I was reading this one verse this morning, and the churches in Revelation came to mind. The Lord sent His charge to Pergamos & Thyatira to repent of sexual immorality, or fornication, as the King James says. And yet the Lord commended them as well, for their love, and works.
And it seems this is exactly what Paul is saying to the Thessalonians. He tells them to abstain from sexual immorality, for it's God's will that you be sanctified. He tells them they love one another, which is good, but some of you are living like the Gentiles, who love sexual promiscuity.
The Lord has some sobering words for the two churches in Revelation. You either repent, or else. Scary words from the King of kings.
And does the Church ever need to hear these words, and heed them today! There is sexual perversion standing in the pulpits, and the Church is divided over this blantant disregard of God's truth and will. And that's astounding to me, because it's so clear in God's Word.
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to posses his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God." ver. 3-5
I pray the Lord would strengthen us all to keep ourselves from "passions of lust", in a world flooded under a ocean of sexual "anythin, and everything goes. Amen.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Saturday, March 03, 2007
A sorrowful, and yet exciting fairwell to my local church of 16 years.
Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ, (sorry this is kind of long)
I have had a heartfelt desire to send this e-mail, in order to let everyone know that Patti and I have moved on from Stillmeadow.
We prayed long and earnestly to the Lord, and decided it was time to leave. We both agreed wholeheartedly in the 5 elders set-forth decision, that the church building should be sold, and that we as a congregation should relocate, and get a fresh start, in order to break free of the "Status Quo". Since the elders decided to move on, instead of staying and contending with selling the building, Patti and I, after much prayer, saw that this was the Lord's will for us as well.
I truly believe it's not as important to the Lord if we stay or leave, as long as our hearts are right with Him. We can serve and worship the Lord anywhere, and everywhere.
The question is, are our hearts full of His love for Him and His Word, and for His church, and for the lost people in this world? Is the world crucfied to us, and we to the world? Are we loving one another in His grace? And are we walking by faith, and not by sight? Are we seeking the things above, or things of this earth? God is concerned with shaping our hearts into the image of His most holy Son's, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Lord is more concerned about our holiness, than our happiness.
These are the things I and Patti have been discussing. Is there any bitterness, any resentment, or even hatred in my heart? Is there any pride I need to deal with? Any self-righteousness? Any lust? Do I love the world, and the things of the world? If so, then God calls me to repentance.
We all have to deal with these sins. However, there also needs to be fruit in our lives-- righteousness, peace, joy, tender-heartedness, gentleness, goodness, patience, self-control, godliness and especially lovingkindness toward our fellow believers. Are we forgiving? And are we more concerned about the glory of the name of Jesus Christ, then our own agenda? Are we loving our wives, and respecting our husbands? Are our children honoring their parents? And are we concerned about holding fast to the truth of God's holy Word, the Bible, and speaking it's teachings in love, as the Lord gives us opportunity?
These are what we need to be confronting in our lives, and in our local churches. May God grant us the grace, power, and love to do this, through His Holy Spirit, by faith.
Patti and I will be attending Pastor Greg Dutcher's church, Christ Fellowship, in Falston for the time being. We're not completely sure of our future local church yet, but this is where we believe the Lord wants us for now. And by his grace we will continue to grow in His love, and in humility, in order to serve and worship the King of glory. To Him be all glory.
We love you all, and we hope the Lord, and we pray the Lord, will do even greater things at Stillmeadow than ever before. All for the glory of His holy name, the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. To Him, and through Him, and for Him, be all glory forever. Amen.
In His grace and peace with grateful hearts for the Cross, All for Jesus,
Donald & Patti
I have had a heartfelt desire to send this e-mail, in order to let everyone know that Patti and I have moved on from Stillmeadow.
We prayed long and earnestly to the Lord, and decided it was time to leave. We both agreed wholeheartedly in the 5 elders set-forth decision, that the church building should be sold, and that we as a congregation should relocate, and get a fresh start, in order to break free of the "Status Quo". Since the elders decided to move on, instead of staying and contending with selling the building, Patti and I, after much prayer, saw that this was the Lord's will for us as well.
I truly believe it's not as important to the Lord if we stay or leave, as long as our hearts are right with Him. We can serve and worship the Lord anywhere, and everywhere.
The question is, are our hearts full of His love for Him and His Word, and for His church, and for the lost people in this world? Is the world crucfied to us, and we to the world? Are we loving one another in His grace? And are we walking by faith, and not by sight? Are we seeking the things above, or things of this earth? God is concerned with shaping our hearts into the image of His most holy Son's, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Lord is more concerned about our holiness, than our happiness.
