Ramblings from Retirement – No Starfleet Future Awaits Humanity

Ramblings from Retirement – No Starfleet Future Awaits Humanity
By Pastor (Retired) Lee Hemen
March 28, 2022

I’ve been watching the latest installments of “Picard” on Paramount+ and have just gotten a huge dose of Hollyweird’s notion of what it thinks of the world at large and mankind in general. Picard and his crewmates have to go back in time to the year 2024 to fix the timeline. While there Picard meets up with the character Guinan, an alien being that lives a long time and is affected by time. Anyway, she is saddened by what she is witnessing here on earth and is getting ready to bug out when Picard enlists her help. She sees humanity’s hatred, pettiness, and greed but nowhere is the real reason given: Mainly mankind’s sinful nature.

The Apostle Paul related that the only fix for mankind’s problem of sin was the righteousness found in Jesus Christ. He writes, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:22-23 NIV84)” Paul knew that mankind’s problem was their sin nature, something atheistic Hollyweird refuses to acknowledge. They, like many in our world do today, think that if we just learn to be kind enough, nicer, or more empathetic then all of our problems will just disappear. What they fail to see, are blinded to, is the fact that their own sinfulness is the problem. Kind, nice, empathetic people are still at their core sinners. All have sinned and all are sinners. We are sinners by our own nature and by our own choice. We are all born in sin and we chose to sin. This is why Paul would later declare, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NIV84)”

If you desire a world of peace, niceness, and empathy then you need a world that trust in Jesus Christ and not in humanity. Jesus told his followers, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1 NIV84)” In fact he bluntly tells those who refused to believe in him: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. (John 8:24 NIV84)”

Human transformation does not come from us willing it to be so but rather through our faith and trust in the One who can do it, Jesus. There is no future where mankind will ever be nice enough, kind enough, or empathetic enough to solve its sin problem, only Jesus can. There is no Starfleet future waiting for us but only more of humanity’s sinfulness until we are willing to submit to Jesus who can solve our sin problem.
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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Change Is Good

Ramblings from Retirement – Change Is Good
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 30, 2021

As I was going through some old photos I got from my brother’s house I found some of an old dog we used to have; his name was Duke. He was a boxer and had the classic clipped ears and tail. Duke lived for about 18 years and was a good old dog but there was one thing he would do that was very hilarious. He would get downright contrite and embarrassed if you chastised him. He would hang his head, lie down, and roll his eyes and make light grumbling noises as if he were saying, “It wasn’t me, it’s not my fault.” My Mom would take great delight in asking him, “Duke! What have you done now?” even if had not done anything wrong he would be mournful, contrite, and go through his embarrassment antics. We would laugh and that often made him even more contrite.

Now one thing that Duke loved to do was chase cats. He would streak after them like a madman on a mission. Duke would lose it all when he was chasing a cat. Imagine our surprise then when one of the farm cats had kittens and abandoned one of them. My mother found it, placed in a towel, and began feeding it from an old baby bottle. Our surprise was how Duke responded. He actually pulled the towel over to his indoor bedding and curled up around the little fur ball. That kitten never left Duke’s side from that day on and as it grew it would be found climbing all over this big dog, pulling on his stubby ears, jumping up and smacking Dukes stub of a tail. He would pick the kitten up in his mouth gently by its head, take it to his blankets, and lick it all over until it slept. My Dad would tease that Duke was just “tenderizing the cat for a snack later”. But this was not the case because even after that cat grew up into a great cat, Duke treated her as his own. His whole demeanor changed and pretty much stopped chasing cats, except ones that did not belong on the farm or that my Mom would “sic” him on and that’s another story.

As I thought about Duke I was reminded of what Paul wrote his young friend Timothy when he wrote that “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 NIV)” Duke’s “sins” of chasing cats did kind of trail behinds him just like our sins do when we affect the lives of others with our poor choices. Dysfunctional families are full of examples. Yet there is hope here in that we can be changed just like Duke was.

Paul was in the midst of teaching Timothy about how to handle ungodly men and women in his church. Paul reminded Timothy about his own past: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV)” Paul had changed because of his faith in the love of Christ. Paul, who once persecuted the church like Duke chased cats, had been changed because of Jesus’ love for him.

Now I do not believe animals can be saved because they are animals and Jesus did not need to die for them. They have no actual sin, they respond the way they do because of their animal instincts but something changed in old Duke that made him display characteristics that he had not displayed before. Paul changed because of the love of Jesus and we can as well. This morning remember that change is good.

This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement – Better than a Lifetime Guarantee

Ramblings from Retirement – Better than a Lifetime Guarantee
By Retired Pastor Lee Hemen
April 3, 2021

If you have not learned the simple and hard lesson that there is nothing guaranteed in life you had better learn it fast. What the Jewish people understood was the fact that life was fleeting. Many hoped there would be an afterlife but most believed there was not and that you would just “sleep” in the bosom of Abraham forever. Jesus changed all of that though.

Jesus related to Nicodemus, “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:13-18 NIV)” Later he would ask Martha who was in grief over the death of her brother Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26 NIV)” And he would teach over and over that “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Luke 9:22 NIV)”

Now like I said before there isn’t much in life that is guaranteed but Jesus not only guarantees eternal life, he proved it by dying on a horrendous cross, and rising from the dead. This is a historical fact and not some made up myth like some would have you believe. (If you believe the delusion that the story of Jesus is just a made up myth, go read some actual history.) You see there are those who fear the resurrection because if it is true then what Jesus said about himself is true as well. And friends I guarantee it is true. Jesus told those who doubted the truth of it by telling them “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14:1-4 NIV)”

If what Jesus said is true about his self what does that mean for your life? How do you measure up and where do you stand in your belief of Jesus?

We live in a cynical age whereby we distrust those in power, we distrust the news media, and we often distrust those who try desperately to sell us a bunch of garbage we really do not need. And with all the false narratives we have had to swallow this past year concerning viruses, elections, street violence, and broken political promises it is difficult for people to trust what they might hear about Jesus. They like the idea of him being a gentle man, a kind soul, who went about doing good but a Savior who lives and can save them for eternity? Please. Yet the indisputable historical biblical fact is that Jesus did indeed walk this earth, he did preach and say the things recorded of him, and he did die on a cross and rise from the grave. In fact, in front of many witnesses he miraculously ascended physically into heaven!

Now the last thing I want to leave you with this coming Resurrection Sunday, 2021, is that Jesus also stated unequivocally, unmistakably and indisputably that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV)”, now whatcha gonna do with that guarantee buckos? That’s better than a lifetime guarantee.

This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Reflections on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 – Thanks–giving

Reflections on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 – Thanks–giving
By Lee Hemen (Retired Pastor)
November 26, 2020

“Since the “Mayflower” had left England nine weeks behind schedule, the New World’s harsh weather threatened their very survival… Winter took its toll. Journal entries feature the same melancholy theme week after week, for months on end: “… Aboute noone, it began to raine … at night, it did freeze & snow … still the cold weather continued … very wet and rainy, with the greatest gusts of wind ever we saw … frost and foule weather hindered us much; this time of the yeare seldom could we worke half the week.” That winter more than half the heads of households perished. Aboard ship only five of eighteen wives lived through the ravages of scurvy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. An entry for March 24th reads: “This month thirteen of our number die. And in three months past dies halfe our company … Of a hundred persons, scarce fifty remain, the living scarce able to bury the dead.”

“How could the Pilgrims talk about thanksgiving in the midst of life’s most difficult trials?” we wonder. Why not just curse God and die? They gave thanks for God’s presence in their adversities because they knew that struggles did not have to make them bitter; struggles could make them better. These remaining Pilgrim daughters and sons, mothers and fathers, placed their trust in their God and laid the enduring foundations of a nation. Thanksgiving Day, 1621, did not just celebrate wild turkey and Indian corn; it celebrated the human spirit reaching out to God in gratitude for the blessings the Pilgrims still did possess. (Joyful Heart Ministries, written by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson)

In today’s passage we see that Paul spoke about the fact that when a believer’s life is lived to bring glory and honor to God, then their lives “…will result in thanksgiving to God.” It is a matter of spiritual reciprocity with God. You reap spiritually from God in your life what you sow spiritually in your life.

READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

I am not going to talk to you about tithing this morning, rather, I am going to share with you about the reward of generosity in life. The Pilgrims knew what this meant. So did the early church. Why have we lost sight of this vital Christian virtue that results in a life of thanks–giving? Paul shares with us in several arenas of life that can help us to recapture a true spirit of generosity and live a wonderful life full of thanks–giving to God. First, Paul knew that thanks–giving —

I. Is Not the Result of Outward Circumstances but Inward Dependency Upon God! (vv. 6-8)

1. Spiritual fires flamed with a fan of false piety result in burned out embers and bummed out believers!
   1) The greedy partner who places restriction after restriction on the other partner burdens them by irrational expectations! Greed destroys freedom. Hoarding what is ours, running scared, giving only under pressure, we become smaller and smaller people, and God has less and less access to be able to do good to us and through us. Spiritual dependency is the soil in which spiritual freedom grows. God never restricts us. As a matter of fact he has given us freedom! Paul wrote: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.” (Gal 5:1&15) Christians are to be spiritual partners with God.
   2) This is why Paul states, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you (Why?) so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work!” The Christian is to be dependent upon God and God alone! God is able to all things through Jesus in our lives! (Phil 4:13) That describes our partnership!
   EXAMPLE: Remember the savings and loans scandals? People made outrageous claims and investments went bad. What was at the heart of this was not just dishonesty but also greed. People wanted something for nothing. There is no such thing. Neither can a person have a fast food faith. Dependence on God is the result of time spent with Him. God is able to make all grace abound to us when we invest our lives in Him! We decide to be God’s partner. As one old sage put it, “You get what you pay for!” Paul said, “You reap what you sow.”

It is easy for people to see what kind of faith we have. If we are dependent upon God then we reflect the kind of faith that God desires. Paul knew that thanks–giving —

II. Is Displayed by A Believer’s Spiritual Growth! (vv. 9-11)

1. Generosity in the life of a believer should ring out like the sound of a dinner bell at the end of the day which says with every note, “Come and get it!”
   1) What Paul is doing is saying that Christians should tell the truth with their whole life. If the Corinthians do not do what they said they were going to do, they will not be loved less, but the real truth will be known about them! Paul wants them to understand that there isn’t going to be some sort of face-saving cover-up of the circumstances!
   2) Paul tried to tell the Corinthians that as they lived their lives generously God would “supply… increase… and enlarge” their spiritual harvest of “righteousness!” What a promise! However, the converse is true as well! As a matter of fact Paul would relate “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire…” (1 Thess 5:18&19) Giving thanks in all circumstances describes a believer’s generosity in life!
   EXAMPLE: I know you are aware of the widespread discussions of dysfunctional families, co-dependency, and systems of lies that are built to keep reputations from being soiled. Some adult member of a family is an alcoholic, for instance, and the family covers the tracks, pretending none of it is true. The term ‘co-dependent’ was coined to describe systems of lies developed by families that want to be thought well of. Paul, however, is not going to set up any reputation-protection systems for the Corinthian Christians. Their reputation is going to be based on what they displayed in life, not on what they said or what they want people to think about them! If they want to be thought of as generous, it ought to be because they are generous, not because they once said they would be!
   3) Whatever you struggle with in your life –giving, bible reading, church attendance, daily devotions — is not because these things are untrue or not spiritually valid it is because they are not generously lived out in our lives! What kind of thanks–giving do you display to others? Where is your spiritual growth? Are your riches from God or something else?

These are no idle questions. These are of extreme importance. The reason is obvious — what others see in you is how they see Jesus in the world today! Why is that? Because Paul knew that thanks–giving —

III. In A Believer’s Life Can Lead Others to Faith! (vv. 12-15)

1. Spiritual spillage in us results in the spectators around us getting wet!
   1) The most important part of this whole section is when Paul literally shouts, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (v. 15) This is the foundation for everything Paul says. It is why the believer can be generous in life, and how they can grow in Christ. And it is how we can lead others to faith in Jesus.
   2) We do not do good works to be saved. We do good things from the overflow of God’s love in our lives! This is why some believers have very little to show for what God has done. There is no overflow! Not even a trickle or a drip! This is exactly what Paul is speaking about in verses 12-14! Spiritual spillage results in others getting wonderfully wet!
   3) Paul had encouraged the Corinthians earlier by reminding them that God’s grace was “for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” (2 Cor 4:15) Yet we see that they had simply quit! What had happened to them? They no longer overflowed with thanksgiving! In fact they had become bitter towards Paul, their mentor and friend! And they knew why! Paul would later encourage them by asking them to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor 13:5) WOW! There was a kink in their spiritual pipe!
   EXAMPLE: Ever see someone do a belly-flop into a pool on purpose? Why do they do that? (To get others wet!) When I first started here I baptized a couple. When I asked them why they accepted Christ and wanted to follow through in baptism they both stated it was because of what they had seen in the lives of their Christian friends! As the husband put it, “When I was around them, I could not help but get excited and want to know more about Jesus!” Christians should splash the Holy Spirit all over those around them until the spectators have to either get a towel to dry off or join in by jumping into the pool!

CONCLUSION:

Like the old poem states: “I’d rather see a sermon any day, than hear one.” Paul knew this to be true. What kind of sermon do you preach to others around you about your faith? About your God? About Jesus Christ? Christians do not live their lives in a void. Each of us are part of the community we live in. Paul encouraged his readers to be dependent upon God, to grow in their spirituality, and to live lives that displayed their real faith. Doing this he said would “result in expressions of thanks to God” in the community where they lived! That is thanks–giving.

This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Ramblings from Retirement: The only thing we have to fear is…

Ramblings from Retirement: The only thing we have to fear is…
By Lee Hemen (Retired Pastor)
October 24, 2020

There is a famous line from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often referred to by his initials FDR who said in one of his speeches, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”; sounds pithy doesn’t it? It helped a lot of folks during the crisis of the Depression and looming World War II that they could face their fear and move on as a Nation. Yet in our day and age we have politicians who focus on our fears and try to scare us into voting for them or otherwise we will face doom, gloom, and even death! It is a basement mentality and I fear has a lot of folks fooled in our day into thinking that we’re all gonna die from something. Well guess what? We are.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews in the Bible wrote that “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” meaning we will all die at some point and face that same judgment. However he doesn’t stop there but continues by writing “…so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV)” In this statement we find not just hope but the means to calm any fear we might have.

For those who have trusted Jesus they should not live a life of fear worrying about what today or tomorrow may bring. In a beautiful soliloquy Jesus related: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)”

Now there are those who mistakenly think that Jesus meant we are to just sit back in a field of grass (perhaps smoke some of it) and allow God to just flow over us and take care of all our needs. Nothing could be further from the truth. (And no I am not advocating drugs, alcohol, or marijuana use ever.) What Jesus was teaching here is the fact that if you know God you know the Creator of all things, including birds and such. And just as he created them he created you and cares for you and knows all about you. This is why Jesus was constantly reminding his disciples to “fear not” or “do not be afraid” because they lived in a world where death could be in the next moment and life was short-lived. By comparison we live in a day well into our 80s with good health.

That fiery little redheaded man with a gimp the Apostle Paul understood this full well. In fact he came to a place in his faith whereby he could confidently state, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NIV)” And this is from a guy who was chained to two Roman soldiers, under arrest, and waiting perhaps for his own beheading! Paul understood what many of us who are cowering in our basements and afraid to go outside have forgotten: That if we have Christ we have everything! This world is not our permanent home; we’re just a passin’ through!

I am reminded of Moses who asked God to show him His glory. Now this was impossible because if God did Moses would have died instantly. God told Moses that “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” however God told him, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” (Exodus 33:14-23) We often want “proof” that God will take care of us and He has given us all the proof we need in Jesus who walked this earth, died on a cross for our sins, is coming again, and has promised eternal life if we trust Him. Jesus is our cleft in the rock in a world of worry.

