Tag: advent

CHOICES

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

As we enter this Advent season, I find myself reflecting on a simple yet profound truth: Christmas doesn’t just happen — we choose how we will celebrate it. The choices each of us make in these upcoming weeks will reveal exactly what one truly treasures. As a child growing up, even though raised in a faithful Christian home, I never really thought about anything other than the presents I’d receive. Certainly, there was always the shared understanding of Christ’s birth, but it seems we always chose the exact same patterns year after year.

I often wonder if you’ve also felt the strange, but obvious tension that builds starting about Thanksgiving and invading December. The world around us accelerates into a frenzy of activity: shopping lists grow longer, social calendars fill to overflowing, decorations seem to demand serious attention, and everywhere we may turn, someone is trying to sell a neat experience, a distinct product, or some special feeling(s).

Meanwhile, at the heart of it all, a quiet voice whispers the most revolutionary announcement in human history: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (See John 1:14)

The question before each of us is not whether we will be busy this Christmas season — we will be! However, the question that should be asked is: What will all our busyness actually mean or serve?

For sure, I’m not suggesting that we abandon all our celebrations or family traditions. There is most likely nothing inherently wrong with festive meals, thoughtful gifts, or beautifully decorated homes. But I am asking us to examine our hearts and even our motives this Christmas season.

When we crawl into bed, most likely exhausted on the night of December 25, will we have encountered Christ our Lord, or merely survived another holiday? Will we have worshiped the Savior, or simply participated in cultural rituals that attempt to bear His Holy Name?

Consider how easily our focus shifts. We plan elaborate meals but neglect the very Bread of Life. We stress over finding the perfect gifts while forgetting that God gave us the best Gift ever given, never before offered, or even deserved! Some of our homes are filled with guests, friends, family and glitter, but little room left for the One whose visit to earth began by being laid in a very humble feed trough.

We sing carols about His birth but rarely pause to marvel at this staggering reality: the Creator of the entire universe entered His creation as an infant. The One who declared light to be light came as the true light to shine in a world of darkness! (See Genesis 1:3, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4, 9)

This Christmas, each and every one of us will make choices – perhaps even deliberate, counter-cultural choices. As believers, will we choose to create space for silence and reflection in a season that demands noise and activity? We must choose to prioritize worship and spiritual gatherings — even when family obligations, traditions, and travel plans actively compete for our time. Will believers choose to serve others as Christ did (See Mark 10:45), actively remembering the example of Jesus Himself? Will we choose to engage in conversation about the Lord’s incarnation, not just enthusiastically sharing about our special holiday plans?

These choices may, most likely will, cost us something. They may even mean disappointing others’ expectations. It may require us to say “no” to good things in order to say “yes” to better things. Perhaps we will be judged as less festive by our world’s standards, or unenthusiastic about Christmas trees, decorations, and lights or the season’s overplayed pop songs.

Here is what I know: the Messiah Who came to us through a miraculous, one-of-a-kind birth still shows up for us today—in His Word, through the presence of His Holy Spirit, in the gatherings and fellowship of His people, and in quieter moments of reflection and meditation when we turn our hearts, thoughts, and activities toward Him. He is not forcing us to draw near – no, He is simply offering Himself as the primary focus! After all, it is CHRISTMAS, and He is undoubtedly worthy of our wholehearted, undistracted devotion and sacrificial praise.

Therefore, my fellow, faithful servants of Jesus Christ, make some intentional choices! Choose Christ over the crazy chaos. Choose worship over senseless worry. Choose the eternal over the temporal. Choose to celebrate the first coming of our Savior and King in the sincere reverence of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that has been so graciously and lavishly poured out upon us! (See Ephesians 1:7-8)

The world will have its Christmas. Let us have ours — centered on the One who was, and is, and is to come!

Please consider these words, perhaps some implementation, and have a great Christmas!

-PF

WHY ADVENT?

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

I grew up in a committed Christian home and a bible teaching denominational church where, while Christmas was celebrated wholeheartedly, the concept of ADVENT was never mentioned or considered. (That was also true of other important celebrations like Pentecost and Reformation Day!). These were simply not incorporated into our framework of ministry and were generally left to the more orthodox, ecumenical and liturgical styled churches. After Thanksgiving, the lights came out, every strand checked, and every bad bulb was replaced (our house lights were 100% red). After the lights were up – usually by midday Friday – a tree would be purchased (absolutely nothing fake allowed), then laboriously fully decorated (seemed I always dropped a highly breakable ornament or two). Nonetheless, we weren’t finished until my 1954 Lionel Electric Train & Track set was completely up and running, with track laid out around and beneath the Christmas Tree. Upon completion my dad would then sit at his organ and play a Christmas carol or two and sing with my mom. Then, we were ready for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

However, as I grew in my understanding of Church history and started abandoning those things from my denominational heritage that weren’t founded on biblical / scriptural foundations, I continually discovered significant elements of genuine Christianity that should have the recognition of all believers and should not have been so easily or readily discarded just because styles of worship were different or due to various (generally numerous) doctrinal distinctions. While many of those doctrinal issues were certainly worthy of theological battles, we’ve all heard about throwing out the baby with the baby’s bath water!

At West Oaks Fellowship, we have attempted to recover, or reinstitute, some of the most meaningful, biblically based, historical celebrations such as ADVENT (coming or arrival), in which genuine believers can find spiritual value and truly rejoice!

As an example, one might consider the question, “Why do we meet on Sunday mornings?” On Sundays (for the early Jewish believers in Jesus Christ it was after the sun went down on the Sabbath day, or what we call Saturday afternoon / evening) the first / early Christians gathered to celebrate Christ’s victorious resurrection! Therefore, since the inception of Christ’s Church, believers have continually met on the day after the Sabbath (Saturday), being Sunday, to rejoice in the conquering power of Christ Jesus over sin and death! In reality, that’s exactly what we are doing every Sunday morning when we gather for spiritual enrichment and fellowship as His church! Obviously, that magnificent, unsurpassed event would have / could have never happened without His first ADVENT (coming)!

Consequently, shouldn’t we also celebrate Christ’s incarnation (our Lord’s embodiment as a human being . . . John 1:14–

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth, which in theory, we also do every time we gather in His Holy and highly exalted Name!?

Here are some reasons that ADVENT has become incorporated as a significant aspect of our Christmas worship services (every Sunday In December) at WOF.

The weekly ADVENT themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love are all gifts made available to us (as genuine believers) in and through Christ Jesus, along with the indwelling presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit. Each weekly biblical theme works powerfully within, helping us to fully appreciate and properly appropriate these essential and precious elements of a meaningful Christian life – only permanently acquired in / through faith in Jesus Christ!

By participating (fully engaging) in our ADVENT services, one can emotionally, mentally, and spiritually escape / separate from the paganism and materialism that infiltrates the current American Christmas spirit, allowing a sincere and intentional (direct) focus on the Lord as the single most significant entity of this year’s holiday celebrations!

Advent can serve as a reminder that we are not the center of God’s ultimate plan, even though sometimes we think we are what matters the most! Every week of our ADVENT celebration presents a perfect opportunity to refresh one’s perspective! God has a grand plan that is much larger than any of us can possibly grasp or imagine. In the midst of a cultural holiday that tends to have an emphasis on the sentimentality of enjoyment and pleasure, gift-giving / receiving, we can easily drift to an inappropriate mind-set about the reason(s) for Christmas. So, in the midst of a season that works to distract our central focus, Advent reminds us to pan the camera back out on the big picture, a larger scope of a life lived for God’s purpose(s) and glory!

Biblically speaking, ADVENT brings to mind the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy and of course, promises from the scriptures. Here’s what Jesus said in Luke 24:44 in reference to Himself, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 

God’s faithfulness is at the very center of ADVENT! God promised and He sent Messiah. This provides confidence and assurance for all of Christ’s followers who are living in the anticipation of His next / second ADVENT!

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” 

Revelation 22:7

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”

Matthew 24:42-44

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:14

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

While I can’t point to a particular scripture that says to “celebrate” or “participate” in an “ADVENT” celebration, I can provide numerous scriptural reasons why, as believers, we should exuberantly rejoice in Christ’s first coming, as well as on the day of His second! Therefore, please come to church at WOF every Sunday in December with a specific purpose in mind concerning the HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE of ADVENT, and a readiness to find delightful joy in Christ’s first coming!

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5

While I may not get all excited and actually decorate for Christmas the way some of you will, my deepest desire is that you will know Christ Jesus in this Christmas season, and throughout the holidays, as your redeeming MESSIAH – worthy of all praise, glory, and honor that will be properly exalted, and His incarnation will be enthusiastically and gratefully celebrated during ADVENT 2024!

So if you are like me, and did not grow up with the tradition of Advent in your family or church, consider the great benefits this blessing will bring to your walk with the Lord this season by joining fellow believers who have personally experienced great benefits by purposefully preparing during Advent for their Christmas gatherings and celebrations.

May our hearts unite with many, many generations of faithful brothers and sister in Christ who have relentlessly declared, with great anticipation (hope), “O come, O come, Emmanuel!”

His & Yours, because of GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)

– PF

ADVENT 2023

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

As many of you know, I never get over enthusiastic, as some do, about Christmas. Every now and then, someone will actually inquire about why I’m not enamored with beautiful Christmas trees, amazing decorations in or on a house that looks like a Santa Village, the seemingly bubbling excitement of the season, etc. Well, there are actually several reasons, none of which I ever ask anyone else to embrace. In fact, I’m generally supportive of others ideas / practices unless they somehow push the envelope too far attempting to make something spiritual / biblical that’s clearly not!

Here’s my take:

  1. It’s disturbing that the coming of Jesus Christ, His first advent, is culturally, no longer the primary focus of Christmas decor and “holiday” celebrations.
  2. The overall commercialization of the “season” has moved us to a place where the monetization of Christmas works to create enormous amounts of stress and anxiety, literally stealing the joy and peace that should accompany us during these special days.
  3. The disruption of normal spiritual routines, like prayer, reading / studying scripture, Christ-centered fellowship opportunities, and worship service participation has proven to be detrimental in many lives, while justified by, “It’s Christmas!”

In addition, as most of you are aware, Christmas, for me, brings memories of December 26, 1972 when I lost 19 of my friends, including both my parents, and was somewhat severally injured (the doctors claim my hands / fingers are 70% disabled) in The Woodlawn Baptist Church Winter Ski Trip / Retreat Bus Accident.

Nonetheless, I am very enthusiastic and truly delighted about ADVENT. Not its tradition, or the way it may be currently celebrated in various denominations and churches, but about setting aside some time every year in this season to truly rejoice in God’s Gift! The Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that is abundantly offered to all humanity through Messiah, Jesus Christ! There is nothing of greater value and that assuredly inspires worship and ascribing Him the glory due His holy and glorious name!

The word “Advent” means a coming or arrival, and comes from the Latin word “adventus” which is translated from the Greek New Testament word, “parousia” — a reference to our Lord’s next ADVENT / 2nd Coming / return to earth from 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18!

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and  remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the  voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

At West Oaks Fellowship, we celebrate ADVENT, recalling the prophecies of the Old Testament and the long-anticipated Messiah that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, His chosen / covenant people.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” 
Isaiah 9:6

We, as believers also recognize that as the Lord’s “new” covenant people (see 2 Corinthians 3:4-6), we too have a promise … an ADVENT, Christ’s 2nd coming, His impending / imminent return.

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:6-11

To me, Christmas is literally CHRIST – MASS (the original word), and when we gather as believers during this season, the Lord, Jesus Christ must be exalted above everything else as the highest and prominent priority!

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 57:9-11

Hopefully, we can accurately and clearly see through the clutter / distractions of these holidays and focus in on Him as the fulfilment of God’s promise and, as the One promised!

JOY TO THE WORLD — THE LORD HAS COME

JOY TO THE WORLD — HE IS COMING AGAIN!

His & Yours, Because of GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense),

Pastor Frank

ADVENT

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Most everyone who has attended West Oaks Fellowship for a while comes to understand that when we approach the holiday season called Christmas (from Christ – mass), our spiritual emphasis shifts (similar to Resurrection Sunday vs Easter or Reformation Day vs Halloween) to a sincere focus on the many blessings of Christ’s first advent (coming), and the concepts of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love that Jesus offers all humanity.  Our concentration, as believers on Advent (Greek – parousia, Latin – adventus) … meaning arrival, a coming, or presence … allows us an opportunity to celebrate and rejoice in the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  John 1:14 declares:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(also see II Peter 1:16, Philippians 2:5-8)

Hopefully, we will all fully embrace the celebration of Christ’s coming into our world in the same manner as we consider His resurrection, the advent (coming) of God’s Holy Spirit (Pentecost), and His anticipated 2nd Advent (return to earth).  Nevertheless, as a serious student of history, Christianity, and God’s Word, I’m somewhat baffled by some of the silliness, traditions, and ungodly, heathen practices that have creeped into the church (the body of Christ at large) and many believing families’ Christmases. 

While I’m not advocating a cessation from celebrating Jesus Christ’s First Advent (coming), like not decorating your home, etc., etc. as some legalists/religionists would demand, I am asking all true believers to give careful consideration to their celebrations and traditions.  Just because everyone is doing it (as you may tell your teenage son or daughter) or because it feels good, that doesn’t make it right!  Romans 14:5-6a shines some light for us:

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.

Then continuing in verse 7-9,

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

In essence, it’s absolutely essential, that faithful, committed followers of Jesus Christ know exactly why they are celebrating our Lord’s Advent in the manner they do, and should a question arise about one’s holiday practices, have a proper, biblically-qualified, spiritually-based answer that can be clearly articulated.

Now, I know some of you are already saying, “give me a break PF” … because you’re one that “loves” Christmas!  Indeed, I pray you love Christ, and wholeheartedly rejoice in His 1st Advent (coming)!  Nonetheless, as unpopular as it might be, please ask yourself what exactly is it that you love so much? 

Today, one of our fine, young-adult men messaged me a detailed question about believers using Christmas Trees – after his study of scriptures in Jeremiah 10:1-11. The modern-day Christmas tree was not introduced into America by Germans until the 19th century. The annual tradition of erecting a National Christmas Tree was not established until 1923 in Washington, D.C. – some 147 years after the birth of our nation, and 316 years after the first permanent English settlement in America. Ever wonder why?  Certainly, that’s a valid question for every believer to consider. 

Does one bring an idol into their home for any reason?  Well, if I was an archaeologist, and had excavated an ancient relic from a pagan temple in Israel, I would probably have it on display in my office. Unquestionably, I would use it as a tool to explain portions of the scripture and give testimony concerning the authenticity of the Bible.  However, at that point, someone could accuse me of having an idol in my home or office. The accusation would be true, but not be a genuine reflection of my faith or worship.  

While there is little argument about the following points concerning a typical American Christmas celebration on December 25, the key for each and every believer, as well as for each and every family, is simple obedience to Christ and His Word, coupled with the true spirit of any and every action/activity, etc.

  1. No biblical data exists, nor any early known written documentation referencing or establishing Christ’s birth in December or on its 25th day; however, there is insurmountable evidence concerning the dates of His death and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit at Pentecost (an annual Hebrew feast/celebration).
  2. The date of December 25th was a long-standing pagan holiday, “Saturnalia,” …the worldwide celebration of the re-birth of the sun-god (an anti-christ type – thousands of years before Jesus was born under various names – all commemorating variations of a false trinity consisting of a father, mother and child), and was intentionally highjacked by the early Roman church in 350 AD by Pope Julius.
  3. As late as 1855, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists refused to recognize December 25th as a legitimate holiday in reference to Christ’s birth.
  4. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Ed., p. 253, tells us that as late as 1913, many States did not even recognize December 25th as a permissible holiday.

Certainly, each and every believer is free to celebrate Advent 2017 in their lives and families with meaningful and worshipful expressions of reflection, gratitude, ceremony, exaltation, and even jubilation! Nonetheless, Colossians 2:16-17 speaks plainly:

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath (plural in the Greek text) day things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Yes, the significant substance of any truly spiritually-centered celebration must be Jesus Christ (not a shadow – but the real thing). Therefore, we are compelled to ask, is our Christmas a spiritual, or cultural event?

The Hebrew people managed to get the practices of their culture and genuine spirituality and those things that were, “a mere shadow of what is to come” awfully confused and extremely complicated.  Perhaps that why the Lord declares in Jeremiah 6:20:

For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba and the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable and your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.

Have you ever wondered what the Lord thinks of an American Christmas? Perhaps we should humbly, and perhaps solemnly, consider the words Isaiah 43:24:

You have bought Me not sweet cane with money, nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; rather you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

  Our Lord rejects, not their ceremonial service, but the substitution of it for personal holiness and morality. In addition, may we never forget Jeremiah 7:23:

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.

(also please read Isaiah 1:10-17; Micah 6:6-8)

 

I Samuel 15:22 asks:

Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.

 What are our Advent celebrations, customs, traditions, … pagan rituals/practices coated in some form of Jesus-juice to make them seem/feel OK?  (ceremonial, ritualistic, theistic, existentialism) Are they done in/by faith and are they pleasing to our Lord?  I know, I know, too much!  Nonetheless, let’s agree on Colossians 3:17 for this ADVENT:

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Think about it, pray about it, act upon it.                                                              

— His & Yours, PF

WHY ADVENT? PART 1

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

The word Advent means ‘Coming’ in Latin. In reference to our This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas. … Some people fast (don’t eat anything) during advent to help them concentrate on preparing to celebrate Jesus’s coming.

  • Embrace Change – just as the leaves change colors, reflecting the beauty of our Lord’s creation and design, so does life.  Almost every aspect of a genuine believer’s life is in a state of transformation as one’s grows spiritually, becoming more and more like Christ. (See II Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29, 12:1-2) We, as Christ’s followers, fully understand and comprehend that not all change is good.  Today, there is an awful lot of unwelcome and unwholesome change in our world. Moral and societal changes really bother us …  we see it everywhere, with almost no exceptions. On top of that, we are painfully aware that the children and youth of this era are growing up in a world far different from the one we experienced as children, youth and young adults.

Then there are those changes that impact us as individuals — children leaving home, the passing of dear friends/family members/loved ones, and even perhaps the slow, steady decline in our vitality and health. Sometimes we may even feel “outdated” at work.  But amidst all the changes, one thing, one Person, stays constant in His existence, purpose, and character … our eternal Lord! To fully embrace God’s purpose(s) in our lives genuinely requires significant, on-going modifications in one’s thinking, understanding, and actions/behavior. Therefore, as one looks upon the ever-present physical changes revealed in our world through Autumn/Fall, consider the marvelous, omnipresent work/molding Christ desires to accomplish in you.  Yield to His touch in the same way the leaves of the tree submit to His ultimate design and persistent resolve.

  • Let Go – just as the trees and grass are unable to hang on to their radiance from Spring and Summer (if rained upon and/or watered), maturing Christians must release the bonds of the past in order to fully participate in the adventures that Christ has prepared for His people to pursue and walk/live in.  (See Luke 9:62; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:8-12; Philippians 3:13-14; I Corinthians 9:24; II Timothy 1:8-11) As one observes the variations in nature brought about by Autumn/Fall, perhaps one should ask the Lord what needs to break loose, be raked up, and intentionally/purposefully and permanently discarded from one’s life!  The past only comes back to haunt us if we make provision for it, and allow it impact our spiritual lives and progress!  As a new creature in Christ, are you allowing old things, particularly those things of one’s fleshly/worldly nature, to continually fall off, pass away, die? (See II Corinthians 5:16-17) Sadly, and yes, destructively, many genuine believers are having difficulty distinguishing the difference.
  • Be Grateful – you’ll never have everything you want and/or absolutely perfect unless the desires of your heart are completely modified by the Lord, and that your definition of good and/or perfect somehow comes into alignment with God’s definition of those things in your own life. Simply put, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” — I Timothy 6:6-9.  I’ve continually found that individuals who are content, which doesn’t mean they are lazy or lack drive to be successful, are generally grateful for whatever they have. That’s proven to be true in my experience, with those who have an abundance, as well as those that may have little, or are lacking, as defined in the eyes of our western culture. In addition, I’ve also found many who have more than they could ever use or want to be ungrateful, as well as those that have little to sulk in their want and greed. Too often the formula of greed or covetousness resulting in poverty is forgotten.  Psalm 10:3 declares, “For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire (rather than the desires being birthed and shaped by the Lord), and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.”  Proverbs 28:22 makes it pretty clear, “A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not know that want (poverty) will come upon him.”  While our God is certainly able to give us the desires of our heart (See Psalm 37:4-5). I suspect He is willing to do exactly that when and if our desires glorify Him and are conferring His purposes!

My prayer is that God’s Autumn/Fall 2018 will speak loudly to each of us!  –PF  

WHY ADVENT? PART 2

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

The word Advent means coming in Latin. In our context as believers, Advent refers to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ into the world. At West Oaks Fellowship, we will use 4 Sundays in December to prepare and remember the value, as well the authentic meaning of Christmas. 

This year’s focus is “God With Us” and each Sunday we will use a young lady from our congregation to symbolically light a candle representing the specific emphasis of each worship service (Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love).  Then, at our candle light service, another young lady, in costume as Mary, will light the final “Christ” candle in the finale of our Advent celebration worship services.

Why young ladies?   According to Genesis 3:15, God, “put enmity” between Satan and Eve, as well as between her seed and that of the evil one. In that same prophetic statement, speaking of Christ’s 1st Advent, “He” – being Christ Jesus, will “crush” the head of Satan, while Satan will bruise His heel!  Therefore, as a reminder of God’s design to use a young lady (see Isaiah 7:14) without the concurrence of man to instigate His plan of humanity’s redemption, we choose young ladies to light each Sunday’s candle which distinctly represents the true Light coming into our world. (see John 1:4-9)   

  • HOPE – Psalm 33:17 declares, “A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.”  As believers, we become as foolish as those in the world when we place our hope (confident expectation), or strive to find hope in/from the things of the world! Proverbs 10:28 announces, “The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes.” “How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” — Psalm 146:5
  • PEACE – As far back as I can remember in my 64 years, I do not recall a time/season in our world absent from conflict.  Back in the “Jesus Movement” the Imperials, an early contemporary Christian Band had a song (during the Vietnam War peace movement) that declared, “there will never be any peace until God is seated at the conference table.” While Christ will certain maintain a Peaceable Kingdom after His 2nd Advent, the purpose of His 1st Advent was primarily attentive to reconciling the conflict between God and sin-separated humanity! “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” – Colossians 1:19-20 Undoubtedly, Romans 5:1-2 offers some additional explanation, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
  • JOY – Christ’s 1st Advent bring a deep seated, lasting delight far beyond any momentary pleasure or happiness!  “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.  Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  – Luke 10:17-20 Now there’s a reason to continued celebration … after all, just as the prophet proclaimed, “the joy of the Lord is your strength!”  – From Nehemiah 8:10  
  • LOVE – “Is a many splendored thing” so the proclamation of a popular Billboard hit from 1955. In the essence of this song, book, and movie — love is indeed full of many magnificent features and/or marvels.  In reality, it is also a magnificent marvel that God is both able and desirous of genuinely loving all of humanity.  This love is demonstrated even in spite of all our corrupt thoughts and errant behaviors!   I John 4:10 articulates, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (full/complete payment) for our sins.” You may recall the old hymn lyrics, “How marvelous, how wonderful is my Saviour’s love for me.”  Indeed, God’s love for His most prized creation, humanity (made as no other in His image and likeness) is an everlasting, inexhaustible fountain of love flowing from the heart of God to the life and soul of human beings!  Indeed, “How will we escape if we neglect (Gk – ameleo: make light of, have no regard for) so great a salvation?” – Hebrews 2:3  John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge (or condemn) the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” 

Christ Himself brought all these things, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, into the world and made them freely available to all who believe/trust in Him as their Lord and Saviour!  So, a simply answer to the initial question is another question … WHY NOT? 

“To them He gave the right to be children of God!” – John 1:12

ADVENT … more than just something to think about!              – His & Yours, PF 

WAITING

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Generally, waiting is not something of great pleasure when one lives in a culture and society that often seems to crave the instant.  Who doesn’t break with their basket to the shortest line at the grocery store or quickly position one’s vehicle to secure the nearest open fuel pump?  Nonetheless, waiting is a part of everyone’s daily life, whether one likes/enjoys/embraces it or not.  In a similar way, believers may experience the perceived difficulty, or even the frustration, of having to patiently wait, while the Lord is up to something for His glory and purpose that far outweighs the delayed fulfillment, gratification, or satisfaction of the immediate. 

In Psalm 25:3 we are reminded, “Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed!” Then, consider the sincere, committed, faith statement proclaimed in verse 5, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”  Listen to the urgent cry of one who is fully trusting and relying on the Lord in verse 21, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”  The last portion of this statement could also be properly translated, “I have,” or “I place my hope in You.”  In this biblical context, to lose hope would be surrendering the future to the enemy, and even works to destroy the meaning of the present.  By embracing the waiting, King David demonstrates his confidence in the Lord, His design, purpose, plan, etc.  Therefore, the waiting is the pathway to God’s provision!     

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.                                            

Isaiah 40:28-31

As we approach Christmas, the time believers have set aside to celebrate our Lord’s first coming (Advent) and the promises of His eminent return (2nd Advent/Coming), perhaps it’s good for us to consider the endurance of the Old Testament prophets and the faithful, as they waited and watched for the promised Messiah, the Anointed One, Christ Jesus!   From Genesis 3:15 until His birth (thousands of years) they lived in confident anticipation awaiting His appearing (1st Advent) in accordance with over 300 Old Testament prophecies (all completed by 450 BC) concerning our Lord’s birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection. Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering … 1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies – 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000; 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies – 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power; 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies — Only Jesus!

Nevertheless, He came!  Just consider all that happened while they waited … He came at the appointed time (See Galatians 4:4-5) and “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.“ (Romans 15:4)

Today, we find ourselves, as New Testament believers, waiting.  But we wait in full faith, genuine hope (confident expectation) — knowing and believing, based on history (His Story), the promises of our Lord.  However, in the wait, there is much to be gained if we can grasp the proper perspective and escape our demands for the instant.  By the way, instant coffee or tea cannot be compared to that which was allowed to brew properly!

Yes, fellow believers and servants of Jesus Christ … think about this …  there is most likely a really good reason/purpose for the wait!

His & Yours because of GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)

Pastor Frank

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His Word do I hope.                    

— Psalm 130:5

You are my hiding place and my shield; wait for Your Word.

 — Psalm 119:114

HOLIDAY

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

It’s very interesting to note that the word “holiday” – as translated in most English Bibles – only occurs 4 times and is exclusive to one book from the Old Testament.  While the Hebrew culture is/was filled with numerous feasts and celebrations, many of which we would call, holidays, most of them were primarily celebrated with a stout religious focus, generally celebrating the miraculous works of God.      

However, in the book of Esther, 2:18, Persian King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), who “loved Esther more than all the women,” hosted a celebratory banquet when she became the queen.  Esther’s Banquet, as it was called, became a “holiday” for all the provinces, and the king gave gifts according to his vast “bounty.”  Therefore, the idea of a “holiday” – as translated in our English Bibles – is literally birthed from that which was/is a “good day.”

This same word Hebrew word configuration appears 3 more times in the book of Esther, 8:17; 9:19; 9:22.  In each case these are “good days” of great rejoicing and celebration.  The account in 9:22 is intriguing,

Because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

This event ultimately led to “Purim” — a traditional Jewish celebration (not instigated as part of the Mosaic Law) which was established by Mordecai (vs 20-28) and Esther (vs 29-32), and commemorated the Jews’ deliverance from the malice of Haman. This Feast of Purim continues today as a reminder, year after year, that God saved/protected Israel from destruction by the hands of anti-semitic pagans. 

In addition, please also note that their rejoicing/celebrating produced a spirit/attitude of giving and generosity as they were sending food to one another and even providing gifts to the poor.

This was an exceptional occasion in which “sorrow” was transformed into “gladness,” and “mourning” into a fabulous “holiday” (good day)!

Now, there’s nothing spiritually wrong with meaningful traditions, as long as the tradition remains substantially meaningful and has not completely lost its meaning … growing/becoming meaningless!

To be truthful/honest as your Pastor, I’m not so sure about many of our current holidays. Through the years, I’ve diligently attempted to restore value and bring meaning to worthwhile holidays in our nation, as well as Christian traditions that hold legitimate biblical resolve.

However, when tradition and holidays gradually become traditionalism … we get ourselves into real trouble. Theologian Jaroslav Pelikan once boldly declared,

Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.

As you know, Christ’s Church is always one generation short of extinction; and if we don’t pass on to our children and grand-children what God has done in/for us, as well as in those of previous generations, the Church will die of/from apathy and ignorance. There are holidays that give glory to God as long as the people of Christ’s Church remain consistently true to the authentic/real origin and meaning of these celebrations.  

Undoubtedly, to see the hand of God in history and praise Him for His abundant goodness, glorious work, and miraculous mercy, is perhaps the best way for believers to openly and willfully celebrate any “holiday!”

Christmas (Advent) is here (happens every year as far as I can tell). 

What then shall we do with this “Holiday?”

His & Yours, because of GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) — Pastor Frank