Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Doing Good to Others

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Luke 10:30-37
Key Verse: Luke 10:37b - "Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus taught the basic principle of ministry - doing good to others in the stead of Christ.

Let's look at six ways to help and do good for others...

1.) Be Sure You Have the Right Attitude.
  • The Priest - insecure, fearful, avoided the problem. He held the victim at arm's length and isolated himself from the suffering man. Though his mandated ministry was clearly outlined, this priest was not willing to fulfill his responsibilities.
  • The Levite - curious but uninvolved. Like a gawker, he wanted to see what was going on, but wasn't willing to pitch in and help.
  • The Samaritan - saw and took action at his own expense. His compassion reached out to risk his own life for the sake of the injured man. He was willing to get dirty and bloody and gave of his time, energy, and personal resources.
* The key here is that we need to treat others as we would like to be treated!

2.) As People of God, We need to Cultivate a "Good Samaritan" Attitude!
  • See the need...
    • Ignorance and busy-ness are culprits/enemies of the right attitude.
  • Meet the need...
    • We need discernment; slow down, talk and listen to others.
    • Two pence = two days' wages!
3.) Sympathize/Empathize - Show Compassion!
  • Feel how others feel. (See Romans 12:5.)
  • Judge nothing before the time!
  • Learn how to listen!
  • You learn sympathy/empathy by your experiences.
4.) Seize the Opportunity!
  • Don't wait! Don't hesitate! - become a friend!
  • Get down on their level - identify with them.
  • Take a risk - be willing to get dirty.
5.) Be Willing to Sacrifice for the Sake of a Soul!
  • Money - personal involvement/investment.
  • Time - the Samaritan took at least two days!
  • Energy - first aid, picked up, carried, took care.
  • No guarantee of a return.
6.) Love Needs to Be the Driving Force!
  • Compassion moved the Samaritan to action.
  • He didn't get discouraged when/if he wasn't appreciated. (What could a man left for dead know of what was done to rescue him until well after the fact?) 

Waiting...

By Marjorie Kinnee

 
To renew my strength
To mount up with wings as eagles
To run and not be weary
To walk and not faint

 
To keep on keeping on
To stick and stay
To endure to the end
To smile and say, "Hallelujah anyhow!"
 
To go the second mile
To give my cloak also
To turn the other cheek
To love the unlovable
 
To decrease
To rejoice in others' increase
To by love serve
To keep hope alive
 
To abide in Christ
To let Christ abide in me
To be conformed
And transformed into His image.
 
To let patience bring experience
To let patience have her perfect work
To receive the desires of my heart
To walk worthy...
 
Till my change comes
Till Christ be formed in me
Till He comes
And I see Him face to face
 
O Lord, Teach me to wait!
 
 

Persevere!

By Rufus M. Parker

Text: Luke 18:1-8
Key Verse: Luke 18:1 - "And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Do you ever get to a point that you wonder why pray? I'm sure that there are many who do; especially when they feel the wicked are getting the upper hand, or they feel God isn't answering them in a timely manner. What I find is that those who feel this way are usually focusing on themselves and their needs and not the needs of others.

In the Scriptures we find that Jesus prayed for Himself once - and that was in the garden before His crucifixion. He prayed, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." But He concluded, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Jesus had a consistent prayer life, but it was praying for others.

Paul told Timothy to pray for others. (I Timothy 2:5) Jesus said that if we will pray, we too will not quit and lose heart. Here in Luke 18, Jesus impresses upon us two important things about prayer; faith and consistency.

The Berlin Wall came down because people were consistent. When people really want something, if they are consistent long enough, they will get others to hear them. Faith causes us to believe that Jesus will answer. Consistency says, "I won't give up until I am heard." If we are not consistent in our prayer life, we will not maintain the faith we need when Jesus comes.

Sing: "I will not be denied. I will not be denied. Til Jesus comes and makes me whole, I will not be denied."

Editor's Note: Bro. Parker, former missionary to Okinawa, now pastors Calvary Apostolic Church UPC in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is the author of several books and publishes a daily devotional called, "Morning Manna."

Hidden Price Tags

By Rachel Coltharp

Cost is a tricky thing. We are often fooled into believing we know what we are paying. We also often overlook the fact that the price reflected on a tag, on a sticker, or in a menu is just the beginning. Everything comes with a hidden price tag.

Welcome to Rachelconomics 101. We will explore the hidden price tags of opportunity cost and emotional cost.

For the mathematicians out there, my formula is this: (Price + Maintenance Cost) + Emotional Cost + Opportunity Cost = Total Cost. I know the economics majors are choking right now, and I do apologize for throwing Rachelogic and Rachelmath into your neatly organized world, but roll with me, okay?