No politician, pundit, or person can guarantee our complete protection, only God can provide for our eternal existence. In this we are to find peace and comfort for today, right now in this moment.
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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Nothing in life is free! — John 6:22-33

Nothing in life is free! — John 6:22-33
By Pastor Lee Hemen
July 12, 2020

There is a tale that the great circus promoter P. T. Barnum once quipped, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” There is a lot of doubt as to whether he actually said this or not, but one thing I have heard over and over again is the old truism “nothing in life is free.” This is true of anyone who wants to sell you the latest get rich scheme, diet pill, or quick spiritual fix. Nothing in life is free. However, the Apostle Paul wrote, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24 NIV)” In other words, we receive the gift of salvation freely from God because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Nothing in life is free, except salvation from God through Jesus!

And here in John’s gospel we find that there were those during his day that wanted something for nothing as well. Some things never change.

READ: John 6:22-33

Here in John’s gospel we discover that…

I. Some folks just want free food! (Vv. 22-25)

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

  1. Following Jesus and his disciples getting miraculously to the far side of the lake we discover that the very “next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.” Some people look far and wide for the wrong things in life in order to find themselves or the answer for their lives. Often, it is right in front of them but they do not recognize it. Kind of like the crowd and Jesus. Later on in John’s gospel we discover that when the “chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. Jesus said, ‘I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ (John 7:32-34 NIV)” It is too late to look for Jesus when you’re looking for the wrong things in life or when your life is over! The crowd, afterwards “realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.” They diligently searched for Jesus for entirely the wrong reason, free food! There are still people who follow Jesus for the wrong reason. They follow him in order to make themselves happy; they follow him in order to be more spiritual; or they follow him in order to have a spiritual safety net. We are to follow Jesus because he is the Savior, the Messiah, of the world! Notice what the crowd’s first reaction is after they find “him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’“ They were not interested in Jesus’ welfare, they were not interested in where the disciples were; they were only interested in their bellies. Some folks just want free food!

  EXAMPLE: Like I stated before, some folks today seek Jesus only for the freebies they think he offers them in life. Joe Stowell writes in Strength for the Journey, “Each year over 3.5 million people visit Yellowstone National Park. The park is loaded with signs that read, ‘Don’t feed the bears,’ but visitors are constantly doing just that. As a result, bears become too lazy to look for food. So, sadly, some of them starve to death in the woods—which are full of nourishment—when the tourists aren’t there to give them handouts. Ever wish you could get a few spiritual handouts from God? A lot of us are like those bears when it comes to walking with Jesus. We’d like to have everything handed to us, straight from God—no questions asked. We keep looking for those divine snacks of His direct involvement in our lives. It’s tempting to measure the quality of our relationship with God by the frequency and intensity of those times when we see Him reach into our lives and change things. This leaves us prone to the “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately?” attitude. Some folks just want free food!

We also learn that…

II. Some folks will work for the wrong food! (Vv. 26-29)

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

  1. We find that Jesus knows exactly why they followed him around the lake and so, “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.’” What these folks said with their mouths did not match with what they believed about Jesus in their hearts. All they wanted was free food! Jesus confronts their hypocrisy. Often we show up to worship only desiring that Jesus “fill us” in some kind of way that will make us happy for the moment so we can get through the day or the rest of the week. This is a horrendous view of who we believe Jesus is and what he was sent to do! All we want is a quick fix from God and not something that will last for eternity. Jesus warns his listeners “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” Now Jesus was not, as some incorrectly conclude, endorsing good works for salvation. Rather, he was trying to focus their attention where it needed to be, on their need to be cleansed of their sin. The loaves and fishes would eventually mold and decay, the real food Jesus offered “endures to eternal life.” which only the “Son of Man” could give them. Only Jesus gives us the food that matters and lasts forever, eternal life. In fact, only “On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Jesus, in Matthew’s gospel would declare, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4 NIV)” Notice, “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’“ God did not require that they earn their salvation, he requires that they only believe in the one he sent! This is why Jesus bluntly responds, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Some folks will work for the wrong food!

  EXAMPLE: Cults and heretical religions are attractive to some because it soothes their guilty conscience when they can earn part of their spirituality. However, we discover the wonderful truth when Paul wrote, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)” In other words we are saved for the works we are to do after salvation! We do them because we love God! Our good deeds do not save us for if they did, Jesus did not have to die on the cross and rise again! Yet, sadly, some folks will work for the wrong food!

And finally, we find that…

III. The only bread we need is freely given by God! (Vv. 30-33)

So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’“ Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

  1. These people just seem not to get the picture and we find them asking Jesus, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?” Like people at an accident scene, they simply cannot get over their preoccupation for the unbelievable or inexplicable. They wanted Jesus to sing and dance for them! Jesus would later remind his listeners, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (Matthew 12:39 NIV)” Like Jonah Jesus would be three days removed from the living. The crowd wanted more than manna from heaven, like the Israelites of Moses got. This is why they said, “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’“ Perhaps, they thought Jesus’ miracle was less significant because manna fed the whole nation for 40 years. However, they missed two things. First, the Israelites who were fed 40 years did not believe! They blew it and suffered for their unbelief! They failed to understand the significance of their being fed by the hand of God. Second, both Moses and Jesus were absolutely validated by God and therefore both should be listened to and believed. So, Jesus remarks, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.” In fact, Jesus continued, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Jesus is the life-giving bread they needed in order to survive for eternal life! In fact, the only bread we need is freely given by God!

