so fast and so widely. The main theme of Acts is the work of the Holy Spirit, and that He is the supreme agent in the Christian mission. Yet this is the very factor which is most often forgotten in assessing conversion in the early church. The Christians were convinced that the Spirit of Jesus had come into their midst and indwelt their very personalities in order to equip them for evangelism ... Every initiative recorded in the book of Acts is the initiative of the Spirit of God.”
In a recent survey the New Testament I discovered the instrumental role that the Holy Spirit plays in energizing the Church to carry out Her mission. I also deduced that this facet of church growth is largely being overlooked, and the result is an energy shortage at the spiritual level. The Holy Spirit is the exclusive source of power for the individual Christian as well as the corporate church. From start to finish, it is the energy that He alone supplies that initiates, motivates, and culminates the work of evangelism and church growth. I submit the following four Biblical instances where we can clearly see this principle borne out.
I. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO ENERGIZE THE REGENERATION OF THE HUMAN HEART. Eph. 2:1-6 ; Tit. 3:5
II. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO ANIMATE OUR DAILY WALK WITH GOD. Eph. 3:14-21 ; Gal. 5:16-26
III. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO FUEL OUR WITNESS FOR CHRIST. Acts 1:4,5,8 ; 2:4, 36-38, 47 ; 4:8-20, 23-33
IV. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO EMPOWER OUR PRAYER LIFE. James 5:16 ; Eph. 6:18
In the words of one commentator, “For twenty centuries the Lord has not been without loyal witnesses, compelled by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus with all the world. Are we among this number?”
John R. Petrilli
Hybrid cars. Wind-generated power. Ethanol. Vegetable oil fuel. Fossil fuels. Offshore drilling. Alternative fuel sources. Nuclear power. Green technologies. Solar-powered generators.
An all-time high demand for affordable power combined with an insufficient supply has driven prices at the pump into the ozone layer. As a result, gas in Ireland has skyrocketed to over sixteen dollars per gallon. Americans who have historically paid far less per gallon (thanks to huge price breaks due to huge volumes of consumption) are now paying record-high prices for the “black gold” that drives their economy as well as their vehicles. Rising star countries like India and China are having an earth-shaking impact on the world’s natural energy resources via industrial booming and millions of first-time automobile owners. As the East catches up to and bypasses the West, the entire world is scrambling to come up with emergency solutions to what has become an energy crisis of global proportions. Will mankind’s ingenuity enable him to successfully meet the high-tech challenges and make the significant personal sacrifices necessary to change over from oil to other means of power generation? At this point it appears only time will tell.
This having been said, there’s another energy crisis that’s also global in scope and dwarfs the former in terms of impact. This energy crisis looms over the Church of Jesus Christ. What started out as a tiny first century movement known originally as “The Way”, quickly blossomed into a faith that was like the proverbial “shot heard ‘round the world”. Thanks to the commercial advantages of a global Roman transportation network and the international communications capability made possible by the lingua franca of the Greek language, news about the risen Messiah traveled fast and far (Col. 1:23 ; Rom. 1:8 ; 1 Thess. 1:8). The church’s rapid expansion during it’s first one-hundred years carried over into the following five centuries, reaching as far south as Africa (c. A.D. 125), as far west as Britain (Gaul, c. A.D. 250), as far north as Germany (c. A.D. 311) and as far east as China (c. A.D. 635 ). According to research done by longtime missions expert J. Herbert Kane, “By the end of the fifth century Christianity had, with varying degrees of success, become established in all parts of the empire and even beyond, from the Sahara Desert in the south to Hadrian’s Wall in the north, and from India in the east to Spain in the west” (A Global View Of Christian Missions).
Which brings us to the question at hand, and a crucial question it is. What was the secret behind the early church’s effectiveness? It can’t be found in their financial resources, for they were poorly endowed at best, and struggling for survival at worst (1 Cor. 1:26 ; 16:1 ; Acts 1:27-29 ; Rom. 15:26 ; James 2:2-7 ; Heb. 10:32-34). Neither can their success be attributed to public popularity or currying political favor, for, by the end of the first century they’d become the most despised group of humanity on the planet (Matt. 10:17-20 ; Acts. 8:1 ; 11:26 ; 26:11 ; 1 Pet. 4:12-19 ; 5:13 ; Rev. 2:8-11). Nor can their effectiveness be traced back to clever methodologies, for the modern church growth movement with all its ‘expertise’ was still 2,000 down the road. In summary, it wasn’t the church’s possessions, popularity, power, or procedural approach that gave it such phenomenal success. So from whence came this head-spinning success?
J. B. Phillips explains it this way: “
W. Graham Scroggie says of the book of Acts, “Christ is the theme, the church is the means, and THE SPIRIT IS THE POWER” [caps mine] (Believer’s Bible Commentary).
Respected authority on evangelism Michael Green states, “If we are to believe the Christians themselves it was not merely for these (aforementioned) reasons that the gospel spread so fast and so widely. The main theme of Acts is the work of the Holy Spirit, and that He is the supreme agent in the Christian mission. Yet this is the very factor which is most often forgotten in assessing conversion in the early church. The Christians were convinced that the Spirit of Jesus had come into their midst and indwelt their very personalities in order to equip them for evangelism ... Every initiative recorded in the book of Acts is the initiative of the Spirit of God.”
In a recent survey the New Testament I discovered the instrumental role that the Holy Spirit plays in energizing the Church to carry out Her mission. I also deduced that this facet of church growth is largely being overlooked, and the result is an energy shortage at the spiritual level. The Holy Spirit is the exclusive source of power for the individual Christian as well as the corporate church. From start to finish, it is the energy that He alone supplies that initiates, motivates, and culminates the work of evangelism and church growth. I submit the following four Biblical instances where we can clearly see this principle borne out.
I. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO ENERGIZE THE REGENERATION OF THE HUMAN HEART. Eph. 2:1-6 ; Tit. 3:5
II. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO ANIMATE OUR DAILY WALK WITH GOD. Eph. 3:14-21 ; Gal. 5:16-26
III. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO FUEL OUR WITNESS FOR CHRIST. Acts 1:4,5,8 ; 2:4, 36-38, 47 ; 4:8-20, 23-33
IV. THE CHURCH’S ENERGY CRISIS WILL BE SOLVED AS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO EMPOWER OUR PRAYER LIFE. James 5:16 ; Eph. 6:18
In the words of one commentator, “For twenty centuries the Lord has not been without loyal witnesses, compelled by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus with all the world. Are we among this number?”
Restoring Throw-Aways
Restoring Throw-Aways
Staff Writer
Did you ever find someone’s trash that turned into your treasure? I have. More times than I can count. My latest “find” was a neat little bookshelf. It was left for the trash heap inside the chute room of my apartment building. With a little sanding, a bit of priming, and a rich overcoat of espresso brown paint, a bookshelf that was apparently useless to someone else became very useful to me. It’s now the new home of my DVD collection!
Earlier this year I encountered a fellow resident in my complex sitting in the elevator lobby. He had an interesting and somewhat attractive floral vase in his hands. I asked him what he planned to do with the item. He replied that he was just waiting to give it away to anybody who wanted it. I gladly took it off of his hands and brought it to my apartment. I washed away the tobacco smell from the silk flowers. It had spots and surface scratches that seriously diminished its original beauty, so I proceeded to enhanced the surface of the vase with multiple layers of earth tone colors. It needed a “fresh coat of paint” as it were to restore it to something appealing to the eye. I had the joy of restoring the beauty an item that had become marred over time. In its place emerged a gorgeous centerpiece that graces my main living area.
These two occasions have something special in common. While I was restoring each item I got to thinking about the way in which God restores us. Ever notice how Jesus consistently reached out to the “throw away people” of His day? Prostitutes, thieves, rebels, and more. People that upstanding society had thrown away. People who had been disowned by their families and rejected by their peers. People who had a street value of next to nothing. Yet look how the Lord quietly worked His way into their lives, then their hearts, then their souls. By the time the Great Restorer was done with them, they had become honest, pure, productive, whole people. Like the old Bill Gaither tune , “The King Is Coming” says,
Happy faces line the hallways, those whose lives have been redeemed.Broken homes that He has mended, those from prison He has freed.Little children and the aged, hand in hand stand all aglow,Who were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow.
How do I know this is true? Because I’m one of the throw-aways whom Christ redeemed! I looked OK on the outside, but was nothing but marred and broken on the inside. I had no real friends, and felt so lonesome I could cry. Then I met the Savior, and let Him have what was left of the mess I’d made of my life. And just as I patiently and skillfully restored the throw away bookshelf and unwanted vase, Jesus went to work restoring me to a person of beauty. He changed my heart, clearing away all the nicks and scratches. Then He applied an undercoat of love, and finished the job with an overcoat of grace. Now my sad face has become bright with hope and joy! My life is truly useful in His hands. He’s taken me to places I never would have dreamed I’d go.
If you feel like a throw-away, don’t despair. There’s hope for you, just like there was for me! If you place your life back into the hands of your Maker, He’ll take it from there. He’s an expert at this kind of thing. He’s been at it for quite some time now. So you can trust Him to restore you to the great human being you were always meant to be!
Staff Writer
Did you ever find someone’s trash that turned into your treasure? I have. More times than I can count. My latest “find” was a neat little bookshelf. It was left for the trash heap inside the chute room of my apartment building. With a little sanding, a bit of priming, and a rich overcoat of espresso brown paint, a bookshelf that was apparently useless to someone else became very useful to me. It’s now the new home of my DVD collection!
Earlier this year I encountered a fellow resident in my complex sitting in the elevator lobby. He had an interesting and somewhat attractive floral vase in his hands. I asked him what he planned to do with the item. He replied that he was just waiting to give it away to anybody who wanted it. I gladly took it off of his hands and brought it to my apartment. I washed away the tobacco smell from the silk flowers. It had spots and surface scratches that seriously diminished its original beauty, so I proceeded to enhanced the surface of the vase with multiple layers of earth tone colors. It needed a “fresh coat of paint” as it were to restore it to something appealing to the eye. I had the joy of restoring the beauty an item that had become marred over time. In its place emerged a gorgeous centerpiece that graces my main living area.
These two occasions have something special in common. While I was restoring each item I got to thinking about the way in which God restores us. Ever notice how Jesus consistently reached out to the “throw away people” of His day? Prostitutes, thieves, rebels, and more. People that upstanding society had thrown away. People who had been disowned by their families and rejected by their peers. People who had a street value of next to nothing. Yet look how the Lord quietly worked His way into their lives, then their hearts, then their souls. By the time the Great Restorer was done with them, they had become honest, pure, productive, whole people. Like the old Bill Gaither tune , “The King Is Coming” says,
Happy faces line the hallways, those whose lives have been redeemed.Broken homes that He has mended, those from prison He has freed.Little children and the aged, hand in hand stand all aglow,Who were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow.
How do I know this is true? Because I’m one of the throw-aways whom Christ redeemed! I looked OK on the outside, but was nothing but marred and broken on the inside. I had no real friends, and felt so lonesome I could cry. Then I met the Savior, and let Him have what was left of the mess I’d made of my life. And just as I patiently and skillfully restored the throw away bookshelf and unwanted vase, Jesus went to work restoring me to a person of beauty. He changed my heart, clearing away all the nicks and scratches. Then He applied an undercoat of love, and finished the job with an overcoat of grace. Now my sad face has become bright with hope and joy! My life is truly useful in His hands. He’s taken me to places I never would have dreamed I’d go.
If you feel like a throw-away, don’t despair. There’s hope for you, just like there was for me! If you place your life back into the hands of your Maker, He’ll take it from there. He’s an expert at this kind of thing. He’s been at it for quite some time now. So you can trust Him to restore you to the great human being you were always meant to be!
Watch God Turn Your Losses Into Gains
Watch God Turn Your Losses Into Gains
John R. Petrilli
Loss. It’s an integral part of life. Whether we’re young or old, rich or poor, professional or non-professional, the reality of loss is bound to touch our lives at some point. While the experience of loss is not optional, the way we view and respond to it is.
Certain passages in the Bible open a window into the life of particular individuals. The third chapter of Philippians is just such a passage. There we find a revealing autobiographical sketch of the one person who, humanly speaking, was responsible for most of the planting and instruction of the early church. His name is Paul, and he allows us a glimpse into his past in verses four through nine. After citing accomplishment after wonderful accomplish, He summates his list of pre-conversion achievements by saying, “I count everything sheer LOSS, because all is far outweighed by the GAIN of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I did in fact lose everything. I count [my past achievements] as so much garbage, for the sake of gaining Christ and finding myself incorporate in Him.”
What would cause Paul to make such a surprising statement? How could he suffer the loss of everything he worked for all his life, and be able to honestly say they were now worthless? The answer is found in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ he’d experienced in his life. By way of comparison, all of his pre-Christian accomplishments were equivalent to a pile of dung. Yes, his personal losses were catastrophic, but his spiritual gains far outstripped those losses to the point where they were no longer even a factor in his life.
How, then, can we follow the path of Paul in turning our losses into gains? The secret lies in having the right perspective. God works everything that enters a believer’s life together for His glory and their own benefit (Rom. 8:28). By focusing on the positive outcomes that accompany our losses, we, like Paul, can arrive at the place where we confidently say, “My significant losses have become the doorway to new and even greater gains”.
