Shalom,
I think END TIME started since 2013 beginning in Pakistan.
I personally visited Joseph Colony and talked to the people about the number of homes burned in this tragic incident, but exact number is missing, yet Govt. will prepare 257 homes there.
Introduction.
This is a pure Christian colony, only one Muslim family was staying there at rent with a Christian family, and at last this association become a conflict, and it created such a terrible incident.
Reason.
Thursday last[7th March] both of these families quarrel with each other at drinking table and insulted and humiliated, blaming and abusing each other, and in the end it become Blaspheme. The very Christian person Sawan Masih was arrested under rule, he was in police station at that time, mean while it was planned by Muslims and police requested the people to exit the colony and save themselves. People do so and took refuge in their relatives homes in Lahore considering we will come back when all the matter will resume.
After 36 hours the mob gathered and they have a special ammunition material with them as well as equipped with guns, revolvers, and all type of arms run over the colony. They looted first and then set fire each home, not a single left.
Damages.
The mob looted their household things first, and which they could not able to take with them they burned at the place. The burned things are TVs, Fridges, Washing machines, Almarahs, sewing machines, bikes, cycles, boxes, clothes, household utensils, wooden beds, blankets and quilts, gas pipe lines and electricity connections, fans burned and melted on the ceiling, double and triple stories buildings are destroyed in such a manner that they are no more in use. Iron was melted and bricks were in powder form.
Help.
Government has announced to make new homes for them, and PKR 500000/= as help. Now people from all over Pakistan visit them and serve the with food and other necessities of life. Even Govt. is also providing necessities of life for them. At this time they are sitting and living in tents provided to them by different agencies.
Recommendation. They all are needy so being brothers and sisters in Christ we must help them and pray for them. In Him
Recently, in a devotional, Pastor Cornelius Fon in Cameroon wrote:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Act 2:41-47 KJV)
“Oh God have mercy upon us the preachers who have turn Your church to something that even You can not recognize. How we have gone very very far from the Church that You ordained. Materialism, egotism, selfish tendencies, worldliness, compromise, and what can I add or leave out… The Church a Body of Love has been transformed to something else. No doubt no power in the church today until preacher go to the devil for powers to do the work of God. What a shame and an insult to You, Most High. Have mercy O God, let your cleansing broom sweep pass making obvious all who are truly Yours and the hirelings. Heavenly Father, we need a renewal and revival in the lives of the preachers so that church now can be The Church.
“Please, fellow preachers and saints of God, we all need to mourn and wail for the misrepresentation we are doing. You in particular may not be involved but search deep in your heart, what have you done about those doing it. Have you cried out like Elijah? We need to mourn for the present day church, repent and allow Jesus to be Lord over His Church. We have to preach against sin, preach holiness and righteousness, preach the grace, in fact we have to preach the Kingdom of God and nothing else. May God help us to be God pleasers and not man pleasers.”
Pastor Cornelius’s devotional brings to mind what I was told of the origins of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California. Pastor Chuck Smith pastored a Four Square Church in the 1960s. The Church’s district office was running a campaign to increase Church membership, to fill the pews, so to speak. Sounds all to familiar, doesn’t it. Now this bothered Pastor Smith, and he sought the Lord Y’shuaJesus about it. He was directed to this same scripture, Act 2:41-47, Pastor Cornelius has directed us to. Particularly, Pastor Smith read verse 47:
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:47
The exterior of the main sanctuary of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, which is actually just barely located within the city limits of neighboring Santa Ana, as indicated by its address and, less officially, this sign. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Well, Pastor Smith believe G-d, and his small church began to swell to the point that the denomination’s office noticed and questioned him. I understand the office was not pleased to hear from Pastor Smith that he didn’t do anything, just trusted that G-d’s word was as good then as it is now. Insubordination for some such heresy. Pastor Smith left the denomination not long afterward.
Now, as then, when the people of G-d begin to trust in the Word of the Lord, things happen, and resistance is met.
Reading Pastor Cornelius’s devotion also brought to mind this passage from Acts:
For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear, some new thing.
