Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus

This phrase is recorded in Hebrews 12:2.
It is preceded by the fact that we have a course laid out for us. The writer uses the analogy of a foot race. "let us run with endurance, the race set before us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus." This passage starts with the fact that faith is all so important. Chapter 11 has listed the strength of faith of so many. These many serve as a testimony of their faith, and should inspire us to try to achieve the same fervor in our faith as they had.
We do this by getting the world out of the way. When the passage reads: "let us also lay aside every encumbrance", it means we need to remove every obstacle that is in our way. Some versions render this word as weight. I don't think that sin is really the subject here because the next phrase in the verse says: "and the sin which so easily entangles us". These weights are things that may not be sin of themselves, but they can get in the way of serving the Lord. Things like work, family, recreation, eating, and so forth. All these are allowed by God, but we can abuse anything. So let us remove anything that gets in the way of serving God.
How do we do this? By fixing our eyes upon Jesus. Another way of saying this is to focus upon our goal. Jesus should be the ultimate goal for each of us. We are commanded to be like Him in suffering and example. We should be like Him in the fact that we have concern for peoples souls and will help them find salvation. While He died for their sins, we should be able to show people how to find the truth of God's word as spoken by Jesus.
When we have our focus upon the right goal, it is easier to not stray. Like on a race track there are lines for each runner to run in. You cross the line, and you get disqualified. You fix your eyes and goal upon Jesus, and we can win the race, and the prize that goes along with it. The crown of life is waiting for those who will run the race with endurance. This suggest a long distance race as opposed to a sprint. If we are in this race for the long haul, we had better keep our focus.
Have you fixed your eyes upon Jesus?

By Carey Scott

Congregational Singing

Congregational singing is unique music. The singing of a congregation of Christians is the singing of the young and the old, the much talented and the not so talented, the musically experienced, and the inexperienced, some who can sing beautifully and many who cannot. It is not a vocal performance by auditioned, rehersed professionals. It is the music of heart strings rather than vocal chords.
The primary design of congregation singing, then, is not to demonstrate how accurately these singers can sing the musical notes in a church hymnal, nor how beautifuolly they articulate the words of their songs. Its objective, rather, is the congregation's participation in a collective spiritual experience, "teach and admonishing one another and singing with grace and melody in their hearts to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), and speaking words of worship, praise, and thanksgiving to their heavenly Father. Their prayer songs become living prayers, just as their priase hymns become living praises. Their songs become living vehicles of spiritual expression! "...in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12)
Unlike the fictional songs sung by the world, these worshippers sing about eternal realities; the only true and living God, His resurrected and returning Son, Jesus Christ, and, of heaven, their eventual eternal home. The songs they sing to one another teach, admonish, exhort, and encouarge. They revive memories recalling "exceeding great and precious promises..." (2 Peter 1:4). They build faith, strengthen hope and express love for one another. The hearts of these singers are musical instruments, provided by their heavenly Father and on these hearts they strum spiritual messages and emotions of thei present life and the life to come. These worshippers don't just sing songs; they make their songs sing!
Genuine, sincere, intentional worshippers seize each opportunity to pour out the thoughts of their hearts in song, "singing with the spirit and the undertanding" (1 Corinthians 14:15) with a desire to offer their songs as "sacrifices of praise, the fruit of lips...for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrew 2:15,16). In the midst of the assembly of the saints of God, let every heart rejoice and sing! "Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2)
By Ralph A. Casey

Discipleship.

For the next several weeks, the lessons from the pulpit will be about Discipleship. As Christians we not only have a duty to be a disciple, but a command. Jesus commanded His apostles to go out into the world and make disciples. A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice. Someone who learns from a master for the purpose of being like his/her master.
As we go into God's word to see what is involved in discipleship, we learn the method and plan that God put in place. When we follow God's guidelines, we will have success.
And this formula works in the realm of sports, business, and the home.

The Hypocrisy Of Halloween

Of course, we like to dress up in costumes, and pretend that witches and goblins are all around. It is fun to eat candy, and we have been doing it for many years. But I would encourage parents to pay close attention to what we are actually doing with our children.
Other than the fact that Halloween had its origin in pagan religious ceremonies of honoring the dead, we have to compare the activities with the Bible and determine if this is a wholesome thing to do.
We constantly teach our children to avoid strangers and to never approach a stranger. Not to mention, don't take things from strangers. But on this one night of the year, we encourage them to do that very thing. Parents you are going to have to spend a lot of time retraining your children to avoid strangers. Many parents are protective with their children and teach them these things. Some parents could care less.
We also have a problem of allowing them to pig-out on candy and junk food. Once again, parents, you need to provide good nutrition for your kids. Ration their candy and make it lasts a long time. Encourage the children to eat better food. It would not hurt the parents either to eat a healthy diet.
We also delude our children to think that witches and goblins, and other eerie creatures actually exist. And if they become scared, we tenderly tell them that it is only make believe. In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing more than a lie. I guess because we have fun, we think that it is OK. Parents have a responsibility to train their children properly. This season of halloween does not help put a wise head upon our children.
And adults have turned this holiday into an opportunity to party, get drunk, commit fornication, and then have to live with the consequences.
The bible tells us to be sober minded all the time so that we do not commit sin in our lives. Everything about halloween is fantasy, over-eating, reveling, and most of it goes against the teaching of the Bible. Parents have a great responsibility to the children, and this does not help at all.

By Carey Scott 11/1/2010