The Disciples

When God calls your name He Says You are one of the Disciples        

from Names of the Believers © 1997 by John M. Koessler. All rights reserved.

    

      Acts 6:1-2: In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. NIV

Mark Twain made this observation about his experience of learning to become a river boat pilot in his book Life on the Mississippi: "Two things seemed pretty apparent to me. One was, that in order to be a pilot a man has got to learn more than any one man ought to be allowed to know; and the other was, that he must learn it all over again in a different way every twenty-four hours."

Jesus' followers would probably have said something very similar to that. They were known as "disciples," a term that literally meant "learners." The rabbis of Jesus' day attracted followers who placed themselves under the authority of their teachers. One who became a disciple made a personal commitment to the rabbi he followed. These disciples studied the rabbi's teaching, compared it with the teaching of the Torah, and eventually passed it on to others who became their disciples.

Jesus' method of discipleship followed a similar pattern. His disciples lived with Him and memorized His instruction. They traveled with Him from place to place and passed down what they had learned to others (2 Thess 3:6). Yet in many ways, Jesus' approach was radically different from His contemporaries. While the rabbis accepted only the most promising students, many of Jesus' disciples would hardly have seemed like worthwhile candidates. For example, unlike the religious teachers of His day, Jesus welcomed women as His disciples and allowed them to learn at His feet along with the men (Luke 10:38-42).

Another distinctive of Jesus' methodology was His hands-on approach to training. Instead of merely passing down the tradition of the teachers who went before Him, Jesus gave His disciples a fresh perspective on the truth of God's Word and coupled His teaching with practical opportunities to implement what He taught. Failure was part of the disciples' training! Jesus often assigned them tasks, knowing in advance that they would not always be successful in their attempt to complete them. He used their mistakes to teach them important lessons. The most obvious example of this was the apostle Peter's denial of Christ. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times and then urged: ". . . when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32).

The events described in Acts 6:1-6 show that this learning process continued even after Christ ascended into heaven. It didn't take long for the newly formed church to encounter its first internal conflict. As its numbers increased, the cultural differences between those who had adopted the language and customs of Greek culture and others who held on to the language and customs of Hebrew culture became more apparent. They were looked down upon by those who considered such practices a form of religious compromise. The fact that these more-conservative believers spoke only Aramaic created an additional barrier. And soon the Greek-speaking Christians came to the apostles complaining that the needs of their widows were being overlooked.

This should encourage us for several reasons. First, it shows that these same believers who were able to have such a profound impact on their own generation faced problems similar to those that we struggle with today. Like today's believers often do, they misunderstood one another and had interpersonal conflicts. And if Christ was able to use them despite their weaknesses, He can do the same with us.

Secondly, the disciples offer a helpful reminder that conflict is a normal part of the church's growth and development. Numerical growth created obstacles on several fronts for the early church. It created logistical problems as the number of people with needs grew beyond the limits of the church's organizational structure. It also created interpersonal conflicts when new members did not automatically bond with those who were already part of the church. In fact, the believers at Jerusalem seem to have divided themselves into distinct "cliques" that fell along ethnic lines.

Numerical growth, like physical growth, is always accompanied by growing pains. New members must be assimilated and old organizational structures must be modified. The church's dreams and plans must undergo a subtle change as newcomers add their input. Sadly, many churches respond to this traumatic experience by sabotaging their own growth. Like the Jerusalem church, they "stick to their own" and refuse to make a place for new attenders. They may hold on to the reigns of power and not allow newcomers to exercise significant influence in the church's decision-making process.

The apostles' response to this first crisis enables us to see where their priorities lay. Peter explained, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables" (Acts 6:2). Although Peter's words may give the impression that he regarded this as a trivial problem, his solution shows that he was well aware of its critical nature. So he asked the church to choose seven responsible people to oversee its ministry to those widows who were being neglected.

