This morning in reading Colossians 4, we come to the foundational subject of prayer.
Colossians 4:2-4 says,
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison - that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak".
Obviously this passage is about prayer but it is also about sharing the gospel. Paul talks about both subjects here:
1. Speaking to God on behalf of people
2. Speaking to people on behalf of God
First, prayer can be defined as "speaking to God on behalf of people". How much of this have you and I done lately?? We are constantly made aware of people and their needs. Every challenge in life is an opportunity to pray. We often pray for health issues and we should but we also need to be praying for God to "open a door for the word" in people's lives.
Then we can "speak to people on behalf of God". Notice the order. Someone once said it this way, "you can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but not until you have prayed". Let's be people of prayer first. Asking God to do what we cannot do! To take the blinders off of people who are still in darkness. To prepare their hearts for the receiving of the gospel. Only God can do these things - so we must pray! Then after we have prayed, let's speak to people for God. We must go and tell the good news. Be intentional about sharing the gospel with the people around us. Our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and everywhere else God gives us opportunity.
Paul knew that He needed people praying for him so that "a door would be opened" to speak of Christ. He also knew he needed people to pray because he had the challenge of "declaring the mystery of Christ" in such a way that it would be "clear". I am still amazed by the fact that God allows us the privilege of taking what is a mystery and declaring it to others. It is a mystery to so many people around us: who Christ is and what He has done. So, please, pray for one another. As God puts you on my mind, I will be praying that God will open doors for you and that you will speak the mystery of Christ in a clear way. When God puts me on your mind, please pray along these lines as well.
In conclusion, Paul makes mention of Epaphras in verse 12 of Colossians 4. Here is what he says of him:
"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Jesus Christ, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God".
He describes Epaphras as someone who is "always struggling on your behalf in his prayers". This is a true "Prayer Partner". Someone who is constantly lifting you up in their prayers. And he describes his praying as "struggling" or "wrestling". This is not a short, flowery prayer but instead this is something similar to what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Do you have anyone who is praying like that on your behalf?? Are you praying like this on behalf of someone??
As the church of Jesus Christ, let us pray one for another!!
Since we are on the subject of prayer - may I remind you that our next focused time of prayer as a church is Saturday, June 2nd at 8:00 am. May I encourage you to come and join our prayer partners and church leadership as we "speak to God on behalf of people".
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
We will miss you!!
At the end of the service this past Sunday, I announced that a dear couple in our church is moving to South Carolina. As many of you know, I am speaking of Chuck and Sandy Buchanan. Chuck is taking a new job in the same line of work that he was doing here in Trumbull County. Chuck is moving down to South Carolina this week. Sandy is the owner of New Beginnings Christian Bookstore on Elm Road in Warren. Sandy isnt moving until the bookstore and their house is sold. I bring this to your attention so that you will be sure and pray for them! I consider them to be good friends and they have been such a blessing to me since God brought them here a little over a year ago. There are some people that are easy to preach to - because you can tell by their demeanor that they are actually hungry for the Word. Chuck and Sandy fit this description. They have always been an encouragement to me and I will miss them.
There is always a part of my selfish nature that doesnt want to see people like this leave. We would love to keep them as close in proximity as possible. But, just as many of you have learned with your own children, God has something else in His purpose and plans! While I may joke about them being "out of God's will" if they are not here, we must realize that God's will is not limited to a church, a state, a job, or a home. I am reminded that there is no greater place to be "than where God sets you down". So, for Chuck and Sandy, there is no better place for them to be than South Carolina.
God bless you both and you will be missed!!
Love,
Pastor Jerry and First Baptist Church of Howland
There is always a part of my selfish nature that doesnt want to see people like this leave. We would love to keep them as close in proximity as possible. But, just as many of you have learned with your own children, God has something else in His purpose and plans! While I may joke about them being "out of God's will" if they are not here, we must realize that God's will is not limited to a church, a state, a job, or a home. I am reminded that there is no greater place to be "than where God sets you down". So, for Chuck and Sandy, there is no better place for them to be than South Carolina.
