Just another "Quick Note".

Hey, I just wanted to give you another "quick note" to give you the new direction I am taking this site.

I used to try to post regularly to this site until after asking that anyone who reads this to please leave a quick anonymous "comment". When I added the amaZingly lackluster response I received from that request to some other things that were/are going on in my life I decided I needed to spend my energy elsewhere.

I am NOT abandoning this site. On the contrary, I am "Saving" this site. For the moment I will only use it as a "side page" to our other website/blog until further inspiration comes my way. If you visit the other site I will announce there when I have posted something new here. If you don't know what that other site is or where...Well that is reserved for family and friends but I certainly won't try to stop you from finding it!

As I have said before, it may become necessary to completely revamp this whole site with a different template altogether in which case all of the former postings may be removed, possibly forever. You may want to save any you like to your computer. I allow copying for personal purposes if however, you would like to publish or republish any post or part, you need to please leave your request as a "comment" thankyou. (in short: All Rights Reserved)
Numbers 6:24
Will

The Power of Our Word

If you would please, turn in your Bibles to Acts Chapter one verse 37, That’s Acts Chapter one verse 37.

This morning we heard from: Revelations 12:11

¹¹“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

The “him” they overcame -we determined- was the devil himself. This morning we began to understand the “power” of Testimony. What is a testimony? We understand “Testimony” to be the relating of the miraculous that the Lord has performed in our lives. What makes it so powerful? We have often heard that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” and understood that of course anything coming from God is going to be powerful. Jesus Himself is known as “The Word become Flesh. Again that of course is The Word Of God. What about the Word of man? What about the words that you and I speak? I think in our heads we understand that with the Holy Spirit involved what we say can be powerful if He fills us. A good example of this would be here in Acts chapter one. This is immediately following Peters first Sermon; which is following the Pentecost or the “Filling of the Holy Spirit” that we know moves within us, when we let it, to great and powerful things.

Acts Chapter one verse 37:

³⁷Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” ³⁸Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” ⁴⁰And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” ⁴¹So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand ^£souls. ⁴²They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

This is one of those parts of the Bible that continues to amaze me for the sheer numbers involved. Pete said: “Repent and Be Baptized!” and Three Thousand Souls were added! Think about the impact! One Testimony and -now say this with me- “Three Thousand Souls were added!” This ladies and Gentlemen is the Power of the Spoken Word. This is the Power that you and I have; the power that you and I not only have and use but also often use without even knowing it.

All the people of the ancient Near East believed in the dynamic power of the spoken word. They believed when a word was spoken, it was trusted to release power either for good or for evil. In their case They were thinking of Magic and of course we want no part of Magic but the dynamic power of words also has a place in the Bible; not only in the very beginning where God spoke and everything was created, but in other places, like where Isaac could not recall the blessing once the power of it had been released on Jacob, even though the blessing had been secured by treachery (that would be Genesis 27:35 but don’t bother turning there now). Turn now to Luke Chapter 10 verse 1. This is an example of the power that is given to us that sometimes I believe we use and don’t even know it.

That’s Luke Chapter 10 verse one.

Luke chapter 10

The Seventy Sent Out

¹Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. ²And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. ³“Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. ⁴“Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. ⁵“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ ⁶“If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. ⁷“Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. ⁸“Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; ⁹and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰“But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹²“I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

This has been argued that it was just for the seventy that went out to the places that Jesus was going at that time. I however, believe that it applies to you and me. We have all been given the “great commission” to go and announce that Jesus is coming. WE are His heralds; as such, we have great power and with great power comes great responsibility. First you have to realize and believe that you have that power. You might as well believe it because you do have it. There is a Gun in your hand whether you believe there is or not. You are responsible for it whether you believe it or not. You are required to use that sword that is in your mouth, which is the Truth that Jesus Christ is Lord. Remember when you speak to your neighbor that there is power in your words when you mumble under your breath there is power in your words. When you make a promise there is power in your promise. When you bless and when you curse there is power and you not only have that power but you are using it. Use it well.

Just a thought or two

Just a couple of notes and an encouragement or two.
This is pretty much off the cuff and not the usual overly researched type of posting.
I again didn't want to go for too long without giving you something for your faithfulness in checking with this site.

First as this is Sunday, did you keep track of what scriptures were used in church today (if you went)?
Have you gone back and looked at those scriptures, reading the verses before and after whatever may have been mentioned in your services today?
Don't sweat it if you haven't because neither have I...yet.
I went to church and yes I very much trust the speaker but for my own sake I have made a note of those verses and very much plan on going over those for as much as possible for the next week.

This is the ultimate idea in my personal opinion.
This is part of the weekly service.
You and I spending the week going over God's word regarding what was taught and opening ourselves up to what the Lord may wish to add to our lives.
How much better is it to spend your free time considering the word than anything else?
We are supposed to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Learning to turn our every thought into open communication with God.
This type of considering of Gods word will certainly lead you too that.
It can't help itself it simply HAS to.

Second a reminder that when you read the scriptures to take them at face value first.
If you understand what the verses are saying the first time you read them, than the odds are that is in fact what they mean.
Having said that, often the scriptures will indeed have another more deeper meaning on top of it's surface meaning.
Sometimes this is metaphor or parable or allegory but it will not contradict itself.
There are many examples of this in both the Old and New Testaments.
My favorite is probably Passover and it's representation of Jesus and His sacrifice for us but of course it also a very accurate historical documentation of God's deliverance of the Jews from Egypt.
Works on many levels and none contradict the other.

There are other less obvious or even less certain examples as well.
In our Sunday school class this morning it was noted that when Jesus cursed the fig tree (Matthew 21:18), this may have also been a metaphor for Israel.
I can see where they were going with this and it certainly works.
This is where being able to mentally "put things on a shelf" can be very handy.
I know this idea of it being a metaphor works and can be true but the scriptures themselves do not actually say this that I am aware of.
It is possible that there may be scripture elsewhere that will better clarify this but until I find it, I will leave it in my mind as possible but not necessarily the truth.
Ultimately in this particular matter it makes very little difference either way so I don't have to worry or care too much about it.
We don't want to get into worrying and arguing over "words", the Scriptures themselves warn us against that as well (1st Timothy 6:4 and 2nd Timothy 2:14).

To recap, read the Bible as it is written in context first.
Then look for the metaphors and or deeper hidden meanings.
If the second contradicts the first than it probably isn't correct.
If the second further explains the first than you may very well be on the right track.
All of this may take some time to figure out so learn to put the uncertain things "on a shelf" until further evidence reveals itself to you.
Prayer and the Holy Spirit are your Keys to understanding the Word of God.

One last thing. I need a favor.
I tried putting a counter on this site but failed in that endeavor.
Perhaps another time.
I in fact may have to completely rebuild this site with a more current template in hopes of ridding myself of some computer bugs in the system. (personally I just believe its the "enemy" trying to prevent me posting but that could be vanity talking...;-)
Anyway, If you have read this, please leave a comment. You can choose to be anonymous and simply say "Praise God" or "Hi" even, I just need to get an idea of the possible numbers of visitors to this site. Thanks bunches and may the Lord indeed bless you and keep you and give you peace.
Will.

Part 4! Blessed Easter!

Part 4

When you become a Christian,
people can see the change.
If you were to suddenly turn into
a pear tree,
someone would come over and find out
if you really were a pear tree.

They would do that by trying to see
if you had any pears!

You and I as Christians and
children of God will be apparent
to each other and the rest of the world
by the fruit that we bear.

Some of that fruit can, and should,
include the miraculous.
The pear does not make the tree
however;
you can be a pear tree without any pears
but what good is a pear tree if it has no fruit?

This is the day that we celebrate

the Resurrection of our Lord,

Our Savior: Jesus Christ.

His death gave us salvation because

we should have died

but He took our place.

The power and the Authority

That God displayed

in the Resurrection of His Son

has been given to us for the

purpose of completing His will:

“…For God so loved the World,

That He gave His only begotten Son,

That whosoever believes in Him

shall not perish, but have eternal life”

(John 3:16)

I was listening to this pastor
who was telling about his little church.
He was saying they have a little sign
In front of their church
kind of like ours,
and as I understand it,
they put a little phrase on it

–again much like we do –

and that this little phrase
that they put on their little sign
got more of a reaction than any other.

This pastor was telling of how it seemed
that this little sign was starting to pull people
in off the street.

The little church decided maybe
they would put that phrase on the
tiny little yellow page ad
they had in the phone book.

When they did,
it seemed more people called
to find out about services.

Again, as I understand it,
the little phrase kind of
became their motto.

I don’t think it’s a bad one either.

The little phrase they

put on their little sign was:

“WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!”

No, I do not believe that we should

intentionally go about handling snakes

as a church so we can prove our faith.

I believe that we as a church have,

and should display the Power

and Authority of God when we are

going about the Work of God.

That we should expect it and act like it.

I pray that we all can continue

to get closer to our Lord

and the work that He has for all of us.

That we all would come to expect

and even become accustomed to all the

“fruits and Gifts of the Holy Spirit,

and that we would all count the

Signs and Wonders as only a part

of the Fruit we bear for the

Glory of the Lord.

May your Easter be Blessed!

Part 3!

For Bible in Context April 2006 part 3

This is where those “Snake Handler”
churches get it right
and where you and I get it wrong:

We have this guy at the factory where I work;
you should see him!
He walks around the place like he runs it…

That’s because he does!

When you have authority you act like it.
We have authority from God but
we act like we don’t believe it.

When my boss at work asks for something
to be done, he expects that it will be done.

When we ask for something to be done,
do we act as though we expect it to be done?

These “Snake Handler” churches are taking
Jesus at His Word and expect that they will
not be harmed.

Yet I can’t help but wonder if they

even know Him

for wouldn't they realize that they

were putting “God to the test”?

They have “put the cart before the horse”

so to speak.

We can handle vipers and drink poisons

without being harmed –

when we are in performance of the job

He asked us to do.

Handling vipers and drinking poisons is NOT

– I repeat- is NOT “the job” that He asked us to do!

Telling the World how to attain Salvation

through Grace, by Faith in Jesus Christ is.

Showing the World how we can have a real

relationship with God the Father,

through the Son and The Holy Spirit

is the mission we are all supposed to be on.

If that is the mission we are really on,

then the “signs” and “wonders” will happen

as a natural by-product of doing the Lords work

–as the Holy Spirit Leads.

I can play a recording of the sounds of meat sizzling

on a grill and even spray some scent into the air

that will smell like steak and proclaim that

I am making you hungry so you will

go find some steak for yourself,

but that isn’t what we’re supposed to do.

If we cook a real steak on a grill for the purpose

of serving it to someone who is hungry or in need,

the smell and the sounds will certainly make it appetizing

but that is the natural by-product of serving a meal.

It isn’t the reason for the meal.

The reason is to feed those who need to be fed.

In the same way the signs and wonders

–snakes and serpents-

are not the main point they are simply "by-products"

that sometimes can happen when you are trying

to feed the world “The Love of Jesus.”

(The end of part 3. Even more to come!)
________________________________-______

Bible in Context April 2006

Part 2:

When we became believers we:

repented of our sins,

we asked Jesus to come into our lives

and to become our master and Lord,

and then He said:

“O.K.!

And as a special bonus I’ll also

be your friend, your confidant,

and your protector.”

When we became “believers” we said

“I will trust You and try to obey You

(because we knew we would probably

blow that one a time or two)”

and He said:

“I will save you from eternal damnation,

and I will save you from yourself”

We call Jesus our Savior yet,

we seem to have a difficult time accepting

that when He asks us to do something,

He will give us all we need to do it.

If you would, please turn in your Bible

to the book of Acts chapter 28 verses

1 through 10.

Paul is a prisoner on a ship bound

for Rome. God has told him that he

must stand before Caesar but first

there’s going to be this little shipwreck…

These verses start out just after

everyone gets to shore…

Acts 28:1-10

Safe at Malta

¹When they had been brought safely

through, then we found out that

the island was called Malta.

²The natives showed us extraordinary

kindness; for because of the rain that

had set in and because of the cold,

they kindled a fire

and received us all.

³But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks

and laid them on the fire, a viper came out

because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

⁴When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand,

they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

⁷Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. ⁸And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. ¹⁰They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.”

Paul is going about his Masters business!

When you’re doing what God wants you to do, then there isn’t anything that can get in your way – except us.

That’s what’s so great about the “Great Commission”.

Jesus has commissioned us to spread the gospel. When He did that He gave us His Authority to do it!

Think about it! When you and I are doing the job that He gave us to do, we have the Authority and Power of God to do that job!

( end part 2. Still more to come!)

In Time For Easter

For Bible in Context April 2006 Part one

With Easter on it’s way I decided to pull up my notes from a sermon dated:

Easter Sunday 03/31/02

I have separated this into four sections and will post them separately, hopefully ending with the last part on Easter if the Lord is willing.

Please remember that even though I have gone over these to check for continuity, they are still none-the-less just “notes”.

Mark 16:14-20:

“ ¹⁴Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. ¹⁵And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ^20£And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

You might find it interesting to know that there are actually quite a few churches whose whole service is based on these verses. Many will actually bring in a box of poisonous snakes for the “faithful” to handle.

I have even heard of churches that have built in “snake pits”! Doesn’t that sound like fun?

No?

I still find it hard to believe that there are so many churches and so many people that do this sort of thing.

As for myself there are only two kinds of snakes I don’t like:

Live ones, and Dead ones…

The rest don’t bother me….

Now do you want to hear something really scary? I don’t think these churches are all that wrong!

(Please hear me out before you label me a nutcase and a heretic)

I actually believe that all churches should be based on these verses.

I believe that you and I can and should handle vipers and drink poisons all without being harmed.

I think these things should be signs of our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!

I just don’t believe we should “put the Lord our God to the test”

(Mathew 4:7: ⁷Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”)

That is where these churches go wrong. It is a very dangerous thing when you don’t take the time to get to know God.

It’s all right there! From the very beginning, God has made a point to make sure that the “Word of God” was available to us.

If you want to get to know God all you have to do is

– the same thing you do with anyone else –

Spend Time With Him.

Read His Word and “pray without ceasing”.

These “Snake handler” churches have latched onto a few verses and taken them out of context.

It actually is an understandable mistake; it’s not out of context for the verses around it, or even the chapter, it’s out of context for the whole book!

It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so terribly sad.

This is the “Great Commission”(Mark 16) Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Our Savior, has risen from the dead!

It was His Death that gave us Salvation.

It was His resurrection that gave us power!

And with “Power” we’re to go to all of the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus.

When God sends you on a mission He gives you all you need to complete that mission!

That includes His Authority and His Power!

All of His creation knows that! - except Mankind- we’re the only part of creation that has a hard time accepting that He is The Supreme Ruler and what He wants He gets!

You’ll have to forgive us (mankind) we’re a little slow….

(More to come soon )

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

I haven't posted for two weeks and that is in excusable. I apologize and will try to prevent that from happening again. It probably will mind you, but I will none the less try to prevent it. The Lord is working on a couple of new messages but I'm not sure who they are for yet so you get no more clues than that. As to the old sermons that I ressurect (pun intended) I am endeavoring to rewrite them in a way so that I can present them in smaller pieces so they won't take quite so much time to read. This way (Lord Willing) you will get smaller postings more often.
If you benefit at all from this site then Please keep me in your prayers so that I may continue.
May The Lord Bless You and Keep You and Give You Peace!
Will.

When was the last time someone said...

[and yet another sermon from years ago presented to the Warrens Baptist Church]

January 10th 2003

I try to search out what God would have me speak.

When I ask The Lord what He wants, I honestly and literally ask:

“Lord what would you have me bring before Your church?”

I try to make sure that it’s for everyone of the members of the Warrens Baptist Church. I trust that if the Lord had someone else in mind then He can worry about getting that person through the door.

The Lord is true and faithful.

The message that I bring I believe is for everyone here, so I wrote it that way.

When I was almost done the Lord pointed out that there were some parts of this message that may be hard for some of you to hear.

I guess I would like to make sure that all of you as “individuals” understand that this message is for each of us and for us as a “group”.

What I have to say is intended for each and every one of you, not for just any one singular person.

The only members of this Church that I will be using as an example is all of us as a whole and/or myself in particular.
If you feel that this message is just for you than that is between you and the Lord. I had nothing to do with it.

How’s that for passing the buck?

When was the last time someone said “I want to be just like you”?

When was the last time that someone said “I want to be just like you” and meant it?

When was the last time someone said “I want to be just like you” meant it, and was not related to you?

What makes us want to be just like Jesus?
Do we really want to be “just like Jesus”? Do we really?

Do you really want to set yourself up “like Jesus” to be abused, to be scorned, to be publicly ridiculed; to watch friends and family turn their backs on you and run?

Do you really want to set yourself up by giving everything good and being everything good to someone that you know is going to betray you and worse, loving that person all the while?
Do we really deep down in our hearts want to be like Jesus? We should; but do we really?

We automatically say I want to be “Just like Jesus” and on the surface I believe every true Christian really wants to be “Just like Jesus”
its when you start getting down to the particulars that we start to hesitate.

You will find that there is almost always at least one area -usually many- that we really don’t want to be “Just like Jesus”.
You will also find that those “areas” are different for every one of us.

This is different than “not being perfect”. This refers to “places” in your heart where you don’t “want” to change.

Often we aren’t even aware that we feel that way. Often it starts with simply not understanding. We might say: “I want to be just like Jesus but I see no reason to stand behind a pulpit and preach. Jesus never stood behind no pulpit!” True, but He did stand on a mountain over thousands of people -and their families- and preached.

I am not saying that you actually have to stand behind a pulpit or preach to thousands “to be like Jesus” but it’s the idea that in this one area you might be unwilling to do that if you were called to.

Jesus wasn’t up there on that mountain because He likes to entertain. He was up there because it needed to be done; and it needed to be done because: (are you ready for this?)

God said so. Oh you know there are really many reasons but that’s what it comes down to. These people needed to be fed spiritually and physically and Jesus did whatever it took to feed them.

Look closely first at the life of Jesus, then at your own life. Look for the differences. Then look for any part of Jesus that you don’t want to do or be like.
There can be all kinds of problems with your Christian walk – with your life in fact- because of one small little area where you don’t want to be like Jesus.

When was the last time someone said they wished they could be more like you? Did they really mean it?

Please turn in your Bibles to Galatians chapter five verse16

You have heard many people speak about Galatians chapter five my self included. You’re going to hear it again; sort of.

There are just a couple of points that I want to make and it will be better if you can see it for yourself. There are all kinds of ammo here for making sermons out of, but there is just one point that I want you to concentrate on when everything is said and done.

Ok, Galatians 5:16:

16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

One of the best things about standing up here (behind a pulpit) is that I learn so much!

There are a lot of things in the
“no-no” file that we need to make sure that we don’t have in our life and a whole list in the “must have” file that we should be working on getting.

First, -and this is just to the side- but notice that verse 22 ends just before you get to the end of the verse.
Now in case you did not know they added the verse numbers long after the verses were written.
I think it’s interesting to see that verse twenty-three starts with the last two things on the list:

“gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law”.

That almost sums up the whole thing doesn’t it?

Notice that I do say “almost” because to me it doesn’t quite give me the image of “happiness” that I’m looking to convey. In fact (or however); the first two on the “Must have” list do convey the image of “happiness” that we usually think about: Love, Joy.

It would be kind of difficult to not be “happy” and have both love and joy; don’t you think?

It is however, possible to have love and not be happy, isn’t it?
Is it possible to have joy and not be happy? Well, that depends on what you define as “happy” doesn’t it.

Most of us have been to the funeral of someone who was a wonderful Christian and meant a great deal to us. There is tremendous Joy in the knowing that they have “gone on” to be with Jesus.

I just don’t think that what we are feeling when we know that we will have to continue on without them, can be called happy can it? No, we are understandably feeling sorry for ourselves.

We are mourning the loss of having them with us close by. Now compare that to the funeral of someone we love but who nonetheless refused salvation. That is a total loss.

Can you see the difference? The whole world should see the difference!

A Christian funeral has Joy as part of the service! A worldly funeral has no place for joy. A Christian life should have Joy as part of the “service”! A worldly life has no place for it.

In Acts chapter 5 (you don’t have to turn there but feel free to read it later for yourselves- )you can read a little story about the apostles –Who have been preaching and generally leading people to Jesus when they get arrested, thrown in jail. An angel releases them, and the next day the apostles are found teaching in the temple. They are rearrested and almost killed but a Pharisee named Gamileal convinces them other wise: Acts 5:40:

40They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

These guys were beaten and suffered shame; - don’t forget the humiliation that went with the beating - and were rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer it! This is not a quiet joy! This is Rejoicing!

When was the last time you “Rejoiced”? Never mind the rejoicing over being worthy enough to be beaten but when was the last time you rejoiced for any reason?

When was the last time someone said I want to be like you?

If you would, will you please turn in your Bibles to Acts 16:22. Acts chapter 16 verse 22.
This is part of the story of Paul and Silas who as they were traveling picked up a “groupie”. Well in way.
What they had was a slave girl who basically had a demon that would allow the girl to act as a fortune teller.

The masters of the slave girl were in fact making a “fortune” off of her too…..until Paul came by.

The girl sort of short-circuits.

She starts following them around crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”(repeat and get loud and theatrical and you will get the idea).

Well anyway… Paul finally gets annoyed turns around and casts out the demon, which in turn annoys the slave girl’s owners to say the least, and they then arrest Paul and Silas:

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

22The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

So here is the scene: Paul and Silas have been beaten with sticks, thrown into prison, secured in chains, and left in the dark with all the other prisoners. Naturally they break out in to song.

That’s what you and I would do isn’t it?

We would be so pleased with God that he has allowed all this to happen that praises to His name would just burst forth from our lips!

Our Joy at having so suffered while just trying to do what He asked; our Joy from being able to suffer so unfairly at the hands of the very people we were just trying to heal; and give the love and salvation of Jesus too; that all our praises to God would just naturally come out in song right?

I know exactly how I would have reacted before today, and probably today too for that matter:

“God ! How could you let this happen? What did we do wrong? Why are you letting us suffer so? Oh Please Lord save us!”

That’s what all my fellow prisoners would have heard. Notice please that what I would have done sounds an awful lot like despair.

When I sound like I am in despair, how many people are going to say to me “I want to be just like you”?

Understand that there certainly is a time and a place for it. When that is honestly how you are feeling and you need mercy, guidance and understanding we should certainly go to the One who loves us most. How much better is it though when we are comfortable enough to just trust Him?

You can read letters from Paul that starts out with Joy and greetings goes on to impart wisdom and teaching and then ends with an invitation to come and see him because he’s under arrest and every one has left him, alone.

What happens to Paul when it seems that none of the people that he has been sharing his life with will stick around now that he really needs them? Does he give up? Does he quit? Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t recall any letters that say no one seems to care so I give up.

No letters that say "What’s the point?"

Does he feel any of this? I think so. When I read the letters from Paul I do kind of get the feeling that there are times when he feels depressed and disappointed. Paul just doesn’t let it control him.

Paul keeps going, keeps doing what needs to be done, what the Lord has for him to do. Here it is: Paul doesn’t let despair or anger or any of the things on the “no-no” list take away his faith in Jesus. Paul doesn’t let it take away his Obedience or his trust in God. Paul doesn’t let the world take away his Joy.

I wouldn’t mind being more like Paul.

My goal is to be more like Jesus but I think Paul would be a good halfway point for me.

When was the last time someone said to you “I want to be more like you.”?

I, at this time, gauge how good my Christian walk with Jesus is by my work.
What I mean is: While I look for the kind of fruit that the bible says should be evident in a Christian, I am also looking through the eyes of my co-workers at my place of employment.

After almost ten years working at the same place, there is no doubt in my mind that I have completely confused my fellow co-workers. I have “messed up” so bad and so many times over the last ten years that if some of them may wonder if I really am a true Christian, they have good reason too.

I will often be reminded of some really un-Christian like behavior that I have committed and the shame will renew itself until I remind myself that I have already been forgiven.
As I look back at the last ten years or even the last week I can tell by how I handled the situations that have come up, just how my walk with Jesus was at that time and how good a witness I was at that time.

I can see the many times where it would be no wonder that no one there would want to be like me. I can see the other times though, when I rejected the flesh and lived by the Spirit. I can see the times when I was able to show to my small part of this world why life with Jesus is much better than life without.

When someone gives his or her life to Jesus, when someone gives that prayer that says "Jesus I am a sinner and I beg for your forgiveness. I will give to you my life and try to live it how you want me to. You can do with it what You want to.” When they confess that to the world no one can mistake it. Everyone will notice that something is different.

What is it that they notice? Jesus? Yes but let’s be more specific. The song says they will know we are Christians by our love. That is true but what will really make them notice, will really show them that life with Jesus is better, is our Joy.

I was very young when I noticed it in my parents and asked for what they had. I was so young, that I don’t completely remember that first initial joy. I do know though, the Joy of walking with the Lord compared with trying to walk your own way.

It’s the love that will show the world we are Christians but Joy will make them want to be like you.

Who doesn’t want to have love and Joy? Paul and Silas had no idea that their joy and their walking with Jesus was going to do all the bad it did or all the good either. Not specifically. Paul and Silas and you and I do know that as Christians there will be persecutions and there will be miracles. There can be love, Joy and all of the fruits and gifts of the Spirit throughout.

I don’t know about you but I would rather be able to praise God during the hard times of my life; during the lonely times of my life, during all of my life; than not.

Do you still have the Joy you had at your conversion? If not, where did it go? Is there somewhere in your life that you don’t want to be like Jesus? Is there something that you don’t want to do? It will be the first thing to take it. Or do you just feel that you are entitled to be without Joy?

Once again I’m not saying that you have to be dancing and singing all the time. I’m talking about the Joy of being a Christian. The Joy that Says I have a true and real friend with the Son of the Most High God. He cares for me and takes care of me. Because of Him; I am called a fellow heir of heaven itself! No matter what happens to me I will rejoice in the Lord for He has made me glad!

John 15:10 reads:

¹⁰“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Where is your Joy that -like the song- says “No matter what! It is well with my soul!”?

When is the last time someone marveled at your Joy in a tough situation and said “I want to be like you”?