NewDayvotional

From the pastor for the people

Archives for October 2015

Christianity, Halloween and Disputable Matters

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Halloween…Some Christians are repulsed by it while other Christians participate in it. How could this be? Well, Halloween falls into the category of “disputable matters” (see Romans 14:1). So how do we approach disputable matters? Here are some great questions derived from biblical teaching on Christian liberty that I learned from another pastor that I want to share with you. Here are the questions to ask yourself when considering any issue (not just Halloween) that falls into the category of “disputable matters.”

  1. Edification: Will this activity produce spiritual benefit?
  2. Enslavement: Will this activity lead to spiritual bondage?
  3. Exposure: Will this activity expose my mind or body to defilement?
  4. Esteem: Will this activity benefit others, or cause them to stumble?
  5. Evangelism: Will this activity further the cause of the gospel?
  6. Ethics: Will this activity violate my conscience?
  7. Exaltation: Will this activity bring glory to God?

Some Christians will participate in Halloween tonight without giving it much thought. Others will avoid it like the plague. Wherever you are on the spectrum, I hope you find this post helpful towards the end of making God-honoring decisions with your life!

How Should we Live in Light of the Reality of the Rapture?

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What we believe about the future will directly impact how we live in the present. The Bible teaches that in light of the reality of the rapture…

1. We ought to be hopeful. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

I’ll never forget the funeral of a good friend of mine who died a Christian. People were telling his mother “I’m sorry for your loss” and she replied right back with a smile on her face “My son is not lost. I known exactly where he is.” That’s the power of hope. It changes the way you both death and life.

As Christians (because of the reality of the rapture) we have a wonderful and glorious hope! You see, the Bible teaches a linear view of history. There was a beginning, a central event – the cross (and resurrection) – and there will be an end, in which God will bring His salvation plan to its glorious fulfillment. World events will not continue in an endless, unyielding procession. There is coming a moment when the present order will come to an end. In other words – the devastating consequences of sin will not continue to wreak havoc on us forever. Things will be restored to God’s original plan for us in due time. So when you see injustice, poverty, suffering, death, disease, war and pain….know that “this too shall pass”. Even in the midst of suffering and injustice we can be filled with joy because of the HOPE provided by the reality of the rapture. Before we know it, Jesus will return for us to be with him in heaven forever!

Secondly, the Bible says that in light of the reality of the resurrection…

2. We ought to be holy. 

The awareness that Jesus will return should stir those of us who are Christians to right living. Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” The word picture given in Ephesians 5 is that we are the bride of Christ. Sin results in a filthy, defiled bride for Christ instead of a pure and radiant one.

On our wedding day Kristin woke up and spent most of the day making herself look beautiful. She had her hair and make up done and put on a beautiful white dress and jewelry. Knowing that I would see her soon, she made herself beautiful. Well, knowing that we will see Jesus soon, we ought to make ourselves beautiful in holiness. We want to present ourselves without stain, wrinkle or blemish when Christ returns.

So in light of the reality of the rapture, we ought to prepare ourselves for his return through holy living. Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Jesus died to set us free from sin. When he returns he doesn’t want to find us entangled with it. This is why Hebrews 12:1 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Thirdly, the Bible says that in light of the reality of the resurrection…

3. We ought to be helpful. 

After Paul finishes teaching about the rapture of Christ’s church in 1 Corinthians 15 he ends his teaching in v.58 saying “Therefore [in light of the reality of the resurrection], my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” As we learned last week, Jesus is working through his church to bring salvation to people far from God. And He expects us to be helpful towards that end. In other words, in light of the reality of the rapture, we must give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. What’s the work of the Lord? According to Matthew 28:19-20 the work of the Lord is to make disciples – that is, help people become followers of Jesus. Leading people to Jesus is only something we can only do for a limited period of time. Once we’re raptured we can’t lead people to Christ anymore. This is why Jesus said in John 9:4, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” We don’t have forever to win people to Jesus – we have a limited window that we must take advantage of.

Let me explain it this way. I mentioned earlier that in the Old Testament God commanded the Jews to observe a holy festival called The Feast of Trumpets (also know as the Feast of Ingathering). Let me tell you a little more about this sacred festival. This was a fall feast and in the fall the Jews were working in their harvest field. At the proper time, the high priest would blow the trumpet to gather God’s faithful from the harvest fields to the Temple for worship. What does this have to do with us? Well, as the high priest called God’s faithful from the harvest fields to worship at the Temple, so Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1), will one day call God’s faithful from the harvest field (this earth) to worship in the heavenly Temple.

The Israelites reaped a literal harvest, but the church reaps a spiritual harvest of souls. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38 that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. He commands therefore that we pray, asking the Lord of harvest to send workers into his harvest field. The Bible is clear: In the church age (the age we are now living in), Christians are workers in God’s harvest field (the world). And we’re to keep working to win people to Christ until the trumpet call of God signals us to gather to the Lord to worship him in his heavenly Temple.

Do you see and understand therefore, that until Jesus returns for us, we’re to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord – to winning people to Jesus. This is why God doesn’t take us directly to heaven when we get saved – because He wants us working in the harvest fields – that is, working in the world to harvest souls for Jesus.

So I ask you…

  • When is the last time you shared the good news about Jesus with a friend or family member?
  • When is the last time you invited someone to church so they could hear the good news about Jesus?
  • When’s the last time you heard a good salvation message and sent a link to the video to someone you know needs Jesus?
  • Who are you investing in relationally right now so that when an opportune time comes, you’ll have earned the right to share the gospel with them?
  • Do you have a My Circle Card in your wallet or purse so you can be reminded to pray for people far from God?
  • Have you participated in our New Day University group, where in Share 401 you learn how to effectively share your faith with your friends and loved ones?
  • Have you found a place to serve at New Day? (This by far is the most effective way to lead people to Jesus) The local church is the hope of the world! God is the one who decided that salvation and the message of the cross be brought through the local church. A healthy Christian partners together with their local church to advance the kingdom of God in this world. My question is “Are you contributing or just consuming?” Contributors faithful pray for their local church, they faithfully serve at their local church and they faithfully give to their local church, so that the work of God can advance. Jesus is coming back and God’s wrath will be poured out on those who remain after his coming. God showed his love for the lost world by sending Jesus, and we ought to show our love for the lost world by doing everything in our power to advance the cause of Christ. Are you contributing? Are you helping? Or are you just consuming?

Life Group Takeaways 10.29.15

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Tonight my growth group studied James 2:14-26. Here are my takeaways:

  • Faith without deeds is a false faith that doesn’t save (v.14, can such faith save them?)
  • The genuineness of our invisible, internal faith is validated by our visible, external actions (v.17, faith without deeds is dead).
  • The only way our invisible faith can be seen is through visible actions (v.18, I will show you my faith by my deeds).
  • Faith without deeds is one type of faith – but it’s a demonic type of faith (v.19, You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that…).
  • We are not saved by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5), but we are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:10). So there must be a healthy relationship between our faith and our works (v.22, Abraham’s faith and actions were working together).
  • Our faith is incomplete without works. If we have faith but no works, something is missing from the equation (v.22, Abraham’s faith was made complete by what he did).
  • After James shows us that faith without deeds is a false faith (v.14), a demonic faith (v.19), and an incomplete faith (v.22), he ends this section by telling us that faith without deeds is also a dead faith (v.26, faith without deeds is dead).

 

What Will the Rapture Be Like?

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What will the rapture be like? The Bible gives us four things:

1. There will be a return. John 14:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:16

The original “I’ll be back” came from Jesus, not Arnold Schwarzenegger. We’ve already seen in John 14:2-3 that Jesus told his disciples that he was going away, to the Father, to prepare a place for them and that when he was finished preparing the place, he would return for them. Well the rapture is the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to return. In fulfillment of His promise 1 Thessalonians 4:16 tells us that at the rapture “…the Lord himself will come down from heaven…” In other words, Jesus will return for us.

Everyday when I leave the house I say to the kids “Ok – I’ll see you in a bit.” When I run an errand I say to Kristin “Ok – I’ll see you in a bit.” I say this because I’m not going away forever – only temporarily. Jesus in effect told us before ascending to heaven, “Ok – I’ll see you in a bit.” So the first part of the rapture involves Jesus’ return (as promised).

Now don’t confuse this with Christ’s second coming. He’s returning for his church, but he’s not returning to the earth (at this time). When Jesus came to die – that’s what we refer to as his first coming. When Jesus comes to reign (for a thousand years) – that’s what we refer to as his second coming. You see, for it to count as one of Jesus’ comings, he has to actually touch down on the earth, which won’t happen during the rapture. First Thessalonians 4:17 is clear on this point when it says we will “…meet the Lord in the air…” At the rapture Jesus will return for his church, but he will not return to the earth at this time.

So we see that first there will be a return. Secondly we see that…

2. There will be a ruckus. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

When Jesus returns he’s going to make a great big commotion. We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that when he returns it will be “…with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…”

You must understand that in the Bible the trumpet call consistently was used to gather people together. For example, in the Old Testament…

  • In the Old Testament when the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, Numbers 10 tells us that it was trumpet that would gather them together, whether for worship or for war.
  • In the New Testament, the trumpet serves the same exact purpose. In Matthew 6:2 Jesus instructed the people that when they gave their tithes and offerings they weren’t to announce it with trumpets. The idea here is that they weren’t to gather everyone together to show off how generous they were.

As a kid my dad would whistle for us. Wee-Ooh-Weet! Wee-Ooh-Weet! It called us each night from the neighborhood to gather together for supper. I remember getting lost as a kid and listening for Dad’s whistle. It was the call “come gather over here!”

In the same way – all throughout the Bible the trumpet was used to gather people together. So it makes perfect sense that when Jesus returns, he will blow the trumpet, which is the call for the church to gather together to meet the Lord in the air.

So we see that secondly, during the rapture there will be a ruckus. Thirdly we see that…

3. There will be a resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

1 Corinthians 15:20 says “…Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Christ was the first to be raised from the dead, but not the last. Here’s how it will work at the rapture…

  • If you’ve already died when Christ returns you will resurrected first.
  • If you’re alive when Christ returns you will rise to meet the Lord in the air directly after the dead in Christ are raised.

The other day I was at Costco and the lines were backing up. A new cashier opened her register. Who got to get in this new line first? The ones who had been waiting in line the longest. In the same way, those who have been waiting the longest (those who have already died) will be the first to rise from the dead at the rapture. As 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 puts it “…the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up…”

So we see that thirdly there will be a resurrection. Fourthly we see that…

4. There will be a reunion. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that when Jesus returns we “…will be caught up together with them [that is, with our deceased Christian loved ones].” I personally believe this will be the second most emotional experience humanity has ever had.

  • children will be reunited with their formerly deceased parents
  • a mother will finally meet the baby she miscarried
  • a father will be reunited with his son that he lost to Leukemia
  • friends who will have been separated for years will reunite

It’s going to be absolutely awesome! Now I say it’ll be the second most emotional experience because at this time we will meet our Savior for the very first time. As great as the reunion will be, it will be far better to finally see Jesus face to face! But I digress. My point is this: At the rapture, there will be a reunion.

Where is the Rapture Foreshadowed?

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Though the Rapture takes place in the New Testament, it is foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

The rapture is first foreshadowed in the story of Enoch. In Genesis 5:21-24 we read, “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 Enoch lived 365 years, 24 walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” In the same way that Enoch was and then suddenly was no more, so one day the church will be and then will be no more.

The rapture is secondly foreshadowed in the story of Elijah. In 2 Kings 2:11 we read, “As they [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.” In the same way that Elijah was suddenly taken away up to heaven, so the church will one day be suddenly taken away up to heaven. In the same way that both Enoch and Elijah were snatched away suddenly, so Christ’s church will one be suddenly snatched away.

The stories of Enoch and Elijah foreshadow the yet future event where Jesus will return to take away his church (John 14:2-3).