God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who can save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).

We need evangelists to evangelize, and we need the rest of us to do the work of an evangelist.  “Evangelist” is used in the LXX, but the concept was really foreign to Israel.  They were the chosen people, and were not called to take the Word to the world.  Part of the reason that the Muslims hate them so badly is because they are such an arrogant self-righteous people.  If you are a gentile and want to feel like a second-class citizen fly on El Air.

We need to either become an evangelical church or we need to go join one.  I praise God for our Messengers For Christ over the years.  We can learn a lot in this category.  Missionary systems do not work.  We cannot buy converts.  We have the greatest God there has ever been, and we know His Word.  If we will get excited about the things God has set before us, we will see the Word move again like it did in the first century.  Are we willing to sacrifice?  If so, God is willing to open doors of utterance for us to go through.

Now getting back to the point of my opening comments yesterday.  We will not forget.  That takes resolve which is a function of the will.  To remember and not forget is a decision we have to make.  It’s a decision of will.  However, more important than our resolve to not forget 9/11 is our resolve to not forget God’s Word.  I love the following poem.  I don’t know who wrote it.

I Will Not Forget Thy Word’

1   I lift my head from my pillow.                   3   Teach me of Your strength, my Father!
Little leaps in my heart are stirred                   Show me what I’ve read and heard
for today as I walk and breathe and speak      for I am committed to live for You
I will not forget Thy Word.                             and to never forget Your Word.

2   Temptations are always there, I know–     4   Thought by thought and step by step
a whirlwind of thoughts can occur.                 I’ll stand firmly and assured.
But with my mind set on Your truth               Your words are my delight, my life―
I will not forget Thy Word.                             I will not forget Thy Word.

God does not want us to forget.  If we do, it will be to our own detriment.

II Kings 17:34b-39:
…the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; ³⁵ With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: ³⁶ But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. ³⁷ And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods. ³⁸ And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.  [nor the people that worship them] ³⁹ But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

If we fear God, we need not fear anything else.  He alone is exalted above all.

Psalms 86:8,10:
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. . .   ¹⁰ For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Just like Israel, our country has seen God work in wonderful ways to deliver us and preserve our way of life.  We need to teach them to our children and our children’s children also.

Psalms 78:1-15:
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: ³ Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. ⁵ For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: ⁶ That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: ⁷ That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: ⁸ And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. ⁹ The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. ¹⁰ They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; ¹¹ And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. ¹² Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. ¹³ He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. ¹⁴ In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. ¹⁵ He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. ¹⁶ He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

The magnificent Acrostic Psalm of God’s Word, Psalm 119 resounds with that resolve.

Psalms 119:16:
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

That’s where it starts.  It starts with an individual, someone, anyone deciding I will not forget.  Then someone else joins them.  Then because we are in this thing together, it becomes more of us united with that resolve.  We will not forget.  More from Psalms 119 tomorrow.

God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who can save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).

Many of the 9/11 tributes I’ve enjoyed have expressed a wonderful sentiment of resolve that I appreciate very much. It’s captured with the words, “We will not forget!” or “We will never forget!” I believe this resolve is important. I don’t think the sentiment should be present every waking moment, but it should be persuasive enough that we remain alert to the danger our adversaries pose to us and our way of life. This is much bigger than just a threat to our nation; it’s a threat to freedom to live for God according to the mystery of godliness that has been delivered unto us.

The Muslim threat to our way of life is real. When I taught Philippians to the Fellowlaborers a few years ago I mentioned the importance of Christians regaining our passion for outreach. We need to resolve deep within our souls to advance the cause of Christ.

You can talk about missionary zeal or passion for outreach, and that’s all fine and good. But, it’s not about going to church; it’s about transforming the world. Christianity brought an end to slavery, at least in Christian countries it did. Christianity advanced the equality of the sexes. These are things that our Muslim comrades don’t cherish like we do. If we as Christians don’t get the passion to transform the world again, the Muslims are going to bury us, because they have it, and they will demonstrate the energy of their convictions.

Americans are becoming a laughing stock in many places around the world. The exceptions are places where our military men are fighting. For the most part, Americans are seen as undisciplined and self-indulgent. The workers in the African orphanage where my daughter, Sara, worked couldn’t believe she was really from the U.S. They said she was unlike all the other U.S. volunteers they had seen. Why, because she knew how to work, and she is not self-indulgent. She was there to work and serve and not there to play. (All the others wanted was to do their 3-4 hours, then hit the beach.)

If we don’t seriously recommit ourselves to the vision of Word Over the World, we are going to be overrun by the Muslims, because they have. They are willing to do it peacefully, and they are willing to do it by force. It doesn’t matter to them; they are all in agreement. To them, Islam is the only way of life worth pursuing. . . the only one with commitment and integrity to One God.

They know they will win because Christians have become complacent and compromising, lulled to sleep by the easy life. Too many Christians are non-Biblical and not willing to fight for what they believe. The Muslims have almost already taken over Europe, and they did it peacefully. They just moved in populated the country, and are ready to take over. They are already asking for their own laws in Great Britain regarding marriage and divorce. They do not want to be obligated to follow the laws of England, they want to go by Sharia law. That will probably allow for mistreatment and abuse. They will threaten violence if they don’t get their way, and governments usually back down to them. Do you remember how Spain pulled their troops out of the U.N. forces in Kuwait and Iraq because of the threat of violence?

The Crusades were not one of the nobler parts of the history of western civilization, but you have to applaud the fierceness with which the Christians withstood the encroachment of Islam on European soil. They were willing to fight back then. They no longer have that resolve. If we lose the will to fight, we will become slaves. The Word tells us there will always be conflict. The question really is do we believe it, and are we willing to fight for it. If we will fight with the gospel we will not have to fight with guns and bombs.

Galatians 4:22-31:
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

We do not hate anyone. It will be our love for our Muslim friends that will motivate us to speak the truth to them. Jesus died for each one of them, too. When we lived in San Antonio and my wife was an apartment complex manager. We welcomed Iranian pilots in training and their families into our complex. We had meals with one another. Our children played together. We spoke about the Bible to them. Their understanding of Christianity was very non-Biblical. They were shocked to learn that we didn’t actually eat the body of Christ in communion. They could not understand how Jesus could be God and still die. When we explained the “trinity” correctly they were relieved that we believed in one God also. Two of the highest ranking officers brought their children to Ferne and asked her to bless them before returning to Iran which she was blessed to do.

The United States is a Christian nation, but not a Biblically Christian nation. For the most part Christianity has been redefined into a milk-toast, anything goes religion. Suffering and sacrifice have been taken out of Christianity. When they left so did the passion for outreach, because outreach requires sacrifice. Great outreach requires great sacrifice.

Not only are we not willing to fight, we are not even willing to support those who are willing to fight. (Eg. No body armor for our troops in Iraq.) Edmund Burke correctly said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” One God is the answer to the problem. Biblical Christianity vs Islam is a no contest. According to Islam, those who worship 3 Gods are infidels and must be killed. Worshipping Jesus and polytheism and Roman Catholic beliefs drive the Muslims in sane. Well, they drive me in sane too.

Our culture is decadent and should be changed. If we don’t change it with the gospel, the Muslims will change it by force. To keep women chaste doesn’t require whips and chains and chastity belts. It requires men willing to be chaste too. . . Men willing to delay gratification until marriage. We must move the Word here by reintroducing the concepts of personal sacrifice, commitment, and dedication to our Biblical purpose. If we won’t move the Word without persecution, then we will endure persecution. It took the persecution in Acts 8 before the first century Church ever left Jerusalem. They were told in Acts 1:8 that, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” but they never moved out with the Word until they were persecuted in Jerusalem. If we will not do it without persecution, be fully assured a persecution will come.

God bless you in the unparalleled name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

The apostle Paul was among the best-educated men of his day. He was a Jew with a great pedigree and was part of an elite group within Judaism. He was multilingual, held coveted Roman citizenship by birth and was known for his zeal. Yet his early advantaged life, his vast natural knowledge, and his high social and religious standing meant very little to him. He counted them but dung (Philippians 3:4-8).

What did matter to him, was knowing Christ in a fuller and richer way. His desire was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. If Paul counted all the privilege of his birth, education and experience as dung there must have been something else very important He wanted instead.

O, that my desire to discover the benefits of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ matched Paul’s. Since this was so important to Paul it should be as important to me. It’s something I realize I need to go after, to press into. Like Paul, I need an unconditional dedication to Christ. Paul was totally committed and had burned his bridges behind him. Everything that was gain to him, he counted as loss. He had learned an important lesson –– nothing is as important as Christ.

After the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, he began to teach the principles of the Kingdom of God and openly demonstrate its power. When it descended it came in the likeness of a dove — gentle, beautiful, and elegant. Once Jesus received it, his ministry began to unfold in all its power. Holy spirit also dwells in us. It empowers us and unites us with God’s supernatural supply and ability.

One exciting Old Testament example of the difference having the spirit makes is when Samuel told Saul what to expect when the Spirit came upon him.

I Samuel 10:6-7, 9:
And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. . . 9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

Something dynamic happened that day. Saul became another man just as Samuel had prophesied; his heart was changed! He was empowered to do as occasion served him. We also have been made new creatures in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

The spirit of the Lord also moved mightily in Samson’s life (Judges 14:6 & 16:14). Certainly, if the Holy Spirit could move Samson, it can move us as well! Physically, Samson was no different than any other man in Israel, but he was able to surpass natural limitations because he applied supernatural powers. When he needed the power of God, the Spirit came upon him to provide it. He had an ample supply from God that would make him more than equal to any demand.

If Old Testament believers could walk in such power, how about God’s children today. What we have far exceeds anything available to them. God wrought new, amazing, wonderworking power never before available when He raised Christ from the dead, and it fills us all.

Ephesians 1:20-23:
Which [his mighty power v 19] he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

God’s will for us is daily victory and blessing. It’s ours because of the power He wrought when He raised Jesus from the dead. Let’s look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and desire to know him better. Enjoy your day with your eyes set on him, walking in the power of his resurrection.

God bless you in the remarkable name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by which all men can be saved.

I’m sure you’ve seen by now that holding forth the gospel is an adventure in walking by the spirit. In following the life of Jesus in the gospels we see anything but a routine or stagnant example of repetition. No two people are the same so why should we think that any two opportunities to speak for God would be.

Although the truth of the gospel never changes, the way that the good news is presented is likely to differ depending on the people with whom we share it. That requires walking by the spirit. We want to be sensitive to how the Spirit leads us and pay attention to the person’s heart. Jesus Christ didn’t present Himself the same way to everyone, and the way we introduce people to him may differ vastly.

When reading the Gospels, we find that Jesus interacted with various people in monumentally different ways. Jesus challenged the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 to change the way he lived. In Luke 6:47-49 he warned people of the danger of hearing and not doing. He rebuked the Pharisees and scribes in Mark 7:1-13. To the man born blind in John 9 he showed compassion and mercy. With the lawyer in Luke 10:25-37 he asked questions and told a parable. He responded differently to different people under different conditions. That is what Jude exhorts us to do.

Jude 21-23:
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Paul kept himself in the love of God and made a difference. He became all things to all men that he might save some (I Corinthians 9:22). In Romans Paul reminds us that the goodness, kindness or gentleness of God leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). In other places, he says things like, “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (II Corinthians 5:11).

So, although the message of the gospel is always the same, how Christ is presented may differ from person to person. We must be willing to adapt to different situations as God leads us. This adventure of walking by the spirit is certainly thrilling and rewarding

I Corinthians 1:24:
To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Jesus has both power and wisdom. He displayed His power in the miracles He performed, and the Jewish people were impressed by miracles, signs, and wonders and sought them as proof of God’s presence. He demonstrated His wisdom in the words He spoke, and the Greeks were fascinated with knowledge, wisdom and understanding and sought them as evidence of God at work (I Corinthians 1:22-24).

The pursuit of the Jew was emotional, that of the Greek was intellectual. Jesus was able to satisfy the need of both, and he is still able. Only Jesus can truly satisfy anyone from any background. He is the desire of all nations (Haggai 2:7). Jesus is the power of God for those who need might as a point of contact. Jesus is the wisdom of God for those who need reason as a point of contact.

We can win people by operating the power of God, and we can win them by using the wisdom of God. Walking by the spirit and sensitivity to people can help us make the right adjustment to win each individual. Jesus so lovingly walked by the spirit that people were impressed with His wisdom and power (Matthew 13:54 & Mark 6:2). Let’s walk like Jesus did and use all the power and wisdom at our disposal to reach a needy world.

Word Study Wednesday

God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ for whose sake we are to endure hardness as good soldiers (II Timothy 2:3).

God uses a military analogy to impress upon us the importance of using the mighty weapons of His arsenal.

II Corinthians 10:3:
For though we [Paul & Timothy] walk in the flesh, we [Paul & Timothy] do not war [strateuomai] after the flesh:

This refers specifically to the ministry of Paul and Timothy, but following their example we can do the same. Just like in Philippians 4:13 Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We can, following his example, say the same thing. Similarly, following their example we can say, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.” Paul’s statement here implies that others may also do so.

The word “war” here is strateuomai. It means, according to Thayer, “to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to battle,” (spoken of a commander) “to do military duty, be on active service, be a soldier” or “to fight.” Bullinger says it means “to serve in war or wage war.” Strateuomai is a military term. We will look at each of its seven uses. The first occurrence of strateuomai is in Luke 3 which has its basic, initial or foundational meaning. Then, as we follow the word through, we will see how it is adapted to fit in different contexts.

Luke 3:14:
And the soldiers [strateuomai; This is the participle form of the verb, functioning as a noun.] likewise demanded of him [John the Baptist], saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence [i.e. to terrify or to extort by intimidation] to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Roman soldiers formed an important factor of life in New Testament Bible times. Their presence was seen and noted. Although they may have been viewed with contempt by the subjugated, Judean people, they had to be reckoned with. Soldiers operated with authority, and soldiering was generally regarded as a brave and disciplined profession. Believers who desired to render unconditional obedience to God, could observe and value the unconditional obedience a soldier rendered to his superior. (Remember the centurion in Matthew 8 who said, “Speak the word only and my servant will be healed.” and “Do this and he doeth it.”) Probably the most important emphasis in the soldier analogy is the authority under which he acted and the obedience with which he acted. A soldier submitted himself to the authority over him, and so must we.

James 4:7:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The Christian believer wanting to render his obedience to God, can learn much from the soldier analogy.

I Corinthians 9:7:
Who goeth a warfare [strateuomai] any time at his own charges? [Paul spoke this in light of people who examined him because he lived off the love offerings.] who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

Here Paul parallels his ministry to a soldier, a husbandman, and a shepherd. He uses three analogies to try to make his point. The soldier is first because it makes the point the clearest about the wages he earns. The husbandman and shepherd analogies also follow to emphasize the obvious reward for their labor. We go to war under the authority and direction of another. Next up our chain of command is God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 20:18:
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

If that is true regarding physical warfare, how about the spiritual warfare Paul is talking about in II Corinthians10:3?

Paul had many dealings with Roman soldiers. In fact, they had saved his life on several occasions:

· Roman soldiers saved his life when the mob in Jerusalem wanted to kill him in the temple area. (Acts 21:17ff)

· Roman soldiers were able to deliver Paul out of Jerusalem from the hands of the religious leaders who wanted him dead, and they brought him safely to Caesarea. (Acts 22:21ff)

· It was Roman soldiers who escorted Paul on the trip from Caesarea to Rome, the voyage on which Paul suffered shipwreck. (Acts 27:1ff)

· Roman soldiers delivered Paul to the Roman garrison of the Praetorian Guard for his house imprisonment. (Acts 28:16).

At times when Paul was in dangerous situations God delivered him by sending Roman soldiers (See also Acts 23:10 and 24:23.). I bet they made an impression on his mind.

This strateuomai word family is not used anywhere else in the church epistles. (except Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25) and Archippus (Philemom 2) are called fellowsoldiers (sustratiōtēs).) However, it is used twice in Timothy.

I Timothy 1:18:
This charge I commit unto thee, son [teknon] Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war [strateuomai1] a good [kalos] warfare [strateia1, noun form, only other place this word is used is II Corinthians 10:4 which we will be getting to on another day.];

“The prophecies” were put for the public ordination, which was put for the ministries in which he functioned. This is the figure of speech metalepsis or double metonymy. It does not mean that he had to memorize the prophecies and use those words to go into battle. It means Timothy was equipped with charisma by which and from which he could attack or assault the enemy and war a good warfare.

II Timothy 2:3-4:
Thou therefore endure hardness [kakopatheō; to suffer (endure) evils; Friberg says it is an idiom meaning “meet hardships courageously.”], as a good soldier [stratiōtēs; occurs 26 times always translated soldier] of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth [strateuomai] entangleth himself with the affairs of this life [bios]; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier [stratologeō; only place; meaning, gather an army or enlist a soldier].

This is the second time Paul exhorts Timothy concerning his warfare. In waging his warfare Timothy is to be an example to those he oversees. Whereas the point in I Corinthians was the reward he was laying up, the comparison is made here for the purpose of communicating the focus or self-denying concentration required to war and to please Him who has chosen you to be a soldier. We also see here the subordination of the soldier’s will to Him that called him to be a soldier.

We cannot afford to be deserters. When has there been a more important time for us to fight for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the great mystery? I am so thankful to our heavenly Father for people like you, who are still willing to go to battle and fight for the mystery.

We are fellowheirs and of the same body. You are important. You are irreplaceable. You have a ministry to perform. Together we can make this Word of God live. I’ve seen too many people casualties on the battlefield. It’s like the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan. People all around going down, but we have to keep moving on. We cannot give up. Our mission is too important ― the stakes are too high.

The last two occurrences of strateuomai are in James 4:1 and I Peter 2:11, and they deal figuratively with lusts warring in our members.

James 4:1:
From whence come wars [polemos] and fightings [marchē] among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war [strateuomai] in your members [melos, 34 times always member]?

I Peter 2:11:
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly [sarkikos] lusts, which war [strateuomai] against the soul; [The battlefield is in the mind which we will see later.]

We saw how the first use clearly defined a soldier waging war in a physical life and death sense. Subsequent contexts applied it to spiritual warfare for people’s minds and the conflict between the lusts of the flesh and our souls. Next Wednesday we will look at how it is used in spiritual warfare.

1. The use of strateuomai and strateia together is the figure of speech polyptoton and paronomasia. It purpose is to emphasize and call our attention to the warfare in which we must engage.

God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ who promised to give rest to all who laboured and were heavy laden, when they came unto him (Matthew 11:28).

The Bible tells us that God worked (Genesis 1-2), and then God gave man the work of ruling over and taking care of His creation (Genesis 1:28) sending the first man, Adam, into the garden of Eden to dress and keep it (Genesis 2:15). Even after Adam was expelled from the garden, he was still charged with tilling the ground from whence he was taken (Genesis 3:23). God intends that humans are to work as long as they live (Genesis 3:19). The age of 65 shouldn’t end meaningful, purposeful and productive work, whether paid or volunteer.

After Jerusalem had been destroyed and the residents taken into captivity, Nehemiah was permitted to return to Jerusalem as governor. In the face of threats, sarcasm, false accusations and sudden attacks he oversaw the rebuilding of the wall of the city in 52 days. It was completed in that extremely short amount of time because the people had a mind to work (Nehemiah 4:6).

God expects His people to work today, also. In the first of Paul’s epistles in this new administration of grace he instructed God’s people to “. . .study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing (I Thessalonians 4:11-12). He follows up in the second epistle he wrote them reminding them what he had told them when he was present with them.

II Thessalonians 3:10-12:
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Later when he wrote Ephesians he says: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28).

These references seem to refer to work that provides for one’s physical sustenance. But there is another kind of labor — doing the work of the Lord. What is the work of the Lord? Comparing the work he did, to the work that provides for one’s physical sustenance, Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Jesus saw the harvest of souls coming to them and he knew they all had immediate work to finish for the Lord that very day (John 4:35-38). Later in the Gospel of John Jesus distinguishes between the two labors saying:

John 6:27-29: Message Bible
Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.” 28 To that they said, “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?”29 Jesus said, “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”

Expending our energy striving for perishable food should not be the driving force in our lives. Rather we should work for the food that sticks with us and nourishes us everlastingly. That’s food the Son of Man provides. Let’s commit to him and get in on the works of God.

Both kinds of work are ordained of God. We rarely forget the first for we get hungry rather quickly. Let’s resolve to never forget the second either. God has promised to fill the hunger and thirst of everyone seeking His righteousness (Matthew 5:6). “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” (I Corinthians 15:58). He will assuredly “Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (II Thessalonians 2:17).

God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who, like his step-father Joseph, was a carpenter (Mark 6:3).

Although celebrated as early as 1887 in a couple of states, President Grover Cleveland signed a bill in 1894 making Labor Day a national holiday to honor working people. Labor Day is the first Monday in September in the United States. For many people it has become a day of rest and recreation symbolizing of the end of summer and the beginning of the fall season.

Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades and parties. On Labor Day, we traditionally take time to recognize the great workforce here in America. From factories to restaurants, from computer support to machine shops, from schoolrooms to gas stations, laborers help make the economy run, and on this day, America honors its workforce.

The Bible likewise frequently commends those who work. For example: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). Paul certainly did.

Acts 20:34-35:
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Working is a life-style lesson all young people needed to learn and Proverbs addresses it directly.

Proverbs 13:11:
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 14:23:
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Proverbs 12:24:
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

Proverbs 28:19:
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Paul instructed the Thessalonians on the importance of labor

I Thessalonians 4:10-12:
And indeed ye do it [love one another] toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study [make it your ambition] to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

We are thus commended to have a mindset of work, not laziness, or expecting others to do for us what we can do for ourselves. “To do your own business” means to attend to one’s own concerns, without interfering with the affairs of others (Philippians 2:4; I Timothy 5:13; and I Peter 4:13). “To work with your own hands” is a condemnation of idleness. The word “honestly” is also translated “decently” or “properly.” It carries our modern sense of “honourably” or “creditably.” There is a proper way to walk and it includes working. Perhaps Paul was referring to his own example: “For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you” (I Thessalonians 2:9).

Note that an admonition to continue in “brotherly love” (v. 9) is in the context of our passage. For one who refuses to work becomes a burden to society exhibiting a lack of brotherly love that is a reproach to the community of believers.

Indeed, II Thessalonians 3 even takes a much graver tone.

II Thessalonians 3:10-14:
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not [is not willing to or refuses to] work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Laborers are honored in Scripture, and so is labor. So, let’s walk honestly so we have to give to them that needeth.

God bless you in the previous name of Jesus Christ who noticed when people made the right choices (Luke 10:41-42).

Choices abound. We all have to make hundreds of decisions that determine the outcome of our lives. Whether major or minor, they all add up and shape our lives. Do we follow the way of God or follow our own way? We all need to evaluate the options and make up our minds. The more resolute our decisions, the easier they are to maintain. God has declared His ways and will help us walk the way of His Word. Our free-will choice to do as He says is always before us.

Psalms 119:30-32:
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when [for] thou shalt enlarge my heart.

What better way to choose than a way of truth. Because we know it is God’s Word, we know it is the truth, for He is true and righteous altogether (Psalms 19:9). Following the way of truth requires keeping God’s commandments. The psalmist says he has laid or set God’s judgments before him. When you choose the way of truth, you think it through and lay your plans out before you. Then you stick to them. That means continuing to choose and re-choose the right way as decisions need to be made. “Stuck” is the Hebrew word translated “cleave” in Genesis 2:24 where it describes a marriage commitment.
The workman of God’s Word has no need to be ashamed. When we choose the way of truth, lay it out before us, and stick to the plan, we will not be put to shame. Then we can run the way that has been laid before us. As we do so, God will enlarge our hearts. Just like when we run physically, we build our endurance and get better as we stay faithful and continue to run. We can build our conditioning spiritually as we run to do God’s Word. The more we run, the larger our hearts can get. We should condition ourselves and think about the long haul.

Then before the psalm closes, the psalmist repeats his declaration and asks for God’s help.

Psalms 119:173:
Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
Perhaps the words of Moses and Joshua rang in the psalmist’s ears when he declared the way he had chosen.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20:
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Moses set God’s Word before them and commanded them to walk in His ways to keep His commandments. He challenged them to decide and implored them to choose life. Joshua also repeated a similar challenge.

Joshua 24:14-15:
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua declared his choice. He and his house would serve the Lord. He also set up a stone of witness as a perpetual reminder of the choice and commitment they made. We, too, must take the challenge and choose the way of truth, set it before ourselves, stick to it, and run to serve the Lord our God.

God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ who always did what pleased his Father (John 8:29).

John 19:30:
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

After Jesus received the vinegar, he knew his mission was finished. He had accomplished what God had asked him to do, and therefore declared, “It is finished.” The first recorded words of Jesus found in Luke 2:49, where Jesus’ response to his parents’ expression of concern was to tell them, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” His last recorded words in scripture before he says, “into thy hands I commend my spirit” and he dies are: “It is finished.” All the time between those two accounts, we find Jesus actively pursuing the things of his Father. He was always about his Father’s business.

Jesus maintained his focus throughout his ministry. He always did his Father’s will. Early in his ministry he told his disciples, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). He finished everything God had asked of him daily. Toward the end of his ministry just before he was taken in the garden Jesus prayed to his Father saying, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Jesus had been faithful to perform all that God had asked of him to that point.

Jesus endured agony and suffering to fulfill the Word of God. He took our place. He was our substitute for sin. He paid the price of his innocent blood to redeem you and me. It was not the rope tied around his midriff or the nails driven through his hands and feet that kept him on that cross. Rather, it was his uncompromising and relentless love for his Father and His Word. He delighted to do God’s will (Psalms 40:8), and for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). He could have walked away from the cross if he wanted, with twelve legions of angels at his command.

Jesus kept hanging on the cross because he loved us. They did not take his life that day. He so loved us that he gave himself for us. Through every moment of his agonizing death God was with him providing him strength and comfort. The joy that was set before him included his knowledge that he was fulfilling his Father’s plan of salvation that would pay the price for the sin of all mankind.

The close of John’s Gospel gives an awesome sense of finality.

John 19:28-30:
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished [teleō], that the scripture might be fulfilled [teleioō], saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished [teleō]: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

“Were accomplished,” “might be fulfilled” and “is finished” are derived from the same Greek root, telos, which means “end.” It is primarily a termination point, then by extension Thayer says it means, the end to which all things relate, the aim, the purpose. The first and the last of these are the related verb teleō, “to bring to a close, to finish, to end, to complete an activity or process.” Generally, when involving the notion of time, it means “to perform the last act which completes a process, to accomplish, to fulfill.” Teleō in both verse 28 and 30 is tetelestai, the perfect tense. It signifies a past action, the effect of which continues into the present. The perfect describes an action that was fully completed and has present day consequences. If it were the aorst tense, it would simply mean “the work is done.” The work was not only finished that day that Jesus spoke it, but it is still a finished reality today. Jesus fully completed his work with the ongoing effects that you and I still benefit from it today. It has been finished and is still finished and its effects are still present today.

Ralph Wilson referencing, Moulton and Milligan, notes that in the last couple of centuries scholars have found thousands of papyrus scraps with Greek writing on them. Many of these are mundane commercial documents in which tetelestai is found. Moulton and Milligan pored over many of these receipts and contracts to better understand New Testament Greek. They observed that receipts are often introduced by the phrase tetelestai, usually written in an abbreviated manner indicating that the bill had been paid in full. The obligation has been completed. The debt has been paid off. Tetelestai ― it is finished. (J.H. Moulton and G. Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Text: Illustrated edition the Papyri and Other Non-Literary Sources (Eerdmans, 1957), p. 630, under teleō.)

Unless Jesus had a purpose, a mission to complete, the words, “It is finished” would have had little meaning. He wasn’t speaking of his earthly life that was finished, he would be back after the resurrection for 40 days. Jesus was speaking of what the Father had asked him to do to redeem mankind. His focus, discipline, and obedience brought him to the end of his journey. Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death (Philippians 2:8). He was willing to suffer to achieve God’s purpose. He didn’t give up just because things were difficult.

Paul, at the end of his life was able to say the same. Its presence in God’s Word meant that he wrote it by revelation. By God’s mercy and grace, perhaps we too can echo those words and finish our course, too, having kept the faith.

II Timothy 4:6:
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [teleō] my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

At the end, Jesus asked for a drink. After receiving that drink, he mustered his strength and declared “It is finished!” He had fulfilled the Word and will of God and had accomplished our redemption. All his life he had been about his Father’s business, and finally he had finished it. Hallelujah!

Figures Friday

God bless you in the delightful name of Jesus Christ, who both cared and exerted a diligent effort on behalf of God’s people (Mark 4:35-39; John 10:10-15).

As Peter approached the end of his life, he became even more concerned about God’s Word continuing beyond his lifetime. He wanted God’s Word to always be available to God’s people. He cared about God’s Word and God’s people. But it didn’t stop there. Not only did he care, he demonstrated his love and care and concern by making diligent effort on behalf of God’s people.

II Peter 1:12-15:
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

“Negligent” is the Greek word, “ameleō”. This is a compound word which comes from “a,” a negative particle meaning “not” or “without,” and melō meaning “care.” Ameleō means “without care” or “careless.” This could be called a double negative: “not” and “not caring.” If you are “not-not caring,” then you care. This is the figure of speech antenantiosis. It uses the negative in order to express the positive in a very high degree.1 Peter’s care was not anxiety or nervousness or distracting care. It was a heartfelt love and concern for God’s people.

Because Peter cared, he resolved “to put them always in remembrance of these things.” He did this even though he knew that they already knew them and were established in the present truth. This phrase, “the present truth” in the NIV is “the truth that you now have.” “Present” means “to have arrived” or “to be at hand.” Certainly, if it has arrived, it is present. “Present,” not in the sense of time, but of location. The Word was present ― it was there.

The “present truth” is not set in opposition to a “former truth.” It simply means “the truth you now have.” What is the truth that they now had that they didn’t have before? (We will have to keep reading in the context to find out.) It was the revelation of the great mystery which was kept secret until it was revealed to Paul.

II Peter 3:15-16:
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written [that’s past tense] unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The “present truth” to which Peter referred in chapter 1, is here identified as Paul’s epistles which was the revelation of the great mystery. Peter noted here that even at that time people were fighting the revelation of the mystery. It is still being fought today. It is Christ in each and every one of us, no difference between Jew and Gentile. God can work in every one of us to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Peter cared enough to put God’s people in remembrance.

II Peter 1:12-15:
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, [righteous, just, right.] as long as I am in this tabernacle, [“Tabernacle” refers to one’s individual body. “Temple,” in contrast, refers to the body of Christ or the Church as a whole.] to stir you up [Wake-up, arouse, and render active. How did he plan to wake them up…] by putting you in remembrance; [Verse 14 is parenthetical. It explains and emphasizes the urgency of his mindset and determination.] 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour [spoudazô, to expend a diligent effort remembering the brevity of time.] that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Peter didn’t merely care. He demonstrated his care by exerting an effort on behalf of God’s people. Of course, he had learned this from the master. Jesus Christ both cared and exerted a diligent effort on behalf of God’s people. (Mark 4:35-39; John 10:10-15). People knew that Jesus cared because he acted on their behalf. He laid down his life for his people. As members of the Body of Christ we should have that same genuine care for one another.

I Corinthians 12:18, 24b-25:
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 24 . . .God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Peter worked diligently so God’s people would have the truth as a living reality in their lives.

II Peter 1:12-15:
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Notice the three times “remembrance” is used. That’s the goal. That’s what Peter has in mind. How does he get there? First, it starts with his care for people. We care enough to put people in remembrance of the Word and the greatness of the revelation of the mystery. Second, it is righteous, just, and right to arouse people by putting them in remembrance. People are established as we wake them up or arouse them by continuing to bring the Word to their remembrance. Thirdly, to complete it, it is more than just repeating it when it is convenient. We must seek an occasion, look for opportunities, endeavour with all our strength to expend a diligent effort remembering the brevity of time.

Peter was encouraged to put forth the effort because he knew his days were drawing short. For us the anticipation of Christ’s return provides the reality of the urgency of the times we have to put people in remembrance. It is always the right time to care enough about God, His Word, and His people to put each other in remembrance of the greatness of the Word of God and the great mystery.

Putting each other in remembrance requires that we speak to one another. Let’s desire to present words fitly spoken… words that minister grace… words that are the power of God unto salvation. What a calling we have. Although our collective Messenger For Christ Adventures are over, we are still messengers for Christ bringing God’s wonderful Word of deliverance to all who will hear.

1. Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, E. W. Bullinger, p. 160