I read recently of a couple in California who were out walking their dog when they spotted the side of a rusty can protruding out of a nearby hill. Their curiosity led them to dig out the old, dirty can and take it back home. When they opened the can, they discovered that it was stuffed with gold coins from the 1800s. Returning to the hill, they found several other cans that were also filled with gold coins. Their find was worth an estimated $10 million dollars in today’s market. Within the old, rusty can was found treasure of enormous value.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul speaks of a treasure that we find in “earthen vessels.” He says “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” In this passage, Paul is making a comparison between the treasure of the Gospel and the container in which it is stored. When one thinks of the invaluable treasures contained in the Gospel message, one would expect God to store them in the strongest, the most valuable, and the most appealing vessels that He could find. But it is evident from this verse that God does just the opposite.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul was having to defend his ministry from some false apostles who were influencing the Corinthian church. These people were saying that “his bodily presence was weak, and his speech contemptible” (2 Corinthians 10:10). Since they couldn’t attack his character, they attacked his physical weaknesses and the way he spoke. But instead of defending himself from their attacks, Paul decided to use this to establish his ministerial credibility. Paul knew he lacked persona, charm, and physical strength. He said, “…and I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). Paul knew his own weakness and frailty as a man. He understood that he was not an eloquent orator. But Paul also realized that his physical weaknesses were exactly what God was using to bring glory to Himself.

Paul understood that he was just an “earthen vessel” (i.e., a clay pot). But packaged inside a fragile, weak, imperfect, unimpressive container was an invaluable treasure that God had put there. Paul realized that God doesn’t put His Gospel treasures in the strongest, most valuable, and most appealing containers; rather, God takes the treasures of the Gospel and puts them in weak, frail, and base containers.

All of God’s servants are “earthen vessels.” In ourselves, we are unimpressive, simple, easily broken, and frail. But God chooses to use the “base things of the world, and things which are despised” (1 Corinthians 1:28). Why? “That no flesh should glory in his presence” and that “the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (1 Corinthians 1:29 & 2 Corinthians 4:7).  

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Isn’t it strange how a $100 “looks” so big when you take it to church, but so small when you take it to the mall. Isn’t it strange how long it takes to serve God for an hour, but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball. Isn’t it strange how long a couple of hours spent at church are, but how short they are when watching a movie. Isn’t it strange how we can’t think of anything to say when we pray, but don’t have difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend. Isn’t it strange how we get thrilled when a baseball game goes into extra innings, but we complain when a sermon is longer than the regular time. Isn’t it strange how hard it is to read a chapter in the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a bestselling novel. Isn’t it strange how people want to get a front seat at any game or concert, but scramble to get a back seat at church services. Isn’t it strange how we need 2 or 3 weeks advance notice to fit a church event into our schedule, but can adjust our schedule for other events at the last moment. Isn’t it strange how hard it is for people to learn a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and repeat gossip. Isn’t it strange how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, or to think, or to say, or do anything. Isn’t it strange how you can send a thousand ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Isn’t it strange how we set our clocks to arise at 4:00am or 5:00am to be at the job by 7:30, yet when Sunday comes we can’t get to church for 11:00am to praise the one who gave us the jobs! Isn’t it strange how we call God our Father and Jesus our brother, but find it hard to introduce them to our family. Isn’t it strange how small our sins seem, but how big “their” sins are. Isn’t it strange how we demand justice for others, but expect mercy from God. Isn’t it strange how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost, but are hesitant to take God’s direction for our lives. Isn’t it strange how so many churchgoers sing “Standing on the Promises” but all they do is sit on the premises. Isn’t it strange how people want God to answer their prayers, but refuse to listen to His counsel. Isn’t it strange how we sing about heaven, but live only for today. Isn’t it strange how people think they are going to Heaven, but don’t think there is a Hell. Isn’t it strange how it is okay to blame God for evil and suffering in the world, but it is not necessary to thank Him for what is good and pleasant. Isn’t it strange how when something goes wrong, we cry, “Lord, why me?” but when something goes right, we think, “Hey, it must be me!” (Author Unknown)

When your world falls apart, when the trials of life swoop in unexpectantly, when that which you loved is taken away, where do you turn? Where do you find comfort? And how do you use your suffering to be a help to others? God’s Word is clear that “…in this world ye shall have tribulation…” (John 16:33). Tribulations, trials, and afflictions will cross our paths at different times and to different degrees throughout our life. Yet in John 16:33, Jesus goes on to remind believers to “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

When a person enrolls in in “Christ’s School of Discipleship”, one of the main courses is “Suffering 101”. One of the lessons in this course deals with the “law of flow and overflow”. This law teaches that the comfort we receive from God will be in direct proportion to the suffering that we go through. This law is based on 2 Corinthians 1:5- “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth in Christ.” In other words, as suffering is poured into the life of a Christian, so the comfort of God overflows into our life at the same time. What a wonderful thought that when we go through afflictions as believers, we are promised that “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) will comfort us “in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:4). There is a blessed and balanced proportion of comfort and suffering at the same time and to the same degree in the life of the Christian. May we respond to this truth as the Apostle Paul did in 2 Corinthians 1:3-  “Blessed be God” !

One of the major objectives of “Suffering 101” is to teach us that the same comfort that God brings in the midst of our suffering is to overflow from us into the lives of others who are suffering.   Notice 2 Corinthians 1:4- “Who comforteth us…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” In other words, don’t waste your suffering! Rather than allowing trials to turn your thoughts completely inward and focused on self, allow your God-ordained trials to turn your heart outward and make you focused on helping others. God’s comfort is given to you, not so you can hoard it and hide it away, but so that you can give it to someone else in time of need. When God has comforted you, realize that it is given so that you can become a comforter to others.

Have you experienced the comfort of God through the midst of a trial? If so, why not find somebody else who is suffering and extend God’s comfort in your life to them? Has God comforted you with the promises of His Word? Why not share those comforting words to others who need it?

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Who reigns on the throne of your heart? It will either be self or Christ.  Choose wisely! For in your choice, you also choose the consequences that follow. 

For many years, the children of Israel enjoyed the privileges of having God rule over them as their King. It was during this time that the children of Israel experienced many of their greatest victories. Psalm 105 recounts God’s faithfulness to His people as their King. When they were still in Egypt, God fought for them- “…he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies…” (Psalm 105:24). He delivered them from their Egyptian bondage with His strong power- “He sent darkness…He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish…He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice…He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land…He smote their vines…He smote also all the firstborn in the land, the chief of all their strength” (vv. 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 36). God’s faithful reign continued even when His people were in their wilderness wanderings- “He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night…he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven…He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out…” (vv. 39-41). God’s rule over His people was marked by faithfulness, mercy, and provision. From Egypt to the Promised Land, God never forsook or misled His people- “For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: And he gave them the lands of the heathen…” (vv. 42-44).

When the people of God submitted to the rule of God, the blessings flowed freely. However, when the Israelites quickly turned their hearts from God the results were tragic. In 1 Samuel 8, we read, “Then all the elders of Israel…came to Samuel…And said… make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (vv. 4-5). Samuel was shocked and very displeased at this request of the people. But God answered and said, “…Hearken to the voice of the people…for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me that I should reign not reign over them” (v. 7). The people of Israel demanded a king with evil motives- to be like the nations. They rejected God’s plan and God’s rule over them. God had Samuel forewarn the people about the consequences of their choice- “…ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you” (v. 18).

What a tragedy indeed! When we persistently reject the reign of God in our hearts, we end up hurting ourselves and dishonoring God. For many, a rejection of God’s reign in their heart is merely the desire to be conformed to the world rather than Christ. When Christ reigns in our heart, victory, fellowship, provision, strength come our way! When we allow self upon the throne of our heart, defeat, discouragement, barrenness, and hurt will inevitably come.

~Pastor Aaron Francis

A legend is told of the Devil summoning his demons to consider the best way to keep the world on his side. One demon said, “Send me. I will tell them that there is no God.” Satan replied, “They will never believe you. Most of them know that there is a God.” Another said, “Send me. I’ll tell them that there is no heaven or hell.” Satan shook his head, “That will never do. They know that there is life after death.” Then a third spoke, “Send me. I’ll tell them there is a God, a heaven, and a hell, but there’s no hurry to decide.” “Ah,” said Satan with satisfaction, “that is the best plan!” He was sent out into the world to spread this lie. Although this story is merely a legend and is not based in God’s Word, the lie that “there is no hurry to decide” between life or death, heaven or hell, God or Satan has been believed by many people down throughout human history! Many are waiting for a ‘convenient season’ to get right with God, yet for most, that season never comes and they lose their window of opportunity to receive the truth of God’s Word!

 “Paul Before Felix” (William Hogarth)

In Acts 24, we find the Roman governor Felix presiding as judge over the trial of the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul had been falsely accused by the Jewish leaders of certain ‘crimes’. As Paul stood before the judgment seat of Felix, God provided Paul an opportunity to share the truth of the Gospel with Felix.  The Bible says that “after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning his faith in Christ” (v. 24). Felix was about to have an opportunity of a lifetime. He was about to hear the Apostle Paul preach the Gospel personally to him and his wife. And as Paul stood before Felix, “…he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come…” (v. 25a). Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel. He preached the righteousness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the judgment to come. And likely for the first time in Felix’s life, the Holy Spirit of God was convicting him of sin and opening his eyes to his lost condition. Felix understood that he was in serious trouble with God. The Bible states that “…Felix trembled…” (v. 25b). Something that Paul said had struck the fear of God into the heart of Felix. Felix trembled before the righteousness of God. Felix had a choice to make between salvation or condemnation. Rather, than asking “What must I do to be saved?” like the trembling Philippian jailor, Felix responded with “when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (v. 25c). As far as the Bible records, Felix’s more ‘convenient season’ never came.

There are many in the world like Felix. They hear the truth of the Gospel and they know the truth of the Gospel, but they put off their decision to receive the Gospel for a more convenient season. Rather than sensing the urgency of the gospel appeal and fleeing to Christ for forgiveness, many dull their conscience and harden their heart by putting off the things of God for a more convenient time. Yet for many that more convenient season never comes.

The Bible makes an urgent call to mankind to “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Turn your “someday” into a “today.” The Bible says that “…now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t wait for a more ‘convenient season’. Flee to Christ today for salvation!

The following quote is written by Arthur Mathews. Mathews was a missionary to China from 1938-1949. He was in China during the Communist takeover and was held under house arrest for four years with his family. During that time, Mathews wrote the following quote which reflects his commitment to the Lord even in the face of difficult circumstances. Mathews chose to view suffering from God’s perspective & stay focused on God’s overall purpose through the pain of suffering.

“We tend to look at the circumstances of life in terms of what they may do to our cherished hopes and convenience, and we shape our decisions and reactions accordingly. When a problem threatens, we rush to God, not to seek his perspective, but to ask him to deflect the trouble. Our self-concern takes priority over whatever it is that God might be trying to do through the trouble….

An escapist generation reads security, prosperity, and physical well-being as evidences of Gods’ blessing. Thus when he puts suffering and affliction into our hands, we misread his signals and misinterpret his intentions.”

Ask yourself: “How do I respond to suffering & pain in this life? Do I seek God’s perspective as I lean upon Him through suffering, or do I seek God simply for the purpose of removing the suffering? Do I run from trials of life or do I see them as means whereby God is drawing me closer to Himself and conforming me to the image of Christ? Have I believed the lie that following Christ will bring earthly security, physical prosperity, and physical health or do I believe what the Bible says when it states that ‘…we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22)?”

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place. “When they knew God,” wrote Paul, “they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Then followed the worship of idols fashioned after the likeness of men and birds and beasts and creeping things. But this series of degrading acts began in the mind. Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true. Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough, the history of the Church confirms it. So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it. The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God.” (A.W. Tozer- Knowledge of the Holy)

We live in spiritually dark days in America. But instead of shining brighter and exposing the darkness, many Christians have allowed their light to dim by giving into a slow and subtle desensitization towards the evil that permeates the culture. As our culture plunges into greater depravity, the temptation is to allow our eyes to adjust to the dark so that sin appears less sinful.

In 1981, evangelist Vance Havner preached a very a timely sermon entitled, “Getting Used to the Dark.” He said about the moral degradation of his day: “We get used to it. We get acclimated to it. We accept it as a matter of course, its language and its art and its literature and its music. We learn to live in it without an inner protest anymore. We don’t hate evil. We don’t abhor that which is evil. We don’t abstain from the very appearance of evil. We get used to the dark.”

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul entered the city of Athens. It is said that Athens had more statues of idols than all the rest of Greece put together. Paul didn’t come to the city as a sightseer, but rather, as a soul winner. Paul entered the city with a burden for souls and a desire to see the name of Christ glorified. Therefore, when he entered the city, “his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry” (v. 16). Paul had such a jealousy for the glory of God, that he was provoked within himself when he saw the idolatry that filled the city. Paul was stirred up with righteous indignation as he looked around himself and saw spiritual blindness that had gripped the hearts of the people.

As we look around the American cultural landscape, we see a nation wholly given to idolatry. Sure, we don’t have statues of false gods as you would see in ancient Athens or a modern-day Hindu country. But the idols of money, self, pleasure, power, fame are being worshipped by millions. This ought to provoke us because Jesus Christ is not receiving His rightful place of worship. When anything or anyone other than Christ is worshipped, it ought to put a burning passion in our hearts to see His name magnified. Our hearts ought to be broken for the lost who are blinded by the ‘god of this world’ and are shackled by the chains of sin.

Paul was not only stirred by the idolatry. Paul declared the true God to these Athenians. Paul couldn’t keep silent. He did not allow himself to get used to the dark. Paul did not choose the easy path of tolerance. Rather, he loved Christ and loved others enough to deny self and share the truth with them.

As our culture continues to run headlong into depravity, we must not allow ourselves to get used to the dark. Rather, we must learn to be like Paul. We must be jealous for God’s glory and magnify His holy name!  

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Psalm 113

“Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.

The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.”

In 1789, John Montgomery was inspired by Psalm 113 to pen the words of a hymn. He wrote: “Who is like God? So great, so high; He bows Himself to view the sky; And yet, with condescending grace; Looks down upon the human race.” Psalm 113 is a psalm of praise to God. Praise should be the natural outflow of a life that has tasted of God’s saving grace. It is a proper response to God’s many blessings. Verse 3 reminds us: “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.”

The psalmist asks question: “Who is like unto the LORD our God?” (v. 5). We know that the answer is NOBODY! Nothing or nobody compares to our God. Where are the gods of the Old Testament? Where is Baal and Ashtoreth and Molech? Where are the ancient gods of Egypt and Greece and Rome? Where are Buddha and Krishna and Mohammed? They are dead and gone. And eventually they will all be forgotten. The false deities that man devises do not even come close in comparison to our great God! It is He who is “high above all nations” and whose “glory is above the heavens” (v. 4). It is He who “dwelleth on high” (v. 5). When we think of God, we stand in awe of His greatness and His loftiness. We are amazed at how exalted He is! There is none greater than God!

Yet, the psalmist continues his description of God: “Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” (v. 6). This is remarkable! God is great and there is none like Him! He is above all and over all! Yet, who is like God? There is none like Him in His greatness. But there is also none like Him in His condescension. It reminds me of what David said in Psalm 8:4- “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” When we realize how great God is and also realize how God condescends to lowly creatures like us, what can we do but praise Him? God not only stoops down to behold things on earth, He also cares for the lowly. Consider v. 7- “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill.” God takes the poor and lowly and raises him up “that he may set him with princes…” (v. 8a). Is this not what God has done for every believer? “Even when we were dead in sins, hath raised us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-6).

There is none greater than God- in greatness or in condescension! Let us live today with praise to God upon our lips and in our lives!

“Tomorrow is the devil’s day, but today is God’s. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow.” (JC Ryle)

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says- “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

Just as the indecisive farmer loses the opportunity to sow and reap by allowing the uncertainties of weather to paralyze him from action, so many people suffer from spiritual paralysis in the present by an unhealthy focus on the uncertainty of the future. As Christians, we must not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of waiting for a ‘convenient season’ to serve Christ. Actually, there is no such thing as a ‘convenient season’ to serve Christ. Yet so many people who intend to serve Christ ‘one day’ keep kicking the can of good intentions down the alley of their life until they wake up one day realizing that they are at death’s door without any life left to live for Christ. If you are going to serve Christ, serve Him today with all your heart!

~Pastor Aaron Francis