The Cost Of Following Christ

                                                         The Cost Of Following Christ

Luke 9:18-27

Haddon Robbibson recounts a conversation he had with a Muslim guide while leading a tour in Turkey. "Several years ago, I helped lead a tour in Turkey of the churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. On the last night, we were in Izmir and having dinner at one of its nicer hotels. Our guide had been in the United States for at least ten years and spoke English flawlessly. As we were eating, he began asking us serious questions about the Christian faith.

I said to him, "If you're a follower of Islam, and if you died tonight, would you be sure you could stand in the presence of Allah?" "No," he replied. "There are five things that Muslims should do. I've done two out of five." Then we began to talk about the gospel long into the night, and before we left, I said to him, "Look, you're serious about our conversation, I know.

It would not be faithful of me not to ask you if right now you'd like to put your trust and confidence in Jesus Christ." He said to me, "You don't know what you're asking me. Do you know what would happen if I did that? If I announced it to anybody, my wife would leave me. My family would disown me. My boss would fire me. I may want to return to the United States, but the government will not issue me an exit visa. I'd give up everything. You go back home tomorrow. I would not expect you would support me, and I would starve to death in my own culture." Robinson notes, "as far as I know, he did not trust Christ that night."[1]

I personally know there are other Muslims who have made that decision and suffered all of that loss and endured those hardships because they are Christ followers. Those of us who grew up in Christian homes and later made the decision to follow Christ would have no clue about what it costs to follow Christ. In Luke 9:18-27, we learn about The Cost of Following Christ.

During Jesus' ministry, many people followed him. Some saw the miracles of healing the sick, deliverance from demonic oppressions, and even seeing dead people rise to life. Others followed to challenge his ministry. Some others followed for free food. After seeing Jesus feed over 5000 people, the crowds said, surely he was a prophet!

But when he said, "I am the living bread from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the World." John 6:51. The crowds, including many of his disciples, left him; only twelve faithful disciples remained with him. To them, He explained what the Cost of following Him looks like. Luke 9:18-27.

1. Following Christ means not to run away from suffering

            Luke 9:22, "And he said, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." This pronouncement marked a significant turnaround in his ministry. Up until that time, he had been preaching about the Kingdom of God, which was confirmed by miracles.

From this point on, realizing that his time of departure was fast approaching, Jesus shifted his ministry from the public to private instruction of his disciples about his imminent death. This proclamation of the Son of Man must suffer many things was pertinent only to Jesus as a part of God's redemptive plan. But the broader implications of suffering included the immediate twelve disciples and all those who would later decide to follow Him.

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die—said Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who understood the ultimate Cost of Discipleship. If you are following Christ, you are bound to suffer; it is inevitable, because Jesus said so. Not everyone may suffer as Jesus and his twelve disciples did. All twelve disciples were martyred for their faith, as were so many first-century Christians. Since then, staggering numbers of people have died because they followed Christ.

According to the Open Doors, "By the time you go to bed tonight, an average of more than 13 Christians will have been killed for their decision to follow Jesus. On average, one Christian every two hours; roughly 5000 people each year. 50 countries around the World where it's most dangerous to follow Jesus. And nearly 300,000 Christians were forced to leave their homes, go into hiding, or flee their country of origin."[2] 

What level of suffering are we encountering in the West because we follow Christ? We may be ridiculed at work or in class because we follow Christ, or people call us all kinds of derogatory names. But is that the worst kind of suffering compared to our brothers and sisters in many parts of the World who lost their lives because they followed Christ? Consider these scriptures that might help you when you encounter suffering of any kind for following Christ.

Philippians 1:29, "For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him." NLT Suffering for Christ would allow us to share His glory. "And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." Rom 8:17 NLT.

The Apostle Peter, who himself was crucified upside down for following Christ, has a lot to say about suffering for being a Christian in his letter to God's elect and exiles: I Pet 4:12-19

"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the World… For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?... So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you." NLT.

 

Think of this for a moment: If Jesus were to come today to the USA, where do you think He would begin His Judgment from? It is the house of God, the Church, the Christians who claim to be Christians but neither follow Christ nor count the Cost of following Him.

 

II. The Cost of Denying Ourselves and Picking Up Our Cross Daily.

Luke 9:23-24, Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." We live in a highly self-absorbed and self-indulgent culture where one only cares about their pleasure and how they get it, regardless.

Christ's call to his followers to deny themselves and pick up their cross daily and follow him is counter-cultural. Self-denial was a consistent theme in Christ's teachings to his disciples. The kind of self-denial Jesus expects from us is not that we abstain from all forms of pleasure and give up every desire, as certain religions advocate, but rather a willingness to give up everything, including our lives, when it comes to obeying His commandments.

How about picking up our own cross and following him daily? In Matthew 10:38, we read, "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Here is the first mention of the word "cross" to his disciples. How did they understand it? It must have evoked a picture of violent and degrading death that often comes by the Roman Crucifixion.

By challenging us to pick up our crosses daily and follow him, Jesus demands total commitment from us, even unto physical death. Then he goes on to say, " Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." If you read through the Book of Acts and the Church history we will read, you will see how many Christians who counted the Cost when it comes to Following Christ. Because of their sacrificial lives and suffering, mingled lives, we received the gospel and got saved. Now it is our time to count the Cost of following Christ. On this second Sunday of Lent, let us resolve like the Apostle Paul and say, Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." 

 

 

 

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[1] Haddon Robinson, from the sermon "Love Keeps Going," PreachingToday.com

https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/muslim-man-considers-cost-of-following-christ/

 

[2] https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/13-christians-killed-day-average/#:~:text=13%20Christians%20a%20day%20killed,flee%20their%20country%20of%20origin. 

The Power Of The Cross

                                                      THE POWER OF THE CROSS

I think I am a good and confident driver in general, but I get overwhelmed when driving in downtown Boston. It is like driving through a maze. Even more so when I walk through the financial district of Boston, looking at the tall, high-rise buildings where life-altering financial decisions are made. Walking through Tremont Temple Street, I feel like a dwarf surrounded by giants. The Power of commerce and finance intimidates me and makes me wonder who I am.

What is our small Hope Church? What Christian gospel am I trying to preach? How could I reach those highly intellectual and successful people? That's what was happening in the Corinthian church. They were intimidated by all the talk of so-called intelligent people who said the Cross is foolishness. Paul writes to the Corinthian believers not to believe their sayings, because they have never been true and are not true today. God has a different message for us!

God is going to expose how foolish the Wisdom of worldly men and women actually is. And he is going to display the Power of the message of the Cross to those being saved and, through them, to the World. We will explore The Power Of The Cross. I Corinthians 1:18-25

I. Man's Fall & God's Restoration.

            In the middle of the Garden of Eden, God planted two Trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He wanted to test the first couple; he commanded the man, saying, "You are free to eat from any tree except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Believing the Devil's lies, Adam and Eve disobeyed God's commandment, ate from the forbidden tree, and became aware of good and evil.

Instead of disciplining them for their disobedience, God has put into motion a restoration plan. Genesis 3:15, "And I will make enemies of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel." (NASB). God's restoration plan will be fulfilled only in Jesus, who was the Seed of the woman.

We see in Jesus' day that many Jewish people, though they read Genesis 3:15, did not understand that Jesus was the Messiah who came to restore people to God. Even today, many Jewish people don't believe Jesus to be the Messiah, and Muslims only see Him as one of the prophets. The Cross and the Message of the Cross remain stumbling blocks for them. Who will open their blind eyes and help them understand what Christ has done for them on the Cross?

II. The Message of the Cross

I Corinthians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The message of the Cross here refers to God's revelation of the gospel in its fullness. The gospel is God's redemptive plan and provision for sinners, which was centered in the incarnation and crucifixion of Christ.

The Apostle Paul was resolved only to know and preach Jesus, and Him crucified. (2:2) But not everybody, everywhere eagerly accepted the message of the Cross. For those who were perishing, it sounded rather foolish; hence, they rejected it vehemently. But for those who were being saved, it was God's Power unto salvation; hence, they believed and gladly accepted it.

Paul reminded the Corinthians that God destroyed those who merely worshipped God with their lips but not their hearts. Because they relied on human Wisdom, Isaiah 29:14, "therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people,.. and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden." ESV

The main reason for the Israelites' folly was their reliance on human rather than divine Wisdom. It was the same reason for the Greeks' downfall in Paul's time. The ultimate fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy will occur when Christ establishes his kingdom.

Rev 17:14, "Together they (rulers) will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him."

III. God's Challenge To Those Relying On Earthly Wisdom.

I Corinthians 1:20, "Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the Wisdom of the World?" Paul was reminding the Corinthian believers that God challenged people who relied on their wise men, teachers of the law, and philosophers who were great at arguing.  

While saying, " Where is the wise person, Paul paraphrases Isaiah 19:12, where the Egyptian wisemen were helpless to deal with a crisis because they were ignorant of God's plans against Egypt. God sent a spirit of confusion to frustrate the wisemen of Egypt.

In Biblical history, we read that God used this modus operandi whenever people relied on human Wisdom and went against God's plans. For example, at the construction of the Tower of Babel, he confused the languages of the people to disrupt their plans to build a tower. (Gen 11:7). While interpreting the dreams of King Pharaoh, the wise men of Egypt couldn't deliver the correct interpretation, but God used Joseph to provide it, saving humankind. ( Gen 41:16), etc.

Human Wisdom is always unreliable and inadequate for knowing God and for the salvation of humanity. The leaders and experts around the World think they can fix the God-sized complex problems of the World, such as poverty, disease, hunger, and global crises of war, climate change, crime, and violence, with their human Wisdom and ingenuity. But can they really? While they may succeed in a limited manner, they cannot completely eradicate these systemic problems. Then who can save humanity and set all the wrongs right?

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour." —Roy Lessin. While some wisemen, rich people, and the philosophers reject the message of the Cross for their folly, those who believe are saved. The apostle Paul did not rely on human Wisdom while preaching the message of the Cross, lest its Power would be emptied. Instead, he relied on divine Wisdom. Let's see what that Power Of The Cross is.

IV. The Power Of The Cross

 

Visual symbols are powerful as they reflect our deeply held religious, cultural beliefs, and human experiences. Latin Cross. The Cross is the most well-known Christian symbol and represents Christ's sacrifice. The T-shaped Cross has become the ultimate symbol of Christianity. The tradition of Christians wearing a cross to identify their faith began in the 2nd century CE when Christianity was still outlawed in Rome."[1]

Just to be clear, the object of the Cross in and of itself is not powerful, but it is a powerful reminder of what Christ has done on the Cross to save humanity. He offered himself on the Cross as an ultimate sacrifice once and for all for the forgiveness of the sins of humanity. The Cross of Christ is a powerful symbol of Christianity for several reasons.

First, Christ has the Power to save all humanity. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." ESV

Colossians 1:20, "And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his Cross."

Second, Christ showed us what love is on the Cross and gave us the Power to love others. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." ESV  John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." ESV

Third, Christ gives us the Power to forgive others as he forgave his enemies. Luke 23:34. "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." ESV. Eph 4:32"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." ESV.

Fourth: Christ gives us the Power to endure hardships. Hebrews 12:2-3 "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." ESV.

Here are a few takeaways. Let us not rely on our human Wisdom, as it is often inadequate. We will rely upon the Wisdom that comes from above when it comes to loving and obeying  Christ. Our crucified and risen Savior is our model. Let's resolve to follow Him closely and to live a life that exemplifies. So that the World will know we are Christ's disciples.

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[1] https://www.wikihow.com/Christian-Symbols-and-Meanings

Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation? Matthew 3:1-12

                                          Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation?

             Imagine one sunny evening when you were taking a stroll with your family on Boston Commons, a crowded park. All of a sudden, you heard a thundering voice saying, " You poisonous people, unless you all change your minds, you are all going to die and go to hell." You move closer to see a man wearing a goatskin, a leather belt around his waist, and holding a long stick. You hear him shout again, " The time has come for you to burn in hell!" What will you do?

You might think, here is another lunatic preaching a fire-and-brimstone message, and you will move on. If you were a state trooper, you might arrest him for causing public unrest. But that was not the case with this man, who preached a similar message over 2000 years ago.

Crowds from the whole region came to listen. The crowd included law enforcement officers, lawyers, religious leaders, tax officers, and a bunch of common people. The crowd's response indicates that his message resonated with them. Are you wondering who this commanding person was? What is his message, and how will it impact you? Matthew 3:1-12

I. Thunder in the Desert: John The Baptist.

            In 740 B.C Isaiah prophesied about John, referring to him as, "Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight." Matt 3:3 (Isaiah 40:3). The Message. Another prophet, Malachi, 400 years before his arrival, said this of John, "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. Malachi 4:5.

