Martin Hurkens, winner of "Holland's Got Talent" in 2010

Magnificent
  
As people are scurrying from shop to shop on the cobblestone streets of a city in Europe, the music begins. The sounds reverberate against the buildings and streets of stone catching the ears of passersby, causing them to wonder the music's source and the reason for its being played. Some eyes are drawn to a man in his 60s, balding and lightly bearded, who is standing alone in the center of the street with a hat placed before him.

Then the man begins to sing, and more and more stop to listen. His operatic voice reflects no ordinary talent. Sadly, there are those who keep walking, carrying on with their business. But the crowd of listeners grows. Some, in response to the beautifully sung melodies, walk awkwardly up to the man and place some coins in his hat. Others stop and listen - some with smiles, others with tears in their eyes - as the music and singing captures their hearts. Those who stop to listen are blessed with the words of a tender song, "You Raise Me Up," magnificently sung by Martin Hurkens, winner of "Holland's Got Talent" in 2010. Watch his "street singer" performance and the reaction of the listeners here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RojlDwD07I

Now consider a Man sitting on a mountain side Who begins a discourse with the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3ff). Imagine following the Teacher, desiring to hear more of His instruction but also wanting to observe His character. Those who would take the time and opportunity to do so observed that this was no ordinary man. His words were sublime, His character flawless, His manner of dealing with people, perfect!

There were some who dismissed Him; others rejected Him outright. But those with open hearts who listened carefully, observed closely, and investigated thoroughly, saw and heard more than magnificence; they witnessed Majesty!  These responded, "Truly, this IS the Son of God." He was Immanuel, God-in-the-flesh.

He came to REVEAL the Heavenly Father (John 1:18), TEACH us the will of God (Matthew 7:21-27), GIVE us the perfect example to follow (1 Peter 2:21), and to DIE on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He came to live among men and then to die for all so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).

God will forgive and give the gift of eternal life to those who will place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His word (1 John 1:7).

Please pause from your busyness.... Take a closer look at Jesus: READ His Word, EXAMINE His works, OBSERVE His interactions, CONSIDER His selfless sacrifice and SEE His Majesty.  Then surrender your life to Him!

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent

What is sin?

There’s a word mentioned many times in the Bible and is probably spoken in just about every sermon preached.  If it isn’t, it should be.  That word is “sin.”  I’ll start off our lesson today by asking you a simple question: Do you know what sin is?  The dictionary will tell you that sin is a “transgression of divine law” or something similar.  Let me tell you what my definition of sin is: it’s “my will” instead of “Thy will.”

 

Let’s go with a few more questions.  Is fishing a sin?  Is baseball, football or any other sport a sin?  How about watching TV or, as we’ve seen in our study of Ecclesiastes in our Sunday morning class, is having a lot of money a sin?  Is the ownership of a great many of earth’s commodities a sin?

 

The answer to those questions is - No.  Those things, in and of themselves, are not sin but, they can be the catalyst to sin.  That simply means that they can be a “provoker” or perhaps a “motivator” to sin.  Something that we like to have or to participate in.  When we devote our minds (hearts) and our efforts to having or doing them before and above obeying God is when sin occurs.

 

It’s not that ball game or “whatever” that is the sin.  In effect, it’s us putting that “created thing” over, in a sense “worshiping,” God when we’re supposed to be doing that.  It’s putting the “creature” over the “Creator.”

 

There’s an old hymn entitled: “Take My Life And Let It Be” and in the 2nd stanza we sing these words: “Take my will and make it Thine.  It shall be no longer mine.”  The last part of that verse tells us where our “will” is located.  “Take my heart it is Thine own.  It shall be thy royal throne.”

