Me...Study?????

By now kids have started back to school. While some are back to in-person classes many are doing remote learning from home. Either way they are back in school, studying and hopefully learning. 

As believers, there are some things we are to study. I would like to take a few moments to point out a couple of these things. 

1 Thessalonians 4:11 (KJV) - And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you

I remember reading this for the first time and thinking how some people have a harder time with this than others. I also believe it would be a good idea to really make an effort to be quiet sometimes. I have found, in my own life, its when I am quiet the the Holy Spirit speaks to me. It is so important to quiet out spirit.

Taking a closer look at this verse we see this is much bigger than just being quiet for a bit. For a little context Paul is writing to the Thessalonians exhorting them in love and work in verses 9-12. He commended them and encouraged them to continue to do what they are doing. 

1 Thessalonians 4:11 (CSB) - To seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you

As you can see, this is actually a lifestyle. We are to lead a quiet life. Many people have a problem with minding their own business. You want to lead a quiet life? Then mind your own business!

Let's look at the next thing I wanted to mention in this post. 

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

2 Timothy 2:15 (Amplified) - Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately and handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth

2 Timothy 2;15 (CSB) - Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth

We see in this verse God is speaking of an approved worker. He was exhorting Timothy to study and show himself approved to God to handle, teach and preach God's Word. If only more people would do this. This is not an exhortation to Timothy only, to preachers only but rather to every believer. 

We have a responsibility to study in order to preach, teach and share the Word with others. This is on us. I want to encourage you to pick up your Bible and not only read it but study it. Doing so will not only bless you, it will grow you in your spiritual life. Let's face it, we all need to grow more spiritually. We should do this until we walk through those pearly gates or Jesus returns for us. 

I want to encourage you to keep on keeping on for Jesus. Keep your eyes firmly focused on Him. He will never lead you astray. 

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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The Role Of The New Testament Church In Today's Society

 What is the role of the New Testament church in today's society? Does the church really have a role? If so, is the church  church fulfilling its role to society and to God? What impact should society have on the church?

These are interesting questions and questions worthy of our contemplation. The Bible has a good deal to say about the church and it's role in the world. 

First of all, let us examine some of the avenues many churches have taken in recent years. Many have become involved in the political process. Some have taken on such causes as feminism, environmental issues as well as racial issues. Churches, today, have become wrapped up in building projects and real estate development. 

Many preachers have attempted to build their own empire or even their own city or community. Many are more concerned with getting their name out to the world rather than the gospel out to the world. 

What, then, is the role of the New Testament church in today's society? In a nutshell, the role of the church is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world so that others may be won to Christ. 

It seems to me that the church has left it's role of preaching the gospel for a more socially acceptable role or a role that is financially more lucrative. Many churches seem reluctant to preach the gospel for fear of offending someone. Churches, today, want to limit or control what goes on in the service. When the preacher gets up they want him to spend his time using flowery speech and saying absolutely nothing and call it church. We don't want to offend Bro. Bigbucks I do not believe the Lord is satisfied with a "tickle my ear but stay off my toe" religion. The truth is sometimes we need our toes stepped on. It may not be pleasant, but if done in love and according to Scripture it could make our walk with God even more rewarding and fulfilling. 

The church, over the years, has become a den of compromise. The one area where we can least afford compromise is in the church. The church's true role is not that of a "watered down" gospel. We must boldly preach the whole gospel just as it is to men, women, boys and girls just as they are. 

Its not enough to merely preach the gospel, the church must lead by example. Yes, folks, we must live it! We must flesh it out. Christianity is more than an hour on Sunday morning - it's a lifestyle!

Society should have very little impact on the church. The church, however, should have a powerful and positive impact on society. For far too long the world has set the example for the church. It is the role of the church to set the example for the world and to reach out to those in our communities with love and compassion and share with them the gospel message.

The primary role and mission of the church while in this world is to bring mankind to the knowledge of the truth of the gospel, to learn the importance of submission and to prepare for eternal service. The church is not to be an outward organization but rather a living organism. The church is not a social club for the elite but rather a spiritual center for the elect. 

God's church is not confined to a building nor should it be. The people are the church wherever they are. WE are the church! Let us stand up and BE the church God has called us to be.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

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Why Worry?

 We used to sing a chorus in church that went like this:

Why worry when you can pray?

Trust Jesus He'll be your stay.

Don't be a doubting Thomas

Rest fully on His promise

Why worry, worry, worry, worry

When you can pray?

So many today are stressed and full of worry. Why? Perhaps that's the way society has conditioned us. When things are tough we should worry. When money is tight we should worry. 

The question I would like to pose to you is, "Is this God's way?" Is this God's plan for the believer's life? Aren't we supposed to respond differently?

Jesus had some things to say about this. Let's take a look. 

Matthew 6:25-34 CSB

[25] "Therefore I tell you: Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing? [26] Consider the birds of the sky: They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they? [27] Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying? [28] And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don't labor or spin thread. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. [30] If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't he do much more for you-you of little faith? [31] So don't worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' [32] For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. [34] Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As a Jesus follower we have no right to worry. As we see in Jesus' own words above, God will take care of us. How wonderful is that? We don't have to worry! If you are a worrier...stop it! 

Another chorus we used to sing went like this:

Turn it over to Jesus

Turn it over to Jesus

Turn it over to Jesus

And smile the rest of the day!

Put your trust and your faith in God. He's got your back!

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

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Don't Be Critical Of Those Who Worship

 Last Sunday we sang at a church not far from where we live. During the course of the sermon the pastor made a statement that resonated with me. The statement was, "When we worship there will be critics".

People are critical. Church people are especially critical. There will be critics both within and without the church when you worship God. The very place you should be able to go and worship God is the very place where you are most often criticized. How sad is that? God must be very grieved. 

The criticism is most often based on your worship style. How you worship God. I firmly believe there is no wrong way to worship God. 

People worship in different ways. Some sit quietly and worship while others are more expressive in their worship. Some lift their hands. Some lift their eyes to heaven. Some do both. With some, tears are part of their worship experience. Some even fall to their knees in worship of God. Again, there is no wrong way to worship. The important thing is that we make worship a part of our Christian walk. 

No matter how you worship, someone is going to be critical of you. Those who are critical may well be those who spend little or no time in worship themselves. Or perhaps they do not have an understanding of what worship is. 

A critic may be one who believes there is only one right way to worship - the way they do it. Many have a "my way or no way" mentality when it comes to worship. 

So many tend to have a critical spirit. They will give account of that when they stand before God. 

I want to encourage you to not allow anyone to hinder you in your worship of God. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. He bestows abundant blessings on us daily. He's given us life. He is worthy to be praised!

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

Check out my website at www.rayspellbrink.com