            So, when John arrived on the scene in the wilderness of Judea, people everywhere had been waiting for Elijah to come again. Seeing John wearing camel's hair clothing and a leather belt at his waist, people may have been amazed at the fulfillment of the prophecy. John ate a high-protein diet of Locusts and wild honey. By the way, the locusts were kosher food. Lev 11:22. John had one message to the crowds: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near."

            Let us break this very familiar yet not usually spoken sentence in the world today: "What is repentance?" Is it necessary for Salvation? Who should repent? What is the fruit of Repentance? What does it mean for the Kingdom of Heaven to have come near you?

II. What is Repentance?

The call to repent is a consistent theme throughout the Bible, yet it is so often ignored. Biblical Repentance is not feeling guilty and remorseful for wrongdoing. It is much more than that. In the Bible, the word repent means "to change one's mind." The Bible also tells us that true Repentance will result in a change in actions. The short biblical definition of Repentance is "a change of mind that results in a change of action."[1] To repent is to change our wrong ways of thinking about God, ourselves, and the world, and to return to God by faith, resulting in a life of right living that is pleasing to God and a blessing to many.

II. Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation?

To summarize Matthew 3:5-7, the crowds from Jerusalem and all Judea, and the whole region of the Jordan, came to John, confessing their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River. Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to where John was baptizing, seeing them, John addressed them, saying: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

This explains the connection between Repentance and Salvation. From the time Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, the whole of humanity has turned away from God and deserves the wrath of God, resulting in us burning in hell forever.

But thank  God! Out of His great love and mercy for us, He calls us to repent and turn back to Him through the confession of our sins and receive forgiveness. We see this call to Repentance several times in the Bible, and it is clearly stated in Peter's address on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:37-38.

"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Without any exception, Peter called all of them to repent. Repent from what?

Peter calls on people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about that Sin and about Christ Himself, recognizing that He is indeed "Lord and Messiah." Even today, there are people who either willfully or unintentionally ignore and reject Jesus and what He came to offer them. Let's not take God's patience for granted and keep rejecting Christ. The Apostle Paul, who himself had a change of mind, said this to those who are willfully rejecting Christ.

Acts 17:30-31, "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, for he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

The scriptures also tell us that this is the day of your Salvation. 2Cor 6:2. If you hear his word, do not harden your heart as you did in the past in your rebellion. Hebrews 3:7-8. Paul lays out the connection between Repentance and Salvation. The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from Sin and results in Salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks Repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Cor 7:10. NLT.

Let me share a story that explains why you need to repent now—Ex Eagle on the carcass of an animal in the river. Similarly, the Devil offers us Sin as very attractive and enjoyable. We are enticed by it! Some of us even think, "let me enjoy it for now." I can turn away from Sin whenever I want. But if we don't turn away from it and continue to live in it, we will perish in hell along with the Devil. The Devil never repents, and he is destined for hell, but you don't have to follow him. You can repent of your Sin before it is too late and escape from hell.

When you repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will be saved from eternal destruction and have eternal life. Now do you see why Repentance is crucial? Yet some people think they don't need to repent because they are good people who do a whole lot of good to others, so God must be obligated to let them into heaven. It doesn't work that way!

IV. What Is the Process and the Product Of Repentance?

John the Baptist and Jesus later on preached the same message, saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near you. (Matt 3:3, 4:17) We will deal with what it means for the Kingdom of heaven to have come near you later on. For now, let's look at the process and the fruit of Repentance. Our own efforts cannot manufacture Repentance; it is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual, which begins with the conviction of Sin. (John 16:8)

Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we acknowledge that we have sinned against God, ourselves, and others, and confess our Sins to Jesus, asking for His mercy and Pardon. Jesus is always eager to forgive whatever Sin we may have committed and to offer us Salvation.

Then comes producing fruit in keeping with Repentance, according to John. What would that look like? John lays out a whole list of actions to follow after Repentance in Luke 3:11-12. A person who has repented of their sins and received forgiveness lives differently, being led by the Holy Spirit and following the Kingdom principles. Fruit of Repentance is counter-cultural!

