tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57177768761948733872024-03-13T20:01:55.681-07:00Southtown CommentaryPastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-28465915066469741932016-06-24T17:25:00.002-07:002016-06-24T17:30:18.343-07:00Other site To continue reading this blog, go to www.southtownchurch.com/blog.php <br />
A quick link is found to your left. Visit that site and then go to the blog section.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-62445472502319379022016-06-09T12:37:00.001-07:002016-06-09T12:37:21.365-07:00Is Covetousness Wrong?We like going to garage sales. Not only do we enjoy finding bargains, but it is also fun to meet new people. With 4 boys ages 4-8, we like to watch for clothes that are not worn out- especially jeans that still have the knees intact. <br />
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Not only do we try to find bargains for the boys, but we also use the rummage sales to educate them on economics and budgeting. As we set out on our search for the best deals, I gave each of the 3 older boys $2 and told them they could spend it however they wanted. (The youngest did not yet get the concept, so I simply purchased a toy that he liked). I instructed them that once their money was gone, that they could not get anything else. Further they had to stay within their $2 budget. <br />
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My 7 year old had brought some of his own money, so he added his two quarters to the $2 and purchased a real nice toy John Deere tractor and disk set. Next the 6 year old bought a wallet and toy binoculars. The 8 year old bought a tool for 50 cents and then saved his money until near the end of the day when he finally found a whole bag of toys for another 50 cents and still had enough money left over for another toy. <br />
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When his brothers saw how much more he had gotten, they wanted more money. I told them no. They had gotten the same amount and if they had been as patient as their older brother, they could have gotten better deals as well.<br />
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This then led to a lesson about covetousness, since one of the brothers had become very resentful about that large bag of toys. If the older brother had not gotten so many toys the other boys would have been very happy with the things they had gotten. In fact, the toy tractor and the wallet were actually worth a lot more than the bag of junk the 8 year old got. <br />
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Sadly the behavior that my boys displayed is not contained to little kids. Adults display just as bad of behavior. If you want what your neighbor has and you resent him for having it, that is called covetousness. <br />
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Is coveting really that bad? Don't political parties even promote it in order to motivate voters? When God is left out of the picture, covetousness is not only accepted, it is often encouraged, but that does not make it right.<br />
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The 10th commandment is very clear, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” (Exodus 20:17) In fact, covetousness is ranked with thievery and extortion. 1 Corinthians 6:10 says, “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”<br />
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I Corinthians 6:10 suggests that covetousness is such a serious sin that if it actually characterizes your life, you should not even call yourself a Christian. I am not suggesting that if you have ever begun to covet that you are not a child of God, but if you continue in that sin and do not feel any remorse over it, then how can you claim that you really care about God and His standards of right and wrong?<br />
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For those who are caught up in covetousness or any other sin, there is hope. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The wages of all sin- including covetousness- is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us realize that our God is a holy God who must punish all sin. Let us take our sin seriously and realize that our only hope for eternal life is to agree with God about our sin and trust Christ's payment and His righteousness applied to our account.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-80520925884707481152016-05-30T13:51:00.003-07:002016-05-30T13:51:43.413-07:00What Do Christians Obey?I love pork chops on the grill. Pork ribs are even better. Of course I consider bacon a delicacy. As a Christian I see no problem with consuming hogs, but as I read the Bible I see that there are commands in the Old Testament that forbid the eating of pork.<br />
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There are other Old Testament commands that I do not follow either. Does this mean that I think it is okay for Christians to just pick and chose which of God's commands that we want to follow? Not at all! Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)<br />
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To better understand this issue, let us look at the human history of God's interaction with mankind. First, God gave a simple command to Adam and Eve about not eating from a tree. They could not keep that one simple command. As time went on men ignored God so much that He sent a worldwide flood and only Noah and his family were saved. After the flood God told them that they could eat any animal (Genesis 9:3), but that they could not eat the blood from the animals. Further they were not to murder other humans. The commands to Noah were given in the context of a covenant with him and all his descendants. All humans have descended from Noah, so this applies to all of us.<br />
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As we continue reading the history of the Bible, we come to Genesis 17 and a man named Abraham. God makes a covenant with him and his descendants. With that covenant there was a promise of a land. God then gives a special command that only applies to Abraham's descendants- they are to be circumcised as a token of God's promise to them. The Israelites (Hebrews/Jews) were descendants of Abraham, so this command was important to them.<br />
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God ended up setting the Israelites apart from other nations and dealing with them in a very special way. As we read the Old Testament of the Bible we see the History of God's interaction with them. Moses ends up leading them out of slavery in Egypt and as he does so, he gives them the 10 commandments as well as other ordinances including the restriction about eating pork. This was a new restriction- remember that Noah had not been given this command. Further this command only applied to the Israelites.<br />
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The strict rules that the Israelites were given were important because Jesus Christ- the savior of all mankind- would come from that nation and these rules showed that just like Adam and Eve, all of mankind could not perfectly obey God's rules and therefore needed someone who could pay for their sins. Jesus was the first sinless person to walk this earth because He is God in the flesh. Therefore the rules that God gave the Israelites showed them they needed a savior. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:24-25) <br />
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In other words, after we have trusted Christ there is no more need for the Hebrew law. Other passages such as Romans 10:4; Galatians 2:16; Colossians 2:13-17; and Ephesians 2:15 also show that the Hebrew law is no longer in effect for the Christian. This issue actually came up in the early Christian church and we can read how it was dealt with in Acts 15:1-20. At the end of that passage the Christians are told to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. This shows that although the Christian is not under the Hebrew law given by Moses, there are still expectations for the Christian. In fact the Old Testament law given to Noah still applies as we see the continued restriction on blood. Further as we read the New Testament is clear that Christians are not to lie, steal, covet, murder, or commit adultery. Further there is condemnation for gossip, drunkenness and extortion. We are not picking and choosing what we obey, we simply obey the commands of God that apply to us today.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-26429946732955069092016-05-02T11:18:00.002-07:002016-05-02T11:18:26.296-07:00Illustrating for Understanding I love to watch old westerns. I like to sit and watch “Gunsmoke” with my boys. Festus is Marshall Dillon's sidekick and is one of my favorite western characters. He is actually smarter than he first appears and has a caring side behind his rough exterior. My boys just think he is funny. <br />
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I read the Bible to my boys more often than I watch “Gunsmoke” with them. Recently we have been reading in the book of Acts, and actually came across a man named “Festus.” He wasn't a sidekick, instead he was a ruler. When the Apostle Paul got in trouble with the authorities, he had to appear before this man named Festus. After reading about him, our boys were told that it was a different Festus than they had seen on the cowboy show.<br />
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We actually got a bit of chuckle out of it since these two men seemed so different. One of the biggest differences is that the man we read about in Acts chapters 24-26 was a real man. The one we watch on TV is actually a make believe character played by a real man named Ken Curtis. Still it got me to thinking. My boys actually understand more about the culture and expectations of the make believe world of the old west as portrayed by these movies, then they do about the culture of the Bible times.<br />
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Although we have seen many episodes of “Gunsmoke” we do not actually have a true understanding of what life was like in Kansas during the 1800's. Instead we have a sensationalized Hollywood version of that setting. When we read the Bible account, we are separated by much more time and geography than we are from 1800's Kansas. Still we have an advantage. The Biblical account is real. Still there are large advantages to gaining insight into the culture of that time period and location. Many of the illustrations that Christ used (we call them parables) are better understood once we realize the significance of what He was saying in the day to day lives of those He was speaking to.<br />
