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We have incentives in life that keep us going. Love for others so that we might have love from them. Money is almost always an incentive. Eating right so that we may have good health. God’s love for us and His written word so that we might gain a home in Heaven with Him. I want to take a look at incentives that Paul talks about in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians.

A) Incentive for Conversion.

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you TURNED TO GOD from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come. 1st Thessalonians 1:9-10

B) Incentive for Faithfulness.

For what is our hope, or joy, or Crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1st Thessalonians 2:19-20

C) Incentive for Love.

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in LOVE to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 1st Thessalonians 3:12-13

D) Incentive for Holiness.

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 1st Thessalonians 4:1-2

E) Incentive for Comforting.

For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore COMFORT one another with these words. 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18

F) Incentive for Watchfulness.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night or darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us WATCH and be sober. 1st Thessalonians 5:4-6

G) Incentive for Confidence.

Now may the God of peace sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1st Thessalonians 5:23-24

H) Incentive for Endurance.

Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels. in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, AND on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Thessalonians 1:6-8

I) Incentive for Victory.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2nd Thessalonians 2:8

Whatever your incentives are, make sure your incentive to get to Heaven takes priority!!

Have a good week all–SMILE God  loves YOU!!

While sitting in Bible class this morning (Sunday), there was a statement made about some who think that Baptism is a “Peculiar” story. I thought to myself, why is that? Is it because it isn’t needed? Is it because it is just a dunk in the water for for no reason? Is it because I don’t want to do “That”? Just why would it be a Peculiar story? So I got to thinking about a few other “Peculiar” stories that are in the Bible.

The story of Naaman, who had leprosy. God told him to go to the river Jordan and dip seven times. Naaman did what God said and was cured of his leprosy. What if he only dipped six times? Would he have been cured? We don’t know for sure, but I doubt he would have. A “Peculiar” story? Maybe, but God told Naaman what to do, he did it, and it worked.

The story of Moses when God told him to speak to the rock and there would be water. Moses struck the rock instead. Water still occurred, however, it cost Moses his place in the promised land. He hadn’t done what God told him. A “Peculiar” story? Maybe, but God told Moses what to do and he didn’t do it. Costly mistake on Moses’s part.

The story of Lot and his wife after God had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for immorality (Homosexuality). He told them to leave and not look back. Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. She hadn’t done what God said to do. A “Peculiar” story? Maybe, but God told them what to do and she didn’t obey Him. Costly mistake on her part.

The story of Noah and the building of the Ark. God gave him specific plans on what to use as materials and the exact size of it. Noah built it exactly as God had told him. By doing what God said, Noah saved his family and all the animals. Others were told about the flood that was coming, but didn’t do what God had said. A “Peculiar” story? Maybe, but Noah did what God said and was saved. The others–a costly mistake.

Now back to baptism. God says to repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of sins. God also says to obey my commands and I will prepare for you a place. We can see by the other stories that those who did what God says were taken care of. Those who didn’t do what God said made costly mistakes. Baptism–A “Peculiar” story? Maybe, but it appears to me that those who do what God says will be taken care and those who don’t do what God says will be making a costly mistake.

We sing a song, “God’s Family” when we have worship service. The chorus reads, “And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry; Sometimes we share together, heart-aches and sighs; Sometimes we dream together of how it will be, when we all get to Heaven, God’s Family. We are a family, the “House of God.” Eternity rides on a strong church family. What constitutes a a strong church family? Leadership, Followership and the following five senses.

A) A Sense Of Desire For God’s Word

How much do we want to adhere to what God has to say, determines our desire and capability to do what God says. There are congregations that want try new things in worship to make it more “Fun” or more acceptable to more numbers. They have services on Saturday, add instrumental music to worship and listen to what people want instead of what God wants. God lays out very plainly how He wants His worship service conducted and how He wants His children (Christians) to react. God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever and so is His word and His instruction. If we adhere to His word our Desire will always be in the right place.

B) Sense Of Dissatisfaction With The World

We can’t become comfortable with the world!! That is exactly what Satan wants. He wants us to be OK with what the world is saying and doing and get involved. That will put us in a situation where we are going to become dissatisfied with God. God says we are to be able to live in the world but not be of the world. That simply means–be followers of God and not of Satan. Do not become satisfied with the world, become satisfied with God. Another song we sometimes sing in worship is, “This World Is Not My Home.” The chorus reads, “O Lord, You know I have no friend like You, if Heaven’s not my home then Lord what will I do; the angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

C) Sense Of Determination To Persevere

We have to set a standard for faithfulness. Are we steadfast in our Christian walk? Are we establishing strong roots for our Christianity so we can grow properly? It’s been said that  Christian life is “No Piece Of Cake” and I agree. It takes work and perseverance to stay on the right path. With sin and the work of Satan it is not easy.