You will no longer go with the flow of the culture of the world, but go against it because you belong to another Kingdom and serve the King of Kings, taking His orders.

A repentant person is generous with his resources and willing to share them with others who might be struggling. They live a life pleasing to God by producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23). In closing, if you are hearing God's call to Repent, how will you respond today? Don't ignore that call. If you are already saved, how are you producing the fruit of Repentance?

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html  

God's View On Immigrants (Exploring Matthew)

                                                     GOD'S VIEW ON IMMIGRANTS

                                                            

One of the most challenging assignments in my ministry was completing my Doctoral studies. I was greatly relieved when I completed it a few years ago. My dissertation was titled "Pastoring Small Churches Through Biblical Preaching." My thesis was that members of New England churches are not being true witnesses for Christ in their communities. Where lies the problem with their apathy and disengagement? Part of the reason is a lack of Biblical understanding of shepherding, which leads to a lack of biblical preaching and biblically illiterate witnesses. Is there Biblical illiteracy in the US? How does it impact our lives?

According to Life Way Research, "America has a literacy problem. Almost 14 percent of the adult population cannot read. But illiteracy isn't just a problem in secular society. A far worse kind of illiteracy affects the church: Biblical illiteracy." Only 20 percent of Americans read the entire Bible at least once. Only 22 percent systematically read through a section of the Bible daily. A third of Americans never read the Bible independently. This lack of Bible reading indeed has led to a lack of biblical doctrine."[1]

 

This is how Biblical illiteracy manifests among Christians. A pastor compiled a list of the top ten phrases we often use that are not in the Bible: God wants you to be happy. We are all God's children. God helps those who help themselves. God will not give more than you can handle. When you die, God gains another angel. The Devil made me do it.[2] Etc. These studies and my interviews with several pastors in New England and across the country have made me realize the need for Biblical Preaching. I endeavor to preach through the whole Bible. For the next several weeks, we will journey through the whole Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 2:13-23

I. Introduction to the Gospel Of Matthew

Matthew in the Bible was one of Jesus' disciples. Matthew's Gospel is the longest of the four, and some scholars believe it was the first to be written. Before Matthew became a disciple of Christ, he was a tax collector or "publican" in the town of Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; 10:3). Matthew is also called Levi, the son of Alphaeus, by Luke and Mark (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27).

In Hebrew, Matthew means "Gift of Yahweh." At the time, the Jews were under the Roman Empire's control. Publicans like Matthew were considered greedy, selfish, and traitorous. As a tax collector, he was viewed as a Roman agent. But all that changed when Jesus saw him at the tax office and called him, saying, "Follow Me." He got up and followed Him.

Some suggest that Matthew wrote this Gospel as early as 50 A.D. It was written for a Jewish audience. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the promised Messiah. He validates Jesus as the King and legitimate heir to the throne of David by opening the Gospel with these words, "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1.

 

II. A Family's Escape from Danger At Night!

            One of the most controversial political issues in our country these days is "Immigration." Engaging in Immigration battles is breaking up families, churches, causing heartache, and at times loss of life. The scriptures don't give us specific policies on how we should conduct our Immigration, how many immigrants we should accept, or who should stay or leave. We leave that matter to the legislators and to the laws that enforce it.

However, the Bible does contain so many immigrant and refugee stories and shows us God's heart for immigrants and how we are to treat them. We begin our study of Matthew by looking at Jesus' family's escape to Egypt. After the birth of Christ. The angels have returned to heaven, and the shepherds to their fields. The Magi took another route to return to their home.

An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and gives him a message saying, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt." Matt 2:13-14,(NASB).

Pay attention to the word flee from which we get the word "refugee," the one who flees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees defines A refugee as someone who has been forced to flee their country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group."[3]

 

The family of Jesus was forced to flee their hometown for fear of persecution at night. In modern times, we call them refugees in a foreign land. A Jesuit priest notes, "Did Joseph and Mary apply for official refugee status? Of course not. Those kinds of regulations were most likely not in effect. There may not have even been any borders at the time."[4]

After Jesus' family fled to Egypt, Herod's soldiers began the Massacre of killing male children two years and under. Matthew, under the inspiration of connecting the grieving mothers' loss of their children due to the Massacre ordered by Herod to the historical exile of Israel to Babylon. Matt 2:18, "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Jesus's family escaped from one danger and lived as refugees in Egypt. When the threat had passed, God told them to return to their homeland, but recognizing a far worse danger, they went and lived in Nazareth. Why did Jesus' family have to flee to Egypt and settle in Nazareth? All this happened to fulfil the scriptures. What does this mean to us? Do we hear the cries of the millions of refugees worldwide? God does! What provisions did God make for Immigrants?

