Dinner at Camp Pinecrest was already under way when the last camper finally arrived. His mom drove him up close to the dining hall in order to unload his luggage and to begin his first year as a camper. The young man clearly did not want to be at camp. He was definitely a most reluctant camper.
His unhappiness with being at camp continued as he was introduced to his counselor and took a seat in the dining room. All around this young man, campers and staff were conversing, laughing, and enjoying the evening meal. The boy chose not to eat and sat slouched in his chair, talking to no one. By his body language it was clear that he felt himself to be the proverbial “fish out of water”.
As I looked at the boy slouching in his chair, he did not fit. He was new to the church and only knew one other person at camp. The question was, “Would he ever begin to fit in as a camper?”
To have a successful teen camp, staff come from many parts of the country. In 2017, staff came from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Camp volunteers not only come from different parts of the country, but they have different skills and personalities.
To make it more interesting the camp has the responsibility of serving campers from the same areas mentioned above plus Virginia and British Columbia.
So, camp begins with quite a diverse mix of people.
How does it all mesh together to produce an environment that is pleasing to God, an environment conducive to helping the outsider fit in? It is not achieved by human skill, might or intellect.
This question could be asked concerning the events that took place on Pentecost 31 A.D.
We are told in Acts 2 that God’s Holy Spirit was poured out upon those who followed Jesus’ instruction to be in Jerusalem at the Temple on Pentecost.
Note what we are told about this event, “Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"” (Acts 2:7-12).
What this event meant was that God, through his Holy Spirit, was bringing together a diverse group of people: different cultures, different languages, and different personalities. But through the Spirit of God they were to be one and through yielding to that spiritual power they could be one (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
Acts 2 further tells us what happened with the thousands who became a part of the Church of God that day. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). They sought to follow the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, and to offer up prayers to God. This approach allowed them to be “of one accord” (Acts 2:46-47) and to begin to function effectively as the body of Christ.
Those who come to camp are a most diverse group, but as we seek to continue “steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” camp cannot help but be a success.
What about the young man that did not fit in? The staff recognized that this young man did not want to be at camp. He was struggling. Our job was to welcome him into the group. He was welcomed by his dorm and by other members of the staff. A concerted effort was made to help him become a part of the camp instead of an outsider.
As I observed him during the week, I saw him smiling, participating in activities, and slowly beginning to enjoy his first camp experience.
On the final morning, I spoke with the young man and he indicated he did enjoy camp. His experience had been more positive than he ever thought it would be. He told me that he
looked forward to coming back in 2018 and even gave me a hug.
On day one, I am certain that he would have left camp if offered the opportunity, but by the end he was happy he stayed.
Such a positive outcome is predictable when people yield to God’s Spirit in application of the truths of the Bible. Amazingly, such a positive result can be achieved in a week of summer camp. Imagine when God’s Kingdom begins the inclusion and transformation of all of the outsiders who don’t fit in as the Millennium gets underway.
A week of summer camp is a reminder that God’s way does work.
Gary Smith
Showing posts with label Pentecost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pentecost. Show all posts
Friday, July 7, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
Pass It On
We are a week from Pentecost so it would seem appropriate to address this week’s Sabbath Thought to a topic that relates to that Holy Day.
In the example of Paul and Timothy we have a wonderful example of how the legacy of the truth is passed along to others.
On Paul’s first journey to spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God one of the locations that he visited was the area of Galatia. Three of the cities in this region were Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium. There Paul came upon a young man named Timothy.
Luke wrote of this encounter in Acts 16:1-3, “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.” Timothy stood out in a positive way that Paul could clearly see.
How was it that Timothy became a disciple and showed his maturity by being recognized by the brethren? Paul mentions the origin of Timothy’s faith in 2 Timothy 1:5, “. . . when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” Timothy became a disciple as a result of the teaching and example of his grandmother and his mother. They paved the way for Paul to find a young man who was already progressing in God’s way of life and was capable of serving with Paul in his ministry.
Paul continued to help Timothy develop as a disciple and servant in the church by taking him under his wing. 2 Timothy 3:10 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
In essence, we are being told that Paul took what he had learned from Jesus Christ, from the word of God, and from his own experiences and passed them on to Timothy.
Hopefully, we as members of the church can make the same type of contribution Paul, Lois and Eunice made to Timothy. We have learned God’s ways from family, friends, and most importantly the Bible. Will we make the effort to pass what we have learned along to the next generation? It is a crucial role God has called upon us to play.
Have a most pleasant Sabbath,
Gary Smith
In the example of Paul and Timothy we have a wonderful example of how the legacy of the truth is passed along to others.
On Paul’s first journey to spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God one of the locations that he visited was the area of Galatia. Three of the cities in this region were Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium. There Paul came upon a young man named Timothy.
Luke wrote of this encounter in Acts 16:1-3, “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.” Timothy stood out in a positive way that Paul could clearly see.
How was it that Timothy became a disciple and showed his maturity by being recognized by the brethren? Paul mentions the origin of Timothy’s faith in 2 Timothy 1:5, “. . . when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” Timothy became a disciple as a result of the teaching and example of his grandmother and his mother. They paved the way for Paul to find a young man who was already progressing in God’s way of life and was capable of serving with Paul in his ministry.
Paul continued to help Timothy develop as a disciple and servant in the church by taking him under his wing. 2 Timothy 3:10 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
In essence, we are being told that Paul took what he had learned from Jesus Christ, from the word of God, and from his own experiences and passed them on to Timothy.
Hopefully, we as members of the church can make the same type of contribution Paul, Lois and Eunice made to Timothy. We have learned God’s ways from family, friends, and most importantly the Bible. Will we make the effort to pass what we have learned along to the next generation? It is a crucial role God has called upon us to play.
Have a most pleasant Sabbath,
Gary Smith
Friday, July 3, 2015
Preaching the Gospel
As the Sabbath day arrives, I would
like us to consider “the preaching of the Gospel.”
When Jesus began His ministry, He began
to preach a particular message. Mark mentions this in Mark 1:14-15,
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching
the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in
the gospel."”
After His death and resurrection,
Christ re-emphasized the work that the Apostles were to carry out,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen
(Matthew 28:19-20). Clearly the Apostles were to carry on the work
that Christ began in Galilee. They were to preach the gospel message
of the soon coming kingdom of Heaven. They were to make disciples,
which can only be done by teaching the truths of the Bible. These
verses emphasize repentance since one can only have their sins washed
away in the waters of baptism upon repentance.
Did the Apostles preach the gospel? We
only have to look at what happened on the day of Pentecost in 31 AD.
Acts 2:38-41 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every
one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off,
as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other
words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from
this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his
word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were
added to them.”
The Gospel was preached. Disciples were
added to the Church by God and congregations were established
throughout the world. For a time, the Church of God enjoyed a
relative freedom to preach the truths of the Bible and to meet the
Roman Empire and beyond.
However, by the end of the 1st
Century, distortion of the truth and persecution upon the Church had
begun. By 325 AD, with the decisions of the Council of Nicaea and
Roman Emperor, Constantine, God’s people had to go into hiding for
better than 1280 years. At the end of that time, the door was slowly
opened for the Church to go forward to openly preach the Gospel.
For those of us associated with the
Radio Church of God and its later manifestation, the Worldwide Church
of God, we have lived in a remarkable time. A hundred years in which
there has been relatively little suppression of the truth. It has
been a time when the church could proclaim the Gospel to the world,
over the airwaves, on TV, and in print. It has been an era in which
the Church could meet in peace without fear of oppression.
On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme
Court decided a case legitimatizing something that is condemned by
the scriptures. It opens the door for actions to be taken against
those who wish to follow the scriptures.
Some questions:
- Will we be able to meet in peace while holding fast to the truth?
- Will we individually and collectively come under attack because our religious beliefs?
- Will we be able to hold jobs where we are forced to accept something we know to be in opposition to God’s way of life?
- Most fundamentally, can we continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ if we can no longer preach the message of repentance from dead works?
Pandora’s Box has been opened and
there is no putting what has been unleashed back in the bottle.
Will we follow the Apostles admonition
as we go forward in preaching the truth even if we are threatened and
persecuted? Note what Peter and the other apostles said in response
to the religious authorities seeking to suppress the truth, “We
ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up
Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to
His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel
and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things,
and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey
Him." (Acts 5:29-32).
How the future will unfold exactly is
unknown, but all of God’s people must be aware that on June 26,
2015 we crossed a threshold that can only bring challenges for God’s
people.
We especially need God’s protection,
wisdom, and guidance as we journey on to the Kingdom of God.
Stay focused on the hope we receive
every Sabbath day and may God hasten the reality that the Sabbath
portrays.
Gary Smith
Friday, May 22, 2015
Pentecost
As this Saturday and Sunday will make up Pentecost weekend, it is only appropriate that we consider a subject concerning Pentecost.
When a person receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of repentance and baptism, what should happen?
There is the mistaken idea that once a person receives the Holy Spirit there should be an immediate display of the Holy Spirit.
The first time it was given, and a few subsequent times, there was a display of some of the special gifts that came with the initial giving of the Spirit. Acts 2 is an example.
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).
The sound of a mighty rushing wind was heard by people in the temple area. People heard the rushing wind and moved toward it. Tongues of fire were manifested at this time as well. Additionally, Peter and the other 11 apostles spoke in different known languages, and people heard them speaking in their own tongue.
This manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not the unintelligible and uncontrolled gibberish associated with Pentecostalism. Such demonstrations have nothing to do with God’s Holy Spirit.
Why this powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit? This all happened to demonstrate to those in the temple on Pentecost that something very powerful was taking place. In fact, what was taking place had been prophesied in the book of Joel. Peter quotes from the book of Joel as he gives the first inspired sermon and states, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
“That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” (Acts 2:16-21)
As prophesied by Joel, God is beginning to pour out the Holy Spirit on all flesh. He is beginning His church. In time as the plan of God is worked out, there will come a time when the Holy Spirit will be truly poured out on all flesh.
