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Know Your Enemy and Gear Up for Battle

1/31/2019

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     Character is what defines a person.  Jesus speaks of Satan as being a liar and a murderer and the father of it because he hates the truth. (John 8:44)  This is one of the things known about Satan.  It's a consistent part of his character and is called a trait, an identifying part of his character.  He has other traits, too.  Another is found in Genesis 3:1, "Now the serpent was more subtle than any other beast...".  Subtle is the same as being shrewd.  It is another character trait of Satan's.  
     Some may wonder whether the serpent spoken of here in Genesis really is Satan.  To clear that up, one goes to Revelation 12:9, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan...".  Satan is also able to disguise himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)  He is a schemer (wily). (Ephesians 6:11)  There is no doubt he is the tempter.  In Matthew 4:3 he is called this when he is tempting Jesus.  Jesus referred to Satan as a thief in John 10:10.  
     So here we have it.  This is probably not a complete list but it gives us something to work with.  He's a liar, murderer, shrewd, a schemer, a tempter, a thief, and he can transform himself into an angel of light (disguise himself).  Now, what is he not?  Satan has real power but he is not God.  He cannot be everywhere like God, he has to roam the earth to find his prey.  He is not all-knowing or all-powerful like God.  He will  come to an end, too, because it says that he'll be cast into the lake of fire.  He is not a creator; he was created (Ezekiel 28:14-16) perfect and his iniquity was of his own doing.
     All believers know that Satan is our enemy.  His goal is to destroy as many of God's children as he can.  There is a reference in Numbers 21:14 to a book of the wars of the Lord.  It's the only place it's mentioned.  Perhaps the book isn't finished yet.  Perhaps, carrying the war to Satan has been left to New Testament believers of Jesus Christ.  
     Paul the Apostle speaks of the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).  He gives us the call to battle and how to be prepared for it.  Our enemy, Satan, lies in wait and wishes to be victorious.  At the very least, take as many of this world's population both past and present to the lake of fire with him.  
     It is up to believers to be prepared and lead the charge.  We serve the Creator God of the Universe.  He sent his Son to save us for eternity.  "...we are partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." (Hebrews 3:14)  "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil (Satan), and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)  ​
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He Is Coming Again

1/20/2019

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    The sermon was taken from Philippians 2:5-11.  The book of Philippians is a wonderful book to read.  Paul wrote it while he was in prison and, even then, he was reaching out to those who are in Christ.  He is looking to build the best Christian people he can.  And so he begins verse 5 with, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."  It was a worthy sermon and one worth hearing again.  
     Following along and listening to our preacher spell out the challenges Jesus faced, one of his statements leapt out and grabbed the attention.  "When you know the truth you're not so much challenged by others' accusations.  It matters what they think but it doesn't change the truth." was what he said.  Taking the remainder of the sermon in that context made one understand why Jesus didn't get all worked up over accusations.  He already knew the truth.
     And it seems like truth is what this world needs.  Toward the tail-end of the sermon, he went on to say that one day Jesus will come again but this time as King of Kings.  Then, right at the end, almost as an afterthought, he said, "Maybe we should put on more plays about the second coming of Christ."  This is what sent the writer of this article into a week of thinking and struggles.  It was one of those, "Gee, I wish I'd thought of that."
     Our lives are so full of today's and tomorrow's activities that our focus is out of whack.  We've forgotten that there is a day coming that it'll all be over except for the "...gnashing of teeth..." (Luke 13:28)  Our world, our country, our government does little to encourage spiritual growth.  If anything, our politics has gone to the extreme and wants to remove anything regarding Jesus from the public arena.  
     How to change this?  It seems like it has to be an individual thing.  Jesus was one individual and he changed the whole world.  But, if one individual changes, then that one can help another and so on.  Maybe, just maybe, when Jesus returns, there'll be a big celebration and no "gnashing of teeth."  
     So, back to how to change things.  One, our calendars are so loaded down that we leave Jesus out.  He's not even a priority on the Sabbath.  Got groceries to get? that's comes first.  Ephesians 5:15-17 speaks about making wise use of time and not being foolish with it and using your time according to the will of the Lord.  Two, what one can have on this earth doesn't really matter.  Death and many other things can separate one from their things.  Mark 8:36 asks what profit is in gaining the whole world and losing your own soul.  Three, sin is like a parasite. It will destroy it's host. And the world we live in is rife with sins and opportunities to sin.There is a remedy and it's in I John 1:7-9.  Three things, not such a big mountain to climb.  Why not climb it?  You'll be eternally glad you did. 