God bless you both and you will be missed!!
Love,
Pastor Jerry and First Baptist Church of Howland
Monday, April 16, 2007
Prayer Requests
I wanted to take a moment to ask our church to pray for a few individuals today:
a. Glenn and Barb Haake and family - Glenn's mom, Harriet Fry, passed away over the weekend. I was able to visit with the family some yesterday. I will be doing the funeral today. The calling hours are from noon-1 and the funeral is at 1:00pm at Carl Hall Funeral Home. Please keep them in your prayers. They have a close family and it was great to see them all there together. Glenn is a deacon in our church. Please let him know that you love him and appreciate him and his wife.
b. Sara Volinchak is at Northside Hospital. She was to have her tonsils removed but when she went in they found a problem with her electrolites (I think I spelled that right).
c. Debbie Ambrose. Debbie has taken another turn for the worse. She is in a hospital in Pensacola. Pray that she will be able to go home to Orlando where the majority of her family is.
d. so, keep the Starchers in your prayers. Debbie is Lois' sister and Sara V. is Ron and Lois' daughter. they have had alot of trouble to deal with.
Also, thanks to Ron Starcher for such a wonderful exposition of God's Word yesterday. I was blessed to sit back and listen to the Lord speak through His Word and through His Servant.
If you have any comments regarding the message or service yesterday, feel free to post them.
God bless,
Pastor Jerry
a. Glenn and Barb Haake and family - Glenn's mom, Harriet Fry, passed away over the weekend. I was able to visit with the family some yesterday. I will be doing the funeral today. The calling hours are from noon-1 and the funeral is at 1:00pm at Carl Hall Funeral Home. Please keep them in your prayers. They have a close family and it was great to see them all there together. Glenn is a deacon in our church. Please let him know that you love him and appreciate him and his wife.
b. Sara Volinchak is at Northside Hospital. She was to have her tonsils removed but when she went in they found a problem with her electrolites (I think I spelled that right).
c. Debbie Ambrose. Debbie has taken another turn for the worse. She is in a hospital in Pensacola. Pray that she will be able to go home to Orlando where the majority of her family is.
d. so, keep the Starchers in your prayers. Debbie is Lois' sister and Sara V. is Ron and Lois' daughter. they have had alot of trouble to deal with.
Also, thanks to Ron Starcher for such a wonderful exposition of God's Word yesterday. I was blessed to sit back and listen to the Lord speak through His Word and through His Servant.
If you have any comments regarding the message or service yesterday, feel free to post them.
God bless,
Pastor Jerry
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
My First Surgery
Yesterday I went to the Southwoods Surgical Center in Boardman to have my ruptured achilles tendon repaired on my left foot. I made sure they marked the correct foot!!
We know that everything that we go through is for a reason. I have been trying to listen to the Lord and make sure that I grow through this process. I do believe there are some things that He is going to teach me and us (as a church) through this. One thing I have gained already is a better understanding of how people feel going into surgery. Since this was my first surgery, I never could have said that before. Even the simplest of procedures bring some anxiety and nervousness. Although I knew that I was in "good hands" - with a surgeon who I felt very good about and even more importantly I knew that he was in "good hands" because ultimately our Sovereign God is in control. Even with all of these truths, you cant help but worry!! So, we are told, instead of worrying or being anxious about something - we are supposed to pray. So, I did that. And I just kept telling the Lord what His Word says. In Romans 10, Paul teaches about salvation. There are many verses that we know well from this chapter. Listen to His Word:
Rom 10:9-10
"if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead , you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Rom. 10:13-15
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed?? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have not heard?? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?? And how are they to preach unless they are sent??
And here is the verse that I was praying back to the Lord yesterday morning!!
