Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain.
The Bible teaches us that we need to be content with what we are given in life by God. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 reads. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” The Bible is full of stories of God’s servants who pursued godliness rather than worldly riches. There was a man called Lot who had every opportunity to live by faith with his uncle Abraham. He could have gained godliness, and he could have gained God. But his heart was not right. He wanted more. He wanted the comforts and pleasures of life. For a while, he lived a cultural and worldly happy life having all the things that a man ever wants. But when the test of life crossed his path, he failed. All his riches and godless living could not save him. He could not save his beloved wife whom he had corrupted. He could not save his innocent daughters whom he had also corrupted. He gained nothing in the end except a cave in which his daughters committed a most heinous sin. On the other hand, Abraham his uncle was offered the world on a platter. The king of Sodom tempted him to keep all that he had captured while rescuing his nephew Lot. Then the servant of God, Melkizedeck came to Abraham and shared with him a simple meal, and had spiritual fellowship. He reminded Abraham of what God had called him to do. He reminded him that God had called him to live by faith and to pursue God. So Abraham gave up everything else and went back to his simple life of faith. The world may have considered that what he did was foolish. But when Abraham lost the world, he gained God. God was on his side, protecting him and guiding him until Abraham became a blessing on the whole world, even to us today. What we seek and what we pursue in life are very important. Everyone wants to gain something in this world. But those who gain godliness are the real winners. They gain God, taste God’s goodness, and they are content. How can we be content? We can be content when we deeply appreciate the gift of life Jesus has given us. We can have godliness when we pursue the higher and nobler things of this life, such as love, faith, hope, and the good life of Christian mission we have been entrusted with by God our Father.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Rejoice In Opportunities To Preach The Word God
John 4:36, “36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
Pastor’s blog: Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 10-11-12
Recently I met Matt Armstrong. He heads up Cross Roads Ministry, dedicated to bringing the gospel to public schools, especially through the after school programs. I was amazed because he is willing to pour out his energies on his cross roads mission. He is giving his all and pouring out his resources just to be able to share the gospel with some kids whom (most of them) may not even be listening. There is no guarantee that parents will even be coming to his church. His eyes light up with the prospect of being able to share the gospel, pure and simple. He was willing to spend time and money simply to make these opportunities happen. Would I be so happy to preach the gospel simply? Would I rejoice at the open doors but no visible fruit? Would I claim a victory in this? Would I be happy in just planting the seed so that maybe another church may reap the fruit of that seed? I confess I am not quite there yet, but I am getting there!
Jesus said in John 4:35-38, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” There are sowers and there are reapers in the work of God. The act of sowing and reaping makes one glad. The sowers and reapers may not be in the same generation or the same church. But they are glad to simply sow the seed of the word of God. If they are able to reap…that is lead someone to Saving faith in Jesus, then that is “gravy.” The problem is when we want to be both the sower and the reaper at the same time and we want these activities done in our own church. Then what happens is we loose the joy of sowing because of our expectations. God does not seem to be fulfilling our expectations. We need to be set free from our own selfish ambition and be glad simply for being given the opportunity to preach the word of God.
John 4:36, “36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
Pastor’s blog: Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 10-11-12
Recently I met Matt Armstrong. He heads up Cross Roads Ministry, dedicated to bringing the gospel to public schools, especially through the after school programs. I was amazed because he is willing to pour out his energies on his cross roads mission. He is giving his all and pouring out his resources just to be able to share the gospel with some kids whom (most of them) may not even be listening. There is no guarantee that parents will even be coming to his church. His eyes light up with the prospect of being able to share the gospel, pure and simple. He was willing to spend time and money simply to make these opportunities happen. Would I be so happy to preach the gospel simply? Would I rejoice at the open doors but no visible fruit? Would I claim a victory in this? Would I be happy in just planting the seed so that maybe another church may reap the fruit of that seed? I confess I am not quite there yet, but I am getting there!
Jesus said in John 4:35-38, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” There are sowers and there are reapers in the work of God. The act of sowing and reaping makes one glad. The sowers and reapers may not be in the same generation or the same church. But they are glad to simply sow the seed of the word of God. If they are able to reap…that is lead someone to Saving faith in Jesus, then that is “gravy.” The problem is when we want to be both the sower and the reaper at the same time and we want these activities done in our own church. Then what happens is we loose the joy of sowing because of our expectations. God does not seem to be fulfilling our expectations. We need to be set free from our own selfish ambition and be glad simply for being given the opportunity to preach the word of God.
I am a pastor of a very small house church ministry. How to reach out to the young people of Dekalb and NIU is the "million dollar" question. I haven't been able to do it in a big way. I have in small ways through 1:1 Bible study and mentoring (shepherding). We try to do it in several ways. 1. My kids lead the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes” group at the high school. There are five of them coming down the shoot there and so they can provide leadership for the next seven years. Praise the Lord! It is every Thursday before class for 20 minutes. Jenn is leading them through Nehemiah. They meet tomorrow. 2, We support and eat at Feed 'Em Soup. 3. We sing at Christian music festivals (St Matthews in Glendale Heights and Praizapalooza at Hopkins Park. 4. We have 1:1 Bible study with students. 5. I keep going to Haish gym and making friends there. There are 2 people who study the Bible there. 6. I pray and encourage my kids top to break through the "Friends" barrier to enter into discipleship relationships with classmates. 7. We participate in the DeKalb Christian church monthly "Open Mic NIght". All of these are my attempts to reach out to the community.
I thank God that I am able to preach the gospel through various means but I have to admit that I am helpless to help people grow was spiritual leaders and I am helpless to produce spiritual leaders who can co-work with me and my family on the mission field of NIU and DeKalb. This fact causes me to despair a lot at times. But I am learning many spiritual lessons at the same time. All of this comes from God in his time and his way. I am really learning that it can only be accomplished through prayer and also through co-working with other churches in the area. We must break through denominational lines and co-work as one body. If you have any co-working opportunities then let me know.
I thank God that I am able to preach the gospel through various means but I have to admit that I am helpless to help people grow was spiritual leaders and I am helpless to produce spiritual leaders who can co-work with me and my family on the mission field of NIU and DeKalb. This fact causes me to despair a lot at times. But I am learning many spiritual lessons at the same time. All of this comes from God in his time and his way. I am really learning that it can only be accomplished through prayer and also through co-working with other churches in the area. We must break through denominational lines and co-work as one body. If you have any co-working opportunities then let me know.
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