Spiritual Gifts of Helps and Giving

The Gift is Serving: Helps
Charles e. Whisnant, pastor/teacher
June 30, 2010

All gifts are service according to 1 Corinthians 12:5, but out of these gifts one is very specialized kind of service. Notice again 1 Corinthians 12:28 and you will see the little word helps. Helps, the gift of helps.

• In Acts 20:25 that same Greek word is translated support, a supporting gift, a helping gift.

• In Romans 12:7 it says, "The gift of service or ministry." Same gift. Supporting by serving.
Church Secretary Church Pews

• Beautiful gift, marvelous gift, absolutely necessary to the progress of the body of Christ.
  

THE GIFT OF GIVING.

Romans 12:8 , "He that giveth let him do it with liberality."

• Super giver, all of us are required to give, all of us are called upon by the Spirit of God to give, all of us are to invest.
  
• All of us are to lay by and store the first day of the week as God has prospered him.
  
• But there are some out of us who are to be super givers, who are to be beyond the normal
  
• When you give with simplicity it means you give with one single motive: there's a need I give.
  
• The need, nothing else enters into their mind. Singleness of mind, singleness of heart, undivided motive.
  

Giving with pretension and public display is not a gift; it's hypocrisy. And it doesn't even think the gift of giving really relates to how much you have. Some people who don't have very much have the gift of giving away all they have. Other people who have a lot don't have the gift. Some who have a lot do. And it isn't just dropping money in a plate. All of us invest in the Lord, but it's that desire to give when a need arises. It's illustrated in so many beautiful ways in the New Testament.

• John 12:3, Acts 2; 2 Corinthians 8; Philippians 4
  

I want to read you an illustration of one man who had this gift. Charles Thomas Studd. English missionary to China, India, and Africa

What Advantage Then Is It To Be A Catholic or A Baptist

WHAT ADVANTAGE THEN HATH THE JEW? WASTED PRIVILEGES BY DISOBEDIENCE

ROMANS 3:1-8

Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher

June 28, 2010

Rivers of Joy baptist Church

We do have a good time of fellowship before services start at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church.

Good fellowship and good people and a good place to come on Sunday Evening, I don't why its so hard for some to come. But I must say, at Rivers of Joy, where we do have a small group, most always come to all the services.

I know I really have fun taking photos of our members.

Johnny and Phylis are really great folks and they love the Lord. Johnny sings and plays for us and then during the week he does the same.

So We Gotta Save America?

SO WHAT ABOUT THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IN AMERICA: DO WE GOTTA SAVE AMERICA?

Are we supposed to believe God wants to "save" America?

First let me say, I am certainly no authority on this subject. I am only reading from others who have a much better point of view than I do. I have never tried to deal with the POLITICAL issues very much. James D. Kennedy was great about this matter.

I do get angry over the affairs of government, but I also get angry over the affairs of our Christian circles that seem to be buying into policy over theological significance. To think God is pleased that Christian leaders are willing to set aside theological differences, to believe there are bigger issues now, we can argue about theology later, we need to save our country, is just crazy.

Over the years, I have noticed that many Christian leaders have set aside certain theological, biblical issues for what they believe are for the betterment of our society, our country, or even better for the gospel. Many pastors, Christian leaders, Fundamental and Evangelical leaders have signed on and got on board with a number of efforts to bring together our country on several issues.

Some believe America's current condition has far more problems to be so concerned with theological differences. In other words, we need to sit down with Glenn Beck as an example and listen to what he is saying about our political climate. He is saying, (I might say, he might be correct about America's current problems.) When Christian leaders say "if we don't hang together we'll hang separately," at first you might be in agreement with that statement. After all that was the purpose of the Moral Majority of years ago. In other words the solution is having the right Political party in office, and the right policy; and it's not a theological issue.

Do we really believe that companies are more interested in consumers than they are about themselves and making money? Do you really believe different and new regulations will cause them to make it better for consumers? Of course, not.

Do you really believe any media personality -- Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, (who I do like) or Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, any broadcast journalist, any who have shows where they can put in their own point of view really have solutions to the current condition of our country? Really!!

Can I tell you this: these journalists' point of view is through their religious grid. They frame their views and their conversation in terms of their belief system, be it Mormonism or Catholicism.

