Commandments, Sacraments, Rituals, And Ordinances - Where Does Your Church Stand?

What is the difference between Commandments, Sacraments, Rituals, and Ordinances?  In the Old Testament God, through Moses, gave us His Ten Commandments.  He wrote them on stone - and we should view them as set in stone, not to be rewritten by man, not to be ignored by man, nor to be reinterpreted by man. 

God's Ten Commandments:  Are found in Exodus 20:1-17 and in Deuteronomy 5:4-21.  As you can see, the first 4 commandments speak of our relationship with God.  And the last 6 commandments are to guide our relationship with our fellow man.  God wrote them in stone, we should obey them as written in stone, unchangeable, immutable.

God:   I am the LORD your God.   (Exodus 20:2, Deuteronomy 5:7)

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.   (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7)
2. You shall make no idols.  (Exodus 20:4, Deuteronomy 5:8)
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.  (Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11)
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy.   (Exodus 20:8, Deut 5:12)

Fellow Man:

5. Honor your father and your mother.  (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16)
6. You shall not murder.  (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17)
7. You shall not commit adultery.  (Exodus 20:14, Deut 5:18)
8. You shall not steal.  (Exodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19)
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  (Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20
10. You shall not covet.  (Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21)

Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments using that same grouping, in Matthew 22:37-40, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Sacraments in some churches are considered a means of attaining grace from God - and through that church-administered grace, attaining salvation.  Yet the Bible tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The only way to suggest salvation through church-administered grace - is to read that thought INTO the Bible, which is the definition of Eisegesis, reading into the Bible what man wants it to say.

Churches which teach this works-related salvation, salvation based upon Sacraments derived by that church - are those which typically deny the Inerrancy of the Bible, deny the Literal Reading of the Bible, and in many cases deny the full Authority of the Bible as God's Written Word, His full revelation to man to guide our daily Christian life.  That Bible-view is typically found in Liberal Theology churches.

Basically there are seven sacraments which various churches will use all, or some of them, as part of their theology:  Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the sick.  We are told that these sacraments were instituted by Christ and given to the Church, or a Church, to administer.  And we are told that those sacraments are necessary for salvation -  those sacraments being the vehicles of grace.  That is not Biblical.  Jesus Christ is the only Way to gain grace and to have eternal salvation.

That teaching implies that only through those sacraments, i.e., acts of work, can a person be saved - and often only through a specific church.  Yet  what does the Bible say about grace and salvation?

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Titus 3:5-7, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, .  .  ."

Basically, MERCY is God not punishing us as our sins deserve.  And GRACE is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it.  Mercy is deliverance from judgment.  Grace is God extending His kindness to the unworthy.

To say it simply:  MERCY is God NOT giving us what we deserve.   GRACE is God giving us what we DO NOT deserve.

And that is done "by Grace, through Faith, ALONE" - not through any sacraments nor any church.

Rituals:   Most of the "liturgical" churches, i.e., Anglican, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Congregational, Reformed, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, etc., emphasize traditional rituals in their worship.  Liturgy is the "by rote" repeating of prewritten rituals and scripts in worship services, i.e., repeating prewritten creeds, affirmations, prayers, etc., as part of all worship services.

The most commonly recognized "non-liturgical" churches would be the Baptist groups.  But also includes the various churches of our Pentecostal brethren - many church fellowships which are considered Evangelical - and our non-denominational brethren.  In these churches the worship service is not typically "scripted" - no repeating of prewritten creeds, affirmations, prayers, etc.  In other words, their worship services are less structured, more spontaneous - and therefore tend to be more alive spiritually.

Ordinances:  Baptists and other Protestants and Evangelicals view the two Ordinances - Baptism and Communion - as acts of obedience we do in recognition of the Gospel message.  That Gospel message is that Christ lived, died, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven where He is our only Mediator before the Father, and He will one day return in Glory.  Rather than these Ordinances being requirements for, or means of, salvation - they are spiritual acts of obedience which help us better follow Christ and acknowledge what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in His redemptive work on the cross.

In the Bible we do not find any Scripture verse or passage which tells us:  "These are the Two Ordinances left by Christ for His Church."

Yet through knowledge of God's Word, we know the Ordinances because they are taken from Scripture and are determined by three Biblical factors: (1) They were instituted by Christ, (2) They were taught by the apostles, (3) They were practiced by the early church.

Since baptism and communion are the only practices which qualify under those three criteria, there can be only be those two ordinances - neither of which are requirements for salvation.  Both are acts of obedience which are the result of our salvation, not the reason for our salvation.

Baptism:  Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen. "

Communion:   Luke 22:19-20, "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.'"

Since Jesus Christ left His Two Ordinances for all believers, when and how often should we celebrate them?

Baptism:  To me, baptism is analogous to being betrothed to our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth.  The wedding of our Bridegroom to His Bride, the church or worldwide body of believers, will occur in heaven during the Tribulation (Revelation 19:6-9).  Our earthly relationship with Christ, symbolized by our baptism, is like the Biblical espousal, or betrothal, in Christ's time - and would be the same as our being engaged today.  Betrothal in the time of Christ was much stronger, virtually like being married but not yet living together. 

That is a good analogy of our born-again relationship with Jesus Christ.  We are bound to Him, i.e., betrothed - but not yet living in the dwelling He has gone to prepare for us (John 14:1-3).  Our real wedding, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, will happen during the seven year Tribulation while the church is in heaven (Revelation 19:6-9).

So, what is baptism?  It is our announcement, our proclamation, to the world of our earlier betrothal (which occurred the moment we were saved) to our Bridegroom, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are baptized after we have been saved to declare our betrothal before all the world.  Just as we are saved once for all eternity, we are baptized once for all eternity. 

Baptism has nothing to do with our local church membership nor denominational affiliation.  It is our personal betrothal to our Lord.  It is a contract, a spiritual contract, between you and Jesus Christ, not between you and your local church or denomination.

When should a new believer be baptized?   Personally I believe we should do it as soon as possible after receiving Christ, as our act of obedience.  But I see nothing wrong when churches choose to have special Baptism Services for a group of new believers on a monthly or quarterly schedule.  When I was baptized in 1987, we had a group of about twelve who had received Christ during the past six months or so.  It was a very special day and I enjoy looking at the photo of that day and remembering which of my new Christian brethren made a pronouncement for the Lord on that special day.  It is like celebrating our Betrothal or Wedding Anniversary.

Communion:  Since we take the Lord’s Supper in Remembrance of Him and His Redemptive Work on the cross - it would seem that we should do this fairly often.  Since becoming a believer in 1987, I have been in different Filipino-American Baptist churches in Southern California -  and typically we have always celebrated the Lord's Supper once a month, as part of our regular worship service.  At the end of our regular worship service once a month we will close that service by having the elders pass the elements to the congregation and our pastor will review and share Scripture relating to the Lord's Supper:

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."

Our pastor will explain that the Lord's Supper is a time for all believers to do a spiritual examination of himself or herself, that it is a time to for all believers to renew our focus on Christ, our Christian walk, and our Christian obedience.  Then our pastor will remind the congregation present in our worship service that day that the Lord's Supper is only for those who have believed and received Him as Lord and Savior. 

We will not look down upon anyone who is not yet a believer and cannot partake of the celebration.  But we will, in love, try to help all non-believers understand why each individual should seriously consider what Christ has done to provide eternal life for all people.  And in Godly love, we will encourage those who have not yet believed - to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them, to move them to better understand the Gospel story - then to love, enter and seal them as believers.  That we will do because we love each non-believer as Christ loves them.

While there are churches which teach that only members of that local church fellowship can partake of the celebration - I personally believe that when our Lord told us in Luke 22:19, "do this in remembrance of Me" - He was speaking to ALL believers, not just a local fellowship.

So, how often does YOUR church fellowship "Do this in remembrance of Him"?  Daily, weekly, monthly, once a year, once every three years, never?  Once again, my personal feelings are that it should be done frequently enough to stay in faith with His teaching, yet not be so frequent that it becomes a ritual and loses its flavor.  Taking Communion every day or every week, for me, would bring it into the realm of being a ritual. 

Yet a church which only partakes of the Lord's Supper every six months, once a year, or once every several years - gives me the feeling that this church places no real value on His declaration, "do this in remembrance of Me."   Again it is a personal view and belief, but I believe that the Lord's Supper should be celebrated on a monthly basis in every church - and that ALL believers present that day, local members and visitors, should participate.  Food for thought?  I pray this has given you sincere Christian food for thought.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

Are You Familiar With FEBC, The Far East Broadcasting Company?

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH FEBC, the Far East Broadcasting Company?   In 1987 I was led to the Lord by Pastor Sam Lacanienta at the Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI).  Pastor Sam began his pastoral walk with the Lord many years before, when he was a young man living in the Philippines. 

During his early pastoral years, Pastor Sam, who is both a talented pastor and singer, began his association with the relatively new Far Eastern Broadcasting Company helping broadcast Gospel messages to remote areas of the Philippines - and as part of a Gospel Quartet, singing Christian music on the air waves of the FEBC.

He attended the Far Eastern Bible Institute and Seminary (FEBIAS), was ordained, and pastored a church in the Philippines.  Later he and his young bride, Ida, immigrated to America where he followed the Lord as an associate pastor with a small Baptist church in Santa Ana, California, and later at Woodbridge Community Church in Irvine, California.  That led to the foundation of the Fil-Am Church of Irvine. 

Pastor Sam Lacanienta became Director of Church Planting for Filipino Churches in the Southwest District of the Baptist General Conference.  In that role, he began working to plant new Filipino-American churches in California and other western states and over the years planted about a dozen Fil-Am churches in western states of America.

He is a good example of the "paying it forward" principle.  In the early 1990s, a young man from the Philippines, Leto Carag, was attending our FACI services while preparing to attend Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California.  Through Pastor Sam, our church arranged to give a used car to Leto so that he would have transportation while attending Westminster Seminary.  Today that young man is Dr. Anacleto S. Carag,  M.Div and D. Min., president/director of FEBIAS College of Bible, Pastor Sam's alma mater. 

All of this is to explain how the ministry of FEBC has affected my life and my personal walk with the Lord.  Without FEBC, would Pastor Sam have eventually been in Southern California where he led a fifty year old man, Bill Gray, to the Lord?  And over the years so many people who were, or are, involved with FEBC have played a big part in my spiritual walk with the Lord.

Another example of my connection with FEBC alumni is my long time Friend and Christian brother, Pastor Joe de la Peña, and his wife, Ardith.  Like Pastor Sam, Pastor Joe and Ardith worked at FEBC in the Philippines.  Matter of fact, that is where they met and were married - in the music ministry of FEBC.

Circa 2000 I was an elder in the Fil-Am Church of Corona (now CICF), another of Pastor Sam's church plants.  One Sunday when I was an usher, the service had begun, so I took my seat for the service.  Just after we began an older couple, a Caucasian man and his Filipina wife, came in to join us in worship.  I went back, gave them bulletins, and introduced myself.  He told me his name was Bill Roberts.  For some reason that name had such a familiar ring, but I could not remember where I had heard the name.

After the service when we began our mandatory (in Filipino churches) Food Fellowship I went to him and told him, "Your name is so familiar to me.  Have we met before?"

He told me, "I am Bill Roberts, one of the founders of Far East Broadcasting Company."

Wow, I was almost speechless, feeling as though I was standing in the presence of history.  That is when I told him, "My senior pastor who led me to the Lord, Sam Lacanienta, worked at FEBC as a young man.  And because of that I found and have recently read the book "Sky Waves; The Incredible Far East Broadcasting Company Story" - the story of your adventure."  

I told him of reading about a Filipino man who was electrocuted installing their first antenna.  With no hesitation, Bill Roberts told me, "Yes, his name was.  .  ."   That happened in 1948, it was now the year 2000, and without skipping a beat he had given me the name of that man who was the first to die for FEBC in the service of the Lord.  Amazing. 

Later Dory and I were invited to an FEBC function in Anaheim, California, by Jonathan Mortiz Administrator, FEBC International Ministries.  At this function we were able to meet the other two founders of FEBC, Robert Bowman and John Broger.  At that time all three were in their 90s.  Bill Roberts, when I met him at our church in 2000, was then 94 years old.  So I am sure that all three are worshiping in the presence of our Lord today.  But the impact of FEBC, which they began in 1948 - has touched my life in so many ways.

For me, FEBC is that "gift that just keeps on giving!"  Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting and worshiping with a number of FEBC folks and alumni.  A major ministry of FEBC is "Papuri! / The Music Ministry of FEBC Philippines."   Based in Southern California, working through Jonathan Mortiz, Administrator for FEBC International Ministries, that organization has a number of Papuri! groups which visit local churches and Christian functions, sharing their music and sharing the Gospel.

In 1987 Jonathan Mortiz was hired as an announcer for FEBC’s radio station DZAS in the Philippines.  In 1995 he was called to head its music ministry called “Papuri” - which means “Praise” - and pioneer the production of Original Pilipino Christian music.  In 1997 Jonathan relocated to Southern California where he accepted the position as FEBC’s liaison to Filipino-Americans in the United States.  Jonathan finished his BS in Biblical Studies at Bethel College in the Philippines and his MA in Organizational Leadership at Biola University in Southern California, and now also serves as the worship pastor at Woodbridge Church in Irvine, California. 

Since the days of my early Christian life which began in 1987, I have counted Nadine Kyna Lacanienta, daughter-in-law of Pastor Sam Lacanienta, as a Christian sister and dear Friend.  For many years Kyna has been a singing member in one of the Papuri! groups.  Also my Christian brother and Friend, Mel Amante, sings with Papuri!

And in my local home church today, International Bible Baptist Church of Riverside, Danny & Heather Fernandez greatly enhance our music ministry, worship, and overall fellowship with their beautiful voices, musical talents, and Christian love.  Oh, by the way, did I forget to mention that Danny & Heather have long been a part of the Papuri! music ministry?

Yes, since 1987 when I turned from the secular world and became a child of God, my life, in so many ways, has been touched by the ministry begun in 1948 by Bill Roberts, Robert Bowman, and John Broger - FEBC, the Far East Broadcasting Company.   So, I will share this from their web site - and let me state boldly that FEBC's web site practices a principle which I have long espoused. 

"Bill, pray tell, what is that principle?"

Glad you asked.  When you visit the FEBC web site, one of the first things you will see on their home page is:  WHAT WE BELIEVE.  Many years ago, my long time Pastoral Friend, Freddy Cortez, Jr., taught me that when I read or listen to the teaching of a ministry or church not familiar to me - "Look for their Statement of Faith" - their "What We Believe" statement.  That tells you what they believe - and what they believe is what they teach.  You do not want to be filling your head and heart with wrong Christian doctrines and teachings.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So back to my excerpt from the web site of FEBC:

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL BOLDLY  ~  What We Believe

The Origins of the Far East Broadcasting Company:   While attending Southern California Bible College, God planted in the hearts of two young men named Bob Bowman and John Broger a vision for missionary radio that would one day become Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC).  They shared this vision with Reverend William Roberts, the pastor of a church that Bowman’s parents attended, who enthusiastically supported their plan; Roberts and his church were the first to assist FEBC through prayer and funding.

In 1945, FEBC was officially incorporated by Bob Bowman, John Broger, and William Roberts and (was) established with one goal in mind: Broadcasting Christ to the world.  They had no supportive board at the time, and were not affiliated with a specific church denomination.  Instead, they followed God’s lead to launch a ministry that focused on sharing Christ with the people of Asia.  With nothing more than a heart to reach the lost and an understanding of radio’s ability to reach far and wide, they leaned on this promise from God: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.  I will guide you with my eye” (Psalm 32:8).

With one country in particular on their hearts - China - they aired their very first broadcast from Shanghai.  But by 1948 all mission work in China was shut down due to Communism.  An alternative had to be found.

First Radio Station:   Ideally located in the South China Sea, the Philippines had much to offer, and the newly established nation was more than willing for FEBC to establish their operations there.  The first broadcasts, over local station KZAS (as it was known), went on the air in Manila on June 4, 1948.  International broadcasts to China started the following year and have since expanded to cover most of Southeast Asia, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia.  FEBC’s sister organization, FEBA, broadcasts programs in Africa, the Middle East, and India.

Circling the Globe, FEBC’s programs are heard on AM and FM stations worldwide, as well as by satellite and the Internet.  We also broadcast by shortwave through our transmitter sites in the Philippines, sharing Christ in hard-to-reach minority groups.  Our total number of languages is now 124 worldwide, with broadcasting hours totaling 842 a day.  