 

Our “wills” are housed in our “hearts.”  In the book of Matthew we read that both “good” and “evil” comes from our “hearts.”  (12:35 & 15:19)   I suspect that’s so because Christ tells us in Matt. 6:21 that in our “heart” is where we store our “treasure.”  But way before Jesus preached His sermon on the mount, we were told how important the “heart” is to our soul.  In Prov. 4:23 Solomon said these words: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”  (NLT)

 

Most all of us are familiar with the next scriptural passage I’ll use and it’s found in Hebrews 12:1-2.  In verse 1 the writer is talking about living our lives as if participating in a race.  Then in verse 2 he says where the focus of our “hearts” are to be: “looking to Jesus.”

 

If Jesus then is our guide, our example, let’s see how His “heart” directed Him.  My next verse has been used many times in sermons and lessons, but probably not in the way that I’m using it here.  In Matt. 26:39 we find Jesus in Gethsemane, “on His face” and praying these words: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

 

Think about that for a moment.  What was soon to transpire.  Yet even in His time of great agony, Jesus made His will subservient to His Father.  I’m quite sure that we’ve put our will over God’s many times with not near so much of a “motivator.”

 

What I read in that verse is that Christ would just as well have been somewhere else, doing something else rather than going to the cross and dying on it.  Why can I say that?  Because He was like all men while on earth  (Heb. 4:15) and subject to man’s temptations.  Yet, when faced with what would have to be the greatest temptation ever, He knew that it was not God’s will that “this cup pass” and Jesus accepted that His Father’s will was greater, more superior to His own, therefore was to be obeyed.

 

Various scriptures tell us that Christ “did no sin” while on the earth as a man.  One of those scriptures is the one I just cited in the preceding paragraph, Heb. 4:15.  The reason He did “no sin” is because he never put His own will above His Fathers.   He says as much in John 6:38:  “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.”

 

I’ll wrap up my thoughts today by going back to the onset of our lesson and my definition of “sin.”  We sin when we make God’s will subservient to our’s.   If we claim to be Christians, which means that we claim to follow Christ, then let’s follow His guidance, we need to follow His “steps” in doing our best to make our will subordinate to God’s.

 

I think a closing passage fitting to our thoughts here would be this one:

 

      “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.   He committed no sin, neitherwas deceit found in is mouth."  1 Peter 2:21-22 (ESV)

 

Ron Covey

Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear

        Lies  in  Disguise!      

   Edgar Allen Poe is credited with saying, "Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear." Poe may have overstated the case, but thoughtful people realize the world is filled with illusions. Solomon warned, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). That being so, a healthy degree of caution and slowness to swallow everything that comes to our eyes and ears is a healthy thing. Ours is a world where images are photo-shopped and manipulated and technology allows people to post any thought or opinion that just happens to pop into what are sometimes fairly empty heads! News casters and political pundits "spin" everything they report on TV and radio. The internet is bursting with opinions, viewpoints, and "perspectives" - some good, but much of it just plain goofy! Gullible people naively believe any and everything they read on the internet or social media to be true. I ran into a quote recently that warns against that mistake. It went this way: "The thing about quotes on the internet is you cannot confirm their validity - Abraham Lincoln." A little girl asked her father, "Daddy, do all fairy tales begin with the words, 'Once upon a time?' Here daddy replied, 'No. A whole lot of them begin with the words, 'If elected, I promise.'" Apologies to honest politicians among us!

 The point is lies come in disguise. They even show up in disguise down at church and in pulpits. Jesus warned about that in Matthew 7:15-20. Verse 15 of that text preaches a message many in our pluralistic world simply do not want to hear and will not objectively consider - "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." These words simply don't resonate with many in our pluralistic age. Increasing numbers in our world do not believe any religious beliefs or moral behaviors are false and wrong, except for the religious belief that says some religious beliefs and moral behaviors are false and wrong! In a publication called Pulpit Helps (1/01) Lee Weeks quoted religious author Josh McDowell who said the prevailing cultural mindset in America defines truth according to be "personal perspective" and "personal experience." The result is a popular belief that truth is not something that exists separate and apart from us, waiting to be discovered; rather, truth is something to be created by each one of us as we see it! The apostle Paul affirms that "the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21b). But in these days when all claims to truth are viewed as equal and valid, many believe the wrong-headed idea that "truth is in me," or in public opinion polls, or Presidential executive orders, or Supreme Court rulings. Frequently we hear someone speak of "my truth" or "your truth," and that all roads, no matter how diverse and conflicting, will at last lead to