Let's look at an example of eating dinner at a restaurant. Since my theoretical dinner is a healthy one and has no adverse health affects requiring additional financial investment, I have $0 in maintenance cost. If I choose to eat junk, driving up my weight, sugar, and blood pressure, resulting in health care costs, early death, and lost wages, then further financial cost would have to be factored in.

I can figure the formula like this; a $10 dinner, plus a $2 drink, with tax, and a 20% tip will be $15.60. So, on the surface, the initial cost of my dinner is $15.60.

Behind these numbers lies another cost, opportunity cost. What I spend on dinner cannot be spent somewhere else. Looking at it from a different angle, the opportunity cost of eating out might be the lost opportunity to purchase a house. Over a 10-year span, one dinner out per week, per couple, ($16,224) equals a 10% down payment on a $160,000 house.

Look at long-term opportunity cost, not just initial price tag cost, The same couple, renting a house for an additional 10 years (at $1000 per month) equals $120,000 in lost equity. Thus, the opportunity cost of a once a week dinner out, can end up giving that $10 dinner an opportunity cost of $230.77 per dinner!

Opportunity cost is not just money.

Thrift stores and estate sales are filled with people's  "Oh, I just HAVE to have it!" which eventually becomes, "Ahh, just get rid of it." Sadly, we often leave houses, garages, attics, and sheds full of STUFF, but the treasure chest of memories is bare.

Things like your health, your spouse, your children, and grandchildren; all come with expiration dates. Time spent with them, building relationships, investing in shared experiences should be considered in opportunity cost. The emotional cost of not spending time with them now may cost us millions of emotional dollars down the road.

I heard a broken-hearted pastor tell his story a few years back. He recounted how he left at the crack of dawn and returned home at dark his entire married life. When his wife of 40+ years died suddenly, he found himself visiting her grave every day, spending his lunch hour there. He told me, "The time I spent doing pressing things cost me more that I ever could have imagined. I'd give it ALL up to go back and spend more time with her. Why didn't I spend my lunch with her?" When she was alive, lunch with her every day seemed too costly. Her death put everything into perspective.

Health and strength fade. Parents die. Spouses die. Children grow up. And sometimes children die. don't overlook the opportunity cost of time.

Emotional Cost. If you spend money based on your momentary feelings, you most likely will not spend it wisely. Understanding spending habits by giving them an emotional price tag can help tremendously. There are some emotional costs that simply cannot be figured with mere numbers. There are occasions when the stress involved in planning, preparing, serving, and cleaning up simply outweighs the cost of paying someone else to do it. All emotional costs are not equal. Sometimes time is more valuable than money.

When my infant daughter was in the hospital, my husband and I took 12-hour shifts with her. Buying dinner to eat together in her room had an emotional price tag that cannot be reflected in numbers. The money we spent on those dinners bought more than our food. It bought us two hours together, with her. When you don't know if your baby is going to live, the opportunity cost of losing 2 hours with her vs. maybe not getting a house doesn't even matter.

However, when I'm just tired and don't want to cook, the emotional benefit cost of asking my husband to bring home food does not even compare to those hospital dinner costs. When I was merely tired, the opportunity cost of maybe not getting a house helped me suck up some reserve energy and cook! We have a house today because of it!

I've heard it said, "Time is money," but I disagree. Time is so much more than money; money you can make more of, time is limited. Learning to evaluate which is more valuable to you can help you invest them both wisely. Don't judge an investment merely by the sticker price because everything has a hidden price tag.

Editor's Note: Rachel is the wife of Brent Coltharp, pastor of First Apostolic Church in Aurora, Illinois and Superintendent of the UPCI's Illinois District. They have four children; James, Reagan, Lincoln, and Grant. Some years ago, Rachel spoke at an Apostolic Writers Banquet here at New Life. He husband ministered to us during that weekend. We were richly blessed by their ministry of the Word.

Are You Willing to Be a Hinge?

By Scott A. Phillips

"Big doors swing on small hinges."

I sat across the table from a retired missionary. He shared with me his original conversion. They were raised devout Baptist. His wife and he got hungry, they started praying and seeking God because they knew there was more. An Apostolic church planter moved next door.

God showed them the born again message and they became missionaries for over twenty years. The church that was their beginning is not even there any more. But these, the first converts of a home missions church, ministered around the world.

He told me, "We had a burden for this particular country. We got there and we accomplished one thing in two years, and then, due to the political situation, left, and we never lived in that country again. I wondered sometimes why God did not let us stay where He gave us a burden, but we know we accomplished one thing... We spent the rest of our life ministering in other fields."

I know another missionary who died a few years ago. Saved in a storefront Home Missions church, which also isn't there today; he ministered in another country and another language until his death.