It is not surprising that all the names of those who were selected are Greek in origin, since the complaint originally arose among the church's Greek-speaking believers. A split along ethnic lines this early in the church's development would have left it hopelessly fragmented. What is more, it would have greatly hindered the church's eventual outreach to the Gentiles. It is very possible that one of God's purposes in allowing the church to endure this conflict was to help it prepare for the eventual inclusion of the Gentiles. In fact, one of the seven who was chosen was Nicolas, a convert from Antioch, the place where the gospel was first preached to the Gentiles (Acts 11:19-20).

When the disciples confronted the apostles with the problem, Peter resisted the temptation to "micro-manage" the situation. Instead of attempting to resolve it personally, he wisely delegated this important ministry to others. This left the apostles free to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

The qualifications listed by Peter for those to be selected were spiritual in nature. They were to be believers whose lives showed evidence of being "full of the Spirit." The apostles were not looking primarily for administrators so much as for disciples. This stands in stark contrast to the approach taken by many churches today. Too often, church offices are filled by candidates who have been selected on the basis of popularity, financial success, or political clout. The choice of the seven reveals to us that spirituality ought to be a factor, even in those ministries that do not seem to be overtly spiritual in nature.

What happened as a result of these changes? According to Acts 6:7, ". . . the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith." Because its members continued to be learners, the early church was able to handle its growth successfully. Its secret was to remain focused on God's Word, dedicated to prayer, and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their decisions and appointments to service. They weren't perfect; they were just disciples.

Holy Spirit, help us to be sensitive to Your leading as we fulfill our own ministries and appoint leaders in our churches. Place within us the heart of a learner, a heart that is willing to grow and adapt in each new situation. Amen.

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com
_______________________________________________
John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.

Looking Beyond the Manifestation of His Presence

Many people are attracted to the results of God at work. It might be His heart, His power, His majesty, His mercy and goodness or His glory, that attracts them, but what they see is the results of God’s presence. It might be in an individual, a group, a city or a nation but people are attracted to the results of God’s impact on His creation.

In the midst of, or at the time of His working, or the time of His visitation or outpouring people are attracted to the evidence or manifestation of His presence. These times of God’s interacting with people are recorded in the Bible and throughout history. Often they are the catalyst for a fresh move of God, a revival of His work among people, or even a great awakening which changes the course of a nation or history throughout the earth.

During these seasons or times it is easy for us to focus on the manifestation of His presence. The focus may be on His holiness or our lack thereof. The focus may be on His power or majesty, etc. In these seasons people attempt to understand and communicate God’s interaction with them in ways that fit their times or they point to a demonstration of His majesty or characteristic of God in the Bible to define it. This would include but not be limited to, the river that flows from under His throne, Rev 22:1, His glory as revealed in several encounters with God in scripture, His fire as seen on Pentecost and in several places in the Old Testament, and His holiness as revealed in Elijah’s encounter in the temple, Isa 6:1-7.

In the life of each person God desires more than our fixation on, or identification with a particular results or symbol of His having been present at some point in time interacting with us. Let me use the nature walk near my home as an example of what I mean. This is a man made drainage and nature area that originally was a natural drainage area with a creek which captured water runoff. The area has the trees and other vegetation from where the original creek was and the 50 yards away there is the man made one which was created when a housing development was built in the area. There is a great 8 to 9 foot concrete sidewalk to walk on with threes planted along it.

When you turn off from the sidewalk next to our street and enter the nature walk area you notice this large valley with rock formations adjacent to the beginning of the drainage area. During the spring and summer you can see the results of the creek’s life along its banks. There is a variety of vegetation and wildlife that are present close to the immediate area of the creek. Then throughout the valley surrounding the creek and running up to the fences of the housing area there is additional vegetation and wildlife.

During these seasons you cannot see the creek because of the vegetation, but its evidence is very clear in all that is growing around it. This is a very good picture of the results of God’s presence or the river of life having been present at any point in our lives or history itself.