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
I told the Lord that He needed to take care of my feet because He said that they are beautiful - and since my left foot was the furthest thing from beautiful, He needed to fix it!! Pretty good, huh!! (Of course, after the Valentine banquet everyone knows that my feet werent exactly beautiful before the injury - but the swelling and the all the ugly colors made it even worse). I dont know if that is exactly what the verse means but I have realized these past few weeks how even my feet are important to preach the gospel. I love the privilege of preaching the good news and am so thankful to God that He would allow me to have so many wonderful people to share the Word of God with each week. I am going to miss preaching these next however many weeks as I follow my doctors orders and take it easy but I am thankful that I didnt have to "miss out" on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday!
So, in conclusion, I thought that this may be the best way for me to let you know that my surgery went very well and I am thankful for your prayers. I am home and resting. I am following my doctor's orders and I have a post-op visit this Thursday. I am pretty heavily medicated with pain medicine - so all is well!!
Thanks again,
Pastor Jerry
We know that everything that we go through is for a reason. I have been trying to listen to the Lord and make sure that I grow through this process. I do believe there are some things that He is going to teach me and us (as a church) through this. One thing I have gained already is a better understanding of how people feel going into surgery. Since this was my first surgery, I never could have said that before. Even the simplest of procedures bring some anxiety and nervousness. Although I knew that I was in "good hands" - with a surgeon who I felt very good about and even more importantly I knew that he was in "good hands" because ultimately our Sovereign God is in control. Even with all of these truths, you cant help but worry!! So, we are told, instead of worrying or being anxious about something - we are supposed to pray. So, I did that. And I just kept telling the Lord what His Word says. In Romans 10, Paul teaches about salvation. There are many verses that we know well from this chapter. Listen to His Word:
Rom 10:9-10
"if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead , you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Rom. 10:13-15
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed?? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have not heard?? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?? And how are they to preach unless they are sent??
And here is the verse that I was praying back to the Lord yesterday morning!!
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
I told the Lord that He needed to take care of my feet because He said that they are beautiful - and since my left foot was the furthest thing from beautiful, He needed to fix it!! Pretty good, huh!! (Of course, after the Valentine banquet everyone knows that my feet werent exactly beautiful before the injury - but the swelling and the all the ugly colors made it even worse). I dont know if that is exactly what the verse means but I have realized these past few weeks how even my feet are important to preach the gospel. I love the privilege of preaching the good news and am so thankful to God that He would allow me to have so many wonderful people to share the Word of God with each week. I am going to miss preaching these next however many weeks as I follow my doctors orders and take it easy but I am thankful that I didnt have to "miss out" on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday!
So, in conclusion, I thought that this may be the best way for me to let you know that my surgery went very well and I am thankful for your prayers. I am home and resting. I am following my doctor's orders and I have a post-op visit this Thursday. I am pretty heavily medicated with pain medicine - so all is well!!
Thanks again,
Pastor Jerry
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Happy Resurrection Day!!
First of all, I wanted to praise our Father for sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins and for raising Him from the dead for our justification. It is through the resurrection that we know that our preaching, our faith, our whole lives are not in vain. If Christ had not risen, we would be the most miserable of people. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15, that we should be pitied if Christ has not risen. But, since He is risen and is alive forevermore, we have found all of our needs met in our Suffering Savior and Living Lord!!
We have found that our sins can be forgiven and that we, like Christ, will also never die but instead we will live forever in glory! It is in Christ, that we find our purpose in this life too! Our lives are not futile or wasted when we are serving our Risen Savior. That's why Paul ends his 1 Cor. 15 by saying, "therefore (because of the resurrection of Christ) my beloved brethren, be stedfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord because your labor in the Lord is not in vain".
I thought the song that we sang to end the service summed it up so well! It is called "The Wonder of Your Cross". Here are the lyrics:
The wonder of Your cross
Shall be our meditation
To gather in that shadow
When the sun went down
To weep with those
Who thought that You were leaving
You were leaving Jesus
The humble King
Who never wore an earthly crown
To steal away at night
When they took down Your body
With love and tears
To leave You in a borrowed grave
To go with Mary to the place they laid You
Where they laid You Jesus
And in the morning find the stone was rolled away
Were heaven's praises
Silent in those hours of darkness
Your Holy Spirit brooding
'Round that empty throne
Until the declaration He is risen
You are risen Jesus
He is not dead
Behold He lives for evermore
And I love the chorus!