One of the toughest losses we can experience is the separation from family, friends, and familiar surroundings that comes with a major relocation. A career change, job reassignment, or other consideration often makes it necessary to move away from those we know so well and love so deeply. Then there’s the situation where God calls someone to serve Him in a ministry that involves moving to a new area. This article addresses this particular type of relocation.
In three of the four gospels we find Jesus addressing the concerns of a group of disciples who have left everything to follow Him (Matthew 19:16-30 ; Mark 10:17-31 ; Luke 18:18-30). The disciples had just watched as a wealthy young gentleman chose his bank account over following Jesus. In contrast, we see the disciples who had let go of their worldly assets in order to serve the Master. Acting as spokesman for the group, Peter asks the Lord the “W.I.F.M.” question, “Now that we’ve left everything behind to follow you, What’s In It For Me (us)?” Jesus’ answer holds a wealth of encouragement for those undergoing loss due to voluntary separation for Christian service.
2.
FIRST, WE SEE THAT NOT FOLLOWING CHRIST EXACTS A HIGHER PRICE THAN FOLLOWING HIM. (Matthew 19:16-22)
“The young man went away sad.” (22)
Many people shrink back from obeying the Lord’s call because they tabulate the cost to them personally, and conclude that the figure is too great. But when the equation is properly calculated, those who decline His call always come out the losers. Take this wealthy young man. He had everything going for him, yet, to his credit, he expressed a genuine concern about his eternal destiny. His entire childhood and adolescence were characterized by a healthy respect for God and His Word. But Jesus did a spiritual MRI on his heart, and detected a severe case of covetousness. The fact was, he not only had riches, but his riches had him. A total release of all his possessions was the only way he could free himself from the love of things material. Unfortunately, he balked at the opportunity to cash in his chips, forfeiting both joy in this life as well as heaven in the life to come. Now that’s what I’d call a major hit in the loss column. One commentator observes that his riches were short lived, as the nation of Israel was overrun by Rome, and Jerusalem itself was reduced to a pile of rubble. Missionary martyr Jim Elliot has wisely observed that, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. The rich young ruler played the fool, and paid an exacting price.
SECOND, WE SEE THAT FOLLOWING JESUS MAY REQUIRE US TO RELINQUISH MUCH OF WHAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO US. (Mark 10:24-28)
“Peter said to [Jesus], ‘We’ve left everything and followed You. What do we get out of it?’ ”
(Matthew 19:27, Message)
James and John were in the discipleship group that day. Christ’s calling required them to say farewell to their beloved father (Mark 1:19-20). Separation loss was also felt by Philip and Nathaniel as they moved away the familiar and secure surroundings of their hometown of Bethsaida (John 1:44-51). Years later a budding young man named Timothy would leave the comforts of home and family to join up with Paul’s missionary team (Acts 16:1-5). Peter and his buddies loved to fish, but they opted to retire their nets and go after the really “big fish”, the souls of men. In her excellent book, “The Beloved Disciple”, Beth Moore states, “You don’t necessarily have to leave behind what you do if He proves your present course to be His will, but I assure you He will have you leave the boredom and routine of it behind. When Jesus Christ takes over our lives, things get exciting.” When the decision came down to choosing between loved ones or Christ, this band of budding disciples chose a path that was extremely painful yet totally correct. (Luke 14:26-27).
3.
THIRD, WE SEE THAT JESUS PROMISES TO REPLACE A RELOCATED DISCIPLE’S LOST RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW RELATIONSHIPS.
“Jesus said, ‘You won’t regret what you given up. No one who has sacrificed spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children – whatever – will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime.’ “ (Luke 18:29-30, Message)
I recently heard a report from a lifetime missionary from Brazil. She shared how she struggled with answering God’s call to serve as a single, but finally agreed to go. Years later a young woman boarded with her and became like a daughter to her. The boarder eventually married and had children. Now the missionary experiences the joy of being a “grandparent”. God is perfectly aware of our needs, be they physical, emotional, social, or spiritual. We are created as social beings, and God will not allow our needs in these areas to go unmet. Leaving behind relationships with the people who mean the most to us is perhaps the greatest sacrifice one can make, but God has a cure for the heartache of homesickness.
Beth Moore comments, “Life is curious. Just about the time you get to reap some of the fruit of your parenting labors, the young flourishing tree gets transplanted elsewhere. Just as Zeb[edee] was reaping a harvest of parental rewards, James and John jump ship. No matter how Zebedee felt, I have a pretty good feeling God had great compassion on him. After all, He knew how Zebedee felt when John had to be called away from his father’s side in order to fulfill his destiny.”
It’s important to recognize that Jesus wasn’t asking His followers to do anything He hadn’t already done. An entry in the Jamieson, Faucett, Brown Commentary states, “We have here the blessed promise of the reconstruction of all human relationships and affections on a Christian basis after being sacrificed in their natural form on the altar of love to Christ. Our Lord was Himself the first to exemplify this new adjustment of His own relationships.” As a boy of twelve Jesus gave early indication to his parents that His relationship with His Heavenly Father would take precedence over His relationship with them (Luke 2:49). During the course of Jesus’ ministry we see a cleavage taking place as his family grapples with His identity and activities as the Messiah. At one point they begin questioning his stability, even expressing grave concern about His mental health (Mark 3:21). Later that day when His family members wanted to speak with Him, He seems to completely ignore their request, saying that His new family consists of those who are willing to follow God’s will (Mark 3:31-35).
Every person we may win or disciple becomes a brother or sister, mother or father, or son or daughter in Christ. The potential size of one’s extended spiritual family could number in the hundreds, or, for some like Billy Graham, even in the thousands.
One author writes, “Are you by any chance threatened by Jesus and His desire for you to follow Him with complete abandon? Are you afraid of anything? Are you unwilling to give up the things He
might require? If you are willing to cast away all your fears, hindrances, and unanswered questions and follow Him, I can promise that you’re going to see His glory.”
4.
FOURTH, WE SEE THAT JESUS PROMISES TO REWARD THE RELOCATED DISCIPLE WITH A 10,000% RETURN ON PRIZED POSSESSIONS LEFT BEHIND. Matthew 19:29
“Anyone who has left houses or farms to follow Me will receive [back] a hundred times as much in this
life.” (NCV, NIV)
We hear a great deal these days about the importance of making wise financial investments. The idea is to build a portfolio that’s loaded with high-yield, long-term ventures that render returns that multiply the initial investment many times over. While blue chip stocks and market-proof bonds are attractive, nothing can best the kickback potential of following Jesus Christ. In this text we see Jesus performing a “cost-benefit analysis” for those who sacrificially follow Him.
At first glance we might read right over this verse without grasping the extent of the disciple’s sacrificial investment as well as the richness of the return. The people who heard these words were living in a culture that was primarily agricultural. The vast bulk of the economy centered on farming. To leave one’s house meant to abandon one’s source of shelter, and to forsake one’s farm amounted to surrendering one’s means of daily sustenance and source of personal wealth. A quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary sums this up well: “In this life they enjoy a worldwide fellowship of believers that more than compensates for severed earthly ties. For the one house they leave, they receive a hundred Christian homes where they are warmly welcomed. For lands or other forms of wealth forsaken, they receive spiritual riches beyond reckoning.”
Just what did this translate into for these disciples? Well, take Peter who traded-in his fishing net for the keys to the kingdom, the opportunity and privilege of opening the door of Christian faith to both Jew and Gentile (Matt. 16:19 ; Acts 2, 10). Then there’s brothers James and John, who traded the family business for the King’s business (Matt. 4:21-22 ; 2 Cor. 5:20). Matthew left a secure government job as a fiscal representative of Rome to co-reign with the Ruler of the universe (Matt. 9:9 ; 19:28). Paul traded away his Pharisee’s turban for a crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8). Barnabas donated the proceeds of a lucrative real estate deal to needy Christians and in turn received a Heavenly mansion (Acts 4:32-37; John 14:1-2). The apostles traded societal applause for the Savior’s approval (Acts 5:40-41 ; Matt. 5:10-12). Peter, John, Paul and Silas each traded their political freedom for freedom in Christ (Acts 4:3 ; 12:3-5 ; 16:22-24 ; Rev. 1:9). And James traded a perishable earthly body for an imperishable glorified body (Acts 12:1-2 ; 2 Cor. 5:1-4).
From these and many other texts it’s very apparent that those within Christ’s hearing took Him up on His offer, and found the guarantee was good. It’s been said that you can’t out-give God. When all’s said and done, any and every prized possession forsaken for the sake of God’s kingdom will be abundantly rewarded in both time as well as eternity.
5.
FIFTH, WE SEE THAT JESUS PROVIDES THE RELOCATED DISCIPLE WITH GRACE TO OVERCOME THE TRIALS OF MINISTRY.
“And with those things, he will also suffer for his belief.” (NCV)
Books and seminars on suffering for our faith are in short supply today, and I suppose this has always been the case. Suffering has never been a hot topic, probably because it runs counter to a human nature that welcomes pleasant things and shuns the distasteful. This being so, Jesus never minces words or gives unrealistic expectations of what a person will experience as His follower. Identification with Him always has, and always will bring the unwanted element of persecution (Acts 14:22 ; 2 Tim. 3:12 ; Phil. 1:29). The world’s disdain for Christ is as real today as it was when they rejected Him 2,000 years ago with spitting, whipping, and crucifixion. The fact that such mistreatment will continue is not merely mentioned by Jesus, but unconditionally guaranteed (John 16:33).
There is a type of “ministerial suffering” a person in full-time ministry experiences that others will never go through (Col. 1:24). In their case the “persecution factor” multiplies exponentially as they answer the call of the Great Commission and step out into the front lines of spiritual battle. Conventional military wisdom teaches that the most efficient way to win a war is to take out the opposition’s “command and control system”. In this way the enemy forces are crippled and become disorganized and ineffective. The devil understands this wartime principle all too well. We know from Ephesians six that Satan is an expert strategist. His hellish hordes are highly organized and march rank and file behind his warped and doomed leadership. If he can knock out those who are leading the attack on his kingdom, he’ll have the battle more than half won. So he goes for the Christians who are working full-time to win and disciple people. Make no mistake about it, those in full-time ministry encounter a much higher degree of spiritual opposition than those not so engaged. Persecution takes on a whole other dimension at this level of service. This, I believe, is why Jesus tagged-on the assurance that, along with the blessings of serving Him, there would also follow severe hardships and difficulty.
The Lord made the suffering factor abundantly clear with regard to Paul’s calling into cross-cultural evangelism (Acts 9: 16 ; 20:23). His resume was filled with a ministry history of untold hardship and outright torture (2 Cor. 11:23-33). But he knew the secret of relying on Christ’s strength to pull him through these times of spiritual opposition and personal trial (Phil. 4:11-13 ; 2 Tim. 4:16-18). Jesus gives advance notice that trials will surely come, but that He’s already prepared for them well in advance (Luke 22:31-32). Victory is ours as we follow the pathway the Lord has paved through times of trial. We’re on the winning side, and the battle as well as the victory belongs entirely to Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:18). His ultimate and complete triumph is a source of encouragement for those in the fiery furnace of persecution (John 16:33)
6.
SIXTH, WE SEE THAT JESUS REWARDS RELOCATED DISCIPLES WITH A RETIREMENT PLAN THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD.
“Anyone who sacrifices home, family, friends – whatever – because of Me will get it all back … not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29, Message)
As midlife approaches most people begin giving serious thought to the kind of retirement they’d like to have. While some individuals call it quits at age 65, others choose to keep busy with full-time, part-time, or volunteer employment. Either way, it’s wise to begin putting away resources ahead of time for those golden years just down the road. Retirement plans range from zero pensions to multiple packages including employer benefits and personal savings and investments. The whole idea behind these preparations is to do one’s best to secure the future.
Jesus outlines the incredible compensation plan His followers receive in this life, but goes on to add a mind-boggling postscript . He promises that sacrificial service for Him will be generously compensated for with a retirement plan that covers eternity as well. This isn’t to say that eternal life belongs only to those who have given up much to serve Him, but that they will be crowned with heavenly rewards that are commensurate with their levels of commitment (1 Cor. 3:8-15 ; 9:25 ; 2 Tim. 4:8 ; 1 Pet. 5:4 ; Rev. 2:10).
Christ makes it crystal clear that the most valuable “possession” we have is our soul (Mark 8:36). Nothing this world can offer comes even close to it in value (Mark 8:36). Consequently, the loss of the soul to eternal suffering is unquestionably the greatest loss one can ever suffer, and a loss, that can never be won back or compensated for (Mark 8:37). It’s far advantageous, says Jesus, to lose yourself in ministry and gain an eternal reward, than to hold on to this world and lose your very being to an endless fiery existence. This being so, the wisest investment a disciple of Christ can make is to follow Him, be it in non-vocational service or as a full-time worker.
FINALLY, WE SEE THAT THE WORD OF GOD PROVIDES COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT TO THE RELOCATED DISCIPLE.
We’ve taken an in-depth look at what’s involved in turning our losses into gains. God is no man’s debtor, and He sees to it that every sacrifice made for His kingdom is more than amply rewarded. This message would prove incomplete without some practical advice on how to work this out. For this we’ll look to the example of the early Christians who experienced loss on a scale wider and deeper than most of us ever will. Therein lies the secret to watching God turn our losses into gains.
1) First, it’s the better part of wisdom to carefully calculate the cost before you take the loss.
