Posts Tagged ‘ daniel m klem ’
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38, ESV
We encourage each other in Christ to faithfulness, and we encourage each other to pray that He makes us each faithful in reaching the lost with the gospel.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:7-8, ESV
We help each other grow in the Lord, to be patient while we wait for Him, encouraging each other, because we know He is coming soon.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:7, ESV
We are called to share the gospel and help each other grow in the knowledge of Christ, but we know that our salvation and growth comes from God’s work in us.
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Hosea 10:12, ESV
God alone is our source of righteousness and love. He can make the cruel compassionate and the evil righteous, but we must turn to Him and seek Him.
2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
God alone is our source of all things, and, like Him, He asks us to give of ourselves and our possessions to help others out of the same love He gives us.
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations
Deuteronomy 7:9, ESV
There is one God, and He alone is our Creator, standard of goodness and love, and hope for eternal life.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13, ESV
Only God can redeem us and give us a new heart, and He calls to us through the cross by the Holy Spirit.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14, ESV
Only God is able to save us from our own sin, giving us peace and goodness. Seek Him in every part of your life.
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2, ESV
God alone is our salvation and hope, sticking closer than a friend and filling us eith His power and strength.
I preached again!
I was honored to once again be with the brethren in Paulden Christian Fellowship.
As usual, these are my rough notes, so not necessarily everything I said while preaching.
Growing up: Shy kid, but antagonized religious people due to family’s history (hurt), until it clicked. Challenged teachings. Challenging things to hear got to me.
As a Christian: Frequently challenged with tough questions. Had to learn some grace and to develop a squishy-tough skin. (Huggable and patient while shrugging off attacks.)
In Acts 5, we see the early church in a similar situation:
Apostles trying to deal with new people with a need to show grace.
They also keep getting arrested, as seen here. Sometimes freed, as Pastor Paul talked about last week and will be seen again.
Last time, they were freed to go back and preach, which brings us back to being arrested again, picking up in verse 28.
[Read vv. 28-32]
We know we should obey God rather than man, but it can be hard.
“… you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us!”
Yes! We are all guilty of Jesus’ death!
[Read Romans 3:22-25, 6:23; Colossians 2:13-14]
It is our sins that put Jesus on the cross, but it’s also the cross that forgives us, if we have faith in this truth.
Other truths hurt, too, especially when God’s Word intersects with our lives. This is why we need the “squishy-tough skin.”
Our society today says:
“Live your truth.” (John 14:6)
“Love is love.” Or “Just let people do what they want! They’re not hurting anyone.” (1 John 4:16)
“Don’t judge!” (Matthew 7:1-6)
“That’s just your interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
When we disagree with people, basing it on God’s Word, they will feel attacked and hurt.
We see it with the priests here, who are angry enough to kill.
[Read vv. 33]
When we share God’s truth, it offends our natural senses. “Why can’t I do whatever I want?!”
We’ve each felt it. We may disagree with the Bible, but I guarantee all of our disagreements come from misunderstanding or selfish pride.
The alternative is our next point:
[Read vv. 33-39a – “found opposing God!”]
The Apostles said hurtful things, and many will feel hurt by the truth, but we can learn from Gamaliel.
“Hey, if this isn’t of God, it will blow over.”
Yes, we still defend biblical truth, but who would claim to know as much as Jesus’ Apostles?
Remember, too, that the Apostle Paul had been a student of Gamaliel, but how well did he listen? [Acts 87:58-8:3]
Even as a Pharisee, he followed the leadership of the Sadducees in this area.
But look at Paul’s letters later: he defended truth, called out false teachers, and treated straying believers with grace.
Even in grace, people will react strongly and (sometimes trying to be reasonable) negatively. (Remember, the religious leaders think they’re defending good beliefs!)
[Read vv. 39-42]
The leadership felt like they were letting the Apostles off easy with “merely” a beating.
Think of what’s happening in our society today:
If you’ve ever said anything bad (by current standards), you should be cancelled.
If you disagree with the current standards, you’re a [insert religious/sexual identity]-phobe.
If you think there really is an absolute truth, you’re stupid and wrong.
And they think they’re being kind to everyone else, and even to Christians by trying to help them get over their stuffy old ways.
Yet, our society will vilify and mock us, and we’re even seeing increased reports of attacks on churches, Christians, and ministries and Christian-owned businesses. (Nov. 15, 2023, a pastor was shot in the head while street preaching just 100 miles south of here in Glendale.)
But how can we stay joyful in our faithfulness?
Jesus told us in the Beatitudes that we who are merciful and peacemakers are blessed, and in Matthew 5:10-12 that when we are persecuted, reviled, and mocked that we should rejoice!
Why?
Look at their words: they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. They were considered worthy of the same treatment as our God.
Not for being a jerk.
Not for putting people in their place.
Not for strict adherence to a set of rules (though many will claim that’s all it is.)
They rejoiced knowing they are counted faithful like our Lord.
And we do that when we join them in going house to house teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Remember they met in houses and at the Temple.)
Stay faithful, with grace, patience, and squishy-tough skin.
What does it look like for us?
We keep calm when situations aren’t going the way we would like, remembering everyone is trying to get through this life. [And God is in control!]
We teach others God’s truth, even when it hurts, but with gentleness and respect.
[Read 1 Peter 3:13-17]
We’re in an election year: Stick to biblical truth, but don’t get angry with those who disagree!
We expect that people will disagree with us, but we show grace.
And if someone reviles, mocks, or attacks us:
-We develop that squishy-tough skin. Yes, being vulnerable, but we let their attacks slide off of us.
-We remember that this is how they treated our Lord.
-We rejoice that Christ’s faithfulness has moved through us.
[#1: Truth hurts, but we are faithful to God’s truth.]
[#2: Don’t try to hurt, but be honest and reasonable.]
[#3: Expect to hurt, but stay faithful and joyful.]
Our worthiness is found in Christ alone, and His faithfulness. We are counted worthy when we are found in Him and His truth.
It’s easy to feel like we’re right and deserve better, but the only things Christ promised us are that we will have troubles in this world (John 16:33) and that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20), especially in our troubles.
a simple man of God 