JURONG OUTREACH - MAR 04

Running From Rescue
7 Mar 04

In 1981, a Minnesota radio station reported a story about a stolen car in California. Police were staging an intense search for the vehicle and the driver, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations to contact the thief. On the front seat of the stolen car sat a box of crackers that, unknown to the thief, were laced with poison. The car owner had intended to use the crackers as rat poison. Now the police and the owner of the car were more interested in apprehending the thief to SAVE HIS LIFE than to recover the car.

Many view God as a policeman trying to catch someone doing wrong, when in reality, God wants to rescue us from our deadly sins (Romans 6:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

He is “not willing that ANY should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” He “desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"

(1Timothy 2:4). “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Don’t misunderstand - God detests sin (Habakkuk 1:13) “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”

AND He will punish unforgiven sin (Revelation 21:8) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”  However, God wants to SAVE us from sin.
In fact, He has gone to great lengths to provide forgiveness for our sins. (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

For God did NOT send His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but that the world through Him might be SAVED" (John 3:16-17).

God will forgive THOSE who: place their trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6), “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

repent of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

confess Christ (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.”

and be baptized (immersed) in the name of Christ for the forgiveness of sins (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.”

God will CONTINUE to forgive THOSE who: CONTINUE to strive to walk in the light of His Word in faithful obedience

(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.”

Many are running FROM God, seeking to escape His punishment. What they are actually doing is ELUDING HIS RESCUE! We NEED to run TO God - turning from our sin and turning to Him through our trusting obedience.

Are you running from His RESCUE?? Why not turn to Him today? He wants to rescue YOU!

Do Demons Possess People Today? by Rod Rutherford
14 Mar 04

Many believe that evil spirits, called demons, can take over people's bodies today. This was widely accepted in Europe hundreds of years ago. It is still believed by many in Africa in areas where the influence of Christianity is not strong. It is also a growing belief in America. A study revealed that about one third of all Americans believe that demons can take over the bodies of people. Is it true? Should we fear demon possession today? What does the Bible teach?

The Bible clearly teaches that evil spirits exist ( James 2:19). They are called "devils" in the King James Version and "demons" in other translations of the Bible. These devils or demons must not be confused with the Devil, Satan, the Tempter (Matthew 4:1-3,10). There is only one Devil, but there are many demons.

In the Bible, we learn that demons entered into people and controlled them (Matthew 8:28-34). They were under the power of Satan (Beelzebub), the chief of all evil spirits (Matthew 12:24). They often caused sickness in the people they entered such as not being able to speak or see (Matthew 12:22); insanity or madness (Luke 8:26-36); personal injuries (Mark 9:18); and other bodily infirmities (Luke 13:11-17).

These demons also knew who Jesus was. They knew why He had come into the world (Luke 4:41).

They believe in God (James 2:19). They fear the Judgment and eternal punishment (Matthew 8:29). This clearly shows that demons are not diseases as some have suggested. They are spirit beings who think, speak, and act.

Jesus often cast demons out of people (Matthew 8:16). He also gave the ability to cast out demons to His apostles (Luke 10:17; Mark 16:17,18; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:12). The apostles were able to give miraculous gifts to others by laying their hands on them (Acts 6:6-8; 8:14-21; 19:1-6). This included the power to cast out demons (Acts 8:5-8).

An account of Jesus' casting out a demon is found in Mark 5:1-20. When Jesus came to the country of the Gadarenes, a man met him. He had an "unclean spirit" (demon). This demon possessed man lived in the tombs. He wore no clothes. He was not in his right mind. He cried day and night and cut himself with stones. He also had great strength. When others had bound him with chains, he broke them and escaped. The evil spirit in the man knew who Jesus was and begged Him not to torment him. Jesus asked the evil spirit, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." When Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man, they begged him to send them into pigs who were feeding nearby. Jesus did so. The pigs ran to the cliff, fell into the sea, and drowned. When the people of the area came to Jesus, they saw this man "sitting, clothed, and in his right mind." When the demon was cast out, the man was restored to health of body and mind.

