A Fresh Start

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Luke 15:11-32

The purpose of medicine is to cure an illness or address its symptoms. Jesus' blood is the only medicine (antidote) for sin and sin's poison. Note that it's not how you start the race, it's how you finish it.

New Year's Eve is celebrated all around the world with the idea that in the passing of the old year and the entrance of the new, mankind has a "fresh start."

The prodigal son had an older brother, a father and mother,and a number of servants. This younger, prodigal son wanted his inheritance, got it, and went out to celebrate. In the process, he blew it all! He wound up bankrupt; physically, emotionally, financially, and most of all, spiritually. A fine, young, upstanding Jewish boy, hired to feed pigs, and so hungry that he thought about eating the slop he was supposed to be feeding those pigs!

Then, he comes to himself. Why, at home, even the servants have more than enough to eat! He decided, "I'm going home. I'll ask to be hired on as a servant."

Here are three keys to a fresh start...

1.) Have Proper Priorities - Matthew 6:33

• Not just exisiting -- but having abundant life!
• Not off in some wrong place -- but being in the right place!
• We need proper priorities physically and spiritually.
• "Flesh" wants the "easy" way -- leads to death!
• "Flesh" cannot be allowed to rule us!
• Our soul and Spirit desires God -- leads to life everlasting!

2.) Practice Good Behavior - Psalm 146:5

• Practice does make perfect!
• Train up children -- they need the practice!
• Maintain a good example -- children, grandchildren, and others are watching!
• The prodigal's father never stopped being a father... he kept hoping.
• He closed the door, but not his heart.
• Papa was watching -- when his son showed up, he ran to his son, embraced him, and celebrated his return with the robe, the ring, and the fatted calf.
• Be aware that 2013 will have bumps in the road; good days and bad days... BUT...
• Overcome evil with good!

3.) Be Willing to Worship God - Isaiah 1:19

• The older son was jealous of his brother; he saw the celebration as an affront.
• He pouted in anger -- only willing to celebrate on his terms.
• We need to think about Who HE is, and how worthy HE is.
• Worship in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
• We need the Spirit of God indwelling -- cultivate the fruit of the Spirit.
• We need the heart of a servant -- to be great in God's eyes, be a servant.
• The father reminded his pouting son, "Everything I have is yours!"

Choices

By Pauline Foreman

Often we have too many choices, they're daily - choices, choices, choices, bringing perplexity. Which way do I turn? Which path do I choose? Options are the list of many from which you make your selection. If there's only one thing to eat, you're reduced to one choice - eat, or not eat.

Why does God want us to choose? He knows ahead of time what we will do. He made everything that is and He saw that it was good. He formed man from the dust of the ground in His own image, then breathed the breath of life into him, and man became a living soul. ("Male and female created He them.") Nothing else in creation had this living soul. Animals have no choice; they are what they are. Being created in God's likeness meant the power of choice and dominion over all else, but not dominion over man. The only forbidden thing was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (A choice.) The consequences of disobedience were made clear. But the choice was man's.
The tree of life - caused one to live.
The tree of knowledge - caused one to die.

Cain and Abel also had a choice in the matter of a sacrifice that would please God.

God gave us the power of choice to show that His love was unconditional. Consequences, yes. But whatever you choose, He will still love you. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, He clothed them with animal skins -- covered their sin with a blood sacrifice. God drove them from the garden because if they had continued to live there and eat of the tree of life, they would live forever in sin. So He barred the way to the tree of life.

The ground was cursed -- it would require sweat and blood to eke out a living for Adam, Eve, and their posterity. Eve's conception was multiplied and would be full of sorrow. The serpent was cursed above all animals -- forever to crawl on its belly and be at enmity with Eve and humanity in general.

Jesus' death on the cross was proof of His love. (Romans 8:38-39) You cannot separate Him from His love. God knows the heart's thoughts and intents. You can't hide anything from God.

Many things affect our choices; fear, ignorance, willfulness, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life, peer pressure, (fear of man,) feelings, perceptions, time pressure, and our experiences. Even when we make the wrong choice/s, "...He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

Look at the lives of the Three Hebrew Children, Joseph, and Moses. (Hebrews 11:13-14) Study them carefully and prayerfully. Obedience to the Word of God helps us make the right choice/s.

Christmas 2012

By Marjorie Kinnee

Before time began, God had a plan,
To redeem mankind from his sin;
Knowing man's dross would lead to a cross,
The price for cleansing within.
(Revelation 5:9-12)

God's perfect plan would require a Man,
Who'd embrace man's frail, weak form;
Yet live a life free from sin and strife,
While shielding man's soul from sin's storm.
(Philippians 2:5-11)

Meanwhile Adam, along with his madam,
Was choosing to walk his own way;
Disobedience' cost - Paradise lost,
Now death was the price they'd pay.
(Romans 6:23)

Genesis, chapters 1 thru 3, show God's plan for all to see,
Though sinful, man was not without hope;
The promise sublime, in the fulness of time,
Brought man what he needed to cope.

"Love drew salvation's plan, grace brought it down to man,"
"For God so loved... that He gave!"
Paid sin's price, made the sacrifice,
Man's sin-sick soul to save.
(John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8; I John 3:16)

"Born in a manger, to His own a stranger,"
Jesus came to save that which was lost;
"Obedient, lowly, serenely holy,"
He willingly paid the cost.
(John 10:10-11, 18; 14:6; Hebrews 12:2)

What must we do to bring into view,
And Salvation's requirements to meet?
The way was made, God's plan displayed,
As "death" was crushed 'neath His feet.
(Genesis 3:15; Romans 6:23; I Corinthians 15:55-57; I John 5:8)

We share in His death through repentance,
We're buried with Him in His Name,
Then rise to walk in newness of Life,
His power and glory proclaim!
(Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4, 37-40; 4:12; Romans 5:11; 6:3-5; Ephesians 2:4-7)

The Temple and the Tent

By Laurel D. Williams

The tent in the wilderness was designed by God. It was a heavenly plan, given to Moses, as he stood face-to-Face with God. God designed every aspect of it. He gave knowledge of craftsmanship to special men and women in the construction of the tent. It was a beautiful place, full of gold, silver, bronze, and fine, embroidered linens with golden weavings of cherubim. The tent was beautiful beyond measure. It was more magnificent than the temples of Egypt the children of Israel had left behind. The tent could be assembled and dis-assembled and moved; as God directed His children, it moved with them. The tent was the center of their camp; all Israel was camped around it, by tribes and divisions. Every person could look out of their dwelling and see the presence of God in their life. God was with them everywhere they went. He was in the middle of their life. He was acsessable to them.They could see the fire/light by night - every night, and the cloud of His presence by day - every day. It was tangible, visible evidence that He was their's and they were His!

The temple was David's dream. He amassed great stores of wealth and goods, had builders plan, and gave instruction in the construction of his dream. David helped his son, Solomon, follow the plan David developed from his heart out of his love of God. But God would not allow David to build the temple; he was a man of war and bloodshed. He even told David, "I don't need a house to dwell in." (II Samuel 7:1-7) And yet, David felt that God did. So, Solomon constructed the temple with skilled craftsmen. The glory of that temple was unsurpassed. God blessed it and filled it with His Presence. And yet, something was different...

No longer did the Presence of God move about with the people. God was placed in a stationary temple. If you wanted to meet with God, you must now go to Him. The place became more revered than the Presence. In Solomon's prayer, he requested that God would abide forever in that place. (I Kings 8:12-13) But, doesn't God reside in the entire universe eternally? (I Kings 8:27) So, in essence, the temple became a place man decided could house/contain God. No longer could every individual look from their dwelling to the evidence that God was in their midst. No longer did God move about with them, lead them. Man had contained God.

God has never desired a relationship with man that was campartmentalized. When Adam and Ever were in the garden, He had a personal daily relationship with man and woman. He talked with them and walked with them. God moved with them.

When the children of Israel met God on Mount Sinai, God desired a kingdom of priests. (Exodus 19:5-6) He desired to commune with every individual of the community He had chosen as HIS. Yet the people were afraid, and asked Moses to be their intercessor. And God granted their request. They could have had a relationship with God. like Moses', and see God face-to-Face. But their fear kept them from the desires of God.