(Luke 14:25-33)
2) Look ahead, not behind. (Phil. 3:13-14)
3) Look above, not below. (Heb. 10:32-34 ; 12:1-3)
4) Fix your hope on future glory. (1 Peter 1:1-9)
5) Ask God for wisdom to deal with the trials attending your relocated
situation. (James 1:1-8)
6) Remember that the loss is only temporary. (Psalms 30:5)
7) Share your burdens with the Lord. (1 Pet. 5:7)
8) Rely on God’s grace to pull you through to brighter days. (1 Pet. 5:10)
9) Bloom where you’re planted. (Acts 8:1-5 ; 11:19-21)
John R. Petrilli
Loss. It’s an integral part of life. Whether we’re young or old, rich or poor, professional or non-professional, the reality of loss is bound to touch our lives at some point. While the experience of loss is not optional, the way we view and respond to it is.
Certain passages in the Bible open a window into the life of particular individuals. The third chapter of Philippians is just such a passage. There we find a revealing autobiographical sketch of the one person who, humanly speaking, was responsible for most of the planting and instruction of the early church. His name is Paul, and he allows us a glimpse into his past in verses four through nine. After citing accomplishment after wonderful accomplish, He summates his list of pre-conversion achievements by saying, “I count everything sheer LOSS, because all is far outweighed by the GAIN of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I did in fact lose everything. I count [my past achievements] as so much garbage, for the sake of gaining Christ and finding myself incorporate in Him.”
What would cause Paul to make such a surprising statement? How could he suffer the loss of everything he worked for all his life, and be able to honestly say they were now worthless? The answer is found in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ he’d experienced in his life. By way of comparison, all of his pre-Christian accomplishments were equivalent to a pile of dung. Yes, his personal losses were catastrophic, but his spiritual gains far outstripped those losses to the point where they were no longer even a factor in his life.
How, then, can we follow the path of Paul in turning our losses into gains? The secret lies in having the right perspective. God works everything that enters a believer’s life together for His glory and their own benefit (Rom. 8:28). By focusing on the positive outcomes that accompany our losses, we, like Paul, can arrive at the place where we confidently say, “My significant losses have become the doorway to new and even greater gains”.
One of the toughest losses we can experience is the separation from family, friends, and familiar surroundings that comes with a major relocation. A career change, job reassignment, or other consideration often makes it necessary to move away from those we know so well and love so deeply. Then there’s the situation where God calls someone to serve Him in a ministry that involves moving to a new area. This article addresses this particular type of relocation.
In three of the four gospels we find Jesus addressing the concerns of a group of disciples who have left everything to follow Him (Matthew 19:16-30 ; Mark 10:17-31 ; Luke 18:18-30). The disciples had just watched as a wealthy young gentleman chose his bank account over following Jesus. In contrast, we see the disciples who had let go of their worldly assets in order to serve the Master. Acting as spokesman for the group, Peter asks the Lord the “W.I.F.M.” question, “Now that we’ve left everything behind to follow you, What’s In It For Me (us)?” Jesus’ answer holds a wealth of encouragement for those undergoing loss due to voluntary separation for Christian service.
2.
FIRST, WE SEE THAT NOT FOLLOWING CHRIST EXACTS A HIGHER PRICE THAN FOLLOWING HIM. (Matthew 19:16-22)
“The young man went away sad.” (22)
Many people shrink back from obeying the Lord’s call because they tabulate the cost to them personally, and conclude that the figure is too great. But when the equation is properly calculated, those who decline His call always come out the losers. Take this wealthy young man. He had everything going for him, yet, to his credit, he expressed a genuine concern about his eternal destiny. His entire childhood and adolescence were characterized by a healthy respect for God and His Word. But Jesus did a spiritual MRI on his heart, and detected a severe case of covetousness. The fact was, he not only had riches, but his riches had him. A total release of all his possessions was the only way he could free himself from the love of things material. Unfortunately, he balked at the opportunity to cash in his chips, forfeiting both joy in this life as well as heaven in the life to come. Now that’s what I’d call a major hit in the loss column. One commentator observes that his riches were short lived, as the nation of Israel was overrun by Rome, and Jerusalem itself was reduced to a pile of rubble. Missionary martyr Jim Elliot has wisely observed that, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. The rich young ruler played the fool, and paid an exacting price.
SECOND, WE SEE THAT FOLLOWING JESUS MAY REQUIRE US TO RELINQUISH MUCH OF WHAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO US. (Mark 10:24-28)
“Peter said to [Jesus], ‘We’ve left everything and followed You. What do we get out of it?’ ”
(Matthew 19:27, Message)
James and John were in the discipleship group that day. Christ’s calling required them to say farewell to their beloved father (Mark 1:19-20). Separation loss was also felt by Philip and Nathaniel as they moved away the familiar and secure surroundings of their hometown of Bethsaida (John 1:44-51). Years later a budding young man named Timothy would leave the comforts of home and family to join up with Paul’s missionary team (Acts 16:1-5). Peter and his buddies loved to fish, but they opted to retire their nets and go after the really “big fish”, the souls of men. In her excellent book, “The Beloved Disciple”, Beth Moore states, “You don’t necessarily have to leave behind what you do if He proves your present course to be His will, but I assure you He will have you leave the boredom and routine of it behind. When Jesus Christ takes over our lives, things get exciting.” When the decision came down to choosing between loved ones or Christ, this band of budding disciples chose a path that was extremely painful yet totally correct. (Luke 14:26-27).
3.
THIRD, WE SEE THAT JESUS PROMISES TO REPLACE A RELOCATED DISCIPLE’S LOST RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW RELATIONSHIPS.
“Jesus said, ‘You won’t regret what you given up. No one who has sacrificed spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children – whatever – will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime.’ “ (Luke 18:29-30, Message)
I recently heard a report from a lifetime missionary from Brazil. She shared how she struggled with answering God’s call to serve as a single, but finally agreed to go. Years later a young woman boarded with her and became like a daughter to her. The boarder eventually married and had children. Now the missionary experiences the joy of being a “grandparent”. God is perfectly aware of our needs, be they physical, emotional, social, or spiritual. We are created as social beings, and God will not allow our needs in these areas to go unmet. Leaving behind relationships with the people who mean the most to us is perhaps the greatest sacrifice one can make, but God has a cure for the heartache of homesickness.
Beth Moore comments, “Life is curious. Just about the time you get to reap some of the fruit of your parenting labors, the young flourishing tree gets transplanted elsewhere. Just as Zeb[edee] was reaping a harvest of parental rewards, James and John jump ship. No matter how Zebedee felt, I have a pretty good feeling God had great compassion on him. After all, He knew how Zebedee felt when John had to be called away from his father’s side in order to fulfill his destiny.”
It’s important to recognize that Jesus wasn’t asking His followers to do anything He hadn’t already done. An entry in the Jamieson, Faucett, Brown Commentary states, “We have here the blessed promise of the reconstruction of all human relationships and affections on a Christian basis after being sacrificed in their natural form on the altar of love to Christ. Our Lord was Himself the first to exemplify this new adjustment of His own relationships.” As a boy of twelve Jesus gave early indication to his parents that His relationship with His Heavenly Father would take precedence over His relationship with them (Luke 2:49). During the course of Jesus’ ministry we see a cleavage taking place as his family grapples with His identity and activities as the Messiah. At one point they begin questioning his stability, even expressing grave concern about His mental health (Mark 3:21). Later that day when His family members wanted to speak with Him, He seems to completely ignore their request, saying that His new family consists of those who are willing to follow God’s will (Mark 3:31-35).
Every person we may win or disciple becomes a brother or sister, mother or father, or son or daughter in Christ. The potential size of one’s extended spiritual family could number in the hundreds, or, for some like Billy Graham, even in the thousands.
One author writes, “Are you by any chance threatened by Jesus and His desire for you to follow Him with complete abandon? Are you afraid of anything? Are you unwilling to give up the things He
might require? If you are willing to cast away all your fears, hindrances, and unanswered questions and follow Him, I can promise that you’re going to see His glory.”
4.
FOURTH, WE SEE THAT JESUS PROMISES TO REWARD THE RELOCATED DISCIPLE WITH A 10,000% RETURN ON PRIZED POSSESSIONS LEFT BEHIND. Matthew 19:29
“Anyone who has left houses or farms to follow Me will receive [back] a hundred times as much in this
life.” (NCV, NIV)
We hear a great deal these days about the importance of making wise financial investments. The idea is to build a portfolio that’s loaded with high-yield, long-term ventures that render returns that multiply the initial investment many times over. While blue chip stocks and market-proof bonds are attractive, nothing can best the kickback potential of following Jesus Christ. In this text we see Jesus performing a “cost-benefit analysis” for those who sacrificially follow Him.
At first glance we might read right over this verse without grasping the extent of the disciple’s sacrificial investment as well as the richness of the return. The people who heard these words were living in a culture that was primarily agricultural. The vast bulk of the economy centered on farming. To leave one’s house meant to abandon one’s source of shelter, and to forsake one’s farm amounted to surrendering one’s means of daily sustenance and source of personal wealth. A quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary sums this up well: “In this life they enjoy a worldwide fellowship of believers that more than compensates for severed earthly ties. For the one house they leave, they receive a hundred Christian homes where they are warmly welcomed. For lands or other forms of wealth forsaken, they receive spiritual riches beyond reckoning.”
Just what did this translate into for these disciples? Well, take Peter who traded-in his fishing net for the keys to the kingdom, the opportunity and privilege of opening the door of Christian faith to both Jew and Gentile (Matt. 16:19 ; Acts 2, 10). Then there’s brothers James and John, who traded the family business for the King’s business (Matt. 4:21-22 ; 2 Cor. 5:20). Matthew left a secure government job as a fiscal representative of Rome to co-reign with the Ruler of the universe (Matt. 9:9 ; 19:28). Paul traded away his Pharisee’s turban for a crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8). Barnabas donated the proceeds of a lucrative real estate deal to needy Christians and in turn received a Heavenly mansion (Acts 4:32-37; John 14:1-2). The apostles traded societal applause for the Savior’s approval (Acts 5:40-41 ; Matt. 5:10-12). Peter, John, Paul and Silas each traded their political freedom for freedom in Christ (Acts 4:3 ; 12:3-5 ; 16:22-24 ; Rev. 1:9). And James traded a perishable earthly body for an imperishable glorified body (Acts 12:1-2 ; 2 Cor. 5:1-4).
From these and many other texts it’s very apparent that those within Christ’s hearing took Him up on His offer, and found the guarantee was good. It’s been said that you can’t out-give God. When all’s said and done, any and every prized possession forsaken for the sake of God’s kingdom will be abundantly rewarded in both time as well as eternity.
5.
FIFTH, WE SEE THAT JESUS PROVIDES THE RELOCATED DISCIPLE WITH GRACE TO OVERCOME THE TRIALS OF MINISTRY.
“And with those things, he will also suffer for his belief.” (NCV)
Books and seminars on suffering for our faith are in short supply today, and I suppose this has always been the case. Suffering has never been a hot topic, probably because it runs counter to a human nature that welcomes pleasant things and shuns the distasteful. This being so, Jesus never minces words or gives unrealistic expectations of what a person will experience as His follower. Identification with Him always has, and always will bring the unwanted element of persecution (Acts 14:22 ; 2 Tim. 3:12 ; Phil. 1:29). The world’s disdain for Christ is as real today as it was when they rejected Him 2,000 years ago with spitting, whipping, and crucifixion. The fact that such mistreatment will continue is not merely mentioned by Jesus, but unconditionally guaranteed (John 16:33).
There is a type of “ministerial suffering” a person in full-time ministry experiences that others will never go through (Col. 1:24). In their case the “persecution factor” multiplies exponentially as they answer the call of the Great Commission and step out into the front lines of spiritual battle. Conventional military wisdom teaches that the most efficient way to win a war is to take out the opposition’s “command and control system”. In this way the enemy forces are crippled and become disorganized and ineffective. The devil understands this wartime principle all too well. We know from Ephesians six that Satan is an expert strategist. His hellish hordes are highly organized and march rank and file behind his warped and doomed leadership. If he can knock out those who are leading the attack on his kingdom, he’ll have the battle more than half won. So he goes for the Christians who are working full-time to win and disciple people. Make no mistake about it, those in full-time ministry encounter a much higher degree of spiritual opposition than those not so engaged. Persecution takes on a whole other dimension at this level of service. This, I believe, is why Jesus tagged-on the assurance that, along with the blessings of serving Him, there would also follow severe hardships and difficulty.
The Lord made the suffering factor abundantly clear with regard to Paul’s calling into cross-cultural evangelism (Acts 9: 16 ; 20:23). His resume was filled with a ministry history of untold hardship and outright torture (2 Cor. 11:23-33). But he knew the secret of relying on Christ’s strength to pull him through these times of spiritual opposition and personal trial (Phil. 4:11-13 ; 2 Tim. 4:16-18). Jesus gives advance notice that trials will surely come, but that He’s already prepared for them well in advance (Luke 22:31-32). Victory is ours as we follow the pathway the Lord has paved through times of trial. We’re on the winning side, and the battle as well as the victory belongs entirely to Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:18). His ultimate and complete triumph is a source of encouragement for those in the fiery furnace of persecution (John 16:33)
6.
SIXTH, WE SEE THAT JESUS REWARDS RELOCATED DISCIPLES WITH A RETIREMENT PLAN THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD.
