January 16, 2000 Volume 1 Number 3
Send
Elian Home!
During the last few weeks
we have been shown clip after clip of the Cuban people protesting the tyranny of
the United States. The protests
center on a young Cuban boy named Elian Gonzalez.
A fisherman found him off the coast of Florida floating in the ocean. His
mother and stepfather along with several others died as they tried to escape the
oppression of the Cuban government. He
has been taken care of and is presently staying with family.
We have seen over the course of these weeks’ impassioned speeches
pleading that our government send him home to his father. Our government for the
most part has been willing. If not for the protests in Florida by a hand full of
Cuban-Americans against sending him home he would have been reunited with his
former life. Being familiar with the oppression of the Cuban government and the
poverty, which exists there, I am outraged and shocked that so many people in
this country are willing to let him go back. Which will it be, freedom or
oppression, the former life or the new one?
In observing this political battle it reminds me of a spiritual one. But
first, consider the OT example. Israel had been in bondage for many years and
the Scriptures say that “the children of Israel groaned because of the
bondage, and they cried out, and their cry came up to God because of the
bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel,
and God acknowledged them. (Ex 2:23-25). In
time, they were given freedom with much effort on God’s part to instill in
them, Pharaoh, Egypt, and the world that He was the “I AM.”
God led them out (miraculously), took care of them (miraculously),
provided their food (miraculously), destroyed their enemies (miraculously), in
short, he demonstrated His love for them and removed every shackle that kept
them from being a free people. Yet, at every turn, they complained. They
complained on the west side of the Red Sea, they complained on the East side,
they complained about the manna, they complained about the water, they
complained about Moses, they…you get the picture.
Their cry was, “Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"
(Num 14:3). You fill in the blank as to what event or situation they were
complaining about. Having tasted
freedom, they wanted to return to bondage.
Imagine that!
The scriptures speak of another form of bondage: bondage or slavery to
sin. Paul speaks of the brethren in
Rome as those who “were slaves of sin .
. . (Rom 6:17). Listen to the words
of Jesus in John 8:34, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin
is a slave of sin. Just like young
Elian Gonzalez Christians have tasted freedom.
Note the latter part of Rom 6:17 and verse 18 . . . ”yet you obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. (18) And
having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Note also
verse 35 of John 8 in which Jesus describes the benefits of freedom.
“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides
forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”
(John 8:35). Earlier in this chapter Jesus tells us what provides this freedom.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
(John 8:32). We can look at countless passages, which describe the change
from the former life to the present. Here
are a few examples: “But now
having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your
fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life (Rom 6:22); “For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death” (Rom 8:2).
Why
Go Back?
As outraged and shocked as I am about the attitude of 52% of the American people who think the young boy should go back, I am more shocked that Christians still want to go back to spiritual slavery after tasting spiritual freedom. The only way I can rationalize the fact that so may Americans feel the boy ought to go back to his father is because they do not understand the oppressive nature of communism. There is yet another area in which our schools have failed our children. As Christians we sometimes forget or should I say, conveniently forget, the oppressive nature of sin. We think we can engage in it and not be infected by its’ condition. We think we can go back and not be changed. Well, so much for human wisdom. Remember the words of Paul in Eph 4. He reminds us not to walk any longer as the rest of the Gentiles walk, “. . . in the futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; (19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph 4:17-19). Walking in this fashion clouds our thinking. We think we can handle it, but in reality we become a slave to sin. Paul reminds us to put off our former man, which grows corrupt, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind by putting on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22-24). Peter says it this way, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Pet 1:13-15). When you look back and remember who you were or where you came from in your spiritual journey why would you ever think of returning. We have a freedom provided to us by our Savior. We can now cry out “Abba, Father!” We are no longer slaves but sons, and as sons we are entitled to an inheritance (Gal 4:3-7). Remember you have put off the old man and put on the new man (Col 3:9-10), you have tasted freedom why go back to bondage. Sin at it’s very core is deceptive. We fail to see it for what it is. Do not return to those, “weak and beggarly elements”, to which your desire will be to bondage” (Gal 4:9-10). Brethren we need to stand fast in the “liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal 5:1). “Don’t return to your former life,” is the cry of the apostle! Which will it be, freedom or bondage? It’s your choice.
~Carlos
Aguilar
Home
and Family:
STRENGTHENING YOUR MARRIAGE
Why do marriages fail? There are perhaps many answers, but one reason stands out as a major cause of marital difficulties. Many couples are not even aware of this threat to the marriage relationship until they are in real difficulty. Indifference is the enemy we have in mind. Think back to the beginning of your own marriage.
You probably did almost everything together. Unfortunately, in many
instances this doesn't continue, but instead, something else begins to happen.
Something that is not good, but is so subtle that it is difficult to put a
finger on it. Each partner becomes involved in his own work, club activities,
and other worthwhile causes. You begin to spend more and more time apart. You
are simply too busy to talk together and to be together. After a while, you find
that it doesn't even bother you to be apart so often. Complete indifference now
characterizes a once vital and growing relationship. Obviously, this is not what
God had in mind when He said: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife" (Genesis 2:24). The word
"cleave" suggest a close, intimate, cultivated relationship.
When flowers are not watered, they die. The same is true of marriages.
When husbands and wives become indifferent - when they become dull to each
other's minds, spirits and bodies - the marriage is deprived of life-giving
water. As a result, it withers. However, husbands and wives do not have to
succumb to the devastating effects of indifference. A few simple principles can
be applied to prevent indifference from growing to dangerous proportions. Simply
being aware of the possibility of indifference is the first step in combating
it. Know some of the danger signs, such as becoming too busy to spend time
together, communicating less frequently, and having separate goals and
activities.
A second step is to work together toward common goals. What happens when
family members stop working together toward common goals? Husbands and wives
begin to go their separate ways. Each becomes self-centered and concerned only
with his or her individual interests. When a common objective is pursued with
one's partner, there will be interaction. You must look at each other. You must
spend time together. You will grow together instead of apart.
Thirdly, create more experiences that are joyful. Have you lost the art
of enjoying life? Many of us apparently have, since thousands of couples allow
their marriages to get in a dull rut. This is unfortunate because there is great
potential for the marriage relationship to be one of the most joyful experiences
in life. How can you make joy happen in your marriage? One way that joy and
vitality can be added to your marriage is so simple, yet so seldom practiced.
Sit down with your spouse and list the things you must enjoy doing in life. Then
ask yourselves how often you actually do these things. Make an effort to
increase these fun things in your life. You will find as you seek for different
ways to make each other happy that you will add to the beauty of your marriage
and to the pleasure of your life.
Another way to strengthen your marriage is to renew it. Sit down together
and decide what you do and do not like about your marriage. Make a list of the
behaviors you would like to change and those you would like to increase. Agree
to eliminate those things that are causing dissatisfaction or distance in your
marriage. Put more emphasis on the positive aspects of your relationship by
participating more often in activities and behaviors that make each other happy.
The result may amaze you.
One of the quickest ways that you can improve your marriage relationship
is by getting genuinely interested in your spouse. Show a keen interest in your
partners work. Encourage each other to talk about situations that are of great
concern to you. Ask questions that will let your partner know you are interested
in his or her activities. Above all, be an attentive, interested listener. There
is no better way to fill a person's need for respect than by being a good
listener. You will discover the truth of the Roman poet, Syrus, who said,
"We are interested in others when they are interested in us".
Last, avoid extreme fragmentation. Our world today is complex. It is fast
paced and we are pressured to become involved in many different activities.
Occupational, community, and social demands pull us in several different
directions at the same time. The result is that we feel pressured. We become
terribly busy, too busy to say hello to our neighbor, too busy to spend much
time with our marriage partner, and too busy to say, "I love you". The
Bible says: "Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise
also the wife to her husband". This is I Corinthians 7:3. It is from the
New American Standard Version.
Now the apostle was discussing the sexual relationship in this context;
yet, what is true of this intimate act is equally applicable to all of our
needs. When you get so busy you are not enjoying each other, so occupied that
you are constantly fatigued and irritable, and so involved that you rarely see
each other, there is no way your marriage can be the type of relationship God
intended it to be. No relationship in life has more potential for bringing
happiness than that between husband and wife. Surely then it would be beneficial
to take steps to prevent our marriage from deteriorating into indifference. By
practicing the principles already mentioned, it is quite likely that your
marriage will once again become the vital, growing, and very happy relationship
it was intended to be.
From “The Bible
Research Library”
The Poem
I knelt to pray but
not for long, I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work, for bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, and jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done, my soul could rest at ease.
All day long, I had
no time, to spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends, they'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do, that was my constant cry.
No time to give to souls in need, but at last the time . . . the time to die.
I went before the
Lord, I came, and I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book; it was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said: "Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to
write it down . . . But never found the time."
Please
take time to read: Ephesians
5:14-17; James 4:13-17 and Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-8.
Then, use your time to live for God!
~Author
Unknown
Sentence
Sermons
A
Christian is free but not free to sin.
Happiness
is inward and not outward. It does not depend on what we have, but on what we
are.
It
is wrong for a person to profess what he does not possess. Our walk must square
with our talk.
Those
who stand for nothing are apt to fall for anything.
We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study.
2
Sam 22:31
As
for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to
all who trust in Him. NKJV