On the Desert Road

"The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that carriage and stay near it.”Acts:8:29

 The Apostolic Church Deacon, Philip , had been preaching about Jesus Christ in the town of Samaria,   many were coming to believe the Gospel message and experiencing the forgiveness of God in their lives as they  received the message ,

It is after Philip's preaching in that area that the Lord, thru an angelic visitation, tells Philip to take the Desert Road that led away from Jerusalem toward the area of Gaza, which was a dry and sparsely populated area  which  seemed to offer little opportunity for evangelism, yet this is  where  the Lord  had directed Philip to go.

 "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”Acts:8:26

The Ethiopian Eunuch

The Deacon Philip sets out into the wilderness as he has been directed, there is no indication in the account in Acts that Philip questioned as to why, he simply goes forth.   As he travels along  on the Desert Road there is no record that he encounters any group of persons but for one. 

This one person,  we are told in Acts,  is an eunuch who is the Minister of the Treasury of the nation of Ethiopia serving under Queen Candice and his entourage

"So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candice “queen of the Ethiopians.” (27b)

 This eunuch had traveled to Jursalem on a pilgrimage to worship at the Temple of God.


"and he had come to Jerusalem to worship," (27c)


This man was seeking the very Creator of all things,  he wanted to understand and know the God who brought all things into being, so he started in the most logical place that he understood , the Temple of God at Jerusalem , yet , it would not be in the Temple courts that he would meet his God but rather it would be on the Desert Road on his way to his home land.



 The eunuch sits in his carriage and reads thru the Prophet Isaiah , who's writing are so filled with prophetic words regarding Jesus Christ and his saving work so that some Scholars refer to Isaiah as the "Fifth Gospel".

 "and he was returning and sitting in his carriage , and was reading the prophet Isaiah." (28)

Philip Draws Near

As the eunuch reads the Prophets words, the Deacon Philip while traveling on the Desert Road draws near as the Sprint of God directs him to and approach the carriage and stands close by it. Philip quickly obeys the voice of the Holy Spirit.

"Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this carriage.”(29)

Discerns God is Working

Philip hears the eunuch reading from the Scripture and discerns that God is working in this man life and is ready to reveal Jesus Christ to him here on the Desert Road. Philip knows that this is no "chance encounter".  Philip realizes that God has brought him here in this desert place on Desert Road to share the Gospel message about Jesus with this man, and begins the conversation with a question.

"Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (30)


The man responds that he has does not grasp the full meaning of the Prophets words and acknowledges his need for clarification so that he might better understand , he and then  invites Philip to join him in the carriage for a  conversation about the Prophets words.

"And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." (31)

About the Work of Jesus

The narrative of Acts informs us that the eunuch was reading and pondering the prophecy of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion , death and burial.

"Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
            “HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
            AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
            SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
    “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
            WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
            FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.” (32-33)

The man then asks if Philip can explain the passage of Scripture? Philip uses this conversation to speak about Jesus and his work of salvation, for all humanity. Philip understand that God is working in the man's life and has been preparing him for this moment on the Desert Road where the Lord has directed him to share the Gospel about Jesus with the eunuch so that he might come to know the God which he had sought in the Temple courts at Jerusalem during his pilgrimage.

"The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him." (34-35)

There on the Desert Road, as they rode together  in the carriage , the Deacon Philip tells this Ethiopian  man about Jesus and his saving work. That in Jesus, God has reveled himself to humanity.
The conversation leads the man to come to believe  the word of God regarding Jesus ,  and he finds here, the very God whom he has sought. He has found his God not in the ceremonies of the Temple but here on the Desert Road, in Jesus,  as Philip shared the Gospel.

 He Responds

In response to the Gospel presentation the eunuch desires to be baptized as he sees a pool of water.  Philip agrees to his request that if he believes in Jesus the Deacon will preform the baptismal sacrament to reflect the truth of Jesus' saving work in this man' life.