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Although we should hold scripture in such high regard that we not change it, we like Christ can use illustrations to help others better understand it. For example I was recently teaching about the encounter that David had with a foolish man named Nabal (I Samuel chapter 25). I was explaining it to a man who watched westerns, so I said that what happened would have been similar to some guys on a cattle drive. David would have been like a cavalry colonel who came across the cattle drive with his men and protected them from being raided by Indians. Since no cattle were lost, at the end of the drive he asked that a steer be given to his men to feed them since they were out of food. Imagine how upset the colonel would have been if the man were rude to him and would not even give him any food. Nabal in the Biblical story was like the rude cattleman.<br />
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A bit later, we were talking about David trying to avoid King Saul who wanted to kill him. David did not want to fight Saul so he went and lived with the Philistines even though they had been his enemies. The young man I was talking to then said, “It would be like him going to live with the Apaches.” Exactly! This new Christian had figured out how to use illustrations to make a connection to real life events. He took something that he understood and used it to help him relate to a culture and time that he was far removed from. The Bible text was not changed, it was simply explained in a way that he could relate to.<br />
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Although our parables cannot compare to Christ's mastery of the illustration, we should not overlook this powerful tool for gaining better insight into the scriptures. At the same time we must be cautious not to carry our illustrations too far so that they distort the original narrative.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-69386118378779381402016-04-04T11:47:00.004-07:002016-04-04T11:47:30.581-07:00We Have Been Fighting the Flu We have been fighting colds and fevers in the Miller house. We started out with the coughs and runny noses and then the first boy got a fever. A day or two later another of our boys woke up saying that he dreamed that he was dizzy and and after he woke up, he was still dizzy. He too had a fever. Each boy would end up with a fever and so did I. We would get over the fever and then about a day later we would have another, but the cough and runny nose would continue for another week. Crystal got sick too, but not quite as bad.<br />
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It is not fun being sick for multiple weeks, but it does help me to appreciate the times when I am healthy. God allows the trials of sickness even to those who are faithful. For example Job (Jobe) was a man who faced terrible trials, yet God said of him, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause."<br />
(Job 2:3 NASB)<br />
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As Job faced the trials he and his friends tried to figure out the reason. When we face trials we often ask “why?” as well. At the end of the book of Job, God essentially tells them that in all their reasoning about why, they are missing the fact that they are not able to grasp why God does everything that He does. He reminds them that they were not there when He created the world.<br />
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In trying to answer “why?” Job's friends even accuse him of facing trials because of his sinfulness. Job defends himself, but the reality is that Job was not without sin. Still as we saw in Job 2:3, God himself showed that Job was the most blameless and upright man there was. As people face trials in life, it is not always the result of specific sin. <br />
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The Bible actually shows why even righteous people like Job would face trials. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Having a fever and feeling sick is not fun, but it can build character as we look to God for our strength. As we do so, we develop patience through our experience. Then as we survive our trying experience we are reminded that we now have hope to face the next trial. “Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.”<br />
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Job was an example of a righteous man who suffered, but the Bible also warns in Hebrews 12:4-11 that God disciplines Christians when they do wrong. In other words, there are times that we might get sick so that God can get our attention. The passage in Romans showed how trials can build character even in a righteous man, but Hebrews shows that trials can also build character in a Christian is who not living so righteously. “Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:9-11 NASB)<br />
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Whether a rough time we are facing is a trial or discipline, if we draw close to God during those times, both should result in fruits of righteousness as we become more like Him through the character building experience of the hardship.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-8812819247842875062016-03-18T11:48:00.002-07:002016-03-18T11:48:46.380-07:00Trusting God in Our Elections Our 7 year old son was disappointed when he heard that Marco Rubio was no longer running for President. His mother and I were actually supporting a different candidate, but when our son heard Marco Rubio's name on the radio he asked me if he would be a good President. I told him that I thought he would. From that point on, he was rooting for Marco. <br />
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Not everyone agreed with his choice, just as not everyone agrees with mine. The fact that my choice is not the front runner proves that point. I actually heard a discussion on the radio concerning this topic and one of the people began to speculate about who Jesus would vote for. I turned to my wife and said, “well I guess we will find out. He voted for President Obama last time.”<br />
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I, however, did not vote for President Obama in either of the last 2 elections, so why would I not vote for a man that I believed Jesus had voted for? When I say that Jesus voted for our current President, I mean that God ultimately decided to allow or stop every President or potential President our country has ever had. “Daniel answered and said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. "And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.” (Daniel 2:20-21 NASB) Daniel shows that God has the power to remove and set up kings. He continues, "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes, And sets over it the lowliest of men."<br />
(Daniel 4:17 NASB)<br />
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God is in control of who rules over nations, but notice that He does not always chose the best men to rule. “He sets over it the lowliest of men.” Every candidate running for President has sinned and come short of the glory of God. In fact every past President- even George Washington- has sinned. As I go to the ballot box, I must make a judgment call based on the information that I have, realizing that God is ultimately in charge of who actually becomes our next President and that He does not promise to give us the most righteous or smartest ruler.<br />
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Still there are benefits to having a righteous ruler. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.” (NASB) We understand that God is ultimately in control, but He also gives man a certain amount of freedom to make decisions. How all that balances out is decided by God Himself. Thus with an understanding of God's sovereignty over our elections, I also understand our responsibility to do what is right. With that in mind, I vote for those who I believe would be a righteous leader. For example, I look at their view of the unborn in making a determination. <br />
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I also realize that God allows evil men to rule. In I Kings 11:31 we read of His selection of Jeroboam who was an evil king over Israel. Though they did not have an electoral college like we do, Jeroboam rose to power as the people rallied around him. This is a reminder that an all powerful God is able to use even sinful men to accomplish His ultimate purposes.<br />
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Romans 13 reminds us that the governmental powers are ordained by God. As Christians we should prayerfully consider our voting choices and should realize the benefits of voting for a righteous ruler. At the same time, we need to trust God even if we are given an evil ruler that may end up causing much grief for our country.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-69496124043058063422016-03-04T07:58:00.004-08:002016-03-04T07:58:52.056-08:00Conforming vs Transformation When I was a child, my little brother asked who would win if a mountain lion attacked a horse. Well, about a month ago we found out that the Broncos defeated the Panthers in the Super Bowl. Imagine that you were a Broncos' fan, but you had been invited to go to the super bowl by a group of friends who were die hard Panthers fans. They agreed to give you a ticket and to pay your way to the game as long as you wore a Panthers jersey to the game. <br />
You still wanted the Broncos to win, but you did not want to pass up the chance to go to the Super Bowl, so you conformed to their request. Wearing the jersey did not turn you into a Panthers fan, but it got you into the game.<br />
You were not actually transformed into a Panthers fan, you simply conformed to your friends request. How does this fit into the issue of faith? Christianity should not be about being conformed to some outward appearance or even conformed to some set of ideas, but rather to being transformed by Christ. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (NASB)<br />
Obviously Christians should not be conformed to the sinful behaviors of the world, but what if we are simply conformed to the idea of presenting ourselves as Christians without actually having an inward transformation? Christ had to address this very issue when He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25 NASB) The scribes and Pharisees were conforming on the outside, but inside there was no transformation. They were conforming both to an external appearance to be seen of other men, and also to a set of rules and standards drawn up by man. The problem was not with their zeal to obey God, but rather a zeal to follow man's standards while rejecting God's. Sadly that is still what happens today when religious people focus on conforming to religious expectations rather than being transformed by God.<br />
True transformation should have an affect on our lives. In the Matthew passage Jesus next says, Mt 23:26 "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.” (NASB) True transformation should cause the Christian to conform to God's standards, but simply conforming gets men stuck in ritual rather than renewal.<br />
