Theo News

Verse of the Day: 1 Peter 4:7-8

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

Praying for revival

By guest blogger,Pastor Colin McDougall, from Church of the Open Door

Who would you nominate as the greatest prophet of the Old Testament?

Maybe you like Elijah who defeated Baal and broke a three-year drought, or Elisha who received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, or maybe Isaiah or Daniel with their amazingly accurate prophecies regarding the Lord Jesus.  Jonah had a one hundred per cent conversion ratio; Moses spoke to God face to face.  Enoch was a prophet who was taken up without experiencing death; David was a prophet but also a king and the father of our Messiah!

In Luke 7, Christ gives His judgment regarding the greatest Old Testament prophet.  Jesus did not prize great oratory or large crowds or fine clothing, He valued the integrity of a man who would serve Him alone in the wilderness—He chose John the Baptist.  He said John was the promised prophet who would come in the spirit of Elijah, who would turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, who would prepare the people to receive their Savior.

When we pray for revival in our country, do we imagine that it will come with eloquence and the soft clothing of kings’ palaces?  Are we to look for the bright lights and big names who know how to smile into the camera, stars who will help improve our image as Christians in the community?  Isn’t it far more likely that even now Jesus is answering our prayer for revival by calling men and women of integrity into lonely desert places where they will learn to share in the fellowship of His suffering?  I believe as Paul did that God exhibits His spokesmen last of all, like men condemned to death.  It is their suffering that marks them as the genuine article, a spectacle to arrest the attention of men and angels.  We are more likely to find them in the neighborhood than in the national news, in the prayer room rather than on the platform, more likely serving the children than impressing the adults.

In fact, we probably know personally some of those through whom the revival is coming.  After Jesus identified John the Baptist as the greatest prophet, He added, “And yet, the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).  What a privilege to live in this generation, to know the Lord Jesus intimately, to associate with Him outside the gate where He suffered for us!  The magnetic personalities that will reconcile our people to God and to one another and spare our country from destruction are not those who are the most hip, cool and appealing, but the ones who most thoroughly identify with the Man of Sorrows—the ones who even in doubt and on death row bring their questions and disappointments straight to Him.

Are you facing a choice this month—some decision between bright lights or wilderness, soft clothes or suffering?  Please reply to let me know so we can pray for one another.  And let us continue to ask the Lord to awaken the hearts of our countrymen, to send us more men and women who courageously identify with Jesus in the desert places.

Looking for Prayer Partners

We at Whitestone Media believe that God has called us to teach children God's Word. What's more we recognize we need His help to do this. As scripture indicates, God's help often comes through the prayers of His people. With this in mind, we are seeking prayer partners for two specific needs: First, that God would allow Theo to go out into the whole world. Second, for His protection as we seek to do His will. Would you be willing to pray with us? If so, it would be a tremendous encouragement if you would "like" this post on our Facebook page, indicating to us your commitment to pray. We believe that your partnership with us in prayer and God's faithfulness is the key to advancing God's kingdom through this project.

Family Priorities as Disciples of Christ

Joseph was born into a good family; in fact mom and dad go to church when the schedule opens up. They live in a nice home and dad has worked very hard to give Joseph a comfortable life. As Joseph grows up, he tries to learn what this life is all about. He listens, watches, and attempts to dissect the obvious and not so obvious priorities of his family.

Even at a young age, he is affirmed at the way he looks, the goal he kicked in the soccer game, and 10 out of 10 he received on his reading quiz. As he plays his PS3 at night, he overhears his parents once again talk about how great it would be to have a larger backyard for Joseph and his sister in the northern part of the city.  Their conversation quickly shifts to vacation next summer and saving enough to get the whole family to that special destination.

Joseph’s dad works long hours but comes home in time for dinner.  As far as Joseph can understand, Dad has two passions, two things that really excite Dad: Saturday mornings coaching Joseph and his sister to soccer championships and remodeling the kitchen. It’s been a 3 year project but when that kitchen is done, they can finally have people over; they can finally entertain the way their other friends can.

Joseph’s mom is the organizer; the one keeps the books and keeps the family going. She’s very good at it. Joseph anticipates the first questions out of her mouth as he steps into her mini-van after school, Joseph says, “9 out of 10 mom!”,  that’s what he got on his daily reading quiz. The other thing that Joseph notices about his mom is that she is always muttering to herself numbers during meals: 220, 115, 330.  Later on he discovers these “numbers” are calories that she is about to eat. She is very beautiful but often reminds Joseph’s dad how much she has gained or lost in any given week.

This is the world that Joseph grows up in.  These are Joseph’s observations about what is the most important to mom and dad.

My kids are very young but if you were to interview them, in their own words they would accurately tell you what are the priorities and truths that operate my life. If I were to interview your kids, in their own words they would tell me exactly what is important to you.

In John 8:31b-32, Jesus lays out our family priorities as disciples of Christ, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Christ is the truth and His Word is true, His truth always leads to freedom. We must abide in His truth!

In this context in John 8, Jesus is talking to those who had just affirmed their faith in Him in (vs. 30).  To “abide” (meno) or “continue” is used to express the most intimate relationship between Father and Son (Jn. 14:10).  Here it means to dwell intimately, remain in Christ’s Words.  As we dwell intimately, trusting Christ’s Words, we are His disciples.  His dwelling intimately with us is tied to our dwelling intimately with His Words and Teaching.  John 15:14 tells us, “You are my friends if you do what I tell you.” A couple of verses earlier Christ says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:7-8)

Our freedom in this world is tied to us dwelling intimately with Christ and His Words.  His truth is what brings us freedom! The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of personally knowing the Truth and allowing the Truth to make us free. The children that God has privileged us to influence will learn more about Christ through our daily decisions and activity than any word that comes out of our mouth. Christ’s truth has come to liberate us from the conformity of this world and to give hope to our watching children.

An Exposition on the Word, "Salvation"

By Guest Blogger: Ed Underwood, Pastor of Church of the Open Door

Salvation: What does it mean?
Careful, the question is not, “What do you think it means?” The question is, “What does the Bible say about the word salvation?”

The pure meaning of the word Salvation according to the Bible is rescue, deliverance, remedy, especially from sin.

Biblical Words

1. The root Hebrew word is yasha’—“to be wide or roomy” in contrast to “narrow, restricted, or confined.” It refers to delivering a person or group of people from distress or danger, from their “restricted” predicament in which they are helpless to deliver themselves. It carries the idea of liberation, protection, emancipation, and preservation. Sometimes the deliverer was human (Judges 2:18); sometimes the Deliverer was YHWH (Psalm 20:6; Isaiah 61:10). Sometimes an individual was delivered (Psalm 86:1-2), sometimes the nation Israel (Isaiah 12:2), sometimes the entire world (Isaiah 45:22; 49:6). Faith was the necessary condition for salvation that led to personal righteousness (Genesis 15:6) and the object of faith was the true God (Numbers 14:11; Psalm 78:22; Jonah 3:5). The initiative was always entirely with God (Psalm 3:8; Jonah 3:5).

2. Both the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) and the New Testament use the Greek word sozo (soter, soteria) to translate yasha’ and sometimes shalom (peace or wholeness). The New Testament usage can be expanded to include cure, recovery, remedy, rescue, redemption, or welfare. This deliverance can be from danger, disease, or death (Matthew 9:22; Acts 27:20; Hebrews 5:7). The full-orbed Christian usage means delivering from eternal death and gifting a person with everlasting life (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 7:25). As in the Old Testament, the initiative of salvation is entirely with God (John 3:16). But the New Testament makes sure that we understand that all salvation is based solely on the Lord Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross (Acts 4:12; Hebrews 5:9).

3. The simple usage of these biblical terms only introduces the wonder of our so great salvation we must not neglect (Hebrews 2:3). Other, more theological terms (see below) like sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation, redemption, and justification must be considered to accurately appreciate and understand the doctrine of soteriology.

The doctrine of salvation...embraces all of time as well as eternity past and future. It relates in one way or another to all of mankind, without exception. It even has ramifications in the sphere of the angels. It is the theme of both the Old and the New Testaments. It is personal, national, and cosmic. And it centers on the greatest Person, our Lord Jesus Christ." (Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology, p 319)

New Year Needs (a meditation)

Helmet of Salvation

In today’s world, helmets are mostly worn for riding bikes, skateboarding and jumping out of planes. In Paul’s world, Roman soldiers wore helmets to protect their heads from fatal blows during battle. Paul compared the helmet to salvation in Ephesians 6 because it is essential to protect the Christian mind from the fatal blows of doubts and thoughts of despair from Satan.

The doctrine of Salvation comes from the Greek verb, “sozo” which means to heal, to preserve, to save, to make whole and to deliver. Salvation, in the life of a believer, delivers them from the slavery to sin and gives the Christian mind the focus of eternal life and peace. Consider how you are guarding your mind against Satan’s attacks. Prayer and commitment to the memorization of Scripture is a big step in making sure that, as a believer, you are sound in your faith and know how to recognize the lies of the devil. Paul mentions the helmet of salvation again in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 and refers to it as the “hope of salvation.” Hope encourages the believer to not give in to the despairing thoughts of the enemy.

Also, take comfort that once a Christian is covered by the redemptive blood of Christ, nothing can ever remove his or her salvation. John 10:28-29 speaks of the finality of salvation, “And I [Jesus] give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

When Satan attacks with thoughts of doubt or falsehoods, Christians need to remember that they are no longer slaves to sin and are instead children of God, giving them the choice to reject the lies of Satan. The helmet of salvation should sit firmly on a Christian’s head, reminding him or her that “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh.” (2 Corin. 10:3)

With our helmets securely fastened, we can have the confidence needed to understand and endure the trials that we face. In Romans 8:18, Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” In order to share in Christ’s glory, we must share in his sufferings. Knowing that we have the hope and security of salvation can only give us perspective of what is to come.

Breastplate of Righteousness

In Roman times, a soldier would wear a breastplate over his chest to protect his vital organs. Of course each piece of armor he would wear was important for various reasons, but the breastplate made sure that his heart and lungs were protected from blows from a sword or a fiery dart shot from an archer. While the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he observed how the soldiers depended on their armor to keep themselves alive and protected in battle. When he used the different pieces of armor to describe spiritual armor, he used the breastplate to illustrated righteousness.

Righteousness comes from the Greek word, “Dikaiosune.” This is a word that describes the “gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God.”

Simply stated, to be righteous is to be right with God. Righteousness is a characteristic of God that is the essence of perfection and holiness.

Man cannot earn this righteousness by his own merits, nor can anyone create his or her own righteousness. When a person comes to Christ through faith and is born again, he or she is clothed in the righteousness of Christ. It is a judicial act of God, whereby He imputes or declares that we are righteous as His Son Jesus. And so it is Christ’s righteousness that we wear as a breastplate. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Bible says, “ God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

As a breastplate, righteousness is used to protect a Christian from the attacks of the devil. These attacks could be doubts of salvation, pride, bitterness, anger and any other destructive force that distracts a Christian from his or her walk with God. Because Christians are clothed in the righteousness of God, they know that Satan’s lies and deceit have no place in their lives and they can withstand every one of his attacks. Satan is a defeated foe.

Stand secure brothers and sisters, in the breastplate of righteousness, and let us daily strive to live more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

1 Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W. E. Vine, Fleming H. RevellCompany, New Jersey, 1966

Sword of the Spirit

Did you know that Jesus was tempted by Satan when he was here on earth? In Matthew 4, the Bible tells how Jesus was tempted and yet did not sin. Many times, Christians feel very alone when they are tempted and they forget that Christ was also tempted and knows exactly what it feels like. In response to the twisted falsehoods of Satan, Jesus answered each temptation with Scripture, establishing the truth that can withstand any attack.

When Jesus was in the wilderness, Satan came to him with three specific temptations. Each temptation targeted one of the falling points of man mentioned in 1 John 2:16, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” While Jesus could have used His authority as the Son of God to fight off Satan, He instead demonstrated the tools that Christians have available to them by using the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Ephesians 6 refers to the Word of God as, the “Sword of the Spirit.” If you think about a sword, it can be used both defensively and offensively in battle. When Christ was tempted in the wilderness, he showed both tactics and, in the end, commanded Satan to leave. “Then Jesus said to him, Go Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10)

The power of Scripture should not be underestimated as it is “…living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Whether Christians are under attack or preparing to boldly share the gospel, they should use what Christ used – the Word of God. The words in the Bible are so powerful that “It [God’s Word] shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I [God] please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

If you really desire to be like Jesus, make sure you know God’s Word to fend off the attacks of the devil and “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Where is your Sword? Is it in it’s scabbard or is it in your hands, sharpened and ready for battle? You are going to need it today.

Armor of God

Over the years, people have invented certain gear to make sure that their bodies are protected in both combat and play. During the Middle Ages, a medieval knight wore a suit of armor to protect himself from the attacks of an enemy force. In today’s world, armor takes on other different forms. For protection in combat situations, police wear bulletproof vests. Even in casual competition, protective gear is needed. Soccer players wear shinguards and football players wear helmets.

Christians should also be concerned about protecting another aspect of their life: their spiritual body. The spiritual part of a Christian’s life reflects the Holy’s Spirit’s work in that believer, and that is a very important thing to protect. Of course, physical armor. like shinguards and helmets, won’t help safeguard the spiritual body and that’s where the armor of God comes into play.

What exactly is the armor of God? While there are many aspects involved in protecting one’s self from the attacks of the enemy, Paul discusses some of the important pieces of spiritual armor. Paul listed pieces of armor, like righteousness, truth and prayer, as items that Christians need to successfully withstand the attacks of Satan.

In Ephesians 6:13, Paul says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Because Paul wrote Ephesians while imprisoned in Rome, the comparison between the armor of God and the armor of a Roman soldier was quite applicable. Paul was instructing the Christians of Ephesus to prepare for the attacks of the devil by putting on the armor of God just like the Roman soldiers prepared for their duties by putting on their armor.

While we will be highlighting some of the different parts of the armor of God in the coming weeks, it is important to realize why Paul wanted the Christians of Ephesus to know about the armor of God. If Christians let down their guard, allowing Satan to get a foothold in their life, the gospel could not get out as effectively. A great way to share the gospel is to demonstrate it, and a Christian cannot properly reflect godliness if their armor of God isn’t on nice and tight.
Put on your armor, it may be the most important thing you put on today.