Author: First Baptist Church

Happy Advent,

It may seem early to talk about the new year, but I’d like to get us thinking about something important. People often take on new year resolutions and I have one for you to consider. I’d like you to participate in a church wide emphasis to take our relationships with God to a deeper level. God is always calling us to deeper relationships with himself. Jesus calls it abiding. He says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” It is in this place of abid- ing, deep relationship in Jesus that we can find the most joy and peace and fruitfulness for our souls. Heal- ing for our hurts and strength for our days.

Beginning January and running into March, our Wednesday night program for adults, HomeBuilders, will become a midweek worship service. Our study will be about taking a deeper dive into our relationships with God. I want to design this program to be flexible and helpful for every person whether you are a new Christian or new to quiet times, or a veteran of abiding in relationship with God. So no matter how much expe- rience or success you have had in prayer you will find this study beneficial.

More information will be coming out in the next few weeks, but before January you may want to get your hands on a book that will compliment our church wide emphasis. Here are some recommendations. If you are hurting, doubting, questioning God, then The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith would be an option for you. For those who are active, overly busy, or feel a little ADD, or maybe you want something down to earth, I recommend A Contrarian’s Guide to Knowing God by Larry Osborne. The Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes would fit for many of the men. If you would like background information and explanations about why prayer and other practices are helpful then Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer is for you. Lastly, if you want a deep Scriptural study from a Baptist seminary professor then Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney is the right choice. Additional options include Celebration of Discipline and Wasting Time With God.

Luke 16 ends with a story from Jesus concerning the intermediate state, the situation between this embodiment on earth and the resurrection. Jesus tells of a rich man and a poor man, Lazarus. The destination of the rich man is Hades (NIV & Greek Text). Lazarus, having died also, is at Abraham’s side. Jesus’ descriptions of these places, separated by a chasm, are consistent with Greek and Hebrew cultural conceptions of death.

Hades is a place of torment and agony: a dry, hot, wasteland. Furthermore, those in Hades are aware of others. The rich man is aware of Lazarus, speaks to Abraham, and knows his brothers have not yet arrived in Hades. He has two requests. The first echoes the self-centered way he lived on earth. He requests a drop of cool water, not even enough to swallow. When his first request is denied, his second request shows some concern for others – even being evangelistic. He asks for a message of warning to his brothers about Hades. Further asking, that someone should rise from the dead to tell them. He insists they would believe that. What prevents the sending of water from Abraham to the rich man is a gigantic chasm, impassable, which separates the two groups of people. But ironically, his second request is in a way granted.

Asserted by Jesus, though in the mouth of Abraham, is that both of them are getting what they deserved or earned. The rich man who ignored the troubles of his neighbor was now receiving troubles. The poor man, presumed to also be a righteous person, was now receiving comfort. The circumstances of their souls is such that the rich man does not want his loved ones to be with him, and their repentance, a change of heart and life, is sought.

On Wednesdays this Fall, HomeBuilders is focusing on words in God’s Word that speak of love or connect to the word Love. We are not just talking about romance, but most any deeper personal relationship: Family, Friends, Church, and, yes, God. These words communicate a part or principle of love.

Hesed is a well known word for covenantal love, often translated “loving-kindness” in the Old Testament. It is a love that is committed, benevolent, and often appears in the hard times. About half of the 286 times it is used in Scripture are in the Psalms. I guess it is worth singing about.

Hesed easily connects the ideas of religious covenant and marriage covenant. Both covenant relationships are made for life, founded in love, and strengthened by deep commitment. Both covenant relationships are tested by life’s ups and downs which provide many opportunities for “loving-kindness” to be shone. Throughout our first study, on Sept. 18th, we looked at several verses that speak of God’shesed. God’s loving-kindness is often called on in times of trouble. Moses called on God’s hesed when seeking forgiveness when the people wanted to return to Egypt. [Num. 14] When a servant went a long way to find a bride for Isaac, he called on God to show hesed to Abraham through a successful marriage for his son, Isaac. [Gen. 24:12]