Do demons still possess people even today? Zechariah, an Old Testament prophet, spoke of the time when Christ would come. He said: "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1). This fountain was opened when Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the world.

Zechariah then said: "It shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall be no longer remembered. "I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to depart from the land" (13:2).

Following the time when the Lord would die for our sins, prophets (men who spoke by the Holy Spirit) and unclean spirits (demons) would no longer be in the land (earth). When did this happen?

We have learned that the apostles could give to others the ability to work miracles. The purpose of these miracles was to confirm ( prove) God's Word (Mark 16:20: Hebrews 2:2-4). Paul said these gifts of the Holy Spirit would fail, cease, and vanish away (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). These miraculous gifts would cease when that which is perfect has come (v.10). This refers to the New Testament, which is called the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). One of these gifts was the power to cast out demons. Therefore, evil spirits possessing men, along with the power to cast them out, ceased when the New Testament was completed and confirmed. If demon possession continued today, Satan would have more power than God, for he could send his demons into people, but God's people could not cast them out.

God permitted demons to possess certain people in the time of Christ and the apostles so that His power could be seen. Not only did Christ have power over nature, disease, and death, but He also had power over the spirit world. The Devil and his demons were proved to be powerless before the Son of God (Colossians 2:15; 1 John 3:8). Demons still exist, but they do not possess people today. Today, we need to be concerned about Satan, the Devil, who tempts us to sin (James 1:14; Matthew 4:3; 1 Peter 5:8).

I Did Not Marry a Christian
21 Mar 04

Several months ago, an article appeared entitled “I Married A Christian.”  I read the article with great interest, and it drove home some very sobering thoughts.  As I read the article, I could not help but think of what a contrast my own life was, for you see, I did not marry a Christian.

No one told me of the unhappiness I was due in marrying a non-Christian.  At the time I married, my parents were not faithful, and consequently neither was I.  I cannot put the responsibility for my actions on them.  I was 18 years old and knew what the Bible taught on marriage.

Now, after having lived with a non-Christian for almost 10 years, I have been made aware of how important it is for our young people to marry Christians.  These 10 years have not made me an expert on the subject, but they have made me realize that I should try to teach and/or discourage others from making the same mistake.

When I fell in love with my husband, I could not think about those things that could lay ahead.  The only thing I knew was that I loved him with all my heart, and that no one knew or had experienced this kind of love. Ours was different, as I felt there was nothing that could ever come between us that we could not overcome.

After we were married, I was soon to realize how our attitudes and thinking varied.  We rented a small apartment, and were soon entertaining other non-Christians in our home.  The drinking and dancing were all part of the things I had been taught to abhor, and yet right here in my home I was consenting to, and becoming a part of, things that a Christian has no business doing. I was getting further and further away from the church.  I knew what I should be doing as a Christian, and yet I was doing nothing to change.  We were happy by most people’s standards, but I was miserable.  I knew my husband did not share my love for the truth and he was not serious-minded about things like that.  I loved him so much and I was learning a hard cold fact—that love was not enough.  I wanted to return to my “first love.”  We talked about my return to the church, and I realized another fact—he had no intention of going with me in spite of his promises (before marriage) that he would.

I decided to wait about returning, and tried to work things out as best I could.  In the meantime, we found out we were expecting our first child.  I was elated!  I also was made aware of the creation of God within me.  I was soon to become a mother and have a life truly influenced by me.  I was going to get my heart right with God again.

I repented of my sins and started trying to live the life I so wanted to live.  It was hard.  First, I had no encouragement from my husband.  Second, we still had all our non-Christian friends in and out.  My Christian friends from church came by, but not too often, because my husband openly did not like them.  I loved them and wanted them in my home.  I needed them.  Somewhere about this time was when the hostility began.  I was seeing and hearing a different guy from the wonderful guy I married.  There was a wall building between us.  Out of love for my husband, I again stopped attending church services.  I did not attend for months.  I was miserable inside again.  After the birth of our daughter, I wanted to get started back to church.  My husband’s answer was “no.”  He wanted me to start going to church with him where he went as a child—a denominational church that did not follow God’s Word.  We really had problems there.  I knew the error they taught, and I could not worship there.  He insisted; I insisted.

