We are back, and what a long, strange trip it has been. The Lord's hand was definitely with us. We really learned what it means that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Earlier in the week before we left, we thought we were taking 8 people. Before we left that whittled down to 6. Before we made it out of Virginia the couple from Johnstown that was joining us had to go home to attend to family matters. We were down to 4. It was a bit discouraging. But God had prepared the work before hand.
Once we arrived in Biloxi, we were given two more people to round out our team. Jack and Pat from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They were the perfect fit for our team. (Jack and Pat if you read this, we miss you.) Pat and Sharon were able to minister to Patty (the home owner) in a way that only God could have arranged.
As for the actual labor on the house, we did a variety of jobs. We laid flooring, hung doors, put on door knobs, hung ceiling fans, did caulking and painting, hung some dry wall, trip, and kitchen cabinets, and installed a new range hood.
Because the funding in starting to run low, we purchased some of the materials we needed out of the funds that the people of St. Paul's provided out of God's grace. Had the second vehicle come with us to Biloxi, we would not have had the funds to do this.
We really need to keep Bob in Biloxi. Click on this link to read about the continued need for workers and finances to see how you can help. Bob Bolitho is a man with a heart for the Lord and mission. We really wants to see this mission through to completion. Pray for Bob.
There is so much more I could say, but for the sake of brievity I will end here. I will gladly share stories with anyone who wants to hear more, or want to know what they can do to share the love of Jesus Christ to those in need in Biloxi.
Pastor Howard
Monday, February 26, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
SAVED UNTO GOOD WORKS
A group from our church is heading to Biloxi, MS to do hurricane recovery work. We will leave February 17th and return February 24th. Please pray for us. This is the devotion that I have prepared to be delivered in Biloxi.
Ephes. 2:1-10 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
[2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Why do we need Jesus Christ?
1. We are disobedient enemies of God and children of wrath. (2:1-3)
2. God’s extends His mercy, love, and grace to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (2:4)
3. It is in Jesus Christ that we are made alive, forgiven of our sins, and spared from the wrath of God to come. (2:5-7)
4. We come to Jesus Christ by grace through Faith and receive the benefits of His death and resurrection. (2:8-9)
Do we come to God just for salvation without wanting the rest?
So often the Good News of Jesus Christ is presented in a way that forgiveness of sin and escape from the wrath of God is seen as the end. Even eternal life is seen
as a by-product.
We fail to see what we have been saved unto. Our God has saved us and spared us from wrath for specific purposes.
The Purposes for Our Salvation
Westminster Shorter Catechism says “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
1. To bring us into Fellowship with God (enjoy Him forever)
of the great love with which he loved us (2:4)
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (2:7)
God has saved us to be continual objects of His love, kindness, and grace.
1 John 1:3-5 (ESV)
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. [4] And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
[5] This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
2. To do good works (Glorifying Him)
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
John 14:12 (ESV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
We leave behind the evil works of our former ways.
We leave behind the supposed good works we have done that can not save, in which we have tried to boast but can not.
We go on to those good works that God has prepared before hand for us to walk in.
We are here to do this good work in His name. God has prepared this good work for us in advance.
And these good works are to the glory of God.
Col. 1:10 (ESV)
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
What kind of fruit do you bear? It is real fruit or it is fake fruit.
Conclusion
Why do we do our good works?
To impress?
To earn God’s favor?
To do something good?
Because God has a work for you to do?
Examine your heart to see if you are living according to what God has saved you unto to.
Ephes. 2:1-10 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
[2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Why do we need Jesus Christ?
1. We are disobedient enemies of God and children of wrath. (2:1-3)
2. God’s extends His mercy, love, and grace to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (2:4)
3. It is in Jesus Christ that we are made alive, forgiven of our sins, and spared from the wrath of God to come. (2:5-7)
4. We come to Jesus Christ by grace through Faith and receive the benefits of His death and resurrection. (2:8-9)
Do we come to God just for salvation without wanting the rest?
So often the Good News of Jesus Christ is presented in a way that forgiveness of sin and escape from the wrath of God is seen as the end. Even eternal life is seen
as a by-product.
We fail to see what we have been saved unto. Our God has saved us and spared us from wrath for specific purposes.
The Purposes for Our Salvation
Westminster Shorter Catechism says “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
1. To bring us into Fellowship with God (enjoy Him forever)
of the great love with which he loved us (2:4)
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (2:7)
God has saved us to be continual objects of His love, kindness, and grace.
1 John 1:3-5 (ESV)
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. [4] And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
[5] This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
2. To do good works (Glorifying Him)
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
John 14:12 (ESV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
We leave behind the evil works of our former ways.
We leave behind the supposed good works we have done that can not save, in which we have tried to boast but can not.
We go on to those good works that God has prepared before hand for us to walk in.
We are here to do this good work in His name. God has prepared this good work for us in advance.
And these good works are to the glory of God.
Col. 1:10 (ESV)
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
What kind of fruit do you bear? It is real fruit or it is fake fruit.
Conclusion
Why do we do our good works?
To impress?
To earn God’s favor?
To do something good?
Because God has a work for you to do?
Examine your heart to see if you are living according to what God has saved you unto to.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Living in God's Presence
John 14:23 (ESV) Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Do we really live our Christian lives as if God has made His home with us? What difference would it make it we really believed and lived in the light of the truth that God is ever with us? I have been so captured by our fellowship with God as of late, and this passage is just another illustration of the great purpose for which we have been saved. John Owen's work on Communion with God has been a great challenge and encouragement in this respect. I hope to post more thought about this great topic soon.
Do we really live our Christian lives as if God has made His home with us? What difference would it make it we really believed and lived in the light of the truth that God is ever with us? I have been so captured by our fellowship with God as of late, and this passage is just another illustration of the great purpose for which we have been saved. John Owen's work on Communion with God has been a great challenge and encouragement in this respect. I hope to post more thought about this great topic soon.
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