May I say, Mormonism is the most polytheistic religion ever devised by man, and any view point of the current situation America is in, that flows from that religion, will not have the true God in view for the solution.

And as a side point: do you not think these new movies many Christians are seeing are filled with the same points of view. (Such as the Twilight movies.) They are framing the movies to show their religious views.

We are told we are in a critical time in our nation's history. Really! Do we really believe things are going to get better? Unless you believe having a Supreme Court nominee in 2010 be a homosexual is getting America on the right course. Do you believe she will view the laws of the land without her view of her sexual preference?

Do you believe as a Pastor/Teacher, and as a believer in a Sovereign God, that I would not view the current condition America is in without seeing it in the viewpoint of the Word of God?

I mean really, do you really believe that the banking regulation is a higher priority than the Gospel?

Do you really believe the nominee to the Supreme Court is more significant than having godly men in the podium (oh, we don't have those anymore, do we) on Sunday, teaching the Word of God and that God's purpose is far more significant than any view point of any journalist?

Really, do you really believe if we had a complete turnaround in Congress that we would have a better America? Do you really believe America is going to be a better place to live? I will say this, personally, I am rather happy to be living in America, and in Ohio, and in Portsmouth. (I can't believe I said that). Personally, I have never been as satisfied as I am now.

While I must say, I thank God for the James Kennedy and those journalists who believe they are called to "save the country from the current president and congress" I also must say, they may have really missed the diagnosis of the current problems this country has.

Could the current "crises" we are having be exactly what God intends to happen? Just saying, maybe God has placed people in their positions of leadership in our government as a means of accomplishing His will for America.

Oh by the way, how has God suggested that we save America? Glenn Beck? The Tea Party? The Republicans? A new style of Christianity?

• The Tea Party was a Canadian
  rock band with blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences, dubbed "Moroccan roll" by the media.
  
• The Tea Party protests are a series of protests across the United States beginning in early 2009. The protests are part of a nascent, larger anti-tax political movement called the Tea Party movement. The Tea Party focuses on smaller government, fiscal responsibility, individual freedoms and upholding the constitution.
  

• Maybe Christians were called to be salt and light and to proclaim the gospel to all people. Would you say God chooses to use the gospel to save any nation, isn't that His business?

  God is not going to save America folks? God is in the business of bringing lost souls to Himself. Mankind is bent on self destruction. Ten years from now, America will be worse than it is today. Because mankind will not turn from their sinful ways, and turn to the God of the Bible, and will not listen to the teachings of Jesus Christ until they have been converted.
  

  Posted by Charles e. Whisnant
  

Charles and Charity Whisnant Family

Apparent Danger J.F. Norris

Rivers of Joy baptist Church

SOMETIMES WE AS LEADERS OF THE CHURCH ARE SUCH HYPOCRITES AT TIMES YOU KNOW

1. We know what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34 by heart.
2. We tell people that God is Sovereign and that He reigns over their situation.
3. We recite 1 Peter 5:7 to people as they are completely stressing out in front of us.
   

Therefore as Leaders of the church
SIX THINGS I DON'T WORRY ABOUT IN MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

1. Getting freaked out about the sermon every week.
2. Being scared to death that every thing want come together each week.
3. Getting stressed out about attendance numbers.
4. Worrying about the offering.
5. Losing my mind when we hear someone is upset.
6. Allowing the voice of the enemy to convince us that everything is about to fall apart.

An in reality, at this time in the ministry of Rivers of Joy Baptist Church its not necessary.

1. I know what I am going to preach each week. Proverbs, Romans and Philippians, and Spiritual gifts.
2. The staff is doing great each week. Bill and Johnny.
3. I realize that our attendance is what it is right now.
   
4. I know that people are doing the best they can in their giving.
5. Those who get upset, generally leave the church and quit.
6. I have not heard the enemy yet.
   

Here is what I believe we need to know:

1. Jesus loves the church way more than we do.

1. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion: Philippians 1:6
2. He has so much more in store for the church than you could imagine. Ephesians 3:20
3. He will reveal WHAT we need to KNOW.. WHEN we need to know it.
4. He has a plan for our church, I believe. And Christ actually wants us to know it WAY MORE than we could imagine.
5. IF it is HIS WILL then it is HIS BILL.. what the KING wants the KING pays for.
   

Some Family Who Are So Nice

VIdeo Three Baby Birds

Taking a break from studying the book of Romans chapter 3.

So I am a Jew, what is the advantage?

WHAT ADVANTAGE THEN HATH THE JEW? WASTED PRIVILEGES BY DISOBEDIENCE

ROMANS 3:1-8

Charles E. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher

June 28, 2010

 

You look at the history of the Jews and you would wonder if there were ever any advantages.

War    Captivity    Death    Hated    Slandered Slaughtered    Imprisoned

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JEWS: Historically.

You will notice it would seem there has been no advantage of being a Jew in their history.

You will notice there was no advantage from the spiritual point of view either.

SO DID THE JEWS HAVE ANY ADVANTAGE AT ALL?

ROMANS PRESENTS JESUS CHRIST AS THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL.

• Romans 1:1 to 3:20    Part of the Good News is the Bad News. The bad news is man is a sinner and God has condemned mankind for their sins.
  
• The good news is only good if we understand the bad news
  
• So Paul has presented the fact that all men have been condemned by God. The immoral person, the moral or ethical man, and even the Jews.
  
• So Paul knows that the Jews will have a lot of questions about what he has presented. The Jews would have at least three objections to Paul's point of view.
  

1A    OBJECTION # 1 vs. 1-2 "Then what advantage has the Jew?

"I mean if a Gentile can become like a true Jew, those who believe the Gospel and have experienced circumcision of their heart, why be a Jew?" "What does a Jew have over and above the Gentile? "Is there then no real value of being a Jew?"

• In effect they were saying: "Paul the way you sound, it is as though these privileges that God has given to us, really means nothing at all, so what good is it to be Jewish?" "We're not special?" "Seems to us it's more a liability than asset."
  Paul comes back and says, "No, I am not saying that. You have been given a position of great privilege." vs. 1-2
  
• They believed that they were so special they didn't have to fulfill the purpose God had chosen them in the first place.
  

OR WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF CIRCUMCISION?

• So we would say today: "Is not being a member of the Catholic church or Baptist church and having been baptized going to save us?" What is the advantage of being under the umbrella of the church or Christianity?"
  
  • They would point out these verses:
    
    • Deut. 10:14-15        Isaiah 43:2    Psalms 135:5
      

MUCH IN EVERY WAY? Or "GREAT IN EVERY RESPECT." vs. 2

• Romans 9:4-5 Look at Jewish privileges:
  
  • Adoption, glory, law, covenants, services, promises.
    
• The point Paul was making: they just never lived up to what they possessed, they wasted the privileges
  
  • of proclaiming the true God.
    
  • Revealing the Messiah.
    
  • The blessing of God by serving God.
    
  • The land set apart from any other.
    
  • Ultimate glory in the kingdom.
    
  • Amos 3:2 They just didn't catch on to the privileges or the responsibilities.
    

CHIEFLY BECAUSE THAT UNTO THEM WERE COMMITTED THE ORACLES OF GOD

• First of all, they were entrusted with important sayings or messages of God. They received "the" word of God. The term "oracles" stressing the fact that the Words in Scripture actually constituted the very utterance of God. Deut. 4:5-6.
  
• Acts 7:38, the Mosaic Law. Romans 3:2; refers to the entire O.T. Hebrews 5:12; refers to the basic doctrines and 1 Peter 4:11 the utterances of God through Christians teachers.
  
• These oracles, or words, or revelations, or important sayings, were given to and through the Jews and are preserved for us not in the O.T.
  
• What was sad, at times the Jews couldn't even find the Scriptures.
  

"God's authoritative self-revelation was committed as a trust to them in treasure and then proclaimed to the world. "

Catch this: pay attention: "They only received the transcript of the Eternal Mind, trusted with His own Laws, and constituted guardians of His cause and by which the Saviour was called." Advantage? Yes, yes.

Today: What advantage then is it to be in the local church? It's a high privilege folks. Many reasons why. One: you get to hear the Word of God being proclaimed. Or would you rather read the Family Circle Magazine.

