This episode of Leaving the Grandstand World explores the world of the church. We know that the body of believers ARE the church, not the building, not the administration, not the entertainment, not the services, only the people carry Christ within them (if they choose to acknowledge that). Of course, it is Biblical and necessary to gather as believers in order to corporately support the widows and orphans, and to gather for prayer and testimonies and maybe a sermon or two. The poem for today I found in the public domain and it pays homage to this special weekly gathering at a place we call "church." It is entitled, "Unto Your Temple Lord We Come" written by Robert Collyer. Next you'll hear our song, "There's Gotta Be Fruit," and finally a short treatise entitled, "The Happiest People on the Planet," which, of course, the Christians should be. It is from my book, A Course in Christianity.
The Happiest People on the Planet?
Mar 9:23 Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. MKJV
Mat 19:26 But Jesus looked on them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. MKJV
In the above biblical quotes, Jesus said a few things that will help even the intellectuals see the truth of the Bible and prove God's existence more clearly (if they will open-mindedly look around and observe). Though we are to believe on Him for our salvation, Jesus did NOT say that if you can believe in Me, all things would be possible. Nor did He say that if you believe only Christian doctrine, all things would be possible. He said that if you can believe, ALL things are possible. Does this put some light on the way the world works?
Those in the New Age (or self-sufficiency belief systems) utilize this truth and find that they are able to focus their minds intently, believing they can receive the material goods, achieve their goals, and attain any other desires they may have. Like magic, often those very things materialize in their lives. All the positive thinking books carry the message that what you believe will manifest in your life. Jesus pointed this truth out for us, but why? Did He want us to manifest lots of things in our lives so we could be happy? No, that wasn't His goal. He does want us happy, but not in mere worldly acquisitions. Christ's goal was much deeper than temporal satisfaction. Have you noticed that worldly acquisitions never ultimately satisfy? We tend to always want more. But that is a whole other topic. Are Christians happy?
The Christians should be the happiest people on the planet. Why? Because they should know beyond a shadow of doubt that God has prepared a place for them in Heaven where they will reside for eternity. But, according to Jesus’s prayer, He would like to see Heaven brought to earth. This is done when Christians live the Christian life.
Some must think that God is going to zap them sometime and make them love others the way God loves them. In His word, God says even the heathen love their family and friends. God wants us to love our enemies. And who, pray tell, is our enemy?
You've seen him crouching behind a rock, ready to pounce on you. You've seen him urging you to go with him to a violent secular movie. You've seen him asking you to have a drink with him. You've felt bad because he disappointed you, betrayed you, hated you, or envied you. Yes, this is your enemy. Enemy, I'd like you to meet the reader of this chapter, reader, meet your enemy whom God asks you to love.
How do you do that? He hurt your feelings. Love doesn't depend on our feelings. It is a choice we make. If God asks us to love o
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