Cooperation in the Gospel

We serve together in a Great Commission to reach the world for Christ.  Each day there are thousands of people who reach the end of their natural life, and the majority of them scripture teaches are doomed for hell.  This is a sad reality, especially because we hold the everlasting cure to an eternity separated from God.  How shall we change this bleak outlook?  The scriptures teach us that it will be through cooperation with the Holy Spirit (God), and our fellow churches.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing .” John 15:5KJV

“For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.  It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” Romans 15:26-27

“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” Phil 4:15-17

Depending on ourselves and our abilities will lead to more trouble and heartache.  That was the road we came from.  Before salvation we walked the road doing what we could for ourselves.  Even the good works we had led to trying to earn a salvation we could never attain.  “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life” and without him “ye can do nothing.”  We must continually see that our ways and our life reflect Him and emanate from His truth.

It is easy at times to see our gathering of believers as a solitary island among a sea of sinfulness in the community.  Reality is that there are many other believer gatherings throughout our community and the world, striving to glorify God through His wonderful gospel.  Paul had this greater vision of the church when he encouraged giving for the benefit of the other churches.  Seeing above, churches in Macedonia first received benefits when the Philippians supported Paul in his missionary travels; then returned in gratitude an offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem who were being persecuted greatly.  Service was not only in money, but also believers would have been sent in delivery and ministry to the other congregations.

In our modern day fellowship this teamwork is accomplished in the Cooperative Program (CP).  As you give an offering a portion of it is forwarded to the KY Baptist Convention, and then on to the national Southern Baptist Convention.  Through our combined efforts over 10,000 missionaries are supported, reaching to the ends of the earth.

Beyond this World

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” Psalms 2:1-3

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4

Near the end of the Boston Marathon we saw a heinous crime, two bombs exploding, killing 3 and injuring many more.  There were poison-laced letters intended for the president and legislators on Capitol Hill, shootouts with police, threats of nuclear warheads, explosions rocking a whole town, and these were just the national headlines.  These are our constant reminders that this world is not our eternal home.  They also provide us with a dark backdrop that we can see the great light of the gospel. 

There are times we ask the question, “Why is the world so messed up?”  A simple answer is, sin (i.e. self) is an awful master.  Once the serpent convinced Adam and Eve to sin, it opened up the mythical “Pandora’s Box” of unintended consequences.    Our desires for personal gain lead to sin and harm, left unchecked.    Sin is the source of all illness, evil, and death.  The law was set so that we would see the sins, and turn to God for a way, the Messiah. 

“How can we keep going against all the evil?” - ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Phil 4:13

“How do I answer, ‘Why would God allow this’?” – Do not worry, it will be given to you what to say in that day,  Luke 12:12

“I am scared, and people will ridicule me if I say I am a Christian.”

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry , Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:. . . For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:15-16,18”

There is a hope that we possess, knowing that the future will far outweigh the present struggles against unbelievers, evil, and fear.  We must continue to be a nation of priests and missionaries.  Though we get scared and concerned like everyone else, we must take the opportunity to show people the way to Christ.  For it pleased God to give us the responsibility to go and tell others, and allow Him to work the miracles of a changed life, as only he can.  Then we will look to the future for the glory of the Kingdom of God, hopefully increased by a new believer.

In God We Trust

“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.” Psalms 73:28

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

“For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10

   “In God We Trust” the official motto of the United States since 1956.  It has been used on some coins dating back to the end of the Civil War, and on all money since 1966.  According to a letter written by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania (as referenced on the www.treasury.gov website) the government was called on to reference the God in whom we have “personally claimed.”  Also his letter wanted historians after our nation is no more, to be able to look back and see that the United States was not a ‘heathen nation.’  Whether or not we are a ‘heathen nation’ I wanted to take a short look at why we would choose individually to claim “In God We Trust.”

   To believe in the God of the Bible, we believe in a God of omnipresence (everywhere), omnipotence (all-powerful), omniscience (all-knowing), and having absolute sovereignty (control) over all areas of our life and the world around us.  Not only this, but we believe that God sent himself in the form of Jesus as the show of ultimate love.  The reasons to believe are great, if you believe; and that is the question we find ourselves defending in society today. 

   From the Supreme Court deciding whether a moral basis for a law is constitutional; to challenges to remove God from any national pledge or anthem.  Our society stands squarely where Israel found themselves before the captivity.  Both 2 Kings 18-19 and Isaiah 36-37 tell the story of Hezekiah being approached by the Assyrian empire, and the agent asked “has any one of the nations’ gods delivered them from the hand of the king of Assyria?”  The king and nation then had to choose to trust in God, or in themselves even when things turn bleak.  The rest of Isaiah describes how God would protect his people throughout their captivity.  God then brought Jesus to create a nation of people not defined by borders, but common belief.  Our challenge today is to do as Peter says and ‘give a reason for the hope that is within us.”