“Be Ye Therefore…” – Ready

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Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Introduction

This is the fifth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  Christ had just told His followers not to seek after the riches of this world which are temporal but to seek the kingdom first and then says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Then the parable starts with blessed are the servants whom, when their lord returns, he finds them watching or ready for him.  (By the way these two thoughts are related, for earthly treasure often keeps us from watching or even loving His appearing)  He goes on to say that if the good man of a house knew exactly what hour the thief would come, he would have prevented him from breaking into the house.  He would have been waiting in that specific hour to catch the thief.

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What doest thou here?

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And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

Introduction

The question the Lord put to Elijah speaks to me. Elijah had, in the previous couple of weeks leading up to this moment, been used of God to defeat over 400 prophets of Baal but now had fled to Mt. Horeb in fear due to the threats of the wicked queen Jezebel. James said that Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. Too many times we let the devil and this world get us cornered in a cave.  It is so easy to get in the cave and the roaring wind, shaking of the earth, and fires in our lives seem to drown out all else.

 

The Book of James – The Power of Prayer James 5:16-20

Introduction

Our final post continues the thought introduced in our last post on prayer.  This is also our last lesson on the series we started back in November of last year.  I hope you have enjoyed the series; I for one have enjoyed bringing it to you.

Pray for Each Other

In verse 16 James challenges us to be concerned with, and pray for, each other.  The latter part of this verse is often quoted “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  There is power in prayer and to those who pray, faith believing, God will hear and answer.  James describes the manner of prayer as “effectual fervent” prayer.  It would stand to reason that we examine this manner of prayer so our prayers would be heard.

 

The Book of James – Prayer FAQ James 5:13-15

Introduction

James finishes his letter by reminding us of the power of prayer in verses 13-20.  We will be covering verses 13-15 in this post.  These verses cover three types of prayer requests: affliction, prayers of praise and sickness.

There is something I have noticed during prayer requests over the years: requests for sickness far outnumber prayer requests for the lost.  Our bible is full of challenges for us to tell the lost about Jesus.  When we get out of balance on our requests it says something about us; it says we are living in the here and now and are not thinking so much about spiritual matters.  However, to say that asking for, or praying for, the sick shouldn’t be done is not right either.  James clearly states that we can ask for, and pray for, the sick.

 

The Book of James – God’s Deaf Ear James 4:3-4

God’s Deaf Ear

Verse 3 details an attempt to ask God for pleasures.  The bible clearly states this prayer will not be answered.  While James teaches us not to be a pleasure seeker we also get a lesson in prayer: we learn that God does not respond to “Lord, give me a shiny new car so I’ll be happy”. The phone might be ringing but God will not answer.  No, God is not deaf, He chooses not to hear for our sakes.

 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” – Paul the apostle

A Servant’s Heart

Philippians 2:13-18 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.   Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.   For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Paul often referred to himself in introduction to a church as doulos theos or doulos Christos which is to say slave or bond-servant of Christ.  Paul had a servant’s heart.  His desire was for the local assembly and the individual in Christ to serve Christ with their whole heart not because of commandment but out of love for the savior.  Paul didn’t mind sacrificing of himself for the cause of Christ, in fact, it brought him great joy to know that his sacrifice of time, effort, and ultimately his own life would increase the faith of others and bring glory to Jesus Christ.  Paul esteemed his brethren in Christ more than himself… “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3

This is the very essence of a servant’s heart.  Christ Himself told His followers that He came not to be ministered unto but to minister.  Here at Servants’ Journal we desire to possess that servant’s heart and to encourage fellow servants in the same.  In keeping with our new theme and focus to possess a servant’s heart, I thought it fitting to post a memorial to some heroes of the faith from the last century whose sacrifice help renew a fire for missions in our country.

 

Merry Christmas Grandpa

Introduction

On Christmas Eve 2001, and continuing into Christmas day, I spent Christmas alone with my Grandpa.  That’s right, just the two of us.  My wife and children had gone to my in-laws home; my side of the family was gathering at my Uncle’s house.  This Christmas it was just going to be me and grandpa.

Less than two months before my Grandma had passed away.  She died in early November, one month short of their 74^th wedding anniversary.  It wasn’t a misprint, almost 74 years of marriage.  As you might have guessed they started their marriage at a young age.  After a long drawn out courtship, two months, they were married and began their life together.

The Setting

In the 1980s my Grandpa had major health issues that changed him.  The damage sustained during these days quickly took away his ability to function independently and do the thing he loved the most, preaching the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

 

How Close is “Nigh”? – James 4:8

Introduction

How close are you right now to your Heavenly Father?  On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, what number would you assign to yourself?

Before we move forward I need to make it clear that the target audience of this post is for Christians; in no way can we earn our salvation, it is a gift from God. 

A quick read of the Epistle of James will tell you that James was very plain spoken, he did not mince words.  James gets right to the point and tells it like it is.  Our scripture text is a perfect example of this style of writing.

In James 4:8a it says “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” In this promise from God we have the classic action / reaction.  The bible clearly states our spiritual health is directly connected to our own efforts to separate from the world and live a life pleasing to God.

 

I can’t wait to talk to Dad – Luke 11:1-13

Introduction

At our last Men’s Prayer Breakfast I listened as a brother spoke about his dad: in 1984 his dad was operated on to remove a tumor on the side of his face.  The removal changed his appearance but the biggest loss, to his son anyway, was his ability to hear; all hearing was lost on one side and the other ear was greatly impaired.  I found out after breakfast that the brother was four years old when this happened.

Fast forward to September 2013, this same father met with a specialist regarding a new device that might restore some of his hearing.  After the tests were completed it was determined that this man’s hearing will be improved by the device.  The father said “Order me one”.