What First-Century Christians Could Teach Us Today – Michael Brown

 

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What First-Century Christians Could Teach Us Today

11:00AM EDT 4/27/2020 MICHAEL BROWN

(Photo by sergio souza from Pexels)

Growing up in a country like America where we get to vote and influence the government, it’s difficult to imagine what it would feel like to live under an absolute monarchy. Or a tyrannical dictatorship. Or an oppressive, all-controlling regime. Yet the early followers of Jesus not only lived in such environments, but they flourished and grew. What can we learn from these early believers? What would they each us today?

First, they would teach us that no matter who leads the nation, no one can stop the gospel. And no matter what form of government we have, the church can grow and thrive.

I do imagine that these Christians would be amazed at the liberties we enjoy. (Obviously, they would be amazed by a lot of other things too.) They would likely tell us to do our best to guard these liberties.

But they would remind us to put our trust in God not in government and not to confuse patriotism with the kingdom of God.

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Second, they would encourage us not to get caught up in partisan politics, a concept that would have been largely unknown to them.

You see, in the Roman Empire, there were not rival political parties, with your vote making a difference between which candidate would come into power. You did not have Democrat vs. Republican (or the equivalent). And while there were different social and philosophical factions, there was not a political divide. For the most part, the emperor was supreme.

For the early Christian, then, the divisions were more basic. There was light and darkness. There was the church and the world. There was the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. There was heaven and hell. And there were saved people and lost people.

That is how these early believers saw their world, and that is how they saw their mission. Put another way, although they brought about powerful cultural change through the gospel, their focus was not on reforming the Roman Empire. Their focus was the Great Commission.

They still had to deal with the distractions of the flesh and the world, just as we do today. But partisan politics did not vie for their attention. Or consume their emotions. Or divide them as believers.

That’s why I say that they would encourage us not to get caught up in partisan politics.

Again, they might well encourage us to exploit our democratic liberties to the full and even to run for office, if some of us were called to do so. But I believe they would help us to step above the political frenzy that so dominates and divides our nation.

Third, they would remind us that the church is not a building, especially at a time like this when our church buildings are shut during the COVID-19 crisis.

In my just-released book When the World Stops, I have an entire chapter devoted to this subject, titled, “What Is Church and How Do We Do It?” And I am convinced that this is one of the major lessons we must learn during this forced lockdown: The church is not a building, and Christianity is not a spectator sport.

I would think that these first believers would be stunned to see our large church buildings and cathedrals. But it would not be because they had never seen magnificent buildings. To the contrary, those who were alive to see the second temple (which was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70) would have seen something far more spectacular than our largest megachurch facility. And the Romans themselves knew how to build.

It’s just that the believers met in homes back then. There was no such thing as a church building. Consequently, a greater emphasis was put on being the church more than on going to church (although they certainly emphasized the importance of meeting together).

In this context, they would remind us that the preacher is not a performer. And the body is not an audience. And, to say it again, Christianity is not a spectator sport.

This doesn’t mean they wouldn’t welcome church meetings of all sizes and buildings of all sizes. It’s just that their emphasis would be put on every member of the body being connected and activated. It would be on the priesthood of every believer.

Fourth, these early Christians would remind us of the need to rely on the power of the Spirit. While they would rejoice in the many ways the gospel can spread today, ways that would have been unimaginable to them, they would encourage us not to lean on technology. Or human personality. Or worldly techniques.

Instead they would urge us to remember the words of Jesus, who said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

It is by the power of the Spirit that they rocked their world. It is by the power of the Spirit that we can rock ours.

What other lessons do you think these first believers could teach us today?

Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is His latest book is Jezebel ‘s War With America: The Plot to Destroy Our Country and What We Can Do to Turn the Tide. Connect with him on Facebook or Twitter, or YouTube.

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Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt’s “Prayers That…” 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Love or War? Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Love or War?

“A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. (Proverbs 24:5-6, NASU)

A well-known and highly respected prophetic teacher, Rick Joyner of Morningstar Ministries, said a few years ago something to the effect that we will be people of war. At the time I didn’t want to hear that. We are called to be people of love, right? Love is all you need, yes?