If you really become a Panthers fan, you will want to promote that team. It will be transformation rather than conformation. If you think that Christianity is simply going through the motions of religious expectation, you do not understand transformation. Christianity is about realizing you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. It is about changing direction in your life to follow Jesus Christ. It is realizing that He is your only hope for forgiveness. At that point old things are become new and you are completely transformed from a lost sinner on his way to the lake of fire, to a Christian saint who is now following the risen Savior.<br />
Conforming is about following people. Christian transformation is about following and obeying Christ no matter what people think. Please visit www.southtownchurch.com.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-56790870403545961342016-02-18T19:28:00.001-08:002016-02-18T19:28:26.103-08:00Finding the Right Way My brother-in-law recently moved. I had not been to his new apartment, but had been told that it was near Samaritan's in Albert Lea. I happened to be in that town, so I was going to stop in to see him. I drove to Samaritan's and called my wife for directions from there. I followed her instructions but told her that there was nothing but an open field where she said his apartment should be. After a bit of confusion she told me that he lived near St. John's, not Samaritan's.<br />
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I then drove to St. John's and found the street that I was told that he lived on, but I still could not find his apartment. I did find another apartment. I called my wife to see if this was the right building. As I described it to her, we realized I was again in the wrong place. After more confusion, we discovered that I had also been given the wrong street. No wonder I could not find my destination.<br />
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Fortunately, I was very close by this time. In fact I was only about a block and a half away, but I needed to turn down another street from the street that I had been told to go on. Once I found the correct street, I quickly found the apartment.<br />
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What if you were searching for eternal life with God, rather than your brother-in-law? What if you missed out because you had been given the wrong directions? This issue is so serious that the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9 NASB)<br />
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The word “gospel” means good news. In the Bible, it refers to the good news of eternal life through Jesus Christ. So how does a person apply the gospel to their lives in order to have eternal life? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”<br />
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A jailer asked the Apostle Paul and his fellow minister Silas how to be saved. The answer was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31). That same offer was extended not just to the jailer, but to his whole household.<br />
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Notice that belief must be in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (NASB)<br />
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I am often asked about those who have never heard about Jesus. For them to try to find eternal life would be like me trying to find the apartment with the wrong directions. Let us not forget that the same God who is powerful enough to create heaven and earth knows the very thoughts of men's minds. He can know who would and would not believe if they heard. That means He is able to get the right directions to those who are truly seeking Him. In Acts chapter 10, Cornelius prayed and God sent Peter to tell him about Jesus. As hearts are moved and the truth is shared, people all over the world are able to hear the gospel and realize that the only directions to an eternity with God are by believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior who died for your sins and rose again. www.southtownchurch.comPastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-25017434260902572412016-02-05T07:57:00.001-08:002016-02-05T07:57:17.332-08:00Faith Like a Mustard SeedMy little boys are still at the age where they think that their daddy can do almost anything he sets his mind to. Part of me enjoys that they have such confidence in me, but I also want them to understand reality- even if I become less of a hero to them. I would rather they understand the truth now than to have them face a major letdown later. <br />
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As Christians, we need to be cautious how we teach on faith, otherwise both children and adults can end up facing a similar letdown. Are there dangers in teaching that if we have enough faith, then we can do whatever we set our minds to do? Does the Bible support such teaching? What about Luke 17:6 which says, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.” (NASB)?<br />
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In order to understand Christ's statement in Luke 17, we must look at the context of what He was talking about. He had just finished teaching about how Christians should not be a stumbling block to others and how we should forgive a brother even if they repent 7 times in one day. It is difficult- seemingly impossible- to consistently obey these expectations, thus in Luke 17:5 the disciples ask the Lord to “increase our faith.” The reason they are requesting faith is so that they can obey what Christ has commanded them to do. Upon hearing that request, Jesus gives the mustard seed illustration.<br />
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James shows in 4:3, that prayer requests are not granted because they are asked for out of selfish motives. In other words, they are man's requests rather than God's will. The point is that if we pray according to God's will rather than our own, then all it takes is faith like a mustard seed for what we prayed about to happen. <br />
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The challenge is to know God's will. In Luke 17, Jesus had just shown the will of God when He taught on forgiveness and not being a stumbling block. In other words, the context shows us that all it takes to obey God is faith like a mustard seed. This is supported further as we continue to read the next verses. In Luke 17:7-8, Jesus talks about a servant who worked hard all day, but then still had to work more to prepare a meal for his master at the end of the day instead of expecting his master to make the meal for him. The point is that in a servant master relationship, the servant does not get to order the master around even if the servant has been working hard.<br />
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Christians must remember that our Lord is our master and even if we have been working hard, we do not have the right to order Him around. We do not have the right to make demands of God in our prayers. Instead we should focus on obeying Him. <br />
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To suggest that an increase in faith gives us a right to make demands of God totally contradicts the teaching of Luke 17:1-10. The faith of a mustard seed is the power to obey God, not the power to order God around. Realizing that God is all powerful, loving, merciful, and must judge sin, we should be thankful that He restrains us from doing whatever we decide while showing us that it only takes faith like a mustard seed to obey Him.<br />
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For more information please visit www.southtownchurch.comPastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-89324488098509640312016-01-22T09:06:00.003-08:002016-01-22T09:06:41.802-08:00Is There a Key To Heaven?Have you ever lost your keys? Imagine being outside your own house and not being able to get in because you do not have the key. <br />
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What if you do not have a key to heaven? Can you simply slide the locks on the pearly gates? How about just climbing over the gates? It is not that simple. Without Christ, you cannot even get close to heaven. Consider the account from Luke 16, where Jesus tells of two men who died. "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'” (Luke 16:23-26 NKJV)<br />
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In this parable Jesus tells us that there is a great gulf between the place of torments and the place of comfort. Even if you think of hell simply as the grave, Jesus shows us in Luke 16 that the place of the departed dead has a place of comfort and a place of torments and that there is no way to get from the one place to the other. Notice as well that the place of torments had flames.<br />
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As bad as this place of torments is, things will get even worse. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15 NKJV)<br />
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Right before this we are told of the dead standing before God. This is referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment. Those who are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire along with the place called Hades/Hell.<br />
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Some are not worried about this place because they figure that they can just hold out until the fire burns out. Christ makes it clear in the Gospel of Matthew that this is a foolish idea when He says, "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41 NKJV) Notice that the fire is everlasting. Still some suggest that even if the fire is everlasting that those being punished will soon be burned up. This too is false for Jesus says, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46 NKJV) Notice that the punishment is everlasting. Remember the man in Luke 16 who was in the place of torments. That torment will not end. God is a merciful God but He is also a just God who must punish sin. We are all sinners and deserving of the lake of fire (see Romans 3:23 and 6:23)<br />
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There is some good news. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Though sin must be punished, God loved us enough to send His son Jesus Christ to take the punishment for us when He died on the cross. If we confess our sinfulness and trust in Jesus alone as we believe in Him, then we are given eternal life and written in the book of life. That means we do not have to keep track of a key to heaven. Jesus will let us in. He promised, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) It also means if we do not believe on Him that we will face eternal damnation.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-80383422457933144452016-01-08T14:46:00.002-08:002016-01-08T14:46:50.792-08:00Is the Bible Too Hard?Our oldest son just turned 8. We were excited when he finished his math worksheet and said, "Tomorrow I want to do more like this. I like them." That wasn't always his response to schoolwork. In fact, when he first started school he struggled with grasping concepts and did not like it very well. Now that he "gets it," his schoolwork has become fun. <br />
