Sometimes We Wonder Is It All Worth The Trouble.

Isaiah 53:1 "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

We live in a world that our churches are growing smaller and smaller. Pastors continue to labor, they continue to study hard to bring the sermons of the word. Pastors and churches continue to pray for growth and strength, and most of all we continue to pray that God gives us the ability to be heard. Nevertheless, I must ask, "Is anyone listening any more"? Does anyone hear our report? Moreover, if they are not listening then is the arm of God still revealing salvation and biblical truth? With all the work we pour into the ministry of the word it seems we only preach to the few faithful any more. I will never ask if it is worth it because it most certainly is, and at the very least, we are still preaching the gospel message and gospel truth to those who do hear. I believe we are in the last days; therefore, mankind are no longer interested because the Lord is no longer revealing Himself to the lost. I see churches falling in numbers, so much so that they can hardly remain functional. I am reminded of what Paul told young Timothy in 2nd Timothy 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." To whom you may ask; to the Lords churches. People will leave; they will refuse to come, because they have no more desire to worship in spirit and truth. However, as churches and as pastors we must all get up and continue to serve the Lord. We may wonder whom it is that is hearing, and who is God revealing too, well I still hear and enjoy the truth of Gods word. Paul told us in Romans 10:16 - 17 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17.) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." therefore since the hearing comes only by the preaching of the word then my job as a pastor is still important. God is not defeated and neither are His churches. We may be small, we may be poor, we may be mocked and demonized by the religious world but we still preach Gods report, we still preach the truth of Gods word, and until Jesus returns, we will still preach the true saving words about Jesus Christ. I am reminded of the question Luke asked when he wondered if faith would exist when Jesus returned. Luke 18:7 - 18 "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (8) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" I believe the answer is yes, but very little. Jesus promised the church would be here when He returned. Folks, stand together and stand strong, God is not dead and neither are His churches. We have a job to do no matter what, so let us stand together and let us carry Gods message of salvation into the world and see what God does with it. The battle is not over and we shall not be defeated. The Lord told us to preach to every creature and until we have accomplished that job, the work is not finished. So let us stop wondering who is hearing, and who believing, and let us keep fighting the good fight. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19 - 20 Let us all pray one for another and fight on!

We Would Like To Look At The Word "Bought".

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20

When we look at the word bought, most anyone will understand this word, to a point, however here it carries a most blessed meaning. The word "bought" means - to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem - The word "redeem means - to buy out; especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom - Now please understand here what has been said; the word bought means to purchase or to redeem which means to buy out for freedom, meaning total freedom because the item has a new owner with new demands. When we were lost, we were under Satan's control and the control of sin; however, since Christ has purchased us with His blood we are no longer a slave to Satan or his sin. The ownership of a saved person has changed and God shares no ownership with Satan. Satan no longer has control over what we do, and neither does sin. Sin is of Satan's and every time a saved person sins it is his/her fault. If one is no longer under the power of sin, then why do we blame Satan every time they sin? It is true that Satan is the tempter and if we are tempted to sin, it is Satan and not God. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:" James 1:13 I know about the scripture in Isaiah 63:17 "O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear..." but it never said that God caused them to sin, but rather to err from His ways. Sometime God causes us to wonder in order to teach us, to show us the way of righteousness. The Lord tries us, but never would God cause a saved person to sin. We must be careful with words in the scripture before reaching a conclusion. We will never understand in this flesh how God works; neither will we always know exactly why ofr how God accomplishes His will. For example, I believe for a saved person to miss church without a sufficient reason is sin, because I believe God demands that the Christian attends. However, at the same time God could cause one to err from being at church without causing one to sin. Now, let us look at this, if one is bought or redeemed from sin then he or she is free from the power of sin. How could one be free from sin if God tempts him or her to sin? God said, since we are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ then "... glorify God in your body..." because you now can. We could have never glorified God before salvation but now with salvation we can and are commanded of God to do so. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31