“Anyone who sacrifices home, family, friends – whatever – because of Me will get it all back … not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29, Message)
As midlife approaches most people begin giving serious thought to the kind of retirement they’d like to have. While some individuals call it quits at age 65, others choose to keep busy with full-time, part-time, or volunteer employment. Either way, it’s wise to begin putting away resources ahead of time for those golden years just down the road. Retirement plans range from zero pensions to multiple packages including employer benefits and personal savings and investments. The whole idea behind these preparations is to do one’s best to secure the future.
Jesus outlines the incredible compensation plan His followers receive in this life, but goes on to add a mind-boggling postscript . He promises that sacrificial service for Him will be generously compensated for with a retirement plan that covers eternity as well. This isn’t to say that eternal life belongs only to those who have given up much to serve Him, but that they will be crowned with heavenly rewards that are commensurate with their levels of commitment (1 Cor. 3:8-15 ; 9:25 ; 2 Tim. 4:8 ; 1 Pet. 5:4 ; Rev. 2:10).
Christ makes it crystal clear that the most valuable “possession” we have is our soul (Mark 8:36). Nothing this world can offer comes even close to it in value (Mark 8:36). Consequently, the loss of the soul to eternal suffering is unquestionably the greatest loss one can ever suffer, and a loss, that can never be won back or compensated for (Mark 8:37). It’s far advantageous, says Jesus, to lose yourself in ministry and gain an eternal reward, than to hold on to this world and lose your very being to an endless fiery existence. This being so, the wisest investment a disciple of Christ can make is to follow Him, be it in non-vocational service or as a full-time worker.
FINALLY, WE SEE THAT THE WORD OF GOD PROVIDES COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT TO THE RELOCATED DISCIPLE.
We’ve taken an in-depth look at what’s involved in turning our losses into gains. God is no man’s debtor, and He sees to it that every sacrifice made for His kingdom is more than amply rewarded. This message would prove incomplete without some practical advice on how to work this out. For this we’ll look to the example of the early Christians who experienced loss on a scale wider and deeper than most of us ever will. Therein lies the secret to watching God turn our losses into gains.
1) First, it’s the better part of wisdom to carefully calculate the cost before you take the loss.
(Luke 14:25-33)
2) Look ahead, not behind. (Phil. 3:13-14)
3) Look above, not below. (Heb. 10:32-34 ; 12:1-3)
4) Fix your hope on future glory. (1 Peter 1:1-9)
5) Ask God for wisdom to deal with the trials attending your relocated
situation. (James 1:1-8)
6) Remember that the loss is only temporary. (Psalms 30:5)
7) Share your burdens with the Lord. (1 Pet. 5:7)
8) Rely on God’s grace to pull you through to brighter days. (1 Pet. 5:10)
9) Bloom where you’re planted. (Acts 8:1-5 ; 11:19-21)
Follow Your Dreams
Follow Your Dreams
John R. Petrilli
In 1988, United States Olympic speed-skater Dan Jansen had dreams of capturing gold at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Prior to his scheduled event, he received a phone call from his mother informing him that his sister had lost her long battle with a terminal disease. Before that call Jansen felt that nothing could make him lose the upcoming race, but after that call he felt nothing could make him win. Despite being the gold medal favorite for the 500-meter event, Jansen suffered a rare false start, and then slipped and fell on the first turn, costing him the race. Later on in that same Olympics he was the favorite to win gold in the 1,000, but fell once again. A chance to redeem and realize his dreams of Olympic gold came in 1992, when Jansen was again favored to win both the 500 and 1,000-meter speed-skating competition. But to everyone’s surprise, Jansen posted disappointing 4th and 26th place losses. The World Olympic Committee cut in half the time between Winter Olympics, so Jansen only had to wait 2 years for another shot at his elusive dream. That chance came at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. But again, a slip forced him to touch the ice with his hand, and he finished 8th in the 500-meter event. Four days later the 1,000-meter event offered Jansen what may have been his last real shot at fulfilling his Olympic dream. At this point in his career he had broken the 36-second barrier in the 500-meter event a total of four times, yet the dream of Olympic gold had repeatedly and incredibly escaped him. After a heart-stopping slip, Jansen quickly regained his balance and won the gold medal in world-record time. He dedicated his gold medal to the sister who had passed away 4 years earlier. Dan Jansen had a dream to capture Olympic gold. Though faced with overwhelming personal tragedy and long-term adversity, the day finally came for Dan Jansen’s dream to come true.
Dreams. We live FOR them, and we sometimes live BY them. What’s YOUR dream? God has planted in each of us a dream to fulfill. As we consider the life of Joseph, we glean four insights that will help us follow and realize our God-given dreams.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS MEANS DEALING WITH THE DREAMKILLERS THAT ENTER OUR LIVES.
The book of Genesis records the story of a 17 year-old youth named Joseph who had a series of dreams. These God-given dreams indicated that Joseph would someday rule over his brothers and his parents. In characteristic youthful enthusiasm, Joseph quickly told his brothers and parents the content of these dreams. As one might expect, his revelation to them met with strong resistance. His brothers were filled with resentment that quickly turned to hatred, while his parents were visibly offended and responded with disbelief and disdain. But Joseph didn’t allow their negative feedback to derail his dream. Unable to control the seething rage they felt toward their upstart sibling, his brothers jumped at the first opportunity to get rid of him. That chance came when an Egypt-bound caravan passed through their territory. After stripping him and throwing him into a deep well, they seized the opportunity to sell their own brother to the caravan for the slave price of 20 pieces of silver. Having lied to their father about Joseph’s supposed tragic death at the hands of a ferocious animal, the jealous brothers thought they had destroyed both Joseph and his dreams. But Joseph didn’t allow any of this misunderstanding and mistreatment to discourage him from realizing his dream. He kept his eyes on God, trusting Him to make his dreams come true. In the next chapter of Joseph’s life we find him working as a personal attendant in the household of an Egyptian government official named Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph’s handsome features, and decided she’d seduce him. Joseph’s unwillingness to compromise his faith and his employer’s trust landed him in a dark dungeon. What’s more, when Joseph had the chance to get out of jail, the person whose life he helped save totally forgot to appeal to Pharaoh for Joseph’s release! Now the circumstances looked hopelessly bleak, and, instead of getting better, Joseph was left to languish in that jail cell for another two years! A total of thirteen years would lapse between Joseph’s dream and its realization, yet he refused to allow neither the huge injustice of wrongful imprisonment nor the absolute frustration of endless delays to deter him from fulfilling his dream. By God’s grace Joseph managed to focus on the Lord and hold on to his dream.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS IN THE PLACE GOD HAS US.
One of the most amazing things about the way Joseph dealt with adversity can be seen in his remarkably flexible and resilient attitude. Here’s a young man who has been ridiculed by his family, betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and even imprisoned for his integrity. Yet there’s not a single mention of any bitterness or rebellion. Instead, we see a guy who just picks-up from where he’s been dropped-off and makes the best of some outrageously bad situations. One of his secrets for coping with dream delay is found in his work ethic. Wherever we find him, be it in a prison or a palace, he always has his shoulder to the grindstone. He could have wallowed in self-pity and wasted away in bitterness and rage, but he chose to leave all his heartaches, hurts, disappointments and delays in God’s hands. He was repeatedly recognized by multiple employers for his excellent work, often resulting in promotions and higher levels of responsibility and privilege. Joseph was faithful in whatever circumstance the mysterious will of God placed him. That faithfulness not only kept him occupied, it actually became the very means God used to get him to where he needed to be. That’s something to remember the next time you may be feeling a case of the “dead-end job blues” coming on.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS MEANS ALLOWING GOD TO GROOM US INTO A PREPARED PERSON FOR A PREPARED PLACE.
Being the prime minister of the most powerful country in the ancient world wasn’t a job that just anybody could do. It demanded a high degree of skill, wisdom, and confidence. It would require a great deal of preparation to groom a 17 year-old wet-behind-the-ears kid into Egypt’s next president. In fact it took exactly 13 long years of trials, hardships and setbacks to get Joseph to where he needed to be before God could use him the way He wanted to. We often view adversities as intruders, but God’s Word says that they are actually our friends (James 1:2, Phillips). Amazingly, it is in those adversities that our character is developed. Skill and talent are important, but are virtually useless to God if the person possessing those gifts lacks character. Psalm 105:17-19 says that, “Joseph was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, until what he foretold came to pass, until the Word of the Lord tried him”. God used every trial in Joseph’s life to shape him into the man he needed to be. During his time in what appeared to be a holding pattern, we see Joseph growing in many key areas of leadership development. He grows in his social skills from a bragging kid into a humble servant who is quick to give God all the credit for his interpretive successes. During his prison sentence, Joseph’s experience as a chief warden certainly developed his managerial skills (Gen. 39:22). And most importantly, we see Joseph’s relationship with God blossom during his waiting period, as everything he touches turns to gold, and everyone around him recognizes the fact that the Lord is with him (39:3,21,23). It takes time for us to grow, and during those seasons of delay God is busy bringing about subtle yet critical changes in our lives that will make us effective for Him. The Apostle James says that God uses the trials that come our way to mold us into men and women of sterling Christian character. That’s a good thing to remember when we might feel like life is passing us by and our gifts and talents are being wasted.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES THAT WE FIND WAYS TO GLORIFY GOD ONCE OUR DREAM BECOMES REALITY.
As professional football quarterback Tom Brady helped his team win their second consecutive Super Bowl title, he made a shocking confession in a post-game interview. Brady surprised everyone by saying that he was disappointed that reaching his goal really didn’t have the effect on his life he thought it would. Perhaps that crowning achievement left Brady unfulfilled because it was an end in itself. God doesn’t plant dreams in our heart just for the fun of it. His dreams for us have real purpose and lasting value. We’re placed where we are to honor God, serve others, and be a blessing. That’s how we honor the Lord with our dreams. Joseph didn’t use his newfound place of power and influence to advance himself. He used his promotion to glorify God in a number of ways. First, he glorified the Lord by serving well. In Genesis 41 we discover that his proactive economic rescue plan saved, not only Egypt, but the entire world from a devastating famine. Joseph also glorified by God by forgiving those who had injured and opposed him. In Genesis 50:20 he relieves his brothers’ fear and guilt by explaining to them how God actually used their evil intentions to get Joseph to Egypt’s throne, thus enabling him to deliver the entire world from starvation! Joseph also glorified God by using his influential position to bless others. In Genesis 47 we see him arranging the relocation and resettlement of his entire family from Canaan to Egypt. Joseph had served Pharaoh so well that the king gave him a blank check to meet the needs of his extended family, providing them with prime real estate and permanent financial security. Joseph didn’t suffer from amnesia once he made it to the top. He remembered where he came from, and insured that his loved ones would be well cared for.
So what’s your dream? Maybe you’ve yet to determine what God has for your life. Or perhaps you’ve received God’s vision for your life but setbacks and delays have worn down your hopes of ever seeing that dream realized. If so, recall Joseph’s life, and the wise and resourceful way he dealt with the obstacles that stood in the way of his dream. If your dream is from God, it will surely come to pass. In the meantime, it’s the better part of wisdom to ignore the dream-killers in your life, stay faithful where God has placed you, allow the Lord to groom you for your calling, and then use your fulfilled dream to bring great honor and glory to the Giver of all good dreams.
John R. Petrilli
In 1988, United States Olympic speed-skater Dan Jansen had dreams of capturing gold at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Prior to his scheduled event, he received a phone call from his mother informing him that his sister had lost her long battle with a terminal disease. Before that call Jansen felt that nothing could make him lose the upcoming race, but after that call he felt nothing could make him win. Despite being the gold medal favorite for the 500-meter event, Jansen suffered a rare false start, and then slipped and fell on the first turn, costing him the race. Later on in that same Olympics he was the favorite to win gold in the 1,000, but fell once again. A chance to redeem and realize his dreams of Olympic gold came in 1992, when Jansen was again favored to win both the 500 and 1,000-meter speed-skating competition. But to everyone’s surprise, Jansen posted disappointing 4th and 26th place losses. The World Olympic Committee cut in half the time between Winter Olympics, so Jansen only had to wait 2 years for another shot at his elusive dream. That chance came at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. But again, a slip forced him to touch the ice with his hand, and he finished 8th in the 500-meter event. Four days later the 1,000-meter event offered Jansen what may have been his last real shot at fulfilling his Olympic dream. At this point in his career he had broken the 36-second barrier in the 500-meter event a total of four times, yet the dream of Olympic gold had repeatedly and incredibly escaped him. After a heart-stopping slip, Jansen quickly regained his balance and won the gold medal in world-record time. He dedicated his gold medal to the sister who had passed away 4 years earlier. Dan Jansen had a dream to capture Olympic gold. Though faced with overwhelming personal tragedy and long-term adversity, the day finally came for Dan Jansen’s dream to come true.
Dreams. We live FOR them, and we sometimes live BY them. What’s YOUR dream? God has planted in each of us a dream to fulfill. As we consider the life of Joseph, we glean four insights that will help us follow and realize our God-given dreams.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS MEANS DEALING WITH THE DREAMKILLERS THAT ENTER OUR LIVES.