God's plan from the very foundation of the world was to reside in the temple of man. Christ died and God's Spirit has been given as an unmerited gift to us! God desires to commune with us each and every day. God want to move in our life, be the very center of our life. God wants us to see the evidence of His presence in our life - each and every day. Where we go, God goes. God does not need us/man to design, improve on, beautify, or put our/his own ideas into HIS mighty plan! HE is the Master Builder, the Artist of creation. HE is above all, through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:6) Our hope is in the unmerited gift of Christ! (Ephesians 4:7) God designed the most beautiful temple, the one HE wanted to dwell in - it is you and I! What an awesome thought!

When we go to worship God in our respective buildings, let us remember something. The REAL temple is standing in the building. (I Corinthians 3:16) We do not have to ask God's presence to enter the building, HE is already in HIS temple! Wherever we go, if God abides in us, His presence is there. And oh, what a mighty Presence it is when all the temples of God are together as one body, fitly framed together! (Ephesians 2:21-22)

One day, my earthly temple will pass away. But instead of a temple, I'd like to be known as a tent... someone that moves with the Presence of God. When this tent passes away, then, my heavenly temple, made in His image, will begin. We will finally have the relationship God has desired all along! We will be ONE! We will be totally infused with His Light, His Fire, His Power, and His Presence.

"Whereas I have not dwelt in any house somce the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle." (II Samuel 7:6)

"Howbeeit, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the LORD; or what is the place of My rest? Hath not My hand made all these things?" (Acts 7:48-50)

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing tha He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us." (Acts 17:24-27)

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you"(I Corinthians 3:16)

"And I saw no temple therein: For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: For the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Revelation 21:22-23)

Editorial Note: Laurel Williams lives in Orange, Texas and attends the Eastgate Pentecostal Church in Vidor; Pastor George R. Edwards. Sis. Laurie says this article is "secondhand," because it was born out of discussion  between herself and her mother, (Sis. Betty Austin,) concerning a study that was taight at her mother's church (which is in Auburn Hills, Michigan). I find it amazing how the Word of God circulates, and like a pebble thrown into a pond, it's ripples reach around the world!.

Reasons to Rejoice!

Editorial by Marjorie Kinnee

In a world writhing in the throes of disasters and tragedies, wars and rumors of wars, rebellion and strife, sorrow and sheer human misery; it's easy to focus on the negative. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was in the midst of the American Civil War when he penned this verse...

"And in despair I bowed my head,

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

'For hate is strong and mocks the song

of peace on earth, good will to men."

He could have been writing about 2012. (See Romans 1:29-32.)

But just as Longfellow went on with his poem once he'd lifted his focus off of the chaos all around him, and looked to the Source of all help; we too can face 2013 with reasons to rejoice. Here are a few to get us started...

1.) Begin with I Peter 1:6-9 - Read and rejoice!
2.) With the angels at God's good will toward men - Luke 2:13-14.
3.) With all of creation - Psalm 65.
4.) When the lost is found - Luke 15.
5.) With the angels over a repentant sinner - Luke 15:10.
6.) In God's great doings - Luke 2:46-49.
7.) In your salvation - Psalm 13:5; 35:9.
8.) Because your name is written in heaven - Luke 10:20.
9.) In the Holy Ghost - Romans 5:11.
10.) With the wise men's exceeding great joy - Matthew 2:10.
11.) With the shepherds - Luke 2:20.
12.) In Jesus' Name - Acts 4:12; 5:41.
13.) In God's love - Zephaniah 3:17.
14.) In God's mercy - Psalm 33:18-21.
15.) In God's faithfulness - Psalm 89:1.
16.) In the truth - I Corinthians 13:6.
17.) In knowing Jesus' voice - John 14:27.
18.) In His tender care (the Good Shepherd) - Isaiah 62:5; Luke 15:6.
19.) In hope - Colossians 1:23-29.
20.) Evermore - I Thessalonians 5:16.
21.) "In the Lord always... again I say, Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4.

Knowing aforetime what we will be facing in the days to come, Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33b)