Chorus 1
The cross O the wonderful cross
What glory what vict'ry I've found
I'll come to the wonderful cross
And my whole life I lay down
This sums up the teaching of Paul the Apostle in 1 Cor. 15 and in many other places - at the cross, what glory and what victory I have found! And it is at the cross where we gladly lay down our lives. It is at the cross where (as another song puts it) He bids me to come and die and find that I may truly live!!
I pray that my ministry is helping people to constantly "meditate on the wonder of the cross"!!
Also, I wanted to thank you for your constant prayers and support. So many mentioned that they would be praying for me as I have surgery on my ruptured achilles tendon tomorrow morning! I am truly blessed to be your pastor. You are so gracious to me - constantly giving me what I do not deserve! I see each and everyone of you as a gift from God to me!
Finally, I am so thankful for my family. Today, I was able to spend time with my "in-laws". So many of you have asked about my brother in law Jeremy. He has improved dramatically and actually went back to teach at Mt. Union this past week. It was such a blessing to see him and his family in the service this morning. My mother in law also is recovering well. Continue to keep her in your prayers but we are so thankful for her progress. My mom and sister in-law and nephew were all in the service as well this morning. My mom's faith has always been an inspiration to me. My sister in law Laurie is always so kind and compassionate. She has been an amazing mother - raising her son Jeffery by herself since my brother's death. My two other brothers are my "best friends" and I was so blessed to grow up with 3 older brothers (and no sisters!!). But God has given me sisters in-laws and they are all very special people who are very sacrificial and who love their husbands dearly. I am thankful for my father and how my relationship with him is growing and becoming more meaningful as we each get older. And last but certainly not least, I am so thankful for my children and my beautiful wife. My children adore me (they dont know any better yet) and my wife has always made me feel that "after Jesus Christ", I am her life! I couldnt ask for anything more.
So, may I encourage you to think of how blessed you are. Please make sure that you take time to be with your family and never see them as a hindrance to what you are trying to accomplish. God has called us to "show and share" His love with everyone and our family is the closest people on the earth to us. They, more than anyone, should benefit from the transformation that Christ has made of our lives!!
You are loved!!
We have found that our sins can be forgiven and that we, like Christ, will also never die but instead we will live forever in glory! It is in Christ, that we find our purpose in this life too! Our lives are not futile or wasted when we are serving our Risen Savior. That's why Paul ends his 1 Cor. 15 by saying, "therefore (because of the resurrection of Christ) my beloved brethren, be stedfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord because your labor in the Lord is not in vain".
I thought the song that we sang to end the service summed it up so well! It is called "The Wonder of Your Cross". Here are the lyrics:
The wonder of Your cross
Shall be our meditation
To gather in that shadow
When the sun went down
To weep with those
Who thought that You were leaving
You were leaving Jesus
The humble King
Who never wore an earthly crown
To steal away at night
When they took down Your body
With love and tears
To leave You in a borrowed grave
To go with Mary to the place they laid You
Where they laid You Jesus
And in the morning find the stone was rolled away
Were heaven's praises
Silent in those hours of darkness
Your Holy Spirit brooding
'Round that empty throne
Until the declaration He is risen
You are risen Jesus
He is not dead
Behold He lives for evermore
And I love the chorus!
Chorus 1
The cross O the wonderful cross
What glory what vict'ry I've found
I'll come to the wonderful cross
And my whole life I lay down
This sums up the teaching of Paul the Apostle in 1 Cor. 15 and in many other places - at the cross, what glory and what victory I have found! And it is at the cross where we gladly lay down our lives. It is at the cross where (as another song puts it) He bids me to come and die and find that I may truly live!!