  EXAMPLE: “In cultures with an abundance of food choices, like our own, bread is no longer a necessary part of the diet so some choose to live without it for various reasons. In the first century, however, bread was viewed as an essential staple. A diet without bread was a foreign concept. One day a crowd of people sought out Jesus because He had performed the miracle of multiplying loaves of bread. They asked Him to perform a sign like the manna from heaven that God had provided for His people in the desert (Exodus 16:4). When Jesus said He was ‘the true bread from heaven’, the people didn’t understand.” (Our Daily Bread, Marvin Williams, Oct 9, 2013) The only bread we need is freely given by God!

Conclusion:
Some folks just want free food! Some folks will work for the wrong food! The only bread we need is freely given by God!
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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Fellowship Is A Beautiful Thing! – Acts 2:42-47

Fellowship Is A Beautiful Thing! – Acts 2:42-47

By Pastor Lee Hemen

June 28, 2020

New things are exciting; new houses, new relationships, new cars or new toys – all of these things can be exciting at first. The same is true for new churches, new Sunday School Classes, and new pastors. But after the excitement wears off then there is the hard work of taking care of, maintaining, and developing some of these things.

The church was brand new and it was exciting. Things were happening and God was moving to build his church in the world so it could be the witness he needed. Within the newness of the early church we discover that the disciples began to develop how the body of Christ was to operate in the world and in doing so we discover that fellowship is a beautiful thing. Let’s see how and why…

READ: Acts 2:42-47

GBC is in the process of finding a new pastor and we should desire one that encourages fellowship, is willing to come alongside of others, and develop us as believers. We discover here in the early church that…

I. Fellowship is a beautiful thing with the partnership of mentoring! (Vv. 42-43)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 

  1. We have to remember that at this time there was no New Testament that the early church could open up and read to learn to be the church that God desired. They had to depend upon the personal experiences of the first disciples that had followed Jesus throughout his ministry. Teaching during this time was often done through word of mouth. A teacher, rabbi, or master would have disciples or followers who would come and sit and listen to their teaching. There would be discussions on what was taught, questions and answers, and a common sharing. This often included the sharing of a midday meal because the classes would often last from early in the morning until the sun went down. So we discover that “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship”. The idea here is one of intent. Members of the early church intently “devoted themselves” to being instructed by the apostles; to their “doctrine”. In our day there is kind of an undercurrent of heresy that teaches us that doctrine is bad or not necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without doctrine the early church would not know what to believe about Jesus and the same is true for us as well! But also notice they devoted themselves to their commonality of faith, their fellowship. In this “koinonia”, spiritual and physical sharing, they came together not just for doctrinal teaching but also for “the breaking of bread and to prayer”. This describes for us what their fellowship was all about. Notice what occurred when the early church decided to devote their selves to these things: “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Too much of what is done in the church today is dependent upon the “show” and not the teaching and fellowship. Fellowship is a beautiful thing with the partnership of mentoring!

  EXAMPLE: GBC should find a man who is willing to fellowship with his church. A man who is willing to get his hands dirty in the trenches of mentoring, working alongside of, and eating with his church. His family should be willing to be involved as well. I was told that a pastor should maintain a distance from his congregation. I thank God that I never fell for this misinformation and poor advice. There should never ever be a division between the pastor and his church but instead like the early church we learn that fellowship is a beautiful thing with the partnership of mentoring!

If a church cannot gain their pastor’s friendship, mentorship, and develop koinonia the relationship will always be adversarial; an “us versus them” attitude. This should never occur because of the example it sets for new believers and the world. We learn that within the early church that…

II. Fellowship is a beautiful thing as the church is united in Christ! (Vv. 44-45)

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 

  1. As the church comes together we see that the fellowship comes together in a beautiful way. As the early church’s leadership mentored and encouraged fellow believers their koinonia grew stronger and that “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Being together doesn’t mean that they agreed in everything that was done but instead they were willing to be together in the direction God wanted to take them as a church. What the wording here infers is the fact that they were willing to share with one another what they had. Most families during this time had very little compared to today’s standard and what they had was often willingly shared with others. It was a sign of respect, support, and oneness in the Lord. It reminds me of what Jesus prayed over his disciples, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23 NIV)” The unity of the Lord should express itself in a generous attitude. Jesus was describing the commonality the “oneness” every believer has one with another and with the Lord through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also declared, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38 NIV)” The early church teaches us that they took this fellowship a step further into their human relationships in the church: “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Fellowship is a beautiful thing as the church is united in Christ!

  EXAMPLE: The idea here is not communism nor is it communalism. One advocates class war leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs by the government. The other is a social structure whereby everyone shares everything equally. Many historical communities tried practicing it and it always failed miserably. One such group was the Pilgrims and they almost starved to death until they went to a more free market and individual based system. The early church did not share equally but when they were led of God they sold possession and goods and gave to anyone who had an actual need and not just to anyone in general. We learn that fellowship is a beautiful thing as the church is united in Christ!

Any man GBC considers for pastor should be first and foremost be an example to the congregation and to the community around them. From the example of the early church as they developed leadership to go out into the world and share the good news we learn from them that…

III. Fellowship is a beautiful thing and results in the lost being saved! (Vv. 46-47)

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

  1. As we go deeper into how the early church was interacting we learn that “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” While the church was growing in fellowship with one another they continued in their mentoring process and trying to win fellow Jews to the Lord. There were no church buildings or structures and so the early Christians met where they were used to going to discuss the things of God. In this case it was the temple courts. They had grown up worshipping God in the Temple and going there for prayer several times during the day. However the connotation here is that there was more than prayer or worshipping going on here. It was common for the Court of the Gentles or in the colonnades to discuss and debate the things of God. Remember when Mary, Jesus’ mother, had search everywhere for him as a young boy and eventually found him debating with the elders in the Temple courts? Here in the Temple courts was a great opportunity to share the good news that the Messiah had indeed come. Not only did the early church continue to do this until believers were pushed out of the Temple and local synagogues but they also continued to break “bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people”. When a church experiences true koinonia it becomes untied in its direction, in its community as believers, and in sharing with one another the things God has given them. We see that the church was blessed because of their willingness to do this: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Fellowship is a beautiful thing and results in the lost being saved!

  EXAMPLE: It is interesting that all the early renewals began with the church becoming united in Spirit, in fellowship, and prayer. Jonathan Edwards was the great academician and apologist of the Great Awakening. A Congregational pastor at Northampton, Massachusetts, he preached justification by faith alone. He also helped those involved in the revival to discern what were true and false works of the Spirit of God. The increase of dissent from the established churches led to a broader toleration of religious diversity, and the individual’s participation of the religious experience fed the fervor that resulted in the American Revolution. Fellowship is a beautiful thing and results in the lost being saved!

Conclusion:

Fellowship is a beautiful thing with the partnership of mentoring! We learn that fellowship is a beautiful thing when expressed in a giving attitude! Fellowship is a beautiful thing and results in the lost being saved!

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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

How to Find Comfort In a Harsh World! – Luke 24:31-40

How to Find Comfort In a Harsh World! – Luke 24:31-40

By Pastor Lee Hemen

June 14, 2020

Sometimes example can be so much better than a lecture. Some of the best teachers I have had growing up were those who were willing to come alongside of me and show me how to do something rather than just tell me how to do it. While the Bible teaches us how to live; and whom we should believe in — it cannot mentor us like someone who has already been there and done that. This is how we can learn to find comfort in a harsh world!

If you think your world is falling apart just remember the disciples who had followed Jesus for three and a half years and now had to come to terms with his death. Some were in hiding in fear of being discovered by the authorities, captured, and tortured or crucified, and others had just dejectedly decided to head home. For them, everything they had believed in had come to a horrendous end, what was left? Jesus decided in his wisdom to show them how to find comfort in a harsh world. Let’s discover what he taught them…

READ: Luke 24:31-40

Luke is a great historian. He takes great pains in using the right names for people and their titles. Today’s historians are amazed at how thorough Luke is and it is here in his account of what occurred with two eyewitnesses that we learn that…

I. The comfort of the resurrection gives us hope! (Vv. 31-35)

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. 

  1. The women had already found the empty tomb, ran back and told the disbelieving disciples who had to discover what the women had witnessed! The motley crew was despondent over the situation and huddled together wondering what to do next. Some were on their way home already. Noting more to see, hear, or do here; might as well head on home. Yet on their way something extraordinary occurs. On that “same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. (vv. 13-14)” While they were walking a stranger joins them. We learn it is actually Jesus and as he begins to question them they decide to get a bite to eat. As he begins to break the bread and give thanks for it, “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” It is often in the midst of life’s greatest grief we find the strongest faith. And this is what occurs here. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” While their initial journey had begun in grief it had now turned to one of wonder and joy! “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’” Here we discover that they were perhaps some of those who had not believed the women and doubted but now they knew otherwise! Those who had stayed behind in the upper room now confirmed that Peter had seen Jesus at some point and now “the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” This is important because we now have a minimum of three different eye witness confirmations of Jesus’ resurrection: the women, Peter, and the men walking to Emmaus! The comfort of the resurrection gives us hope! 

  EXAMPLE: A proud and ungodly professor said to a young child who believed in the Lord Jesus, “My dear little girl, you don’t know whom you believe in. There have been many ‘christs’. In which of them do you believe?” “I know which one I believe in,” replied the child. “I believe in the Christ who rose from the dead!” The disciples were so affected by what they had witnessed that they were willing to die for its message. Today hundreds of millions of believers know the same comfort and hope. The comfort of the resurrection gives us hope!

With angry crowds chanting, “No justice, no peace!” and watching the total chaos created by Socialist groups like ANTIFA, the violence, and the rage it might be hard to realize that now is the time to share the peace that surpasses all understanding, Jesus. In fact we learn from Luke’s account that…

II. The comfort of Jesus’ presence gives us peace! (Vv. 36-41)

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 

  1. The men headed back immediately to the rest of the disciples who had stayed in Jerusalem to share with them what they had experienced. And “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” Wow! Evidently Jesus shows up unexpectedly or just suddenly appears. Mark writes that Jesus appears to them while they were eating and rebukes the remaining disciples for not believing the rest who had seen him. John writes that the doors to the house were locked because of the disciple’s fear of the Jewish authorities and Jesus suddenly stood among them, declaring, “Peace be with you!” So we learn that several different eyewitnesses to the same event have similar tales to tell. It is confirmation of Jesus’ resurrection! Yet these disciple who should have known better “were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost”. Jesus does not want them to think he is a mere phantom but is alive with a physical body and tells them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Can you imagine what took place? When I came to Christ and read these accounts it struck me that I was reading the actual words of those who witnessed the risen Lord. Each was similar but just different enough to show it was from personal accounts. I can only imagine what they felt. We read that “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’” It would be difficult to realize that the person you thought was dead is now alive and standing right in front of you. Jesus understands our fears and need to have our doubts confirmed and this is why he asks them for the simple reassurance of a meal. “Do you have anything to eat?” he asks them. A dead man or a ghost doesn’t need food to eat; only a living person does! It is through this simple act that relieved the disciple’s fears. It is the simple fact that the comfort of Jesus’ presence gives us peace!

  EXAMPLE: Julie Ackerman writes, “In the days of Adam and Eve, peace was lost. As soon as they ate the forbidden fruit and realized their nakedness, they started blaming each other (Genesis 3:12-13) and introduced conflict to God’s peaceful planet. Sadly, all of their descendants, including us, have followed their bad example. We blame others for our own bad choices and become angry when no one will accept the guilt. Blaming others for our unhappiness breaks apart families, churches, communities, and nations. We can’t make peace because we’re preoccupied with placing the blame.” How wonderful to realize that the comfort of Jesus’ presence gives us peace!

Conclusion:

The comfort of the resurrection gives us hope! The comfort of Jesus’ presence gives us peace!

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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

The church is to remain strong! – Colossians 3:11-17

The church is to remain strong! – Colossians 3:11-17
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 23, 2020

One of things that many senior adults do not do is to get enough exercise in order to maintain their muscle tone and bone density in order to remain healthy. While the number of senior adults living longer has grown, those who live active and strong lives have not. Keeping oneself strong later in life is extremely important and the same is true for a church.

Paul wrote the church at Colossae between 60-62 AD while he was imprisoned in Rome the first time and one purpose was to correct the heresy that had sprung up in Colossae. This false teaching seemed to be the beginning of what later developed into Gnosticism. It contained specific characteristics. (1) It was Jewish stressing the need to observe Old Testament laws and ceremonies. (2) It was philosophical, laying emphasis on some special or deeper knowledge (gnōsis). (3) It involved the worship of angels. (4) It was exclusivistic whereby only the privileged and select few who adhered to it were prefect. (5) It was also Christological but denied the deity of Christ. In the face of this the church at Colossae needed to remain strong. Let’s see how…

READ: Colossians 3:11-17

Unity is more than a word; it is to be a way of life for the Christian. We experience unity first with God through Jesus. Jesus prayed that we would be one as he and God the Father are one and that “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:23 NIV)” We discover that…

I. Our church remains strong when it is unified! (Vv. 11-14)

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

  1. Paul reminded his readers that within the church “there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all”! Within the church, the body of Christ, there is no ethnicities. We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord. Non-Jewish believers, Jewish believers, and even those considered barbarians as bad as Scythians, those who owned slaves and those who were slaves were now in Jesus! Our church remains strong when it is unified! The outcome of faith in Jesus produced results and “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved” people of God we are to “clothe” ourselves with the characteristics of Jesus. Those who know Jesus, his people who comprise his church, display his characteristics of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”! These are nonnegotiable because Paul knew that anyone who had faith in Jesus would have the Holy Spirit living in them and the Spirit seals us for him and our faith changes us from sinners to saints! And just like Jesus, as his holy and dearly loved people we are to use these characteristics to “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” A church family that loves the Lord will love one another! In fact we are to “Forgive as the Lord forgave” each of us! The mere fact we can do this is simply because of Jesus who is the personification of God’s love: “For God so loved the world”. So “over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Not the wishy-washy touchy-feelie love of mankind that thinks by “feeling” something you are spiritual but in the simple truth of Jesus who is the love of God that unifies us. Our church remains strong when it is unified!

  EXAMPLE: Some folks have faulty thinking when it comes to the idea of being unified. Unity does not mean we have to agree about everything all the time. The disciples had disagreements, even Jesus disagreed with them from time to time. Unity in the Lord means we are eager to seek what God desires, that we are in prayer about it, and we try our best to reach a godly consensus. This may mean some of us have to compromise! Our church remains strong when it is unified!

As a church we are strongest when we are untied but it is more than being in agreement with one another. A church becomes a family and when it is working well it becomes a home. A place where each of us is accepted, encouraged, and matured in Jesus. It is a matter of how we walk in Christ as we walk with one another. Paul writes that…

II. Our church remains strong when we reside in Jesus! (Vv. 15-17)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

   1. Today’s world sees faith as a means to feel good about oneself and a way to remain happy. But this is not the truth. It is a lie that the world propagates for its own selfishness. The real church, the real body of Christ in the world experiences the peace of Jesus that the world can never give or understand. We are to therefore “Let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, since as members of one body [we] were called to peace.” The sacrifice of Jesus gives us peace with God and his wrath no longer resides on us! John the Baptist taught that “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. (John 3:35-36 NIV)” Paul would state that “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:9 NIV)” We should then “be thankful”. It is our duty and obligation to walk in Jesus. He told his followers “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4 NIV)” We “remain” in him because of his Spirit within us and we “remain” in him as we walk in him as believers. We are to “Let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly as [we] teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” This describes perfectly what our church worship, our personal devotions, and our daily walk is to be about! “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Our church remains strong when we reside in Jesus!

  EXAMPLE: Walking with Jesus is more than a feeling it requires our actions and attitudes are in sync with him. If you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus you have the Holy Spirit living in you. Therefore you can know and do the will of God. Because he resides in us through the Spirit we can know how to walk in him through our prayer, reading the Bible, through Godly family and friends, and through the experiences God has brought us through. Throughout the years I have led us as a church to spend a time of praying together, talking to one another, using the Bible, and reviewing our past as a church to see where God is leading us into the future. It has never failed. Our church remains strong when we reside in Jesus!

Conclusion:

Our church remains strong when it is unified! Our church remains strong when we reside in Jesus!
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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

God uses the foolish things! – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

God uses the foolish things! – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 26, 2020

When things change it can seem foolish to those who get used to the way things as they are. Yet we can be the “foolish” ones when we make demands like: “If they do not do it this way I will…” or “If it isn’t done the way I like, then…” We are like the petulant child who doesn’t like the way the game is going and takes his ball home. However, we learn that God often uses the foolish things of the world.

The Jews had gotten used to being the slaves of whichever power marched through their homeland. While they mouthed their allegiance to God within their hearts they had truly stopped believing. And now God had sent himself in the form of a man bringing a different message than the one they were used to. It seemed as foolishness just as it does in our day and age that have gotten used to living their lives the way they want instead of following the Lord. We learn that God uses the foolish things.

READ: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

As we decide who are future pastor will be we must never forget that first and foremost he will be our leader in presenting the message of the cross to an unsaved world and…

I. This message seems foolish to the lost world! (Vv. 18-21)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

  1. The new church was tiny in its membership compared to the population of the pagan world around it. While believers today number in the hundreds of millions, back then they numbered in the hundreds. What chance did the church have in a vast void of a world of unbelief? Simple, we should never forget the glorious truth that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”! The power of God for eternal life is contained within is words to a foolish world. There is no greater message on earth or in heaven or hell than the gospel! It is not based on the esoteric simplistic spirituality made up wisdom of mankind. It isn’t Facebook memes of the moment. It is the very wisdom of God for foolish mankind! What sages have pondered for centuries the simplest folk can have for their own! Professors, psychologists, and potentates may not comprehend it but we can! “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” The notion that someone might die for a good person isn’t too farfetched but to die for those who do not care and who are in sin that seems truly foolish. This is why the rhetorical questions of “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” is answered in the fact that “since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” And this is the message our new pastor must have on his heart and melted into his very soul to preach to the lost of this community. Even if this message seems foolish to the lost world!

  EXAMPLE: Frick and Frack were two Swiss skaters who came to the United States in 1937 and joined the original Ice Follies show as comedy ice skaters. Their show consisted of them doing a series of out-of-control stunts while linked together. To the audience it seemed as if they would fall at any moment but in fact they were in perfect harmony with one another having practiced and perfected their seemingly chaotic stunts. The world sees the Christian faith much as the audience of Frick and Frack viewed them but in fact it is the eternal plan of God. The message may seem foolish to the lost world but it is the plan of God!

As look for new leadership we must never forget that the task we are calling our new pastor to is…

II. The power of God in a foolish world! (Vv. 22-25)

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

  1. Spiritually ignorant people always want one more proof. They desire that everything be explained to them in a manner that only they will accept and this simply is not how God works. “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles”. This is what the church is about. This is what GBC is to be about. This should be the driving message of the man we might consider. The message is not about social justice. The message is not about how we should feel about our faith. The message is not the means for happiness in life; although it can be found in its adherence. The message is “to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks”, the people of God and the rest of the world! Perhaps we have forgotten what we are to be about as a church? It is not for our own comfort. It is not for our own satisfaction! It is not for us to feel holy or good or just or nice! We are to be about “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”! It is the marvelous, wonderful, and mighty work of the Lord! Living in a world of the spiritually ignorant should call each of us who have the knowledge of the gospel to a greater commitment, a greater concern, and a greater effort to reach the world around us! It can be frustrating when a congregation gets too comfortable, it can be tiresome when the world seems uncaring, and it can become difficult when we would rather do anything else than share our faith. Yet as we look for leadership and to encourage one another during this we must find comfort and strength in the fact that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength”! We should never forget that the power of God in a foolish world!

  EXAMPLE: When we become blinded to the wonders around us we can become cynical to a lot of things including our spirituality. Our world reflects this by the cynical attitude towards the Christian faith we see in TV shows, the media, in schools, and with younger generations. What the world finds as “scientific” exposes their spiritual foolishness. History, personal testimonies, and logical proofs show otherwise. As we look for a new pastor we will need to find someone who can relate the power of God in a foolish world!

Many churches in our day and age have fallen into the selfish trap of thinking that everything should revolve around us because we have forgotten where we have come from. We are reminded that…

III. Without God we are foolish! (Vv. 26-31)

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

  1. If we do not consider the selection of a new pastor a sacred and important matter then we denigrate and dismiss the holy things of God. It is not a personality contest; it is not about popularity, age, looks, or any human standard! You need to “think of what you were when you were called” to Jesus in the first place! In fact most of us were not special in any way at all; “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.” However we were all in sin and needed rescue! As we look for the man to lead us we need to be reminded that it is often in the simple things we find the power of God: Complete love of God and our love for one another! We must remind ourselves that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” Brothers and sisters in the Lord do not use this time to advance your agenda, do not use this time for your personal gain, and do not use this time to threaten to take your ball and go home! But instead in all humility be mindful of the fact that “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” It is during this time we as a church and as individuals remind ourselves “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” because without God we are foolish!

  EXAMPLE: We live in a world that has tried to solve its morality problem by thinking that anything is okay as long as it doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself. And when or if you might feel bad about yourself you can smoke dope or get drunk until it doesn’t matter to you any longer. We can slaughter unwanted unborn children, be any sex we want anytime we want, and never ever dare tell anyone at anytime they are wrong, evil, or ungodly. Sadly, this convoluted philosophy of personal “diversity” is supposed to be enlightened. In reality it only exposes the truth that without God we are foolish!

Conclusion:

This message seems foolish to the lost world! The power of God in a foolish world! Without God we are foolish!
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This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.