"As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] And he ordered the carriage to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him." (36-39)

 It is as if God is telling the eunuch and all of us  that the Lord is not found in Temples or in the ceremonies but rather in the lives of believers who have come into a relationship with God in the person of Jesus Christ .

Philip is Snatched Away

As the sacrament baptizim is completed the Holy Spirit moves to snatched Philip away to other parts where God wants him to minister leaving the eunuch with a new relationship with the God he sought  at the Temple,  but instead  found him here on the Desert Road thru the Gospel message. 

"When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea." (39-40)

---

Philip entered this Ethiopian eunuch's life at the right moment and place thru the guidance of the Holy Spirit who moved Philip to be there at right the moment in his life to present the Gospel to him , then as quickly as Philip was sent , he was then moved on to minister elsewhere. The Eunuch never  saw Philip again,  but praised God for the encounter that led him to Jesus.

Lesson for Us

There are times when our Lord may have us go to places which seemed to offer little or no real opportunity to minister, it may be as that Desert Road which led away from Jerusalem, but if we are faithful ,as was Philip,  to go walk that Desert Road where our Lord sends us we might encounter some one , who  like the eunuch , is even now on a pilgrimage seeking to understand God. 

We might be sent to give just a word of encouragement or  give clarification to help some one to understand about Jesus . We might enter their lives for but a moment, and our encounters in the lives of others   might lead someone  to believe in Jesus and accept his saving work for each and all of us .

Others might thru an encounter with us come to find the God whom they seek, and then be baptized. They may never see us again this side of eternity as the eunuch never saw Philip again.We might be "snatched away" as was Philip moved by God to another place to minister.

We should all be sensitive to the lead of the Holy Spirit and yield to him , we may never know who we might encounter even if it be but once on the Desert Road . Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

SUICIDE – THE END OF ALL HOPE?

If it’s not about Jesus, it’s not about anything

(Motto of the Fountain of Life)

Editor's Note:Please Read the Following Prayerfully and in view of God's Grace

SPS:  Our purpose today is to review the logic of grace.  We focus grace onto suicide and ask the question, does grace really forgive all sin, or just some sin? 

ANCHOR

At this point some anchor points about the use and abuse of grace must be established.  Christians misuse grace and sin; 1 John 1:8:  “If we say that we have no sin, we lie.”  But through the blood of Christ (grace) they are free of sin; 1 John 3:9:  “Whoever is born of God does not commit sin.”  

Our anchor is recognizing that there exists a profound difference between misusing grace and abusing grace. The misuse of grace involves yielding to carnal weakness through temptation.  The abuse of grace involves a willful carnal attitude of the heart.  The abuse of grace is not consistent with the logic of grace.  The abuse of grace is akin to willful denial or rejection of grace which the devils, who also believe, have done.  Grace does not condone sin.  Grace forgives sin.  Misusing grace is sinning through temptation and repenting of it.  Abuse of grace is sinning willfully then demanding forgiveness because of grace. 

 Brethren, rest assured, God is not manipulated by his own words of grace into saving those who abuse or reject grace.  The Child of God cannot abuse grace and still be a Child of God.  This piece concerns itself with Children of God misusing grace.

A TRAGIC PHONE CALL

Last month my cousin called with the sad news that her 45 years old son had died.  She said that (we will call him Bob) Bob had committed suicide a few hours earlier.   Then she asked me if Bob were in hell.  Bob believed in Jesus.  But, my cousin asked, was that enough to keep him out of hell?  She was on the phone hoping beyond hope for consolation.  For years now grace has been a foremost teaching in all of my sermons.  Relying upon grace as the foundation of a response I comforted her as best I could.  The remainder of this message consists of my conversation with her and my later thoughts as I pondered that phone call.    

A common Christian belief in various forms is that suicide is unpardonable because there is no possibility for repentance.  We interpret scripture based upon our human perception of time, therefore logically hell is the only option.  But is this true from God’s perspective of timelessness and the logic of grace?     

During the early years of Christianity, many believers chose suicide over religious persecution.  For example, Eusebuis in his work, The History of The Church, reports that at Antioch Christians were tortured.  “Many, to escape such trials, threw themselves down from the roofs of tall houses before they were caught, regarding death as a prize snatched from the wicked.”  John Chrysostom names three of them, Domnina and her daughters Bernice and Prosdoce, who threw themselves into a river rather than be at the mercy of the soldiers.  Eusebius calls Domnina saintly, possessing an admirable soul.

In the 4^th Century Saint Augustine was among the first to speak out against suicide.  Some sources report that he was prompted to do so because of the large number of Christian suicides, presumably to escape torture.  Thomas Aquinas, teaching in the 13^th century, denounced suicide as a sin for which there was no repentance.   

Early Christian generations reasoned that suicide was honorable, later generations declared it sin.  Which view is correct?  Bob was not escaping religious persecution.  Does he even fit into this discussion, or is he really in hell?

 

THE LOGIC OF GRACE

At this time brethren let’s turn to the words of Jesus which you already know.  Words which point to a reality and certainty that transcends every event that may happen in our earthly existence.   

The night before he suffered he said, in John 17:20, “Neither do I pray for these 12 alone, but for them also which believe on me through their words (21)  that they all may be one, as thou, Father are in me, and I in three; that they may also be one in us.  (22)  And the glory which you gave me, I have given to them.  (23):  I in them and you in me…that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me.”  

This prayer was for the 12 apostles, then and there 2000 years ago, but notice here by Jesus very own words, the prayer included everyone who hears [or reads] their words; that is you, me, Bob.  That brings tremendous hope and joy.  Let us not gloss over this scripture.  It is proper and correct for us here to emphasize that you are included in this prayer.  Let us redact it without changing it’s meaning in any way by including Bob’s name.  

 Beloved, wherever you hear his name, substitute your name and make this prayer as personal as Jesus made it.  Let His words speak directly to you, what’s your name?  And we see that your secure tomorrow brings to us tremendous comfort in any hour of sorrow.  

Here are the very words of Jesus, the Savior, the King; our very God.  The night before He suffered He said, “Neither do I pray for theses 12 alone, but also for Bob, who believed on me through their words.  That they all may be one, as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that Bob may also be one in us.  And the love which you gave me, I have given to Bob.  I in him and you in me…that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved Bob, even as you have loved Me.”   

Brethren, these are not hollow words.  These verses in John struck me in their inclusive depth and power showing that the Father loves you, me, Bob just as much as He loved Jesus Himself.  The verses hit me hard and filled me with joy in the face of sorrow.   The assurance of salvation is that the Holy Spirit dwells with “Everyone who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God.”  This promise has important meaning and Bob believed it.   

Whenever anyone confesses Jesus as Son; that changes the understanding of salvation into the reality of salvation.  This confession is belief and submission.  And it involves a change of heart.  Belief with unwilling submission or no submission is not a change of heart at all and this type of belief mocks God.  Paul tells us with certainty in Galatians 6:7 that God is not mocked.  James tells us in chapter 2:19 that the devils also believe and tremble.  They believe, they unwillingly acknowledge His sovereignty, but their hearts have no love of God in them, their hearts are in willing rebellion to his rule.   

When a heart is willingly given then that confession of Jesus as the Son of God means something that Christianity does not adequately teach.  That is that Jesus judges the willing heart, not the work, be it a good work or an evil one.  Is that just a bold statement, too good to be true?  But, if true, it is really good news, don’t you think so?  

The groundwork of all our eternal joy is that all sins were forgiven at the Cross and we are saved by grace and not saved by works [Ephesians 2:8].  To say it another way is that we are not condemned by sins.  That concept is not well taught in Churches today.  But grace extends even further.  While we were still sinners Christ died for us [Romans 5:8].   

