SCRIP-BITS

Galatians 5:1.           Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Oh Friends, can you believe it’s already September 1st! Wasn’t it just the other day, couple weeks ago, that we were talking about the beginning of August and Caribana? Now it’s suddenly September and Labour Day! That means eight months of 2012 have already gone by, like a flash in the pan, and the million dollar question faces us squarely in our hearts. Have we improved our faith walk, has it moved appreciatively along the continuum of maturity? Have we kept that New Year’s promise to increase our passion and LOVE for Jesus? I certainly hope so, otherwise, you know how our God feels about broken promises. (Eccl.5:4-5) In any case, we only have four months to catch up to that promise, for soon it will be October, Canadian Thanksgiving, then November, American Thanksgiving, then December and Christmas, and another New Year. So please, let’s try and not be found wanting in our promises, neither to God or man, when that New Year rolls around. And our Bit is one of those scriptures that both warns and encourages us of the need for unity and sincere fellowship amongst believers and freedom in Christ, if we truly want to establish a strong and serious faith walk. ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ Now yesterday we ended on the note of there being too much disagreement and too many divisions in Christ’s church, from the local right up to the international level. And we saw some of that in the early days of the church, when certain Christian Jews who had lived under the old Mosaic Law, declared that one couldn’t be saved apart from the Law, especially as it related to the ritual of circumcision. This thoroughly disrupted the young church, until the first council at Jerusalem, (Acts 15) when Peter got up and declared to the disputing councillors: ‘Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us. And put no difference (made no distinction) between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt (test) ye God, to put (by putting) a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even (in the same manner) as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience (listened) to Barnabas and Paul declaring what (how many) miracles and wonders God had wrought (worked) among the Gentiles by them.’ (Acts 15:7-12) Yes Friends, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses in the early church, but unlike us, they were just beginning and feeling their way through new rules and regulations. And with Jesus gone back to heaven, and people jousting for power, it was expected that problems would occur. Hear the scholars’ thoughts on the matter. ‘The primary speakers at this conference, often called the Jerusalem council, were Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James. Peter begins by relating how God had clearly saved Cornelius and the other Gentiles with him apart from any works of the Law (vv.7-9). In fact Peter acknowledges that not only do the Gentiles not need to become like the Jews to be saved, but conversely we, the Jews, need to saved as they, the Gentiles (v.11). The works of the Law for salvation will not even aid a Jew.’ However my people, two thousand years later, when we now have all the rules and regulations, all the benefits of gospel in one Book, the Bible, containing all the thoughts, desires and promises of God enshrined there, why are we still quarrelling with each other over mostly petty stuff eh? The law of man will never enable us to achieve salvation, only the grace of God through belief in His sacrificed and risen Son Jesus can do that. So let’s stop the foolish quarrelling amongst ourselves nuh, which only gives unbelievers ammunition to belittle Christ’s church. Instead we should be out there in the evil, ungodly world, working as ONE, living a life of true faith, and trying to bring others to the Truth of Christ. And we’ll conclude with the definitive words of  Jesus on the subject. Oh how I like it when we can end with Jesus’ pronouncement on a topic. Here He is denouncing the scribes and Pharisees. ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat (of authority): All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not ye after (according to) their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne (hard to bear), and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men…And LOVE the uppermost rooms (of honour, chief place) at feasts, and the chief (best) seats in the synagogues. And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master (Leader, Teacher); even Christ; and all ye are brethren.’ (Matt.23:2-8) Oh Friends, does that remind you of any people you know in the church today? It shouldn’t, but I’m sure it does. So let’s be careful whom and what we listen to, and follow the Holy Spirit of Jesus, so that we don’t get entangled in the slave like tentacles and mentality of the Law again. Much LOVE!…be wary of those who say one thing…but do something else…