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I did fairly well in school- except for gym class. I later found out that when most people look at a moving ball, they literally see where it is going to be in a few seconds, allowing them to catch it easier. When I look at a moving ball, I actually see where it is really at, thus making it much more difficult for me to catch it. The gym teacher kept telling me to keep my eye on the ball, but had he known my condition, he should have told me to keep my eye in front of the ball. I was well into adulthood before I actually figured that out. Although I am still not that good at sports, they are much more enjoyable now that I understand the challenges and have the tools to help overcome them.<br />
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Although it can be fun and exhilarating to face a challenge, it is not as much fun if there is little to no hope of success. I recently heard a New Year's challenge to read the Bible. The pastor making the challenge to his congregation recognized that there were parts of the Bible that were more difficult to read than others. <br />
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Too many people get discouraged and give up too soon. Please don't give up. It may appear that the Bible is too hard to read, but it is kind of like math homework. If you get a few basic concepts down, the rest of it will make much more sense. <br />
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First, we must recognize that the Bible is a compilation of 66 different books that are divided into two sections- the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament was written before Jesus was born, died on the cross and rose from the dead. The New Testament was written after these significant events. With that in mind, we must realize that God's expectations for the Hebrew people before the cross were laid out in the law of Moses. Old Testament books like Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy record these laws in detail. <br />
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These laws were important in showing man that he could not do all that God expected. The Apostle Paul called them a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Galatians 3:24-25 says, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Christians therefore are not under the law of Moses, because of their faith is in Jesus Christ. That is why Christians do not have to obey all the rules laid out in the Old Testament.<br />
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This does not mean that the Old Testament isn't still important. By studying it we are able to learn a lot about God and His interactions with man. In addition to the law, the Old Testament has beautiful poetry, history, as well as prophecy. Much of the prophecy concerns the coming of Jesus Christ. <br />
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The New Testament is made up of 27 books. These books can be divided into the Gospels (they tell of the life and ministry of Jesus), early church history (the book of Acts), letters to churches and individuals, and prophecy.<br />
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The individual books of the Bible are divided into chapter and verse simply to make them easier to study. These were not part of the original Bible. Realizing that the Bible can be kind of intimidating, I like to start out with a Bible study just in the book of John. This allows the “student” to get used to the chapter and verse divisions without having to find a number of different books. If you are interested in a 4 lesson study in the Gospel of John, please contact me at jdpastor@yahoo.com.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-27869467770447365082015-12-27T12:44:00.000-08:002015-12-27T12:44:46.356-08:00New Babies & Christmas GraceAs we traveled to spend Christmas with my in-laws, Crystal's brother's wife was in labor. We were blessed with a new niece at about 11 p.m. Christmas Eve. They named her Jana Grace. What a wonderful Christmas gift.<br />
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When I heard this new baby's middle name, my mind went to the birth of a couple of other babies. Of course, on Christmas day, we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ- the baby who came into this word to demonstrate the grace of God to mankind. Shortly before Jesus was born the scripture records the birth of another famous baby, John the Baptist. His parents did not name him "John the Baptist," but simply named him, "John." The title Baptist would come later.<br />
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The selection of the name "John" was quite significant. That name had not been used by that family and many even questioned the choice, but John's parents were insistent. (see Luke 1:59-63) There was a reason why they wanted that name for their son. In Luke 1:13, we are told that an angel had told told John's father to use this name.<br />
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We must not build our theology on the the names of all Biblical characters, but this particular name was chosen by God, and thus I believe we should take notice. The name John means, "God is gracious." Just as our niece who was born at Christmas time is able to remind us of God's grace, John was able to remind the people of God's grace as well.<br />
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John had a very specific purpose in life. He was the forerunner to announce the coming of the King of the kingdom as he prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. As he prepared the way for the King, he spoke of the kingdom, but he also told people that they needed to repent. Matthew 3:1-2 says, "Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (NASB) <br />
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To repent is to think differently. It is actually more than just a change of mind though. It is a change of direction. John was preaching that men were sinners and needed to change their direction to follow God. He is known today for baptizing as well as for preaching, thus he is known as John the Baptist. His baptism was not able to cleanse his followers of their sins. It did however remind them of their sins, and they were being baptized for/because of their sins.<br />
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John's ministry told his followers that the King was coming and that they needed to repent because they were sinners. Let us not forget that the man bringing that message had a name that meant, "God is gracious." The man whose name reminds us of God's grace, brings us the message that we are sinners who need to change our direction. The baptism of John was a public admission of sin. <br />
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The King who John prepared the way for is Jesus Christ. He was born into this world so that He could grow up to die on the cross in order to pour out His grace for our sins. That is why the gospel is called good news. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)<br />
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As we share this good news, we like John, must remind people that they are sinners who need to repent. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) At the same time we must share the good news of God's grace. There is eternal life for sinners who repent and change their direction to believe in Jesus Christ. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23). <br />
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Yes, we are sinners who need to repent. Yes, God is gracious and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) Please visit www.southtownchurch.comPastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-83150379051565174202015-12-12T07:45:00.004-08:002015-12-12T07:45:47.029-08:00Christians & Christmas GivingA couple of weeks ago I wrote about our wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Recently we sat down to another meal, but at the end of it, or boys said that they were still hungry. Crystal told them that they could have more chicken, but they wanted more potatoes. The potatoes were gone but they did not want more chicken. The truth was that they were not THAT hungry.<br />
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We had a similar issue happen when I was a pastor in small town Iowa. We got a phone call asking for food. The person said that their food stamp payment would be late and that they needed food. We were being very careful with our budget and ate a lot of rice. We could get a 25 lb bag for less than $9. We offered to share our rice and a few other basics, but the response I got was similar to when my wife offered more chicken to our boys. <br />
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I then looked up the Iowa food stamp payment. It was about double what our food budget was at that time. I did not think it was right that we were expected to give up our hamburger for someone who could afford to buy steak if they ate more rice like we did. <br />
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The scripture is clear that we are to help others. Jesus said in Luke 3:11, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” The Apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring 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.” Consider as well 1John 3:17, “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (NKJV)<br />
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The scripture teaches us that we are to help others. That does not mean that we are always expected to help everyone who has less than we have.<br />
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During the time of the Apostle Paul, the widows were among the most needy people in society. In First Timothy 5:3-10, he gives a list of requirements that widows must meet before the church would take care of all their needs. First, if she has children or grandchildren, they are to take care of her. Further, she is to be faithful in prayer and not just living her life for pleasure. She is to be blameless (not sinless, but not scandalous either). She is to be at least 60 years old and is to have a good reputation which includes having helped others.<br />
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These standards do not mean that we should not help others if they do not meet all these requirements. These are simply standards for whether or not to help these widows for the rest of their lives. There are some individuals in our society that expect to be helped for the rest of their lives regardless of whether they meet any standard. The Christians is not obligated to help all these people.<br />