It had long been a conflict within me as to what is the correct Christian’s response to the evil that continually rises up around us, whether it be on social media, the national news broadcasts, the “higher learning” of our educational system, and even within the entertainment sectors of our society that preach, yes preach, their ideology of secularism, anti-family, and anti-Semitism on the big screen and the little ones most people carry in their pockets. It even shows up in the so-called “Disney-style” family movies, which more and more are just the outreach tool used by proponents of witchcraft and “other lifestyle” propaganda.

So, do we just let these self-expansions of the “we will love you the way you are” attitude continue, and let all things around and abound as “whatever will be will be”? Or do we stand on biblical principles and fight back? And if so, how do we fight back?

Do we love and not make war? Or do we love, and yet at the same time make war.

Throughout Scripture our God shows His hand in how He deals with those who embrace evil and reject His rule and principles.

He clearly speaks His Word, even to His own chosen people, when they failed to follow His commands. It reads in Psalm 106:34-39, “They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them.

They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons (i.e. abortion and infanticide – added), and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with the blood.

Thus, they became unclean in their practices, and played the harlot in their deeds.” (NASU)

Often, when a people or nation turn from the ways of the Living God, He removes them. Usually, that is accomplished by war or natural destruction. (And it isn’t “Mother Nature” at work, but the God of all creation.)

Jesus, the God of Love, Himself said this, as recorded in Luke 12:49-53, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!  But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!  Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." (NASU)

If the God of Love Himself came as the Son of Man to bring division, to divide the right from the wrong, should we just sit idly by and let the wrong become as the “new right”?

I don’t think so.

In my theology, which comes from the Word of God, on which I will continually stand, I will constantly believe both the Old and New Testaments (as Christians call these Scriptures.) I will do as Joshua proclaimed he would do.

"Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:14-15, NASU)

I am not going to keep silent and let anyone else tell me what gender my kids are, nor my grandkids; nor will I shut my mouth, and keep from writing these messages and stop sharing the Gospel truth because they just might offend or step on another’s toes; or out of threatened retaliation, fear or false love.

Powerful prayer will protect our homes, while at the same time tear down strongholds that have been allowed to build up around us, due to our own laziness, self-interest and lackadaisical attitudes adapted in decades gone by. Action in the prayer closet while taking action on the front lines - we must be doing both.

After putting on the full armor of God, both to defend the onslaught against us, and to go on the offensive to be overcomers as we are called to be, we must battle and take back the land stolen from us.

Don’t allow the enemy of our spirit, soul, and body continue to steal, destroy and kill that which we have held dear to our lives. We must stand strong, fight the good fight, and be on the offensive. We must speak the Truth louder, write the messages stronger, and live our lives with His God-given gifts and inspiration to proclaim His principles and reclaim this land, our cities, and this nation.

The enemy isn’t quitting or just lie down. The one who hates us is not going to play fair, nor give up. If we continue to sit back and do nothing, we will lose that which others have lived and died for.

Jesus died for us. Others have followed in His footsteps, because of their faith and commitment to Him and His purposes. We very well may be called upon to do the same.

I have already made the decision that I will do just that. I will love, but I will also make war.

Now think of this,

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. On May 10 I returned from my 20^th trip to Israel. And guess what? I brought back for you my last 58 short videos I entitle “Walk With Me in Israel”. Watch them here on our YouTube channel: Walk With Me - Israel May 2019

Also, my previous ones are here on YouTube: Walk With Me

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

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Now Think On This #421 - in the year of our Lord 05.12.19 – “Love or War? Or Both?” – Sunday, 3:30 pm

Mary Had A Little Lamb - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NASU)

“The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, “Look! God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, Complete Jewish Bible)

It is a bit fascinating how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. After finishing my morning reading of the Bible, with today’s Scripture being from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, He spoke to me, “Mary had a little lamb.” I thought, “Hmm. Now what is that all about? An old nursery rhyme from centuries ago? What are you saying to me, Lord?”

So I asked Him for further revelation. It became a bit clearer. Mary did have a little lamb.

Thinking that there was more to the story than what we think, from days gone by, I looked up the history of the song which we all learned as little kids. Here is what Wikepedia has to say.

“Mary Had A Little Lamb is a nursery rhyme first published by the Boston publishing firm Marsh, Capen & Lyon, as an original poem by Sarah Josepha Hale on May 24, 1830, and was inspired by an actual incident.

As a young girl, Mary Sawyer (later Mary Tyler) kept a pet lamb that she took to school one day at the suggestion of her brother. A commotion naturally ensued. Mary recalled: "Visiting school that morning was a young man by the name of John Roulstone, a nephew of the Reverend Lemuel Capen, who was then settled in Sterling. It was the custom then for students to prepare for college with ministers, and for this purpose Roulstone was studying with his uncle.

The young man was very much pleased with the incident of the lamb; and the next day he rode across the fields on horseback to the little old schoolhouse and handed me a slip of paper which had written upon it the three original stanzas of the poem..."

There are two competing theories on the origin of this poem. One holds that Roulstone wrote the first four lines and that the final twelve lines, less childlike than the first, were composed by Sarah Josepha Hale; the other is that Hale was responsible for the entire poem.

In the 1830s, Lowell Mason set the nursery rhyme Mary Had A Little Lamb, originally written by to a melody adding repetition in the verses:

Mary had a little lamb,

His fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,

But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The teacher did reply.^”

As I further pursued Holy Spirit’s thoughts, asking Him what He wanted to share in regards to this rather strange thought, here is what I got. You can seek Him too, and see what He says to you. It may be similar, or with more!

Mary, actually having the Hebrew name Miriam, did indeed have a little lamb, who was the Lamb of God. Yeshua (Jesus) was being sent by God the Father to planet earth to redeem mankind, for “long lay the world in sin and error pining” (Recall O Holy Night?)

She had been called by God, to be the human vessel used by Him in this unfolding eternal plan of salvation, in order to further show His love through and for us. The Lord’s plan of redemption was being fulfilled.

It always amazes me how our God uses ordinary people, just like us, to do extraordinary things. That is how He chooses to so often do His work.

Mary’s response to this call was to walk in obedience, though I am sure in her heart, mind, and soul she had many questions. We ourselves can learn from her, seeing how she chose to walk it out in faith, and not let doubt or unbelief keep her from her mission. Good move Mary!

As the nursery rhyme continues, “His fleece was white as snow.” Fleece in those days was the woolen coat of the lamb, not the jacket we wear today. This lamb’s fleece was a white as snow. In Isaiah 1:18 we read, "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”

As students of the Scriptures, we know that the lamb brought to the altar of sacrifice, to be offered up to cover sin, had to be without spot or wrinkle. The lamb’s fleece had to be white as snow. Only Yeshua (Jesus), the perfect Lamb of God, was born without spot or wrinkle, with no sin (and no, it was not Mary who was without sin, as I was taught as a young boy at the Catholic school I attended. She too had to be saved by the Savior born through her.)

“And everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.” As a boy growing up in Joseph (Yosef was his Hebrew/Jewish name) and Mary’s Nazareth home, Yeshua was raised fully in His Jewish culture, following in obedience that which His earthly parents taught Him. He learned what the feasts of the Lord were; He experienced the day to day life we all do; He lived fully as a man so He could identify with everything that we ourselves would experience. There was no “silver spoon” for Him, in life or death.

“He followed her to school one day.” Up until His 13^th birthday, the year He would have had His bar mitzvah when a Jewish boy is now to become a man, Yeshua learned obedience from Miriam and Yosef. He learned to listen, to become responsible, to allow His parents to prepare Him in the natural for the supernatural work He knew He was sent to do. He did manual labor, learning from Yosef the carpenter, even all about the sweat and toil that comes from being productive (as my son-in-law Andrew likes to say – “We need to be productive.”)

“He followed her to school one day, which was against the rule, it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school.”

Yeshua didn’t play along with the religious games of that time in history. Nor does He even today. On many occasions, He would point out that the Pharisees and Sadducees were not the ones to follow. Their religion, their rules, and manmade regulations were actually strangling the people, keeping them from knowing the true love, care, and protection of their heavenly Father.

“And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near, and waited patiently about, till Mary did appear.”

Jesus was rejected by the ruling authorities – both the religious and the political Romans. He was crucified outside the Jerusalem city walls, along with the common thieves, murderers, and even innocent victims of the cruel world. Today He is still rejected by those who seek their own agendas. But those who seek Him will receive the salvation He alone can offer them.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry. "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know." The teacher did reply.”

The majority of people in the nations will not understand why the Lamb of God loves us so much. They will not receive the Gospel and believe that Jesus, the Son of the Living God, came to this earth to die for our sins. They will not understand His desire to deliver them from their sins; to free them from bondage they live under; to redeem their souls from the eternal hell that will come if they do not repent, believe, and follow after Him.

But that is now our mission that we have been called to do – to take the Gospel, the Good News of the Lamb, to the peoples inhabiting the nations, so that they can hear, believe, and obey. To those, whosoever will believe and receive, the Living God of Israel’s plan of redemption. The know the One who came to earth, was raised in a Jewish family, lived among us, died on the tree, and was gloriously raised from the dead on the third day, as was prophesied centuries before by the Jewish prophets. He now ever lives upon His throne, preparing the world before He returns, coming the second time in glory and power.

The Lamb of God came the first time to lay His life down so that we might live eternally with Him. Walking this world as a man, He lived as we do, yet without sin, in order to be the perfect Lamb that God the Father would receive as the perfect sacrificial lamb.

When Jesus returns in glory, as the Lion from the tribe of Judah, I pray that this nursery rhyme, which Holy Spirit used today, in a small way, to again tell His story. I hope this will inspire you to walk in faith, learn obedience, and be ready for these end of days that are coming upon us, if not already here.

It won’t be a nursery rhyme then. So you better watch out, you better not cry. But instead, pray, and then obey. He will be speaking to you today.

Now think on this,

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. This message was first published on Dec. 13, 2015. It can also be found in my published book "Twelve" for $7.99 in paperback, and also in Kindle e-book format. 

Order here: "Twelve" (12) by Steve Martin - Amazon paperback

I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

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Now Think On This - In the year of our Lord 12.13.15 - #219 –“Mary Had A Little Lamb” – Sunday at 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

Names & Numbers - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Names & Numbers

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“As for you, every hair on your head has been counted.” (Matthew 10:30, Complete Jewish Bible)

Just As I Am, ((HarperOne/Zondervan, 2007) the autobiography of Billy Graham, is a massive book of 801 pages (with many more pages of historic photos). I started reading it a week ago. One thing I particularly noticed is the numerous names of people met and the numbers of attendance records that Dr. Graham gives attention to. Wanting to be as accurate as possible, with no “evangelistically speaking” stretching of the truth, he commits to writing the decades of crusades and countries where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached by him and his team. In reading these accounts, it gives me even more respect for Billy Graham, along with his wife Ruth, who stood with him through many of his 99 years.

When it comes to names, like myself, you too may have trouble remembering one when a person you haven’t seen in several years comes back into your world. Try as you might, you search the memory banks, seeking to recall something that will help the process. When success does come, gratitude for needed assistance follows. It is especially important when that person happens to be a relative or friend whom you haven’t seen in ages.

Billy Graham preached the simple Gospel – the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He learned early on to focus primarily on the Cross of Christ, bringing truth into a world filled with lies and deception. Of the millions who responded to his message, life sprung forth for eternity. Each person who acknowledged the redemptive work of the cross received the resurrection power to overcome death and despair.

At times we feel we get lost in the crowded population. Just having a number as the record keeper of our file isn’t enough to bring the needed feeling that we are worth more than just being another number in someone’s storage cabinet. Having a personal connection with our Creator is what so many long for, realizing it or not. That is why He Who created us sees us more than just being another name, another number. He wants us to know Him intimately, to realize that our very purpose and place means so very much to Him. His desire for us is one of the very precious factors that draw us to Him day after day.

Writing of these simple truths may not bring many accolades or seem to be accomplishing much among the great scholars and works out there in the published world, but at times a simple word is much more appreciated than a complicated, complex dissection of matter that just doesn’t seem too personal. Our God is a personal God. He knows us each by name. And as the Bible also says, He has each of our hairs numbered. Simple truth.  Simple love.

Next time you feel a bit lost in a crowd, or thinking you have been forgotten in a mass of names and numbers, know that the One who brought you into this world cares deeply for you. He promises to never leave you nor forsake you, and will see you through to the promised end.

Your name, and your number among the billions, are very personal to God the Father. We can rest in His trusted Word that we will not be lost in the masses, but will receive guidance and provision in our daily walk with Him.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

  

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

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(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

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Now Think On This #350 - in the year of our Lord 08.15.18 – “Names & Numbers”, Wednesday, 10:00 am