Pleasing Your Neighbor by Gene McGuire March 24-31, 2010

FRUITFUL FELLOWSHIP –“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4,5)

Problems arise in the church when individuals assume an unduly high estimate of their own worth, abilities, or importance. To find his true place in God’s will, the believer must not view himself exclusively as an individual, but must perceive himself also as a part of the whole, as a member of “one body.” A proper self-estimate is necessary, but an individual’s view of his own worth should lead him to evaluate the service that his abilities will allow him to contribute to the body as a whole. All individual endowments are intended to fit believers for their functions within the body. A true sense of responsibility will bring one to realize that a special talent, whatever it may be, is a gift of God. That talent gives no one a claim to special dignity or preeminence in the church. It merely points out that he has a particular service in the fellowship to which he must devote himself. Clergy and lay distinctions within the fellowship are not properly compared to the master-servant distinction. We are all collaborators with God. (1 Cor. 3:9)

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Today’s Thought: Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to  edification. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.  Romans 15

Make Your Way Back! by Gene McGuire Monday, August 18, 2008

“Now when he was in affliction, he (Manassah) implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.” (2 Chronicles 33:12)

COMMENT: There is an old bromide that goes this way: “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree”. Well, as you know, that doesn’t always happen. Manassah, son of king Hezikiah was a blatant exception. As you know, the kingdom of Judah see-sawed between loyalty and disloyalty to God. When Hezikiah became king, he became a reformer. He cleansed the Temple, restored Temple worship, kept the Passover and removed the altars devoted to other gods. After that reformer died, 12 year old Manassah became king. Evidently he got some really bad advice because “he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.” (2 Chron. 33:2) As a result of his actions, the Lord allowed the army of Assyria to capture and carry off the offending king to Babylon. The errant monarch then humbled himself and prayed fervently unto the Lord. The Lord showed him mercy and made a way for him to return to Jerusalem. Manassah was so grateful that he finally followed the footsteps of his father and made reforms that brought his kingdom back into the good graces of God. Finally, that “apple” made its way back toward the “tree” that produced it.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Numbers 14:18, Psalm 52:8 and Ephesians 2:4,5

WISE SAYING: NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE, KNOW THAT GOD IS WAITING FOR YOU WITH OPENED ARMS.

Why Do you Want to Speak In Tongues? by Gene McGuire Saturday, August 16, 2008

“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.” (1 Cor. 14:18)

COMMENT: Of course, you recognize our Lead Scripture as Paul talking about how often he speaks in tongues. I know that there are some in Christendom who don’t believe in that practice. Well, I had a difficult time with that concept as a babe in Christ. Ken Walker, my buddy who led me to the Lord, wanted me to receive that gift. He and a friend of his laid hands on me and began praying that I would receive. He told me to just open my mouth and let the words flow out. After a couple of minutes I told them to stop because it sound like gibberish to me. They then laid hands on me and rebuked that silly notion. Soon a couple of sounds cleared my throat; they were soon followed by a stream of verbiage I had never uttered before. Although I didn’t need any confirmation regarding the legitimacy of tongues, a decade later I received one. Two dear friends, Leroy and Mary MeCrum who are now with the Lord, told me something that I would like to share with you. They, along with other worshippers at a church in Alexandria, VA, were praying in tongues when a wide-eyed woman from some Pacific realm country approached them with the revelation that she heard Leroy praising God in her native tongue. I shared a prison ministry with Leroy and Mary for over eight years so I have no reason to doubt their veracity. That story instantly reminded me of Acts 2:6-13 when men from many lands heard their native languages as the disciples who had been in the Upper Room were praying in tongues.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: 1 Corinthians 14:2, 5 and 14:14

WISE SAYING: PRAYING IN TONGUES IS FOR THE HERE AND NOW, CHECK THE SCRIPTURES TO FIND OUT HOW. (gene mcguire)

Just a thought, not a sermon.