The book of Genesis records the story of a 17 year-old youth named Joseph who had a series of dreams. These God-given dreams indicated that Joseph would someday rule over his brothers and his parents. In characteristic youthful enthusiasm, Joseph quickly told his brothers and parents the content of these dreams. As one might expect, his revelation to them met with strong resistance. His brothers were filled with resentment that quickly turned to hatred, while his parents were visibly offended and responded with disbelief and disdain. But Joseph didn’t allow their negative feedback to derail his dream. Unable to control the seething rage they felt toward their upstart sibling, his brothers jumped at the first opportunity to get rid of him. That chance came when an Egypt-bound caravan passed through their territory. After stripping him and throwing him into a deep well, they seized the opportunity to sell their own brother to the caravan for the slave price of 20 pieces of silver. Having lied to their father about Joseph’s supposed tragic death at the hands of a ferocious animal, the jealous brothers thought they had destroyed both Joseph and his dreams. But Joseph didn’t allow any of this misunderstanding and mistreatment to discourage him from realizing his dream. He kept his eyes on God, trusting Him to make his dreams come true. In the next chapter of Joseph’s life we find him working as a personal attendant in the household of an Egyptian government official named Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph’s handsome features, and decided she’d seduce him. Joseph’s unwillingness to compromise his faith and his employer’s trust landed him in a dark dungeon. What’s more, when Joseph had the chance to get out of jail, the person whose life he helped save totally forgot to appeal to Pharaoh for Joseph’s release! Now the circumstances looked hopelessly bleak, and, instead of getting better, Joseph was left to languish in that jail cell for another two years! A total of thirteen years would lapse between Joseph’s dream and its realization, yet he refused to allow neither the huge injustice of wrongful imprisonment nor the absolute frustration of endless delays to deter him from fulfilling his dream. By God’s grace Joseph managed to focus on the Lord and hold on to his dream.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS IN THE PLACE GOD HAS US.
One of the most amazing things about the way Joseph dealt with adversity can be seen in his remarkably flexible and resilient attitude. Here’s a young man who has been ridiculed by his family, betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, and even imprisoned for his integrity. Yet there’s not a single mention of any bitterness or rebellion. Instead, we see a guy who just picks-up from where he’s been dropped-off and makes the best of some outrageously bad situations. One of his secrets for coping with dream delay is found in his work ethic. Wherever we find him, be it in a prison or a palace, he always has his shoulder to the grindstone. He could have wallowed in self-pity and wasted away in bitterness and rage, but he chose to leave all his heartaches, hurts, disappointments and delays in God’s hands. He was repeatedly recognized by multiple employers for his excellent work, often resulting in promotions and higher levels of responsibility and privilege. Joseph was faithful in whatever circumstance the mysterious will of God placed him. That faithfulness not only kept him occupied, it actually became the very means God used to get him to where he needed to be. That’s something to remember the next time you may be feeling a case of the “dead-end job blues” coming on.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS MEANS ALLOWING GOD TO GROOM US INTO A PREPARED PERSON FOR A PREPARED PLACE.
Being the prime minister of the most powerful country in the ancient world wasn’t a job that just anybody could do. It demanded a high degree of skill, wisdom, and confidence. It would require a great deal of preparation to groom a 17 year-old wet-behind-the-ears kid into Egypt’s next president. In fact it took exactly 13 long years of trials, hardships and setbacks to get Joseph to where he needed to be before God could use him the way He wanted to. We often view adversities as intruders, but God’s Word says that they are actually our friends (James 1:2, Phillips). Amazingly, it is in those adversities that our character is developed. Skill and talent are important, but are virtually useless to God if the person possessing those gifts lacks character. Psalm 105:17-19 says that, “Joseph was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, until what he foretold came to pass, until the Word of the Lord tried him”. God used every trial in Joseph’s life to shape him into the man he needed to be. During his time in what appeared to be a holding pattern, we see Joseph growing in many key areas of leadership development. He grows in his social skills from a bragging kid into a humble servant who is quick to give God all the credit for his interpretive successes. During his prison sentence, Joseph’s experience as a chief warden certainly developed his managerial skills (Gen. 39:22). And most importantly, we see Joseph’s relationship with God blossom during his waiting period, as everything he touches turns to gold, and everyone around him recognizes the fact that the Lord is with him (39:3,21,23). It takes time for us to grow, and during those seasons of delay God is busy bringing about subtle yet critical changes in our lives that will make us effective for Him. The Apostle James says that God uses the trials that come our way to mold us into men and women of sterling Christian character. That’s a good thing to remember when we might feel like life is passing us by and our gifts and talents are being wasted.
FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS REQUIRES THAT WE FIND WAYS TO GLORIFY GOD ONCE OUR DREAM BECOMES REALITY.
As professional football quarterback Tom Brady helped his team win their second consecutive Super Bowl title, he made a shocking confession in a post-game interview. Brady surprised everyone by saying that he was disappointed that reaching his goal really didn’t have the effect on his life he thought it would. Perhaps that crowning achievement left Brady unfulfilled because it was an end in itself. God doesn’t plant dreams in our heart just for the fun of it. His dreams for us have real purpose and lasting value. We’re placed where we are to honor God, serve others, and be a blessing. That’s how we honor the Lord with our dreams. Joseph didn’t use his newfound place of power and influence to advance himself. He used his promotion to glorify God in a number of ways. First, he glorified the Lord by serving well. In Genesis 41 we discover that his proactive economic rescue plan saved, not only Egypt, but the entire world from a devastating famine. Joseph also glorified by God by forgiving those who had injured and opposed him. In Genesis 50:20 he relieves his brothers’ fear and guilt by explaining to them how God actually used their evil intentions to get Joseph to Egypt’s throne, thus enabling him to deliver the entire world from starvation! Joseph also glorified God by using his influential position to bless others. In Genesis 47 we see him arranging the relocation and resettlement of his entire family from Canaan to Egypt. Joseph had served Pharaoh so well that the king gave him a blank check to meet the needs of his extended family, providing them with prime real estate and permanent financial security. Joseph didn’t suffer from amnesia once he made it to the top. He remembered where he came from, and insured that his loved ones would be well cared for.
So what’s your dream? Maybe you’ve yet to determine what God has for your life. Or perhaps you’ve received God’s vision for your life but setbacks and delays have worn down your hopes of ever seeing that dream realized. If so, recall Joseph’s life, and the wise and resourceful way he dealt with the obstacles that stood in the way of his dream. If your dream is from God, it will surely come to pass. In the meantime, it’s the better part of wisdom to ignore the dream-killers in your life, stay faithful where God has placed you, allow the Lord to groom you for your calling, and then use your fulfilled dream to bring great honor and glory to the Giver of all good dreams.
Are Christians Becoming An Endangered Species?
Are Christians Becoming An Endangered Species?
John R. Petrilli
By definition, an endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers or it is threatened by changing environmental or predatory parameters. Currently 1,556 known species in the world have been identified as endangered, or near extinction, and are under protection by government law. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species to be forty percent of all organisms based on samples evaluated through 2006. The IUCN Red List uses the term “endangered species” as a specific category of imperilment, and includes the following categories: Extinct, Extinct in the wild, Critically endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. At the international level, 190 countries have signed an accord agreeing to create Biodiversity Action Plans to protect endangered and other threatened species.
While our God-given mandate to care for creation surely includes the preservation of all species, there’s one species left off of the list of endangered species that should be cause for concern. That species would be the human species, and, more specifically, the Christian. Statistics argue this case quite convincingly, with the last century seeing more martyrs for the faith than in all previous centuries combined. Whether it’s ethnic cleansing, tribal warfare, or rank political intolerance, the church of Jesus Christ is experiencing record numbers of attrition. This situation is conveniently ignored by network news services, resulting in a state of near ignorance in the church in America.
But none of these developments need take us by surprise. Jesus assured His faithful followers that, as surely as the world hated Him, it would likewise hate them as well (John 15:18-21), and that such hatred could escalate all the way up to execution (John 16:1-4). But with that elevated level of opposition the Lord also promises special grace to overcome (John 16:33). Paul, too, warned any would be follower of Christ that persecution was part and parcel of the territory that came with being a Christian (Acts 14:22 ; Phil.1:29 ; 2 Tim. 3:12 ; 1 Thess. 3:2-4).
Paul knew what he was talking about. In a most revealing autobiographical sketch, he ticks off a long list of dangers he fell into as a Christian evangelist. In addition to death and deprivation, Paul faced the dangers of multiple imprisonments, countless beatings within an inch of his life, overexposure to the elements, drowning, traveling dangers, nautical dangers, terrestrial dangers, cosmopolitan dangers, rural dangers, and betrayals by disingenuous “brothers” in the Lord (2 Cor. 11:23-27). If anyone ever qualified for instant induction into God’s Hardship Hall Of Fame, it would have to be Paul. This guy’s life was one of constant danger and suspense. Almost a sort of Christian James Bond, Paul always seemed to be ducking death and dodging potential assassins. His life was anything thing but a “Cakewalk Christianity”. One commentator has wryly noted, “Wherever polite modern Christians meet, they throw a tea party; wherever Paul went they had a riot!” To keep this essay practical, I’ve decided to focus on the ways that we can cope with and get the most out of the days of opposition and potential danger that loom on the spiritual horizon. For help in this regard I can’t think of a better source than the apostle Peter. Writing to dispersed Christians who were really under the gun and on the run, Peter’s words gave the comfort, wisdom, perspective, and hope they needed to keep on keeping on. If you are about to toss this article because it doesn’t relate to you right now, please consider tucking it away for the rainy day that New Testament prophecy indicates is in the spiritual forecast.
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO STAY SOBER! 1 Pet. 1:13-16
The first thing to go when under intense and prolonged persecution is one’s perspective. The first temptation isn’t to outright deny the Lord, but rather, to question whether the fight is winnable or even worth it. Prison camp officials understand the key role that right mentality plays in inmate survival, and do their best to warp the captive’s thought processes. They also attack the heart of the prisoner by demoralizing them, hoping to create emotional instability that will lead to a psychological breakdown. All this is done to wear down the detainee’s defenses, “crack” their minds and break their wills. Our spiritual enemy utilizes the same tactics, with deception and discouragement being two of his most effective tools. Aware of this, Peter urges his charges to think straight, maintain mental clarity, and pursue heart purity. Such defensive measures will shore up the soul against the darts of evil that will inevitably fly in their direction.
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO ENDURE! 1 Pet. 2:20
“If you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God.”
It’s one thing to get what’s coming to us when we’ve blown it. But when we are punished for doing what’s right, this can become really confusing. It’s then that we need to realize that persecution never obeys the laws of logic. At its core, it’s a deranged mind using twisted tactics to accomplish evil outcomes. As such, we can’t expect the actions of our tormentors to make sense. In such a spiritual climate of chaotic conundrum, we need to hunker-down for the long haul, deciding at the outset to stick it out to the bitter end.
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE! 1 Pet. 2:21-23
In the past few decades educators have discovered that different people have different learning styles. As it turns out, some learn best by actually doing the task. Employers have incorporated this methodology into their training of new hires. They place them alongside a seasoned worker to allow them to learn by example. This seems to be the approach Peter takes in helping his charges cope with persecution. He points them to Jesus Himself as their example. Jesus suffered with purity (“He committed no sin”), He suffered with honesty (“there was no deceit found in His mouth”), He suffered with forgiveness (“He did not retaliate”), and He suffered with faith (“He committed Himself to Him [the Father] Who judges righteously”). The writer to the Hebrews picks up on this same theme, citing Jesus’ incredible endurance in the face of the most intense suffering at the hands of men, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … Who endured the Cross … Who endured such opposition from sinful men … in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:2-4) .
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO BE EVANGELISTIC! 1 Pet. 3:13-16
Evangelistic? In the middle of getting our heads chopped of we’re to be evangelistic? Believe it or not, those times when we’re under the gun of persecution may be the most golden opportunities we’ll ever have to show what our faith is really made of. Peter says that our calm conduct will speak to the hearts of those hammering us, and some may wonder how we can respond in such a way. It’s then that we have a teachable moment of powerful witness. It’s then that we can explain the source of our hope and peace. It’s then that we, as objects of man’s rage and violence, can speak of the hope of our salvation with the greatest clarity and power. Who was the very last person Jesus led into the kingdom? Was it not a dying thief who saw Jesus’ composure on the cross? Who was the last person who confessed Jesus’ deity? Was it not a Roman soldier who witnessed the dignity with which the savior died? With all the clever and helpful tools we have for outreach, let’s never underestimate the tool of suffering. God uses it to win hearts like no other means .
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO BE JOYFUL! 1 Pet. 4:12-16
Picking up on Jesus’ heads-up that His followers would be targeted for abuse just as He was, Peter states that we should not be surprised when persecution comes. Indeed, some of his readers were headed for intense “fiery” trials of their faith. But instead of retaliation or resistance, Peter recommends that we rejoice! His reasoning is that our participation in the sufferings of Christ also guarantee our share in the glories that are promised to those who endure. Peter speaks from real life experience, for, according to Luke, it was he and his fellow apostles who celebrated their unjust detainment and whipping as opportunities to be counted worthy to be publicly disgraced for the Name of Jesus (Acts 5:41).
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO STAY HOPEFUL! 1 Pet. 5:6-10
In our recent presidential election the entire story of John McCain’s capture, incarceration, and torture by the Viet Cong came to light. How he endured over four years of such abuse is beyond me. Ask any prisoner of war who his worst enemy was, and he’ll tell you it was himself. Survival in prisoner of war camps depended largely on one’s ability to keep their heads. If they held on to the hope of release, they could survive just about anything. Peter knew the power that resided in hope.
He knew that as he shifted their focus from the present trails to their future reward they would find superhuman strength to endure. He tells them to remain humble (6). He tells them to stay in touch with God in prayer (7). He encourages them to remain spiritually alert (8). He tells them to stand firm in faith (9a). He reminds them they’re not alone in suffering for Christ (9b). He assures them that there will come a day and time when all this nightmare will be over (10). Until then their victory would lie in their ability to focus on the hope they had in Jesus Christ and the future glory they would share with Him.
The next time God calls you to stand up for Him and His Son, don’t sweat it. He’s in complete control, even in times of intense persecution. God promises a special grace to those who find themselves in the throes of enemy opposition. We’re to stay cool, we’re to stay collected, and above all, we’re to stay focused on our victorious Savior!
John R. Petrilli
By definition, an endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers or it is threatened by changing environmental or predatory parameters. Currently 1,556 known species in the world have been identified as endangered, or near extinction, and are under protection by government law. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species to be forty percent of all organisms based on samples evaluated through 2006. The IUCN Red List uses the term “endangered species” as a specific category of imperilment, and includes the following categories: Extinct, Extinct in the wild, Critically endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. At the international level, 190 countries have signed an accord agreeing to create Biodiversity Action Plans to protect endangered and other threatened species.
While our God-given mandate to care for creation surely includes the preservation of all species, there’s one species left off of the list of endangered species that should be cause for concern. That species would be the human species, and, more specifically, the Christian. Statistics argue this case quite convincingly, with the last century seeing more martyrs for the faith than in all previous centuries combined. Whether it’s ethnic cleansing, tribal warfare, or rank political intolerance, the church of Jesus Christ is experiencing record numbers of attrition. This situation is conveniently ignored by network news services, resulting in a state of near ignorance in the church in America.
But none of these developments need take us by surprise. Jesus assured His faithful followers that, as surely as the world hated Him, it would likewise hate them as well (John 15:18-21), and that such hatred could escalate all the way up to execution (John 16:1-4). But with that elevated level of opposition the Lord also promises special grace to overcome (John 16:33). Paul, too, warned any would be follower of Christ that persecution was part and parcel of the territory that came with being a Christian (Acts 14:22 ; Phil.1:29 ; 2 Tim. 3:12 ; 1 Thess. 3:2-4).
Paul knew what he was talking about. In a most revealing autobiographical sketch, he ticks off a long list of dangers he fell into as a Christian evangelist. In addition to death and deprivation, Paul faced the dangers of multiple imprisonments, countless beatings within an inch of his life, overexposure to the elements, drowning, traveling dangers, nautical dangers, terrestrial dangers, cosmopolitan dangers, rural dangers, and betrayals by disingenuous “brothers” in the Lord (2 Cor. 11:23-27). If anyone ever qualified for instant induction into God’s Hardship Hall Of Fame, it would have to be Paul. This guy’s life was one of constant danger and suspense. Almost a sort of Christian James Bond, Paul always seemed to be ducking death and dodging potential assassins. His life was anything thing but a “Cakewalk Christianity”. One commentator has wryly noted, “Wherever polite modern Christians meet, they throw a tea party; wherever Paul went they had a riot!” To keep this essay practical, I’ve decided to focus on the ways that we can cope with and get the most out of the days of opposition and potential danger that loom on the spiritual horizon. For help in this regard I can’t think of a better source than the apostle Peter. Writing to dispersed Christians who were really under the gun and on the run, Peter’s words gave the comfort, wisdom, perspective, and hope they needed to keep on keeping on. If you are about to toss this article because it doesn’t relate to you right now, please consider tucking it away for the rainy day that New Testament prophecy indicates is in the spiritual forecast.
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO STAY SOBER! 1 Pet. 1:13-16
The first thing to go when under intense and prolonged persecution is one’s perspective. The first temptation isn’t to outright deny the Lord, but rather, to question whether the fight is winnable or even worth it. Prison camp officials understand the key role that right mentality plays in inmate survival, and do their best to warp the captive’s thought processes. They also attack the heart of the prisoner by demoralizing them, hoping to create emotional instability that will lead to a psychological breakdown. All this is done to wear down the detainee’s defenses, “crack” their minds and break their wills. Our spiritual enemy utilizes the same tactics, with deception and discouragement being two of his most effective tools. Aware of this, Peter urges his charges to think straight, maintain mental clarity, and pursue heart purity. Such defensive measures will shore up the soul against the darts of evil that will inevitably fly in their direction.
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO ENDURE! 1 Pet. 2:20
“If you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God.”
It’s one thing to get what’s coming to us when we’ve blown it. But when we are punished for doing what’s right, this can become really confusing. It’s then that we need to realize that persecution never obeys the laws of logic. At its core, it’s a deranged mind using twisted tactics to accomplish evil outcomes. As such, we can’t expect the actions of our tormentors to make sense. In such a spiritual climate of chaotic conundrum, we need to hunker-down for the long haul, deciding at the outset to stick it out to the bitter end.
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE! 1 Pet. 2:21-23
In the past few decades educators have discovered that different people have different learning styles. As it turns out, some learn best by actually doing the task. Employers have incorporated this methodology into their training of new hires. They place them alongside a seasoned worker to allow them to learn by example. This seems to be the approach Peter takes in helping his charges cope with persecution. He points them to Jesus Himself as their example. Jesus suffered with purity (“He committed no sin”), He suffered with honesty (“there was no deceit found in His mouth”), He suffered with forgiveness (“He did not retaliate”), and He suffered with faith (“He committed Himself to Him [the Father] Who judges righteously”). The writer to the Hebrews picks up on this same theme, citing Jesus’ incredible endurance in the face of the most intense suffering at the hands of men, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … Who endured the Cross … Who endured such opposition from sinful men … in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:2-4) .
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO BE EVANGELISTIC! 1 Pet. 3:13-16
Evangelistic? In the middle of getting our heads chopped of we’re to be evangelistic? Believe it or not, those times when we’re under the gun of persecution may be the most golden opportunities we’ll ever have to show what our faith is really made of. Peter says that our calm conduct will speak to the hearts of those hammering us, and some may wonder how we can respond in such a way. It’s then that we have a teachable moment of powerful witness. It’s then that we can explain the source of our hope and peace. It’s then that we, as objects of man’s rage and violence, can speak of the hope of our salvation with the greatest clarity and power. Who was the very last person Jesus led into the kingdom? Was it not a dying thief who saw Jesus’ composure on the cross? Who was the last person who confessed Jesus’ deity? Was it not a Roman soldier who witnessed the dignity with which the savior died? With all the clever and helpful tools we have for outreach, let’s never underestimate the tool of suffering. God uses it to win hearts like no other means .
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO BE JOYFUL! 1 Pet. 4:12-16
Picking up on Jesus’ heads-up that His followers would be targeted for abuse just as He was, Peter states that we should not be surprised when persecution comes. Indeed, some of his readers were headed for intense “fiery” trials of their faith. But instead of retaliation or resistance, Peter recommends that we rejoice! His reasoning is that our participation in the sufferings of Christ also guarantee our share in the glories that are promised to those who endure. Peter speaks from real life experience, for, according to Luke, it was he and his fellow apostles who celebrated their unjust detainment and whipping as opportunities to be counted worthy to be publicly disgraced for the Name of Jesus (Acts 5:41).
PETER ENCOURAGES SUFFERING BELIEVERS TO STAY HOPEFUL! 1 Pet. 5:6-10
In our recent presidential election the entire story of John McCain’s capture, incarceration, and torture by the Viet Cong came to light. How he endured over four years of such abuse is beyond me. Ask any prisoner of war who his worst enemy was, and he’ll tell you it was himself. Survival in prisoner of war camps depended largely on one’s ability to keep their heads. If they held on to the hope of release, they could survive just about anything. Peter knew the power that resided in hope.
He knew that as he shifted their focus from the present trails to their future reward they would find superhuman strength to endure. He tells them to remain humble (6). He tells them to stay in touch with God in prayer (7). He encourages them to remain spiritually alert (8). He tells them to stand firm in faith (9a). He reminds them they’re not alone in suffering for Christ (9b). He assures them that there will come a day and time when all this nightmare will be over (10). Until then their victory would lie in their ability to focus on the hope they had in Jesus Christ and the future glory they would share with Him.
The next time God calls you to stand up for Him and His Son, don’t sweat it. He’s in complete control, even in times of intense persecution. God promises a special grace to those who find themselves in the throes of enemy opposition. We’re to stay cool, we’re to stay collected, and above all, we’re to stay focused on our victorious Savior!
Making a Living Or Building a Life?
Making a Living Or Building a Life?
John Petrilli
Steven Curtis Chapman’ song, “Busy Man” describes the average American today. “Billy” (the busy man) is so busy running through life to acquire the status and material toys he wants that he’s completely blinded to the things that really matter. Which brings up an important question that begs for an answer. Are we making a living, or building a life?
Jesus has clearly warned of the dangers of merely living and working for the things this life has to offer. Material possessions are like a false god that can never satisfy us at our deepest level of existence, yet millions continue the mad rush to acquire more, bigger and better. In the process we render ourselves incapable of focusing on what’s really important and worthy of our time and energy … that is, the building of our lives. While we certainly need to spend time and energy providing for things material, our greatest investment should be into the area of our personal growth, and, in particular, our spiritual growth.
This type of investment prioritizes the development of the kingdom of God within one’s heart and life. It radically influences our values, perspective and decisions. So how do we do this? Jesus and the apostles point the way. It is accomplished by allowing the Word of God to penetrate our intellect, emotions and will. As God’s Word makes inroads into our core being, it transforms us from the inside out. Like a seed, the Word takes root and bears fruit. As we grow spiritually, we also begin to develop socially as well. Genuine love for God translates into authentic love for others. Life takes on a totally new dynamic as we prioritize things spiritual and get caught up in advancing the kingdom of God both internally through character transformation, as well as externally through the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Jesus takes us to the seaside to contrast the difference between making a living and building a life. Those who are only concerned with making a living spend all their resources constructing a house of cards that will collapse when hit by life’s storms. On the other hand, those who choose to build a life carefully apply the principles of God’s Word to their daily lives, erecting an indestructible edifice that is storm proof (Matthew 7:24-27). Making a living concerns itself with the temporary and transitory. Building a life is all about that which will be eternal.
Like a wise and trusted financial advisor, Jesus encourages us to invest our lives in things that will stand and survive the test of time and eternity (Matthew6:19-21). Is your life bank account rich with eternal investments or temporal ones? Which do you spend more time doing, reading the paper and watching TV, or pouring over God’s Word? Where are you investing your life? What kind of life are you building in terms of your own character development? If we are wise, we will understand the difference between making a living and building a life. Choose wisely.
John Petrilli
Steven Curtis Chapman’ song, “Busy Man” describes the average American today. “Billy” (the busy man) is so busy running through life to acquire the status and material toys he wants that he’s completely blinded to the things that really matter. Which brings up an important question that begs for an answer. Are we making a living, or building a life?
Jesus has clearly warned of the dangers of merely living and working for the things this life has to offer. Material possessions are like a false god that can never satisfy us at our deepest level of existence, yet millions continue the mad rush to acquire more, bigger and better. In the process we render ourselves incapable of focusing on what’s really important and worthy of our time and energy … that is, the building of our lives. While we certainly need to spend time and energy providing for things material, our greatest investment should be into the area of our personal growth, and, in particular, our spiritual growth.
This type of investment prioritizes the development of the kingdom of God within one’s heart and life. It radically influences our values, perspective and decisions. So how do we do this? Jesus and the apostles point the way. It is accomplished by allowing the Word of God to penetrate our intellect, emotions and will. As God’s Word makes inroads into our core being, it transforms us from the inside out. Like a seed, the Word takes root and bears fruit. As we grow spiritually, we also begin to develop socially as well. Genuine love for God translates into authentic love for others. Life takes on a totally new dynamic as we prioritize things spiritual and get caught up in advancing the kingdom of God both internally through character transformation, as well as externally through the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Jesus takes us to the seaside to contrast the difference between making a living and building a life. Those who are only concerned with making a living spend all their resources constructing a house of cards that will collapse when hit by life’s storms. On the other hand, those who choose to build a life carefully apply the principles of God’s Word to their daily lives, erecting an indestructible edifice that is storm proof (Matthew 7:24-27). Making a living concerns itself with the temporary and transitory. Building a life is all about that which will be eternal.
Like a wise and trusted financial advisor, Jesus encourages us to invest our lives in things that will stand and survive the test of time and eternity (Matthew6:19-21). Is your life bank account rich with eternal investments or temporal ones? Which do you spend more time doing, reading the paper and watching TV, or pouring over God’s Word? Where are you investing your life? What kind of life are you building in terms of your own character development? If we are wise, we will understand the difference between making a living and building a life. Choose wisely.
Great Things Happen When God’s People Pray!
Great Things Happen When God’s People Pray!
John R. Petrilli
George Mueller was responsible for the care of thousands of orphans in Bristol, England. He never asked anyone for a single dime, but instead, relied on faith and prayer alone to supply their needs. For decades Mueller watched as God answered prayer after prayer enabling him to house, feed and clothe these homeless, destitute children. On one occasion he sought the Lord for 607 consecutive days until the 11,062 pounds needed to buy a piece of land came in! If God responded to George Mueller’s prayers, will He not respond to ours also? God is waiting tom open the storehouse of heaven and shower abundant blessings upon our lives. In Acts chapter 12 we see how God gives astounding answers the believing prayers of His people .
