A Spiritual Church

October 15, 2022

The church began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) with the outpouring of the Spirit and the preaching of the gospel. The miraculous manifestations of the Spirit were to confirm the new revelation given by the Apostles (Hebrews 2:4). Although I do not think we should expect to see in our lifetime the things that were marks of the Apostles (2 Corinthians 12:12), I believe we are to be a spiritual church.

We are to be a spiritual church because our faith is based on the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jesus told the Apostles: “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into al the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:12-13, NASB). Scripture comes to us because of “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21).

We are to be a spiritual church because Christians have received the indwelling Spirit when they were baptized (Acts 2:38-39, Acts 5:32). The Spirit is a motive for holiness (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit aids us in our struggle with sin (Romans 8:13). The Spirit is said to produce in us the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

We are to be a spiritual church because of prayer. One of the hallmarks of the church in Acts is prayer (Acts 2:42, 3:1, 4:24, 6:4, 12:12, 13:3, 14:23, 20:36, 21:5).

What we should be and could be is not always what we are. Paul in addressing the problems in Corinth says that he ought to be speaking to spiritual people, but in reality they were carnal (fleshly), still babes in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1). May the word of Christ dwell in us richly, may we not grieve the Spirit but mature producing the fruit of the Spirit, and may we learn to pray without ceasing. These are the things that characterize a spiritual church.

Leave a Comment » | Christian living, church, Holy Spirit, spiritual life | Permalink
Posted by Russell Holden

The Day of the Lord

August 9, 2022

The day of the Lord is coming! The things that will occur on that day are so far outside of the realm of our natural experiences that we can hardly imagine them, and because of that, perhaps we don’t take the reality of it seriously enough. The coming day of the Lord is a reality that should mold and shape how we are living our lives today.

What will happen on the day of the Lord? “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 NAS95) Can you picture it? Everything in this world is going to be destroyed by fire. The earth and all its works will be burned up. Can you hear it in your mind? The heavens will pass away with a roar. What words could we even use to describe a sound such as that?

Such a monumental truth should have monumental consequences for our lives. Knowing that this day will come should deeply affect us! Peter continues, “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:11-12 NAS95) Isn’t that a great question? What sort of people ought we be, knowing these things to be true? What difference should it make in our lives to know that everything in this world is going to burn up? We need to keep the day of the Lord firmly fixed in our minds and hearts and let the reality of that day motivate us toward holy, godly living.

Jesus is coming soon! He will come like a thief in the night. Whether we are alive or dead when Jesus comes again, we will all experience that day. Does the thought of it fill you with dread? Faithful Christians should not be filled with dread but with longing! If you are striving to live in holiness and godliness, you can have confidence on that day! You can look forward to that day, for you can be assured that He is yours, and you are His, and that you will be going home to your loving Father, to be with Him always. Are you ready for that day to come?

1 Comment | 2 Peter 2:10, 2 Peter 3:11-12, Christian living, Day of the Lord | Permalink
Posted by Russell Holden

A Higher Plane

July 19, 2022

Is there a dramatic difference between you and those in the world?  It is easy to profess the Christian life.  The question is, are you living the Christian life?  The life that God calls us to is radically different.  He calls us to holiness.  He calls us to be led by the Spirit, not by our natural impulses.  He calls us to walk in His love.  Knowing God—having a relationship with Him—will have a profound impact on us and will most certainly be shown in the way that we live.

Jesus said, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.  If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:31-36 NASB).  It is natural and common to love those who love you back.  But here is the test:  are you willing to love those who hate you?  When someone is unkind to you, will you treat them with kindness?  When someone speaks evil of you, will you give them a blessing?  Are you willing to do good for those who will never care and never say thank you?  Are you willing to give to those who can never pay you back?

You see, God is calling us to a higher plane!  To live in this way is not natural, but God is trying to get us to move away from what comes naturally to us!  He wants us to be like Him!  God loves His enemies.  God does good to those who do not care and to those who can never pay Him back.  God is merciful and kind.  He clearly demonstrated all of this when He sent His Son to die for us.  When we live like God, it shows that we are truly born of Him.  When we love like God, it shows that we are His children in reality—not just in empty words. 

May the Lord help us to truly live on a higher plane with Him, and thereby prove that we are His children.

—Scott Colvin

Leave a Comment » | Christian living, love, Luke 6:31-36, walking in love | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

Be Holy in All Your Behavior

February 9, 2022

Striving for a life of holiness is of utmost importance for us as the children of God.  God did not send His Son to save us from the power of sin so that we could just go back to living how we always lived.  The holiness of God demands that we live holy lives. 

The Spirit, through Peter, makes this very clear to us.  “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am Holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16, NASB).  God wants us to be obedient children by no longer being conformed to our former lusts.  To be conformed is to be shaped and molded by something.  We need to stop being shaped and molded by the sinful desires that used to drive us.  We need to stop being conformed to the shape of this world.  Now that we are in Christ, God is calling us to be holy in all our behavior.  God is holy, and He expects us to be holy.

What does it mean for us to be holy?  It means to be set apart to God.  It means to be set apart from the world around us.  It means to be set apart from our former sinful pursuits.  Simply put, it means that we are supposed to be different now!  Because of the gift of Jesus—His death and resurrection—we are not supposed to think, speak, or act in the same way anymore. Let me ask you, is your life in Christ appreciably different from your former life?  Can people detect that you are different from the world around you?    

Holy living is a very serious thing to our Holy Father.  He gave His all so that we could be holy in His sight.  Now that He has made us holy, let us pursue holiness realizing that we were redeemed from our former life at countless cost, “with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:19, NASB)    

—Scott Colvin

Leave a Comment » | 1 Peter 1:14-16, Christian living, holiness, sanctification | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

Suffering with Christ

January 28, 2022

Are you prepared to share in the sufferings of Christ? Brethren, I think we need to get ourselves prepared. Think about the direction the world is going regarding the things of God. The world is growing ever more hostile to truth. Many in the world believe that speaking about God and Christ is offensive. Speaking the truth in love about sin and the coming judgement is considered a definite faux pas, if not outright “hate speech.” Christians who support the traditional, biblical view of morality, the family, gender, sexuality, and the like are often branded as hateful bigots. 

Let me ask you a question: Do you think things are going to get better or worse in the coming years? 

We need to prepare ourselves to suffer with Christ. We need to prepare our children and grandchildren to be ready to suffer with Christ. One of the keys to being prepared is to learn to rejoice when we suffer for Christ’s sake. Peter writes, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you … But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1 Peter 4:12-14, 16, NASB) Suffering for Christ is cause for rejoicing! If people look down on you for your faith, don’t be ashamed. Keep on rejoicing! When people say nasty things about you because you’re trying to hold to the truth of God’s word, don’t hang your head. Keep on rejoicing! When we suffer with Christ, don’t feel alone in your struggle. You are not alone because the Spirit of God is resting on you! Suffering with Christ is not a time to be downcast. It is a time to lift up your voice and glorify God. 

We need to dwell on these things. We need to be preparing ourselves and our families for the suffering that will come to those who are striving to live godly lives. And when suffering comes, let us rejoice and give glory to God. 

—Scott Colvin 

Leave a Comment » | 1 Peter 4:12-14, 16, Christian living, suffering for Christ | Permalink
Posted by Russell Holden

The Prosperous Soul

December 31, 2021

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 2, NASB) This was John’s prayer for Gaius, his faithful brother in the Lord, and this is my prayer for each of you in the new year—that you will prosper in all respects.

I pray that God will grant each of you success in school and in your careers.  I pray that you will find contentment in life, and satisfaction in your work.  I hope that business will be good, and that you will use whatever financial blessings God may choose to bless you with for His kingdom and His glory. 

I pray that God will bless you with good health.  What trying times we have been through for nearly two years now.  Times like these really make us appreciate good health, don’t they?  May God bless each of you with good health, and may we use the blessing of good health for the sake of Christ.  Let us use whatever physical strength and vitality God may grant us to be busy about His work and to serve one another.

Most of all, I pray that your soul will prosper in the new year.  This is of utmost importance.  What good is it to have physical blessings and good health if we neglect the condition of our soul?  As Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26a, NASB) A prosperous soul is a blessing of the highest order.  When our soul prospers, we will find unspeakable joy, peace that surpasses comprehension, and renewed hope.  When our soul prospers, we will find satisfaction, and contentment.  When our soul prospers, we will truly be living the good life. But when we neglect the condition of our soul, we will find trouble, sorrow, and confusion in life.  I plead with you; do the things which will cause your soul to prosper in the year ahead.

Let’s make 2022 a year in which each of us grow spiritually like never before.  I pray it will be a year in which each of us are granted deeper spiritual understanding.  I pray it will be a year in which each of us will find the deepest joy and satisfaction in a closer walk with God.  May your soul prosper in the new year!

— Scott Colvin

Leave a Comment » | 3 John 2, Christian living, Matthew 16:26, New Year's Day | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

Whitewashed Living

November 5, 2021

Cemeteries have a certain beauty in their own way, don’t they?  They are quiet.  They have well-manicured grass and beautiful flowers.  There are many beautifully carved stone monuments scattered about the grounds.  And yet, even though cemeteries are beautiful on the surface, we don’t go there just to enjoy the afternoon or to have a picnic, do we?  That’s because we know what lies under the surface. 

Jesus made this point when talking about the scribes and Pharisees.  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.  So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28 NASB) What do we learn from Jesus’ statement?  People, even Christians, can be just like a cemetery—beautiful outwardly, but full of death and decay inwardly.  The scribes and Pharisees went through the right motions.  They read and memorized the scriptures, they faithfully attended worship services, they carefully tithed all that they had, they said all the right things, and yet Jesus told them that they were dead inside!  Jesus knew what was under the surface.  It was all a veneer.  They were just like whitewashed tombs. 

You and I need to be careful that we do not fall into this way of living.  We need to be careful to surrender our inner lives completely to God.  We need to be careful that we’re not just going through the motions so that we appear righteous to others.  We can fool people with a coat of whitewash, but we can never fool Jesus.  He knows our hearts, and He wants to be Lord of our hearts.  If we will surrender our hearts to Jesus, He will make our inner selves radiant and beautiful, and that beauty will flow outwardly into our lives and make us truly beautiful in the eyes of God. 

— Scott Colvin

 

P.S. This is Scott Colvin’s first post on whiletoday.com. Check out his bio under About. I’m glad to have him joining me as a writer for this blog. — Russ Holden

            

Leave a Comment » | Christian living, heart, Matthew 23:27-28, righteousness | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin

Is Life a Test?

April 5, 2020

Dr. Gregory House was television’s fictional curmudgeonly doctor who solved medical mysteries. Some have even wondered what House would do with Covid-19. But House was also a misanthrope and an atheist. In a scene where the characters were considering whether there is anything to people seeing a white light at the end of the tunnel in near death experiences, House retorts that it is simply the chemical reactions to the brain shutting down. There is nothing after death, and he finds that comforting. When questioned about this being comforting, he replies: “I find it more comforting to believe that this isn’t simply a test.”

The scene succinctly raises an important issue about life. Is life a test or not? The Christian worldview gives a much different answer than the one given by the fictional Dr. House. The question is worth pondering.

I suspect that the comfort gained from saying life isn’t a test goes something like this. Death is the end. There is no judgment, heaven, or hell. (Can we hear John Lennon’s Imagine being sung in the background?) We can’t get life wrong. It’s like the elation of the student who finds out there is no final exam.

Yet, this perspective comes with a terrible cost. It would mean that life has no ultimate meaning despite the fact we all seem to seek to make our life meaningful. It would mean that no moral values exist, other than the ones I subjectively create for myself, or we decide as a group, or some elite, powerful group decides for us. Yet such values are more akin to “I like chocolate; you like vanilla” than they are to “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not.” The dictator who exterminates millions, the gunman who takes out a passersby in a shopping mall, or the woman who donates time at a soup kitchen are all just different ways of living life. Who’s to say which is better? They all die. If life is not a test, no one passes or fails.

Believing that life is a test certainly has ramifications. Since my choices in life can lead to eternal loss or eternal bliss, choices are filled with meaning and cannot be taken lightly. A choice between good and bad really exists. Doesn’t my sense that some things are not fair suggest that there is something about moral decisions that goes beyond my subjective feelings about them?

Such a life is more than a pass or fail for the afterlife. Life becomes a moral adventure. We have the opportunity to grow in goodness, love, and kindness. We learn the challenges of standing up for justice and fairness in a world that is frequently unfair. Honesty grows into transparency as we learn to be honest about who we are in all circumstances. The trials of life produce patient endurance.

I find comfort in life being a test. It means life matters, and death is not the end. It’s a profound question. The course of your life will be affected by your answer. Is life a test?
−Russ Holden

Leave a Comment » | Christian living, life, test | Permalink
Posted by Russell Holden

Reflecting on Time

August 17, 2018

When I was a child summers seemed like they were an eternity long, but now that I’m older I perceive time moving at a much faster pace. Of course, children may find the long car trip to be an eternity, and as parents we hear the annoying, “Are we there yet?” I suspect some of our perception of time has to do with this: for an eight-year-old one year is 1/8 of his or her lifetime, and for a sixty-five-year-old, one year is 1/65 of his or her lifetime. As we accumulate years, they become a smaller percentage of the total. You hear older people talking about and event, and they’ll say, “Has it really been ten years, it seems like only yesterday.”

We must all deal with the flow of time. Yesterday is past; tomorrow is uncertain. I have what the author of Hebrews calls “Today” reflecting on Psalm 95. Matt Perman gives four helpful adjectives to time.*

Time is inelastic. We’ve all experienced it. A deadline looms, and we have too much to do. We wish we had more time than anybody else on the planet. If somehow, we could have our own personal, extra day. I’ve mused about that with sermons and Sunday coming. The Jews had a lunar calendar so periodically they had to insert intercalary months or days to match the solar year. If I could just have that intercalary day between Friday and Saturday, sermon preparation would be easier. But time doesn’t stretch. It is inelastic.

Time is perishable. You can store money in your savings account. You can store canned goods and staples in your pantry and frozen foods in your freezer to eat later. But you can’t store up time to spend later when you need it. Seven days in a week, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year, but no extra time to insert as needed. We only have today.

Time is irreplaceable. Great cooks know about substituting missing ingredients. You are missing 1 teaspoon of baking powder, so you use ⅓ teaspoon of baking soda and ½ teaspoon of cream of tartar. Some ingredients in life can be substituted, but not time.

Time is necessary. You can find activities that don’t require money. You may find some things to do that can be done alone and do not acquire other people. But everything we do requires time. Time is necessary.

Given our relationship with time, I want to live fully for God. I want to be wise. I ponder the following. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalms 90:12, ESV). “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16, ESV). I give thanks for today.

*Matt Perman, How to Get Unstuck, pp. 165-166.

Leave a Comment » | Christian living, time | Permalink
Posted by Russell Holden

« Previous Entries