Let’s Worship

Bishop David Bolton
Central/Western Michigan Presbyter

Recently, I was visiting a church where the speaker spoke about grace.  While he spoke, you could sense that the Holy Spirit was working.  When the minister finished, everyone began clapping.  The worship leader quieted the crowd and started singing Amazing Grace.  As we sang, the power of God’s grace became more real than I had ever realized.  Tears were streaming down my cheeks as well as many other’s around me.  This was no orchestrated response that comes from whipping a crowd into a frenzy with chorus after chorus or animated messages.  This was a real, sincere encounter with the Living God.  Too many times we’re guilty of concluding our worship at a time when God wants to bless us.  At the end of songs we clap often signifying the song is over and we’re done.  I want to learn how to allow God to have freedom in me!  I want to eliminate the barriers that hinder His work. 

In John 7:14-24, you see that the religious were not there to admire Jesus, but to avoid the impact of His message.  We can be guilty of a similar experience.  We have turned off many preachers because they’re Baptist, or Methodist.  We think, “If they don’t understand the Holy Ghost the way I do, then they have nothing to offer me.”  That’s the same mentality the Jews had of Christ.  They thought, “He’s a nobody!  Why should we listen to him?” 

In verse 16, Jesus explained that His doctrine was not His, but the Father’s that sent Him.  Additionally, verse 17 goes on to challenge us that if we would do God’s will, we would know whether the doctrine is of God, or if Jesus was speaking of Himself.  “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him” (John 7:18). 

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS PEOPLE

Bishop David Bolton
Centeral/Western Michigan Presbyter

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.  The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!  Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

Israel had seen the destruction of their homeland (Judah), their capital (Jerusalem), and their temple on Mount Zion.  They were exiled from their land and lived among the enemy for nearly fifty years because of their sin.  They had been crying out to God and He heard their cry.  The end of the exile is proclaimed.  In v. 2 their war was ended - their iniquity pardoned.  Now it was time for healing and comfort.  God promised to do some landscaping and their way would be made easy.  They were to be a blessed people.  In v. 11 it declares He will feed His flock, gather the lambs with His arm, carry them close to Him, and gently lead those that are with young.  God promised to be their God and care for them.

We’re no different than Israel.  We need God to care for us and the church.  God restored their hope and they began to imagine what God would do.  Could you ever imagine a virgin birth?  God living with us, dying, and then being raised from the dead?  Wow!  God goes beyond anything we can think or imagine.  God longs to take the chaos and failure out of our lives and rework our thinking.  He is a God that makes the rough places smooth and the crooked straight.  “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”  We were in bondage to sin.  God loved us enough to send His Son and to set us free.  In like manner, He longs to feed His flock, gather the lambs in His arms, carry them close to Him, and gently lead those that are with young. 

Don’t you feel like praising the Lord?  He is our God!  Think about the goodness of God and His promises.  We are so blessed!

BEGINNING AGAIN

Bishop David Bolton
Area Presbyter of Western/Centeral MI

The first two chapters of Genesis tell us about the beginning of Earth and life as we know it.  In Genesis 6:5-8, we find that the people became so evil that God repented that He had created man and decided to destroy every living thing from the face of the earth.  Verse eight tells us that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  Then came the building of the ark and the flood.  It was a new beginning for mankind.  After the flood, God told Noah’s descendants in Genesis 9:1 to “...be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.”  Two chapters later we find that the people began a project to build a tower because they wanted reach Heaven.  Contrary to obeying the Word of the Lord, they  committed to reaching God their own way.  They wanted to make a name for themselves lest they be scattered across the whole earth (Genesis 11:4).  They had a zeal for this project, as well as unity of purpose.  In verse six the Lord said, “The people are one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”  So God confounded their language and scattered them across the earth.

What was their goal?  It can be categorized as the same as Lucifer’s when he was turned out of heaven.  They imagined themselves to be a special people.  Throughout the Old Testament they failed time after time and suffered for it.  God would, however, bring them back again. 

What is our goal?  How many times do we have to begin again before we get it right?  Christ gave us a commission in Mark 16:15-18 to win the lost for Christ.  This is our goal.  If we act like the people of Babel we will reap the same results - confusion, division, and be scattered.  We’ve seen times in our own church where it seemed that the church was exalted more than God or Christ.  God, help us to get it right this time.  I don’t believe we have time for confusion, division, or to be scattered.  We must hear the voice of God and follow His leading.  We need unity to do the will of God.  We’re beginning a new year in 2008.  Church, let’s focus on winning souls. 

Don't Lose the "Pioneering Spirit

Bishop David Bolton
Area Presbyter of Western/Centeral MI

DON’T LOSE THE “PIONEERING SPIRIT”

The pioneers were people who were willing to try something new and overcame great hardships in the process.  They worked hard and also celebrated when the job was completed or when they achieved a particular goal.  The result?  Memories!

As leaders, we hear about the good ol’ days; church events that created lifelong memories.  I’ve often encouraged young parents to go out and make memories for their children.  What I mean by that is, go do something with your kids that will cause them to remember it for the rest of their lives - something fun and exciting.

As leaders, we too need to make memories for the church.  Plan events that bring the church together for a common goal.  Share your vision goals of winning souls and ministering to people.  Invite someone to go with you to the Hospital to visit a sick member.  Take another to visit a new family.  As you minister to those people and pray for their needs, that new person will see the presence of God at work.  These are exciting moments and will leave a memory as well as accomplish getting others involved in ministry.  In time,  you can encourage these individuals to take other new ones out to visit and continue to grow. 

Planning events and ministry opportunities will produce momentum and encourage involvement.  Simple ideas like sprucing up a classroom, landscaping a yard, a community outreach event, taking the young people out on Saturday to help some senior citizens - each will make a difference in the Kingdom of God.  Just look around and find what is needed in your area and go to work.  Create some momentum and keep it moving.  With momentum the future looks bright, obstacles appear small, and trouble seems temporary. 

Unity in Christ

Bishop David Bolton
Area Presbyter of Northern IN/Western MI

One Church United

Lyman Bryson wrote, “The error of youth is to believe that intelligence is a substitute for experience; while the error of age is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence.”  That points to the reality that we need both young and old in our churches.  There is a place for each age group where all of us can feel fulfilled in Christ and His work. 

I find that many youth are optimistic and enthusiastic, but have a need for the experience of elders to help them.  The elders, of which I have become, have the experience and wisdom, but perhaps may lack the enthusiasm and optimism of the youth.  Even children help all of us see where we have come from to where God has brought us.  Whether a youth or an elder, we have a responsibility to teach everyone that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.  

I remember a time when I felt like I couldn’t do anything for the Lord until I became an adult.  I wasn’t being used as a youth and I felt I wasn’t a fruitful Christian.   However, we all have a place.  When every age works together in unity, no one feels left out.  If we’re not being used, then something’s wrong.  We are to bear fruit at what ever age we are.  It’s exciting to see churches where all age groups are involved and rejoicing in the Lord together. 

It’s easy to go off optimistically without thinking through the ramifications of a problem.  It is equally easy to be content with things as they are and not see the possibilities for improvement.  We need the experience and wisdom of age and the optimism and enthusiasm of our youth.  One tempers the other.