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE POWER OF PRAYER IS NEVER LIMITED BY OUR OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES! Acts 12:1-4
Satan, the chief architect of all persecution, made an all-out frontal attack on the church. The devil decided to go straight to the top, inciting King Herod to raise a violent hand against the church’s leadership. He began by murdering innocent James in cold blood. The political capital gained by that action moved him to go after Peter next. Herod’s strategy was as old as the hills … go after the leadership and you succeed in destroying the entire movement. The only problem with Herod’s plan was that Peter wasn’t the actual leader of the church … Jesus Christ was! But persecution wasn’t the only circumstantial difficulty threatening the church. They were also suffering severe economic hardship from a famine which had struck the entire region of Judea. Although the impact of that famine was mitigated by financial help sent down from the church at Antioch, many believers remained unemployed, having lost their jobs because of their faith. These foreboding circumstances of poverty and leadership attrition combined to paint a very bleak picture for the struggling congregation at Jerusalem.
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE JOIN TOGETHER IN FERVENT, PERSISTENT PRAYER! 12:5
When life backs us into a corner and the tide turns against us we don’t have anywhere to turn but to God. After Peter’s arrest the church had no time to mount any type of legal appeal, and certainly found no sympathy from their fearful neighbors. But what they did have was a secret weapon that had already given them great success a number of times before. Their secret weapon was prayer, and it worked like a charm. Their upper room prayer gathering resulted in the Spirit’s outpouring upon them on the day of Pentecost (ch. 1,2). Later, when Peter and John’s fearless preaching landed them in jail, the church watched God engineer their quick release (ch. 3). And their prayer for evangelistic courage was answered as God literally shook the building they were in and empowered them with holy boldness (ch. 4). The early church had a grasp on the importance of prayer that we today seem to be missing. We see it as a rider we tag on at the end of our plans, but they saw it as the first order of business. We often see prayer as a means of securing God’s blessing on our work, while they saw it as THE work. Prayer was the most important ministry they could join in, and participate they did! The early church knew how to organize a band of intercessors on very short notice. James was gone on to glory, with Peter’s head next in line for the chopping block. Time was the one thing they couldn’t afford to waste Satan was moving in on the church for the kill. With emergency circumstances like these, it’s no wonder they prayed with such urgency and fervor. The disciples threw their entire being into their prayers, and God took note of their purposefulness.
By way of application, Jesus wants us red-hot for Him, but we’re too often barely lukewarm. Instead of being in the tepid zone, our prayers should be in the torrid zone. Jesus’ half-brother James reminds us that it’s torrid praying that gets God’s work done (James 5:16). This is the kind of praying that grabs God’s attention, and the contemporary church desperately needs to recapture this indispensible, non-negotiable ministry.
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE PRAYER UNLEASHES THE RESOURCES OF HEAVEN! 6-11
A wise sage once said, “Man proposes, but God disposes”. That would be a fitting subtitle for this portion of Acts 12. Herod was on the political roll of a lifetime. His approval ratings shot through the roof when he executed James. With Peter in his murderous clutches, he held the fate of the church in his hands. To insure Peter’s containment, Herod ordered no less than 16 guards to secure the prisoner and prevent any chance of escape. But 16 soldiers were no match for an angel of the Lord. This showdown was a mismatch from the getgo. Human strength is simply no match for angelic power. King Herod set armed guards, but God would send a mighty angel! The use of chains along with the large contingent of security personnel makes this tantamount to today’s maximum security prison.
The stage is set, the players are cast. Then comes an escape the likes of which even a Harry Houdini couldn’t pull off! Peter is sandwiched between two guards and bound with two chains. Such a situation is a human impossibility. But we’re not talking human here, we’re talking angel! Human impossibilities are a piece of cake for an angel of God. The angel spoke, the chains fell off of Peter’s body, and the greatest escape of all time was under way. The next problem was getting past 14 armed soldiers guarding the prison at different checkpoints. But the Navy Seals-like extraction was a total success as they got by security undetected. Only one more obstacle stood between Peter and freedom. An iron gate. But once again, in clearly miraculous fashion, the gate opened by itself. Off they were. Herod planned to execute Peter, but God sent a mighty angel to emancipate him!
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE PRAYER CAN YIELD RESULTS THAT FAR EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS! 12-17
The narrative moves us back to an earlier scene where the disciples had called together an emergency prayer session. Having successfully escaped the prison, Peter’s first inclination is to return to his Christian friends to relay everything God had done in answer to their prayers. Saying we’re believing God for something is one thing, but really trusting Him to do that “something “, well, that’s a whole different ballgame. Once word had reached the prayer group that Peter was free, the news was greeted with everything ranging from cautious skepticism to outright denial.. Granted, they were expecting God to intervene, but apparently didn’t expect Him to do so in such a dramatic fashion. An angel? Broken chains? Self-opening gates? But to their utter amazement, there stood brother Peter in the doorway. Following a quick report on the stunning events of that night, Peter whisks away into the night, leaving his believing friends dumbfounded and overjoyed. There come those times in our lives when we pray for those big things too, and come and equally shocked at how God answers us. I think this is what Paul was referring to when he explained to the Ephesian Christians how God can do “immeasurably ore than we could ever ask or think”!
All of us wants to see our prayers answered as God does great things in and through our lives. Great things really do happen when God’s people pray, and great things can and will happen when our churches set themselves to praying. We need not wait for a crisis, for to do so is to lose out on all the ways God wants to bless us along the way. Great things happen when God’s people pray. Brethren, let us pray!
John R. Petrilli
George Mueller was responsible for the care of thousands of orphans in Bristol, England. He never asked anyone for a single dime, but instead, relied on faith and prayer alone to supply their needs. For decades Mueller watched as God answered prayer after prayer enabling him to house, feed and clothe these homeless, destitute children. On one occasion he sought the Lord for 607 consecutive days until the 11,062 pounds needed to buy a piece of land came in! If God responded to George Mueller’s prayers, will He not respond to ours also? God is waiting tom open the storehouse of heaven and shower abundant blessings upon our lives. In Acts chapter 12 we see how God gives astounding answers the believing prayers of His people .
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE POWER OF PRAYER IS NEVER LIMITED BY OUR OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES! Acts 12:1-4
Satan, the chief architect of all persecution, made an all-out frontal attack on the church. The devil decided to go straight to the top, inciting King Herod to raise a violent hand against the church’s leadership. He began by murdering innocent James in cold blood. The political capital gained by that action moved him to go after Peter next. Herod’s strategy was as old as the hills … go after the leadership and you succeed in destroying the entire movement. The only problem with Herod’s plan was that Peter wasn’t the actual leader of the church … Jesus Christ was! But persecution wasn’t the only circumstantial difficulty threatening the church. They were also suffering severe economic hardship from a famine which had struck the entire region of Judea. Although the impact of that famine was mitigated by financial help sent down from the church at Antioch, many believers remained unemployed, having lost their jobs because of their faith. These foreboding circumstances of poverty and leadership attrition combined to paint a very bleak picture for the struggling congregation at Jerusalem.
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE JOIN TOGETHER IN FERVENT, PERSISTENT PRAYER! 12:5
When life backs us into a corner and the tide turns against us we don’t have anywhere to turn but to God. After Peter’s arrest the church had no time to mount any type of legal appeal, and certainly found no sympathy from their fearful neighbors. But what they did have was a secret weapon that had already given them great success a number of times before. Their secret weapon was prayer, and it worked like a charm. Their upper room prayer gathering resulted in the Spirit’s outpouring upon them on the day of Pentecost (ch. 1,2). Later, when Peter and John’s fearless preaching landed them in jail, the church watched God engineer their quick release (ch. 3). And their prayer for evangelistic courage was answered as God literally shook the building they were in and empowered them with holy boldness (ch. 4). The early church had a grasp on the importance of prayer that we today seem to be missing. We see it as a rider we tag on at the end of our plans, but they saw it as the first order of business. We often see prayer as a means of securing God’s blessing on our work, while they saw it as THE work. Prayer was the most important ministry they could join in, and participate they did! The early church knew how to organize a band of intercessors on very short notice. James was gone on to glory, with Peter’s head next in line for the chopping block. Time was the one thing they couldn’t afford to waste Satan was moving in on the church for the kill. With emergency circumstances like these, it’s no wonder they prayed with such urgency and fervor. The disciples threw their entire being into their prayers, and God took note of their purposefulness.
By way of application, Jesus wants us red-hot for Him, but we’re too often barely lukewarm. Instead of being in the tepid zone, our prayers should be in the torrid zone. Jesus’ half-brother James reminds us that it’s torrid praying that gets God’s work done (James 5:16). This is the kind of praying that grabs God’s attention, and the contemporary church desperately needs to recapture this indispensible, non-negotiable ministry.
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE PRAYER UNLEASHES THE RESOURCES OF HEAVEN! 6-11
A wise sage once said, “Man proposes, but God disposes”. That would be a fitting subtitle for this portion of Acts 12. Herod was on the political roll of a lifetime. His approval ratings shot through the roof when he executed James. With Peter in his murderous clutches, he held the fate of the church in his hands. To insure Peter’s containment, Herod ordered no less than 16 guards to secure the prisoner and prevent any chance of escape. But 16 soldiers were no match for an angel of the Lord. This showdown was a mismatch from the getgo. Human strength is simply no match for angelic power. King Herod set armed guards, but God would send a mighty angel! The use of chains along with the large contingent of security personnel makes this tantamount to today’s maximum security prison.
The stage is set, the players are cast. Then comes an escape the likes of which even a Harry Houdini couldn’t pull off! Peter is sandwiched between two guards and bound with two chains. Such a situation is a human impossibility. But we’re not talking human here, we’re talking angel! Human impossibilities are a piece of cake for an angel of God. The angel spoke, the chains fell off of Peter’s body, and the greatest escape of all time was under way. The next problem was getting past 14 armed soldiers guarding the prison at different checkpoints. But the Navy Seals-like extraction was a total success as they got by security undetected. Only one more obstacle stood between Peter and freedom. An iron gate. But once again, in clearly miraculous fashion, the gate opened by itself. Off they were. Herod planned to execute Peter, but God sent a mighty angel to emancipate him!
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE PRAYER CAN YIELD RESULTS THAT FAR EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS! 12-17
The narrative moves us back to an earlier scene where the disciples had called together an emergency prayer session. Having successfully escaped the prison, Peter’s first inclination is to return to his Christian friends to relay everything God had done in answer to their prayers. Saying we’re believing God for something is one thing, but really trusting Him to do that “something “, well, that’s a whole different ballgame. Once word had reached the prayer group that Peter was free, the news was greeted with everything ranging from cautious skepticism to outright denial.. Granted, they were expecting God to intervene, but apparently didn’t expect Him to do so in such a dramatic fashion. An angel? Broken chains? Self-opening gates? But to their utter amazement, there stood brother Peter in the doorway. Following a quick report on the stunning events of that night, Peter whisks away into the night, leaving his believing friends dumbfounded and overjoyed. There come those times in our lives when we pray for those big things too, and come and equally shocked at how God answers us. I think this is what Paul was referring to when he explained to the Ephesian Christians how God can do “immeasurably ore than we could ever ask or think”!
All of us wants to see our prayers answered as God does great things in and through our lives. Great things really do happen when God’s people pray, and great things can and will happen when our churches set themselves to praying. We need not wait for a crisis, for to do so is to lose out on all the ways God wants to bless us along the way. Great things happen when God’s people pray. Brethren, let us pray!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Abortion Litmus Test?
Why is it every time a Republican President presents a Supreme Court nominee, everybody goes crazy over their perception that the president is using the prospective judge's stance on abortion as a litmus test? Former President George W. Bush clearly explained that he was looking for an appointee with a philosophy that held to a traditional interpretation of our Constitution.
Here's the ultimate double standard. We now have Democrat/ultra Liberal President Obama who openly and unashamedly stated his intentions to use abortion as a litmus test, declaring that, under no circumstances would he appoint a prolife judge. But do we hear even a "peep" from the media? No! We have a President openly declaring he WILL use a litmus test to screen out prolife justices, and nobody says a word about it. What kind of nonsense IS this anyhow?
Here's the ultimate double standard. We now have Democrat/ultra Liberal President Obama who openly and unashamedly stated his intentions to use abortion as a litmus test, declaring that, under no circumstances would he appoint a prolife judge. But do we hear even a "peep" from the media? No! We have a President openly declaring he WILL use a litmus test to screen out prolife justices, and nobody says a word about it. What kind of nonsense IS this anyhow?
Is Jesus Really Coming Back?
Is Jesus Really Coming Back?
John R. Petrilli
“I shall return!” With these assuring words, General Douglas MacArthur promised the people of the Philippines that he’d come back to deliver them from the cruel tyranny of the occupying forces of Japan. Unlikely as it may have seemed to them at the time, MacArthur made good on his promise.
Gathered with His twelve closest friends for one last fellowship dinner together, Jesus broke the surprising news that His time with them was rapidly winding down. In answer to the disciples’ bewilderment, Jesus clarified that His departure was only temporary, and that He’d be back someday to pick them up and take them to their new home in heaven (John 14:1-3). Now standing over two-thousand years beyond the day that promise was made, it sometimes seems equally incredulous that Jesus Christ Himself will actually re-enter human history. How can we possibly be sure that such an astounding event will actually come to pass? And if it does, is there any indication of just when we can expect it to happen? And if it does happen, what does that mean for our world?
