Equipped & Equipping

On his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul met a young man in Lystra named Timothy. Lystra’s residents held Timothy, a believer in Christ, in high regard. Paul, also impressed by Timothy, invited him to come along on his missionary travels. As Timothy spent time with Paul and learned from him, he became Paul’s “true child in the faith” (I Timothy 1:2).

The Great Commission commands us to invest our time and energy in teaching and raising up disciples. Christ’s goal? For each of His disciples to “observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).

FRIENDS, WE ARE FAILING AT THIS!

Of those raised in Christian homes...

•       67% do not study Scripture on their own¹

•     70% doubt the Bible’s veracity¹

•     33% believe that there are other ways to heaven¹

•     70-75% leave the faith in college²

These statistics are greatly disturbing. We are raising an entire generation of soon-to-be adults who don’t know Bible basics, are incredibly inarticulate about their faith, are ill-equipped to face their atheist college professors², and ergo won’t teach their faith to their own children or those who cross their paths. They simply do not recognize the importance of having a biblical worldview.

SO, WHAT DO WE DO?

The generation ahead always sets the pace for the generation behind. They are looking to us to see

how we live. Are we authentic? Are we genuinely living out our faith? Do we demonstrate with our actions that we truly believe what we say we believe? Fred Rogers, fellow believer and host of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, said, “Kids can spot a phony a mile away.” How we live today determines who they grow up to be. When they look at us, do they see people they want to imitate?

To “observe” Christ’s commands requires first knowing what they are. But how will the upcoming generation know what Christ’s commands even are if we don’t teach them? “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). In the Great Commission, Christ tells us that it’s each of our responsibility to teach them.

BUT, I’M NOT EQUIPPED!

What if we don’t feel equipped? What if we think we aren’t smart enough to teach someone else about the Bible? Or what if young adults really don’t seem to like us, and we’re not so sure we like them? THERE IS GOOD NEWS! Christ has equipped us – with the Holy Spirit. We have access to God’s power and wisdom 100% of the time. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit has given us individual gifts so we can carry out God’s will, which includes discipleship.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” II Timothy 2:2

Let’s put our faith into action by following Paul’s example of discipleship. Who can you invest in on a regular, long-term basis?

Jessie Chamberlain

Family Radio Staff

1.   Nappa, Mike. “What do Christian Teens Actually Believe about Jesus?” Biola Magazine(Summer 2012). Accessed March 17, 2017.http://magazine.biola.edu/article/12summer/what-do-christian-teens-actually-believe-about-jes/
2.   Turek, Dr. Frank. “Christian Youth in America Are Leaving the Church.” CrossExamined (2014). Accessed March 17, 2017. http://crossexamined.org/youth-exodus-problem/

---

Victors with Christ

CHRIST IS RISEN! During Easter, we celebrated Christ’s victory over death. Rescued from the law of sin and death, no longer do God’s children need to fear eternal separation from Him. But now that “it is finished” and our sins have been separated from us as far as the east is from the west, what comes next for believers as we go through our daily lives?

BEARING FRUIT

Even though we’re free from the law of sin and death, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2). As Christ promised before His death, the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers to help us live according to the “things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).

When we live by the Spirit, we bear the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Such characteristics reflect those of our wonderful Creator!

Sin’s cage can’t hold us hostage anymore. Through the Holy Spirit, we can be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). When we walk in the Spirit, the world can see Christ working in and through us. Through the Holy Spirit, we can be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

SHARING THE GOSPEL

Christ’s last words on earth before ascending into heaven commissioned believers to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Sounds simple, right?

But the thing is, no one can be convinced to believe the Good News of the Gospel of Christ. Tom Evans, Family Radio’s president and general manager, is fond of quoting Benjamin Franklin’s famous statement: “Convince a man against his will, and he is of the same opinion still.” To nonbelievers, the Christian life lacks logic. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18). So then how do we as believers fulfill Christ’s Great Commission when the world doesn’t want to hear the message?

We share the truth of the Gospel even so, gently and lovingly. God calls us to plant and water the seeds, but it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to bring those seeds to fruition by His good plan and in His timing. The burden of responsibility falls on God’s shoulders, not ours. But does that mean our job is complete once we’ve shared the Gospel? Not a bit!

We make disciples of all nations. This second half of the Great Commission must not be neglected. We intentionally take the time out of our busy lives to raise up disciples – those indwelt with the Holy Spirit – who can give an answer to anyone who asks about their faith (I Peter 3:15). We hold them accountable to living according to the Word of God (I Thessalonians 5:12-15). We wean them off spiritual milk, and introduce them to a steady diet of spiritual meat (Hebrews 5:12-14) so they in turn can disciple others.

FIGHTING THE BATTLE

If we look at the world around us, it would be easy to get discouraged and feel like we’re fighting a

losing battle. God’s Word states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12). People are not our enemies – Satan is, and God has not left us defenseless against him! We can ready ourselves for spiritual battle by putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18) so Christ’s Great Commission will be achieved through perseverance and the power of prayer!

No matter what it may feel like at times, we are not losing! We are victors with Christ and because of Christ! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:55-58

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Brokenness Redeemed

We enter into contracts all the time for business, sales, or tenancy. Contracts stipulate that if we hold up our end of the deal, the other party is legally obligated to hold up their end. If a contract is broken, both parties are released from their commitments. Sometimes this happens amicably, but not always.

BROKEN FROM BETRAYAL

From Brutus to Judas, the world has seen every type of betrayal imaginable. Friend betraying friend. Child betraying parent. Spouse betraying spouse. Employee betraying employer. Citizen betraying country. Betrayal ignites distrust and division, leaving broken, damaged relationships in its fiery trail.

Jesus experienced betrayal on the deepest levels imaginable. He felt the shame of unjustly losing the respect and admiration of a group of people who previously held Him in high esteem. He felt the horror of being traded for money by a close friend. He felt the pain of one of his best friends denying knowing Him not just once, but three times for the sake of protecting his own skin. He even felt what it’s like to feel forsaken by His Father in His greatest hour of need.

THE NEW COVENANT

The difference between a contract and a covenant is when one party breaks a covenant, the other is still bound to uphold it. In the Old Testament, God made a covenant with Israel to send the Messiah to redeem them. Even though Israel broke this covenant time and time again by betraying God, when Jesus came as the Messiah “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), He didn’t view God’s covenant with Israel as a contract, void after He experienced betrayal after betrayal. Instead, in His graciousness, He fulfilled Scripture by redeeming our brokenness through His death and resurrection, establishing a new, eternal covenant of salvation.

The cross bridged the gap between God and man, allowing us direct access to our Heavenly Father. The torn curtain in the Holy of Holies demonstrated that the temple sacrifices to restore right relationship with God were no longer necessary (Matthew 27:51). Christ “bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24). His perfect sacrifice paid the debt for our sins, healed our brokenness, and secured eternal life with God.

Christ “bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24

REDEMPTION

What could motivate God to make such a covenant with us? What could He stand to gain through dying on the cross in our stead? God’s unconditional love for His children, given by His good will and for His pleasure, shines through Christ’s actions on the cross. He bought us at a price because His unconditional love is so wide and so deep that we cannot fully comprehend it. Instead of leaving us to our fiery trail of broken, damaged relationships caused by sin and betrayal, God chose to extend His mercy to us, redeeming us from our brokenness.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:3-7

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Christ is King

The Israelites prepared for Jesus to enter Jerusalem. They laid palm fronds on the ground in front of His donkey as He rode through town, shouting “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). His teaching and miracles had made Him quite well-known throughout Israel. But, not even a full week later, even after conferring such honors to Him, the Israelites reneged their admiration and called out to the authorities for His crucifixion.

WHY?

What would cause people to do such a complete 180? How could someone fall from the limelight so quickly when He didn’t do anything wrong to deserve it?

Why would an entire group of people treat someone like a king on Sunday, but crucify the same Man on Friday?

We lack understanding. As humans, we are fickle and fallen. Many times throughout the Gospels, Jesus quoted Isaiah’s prophecy that “...they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand” (Matthew 13:13). The Israelites who chanted, “Crucify Him!” in Mark 15:13 represent the rest of us who weren’t present in that time and place. We also would have turned on Christ ourselves, and in fact do every time that we choose to sin. Even Christ’s disciples didn’t understand all that was happening at that time (John 12:16).

God had a plan. He’s had the same plan of salvation from the foundation of the earth. Everything that happened the week before Passover unfolded because of that plan. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Nothing took God by surprise; He orchestrated this for our benefit.

Satan used his influence. Let’s not forget to give credit where credit is due. Luke 22:3-4 tells us, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them.” Satan used this time in history to wield his influence over mankind in his best attempt to date to turn them away from God Almighty. But Christ, the King of creation, won the battle, defeating death and bridging the gap between man and God for eternity! Christ, the King of creation, won the battle, defeating death and bridging the gap between man and God for eternity!

THE SUFFERING SERVANT

While the Israelites expected the Messiah to come as King to free them from the chains of the Roman Empire, He came in a much humbler form by far: a baby born in a stable to a carpenter and his wife. Way back in the Garden of Eden, the sin introduced to the world by Adam and Eve caused a spiritual death that could only be remedied through perfect sacrifice. Our sinful state left us deserving death, but Christ came to be that perfect, sinless sacrifice in our place.

In anguish the night before His crucifixion, He sweat blood, praying for a different way to enact God’s plan (Luke 22:41-44). “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). God’s most faithful Servant chose to give Himself over to suffering on our behalf, taking a crown of thorns over a crown fit for a king.

CHRIST THE KING

Thanks to Christ’s payment for our sins, believers can enjoy eternal life with God. “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God” (I Corinthians 7:23-24). Christ came to reign not as king of a nation, but to be the King of our hearts. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff