The Righteous

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Being faithful is important, and being called, we are enabled to do His work by his grace. God called the twelve disciples, and equipped them for ministry.

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Paul was the last of the apostles to be called.

1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Tim 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Thinking he was serving God by being zealous for his law keeping, he destroyed God's children, in ignorance.

1 Tim 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Our righteousness is by faith in Jesus.

1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

If Saul can be saved, so can we. We should not write people off, but rather pray for them, that they might hear and receive the word of faith and be accounted as righteous in Christ Jesus. Paul was given a ministry to the Gentile nations and with the calling was the promise of suffering with God's grace. The faithful will also suffer and be persecuted and more so in days to come, for Jesus is coming back for his righteous and  faithful Church.

Victory in Jesus

Tom was a young man saved through our Internet ministry. He with others in a "Free" family of new believers grew in their faith in Jesus Christ. They helped many others come out of bondage into liberty. Tom gave his life in Iraq having re enlisted in the army. He gave his all to secure freedom for others and led other soldiers to Jesus. Death where is your sting? Only in our missing those who have departed. But we will be together forever in God's forever kingdom. Those we have lost contact with will be reunited in glory.

1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

We do not fear the punishment of sin that is death. The law of sin and death is not for the Christian. Jesus has given us victory over death and the grave. We live eternally in new resurrected bodies.

1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

No, your labour is not in vain. We are not bound to everlasting torment. Works do not save anyone, but Jesus saves. Our works for him have an everlasting reward. Perhaps the best reward will be seeing others you witnessed to in glory with you. Already some have died that I helped find Jesus, some died with strongholds, but I believe Jesus' blood still saves. There is victory in Jesus, and no bad or evil thing will inherit glory, only that which is in Christ Jesus. Jesus' blood washed us clean and we are made acceptable to God our father. Be stedfast, unmoveable in your faith, always abounding, over and above  measure . Your cup overflowing with zeal for the Lord, for you know your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Be slow to speak

 

We must give room for ministry. One of the problems with denominations and non denominational churches is their feeling of exclusiveness, that they have the truth and question the ways of some of the other churches. As a child I attended a school where once a week all the children were given a choice to attend a Baptist church or a Catholic church. I still remember the pastor of one of these churches shaking his fist at the other church across town. Do we expect too much? Not all people are alike, nor do they serve God the same way. Give them room and always speak of Jesus as the center of our faith.

 

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

 

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.

Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

Churches can be as different as the people who attend them, even in a particular denomination. It is being in Jesus Christ that brings us together. We can come together if he is held up and worshipped as our Lord and savior. God the Father, has given authority to his son to judge all things. If Jesus is not worshipped as God, then the church probably is not a Christian church. Some claim to know Jesus, but not as Lord. Jesus must be exalted in the churches along with God the Father. The Holy Spirit is God, but he exalts the Father and the Son. We worship by the Spirit and through the Spirit. If the Spirit exalts Jesus, than so should we. We are to honor men, but not to exalt them. We are not to exalt a denomination as "the only true church." The focus is on Jesus and the cross and his resurrection. He is the foundation of the church that we build upon.

The Gift of Helps

1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Let us look at the gift of helps. Helps, the Greek word: antilēmpsis, to aid, to help.

1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: ...

I believe that all Christians can help others through service. We are commanded to be servants of God by serving one another.

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Just what is this gift of helps? A wife should be a help meet.

A help meet is to complement the husband, serving him in any way that she can. The husband is to be the head of the wife, so the wife should not compete with him. In a spiritual sense the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our help meet, the Greek word paraklētos: means called to ones side, called to one's aid.

Our Pastor often shares this verse written by Solomon:

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;...

He is a minister, a servant of others, helping wherever there is a need to be met. A helper often is not noticed, but in the morning the coffee is made. In the church things are kept in order, the bathrooms are clean, there is a glass of water for the Preacher.

Mar 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Too often I hear someone complain about some lack in the church. A helper will take care of the need without complaining. They are a great blessing, not looking for praise or rewards, but serving as unto the Lord. A helper loves to help others. You will not hear them say, "oh that's not my calling" when asked to do something. A helper may teach a children's Sunday School class, drive a bus, or play an instrument in worship. They will wash dishes, serve tables, and be ready to help in any way they can.

The Deacons were helpers, serving tables.

Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Do not overlook the gift of helps, for we will be judged by our service to others. We are to be rewarded for our service.