JURONG OUTREACH - JAN 06

OUR WORLD VIEW
1 Jan 06

An architect was finishing some important drawings at home one evening to meet an early morning deadline while his six-year-old daughter, Katy, continued to interrupt with one question after another. Finally, he reached into a nearby magazine rack looking for something to keep her occupied. On the cover of one magazine was a full-length colour photograph of the earth taken from space by an astronaut during one of the early Apollo missions. He tore off the cover and cut the photograph into several pieces with a pair of scissors to make --a puzzle. Then handing them to his daughter with a roll of tape, he said, "Here, Katy. Take this into the other room and see if you can put it together." Then with a renewed resolve, he turned again to his work.

After ONLY a few minutes, Katy returned with a big smile on her face holding up the photograph correctly fitted together. Her father looked on in amazement. "How did you ever finish this so quickly?" he asked.

She replied, "Well, at first I was very confused; the world was so mixed up! With all the different colours, shapes, and sizes, I didn't even know where to start.

But then I noticed that…… on the OTHER side of the world - there was a picture of a MAN. And when I put HIM together -- the world just fell into place!"

What a tremendous TRUTH was uttered by this little girl! Indeed, the world is so "mixed up" because man has either lost or disregarded the purpose for which he has been created. The confusion and corruption that characterizes so much of the world is due to the world’s #1 problem: SIN. When we take our eyes off of God and His will for us, we sin. And sin is a universal problem (Romans 3:23). However, there IS a solution!

Jesus used the Greek letters Alpha and Omega - the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (corresponding to "A" and "Z" of the English alphabet) - when referring to Himself. He identified Himself as the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13). In other words -- Jesus is to LIFE what the alphabet is to LITERATURE - its essence, its structure and its composition! In fact, He is the AUTHOR of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9)!

And when we make JESUS our focus, our WORLDVIEW changes! We begin to see with clarity, things as they REALLY are - from God's perspective. When our worldview is centered in Christ, we begin to understand the problem of sin and the need for salvation. Here is the GOOD NEWS: God "wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for ALL men" (1 Timothy 2:4-6). Jesus PAID the price for sin when He was crucified. He was the ransom so that we can be set free from the bondage of sin.

WHEN - we submit to the Heavenly Father’s instructions through: faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confession (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (immersion, Acts 2:38), THEN - our sins are washed away and we become children of God. And if - we as children of God will CONTINUE to obey our Father's instructions, He will CONTINUE to cleanse us from sin.

The MAN Christ Jesus is the solution to the "puzzle" of life.

Let us focus upon HIM in this new year.

 I Resolve
WITH ALL MY HEART

1.  To be about my Father’s business

2.  To keep a pure heart, a clear head, and a hand willing to do good.

3.  To set my affections on things above, not on things of the earth.

4.  To keep myself from idols-those things which hinder me in serving my Lord.

5.  To be considerate of the rights, privileges, and the feelings of others

6.  To fear nothing but sin and the danger of falling short of that which my Heavenly Father requires at my hand.

7.   To forget and forgive all injuries rendered me.

8.  To be more intent on finding good than evil in the lives of those I meet day by day.

9.  To refrain my tongue from evil— the evil of gossip, of slander, of unjust criticism—and my lips that they speak no guile.

10. To be my brother’s keeper, lifting him when he falls, supporting him when he is weak and restoring him when he strays from duty’s path.

11. To the end that I may have strength to do these things, I will look unto God continually.  He is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

THE PRESENT
8 Jan 06

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over NO balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do with such an account? Draw out every cent, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.

Every morning, YOU and I are credited with 86,400 seconds. Every night, it writes off, as lost, the amount that we have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over NO balance. It allows NO overdraft. Each day, it opens a new account for us. Each night, it burns the remains of the day. If we fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is ours. There is NO going back. There is NO drawing against tomorrow.

How are YOU spending it?

Many today use the phrase "killing time" – but in contrast, we are instructed by God's Word to "redeem time" – to make the most of today! "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time - making the most of every opportunity - because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

We must live in -THE PRESENT- on today's deposits. We must INVEST it so as to get from it the utmost in life! The clock is ticking . . . . . .

NOW is the time to make our lives right with God! "For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV).

TODAY can be the day of YOUR salvation if you will: place your trust in God (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), be baptized (immersed) into Christ so that your sins can be forgiven (Acts 2:38), AND commit the rest of your life to obeying God so that the blood of JESUS can continue to cleanse you from sin (1 John 1:7).

Yesterday is history;
Tomorrow is a mystery;
Today is a " GIFT" -- that is why it is called ……

THE PRESENT"

Make the most of it by submitting to the will of God TODAY

Tomorrow May Be Too Late!

Today is the day of salvation,
Tomorrow may be too late.
There’s danger and death in delaying.
Accept God’s saving Grace:
His life on the cross He has given,
O come while yet you may.
He’s earnestly pleading,
O make no delay.
Tomorrow may be too late.
Today is the day of salvation,
Tomorrow may be too late.
The judgment day brother,
Is coming, prepare ye for that day:
His pardon and mercy He offers,
Obey while yet you may.
He’ll save you from sin
and bring sweet peace within,
Tomorrow may be too late.

THE BEST NEWS
15 Jan 06

The following story is told in "The Best of Bits and Pieces":

Robert De Vincenzo, the great Argentine golfer, once won a tournament and, after receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to leave. Some time later, he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor's bills and hospital expenses.

De Vincenzo was touched by her story, and he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. "Make some good days for the baby," he said as he pressed the check into her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. "Some of the boys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there after you won that tournament." De Vincenzo nodded.

Well," said the official, "I have news for you. She's a phony! She has no sick baby. She's not even married. She fleeced you, my friend."

NO baby who is dying??" said De Vincenzo.

"That's right," said the official.

"Well, that's the BEST NEWS I've heard ALL week," De Vincenzo said.

What a beautiful spirit!

Commenting on this marvelous act, Alan Smith states: “De Vincenzo's attitude is reminiscent of the spirit that God has shown toward us! Despite mankind taking God's goodness for granted, despite our repeated failures, God was willing to give not just a token amount, but the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. And He did so, NOT reluctantly or with resentment, but willingly and gladly - knowing that while most would only show DISDAIN for his gift, some would respond in OBEDIENCE motivated by FAITH and LOVE.”

(Romans 5:6-8) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The bad news is that we ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and are thereby condemned (Romans 6:23).  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Good news (the Gospel) is that even though He knew many would reject His offer, God sent His Son to pay the price for our SIN (Ephesians 1:7). In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

To accept His ACCEPT of salvation,

we must believe in Christ (Acts 16:31), And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,

turn from our sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10),That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38), Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

AND live faithfully to the God who loves us despite our sins (1 John 1:7-9).

The BEST NEWS is when you and I come to receive that Gift on His terms.

This is truly the BEST NEWS of ALL!

GOD STILL SAYS "PREACH THE WORD"
22 Jan 06

2 Timothy 4:2 -- How many times have we heard it quoted and mentioned in public lessons? Its clear message reads, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

What word is it that God wants His servants to preach? It is the message of the Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:15), And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus the inspired message of God's word (2 Tim. 3:16). All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Despite the Lord's charge to “preach the word,” and despite the command to “preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15), men are often not pleased with such an idea. Some who are listeners do not desire to hear the pure word of God. And, some that preach do not really desire to preach the word of God. Be that as it may, God still says, “Preach the word.”

Man prefers to hear a “more modern” message,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man longs to hear a message that makes him feel good,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man thinks that just any religious message is good enough to save the soul,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man cries for a message that's more entertaining,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man despises the word of God that rebukes his sin,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man wants to hear jokes and funny stories,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man thinks that drama would be more moving,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man says that the Bible's message offends people,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man thinks the Bible's message is dry and boring,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man loves to hear stories about people's so-called “experiences,”
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man says that if we would preach a message that was more appealing to the masses, we would grow more,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
Man says if we don't water down the message, we will never attract people from the community,
but God still says, “Preach the word.”
God's way is always right. God says, “Preach the word.”