You and I have had in this country a high privilege of hearing the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. With high privilege goes high responsibility. We have the great wonderful freedom and opportunity (for now) to hear the Word of God. Yet I am afraid we have become like the Jews and have fallen into the same mindset of the Jews. We are okay, we are privileged, we don't need to obey the teachings, nor do we need to be responsible to what we are taught.

THE PREACHER AND HIS PREACHING

Sinclair Ferguson takes a good look at about pastors should think about their preaching. Excellent message by Ferguson, who we’d expect nothing less.

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church Children Singers

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH GIRLS SINGING ON FATHER'S DAY 2010

BOB TEMPLE AND CHARITY WHISNANT

Bob Temple spoke for us at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, Minford Ohio. Wednesday Night June 23, 2010 from Psalms 78.

Charity Whisnant, Bob Temple's daughter was enjoying the fellowship on Wednesday.

Charity Whisnant a Preachers Wife

CHARITY IS A LOVELY CHRISTIAN WIFE, PREACHERS WIFE AND WORKER

From my point of view, in the ministry of a local church, having a lovely wife, who is as much involved in the ministry is so great. In our forty one years of marriage, Charity as being as much of the ministry as I have.

In Charity's case, she doesn't run the church, as so many preacher wives try. She is really a helpmate in some many ways.

Since we have a small group of people, Charity does a lot. Charity is not the pastor/teacher of the church, she doesn't tell me what to preach or how to teach. She does tell me to be nice. She knows people well. She doesn't tell other members what to do. She is the best person I know.

1. She is in the nursery,
2. she teaches the children,
   
3. she will sing in the choir,
4. she will fix special dinners.
   
5. She will minister to the ladies,
6. she will pick up the elderly and bring them to church.
7. She will proof read my outlines from my sermons.
8. She will put up the front bulletin board.
9. She will counsel the ladies.
10. She makes sure that I have matching clothes on.
11. She will visit with me to the ladies of the church.

In addition she is co owner of a business. She is the best wife a man could have.

DEBBIE BOONE SINGS " YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE " STEREO

Debbie Boone released her first solo effort, "You Light Up My Life," in 1977. The song became the biggest hit of the 1970s ^[5] spending ten consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — longer than any other song in Hot 100 history to that point.^[6] (In 2008, Billboard ranked the song No. 7 among all songs that charted in the 50 year history of the Hot 100.)

Carpenters - Only yesterday

Tim Conway

Humor is really good for the old soul you know.

Johnny Edwards.mov

God and Human Will

DOES THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE DECREES ELIMINATE HUMAN WILL?

John MacArthur brought a second message this evening. This one was entitled Does the Doctrine of the Divine Decrees Eliminate Human Will? He took us through several passages (Isaiah 10, John 3, Acts 1-2, and Romans 9-11) which richly display that the Bible teaches the compatibility (or the concurrence) of God's sovereignty and human will. In addition, we must embrace evangelical duty: Our obligation to present Christ to everyone.

INTRODUCTION

This is the big hurdle to get over for those who are new to Reformed theology.But it also remains a big dilemma for those who are familiar with Reformed theology. There are no short answers to it. The issue just doesn't go away.

Dr. MacArthur chose to address this issue with us in the form of a Bible study.

ISAIAH 10

Isaiah 10:5 (NASV) reads: "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger, And the staff in whose hands is My indignation,"

How can woe be upon Assyria, when the nation (simultaneously) is the rod of God's anger? Israel is now called a "godless nation" (verse 6). God is sovereign: He grabs Assyria and says "you will be my instrument of fury against a godless people who have rejected me." Yet Assyria has absolutely no clue; they have no plan or desire to act as the agent of Jehovah (verse 7). Rather, it purposes to cut off many nations. In other words, for them, this is just another opportunity to grab more power by beating up on a neighbor (see verses 7-11).

And then, God plans to turn on Assyria. He will punish them for their acts and for their motives: "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness. For he has said, 'By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this'" (verses 12-13). Some explanation is provided by God in verse 15: "Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it?" God is wielding Assyria like an ax.

In this passage, we see the concurrence of divine sovereignty and human will negatively: God will hold every person accountable for every evil act they commit, and God is sovereign over those acts.

JOHN 3

Jesus knew what Nicodemus was thinking (see John 2:23-25), so he answers Nicodemus' real question: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Jesus' point is that just as you could not create your own physical birth, so are you unable, Nicodemus, of producing spiritual life. Flesh can only produce flesh. We are absolutely dependent on a spiritual work of God.

Nicodemus wants to know how he can affect this new birth: "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" (John 3:4). Jesus' point is that this is a miracle; there is no way Nicodemus can do it. This is pure divine sovereignty. Jump down to John 3:27, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven." You must plead for God to give you life.

"Be Merciful to Me, A sinner"

Dr. MacArthur told the story of his visiting a man dying of AIDS; he was a leader in the gay pride movement. The man said, "What can I do to be saved?" John replied, "You can do nothing. But you can beat your chest like the publican and say 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'" That's exactly what the man did, and then John prayed that God would be merciful to him. (In the weeks to come, this man shared the gospel with everyone who came to visit him.)

JOHN 3 AGAIN

Yet, there is a human being commanded to believe. Those who believe escape judgment. Others are under judgment (John 3:15-18).

JOHN 6

Verse 37: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." Then 39-40: "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." Well, who is raised up on the last day? All those whom God the Father gave to God the Son AND all those who believed in Jesus. Divine sovereignty and human will.

ACTS 2

Verse 37: "this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."

ACTS 1

The prophecy of a betrayer for Jesus was fulfilled in Judas. But Judas "went to his own place" (Acts 1:25).

ROMANS 9

Paul is vexed by the observation that the Israelites, as a people, had a rejected the Messiah. But in verse 6 he notes, "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." In other words, it never was the intention of God to save every single Jew. Isaac was chosen, but not Ishmael. Jacob was chosen, and not Esau.

Then we read: "What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills" (Romans 9:14-18)

God has as much right to display His wrath as to display His mercy. Pharaoh was raised up as an instrument of wrath (Rom. 9:22). The Gentiles were not pursuing God, and the Jews were pursuing it the wrong way (through works instead of through faith).

John 8:24, "Unless you believe in me, you will die in your sins."

What's wrong with Israel? They rejected Christ - they had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Rom. 10:2). They had made a god that was not a true God. They thought God was less holy than He really is and they thought they were more holy than they really are. In reality, the gulf between us and God is infinite - impassible. They needed an alien righteousness. They didn't understand that they needed an imputed righteousness. They didn't understand that righteousness is based on faith. They thought they were capable of living with enough righteousness to merit salvation. But the only way for sinners to be saved is to believe.

CONCLUSION

Paul understood divine sovereignty, human responsibility (the sinner is accountable for faith and culpable for rejection), and the role of the saints (evangelical duty to present Christ to everyone). Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" Nobody is able to fully grasp the mind of God. Verse 34: "For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?" Do you think God owes us an explanation, as if He is in our debt? Verse 35: "WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?"

God does not owe us a full explanation, and we're not fully capable of understanding it anyway. We are left with doxology: "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36).

The Most Popular Religion In America

The Most Popular Religion in America

What do you think is the number one most popular religion in America?

I'll give you a hint: its not Christianity. Its also not Islam, Judiasm, Buddhism, Taoism, or the Home Shopping Network.

According to Christian Smith, a sociologist at Notre Dame, the primary expression of faith in our day–at least for young adults–is what he calls

"Moral Therapeutic Deism."

1. This religion is characterized by five beliefs:
   There is a God who created earth and watches over it
   
   
2. God wants people to be nice, fair and good (as it taught in the Bible and most other religions)
   
   
3. The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself
   
   
4. God doesn't need to be involved in your life except when there's a problem that needs Celestial Performance Enhancement
   
   
5. Good people go to heaven when they die.
   

This is a religion that is far more about comfort, individualism and conformity that it is about meaning, calling, and sacrifice. What makes it particularly challenging is that it is not offered through a new MTD movement or denomination. It is actually catching on and being practiced in churches where we leaders think of ourselves as historically Christian.

1. It cannot sustain a life.
   
   
2. It cannot build a community.
   
   
3. It cannot call people to take up a cross.
   
   
4. We want something more.
   

One other piece of bad news has to do with where young adults learn MTD.

• I'll give you a hint. Its mostly from older adults. These are themes that have captured our culture in such deep ways that we're hardly aware of them.
  

