“Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2: 10-11)
The other day I read some advice from an “EATING AND DIETING EXPERT” which said: “Do not concentrate on the amount or volume of the food you are eating, but concentrate on enjoying the taste of it, savor it, relish it.” By so doing, the idea is, we will not need large portions and hence will not eat too much, but will enjoy it more.
Sounds like good advice for eating! But also for the upcoming Christmas Holiday Season!
Economic forecasters are saying that the 2008 Christmas Holiday Season is going to be the poorest in decades. People have little money to spend. Shoppers are reluctant to spend what they have. Unemployment is at an all-time high, thousands are losing their jobs, our entire nation is in a major economic downturn, people are worried, and our government doesn’t know how to turn things around.
Would this not be a good time to apply the advice of the “DIETING EXPERT” to the Christmas celebration this year? “Don’t concentrate on the volume, number, or expense of gifts and festivities, but let us concentrate instead upon enjoying what we do give and get!” Would this not be a good time to emphasize the true, spiritual meaning of the celebration rather than its external traditions and secular activities?
God has given us the greatest of gifts! Let us enjoy this gift to the fullest, and then give it away to others!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
"What Is Money to Me?"
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
“There are 3 basic attitudes which a man may take towards money:
(1.) He may regard money as an enemy. He may refuse to have anything to do with it. That is what the hermit monks of the desert did. They absolutely refused to posses anything. But, they depended upon the charity of others! They wouldn’t own “dirty money” themselves—but it was O.K. for others to have it and give it to them to live on!
(2.) He may regard money as a master. That is to say, he may be the slave of money. That is the case of the miser, or the man whose one desire in life is to make money and who does not care how he makes it!
(3.) He may regard money as a friend. He realizes money is a necessary means of livelihood. Jesus was Himself a village carpenter, earning wages to provide for self and family. He no doubt used it wisely and unselfishly. So should we.”
(Wm. Barclay – Adopted)
In “the Parable of the Unjust Steward” Jesus tells of a steward who misused his master’s goods, and when caught, craftily used material possessions to win friends. Of course, Jesus was not condoning the man’s dishonesty in his position; but He did commend his wisdom in using worldly wealth in such a way as to insure future rewards. We are urged by Him to use our money in the same way! May we do so!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
“There are 3 basic attitudes which a man may take towards money:
(1.) He may regard money as an enemy. He may refuse to have anything to do with it. That is what the hermit monks of the desert did. They absolutely refused to posses anything. But, they depended upon the charity of others! They wouldn’t own “dirty money” themselves—but it was O.K. for others to have it and give it to them to live on!
(2.) He may regard money as a master. That is to say, he may be the slave of money. That is the case of the miser, or the man whose one desire in life is to make money and who does not care how he makes it!
(3.) He may regard money as a friend. He realizes money is a necessary means of livelihood. Jesus was Himself a village carpenter, earning wages to provide for self and family. He no doubt used it wisely and unselfishly. So should we.”
(Wm. Barclay – Adopted)
In “the Parable of the Unjust Steward” Jesus tells of a steward who misused his master’s goods, and when caught, craftily used material possessions to win friends. Of course, Jesus was not condoning the man’s dishonesty in his position; but He did commend his wisdom in using worldly wealth in such a way as to insure future rewards. We are urged by Him to use our money in the same way! May we do so!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"Our Coming Glory"
“We who have received the Spirit as the first-fruit of God’s promised inheritance are inwardly groaning while awaiting the finalizing of our heavenly adoption, which is the raising, redeeming, and glorification of our bodies” (Romans 8:23 – paraphrased). “It is true that we who are children of God have received the Holy Spirit as a pledge from God that glory awaits, but the indwelling Spirit is no guarantee that we will not suffer from maladies in the flesh. The outward man of the Christian will waste away and perish by reason of age and disease the same as that of the skeptic or unbeliever. “For this reason we cannot assume that because one suffers, he is out of harmony with God. Saints endure pain the same as other sinners. The difference lies in the fact that sinners suffer without hope. The Holy Spirit does not prevent aging nor eliminate hurting or discomfort, but the fellowship of the spirit will strengthen one to endure such things and will provide him a happier outlook on life here and hereafter. “The indwelling Spirit is a divine deposit given to us as a constant reminder that God does not forget! Our adoption is not yet complete! It involves the whole man, and the physical part has not yet been redeemed. By His death on the cross Jesus ransomed the spirit, the inner man. He purchased the body, but did not redeem it because it is mortal and therefore still subject to degeneration, decay, and death. We were bought with a price. We belong to God in body and spirit. Our bodies will be redeemed by the resurrection, at the end of time, when Jesus returns!” (W. Carl Ketcherside – Adapted.) Spiritually there is great joy in our hearts because we have received Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, and baptism. By His Word of truth we have been born again and by His shed blood we have been made clean! Yet in our fleshly bodies we experience pain and suffering. But the day is coming when all that will change and we will be glorified and receive our new “house not made with hands”, our heavenly habitation! The presence of God’s Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will soon be clothed in glory. Every time we pray, every time we worship, every time we confess Jesus, witness to others, find sheer delight in Bible truth read or preached, experience spiritual growth and power and remedies and solutions not of our own doing, it is the Holy Spirit moving in our hearts! And by His very presence we are reminded that soon God will complete in us what He began long ago when first we believed! O, what glory that will be! So, let us endure our pain, sorrow, and suffering a little longer – it will soon be over! Larry Atkin, Preacher
Monday, November 10, 2008
"Confessing Sin"
November 3, 2008
“If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1: 7, 9; 2:1).