III. God's View On Immigrants

When it comes to dealing with immigrants, we can be biased based on our political and cultural backgrounds. Let's be unbiased and non-judgmental and approach this matter from God's perspective. God's view of immigrants is far different than what you are used to. God created all people, male and female, in His image, and because of that, He loves all people.

Even more so, He views immigrants, the oppressed, and the harassed with kindness and compassion, and He made several provisions for them in the scriptures. Here is how God sees immigrants, refugees, strangers, and foreigners. He wants us to love them and be kind to them.

-Deuteronomy 10:18-19, "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."

-Zechariah 7:10 "This is what the LORD Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'

-Psalm 146:9, "The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked."

-Hebrews 13:5," Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

 

            Why do we care for Immigrants and refugees? Later in the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that whenever we "welcome the stranger," we welcome Jesus himself (Matthew 25:37). Refugees and migrants are our brothers and sisters, desperately in need of our help. Jesus' command to care for the strangers. Here are a few ways we can care for immigrants:

First, pray for all people (immigrants), leaders, and all those in authority, so that we might live in Peace. I Timothy 2:1-4. Second, be filled with the Holy Spirit and move in love, patience, and kindness towards Immigrants (Gal 5:22). February  17^th is celebrated as National Random Acts of Kindness Day. You don't have to wait until then; you can be kind to the immigrants today. Kindness goes a long way. Here are two acts of kindness that our family experienced when we first moved to the USA in 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1]  By Ken Braddy  LifeWay Research https://research.lifeway.com/2017/07/10/discipling-in-an-age-of-biblical-illiteracy/ 12-8-2023

[2] https://pastorchrisbass.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/thats-not-in-the-bible-10-unbiblical-statements-christians%e2%80%8b-believe-part-2/

 [3] https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/12/27/were-jesus-mary-and-joseph-refugees-yes/

2-5-2026

[4]  The Rev. James Martin, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, author, editor at large at America, and founder of Outreach.

 

Why Church Matters

                                                 Why Church Matters

As far as I can remember, I grew up in a small rural Lutheran Church in India. As a child, I was baptized by sprinkling water and later confirmed. At age eighteen, I got saved in the same Church and was baptized as an adult at a Pentecostal Church convention. I was very active as a youth in that Church, acted in Christmas dramas, led a Youth Group, and, on one Good Friday, preached my first sermon. Looking back, I have fond memories of that small Lutheran Church.

As a missionary with Youth With A Mission, I became a member of the Assemblies of God Church. I served and ministered in that Church. We got all three of our daughters dedicated there. We stayed with that Church for 20 years until we moved to the USA in 2005. After completing my theological studies, I have been pastoring two churches for over 16 years.

I love being part of a local church, not only because I am a pastor, but also because I am a sheep who needs to belong to a flock and be cared for by a kind shepherd. In India, when it comes to practicing religion, Hindus go to Temples, Muslims go to Mosques, Sikhs go to Gurdwaras, and Christians go to Churches weekly if not more. In the USA, many christians don't go to Church and deconstruct their faith. Some churches are neither christian nor a church. In this pluralistic country, does the Church really matter? How about a local Church, however small or big it may be? Today, we will look at Why Church Matters, what secular people say about the Church, and why we need to be committed to a local Church. Hebrews 10:19-25.

What is the Church?

Many people today have a wrong notion of the Church as a building and programs. The English word Church is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as "an assembly of called-out ones who gather for Worshipping God and fellowshipping with other believers. It is not necessarily a building. Biblically, we can regard the Church in two ways:

The Global and the Local Church. The Global Church refers to every believer in Christ who has ever lived. Every follower of Christ everywhere, regardless of denominational label, whether in a church building, a tent, or a little hut, is part of the Universal or Global Church.

The other way "church" is used is to refer to a local group or a specific place. Like the Church at Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, or the Church that met in Lydia's home, the Church is used locally. It's used only four times in the Bible to refer to a general, universal sense. Almost every time you see the word "church," it refers to a specific group of believers in a specific locality.

Hope Church, First Baptist Church, Our Lady of Sorrows, etc., are not the Church in the sense of the Global Church. Rather, they are local churches, local bodies of believers.

The moment you give your life to Jesus, you are automatically a part of God's Global Church. But you don't become a part of a local church until you make that choice. Being part of a local Church is being part of a family. Every Christian needs a church family. Let us explore why the Church matters and why we really need the local Church.

I. The Church is a Meeting Place where the Living God is Worshipped.

            What are Mosques, Temples, Synagogues, Gurudwaras, and Churches called by the Government? Houses of Worship. Worshipping God dates back to Cain and Abel. (Gen 4:1-5). By looking at how they worshipped, we can see that God accepts only certain ways of worship.

and rejects others. In the OT, people worshipped God by offering sacrifices on the altars and in the Tabernacle, or the Tent of Meeting, a portable sanctuary, later on in the Temple.

Here is God's view of the Tent of Meeting: It was a place of regular offerings. A place where God met with Moses and the Israelites and spoke with them. He consecrated the altar, the tent of meeting, and the Levites and their sons. He dwelt among the Israelites and became their God. Exodus 29: 42-46. Local Church is a poor imitation of the Tabernacle or the Temple.

What happened in the Tabernacle, in the OT, I hope, also happens in a small way whenever God's people gather to worship God in a local Church. We offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is our true and proper worship. (Rom 12:1). David A. Currie notes, "Historically, the drama of Worship has followed a four-act model: 1. God gathers Us to himself. 2. God speaks to us through His Word. 3. God moves us to respond. 4. God sends us out to serve. God is the main actor in these four movements since Worship is God's Idea."[1]

When we gather for worship on Sunday mornings, I hope that we see these four acts of God. God consecrates and dwells in the hearts of people. We will sense God's presence among us. God will speak to us through His anointed servants and will send us out to be His witnesses.

II. When Everything Else Is Destroyed, God's Church Will Endure Forever.

There is only one thing that Jesus Christ is actively building is His Church. Matt 16:18, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus has laid a foundation for a worldwide, indestructible Church on Himself. It is not a structural building in a certain location, but the Kingdom of God's people.

According to Paul, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Over the centuries, many have tried to destroy God's Church, and even today, many are trying to destroy it, but they have never succeeded. All believers together belong to that indestructible Global Church, but they gather locally to worship God and grow in their faith.

III. Why We Really Need The Local Church

            Though we belong to God's universal Church, we really need the local Church. "A local church is a visible, tangible, and real-world expression of the body of Christ," says Joshua Harris, in Why Church Matters.[2]  To become emotionally and mentally healthy, we need to be committed to a local Church. That is what even secular people are realizing these days.

Let's suppose you suffer from chronic physical or mental illness and are looking for one magic pill to fix it. What if a Harvard School of Public Health Professor says, "A pill of that sort exists, and prescribes it for you? Tyler VanderWeele notes, "The good news is that this miracle drug religion, and more specifically regular Church attendance, is in reach of most of us."

You might not have expected a Harvard professor to write you this prescription: "Church. Take once a week (or more) for better effects." Data has shown that people who attend religious services once a week or more are happier, healthier, and longer lived than those who don't."[3] I encourage you to attend Church every week and see how it improves your mental and physical health. For more on this, read this book "How Church Could (Literally Save Your Life)."

IV. Attending Local Church Regularly protects us from heresy in the Last Days.

            We are living in a world where there are so many conspiracy theories, including in the Churches. How can you combat these heretical teachings if you never attend the Church, hear wholesome teaching, and read God's Word? For that reason, as the Apostle Paul warned us, let us make it a habit to attend Church regularly, as the Day of the Lord fast approaches. Hebrews 10:24-25. In closing, the Church really matters because it is the meeting place where we worship God. When Everything else fails, God's Church endures forever. Attending a local Church protects us from heresy and promotes our emotional and mental health. 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] David A. Currie, “The BIG Idea Of Biblical Worship.” Page 24

[2] Joshua Harris, Why Church Matters. Page 35

[3] Rebecca McLaughlin, How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life,  Page 3.