Yesterday's worship was fantastic! Mario Ascencio, from Manassas, Va., came forward repenting of his sins. He was baptized about 10 years ago but fell away from the Lord after 4 years of devotion. I can see in his heart that he's hungry to serve God. Welcome, brother Ascencio, to the family of God!
In addition to this, I asked Bert Reins, father of Al Reins, from Riverside, Ca., to lead us a closing prayer. He's a preacher with a non-denominational church in Ca. I have been thinking alot of what Bert said in regards to all the deaf preachers all over the world and the members of the church. Bert is a very warm and exciting man of God. He's full of Spirit and love. He's always saying, "Amen!" when he sees the Word of God preached! But I can see that he aches deep in his heart. He aches for those who have been called to serve. But they run into roadblocks along faith's highway. Michelle and I talked about his testimony and strongly feel that every member ought to take careful note of what he is saying. After Bert shared with us his testimony, a couple of members continue to "complain" about a number of things surrounding the Fairfax church. It hit the very core of my heart thinking how they could have missed such a great testimony, put it to heart, and pray that Jesus will help them, that they will begin to think of others then pray that God will work in every person's life. Don't they realize they're doing the work of Satan by complaining about other things?
I am trying to find words to explain this but I feel the same what Jesus had felt when he tried to do the same with His disciples. He explained things in parables, in ways that men and women should understand. But they couldn't grasp the true meaning Jesus had taught because they were "dull of hearing". It is like a "veil" covering their eyes (2 Corinthians 3:14) preventing them from seeing the absolute truth, the truth that leads them to reap the abundant blessings in life! They heard Jesus' teachings but it didn't pierce their hearts. They understood the meaning in some ways but it didn't change them. Jesus warned them about many things but they stumbled into the things Jesus warned them about! Often, Jesus said,
He is just as frustrated as many of us are. Jesus still sees His followers "still so dull" in many things Jesus taught. Perhaps, they are simply just stubborn. They are looking for something else rather than fixing their eyes on the eternal! They see things through the "worldly lens" rather than the "lens of God". They are merely seeing physical things rather than spiritual. They want physical power instead of living in the blessedness of spiritual power! They fought about who is to be "second and third in command" rather than being humble and last instead of proud and first. They scattered away after the arrest of Jesus Christ, our Lord. They watched Jesus suffer and be ridiculed from the distance. Peter heard the rooster crows! Even, after three years of being with Jesus (everyday), they were still "so dull"!
During the winter quarter, I taught the book of Hebrews and the situation is similar to many churches in the U.S., today! Unsure of whom the writer of the book of Hebrews was (possibily Paul), he works with the Jewish (Christian) readers persuading them to keep hold of our Lord Jesus Christ (truth) and not fall away from the truth into the Law (following the Old Testament). "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food." Hebrews 5:12 (nas) I believe we have many deaf Christians who are "still so dull" because they, again, have to understand the very basic (elementary) principles God had given to us through Jesus! A couple of things I noticed in the church today (I, even, get emails with concerns about the Lord's members in His church worldwide!):
- They have become lazy and have no desire to serve God.
- They constantly miss worship services for the sake of: time, children, mixed priorities and other plans that appears more important than God.
- They do not attend bible classes which is where we get the "elementary principles" preparing us to eat "solid food"!
- They quarrel among each other about what was being taught. (Instead, we ought to go up to the teacher, in private, and ask for explanation of what was being taught preventing confusion among the church.)
- Two members discuss among each other criticism against a person, the church, or things they do not like happening or not getting anything from the church. (Instead, they ought to be discussing ways to change the negatives to positives. We must avoid giving Satan a foothold! (Ephesians 4:27))
- There are favoritism within the body of Christ (James 2:1, 9)
- They church failed to "Show Jesus" to the Lord's visitors. We merely have neglected them and failed to welcome them.
There's more, really.. But don't let this discourage you! We are to take heart because there will always be trouble in the world. We have Christ who is able to help us overcome these things, together. Think about these things. Whose side are you on: Satan's or God's. Well, I do hope you're on God's side. When you are on God's side, you're working to make things better for God's glory instead of dwelling on the negatives. We're to be positive and outgoing people. I don't care what the problems are or how many problems we have, I believe that's great we have a problem. But with a positive attitude and being filled with the power of God through His Spirit, we're able to overcome these things. Otherwise, you may have been overcome by Satan and are being pulled down by the weight of negativity! When you're being pulled down, you're "dull". I am not saying that you're lost. No! You're just a weaker vessel of God. You need help. You need to be fed with God's Word. You need to be strengthened in the Spirit (Colossians 2:7)! You need to be rooted in Christ (The Vine)! You need to repent of these sins. You need to change (metamorphosis!). You need to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus!
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 (niv)
So, stop being dull! Snap yourselves out of it! Eliminate things that pulls not only you but the church, even all the preachers and leaders who works hard:
"Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you." 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (niv)
Think of what Bert Reins shared with us. Pray about this and ask God what He can do with your life and those among you. That's all you have to do: just ask Him to eliminate the dullness of your seeing and become a Christian with sharp seeing (knowledge and Spirit and love and compassion and PASSION!)
9 comments:
Prayer:
Father,
Please give me wisdom to see my opportunities to serve your people as I try to help them understand your incredible grace. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
When we help those who can't help themselves, those who have gotten themselves in trouble, those who have been falsely accused, those who are facing death, we are helping Jesus himself. What would Jesus do? He would be helping someone find God out of their hopelessness and despair.
Focus on the hunger who's hungry & thirsty for the Word of God.
He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields. Matthew 9:37-38
Dull Soil or Good Soil??
The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Matthew 13:23
Dull? Tired?
So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness. James 3:18
Brothers & Sisters,
ALWAYS BE JOYFUL. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Comments on Matthew 15:16
We work hard to keep our outward appearance attractive, but what is it in our hearts is even more important. The way we are deep down ( where others can't see ) matters much to God. What are you like inside? When people become Christians, God makes them different on the inside. He will continue the process of change inside them of they only ask. God wants us to seek healthy thoughts and motives, not just healthy food and exercise.
I think when people, who are single and lonely, need to talk to others at church. Perhaps those were the ones who are "complaining"? When they are at home, they have almost no one to talk to. The church on Sundays is the only time and place for these people to express themselves, even negatively and all we should do is listen and hear their hearts. That's what TRUE in their hearts.
Monica
I have to agree with Annonymous's comment. Most people are too busy with the life at home. Like kid, marriage, work,etc. They are all too "ME" in their life. Are they really truly setting a real good example to others. I dont see it. It is all about "ME"... It is same old thing. I just want to mention that I surely do agree with the comments. It is so sad to see that in our church. I am aware that every church has flaws. No doubts. Lately, people go church then BYE..... to thier life at home..
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3-4
Then Jesus came on very strong closing these two verses: "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Matthew 7:5
We must judge ourselves, and judge of our own acts, but not make our word a law to everybody. We must not judge rashly, nor pass judgment upon our brother without any ground. We must not make the worst of people. Here is a just reproof to those who quarrel with their brethren for small faults, while they allow themselves in greater ones. Some sins are as motes, while others are as beams; some as a gnat, others as a camel. Not that there is any sin little; if it be a mote, or splinter, it is in the eye; if a gnat, it is in the throat; both are painful and dangerous, and we cannot be easy or well till they are got out. That which charity teaches us to call but a splinter in our brother's eye, true repentance and godly sorrow will teach us to call a beam in our own. It is as strange that a man can be in a sinful, miserable condition, and not be aware of it, as that a man should have a beam in his eye, and not consider it; but the god of this world blinds their minds. Here is a good rule for reprovers; first reform thyself.
Wow! Thanks for the comments.. Whomever these anonymouses are, I understand that one person focuses on what's going on among the members while the other person encourages us to focus on ourselves.
Perhaps, this calls for a "Deaf Single's Ministry", "Deaf Children's Ministry", "Deaf Teen Ministry" to meet the need of a specific group where they can relate with each other. I don't blame those who are single mingle around those who are married or young. Yet, we shouldn't put a blame on others who have a "family" when one doesn't have one (either yet or never will). This drive should enthuse a person to build a ministry to help those without a family, though we're a family at a specific church.
The problem is: we may still continue to "dislike" those involved in a specific ministry. If this persist, obvious the problem is "the very person", not those among the members. If you haven't done so, please read the "DNA of Relationships" where Gary Smalley, after years of research on relationships found that the problems, most of the time, lies within a person because of their past experiences (traumatic or out of the ordinary).
My point is that whenever a person (doesn't matter who) wants to talk, especially at church, that person may need to express his/her feelings in private to a member who's trustworthy. Is this a bad thing? No. I don't think so. Expressing feelings, negative or positive feelings, is allowable, right?
To respond to one of the anonymouses, no church is perfect. If you see something that needs to be done, why not share an idea with another member? Why not express something that a church needs? I've shared a few ideas with one female member and she agrees with my ideas. The problem is .. that the world today is full of RUSH RUSH RUSH and there's no time to do the things that we'd like to do. There's also no time for us to help more at our church. There's no time for us to stay together as a FAMILY at church EVERY Sunday. Let's focus on a resolution, not complaints. Look for resolutions which are positives. Don't look at the negatives such as complaints. Once you see the negatives, recognize them and come up with your own ideas and solutions and email them to Mark. I suggest that you discuss your ideas and concerns in private via email rather than here on this public blog. :)
Monica (not afraid to identify myself)
Thanks, Monica (the brave one), for your comments. Amen to that! We must tackle the problem or problems with have with others or a specific issue(s) by doing the Matthew 18:15 method Jesus taught us. :) I agree with you, Monica, that expressing feelings is allowable, indeed. With an understanding, expressing them with a desire to improve a situation (personally and interpersonally). :) Thanks for pointing this out. Remember the Matthew 18:15 teaching..
Here's a quote that is very familiar to me and I'm sure to you all, too! It's "there's always room for improvement". :)
Monica
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