Nashik Baptist Church

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Lies, Fear & the Great Commission.

lies fear“When I left England, my hope of India’s conversion was very strong; but amongst so many obstacles, it would die, unless upheld by God. Well, I have God, and His Word is true. Though the superstitions of the heathen were a thousand times stronger than they are, and the example of the Europeans a thousand times worse; though I were deserted by all and persecuted by all, yet my faith, fixed on the sure Word, would rise above all obstructions and overcome every trial. God’s cause will triumph.” ― William Carey

One of these obstacles to the gospel, that Carey mentions must no doubt be the sin of lying. Erik Raymond from The Gospel Coalition wrote “Gossip is the RPG that blasts holes in the fabric of the church”. This last week we have again been at the receiving end of this RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). Anti-Christian journalists had maliciously and intentionally smeared Emmanuel Gaikwad’s (Kolhapur Bible Church) name in a Mumbai newspaper in an attempt to sell more copies. Emmanuel, who is a director of AGAPE Total Medicare (an NGO helping HIV infected and effected persons), was directly accused by the media of trafficking children and indirectly accused of abusing them.

Lies and gossip are not new threats that the church has had to face, but they are still just as damning and destructive if our hearts and eyes are not “fixed on the sure Word”. Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” I am convinced that the end goal of all lies is to make us afraid and to doubt and waver in our faith. Living in fear looks very much like believing lies. Fear can paralyse us, make us useless and cause us to sin, just like it did to Gideon hiding away in a winepress. What we believe inevitably is what we will act on. Our belief always affects our behaviour.

Roughly 2460 years ago Nehemiah faced the same strategy of Satan. The infamous Sanballat and Tobiah were spreading malicious gossip and lies in an attempt to stop the work of the Lord. Their threats against the Israelites to stop building the walls of Jerusalem backfired and instead motivated the children of God to work harder and faster. Nehemiah’s wise counsel to the Jews was simply “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome”. In spite of their threats, the good work had advanced. The enemy had tried mockery; and failed. Attempted force; but learned to their dismay, that the Israelites were ready to resist unto blood to complete the work of the Lord. So when these strategies failed, Sanballat and Tobiah turned to deception, lies and even gossip. The enemies of God called Nehemiah to a meeting in a village with intentions of killing him. But Nehemiah recognised the deceptive plot and answered them in this manner, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”

After four further invitations were denied, Sanballat sent an open letter to Nehemiah. Nehemiah 6 verse 5, tells us specifically this was an “open” letter. Official letters were normally sealed so the public could not read the contents. Obviously, Sanballat wanted people to read this letter while enroute, so that gossip would spread. This was the beginning of the smear campaign. Not much has changed in our modern age with “open letters” that are posted on facebook and other social media, with the same intentions and in Emmanuel’s case, an article that is posted in an e-paper. New technology, same strategy of Satan.

Sanballat’s intentions where to create fear and distrust among the Jews as all gossip and lies are designed to do. His accusations against Nehemiah were clearly false and malicious, accusing one of the godliest men alive at that time, of selfish ambition and rebellion. Nehemiah’s response is recorded in verse 8, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” We don’t have to imagine where some journalists get their information from!

The enemies of Nehemiah continued their malicious course. After realising they could not entice him to the village, they now hire a corrupt, false prophet to offer Nehemiah safety in the walls of the temple, so they can kill him in the sanctuary of Jehovah (so much could be said about that!). Nehemiah’s God given wisdom, teaches us an inspired lesson in verse 13 “For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin…”(cf. v14; v19).

Nehemiah makes the connection between lies, fear and sin. Fear causes us to behave in such a way, we forget the promises of God and rather than trusting His character, we sin. The Westminster Confession says that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. I think the chief end of Satan is to cause us to sin by being fearful because of his lies. The apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:7-8 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord…but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.” Paul explains the serious threat that fear is to the gospel itself.

Nehemiah refused to believe the lies that Satan was propagating and believed the promises of God. Instead of being fearful he became fruitful in his work for the Lord. Our job is not to build physical walls, but to be involved in the Great Commission by building the kingdom of God. Lies, and gossip are tools the devil uses to make us afraid so that we will “come down from the walls” and hinder the work of “making disciples”.

As one commentator said “shame is the child of doubt as well as the child of fear!” Fear will always keep us hiding away in the darkness of winepresses instead of shining our lights on a hill for the world to see the glory of God. Let’s never forget that Christ is not just a teacher, but the Saviour! How will lost sinners come to the Saviour unless someone tells them about Him? Our fears cripple us and shame us, as we live with regrets of not taking opportunities God has given us to share Christ with others at school, at work or home. But more than that, they rob God of all the glory that He deserves. Think about the last time you were too afraid to share the gospel of He who took you out of darkness into His marvellous light. If we believe lies and fear man and what they will think of us for declaring the praises of the living God, we hinder the work of the gospel!

As William Carey reminds us, we have God, and His Word is true. Satan does not care what we believe as long as it is not the Truth. Let’s resolve to fear God, worship Him alone who is Truth, and to not believe the lies of the devil and sin against God. Let’s not be distracted from the task the Lord has given us, by believing lies. As John Piper says “Don’t Waste Your Life!” For the sake of the gospel, let us “fix on the sure Word, rise above all obstructions and overcome every trial. God’s cause [Great Commission] will triumph.”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

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Why Church Matters

People Circle Hold Up Hands Gather Around a CrossPhilip Yancey a well known Christian author wrote a book called “Church, Why Bother?” In this book he asks the difficult questions, ‘Why are there so many more professing Christians than churchgoing Christians? Is it because something is wrong with the church?” Hard but good questions. Sadly this picture may be true of many churches today in India. Just recently I called a plumber to my house for some work, and after realizing I was a pastor he responded with “Praise the Lord”. I was surprised to hear this Christian greeting from this man and asked him what church he belongs to. He was quick to tell me the name of the church, and when I asked if he went last week, he told me “No, I only go for Christmas, Easter, and some other functions.”

Sadly church has lost its meaning for many, and is no longer a necessity for people anymore, as many Christian’s priorities have changed – but God’s priority has not. The Church of Jesus Christ has always been God’s priority. God’s design and plan for the church was to restore a people back to himself who would reflect his Grace, mercy and love to a world lost in the darkness of their sins. God’s purpose for the church was always the same, that his bride would influence the culture for the glory of Christ – not the other way around.

Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it”. This sacrificial love is the strongest type of love that can ever be demonstrated, and it is this love that Christ has shown for His Church. It was for His Church, not for an organization, or the family or even the government that Christ died – it was for his Church. God’s plan for Christians can only be experienced and fulfilled when connected with the local church. It is the local church which has been commissioned by God to carry out His purpose in reaching the lost and perfecting the saved. Although there are so many “para”church organizations trying to attempt Gods mission, it is only through the local church that Christians will successfully fulfill His command. Remember what Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18? “ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (his confession of faith in Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, why then do so many churches feel like hell itself, and why do so many church goers act like the devil? And why is the church in India, largely so ineffective and weak? In order to answer this question we need to ask another question first – what is a biblical church?

· A Biblical Definition of “Church”

First we need to make some observations about a biblical definition of the church. The word “church” in the NT never refers to a building or a place. It always refers to a people. In the NT the word “church” also is used to refer to the group of believers in a particular city and in a particular house. For example, Acts 11:22 refers to the “church in Jerusalem,” 1 Corinthians 1:2 refers to the “church of God which is at Corinth,” 1 Thessalonians is addressed (in 1:1) “to the church of the Thessalonians,” and so on. 1 Corinthians 16:19 says, “The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Priscilla, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.” In Colossians 4:15 Paul sends greetings “to Nympha and the church in his house.” And Paul’s letter to Philemon is also addressed to “the church in your house.”

John Piper defines a local church like this: “a local church is a group of baptized believers who meet regularly to worship God through Jesus Christ, to be exhorted from the Word of God, and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper under the guidance of duly appointed leaders.”

According to his own definition, John Piper lists seven qualifications if a group wants to be a church in the New Testament sense.

1) The people must give evidence that they are believers—that they trust Jesus as Savior and Lord. The NT makes it clear that we are adopted into the family of God through faith (John 1:12, 13). Perhaps this is the key to answering the questions above. How does a group of people call themselves a church and they do not even know or belong to Christ? Jesus said in John 4:24 that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” So many professing Christians, worship God just like our Hindu friends –“ in substance and lies.” Satan easily deceives us into believing if we go to a church building with beautiful windows and a pretty garden then surely God is there. Our faith must be in Christ alone, not anything else if we are to claim to be a church of Jesus Christ.

2) The people must be baptized. Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19 that the way to make disciples was by “baptizing them . . . and teaching them.” This was the uniform practice in the early church.

3) There must be a regular assembling. A group of people who only came together say once a year could not rightly be called a local church because there are essential activities of the church which lose their meaning when not done corporately. Therefore Hebrews 10:25 commands us not to neglect to meet together.

4) Among these meetings there must be gatherings for worship. This follows inevitably from the ultimate value placed on Jesus Christ who calls us together and from our relation to God through him. The church is destined to live to the praise of God’s glory (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14); therefore, it would contradict our new nature, not to assemble for worship (Acts 2:47; Romans 15:6, 7).

5) Our meetings must include exhortation from the Word of God. We were born anew through the living and abiding Word of God (1 Peter 1:23); and our life in Christ is preserved not by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The shepherds of the church are the provision God has made for feeding his sheep, and are not to neglect the teaching of the Word of God. Acts 2:42, tell us the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine. In order to be a biblical church we must never forsake the word of God. A church that neglects the scripture, the gospel, the very teachings of the bible, disqualifies them self from being a New Testament church. (Sadly there are too many like that!)

6) Along with worship and exhortation we must celebrate the Lord’s Supper in order to be the church. We are commanded to “do this in remembrance” of Christ (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). Neglecting this ordinance might seem inconsequential at first, but I think a church will bleed to death through that amputation.

7) Finally, all of this must take place with the guidance of duly appointed leaders. Paul appointed elders in all the churches (Acts 14:23), he gave instruction about the qualifications of deacons and elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and he said that Christ had given pastor-teachers to the church to equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:1, 12).

This definition is useful to help us determine what groups are and are not churches. For example, Christian student meetings, Social work groups, Prayer Meeting groups, Bible Study Fellowships, Benevolent societies, Christian youth clubs, Mission hospitals etc —are not local churches. They have tremendous value while working alongside and in harmony with the churches, but they can never replace the local church. This is important to distinguish because no Christian should participate in any of these groups (or others like them) while neglecting the regular life of the local church.

· The Ultimate Goal of the Church.

The ultimate goal of the church is to live in such a way that God’s wisdom (and all the other aspects of his glory) will be displayed to the world. Jesus himself says in John 15:8 that we glorify God by making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church’s job is to live so that people can see that God is real, and turn to the church in order to find Christ, the world’s only hope.

Jesus said, in Matthew 5:16 to his disciples, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Are there any deeds that you and your church have done or planned that should people look at would conclude that God deserves their praise? Or is the life of your church made up only of deeds which point all the praise to themselves? Ephesians 1:6 says that we exists “for the praise of God’s glory”.

Churches are dying today because their preaching and preachers are unable to motivate and inspire the congregation to do anything that the lost world could look at and see Jesus Christ. Can your community look at your church and say “There is evidence that God is real and that he is glorious”? Many churches have forgotten why they exist; and when a church forgets that it exists for the glory of God, it becomes in-grown and self-satisfied and can go on year after year like a social club with a religious veneer.

Is your church able to sincerely pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” Let us always remember the head of the church is Christ, we are His possession, we have been saved for His glory – He does not exist for our benefit, like some type of mystical Aladdin’s lamp that we rub when we want something from Him. 1 Peter 2:9 says “But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

The Church is God’s priority; it is what Christ shed his precious blood for. If this is so precious to Christ, surely it needs to be precious to us. Let us give her the love and devotion that she deserves. For that will bring all glory to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Christ is victorious, and He has promised victory to His Church. Let us quit living as if the church has already been defeated. Rather, let the true Church of Jesus Christ shine. May she declare the excellencies (gospel) of Jesus Christ to a world lost in the darkness of their sin, and bring glory to His wonderful name.

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The Ugliness of Sin & the Beauty of Christ

sinOne of the most dangerous things to our spiritual lives must surely be self-deception. The very nature of the gospel clearly defines that we are sinners. If we deny that fact, we foolishly deceive ourselves.  J.C. Ryle said “I am convinced that the first step towards attaining a higher standard of holiness is to realize more fully the amazing sinfulness of sin.”  There are so many people who attempt, to justify their sinful behavior saying that they “do not need a Saviour” and claim that they have a right to do what they please.  And there are those who pretend to be perfectly sanctified, and maintain that they live without sin.

The apostle John says in 1 John 1v8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” John clarifies . . .the claim of sinlessness is simply self deception. Instead of denying our sinfulness, we should confess that it is real and ugly. Verse 9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

In Verse 10, John emphasizes this truth: “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” In other words the claim of sinlessness is not only self-deception; it is also blasphemy.

The Puritan, Thomas Watson said “Till sin is bitter, Christ will not be sweet.”  I often wonder how many professing Christians hate their sin.  The bible teaches that it is impossible to delight in God if we are walking in the darkness. “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John1:5.

John Piper says “Darkness is the threat of despair and misery.” Perhaps this is the reason why so many professing Christians live with so many troubles and tensions. Perhaps this is the reason why so many “Christians” are addicted to alcohol, pornography and other vises. Perhaps this is why there are so many bad “Christian” marriages, broken homes and affairs going on. Perhaps this is why so many Christians have no joy and no hope in their lives – because they love their sin, and are content walking in darkness.

I remember confronting a friend of mine (who professed to be a believer) about blatant sin in his life. He had disobeyed the Holy Scriptures and had “married” another wife while he was still married to his first wife. His response was astonishing “Well” he said “Christ has allowed this to happen, and has not judged me, so it must be God’s will.” I remember confronting another man about his drunkenness and his excuse was “Christ made wine, so therefore I can drink”, he continued to justify his sin by saying “I am a sinner, therefore I must sin.”

Obviously these men and others like them, love their sin more than they profess to love Christ. They have no understanding of the wrath of God, the gospel, or of the truth that Christ came to save sinners from their sins (Matthew 1:21). According to 1 John 3:8, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” The reason Christ came into the world and suffered was to destroy sin. The Apostle Paul said that Christ died to purify for himself a bride (Ephesians 5:25–27). “He gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). How can anyone call them self a Christian “..while they walk in darkness?”. John answers that question- “we lie and do not live according to the truth.” (1John1:6)

Whenever we sin, we join those who call the cross foolishness, and insult the suffering and death of Christ. The aim of the cross is victory over our sin and the purity of the Church. Sin says to Christ, “I do not regard your suffering as sufficient motivation to keep me back from this act. You may have died to prevent me from doing this, but I’m going to do it anyway.”

Dear reader, the question you need to ask yourself is, “Do you delight in God?”  Do you have genuine fellowship with God the Father through the incarnate son of God, Jesus Christ, who came to save you from your sins? Or are you walking in darkness, unaware or even unconcerned about your sin?

Do you have an increasing hatred for your sin, and a desire to please God with your life? If the answer is yes, then you need to be walking in the light (the spirit) and not in the flesh, confessing your sins-daily, because “he is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” Paul said it better in Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say to you walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh, for the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh for these are opposed to each other.”

If the answer is no, and you have no desire to leave the lusts of your flesh and follow Christ, then you need to be born again. You are lost in your sin, living a lie and blind in your darkness. Beg God for mercy, repent and turn to Christ in faith for the forgiveness of your sins that Christ your advocate, who suffered and died for the payment of your sins, may forgive you your sins and give you a new heart.