The Gospel Is the Same For Adults and Children

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4, 5)

Every children's sermon I ever heard and most of what I hear people saying to children concerning the Christian Faith has to do with behavior, aka, law.  They speak of how children should act, how they should listen to daddy and mommy, be kind to their siblings, etc.  Most children's "ministry" spend far more time on how children should act rather than how children are received by Father, which is only by faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Oh, yes, most give some opportunity to "receive" Jesus, but then go on to confine most of the training to being good little boys and girls.  

In contrast, most sermon's to adults seem to emphasize forgiveness of sin and, "justification by faith," or, "God has great plans for you," etc.  Christendom tends to emphasize to adults what Jesus has done for us, and to children what they should do for Him.  We should indeed speak of how we should conduct ourselves, but this, "be good little boys and girls," is so central to children's work that it can all too often lead children to believe that, "the faith of Jesus," is primarily a faith of treating mommy nicely.

Our text today, indeed, Biblical Theology in general teaches that the Law, as Jesus said of the Sabbath, "was made for man, and not man for the [Law]."   The Bible teaches that the Law is, "for our good always," and that, "the law was our school master (tutor) to bring us to Christ."  As our text declares, "But when the fullness of the time had come," literally, when time had been, "'filled up', God sent forth His Son."  The appearing of Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law, the fullness of all which is set forth in the Old Testament.  The appearing of Jesus was to, "redeem those who were under the law," literally, to get us, "completely out from."  Let the children be, "completely out from," also.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to show children that they are accepted with You the same way I am, by faith, trust, and obedience to You in Jesus.  Amen.

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* Berlin/East Europe Mission:   March 26-April 25

* New Articles at:   www.apf327.blogspot.com   &  www.apfjw.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

A Prayer For You and Me From Slain 11-Year-Old Israeli

11-Year-Old Yoav's Legacy: 'Love Everyone" 

by Chana Ya'ar 

First responders who rushed into the blood-drenched bedroom of 11-year-old Yoav Fogel last Friday night were confronted with a sight that nearly stopped them in their tracks. 

A colorful little wooden plaque hung above the slain young boy's bed, proclaiming his love for his people and a prayer for peace between all. 

The prayer above Yoav's bed, written originally in Hebrew, reads as follows (in English): 

May it be Your will, L-rd G-d and G-d of our forefathers, 

That I love every one of Israel as myself, and 

To graciously perform the positive commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. 

 And may it also be Your will, Lord G-d and G-d of my forefathers, 

That you cause the hearts of my friends and neighbors to love me fervently, and 

That I be accepted and desirable to everyone, and 

That I be loving and pleasant, and 

That I be gracious and merciful in the eyes of all who see me.  

As water reflects face to face, so the heart of man to man. 

And all for the sake of Heaven, to do Your will, 

Amen 

Along with his 4-year-old brother Elad and his new little baby sister, 3-month-old Hadas, Yoav and both of his parents were stabbed to death by terrorists who murdered them as they slept. 

Miraculously, two of his brothers survived, unnoticed by the terrorists in their rush to slaughter the family. Eight-year-old Ro'i and 2-year-old Shai were both sleeping at the time. 

Yoav's 12-year-old sister Tamar was not home at the time, returning about an hour after the terrorists left to find her family slaughtered.   

(Israel news photos: courtesy of Fogel Family / Shomron-Samaria Regional Council) 

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Father of Mercies and God of All Comfort"

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Cor. 1:3, 4- NASB)

A group of us were in Washington, DC, yesterday.  Over the years of my involvement in our nation's capitol, I have had the privilege to share my testimony of the loss of our oldest child, Stephen, with intercessors, government officials, and others.  Our text today is a description of the privilege and responsibility of any Follower of Jesus Christ.

Our God and Father is, "our merciful Father and the God of all comfort."  The word for, "comfort," here is the same word translated, "Comforter," in John's Gospel.  In my deepest hour of need, my deepest sadness, deepest loneliness, and my deepest helplessness, I came to know as I had never known, "God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort" (NLT).  Had He not been, I shudder to think where and what I might be.  But He Is; and I am here, still energized, encouraged, empowered, continuing in, "the works of service," still loving Him, serving Him, praising Him, and all because He and He alone is, "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (NIV).  

You and I have a great privilege and responsibility today, "to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  My comfort today, yesterday, and tomorrow is Jesus Christ, Who Is with me and in me in the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  Jesus "appeared" to me that dark, rainy day in July of 1970.  It was the closest to a vision I have ever had.  He was standing there, right in front of me with a sober, yet powerfully, unequalled look of confidence and unswerving you-can-do-this.  "Son, you can sit here the rest of your life and pity yourself, or, you can get up and follow Me."  My, "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort," by His indwelling Presence picked me up and, by and in His grace alone---------------------- I'M STILL HERE!

Father, in Jesus' Name, "through [very] many [and deep] dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;" and only You, "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all comfort," can "lead me Home."  Amen.

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Be Sure to Read the Great Article by Carolyn Glick  at:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

Berlin/East Europe Mission:  March 26-April 25    

   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Why Muslims Pray Towards Mecca

"By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; My praise is continually of You." (Psalm 71:6, NASB)

Didn't he write something about this verse not so long ago?  Probably.  Isn't this one of the wonderful things about the "God-Breathed" Word?-- moment by moment fresh.

I wonder if one of the "reasons" our Father in our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the Bible is that what we have in the Scriptures is all we can handle in this life.  Those people who are always looking for "a word from the Lord" usually have tired of the Bible.  We have all the "word from the Lord" we can handle right in that Bible, in most cases gathering dust on coffee tables.  Regardless, our text, of which I never grow tired of reading, never grow tired of confessing, just keeps month after month after month blessing, strengthening, reminding this all-too-forgetful sinner just what a glorious Gospel we have.

The literal translation of our text is, "My praise is continually in You."  Ours is an, "in You," Faith Covenant.  "In You"---- Yes, our Lord Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be, "with us," but most uniquely to Biblical Theology, He is, "in you."  Jesus teaches us in John's Gospel that The Living Triune God desires to live, "in," us.  Colossians speaks of, "Christ in you, the hope of glory."  I wonder if the reason Muslims have to pray towards Mecca is that is the only place Allah hangs out. 

But it is not just Muslims who are shackled with such theology.  Some church folk have to get to meetings, worship gatherings, church programs to get into "the Presence."  The Follower of Jesus Christ just has to "be," and, voila---- Presence!  Do not have an altar, "to the unknown god."  That is the spirit of Islam.  Embrace the God Who can be known in Jesus Christ and desires to dwell in man.  "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me, and I am in you."

Father, in Jesus' Name, though I do not and cannot fully understand, I can never cease praising and thanking You that because of the Blood of Jesus Christ, You are, "in me."  Amen.

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* Berlin/East Europe Mission:   March 26-April 25

* News, Commentary:   www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Yet You Brought Us Out"!

"You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, yet You brought us out into a place of abundance." (Psalm 66:12, NASB) 

Some translations say, "You let men ride over our heads."  Whether it is, "made," or, "let," the affect seems to be the same, a sense of defeat and abandonment, "You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins" (v. 11).

The absolutely horrendous murder in recent days of Jews living in Samaria, especially the slit throat of the 3 month old baby girl, reveals the absolute age old hatred of Arabs against Jews.  For millennia, Jews have been hated, persecuted, slandered, murdered.  Twice in their history (once in my lifetime) they were the victims of state sponsored genocide.  And make absolutely no mistake about it; the Arab-rooted evil religion, Islam, driven on by that wicked book, The Koran, has the same spirit driving it.  To quote a famous film character, "They won't give up the fight until one of you is dead."  This is the world we are living in.  This will not get better, only worse.  If anyone today is looking for "the silver lining," a goose-bump, feel-good religious word today, it will only come from a goose-bump, feel-good devotional.  

The Bible gives mankind, "the whole counsel (purpose) of God."  The "purpose" of pop religion is to give you and me what sells.  Jesus' Words were "the whole purpose of God."  Jesus' Words speak of love and forgiveness and hate and condemnation.  Jesus speaks of, "wars and rumors of wars," but also, "the end is not yet."  Jesus declares that, "Heaven and earth will pass away,"  and also that, "My words will not pass away."  Jesus declares that, "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."   

My friend in Jesus Christ, take great encouragement today that even though, "evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse," even though there are times when we go, "through fire and through water," remember that the great purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ is to bring, "us out into a place of abundance."  The nation of Israel today is a great testimony to this.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that you bring the surviving members of the slain Israeli family, "into a place of abundance." Amen. 

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Read More of This Horrendous, Cowardly Act:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Arab Islamists--- Cowardly, Barbaric

Three Year Old Stabbed in the Heart, Baby's Throat Slashed 

by IsraelNN Staff 

The initial findings of the investigation into the terrorist massacre in the Israeli town of Itamar in Samaria Friday night show that the Fatah 'Freedom Fighters' stabbed the Fogel family's sleeping three year old in the heart and slashed the throat of his three-month-old sister.    

Click here for photos on the murder victims (Warning: Extremely Graphic) 

The IDF and police forces are conducting widespread searches in the vicinity of the community since the barbaric terrorist murder of five members of the Fogel family in their home on Friday night. 

It is not yet clear how many terrorists took part in the massacre. About 20 Arabs have been arrested up to now. 

One area in which the IDF is concentrating its investigations is whether there were any intelligence warnings of terrorist plans before the attack that might have alerted residents. 

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

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