Matt’s Matters: Remembering Freedom

 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matt. 26:13).

This past month we celebrated Memorial Day. For many, Memorial Day is simply an extra day off work, and a start to summer vacations. However, when we think about Memorial Day in that likeness, we are missing the significance of it. Therefore, this month, I would like us to consider the value of taking time to remember things and the value that history gives to modern day living.

Memorial Day is a time to think about those very special men and women who died serving our country. Most people also take time to remember other loved ones who have passed away.

One writer said, “America, sleep soundly tonight.  The Soldiers of Bravo Company will tuck you in with the power of freedom and all that it offers.  They will ask nothing in return of you and it is likely they never will.  When you see these few, these happy few, tell them you love them for their sacrifice and that you slept well tonight” (written by CPT Kyle Comfort
Killed in Action May 8, 2010, Operation Enduring Freedom, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment). Therefore, if you or a loved one of yours has or is serving in our nation’s military, I would like to personally say thank you to you! It is on account of people like you that we as a nation are still free.

Therefore, “We honor those who died by remembering.  It is part of our sacred duty as Americans to simply and gratefully remember.  Memorial Day is also a quiet and insistent reminder to each of us that Freedom Is Not Free” (Wesley Smith, “Memorial Day: Why We Remember Those Who Died for Our Nation”).

Another writer said, “Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals” (Sir William Ewart Gladstone).  This statement is both true—and profound.  It is why the United States has a 245-year history of honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the defense of our nation. Holidays like Memorial Day reinforce our own commitment to tender mercy, respect for the rule of law, and our personal dedication to the high ideals on which America was founded. Those ideals are more important than ever today.

Throughout the Bible we can find God giving His people holidays and other things to help them remember. In the Book of Genesis, just after the Global Flood of Noah’s day, God gave a sign by which all people could remember God’s promise to never again destroy the entire world again with a flood, namely, the rainbow (Gen. 9:9-17).

After God parted the Jordan River enabling His people to safely cross while it was at flood stage, God commanded them to set up a memorial which would stick up out of the water. This would serve as a reminder to all of how God continually makes a way when there seems to be no way. He did this in the 10 Plagues against the Egyptians, the Red Sea crossing, providing for His people in the wilderness for 40 years, the parting of the Jordan and His deliverance from Israel’s enemies who lived in the Promised Land. And as a result all the peoples of the earth may know the Lord (Josh. 4:21-24).

Similarly, throughout Scripture we see God commanding His people to celebrate certain holidays, taking time to remember. As Christians, we are called to take time to remember the Lord Jesus’ death when we partake of communion. For us as a church, we follow the practice of the New Testament church by partaking of the Lord’s Supper on a weekly basis (Acts 2:46). 

There is great value in taking time to remember certain things. Sometimes remembering the past can be painful. No doubt for some people Memorial Day is painful as they remember loved ones who have passed away. Similarly, it must be painful for some to recount the horrors that they or their friends and family members endured during the holocaust. Likewise, it must be painful for some to remember events that happened long before our time: things like the atrocities that took place against the Native Americans who had settled in this country long before any of us of European descent came to this land. And it must be painful for some African Americans to think about how some of their ancestors were slaves. However, seeking to remove statues and monuments of our history will not help anyone moving forward as a nation. Those acts will only serve to lead ourselves or our descendants to be slaves once again. As one individual wisely said, “Those who cannot remember the   past are condemned to repeat it” (George Santayana). 

Thus, we may not like history, but history is just that, it is history. To deny it is to only lead to it repeating once again. Therefore, there is great value in studying history. Or worded differently, there is great value in taking time to remember certain things.

Here are five things that the Bible calls us to remember that I would like us to consider. First, we need to remember God. Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 in the New Living Translation says, “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor Him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” Remember Him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember Him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember Him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

Remember Him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

Remember Him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember Him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

Second, Scripture calls us to remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32). Perhaps you are not familiar with who Lot or his wife were. Lot was Abraham’s nephew who traveled with Abraham to the Promised Land. When they got there, Abraham and Lot chose separate areas to live. Lot chose the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah lived a very seductive and ungodly lifestyle. God gave them grace yet they refused to turn from their immoral lifestyles. As a result, God eventually brought justice upon them and destroyed them. Meanwhile, Lot and his wife were fleeing the area and were themselves warned about looking back to see the destruction. Basically this was God telling Lot and his wife to turn away from the lures of this sinful world. However, Lot’s wife’s heart still longed for her sinful desires; so she looked back and received God’s judgment. We are told to remember her so that we live righteously instead of giving into the temptations of this world.

Third, the Bible calls us to remember the source of our blessings. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.” One writer explained this verse by saying, “When we are intoxicated with unbroken success, it is too easy to forget God. When things go smoothly, it seems that God is nowhere to be found in the picture. As Christians, we must always remember that God is the Source of all our blessings. It is not through our might, intellect, or ability that we have gathered wealth. It is through God’s blessings that we are able to enjoy life and the pleasures it gives” (Joshua Infantado).

Fourth, the Bible calls us to remember Jesus. Weekly as we partake of the memorial of the Lord’s death, aka, communion, we are called to remember Jesus. The Apostle Paul said, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Lastly, I want to encourage you to remember freedom.  The Bible calls us to remember the freedom that we now have in Christ. In Ephesians 2:11, Scripture calls us to remember what life was like before we came to Christ. And then we read in verses 12 and 13, “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

We now have freedom from the justice that our sins deserve. We have freedom from guilt, shame, and regret. We have freedom from continuing to give into our sinful desires. And we have freedom to love and serve others.

Therefore, this month, as we find ourselves between two holidays: Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, I want to encourage you to remember the sacrifice and service of those who have fought to protect our freedom in this great country. And I want to encourage you to remember the freedom that we have in Christ!

In His service,

Matt

Matt’s Matters: Listening for a Change

 A pastor met with his church board and requested they approve the purchase of a chandelier for the church sanctuary. The next month when the minutes were read there was no mention of the pastor’s suggestion, so he requested it a second time. The third month, the pastor waited expectantly for a report of action taken, but there was absolutely no word in the minutes of his request. So after the meeting, he went to the chairman of the board and asked for an explanation.

“Well pastor, it was this way,” explained the chairman. “First of all, the secretary of the board didn’t know how to spell the word, and it would have embarrassed him if we had insisted on including it in the minutes. Second, if we got one of those things, we don’t believe there is anyone in the church who knows how to play it. And third, we feel that the thing we really need is better lighting.” :)

James 1:19 NLT says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

One of the hardest yet most critical things that needs to happen in our nation is the willingness to listen to people. It seems like we as a nation are more divided than ever. Democrats are blaming the Republicans; Republicans are blaming the Democrats and very few are taking responsibility for their actions. Of course, truth be known, this is nothing new. Ever since the Garden of Eden people have been blaming others for their problems and justifying their actions on account of the actions of others. Yet this will not help to move us beyond our current situation. I think that in order for us to move forward in any relationship in which there is conflict has to start with being willing to listen to what others have to say. This does not mean that you are going to agree with them. But it is where things start.

There are 4 keys to listening well. First, give the other person 100% of your attention. That is going to require you to put aside your phone, iPad, or laptop, and look at the speaker, even if they do not look back at you. In an ordinary conversation, a speaker looks at you occasionally to see that you’re still listening. Constant eye contact lets the speaker feel that you are listening. If you don’t look at the person while they’re speaking, you give them the impression that you don’t care what they say. In essence, it appears as though you don’t even care about them. This applies not only for listening to others but also listening to the Lord. So when you are doing devotions, seek to focus 100% of your attention on listening to what He is saying to you through His Word, not thinking about what you are going to do later or day dreaming about this or that.

Second, if you want to listen well to the Lord and to others, I want to encourage you to not interrupt.  This is not easy. It is about listening to understand, not listening to respond. Often times, we listen only long enough to come up with a response. However, when a person listens wholeheartedly simply to understand, it shows that we genuinely care about the other side. 

Third, if you want to listen well to the Lord and to others, I want to encourage you to ask questions. Asking sincere questions shows that you are genuinely interested in the person that you are talking with. Likewise, it can help us to understand what they are talking about. Often times, the reason why people struggle to have unity relates to a lack of understanding.

And this principle applies to your relationship with the Lord as well. “O’ Lord, what do You think about this? Why did You allow this or that to happen? What do You think I should do in this situation or that situation? Then as you begin to seek out His answers in His Word, again, ask Him questions. “God, what is the significance of this account in the Bible or this verse over here? Why did You inspire the earthly author to place it in this order? What are You trying to say to me through all of this?

Likewise, as you listen for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, there is nothing wrong with asking Him clarifying questions. However, if the Lord has already made the matter crystal clear, then there can be an issue with us asking questions at that point. Because then what we are communicating is that we simply do not like what is being said, therefore, we are asking questions hoping for a loop-hole or way out.

That is simply a matter of unbelief or disobedience. There is no sense in that. But there is a lot of sense in asking clarifying questions: both of the Lord and of others. It shows that we are genuinely interested in them, and it shows that we are genuinely interested in the One whom we as Christians have devoted our lives to follow.

One final key about listening is to apply the things that we hear. Both in the New Testament and in the Old Testament, the words that get translated as to listen refer also to obeying.  In obeying the Lord we are blessed with His divine guidance. In applying what other say blesses us with peace and understanding in our relationships. May that be the case with each one of us.

In His service,

Matt

Matt’s Matters: Easter—The Most Significant Historical Event

 “Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19b).

A preacher in Chilhowie, Virginia, was visiting a man who continually refused to go to church. “All right,” the man finally said. “I’ll come to church Easter Sunday if I’m alive.” But he didn’t show up. After the service, the preacher took a lily from the Easter decorations, went to the man’s home, and knocked on the door. When the man came to the door, the preacher held out the lily and said, “Where’s the body?”

Where’s the body, is an important question you and I have to determine the answer for ourselves.  I’m not talking about your mother-in-law (LOL), but about Jesus.

That question of where’s the body is an easy one to answer if you are talking about Jesus’ body, because it is not in the tomb. In Luke chapter 24, we find this Man named Jesus who was dead, but He didn’t stay that way. This portion of the Easter narrative really starts with His crucifixion, death, and burial with a large stone covering His tomb, and soldiers guarding His body so that it would remain there, in the grave.  

Bright and early on that first Easter morning, ladies went to the tomb to finish the embalming process which was started on Friday afternoon. They came not looking for a risen Savior; rather they came looking for a dead body. But when they got there, they found something beyond all their expectations.  They found that the stone had been rolled away and the body was no longer there. Then two angels asked the ladies, “Why do you look for the Living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen."

Verse 11 tells us these ladies ran to tell the eleven disciples, but they refused to believe because their words seemed like nonsense. This was the same picture for two men who were walking to a village called Emmaus talking back and forth about what happened. They were likewise perplexed over the way things had transpired over the past few days. They had expected a Savior who was much different than what Jesus ended up being. They were expecting a political Savior, someone to deliver them from their earthly enemies. Thus, they wanted a military and political type figure, not someone who came to save them from their sins. Therefore, when Jesus died, they lost all hope. They didn't understand that Jesus' death offered the greatest hope possible. However, their minds were made up and spiritually their eyes were closed to the truth.

Throughout our society, people are taught that the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales. That it is impossible for miracles to occur and therefore, Jesus could not possibly have been raised from the dead. Only a child would be that gullible to believe things like that.

Much of our society is just like the two individuals on the road to Emmaus for verse 16 (NASB) says that their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. These guys were so preoccupied with their own thoughts that they couldn’t even tell who was walking and talking with them.

They had seen His great miracles and heard His teaching. Yet they still refused to open their eyes. Their hearts were hardened to the truth. So then Jesus basically said, “Hey guys; wake up. Look at what you’re saying has happened. Look at what the Old Testament stated would happen to the Savior. And then finally after a long period of time, their eyes were finally opened to who Jesus was.

This reminds me of Genesis 2:21 which says that God put man into a deep sleep then He created woman. The only problem is that Scripture never says that God woke the man back up. :)

A person who has honest doubts will do their homework to find out the truth. They will research the topic from both sides before making a decision.  And quite frankly, I encourage you to do the same. Are you sure you know who Jesus really is? I encourage you to openly and honestly examine what is told about this and seek to determine what is true and accurate. This is the most important decision which you will ever make. So do your homework.

Now when we examine the evidence about Jesus what do we find? What evidence do we have about who Jesus is in the passage we just examined?

Exhibit A we find is the empty tomb. All four of the Gospels record this. The tomb is vacant. Furthermore, if you look at what is recorded in Matthew 28:11-15, you will find something very interesting.  There we learn the soldiers who were guarding the tomb reported to the chief priests that it was indeed empty. And then when the chief priests found out, how did they respond? They bribed the guards to say that Jesus’ disciples stole His body while they were asleep. Question, if they were asleep, how did they know who it was that took the body?

Furthermore, let’s consider who these chief priests were that the guards were reporting to. These guys were some of the most powerful people in the entire world at that time. They had all the money, all the man power and all the abilities necessary to conduct the world’s largest manhunt in human history. Think about this, all the chief priests would have had to have done, is found Jesus’ body, displayed it publically, and guess what, no more Christianity. It would be over. Christianity would not exist today. Yet they never even attempted to find His body. Why? Because they knew for a fact that Jesus did rise from the dead, period. He is risen; He is risen indeed! That is exhibit A which a person needs to consider when questioning who Jesus is. The tomb is empty and there was no manhunt to find His body.

Exhibit B is found back in Luke chapter 24, verses 25-27. There we learn about all the prophecies pointing to who Jesus is. One resource which I found listed a meager 313 Old Testament prophecies concerning who this Messiah figure would be, and all of them were perfectly fulfilled in One man named Jesus.

Exhibit C is eye witness accounts. 1 Corinthians 15:6 tells us that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at one time. Now it is possible to fool 1 or 2 people, but not 500 all at the same time. Plus, He also appeared to various individuals over a 40 day period of time. It wasn’t just a onetime occurrence. Thus, exhibit C, more eye witnesses than you can shake a stick at. 

Exhibit D, transformed lives. Some of the individuals whom Jesus appeared to were adamantly opposed to Christianity. In fact Jesus’ own brother, James, didn’t believe in Him at all prior to seeing his Brother resurrected. Yet, after Jesus appeared to him, he became the leader of the Christian Church in Jerusalem, plus he wrote the book in our Bibles named after himself.

Then we can also look at the life of Saul from Tarsus. Saul persecuted Christians; in fact he was responsible for the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Saul sought out Christians to put them in prison and to kill them. Yet when Jesus appears to him on the road to Damascus, his life was completely and totally changed. And his name was changed from Saul to Paul. Maybe you’ve heard of this guy named Apostle Paul before, the man who became the foremost evangelist and missionary that we read about in much of the New Testament. So Exhibit D is transformed lives.

Exhibit E is Biblical support.  Some say you can’t trust the Bible because it’s loaded with errors. Yet the truth of the matter is that there are over 5,400 collaborating New Testament manuscripts proving its authenticity. And there are 39 non-Christian ancient sources documenting the life of Jesus, listing more than 100 reported facts concerning Jesus’ life, teaching, crucifixion, and resurrection. Think about that, even non-believing historians support what the New Testament says. Thus, God’s Word is reliable, period.