Acts 17:21
It seems always the same. People want to be entertained. In the Church Realm these days, people move from church to church looking for better worship, more “meaningful” preaching, and, yes, something they haven’t heard before, some new thing. We have “Big Box” churches in America gather in seekers to have their ears tickled. Too many of these churches have long, elaborate worship services and never once mention the Name of Jesus. The preaching tells us more about how we can feel good about ourselves than how we must feel about our relationship with Messiah, like that we ought REPENT while we have the opportunity! We need to hear how we can grow and live as Messiah in our modern world, not how we can transform our modern world into our corrupt, fallen image of what it should be.
Deutsch: Die Zerstörung von Sodom (Mosaik) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
No longer do I wonder why most Americans don’t seek to be saved; they’ve learned they don’t need salvation, that they’re perfect, god-like already. The only thing I wonder at is why we would bother trying to evangelize a stiff-necked, fallen people living in cities saying they’re building a better world, building a “Purpose Filled” P.E.A.C.E. The city dwellers are like the people of Sodom in the days of Abraham and Lot. It doesn’t surprise me at all that so many American’s are fleeing to what is now known as the “Redoubt” states, comprised of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and a few more. They are fleeing the coming wrath that will be poured out upon all flesh for arrogance in the face of the Almighty G-d. If not for the few, humble servants of the Lord, who live as strangers among the heathen, this wrath would surely have already come upon the Earth.
“Hurry up and wait!” I heard that often enough during my years of military service. Waiting was as difficult as busy work, which was meaningless toil, drudgery, to prevent just sitting around waiting. There are other sorts of waiting, too. School kids “wait” for the bell to ring during last period so they can zip out the door to freedom. A parent waits late into the night for his or her teenager to return home from a date. And there’s the waiting of a Believer, a Follower of Y’shuaJesus, waiting for the Trumpet to call us to be with the Lord.
Waiting’s hard work. While driving truck, after delivering a load I often had to wait for another assignment. It could come at any time, too. Depending where I was, I might be able grab a quick shower at a truck stop that was close to where I delivered. Or perhaps grab a meal, if convenient. More often, I simply parked in the parking lot outside the plant to which I’d delivered and waited. I tried to read, but would find myself looking often and anxious at the Qualcom, the communications system on which I’d get a load assignment. It was hard to relax between loads unless I knew I had a set amount of time. Once, after delivering a load south of Dallas, Texas, I pulled into a dirt lot next to a restaurant, and went in for a meal. Every fifteen minutes I’d go out and check to see if a message arrived on the Qualcom. I was there about a couple of hours when I received a telephone call from the dispatcher asking why I hadn’t responded to the dispatch message. I went immediately out to the truck, but there was nothing there. He had to verbally dispatched me to a steel plant for a load going into Georgia. Not a bad run, but one I almost missed if I hadn’t had a cell phone with me. I took another twenty minutes or so after pulling out of the parking lot to receive the written dispatch on the Qualcom. Perhaps the metal building walls reflected the satellite signals, preventing me from receiving the dispatch. I don’t know.
Waiting is hard work. It is also a dangerous time; it is a time when we can be distracted and wander off in some other direction. There’s a story that Y’shuaJesus told about the maidens that fell asleep, letting their lamps go out. And in Luke chapter 12, after Y’shuaJesus talks about laying up treasure in Heaven, He talks about what to do while playing the waiting game.
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luke 12:35-40
Matthew Henry commented on this scripture that Y’shuaJesus, “charges them to get ready, and to keep in a readiness for Christ’s coming, when all those who have laid up their treasure in heaven shall enter upon the enjoyment of it.” So there are two elements, according to Mr. Henry, in this waiting game. First, get ready; second, stay ready. That means waiting is active. It isn’t just standing around. Sometimes we are likened to servants whose master has gone away. Picture a servant standing by the door awaiting his master, doing nothing, just waiting. Probably not the best way to wait, I’m thinking.
So it seems there is good waiting and poor waiting. I’m on the poor side of waiting a lot of the time, especially when it comes to cooking. Even with a timer set, I’ll often just stand watching, waiting for the timer. In some of my best moments in the kitchen, I’ve put a pot of water on the heat, and while waiting for it to boil, done other things in the kitchen, or in the laundry room next to it. I’ve gotten distracted, too. I’ve left a pot to boil until nearly dry, and once totally ruined a batch of steamed vegetables.
Additionally, playing this waiting game takes balance and awareness. I’m thinking of when Y’shuaJesus went into the house of Martha and Mary. Martha was too busy to sit with Y’shua while Mary did only sit with Him. Y’shua said Mary picked the best of the two extremes. Y’shua hasn’t come into our house physically yet, so perhaps we need to be active while at the same time foster the spiritual communion with our Lord that He desires. But is our activity just busy work. What we do, is it necessary? Or is just something to fill the space between other things? Back to the kitchen. Perhaps when there is two minutes to wait for some vegetables to steam, it’s okay not to always have to be doing something. Perhaps standing in front of the stove is okay, and using that very moment to consider the One for Whom we wait to return. We can offer words of Praise, offering hearts of Worship, and we can offer prayers.
Occupying my waiting time then is a balance of activity that is purposeful, balanced with the spiritually uplifting elements of Praise, Worship, Prayer. And in all this activity, in all that I do, all must be done as to the Lord.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. . .
O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
Let’s back up a bit. It’s only been recently that I began to read the Bible in the “Authorized Version.” You know, the King James Version. I’ve used several versions, including Holman, NIV, NASB, and English Standard Version. When I looked at the introduction of Psalm 7 the word “Shiggaion” that is used in the “Authorized Version” is translated from the Hebrew word sheminith, as meditation in the New King James Version. Without getting into the merits or lack of merit for any particular version, I want to say something about the word meditation.
First of all, there are several things that David was not doing. First, he was not repeating endlessly a single word or sound. Second, David wasn’t repeating a phrase or series of words, over and over and over. Third, he was absolutely not clearing his mind in order to get in touch with the greater mind of the universe. David didn’t open his mind, clearing it of all thought, so that he could get in touch with some sort of spirit guide (read “demon”). David wasn’t practicing Eastern or New Age mysticism. What he was doing is fighting a spiritual and physical battle; he was waging war by thinking through all that had occurred to him as he spoke to G-d. He was talking things over with G-d.
Another point here. David’s first cry is O L-RD, my G-d. We see this word as L-RD in all capital letters. We occasionally see it written as Yahweh, or Jehovah. I care not for either of those latter two. It is the name G-d spoke to Moshe, Moses, during his commission. Another way to represent the name of G-d is The Name, or H’Shem in Hebrew. My point here is that David spoke in a personal relationship with his Lord. It could be said that David spoke to Y’shuaJesus. The L-RD is G-d, The L-RD is One. One G-d, three persons. H’Shem. Our Creator. Our Lord. Our Savior. David cries out “O L-RD, my G-d, in You do I take refuge.” Also, let me say at this point that a more literal translation of “my G-d,” as David cried out, would be “G-d to me.” Semantics? Perhaps. But I think there is a little difference. David, as in the Hebrew grammatical structure, isn’t saying he possesses G-d. He reaches out to a G-d that he knows, who is a G-d to him. Okay, maybe it’s only semantics, but I find it a way to think about my own relationship with Y’shua. His banner over me. His way in my life. I am his. His way is mine.
Thank You, Lord Y’shuaJesus. You make me whole. I rejoice in You. Amen.
Exodus 1:8-20
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
What we saw, I believe, with Mordecai was a passive disobedience: Mordecai didn’t reverence Haman as required. Remember Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who protested the school policy for all students to study Islam? Prior to any disobedience, he protested to the school. His protest was based upon current Iranian law that permits choice in religious practice. He hadn’t been given a chance to disobey, but was arrested and eventually sentenced to death. Pastor Youcef was given the chance to recant, however, which would mean denying our Lord and Messiah Y’shuaJesus. He choose not to do so.
Now in Exodus we see the midwives serving the Jewish people. The Pharaoh’s command to the midwives was to kill all male newborns, which they did not do. The midwives went a step further from passive inaction, and lied to the Pharaoh.
In each of these cases, Mordecai, Pastor Youcef, and the midwives, we see that they did not connive with those who know not our G-d. They bravely made choices. They decided not to go along with the worldly program guided by “dark” spiritual powers, and principalities, that are against our G-d. I don’t know whether or not there were those who counseled them to not take the action, but it remains that action, even if passive, was taken. But had there been un-G-dly counsel, it was ignored. Had there been counselors that weren’t listened to, they’d have had cause to say, “I told you so!” when trouble came.
