Bro. David's Weekly Word
Bro. David's Weekly Word
February 25, 2016
From the Pastor's Heart,
Do you remember the last time you were mistreated? If so, then these next few messages are for you! Not every message from God's Word is about you but they are all for you! The Bible says that “all scripture is profitable.” But let me say that if you've been wronged, then this message is not only for you, this message is about you. God has something He wants to say to you who have been wronged and it's found in James 5.
Don't think that what has happened to you was an isolated case or something new. It's been going on for thousands of years. In fact, it was taking place thirty years after the resurrection of Jesus among the saints to whom James wrote this book that bears his name.
They were being mistreated. They were being wronged by their employers. They were being taken advantage of in the workplace, not being compensated for the work they were doing. Now, I've told you that James is practical haven't I? What do you do when you've been wronged?
Take God's Word and turn with me to James 5 as we continue under our heading: CHRISTIANITY IN SHOELEATHER as James gives us some timeless truths that will help us do right when wronged.
That's what I want to start talking about in our time together: doing right when wronged.
James 5.7-12
7 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No” “No” lest you fall into judgment.”
Notice that verse 7 begins with the word “therefore.” Whenever you come across the word “therefore” in the Bible you need to stop and see what it's there for! It's like the writer is saying to us, “Now in light of what I just said ... do this or remember this or be this” and then he gives us some practical wisdom and advice.
Do you remember from last time what James had just finished talking about? Unused wealth! How those who had wealth were not paying the workers in the field for their labor. Those laboring saints were being mistreated.
They had worked fulfilling their agreement, yet were not being paid for it. Their wages were being withheld. In fact, we saw last time that the employers never intended to pay them for their work- not a nickel (or would that be a shekel?). Well either way, I think you get the point.
So what were they to do? Retaliate? Return evil for evil? Get even? Hold a grudge? Lose their temper? Go on strike? And more importantly for us, what are we to do when wronged? And how do we do right when wronged? First of all they were to LOOK UPWARD AND BE CALM.
Verse 7, “Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” You say that you've been mistreated, ripped off, taken advantage of. You’ve been wronged? Fine, who hasn't been? Especially the saints of God!
Now here's God's word to us when we're wronged: “... be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” Now I can hear somebody say, “Patient? How can I be patient? And patient for what? And for how long?” Until the coming of the Lord!
Folks, it's knowing that Jesus is coming again that produces that patience in us when we've been wronged! In fact, the Greek word that's translated “patient” here in verse 7 literally means “to be long tempered ... longsuffering ... to have a long fuse.”
Let me ask you something: when you are mistreated, when you get ripped off in a business deal, when you've been misunderstood, do you have a long fuse? Are you long-tempered?
You say, “Impossible!” Then let me ask you this: does God ever command us to be something or do something that He doesn't supply the power for us to fulfill? Let me help you answer that: NO.
If God tells us to be patient, long tempered, and longsuffering when wronged, then He will supply us with whatever we need to fulfill that command. Look at what gives us a long fuse when wronged in verse 7, “... the coming of the Lord.”
That's it! Knowing that Jesus is coming again and when He arrives He's going to right every wrong! Now somebody says, “Pastor, do you really believe that Jesus is coming again?” I do, and I'll give you three reasons.
1. It was predicted in the Old Testament.
Enoch said, “Behold, the Lord comes with 10,000 of His saints.” David said, “When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.” Daniel said, “the son of man shall come in the clouds from Heaven.” Zechariah said that “His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mt. of Olives.”
2. It was promised by the Lord Jesus.
“If I go away, I will come again and receive you to myself.” “Surely, I come.” “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father and with His angels.”
3. It was proclaimed by the saints.
Paul said, “for our conversation is in heaven from where also we look for the savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout.”
“Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
One out of every thirty verses in the Bible refers to His second coming. There are over 300 references in the 216 chapters in the New Testament that mention the second coming of Jesus.
His return is predicted in the Old Testament, promised by the Lord Jesus, and proclaimed by the New Testament saints! Don't make incidental what God has made fundamental. Just as there was a first coming, there's going to be a second coming.
And knowing that Jesus is coming and when He gets here He's going to settle every account. He's going to right every wrong, SO BE PATIENT! The day of accounting is coming!
You say that you've been wronged? What's involved in doing right when wronged? LOOK UPWARD AND BE CALM, “brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” Calm down, lengthen your temper, don’t lose it, and hold it! In other words, LOOK UPWARD AND BE CALM.
Next time together we will look at how James tells us to LOOK INWARD AND BE CLEAN. I would love to see you on Wednesday night as we go over these verses together and glean what God has for us from them.
VBS is Coming:
You are an important part of teaching the Love of God to young children but we need to know who you are. Be sure and let Nicole know soon that you would like to be a part of this great mission effort right here at Aspen Park.
Candy for Easter Eggs:
The Children’s Department and the Indian Springs Apartments ministry are in need of your donations of Easter candy so that they can fill the eggs that the children will hunt during our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Next time you are at the store, pick up several extra bags and bring them to the church by March the 20th.
Women’s Ministry Bible Study:
It’s not too late for you to join the Women’s Ministry on Sunday Night as they study together the word of God. They just started and I know that you will enjoy this great time of fellowship and Bible Study.
The new study is held on Sundays 5:00pm to 6:30pm.
Ladies, you won't want to miss this Bible Study. It applies to all women, regardless of age, stage of life or any other way we might categorize ourselves.
Books are $13 and will be available at the study. Scholarships are available and confidential. The cost of a book should never keep you away from a Bible study!
They will meet at the north end of the education building, close to the preschool area. Dates: February 28, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 10 & April 24
Upcoming Events at Aspen Park:
February 28 – Sunday School Visitation at 4:00 pm
March 6 –Annie Armstrong season of prayer for home missions
March 6 – Sunday School Visitation at 4:00 pm
March 13 – Sunday School Visitation at 4:00 pm
March 20 – Bring a Friend Day and Palm Sunday celebration
March 26 – Easter Egg hunt at Indian Springs apartment complex
March 27 – Easter Celebration at Aspen Park with Easter Hunt to follow the morning service.
April 8 – 10 – Youth DNOW Weekend.
April 17 – Aspen Park Community Festival
April 23 – Women’s Ministry conference at the Church
Bring a Friend Day:
We have an excellent opportunity to get out and visit our Sunday School members who have not been coming! We have 4 weeks of visitation starting this Sunday night at 4 pm in the Multipurpose room. Please join us each week as we desire to reach folks for God's glory!
We also want everyone making phone calls and sending cards, text messages and such to folks who have not been here lately. If you have some lost friends that we can visit, please come and let us know. I am excited about what the Lord is doing here at APBC this spring and look forward to YOU getting involved! Our goal is 150 people in bible study on Bring a Friend Day on March 20th! Have a blessed week as you serve the Lord!
In Christ,
Christopher Dale
Word for the Week:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold all things are become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
Once again, I want to thank you so very much for helping to make Aspen Park a great church for the Lord. Let’s all invite people to come and visit us at Aspen Park—our goal is souls!
Blessings,
Bro. David