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At the same time there are many people who find themselves in temporary circumstances of need. Things come up that there was no way to plan for. As Christians we must be willing to help those with needs without allowing them to have an expectation that they will no longer have a responsibility to work themselves. “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (II Thessalonians 3”11-12 NKJV)<br />
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We can and should have compassion for those in need. That compassion should translate into action (James 2:16). Christmas time is a wonderful time to give to those who could really use a gift. At the same time, Christians are not required to become slaves to those who would take advantage of them. Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-205193639271602382015-11-27T11:49:00.001-08:002015-11-27T11:49:05.892-08:00Be Thankful, not CovetousWe had another wonderful Thanksgiving. We were able to go to Crystal's parents where our boys got to see cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandma, and Grandpa. I enjoyed visiting and playing a game of Scrabble. I also enjoyed the meal. There was turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, string beans, corn, cranberries, numerous kinds of pickles, bread, crackers, pickled herring, jello, punkin pie, apple pie, other desserts, etc, etc. There was much to be thankful for as we sat down to eat. In fact there was so much good food that I did not even notice until later that there was no stuffing. I was so appreciative of the abundance we had. There was no thought of what we lacked.<br />
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If we end up focusing on what we do not have instead of what we do have, it is easy to become a complainer rather than a thankful person. We actually witnessed that when we sat down to eat the evening meal. Our boys were given leftovers from the noon meal and one of them responded by asking, “didn't we just have this?”<br />
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As we drove home, I turned on the radio and we heard about some orphans from Ukraine who were brought to a McDonald's for the first time in their life. A little six year old girl was unaware that they could get free refills, yet she still shared her drink with her little sister. Another little girl only ate half of her hamburger, because she wanted to share the other half with a friend back at the orphanage. They all saved their empty happy meal boxes. <br />
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As I listed to this, I realized how much we have to be thankful for. No doubt there are poor people in our own country who have slipped through the cracks, but those who are crying the loudest for more assistance already have so much more than those poor orphans do.<br />
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I Timothy 6:6-8 says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (NKJV) Notice we are to be content with food and clothing- or basic needs. Few people are content with such things. In fact, political movements have been formed to demand that if anyone has more than another, then they should share it. Too few involved in these movements are thinking of the little girls in Ukraine, but instead many are thinking about what they can get for themselves. In the very next verse of Paul's letter to Timothy he writes, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (I Timothy 6:9 NKJV) <br />
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You can be in the lower class socially and still have a preoccupation with being rich. Paul is warning us to be content with food and clothing and not to get distracted by wanting riches. Why would he give such a warning about foolish and harmful lusts? If we go back to the 10 commandments we are warned not to covet what other people have. Many of the “demands” being made today are not “requests” for food and clothing, but rather a call to have covetous desires satisfied.<br />
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Though we as Christians must have compassion on those who are truly in need, we must not encourage sinful behavior. In fact, we should call it what it is. Exodus 20:17 says not to covet anything that is thy neighbors. Romans 13:9 repeats the command not to covet. To covet is to disobey God. To disobey God is sinful.<br />
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Instead of demanding a share of the worlds riches, let us work hard so we can share what we have when we see a true need. “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NKJV) Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-31837374950567240452015-10-30T14:36:00.003-07:002015-10-30T14:36:35.277-07:00Excuses for Disobedience?Many of our readers already know that our youngest son is autistic. His talking is delayed and he has a few other habits that are unique to him. For example, when I ask him to do something, he wants to be able to finish what he is currently doing before moving on to the next task. We expect our boys to obey their parents and to obey right away, but we also recognize that autism causes people to look at tasks differently.<br />
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We were recently asked how much we let our son “get away” with because he is autistic. The person was asking because he knew of parents who had children diagnosed with certain conditions and those children were allowed to behave terribly.<br />
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My answer was that sin is never acceptable and that as a parent I had to punish sinful behavior. At the same time, I recognize that because he has autism, there will be situations where immediate obedience will be more difficult for him than it will be for his brothers. With that in mind, we try to give him advanced notice when we tell him to do something so that he has more time to follow through. In other words, we do not want to put him in a place where we are hoping he fails at obeying his parents, but we also want him to understand that obedience is not an option to be ignored.<br />
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Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (NASB) Colossians 3:20 states, “Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.” (NASB) But then the next verse says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” (NASB)<br />
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As parents, we must enforce standards, but we must also realize that God has shown grace to us and we must show grace to our children. In many ways, God is like a strict parent who will not tolerate any misbehavior. In fact, He is so strict that he tells us in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Yet God is so loving, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That payment only benefits us if we believe on Him as we trust Christ as our savior. Once we have done that, we become children of God, but that does not mean that we can do whatever we want. God is still a strict Father. Hebrews 12:5-11 says,<br />
“and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. ” (NASB)<br />
God is loving and merciful, yet He still disciplines us for our sins in order to make us more like Him. That should motivate us as parents to be consistent in disciplining our children when they sin. As long as we do not do it in a way that exasperates them, they will be better off because of the discipline.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-73897960986035071112015-10-17T08:18:00.001-07:002015-10-17T08:18:09.165-07:00The Powerful 350 V8 EngineWe have a Suburban with the powerful 5.7/350 motor. These motors have a reputation for both power and reliability. I love having that extra power to merge with traffic as I pull onto the interstate. As I step on the throttle, the engine roars and pulls the big SUV forward. <br />
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Our minivan does not have the same potential, so when I utilize that V8 muscle, our boys take notice. Though they are not usually back seat divers, they occasionally scold me for speeding as they hear that “Chevy” roar. I explain is that I am not speeding and am not driving in a reckless manner. It is just that there is such a contrast in power that they take notice.<br />
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God has even more power than the most aggressive big block motor. How often do we act like my little boys and try to hold back His power for fear that something bad will happen if His full force is released? In other words, do we really trust His power.<br />
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Although God may chose to grant our requests as we pray, we do not have the authority nor the power to order Him around. My boys can appeal to the authority of the traffic laws as they speak to me about my driving, but God is the ultimate authority over all matters.<br />
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When Jesus was asked about how to pray, He told His disciples to address God as our Father in heaven and to set apart His name. Then He spoke of God’s kingdom coming and told us to ask that God’s will be done. As we appeal to God in prayer, HIS will should be what we pray for. Let us not forget that He is so powerful that we cannot make Him do anything. In fact, we are reminded how powerful He is as Jesus teaches on prayer in Matthew 6:8 and says at the end of the verse, “for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Imagine if my Suburban knew when to accelerate before I even touched the pedal and knew when that time would occur before I had even decided what road to drive on. <br />
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God is so powerful He knows what we need before we even ask for it. Still He wants us to ask. In the next chapter of Matthew Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 NASB). <br />
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So why don’t Christians get whatever they ask for? God is powerful enough to know our needs before we even ask. That means He is also powerful enough to know what is best for us. Perhaps I want a new Suburban, but God knows that it is better that I keep my old one. Consider the very next verse in Matthew 7, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9)<br />
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Further, if I asked for a new Suburban, it would be because I was greedy, not because I wanted God’s will to be done. James clarifies this, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3 NASB) My wife really likes our Suburban. Imagine if she was praying that we keep the old one and I was praying that we get a new one and we both believed our prayers would be answered and both of us were praying that we would only have one Suburban. This is not a problem, because our faith is not more powerful than God’s will. God knows what is best and we can trust whatever He decides. <br />
