GENEROUS HANDS
In Ephesians 4:28 we read the following inspired words of the Lord, “Let him that stole steal no longer: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that has need.” As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christians are called to labor with their own hands at a good work in order to supply not only their own needs, but also the needs of fellow members of the body of Christ. As it is written, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:16). The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 111 reads as follows, “But what does God require of you in this Commandment? That I further my neighbor's good where I can and may, deal with him as I would have others deal with me, and labor faithfully, so that I may be able to help the poor in their need.” Are you zealous to be a “vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). Do you have generous hands that supply for those who have needs? As Christians we do well to keep in mind the words of our Lord Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
—Pastor S. Henry
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THE WORD IN YOU
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”
—Colossians 3:16
I recently heard a statistic that only 15% of those who profess to be Bible-believing Christians regularly read the Bible. The statistic also reported that 35% of those who profess to be Christians never even read the Bible. The report went on to say that the remaining 50% of those who claim to be Bible believing Christians only read the Bible occasionally. Wow! Is it any wonder the Church of Jesus Christ is in the condition that it is? Is it any wonder why we have so many spiritual babies in the church? Is it any wonder why so many people, who are members of Bible-believing Protestant churches, embrace teachings that are not found in Scripture? You see, when you don’t know the truth you are susceptible to falling for the lies that Satan often throws upon the church through false teachers. So how often do you read the Bible? Are you among the 15%, 35%, or 50% of those who profess to be Bible-believing Christians? Get into the Word! Every Day!
—Pastor S. Henry
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CHRIST OVER ALL, ABOVE ALL
In the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul combats a heresy which threatens the church, the idea that Christ was just one of a series of mediators between God and man. Paul's response is that Christ is all-sufficient. Christ must be given the one central place in the plan of salvation because of who He is, God in human flesh, for in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Col. 1:19). Jesus must be given the central place because of what He has done: He created all things, the earth as well as the angelic beings in whom the heretics were putting their trust (Col. 2:18). Besides, Christ is the head of the church and the first to rise from the dead that in everything He might be pre-eminent (Col. 1:18). Because salvation is in Christ alone, our lives must be rooted and built up in Him (Col. 2:7). Again, what we believe ought to transform how we live because Christ is our life (Col. 3:4). Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, lust, deceit, etc. (Col. 3:5), and put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, forgiving each other, and above all put on love (Col. 3:12-14). Trust God’s promises and feed on His Word, and then you will develop Christ like qualities.
—Pastor S. Henry
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A PRAYER FOR ALL BELIEVERS…
May the Holy Spirit fill your soul with His presence and power this day as you hear His Word and bow your heart in prayer to our sovereign God! May the Holy Spirit prepare your heart to worship the sovereign God in Spirit and Truth on this Lord’s Day!
May your heart be flooded with wonder, love, and praise as you commune with God Almighty and other believers as the body of Christ! By the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word, may you fight off anxiety, discouragement, depression, and all the fiery darts and schemes of the wicked one!
May the Holy Spirit cause you to keep your eyes focused upon Jesus (Heb. 12:3) so you do not grow weary or discouraged in this fallen, sin-cursed world! May the Lord Jesus bless you to reflect upon His atonement, the inexpressible anguish, pains, and terrors that He suffered in the place of His sheep on the cross so that all believers might have abundant life in this world and everlasting life hereafter!
May the Lord Jesus cause you to always remember that He fulfilled all the Laws demands for your righteous standing before our holy God! May He bless you to proclaim the Gospel to yourself every moment of every day so that you are never led astray by the remaining sin in your heart and the deception of Satan!
May you faithfully sing, “To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Has Done!” To Him be all the glory, honor, and praise!! May this be a reality in every believer's life so that Christ might be exalted in the Church!
In Jesus' Name!
Amen!
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CHRISTIAN GROWTH
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
—2 Peter 3:18
When Peter exhorts believers to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is stressing the importance of our understanding and believing the truth of Scripture so that we are not led astray or seduced by the error of the wicked. Instead of being led away and seduced by error, Peter says we must grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. In other words, the only way to avoid falling in the Christian life is to advance. The only way to avoid slipping backward is to move forward. The only way to avoid error and false teaching is by knowing, understanding, and believing the truth. The word "falling" doesn’t mean losing one’s salvation. Rather, it means weakness or easily giving in to sin and temptation. Scripture is clear, every true believer is preserved in Jesus Christ (Jude vs. 1).
The Bible does not teach that you can be saved one day and lost the next. Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” So, dear Christian, keep moving forward in your Christian life and you will avoid slipping backwards into error and lethargy in the race that is set before you as you keep looking to Jesus.
—Pastor S. Henry
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JESUS IS NEAR
Jesus is with His people at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. He is ‘Immanuel, God with us.’ He is with us to comfort us in the hour of sorrow, to enlighten us in the hour of darkness, to guide us in the hour of doubt, to deliver us in the time of conflict, and to support us in the hour of death. Every believer must realize this wondrous truth. Jesus was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace. He was with Daniel in the lions' den, and He was with John in his exile on the island of Patmos. Jesus is, at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances with His people. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Are you passing through the furnace of affliction? Is your health failing? Is your faith weak? Do not be cast down, dear believer! This furnace is only designed to burn the dross and work your inward good and draw you nearer to Jesus. Be of good cheer, for He has promised never to leave or forsake you, “So we may boldly say: “The lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:6)
—Pastor S. Henry
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Dear Christian…
Remember:
Daily, continual, moment by moment struggling and fighting against sin is a mark of a regenerated soul.
Dead hearts don't fight, they cannot fight, only those made alive in Christ fight the good fight of faith.
Take heart, dear believer. Keep looking to Jesus!
The fighting can be fierce, but the Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus, is always with us and strengthens us!
Keep running, keep fighting, keep on keeping on by faith in Christ!
The Lord is on your side. He will never let you be separated from the love of God.
No sheep will ever be snatched from His hand.
Be thankful. Keep rejoicing in the Lord!
—Pastor S. Henry
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