Author Archives: lrbartel

Dec 26 2015
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Devos

Impact the world… Give to missions!

Impact The WorldI don’t know when (or if) the church you attend has a missionary convention or conference. The one where Sharon and I are attending has theirs in January. If your church doesn’t have one, let me be one voice that encourages you to do it! It is a wonderful time for everyone to be challenged afresh about God’s great redemptive plan and our responsibility to participate in the great mission of the Church to reach the entire world with the powerful message of the Gospel.
 
In my Bible reading today – the day after Christmas – a passage I read especially highlighted our responsibility to those who are called by God to be our representatives in the great task of world evangelism and “making disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20)
 
Here’s the passage I read… “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers (and sisters)! You do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God! For they have gone out for the sake of ‘the Name,’ accepting nothing from ‘the Gentiles’ (i.e. the unconverted – those who are not Christians yet). Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth!” (from 3 John 5-8)
 
I’m grateful that early in life I learned it was important to give (and give generously) to missions (i.e. the worldwide cause of Christ)! I’m grateful that the body of believers I’m a part of, the Assemblies of God, has a program that helps children, early in life, to develop a heart for missions (it’s called BGMC or Boy and Girls Missionary Challenge). We have a program for teenagers that emphasizes missions called “Speed the Light.”
 
Those God calls to take the Gospel to the whole world and “make disciples of all nations” deserve our financial and prayer support! They have gone out “for the sake of the Name!” They should be able to depend on Christians to faithfully support them! When we do, this passage says we become “fellow workers for the truth!” Giving to missions is a wise investment! The return on that investment is not measured simply in dollars but becomes “treasure in heaven!” I appreciate the thankful expressions of those whose ministry I invest in; but more than that, I expect to meet people in heaven that are the result of my investment! Every letter or report from a missionary telling the exciting story of transformed lives because of my investment makes me a participant and “fellow worker” in the cause of Christ!
 
God helping me, I intend to do more than ever before in helping those who are called by God to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel! … “Till everyone knows!”
Dec 25 2015
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Devos

A Christmas blessing from “coffee with the Lord”

Christmas wish - coffee with the LordUp early this Christmas morning having “coffee with the Lord!” Part of my Bible reading this morning included this wonderful greeting from Apostle John to his dear friend Gaius… I send it out to you, my “coffee with the Lord” friends this Christmas morning…

“To my good friends this Christmas morning… How truly I love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I am thrilled when I hear that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing makes me happier than getting reports that my dear friends continue diligently in the way of Truth!” (adapted as my Christmas wish to you from 3 John 1–4 The Message)

Dec 24 2015
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Devos

It’s Christmas eve… And I want to declare I believe what the Bible says about Jesus!

The NativityIt’s Christmas eve and Jesus is on my mind. I just finished reading John’s second epistle as part of my “coffee with the Lord” Bible reading today – especially verses 7-11.
 
Based upon those verses, it seems to me if you accept the inspiration and authority of Scripture at all, to buy into avant-garde theology with the doctrine of Christ is a very dangerous thing! What the apostolic witness asserts regarding Jesus Christ must be embraced as true without reservation or an individual (or a religious body, for that matter) is in real trouble!
 
Here’s what those verses assert: “Many deceivers have gone out into the world – those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh! Such a one is a deceiver and the antichrist! Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ (i.e. “avant-garde theology”) does not have God! Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son!”
 
So it seems to me, Jesus is uniquely the “Godman” or He isn’t. He was born supernaturally of a virgin or He was the illegitimate child of Joseph (or someone else unnamed). He either lived a sinless life or there was “a rat in the woodpile” somewhere. He either performed miracles and healed the sick as the Scriptures assert or His followers fabricated the miracle stories and defended them even in the face of death. He either died for our sins on the cross and resurrected the third day, and based on that event is able to forgive sin and transform lives by His resurrection power, or we’ve followed a pathetic, fabricated, myth. And His exalted heavenly position in heaven and promised second coming? You can either bank on it – or walk away scoffing… But one day we’ll all find out if it’s true or not, eh?
 
Let me say it as clearly as I know how… I believe that the apostolic witness found in the Bible is true – every word of it! In fact, I’ve staked my forgiven past – redeemed present – and a glorified future on it! Have you? CHRISTmas is all about Him, it seems to me!
 
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