Month: June 2016

Jesus Loves The Little Children Of The World

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Jesus loves me. This I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.

I really like children’s songs. Truth is explained in words so simple and basic that you cannot help but take notice – even now as adults. And sometimes we just need to be reminded of the simplicity of the gospel in the words of songs we were taught before we could even read.

Like this song: Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black and white – they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Did you ever think about how profound that sentiment was in the first century? Picture this: the church has just been established, and what is the very first thing that happens? Do they distribute flyers? Or build a building? Or plan a meeting? Or start a mission? Or create an outreach? No. None of those things.

We find out exactly what the very first thing this newly established church did in the book of Acts. In Acts 2:8-12 the witnesses in the crowd say this: “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Seriously? Everyone heard the gospel concerning Jesus in their home language? How did that happen? I think that is pretty easy to answer – it was a miracle brought about via the Holy Spirit. Maybe the better question is “why” it happened. Why would the very first thing that happens in this newly created church be for everyone to hear the good news about Jesus in their native tongue? Why would the Spirit of God be so sweeping in the format of the message? Why is it in every language? Why is it not just in the language of the Jews — Hebrew?

I think it is one of the first messages we have from God under this new covenant: everyone is welcome. Peter even quotes the prophet Joel in Acts 2:21 when he says, ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

In Acts 10:34 we come to understand that this even extends to the Gentiles! “Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”

So, what does that have to do with me today? Why does it matter that the gospel wasn’t just for the descendants of Abraham? And — I thought we were talking about children’s songs – right?

Well, there are two other verses of the “Jesus Loves the Little Children” song. I think they will tie it all together for us.

Second verse: Jesus died for all the children. All the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black and white – they are precious in His sight. Jesus died for all the children of the world.

Third verse: Jesus rose for all the children. All the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black and white – they are precious in His sight. Jesus rose for all the children of the world.

That is significant my friends. From the very beginning of God’s New Covenant with His people, He made it clear that He no longer had favorites. Not anymore. Now, everyone can be a follower of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus loves ALL the children of the world.

James’ Prayer

We are studying the book of James on Sunday mornings. I love chapter five, and James’ thoughts about prayer.

JAMES’ PRAYER

James 5:13-16

By – Bob Baulch

If some one has trouble
We will kneel down and pray
For those of us happy
Let us sing songs of praise

Is there one sick today
Call on those from the church
To give prayers and help
In the name of the Lord

The prayer offered in faith
Makes the sick person well
The Lord will raise them up
And in their heart will dwell

All sins are forgiven
Therefore confess today
Nothing’s like the power
Of righteous saints who pray

 

What’s in a Name?

Don’t be deceived into thinking that the name on a sign designates whether a local congregation of believers is “a true church” or not. There is only one church. Period. Jesus said in Matthew 16 that the church would be built oh this foundation: that Jesus is the Christ – the son of the living God.

Churches might be poor financially but rich spiritually like the church at Smyrna – they are still Jesus’ church (Rev 2:8-11). They could be following a false doctrine like members of the Pergamum church holding to the teachings of Balaam – Jesus still addressed them as His church (Rev 2:12-17). They may be like the church at Thyatira and have members who follow a false prophet that leads them into sexual immorality and idolatry – it was still a church of Christ (Rev 2:18-29). It could be a church like that at Sardis and full of people who are asleep and who are not finishing their work – but Jesus still called it His church (Rev 3:1-6). Or maybe it’s a church like the one in Laodicea – rich on the outside but poor and blind (Rev 3:14-22). The church in Corinth was full of worship practices that were not pleasing to God – they were still a church of God. 

Again, what did Jesus say the church was built on? The belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior, the son of God. Isn’t it interesting that this is the confession we make before being baptized? I don’t think so.

So what church in Revelation did Jesus threaten with removal of their lampstand (or removal of their recognized church-status)? Look at the Ephesian church (Rev 2:1-7).  Its actually quite frightening what they were guilty of: They were the one full of good deeds. They were the one that worked hard. They were the one that persevered. They were the one that could not tolerate wicked people. They were the one that tested for false doctrine. They were the one that identified false teachers. They were the one that endured hardship in Jesus name. They were the one that did not grow weary. They were the one that hated the practices of false prophets. Imagine that! The church Jesus threatened to disown did ALL of those wonderful things – and did them well! But they were still threatened with the removal of their lampstand. 

Wait a second! Aren’t those are the things many of us use to determine whether a church is “in good standing” or whether it is a “true church” or not. Isn’t it odd that Jesus used something else to make His decision and NOT those things that many of us use? So, why did Jesus threaten to remove their status as a church? Simple. They had forsaken their first love: the love we have for Jesus when we are first saved. The love based in the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the King, the Messiah, the SAVIOR – and the son of the living God. Doesn’t that sound an awful lot like what Jesus said the church was founded upon. 

Don’t be fooled into thinking that only local congregations that comply with the points we consider important are “sound” in God’s eyes.  Being part of a religion won’t get you to Heaven my friends. Being in a particular church won’t get you to Heaven either. Only Jesus is the way to Heaven, and only once we are in the right relationship with the King will we be a part of His kingdom on Earth – the church. 

Some might think the name on the sign in front of a building will indicate where true Christians worship. If THAT is what you think identifies a group of people who believe Jesus is the Christ – the son of God – I suggest you act like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and study.

What exactly did the Bereans study about? The same message Paul delivered to the Thessalonians: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you was the Messiah” (Acts 17:3). Wait a second – isn’t that basically the same premise that Jesus built His church on? Well, yes it is my friends. Yes it is. 

“Names” of the church:

The church – too many times to list

The Way – Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14; Acts 24:22; 2 Pet 2:2

Church of God – Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 1:2; 1 Cor 10:32; 1 Cor 11:16; 1 Cor 11:22; 1 Cor 15:19; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:13; 2 Thes 1:4; 1 Tim 3:5

The church Jesus built – Mat 16:18

The church in Jerusalem – Acts 8:1

Church throughout Judea – Acts 9:31; Gal 1:22

Church throughout Galilee – Acts 9:31

Church throughout Samaria-Acts 9:31

Church at Jerusalem – Acts 11:22

Church at Antioch – Acts 13:1

Church at Cenchrea – Rom 16:1

Churches of the Gentiles – Rom 16:4

Church in their house – Rom 16:4

Churches of Christ – Rom 16:16

Whole church – Rom 16:23

Churches of the saints – 1 Cor 14:33

Churches of Galitia – 1 Cor 16:1; Gal 1:2

Churches of Asia – 1 Cor 16:19; Rev 1:4

Churches of Macedonia – 2 Cor 8:1

Church of Laodiceans – Col 4:16

Brethren in Laodicea – Col 4:15; 

Church in Laodicea – Rev 3:14

Brethren in Nympha – Col 4:15

Church of Thessalonians- 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1

Church of God in Christ Jesus – 1 Thes 2:14

Household of God – 1 Tim 3:15

Church of the Living God – 1 Tim 3:15

Church in Ephesus – Rev 2:1

Saints at Ephesus – Eph 1:1

Church in Smyrna – Rev 2:8

Church in Pergamum – Rev 2:12

Church in Thyatira – Rev 2:18

Church in Sardis – Rev 3:1

Church in Philadelphia – Rev 3:7

Church of the firstborn – Heb 12:23

True people of God – Rom 9:6