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH IS AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY! 2 Peter 3:1-7
Peter’s letters vibrate the theme of hope, for that is the only thing that would enable them to survive the severe hardships they were encountering (1 Peter 1:3, 21 ; 3:15). But these readers had to pin their hopes on something far greater than anything human. Their hope had to be placed squarely in God Himself, and, in particular, in the promise of Jesus’ return (1 Peter 1:13). In his second correspondence, Peter elaborates on the details of the return of Jesus Christ. He reminds them that this “talk” of Jesus’ return will be met with a raw skepticism that’s born out of voluntary, deliberate amnesia. Mocking unbelief notwithstanding, Peter points to God’s track record to substantiate his claim. A promise is only as reliable as the person making it, and in the case before us, we have a Person with a 100% track record of coming through on every single commitment He’s ever made. He spoke the universe into existence (3:5, cf. Genesis 1, “God said”), spoke judgment in the form of a global flood (3:6, cf. Genesis 7, 8), and will someday issue the end of this world via a universal meltdown (3:7). When God speaks a Word, it’s as good as done! Christians are to be immersed in the Word of God as found in the apostolic letters of the New Testament (2 Peter 3:2). Such Biblical immersion will fill the Christian disciple with unshakeable confidence and living hope!
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH WILL BE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE! 2 Peter 3:8-10a
I recently spoke with a friend whose daughter encountered not one, but two flight delays in her return trip home from vacationing in sunny Florida. Delays, be them big or small, seem to be part of everyday life. For the businessperson it can spell the difference between success and failure. For the medical professional it can mean the difference between life and death. OK, so let’s say that Jesus DOES actually return. Just when is this dramatic moment supposed to occur? Peter honors Jesus stipulation of not providing a specific day or hour (Acts 1:7). Instead, he places the emphasis on the seeming delay of God. Skeptics have historically pointed to this delay as undisputable proof that Christ’s promise to return is unreliable at best and laughable at worst (3:4b). But that same delay actually indicates something different because God operates on a schedule that is totally foreign to our way of marking time. From our limited perspective, a two-thousand year delay seems like an eternity, but to a God Who lives outside of time and space, its equivalent to a one-day delay (3:8). The fact that His promise to return seems to be a long time coming should not be interpreted as evidence that it will never happen. Rather, this delay is evidence of the incredibly patient love God has for His creation … He’s using that “delay” to give people as much time as possible to come back to Him in repentance and faith (3:9b, 15). Someone has once said that, “God’s delays are not His denials”, and that is never truer than in the case of the return of His Son to earth. As Peter confidently affirms, “the Day of the Lord WILL come!” (3:10a)
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH WILL SIGNAL THE ADVENT OF A NEW WORLD ORDER! 2 Peter 3:10b-13
Long before our recent brush with a global economic tsunami, world leaders were warming up to the idea of a “new world order”, and were actively aspiring toward that goal. Hitler, Castro, Clinton, Bush Sr., Kissinger and Chavez have all made public references to such a new order that will unite all countries under one banking system, one currency, and one government that will incorporate vast changes in the way nations do business and conduct politics. It envisions all of mankind enjoying peace and prosperity under the underworld-empowered leadership of an individual who carries responsibility for the entire globe. As the recent global “G-20” summit came to a close, world leaders announced the need for a global economic union of all nations, celebrating their success in laying the foundation for a world banking system that would utilize a world currency managed by the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The need for establishing a coherent infrastructure that insulates volatile global financial against a domino-like effect has never been more obvious. While a unified world seems increasingly necessary, it’s miserably doomed to fail, simply because it will involve corruptible men. On the other hand, we have God’s version of a New World Order. Just when everything seems to be cruising along just fine, God will surprise and stun this world with cataclysmic judgment (3:10, cf. Matthew 24:44, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Only this time, the Lord will cleanse creation, not with water, but with fire (3:10b-12). God will replace this vale of tears with a new heaven and a new earth that welcomes and embraces what is right and just and pure (3:13). What a refreshing place that will be to live in. Neighborhoods with zero crime. Neighbors who truly love one another and do good to each other. And best of all, a Leader Who can be trusted at all times to do what’s best for the citizens living in His kingdom. All of creation will experience the dawn of universal peace and harmony that man has so long sought after (Isaiah 11:6-8). Conflict and mutual destruction will be replaced with interpersonal and international relations that advance the cause of peaceful co-existence, and all this will happen because everyone on the planet will be filled with and controlled by the knowledge and love of God! (Isaiah 2:4; 11:9)
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH CALLS FOR A PERSONAL RESPONSE! 2 Peter 3:14, 18
Peter closes his second epistle with a whopper of a challenge. In light of the heaven-shaking, earth-quaking events that will change our universe forever, there is a certain type of response we should have. Peter’s challenge has a dual edge because the entire human race boils down to two categories. Those who know the Savior, and those who, as yet, do not. One easy way to determine whether or not you’re a true believer is to take an honest look at the kind of response the return of Jesus triggers in you. If you sense impending doom, it’s highly likely you don’t have a personal relationship with our Lord. If you find yourself in this group, Peter extends to you the hand of invitation. God loves you folks, and, contrary to judging you, He’s really interested in saving you! His love is reaching out to you with a patience that isn’t easily worn out. He’s not “out to get you”, not intending to destroy you. That’s the devil’s diabolical end game for you (John 10:10). No, no, God wants you to be rescued from your fallen nature and a fallen world. To do so, He sent His Son, Jesus, to absorb the overwhelming sin debt we’ve all accrued, which He so valiantly did by dying the death penalty which sin so richly deserves. As you turn from your sin of unbelief and mistaken trust in your own “goodness”, and trust instead in what Christ has already done for you at the cross, you’ll be set free! For the very first time in your life you’ll understand what it feels like to be at total peace with God (“Make every effort to be at peace with Him”, 3:14)! However, if you look forward to Jesus’ return with an attitude of expectancy, you may well be the real deal. To this second group, Peter presents an end-times battle plan that guarantees success. First, he prescribes a lifestyle that incorporates inner purity [“spotless”] and interpersonal harmony [“blameless”]. Both of these processes find their way into the believer’s life as we internalize God’s Word and allow it to shape us into persons of grace (3:18) Is Jesus really coming back? You better believe it! And when He does, any thinking person would want to be ready to meet Him. Are you ready?
John R. Petrilli
“I shall return!” With these assuring words, General Douglas MacArthur promised the people of the Philippines that he’d come back to deliver them from the cruel tyranny of the occupying forces of Japan. Unlikely as it may have seemed to them at the time, MacArthur made good on his promise.
Gathered with His twelve closest friends for one last fellowship dinner together, Jesus broke the surprising news that His time with them was rapidly winding down. In answer to the disciples’ bewilderment, Jesus clarified that His departure was only temporary, and that He’d be back someday to pick them up and take them to their new home in heaven (John 14:1-3). Now standing over two-thousand years beyond the day that promise was made, it sometimes seems equally incredulous that Jesus Christ Himself will actually re-enter human history. How can we possibly be sure that such an astounding event will actually come to pass? And if it does, is there any indication of just when we can expect it to happen? And if it does happen, what does that mean for our world?
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH IS AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY! 2 Peter 3:1-7
Peter’s letters vibrate the theme of hope, for that is the only thing that would enable them to survive the severe hardships they were encountering (1 Peter 1:3, 21 ; 3:15). But these readers had to pin their hopes on something far greater than anything human. Their hope had to be placed squarely in God Himself, and, in particular, in the promise of Jesus’ return (1 Peter 1:13). In his second correspondence, Peter elaborates on the details of the return of Jesus Christ. He reminds them that this “talk” of Jesus’ return will be met with a raw skepticism that’s born out of voluntary, deliberate amnesia. Mocking unbelief notwithstanding, Peter points to God’s track record to substantiate his claim. A promise is only as reliable as the person making it, and in the case before us, we have a Person with a 100% track record of coming through on every single commitment He’s ever made. He spoke the universe into existence (3:5, cf. Genesis 1, “God said”), spoke judgment in the form of a global flood (3:6, cf. Genesis 7, 8), and will someday issue the end of this world via a universal meltdown (3:7). When God speaks a Word, it’s as good as done! Christians are to be immersed in the Word of God as found in the apostolic letters of the New Testament (2 Peter 3:2). Such Biblical immersion will fill the Christian disciple with unshakeable confidence and living hope!
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH WILL BE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE! 2 Peter 3:8-10a
I recently spoke with a friend whose daughter encountered not one, but two flight delays in her return trip home from vacationing in sunny Florida. Delays, be them big or small, seem to be part of everyday life. For the businessperson it can spell the difference between success and failure. For the medical professional it can mean the difference between life and death. OK, so let’s say that Jesus DOES actually return. Just when is this dramatic moment supposed to occur? Peter honors Jesus stipulation of not providing a specific day or hour (Acts 1:7). Instead, he places the emphasis on the seeming delay of God. Skeptics have historically pointed to this delay as undisputable proof that Christ’s promise to return is unreliable at best and laughable at worst (3:4b). But that same delay actually indicates something different because God operates on a schedule that is totally foreign to our way of marking time. From our limited perspective, a two-thousand year delay seems like an eternity, but to a God Who lives outside of time and space, its equivalent to a one-day delay (3:8). The fact that His promise to return seems to be a long time coming should not be interpreted as evidence that it will never happen. Rather, this delay is evidence of the incredibly patient love God has for His creation … He’s using that “delay” to give people as much time as possible to come back to Him in repentance and faith (3:9b, 15). Someone has once said that, “God’s delays are not His denials”, and that is never truer than in the case of the return of His Son to earth. As Peter confidently affirms, “the Day of the Lord WILL come!” (3:10a)
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH WILL SIGNAL THE ADVENT OF A NEW WORLD ORDER! 2 Peter 3:10b-13
Long before our recent brush with a global economic tsunami, world leaders were warming up to the idea of a “new world order”, and were actively aspiring toward that goal. Hitler, Castro, Clinton, Bush Sr., Kissinger and Chavez have all made public references to such a new order that will unite all countries under one banking system, one currency, and one government that will incorporate vast changes in the way nations do business and conduct politics. It envisions all of mankind enjoying peace and prosperity under the underworld-empowered leadership of an individual who carries responsibility for the entire globe. As the recent global “G-20” summit came to a close, world leaders announced the need for a global economic union of all nations, celebrating their success in laying the foundation for a world banking system that would utilize a world currency managed by the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The need for establishing a coherent infrastructure that insulates volatile global financial against a domino-like effect has never been more obvious. While a unified world seems increasingly necessary, it’s miserably doomed to fail, simply because it will involve corruptible men. On the other hand, we have God’s version of a New World Order. Just when everything seems to be cruising along just fine, God will surprise and stun this world with cataclysmic judgment (3:10, cf. Matthew 24:44, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Only this time, the Lord will cleanse creation, not with water, but with fire (3:10b-12). God will replace this vale of tears with a new heaven and a new earth that welcomes and embraces what is right and just and pure (3:13). What a refreshing place that will be to live in. Neighborhoods with zero crime. Neighbors who truly love one another and do good to each other. And best of all, a Leader Who can be trusted at all times to do what’s best for the citizens living in His kingdom. All of creation will experience the dawn of universal peace and harmony that man has so long sought after (Isaiah 11:6-8). Conflict and mutual destruction will be replaced with interpersonal and international relations that advance the cause of peaceful co-existence, and all this will happen because everyone on the planet will be filled with and controlled by the knowledge and love of God! (Isaiah 2:4; 11:9)
JESUS’ RETURN TO PLANET EARTH CALLS FOR A PERSONAL RESPONSE! 2 Peter 3:14, 18
Peter closes his second epistle with a whopper of a challenge. In light of the heaven-shaking, earth-quaking events that will change our universe forever, there is a certain type of response we should have. Peter’s challenge has a dual edge because the entire human race boils down to two categories. Those who know the Savior, and those who, as yet, do not. One easy way to determine whether or not you’re a true believer is to take an honest look at the kind of response the return of Jesus triggers in you. If you sense impending doom, it’s highly likely you don’t have a personal relationship with our Lord. If you find yourself in this group, Peter extends to you the hand of invitation. God loves you folks, and, contrary to judging you, He’s really interested in saving you! His love is reaching out to you with a patience that isn’t easily worn out. He’s not “out to get you”, not intending to destroy you. That’s the devil’s diabolical end game for you (John 10:10). No, no, God wants you to be rescued from your fallen nature and a fallen world. To do so, He sent His Son, Jesus, to absorb the overwhelming sin debt we’ve all accrued, which He so valiantly did by dying the death penalty which sin so richly deserves. As you turn from your sin of unbelief and mistaken trust in your own “goodness”, and trust instead in what Christ has already done for you at the cross, you’ll be set free! For the very first time in your life you’ll understand what it feels like to be at total peace with God (“Make every effort to be at peace with Him”, 3:14)! However, if you look forward to Jesus’ return with an attitude of expectancy, you may well be the real deal. To this second group, Peter presents an end-times battle plan that guarantees success. First, he prescribes a lifestyle that incorporates inner purity [“spotless”] and interpersonal harmony [“blameless”]. Both of these processes find their way into the believer’s life as we internalize God’s Word and allow it to shape us into persons of grace (3:18) Is Jesus really coming back? You better believe it! And when He does, any thinking person would want to be ready to meet Him. Are you ready?
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