Worship for Today: God's word can build us up and give us an inheritace!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 20:32,

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

As Paul met with the Ephesian elders and let them know that he would not be seeing them again - this side of heaven - he committed them “to God and to the word of his grace”. Because he knows he is passing from the scene and will no longer be available to be a resource for them as they face the “savage wolves” that will “come in among you and will not spare the flock” he commits them to what will be a resource for them: God and the word of his grace.

Paul points out that the “word of his grace” can provide two things. It can give an inheritance and build up. In an earlier letter Paul had written to this church he pointed out something wonderful about God’s word, “You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14. God’s word provides the opportunity for salvation into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, 1 Peter 1:4.

God’s word can also build up believers, bringing them to maturity and keeping them from the damage of “savage wolves” that would seek to devour the flock of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We, as these Ephesian elders eventually did, live apart from the leadership of an apostle like Paul, within our midst. And just as these Ephesians needed to be committed to God’s word, we do as well today. A high enough premium can never be placed on the role the Scriptures need to play in our lives today. In both bringing us to salvation and then for building us up in him the Scriptures need to find their rightful place in our lives, in our schedules, in our priorities.

How wonderful our God of grace has provided us with the “word of his grace”! May it be met with the enthusiasm and attention it rightly deserves, and that we have need of, in our lives today!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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Worship for Today

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 18:9-11,

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.”

As Paul is in Corinth and preaching the gospel message, the Lord speaks to him one night. I note the communication from the Lord is a verbal statement. Luke doesn’t mention if it was part of a two-way, broader conversation Paul had with the Lord or just simply this statement, but clearly this is not Paul having an “intuition” or “leading” or “feeling”. This is one person (the Lord) verbally speaking to another (Paul) just as any of us would have over the phone or face to face with another.

I have never had the Lord speak directly to me like this and I wonder what Paul’s reaction was. I suspect his reaction would be based on how often the Lord spoke to him. Was it just the few times we read of in Scripture or was there an ongoing dialog that went on for years?

Regardless, I find these comments very fascinating and wonderful as they represent a connection of the Lord with his people, a connection of heaven with planet earth. The great divide spanned between this lost and fallen world with its Creator, physical life in the here-and-now with the Eternal. A connection between life today and the resurrection to come!

Awesome to think about isn’t it?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: God gives us his Holy Spirit!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 19:1-7,

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John's baptism,’ they replied.” Paul said, ‘John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”

This is a fascinating account of something Paul encountered in Ephesus. These “disciples”, it turns out, were not acquainted with the Holy Spirit and had to be told about the need to put their faith in Jesus Christ. They had experienced John the Baptist’s ministry and had even been baptized into his “baptism of repentance” but they didn’t know the Lord yet, as evidenced by Paul having to introduce them to Jesus. This resulted in them experiencing their own “mini-Pentecost”.

The account reveals that Paul ascertained who needed to hear the gospel message by whether a person had received the Holy Spirit, even if they appeared religious, e.g. to be a disciple. The foundation for this approach is given throughout the New Testament. In Romans 8:9 we read, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” In Ephesians 1:13-14 he says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.”

It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that evidences whether we belong to God. He sends his Holy Spirit to dwell within us when we become his. We become a “new creation”, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and the Holy Spirit begins to change us from the inside out, Galatians 5:16-26.

This is how we can tell who a child of God is and who is not, 1 John 3:10: has a person’s life been impacted by the Holy Spirit? To me this is one of the mystical and wonderful things about our new life in Jesus Christ! God gives us his Holy Spirit!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: God's disposition toward us is expressed in his matchless and glorious grace!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 18:27,

“When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.”

As Luke provides the account of Apollos, his encounter with Priscilla and Aquila, and his trip to Achaia, Luke observes that Apollos “was of great help to those who by grace had believed.” What catches my eye this morning is the observation that it was by grace that the folks in Achaia believed.

Grace is what we call that disposition of God that causes or prompts him to do things for us – things that are unearned or undeserved. For instance, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins. Why did he do that? Because we are told in John 3:16 that God loves man. This is what we call his grace. His grace is apparent in many ways at many times. He answers prayer, not because we “deserve” it but because he desires to express his loving kindness to us. He provides us with many things we have not earned nor deserve. For instance he has provided proof of his satisfaction of Jesus’ payment for our sin by having him appear to folks for a period of over forty days after his resurrection. He didn’t have to do it, but he knows our weaknesses and how we struggle in our faith. In a similar way, Jesus Christ provided many proofs of who he was and the authenticity of what he had to say through various miracles, healings, deliverances from spirits and fulfillments of prophecy when he was here. Did he have to provide these things for us? In my mind, no. It simply reflects his wonderful disposition to do things for us.

Luke mentions this disposition of God that resulted in the folks in Achaia embracing him in faith. The message of the gospel is a message of grace from start to finish. Mankind has turned his back on God in sin and rebellion in the face of God’s judgment, and yet God, in his grace, has made a way for us. God, in his grace, has provided equipped evangelists who take the message of the gospel out to others to provide an opportunity to for them to hear the gospel message. God has provided each of us a free will to respond to the gospel message and in his grace has made it possible for us to cross over from death to life. God, in his grace will provide us a wonderful life in the resurrection.

All of the elements of life itself, the ability to hear the gospel message, the capacity to reason, the volition he has provided us as well as the message all speak to God’s wonderful disposition toward us: his matchless and glorious grace!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: God has a big wonderful heart for each one of us!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 17:29-30,

“Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”

As Paul speaks to those at the Areopagus he tells them that what they worshipped as something unknown, God is the creator of the world and everything in it. And where many had worshipped God as if he were made of gold, silver or stone and that in the past God overlooked such ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent. I note Paul says God commands all people everywhere, not some people in certain places. God wants us all to turn to him, to “repent”: every person. He wants us all!

God has a big heart, a heart that encompasses all of mankind. The Bible says that God loves the whole world and everyone in it. He wants us all. As Paul speaks to Timothy about prayer in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, he says that this “pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” It is God’s will that all men be saved! He wants us all. Peter talks about the delay in Jesus Christ’s second coming. He says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. God wants every man, woman and child to turn to him! He has a heart for all mankind!

My point here isn’t to get into a quibble over theology but to recognize the wonderful heart of love our God has for all mankind. He has a big heart! He sent his Son to die a horrible death to purchase us from his own wrath for our sins! Not just for some, but for all!

It is important to note that as the Scriptures clearly point out, even though it is God’s will we all be saved, he has chosen that only those who will embrace him in faith will be saved. He has left it in our hands. He wants us all but he will only take those who will have him. If God left it for himself, all mankind would be saved!

What a big, wonderful heart our God has for each and every one of us!!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 16:14b, 18b, 25-26, 34,

“The Lord opened her [Lydia’s] heart to respond to Paul's message.” … “‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her [the fortune-telling slave girl].” … “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.” … ” The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.”

Paul and his companions (which included at a minimum, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke) visited the city of Philippi on Paul’s second missionary trip. This is the city in which Paul planted a church that he would later send a letter to, the New Testament book we call “Philippians”. In this city the theme of deliverance is acted out by the Lord in every activity that is recorded by Luke. Paul and Silas were delivered from incarceration in the Philippian jail and a servant girl is delivered from “a spirit” that enabled her owners to make money by fortune-telling. Lydia and her household are delivered from God’s judgment through the evangelistic efforts of Paul and company, as well as the Philippian jailor and his household.

God is our God of deliverance, he is our great deliverer! Enslaved to sin and the judgment it brings, living in a lost and fallen world our great God delivers us! Of our wonderful God, David says in Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: God provides us his word on things!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 15:28-29,

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.”

This passage is the conclusion of a letter drafted by the Jerusalem council when they met to consider the issue of whether Gentiles needed to be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses as members of the church. The letter, sent to Antioch and accompanied by Judas and Silas, provided the decision of the council and in it the leaders provided the credentials behind the decision. In addition to the apostolic authority and the wise counsel of elders, the letter acknowledges God himself: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”!

To me, one of the wonderful things of God is that he provides us with the stamp of his own authority that we not find ourselves cast about in a sea of uncertainty. The whole concept of a divine library, a collection of written works that are recognized as authoritative, the Bible, insures we can know without confusion and the introduction of heresy what is true and what our Creator has to say. Where some may struggle with the notion of divinely authoritative literature, many of us find within its pages illumination of God’s revelation of himself and his very own counsel! As Peter points out, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21.

It is with this very authority that the Jerusalem council rendered its decision and reflects this wonderful aspect of God’s choice to provide us with his word on things!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: Jesus has done all the heavy lifting!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 15:28-29,

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.”

The council of Jerusalem met to discuss a dispute between Paul (with Barnabas) and Christian Pharisees who had come to Antioch from Judea. The dispute was over whether Gentiles should be required to obey the law of Moses. It was an important event for the early church and has had its impact on the church throughout its history. The conclusion of the matter was that the Gentiles did not have to keep the law of Moses and were not required to be circumcised. In other words, the Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism in order to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us in Romans 7:6, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” He goes on to use the example of the tenth commandment, “Do not covet”, to explain himself.

There are plenty of things the Lord could require of us as believers. In providing us with justification he could certainly turn and ask us to live by the law he gave Moses or any of a number of things to conform to a lifestyle that might reflect our covenant relationship with him. But as Jesus taught, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is not reflected in law keeping but in following the Holy Spirit, demonstrating that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9.

Jesus has done all the work. He offered himself as a sacrifice of atonement on the cross. I don’t know about you, but I find this to be wonderful reality.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately