B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #242
B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #242
I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
June 15, 2013
2013 Mission Helper Trip India is the destination for volunteers in the Mission Helper Program this summer. Twelve signed on to spread abroad the gospel message of salvation. The mission helpers have been divided into three teams.
Team #1 David Lueck, Nathan Noeldner, Jennifer Grabow, Becky Haddad Team #2 Todd Ohlmann, Lucas Brown, Melanie Halstein, Katherine Kazemba Team #3 Matt Ude, Andrew Roehl, Vanessa Ude, Becky McKenney
While some are going for their first time, others have been on previous mission trips. The three teams are to assist our Christian brethren in the CLCI and the BELC in proclaiming God’s Word. Part of the work will be “Child Evangelism” similar to our summer VBS program where Bible history lessons are taught. The clergy trained members of the mission helpers will conduct pastoral training seminars and preach in local congregations. Preparations for the trip include such things as receiving a series of shots, getting travel papers, and working on Bible lessons to be taught. We pray the Lord’s blessings on their preparations, travel, and mission efforts.
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Hope
(continued)
Promise
“His oath, His covenant and blood,” are three witnesses that testify to the truth of our hope. The oath and covenant remind us that the Word is rock solid in its assurance to us. “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.” Heb. 6:17-18 And then there is the cross that testifies indelibly on our heart.
Think of the example of Abraham who received the promise of a son. This was against all odds due to Sarah and Abraham’s age. But he hoped against hope, expecting that God would do what He said. Then think how the father was commanded to sacrifice his son. Still he proceeded, knowing that God could raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham expected God’s earthly promises to come true no matter what. So we all trust His heavenly promises fully expecting what He guaranteed in His Word.
Think of earthly examples of our expectations.
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You are told a letter was sent to you. You expect to receive it because the person who told you is trustworthy. So with our God even more so. There can be no interference in what He ultimately delivers to us.
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You are told that money has been deposited in your account. You don’t have to see the money because the bank account record shows it is there. So the Word of God assures us the treasures are in heaven awaiting us. There are no mistakes in bookkeeping that can interfere. God knows, God does.
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You have a check in your hand that tells you that if you deposit that check you will receive the amount of money listed there. The check is as good as money. Though you do not see the money, you know you will get the cash amount listed. With our God there can never be a case of an overdrawn account with no treasure to be given as was promised. God is faithful.
Some people read the words of Scripture and because they have no faith the words are simply dead letters to them. We have the Holy Spirit within our heart who is the guarantee of what we shall receive. “In Him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it…” Eph. 1:13-14 Of course this is God Himself who works within us. He is the Living Spirit. He lives within our heart in a mysterious union and work. Through His work “we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” 1Pet. 1:3-4 So then the words we have in God’s promises are not empty and lifeless, but full of assured fulfillment.
Stay in God’s Word and you will not doubt this. Our future is bright and resplendent with His glory.
A brief glimpse into heaven – “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night within His temple and He who sits upon the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev.7:15-17
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in his righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand. 370 st. 4
Patience
It will all come about. Read the passages which are words our God is speaking to you to hold out.
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“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Heb. 10:23 It is not upon our strength that we hold out, but upon His faithfulness that we persevere.
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We are “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own…” Titus 2:13 Just as certainly as Jesus died and rose again and has called us to Himself, so our hope will be fulfilled.
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Ps. 78:7 “so that they should set their hope in God, and nor forget the works of God…” Look at creation as it came about in six days and remember this is the God who speaks and it is done.
Are you patient as you await His second coming and your transfer to glory? Remember the example of Paul, “…I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature be thus minded…” Phil. 3:12-15 Are you forgetting what lies behind? Let the evil of the day be sufficient thereof; don’t carry worry over to tomorrow. Are you pressing on toward the prize? Those in a race are not distracted, but set their sights on the finish line. Think how the prize is laid up for you. Your name is on it so you can claim it and no other can snatch it. It is a sure thing.
Today on this earth some people have money put in pension funds so that when they finish their labors they might retire with some nest egg to spend as they see fit. Sadly, through poor investments or some chicanery of siphoning off funds the amount is not what it was supposed to be. It is much diminished from what the person thought he was to get. For us the treasure is laid up in heaven and cannot be lessened. We have bliss – the absence of all that saddens and sorrows on earth replaced with happiness that never ends. We have glory – our attention is on the throne of God and His perfection which then reflects upon us even to that of a glorified body free from all that assailed our body on this earth. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us that where He is we might also be. I wait patiently for that day with great expectations.
What though the tempest rage, Heav’n is my home;
Short is my pilgrimage, Heav’n is my home;
And time’s wild wintry blast, Soon shall be overpast;
I shall reach home at last, Heav’n is my home.
There at my Savior’s side Heav’n is my home;
I shall be glorified, Heav’n is my home.
There are the good and blest, Those I love most and best;
And there I, too, shall rest, Heav’n is my home. 660 st. 1-2
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Pastor David Koenig