Who are the “us” in this scripture?  “And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but the sins of the whole world” [1 John 2:2].  The “us” is the whole world, not a part of the world, not a worthy part of the world, but the whole world.  These verses say that grace is for everybody for all time.  

 Did Jesus really suffer and die for everyone in the whole world from the beginning of time to the end of days?  Yes. “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” [Romans 5:18:].   

This means an incredible thing which we don’t often consider.  Through His blood He has even forgiven the sins of all whose hearts willing reject or deny Him.  Grace is not limited or conditional.  Grace is for all.  All men means all, not some, not many, but all.  

Understanding this about grace does a remarkable thing as it places the emphasis of salvation upon grace NOT on morality, good works or sin but upon grace.  Through the Holy Spirit grace enters into and convicts our hearts to confess Jesus.  Again, more strongly, this means that Jesus judges the heart, not the work.   The logic of grace shows us that there is no sin that keeps anybody out of heaven.  Just as importantly it demonstrates that there is no moral code that gets anybody into heaven.  Jesus has forgiven the sins of all who lived and died before His birth.  He has already forgiven the sins of all who have not yet been born.  The logic of grace indicates that whatever time a sin is committed is not the issue.   

The great issue is the heart in submission to Christ.  Because we are all sinners [1 John 1:8], all the time that means that even to the hour of our own death, we are still sinners.  God judges the heart, our confession; it matters not if our last earthly act was building a great hospital to save thousands or if our last act was any sin.  To state it more forcefully, salvation does not hinge upon any last act, it hinges upon our heart confessing Jesus.   

The Church is 100% filled with sinners.  And tomorrow the Church, will be 100% filled with sinners.    Hell is 100% filled with sinners.  Heaven is 100% filled with sinners.   The only difference is the heart; the confession of Jesus.  Hell is filled with those who believe that Jesus is God [James 2:19].  But they don’t confess/submit to Jesus.  Their hearts reject grace eternally.  Heaven is filled with those who believe and confess that Jesus is God.  Their hearts reflect God’s own heart [Acts 13:22]. 

Do we positively know of anyone in hell?  No.  Judas, Hitler?  We don’t know their hearts.  We may guess but we don’t know.  Do we know anyone in heaven?  Yes.  King David is a man after God’s own heart, an adulterer, liar, polygamist and murderer who is saved for heaven; St. Paul is a chosen vessel of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and a murder who is saved for heaven.  Hebrews chapter 11 lists heroes of the faith who by definition are saved.  Noah is a drunkard, Abraham is twice a liar, Sarah is an unbeliever (birth of Isaac), Jacob is a liar and thief, Moses is a murder and unbeliever (the late circumcision of Gershom and the waters of Meribah Kadesh).  Why not Bob? 

Any sin merits hell.  James writing to a converted Christian church says in 2:9-10 that respecting persons in the congregation is sin and if we are guilty of one sin we are guilty of the whole law.  That means that cheating on a 5^th grade math test has the same eternal consequence as eating an apple in Eden, or premeditated murder, or by extension, suicide.  

JUDAS WAS ONE OF THE TWELVE

Here are two questions.  1) Is betrayal the unpardonable sin?  2) Was Judas’ betrayal a worse sin than Peter’s betrayal?  They both believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the anointed of God.  It is well to point out here a fact that is often overlooked when reading John 17:21-23.  Judas was there and was included in the prayer. 

 Let us redact Jesus’ prayer for shocking effect and ask if the redaction changes the truth of the passage.   I am sure that hearing these words for the first time will be shocking to our human concept of justice.  But is the redaction true or untrue?  Here are the very words of Jesus, the Savior, the King; our very God.  The night before He suffered He said, “Neither do I pray for theses 11 alone, but also for Judas, who believed on me through My words.  That they all may be one, as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that Judas may also be one in us.  And the love which you gave me, I have given to Judas.  I in him and you in me…that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved Judas, even as you have loved Me.”   

The logic of grace does not teach that Judas is in heaven or in hell.  The logic of grace holds that no act gets us into heaven or keeps us out.  Our own confession of Jesus is the important thing; it is the only thing.  It is that confession which we make in our hearts and it is that confession which saves us through grace.  All else is meaningless.   

Brethren, it is true that Jesus is always with and in us, and we are always with and in Him.  And it is true that this is cause for joy.  Nevertheless, Jesus knows our human state and our emotions.  He does not expect nor want us to be happy when we suffer.  Joyful yes, happy no.  There is a difference.  In His care for us He says blessed are those who mourn [Matthew 5:4].  He says so well in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4:  “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. There is a time to mourn.”  There is a God ordained season for mourning.  Bob is not excluded from this.   

With that in mind, I’ll try to close this sermon on a hopeful note of encouragement; of joy for you all.  I have noticed that God does not often remove the cause of the pain, rather He provides the strength to endure it.  The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance shows over 20 verses to endure in the New Testament alone.  That is not so surprising.  Jesus Himself was not spared the agony of the cross.  He fully knew what would happen to Him.  On the night before He suffered the cross, Jesus said something that my human mind cannot comprehend.  He said, “My joy I give you.”  He did not confuse this with happiness.  James, the brother of Jesus, advised us, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” [James 1:2].  

 Divers temptations certainly include grief, suffering and pain, but always tempered with His unsearchable joy.  Through Baptism we become a part of His body.  Through His vicarious humanity His joy is our joy yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) even in times of bereavement.  And it is His joy which is the foundation, the guaranty of eternal happiness through grace given to all, which awaits us in heaven. 

And for Bob?  Is suicide the unpardonable sin?  His last act occurred in human time.  The comfort which I offered to my cousin was that the logic of grace indicates that his last act did not seal his eternity. The joy for my cousin is that Jesus never stops loving Bob and he is still one with Jesus, unless he chooses not to be.  

 The confession of his heart for Jesus in finite time indicates that at his judgement (Hebrews 9:27) where he meets Jesus, who knows every heart, at the threshold of infinite time, there is still hope for his eternity.      

Benediction:The grace of God our Father and of Jesus our Lord be with you and your families.
 

  Rev. George Relic, Assistant Pastor (724-583-9217)

Fountain of Life Church

2021 Old National Pike, Washington, Pa 15301

A congregation of Grace Communion International

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

An Evening Prayer

"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!" Ps:4:1

Many times in this life we feel pressed upon by circumstances  or even by people, there are times
when the pressures brought to bear on us might be excruciating.

It is in these times that we call out to God in our anguish and frustration, pleading for deliverance and asking God for his help.

It seems, to us, from our limited earthy vantage point that God is not responding to us, we can be come disheartened. It is however in these times and high pressure situations  that we should trust in the providence of God and learn to rest in him.

Evening Prayer

King David faced many challenges in his life, before and after he ascended the throne of Israel, he wrote Psalm 4, some times titled an "Evening Prayer". David composed this Psalm during a time of great stress in his life. This Psalm is as if David had gone to the Lord at the end of a very trying day and calls out to God asking for the Lord to intervene and set to right  what he was facing.

David sought relief and repose from the problem by going to God. David acknowledges the very grace of God and affirms  his dependence and need in the Lord alone.

 "You have relieved me in my distress;
            Be gracious to me and hear my prayer."(1b)

David maybe asking God to overlook and pardon a sin due to his reaction in the face of what he was confronting. 

 Facing Challenges

Apparently David's opponents had lunched a campaign of slander and misrepresentation regarding him and his honor, which in the culture of  David's time honor was a a valuable commodity in the life of a man, to have one's honor besmirched was a serious challenge.

"O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?(2a)

   David knew the true motivation of the ones who were attempting to destroy his reputation, he understood that they had an agenda they were following , in which they employed deceptive means in an attempt to accomplishing their goals and David was in their way and they wanted him removed or rendered powerless to stop them thru diminishing him in the eyes of  people around him.

    "How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?"(2)

 As David calls out to the Lord God, he begin to gain a calm that comes forth only from God's staying power in his life, he enters into a prayerful dialogue with the Lord, and the realization that it is God who sustains him in spite of the clever attacks and subtle and overt slander of his opponents.

David reminds himself of the ever-present reality of God in his life and that he knows that his prayer is received on high.

" But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
            The LORD hears when I call to Him." (3)

The Lord Speaks

It is after David begins to regain perspective and is led to see God's  gracious support in his life that the Lord himself address David in the word's of Psalm counseling him to avoid sinning due to fear or doubt.  

The Lord tells David to be at rest and consider his past experiences with God, that Lord has always delivered David from his enemies and he will during this time of trail as well regardless of  opponents efforts to manipulate public opinion or dishonor David .

"Tremble, and do not sin;
            Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still." (4)

The Lord, rather gives David the simple instructions to follow the Lord and trust that God will set to right all that has come against David and to maintain his personal integrity in all his dealings.

     "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
            And trust in the LORD." (5)

Cynics?

It may well be,  that due to the efforts of David's detractors in tarnishing his reputation,   many became disillusioned with David and uncertain of his leadership among them. They begin to ask if there is any thing good and honorable in the land of Israel.They have become cynical and jaded toward David.

"Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” (6a)
            

 In response to this cynical query , David's prayer is to ask God to let the truth be known and the favor of the Lord to descend upon him and those around him that all will come to see thru the slander and misrepresentations,  regardless of how clever they have been spun. 

 "Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!"(6b)

David is asking the Lord to let the light of God's truth to shine into the situation and to dispel the darkness of slander and misinformation generated by his adversaries that all might know that David has God's favor .

Gladness in the Heart

As David has addressed the problem with his God , his heart is filled with the gladness  of God; thru knowing that God will deal with what concerns him , and that truth will prevail and David will himself not , only be sustained but  will have his honor restored and will be publicly vindicated. This far out weighs what ever gains his opponents believe they have achieved against David, their efforts will bear little fruit.

"You have put gladness in my heart,
            More than when their grain and new wine abound."(7)

In God Alone

As David concludes his evening prayer,  he can now be at peace and rest in the security  of God's grace and sustaining providence. David knows that God is with him and that no power or work of adversaries , seen or unseen,  will prevail against him. David can trust in his God, he can leave the matter to God the light of God truth will dispel the darkness of lies. David is at peace; he knows that he can dwell in safety he need not have undue stress.

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
            For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety."(8)

Lesson for Us

All Christians will have detractors and critics , some times they will be others Christians, but  no matter who they are or what their agenda is which drives them , no matter how they attempt to dishonor or damage the reputation of a Christian,  we can rest and trust in the gracious providence of  our Lord Jesus Christ to sustain us and see to us. 

It is important to grasp who the real adversary is behind such attempts to dishonor Christians and  who engages in slander and accusations against us.

 "For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night," Rev:12:10c

 Satan is the trues sources of slanders  and attempts to dishonor Christians in the eyes of the those around us and even in the eyes of other Christians. When this occurs in our lives, we should follow the divine advice,  which the Lord spoke to David , that we should not "sin" that is give into the carnal desire to lash out and and take matters into our own hands, but rather , we should; "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,  And trust in the LORD." as David did long ago.

 We need to consider the words  of the Apostle Paul, to Christians at Rome two thousand years ago, but these words are for all Christians down thru the ages, for us today.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Rm:8:31

David came to see this truth and  resolved to rely upon the Lord, and so can we today no matter what we face or regardless of what mask our adversary might adorn himself, we can trust our Lord to set things right on our behalf.

 

Let our evening prayer be one which issues forth from a heart filled with gladness of God as we trust in him to set all things right so we might declare in our Evening Prayer, as David did.

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
            For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety." Ps:4:8.. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links