Since that is what the Lord wants, then that, my brothers and sisters, is just what we must do! Preaching the word is what the world needs in order to be saved. Preaching the word is also what the church needs in order be strong spiritually and prepared to meet the devices of the devil.

Yes, man may say a lot of things, but God still says, “Preach the word.”

 

What Others Say About the Bible

“It is impossible to righteously govern the world without God and the Bible.” - George Washington

“The New Testament is the very best book that was or ever will be known in the world.” - Charles Dickens

“Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.” - Author unknown

The Bible is a window in this prison-world through which we may look into eternity.” - Timothy Dwight

“Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems that face us today—if only we would read and believe.” - Ronald Reagan

“I was never out of my Bible.” - John Bunyan

“I am a man of one Book.” - John Wesley

“Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties.  Write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives.” - U. S. Grant

WHY DECLARE MEMBERSHIP AT A LOCAL CONGREGATION?
29 Jan 06

This question recently came up in some of my Internet studies with online friends. The question centers on whether or not it is necessary to be identified as a member of a local congregation. The Bible doesn't have a process whereby one may "join" the church such as are followed in the denominational world. However, the Bible does authorize individual Christians to be members of local congregations ( 1 Corinthians 12:27)Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

So there must be some way for Christians to be members of local congregations. And there is.

Let me state up front that for someone who is not a Christian, to become a member of the church of Christ, one must be added by the Lord to the church ( Acts 2:47)Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Upon baptism, provided the individual lives within the local community, it is right and proper to assume the individual to be a member of the local congregation. This was the general practice within the New Testament ( Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Our question is more appropriately asked when a person moves from his home congregation to another.

Must that individual place membership with a local congregation? Let's note some reasons why the answer to this question should be "yes."

First, the individual Christian ought to declare membership in a local congregation to assure the leaders that he is subject to their authority. Hebrews 13:17 states, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." The rulers of the local congregation have a responsibility to watch for the souls of individual Christians.

Individual Christians have the responsibility to make their job easier by submitting to their judgment. There should be no doubt as to the status of the individual Christian in relationship to the rulers.

However, if someone does not declare membership, this creates doubt and uncertainty in the minds of the rulers as to whether they have the appropriate authority. Why? Because rulers only have authority over members of the local congregation; they do not have authority over those who are not members of the local congregation. If the individual Christian seeks to please God in obeying Hebrews 13:17, he will declare membership in a local congregation.

Second, the individual Christian ought to declare membership in a local congregation to let his fellow Christians know that he is there to work with them. The church is to be involved in doing the work of the Lord ( 1 Corinthians 15:58). And each individual contributes to that work as he has ability ( 1 Peter 4:11). The local congregation is thus expected to do the Lord's work ( 2 Corinthians 9:8, Colossians 1:10) and the individual is expected to do his work heartily ( Colossians 3:23). Without declaring such membership, other members wonder whether or not one has the intentions of involving oneself in the work of the local church, and thus, in the work of the Lord as well.

Declaring one's membership with a local congregation, let's that congregation know that one is available and ready to do the work that needs to be done in the local church. Declaring membership exhibits the "heartiness" that the Lord desires us to have regarding his work.

Finally, the individual Christian ought to declare membership in a local congregation to indicate his full fellowship with the local congregation. Fellowship isn't merely having a meal together or playing games together. Fellowship is participation within the activities of the congregation, regardless what those activities may be ( Acts 2:42)And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

We have fellowship when we study God's word together in our Bible classes, when we worship God in our assembly, when we visit the nursing home together, or when we support a particular work with our finances. The individual Christian should want to have full fellowship with other Christians ( 1 John 1:7)But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Without declaring membership at a local congregation, an individual's intentions aren't fully known. However, when one declares membership one indicates full fellowship with the local congregation.

The individual Christian certainly has the God given right to faithfully congregate with a particular congregation of his choice ( Acts 9:26)And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

However, it is also God's desire for a Christian to be a member of the local church ( 1 Corinthians 12:18). Combining those two facts together with the above reasons we can conclude that it is biblical and necessary for the individual Christian to declare membership at a local, faithful, congregation of his choice.