It is God’s desire for us to move beyond looking for the manifestation or results of His presence elsewhere and for us to come into a close personal relationship or to use a biblical term ‘walk’ with Him. When we have a close personal walk with God we will have many times and seasons when the evidence of His presence in and through us will be made known to those around us. The presence of God can be seen in the lives of many people in the Bible, many of whom are mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11.

The most complete picture of this relationship with God will be a composite of all of those interactions, but it is clearly demonstrated in Jesus the Messiah. Jesus demonstrates how we can both lay down our life and plans, along with the authority over our life, while being empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that pleases God.

The beginning of the Jesus model can be pictured in three passages of scripture. Philippians 2:5-11, John 17:1-5 and Matt 3:11-4:1 In these passages we see Jesus humbling Himself by laying down His authority and power and doing the Father’s will while being empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will.

This is extremely important as it demonstrates to us that we can live a life that is pleasing to God empowered by His Spirit if we are willing to surrender our will and our ability to accomplish it to Him. Then we will be prepared to experience firsthand the outpouring of God’s presence and glory. While others will see the manifestation or evidence of His glory.

This is the first in a series of articles on (Living a Life of passionate participation in God.)

Copy write © Wayne Newcomb 2011

You Are the Brances

When God Calls your Name He Says you are One of the Branches
(from Names of the Believers © 1997 by John M. Koessler. All rights reserved.)

John 15:5, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. AMP

When my son Andrew was four years old, he once came home from Sunday school clutching a small Styrofoam cup, into which he had lovingly placed a single marigold seed. The next morning he jumped out of bed, took the cup down from the windowsill, and immediately burst into tears. Alarmed, my wife, Jane, asked him what was wrong.

"There's no flower!" he wailed. "My teacher said that there was supposed to be a flower."

Jane explained to Andrew that it would take time for the flower to grow and that he would need to water it regularly and keep the cup on the windowsill so that it would get enough sunlight. He did, and sure enough, after a few days a small sprout had pushed its way through the dirt in search of sunlight. Soon, a tiny marigold plant was flourishing in Andrew's cup. It eventually grew so large that it had to be transplanted to the flower bed in front of our house.

Like my son with his marigold seed, we usually think of growth as something that happens automatically. To some extent this is true. The farmer plants the seed and waits patiently for the harvest. And we parents watch our children grow without thinking much about the process of physical development. But even in instances like these, certain conditions must be met before growth can take place. The farmer plants the seed, spreads fertilizer on the ground, and cultivates the plant. My children grow naturally, but the measure of their growth can be affected by their diet.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. In John 15:5, Jesus compares Himself to the vine and His people to its branches. The metaphor of the vine is used several times in the Old Testament to refer to God's people. In Ps 80:8-9, the nation of Israel is compared to a vine transplanted from Egypt. The psalmist speaks there of the care God gave the vine when it was planted and describes how it flourished. The prophet Isaiah also compares Israel to a vine and describes how God prepared the ground, planted a choice vine, and watched over the vineyard.

Jesus takes this same metaphor and alters it slightly. According to John 15, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The emphasis on the importance of producing good fruit remains in these verses, but Jesus reveals the conditions that must be met before spiritual growth can take place. He tells us that the most important prerequisite for growth is that the branch must be connected to the vine (John 15:2). This illustrates that Jesus alone is the source of spiritual life. If we are not in Christ, that is, if we have never wholly trusted Him for eternal life, then we have no life.

In the natural realm, no matter how much water a farmer pours on a dead branch or how often he fertilizes the ground around it, the branch will never produce fruit. And regardless of how suitable the environment around us may be for spiritual growth, if we are not attached to Christ by faith, then we will derive no benefit from it.

The second condition Jesus emphasizes in these verses is that of abiding or "remaining" in Christ (John 15:5). While Christ alone is the source of our spiritual life, we bear a certain amount of responsibility for the degree of our spiritual growth. This is why we are commanded to remain in Christ in order to bear fruit. The New Testament word that is used here emphasizes relationship.

