Preferring the old way

Many of those who are mature in the Lord prefer some of the old things. We like the old hymns better than the new. Many prefer the old hymn books, the organ, the old fashioned altar in the church. We prefer the old time preaching warning of sin and hell. Much of what is in churches today has strayed from the preaching of the gospel. Some have not strayed from the old ways. One local church has as it's motto a verse from the prophet Jeremiah.

Jer 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 

For some, change is difficult and resisted, preferring the old ways. Let us prefer the way of truth and righteousness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 5:37  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 
Luk 5:38  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 
Luk 5:39  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. 

The religious leaders of the Old Covenant preferred the old wine, for it made them intoxicated and the Scribes and Pharisees were intoxicated by their positions of power to accuse and to kill.  Jesus did many good works and miracles. but they did not understand him, nor did they see him as he was; the Messiah, the Son of God. Perhaps they saw him but refused to accept him because of jealousy.

People resist change, preferring the old ways. Some called the "Judaizers" tried to mix the old wine with the new. They wanted people of the new covenant to be circumcised as was the law of Abraham and Moses, but salvation in Christ Jesus is not by works, but of faith. Circumcision was not of the flesh, but it was of the heart. We are to seek the "good way", we are to walk in the Spirit. The "law" people try to force the believer into a way that is not the way of God's grace. They seek to place people under bondage to laws of their choosing.

Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 
Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 

The new covenant is not against the laws of God, for Jesus fulfilled all the laws, even circumcision, so that by faith in Jesus we are free from the guilt of breaking laws. The old covenant showed us our sins, our missing the perfect law of God ,but sin brought death. Jesus brought life by his shed blood so that by faith in him, we are saved from the punishment of our sins. He took our punishment upon himself. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving my soul and making my spirit alive in you. Let us partake of the new wine in your New Covenant and walk in the best paths.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Seek Proof

2Co 13:3  Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 

Because of the influence of false teachers, some in the church at Corinth were thinking that Paul was not an apostle sent from God. They were questioning him, accusing him of not being the real thing. 

In today's world of Christianity we see many kinds of churches. Some are rich and prosperous and man centered. Much of what is taught in them is motivation for success, but not necessarily from God's word. Many have big names, and have a big following by teaching to itching ears, telling the people what they want to hear. There are some word churches that teach the word of God. They are cautious towards strange preachers, examining them by the word of God. This is as the church of Ephesus in Revelation. Jesus spoke to them that they had left their first love of him. They were swift to judge but slow to love others. 

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 

Paul goes on to say that the church should examine themselves before examining others.

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 

2Co 13:6  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 

Paul was concerned for souls, not seeking personal glory. If Paul seemed to be as a reprobate to them, it is on Paul. They need to be sure about their own salvation.

2Co 13:7  Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. 

2Co 13:8  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 

We can do nothing but the truth. The word of God is true and Jesus is the truth; the way, the truth and the life, so walk in the light of God's truth.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 

There are some who make a ministry of finding fault with every preacher or teacher. My advise to them is to look twice at their own heart before making judgements of others. I was warned in a dream about being to quick to judge another person. We all have faults so we should seek to bring life and truth with love. Love is stronger than anything we can do or say, as in 1 Corinthians 13. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus, our first love.

Ask

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 
Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 
Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 

Joh 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

All power and authority has been given to Jesus and through him we may ask the Father for anything in his will and he will do it. You must believe on Jesus and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. He is able to to do exceedingly above all that we ask and think, so do not limit the power of God in answering your request in prayer. I ask that my wife be healed and strengthened and be used of God for greater things. I ask that you receive of God abundantly, even more according to his will. I ask for this for myself as well. Fill me Lord, use me in ways I have not yet imagined. In Jesus I ask this and all glory be to God. Amen

At the Cross

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 
Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 
Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

Jesus on the cross paid the price to redeem all who come to him, from the Jews and Gentiles (all humans). We are made one by faith in Christ Jesus, we are brothers and sisters not separated from each other but made one body of Christ, for he dwells in us. His Spirit inhabits us making us the dwelling place of God. God's Spirit stays with us, to comfort us, to guide us in all wisdom and truth. This was accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross.

At the Cross

by Isaac Watts

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

A dear pastor friend lost his wife a number of years ago. He is now in his mid eighties being busy ministering to others and teaching. He reflected that he had lost his joy. How sad to be alone and without joy. Are we ever alone when there are so many brothers and sisters in the Lord? Let us be encouragers and sing the hymns of praise, for joy and peace are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Like David, sometimes we feel alone, but he encouraged himself in the Lord and so shall we be encouraged. 

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

 

Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

 

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.

May we be blessed in Jesus and a blessing to others.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

I shall not be ashamed

Isa 50:4  The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 
Isa 50:5  The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 
Isa 50:6  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 
Isa 50:7  For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 
Isa 50:8  He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 
Isa 50:9  Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. 

The Messiah speaks wise words in season to those who are weary. Morning by morning the LORD speaks into his ear and he is not rebellious to what he hears. He is obedient, walking in the Father's light. 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

He gave his back to be whipped, they plucked the hair from his cheeks and he did not hide his face from shame and spitting. Why? because it was their shame and not his own. He came to take our shame upon himself to the cross so that we by faith in him may be free of shame and guilt. 


Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

The LORD God will help him, Jesus had a mission to accomplish and he set his face like a flint, cutting through the shame until that day he would quietly speak from the cross "it is finished."

John 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

Jesus is risen from the grave and lives in his people so that we may say with him: "Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? "

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Clean Hands

Job 17:7  My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow. 
Job 17:8  The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless. 
Job 17:9  Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger. 

Vexation; Annoyed, frustrated, exasperated or worried. Job says: "all my members are like a shadow". A shadow is only a symbol of something real.  Job is weak in himself, he has no confidence in his flesh and his counsellors annoy him. The "upright", the innocent stirs themselves against evil and injustice; the cause of the suffering.  The righteous keep going, those with "clean hands grows stronger and stronger"; hands not stained with innocent blood. A person by faith made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ our redeemer. His pure blood and life given for us so that we, by faith are forgiven from above and strengthened for our life here and now. By faith Job would speak of his redeemer.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 

Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 

Hold onto the hand of Jesus and his strength will be with you until you meet him in glory.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Kenya Evangelical Mission

I received a notice by email that my long time missionary friend, Hoyt Osborn had gone to be with the Lord. He and his wife Lois were members of the local Bible teaching church, along with my wife and I. A missionary had given a talk and Hoyt and Lois felt the calling to be missionaries. They thought that they would go to Japan but that door closed. Determined to go to Africa they were accepted at a school in Kenya where Hoyt was a teacher. In their spare time and on weekends they would go into the bush and teach the gospel message. The Lord was blessing them and they built a church and with their success Churches and friends in the U.S. began to support them as missionaries. In twenty seven years they built twenty seven churches, schools and Bible colleges. The work continues. Please watch the video.

Kenya Evangelical Church

https://vimeo.com/59002230