"Rise, let us be going" (Matthew 26:45-46).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say to ourselves (and sometimes others), "Well, I've messed up and ruined now; what's the point in trying anymore? It's too late" If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience.

Think about Joshua after the defeat at Ai. God had to tell him to get up off of his face and go back to work (Josh 7:10-15). Whenever we realize that we have failed it is possible that we might sink into despair. Hopefully, the teachings found in God's word will come and remind us that "the past opportunity is lost forever and can't be changed but get up, and move on to the next thing." In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep knowing that we are in Christ and that we have invincible future with Him. Successful athletes know that the last play is over and they immediately begin to focus on the next play.

There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing-they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, "Get up, and do the next thing." If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption and get back to work!

Never let a past misstep defeat your next step before you even take it. Forget (as best you humanly can), get up and get back to work!

Bro. Elijah (Eli) Cole

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household. - Phil. 4:22

Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote to the Philippians. His ministry had been greatly hampered; nevertheless, he told the Philippians that his imprisonment had actually aided the furtherance of the gospel. Being chained to Roman soldiers, he had the opportunity to win them to the Lord (1:12-14). There was a revival of sorts taking place in Caesar's palace, which evidently led to the salvation of some, as today's verse indicates. The soldiers didn't know who they had on their hands: they believed they had a prisoner, but in reality they had an evangelist to whom they were a captive audience! What a model of rejoicing in the midst of a potentially frustrating and discouraging situation!

This is the same thing that Paul and Silas had done in the conversion of the jailer in Acts 16:25-34. The funny thing was that Paul and Silas wanted to go in a different direction. Read Acts 16:6-10. Paul and Silas had a different plan for their ministry at that time but the spirit did not allow it to happen. Why were they there? They baptized the jailer and the household of Lydia (Acts 16:14-15). God had a plan and a purpose for them!

Sometimes we don't like the plan and purpose. Jonah did not like God's plan because it did not suit his own purpose so he ran away (Jonah). We know how that turned out (Matt 12:40). Running away from God's purpose and rejecting God's plan can only lead to further frustration.

Would you rather be in a different place in life right now? Have you asked God to move you? Maybe He hasn't moved you because you are right where He wants you to be. Are you doing what He wants you to do while you are there? Remember, God has a plan and that's why you are where you are!

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 A few years ago there was a popular song that repeated the phrase, "when I move, you move" in the chorus of the song. While I don't remember the context of the song these years later, I do believe that we adapt that phrase to fit our walk with the Lord. We should not make a move in our lives without God. Those of us who have tried it know what a frustrating experience it can be.

God seems to have an interesting way of upsetting the things we have planned without taking Him into account. We get ourselves into situations that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we find that we have been calculating without the "God factor". We have, in fact, not committed our way unto Him. Think of Psalm 127:1, "Except the LORD, build the house, they labor in vain that build it..." The point is clear, God must not only be in the plan, but HE must be in agreement with the plan. He must be the builder, we are simply His tools! Have you ever worked hard on (or at) something only to realize that you hadn't made any progress and that all of your hard work had been in vain?
 

When we have brought God in as the greatest factor in all our calculations, we can relax knowing that He cannot fail. Most of us normally put God first in our conscious spiritual pursuits, but remembering to put Him first in the practical issues of our lives takes more work. God's providence is the force that works all of the things we confront in our lives together for good (Rom 8:28).

He's so right that He cannot be wrong! He's Omnipotent (all powerful - Psalm 89:8; Gen 18:14), Omniscient (all knowing-Rom 8:27; Heb 4:13), Omnipresent (exists everywhere all the time -Psalm 139:7-10; Acts 17:27), and Immutable (changeless-James 1:7; Eccl 3:14). He is able (Eph 3:20)! As we grow in our walk with Him and grow in our ability to trust in His awesome qualities listed above, we will commit more of our "way" unto Him. We will commit our means (Luke 6:38), our marriages (Matt 19:4-6; Eph 5:25-33), our ministries (Rom 12:3-21), and our miseries (Matt 11:28-30; I Pet 5:7) to Him. It is at that time that we will finally have the peace that passes all understanding because God (and not us) will be bringing it to pass (Phil 4:6-7)! As we get ready to "move" and do great things here in Olney, or wherever you happen to be as you read this, please remember not to make a move without God. Tune into His word through study and tune into His spirit through prayer and then you'll know that you're moving with Him.

Bro. Eli

"And if thy right hand offends thee cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Matthew 5:30

Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off the right hand, but- ‘If your right hand offends you in your walk with Me, cut it off.' Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says if it hinders you in following His precepts, cut it off.


This line of discipline is the sternest one that ever struck mankind. Was Jesus really advocating mass mutilations among His people? Not quite. What good would a physical mutilation do? A blind man is capable of lust and someone with one hand may choose to use that one hand to touch something that he/she should not.

What Jesus did teach was a matter of great importance and might present just as much difficulty as losing a limb might. He had just taught that not only was the act of adultery wrong, but also even one who looked at a woman with lustful intent was guilty of adultery in his heart.

It is clear from the context that Jesus was not dealing with a physical act but rather the attitude (state of mind) that precedes sinful actions. (Also see James 1:13-15). More specifically, Jesus dealt with man's inner desires i.e. the inward cause of the offense.

As we reflect upon this part of the Sermon on the Mount, we must begin to ask ourselves some questions about our own walk with the Lord. Is there anything that we are seeing that would hamper our walk with God? David saw Bathsheba, his soldier Uriah's wife, and had to have her even though it was wrong. (2 Sam 11:1ff). Is there anything that we touch or possess that would keep us from being the disciples that we ought to be (Luke 18:18-27)? It may be time to begin our own process of "plucking" and "cutting" so we can follow the Christ!

