Author: tcfministry2019

Meeting with Pastor Paul

Yesterday 3/8/22, I met with Pastor Paul of the Ukrainian Baptist Church to learn more about the ministry in Vancouver and the relief efforts conducted through the Baptist churches of Ukraine. As we talked, I discovered the Ukrainian Baptist Church is part of the Northwest Baptist Convention (NWBC). The Crossing is also a member of the NWBC, supported by it in the earliest years of our church. The Ukrainian Baptist Church was started in the early 2000s and has grown from 24 to over 200. It has been very involved in the ministry of the Gospel in Ukraine.

Over the last 20 years, the ministry presence in Ukraine has also grown substantially. In the late 1900s, there were only five baptist churches today, and there are over 50. This network of 50+ churches actively provides care and resources to the refugees of this war. Pastor Paul is engaged with the president of the Baptist Convention in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Baptist Church supports the Baptist Convention in Ukraine and specific local churches in Kiyev, Vinnytsya, Chernivsty. 

How God Is Working

When Brother Paul opened the envelope containing the check The Crossing provided, it brought him to tears. “Let me tell you something, brother Troy,” He continued, “Last week, we sent $5000.00 to one of the churches. This week I learned of another small church near the border of Romania that is in great need of supplies. I told our treasurer to send them $3000.00. He said to me, “Where will the money come from?” Now you give us this check. Pastor Troy, God is teaching me to trust him. “What a blessing it is to show the love of Jesus. God does provide! By the power of the Holy Spirit, He urges us to glorify the Son through the display of love.” 

Spiritual Warefare

Pastor Paul translated a video of the president of the Baptist Convention in Kiyev praying just this week. Two things about his prayer stood out to me. He said, “God, please position your angels around our city.” I was reminded of the 40-mile convoy of Russian armored vehicles now stuck and stranded outside Kiyev. He went on to pray, “Father, through this war, may a thousand churches be planted for your glory.” I asked Pastor Paul about the Baptist churches in Russia. He said, “there is a convention of Baptist churches in Russia. I spoke with the president of that convention. He is a good and godly man. They are forced to meet in secret for fear the government will arrest them and send them to prison for 15 years.” Our eyes must be open to what is going on in the world. The enemy is striving to shroud the Gospel and keep it from spreading. Satan is defeated! Jesus has crushed his head. This is not ultimately about politics, the EU, NATO, or global empires. It is about eternity—the power of the Gospel and the redemption of the human soul. 

This world can be a beautiful place, there is so much to be enjoyed, and experienced. Life here can also be very painful. The struggle leaves us wondering if anyone cares. The true pandemic facing mankind is a soul eroding despair. For many life is like an anchorless vessel drifting on the turbulent waters of chaos, and chance. The Gospel of John tells a much different story. He gives us a clear glimpse of Who Jesus is. John’s message brings us face to face with the immeasurable love of God. Marinate your heart and mind in this… The All-powerful Word became flesh giving up the splendor of heaven so you might believe and live. 

The Deity of Christ

John 1:1–3 (NKJV): 1, In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.

John begins by taking us back to the beginning. He intentionally reflects the story of creation recorded in the book of Genesis. Read Genesis one. What do you notice? God is speaking All of creation into existence. Circle or underline all the references where it is recorded “God said” or “God called.” Can you imagine the power and authority in the words that spoke All things into being? The Apostle John is teaching us who Jesus Christ is. Understanding who Jesus is and what He has done opens our minds to His great love and purpose. A love so powerful and humble we could spend many lifetimes trying to comprehend it. 

The word “Word” here is logos, and it refers to Jesus Christ. In Christ God has revealed himself to man in the flesh. As we see in the book of Genesis in the beginning the agent of creation was the word. It is the same for the new creation. The Word is God in action. In the scripture, we see the Word active in creation, revelation, wisdom, and the salvation of man. All things were created through this Word. The Apostle Paul sums it up. We can become new because the Word came to redeem all who would receive Him. Colossians 1:16–22 (NKJV): For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

The power of the Word created all things, but the power of the word also holds things together. His power keeps all things in their proper place. Imagine the power that made all things, and holds them together. Ironically the Living Word Jesus Christ offered himself so we might be reconciled to God the father. 

In the Old Testament, we encounter the personification of the word. In Isaiah 7:3 The word of the Lord came to the prophet Isaiah. In this instance, the word was like a messenger sent from the heart and mind of God to the prophet. Psalms 107:17-19 reveals the saving power of the Word. Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He saved them out of their distresses.

20 He sent His word and healed them,

And delivered them from their destructions. What a snapshot of the Gospel concerning Jesus. Isaiah 55:11 reminds us that God’s word always accomplishes its intended purpose. My word that goes forth from my mouth shall not return to me empty but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and prospered in the thing for which I sent it.

The personification of the word of God seen in the Old Testament sets the stage for the logos. Jesus the living word came to reveal the heart and mind of the father. He came with a message of salvation. Jesus king to heal mankind from the disease of sin and death. Jesus accomplished the purpose for which he came.

John 1:1–5 (NKJV): and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The word here is differentiated from God, but he is in close relationship to God the Father. The word shares the very nature of God. God is the creator and the word is his agent. Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens came into being. Hebrews 1:2 He has in these last days spoken to us by his son whom he has appointed heir of all things through whom also he made the worlds.

The word of God came in the flesh as a light in a dark world. The Word came with the words of life. He came to bring healing to a world rife with sin and death. He faithfully and completely accomplished what he came to do. As he said from the cross, “It is finished.” Jesus came so you might believe, and live. The Word that spoke creation into existence came so you might be a new creation. Jesus is the source of all life and eternal life. Have you received the message concerning Jesus? Have you believed?

The Image of God

 If we want to comprehend what it means to be human, we must grow in our understanding of “imago Dei” or the image of God in man. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? The words used in Genesis 1:26-27, “image” (tselem), and “likeness” (demut) in the Hebrew “refers to something similar but not identical to the thing it represents. With this understanding Genesis, 1:26 could be read “‘Let us make man to be like us and to represent us.” Therefore, we are divine representations of God…” images”. We were made to represent God and carry out our divine purposes. Bruce Ware noted  “the image of God in man involves God’s creation of divine representations (images of God) who, in relationship with God and each other, function to represent God (imaging God) in carrying out God’s designated responsibilities.” Anthony Hoekema wrote the image of God “describes not just something that man has, but something man is.” Building on these observations, a theological construct for Imago Dei begins to crystallize.  In the following paragraphs, we will discuss some of the divine characteristics of man. 

We are eternal. We are material and spiritual beings. When God created the first man, He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). The dust of the earth became a living soul with the potential for spiritual life. Our physical bodies die but our souls are eternal.

We worship. Only humans relate to God through worship. Only humans communicate with God through prayer. One of the words we encounter in the scripture for worship is proskeneo. It means to pay homage, kneel before, revere, or adore. We worship all manner of things. We revere our favorite football team. Adore our favorite politicians. It really is not a matter of if we worship but what we worship. Humans are worshippers.

We are personal beings created by a personal God, and our personhood reflects the image of God. He created humans with personality. We are unique individuals with self-consciousness and purpose. While every man and woman share common characteristics, no two people are exactly alike. Each individual is stamped with the image of God. Every human life has significance before God.

We are moral beings. God is holy and He created humans with a moral compass. We each have a conscience that enables us to know the difference between right and wrong. The conscience may be deadened or seared by sin, but it remains hardwired in man. The hardest question for both atheists and evolutionists is how to explain the moral nature of the human race. In every culture, in every people group, and even in every religion we see the moral nature of man. Man’s moral capacity makes him accountable to God for his actions.

We are relational beings. God reveals His relational nature in the Trinity. “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). God created us with the capacity to relate. Because of this gift, we can enjoy a relationship with God and others. As we have seen in recent days humans were not made to live in isolation. God is involved in how we relate in marriage and in the fellowship. We are commanded to represent God by sharing the Gospel. The Great Commission demands we relate to a lost world. When we obey this command we are emulating our Savior. (see Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19: 1-12; Galatians 3:26-29).

We are rational beings. God is a God of knowledge and He has created us with the capacity to think, to know, and to learn. Christianity is not a mindless faith. Just the opposite! The intellectual aspect of “Imago Dei” means that our minds are a vital part of how we are to love God (Matthew 22:37). We are to cultivate our minds (Ephesians 4:23). We are instructed to renew our minds for transformation (Romans 12:2).

We are emotional beings. God who is love has created us to experience intimacy. We feel compassion for others. We can experience the deep awe of God and delight in the satisfaction He provides.

We are creative beings. God is the Creator. Scripture tells us God’s glory is revealed in creation. Like God, we have an insatiable desire to create. Painting a piece of art, starting a business, writing a book, or landscaping the yard are examples or our creative nature. Our creativity is different from God’s but it is linked to God. God’s mandate in Genesis 1:26-28 speaks to our creative responsibility. Nancy Pearcey observes the first phrase in Genesis 1:26-27, “Be fruitful and multiply”, may mean: “to develop the social world: build families, churches, schools, cities, government, laws.” She suggests the second phrase, “subdue the earth”, means: “to harness the natural world: plant crops, build bridges, design computers, compose music. This passage … tells us our original purpose was to create culture and build civilizations — nothing less.”      We are the bearers of God’s image. It is revealed in many ways. As we will witness in future discussions sin as horribly marred the image of God in us. Furthermore, we will find our greatest hope in the power of the Gospel.

Knowing who you are in Jesus is foundational to your new life. Neil T Anderson in his book Bondage Breaker provides the following list of scriptures. If you have believed the good news concerning Jesus Christ these things are true of you.

• John 1:12 I am God’s child.
• John 15:15 I am Christ’s friend.
• Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
• 1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 6:20 I have been bought with a price—I belong to God.
• 1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
• Ephesians 1:1 I am a saint.           
• • Ephesians 1:5 I have been adopted as God’s child.
• Ephesians 2:18 I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
• Colossians 1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
• Colossians 2:10 I am complete in Christ. I am secure:
• Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
• Romans 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for good.
• Romans 8:31-34 I am free from any condemning charges against me.
• Romans 8:35-39 I cannot be separated from the love of God.
• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
• Colossians 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
• Philippians 1:6 I am confident the good work God has begun in me will be perfected.
• Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
• Hebrews 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
•  1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. I am significant:
• Matthew 5:13-16 I am the salt and light of the earth.
•  John 15:1-5 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
• John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
•  Acts 1: 8 I am a personal witness of Christ’s.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God’s temple. • 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 I am a minister of reconciliation.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1 I am God’s coworker.
• Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
• Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.
• Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
• Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Anderson, N.T., & D. Park (2001). The bondage breaker. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House.

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:2-18 NASB).

Thankfulness and the Art of Practicing Gratitude

There is a difference between being thankful and practicing gratitude. John Kralik, in his book 365 Thank Yous, shares a personal story of gratitude and transformation. His life was in shambles. His business was failing, and he had just suffered a second relational collapse. While hiking one day in the hills outside of LA, Kralik began to wonder if gratitude might change his life. He determined to write one thank you note by hand every for 365 days. Gratitude changed his life!

A grateful spirit yields fantastic benefits. Advancement in modern neuroscience reveals positive emotions impact on every cell in our bodies. Gratitude lowers blood pressure! Emotionally gratitude also is known to reduce depression. We benefit when we obey God’s command to practice gratitude. A lifestyle of gratitude will impprove your relationships. Gratitude inspires a greater desire to be helpful, more generous, compassionate, and forgiving. Overall, gratitude will reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Three Examples of Gratitude in the Bible

When the ark of the covenant returned, King David practiced gratitude by dancing before the Lord. Therefore, I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight” (2 Samuel 6:21-22).

Hannah practiced gratitude through prayer. Her prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 expresses her deep sense of gratitude.

Ten lepers called to Jesus, begging for healing. He heard their pleas and healed them. We are not sure what happened to the other nine, but only one leper returned and declared his gratitude at the feet of Jesus. “He returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at [Jesus’] feet, giving Him thanks” (Luke 17:15-16). This man received a double healing that day.

Are you practicing gratitude? Gratitude is a focused appreciation of what you have as opposed to a focus on the things you lack. An attitude of gratitude makes all the difference. The difference between a prison and a monastery is an attitude of griping or an attitude of gratitude. -David O Soper. There are several critical aspects of gratitude for us to consider.

1. Gratitude acknowledges we have received something that brings fulfillment.
2. It is inspired by the awareness others genuinely care about us.
3. It celebrates significant life achievements.
4. Honors hard work (ours and others), sacrifice, and the seizing of opportunity.
5. It helps us to see all of life as a gift.

We have many reasons to be thankful! Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. 18 By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:17-18). 

A Few Things to be Thankful For

1. Life! All of creation, including you!
2. We can rejoice in the grace of God. The power of the Gospel has saved us. We have been washed clean and declared righteous. The generosity of God has provided us with new birth and living hope. Our losses here are significant but only temporary. Our gains, however, are eternal. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (James 1:2).
3. We have the promise of God’s presence-the Holy Spirit-Who empowers and enables us. The presence of the Holy Spirit helps us to be more like Jesus and to do what he would do in our world.
4. We have the inspired word of God (Bible)-the message of Truth- to comfort and guide us. The Word of God is a lamp for our souls and a light for our paths. It is a sword dividing right from wrong and an endless source of wisdom.
5. A heritage of faithfulness. We read about it in scripture and church history. We can see it in our families! There are so many inspiring examples of devotion for us to follow. We, too, have the opportunity to practice faithfulness on to those who follow us.
6. The opportunity to worship. God’s great generosity inspires worship even in the face of intense challenge and adversity. “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-18) The Apostle Paul learned to be content in every circumstance because of God’s generosity (Phil 4:11-13). Worship is an opportunity to offer a thank you to God for His kindness. Worship is a choice. “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20 NKJV). We have the opportunity to Praise the name of Jesus. It is the only name that saves. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name (Psalms 100:4 NAS).

Five Ideas for Practicing Gratitude

1. Take a few moments at the beginning or end of your day to list three things you are genuinely grateful for.

2. Set a goal of sending one thankyou note each week to a family member or coworker. Be specific about what you are thankful for and share how it has impacted you.

3. Take time to celebrate your accomplishments and the accomplishments of others.

4. Spend some time praying in your place of worship, home, or a beautiful setting. Express thanks to God for the many blessings He has provided.

5. In his book, Flourish Martin Seligman suggests increasing our happiness via an exercise called The Gratitude Visit. Can you remember someone still living who did something that made your life better? Preferably, someone you have never properly thanked. All too often, we don’t say thank you or don’t take the time to say thank you thoughtfully and purposefully. The task is to write a letter thanking them and deliver it to them in person. As you write, be specific about what the person did and try to keep it to 300 words. Let them know how you are doing now and how often you think about what they did. After you have finished, schedule a time to sit with them and read the letter to them. Notice their reactions and yours. After you have read the letter, take a little time to talk about its content. Seligman reports if you do this, you will be happier and less depressed in one month.[2]

 [1] Emmons RA, McCullough ME. The Psychology of Gratitude. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2004.

[2] Seligman, Martin E. P.. Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being (p. 30). Atria Books. Kindle Edition.