Now, take a look at that cadet. He listened to a counselor, and went along with the “worship” of a homecoming football. That was a first step to walking in the way of the sinners, as the psalmist cautioned about. But who of us has not at some time or other went along with something we didn’t fully support? I’ve heard it said that it is better to not “buck the system.” It takes strength to walk in righteousness. It takes a well-maintained relationship with Y’shuaJesus. How many times, how many hours, did Y’shua go off into the night to pray to our Father in Heaven? Countless times, I’m sure. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see a glimpse of the prayer to which Lord Y’shua was accustom. Agonizing prayer. Tearful prayer. Intense prayer.
May we experience such incredible times in prayer ourselves. It’s good practice, in good times, preparing for times that are not so good.
“. . . Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. . .” Esther 3:5
The dissent of Mordecai is a passive, non-violent form. It is a refusal to obey edicts or laws contrary to Scripture. He did not protest openly an edict, or law. In Iran, today, a pastor is in jail for openly protesting a law. According to Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), (see article here) “Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school.”
Recently, VOM contacts told VOM “the chief justice in Gilan province told Youcef’s lawyers last week (Jan. 16, 2012) that if Youcef repents, he will be released. Youcef told his attorneys repenting means leaving Christianity to return to Islam. He said it was impossible for him to “return” to Islam, since he was never Muslim.
“Our contacts write, “Because of your prayers and concerns, the regime is afraid to issue a negative verdict, and yet they do not want to release him…”
“Please continue to surround Youcef with your prayers. Pray that the chief justice will have a change of heart.”
Pastor Youcef objected to a law. He protested that law. That’s different from not obeying a law, right? Perhaps he could have just let things go along quietly. Perhaps. But what of Mordecai? All he did was to disobey, and that got him in trouble with Hamman. Had G-d not intervened, Mordecai and most of G-d’s people would have been executed. And G-d’s intervention included active work by Mordecai. More thoughts on that later.
“And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.
“But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.” Esther 3:5-6
Matthew Henry Comments on Esther 3:4
“Mordecai refused to reverence Haman. The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman. By nature all are idolaters; self is our favourite idol, we are pleased to be treated as if every thing were at our disposal. Though religion by no means destroys good manners, but teaches us to render honour to whom honour is due, yet by a citizen of Zion, not only in his heart, but in his eyes, such a vile person as Haman was, is contemned, Psalms 15:4. The true believer cannot obey edicts, or conform to fashions, which break the law of God. He must obey God rather than man, and leave the consequences to him. Haman was full of wrath. His device was inspired by that wicked spirit, who has been a murderer from the beginning; whose enmity to Christ and his church, governs all his children.”
As we approach the Feast of Purim, I have Hadassah on my mind. As with all scripture, if we take the time, if we seek the leading of the Spirit of G-d, we shall gain much. As the Apostle Paul wrote:
“. . .the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
Now Hadassah and Mordecai lived during the Exile between 483BC and 471BC. They, as all Jews in exile, were unable to worship in the Temple. They began to gather together for teaching, prayer, and mutual encouragement. As we see in the Book of Esther, G-d makes a way for His people to assemble if we really want to learn about Him, praise Him, worship Him, and grow in His Ways.
Let’s think about that, and return together Wednesday.
“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
(Matthew 17:21 MRC)
The expression is usually “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” but given current emphasis across Europe and America for flu shots, the word dose comes to mind. In Matthew’s Gospel we are told of disciples who didn’t have the dose of prevention and left Y’shuaJesus having to apply a pound of cure. Y’shua cured a man’s son. When the disciples asked Y’shua why they couldn’t cast out the demon, Y’shua explained that they didn’t have the faith to do so.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary, wrote: “If ye have ever so little of this faith in sincerity, if ye truly rely upon the powers committed to you, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove. This is a proverbial expression, denoting that which follows, and no more, Nothing shall be impossible to you. They had a full commission, among other things, to cast out devils without exception; but, this devil being more than ordinarily malicious and inveterate, they distrusted the power they had received, and so failed. To convince them of this, Christ shows them what they might have done. Note, An active faith can remove mountains, not of itself, but in the virtue of a divine power engaged by a divine promise, both which faith fastens upon.”
After explaining the disciples’ lack of faith, He goes on to say the “this kind [of demon] does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The implication here is this: The disciples must couple a trust in the power they had received with previous prayer and fasting. The disciples not only didn’t have the faith necessary to cast out the demon, they weren’t prepared to do so either.