I pray that my ministry is helping people to constantly "meditate on the wonder of the cross"!!
Also, I wanted to thank you for your constant prayers and support. So many mentioned that they would be praying for me as I have surgery on my ruptured achilles tendon tomorrow morning! I am truly blessed to be your pastor. You are so gracious to me - constantly giving me what I do not deserve! I see each and everyone of you as a gift from God to me!
Finally, I am so thankful for my family. Today, I was able to spend time with my "in-laws". So many of you have asked about my brother in law Jeremy. He has improved dramatically and actually went back to teach at Mt. Union this past week. It was such a blessing to see him and his family in the service this morning. My mother in law also is recovering well. Continue to keep her in your prayers but we are so thankful for her progress. My mom and sister in-law and nephew were all in the service as well this morning. My mom's faith has always been an inspiration to me. My sister in law Laurie is always so kind and compassionate. She has been an amazing mother - raising her son Jeffery by herself since my brother's death. My two other brothers are my "best friends" and I was so blessed to grow up with 3 older brothers (and no sisters!!). But God has given me sisters in-laws and they are all very special people who are very sacrificial and who love their husbands dearly. I am thankful for my father and how my relationship with him is growing and becoming more meaningful as we each get older. And last but certainly not least, I am so thankful for my children and my beautiful wife. My children adore me (they dont know any better yet) and my wife has always made me feel that "after Jesus Christ", I am her life! I couldnt ask for anything more.
So, may I encourage you to think of how blessed you are. Please make sure that you take time to be with your family and never see them as a hindrance to what you are trying to accomplish. God has called us to "show and share" His love with everyone and our family is the closest people on the earth to us. They, more than anyone, should benefit from the transformation that Christ has made of our lives!!
You are loved!!
Monday, April 2, 2007
Palm Sunday
I was so blessed yesterday by our worship service. The music was so worshipful and having communion together is always a precious time to me as your Pastor. I love looking out over the congregation and seeing all the different (and I mean different) people!! To see every age from 1st grade to senior citizen, male and female, so many different backgrounds all united because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross! It brings tears to my eyes to look out and see so many lives that have been "bought back" from the possession and control of the Evil One and now brought into the marvellous light! It is an awesome thing and I count it a great privilege to be your Pastor. God has a deep, deep love for each and everyone of you and He has placed His love for you into my heart as well!
I already mentioned the music but I wanted to return to the songs that we sang yesterday. Worship music is so important in the life of a believer - it helps prepare our hearts and the biblical words can be memorized and sung all day long. The words minister to us also as a counselor to our soul.
I thought I would share with you the title of the songs and the author. In case you would like to find more worship music that helps you "fix your eyes on Jesus".
Opening song - "Hosanna" by Paul Baloche
Offertory - "Mighty is the power of the Cross" by Chris Tomlin
Congregational song - "How deep the Father's love for us" by Stuart Townend
Special - "The power of the cross" by Keith Getty
Closing song - "The wonderful cross" by Isaac Watts and new lyrics by Chris Tomlin
We will be opening a small bookstore in the near future which will make good books and good music available to you. It may start out as a "bookshelf" but we hope it will grow into something that not only our congregation uses but even the community. We want to be putting into your hands as much "cross centered" material as we can.
If you have any comments regarding the worship service, these songs, communion, etc. please feel free to post them.
God bless,
Pastor Jerry
I already mentioned the music but I wanted to return to the songs that we sang yesterday. Worship music is so important in the life of a believer - it helps prepare our hearts and the biblical words can be memorized and sung all day long. The words minister to us also as a counselor to our soul.
I thought I would share with you the title of the songs and the author. In case you would like to find more worship music that helps you "fix your eyes on Jesus".
Opening song - "Hosanna" by Paul Baloche
Offertory - "Mighty is the power of the Cross" by Chris Tomlin
Congregational song - "How deep the Father's love for us" by Stuart Townend
Special - "The power of the cross" by Keith Getty
Closing song - "The wonderful cross" by Isaac Watts and new lyrics by Chris Tomlin
We will be opening a small bookstore in the near future which will make good books and good music available to you. It may start out as a "bookshelf" but we hope it will grow into something that not only our congregation uses but even the community. We want to be putting into your hands as much "cross centered" material as we can.
If you have any comments regarding the worship service, these songs, communion, etc. please feel free to post them.
God bless,
Pastor Jerry
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The God of all comfort
Today I am reading in 2 Corinthians 1. Listen to this Scripture:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort."
The God of our comfort has brought comfort to us in our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.
We must remember that God will use our trials and sufferings for our good and His glory! We know that no matter what trial we go through, our God is in the midst of it. He walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We do not have to fear because He is with us. And when we have come out of the trial, we are more equipped to be used of Him to bring comfort to someone else. Notice the verse says that we which have been comforted in all our afflictions can then be used to comfort those who are going through any affliction. I find this very interesting. We often think that we can only comfort someone who is going through the same kind of trial or suffering that we have been through. But, the Scripture says if we have been through an affliction, we can comfort others who are going through any affliction. So, if I have lost a loved one to cancer, I can comfort others and not only people who have or are losing a loved one to cancer. I am also a prospect to help someone who is going through marital problems. How does that works?? Well, the bottom line of all pain and suffering is that it hurts. So, you and I that know pain know what it means to be "lying on our backs" and have no place to look but up! That is the best thing we can bring to others who are suffering - the experience that we have of hitting rock bottom and finding that God is a God of mercy. Paul in 2 Cor. 1 goes on to say that he "was so utterly burdened beyond his strength that he actually despaired of life itself". But he says that this was to make him not rely on himself but on God! All trials and suffering are opportunities that God uses to turn us to Him and help us to trust Him more. As I look back on my life, I recognize that the trials and pain are what caused me to grow the most.
A.W Tozar put it best when he said "it is doubtful that God ever used anybody greatly without first hurting him deeply". That is an amazing statement and I have found it to be true. Think of the great men of the Bible who we long to emulate. Joseph, Daniel, Job, David, the Apostle Paul and on and on.
On Sunday evening, I shared a story about a Pastor who went to visit and pray with a family who had just gotten some difficult news. So, he stood next to the family and prayed "Dear Lord, give this family strength...may they know Your grace and comfort...would You wrap Your arms around this family" and as he prayed those words he put his arm around the father. When he finished praying, the man quickly looked up and said "oh, its just you". When the Pastor questioned what he meant by that, the man replied "Well, you prayed for God to wrap His arms around us and for a moment I thought I felt His arm, but it was just your arm". The Pastor quickly responded "it was God, He just used the arms that were closest at that time!"
This is what God wants us to be - His hands and His feet. May we go where He sends us and may He use us today as empty vessels.
As I finish this entry, I am leaving my office to go and sit and talk with a man that is hurting so badly that he too is "despairing of life itself". I pray that God will use me to help him to "look up"!
God bless!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort."
The God of our comfort has brought comfort to us in our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.
We must remember that God will use our trials and sufferings for our good and His glory! We know that no matter what trial we go through, our God is in the midst of it. He walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We do not have to fear because He is with us. And when we have come out of the trial, we are more equipped to be used of Him to bring comfort to someone else. Notice the verse says that we which have been comforted in all our afflictions can then be used to comfort those who are going through any affliction. I find this very interesting. We often think that we can only comfort someone who is going through the same kind of trial or suffering that we have been through. But, the Scripture says if we have been through an affliction, we can comfort others who are going through any affliction. So, if I have lost a loved one to cancer, I can comfort others and not only people who have or are losing a loved one to cancer. I am also a prospect to help someone who is going through marital problems. How does that works?? Well, the bottom line of all pain and suffering is that it hurts. So, you and I that know pain know what it means to be "lying on our backs" and have no place to look but up! That is the best thing we can bring to others who are suffering - the experience that we have of hitting rock bottom and finding that God is a God of mercy. Paul in 2 Cor. 1 goes on to say that he "was so utterly burdened beyond his strength that he actually despaired of life itself". But he says that this was to make him not rely on himself but on God! All trials and suffering are opportunities that God uses to turn us to Him and help us to trust Him more. As I look back on my life, I recognize that the trials and pain are what caused me to grow the most.
A.W Tozar put it best when he said "it is doubtful that God ever used anybody greatly without first hurting him deeply". That is an amazing statement and I have found it to be true. Think of the great men of the Bible who we long to emulate. Joseph, Daniel, Job, David, the Apostle Paul and on and on.
On Sunday evening, I shared a story about a Pastor who went to visit and pray with a family who had just gotten some difficult news. So, he stood next to the family and prayed "Dear Lord, give this family strength...may they know Your grace and comfort...would You wrap Your arms around this family" and as he prayed those words he put his arm around the father. When he finished praying, the man quickly looked up and said "oh, its just you". When the Pastor questioned what he meant by that, the man replied "Well, you prayed for God to wrap His arms around us and for a moment I thought I felt His arm, but it was just your arm". The Pastor quickly responded "it was God, He just used the arms that were closest at that time!"
This is what God wants us to be - His hands and His feet. May we go where He sends us and may He use us today as empty vessels.
As I finish this entry, I am leaving my office to go and sit and talk with a man that is hurting so badly that he too is "despairing of life itself". I pray that God will use me to help him to "look up"!
God bless!
Friday, March 9, 2007
The Hope of Glory
This has been a thought of mine for some time now...to start a "blog". Not because I think I have so much to say or offer but actually because I just wanted to give our congregation an opportunity to have access to the "daily" life of our church and my ministry. Every day there are things that happen that I would like to share with many but there never seems to be a good way to do it. Sometimes they are prayer requests and other times they are Scriptures or articles that I read. And sometimes they are conversations or even "Divine" appointments that should be shared. So, I have decided to open this "blog" as an open "journal" of my ministry. I hope that you find it interesting and helpful.
I have chosen to title this blog - The Hope of Glory. Without preaching, I would like to explain why I have chosen this title. We have learned and are learning more every day about our purpose and why we exist! The best summary of our purpose is that we are here to "know God and enjoy Him". Rev. 4:11 tells us that we (all things) are made for His pleasure! We are here for Him and not the other way around. He is the Center of everything and everything revolves around Him. We are here to know God (have a personal relationship with Him) and bring Him glory! Our purpose on this earth is to make His Name great. To magnify who He is to everyone around us. To magnify doesnt mean to "make Him bigger than He is" but to bring to light just how big and awesome He really is. Just as we use a magnifying glass - not to make anything bigger, but to make it more visible to us so we can see it for what it truly is! This is what our lives are for - to magnify, honor, and glorify God. But there is a great problem with us achieving our purpose. It's called sin. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and (therefore) fallen short of the glory of God". Our sin has ruined and tainted everything, including us achieving our purpose. This is a major problem and one that we cannot fix in and of our ownselves. But Corinthians tells us that we see 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ'. What God did for us is send His only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came and achieved what we could not achieve. He lived the perfect life! Which means He lived His whole life for the glory of His Father. He always did what pleased the Father. His life was given to us as a substitute. He lived and died in our place! The Bible tells us that we must in repentance turn from our sins and by faith trust in His substituitionary life and death for us. Turning to God is no longer trusting in our own "person" and "works" to appease God but instead trusting in the "person" and "work" of Christ alone to pay the debt that we owed. He paid a debt that He did not owe because I owed a debt that I could not pay!
