​WHOSE SIDE?


After the Israelites escaped from Egypt and reached Mt. Sinai, they soon gave up on Moses because he was on the mountain longer than expected. Then they compelled Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. Finally descending the mountain, Moses could not immediately distinguish between the people loyal to God and those devoted to the calf. Thus, he asked, “Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come to me" (Exo. 32:26). Moses needed to determine whom he could count on to stand up for the Lord.

Sometime later, as Joshua prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land, he encountered a man with a drawn sword. Joshua cautiously approached and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" (Josh 5:13). It was imperative that he determine if the man was friend or foe. It turned out that the “man” was the captain of the Lord's host, and on the side of Israel.


Those examples provoke a pertinent question for us - Whose side are we on? God requires that His children stand unequivocally with Him. Unfortunately, some Christians have regressed spiritually and re-acquired some of the behaviors, habits and speech of their former lives. As a result, the distinction between them and the world is blurred.

For example, some Christians frequently take God's name in vain and even use profanity on occasion. And others routinely tell “white lies” (Which are lies, nonetheless). Whose side are they on?

Other Christians frequently wear clothing that is too short, too low or too tight. A few even attend worship and other services wearing such attire. Based on their appearance, whose side are they on?

What of those Christians that frequent casinos, bars, nightclubs, dance halls, even strip clubs? It is not hard to guess whose side these folks are on.

God wants His children to be decidedly different from the world. "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord” (2 Cor. 6:17). But if we “blend in” by becoming more like the world, we have little chance of bringing lost souls to Christ and pleasing the Lord.

Whose side are we on?

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis

If It Smells Like a Skunk…

Over the years some of us have been greeted with an unpleasant odor when entering the church building. I'm referring to the skunk that lives on our property. Despite setting up live traps, we've never succeeded in catching the smelly critter.

As a child I once came across a nest of abandoned baby skunks. I thought they were kittens, so I picked them up and played with them. I was having so much fun that I was oblivious to the pungent odor that was enveloping my skin and clothing. But when entered our house an hour later, I was literally chased outside. My clothes were discarded and it required 10 days for the scent to dissipate from my skin.

Once you have experienced that nauseating scent, you never forget it. If it smells like a skunk, it probably IS a skunk. 

Sin is much like that. If an act, word or thought feels like sin, then it probably is.

 If it feels like pride, then it probably is.
 If it sounds like gossip, then it probably is.
 If it feels like lust, then it probably is.
 If it sounds dishonest, then it probably is.
 If it sounds like an excuse, then it probably is.

God wants us to read His word daily so that we can quickly recognize the stench of sin. His Scriptures are brimming with divine guidance that will enable us remain as odor free as possible. "An ounce of THE WORD is worth a pound of cure."

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all
discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be
sincere and without offense till the day of Christ..." Phil. 1:9-10

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis
​

Pray for Our Leaders, Regardless!


"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Tim. 2:1–2).

It is not always easy to pray for our leaders, especially when their agenda is contrary to God's truths. Although God does not instruct us to agree with them, He does direct us to pray for them, regardless of the outcome.

Consider the plight of Christians when Nero ruled the Roman Empire. In 64 AD a devastating fire destroyed nearly 2/3 of the city of Rome. Many historians suspect that Nero ordered the fire set for his own amusement or to rebuild the city more to his liking. 

However, in order to escape personal responsibility, Noro blamed the fire on the Christians living in Rome. He even
declared “open season” on them, which initiated a period of terrible persecution. Christians were hunted down, imprisoned, tortured and put to death.

The persecution was so horrendous that some Christians we're concerned that it might bring an end to the church altogether.

To the contrary, historical accounts indicate that the persecution and martyrdom of those Christians resulted in an increase in faith and commitment to Christ. This in turn led the church to not only survive, but experience impressive growth.

That’s amazing, and causes us to wonder how we would react to such persecution. Regardless, we need to pray daily for our leaders. And even if severe persecution occurs, we can be confident that a far better place awaits us, and that Christ's Church will continue.

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis

​Preserving Unity!

What has arguably destroyed more congregations of the Lord’s church than any other cause? DIVISION, typically caused by an unwillingness to lovingly deal with the inevitable differences in opinions, personalities and preferences in the church. What Jesus said is truer than ever, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand" (Matt. 12:25).


Few things distress and dismay God more than seeing a local church fracture and split. So how can we prevent such a disaster from occurring? The answers are clearly revealed in the scriptures:
 ALWAYS follow Jesus’ guide to conflict resolution - Matt. 18:15-20.
 NEVER return evil for evil – 1 Pet. 3:9.
 Be PATIENT with each other’s imperfections - Eph. 4:2.
 FORGIVE as you’ve been forgiven - Col. 3:13.
 RESTORE erring Christians in a spirit of gentleness – Gal. 6:1. 
 WORK HARD to maintain the unity of the Spirit - Eph. 4:3.
 WITHDRAW fellowship from divisive members - Rom. 16:17.
 LOVE as brothers, be tenderhearted and courteous - 1 Pet 3:8.
 WARN wayward members just as you would anyone heading for danger – 2 Thess. 3:15.
 BE WILLING to sacrifice your personal rights for the sake of unity – Rom. 14:21.
 TREAT every member as if they are superior to you - Phil. 2:3.
 PRAY for each other – Jam. 5:16.
 LOVE each other (despite failings & flaws) as God loves us - 1 John 4:11.

Applying a few of these divine directives will increase unity in the church. Applying them all will guarantee it!

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis

Heaven Can't Wait!

You may remember the 1978 movie, "Heaven Can Wait", starring Warren Beatty. The plot centered around a professional quarterback who died prematurely. Instead of entering heaven, an arrangement was made whereby he was permitted to return to earth in someone else's body and live out his life.

Ah, the stuff of fiction. In reality no one who gets even a glimpse of Heaven will want to return to this world. Why?

* Heaven is God’s Dwelling Place – 2 Chron. 6:39.
* Jesus Christ is there – Col. 3:1.
* All the saints will be there - Rev. 7:15-17.
* Many mansions (dwellings) are there awaiting us – John 14:2-3.
* All Things will be like new – Rev. 21:5.
* There will be non-stop worship beyond description - Rev. 4:8.
* No temptations or trials in heaven - Rev 21:27.
* No crime or wickedness in heaven - Matt. 6:20.
* No sadness or tears in Heaven - Isa. 60:20.
* No pain or sickness in heaven – Rev. 21:4.
* No labor or sweat in heaven - Rev. 24:3.
* We will be like Jesus in heaven - 1 John 3:2.
* Our new bodies will not age or grow old in Heaven - 1 Cor. 15:52.
*Heaven will be beautiful beyond description - 1 Cor. 2:9.

Wow! I can hardly wait to get to heaven! How about you?

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis