Sweden Church - The Layman's Pen

Examine Yourself

3/3/2024

  “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup (I Corinthians 11:28).”  Then there’s John 13:1: “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”  To the very last breath on this earth, Jesus loved us.
          In the first verse Paul reminds us to take a good look at ourselves and see if anything has changed in us.  What have we done to honor the sacrifice that Jesus made for us?  Have we cleaned up our act or are we still continuing on just living life with no thought of what things are important.
          In the second verse we are reminded that Jesus really did suffer and die so that we may live.  Paul’s caution is a good one.  “Let a man examine himself…”  Are we carnal, worldly or are we Christ-like, spiritual?  Seriously sit down and take an inventory of how you are doing spiritually.
          First, do you believe God with your head or your heart?  Remember that even the devil and demons believe there is a God, they just refuse to believe in him.  Romans 10:10 says that you acknowledge with your mouth what your heart believes.  Second, what do you trust in?  Do you believe that you are saved by God’s grace/mercy, or do you need to do stuff to get there?  God doesn’t need you to do stuff.  He needs you.  Then, God will lead you to where you need to go.
          Third, what rules you?  Are you prideful or humble?  See God for who he truly is (Holy) and then measure yourself against that measuring stick.  Take the time to do it right and really measure yourself.  Fourth, what are your goals in life?  Write them down.  Take a good look at it.  Who are you serving, God or self?
          And fifth, who do you love?  It says, “For God so loved the world… (John 3:16).”  So, do you love God and some or God and all?  That’s the question.  It’s hard and takes real perseverance.
          Obey or disobey, know right from wrong, pray, forgive, love, follow the Word, worship, etc.  There’s a long list of choices in life.  Take time to do it right.  Your eternal life depends on it.

God Breathed

2/25/2024

   From the first breath of a newborn to the last breath of the living person who surrenders life to the grave, were it not for God, there would be no breath. Genesis 2:7 is clear that God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul. It’s sad to say but there are many on this earth that don’t acknowledge this simple fact.
          Yes, the material part of man is made from the dust of the earth. And yes, again, he is also made up of an immaterial part which is God’s breath. Mankind is both physical and spiritual because God created him that way. Those who study the Bible know that God has created many creatures, beings, etc. John 1:3 says that all things were created through God.
          It also says in Genesis 2:7 that God leaned forward and breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul. God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. God planned from the beginning that mankind would have both a physical and spiritual component. That he would be a living soul.
          Which begs the question: How many of us remember that we are living souls? This world focuses on identity. Who am I? People use all kinds of things to define themselves. Their professions, education, achievements, awards, family, titles; the list is endless. How many would say that their identity is in Christ?
          Jesus came to this earth both physically and spiritually. He suffered in the flesh. He had many obstacles which stood in the way that wanted to prevent him from accomplishing his mission. His mission: to die for the sins of the world and open the way for our salvation. Were it not for him, there would be no heaven for us.

Remember Your Savior

2/18/2024

  Remember God.  All people and all nations that forget God are doomed.  And I’m just putting that in a nice way.  Psalm 9:17 says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”  So, do whatever you can to remember God.
          In this day and age, it’s too easy to prioritize God right out of one’s life.  There’s so much push to get people to forget values and beliefs they were raised with and to accept the new ‘culture, new ideas about morals, standards and conduct’.  It was C. S. Lewis that spoke of the slippery slope to hell.  God is clear in the Bible about those who forget God and also forget what He stands for.
          The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:1).  That would be Solomon, the wisest man who indulged and had access to everything that life could offer.  Besides saying that all on this earth is vanity, he also said, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shall say, I have no pleasure in them (Ecclesiastes 12:1).”
          The day is coming when the dust will return to the earth (v. 7).  Adam and Eve forgot and helped themselves to the fruit.  God cursed the ground they stood on and warned them (Genesis 3:19) they would return to the very dust they were created from.  Don’t forget God.
          Add Him to your plan book.  When your feet hit the floor in the morning, make Him your first thought.  Strive to be among those counted in Psalm 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.”

February 11th, 2024

2/11/2024

Ever been asked to do something at church and really didn’t want to do it?  Think about Jonah.  He really didn’t want to go to Nineveh either.  He was opposed to it so much that he was willing to go to the ends of the earth to not go to Nineveh.  It would be like saying you had to go somewhere and couldn’t possibly be there to participate.

Now God wanted to make a point.  When Jonah got on that ship, God wasn’t done using him.  These hardened sailors were fighting a mighty storm like nothing they had ever seen before.  It was a supernatural event.  Immediately they began praying to their gods for relief.  The storm raged on.

The shipmaster went below and awakened Jonah and wanted to know why he wasn’t praying to his god for relief.  Then they drew lots to see who brought this evil on them (Jonah 1:7).  Sure enough, Jonah drew the short stick.  Now he had to ‘fess up’.  They asked him, “What have you done?”  Really, it was what he didn’t do.

Jonah confessed, told them to throw him overboard and they would have peace.  The storm would stop.  Even then, they didn’t want to take a life to save their own.  So they tried harder to overcome their dilemma.  They prayed to Jonah’s God, the God of creation, to not shed innocent blood.  To no avail, though, and they threw him, Jonah, overboard.

As soon as they did, the storm ceased.  These men, seasoned sailors, were so moved that they made sacrifices to the Lord (God) and vows.  Did they become believers?  This was about eight hundred years before Jesus.  At that time mostly Jews believed in their God.  But, who’s to say if others believed, too?

God’s love extends to everyone.  “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:18).”  Jonah did go to Nineveh and witnessed as God wanted him to.  Before that Jonah’s escape plan was used to open the eyes of those sailors.

Jonah’s story is in chapter 1 of the book by his name.  Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale.  Three days of convincing before he was delivered to the shores of Nineveh.  Would to God that today’s believers won’t need that kind of convincing to carry out God’s will.

Stay Filled With Jesus

2/4/2024

  Jesus is the accused, as usual.  The accusers are the religious community again.  The observers are the ones that follow Jesus around, his audience.  The victim is a man possessed of a devil.  Jesus commits an act of mercy and the fireworks begin.
          The story is in Luke 11:12-26 but can also be found in Matthew 12.  Jesus stopped and cast out a devil from a man who was mute (could not speak).  After that the man could speak and the audience wondered.  Why wonder?  Why not marvel?
This was another opportunity for the religious leaders to jump Jesus and make accusations.  “He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.”  Then they get a little ugly and say something about showing them a sign from heaven.  Jesus answers and says that a house divided against itself cannot stand.  He goes one step further and says that if he casts out devils by the devil, then who are their sons casting them out by?
          In verse 21 Jesus is pointing out that a strong man who is armed (the devil) is at peace in his palace (the man who is possessed).  But when one who is stronger (Jesus) comes along and takes all that he has (the man is no longer possessed) the devil is evicted from his spoils (verse 21,22).

            Then Jesus speaks to the observers, the audience.  Remember it said ‘wondered’ in verse 14?  Jesus says that they are either for him or against him.  No fence sitting allowed.  Then Jesus addresses the man.  He warns him that he is a vacuum right now and must fill it with something or else, the devil will return and bring more spirits with him.

Reaching Out

1/28/2024

   Imagine loving your child so much and he has disobeyed you.  You know if you let it slide, it will lead to only worse behavior.  The only thing is punishment.  Your child believes you’re being harsh but has to obey.  He grows, has children, and his children have children, and so on.  Each generation finds new and clever ways to disobey and, or course, there’s punishment.
          There are some, a few, who yearn for a more fulfilling way of life.  A plan is put in place.  A savior is sent to save all who will be saved.  He comes and carries out the will of his Father and is crucified for the sins of all the people.  When he rises from the dead, he sends a comforter to take his place, the Holy Spirit.  He, Jesus, has planted the seeds of Christianity.  Now it’s up to the believers to complete the task.
          Outreach is one of the ways to carry out the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).  “…Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…”  Outreach involves the Holy Spirit (which also includes the Father and the Son), the Church (the people in it, the ones being sent), and the ones outside the church.
          Jesus sums it up in Matthew 25:31-40 which was the text of Pastor Josh’s sermon.  Take heed, though, this is the passage that Jesus tells us what to expect when he returns and his angels with him.  The sheep will be on the right and the goats on the left.  The sheep carried out the commission.  In this passage he speaks of physical needs.
          Beyond this are spiritual needs which is what the great commission is.  There are eleven verses in Isaiah 61.  Each verse is beauty to the soul.  We, as believers, bring good news to the oppressed, comfort those who mourn, and have freedom in God for those who will accept it.
          Outreach is reaching out to those in need, both physically and spiritually.  It’s carrying the joy and peace of our savior to those who need it, who may even yearn for it.  Like Pastor Josh said, “People are hurting.  We really don’t know what they’re thinking or going through.  Look someone in the face and say, “God loves you.”

One Message, Many Languages

1/21/2024

  Each page of most bibles give the date of the events for that page.  A look at Genesis 9 which is the end of the flood, God is blessing Noah and his sons, the date is 2348 BC.  The building of the Babel is 2247, about one hundred years later.  Keep in mind that God flooded the earth because man had become wicked (Genesis 6:5).  God blesses Noah and his family and makes a covenant not to flood the earth again (Genesis 9:9-13).
          God says in Genesis 9:2, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”  Approximately four generations later, for whatever reason, all the people decided to go east.  They found a place all of them liked and decided to live there, a place called Shinar.  Rather than ‘replenishing the earth’ the people decide to build a city and tower that reaches to heaven.  They do this thinking they won’t be scattered upon the face of the earth (Genesis 9:4).  This is totally counter to what God said for them to do.
          What happens is that God comes down, sees what is going on, confuses their language and scatters them (Genesis 11:9).  End of story.  Really it isn’t because something marvelous happens in Act 2:1-12.  It’s the day of Pentecost, Peter and the eleven are gathered at Jerusalem, the Holy Ghost fills them.  Suddenly these men speak so that all that are present hear these men in their own language and understand the message.
          Christianity speak in every language, in every country.  It’s a message that is spread to anyone who will hear it.  Jews have Hebrew, Muslims have Arabic, Buddhists have Pali, and Hindus have Sanskrit.  That’s their sacred language.  In every nation where Christians meet, there is only one message that speaks in many languages.  One Savior, one God, one faith, one baptism, one message, and one communion.