“The Greek word translated “confess” deserves careful study. It is made up of a word meaning “to speak”, and another word which means “the same”, the total meaning of the word being, “to speak the same” thing that someone else speaks; thus to agree with that person. Confession of sin on the part of the believer says to God. “That thing in my life is sin.” God says, “You should repent of that sin.” The believer says to God, “I do repent of that sin.” God says, “You should put that sin out of your life and resolve never to do that thing again.” The believer says to God, “I right now put that thing out of my life and resolve never to do it again.” All of this means that confession of sin on the part of the believer is not a mere admission of the fact of sin in his life but a complete acknowledgement of sin based upon heartfelt conviction, an immediate repentance, a thoroughgoing repudiation of and ceasing from that sin, and an energetic resolution to never repeat that sin again, with Christ’s help!”
(Kenneth Wuest – Adapted).
Try as we might, Christians still occasionally “miss the mark” and commit sin. What an added blessing that God provides forgiving grace both at the point of conversion but also after the fact!
But just because this is true we must never treat sin lightly. We must “confess” our sins, our failures, our mistakes! We must “agree with God” about them! As the old Gospel song says, we need “to have a little talk with Jesus” in order to “make it right”! Our repentance must be sincere, immediate, thorough, final, and result in reformed conduct!
Brothers and sisters, God has given us new hearts through trusting Jesus Christ, but we live in the same bodies, and these bodies are susceptible to weakness, sin, and vacillation. God knows this and has provided an ongoing cleansing through Christ’s blood, when we repent. What a loving Father we have! What a powerful Savior we have!
Have we sinned? Let us confess it, for we have an Advocate with the Father!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
“If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1: 7, 9; 2:1).
“The Greek word translated “confess” deserves careful study. It is made up of a word meaning “to speak”, and another word which means “the same”, the total meaning of the word being, “to speak the same” thing that someone else speaks; thus to agree with that person. Confession of sin on the part of the believer says to God. “That thing in my life is sin.” God says, “You should repent of that sin.” The believer says to God, “I do repent of that sin.” God says, “You should put that sin out of your life and resolve never to do that thing again.” The believer says to God, “I right now put that thing out of my life and resolve never to do it again.” All of this means that confession of sin on the part of the believer is not a mere admission of the fact of sin in his life but a complete acknowledgement of sin based upon heartfelt conviction, an immediate repentance, a thoroughgoing repudiation of and ceasing from that sin, and an energetic resolution to never repeat that sin again, with Christ’s help!”
(Kenneth Wuest – Adapted).
Try as we might, Christians still occasionally “miss the mark” and commit sin. What an added blessing that God provides forgiving grace both at the point of conversion but also after the fact!
But just because this is true we must never treat sin lightly. We must “confess” our sins, our failures, our mistakes! We must “agree with God” about them! As the old Gospel song says, we need “to have a little talk with Jesus” in order to “make it right”! Our repentance must be sincere, immediate, thorough, final, and result in reformed conduct!
Brothers and sisters, God has given us new hearts through trusting Jesus Christ, but we live in the same bodies, and these bodies are susceptible to weakness, sin, and vacillation. God knows this and has provided an ongoing cleansing through Christ’s blood, when we repent. What a loving Father we have! What a powerful Savior we have!
Have we sinned? Let us confess it, for we have an Advocate with the Father!
Larry Atkin, Preacher
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
“He Comes Soon!”
October 27, 2008
“This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.” (Acts 1:11). “Some day soon that great event will take place. How soon? It cannot be far off. Glance down Bible history for a moment. It is significant that God has been in the habit of doing some great thing with reference to salvation, at the turn of 1000 years or of 2000 years. The date of Adam is approximately 4000 B.C. The plan of salvation in which God the Judge was to step down from His judgment throne to take upon Himself the guilt and penalty of human sin in order that He might satisfy His justice, maintain His government, and at the same time open the flood-gates of mercy to lost sinners, was pre-figured in the sacrifices which He instituted when He made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve. The initial step in the fulfillment of this plan He took 2000 B.C., when He called Abraham to be the progenitor of the Jewish nation from which would come the Savior who would die and pay for sin. The next step He took in 1000 B.C., when He started the dynasty of David, from which line of kings the Messiah and Savior would come. The next step was taken in A.D. 1, when God, in the Person of His Son came to earth, became incarnate in the human race by virgin birth, and died on Calvary’s Cross, the substitionary atonement for sin. That was His first Advent. The second Advent of the Son of God is predicted in Scripture. All indications point to the fact that the second Advent is near at hand. The Church has been in existence almost 2000 years. It would seem logical that God would repeat His custom of doing something of great importance at or near the turn of these two millenniums.” (Kenneth S. Wuest – Adapted.) Time is running out, God’s clock is winding down. No one knows precisely when the Heavenly shout will be given, the angelic trumpet sounded, and Jesus Christ descends in the clouds to raise the dead, claim His saints, and judge the unbelieving and the evil. But it must be soon. Indeed, our Lord indicated it could be at any moment. First Century apostles and believers took that seriously and attempted always to be on watch. How much closer to His reappearing must we be nearly 2000 years later! When was the last time you or I actually thought about, were on the lookout for, prayed for, or earnestly desired the return of Jesus? If we have to stop and think about it, it has been too long! It should be our daily habit! O Lord Jesus, when are you returning? Will it be today, tomorrow, or soon? “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
- Larry Atkin, Preacher
“This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.” (Acts 1:11). “Some day soon that great event will take place. How soon? It cannot be far off. Glance down Bible history for a moment. It is significant that God has been in the habit of doing some great thing with reference to salvation, at the turn of 1000 years or of 2000 years. The date of Adam is approximately 4000 B.C. The plan of salvation in which God the Judge was to step down from His judgment throne to take upon Himself the guilt and penalty of human sin in order that He might satisfy His justice, maintain His government, and at the same time open the flood-gates of mercy to lost sinners, was pre-figured in the sacrifices which He instituted when He made coats of skins and clothed Adam and Eve. The initial step in the fulfillment of this plan He took 2000 B.C., when He called Abraham to be the progenitor of the Jewish nation from which would come the Savior who would die and pay for sin. The next step He took in 1000 B.C., when He started the dynasty of David, from which line of kings the Messiah and Savior would come. The next step was taken in A.D. 1, when God, in the Person of His Son came to earth, became incarnate in the human race by virgin birth, and died on Calvary’s Cross, the substitionary atonement for sin. That was His first Advent. The second Advent of the Son of God is predicted in Scripture. All indications point to the fact that the second Advent is near at hand. The Church has been in existence almost 2000 years. It would seem logical that God would repeat His custom of doing something of great importance at or near the turn of these two millenniums.” (Kenneth S. Wuest – Adapted.) Time is running out, God’s clock is winding down. No one knows precisely when the Heavenly shout will be given, the angelic trumpet sounded, and Jesus Christ descends in the clouds to raise the dead, claim His saints, and judge the unbelieving and the evil. But it must be soon. Indeed, our Lord indicated it could be at any moment. First Century apostles and believers took that seriously and attempted always to be on watch. How much closer to His reappearing must we be nearly 2000 years later! When was the last time you or I actually thought about, were on the lookout for, prayed for, or earnestly desired the return of Jesus? If we have to stop and think about it, it has been too long! It should be our daily habit! O Lord Jesus, when are you returning? Will it be today, tomorrow, or soon? “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
- Larry Atkin, Preacher
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