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Be Like Joseph

1/13/2019

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     Not much is really known about Joseph, the husband of Mary who is the mother of Jesus.  He is a carpenter (Matthew 13:55) by trade.  When Caesar Augustus sent out a tax, it says in Luke 2:4 that Joseph "went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth..." so he belonged to the city of Nazareth.  His lineage can be traced back to King David.  The certainty seems to be that he is descended from David.  The account in Matthew (1:1-16) traces him back through Solomon.  And, the account in Luke (3:23-38) traces him back through Nathan.  Thought has it that Mary's lineage is the one in Luke.  However one looks at it, there are established lines of descendants.
     The important thing to know about Joseph is that he is a just man. (Matthew 1:19)  The dictionary meaning is doing what is morally fair and right.  Joseph is a man who takes the moral high ground.  God picked a good husband for Mary and a good earthly father for His Son, Jesus.  This would be a better world to live in if everyone was raised by a father who was just.
     And it was a good thing that he was just.  When he was betrothed to Mary, he got word that she was expecting and was prepared to quietly end the engagement.  Joseph, after an angel appeared to him in a dream, married Mary as the angel had bidden him. (Matthew 1:24)  Joseph's character is so important to the birth and childhood of our Savior, Jesus.  An angel visited Joseph three more times after this.  The second time to escape into Egypt (Matthew 2:13).  The third time when Herod had died (Matthew  2:19-20).  And the fourth time when he was warned not to go to Judea (Matthew 2:22). Every time God's angel spoke to him, Joseph obeyed. 
     Joseph, not mentioned much in the Bible, turns out to be the determining factor in the survival of Jesus.  He is living proof that God doesn't make mistakes.  Herod the Great was the King of the Jews at this time.  He had been in power for the better part of 40 years.  No one, no one was going to replace him.  A cursory reading of his biography tells one to what extremes he was willing to go to maintain his power.  Herod was so consumed with his power that he ordered all the male children in and around Bethlehem under two to be murdered.  
     This is the reason for the second visit from the angel. 
    Joseph was told to take Mary and the child and go to Egypt.  Matthew 2:13-14 leaves no doubt that Joseph got up in the middle of the night and they left.  After the threat of Herod had passed the angel came again and told him to take his family and go back into Israel.  Once there Joseph learned that Herod's son, Archelaus, was in power and had been warned in this, the final dream to go into Galilee.  He did so and settled in Nazareth.  There he raised his family and worked as a carpenter.

     Joseph, not a notable human being, was chosen by God for his character.  He was a just man.  Had it not been for this man of character, our world would be as lost as a "golf ball in high weeds".  That's a phrase that our beloved pastor uses from time to time. 

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Wise Men Hunger and Thirst

1/2/2019

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​     Cold?  Indifferent?  Unconcerned?  Things going good for you?  Feel God's blessings and just want to lay back and relax?  Spread the love.  There were some strangers who spent several years looking for the King of the Jews.  All they had to go on was a star.  Apparently nothing else mattered to them but finding this king so they could worship him.  (It's in Matthew 2.)  How do people of today compare to these men who were searching, searching, searching?  
     The wise men were men of some position.  The trip from the east couldn't have been cheap.  They brought expensive gifts so they weren't poor.  They weren't Jews and yet they knew the story of the Christ who was King of the Jews.  And they saw the sign, the star that led them.  And they weren't willing to give up and go back home.  Their quest was to find HIM.  How is it that so many then and so many now don't mount their own quest to find HIM?  Surely these men who were not among the chosen of God, and yet they believed, was and is a sign in itself.  
     Have the blessed of God become "pew warmers" or don't even show up in church at all?  The prophet Amos warns in Amos 6:1, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion...".  It's not good for God's people to be preoccupied and unconcerned about spiritual matters.  God won't wait forever.  Each day is one day closer.  Those that are unconverted know the story of God's promises for those that believe on Him.  We are finite people.  Our days will come to an end.  None of us are guaranteed the next year, the next month, week, hour or minute.  Where will the soul spend eternity?  The question that should take the forefront of our minds.  
     The passage for the service was taken from Proverbs 3:5-10,  It's a well-known passage that speaks of not leaning on your own understanding and not to be wise in your own eyes.  The Sunday School class discussed the wise men.  After reciting the passage, our beloved pastor said, "How can we be wise men today?"  After some length he took one of those pauses.  It's just a short interlude where he looks at you and you sit up a little straighter.  He picked a verse from the beatitudes, Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled."  Then he said, "The world is not righteous because they don't want it."  It's the kind of statement that sucks the air out of your lungs because you know he's right.  It's just that nobody ever says it.
     So, what's to happen to us?  Luke 18:10-14 is a little story about two men who go to the temple to pray.  One is a Pharisee and the other a publican.  The Pharisee prays and talks about how he's doing everything that he should.  He even goes on to say that he's not like other folks.  Blah, blah, blah.  Off in the corner is the publican.  He is so covered in shame that he looks down, pounds his chest and begs for mercy because of the sinner that he is.  It's a good reminder of how to approach a just, holy, and righteous God.
     There are plenty of things to learn in the Bible.  It's a roadmap for anyone to follow who wants to find their way to God and his Son, Jesus.  Start today.  Don't wait until tomorrow.  It may never come.
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    Linda Johnson

    Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church.​ She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald. 

    Andrea Strong

    Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

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