D) Sense Of Dedication To Family’s Strength

How much do we care? Do we get angry and throw up our hands and say, “I’m Done” or do we dedicate ourselves to getting along with each other? There is a lot of God’s work that gets done in a congregation. Some of it we see but a lot of it gets done behind the scenes. Some will say that they do more than others and they are tired of it. How do they know? Ephesians 4:14-15 talks about everyone having different talents. Some are set up by God to do more than others, some are leaders and some are followers. Are you a good leader? And maybe more important–Are you a good follower?

E) Sense Of Devotion To The Unity Of The Family

God’s Church is made up of all kinds of people. Different types of jobs, different ethnic backgrounds, different personalities, difference of opinions etc. One of the basic concepts of unity is the ability of all to FORGIVE. If we master that and stick with God’s Word, then unity can be had for all. It is OK to disagree with one another–Just don’t become disagreeable!!

When I lived on the farm, we had different types bridges. We had a farm road that ran by our house and just down the hill there was a creek that ran through our property. The county built that bridge out of steel, concrete and planks. We had simple plank bridges on the farm across ditches. Either way they were used to get from one side to the other. Bridging the gap, if you will. The Golden Gate bridge is an example of an engineering marvel. Either way you look at it, life is the same way. Whether it is family, work, friends or church, bridges have to be built. Some are as simple as the planks going across the ditch and some are as complicated to build as the Golden Gate Bridge. For a good relationship to be built, it has to have a bridge built. How simple or how extravagant is up to those that are building the relationship.  That relationship can also depend on how hard we want to work at it.

Sometimes bridges have to be torn down. They become beyond repair. I’m sure most of us have had that occur in our lives. Regular bridges need planks, steel and/or concrete repaired to the point it is not fixable and a new one has to be rebuilt or you just tear it down and leave it with no way to get from one side to the other. The Golden  Gate bridge has been there for years, yet, on occasion it has to be repaired. No one thinks about not repairing it. It was put together with such strength that nothing can destroy it. As we live life are we willing to destroy the bridge we built with someone or are we going to try to fix it? Sometimes it has to be torn down and we just move on. That is tough to do because it leaves us feeling empty and alone. It can be devastating to end a relationship. Yet it must be done. Most of us have been there and don’t want to have to face that kind of challenge again.

Many times bridges can be repaired. It may take a little or a lot of work. Does a simple plank need replaced? Does the steel need replaced? If it has concrete or paving on it, are there holes and the material needs replaced? Most relationships that we have are worth fixing. We may have to work harder at it, than the one we are in the relationship with. Are we willing to do that? Can you replace the plank, steel, concrete or paving without a lot of help? Most times, if you can, that bridge will be stronger than when you first built it. It may be worth doing the repairs. TRY IT!!

There is one bridge that will never have to be repaired or torn down, and that is the bridge that God extends to us. He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. That will never change or need repairs. However, the bridge we  build to God, can and probably will, need repaired on occasion. We get off track and do things that can do harm with our relationship with God. He tells us in 1st Corinthians chapter 10 that He will never put more on our shoulders than we can handle and He will always show us a way out. If our bridge with God gets to where it needs repaired, are we going to be able to work and fix what is in need of that repair? Or do we just throw up our hands and tear the bridge down and move on? I would hope we have the energy, understanding, knowledge and wisdom to know that repairing or rebuilding the bridge with Him is for the best.

We deal with egos everywhere and every time we have associations with other people. We have those that are of low self esteem (little or no ego), those that have ultra egos and those with super egos. Each one is individualistic in their own way and need to be handled somewhat differently. Checking your ego at the door does away with who you are as an individual. Never be self conscience about yourself, your beliefs or how your particular ego functions (Egotistic).

I was listening to an interview with Coach “K” the other day and he was talking about egos. He said to never check your ego at the door because you will lose your individuality. There are things in life that we need to learn to ignore and peoples traits that rub us wrong are one of those things. It’s hard to ignore those kinds of traits and it is a learned process. We need to be the bigger person at times like these and let the little things that bother us just go away.

He also said that we need to live in the moment. Don’t be concerned with what happened yesterday and don’t worry about tomorrow. Just live for today!! As he talked about his teams and especially the Olympic Basketball Team, he said it is not all about the numbers, but, more about those special moments that players have with each other and the success they enjoy not only as an individual, but, also as a team. The Coach, watching, as the passion, smiles and high fives occur. He said that is what keeps him coaching.

As I thought about that, I though about a congregation of Christians. How peaceful it would be if we could look past peoples egos and just get along. How nice it would be to not be so concerned with numbers and live in the moment. How nice it would be to watch the passion and smiles of the ones that have worshiped their God and not have to be individuals, but, a true congregation of God’s people. How special, that moment, when someone comes up from the watery grave of baptism, and we celebrate as one. Those are the types of moments Coach “K” was talking about.

Be happy with yourself and “Live In The Moment”. That’s what Coach “K” says, that’s what I say and that’s what God says!!

Have a good week all.

I always hear comments that, “I gave a 110%.” Really?? How is that even possible? 100% would be the maximum, and if you gave 100%, what would happen? Would you still be alive? I don’t know, but it is something to think about. I really wonder if most times we even give 50% or less. What would you need to give your “All” or most of it. I think three things come to mind–Attitude, Opportunity and Preparation.  Those three words come into play whether we are talking about doing enough at home, work, in our relationships with others, church and with God.

I want to relate a story that happened one day when I was canvassing for sales. It was about 10:00 AM and I had been working for about a half hour when I came upon the house where a new move-in was. I stopped the car and proceeded to go to the door and knocked on it. The guy that opened the door must have been having a bad day because he was mad and told me he wasn’t interested and SLAMMED the door shut. I didn’t even get to say Hi, let alone tell him what I was selling. I was thinking as I walked back to my car, how could he tell me he wasn’t interested when he didn’t even know what I had or how it worked. It’s really hard to be interested in something you know nothing about. By the time I got to the car, I was really “Ticked Off” to say the least. I decided that this guy was not going to ruin my day nor was he going to get by with what he did. He had patio doors on the back of his house so I walked around back and knocked on those doors. Now you can imagine what happened next. He came to the door absolutely mad. However, before he could say a word, I said to him, “That guy that answered the front door was having a bad day and was really mad at me and I just hope you’re not the same way.” He looked at me and started to laugh, it took him by surprise so much that he asked me what I was selling. After we had visited for a couple minutes, he invited me in to show him what I had and how it could help him. The rest of the story is that he became a good customer and gave me several referrals. (I could have just left with a bad attitude and gone to the next house)

Without a positive attitude, opportunity (New home owner) and preparation (I knew my equipment and how to present it), non of the above would have ever happened. Are you doing enough” Are you going the extra steps to be successful? Do you have a good positive attitude? Do you know your job or profession well? Are you taking advantage of or creating opportunities?

In our Christian lives are we doing enough? When someone shows no interest or says no to study, what do you do? Do you just let it be or do go the extra step to find a different approach, change the attitude from negative to positive and set up an opportunity? I think there are too many times we give up too easy and, as the Apostle Paul said, “If they have closed minds and hard hearts, shake the dust off your feet and move on.”

Don’t move on too quick whether it be trying to do enough with family, relationships with friends, job, church or what ever else you may be involved with. Regroup with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!!

We are all pretty familiar with both of these. I want to take a look at how they relate to life. It might be surprising to you the similarity and yet the major differences.

We’ll look at the Yo-Yo first. I, as I would imagine you also, have sometime in your life played with a Yo-Yo. I’m certainly not an expert with a Yo-Yo, but I have played with one. I see it as this round thing with string wound around the middle. You start it at the top and it falls to the bottom spinning around and around. If you’re lucky, when it hits bottom you can give it a little jerk and it will come back to the top. For me, it would come up half way, or so, and spin out of control. It would go every which way and eventually get out of control and get all tangled up and I would have to start all over. I’ve heard people say, “My life is like a Yo-Yo.” For some, a Yo-Yo can be mastered to the point they can make it do all sorts of things. For some it just becomes a mess–just like life.

A Roller-Coaster has a track that it runs on. It has ups and downs and curves in the middle. However with it being on a track it has stability, unlike the Yo-Yo. Very seldom does it ever jump off track. In this example life would have it’s ups and downs, but still stay on track. It would throw curves at you and still be on track. I’ve heard people say, “My life is like a Roller-Coaster.”  Many people are like a Roller-Coaster. They can handle the ups and downs, and what ever curves that are there, and still reach their destiny. They don’t get hung up in the middle and spin out of control like a life of a Yo-Yo.

In our Christian lives we deal with the same thing. If we treat the Bible as our track, study and do what God says, we may still have ups and downs and curves thrown at us. However, it gives us the stability we need to be able to stay on track and not get off course. Without God’s word, life can be like the Yo-Yo. Somewhere we get caught in the middle, spin out of control, get all tangled up and have to start all over.

Where is your life? Like a Yo-Yo, tangled up and spinning put of control? Or, like the Roller-Coaster, on track, able to handle the ups and downs, and the curves life gives us?

Rodney Dangerfield was famous for his, “I can’t get no respect.” That has been a saying that has stayed around since he said it.

Let’s first define what respect actually means:

1. A relation to 0ur concern with something usually specified
2. An act of giving particular attention: Consideration
3. A high or special regard: Esteem
4. The quality or state of being esteemed: Honor
5. Particular. Detail

   I wanted to talk about this because I recently had a conversation where we talked about a lack of respect among people in general. Comments made about kids not respecting their parents. No respect for teachers and school. No respect for Police or Pubic officials. The lack of respect from those in charge to those who are being accused of wrong doing. The lack of respect from other nations for the United States. And it went on and on, however I think you can start to see the point.

   It’s been said that communication is the key to success and I believe that to be true. Look at marriages that fall apart because of not talking to one another. A failure in businesses because of no open communication between employees and management. Failure in Congregations of God’s people because someone got their feelings hurt and instead of talking about the problem, they let a molehill grow into a mountain. I believe much of this is a lack of respect for each other. Whether it is marriage, business, church, politics etc. The question is: How can we be successful at………, if their is no communication with others or respect for one another? Answer: WE CAN’T!!

   The Bible speaks about God not being a respecter of persons. That simply means He doesn’t hold any one better that anyone else. He respects every one equal and has created us to be able to think and make decisions for ourselves. If we truly are walking in God’s light, wouldn’t we be able to have a respect for ALL people?  Respect is a concern over something specified, from our definition. Having respect for someone or their ideas does not mean I have to be agreeable. It’s OK to disagree, just don’t get to the place you are disagreeable.

   It all comes down to this: I’ll respect you, your ideas and your opinions. In turn I want you to respect, me, my ideas and my opinions. We don’t have to agree with one another, just communicate, listen and respect. Oh, how calming this would be for what ever situation we found ourselves to be involved with.

We here cries in today’s society of, “I want justice”, “Give me/us justice” or “I/we can’t get any justice.” My question is–what is justice? Is it what YOU want or what the law says is right. If it’s not good for “Me”, then it can’t be justice. That seems to be the attitude today. What I want to take a look at here is the total injustice of Jesus’s trial before going to the cross to die for you and me.

Leviticus 19:15-19

A) You shall do no injustice in judgement

B) Jews had centuries to perfect their judicial system

This founded upon Deuteronomy 16:18-20

A) You shall appoint Judges and Officers in all your towns

B) Judge with righteous Judgement

C) Never pervert or distort justice

D) No practicing of partiality

E) Never accepting a bribe

F) Administer justice and only justice.

The application here is: Be fair in justice so you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God gives you.

The Sanhedrin at all levels guaranteed:

Deuteronomy 19:15-21

A) A fair trial

B) The right of disputing charges

C) No conviction without evidence of 2 or more witnesses to the accusation

John 18:15-24

A) Jesus before Annas, son-in-law of Caiaphus, the High Priest–“Jewish Council”

B) Annas was looking to legitimize the charges to Roman Officials

C) He asked Jesus about his work and followers

D) Protocol demanded that 2 or more witnesses already exist

E) Jesus challenges Annas–“Call your witnesses”

F) Unsuccessful, Annas sent an unindicted  Jesus to Caiaphus

Now occurring during the trial and making the trial contrary to Biblical principals of Justice and Jewish Law.

A) No formal charges were made, no formal basis existed for Jesus’s arrest and there had to be at least two witnesses.

B) There was no investigation by the Court to determine the merits of any accusation–Deuteronomy 19:16-18

C) Arrest took place at night in order to hide the evil that was happening, Matthew 26:14-16,20,30,47-50

D) You shall not pervert justice–Deuteronomy 16:19

John 18:28

A) Trial was at night–Jewish law only permitted proceedings that took place during daylight hours.

B) Trial began before morning sacrifice at Temple–Illegal based on Jewish Law.

C) Trial held before one of God’s annual Feast Days.–Illegal based on on Jewish Law because it began on a day before a High Holy Day (First day of Unleavened Bread–John:18:28)

D) Trial was too short (Approximately 3 hours)–It minimized the chances of the of the Council to have advocated Him and witnesses couldn’t be notified in time. Trial is one day and if death sentence is pronounced, the trial couldn’t be concluded until the next day according to Jewish Law.

E) The trial was not held before impartial Judges. The Judges at the trial hated the accused and Jewish Law forbids a person from Judging a case if they are negatively biased.

F) False witnesses were allowed to testify

G) Condemnation charge was false–charged with blasphemy when He was telling the truth.

H) Death penalty was unanimously agreed–Illegal in Jewish Law to unanimously condemn a person to death if no one testified as a witness.

I) Sentence announced in an unlawful place. The final sentence was pronounced in the High Priest’s Palace (House/home). It was illegal to sentence someone to die in any location other than the Great Sanhedrin’s appointed place, which was a chamber in Jerusalem’s Temple known as the Chamber of Hewn Stones.

J) The Court changed the charge after the trial. After the trial, the Sanhedrin again changed the charges, this time from blasphemy to treason. They changed the charges to a Roman crime so they could improve their chances of having the Romans (And not them) do the dirty job of murdering Him.

K) The rest of the story is Pontius Pilate determined He was innocent, but still turned Him over to the soldiers for crucifixion to appease the crowd.

There was absolutely nothing right with what happened–a total INJUSTICE. Today we would liken this to a Kangaroo Court.

This study was set up by my sister, Connie Willoughby and myself. God says, “Keep my commands and I’ll prepare for you a place.” That in  itself infers all commands. This will be a study for some and a review for others.

Sin is a transgression of God’s law. 1st John 3:4. Knowing between right and wrong Romans 3:23 and punishment for sin is death Romans 6:23

There are 5 steps to the road of salvation:

Hear–Romans 10:17

Believe–Matthew 16:16, John 8:23, Acts 16:30-31 and Mark16:16

Repent–Acts 17:30-31, 2nd Corinthians 7:10, Acts 2:37-38 and 1st Thessalonians 1:9

Confess–Mathew 16:16, Matthew 10:32-33 and Acts 8:35-38

Baptized–Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38

Burial in Water–Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12 and Acts 22:16

Obedience is part of the path of salvation.

Obedience is our assurance that we truly know God (1st John 2:3) God wants us to be sanctified or set apart (1st Thessalonians 4:3).

Obedience proves our love for God. 1st John 5:2-3, John 14:15-24

Obedience demonstrates faithfulness. 1st John 2:3-6

Obedience glorifies God to the world. 1st Peter 2:12 and Matthew 5:16

Obedience opens avenues of blessings. John 13:17

Blessed are those who fear the Lord AND obey Him. James 1:22-23,

Matthew 7:21 and Psalm 128:1

One of the many acts of obedience that the scriptures address is the assembling of the saints or church. Hebrews 10:24-26. With the command to assemble with the saints there are scriptures telling us our work must be done “steadfastly.” Colossians 1:23, Acts 2:42 and Revelation 2:10.

Coming together as a congregation of saints on the 1st day of the week also will provide us the opportunity to Worship our God. Included in Worship service is: Preaching, Praying, Singing, Giving, Fellowship and Communing with the Lord (Acts 20:7).

Love one another–John 13:34-35, Matthew 22:37-39, Romans 12:10, John 4:7-8, Matthew 5:44-45, John 15:12-13 and Romans 12:8.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit sums up 9 attributes of a Christian life according to Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. All are important elements in successful interactions with others.

1) Love

2) Joy

3) Peace

4) Forbearance

5) Kindness

6) Goodness

7) Faithfulness

8) Gentleness

9) Self Control

God established His church on the Day of Pentecost. According to Ephesians 4:4-6 there is only ONE body, One Spirit, One hope, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, and through all, and in you all. Many will be called and few will be chosen. Are you doing what God wants and will you be one of the chosen?

Have a good study!!