Tag: live

PROSPERITY

Posted on 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                               

RESURRECTION

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Our New Testament scriptures employ two pairs of Greek terms with reference to our Lord’s resurrection: the verb, anístemi and its derivative noun, anástasis; and the verb, egeírœ, with its noun form, egersis.   The noun “egersis” occurs only once, in a reference to Christ’s victorious resurrection (Matthew 27:53). Anástasis is used, almost universally, as the noun for “resurrection” of the dead, which happens in the realm of, and in reference to, human experience!

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep – for since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

I Corinthians 15:12-22

Obviously, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future resurrection of believers is at the very root of our faith/beliefs.    His victory over death took the doctrine of the resurrection out of the realm of hopeful, speculative Old Testament eschatology (things to come) into present reality. Henceforth, it became fact … a genuine, historical, documented experience, the basic foundation for authentic Christianity and the promise, assurance for every true believer!

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.  

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:5-11

On Sunday morning, April 21st, we, as believers in Christ Jesus, will gather in His name to celebrate not only His victorious, death-conquering resurrection, but also the life we now enjoy in Him — along with our promised, future resurrection in a glorified body to abide with Him forever and ever and ever and ever!

(But God) Raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:6-7

Let’s celebrate Jesus … He has risen, come on and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!                                           

His & yours, because of G.R.A.C.E. (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)

 — Pastor Frank