These are the things I and Patti have been discussing. Is there any bitterness, any resentment, or even hatred in my heart? Is there any pride I need to deal with? Any self-righteousness? Any lust? Do I love the world, and the things of the world? If so, then God calls me to repentance.
We all have to deal with these sins. However, there also needs to be fruit in our lives-- righteousness, peace, joy, tender-heartedness, gentleness, goodness, patience, self-control, godliness and especially lovingkindness toward our fellow believers. Are we forgiving? And are we more concerned about the glory of the name of Jesus Christ, then our own agenda? Are we loving our wives, and respecting our husbands? Are our children honoring their parents? And are we concerned about holding fast to the truth of God's holy Word, the Bible, and speaking it's teachings in love, as the Lord gives us opportunity?
These are what we need to be confronting in our lives, and in our local churches. May God grant us the grace, power, and love to do this, through His Holy Spirit, by faith.
Patti and I will be attending Pastor Greg Dutcher's church, Christ Fellowship, in Falston for the time being. We're not completely sure of our future local church yet, but this is where we believe the Lord wants us for now. And by his grace we will continue to grow in His love, and in humility, in order to serve and worship the King of glory. To Him be all glory.
We love you all, and we hope the Lord, and we pray the Lord, will do even greater things at Stillmeadow than ever before. All for the glory of His holy name, the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. To Him, and through Him, and for Him, be all glory forever. Amen.
In His grace and peace with grateful hearts for the Cross, All for Jesus,
Donald & Patti
Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaks
I've learned I need to have God's Word abundantly in my heart. If I do, then that's what I speak. Now, some may say, "Well, there are those who have Bible knowledge, and are "puffed up"!"
I say, "Amen. That is definitely a danger".
But in order to have a fire, you need oxygen. The Word of God needs to be abundant in our hearts as disciples of Christ, and we need one another, in order to encourage one another, not to become "puffed up".
My greatest fear for the Church, is that the Bible will become indifferent to our lives.
My most earnest prayer for the Body of Christ is that God would grant us an insatiable hunger for His Holy Scriptures. This is the oxygen that will fire us up. And we must help one another from becoming "puffed up", and whitewashed tombs, by lovingly and honestly admonishing and encouraging one another in His truth and grace.
We also need to have a thirst for the Holy Spirit of God, and pray fervantly for God to fill us with His Spirit daily, then He will flow through us, and out of us will flow rivers of righteousness, forgiveness, love, peace, and joy.
JTLYK, (just to let you know) I am going through the Book of Proverbs in the morning, and reading through 1 Thessalonians. My pastor is going through the book of Romans, which is excellent.
Also I am reading a couple books: The Jesus Gospel by Liam Goligher, and Assured by God by Burk Parsons.
I pray the Lord would use on this to strengthen my heart, so that I can trust Him, and obey Him. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
And it's only by His grace. Amen.
ps Patti and I are nearly on episode 20 of 24 of "24", the 5th season. What incredible writers they have for this show.
I say, "Amen. That is definitely a danger".
But in order to have a fire, you need oxygen. The Word of God needs to be abundant in our hearts as disciples of Christ, and we need one another, in order to encourage one another, not to become "puffed up".
My greatest fear for the Church, is that the Bible will become indifferent to our lives.
My most earnest prayer for the Body of Christ is that God would grant us an insatiable hunger for His Holy Scriptures. This is the oxygen that will fire us up. And we must help one another from becoming "puffed up", and whitewashed tombs, by lovingly and honestly admonishing and encouraging one another in His truth and grace.
We also need to have a thirst for the Holy Spirit of God, and pray fervantly for God to fill us with His Spirit daily, then He will flow through us, and out of us will flow rivers of righteousness, forgiveness, love, peace, and joy.
JTLYK, (just to let you know) I am going through the Book of Proverbs in the morning, and reading through 1 Thessalonians. My pastor is going through the book of Romans, which is excellent.
Also I am reading a couple books: The Jesus Gospel by Liam Goligher, and Assured by God by Burk Parsons.
I pray the Lord would use on this to strengthen my heart, so that I can trust Him, and obey Him. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
And it's only by His grace. Amen.
ps Patti and I are nearly on episode 20 of 24 of "24", the 5th season. What incredible writers they have for this show.
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