Never Look Back

1/7/2024

  Jesus is speaking, “Even thus shall it be in the day…”  It will seem like any other day.  People will be going about all their activities.  Just another ho-hum day.  Wait, Jesus isn’t through, “…when the Son of man is revealed.”  Another day, another dollar here on earth.  But then, just like a flash of lightning Jesus will be here—here on Earth.  That’s verse 30 of Luke 17.
          We already know from John 14:2-3 that Jesus is going to prepare a place for those who are prepared.  These verses in Luke are a wake-up call, a precaution of sorts, a warning to be ready.  Back in Noah’s day, no one paid any attention to what Noah was doing until it was too late.  Once the door is shut, that’s it.  The entire earth was flooded and only a few survived.
          Now Jesus is saying in verse 32 of Luke 17, “Remember Lot’s wife.”  That should generate a gasp of air from the lungs.  Don’t look back!  Jesus said it in Luke 9:62, “No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Lot’s wife looked back.  The angels who came to get them and set them outside the city told them not to look behind them (Genesis 19:17).  But Lot’s wife for whatever reason couldn’t resist looking back (verse 26) and she turned into a pillar of salt.
          It doesn’t take a stretch to understand that there is just nothing to look back for.  This world is so filled with evil.  Looking forward to the day of Jesus’ coming is the only thing to look for.  The prince of this world (Satan) has been lurking about seeking who he can destroy for quite some time (I Peter 5:8).  Just a cursory review of the evils of this world are enough to set anyone on their heels.
          Our time on this earth can be better spent laying up treasures for ourselves in heaven.  “Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.’ (Matthew 19:21).”

Abide

8/31/2023

  “…He that abideth in me, and I in him…”  It’s part of John 15:5.  In verse 4 Jesus also makes the imperative statement, “Abide in me, and I in you.”  This is important enough that he is emphasizing it.  Abide, to remain or stay, Jesus says ‘you’ abide in me and ‘I’ will abide in you.  It’s a two-way street.
          So, what does it mean?  It certainly means a lot more than just thinking that because you’re a good person, you’re abiding in him.  Remain, stay, and abide means something more than just shelving Jesus on weekdays and showing up for church on Sundays.
          There’s a constancy required in those words.  Jesus is saying “Stay in touch with me 24-7 and I’ll be there, too.”  Quid pro quo, tit for tat, this for that—of course, that’s the sound of it.  Not one that people would like to hear, but…it would seem to make sense.  After all, Jesus can only be with the ones who choose to remain.  He’s not going to force himself on anyone.
          Remaining in Christ would be like having the same mind and will that he has.  Sounds like a process and not a one-time thing.  It requires a beginning and then a time for deepening the relationship.  Praying, reading the Word of God and learning from it, praying some more, being around others who are like minded, and praying.
          Jesus, in John 5:19, offers insight.  While he was here on earth in human form he relied on the Father and says, “…The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do..”  He was abiding in the Father and the Father in him.  How did he do that?  We know he spent a lot of time in prayer.  He actually had a prayer life not prayer time.  We should do the same.
          The remainder of John 15 is a good place to begin the journey of abiding in Christ.  He has much to say in this chapter.  It’s a good place to begin writing God’s words on your heart (Psalm 119:11).

Strive

7/16/2023

   Jesus is on his last trip to Jerusalem.  He’s going through the cities and villages teaching and journeying (Luke 13:22). Keep in mind that there are many people following him.  It says in John 6:60-70 that he had many disciples besides the Twelve and that many walked with him no more (verse 66).  That’s what makes the question and answer so compelling in Luke 13:23-24.
          “Lord, are there few that be saved?”  It’s true that the Jews believed they would be saved because they’re God’s chosen people and only them would be.  This would probably give someone pause and would want to know it what the Jews believe is true.  This may be the situation that prompted the question since he didn’t ask a personal question like “What must I do to inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:16)?”
          I believe that Jesus turned and faced him.  He’s a personal savior and connects with all who seek him.  The verse says that he directed his response to “them” which would mean everyone in hearing distance.  The first word he speaks is “Strive” which means a diligent search.  With all of the tugs and thoughts on people’s lives then and even now, “strive” would instantly make one understand that this is more than just a casual endeavor.
          Work at it.  Find out what is true and what isn’t.  There are some who believe that just saying they believe in God is enough.  Presto!  Fast track to heaven.  Not so.  Jesus makes it clear when he says “Strive”.  Make it The Mission in life to find out what it takes to be saved.  Don’t leave it to others’ ideas or opinions.  Life in eternity depends on it.
          Verse 25 puts a time stamp on how much time is available.  “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door…”  it’s too late.  To those who bang on the door to get in and plead like the rich man did in Luke 16:19-31, it’s too late.  No one knows when their time comes to an end, only God does.  “Strive” is the warning.  Eternal life with Christ depends on it.