More Important Than Many Sparrows

I just came inside from our patio area. I woke up this morning, made the coffee and grabbed my sermon. I went outside and sat on my favorite patio chair with coffee in hand. It was already 65 degrees out there this morning...very comfortable. It's supposed to be 110 today. This is one of my favorite times. What a great setting for "going through" my sermon text for Sunday morning.

My little friends were also out there this morning. Who are they? The finches. We have a feeder 20 feet from where I study. One day one of them flew into our sliding glass door. There he was, laying on his side, motionless. After waiting a couple of minutes, I went over to him, and picked him up in my hands. All of a sudden he awoke and flew off. They're learning to trust me. After all, I'm the one who feeds them, leads them beside still waters, our back yard fountain. In these difficult, hot days, these little guys need water. You can see where I'm going with this analogy.

If our future days should get hot, tough out there, we can trust Him.

Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

For our name's sake? No, for His.

Heirs of Salvation

In our Bible study Thursday morning, I saw something in the following passage I had not seen before. The Scripture is a never ending well of wonder.

Gal 4:1-5
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,
2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. NASU

Paul uses the human example of children who are heirs of all the fathers wealth, even though they, as children, are no better than a slave. Paul then compares this spiritually to believers, who, prior to the Spirit entering their hearts, while they are also held in slavery to the elemental things of this world, are, none the less, heirs. Paul states this in the very next verse.

Gal 4:6-7
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
NASU

Paul calls them sons prior to the Holy Spirit entering their lives. Because they are heirs, God sent forth the Spirit into their hearts.

We see this same truth in Hebrews 1:14. Speaking of angels, the writer says:

Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? KJV

Somehow the angels know who the heirs of salvation are prior to them becoming saved. They will protect them, minister to them. God will not lose any of His chosen. This truth is also seen in 2 Peter 3:9. He won't come until all the heirs are saved. None that the Father gives to the Son will perish. He's not willing that any of these heirs perish.

Galatians 3 Test

We had fun in our Mens Bible Study this morning. I gave them a test that we worked through during the Galatians study. Thought I would throw it out there for any to see and take. By the way, the Tutor is referred to in Gal. as the Law of Moses.

1. T F Abraham was saved by faith.
2. T F When God gave His Law to Moses 430 years later, the basis of salvation changed.
3. T F Abraham and the others who lived before the law were saved by faith only because they did not have God’s law.
4. T F The covenant with Abraham was conditional. Whereas, the Mosaic covenant was completely unconditional.
5. T F The covenant of Law is long past, but the moral demands of the Law have not diminished.
6. T F Only God’s grace can produce what the Law cannot.
7. T F Unbelievers must know the truth about their state.
8. T F The church must never offend the unbeliever.
9. T F The believers righteousness is actually based on Law.
10. T F Law and Grace cooperate in bringing the lost sinner to Jesus Christ.
11. T F The Law does not make us sinners.
12. T F The Law reveals to us that we already are sinners.
13. T F The Law is a mirror in that it reveals our righteousness.
14. T F There is a lawful use of the Law, and an unlawful use of the Law.
15. T F When people claim they are saved by keeping the Ten Commandments, they are revealing their ignorance of the true meaning of the Law.
16. T F The purpose of the Law is not to condemn but to save.
17. T F Forgiveness of sin means nothing to a person who does not know he is sinful.
18. T F It is pointless to preach grace until the impossible demands of the Law, and the reality of guilt before God, are preached.

19. Q. What does it mean to be kept in custody under the law?
20. Q. How does the Law lead us to Christ?

21. T F Since we are no longer living under the Law, we don’t need a tutor.
22. T F Israel could not see the Tutor, only the Teacher.

23. When did the Tutor’s job end?
a. At the birth of Christ.
b. At the death of Christ.
c. At the resurrection of Christ.
d. At the destruction of the temple in 70 A. D.
e. When I became a believer.
f. None of the above.

24. Why is there no further need for a temple in Jerusalem?
a. It was associated with the Tudor.
b. Its purpose was fulfilled.
c. There’s yet a future need for a temple.
d. All of the above
e. a and b

Answers are in comments below.

Unforgettable Day

Last Saturday Donna and I experienced one of those events we will never forget.

Here are some of the ingredients that made this day positively unforgettable.





1. The baptism of Matt and Rebeckah Wagster.
2. They were baptized on their ranch by Darren Rusco and Christopher Key.
3. A four-wheeling journey to a mountain spring.
4. A steep (and I mean steep) hike down to the waterfall and pool.
5. Wading through the creek to get to the upper pool of spring water.
5. 100 + temp.
6. Many young children watching and having fun.
7. The trek back up the mountain.
8. Tired, sore muscles... the good kind of sore.




Quite a setting for a baptism.
The water felt good on such a hot day.

Fellowship

I find this passage very interesting. The Lord found His 12 apostles worthy. Worthy of what?

Acts 5:41
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

It sounds like this was a high honor...to suffer shame for Jesus. Here's the shame they suffered.

40 ...and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

The Sanhedrin, most likely, removed their cloths, tied them to a post, and had each of them flogged with 39 lashes with a nine-tale whip like common criminals.

They were counted worthy to experience fellowship with Jesus. The fellowship of His sufferings. After they were commanded by their government not to speak in the name of Jesus, this is what they did.

42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

What a high honor.

Why Arn't We Crying Out To God?

A few weeks ago we looked at this prayer of the church.
Acts 4:29-30 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, (boldness) 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."


They cried for boldness in their witness.
They cried for God's hand to be extended to heal.
They cried for God to perform signs and wonders.

They were not just "open" to these things, they greatly desired them. They prayed for them to come. All of these things come from God's hand. When was the last time you cried out to God for these things?


WHY DID THEY CRY OUT TO GOD FOR THESE THINGS? Let's face it, this was the generation that had more compelling evidence of the truth of the resurrection than any generation since. Hundreds of eyewitnesses to the risen Lord were in Jerusalem.

This was the generation of believers whose preaching was more anointed than any other generation to follow…Peter, Stephan, Paul, Barnabas…

Why did this generation feel such a passion to see God stretch forth his hand to heal and do signs and wonders among them? Why did they ask for boldness? One reason is none of these come from within the believer. Boldness is not normal. It comes from God. Why aren't we asking for these things?

Here's why the first century church were. The answers are found in Acts 5:12-14.

1. Unity (12)
12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.

When God moves among a group, it brings people together…in unity and love and awe. The “they” is referring to the church.

13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them (the church); however, the people held them in high esteem.

Why did the people dare not associate with them?
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.


There were no insincere, superficial followers in this church after the death of Ananias and Sapphira. The people feared the deadly potential of joining the church.

But the Christians were held in high esteem.


They cried for boldness in their witness.
They cried for God's hand to be extended to heal.
They cried for God to perform signs and wonders.

Q. Why?

2. To Help People Come To Saving Faith (14)
14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,

Why aren't we crying out to God for these things?

Cedillo's in Mexico

Thought I would share with you a video that Darren and Christopher asked me to put together for the Sunday morning worship service. Benito is translating the Scripture into their heart language. It's really cool that PRBC has a part of this ministry. You really get a little of the flavor of their gathering time together. Just think, we'll be worshiping with these folks from time to time throughout eternity...Can you sing their song?