Therefore, I encourage you to examine the evidence with an open mind, allowing the evidence to direct what you believe. And for me, the evidence speaks for itself, Jesus Christ did in fact rise from the dead and He is alive this morning. He is risen; He is risen indeed! He is uncontainable! He is unstoppable! He is the undefeated Savior of the world.

So what difference does it make that Jesus is exactly who He says He is? It means everything! He is the Savior of our past. Sin is a disease beyond human cure. It is incurable like AIDS today but much worse. It’s a cancer which we cannot cure by ourselves. And it’s something which all of us have. Scripture says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This disease known as sin will eventually bring death. But, because of what happened some 2,000 years ago, as Jesus took the punishment which you and I both deserve on the cross and rose from the dead, we can have assurance of our salvation. We can be guaranteed that our sins are washed away. As far as the east is from the west, so far can He remove all our sin and shame.

He can save you from your present, giving you purpose and direction in life. And He can save you for eternity giving you a hope that stretches beyond the grave. Just like Jesus Himself said, “Because I live, you also will live.” Therefore, I encourage you to experience Jesus, the uncontainable, unstoppable and undefeated Savior of the world.

In His service,

Matt

Matt’s Matters: A Covid 19 Christmas

             The Apostle John said in Revelation 6:8 NLT “I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.”

As a pastor, a question that I have received from several people over the past several months of this global pandemic is this. “Matt, do you think that the Coronavirus is a judgment from God?” In order to properly answer that question, a careful understanding of Scripture is required. Throughout Scripture, God warns over and over again that any country that sins against God by rejecting Him or by being unfaithful to Him will be judged regardless of whether there are righteous believers among them or not (Lev. 26:14-16; Ezek. 14:12-13; Rev. 6:1-8). These few righteous will ultimately be saved, but they may still experience some suffering on behalf of the majority.

Therefore, my simple answer is yes. I do believe that God has allowed our world to experience the Coronavirus as a means to wake us up before something worse happens. In fact, this is the very reason why the judgments of the book of Revelation take place, to get people to repent (Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9-11).

It is important to note that at times in Scripture even God’s holy people experienced suffering from God’s judgment upon non-believers (Ex. 8:16-19; 7:17-25; 8:5-15; Acts 14:22; Rev. 1:9). Thus, if you are a devoted Christ follower who has or is suffering with Covid 19, I am not at all saying that this is God’s judgment on you. No, not at all!

On the other hand, God does allow His people to experience suffering in order to test, refine, and purify them in their walk with Him (2 Cor. 12:6-10; Heb. 12:5-6). God also allows us to experience suffering in order to enable us to know Him better as God in the flesh, Jesus Christ suffered greatly for us (Job 42:5; Phil. 3:10).

Knowing these things, how should we live this Christmas as the pandemic rages on? There are three principles that should guide our lives during this time.

First, don't test the Lord. This is the whole idea, "Don't you believe that God can keep you safe from the Coronavirus?" Absolutely, but I am not going to go play around with it either! This is the whole adage, if you play with fire, eventually you are going to get burned. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, one of his attacks was very similar to this. "The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command His angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Luke 4:9-12).

The Baker New Testament Commentary explained these verses like this. “Daily life all around us affords abundant illustrations of false confidence, similar to that which the devil urged Jesus to exercise. A person will earnestly beseech the Lord to bestow upon him the blessing of health; however, he neglects to observe the rules of health. Or, he will ask God to save his soul; however, he neglects to use the means of grace, such as the study of Scripture, church attendance, the sacraments, living a life for the benefit of others to the glory of God. Again, someone will plead with the Lord for the spiritual as well as physical welfare of his children, but he himself neglects to bring them up in the way of the Lord. A church member, admonished because at a circus he had eagerly rushed into a corrupt side show, defended himself by saying, “I cannot deny that I went there, but while I was there I was constantly praying, ‘Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity’” (Ps. 119:37 KJV). “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” is the answer to all of this.”

By this point in time, it is very hard to deny the reality of the Covid 19 virus. It is real; and a lot of people have died from it; however, praise God most don’t. Yet just because most people don’t die from it is not a very wise reason to live as though it does not exist! So what are you saying Matt? I think that taking some precautions is not a bad thing: washing your hands frequently, if you are sick, stay home. Don’t look down upon others if they want to wear a mask, etc. Otherwise, you are just encouraging others to test the Lord, which Scripture commands against.

The second principle that should guide us through the global pandemic this Christmas season is to remember God’s promises, don’t be fearful. Over and over again, the Bible commands us to not be fearful of anyone or anything other than the Lord. Healing is part of the very nature of God, and in His grace, He offers it to those who fear Him: “To you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings…” (Mal. 4:2 NKJV). 

Pastor John Piper shared the following personal testimony. John said, “I recall being told on December 21, 2005, that I had prostate cancer. For the next several weeks, all the talk was about odds. Odds with waiting to see. Odds with medications. Odds with homeopathic procedures. Odds with radical surgery. My wife, Noël, and I took these numbers seriously. But in the evening, we would smile at each other and think, Our hope is not in the odds. Our hope is in God. We did not mean, “It is 100% certain God will heal me, while doctors can only give me odds.” The Rock we are talking about is better than that. Yes, better than healing.

Even before the phone call from the doctor telling me I had cancer, God had already reminded me in a remarkable way about the Rock under my feet. After my usual annual exam, the urologist had looked at me and said, “I’d like to do a biopsy.” Really? I thought. “When?” “Right now, if you have the time.” “I’ll make time.” While he was going to get the machine, and while I was changing into the typical unflattering blue gown, there was time for me to ponder what was happening.

So he thinks I may have cancer. As my future in this world began to change before my eyes, God brought to my mind something I had read recently in the Bible. Here is what He said to me in that urologist’s office as I waited for the biopsy that would confirm that I had cancer. “John Piper, this is not wrath. Live or die, you will be with Me.” That’s my paraphrase. Here’s what he actually said: “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him” (1 Thess. 5:9–10). Awake or asleep—that is, live or die—I will be alive with God. That is very different from playing the odds with cancer—or with the coronavirus. This is the firm Rock under my feet.” 

When you have Jesus as the Rock under your feet you have nothing to fear. “But now, this is what the Lord says—He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isa. 43:1-3a).

Thus, I want to encourage you as a faithful follower of Christ to continue to live your life. Don’t allow this virus to stop you from living. For example, my family recently took a trip to Washington D.C. and several places between here and there. We called ahead, and took the necessary precautions, yet we were not going to allow a virus to prevent us from living.

Likewise, I want to encourage you to continue to make the most of the opportunities that God places before you. So, continue to love and serve others. Just be wise about it. An illustration of this comes from our recent Community Thanksgiving Dinner. We as a church delivered meals to people who had the Coronavirus at that time. They knew that we were coming. We placed things by their door. And let them know via a text or phone call that it was there, and left. Therefore, the person delivering was not exposed, and yet God’s love was shared. 

The third principle to guide us through the global pandemic this Christmas season is to be faithful to the Lord. This goes right back to where we started. Yes, I believe from Scripture that God has allowed our world to experience this pandemic in order to bring judgment upon the world, calling non-believers to repent, and that God is using it to purify His people, drawing us nearer to Him. The question is though, will we remain faithful to Him?

 Studies have shown that pretty much across the country, church attendance is down by at least one third, and many places more than that. Yes, many churches either have gone online, or offer online church services as a possibility. No doubt for some, that is the best option. Yet are you truly connected in that? For some the answer is yes. They do virtual meetings, and communicate frequently by one means or another. Even in that, we need to be willing to open up and share our burdens with others and to help carry their burdens as well.

However, for most, online only creates a consumer mentality Christianity where it is all about what I can receive rather than what I can give. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Likewise, it sets us up to not really be involved with the Bride of Christ, aka, the church. Therefore, “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Heb. 10:25).

The more a person walks away from the church the more they begin to live like the world. Unfortunately, we know from a careful examination of Scripture that just prior to Jesus’s second coming, there will be a great falling away of God’s people (Luke 18:8; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-3; 4:3-4; Rev. 11:7-11). However, may we remain faithful. “Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to Me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 1:3). So may we do as Exodus 23:25 states. “Worship the LORD your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.”

Thus, may these principles guide us this Christmas and all our days. So may we live wisely, not foolishly testing the Lord. May we not fear the Coronavirus or anything/anyone. And may we remain faithful to the Lord

Merry Christmas!

Matt

Matt’s Matters—Surviving a Global Pandemic

On July 30, 1967, at 17 years of age Joni Eareckson Tada misjudged the shallowness of the Chesapeake Bay. And she dove head first into the water, suffering a terrible fracture that left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. But she said these sobering words. “We are pilgrims who are walking on a tightrope between earth and heaven. We feel trapped in time, yet we have eternity beating in our hearts.

Our unsatisfied sense of exile is not to be solved or fixed while here on earth. Our pain and longings make sure we will never be content, but that’s good: it is to our benefit that we do not grow comfortable in a world destined for decay.”

My friends, we must not be moved by the circumstances of this life. We need to allow this current pandemic to make us homesick for a home that we have never been to. We must never forget that we are just sojourners passing through this foreign land. At the same time, how do we survive and thrive in this global pandemic?

Following the pattern of the New Testament Church, we find five activities from Acts 2:42-47 that they were committed to. And thus, as Christians, we should likewise follow their example.

First, the NT Church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). The apostles’ teaching is a reference to Scripture. Yes, we can and should have a time of personal devos. At the same time, in context, the NT believers were untied together in order to receive the teaching of Scripture. Thus, believers were teaching other believers the Word of God. On a normal basis this would be Sunday morning worship services, small group Bible studies, and Sunday school classes. However, given the current social distancing regulations, we are not permitted to do this. Therefore, we as a church, like many other churches have been forced to having our services online only. So I want to invite you to join us at https://www.facebook.com/EugeneChristianChurch/.  

Second, the NT Church devoted themselves to fellowship. (Acts 2:42) Fellowship can be a great source of encouragement in our walk with the Lord. The truth of the matter is that we are going to take some shots as Christians, and therefore, we need one another to help pick us and get through the challenges of this earthly life.

The most common way that fellowship was done in the NT Church was through small groups that met regularly in people’s homes. While social contact is currently discouraged, we can find a simple solution, which, in some senses is one strong aspect of our society today. Over the past few years, social media has boomed more than most would have ever imagined. And its way to stay connected with others without having to physically be present. Therefore, I admonish you to be an encouragement to others through sending texts, Facebook messages, tweets, phone calls, etc. Let others know that you care for them and more, that you are praying for one another.

Another element of fellowship that we can see in the NT Church was that of seeking to meet one another’s needs (Acts 2:43-45). The NT Christians did not give out of obligation but they were motivated by love. Thus, if you see someone else in need during these desperate times, I encourage you to follow the example of the NT believers, and help one another. Some communities have asked shut-ins to put a colored card (or piece of paper) in the window to indicate that they have a need. 

Third, the NT Church was devoted to the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). In context this was most clearly a reference to the Lord’s Supper, aka, communion. While it will never fully substitute for partaking of the elements among the body of believers, my family is partaking of it privately through this time.

This has been a good opportunity for us to help educate our son Samuel who recently became a Christian on the proper etiquette of partaking of the Lord’s Supper. This is a good reminder for all of us. Thus, I encourage you to take some time to study the following passages related to the Lord’s Supper: Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; 1 Cor. 11:23-34.

The fourth activity that the NT Church devoted themselves to was prayer (Acts 2:42). The call and need for prayer has perhaps never been higher than what it is now. Pioneer Bible Translators, an organization that we as a church have supported for decades is urging everyone to be praying the following. Pray God please:

· Intervene and heal our land and all the lands where this virus is passing.

· Help researchers develop a vaccine.

· Help doctors to develop treatments.

· Empower the idea of social distancing to prevent the spread of the disease and slow the rate of infection so that our medical systems won’t be overwhelmed.

· Give our governments and healthcare industries the power  to provide the tests we need.

· Protect our healthcare workers worldwide!

· Inspire believers to set the example of selfless courage during this pandemic.

· Repair the economic damage and help workers and business owners to overcome their loss of income.

· Help churches overcome spiritual and economic impacts that befall them because they are not able to meet.

Just a side note, if the Lord lays it on your heart to partner with the ministry of Eugene Christian Church, you can give by sending check or money order to PO Box 126, Eugene, MO 65032.

Other prayer requests during this time of untied prayer include praying, God please...

· Remove the infection from vulnerable countries that lack adequate medical care.

· Remove this virus from the whole earth.

God’s Word contains promises related to prayer. Take for example 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If My people, who are called by My name, will

· humble themselves and

· pray and

· seek My face and

· turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Oh, how we need God’s healing touch at a time like this! But note that it comes after one has a heart-to-heart with God about their life. God is allowing this pandemic to take place in order that we might do just that (see Lev. 26; Rev. 9:20-21).

The last activity that we see the NT Church being devoted to is evangelism (Acts 2:43, 47). The NT Church had great awe and excitement that non-believers wanted to know about and the hope that they had; and as a result growth took place. This can be the way that it is with us as Christians today. We have a hope that cannot be shaken regardless of the circumstances, because we know the end of the story. We know that God will take care of us. Thus, we don’t need to fear what tomorrow brings.

Therefore, regardless of the global pandemic that we are currently experiencing, we can still devote ourselves to the same practices of the NT Church. 

In His service,

Matt

Matt’s Matters: The Reason for the Season

“But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children” (Gal. 4:4-5).

What Is Christmas All About? Christmas is more than tinsel, toys, trees, egg nog, gifts, and greetings. It is not merely a word of goodwill lightly spoken and soon forgotten in the harsh cries of conflict. Christmas is about answering the biggest dilemma that all people have! However, many people fail to realize the dilemma that they are in. This is just like the person who has cancer that is treatable if dealt with early on.

The dilemma is the crimes that we have committed against the God of the universe. In our hearts, we even recognize this reality. This is why we feel guilty when we lie to other people, take items that do not belong to us, say/do hurtful things to others, cheat on our spouses or taxes, etc.

One day all of us will have to stand before the God of the universe to give an account for our lives. On that day God will not judge us in comparison to what other people have done, but what we have done. And on that day, the good that a person has done will not compensate for the bad. In this we are all doomed as the Bible teaches (Rom. 6:23). Yet that brings us to the primary reason for the season.

One writer said, “Christmas is the celebration of the historical event of where God entered into our world so that He might display the perfection and holiness of God and that through His work of living perfectly and also dying on the cross for our sins, that all who trust in Him would be saved from the righteous judgment of God” (Matt Slick, What is the True Meaning of Christmas?).

John 3:16-17 says it like this. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” 

Jesus’ very name means, “The Lord saves.” He came to give His life for ours (Mark 10:45). He came to save sinners from the wages of their sins. There are numerous verses that teach this (Luke 5:32; 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15). Jesus did not come to save “good people.” He came to save sinners, which Biblically that includes all people as all are sinners (Rom. 3:23). Yet that is just it, we must recognize our dilemma before Him so that we will humbly repent of our sins to be saved.

While Jesus also came so that we could enjoy a relationship with God and to be an example of how to live a grace-filled abundant life. Thus, the primary reason for the season is related to an eternal matter. So, have you received the reason for the season, Jesus as your Lord and Savior? I pray that you have for that will change your life both now and forevermore.

In His service,

Matt