WISDOM IN THE WORD

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Proverbs 1:32

I read about a young man just starting out in business who told his pastor that he would be faithful to tithe and asked for God’s blessing on his work. The man was faithful to give as he had promised, and his income continued to increase. He became one of the highest givers in the church. But as his income continued to grow, it got harder and harder for him to feel good about writing a check to give so much money to God.
Finally he called the pastor and said, “I made six million dollars last year. I can’t afford to give God six hundred thousand. What can I do?” The pastor responded, “How about I pray that God reduces your income back down to where you can afford to tithe!” It didn’t take long for the businessman to decide that tithing was a better deal. That story illustrates one of the dangers that comes with God’s blessing. As we get more, it can become an idol that we worship and lead to our destruction.

Paul warned Timothy about false teachers who would come in and equate prosperity with God’s blessing, “supposing that gain is godliness” (1 Timothy 6:5). We should not fall into the trap of thinking that because someone has more they must be receiving God’s favor. The popular message that God wants all of His children to be rich and financially well off is not grounded in Scripture. In fact what the Bible teaches is that while God does bless people with prosperity in some cases, in other cases material gain is actually part of His judgment. The destructive power of the love of money leads those who have some to want still more. They are never satisfied or content, thus missing the blessing of God’s peace.

Examine your heart carefully to be sure that money has not taken God’s rightful place.

WHY ARE WE EATING AGAIN

Some churches are so caught up in repetitious ceremony, that they sometimes miss the point. Maybe you’ve heard about the pastor who began each service with the greeting: “The Lord be with you.” To which the congregation would always respond, “And also with you.” Then came the Sunday when the pastor stepped to the pulpit and stated, “There’s something wrong with this microphone.” To which the reliable audience responded, “And also with you!”

Those people were on autopilot (hopefully)—just going through the motions. The average Christian thinks, “Fellowship? Are you kidding? Do we ever know how to fellowship!” We know how to have potlucks, how to eat pie after church, how to barbecue, picnic, and camp. We’ve even come up with the catchy acronym SNAC (which, of course, stands for “Sunday Night After Church” and typically involves numerous pizzas).

But do we have any idea why we’re doing this fellowship? What are we trying to accomplish? Is there a purpose behind our pie?

Consider the Priority of Biblical Fellowship

Time together was an integral part of first-century church life: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers…all that believed were together, and had all things common…and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:42, 44–46).

The Lord Jesus shared many meals with His disciples. Pastors are instructed to be “given to hospitality.” In Paul’s letters, he was conscious to list believers in the churches whose fellowship he valued, like Onesiphorus, who is said to have “oft refreshed” the Apostle. A quick survey of this topic in the New Testament demonstrates that real fellowship accomplishes the following:

•  Produces courage for those carrying a burden (Acts 28:15).

•  Promotes character for those desiring to grow (Hebrews 10:23–25).

•  Provides compassion for those who are hurting (1 John 3:16–18).

•  Protects chemistry for those unified in the body (John 17:21–22).

•  Prompts companionship for those who are lonely (Acts 2:44).

•  Provokes cheerfulness for those who participate (Acts 2:46).

•  Promises care for those with tangible needs (Acts 4:34–35).

•  Proves Christianity for those who need a Saviour (John 13:35).

The most meaningful gift we can give anyone is our time. By inviting a couple over for dinner, we open up ourselves for friendship. Because we have little choice over the people we work with, it is our casual connections that communicate most clearly that we care.

Consider the Purposes for Biblical Fellowship

First Peter 4:9 challenges us to “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” Most of us attend fellowships. But do we use fellowship? We should be reaching out and welcoming people into our lives and homes for purposes such as:

•  Sharing the Gospel with a lost neighbor.

•  Getting to know a recent first-time guest and his or her family.

•  Expressing gratitude to one or more long-time faithful, serving Christians.

•  Encouraging a church member during a season of suffering.

•  Strengthening the bond with a newer member or an emerging leader.

•  Allowing newer Christians to rub shoulders with mature Christians.

•  Having mutual accountability concerning pre-established spiritual goals.

•  Exhorting people to take their next spiritual step such as baptism, church membership, or discipleship.

When it comes to evangelism and assimilation, Christian hospitality is one of the most effective tools in our arsenal. People want to be noticed. They are looking for someone who cares for them. When this relationship is established, then they open themselves to ministry. People listen best after they are convinced the one who is teaching has their best interest at heart. As we teach the Bible, do the members of our classes know we are friends?

Is your fellowship fulfilling the purpose for which it was created? Fellowship was God’s idea, and it is a precious gift within the family of God. As a result of fellowship, may your sorrows be divided and your joys multiplied. And may God use you to build up the body of Christ through biblical, purposeful fellowship!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Occasionally God will allow stress into our lives to further develop our faith and our walk with Him. — Pastor Paul Chappell

SERMON ON A STICK

TIME OUT: PRIORITY

Psalms 5:1.  Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
 2.  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
 3.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

I.                    Preparation of Prayer V1

A.     consider my meditation.

B.     Prayer happens before we kneel & After we rise

- Rom 8:26-28

II.                 Personal relationship of Prayer V2

A.     my king, and my God:

B.     He knows us , we know Him as God

- John 10:27

III.               Priority of Prayer V3

A.     in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer

B.     I Cant make it with out Him , My prayer my first priority

- John 15:5

Wednesday in the Word

"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame."
Proverbs 25:8

Apparently the first person to be arrested for speeding in the United Sates was a taxi driver named Jacob German. He worked for the Electric Vehicle Company operating an electric powered cab in New York City. On May 20, 1899, he was pulled over for driving 12 miles per hour in an 8 mile per hour zone. A policeman on a bicycle gave chase and took him to jail. According to most accounts German did not actually receive a ticket. The first speeding ticket wouldn’t be issued until 1904 when a man named Harry Myers was caught breaking the speed limit in Dayton, Ohio.

In his famous sermon Payday Someday Dr. R.G. Lee referenced Jehu who the Bible says “drove furiously” and said Jehu had many relatives on the roads of America. But the truth is that our passion for haste is hardly confined to the roadway. In fact, we live in a world that is obsessed with getting things done faster, with reaching goals sooner and with making better time—often without stopping to consider whether we are even going in the right direction.

Often this is true in our personal relationships with very destructive results. A small matter can quickly trigger a large dispute without regard to whether this is a fight worth having or not—or even considering the potential consequences that winning the fight might bring. Many relationships are destroyed because someone is simply too quick to fight. Someone once described a man as “Willing to fight at the drop of a hat…and willing to drop the hat if the other guy didn’t.” That’s not a good approach for a believer. Instead we should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

Today’s Precept: 

If you are tempted to quarrel or fight, step back and carefully consider whether that is the right approach to take.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.