Four billion people live within range of our transmitters.  But the only figure we’re truly interested in is the number of people whose lives have been changed by Christ.  Last year, we received 2.26 million listener responses, many attesting to transformed lives.  That’s why FEBC was launched. . . and that’s why we continue.  To share Christ with the world.  UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD.

GREAT GOD, GREAT MISSION: THE STORY OF FEBC https://www.febc.org/learn-about-us?scroll_to=section4-svg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Earlier in this blog I mentioned the book I had read about the early days of FEBC, "Sky Waves; The Incredible Far East Broadcasting Company Story."  My hard copy version of that great book is long out of print, but Praise God, because of our technological advances (and you thought God had forgotten) that book is now available in PDF format.  You can read it at:

Sky Waves; The Incredible Far East Broadcasting Company Story
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjhk4zj5LzjAhXbK80KHQPtBX4QFjAAegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanradiohistory.com%2FArchive-Bookshelf%2FHistory%2FSky-Waves-Ledyard-1963.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2ZNb6UKmu_43PTzMXyMvKK

To all my Christian Friends, and even to those who have not yet joined our team and become a child of God - I pray you will visit the FEBC web site, visit their Facebook page, and read this very interesting book - all about how God chose to use three Americans when World War 2 was won and life was ready to move forward.  They chose to move forward sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Far East - and they have impacted the whole world through their ministry.

I pray you found this information useful and that it will enhance your spiritual walk with the Lord.  Note of interest:  In the photo below I have superimposed the photo of the FEBC founders on the cover of the book, "Sky Waves."

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Are You Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?  ~  Yes, that is the name of a country/western song from1980, but it is also a reason for many marriages going wrong.  My Christian brother and Friend from Northern California, Jerry Eden Oliveros, posted the video below titled "Husband Checks Out Other Girls, Forgets How Beautiful His Wife Is" and it brought a flash-back for me to the early 1960s.

About 1962 I saw Anthony Newley's play "Stop The World, I Want To Get Off" on Broadway.   And I was fortunate enough to see, from a 3rd row orchestra seat, the original when it was a new hit on Broadway.  An experience I will never forget.  Newley's character in this play was initially a young street lad in London, out to woo, win, and seduce all the girls.  He meets a young lady named Evie, the daughter of a leader of industry.  Seeing his golden opportunity, he marries Evie and goes to work for his father-in-law's company.

The play was sort of a comedy; yet it really made you think about life.  It was a comedy, still it gave a better perspective on life than most dramas ever could.  Newley's character throughout the play was dressed in a clown mime costume; but this did not detract from the message.  Periodically, as life's pressures would build too high, Newley would walk to the edge of the stage, look at the audience, and announce in a high pitched voice, "Stop the world.  I want to get off!"  Haven't we all felt that way many times?

Then it was time for Dad to retire and Son-in-Law to take over the family business.  Newley's character was exceedingly successful in growing the company into an international giant.  In the meantime, Evie kept having babies - until at one time, he tells her, "If only all of our plants were as productive as you!"

Newley's character becomes an international leader in industry - rubbing shoulders with world leaders, presidents, prime ministers, the top of the world.  And as he traveled around the world, he continued to meet and woo women in every country.  In the play each of his female conquests in the various countries was always played by the same girl who played his wife, Evie - which lent an ironic twist to his affairs.  He was looking all over the world for love - yet each time he found it, it looked just like Evie.   Life is often that way.

Then, came the Autumn of their lives.  He and Evie retire to a rich resort island, lived the life of luxury.  Then Evie dies.  That is when he walked out to center stage with a pathetic, defeated look.  In spite of the vast material wealth he had gained, you knew his life was empty.  That is when he sang the beautiful song "What Kind Of Fool Am I?"

WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I?
Words & Music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newly

What kind of fool am I, who never fell in love?
It seems that I'm the only one that I have been thinking of.
What kind of man is this? An empty shell,
A lonely cell in which an empty heart must dwell.

What kind of lips are these, that lied with ev'ry kiss,
That whispered empty words of love, and left me alone like this?
Why can't I fall in love, like any other man,
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.

What kind of clown am I? What do I know of life?
Why can't I cast away this mask of play and live my life?
Why can't I fall in love, like any other man,
And maybe then I'll know what kind of fool I am.

Although it was in the 1960s when I saw this play during its Broadway debut, and later I saw it in Hollywood with Joel Grey playing the lead - I have never forgotten the impact that this play, and especially this song, had on me.

I knew that the good life I was living in California and in my travels - the exciting career, the night life, and the parties - were just like Newley's character in "Stop The World."  Like Newley's character, I was playing the clown and never finding true value in life.

However, in 1987 God stepped in.  Actually He had my beautiful Filipina wife, Dory, step in under His guidance.  And my life has never been the same since.  Praise the Lord!

I thank my Christian brother, Jerry Eden Oliveros, for sharing this video on the "Pastors, Ministry Leaders & Church Planters Fellowship of the East Bay" Facebook group page today.  And I pray that you will share this post.  For we never know when a FRAN (Friend, Relative, Associate, Neighbor) might need to see it. 

Husband Checks Out Other Girls, Forgets How Beautiful His Wife Is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8AvWsJ2qPw

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

All Roads Do Not Lead To God!

Today I received an e-mail from BiblicalTraining (dot) org, where Dr. Bill Mounce blogs on spiritual formation and on Biblical Greek.   I am proud to say that I have his book "Greek For The Rest Of Us" in my personal library, given to me by my loving wife, Dory, on our 27th Wedding Anniversary in 2004.  The e-mail I received today titled "Every Baptist Should Go to a Catholic Funeral" made me think and also brought back several memories.

One was the funeral service of a young friend, a Roman Catholic wife and mother, only 36 years old, who had been taken from her family by cancer.  Our son, Duane, had taken one of our Baptist pastor friends to talk with her just weeks before her death, and she had prayed to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  Out of respect, our pastor friend came to the funeral service, stayed for the first portion of the memorial service, but left before the mass began.  Although Dory and I stayed for the full service, I did not fault our pastor friend for leaving at that part of the service. 

Another incident happened about that same time, give or take a year or two.  The beautiful, inside and outside, mother of Christian brothers in our Fil-Am Church of Corona (now CICF) was taken by cancer.  She had been Roman Catholic but a year before her death she received Christ in our Baptist fellowship and was active in our services and Bible studies.  When she was taken from us, most of her children were of the Baptist faith, but some were still in the Roman Catholic church.  So out of respect for all the family, the memorial service was held in a local Roman Catholic church and at the Graveside Interment Service the Roman Catholic priest spoke first and then left.  After he left, the pastor from our Fil-Am Church of Corona came and gave a Graveside Interment message.

What put a smile on my face was that when the priest spoke, he told us that she was now in purgatory.  After his message, he left - and a few minutes later our pastor came and gave the message we had been waiting to hear - that the moment this beautiful Christian sister left her mortal body, she was immediately in heaven, in the eternal presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I could not help turning to Dory and remarking, "Never have two messages about the same event, been so far apart."  Yes, we knew then that she was already celebrating her eternal life in the presence of Jesus Christ in heaven, so we just smiled.

Now, let me assure my Roman Catholic friends and family members, this is not a slam against you or your faith.  I have long said that salvation does not come from any one church or group of churches - but it comes when a person truly believes in Jesus Christ and receives Him as personal Lord and Savior.  And that is more or less why this song has long been one of my favorite Gospel songs, you might call it my "Salvation Anthem."

It's Not What's Over The Door

Some people think today, If heaven you would see, You must belong to their one church, Or be lost eternally. But according to God's word, What He's still looking for, Is what He finds within your heart, And not what's over the door.

It's not what's over the door Of the church that you attend, That makes you a child of God, And a heavenly citizen. As the eyes of the Lord look this world o'er, There's just one thing He's lookin' for Can't you see that's what's in your heart, And not what's over the door.

For over 32 years I have lived in faith knowing that the words of this song are true - and I will go into eternity still believing that truth.

Am I saying that folks who die in the Roman Catholic church are lost eternally?  No!  For just as this song teaches, Jesus Christ looks at what is in your heart - not which church you attend.

Are there people in both the Baptist and the Roman Catholic churches which have a saving faith and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which assures them eternal life in and with Christ?  Yes, absolutely!  But I will offer a qualifier.  I would say that, because the Roman Catholic church is a works-based church which puts salvation emphasis on your faithfulness to that church, more than to Jesus Christ, as the provider of eternal life - many very dedicated Roman Catholics are erroneously depending upon the church to save them.   Whereas, Jesus Christ tells us, in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  NO ONE comes to the Father except through Me."   

Because of that, the percentage of people in the Baptist churches which have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ is higher than those people who spend their lives in the Roman Catholic church.  Why do I say this?  It is well known that the Roman Catholic church is a works-based religion, i.e, a person is saved based upon his relationship with and faithfulness to the Roman Catholic church - whereas in the Baptist church we know we are saved only based upon our direct relationship with Jesus Christ.

With that introduction, let me share Dr. Bill Mounce's blog with you:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Every Baptist Should Go to a Catholic Funeral
By Dr. Bill Mounce, BiblicalTraining blog:

I understand there is a long history of disagreement, even hatred, between the Protestant and Catholic churches, and so I write this blog with a little hesitancy, but I recently attended a Catholic funeral of the father of my son's friend.  It was enlightening and interesting.

To be clear, I would not say it was a Christian funeral.  There was no mention of the true Gospel, and the assurances that were given were false.  It reminded me of an Episcopalian funeral I went to years ago.  My neighbor thought he could fly, but the cocaine did not break his fall.  The widow was assured her husband was in heaven because he had been baptized as an infant, the implication clearly stated that the sum total of his life had no relationship to his final destiny.

Likewise, the priest at the Catholic funeral assured us repeatedly that the man was in heaven because he had been baptized and was given last rites.  I shudder to think of the surprise and fear the man experienced when he first stepped into eternity to discover that something his parents did to him as an infant made no difference whatsoever.

But on to the interesting stuff.

The funeral was very formal, the result I would think of years of experience.  There were no off-the-cuff remarks, no verbal pauses while the priest tried to figure out what to say as if he had not prepared.  The formality was honoring, and it made me realize that in death we are not just individuals but are part of something much larger.

The service was highly participatory.  The congregation constantly was responding to the words of the priest - and before you dismiss this as meaningless, rote memory - think about how many times the Lord’s Prayer has been repeated in Baptist churches by people thinking about anything other than what they were saying.  But just because some (many?) people responded with rote memory without thinking about what they were saying, I suspect there were some who were thinking about what they said, and meant it  Likewise, I trust there are some Baptists who actually do mean the Lord’s Prayer, even though many around them are thinking about where to eat lunch after church.  There was also a physical response, hands outstretched and standing or sitting together.  It was a corporate experience, and a helpful one to those thinking through what the actions meant.

Perhaps the greatest thing that impacted me was the silence.  The priest and people had no concern for long stretches of silence.  These times added to the solemnity of the event and gave me time to think through my own mortality.  There were long breaks of silence between the different parts of the service, marking the end of one part and the beginning of the next.  Sometimes it feels in our own services that we are as frightened of silence as is a radio station.

Communion was also interesting.  There was a clear statement of transubstantiation and the very clear admonition to the church that non-Catholics should not participate.  There was nothing arrogant or demeaning about how it was stated, but it was clear.  I compared that to how so many Protestant churches fail to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:28) and fail to let visitors know what was happening and whether or not they should participate.

I like to read business books, and one of the things I have read repeatedly is that business leaders have much to learn from people who are not in the business, store managers learning from photographers.  The encouragement is to read a wide variety of books.  I am glad for my experience at the Catholic funeral, but I am mostly glad that I don’t live under works-based righteousness and my assurance of living eternally with my Lord is based on his accomplished work on the cross and not on what my parents may or may not have done when I was born.

Incidentally, I was born in a Catholic hospital, and my mom, at that time still a young Christian, had to threaten the hospital with a lawsuit if they tried to baptize me.  The water never hit my head.

Dr. Bill Mounce, with a BA from Bethel College, Western Kentucky University - an MA from Fuller Theological Seminary - and a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, is the founder and President of BiblicalTraining.org. 

He serves on the Committee for Bible Translation (which is responsible for the NIV translation of the Bible), and has written the best-selling biblical Greek textbook, Basics of Biblical Greek, and many other Greek resources.  He blogs regularly on Greek and issues of spiritual growth. 

He has also been a preaching pastor, a professor of New Testament and director of the Greek Language Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a professor at Azusa Pacific University.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I pray that all my FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) take this blog in the manner in which it is intended - to assure us all that, regardless of which church we attend - our eternal salvation is based upon one thing only - our one-on-one saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Just as my favorite Gospel song tells us, "It's not what's over the door Of the church that you attend, .  .  .Can't you see that's what's in your heart, And not what's over the door."

The important point I want to make is that it is of eternal consequences that you "do walk through the door of that church on a regular basis"  and live a life based upon His User's Manual, the Bible.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

The Revelation Record - Revealed!

WHILE ALL BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE IMPORTANT  ~  To me, the three key cornerstone books of Scripture are Genesis, John, and Revelation. 

Genesis is the beginning, setting the foundation of the Bible, God's Written Word, His complete revelation to man.  John tells us of God's plan of salvation for fallen man. 

The book of Revelation tells us step by step how God will first rescue His church, His bride, His worldwide body of believers before destruction falls upon the earth.  And Revelation tells us how God the Father will rescue the remnant of His chosen people, Israel, who had become His harlot wife - but through the Refiner's Fire (Malachi 3:2) of Tribulation the remnant of Israel will be raised in eternal glory.

And, as you and I know, the book which many pastors will not teach, which many folks tend to avoid in their Bible studies - is the book of Revelation.  Why?  Many are convinced that it is a confusing book of symbolisms, metaphors, and myths - intended to "scare the hell" out of us.  Far from the truth.  True, the book of Revelation does have its share of symbolisms and metaphors, but none of it is mythical.  It is God's revelation to man telling how He will end Satan's reign of fear, temptation, and sin - for all time - and usher in His plan of eternal life for all who will believe. 

Those who believe in this life will spend an eternity of joyful celebration in His presence.  Those who end this life still denying Him will spend eternity outside the loving presence of God, which can only be called hell.

Dr. Henry M. Morris, late founder of The Institute for Creation Research, was author of many books and Bible commentaries intended to help us better understand God's Users' Manual, the Bible.  In my opinion, his three most important books are:

The Genesis Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings

The Revelation Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Prophetic Book of the End of Times

The Henry Morris Study Bible: Apologetics Commentary and Explanatory Notes from the "Father of Modern Creationism"

Since the book of Revelation tends to be the one which causes most folks concern, I want to share this very valuable study tool with you.  I have Dr. Morris' book "The Revelation Record" in my personal library and have used it over and over in my study of End Times Prophecies.  Next to the Bible, it is one of my most cherished books.  And when God makes it possible, one day I will be able to afford to have these other two great books in my library.

To make your time of study in the book of Revelation and the End Times Prophecies more profitable, you will want to download and bookmark this online version of Dr. Morris' book, The Revelation Record.  This book is a verse-by-verse commentary on the book of Revelation.  When you open the link below in your browser, it will give you a page by page index of the book, opening with:

Preface:

The Revelation Record was undertaken only after many years of study and teaching in this remarkable and climactic book of the Holy Scriptures, the last book of the Bible.  Even as promised in the opening verses of the book (Revelation 1:3), it has proved to be of great personal blessing, and I hope the results of this present study will also be of benefit and blessing to others who may read it.

Scientists do not often write expositions of Revelation, but the book is so full of allusions to natural phenomena that this lack of scientific attention is surprising.  Consequently, what might seem at first to be an unlikely background may actually, I hope, be helpful toward filling a real need.

Since so many previous writers have published studies on the Book of Revelation, the reader has a right to know what else, if anything, is different about this commentary.  In addition to the scientific flavor associated with the many natural phenomena and physical events described in Revelation, I have tried to emphasize the physical reality of the great events recounted in the book.  The Book of Revelation is not a theological treatise but an actual record of the final phases of world history, when the mighty King of Creation undertakes to finish the work He began long ago.

I have set an icon on my computer desktop so that I can quickly open the book and begin reading at the home page.  As you step through the pages, with verse-by-verse commentary, you will soon become familiar with the location of key verses, i.e., I know that page 27 explains Revelation 4:1 which is a type of pretribulational Rapture of the church.

So, click the link below and begin, or continue more effectively, your study of Revelation and End Times Prophecies.

The Revelation Record  Dr. Henry M. Morris A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Revelation
http://thebookofrevelationartist.com/Home_Page.php

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

The Truth About Planned Parenthood And All Abortion Providers

Hi to all my Friends,

In about 16 months, November 3, 2020, God and our fellow Americans will be asking us to go to the Voting Polls and use our votes to stand for Conservative Values across America.  Will you join your fellow Conservative Americans and VOTE - or will you stay home and allow the Secular Moral Values of the Liberal Left continue to suck the life blood and moral decency from the foundation of our Christian nation, the traditional family. 

One of the most important issues which we will be indirectly voting on in 2020 will be Abortion - and the Liberal Left's desire to continue legally funding cruel abortion murders of innocent babies, pre-born and born alive.

In this blog which I have titled "The Truth About Planned Parenthood And All Abortion Providers" - and in the associated video below, you will hear a woman, Priscilla Smith, from Yale Law School defending Planned Parenthood and Abortion, declaring D&E Dismemberment Abortion to be humane.   To me that is like comparing a guillotine beheading to nicking yourself shaving.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For ease of reading and clarity I have copy/pasted the text of the associated article here:

Dismembering Living Unborn Babies Is ‘Very Humane’
Planned Parenthood Backer Tells Congress
(LifeSiteNews (dot) com/opinion)

September 11, 2015 (Live Action News) -- This week, the Congressional Judiciary Committee conducted its first hearing on the investigation of Planned Parenthood.

Titled “Planned Parenthood Exposed: Examining the Horrific Abortion Practices at the Nation’s Largest Abortion Provider” - this first hearing included four witnesses, one of which was Ms. Priscilla Smith, a Director and Senior Fellow at the Program for the Study of Reproductive Justice at Yale Law School.  Her comments before the committee were truly horrifying.

During the questioning period, Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte read from Justice Kennedy’s dissent in the U.S. Supreme Court Stenberg v. Carhart decision. Kennedy had quoted the testimony of Dr. Leroy Carhart, a famed and brutal late-term abortionist.

Carhart testified that he had personally “observed fetal heartbeat” on an ultrasound screen, even after substantial portions of the baby had been dismembered and pulled apart.  This type of abortion is known as a D&E abortion, or a “dismemberment abortion,” as the baby is literally torn and ripped apart, limb from torso.

Carhart’s testimony continued:  "The fetus in many cases dies, just as a human adult or child would.  It bleeds to death."

Bill Gray Note:  He neglected to add that the baby also experiences great pain as it is dying from the abortion.

After reading this (to Priscilla Smith), Rep. Goodlatte asked Ms. Smith:  "Do you believe this is a humane way to die?"

At first, Smith attempted to distinguish between abortions on viable and non-viable babies, but Goodlatte reminded her that Justice Kennedy had written of a baby whose arm was pulled off in an attempted D&E abortion, but was later born alive and lived.

Smith still reverted back to discussing only “pre-viable” babies.  Incidentally, the majority of D&E abortions are indeed performed on pre-viable babies, as they are performed all throughout the second trimester, yet viability does not change the horror of ripping apart a living human baby.

In a chillingly horrifying statement, Smith finally answered:  "Yes, a D&E procedure is a very humane procedure…"

As an abortion activist with decades of experience, Smith is fully aware of exactly what happens during a D&E abortion.  And yet she easily declares that it is “humane.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Bill Gray Note:  Viability, as the word has been used in United States constitutional law since Roe v. Wade, is the potential of the fetus to survive outside the uterus after birth, natural or induced, when supported by up-to-date medicine.  From a clinical perspective, a viable pregnancy is one in which the baby can be born and have a reasonable chance of survival.  By contrast, a nonviable pregnancy is one in which the fetus or baby has no chance of being born alive. (Nov 4, 2018 - Wikipedia).  

~ ~ ~ ~

Dr. Anthony Levatino, a former abortion doctor, described D&E abortions for the general public:

A second-trimester D&E abortion is a blind procedure.  The baby can be in any orientation or position inside the uterus.  Picture yourself reaching in with the Sopher clamp and grasping anything (any body part) you can.  At twenty weeks’ gestation, the uterus is thin and soft, so be careful not to perforate or puncture the walls. 

Bill Gray Note:  It is okay to kill the baby, but don't harm the mother's uterus.  How about we do not harm either?

Once you have grasped something inside, squeeze on the clamp to set the jaws and pull hard – really hard.  You feel something let go, and out pops a fully formed leg, about 4 to 5 inches long.  Reach in again and grasp whatever you can.  Set the jaw and pull really hard once again, and out pops an arm about the same length.  Reach in again and again with that clamp, and tear out the spine, intestines, heart, and lungs.

The toughest part of a D&E abortion is extracting the baby’s head.  The head of a baby that age is about the size of a plum and is now free-floating inside the uterine cavity.  You can be pretty sure you have hold of it if the Sopher clamp is spread about as far as your fingers will allow.  You will know you have it right when you crush down on the clamp and see a pure white gelatinous material issue from the cervix.  That was the baby’s brains.  You can then extract the skull pieces.  If you have a really bad day like I often did, a little face may come out and stare back at you.

Congratulations! You have just successfully performed a Suction D&E abortion.

That’s humane?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of the witnesses in this Congressional Hearing is Gianna Jessen who survived a Saline Abortion attempt and was born alive on April 6, 1977.  I personally saw this young lady speak in person as a young teen, and heard her sing glory to God for her life.  Like the D&E Abortion, Saline Abortion is another inhumane method of performing abortions - where the saline solution is injected into the womb, using the acidic saline solution to burn the baby alive.  

The New York Times wrote regarding Saline Abortion:  "One doctor who 'conscientiously performs' saline abortions stated,  'When you inject the saline, you often see an increase in fetal movements.  It's horrible.'   Delivery occurs 24 to 48 hours after the fetus dies."

How can any method of abortion, ripping a baby apart or burning it alive in acidic saline solution, be considered humane - by any civilized human being?

Watch this video, then share it with your FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors).  In doing this, you may save the life of a baby - and the life of even one baby is worth all the effort we can muster to put a stop to all Infanticide, i.e., legalized murder of babies via abortion.

Chairman Goodlatte Question To Priscilla Smith, Minority Witness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIXDx0pJF38       

I apologize for having to put such issues before you.  But just imagine your joy, and the joy of  God, if you can be instrumental in the saving the life of even one precious baby.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on image to enlarge:

 

Staying In Step With My Friend, Pastor Ike Riddle, On The Lord's Prayer

My Friend of many years and Christian brother, Pastor Ike, recently posted an interesting challenge on Facebook.  But first a bit of background:  I met Pastor Ike about 15 years ago when I visited the Olive Branch Community Church and Christian School in Corona, California - and was very impressed with what that church had accomplished under his pastoral guidance. 

We had an immediate connection, for being from Tennessee originally, he still had that Southern lilt in his speech.  In other words he still had his Tennessee flavor and I have never really lost my Alabama flavor - so we "tawked" the same language.  And Pastor Ike is a product of California Baptist University in Riverside, California - which fit well with my Baptist-flavored faith.

But back to Pastor Ike's challenge.  He suggested, "Another Scripture misused" referring to what many call The Lord's Prayer.  And thinking about it, I agree with him 100% - for when we hear someone mention "The Lord's Prayer" we most often will think of Matthew 6:9-13, or more likely the more historically accurate Luke in chapter 11:2-4, where His disciples ask Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 

Matthew 6:9-13 says, “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'“  

Many people misunderstand the Lord’s Prayer (here the writer also considers this Matthew passage to be the Lord's Prayer) to be a prayer we are supposed to recite word for word.  Some people treat the Lord’s Prayer as a magic formula, as if the words themselves have some specific power or influence with God.

The Bible teaches the opposite.  God is far more interested in our hearts when we pray than He is in our words.  “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:6-7).  In prayer, we are to pour out our hearts to God (Philippians 4:6-7), not simply recite memorized words to God.  ("What Is The Lord's Prayer And Should We Pray It?" - https://www.gotquestions.org/Lords-prayer.html)

When His disciples asked, Jesus gave them a Prayer Model, not a word-by-word fixed prayer.  Just as the Sinner's Prayer is only a model, to be prayed in one's own words, to guide the new believer into a relationship with Jesus Christ - He gave His disciples, and us, this Prayer Model to guide us in our relationship with God the Father.

"Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name"   ~  We are glorifying and honoring God.

"Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven"  ~  We look forward to His coming again and restoring His kingdom on earth.

"Give us this day our daily bread"  ~  We go to Him for all our daily needs - not necessarily all our wants, but most certainly all our daily needs.

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors"  ~  Forgive us our sins of disobedience against You, Lord - as we are to forgive those who have wronged us.

"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil"  ~  Or as many read this, deliver us from the Evil One, Satan.

In his post, Pastor Ike tells us: 

Most of us have memorized the so-called Lord's Prayer.  But the error is in calling it the Lord's Prayer.  It is in reality the MODEL Prayer.  Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray and He gave them a MODEL to follow when they prayed.  This was not a prayer that He prayed to the Father openly. 

The actual Lord's Prayer is found in John 17.  He prayed a beautiful prayer that is recorded.  Most of His prayers were done in seclusion and so we do not know what He prayed.  The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was also His prayer to the Father in His greatest hour of need.

Actually John 17 is not a single prayer, but a three part prayer: 

(1) That He and the Father be glorified through His work on earth [vs 1-5]. 

(2) Then Jesus prays for His disciples [vs 6-19], i.e., His apostles and all the disciples He has ministered to and taught during His earthly ministry - that the Father will protect and sanctify those whom He has given unto Christ. 

(3) And He finishes by praying for the church down through the ages [vs 20-26] with this petition, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their (the apostles and disciples) word;"  In other words, He first prays to glorify God through His own glorification.  Then He prays the Father empower His immediate disciples - that they may go out and share His Word with others, who will then share with others - until He gets to you and me, that we, your and I, may share His Word and bring others into the family of God.

Let's examine His John 17 prayers:    

Jesus Prays To Be Glorified, That He May Glorify The Father:

John 17:1-5, "Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: 'Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.   And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.' "

Jesus Prays For His Disciples:

John 17:6-8, 'I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.  They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.  For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

John 17:9-12, "I pray for them.  I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.  And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition (Judas), that the Scripture might be fulfilled.'

John 17:13-19, 'But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.  I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.   And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.'

Jesus Prays For His Church Down Through The Ages:

John 17:20-23, 'I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.'

John 17:24-26, 'Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.' "

I am reminded of the prayer acronym JOY:   J ~ Jesus first in our thoughts and prayers.   O ~ Others next, pray for the needs of others that they may know and have eternal life in Christ, that they will depend upon Him in all things,   Y ~ Yourself, that all you do will glorify God as you share His Word.

If you find this short discussion on prayer to be helpful, then Pastor Ike and I have accomplished our goal - to encourage you to meditate on God's Word and especially what it says about prayer.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge: