Praise the Lord for another brand new and beautiful day. The Lord blessed us
with a wonderful Wednesday Gathering. The Food was delicious with an
international flair. The current study, "The Life God Rewards", by Bruce
Wilkerson was very thought provoking.
Praise the Lord for the life we have in and through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Untold millions around the world who have put their faith in Christ have
discovered the secret of this life. One of the early persons to discover this
life was St. Paul, who met the Risen Lord on the Road to Damascus. Paul wrote,
"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances"
(Phil.
4:11). He continued, "I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty
or in want."
One
translation of these words from the Greek would be, "I have found the secret of
life." Another could say, "I have been initiated through the experience of life
to know how to be content."
Paul was a veteran of living through a great variety of circumstances. He said,
"I can bear any extreme. I can get good out of the ups and downs of life. When I
have a hungry stomach, I learn what it feels like to be without food. Through
this, there comes a new discipline of body and mind. When I have a full stomach,
I realize how much I have for which to be thankful. Every circumstance has its
lesson to teach. When I look back over life, I see that somehow I have been
brought through this all. I have learned much. I have much for which to be
grateful."
Paul wrote, "for I
have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." He went on to say, "I
can do everything through him who gives me strength." The KJV puts it: "I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
There is a source of
strength outside yourself which breeds your sufficiency. Both the Christian and
the nonbeliever alike will have their ups and downs. The godless life has
weakness at its heart. We and Christ together are always a
majority!
True contentment is the
capacity to live in the present, in a life based on a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ. This, in essence, is risky living. Lloyd Ogilvie describes Paul
saying his biography could be entitled, "Risky Christianity." Paul was willing
to risk his safety and sacrifice his comfort for the sake of Jesus Christ. Paul
saw the risk of Christian living as being one he could not afford not to take.
He must take that risk. In the process, Paul uncovered
the exciting principle: you and I are not really free persons until we are
willing to lose everything. There is no true contentment until you are set free
from the bondage of your possessions, your status, your reputation, and your
goals.
Paul talked about
suffering loss. He learned how to handle needs. He also knew how to live with
more than enough. That's another risk. Sometimes success is harder to handle
than is difficulty. Once we are rooted and grounded in Jesus, the True Vine, we
can live abundance an in triumph. Blessed be His
Name.
In Christ ,
Brown
A Special Saturday Evening of Praise and Worship
Saturday September 29, 2012
Location: First
United Methodist Church,
53 McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY
53 McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY
Sponsored by Union
Center United Methodist Church.
5:30 PM Community
Dinner
6:30 PM Praise and
Worship
Special Music by:
Praise and worship band
Soloist: Emma
Brunson
Preacher: Pastor
Marshall Sorber
"I pray, O God, especially --
for all who are valiant for truth:
for all who are working for purer and juster laws:
for all who are working for peace between the nations:
for all who are engaged in healing disease:
for all who are engaged in the relief of poverty:
for all who are engaged in the rescue of the fallen:
for all who are working towards the restoration of the broken unity of Thy Holy Church:
for all who preach the gospel:
for all who bear witness to Christ in foreign lands:
for all who suffer for righteousness’ sake." John Bailee
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