Zion Boot Camp – Dec 3-5
SAVE THE DATE – INFORMATION FORTHCOMING
Hi Men:
My prayer is that you’ve had a great week “in” Christ. Let’s review a few familiar and amazing verses………..
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation“ (2 Cor 5:17-18). There’s volumes you could say about these two verses, but when you reflect on them, do you believe that: (1) the old things have passed away and you’re a new person (2) you’ve been reconciled to God because of his Son and (3) you have been given the great privilege of reconciling people to Him?
It’s been almost 2 weeks when a group of Christian men gathered to hear (3) speakers address the question, “Whose Job is the Ministry?” You may remember this verse from last week, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) Wow……… we get to “proclaim” it!
When you are reading the Scriptures, it’s always good to have a dictionary close at hand. Let’s take a look at one of the words: RECONCILIATION. As an accounting major, we heard our professors using this word from time to time. Reconciliation in accounting is a process to compare two sets of records to make sure they are correct and in agreement. Likewise, through the work of Christ, God put us back in right relationship with Himself. So, do you see the great honor that has been given to you? The ministry of reconciliation with other people has now been given to YOU! Have you been using the “Steps To Peace With God” tracts? (See attached PDF and to order packets of 50 click here). With these tracts, we can easily show others the excellencies of God and take part in the wonderful message of reconciliation…………..
Pray that God will put one person in your path this next week that you can say, “May I ask you a question? ….. Do you have a relationship with God?”
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey
(Trust and Obey by John Sammis, 1887)
Dan
Men: The first time I actually gave serious reflection on Romans 12:1, due to Walt Henrichsen,
it refuted what I thought to believe “worship” truly was! We are God’s grateful slaves………
Proper Worship – Day 246 Red Book
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
¹ Romans 12:1
Audio Teaching of the Week:
“How To Motivate Men – Perspectives”
by Walt Henrichsen (1 hour)
Men: This is such a great message on ……. “What changes a man (his filter system)?” Walt addresses (3) areas:
- Prayer (Holy Spirit)
- Holy Bible (It will change you more and more and into the person of Jesus Christ)
- Holy Life (we become like the people we associate with)
Find some quiet time to listen to this message…….
Click Here: DiscipleshipLibrary.com/C112.mp3
Charles Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) reminded his congregation of this statement by William Carey (1761 – 1834):
When one of God’s choice servants, William Carey, was suffering from a dangerous illness, the inquiry was made, “If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?” He replied, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.’”(Psalm 51:1) In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone:
WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761:
DIED—
“A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Your kind arms I fall.”
Spurgeon goes on to state:
Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honored of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at best. Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness. We need the Lord to have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our preaching, our offerings, and our living sacrifices. The blood was not only sprinkled on the doorposts of Israel’s houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy-seat, and the altar, because as sin intrudes upon our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement. If mercy is needed to be exercised toward our duties, what will be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, restore our backslidings, and make our broken bones rejoice!
“But Christ did not issue the Great Commission on the condition that health, comfort, and safety could be assured.”
Men: Your wives may not be familiar with “ The Wife Who Sailed with Adroniram Judson.”
You may wish to share this article with them………..
DesiringGod.org/Articles/Young-Love-In-A-Cruel-Land
When Adroniram asked for the hand of Ann Hasseltine, this is what he sent her father:
“I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life . . . to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God?”
Can you imagine that ever happening today?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945)
