church life

Be on the lookout!

/ sweetpeacardco

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

In January we looked at Jesus’ promise from Matthew 16:18, I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus is on the offensive, the devil is on the defensive. Yet while his power was defeated at the cross it would be a mistake to let down our guard because he is still dangerous. This is exactly the spiritual wisdom Peter gives us in a passage we’ll be examining at Bible study this spring. It is generally when things are going well as a chapel and as individuals that the devil chooses to strike. Why? Often in those instances we let our guard down. Peter, however, says we should never be spiritually naive and always have our guard up because 1) lions strike without notice, 2) they are always on the prowl, and 3) if we’re unprepared the results can be messy.

The devil is especially concerned when people and churches draw near to Jesus. He doesn’t want that and will stop at NOTHING to disrupt this. As a Christian, do not think temptations and trials of various kinds will diminish the more mature you become, rather the devil’s attacks will intensify. Likewise, he’ll seek to disrupt the unity, faith and peace of a growing congregation. How does he do this? Often by fostering a spirit of jealousy, bitterness, strife, pride and rebelliousness that will show itself in gossip, slander, anger, a reliance on worldy wisdom, and disrespect toward others and leaders (see Eph 4). In effect he tries to take our eyes off Jesus. So let us resist the devil, be on our guard and be on the lookout—firm in our faith—fixing our eyes on our shied and defender, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

No Surprise

/ sweetpeacardco

It is no real surprise that those churches that believe the Bible is true tend to grow, whereas generally those that don’t are in a state of decline.

Such is a recent finding from a study conducted in my home province from Canada posted in this country through UK Christian Concern (sign up for their helpful newsletters and prayer list too). It is short and well worth a read.

The Bible itself urges us to not wander from the truth revealed to us by God in the Bible:

Jude 3b: “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

2 John 1:9–10: “everyone who goes ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God.”

Eph 4:14: do not be “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

Prov 3:5–6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

C.H. Spurgeon said that, “the coals of orthodoxy [correct belief] are necessary to fan the flames or revival [kingdom growth].”

This is especially important at Christmas. Thankfully at Cromhall Chapel when we talk about:

  • Prophecies fulfilled in Christ foretold in ages past,
  • Angels and choirs of heaven,
  • Dreams,
  • A young teenager becoming pregnant through the Holy Spirit (the Virgin Birth),
  • God becoming man in the person of Jesus (the Incarnation),
  • And that He came to save us from our sins (SIN is real), and
  • That by believing who Jesus is and why He died you will be transformed into a new person and given eternal life [the ultimate personal testimony to the truth of the Bible’s message, the Gospel]…

…we actually believe what the Bible says!

Happy Christmas—IT IS ALL TRUE!

Pastor Chris

What if…?

/ sweetpeacardco

Put on your imagination hat for a moment and ponder this sad circumstance, imagine if…

Your pastor (or elder[1]):

  • Habitually failed to show up at services he was meant to preach at (leaving the chapel with no back up preacher!);
  • Felt not the need to attend services when he wasn’t preacher or leading;
  • Mis-planned his week so he was out so late on Saturday night he was too tired to come into the Lord’s house on Sunday morning;
  • Approached his duties with half-hearted drudgery rather than with delight and care;
  • Didn’t show the zeal to go above and beyond in ministerial duties;
  • Was negligent in attending weekly Bible study (skipping out even when he was scheduled to lead!);
  • Never read the Bible or prayed outside of church events;
  • Didn’t observe the Lord’s Day on holidays, or visit another church when not preaching at his own;
  • Often skipped prayer meetings or was absent at other important chapel meetings; or
  • Was one person in the pulpit and someone completely different out of it.

I would imagine they would either be rebuked or removed from their position and worse still, have their Christian character called into question. The consequences are not imaginary. This is the scrutiny a pastor is placed under in life by the Church and by the Lord (who sees and knows all things).

But what if…these same principles were applied to your walk with the Lord?

While elders and pastors are called to a higher level of responsibility and accountability, they share with all Christians the calling to conform to Christ’s standard of perfection, obedience and service.

Don’t neglect to meet together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ~Hebrew 10:25

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

[1] Or you might sub in another position of Christian leadership or service paid or voluntary.