The good news is that God is much bigger than Moral Therapeutic Deism. He has a way of showing us what we idolize.

1. when someone goes through a crisis or pain;
   
   
2. when someone is inspired to devote their life to a cause greater than themselves;
   
   
3. when someone is called to sacrifice their own comfort or success for a hurting world;
   
   
4. when someone engages in the intense study of the God revealed by the writers of the Scriptures;
   
   
5. when someone grows bored with a faith that is nice and comfortable and distant–then God is once more breaking through. MTD is just one more on a long list of idols.
   But, somewhere deep down, the human heart keeps hungering for the real deal.
   

Thanks to

Everette Thomas Whisnant 1904-1966

Everette Thomas Whisnant 1904 to 1966

Charles Everette Whisnant
October 22, 1947 - Today June 20, 2010

Epaphroditus

EPAPHRODITUS: PAUL'S FRIEND. AN ORDINARY MAN WHO WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY SERVANT

Philippians 2:25 But I thought) it necessary to send
   to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow
worker and fellow
soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need

"I supposed it necessary," says the blessed apostle, "to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation, because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me" (Phil. 2: 25-30).

This little known Christian servant with an extraordinary name is found only in this epistle. Paul's friend.

Those who gave us an example of spiritual Chrisitan servants.

• Possess the mind of Christ
  
• Selfless, willingly, in pleasant obedient serve the local church in the body of Christ for the cause of Christ.
  
  • Paul        Timothy         Epaphriditus
    

Many set at the table, many sing the hymn, few fast, few pray and few watch. Epaphriditus was not one of them.

• He is almost normal. Not an Apostle, not an Elder, not a Statement, simply a normal common man.
  
• He was like Paul or Timothy, he was not a pastor/teacher. He was just like many of you.
  

Paul is calling us to a strong Christian commitment. Living out our salvation And doing it without complaining and with humility.

• Paul exemplified the mind of Christ
  
• Timothy illustrated the unselfish pastor and Assoc.
  
• Epaphriditus the devoted messenger.
  

WHAT DOE WE KNOW ABOUT THIS MAN.

Here we see the place which Epaphroditus filled in this blessed business. There lay the beloved apostle in his prison at Rome, and there lay the loving offering of the saints at Philippi. But how was it to be conveyed to him? These were not the days of banks checks and post-office money orders. No, nor of railway traveling. It was no easy matter to get from Philippi to Rome in those days. But Epaphroditus, that dear, unpretending, self-surrendering servant of Christ, presented himself to supply the missing link, to do the very thing that was needed and nothing more; to be the channel of communication between the assembly at Philippi and the apostle at Rome. Deep and real as was the apostle's need, precious and seasonable as was the Philippians' gift, yet an instrument was needed to bring them both together, and Epaphroditus offered himself for the work. There was a manifest need and he filled it. He did not aim at doing some great showy thing, something which would make him very prominent and cause his name to be blazed abroad as some wonderful person. Ah! no, Epaphroditus was not one of the pushing, self-confident, extensive class. He was a dear, self-hiding, lowly servant of Christ, one of that class of workmen to whom we are irresistibly attracted. Nothing is more charming than an unpretending, retiring man who is content just to fill the empty niche; to render the needed service, whatever it is; to do the work cut out for him by the Master's hand. ^{C H Mackintosh}

• He was a man of humility.
  
• He was a godly servant.
  
• He was a man of great courage.
  
• He was a man who could be trusted.
  
• He was a key Christian in the church
  
• He was a sacrificial man in the church.
  
• He left his home, friends, family, employment, ministry, church to serve the apostle Paul
  

He was a man of genuine spiritual virtue. One of depth as to his devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was likely a Deacon, with a servant heart.

A man who thinks much of himself saves others the trouble of thinking about him.

• But the lowly, the humble, the modest, the unpretending, the retiring, the self-emptied, who think of and live for others, who walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, these are the persons to be thought of and cared for, loved and honored, as they ever will be by God and His people.
  

WHO DO YOU THANK THE CHURCH A PHILIPP WOULD SEND TO MEET PAUL'S NEEDS?

Titles Paul Gives this man

1A    "MY BROTHER"
⁽⁸⁰⁾ 2 Corinthians 2:13, 8:22; Philemon 1:1 "common sympathy." Fellow Christians.

He demonstrated the same concerns as Paul's, in his toil and drive in the work for the Lord.

2A    "COMPANION IN LABOUR" Philippians 4:3; I Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Colossians 1:7' Romans 16:3;

    Fellow-worker. Co-Worker, A laboring saint together with Paul.

3A    "FELLOW-SOLIDER" Philippians 2:24; Philemon 1:2.

A common danger and endurance of hardship with one another. The term "strategia" we get strategist. Equal with the general. My fellow stragistis in the matter of spiritual warfare.

    

In Christ Alone

LEADERSHIP AND PREACHING

As I’ve been reading through the early chapters of 360-Degree Leadership by Michael Quicke, I have been struck by his clear point regarding preaching and leading – they should not be divided into two mutually exclusive camps. While it is possible to lead without preaching, it is only in contemporary churches that this distinction has become more absolute in recent years. I may quote Quicke again, but first I would like to share some thoughts from my own perspective:

1. Leading without preaching is possible, but should not characterize the entire leadership of a church. The biblical pattern and instruction is that a church should be led by a group of qualified elders (use whatever term you choose, I’m not getting into terminology today). What is important to note is that the elders are not qualified by gifting, but by qualified Christian character. This means that some may not be gifted or effective preachers. However, it is important to be able to communicate and interact with people as individuals. Leadership without preaching is possible, leadership without communication is not. Leadership without preaching, although possible, has become too common in some churches.

2. Preaching without leading is possible, but what kind of preaching is that? Even when a preacher does not have an official leadership label, the act of preaching is an act of influence. By life, example, instruction and encouragement, the preacher influences the congregation. However, two things undercut the leadership of a preacher. (1) Preaching what Michael Quicke calls thin-blooded sermons that are individualistic and confined to personal spirituality. (2) Having that preacher be a guest preacher, rather than a local person of influence. There is a very significant role for guest preachers, but when the majority of the preaching is done by guests, especially if they preach “thin-blooded” sermons, then leadership and preaching have been effectively divorced – a strange state of affairs for the church.

3. When preaching and leading work together, there is great potential. Not every leader has to preach, and not every preacher has to be an in-house leader, but when the majority of the preaching in a church is leadership preaching, there is real potential! Guest preachers can be used to supplement and bring something unique (either insight, or energy, or as a draw, or supplementary perspective, etc.) But when leadership and preaching go together, then the church isn’t functioning merely as a business, but as a spiritual community responding to the Word of God and participating in the dynamic reality of the Christian trinitarian life . . . the life of a God who speaks . . . (can I really end a post there?!)

EPAPHRODITUS: SERVANT EXTRA

THE PERSON WHO MOST HELPS US KNOW HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN SERVANT

Christians have models to look up to, we are to be an example to the world as to what a Christian should look like in the way of service. So who can we look up to to see who is doing it right. Philippians 2:25-30 gives us that kind of person.

Friendship: What Is It Anyway

FRIENDSHIP: WHAT IS IT ANYWAY

Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

• the tendency to desire what is best for the other

• sympathy and empathy

• honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart

• Mutual understanding

• Mutual compassion

Porn Addiction Help

INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY

Internet pornography is a $10 billion US business. It has ensnared millions of men and women in addictive, destructive behavior.

I was on this website today (Here) and received this information on pron.

An increasing number of people have been working against the ill effects of pornography both in the wider culture and inside the church. Porn addiction affects millions of people, many of whom don’t appear to have any problem at all. Those individuals live double lives, and often feel unable to talk freely about their battle or their indulgence with pornography. As quiet as it’s kept, many of these people–Christian and non-Christian–are women.

Anne Jackson has filmed a powerful short (4.5 minutes) video about her fight against pornography. It’s a video that will encourage you and perhaps make us all more aware of those who are fighting this sin and need co-warriors. The video was produced for XXXChurch, a ministry dedicated to fighting pornography by helping sufferers on college campuses, in churches, and everywhere. Check it out click on Anne Jackson.