Point One. Preparation is required for our readiness. This preparation is required for more than the casting out of demons, as Peter wrote: “. . . sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give a word for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and fear for God.” (1 Peter 3:15 MRC) We are to be prepared to make a defense.
When I think of being prepared, I think of Stephen: “Then some from what is called the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen.” (Acts 6:9 HCSB). Before Stephen died, he witnessed to those who stoned him. Stephen was prepared for any and all events.
Point Two. Prayer is a key component of preparation. Prayer is, in a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness. In worship, prayer is a solemn address to G-d, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of G-d’s glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits.
But I like a more simple definition. It is being with G-d, through our acceptance of Messiah Y’shua, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is being like Adam, and walking with G-d in the Garden.
Point Three. Fasting is another key component of preparation. How shall we fast? The Lord tells us through the prophet Isaiah: “Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and to not ignore your own flesh and blood? Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the LORD’s glory will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:6-8 HCSB)
Simply put, fasting is denying our fleshly nature, our self-centered approach to life, and obeying the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord enable us to meet the requirements of each day, having mercy upon us.
As we’ve seen, sins must be purged that we may become gold and silver vessels for use by the Master. Here in the third chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy about some very unsavory people. He lists them as “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
These now are things other that sin that affect our lives. And now we hear Paul tells Timothy, and us, to turn away.
Previously, Paul had written about people within the church that, through teaching with patience and instruction with meekness, “might recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy (2:24-26) I believe the people of chapter three that Paul wrote about, the people from whom we are to turn away, are not people within our Lord’s Church. They may enter a congregation, a church, but their names are not written in the Book of Life; they are not true-born believers in Messiah, Lord, Y’shuaJesus. They are of reprobate mind. They will not receive teaching or instruction in the Truth. Their future is only doom and gloom. We are to turn from them; for their aim, whether or not they intend it to be so, is to bring us closer to doom and gloom ourselves, should it be possible.
So isn’t turning from people because we think they are doing wrong things unkind of us? Isn’t it unloving? Aren’t we guilty of that which we accuse others, of self-love, perhaps, for wanting to not be around them because we are too good, too holy? Have you ever been told that something you do isn’t what the Bible teaches? And told by someone who hasn’t read, let alone accepted, the Bible and its Author. The perilous times aren’t perilous for those committing acts of evil, but for us, the People of G-d. We will be accused. We will be the ones doing wrong. And Paul tells this to Timothy. He tells this to us, also.
Lord help us know Yours. Help us know for whom we are to instruct and pray, and from whom we are to turn away. Give us the strength so to do. Amen.
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 KJV)
Prayer time. Set out ‘reminder’ cards. Open Bible. This scripture 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13. The cards remind of specific people for whom I desire to pray. The open Bible represents the scripture as Truth in the prayer. This particular book and the scripture that jumped out of the page deals with Paul’s words to the church at Thessoliki. The Bible subtitle is “Prayer for the Church.” Seems appropriate.
Two sets of keys words are in this prayer: 1) “may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all; and 2) “in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness.”
Is Paul is saying for our hearts to be blameless and established in holiness, we have a prerequisite that is love toward one another and toward all? Perhaps. Perhaps this blameless holiness is beyond salvation by faith in Messiah. But isn’t that the trap some have fallen into, then Messiah’s sacrifice isn’t enough to save, but we must do something else beyond that to establish holiness?
In looking at the subtitle, “Prayer for the Church,” it is directed to the body of believers, not to a single person. Individuals are blameless in Messiah through their faith in Messiah. But a church is established in holiness, blameless, through its demonstration of love toward its own and those outside its body, its congregation.
Church members, together as one body of Messiah, are to love one another while also loving all people. The demonstration of this love is what will bring the heart of the church into blameless holiness. I believe this is what makes a vibrant, healthy, joyful fellowship of believers. It is in such a group that the Spirit of G-d is able to work in individual believers and flow outside the confines of that group, drawing others into the flow of divine love and power.
It seems to me such a church needs no membership drive, doesn’t need to preach and teach on giving and tithing, and doesn’t have to beg for help from its members to help at various social functions. Such a church, established in a blameless holiness, has bonds between believers and things just happen; the Spirit, like the conductor of a symphony, works to make the body alive.
Introduction.
Jonah’s Song 