Jesus guarantees spiritual life, but He does not necessarily guarantee the quality of that life. Like physical growth, the measure of my spiritual growth is affected by how well I nourish myself. Spiritual nourishment, like physical nourishment, is determined by what I take in. And in order to abide in Christ, I must nourish myself on God's Word. "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father" (1 John 2:24). As with the food I eat, this is something that must be done daily.

In addition to proper nourishment, we need exercise in order to be healthy. Exercise contributes to my spiritual health, just as it does to my physical health. I exercise myself in the Christian life when I take God at His word and obey His commands. If I obey Christ's commands, I remain or "abide" in His love (John 15:10). I can only do this if I realize that the power to obey comes from Christ Himself. I can do nothing apart from the power that He supplies (John 15:5).

Prayer is the third factor that affects my spiritual growth. Jesus promised that if I abide in Him and His words abide in me: ". . . ask whatever you wish and it will be given you" (John 15:7). In this respect, we have an advantage in our spiritual growth that surpasses its physical counterpart.

When I was in college, a girl that I was interested in stopped dating me because I was not tall enough. She had always dreamed of marrying someone who was over six feet tall. Hours of prayer could not have changed the fact that I was just two inches short of her standard. In the spiritual realm, however, I have often had growth spurts that were answers to prayer. Even in the best of conditions, my physical growth is limited by my heritage and genetic makeup. But in the spiritual realm, the full measure of Christ is my only limit.

Author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson was so proud of his Massachusetts orchard that he spent many hours writing there and, whenever possible, received guests among its trees. He was proud enough of his skill in tending the orchard's pear trees that he sent a sample to the local agricultural fair and was soon rewarded by a visit from several members of a horticultural society. However, as he showed them around the orchard, Emerson discovered that it was not the trees that interested them, but the dirt. They wanted to know what kind of soil had produced such terrible specimens from so worthy a species of tree.

The point of this story is simply this: How well you grow depends upon where you are planted. For the Christian, the most important prerequisite for spiritual growth is to be rooted in Christ.

Heavenly Father, help me to abide in Christ by continuing to study His Word and to obey. Enable me to grow to the full measure of the stature of Christ. Amen.

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com
_______________________________________________
John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.

Followers of Christ

When God Calls Your Name He Calls You A Follower of Christ   

Matt 9:9, As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's office; and He said to him, Be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]. And he rose and followed Him. AMP

The French philosopher Voltaire was once challenged by a friend to ad-lib a story involving thieves. Voltaire thought for a moment and then began: "Gentlemen, there was once a tax collector. . . ."

Tax collectors were widely regarded as thieves in Jesus' day as well, a reputation that was often well deserved. Matthew's job before Jesus called him was to collect the tolls and customs due from those who brought merchandise in and out of Herod's territory. This task was assigned to the highest bidder, who then leased the responsibility to tax gatherers, lower officials who were responsible for actually collecting the money. These tax gatherers, or publicans, were allowed to keep any money that was collected over and above the promised amount. Some tax gatherers actually practiced a form of extortion by levying an amount that they knew could not be paid, and then charging high interest on the unpaid bill.

If being a tax collector was an unlikely career choice for Matthew because of its unpopularity, becoming a follower of Jesus the Rabbi was downright unimaginable. Matthew's friends provide us with a window into his lifestyle. They were primarily other tax collectors and "sinners," a technical term used in the New Testament for those who ignored the Torah and lived immorally. Jesus called Matthew away from all of this with the command to "follow me." The Greek verb used here meant to walk behind someone or to follow in their path. For Matthew, this was literally true. He "left everything" and immediately became a disciple of Jesus, traveling with Him from place to place (Luke 5:28). However, Jesus' invitation called for more than a change of residence. It also required a change of behavior. Matthew abandoned both a sinful lifestyle and a lucrative—but dishonest—livelihood.

This was not true of everyone who was given the opportunity to become a follower of Jesus. Some refused Christ's invitation to follow because of the uncertain conditions Jesus' disciples faced (Matt 8:18-20). Others were unwilling to break family ties (Matt 8:21-22). Still others were afraid of the financial loss they would incur as a follower of Jesus (Matt 19:21). Although ultimately unwise in their decision not to follow, their estimation of the cost of following Christ was accurate. Jesus warned that those who wished to be known as His followers must be willing to say "no" to self and follow the way of the cross (Mark 8:34), and that they must make a daily decision to identify themselves with Him (Luke 9:23,26). He said that their allegiance to Him must take precedence over every other human relationship: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).

Instead of being ashamed of Christ, Matthew threw a large party for all his friends and made Jesus the guest of honor. A number of Pharisees were also there, probably not as guests but as observers, watching from the street. The Pharisees, whose name literally meant "separated ones," purposely avoided contact with the common people, or "people of the land," because they were not strict enough in their observance of the Law. In addition to the regulations found in the Law of Moses, the Pharisees were especially concerned about obeying the additional commands of the oral tradition that had been handed down to them by those who had interpreted the Law. A Pharisee would not confide in the common people or accept their testimony in court. In the Pharisees' view, the common people did not make suitable marriage partners because the Pharisees considered their women "unclean." In fact, the Pharisees taught that the "people of the land" were so unclean that it was unlawful even to eat with them. Consequently, when they saw Jesus not only associating with such people, but willingly attending a feast with tax gatherers and notorious sinners, they were outraged. When they asked for an explanation, Jesus replied: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matt 9:12-13).

When John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States, he electrified his audience and mobilized an entire generation with the challenge to: ". . . ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Like President Kennedy's challenge, Jesus' call to His followers was one to serve. However, it is service grounded upon a different foundation. Normally, a leader looks for the most qualified candidates to be followers. But Jesus' choice of Matthew reveals a different agenda. He did not select His disciples on the basis of what they could do for Him but on the basis of what He could do for them. Because of this, the fundamental prerequisite for becoming a follower of Christ is faith.

As Christians, our confidence is not in our own suitability to the task, but in Christ's willingness to extend mercy to us. When we choose to follow Jesus, we exchange our lives for His, placing ourselves completely at His disposal. As Henrietta Mears has said: "God does not always choose great people to accomplish what He wishes, but He chooses a person who is wholly yielded to Him." It is this more than anything else, that will determine the kind of follower we become.

Lord Jesus, I accept the call to follow You and place my life at Your disposal. Empower me by Your grace to choose the way of the Cross each day and to introduce others to You. Amen.

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com
_______________________________________________
John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.

A Message From The Land Where The Giants Dwell.

Before we begin ask yourself, ‘what is your perception of your life and your circumstances?’  In Numbers Chapters 13 and 14 we find an excellent scriptural passage revealing much about how we can approach what is and will be in our lives. I encourage you to read it when you have time to meditate on it. For now let’s look briefly at a few key points. The three words that mark these points are, chosen, blessed and accountable.

First, you see God choosing the twelve to go and do His work. What an honor to represent God’s people in exploring the Promised Land. Second, the assignment was pleasant and full of rewards. Look at the size of its fruit and the abundance it held for them. They had the blessing to see before everyone else all that God had prepared for them. Third, they were accountable to tell the people what wondrous things God had waiting for them.

If you could send someone else ahead to see your circumstances in the days ahead, what report would they return with? God’s Word promises a future with hope because of His care for you in Jer 29:11. The places that God intends to be full of blessings and great bounty are also the places the giants want to settle into, so that they might steal what God has for you. These giants want to dwell in your places of blessing and fulfillment. You must be like the two spies who brought back the good report and have faith that God has a future of blessing and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him for His strategy to take what is promised to them. There is an old song we used to sing in the church which had this phrase in it, “Whose report will you believe?”