Bro. Eli

What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. John 12:27-29 (R.V.).

Many of us and (or) our friends and neighbors are going through tough times right now. Some may even be in deep sorrow. It is during times like these that we pray for God to remove the thorn from our side (2 Co 12:7-8). It is a very natural thing to do. Let's for a moment, consider another perspective inspired by the scripture listed above.

My attitude as a saint to sorrow and difficulty is not to ask that they may be prevented, but to ask that I may preserve the self God created me to be through every fire of sorrow. Our Lord found Himself in the fire of sorrow. He was saved not from the hour, but out of the hour. Another Gospel records Jesus struggling with His suffering and asking that "this cup" would pass from Him before resigning Himself to the will of God (Matt 26:36-39). We must, like Jesus, be willing to submit ourselves to God's will even when we know that sorrow will result. We will only be able to do that as our own self will, fear, and unawareness decreases and our faith increases. What would have happened if He had not gone to His death on the cross? Where would we be as Christians?

We must first understand our purpose. Jesus understood that He came "unto this hour" for the very thing that He dreaded. It was His purpose. We too must understand that we sometimes are in the situation that we are in for God to be glorified in our weakness and (or) sorrow. Think of the man born blind who was healed by Jesus. He was blind so that the works of God could be revealed in him (John 9:1-3). Think of Paul's perspective on his suffering (1 Thess 3:1-4; Phil 1:12-14; 2 Co 12:7-10).

Finally, we must understand God's power. He is able to guard us (2 Thess 3:1-3). We will be blessed with more eventually (1 Pet 4:12-13). He is able to work through our pain to show His power. We are unlikely to ever like suffering, but we should begin to understand it as we mature in the Lord that the Lord may have us exactly where he needs us to be to accomplish His purpose. Let's end our prayers like Jesus did and ask our heavenly father to, "Glorify" His name.

Bro Eli

Just what is a father? Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th edition) defines "father" as one who has begotten a child. Sadly, the news and popular culture at large have become too familiar with men who have merely "begotten a child".

I remember growing up and going to Astro-World (Six-Flags in Houston) as much as I could because I loved the roller-coasters and the bamboo shoot. One year we happened to be there close to Father's Day so we went into a gift shop and bought something for my Dad. It was a little wooden board that said something to the effect that, "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy". Twenty-five or so years later my parents gave that plaque back to me for Father's Day! I suppose that it was a reminder to go beyond simply being some who has "begotten a child".

Fortunately, I was blessed to have a father who went beyond. I was also blessed to have other men who went beyond as father - like figures. I had grandfathers who went beyond. I have a god-father who went beyond. I had uncles and a cousin who went beyond. I even had coaches and teachers who went beyond. I was fortunate that the men in my life read the Bible instead of Webster's. God expects fathers to exceed Webster's definition. Fathers are to be involved in their children's lives in meaningful ways. In scripture we find fathers making sure that their son's were circumcised (Gen 17:9-14), trained (Eph 6:4), disciplined (Heb 12:5-11), and shown how to follow God (Josh 24:15). A famous scripture for parents is Proverbs 22:6 where we are told to, "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". The word translated "train" (chanak) is also associated with the concept of dedication. Fatherhood (and parenthood overall) must begin with the idea that the child is dedicated to God with the parent being a steward of sorts. We, as parents, must then be dedicated to that stewardship. God sought to kill Moses when he did not fulfill his fatherly obligations (Ex 4:24-25).

I hope and pray that this Father's Day has found you being honored for more than just begetting children! If not, then let this day mark a new beginning for you and your "house". God expects Fathers to go beyond.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Bro Eli

It is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." Do you know you cannot serve God unless you are separated? In the Scripture, that word refers to being set apart for a specific task or purpose. This is not always easy but it is always necessary. We must adopt the ways of God and separate ourselves from the world. This was true even in the Old Testament days.

The Lord also said, "I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine" (Lev. 20:26). God took the nation of Israel and separated them from all other nations for His glory. This carries over into the New Testament (present) age.

The apostle Paul knew that once he was called as an apostle, he would be disconnected from his past. When Paul was the most ardent of Pharisee, he was set apart for-or separated to-the traditions of the Jewish people (Phil. 3:5). Now he could claim to be a Pharisee separated to the gospel of God. Paul also let us know that we were bought and sanctified (I Co. 6:11-20) and have become slaves of righteousness(Rom 6:16-17). We are new creatures that must begin new lives in his service (2 Co 5:17; Eph 2:10;4:1,17-29) instead of being conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2).

Are you separate from your former life? Have we refused God's efforts to remake us? Remember, we must be Holy and not conformed to the world's image. We can either choose the way of the world or be separated for service to God but we can not have both (James 4:4-5).

Bro. Eli

It is our mission to carry out the great commission that Jesus Christ gave to the church. It is our mission to reach, preach and teach the gospel to the lost, and then to teach them how to live and work for Jesus Christ (Mat 28:19-20).
 

Our mission statement can be accomplished by the dedication of the saints locally to these three works of the church as seen in scripture: Evangelism (Mark 16:1-16), Edification, and Equipping (Eph 4:11-16).

It is the mission of the church to evangelize the world through the preaching and teaching of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; to edify those who are saved through the continued preaching and teaching of God's word, and to equip the saved through various ministries, workshops, symposiums, etc. to do the work of ministry.

Bro. Eli