THURSDAY

APRIL 4, 2024

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We pray that this newsletter and its contents that we share will help you on your daily journey with Christ, causing you to grow in the ways of the Lord.



Russell and Helen Sanders

THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY

The giftings of the fivefold ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher) should have one purpose, and that is the teaching and equipping of the saints until we come into unity.

RUSSELL SANDERS

4-4-2024

OVERCOMING RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

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Teachings instilled into you when you were young tend to last a lifetime. They are the hardest notions to “unlearn” to embrace a greater truth.

This was a problem that plagued the Apostle Paul’s ministry. The Jewish converts to Christ still held strongly to the customs and rituals of the Mosaic Law. Paul had taught the gentile converts about grace and liberty apart from the law. However, the Jewish converts expected Paul to still practice all the rituals and expected him to strictly keep the Jewish laws and customs that were set by Moses.

Chapter 21 of Acts tells us of this. Paul was in Jerusalem with James [the Pastor} and all the church elders. The multitude of converts wanted Paul to show that he would abide by the Mosaic Law. They put Paul with four other men to vow to keep the law. They shaved their heads to embark on seven days of purification in the temple.

Just before the seven days of purification were completed, Jews from Asia saw Paul in the temple and stirred up a ruckus. They cried out in public that Paul had been teaching people to go against the Mosaic Law. The people that heard this were so infuriated that they seized Paul, closed the temple, and went about to kill him. Roman soldiers rescued him.

Paul gave his defense in Acts 22. The point here is that even though these Jews had become followers of Christ, they were still dogmatically bound to the traditions with which they had grown up with. They could not receive the gospel of God’s grace, love, and salvation by faith alone. They believed that salvation still required observation and obedience to the Mosaic law. They would not change.

I can relate to that. I grew up in an old-fashioned Pentecostal legalistic culture. It took me decades to overcome the legalistic culture of “do’s and don’ts” considered by us to be the standard for “holy living.” I even prayed to God that He would restore my idea of “holy living” to the church.

Years later I then truly realized that holiness was not a matter of rules to live by. Holiness is a condition of the heart [your spirit] that guides our daily lives in the path of righteousness. It is the relationship with the Lord whom we choose to follow, love, and to please. That is the holiness without which no man shall “see” or fellowship with God.

We must lay down our old unbiblical concepts and embrace the good news [gospel] of God’s love, forgiveness, grace [favor], and liberty that are found in Christ Jesus.

HELEN SANDERS

4-4-2024

PEELING THE ONION

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Most of us can relate to failing the Lord at one time or another. Either in our actions, words, or deeds we miss the mark. The beautiful thing with our Lord is that when we fail and repent, he gives us another chance to pass the same test.

I see our lives like an onion. Like an onion, there are many layers that make up who we are. The outer layer may be very protective and hard to get through. The inner layers may cause one’s eyes to burn if it is cut into. Tears flow easily when that layer is cut. Some onions are sweet to the taste, and others can burn the toughest tongue.

God has shown me that instead of cutting into us (like one would cut an onion) when we fail, he gently peels one layer back at a time, exposing the spot that needs to be removed. He does not cut us open because it brings too much pain. Now, if we continue in our sin he may have to go deeper and cut things away, but that is not his initial plan. He wants to remove one layer at a time so we can bear the process.

Do you have layers that need to be removed to expose things? What about the layer of offense? What about unforgiveness? What about deep hurts? How about that hidden sin that you do not think anyone sees?

When we bring ourselves (our onion) to God and allow him to work on us, it will not be to destroy us. It will be to bring out the best in us and get rid of those things (layers) that “smell” and need to go.

Does your onion need a little peeling today? If so, let God do it. You will not regret it.

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RUSSELL

HELEN