Formula For Success

Don’t you love some method or formula for success. Here is the formula for success:

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11)

He Cares For Us

Our pastor gave this illustration about the Lord Jesus and His care for us.

Many times I rent some equipment I need for a special job. I might think I don't have to treat it right, that I can abuse it. After all it is a rental; it's not my own. But if I own it and have paid for it, I will treat it more gently and carefully.

Jesus didn't rent us, nor were we just given to him. He, himself, redeemed us from our sins with His own blood. He cares for us in a special way, because we are his own.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)

What Is Repentance?

Wikipedia’s article on “repentance” has this definition:

In Biblical Hebrew, the idea of repentance is represented by two verbs: shuv (to return) and nicham (to feel sorrow). In the New Testament, the word translated as 'repentance' is the Greek word μετάνοια (metanoia), "after/behind one's mind", which is a compound word of the preposition 'meta' (after, with), and the verb 'noeo' (to perceive, to think, the result of perceiving or observing). In this compound word the preposition combines the two meanings of time and change, which may be denoted by 'after' and 'different'; so that the whole compound means: 'to think differently after'. Metanoia is therefore primarily an after-thought, different from the former thought; a change of mind accompanied by regret and change of conduct, "change of mind and heart", or, "change of consciousness". A description of repentance in the New Testament can be found in the parable of the prodigal son found in the Gospel of Luke (15 beginning at verse 11).

Another example can be found in the history of Naaman, the Syrian general found in 2 Kings 5. Naaman has leprosy. He wished to be healed of this but had no hope or medical treatment to cure him. Naaman also had an Israel servant girl who, “... said to her mistress, ‘Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’"

Naaman went to Elisha, the prophet. He expected something different then this: “Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:10-12)

Naaman was not going to be healed. He thought it had to be done a certain way. He never would have been healed if he had not repented. So now we see a good example of the word repent. What did Naaman do? “His servants went up to him and said, ‘Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can't you just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?’ So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child.” (2 Kings 5:13-14 emphasis added.)

He had a change of attitude and action. The attitude came first, but the action proved it. This is repentance.

Ordaination Poem

A friend of mine was at an ordination, preaching. A friend of his wrote this poem while he was preaching--I hope I got the story right. Any way here's the poem:

Now look ye out among you,
For men of good report,
Full of the Holy Spirit,
And wisdom to impart.

Appoint them to the business
Of serving young and old--
The word of truth proclaiming,
In preaching, to be bold.

There were seven in their number.
Seven men with each his call.
Several voices in the council;
Benefiting one and all.

True servants are the servers,
Not thinking of their need,
Thinking of the sheep their serving;
Never serving out of greed.

It is easy to identify
True shepherds of the sheep.
They smell like those they’re serving;
Their lives and souls to keep.

A shepherd’s not demanding;
He leads that all may see
A meek and gentle spirit.
What we, in Christ, may be.

A servant who’s self-serving,
Who seeks to keep control
Will only serve to hurt the sheep,
And in the end will fall.

Boyd Christiansen

Do All Go To Heaven?

Some people feel that God is so merciful that everyone will go to heaven. Have you ever been to a funeral were it was said that this person went to hell? No, they talk about their rest in heaven or, if they are an atheist, resting as a pile compost.

D. L. Moody has this illustration to show the irrationality of this belief. Suppose the Governor of a State should pardon every person that the courts ever convicted, and are now lying in its jails and penitentiaries; suppose he should let them all loose because he is so merciful that he could not bear to have men punished; I think he would not be Of the Governor of that State long. These men who are talking about God being so full of mercy, that He is going to spare, and take all men to heaven, would be the very men to say that such a Governor as that ought to be impeached--that he ought not to be Governor. Let us bear in mind that the Scripture says there is a certain class of people who “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Now, I will give you the Scripture; it is a good deal better to just give the Scripture for these things, and then if you do not like it you can quarrel with Scripture, and not with me. Let no man say that I have been saying who is going to heaven and who is not: I will let the Scripture speak for itself: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” 1 Corinthians 6:9.