Three-and-a-half years ago, I repented again and started to live the Christian life.  I thank God that He spared my life and let me live long enough to get back.  There is no turning back for me now.  We have three children now, and I want more than anything to have a Christian home for them.  This presents another problem.  My husband and I do not agree on how to bring up the children.  We are both pulling in different directions.  I believe in teaching them to put God first in their lives and to be faithful.  He still can see no reason to attend every service and openly overrides me when I insist the children go.

Our marriage has deteriorated greatly over the last few years.  The “church problem,” as my husband puts it, has moved into every aspect of our marriage.  We both keep things bottled up inside and find that we cannot talk things out anymore.  I am ill with the children much too often.  I know it is because things are not right between my husband and myself.

My marriage has reached a disastrous point.  My husband has given an ultimatum: I have to make a choice—him or the church.  Those of you who are Christians know what a rough decision I had.  I, of course, have chose the Lord.  I still love my husband with all my heart, and have prayed that God would open his heart to understand the truth.  I know I have to remain faithful and do what God has commanded me to do.  It looks so dark sometimes, and yet I have “to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:4).  I am so weary from being torn between my husband and the Lord.

To our young people, I would like to say that God frowns on mixed marriages.  In 2 Cor 6:14,15, we are taught not to become unequally yoked together.  The damage is not just to yourself, but to your husband or wife and then to your children.

My prayer is that this article may in some way make our young people, or anyone planning to marry, marry a Christian.  I cannot do mine over again, but I can teach my children and others how important it is to marry a Christian and to make that home the kind the Lord intended it to be.

Movin' On Up by David A. Sargent / M. Eddlemon
28 Mar 04

While traveling, an investor stopped off to visit a friend and notable stockbroker with whom he had corresponded through the years. Following the directions given, he arrived at his residence - a small apartment complex in midtown. He rechecked to make sure he had the correct address and then rang the doorbell, where he was greeted with a warm smile and a familiar voice. He entered a small living room area with very modest furnishings and decor. There was hardly even a picture hanging on the wall. After some conversation, the visitor remarked, "You know, Frank, this place has great potential....why not invest some money and remodel?
New furniture, carpet and wall coverings would make this place look really nice!"

The stockbroker softly replied, "Not a very wise investment, Jim. You see, this place is not my home! I'm just living here temporarily while my home is being built. My energy and focus are centered upon that permanent residence. In the meantime, it doesn't make sense to invest a lot of time and resources in this place only to leave it all behind. Why, the title deed has already been transferred into my name - see, here's my new address! Besides, I don't want to get too comfortable here, knowing that I will eventually move out of this temporary apartment and into my permanent home."

Look around you. EVERYTHING that you see is only temporary! One day it will ALL be gone

(2 Peter 3:10) “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” If we have placed all of our energy and focus on those things that are material and temporary, we will have made some bad investments! Fully aware of these things, the Apostle wrote, "So we fix our eyes NOT on what is SEEN, but on what is UNSEEN. For what is SEEN is temporary - but what is UNSEEN is eternal. Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an "eternal house" in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling"

(2 Cor 4:18 )“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

(2 Cor 5:2) “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:”

God has prepared this "heavenly dwelling" for THOSE who will submit their lives to Him. Our "opportunity" to live in this eternal home was "purchased" by Jesus, when He died on the cross for our sins

(1 Peter 1:18-19) “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

A "deed" to this heavenly home awaits THOSE who BY FAITH: (Hebrews 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

repent of their sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

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.

are baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38) , and CONTINUE to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Where is YOUR focus? Are you spending your time and energy "decorating" your TEMPORARY abode? Or, are you planning to spend an eternity in an ETERNAL home prepared by Jesus for His own?

Listen to His words: "In my Father's house are MANY mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. - I go to prepare a place for you! - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3).

Heaven is a "prepared place" for a "prepared people".

Are YOU preparing yourself to inhabit this heavenly home?