Thank God, and His total grace, to this point, I am free from porn. I keep telling my self Charles you are 62 years old. Anyway, Satan and his followers are out to get anyone. You have to stay alert all the time. With all additions you need to stay focus on Christ

Speak O Lord - Kristyn Getty

I saw this video on a website this morning that really spoke to me. He said he would listen to music before getting ready to study the word

I am not sure I have every thought of listen to music before I set down to study the Word for a Sunday message. But I do love to put on a tape of someone who has been in our church over the years.

That is a great thought to ask others. How do you prepare your heart as you get ready to set down an study the Word?



Speak, O Lord, as we come to You (link)
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

The Call of God

I Coirnthians 1 :22-24 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

What is Paul referring to? Their job? Being a firefigher? Homemaker? Waiter? General Manager ? NASCAR Racer? No. He is referring to the work of God in calling them to Himself out of darkness into light, out of death into life. You can see the meaning pretty clearly in verses 22-24: For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

So there are three groups in these verses: the Jews, the Gentiles, and "the called." Or to be more precise: the non-called Jews, the non-called Gentiles, and the called Jews and Gentiles. And what's the difference? The non-called Jews see Christ-crucified as a stumbling block (verse 23). The non-called Gentiles see Christ-crucified as folly (verse 23). But "the called" Jews and Gentiles see Christ-crucified as "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (verse 24).

When we say God calls, we mean the work of God that unlock our eyes to see Christ as the right and true and wise and all knowing and the call is so compelling that we receive Him for salvation. God's call is His life-giving order or instruction with authority. Come. If you are a believer today, that is how you came to be a believer, a Christian or became born again, this is how you got saved.

Now what this call of God will produce in you exactly what it called for. In other words God called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. The call my friend was effective, that is causing result, the desired result happen. I can tell you when God gives a call to you; it will produce what it calls for.

It is like someone comes over to you when you are in a dead sleep, and gives you a command to wake up. And you know how it is, you leap upright. In other words, when you hear the command or the call of God in your ear, you did not ponder and then decide to wake up. When God calls you woke up. The command was "wake up" and that is what happens. That is how God raises us up from spiritual death. And only God can do it. And you know if you are a believer that is how you became a believer. That is what Ephesians 2:4 says, that God made us alive when we were dead. The true was you were about to sleep yourself into hell, and our gracious God work you up to the cruelty of sin and the loveliness of a great Savior.

Once I Was B lind and Now I See

Dear God, there was a time when I could not see any beauty at all in You; but now it is the highest and most lofty pursuit of my heart to know and love You. My heart was not more sensitive than another's to see this - I was blind (2 Cor 4:4) not merely short sighted - but You did it (2 Cor 4:6) - You allowed me to see enough of You to spend my whole life pursuing You, knowing one day all I ever wanted will be fulfilled in seeing You face to face. -

This song below called simply "Beautiful" sung by Kari Jobe captures the heart cry of every true child of God.

Charles Whisnant Ponders On Sunday

• “Biblical theology is principally concerned with the overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of these within the whole canon of Scripture.”

"The Greek word translated search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, the kind men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in pursuit of game. We must not be content with giving a superficial glance to one or two chapters, but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the meaning of the Word.

"Holy Scripture requires searching—much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babies, but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word, indeed, upon every title of Scripture. Tertullian declared, "I adore the fullness of the Scriptures." The person who merely skims the Book of God will not profit from it; we must dig and mine until we obtain the treasure. The door of the Word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures demand to be searched. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur—who shall dare to treat them casually? "

C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

No matter how hard I pray, no matter how much I study, no matter how passionately I teach, no matter how many systems we put into place and no matter how hard I cry…there will always be people who choose to ignore God’s truth and walk away.

“The gospel is preached in the ears of all men; it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher otherwise men would be converters of souls. Nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning; otherwise it could consists of the wisdom of men. We might preach till our tongues rotted, till we should exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless there were mysterious power going with it – the Holy Ghost changing the will of man. O Sirs! We might as well preach to stone walls as preach to humanity unless the Holy Ghost be with the word, to give it power to convert the soul.”

(Spurgeon, quoted in Stott, IBIP, 335)

Excited dog plays with baby

Embrace Life - always wear your seat belt

Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood (Trailer)

HOW THE MARKET PLACE IS CATCHING THE MINDS OF OUR CHILDREN

You want to know why many of our churches are not able to reach children? Take a look that this video.