God. Not true says Jesus. A religious and moral lie is still a lie, no matter how well disguised. A wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf, and a lie is still a lie, even if millions of people believe it. The devil is an expert at disguising lies (Genesis 3:1ff; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). God's word wolf-proofs the church, protects the sheep, and guides us to eternal life (John 7:17; John 8:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; Acts 17:11; Acts 20:32). Think about it.

--by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

Review of the Hearst Castle

THE MANSION

It's amazing how much interest people have in big houses, or perhaps mansions. Of course one person's mansion is another person's guest house. A whole lot depends upon   our perspective.

This week my wife and I traveled the Pacific Coast Highway to the Hearst Castle to celebrate our 47th wedding anniversary.  We took the tour and oohed and ahh'ed at things like others there also. It was neat, it was big, and it was filled with things that cost lots of money. William Hearst spent 28 years of his life on this ongoing building project and they told us that he was never happier than when he was undertaking another aspect of it, building or improving. When we left I looked around and thought, 'what a waste'. Not only a waste of more money that I can even imagine, but what a waste of a life. Did William Hearst accomplish a lot of things in his life, yes, but they told us this was just one of 7 lavish mansions he had around the county.

I know that I have no right to criticize another man's dream, we each have dreams of some kind, but his dream was far from what mine is. I dream of a mansion of another kind. In John 14:2 Jesus said, "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." (KJV) Another translation puts this more correctly I believe when it says, "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" (NIV)

The Idea from the Greek language is that there are many resting places in God's House (heaven). Is it large and richly appointed, I believe it is, though there is no way to know the exact details. The idea the Jesus is trying to share is that our life in Heaven in everyway, out weighs the problems and difficulties here on this earth.

We sing hymns such as, "There's a mansion, just over the hilltop," or "Lord build me a cabin in the corner of Glory Land." The difference in those songs alone, tell us that we really don't understand the message of God. As A.T. Robinson wrote, "There are many resting-places in the Father's house. Christ's picture of heaven here is the most precious one that we possess. It is our heavenly home with the Father and with Jesus."

Was Hearst's Castle impressive? Yes! Did it impress me to the point that I would want it or want to live there? No way! I've got something better waiting for me, how about you?

Russ Lawson

World's Best Barista

"To Make Perfect Coffee ..."

Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood has reason to boast. The co-owner of a coffee shop in Bath, England recently won a contest to be named "World's Best Barista". To win that title he called upon the services of Chris Hendon, a chemist with the University of Bath.

Why a chemist? According to Hendon, "brewing coffee might be the most practiced chemical extraction in the world." And making the perfect cup of coffee came down to using the perfect water.

Colonna-Dashwood won a title he'll wear proudly for the rest of his life. What did Hendon get out of his painstaking research? He is the lead author of an article published in the current edition of "Journal Of Agriculture and Food Chemistry". The article, entitled "The Role of Dissolved Cations in Coffee Extraction", is beyond my ability to comprehend. The National Coffee Association puts it more simply: "The water you use is very important to the quality of your coffee."

Some may find it hard to believe, but there are issues more important than coffee. Here's one that I propose: How can we arrive at the perfect life?

For a question like that, it's always best to turn to God. In this case we find water is again an important ingredient. Hebrews 10:22 makes that point: "Let us draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Pure water, we learn, is key.

