Quotes to Ponder

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from the evil one" (II Thessalonians 3:3). Have you ever had someone promise you something, you believed them with all your heart and they didn't keep their promise? If you have lived very long at all, that has happened to you. However there is One who will not let you down, He is "Faithful", He keeps his Word, He is still to be believed in, as One Who is faithful to His promises (I Thess. 5:24). God will establish us and keep us from the evil one. We will comes under attack but in Christ we will come through the attack victorious. Have you noticed Paul seemed to live under attack. At the time Paul penned the above verse he was under attack, but he turns his attention to his readers in order to express his assurance of their being established in the faith, and their preservation from the evil one. When we are under attack we need to pray for others that would do tremendous damage to Satan's kingdom. I would encourage you to have some prayer targets ready, and when the enemy attacks you go to prayer. The enemies of the cross are real, the church has come under their scourge in every generation. Many unbelievers are content to simply ignore the gospel, and tolerate those who love the Lord. However there are unreasonable and violent individuals who are driven to persecute those who claim the name of Jesus. Paul himself was just one of those individuals who persecuted the church. Yet God in His mercy saved him and used him to write over half of the New Testament. As humans we tend to place our affections on the wrong things. We are driven by what we love, and we are prone to love idols. John Calvin said "The heart is a factory that makes idols." God desires to keep us from the evil one. He will reveal the hidden things in our hearts if we ask Him to bring everything that is hidden to light. The enemy is quick to work through open doors we give him through unrepentant sin in our lives. We read "Be angry and sin not, don't let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil." The Greek word place is "Topos." We get the word topography or ground from this word. Unresolved anger and bitterness gives "Ground" to the devil. As we progress in our relationship with Jesus He will make clear to us those things that hinder our walk with Him. God will be faithful to bring up a cherished sin, a point of pride, a wrong attitude or something in our lives that is stunting our spiritual growth. This is our time for repentance and tearing down idols. This is part of God's plan to establish us in the faith. You can be rest assured He is doing His part, are you doing your part? Below are some quotes that are worth pondering. Enjoy. "Our little time of suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome home to Heaven." - Samuel Rutherford "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." - Abraham Lincoln "We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." - John Shedd "The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you'll ever get to God." - Max Lucado "If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?" - Stephen Levine. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Giving and Receiving

"Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account" (Philippians 4:17). The apostle Paul had a side business, tent making. However, over time, it was evident that more and more of his time was being given to vocational ministry activities. That required him to receive income from those to whom he invested his life. It became increasingly difficult to run a business and travel and minister. Many bi-vocational pastors find themselves in Paul's shoes when it comes to tent making. Their heart aches to be more involved in ministry, yet "Tent making" takes up much of their time. His letter to the Philippians gives us perspective on giving. Although Paul appreciated the support financially, his real joy came in the fact that their gift was being credited to their Heavenly account. The Scriptures tell us "It's more blessed to give than to receive." I have been on both ends of that verse. Rest assured, I would much rather be giving to others than receiving. It take unique grace to receive. Our pride really takes a beating when we feel we are "Not able to provide for our own," Yet God is full of mercy for giving and receiving. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:14-19). Paul had confidence that God would always provide what he needed. Sometimes it came from his business. Sometimes it came through others. He was not overly concerned with where his provision would come from. His confidence was in God, his provider. Paul trusted the Lord with every aspect of his life, including his finances. Paul learned that it wasn't a church or a business that was his provider. It was the Lord. Business and people were merely tools God used to support him. Are you in the state of need? Cry out to God, the One who said He is Jehovah Jirah, "The God who provides". Are you blessed to the degree you are able to give to those in need? Thank the Lord and remember you can't out give the God. I believe we can echo the words of Paul when he said "No matter what state I am in, I have learned to be content." Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.