humble

PROSPERITY

Posted on May 5, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

The Apostle Paul affirmed, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (See Philippians 4:12) While many believers are familiar with Philippians 4:13 … which is awesome and very appealing, often verses 12 and 14 are overlooked, unnoticed, or simply ignored. The same man that professed, “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me,” was clearly making reference to the supernatural vigor Christ assures, makes available, and imparts on behalf of His children for all of life’s situations/circumstances.

Apparently, Paul needed Christ’s strength/power all the time … in lean times as well as in times of prosperity! Go figure, not just when he is down and out, hurting, despised, abused, and distraught! No! In every blessing, condition, incident, accident, event, gain, success, test or trial, whether rich or poor, suffering and struggling, or totally fit, Paul knew (experientially) both “the secret of being filled and going hungry.” When want or affliction comes, how often do complaints grow loud and more frequent? How soon does the end of one’s patience brusquely prevail?

The Greek word “prosperity” employed in this text, “perisseuo” actually means to excel or super-abound (in quantity and/or quality). A careful study of this text reveals that for Paul himself, who thankfully acknowledges that he is extremely blessed (in and through Christ), material blessings have become matters of indifference, the riches (prosperity) which he has gained through God’s grace are absolutely incomparable to the improvement in his current circumstances through the gifts of this congregation. Nonetheless, he is obviously grateful for the blessing and excess.

Question: Does it require as much grace and strength to keep the heart right in prosperity, as it does in adversity? Perhaps at times, even more? Consider these words from King Solomon, the riches and wisest of all:

In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider — God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him. — Ecclesiastes 7:14

True and faithful believers must learn this mystery. God has made prosperity and adversity to be placed along side each other. The New King James version says, “Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other.” King James states, “God also hath set the one over against the other.” American Standard expresses, “God hath made the one side by side with the other.” The proper Hebrew Old Testament understanding would declare that the two walk hand in hand along the same path or journey. Undeniably and indisputably, Paul fully learned this ambiguity, recognizing the only way to make sense of it was to completely embrace the Maker and Sustainer of the universe (See Colossians 1:15-17) Who gives and takes away. (See Job 1:21) After all, “Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

Does our Lord test His people — not by a steady course of prosperity, or by long-continued adversity, but by transition from the one to the other? Does the grace and/or strength, which would have been sufficient for either continued prosperity or adversity, fail or fall short in the transition from the one to the other? I think not! Strength and grace are imparted for every new form or style of test/trial, prosperity and/or adversity.

Through both, new traits of character are developed and arise through these transitions in life. Some of God’s people have experienced great prosperity, others, tremendous, almost unbearable adversity. In my life, I’ve seen plenty of both, even simultaneously. Emphatically, I wish I would have known and understood this secret long ago — rejoice in prosperity, always consider what Christ is doing through adversity (because these two walk hand in hand), remember the Lord desires to provide strength for both conditions and actually in every situation … not just when I think/feel I may need it! Therefore, I’m praying that the reality of our Lord’s prosperity/provision becomes vivaciously alive and unalterably true for you and yours!

— Pastor Frank

DEACON

Posted on April 29, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

In Acts 6:1-6 one finds some of the minority groups, in this case Hellenistic Jews, who were not being properly cared for in Christ’s early church. In Acts 6:3 the Jerusalem congregation (the only one in existence at that time) is instructed to, “Select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.” The original apostles gave this instruction for three, very distinct, reasons:

1. There were practical needs in the church body/membership.

2. The unmeet needs presented an opportunity for potential division/conflict within Christ’s body.

3. The Apostles needed to stay focused on their duties/calling and establish the church’s ministry in Christ’s physical absence.

“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Over the course of church history, the role of “Deacon” has been modified to mean everything from a group of humble servants with no official capacity in Christ’s church, to a committee of individuals with excessive ecclesiastical authority, or even to something totally non-existent, ignored. Some modern-day ministry organizations have even implemented substitutes by various names in an attempt to fulfill the biblical roles of deacon perhaps without yielding to or considering the biblical processes or qualifications for such a distinguished office in Christ’s church. I Timothy 3:13 reminds us, “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

At West Oaks Fellowship, we strive, and it’s our duty, to diligently arrange and organize the functions of our church/ministry according to the pattern(s) established in the New Testament. Certainly, we don’t ignore centuries of church heritage and development, but give careful considerations to our predecessors views and practices from which we were conceived. Even so, our efforts remain continuous and steadfast in every attempt of church polity to restore the functions of church offices as they are defined for us in the Lord’s New Testament scriptures.

The Greek words for servant and deacons, dia/kono$‎, diakonos (dee-ak’-on-os) / diako/noi$,‎ diakonois (dee-ak’-on-ois), are similar throughout the New Testament. However, contextually speaking there is always a distinction between the references to those holding the biblically-ordained service office of “Deacon” (appearing in plurality, a noun), when compared to other uses of the word, in reference to those rendering their services/ministry to Christ and/or His church. As an example, any believer can be an effective servant/minister, ‎dia/kono$‎, diakonos (dee-ak’-on-os) (to/of Christ and His church), without necessarily holding the office of “Deacon.” Epaphras is a perfect example found in Colossians 1:7-8 or Tychicus in 4:7-8. At WOF, we have a servant team made up of men and women who serve our body by taking care of practical needs for our Sunday and Wednesday ministries. These faithful servants are highly appreciated, though generally unrecognized. Some of them are “Deacons” and some are not, but most of them have the spiritual gifting of “service” (Romans 12:3-8) and employ their gifts on a regular basis in ministry unto their Lord, Jesus Christ (I Peter 4:10-11)!

Those holding the position or office of “Deacon” at WOF are nominated by the body of Christ (in accordance with Acts 6:1-6), screened by the leadership (in accordance with Acts 6:6 and I Timothy 3:10), meet the biblical qualifications for “Deacon” (in accordance with I Timothy 3:8-9 and 12 with consideration of Acts 6:3), tested (in accordance with I Timothy 3:10), and then set apart for the specific office of service in Christ’s ministry (in accordance with Acts 6:6). Needless to say, since this isn’t a popularity contest or a position of power, our “Deacons” are an outstanding group of men who are true servants of Christ and His body, with their role being very simply defined here at WOF as:

Biblically-qualified individuals who serve Christ by ministering to the needs of His body (the local New Testament Church).

This month we are seeking your recommendations for men (Deacons, not Deaconesses) to serve Christ and all of us at WOF in this capacity. Please prayerfully consider the men in our church body whom you find faithful in the light of your knowledge of them and use the Deacon Nomination inserts found in your weekly bulletin to submit your recommendations. All nominations are strictly confidential until each nominee is considered and biblically qualified by the Elders and current Deacons. Then those eligible and agreeing to serve will be publicly presented as DITs . . . Deacons In Training!

Not much is actually known about all the Deacons of the New Testament, but we know of two that started serving in a practical way to meet the needs of Christ’s church in Acts 6. Philip, according to Acts 8:5-8, proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in Samaria with great success bringing much rejoicing throughout the community as the Lord affirms his ministry through miraculous manifestations of God’s Holy Spirit. Later, Philip serves in the office of Evangelist, according to Acts 21:8 and trains four daughters in the ways of the Lord, serving His church as “prophetesses.” Then there is Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (See Acts 6:3) who, as a minister of Christ, in a very short period of time is called to lay down his life as the first known martyr of Christendom. Deacons … Yes, all for His glory!

— Pastor Frank

FORGIVENESS

Posted on April 19, 2022April 19, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

Several words, from both the Greek and Hebrew, are used to convey the idea of forgiveness throughout our biblical text.

1) Apoluein (Gk),as used by Christ in Luke 6:37, is translated pardon, and or “forgive.” Thus, the analogy in this verse provides instruction to “forgive” and in turn, one will be “forgiven,” because the actual meaning of this word relates to the full release of a debt and/or the punishment due the perpetrator as a result of sin.

2) In Romans 3:25, Paul uses ‎paresis (Gk), ‎translated remission, in relation to humanity’s sinful nature and deeds — meaning to “forgive” by putting away or aside completely and unreservedly/absolutely!

‎3) Charizesthai (Gk) (found only in the writings of apostles Luke and Paul) expresses, as no other word or words possibly can express, the concept of God’s pardon and “forgiveness” through grace (unmerited and/or undeserved favor) as articulated in Colossians 2:13!

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

4) Kaphar ‎(Heb) is found in Old Testament scriptures and refers exclusively to divine “forgiveness” as in Psalm 78:38!

But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger and did not arouse all His wrath.

5) In I Kings 8:30, one finds the word calah ‎(Heb) as Solomon stands before the Lord’s altar and humbly cries out for God’s (divine) “forgiveness” . . . “Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.”

6) Nasa’ (Heb) in the Old Testament scriptures also refers to divine pardon or “forgiveness” as well as that of pardon or “forgiveness” granted by one human to another. A perfect example of this is found in I Samuel 25 where Abigail appeals to King David on behalf or her husband, Nabal (vs 32-34):

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

“Forgiveness,” generally speaking, is not a virtue of pagan religions, societies, or cultures. The big-hearted human might flamboyantly disregard offences in cases where he/she considers the wrongdoing or debt to be insignificant and/or beneath one’s notice, but to “forgive” was by and large considered weak-spirited. Even in the Old Testament Hebrew traditions, “forgiving” another for a wrong, or a debt, is infrequent. However, there are cases where individuals are found asking for “forgiveness” from a position of subservience. In such cases, a person is petitioning for that which one has no just or granted right(s). (See Genesis 50:17; Exodus 10:17; I Samuel 15:25) However, we as true and faithful believers of Jesus Christ have a much higher calling — in fact, according to Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:32, we are instructed to “forgive one another just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

Most have heard the quote by Alexander Pope, “to err is human; to forgive divine.” In reality, because of our new nature in Christ, we have been given the opportunity to participate in, and partake of, this divine event! Certainly a true mark and distinguishing characteristic of a Christ-centered, Bible-believing, New Testament church/ministry — where relationships are more important than programs — is the continual (on-going) practice of Christ’s instruction to His disciples in Matthew 18:21-22!

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (no doubt expecting some accolade) Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

How many times?

Let’s do this, Pastor Frank