Readers from a Jewish background in that first century may have immediately thought of the large basin of water placed outside of the temple. This was a place for the priests to wash themselves before entering into the presence of God (see 2 Chronicles 4:6). God often demanded cleansing before people approached Him (Exodus 19:10,11; 29:4; Numbers 8:20-22; etc.).

There is no temple or bronze basin today to cleanse those who wish to approach God, but water is still provided. Peter wrote about it: "There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21).

Some argue that water has nothing to do with salvation, but the passages in Hebrews and in 1 Peter suggest otherwise. Consider also the command given to Saul of Tarsus by a messenger from Christ: "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

This is God's formula. To have a perfect life, we have to begin with pure water.

Timothy D. Hall.

Abraham "looked for the city which hath the foundations whose builder and maker is God."

"He Looked For A City" Abraham is often referred to as the "father" of the faithful. The adage is not just a worthy approbation for that great man of faith, for even the apostle Paul affirmed, "And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise" (Gal. 3:29). Every student of the Bible, whether a novice or a seasoned scholar, is well aware of the great faith of this man who became the progenitor of two physical nations, and a fitting example for all those who seek to walk in the steps of Abraham toward that heavenly home that awaits all the faithful. Perhaps the faith of this man was best summed up by the Hebrews writer in the eleventh chapter of that great epistle. If you want to know the marks of a great man, pay attention to what the inspired writer said about Abraham in this chapter: "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed" (11:8). "By faith he became a sojourner.." (11:9). In another passage the apostle Paul made a most significant observation regarding Abraham and his connection with those of us who live in the Christian dispensation. Abraham is "the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision" (Romans 4:12). The force of Paul's word serve as a wonderful encouragement to those of us who are not of Jewish stock, which, by the way, happens to be the larger percentage of faithful Christians throughout the generations. My favorite character trait of Abraham is in Hebrews 11:10, from which we derive the title of this week's article, and upon which I want to elaborate: "For he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God." In view of the "present distress" that is upon us, I think it would be good to revisit this trait of Abraham. You may ask, "What present distress"? Unless you are like the proverbial ostrich that has stuck its head in the sand, you are fully aware of what I speak. It is astonishing the depth of degradation to which our nation has sunk in the last 50 years. Behavior that was labeled "vice" half a century ago has now become the norm. Homosexuality, for all practical purposes, has been accepted as normal behavior. Alcohol has been a blight on our citizenry since the repeal of Prohibition, but is now considered a part of the social norm. Now marijuana has been legalized in two states, and at least another dozen are considering following Washington and Colorado down the pathway of self destruction by legalizing not only "pot," but other illegal drugs as well. Gambling has become an accepted form of "entertainment," and "poker champions" are glorified and placed in the same category as sports heroes (though I would not give you a plug nickel for most of the sports figures today). America has reached the point where she is not only unashamed to blush, but our government leaders simply refuse to enforce the laws they think are unjust or contrary to their "toleration" level. If Lot was "sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked" (2 Pet. 2:7), it is only normal for every faithful child of God to be "distressed" by what surrounds him today (if he is not then he needs to do some serious soul searching). But the "present distress" goes far beyond the immorality of those who surround us. Dark clouds continue to gather as Satan marshals his forces for the destruction of those "that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 12:17). Atheism is becoming more militant, federal judges who hate God, ignore the Constitution, and have absolutely no respect for the Bible, are being appointed to life-time positions of power, and our "leaders" in Washington continue to demonstrate an earthy wisdom that exacerbates the problems that surround us. With increasing frequency we are reading of court decisions that are unfavorable to someone seeking to live a Christian life. Slowly, but certainly with increasing intensity, laws are being put into place that deny religious freedom, and ere too long all of us shall feel the sting of Satan's onslaught. Oh yes, the "present distress" is upon us! Abraham lived in a world much like what I have described above. And this is where our passage in Hebrews 11:10 comes in. Abraham did not have his eyes fixed on the here and now. He "looked for the city which hath the foundations whose builder and maker is God." Consider the following: First, Abraham believed there was a "city which hath foundations" that lay beyond the veil of death. He fully expected to enter that city some day. Time was not important to him, nor was he wearied by the distance he had to travel to get there. Take careful note, dear reader, that the sacred writer did not say Abraham looked for just any city. The definite article suggests that it was a definite city to which Abraham had cast his heart and his eyes, and in that precise order. The only way he could have known about that city was by divine revelation, although the precise details of that revelation are not contained in Scripture. Unlike Lot who had cast his eyes toward Sodom, Abraham had cast his eyes toward a place far beyond the bounds of earthly ties, fenced cities, or walled fortresses. Unseen with human eye, that city was real to Abraham. Second, Abraham looked for that city with great intensity with the full expectation of it becoming a reality some day. Robertson (Word Pictures) tells us that the original word is "picturesque progressive imperfect, his steady and patient waiting in spite of disappointment." The same word is used in Hebrews 10:3 to describe the full expectation that our Lord had regarding victory: "henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet" (Heb. 10:3). Is our search for that city and our journey to it as intense as that of Abraham? Third, Abraham realized that, so far as his earthly life was concerned, he was a "stranger and pilgrim on the earth" (Heb. 11:13). I have made extensive trips to various parts of the world to do what I can to promote the cause of Christ. With the exception of two years in South Africa, I have never opened a bank account in any of those countries, never purchased property, and on only one occasion did I purchase an automobile. The reason for such was that I knew I would only be there for a short time. That land was not my home, and I was only a sojourner in the midst of a people not my own. We have been warned that "they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Tim. 6:9). It is important to note that one only need to be "minded to be rich." Once this world becomes my home and my life's ambition is to improve the well being of the physical man while neglecting the well being of the spiritual man, I have started down that road to destruction. In short, I have taken my eyes off that city whose builder and maker is God, and I have focused my attention on things that are temporal, decaying, and someday to be destroyed. I have, for all practical purposes, stopped walking in the steps of Abraham. The pressing question for each of us to consider is this: "Are you looking for the city which hath foundation, whose builder and maker is God"? A song often sang at funerals has words most fitting here, and perhaps its message needs to be ingrained in our hearts on a daily basis and not just on occasions of the death of a loved one. "I am going to a city, where the streets with gold are laid. Where the tree of life is blooming, and the roses never fade. Here they bloom but for a season, soon their beauty is decayed. I am going to a city, where the roses never fade." by Tom Wacaster

What does "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" mean?

RESPECTERS OF PERSONS AND SLAVES TO SIN

Christ was not a slave to sin nor was he a respecter or persons. These are areas where many Christians and even congregations fall short and more effort is needed to guard against these weaknesses.

When Jesus taught the scribes and Pharisees about sin and slavery he said: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you….They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:34-39).  It’s interesting they seemed more offended by the comment that they were servants than that they were sinners, but Jesus showed them they were in fact both—servants to sin because of their works.

Paul spoke in the same language with the same teaching, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:16-18). Many of the letters to the early churches show that both individuals as well as congregations can be the servants of sin if they do not give heed to their works.  Jesus declared that unless we are freed by the truth we are in bondage. And if we have been freed by the truth, we need to be the servants of righteousness in both word and deed (Col. 3:17).

Paul declared that God is not a respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11) and we are not to be either.  But this is another area where individuals and congregations may err even while professing to love as Christ loved. James rebuked the early Christians; “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). It’s easy to judge, show preference, segregate, or congregate along racial, ethnic, socio-economic, political, or other lines, but when we do, we are not pleasing to God. Unfortunately we may not have to look far to see examples in the church that are not pleasing to God, but let’s start with ourselves first and make sure that we are the servants of righteousness, not only in this area, but in all areas of our life.

—Matthew Johnson

Books; Daughters of Sarah; Muliebral Studies; Muliebral Viewpoint