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Think of it this way, if you ask for something in Jesus’ name and it is not God’s will, it is like forging His name without authority. God is far too powerful for us to always get our way instead of His. Trust His power and His will.<br />
Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-49392928896335611762015-10-02T10:26:00.002-07:002015-10-02T10:26:23.156-07:00Why are Shootings Happening?Aside from casino robberies, we don’t expect to hear about much crime in southeast South Dakota. Yet, a school shooting took place in Harrisburg. Praise God there were no serious injuries. Less than a year earlier Lennox was the scene of a workplace shooting with tragic results. <br />
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The citizens of our communities are right to be concerned. Some think the solution is fewer guns. Others recognize that it is impossible to get rid of all guns and are suggesting that more guns is the solution so that victims can protect themselves.<br />
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The problem is that when we start talking about guns, we end up being distracted from the real issue: SIN. Neither the event in Harrisburg, nor the incident in Lenox would have occurred had it not been for sin the hearts of the shooters.<br />
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The sin problem is actually more widespread than just these shootings. Without sin, there would be no murder or stealing. Further there would no longer be broken marriages caused by adultery. In fact, there would not even be arguments between husbands and wives caused by selfishness. There would be no lying, no cheating, no greed, no parents being dishonored by children. Without sin, people would put God first and not worship anyone or anything else. They would honor His name and not use it as a swear word. They would love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. They would also love their neighbor as themselves.<br />
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We obviously do not live in such a world. Since Adam disobeyed God, all people have continued to sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 NASB). “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--” (Romans 5:12 NASB). Eve disobeyed God before Adam did, but once Adam disobeyed as well, then all humans on the earth at that time were sinners and sin thus passed to all their offspring. <br />
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God knew this would happen. It was serious, because God is holy and sin separates man from God. But God still loved the people He created and He provided a way to deal with sin. Before Jesus died on the cross, people offered animals for their sins, but that offering was only a temporary covering until something final could be done.<br />
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Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Romans 5:12 told us that death is the consequence of sin. Because we have all sinned, we all deserve death- not just physical death which is separation of body and spirit, but eternal death which is separation from God for eternity in the lake of fire (see Matthew 25:41 & 46; Revelation 20:15).<br />
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In order to deal with the sin problem, God sent His son to pay for our sins on the cross. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)<br />
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Jesus was able to pay for our sins, because He never sinned Himself. Sin did not pass on to Him from His father, because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by man. “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:17-19 NKJV).<br />
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Sin is the problem with our world. Jesus is the solution. Once we believe on Him as our savior, our sins are forgiven. We do not stop all sin at that point, but He does give us power to say no to sin. (see I Corinthians 10:13). Getting rid of guns is not the way to stop sin. Jesus is.<br />
Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-74462642478591106302015-09-18T08:49:00.005-07:002015-09-18T08:49:42.155-07:00The Bible: A Reliable SourceWhile eating breakfast the other day, my 6 year old said, “I thought it was supposed to rain today.” I asked why he thought that and he told me that he had heard it on the radio. I told him that sometimes the radio is wrong. He looked at me with complete surprise and replied, “really?”<br />
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The innocence if youth is refreshing, but it also reminds us that we should not believe everything we hear. As school starts, many teachers and playground supervisors are going to be drug into conflicts between students. They will have to try to figure out what the truth is as they hear two different stories about what happened. The rest of us face the same challenges as we turn on the radio or the television. Fox news and MSNBC can report and the same story, yet have different “facts” about what actually happened. If you do a quick internet search on the conflicting reporting, you will soon find that there are a number of different versions of what actually happened.<br />
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Of course we know that the weatherman will be wrong sometimes because he is trying to guess about things that have not even happened yet. It would be nice if we could go to a place where reports of events that have already happened and predictions about the future were always accurate.<br />
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There actually is such a place. You can even find it online. All you have to do is type in www.bible,com and hit a link to start reading the word of God. The Bible, whether in electronic or printed version is trustworthy and accurate. <br />
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The reason that the Bible is trustworthy and accurate is not because it had great editors and fact checkers. The Bible is accurate because it came from God. “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (II Peter 1:21 NASB) When you watch Fox or MSNBC the reporting is filtered through humans with wills and agendas. The Bible, however came about as God moved men to write what He wanted them to write. He allowed them to use their own writing style, while still ensuring that what they wrote was completely accurate. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” (II Timothy 3:16 NASB).<br />
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When the Apostle Paul came to a city called Berea, he told them about Jesus Christ. The Old Testament scriptures speak of Jesus in many places. Just a few examples are Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 7:14, and Isaiah 53. The Bereans listened to Paul, but they realized that he may not be any more reliable than some biased reporter. Instead of just accepting whatever he said, they went and checked it out with the Bible. “And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11 NASB)<br />
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Notice that these Bereans did not just look up a verse or two and then agree with what Paul had said. Instead they examined (the Greek word here actually means scrutinized) the scriptures. We know that the Bible is true and accurate, but just like a biased reporter, many people take it out of context and misuse it. Since the Bible is true, we should study it carefully. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB) Men are often wrong, but God is never wrong and the Bible is God’s word.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-36687934781081530572015-09-04T20:00:00.003-07:002015-09-04T20:00:43.594-07:00God With a Capital "G"Who is Jesus? Is he simply a great prophet sent to help the world, or is he actually God with a capital “G”? Some would suggest that he is the son of God, but not actually God. Others suggest that followers of God are sons of God in the same way that Jesus is. Though true Christians are God’s children, we are not deity (God). <br />
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The deity (Godness) of Christ is an important doctrine to consider. John 1:3 tells us Jesus made all things. Micah 5:2 tells us that he has been going forth from everlasting (existed forever). I Corinthians 10:4 speaks of Christ being with the Israelites during the time of Moses. This was nearly 1500 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, and Hebrews 1:2 all show that Jesus is the creator. Consider Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself”. This shows that God created all things alone. Jesus is the Son of the Father. Each member of the trinity has a distinct role, yet they are all God. For example the shell of an egg is not the yoke. But the yoke, white and shell are all egg.<br />
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In Revelation 22:8-9, the Apostle John is reprimanded for worshipping an angel who connects himself with the prophets. Jesus Christ, however, did not rebuke people for worshipping him. Remembering that Jesus is the creator, consider Revelation 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”<br />
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Not only do the elders worship Jesus, but they make it clear that he is worthy to receive glory. This is significant considering that God will not share his glory with anyone else. Consider Isaiah 48:11, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” See also Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” In John 17:22, Jesus speaks of giving glory to his followers, that the Father had given to him. There is, however, a difference between glory given to us by Christ and God sharing his full personal glory as deity.<br />
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Jesus prayed in John 17:5, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Hebrews 1:3 speaks of Christ, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”. This is not just glory like Christ shares with us mere humans, but the actual glory of God in heaven. How could the Father share his personal glory with Jesus Christ, if God will not share his glory with another? The answer comes from Jesus’ own statements when he says in John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” Also consider his response to Philip in John 14:9, “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”<br />
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Jesus Christ is not a separate God from the Father. There is perfect unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three are as distinct from each other as a yoke, white, and shell are, yet as unified as a complete egg. All can claim deity- the right to be called God with a capital “G”.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-70809407595157787992015-08-21T07:27:00.000-07:002015-08-21T07:27:00.636-07:00How Peculiar is Autism?My friend Brian has autism. We are about the same age and I got to know him in my early teens when I bailed straw for his dad. Before meeting Brian, I did not really understand what autism was. <br />
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A few years later the movie “Rainman” was released. Though there were similarities between Dustin Hoffman’s character and my friend Brian, there were also differences. Each autistic person is an individual and they do not all hate K-Mart.<br />
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As we stacked bales I discovered something that is quite common among those with autism. Many, though not all, of those with autism like to follow a standard routine. For example, as we stacked straw, every other bale was mine and the other bales were Brian’s. I decided to help him out and take two bales in a row. I soon realized that if I did that, I had to take 3, because the next one was mine, not his. I also had to learn to stack the straw better. I would sometimes switch which side I started the stack on, but Brian’s dad had taught him to start on a particular side, so that is how we did it.<br />
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My friendship with Brian prepared me to relate to 2 of my nephews. My sister’s sons Josh and Matthew were also diagnosed with autism. Though there are similarities between these three people and even with Rainman, each of them is distinct and may not have the same characteristics as others. <br />
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My nephew Matthew cannot count cards like Rainman, but he has memorized many roads and railroads, by observing Google Earth. His brother Josh passed away this year in a car accident at the age of 18, but before he died he was elected a student ambassador for an online home school group. Rainman did not have the best social skills, and often this is characteristic of autism, yet Josh had such good online social skills that he became a mentor to other non autistic students.<br />
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Recently our youngest son was also diagnosed with autism. He is almost 4 and is not yet talking. Once he gets to know someone, he is quite social and he does not have to stick to a routine, yet he has other autistic characteristics. <br />
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Some people would describe autistic individuals as somewhat peculiar. 1 Peter 2:9 describes God‘s people, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Hundreds of years ago, peculiar meant something different than it does today. It actually meant a possession of great value. Instead of “peculiar,” the NASB says, “A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION.” The NKJV says, “His own special people.”<br />
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My son has autism and is not yet able to talk. If peculiar means that he is of great value, then I would agree. In fact, people with autism have been of great value to the world. It is believed that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton may have had autism.<br />
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We are all unique, whether we have autism or not. We are of value to God. In fact He loved the world and the people in it so much that He sent His son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) <br />
Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-4445190543377051812015-08-06T19:06:00.004-07:002015-08-06T19:06:26.672-07:00Trusting God in TragedyAbout 150 years ago there lived a wealthy businessman named Horatio Spafford. He had invested in Chicago real estate, and then lost most of it in the infamous Chicago fire of 1871. A few years later, he scheduled a vacation for his family, but had to send them ahead to Europe while he took care of some last minute business, hoping to join them later. The ship that was carrying his wife and daughters sank. His wife survived but his daughters did not.<br />
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Imagine the heartache he must have felt. Within just a couple of years, he had lost wealth and family. Would you be able to trust God if such an event had happened in your life? Horatio Spafford then got on another ship to go and comfort his grieving wife. While on that trip he wrote these words, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.” <br />
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The words were set to music and became the well known hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.” Another verse of the song poetically describes Christ shedding His blood for our sins and that not just part of our sins but all of them were taken care of on the cross. In this song, we hear of a man trusting God in the midst of heartache.<br />
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This spring after two of my nephews were killed in a car accident, our family was sad, but we did not fall apart. Our trust in God sustained us in the midst of our sorrow. My sister and brother-in-law were a great testimony to a trust in our almighty God- so was my mother. <br />
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Mom called me this week and told about a friend of hers who had lost her adult son. This lady was understandably devastated, yet Mom commented on how she seemed to be taking it harder than my sister did when she lost her 8 and 18 year old sons. Mom was not being critical of her friend for her devastation, but was rather showing thankfulness that our family had such a confidence in God that we were able to face a tragedy and still say that it is well with our soul. <br />
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Mom’s phone call reminded me that not everyone- not even every Christian- has such a confidence in God. The book of Job tells about a man who lost his possessions, his family, and his health, yet refused to curse God. Throughout the book, Job and his friends try to figure what God is doing and why. They all speak some truth, but they also say a lot of things that are totally wrong. Finally at the end, God speaks and reminds Job that he was not there when God made the earth. God then goes on to explain so many things that God does, that man does not understand. The point is that God is stronger and wiser than we are, and we should therefore trust Him no matter what.<br />
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As we realize who God is- as we understand both His justice and His mercy- as we understand His chastening and His love- it becomes easy to trust Him no matter what happens. That does not mean we always enjoy the testing that we experience, but it does mean that we trust Him when it comes.<br />
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I cannot help but think of a couple of my Mom’s favorite Bible verses. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) <br />
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Trust God and realize that the only way to be right with Him is to have your sin paid for. Then realize that the only one who can pay for your sins is Jesus Christ. Therefore, believe on Him as your Lord and Savior. <br />
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For more information visit www.southtownchurch.comPastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-31764146123528818292015-07-24T09:49:00.004-07:002015-07-24T09:49:24.315-07:00More Than Baby PartsIs Planned Parenthood good or bad? That debate has been raging in America for decades. Recently another scandal has erupted with video showing that Planned Parenthood has been selling body parts from aborted fetuses. <br />
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How outraged a person becomes over this scandal often depends on whether they regard the fetus as a human baby or as a clump of cells. <br />
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If the fetus is not human, why is there a market for their body parts? If they are simply a cluster of tissue then a cluster of animal tissue would be just as valuable. If they are really human, then they are valuable for human research. <br />
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Do the mothers who have the abortion know what is happening to the remains of their babies? Many who defend abortion suggest that the baby is part of the woman’s body so it is her choice. If that were true, then it would be wrong to sell these babies without her consent. Women’s rights advocates should be very concerned by this.<br />
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Many expectant mothers have been excited to see the first ultrasound pictures of their baby. These pictures make it very clear that this is not just a clump of tissue. It has been suggested that a mother see an ultrasound before making the choice for an abortion. Others have suggested that such a step would place undue guilt on the mother. Would it have been wrong to personalize the Jewish prisoners and thus placed guilt on those conducting medical research in the Nazi concentration camps?<br />
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The answers to these questions will likely generate anger from those on both sides of the debate. If these babies are really human, then that is understandable. Still the debate is not as simple as whether or not the baby is human- it is also a debate about when the baby becomes a human.<br />
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It is not up to me to decide when the baby is human. Instead we should look at what God’s word says on the subject. Isaiah 44:24 says, “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone” (NASB). No doubt God formed us in the womb, but beyond that, He knew us personally even before that. Read what He told Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5 NASB)<br />
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A baby in the womb is clearly a human. The whole Planned Parenthood and abortion debate should thus center around this one question: “When is it okay to kill an innocent human?” Some would answer, “when the mother’s life is at stake, or when many others can be saved by sacrificing this one life for research.” Those are often difficult debates if your goal is to preserve as many lives as possible, but if someone answers that it is okay to kill an innocent person simply because they are an inconvenience, then we should all be appalled.Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-49299900767174871812015-07-10T12:09:00.000-07:002015-07-10T12:09:10.369-07:00God Decides What is RightThe United States of America is known as the most powerful nation on earth. It has been said that our military is able to fight two wars at the same time. Further, in spite of a recent recession, our nation is still one of the most stable countries economically. Still doomsayers are making a lot of money selling reports about the impending economic collapse of America. I do not know if they are right or wrong, but I do know that as powerful as our nation is, God is more powerful.<br />