There is an interesting passage toward the end of Joshua’s life in which he says that God did not drive out all of the inhabitance of the land so that they might learn to do battle. Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; 2 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly).  (Judges 3:1-3) NASU

Your circumstances are waiting for you to encounter them. You can encounter them through faith as the promises of God fulfilled or through fear as great trials to face without hope of success. You will not escape battle, but you will take the land if you trust His promises and seek His strategy for each battle.

There is a message coming from the land of the giants, but whose report will you believe?

Say it with me, ‘I will believe the Report of the Lord’!

Copy write (c) 2011 Wayne Newcomb

Christ's Church

Matt 16:18-19

(from Names of the Believers © 1997 by John M. Koessler. All rights reserved.)

18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." NASU

One bright June afternoon, a small crowd of friends sat in lawn chairs in our yard and watched as a team of workers built our new church. A prefabricated building, its walls had actually been made in a factory and then delivered to the building site on a large flatbed truck. Everyone cheered as the first wall swung into place, and in a few hours the entire frame was up.

The finishing process took much longer. Doors were hung and the inside walls were finished off with plaster, paint, and wallpaper. And after the builders completed their job, we turned our attention to the inside furnishings. We took as much care in deciding on the color of the carpet as we did in picking the building's floor plan.

However, before any of the walls went up, before one pane of stained glass was put in place, before an inch of carpet was laid down, or a single drop of paint was splashed on, the building's foundation had to be planted. Steel rods and concrete were used to fix the building's footings in place. Although this wasn't nearly as exciting as the raising of the walls, in many ways it was more important, because a building is only as strong as the foundation upon which it stands.

In Matt 16:13-19, Jesus lays bare the foundation of His church in an exchange with the apostle Peter that took place near the end of His Galilean ministry. As the crucifixion drew nearer, Jesus began to focus less on the crowds and more on His disciples, in order to prepare them for His departure.

While traveling through the region of Caearea Philippi, Jesus asked the disciples to describe the rumors being spread about Him. "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" He asked. The disciples all spoke up at once. "Some say that you are John the Baptist come back to life!" exclaimed one. "Others think you are Elijah," said another. Someone pointed in Jesus' direction, chuckling, "Oh, really? I heard someone say that He was Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Everyone laughed.

In the silence that followed, Jesus probed His disciples further. "And what about you," He asked gently. "Who do you say I am?" The disciples looked nervously from one to another, as if they were afraid of giving the wrong answer. At last, Peter replied, blurting out the words like one who had been bursting to tell a secret that was burning inside him: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" His eyes shown fiercely, daring Jesus to deny it.

But Jesus did not. Instead, He beamed back a smile of approval and said, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Jesus' promise here seems to have been a kind of pun based on Peter's name. Peter's given name at birth was actually Simon, which meant "hearing." When Simon's brother Andrew first brought him to meet Jesus, the Savior renamed him Cephas, an Aramaic term that meant "stone" or "rock." The Greek form was Petros, or Peter. Anyone who knew Peter well could not help but see the irony in Jesus' words. Old impetuous Simon, the well-meaning but unstable fisherman. If his behavior as a disciple is indicative of his previous life, Peter was a man quick to speak and act, but easily swayed by the opinions of others. It was this trait that eventually caused him to deny his Lord and earn a sharp rebuke from the apostle Paul for shunning Gentile Christians when in the presence of Jewish believers.

However, Peter the man was not the rock upon which the church was founded. Rather, it was Peter's confession that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. It is here that we see the true foundation of the church and discover its most glorious name. The church that was about to come into being would not be Peter's church. It would be Christ's church, founded not upon human principles or earthly philosophy, but upon a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. This church is made up of all those who recognize Jesus' true nature and genuinely confess Him as Lord and Savior.

This is an important reminder in an age when so much of the church's thinking and practice seems to be drawn from the secular realm. In the world's view, an organization's first concern is efficiency: What is the bottom line? Are we making a profit? How can we get more for less? While efficiency is certainly important, the church's first concern is fidelity. For us, the bottom line is not the profit margin but the will of our Lord and Savior. Before we consider the methodology of others, before we even consider our own tastes, the church must look first to Christ.

It is in this name that we see the secret to the church's power. Jesus' words to Peter promised victory over the grave, giving a picture of the church storming the gates of Hades. This metaphor is used several times in the Old Testament for death (Job 17:16; 38:17; Ps 9:13; 107:18; Isa 38:10). In the ancient world, a city's gate was its first line of defense. When an army seized the gate, it captured the city. Jesus pictured the church as an invincible army able to meet and overcome death in its own stronghold.

In Matt 16:19 Jesus also granted the church authority to "bind and loose." The rabbis used these terms to speak of forbidding and permitting. Jesus characterized this authority as the "keys of the kingdom of heaven." In the ancient world, keys were a symbol of responsibility. For example, when Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, was made governor of the palace under Hezekiah, the Lord prophesied: "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open" (Isa 22:22). In Jesus' day, the scribes were given a key at their ordination to symbolize their possession of the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52).

The church, then, has real authority in the spiritual realm. While the prospects of individual congregations or denominations may rise or fall, the future of the church is assured. It will do more than merely survive; it will be victorious because it is built upon the indestructible foundation of Christ Himself.

Father, thank you for this reminder that the church belongs to Christ. Help us to recognize His authority and rely upon His power in all that we do. Amen.

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com
_______________________________________________
John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.

Art work above  by William Hallmark

The Church: Grace is the Soil

There are many models by which God's people organize and structure themselves to accomplish what Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:1.

I believe that teaching on the old covenant vs. the new covenant is vital to establishing the atmosphere for the new life in Jesus and God life environment that believers are called into.

The supernatural power of God is only healthy when it operates in holiness that flows from grace. Grace is the true Foundation of the supernatural life and work of God! Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets and it is through His life, death and resurrection that we have His life and that we can continue to do the things Jesus began to do and teach.

Doing the works that Jesus began to do and teach is important, but we must do them out of a life that is changed and that has the imprint of His character and humility. God's power can not be handled by a person without that person having a large measure of His grace and mercy which has been worked out deep within them.

Perfect power in the life of a not so perfect person will corrupt or brake that person unless they continuously humble themselves and make room for His grace and mercy to operate and make it possible for God's great power to work in and through them to bring life and not death.

Salt of the Earth

Salt of the Earth is our first study from
Names of the Believers © 1997 by John M. Koessler

My father was a great fan of Dixieland jazz. Over the years he amassed a sizable collection of records and tapes featuring some of the greatest artists of the '20s and '30s. I never acquired a taste for his style of music, and one day when I complained about the "noise," he replied with a favorite Latin phrase of his: "Degustibus non disputandem est."

When I asked him what it meant, he explained: "It means, 'There is no point in arguing about taste.'"

Jesus comments about what might be described as "tasteful Christianity" in Matt 5:13. Here, however, He is not speaking of aesthetic differences but about the critical role the church plays in society. In referring to His disciples as "the salt of the earth," Jesus is saying that Christians make the world a habitable place. In other words, the only reason the present world is livable is because the church is still in it.

Today, when we refer to someone as "the salt of the earth," we usually mean that he or she is a likable person. But when Jesus used the phrase, He was not talking about personality but moral character.

This comparison would not have seemed strange to Jesus' listeners because salt was an important part of their daily existence. Like us, the people of Jesus' day used salt as a seasoning to make food taste better. But during this time, salt's most important function was to preserve food. In New Testament times there was no plastic wrap or refrigerators to keep things fresh. If meat was to be kept from spoiling before it was cooked, it had to be cured with salt. When Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, it is a reminder that we are as important to the society in which we live as salt was to the homemaker in New Testament times.

Jesus' reference to salt would also have been familiar to the disciples because it was used by the rabbis, who compared the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, to salt, and said, "the world cannot survive without salt." By calling His disciples the salt of the earth, Jesus was saying, in effect, "You are the 'living Torah' to those around you."

It is no coincidence that this analogy appears in a context that deals with persecution. It anticipates that persecuted believers might be tempted to ask: "If the world doesn't want us, why doesn't God just take us home?" Jesus' answer is that the world, while it may not want the church, desperately needs its presence.

We should also note that Jesus includes a warning when He refers to His disciples as "salt." He is saying that there is a certain quality that is essential to the church, and without that quality, we become useless. The salt that was used by Jesus' contemporaries was not pure but a mixture of salt and other minerals. When it was exposed to air, it tended to lose its flavor and could no longer serve its original purpose. When this happened, the salt was sprinkled on walkways to prevent slipping, in much the same way we use rock salt today.

How does the church lose its saltiness? By conforming to the world around it. The church cannot function as salt when it conforms to the world it was meant to season.

There are times when it is good to conform. For example, when I am driving on the expressway, I don't want someone going south in my lane when I am traveling north. It is good to conform to the right things. Rom 8:29 promises that believers will be conformed to the image of Christ: "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." God uses my circumstances as I offer myself to the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, the conforming process can work in the other direction as well. Paul warns: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Rom 12:2).

Who will shape us? Will it be God's Spirit, working through God's Word and our daily circumstances to transform us into the image of Christ? Or will it be the world, which presses us into its own mold? If we allow the world to shape us, we will become like flavorless salt, useless to God and man alike.

Being the salt of the world isn't always comfortable. Roger discovered just how hard it can be when he moved into a flat in a rundown section of Detroit. His upstairs neighbor was an unfortunate woman who suffered from a mental disorder. Her doctors had prescribed medication, but she usually forgot to take it. Roger would often hear her screaming at her husband all night long. Sometimes when she was finished with her husband, she would come downstairs and pound on Roger's door and scream at him.

During one of his neighbors' all-night family fights, Roger heard the woman complain that she didn't have enough money to buy food for the family. So the next day he went out and bought several bags of groceries and left them at their door. The woman took the groceries, but instead of thanking Roger, she cursed him!

Perhaps you work with people whose values are radically different from your own. Like Roger, you may have an unfriendly neighbor. Or it may be the members of your own family who have caused you to plead with God that He change your circumstances. But instead of the changes you asked for, things seem to remain the same. Now you begin to wonder: "If God really loves me, why has He placed me in such a situation?" Jesus' words provide the answer: If the function of salt is to preserve that which is decaying, where will it be needed most?

Lord Jesus, make me more like You so that my influence in the world will leave behind the lingering savor of Your presence. Amen.

(from Names of the Believers © 1997 by John M. Koessler. All rights reserved.)_

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com

John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.

Names of the believer

Names of the believer by John Koessler

MOODY PRESS http://www.johnkoessler.com/
I am always on the lookout for material which will strengthen believers. This book which is now out of print dovetails with the weekly devotional theme we have been building this year. I want to thank the author and encourage you to go to his web page and find out more about him and his other books and resource. I would also encourage you to memorize the key verse for each study. Below you will find the table of contents.
                                                                                                                                  

1. Salt of the Earth

2. Christ's Church
3. Followers of Christ
4. The Branches
5. The Believers
6. The Disciples
7. Abraham's Offspring
8. Those Who Have Been Brought from Death to Life
9. Children of God
10. God's Elect
11. My People
12. Those Who Call Upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ
13. The Saved
14. God's Fellow Workers
15. God's Field
16. God's Building
17. God's Temple
18. Servants of Christ
19. Those on Whom the Fulfillment of the Ages Has Come
20. God's Workmanship
21. Fellow Citizens With God's People
22. Partakers of the Promise
23. The Body
24. Imitators of God
25. Children of Light
26. A Radiant Church
27. The True Circumcision
28. Brethren
29. God's Household
30. A People That Are His Very Own
31. Partakers of Christ
32. Those Who Are Waiting for Christ
33. A Holy Priesthood
34. A Holy Nation
35. Aliens and Strangers
36. Christians
37. The Bride of Christ

John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077.