The Bible records speaking in tongues occurred on three occasions to people when they received the Holy Spirit, and they were all given for essentially the same reason. It was a special sign that God was doing something different from the way He had worked with Israel. God was teaching them something they needed to know. God poured out His Spirit in this dramatic way to help His people see the direction He wanted them to go.
The second time the Holy Spirit was poured out was upon the House of Cornelius in Acts 10. This event occurred about 10 years after Pentecost in 31 AD. God was showing that He was going to now work with the Gentiles. The pouring out of the spirit and speaking in tongues showed those of the circumcision that God was now going to work in the Gentiles in the same way as He worked with the circumcision.
The third example of speaking in tongues upon being baptized occurs in Acts 19. In this example the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples of John who were re-baptized in the name of Jesus.
They only knew about of the baptism of John. They did not know of the baptism of Jesus, nor had they known of the Holy Spirit. When hands were laid on them, the Spirit poured out and they spoke with tongues to demonstrate that this was the right thing to do.
Interestingly, we find evidence of speaking in tongues in the Corinthian church, but we don’t have evidence that they were given this gift at baptism. Additionally, we find 3000 were baptized on Pentecost, but there is no indication of special outward signs given upon their receiving the Holy Spirit.
There were outward displays on these occasions. God was putting His approval on what was being done. The three occasions where people spoke in tongues upon receiving the Holy Spirit were only special instances
Some people look for something today. People expect an outward sign. When a person receives God’s Spirit, it is by faith, and there are no outward demonstrations that accompany it.
However, the Spirit has been given to the people of God to accomplish something truly awesome. We are given an inkling of the magnitude of God pouring out His Spirit in 2 Timothy 1:7. There Paul says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Paul gives us something most worthwhile to consider as we keep the Sabbath and Holy Day of Pentecost.
Gary Smith
When a person receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of repentance and baptism, what should happen?
There is the mistaken idea that once a person receives the Holy Spirit there should be an immediate display of the Holy Spirit.
The first time it was given, and a few subsequent times, there was a display of some of the special gifts that came with the initial giving of the Spirit. Acts 2 is an example.
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).
The sound of a mighty rushing wind was heard by people in the temple area. People heard the rushing wind and moved toward it. Tongues of fire were manifested at this time as well. Additionally, Peter and the other 11 apostles spoke in different known languages, and people heard them speaking in their own tongue.
This manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not the unintelligible and uncontrolled gibberish associated with Pentecostalism. Such demonstrations have nothing to do with God’s Holy Spirit.
Why this powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit? This all happened to demonstrate to those in the temple on Pentecost that something very powerful was taking place. In fact, what was taking place had been prophesied in the book of Joel. Peter quotes from the book of Joel as he gives the first inspired sermon and states, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
“That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” (Acts 2:16-21)
As prophesied by Joel, God is beginning to pour out the Holy Spirit on all flesh. He is beginning His church. In time as the plan of God is worked out, there will come a time when the Holy Spirit will be truly poured out on all flesh.
The Bible records speaking in tongues occurred on three occasions to people when they received the Holy Spirit, and they were all given for essentially the same reason. It was a special sign that God was doing something different from the way He had worked with Israel. God was teaching them something they needed to know. God poured out His Spirit in this dramatic way to help His people see the direction He wanted them to go.
The second time the Holy Spirit was poured out was upon the House of Cornelius in Acts 10. This event occurred about 10 years after Pentecost in 31 AD. God was showing that He was going to now work with the Gentiles. The pouring out of the spirit and speaking in tongues showed those of the circumcision that God was now going to work in the Gentiles in the same way as He worked with the circumcision.
The third example of speaking in tongues upon being baptized occurs in Acts 19. In this example the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples of John who were re-baptized in the name of Jesus.
They only knew about of the baptism of John. They did not know of the baptism of Jesus, nor had they known of the Holy Spirit. When hands were laid on them, the Spirit poured out and they spoke with tongues to demonstrate that this was the right thing to do.
Interestingly, we find evidence of speaking in tongues in the Corinthian church, but we don’t have evidence that they were given this gift at baptism. Additionally, we find 3000 were baptized on Pentecost, but there is no indication of special outward signs given upon their receiving the Holy Spirit.
There were outward displays on these occasions. God was putting His approval on what was being done. The three occasions where people spoke in tongues upon receiving the Holy Spirit were only special instances
Some people look for something today. People expect an outward sign. When a person receives God’s Spirit, it is by faith, and there are no outward demonstrations that accompany it.
However, the Spirit has been given to the people of God to accomplish something truly awesome. We are given an inkling of the magnitude of God pouring out His Spirit in 2 Timothy 1:7. There Paul says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Paul gives us something most worthwhile to consider as we keep the Sabbath and Holy Day of Pentecost.
Gary Smith
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