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As patriotic as I am, it is comforting to know that my ultimate security is not in my nation but in my God. That brings comfort in a couple of ways. First, if our nation were to fall apart, my God would still be just as powerful as He is now. Further, if our nation continues to gain power and influence and uses that power and influence for evil instead of good, it still will not be more powerful than God.<br />
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Many of us were saddened over the recent Supreme court decision that essentially reversed the Defense of Marriage act. Some of the sadness centered around the idea that the definition of marriage has been changed. From a strictly legal standpoint, that may be true, but we as Christians need to look a the broader perspective. No manmade law can change God.<br />
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I fear that too many Christians have reacted as if a simple court decision changed an all powerful God. No court- no nation- is that powerful. Regardless of how the state defines marriage, God’s word has not changed. This message is important to both those who are celebrating the Court’s decision and to those who are discouraged by it. God has not changed and no human law can change God’s standard of morality.<br />
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Let us be reminded of God’s power: “O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?” (II Chronicles 20:6).<br />
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The apostle Paul ministered during a time when another superpower controlled the world. The Roman Empire was not Christian and it did not get its morality from the Bible, yet he told the early Christians to pray for their leaders and to submit to their authority (see Romans 13 and I Timothy 2). Even though we are to pray for our government leaders and submit to their authority, there is another authority that is even more important- God’s authority. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)<br />
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Our Christianity should not be used as an excuse to rebel against an ungodly government, but we must also realize that right and wrong are determined by God, not secular laws. For example, it has been legal to tell lies, commit adultery, and to get drunk long before our latest supreme court decision, yet we as Christians should never condone those activities even though they are legal. At the same time, it is not our job to stop every non-Christian from doing those sins. Instead it is our job to point out that sin is a reality in all our lives and that God will judge sin. In fact, all sin- including homosexual behavior- is so serious that it separates us from a holy God, yet God loved us so much that He sent His son to pay for our sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)<br />
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Not everyone will agree that homosexual behavior, getting drunk, or committing adultery are wrong, but as Christians we must remember that it is God who decides what is right or wrong, not society or any powerful government. Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-71907640838181301762015-06-26T08:01:00.002-07:002015-06-26T08:01:33.437-07:00Trust and Follow the KingRachel Dolezal recently made headlines as a white person who identifies as black. Bruce Jenner now identifies as a woman, though he was born a man. These examples make headlines, but there is another identity crisis that is not being talked about- those who identify as Christian, but who really are not.<br />
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Just calling oneself a Christian does not mean someone is really a follower of Christ. Acts 11:26 tells us that the disciples were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. Often when we hear the word “disciple,” we think of the 12 men who closely followed Jesus Christ, but as we look at the Gospels, we see that there were many disciples. These were people who followed Christ in order to learn from Him.<br />
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Christ taught much moral truth. Truth that showed that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but Jesus also proclaimed the message of the kingdom. Jesus Christ shines as a bright light in a dark world of sin. Matthew 4:16-17 says, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."“ (NKJV)<br />
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The darkness of sin shows a need for repentance. After calling for repentance (a turning from sin) Jesus tells of the kingdom. In fact that kingdom message was a message that He told His disciples to share. In Luke 9:2 Jesus sends the 12 disciples to preach the kingdom and then in vs. 60 He tells another man to do the same. So why is the message of the kingdom so important? Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. Thus a true Christian is someone who recognizes that Christ is the King and thus has the authority of a king. <br />
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As we understand that Jesus Christ is the king, we also need to understand that without Him there is no real Christianity. The very word “Christianity” has the word “Christ” in it and that is no accident. Christianity must be all about Christ. In fact the very way of salvation from sin- the way to eternal life is centered in Christ. Consider John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The word “belief” in John 3:16, means to have faith in, to entrust, to commit. When a Christian believes in Jesus Christ, they are trusting and committing to the King of kings and Lord of lords.<br />
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They are also understanding that Christ is their only hope. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB) The apostle Peter when speaking of Jesus Christ said, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB) In order to be a real Christian, you must be trusting in Jesus Christ and no one else. That means you cannot be trusting in your pastor, your priest, your parents, or even yourself. <br />
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That last on is probably the hardest. As Christians we understand our behavior should be different because we are following the King of kings. We must also realize it the King who makes us Christians, not our behavior. Ephesians 2:8-10 explains it best, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (NASB)<br />
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Our works do not save us, the King does, but once we follow the King, we should be doing what He says to do. Are you just calling yourself a Christian, or are you trusting and following the King?Pastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717776876194873387.post-74774957859313085912015-05-15T09:43:00.003-07:002015-05-15T09:43:58.947-07:00Tears and Trust- God is GoodMany people are killed each year in traffic accidents. My nephews recently became part of those statistics. To us, they are more than just numbers. Caleb was an 8 year old with a quick smile and a cheerful disposition. He was about the same age as our oldest son. Jared cried when he heard what had happened to his cousin. Josh was 18. He was ready to graduate and face the next exciting stage in his life. He was a polite young man and a joy to be around. Their lives came to a tragic end after a 2 vehicle accident that occurred on May 3rd. <br />
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In our minds, it was a tragedy, but we also know that God is good all the time. As we grieve the loss of loved ones, we have not become angry at God. Instead we continue to trust Him- realizing we need His strength more now than ever. <br />
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For us, such loss is tragic, because we will miss these wonderful boys, but death does not always have to be viewed as a tragedy. For the believer, there is comfort even beyond death. The Apostle Paul spoke of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and told how our Lord’s resurrection gives us hope for a resurrection as well. Consider I Corinthians 15:19-22, “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.” (NASB)<br />
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Jesus died and rose from the dead showing us His power over death. The Apostle Paul pointed out that death came through Adam. In other words, men have been dying ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. Not only have men been cursed with death since then, but they have also been cursed with sin, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). But notice the hope in I Corinthians 15:22 where it says that, “in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”<br />
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Christ overcame death and rose from the tomb the 3rd day. Those who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior will one day be raised from the dead as well. If we jump ahead to verse 26 of I Corinthians 15, we read that, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” <br />
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Life may end at death, but Christians look forward to a new life after death. For those who have believed in Christ, that new life will be a life of joy with God. For the unbeliever it will be an existence in the reality of torment. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 NASB)<br />
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These verses provide both comfort and warning. As we grieve our loss this week, we find comfort knowing that God is good all the time and that He loves us so much that He provided a way for our sins to be forgiven. If anyone believes on Him as their Lord and Savior, then God will give them eternal life. Those who do not believe will be condemned.<br />
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For the believer in Christ, death is sad, but it is like someone moving to a far away country that does not have any mail service, internet, or telephone. We will miss them, but we know that it is not all over. We look forward to the next life and rejoice for those believers who are already there.<br />
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Southtownchurch.comPastor Jerry D. Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926704149110716638noreply@blogger.com0