We only read of Ananias once. However, that one time he was instrumental in the conversion of Saul/Paul. Much of the New Testament was written by Paul and much of the world was reached through Paul's ministry. I would say that is pretty good.

At times, it's hard to quantify what we are accomplishing. Some sow, some water, and others get the increase. The other day, I told my wife, "I know we are in the will of God, I expect more, but I know God is working."

The following Sunday, we were at a restaurant and a family we had spent months working with was there. I got to share Acts 2:38 with them. I got to baptize them. I saw them get the Holy Ghost. Then they moved and we lost contact. They told us they have been going to another Apostolic church. I was disappointed in my flesh, but it was like a confirmation. I am glad they are in an Apostolic church; I rejoice in that.

That is why the Bible says we are foolish to compare ourselves among ourselves. We really don't know the full extent of what someone else is doing - and no one may truly know what you are doing.

What if God sends one to accomplish one task and it seems they have failed, yet they fulfilled the exact and precise thing the Lord sent them to do? John the Baptist's ministry lasted nine months. I am sure he thought he had failed God as he sat in that cold prison. But we know he fulfilled his purpose.

Are we willing to be humble enough to see ourselves as part of God's plan... and maybe a small part?

Some want to pound their chest and be proud of what they can take credit for. Others hang their head because they are discouraged. Get your head up. Get your eyes on Him. He knows the score. He will be the One that rewards us. Are you willing to be a hinge?

Editor's Note: Bro. Scott Phillips pastors New Birth Church in Clinton, Mississippi. His ministry is far-reaching, in that he not only preaches the Word in Clinton, but he is also a prolific writer, with a blogsite and several books to his credit. Additional Note: Here are a few Biblical "hinges" - the widow who ministered to Elijah, the captive Hebrew maid who witnessed to Namaan's wife, the servant who persuaded Namaan to go ahead and dip in Jordan seven times, the little boy who shared his lunch, the Syro-Phoencian woman who wanted "crumbs," the good Samaritan, and the unnamed heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11.

Patience Until...

By Marjorie Kinnee
Editorial

Text: James 5:6-7 - Be ye patient therefore, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

As we proceed through this year of "Sowing and Reaping," the theme for July is "patience." Pastor Foreman has taught several excellent lessons concerning the nature of and the need for patience. Each one has been a blessing and an eye-opener; we have benefitted from the Word of the Lord.

Life brings a multitude of situations in which one must go through. Although we'd like to go around, go over or under, or in some way escape it, we come to the understanding that there is nothing else to do but go directly through. As the game says, "Do not pass go, do not collect $200,00."

"...Patience works experience..." and, "Let patience have her perfect work" become like a mantra. Yet we find ourselves saying with the prophet, "How long, O Lord?"

What if God says that about us? We know that during His earthly ministry, Jesus had several "How long...?" moments. We know He became frustrated with the complaints and rebelliousness of the children of Israel, both in the wilderness and in their continual backslidings as they dwelt in the promised land. Obviously, the spiritual obliviousness of the disciples tried His patience. Yet, His Word tells us He is longsuffering, that He is in the business of transforming us into His image, and that this process takes time and much patience on His part. Is it any wonder then, that we too need a healthy dose of patience?

James telling us to be patient until... He says it twice: until "the coming of the Lord." Giving the example of the farmer who prepares the ground, sows the seed, adds the fertilizer, pulls the weeds, but has to wait until the process is complete before he can harvest the fruit of his labors, James leaves no doubt. Yes, there's much work involved, but nothing is finished until the wait is over.

We've long referred to the Rapture of the church as "the coming of the Lord" and there are numerous Scriptural reasons for that thinking. Moreover, all the waiting will come to perfection when the Lord ushers His Bride into His presence forever. But... there appears to be more than the Rapture involved here, much more...

Any time the Lord Himself comes into your situation, it is the coming of the Lord. Salvation, healing, deliverance, intervention, wisdom, understanding, godly counsel, and even death are all evidences that the Lord has come. Isaiah 61:1-3 speaks of the kinds of situations which bring about the coming of the Lord. Psalm 23 abounds with pictures of the trust and patience needed when the Lord is your Shepherd... "maketh me lie down, leadeth me, restoreth, with me, comfort me, prepares a table, anointest my head, goodness and mercy follow me, I will dwell." All these are indications of the need to be patient. We have heard of the patience of Job, he said, "...all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." (Job 14:14) 

In the process of time... If God can wait for the early and latter rain to be complete before catching His beloved Bride away unto Himself; then hold on, settle yourself. "...When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away." (I Corinthians 13:10)

"Behold, the coming of the Lord draweth nigh!"