Now, once we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ in this manner, the Bible says that we are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). This is the exchanged life. Christ on the cross became sin for us and He gave us His righteousness. This is how we can now stand before a perfect and holy God with confidence. Not because we are good enough. We could never be good enough. We would have to be perfect to be allowed to enter into the presence of God. It is not our own merits or good efforts that gets us in to Heaven but it is the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed (credited) to us. One of my favorite hymns says it this way:
because the sinless Savior died
my sinful soul is counted free
for God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me
So, back to the point of the title. How can sinners live for God's glory?? What could I ever do as mortal man that would bring glory to a Holy and Righteous God? Well, the verse in Colossians gives us the secret.
Col. 1:27 "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
What hope do we have to achieve the glory of God?? This verse tells us that it is Christ in you and Christ in me. The only way I can achieve my purpose of bringing glory to God is through the Spirit of Christ who lives in me.
This is why we have verses like Galatians 2:20
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
So, the title of this blog is dedicated to the purpose of why I (and we) are here and how that purpose is accomplished. Each and every day that we awake I hope that this blog will be used to remind us that we are here to bring Him glory and while that may seem like a daunting task, it is actually possible because of the life of Christ that lives in you and me.
I pray that this blog will be a living journal of the life of Christ living in me each and every day!
For His Glory,
Pastor Jerry Croyts
I have chosen to title this blog - The Hope of Glory. Without preaching, I would like to explain why I have chosen this title. We have learned and are learning more every day about our purpose and why we exist! The best summary of our purpose is that we are here to "know God and enjoy Him". Rev. 4:11 tells us that we (all things) are made for His pleasure! We are here for Him and not the other way around. He is the Center of everything and everything revolves around Him. We are here to know God (have a personal relationship with Him) and bring Him glory! Our purpose on this earth is to make His Name great. To magnify who He is to everyone around us. To magnify doesnt mean to "make Him bigger than He is" but to bring to light just how big and awesome He really is. Just as we use a magnifying glass - not to make anything bigger, but to make it more visible to us so we can see it for what it truly is! This is what our lives are for - to magnify, honor, and glorify God. But there is a great problem with us achieving our purpose. It's called sin. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and (therefore) fallen short of the glory of God". Our sin has ruined and tainted everything, including us achieving our purpose. This is a major problem and one that we cannot fix in and of our ownselves. But Corinthians tells us that we see 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ'. What God did for us is send His only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came and achieved what we could not achieve. He lived the perfect life! Which means He lived His whole life for the glory of His Father. He always did what pleased the Father. His life was given to us as a substitute. He lived and died in our place! The Bible tells us that we must in repentance turn from our sins and by faith trust in His substituitionary life and death for us. Turning to God is no longer trusting in our own "person" and "works" to appease God but instead trusting in the "person" and "work" of Christ alone to pay the debt that we owed. He paid a debt that He did not owe because I owed a debt that I could not pay!
Now, once we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ in this manner, the Bible says that we are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). This is the exchanged life. Christ on the cross became sin for us and He gave us His righteousness. This is how we can now stand before a perfect and holy God with confidence. Not because we are good enough. We could never be good enough. We would have to be perfect to be allowed to enter into the presence of God. It is not our own merits or good efforts that gets us in to Heaven but it is the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed (credited) to us. One of my favorite hymns says it this way:
because the sinless Savior died
my sinful soul is counted free
for God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me
So, back to the point of the title. How can sinners live for God's glory?? What could I ever do as mortal man that would bring glory to a Holy and Righteous God? Well, the verse in Colossians gives us the secret.
Col. 1:27 "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
What hope do we have to achieve the glory of God?? This verse tells us that it is Christ in you and Christ in me. The only way I can achieve my purpose of bringing glory to God is through the Spirit of Christ who lives in me.
This is why we have verses like Galatians 2:20
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
So, the title of this blog is dedicated to the purpose of why I (and we) are here and how that purpose is accomplished. Each and every day that we awake I hope that this blog will be used to remind us that we are here to bring Him glory and while that may seem like a daunting task, it is actually possible because of the life of Christ that lives in you and me.
I pray that this blog will be a living journal of the life of Christ living in me each and every day!
For His Glory,
Pastor Jerry Croyts
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