“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

One of the most important lessons I learned from thirty-five years of working with families of infants and toddlers with special needs, is what to say and what not to say. For example, I learned early on never to say to the parents of a child with serious medical and developmental problems, “I know how you feel.” It would be dishonest for me to say so, simply because I’ve never been in their position. Yet, we are so accustomed to saying that to others, no matter whether we’ve known their particular circumstances of pain personally. This now is where the words of the Apostle Paul speak to us, I believe.

There are several things to note. First is Paul’s identification of God as “the God of all comfort.” All means all, does it not? That tells me that he’s fully able to identify with our pain no matter the source, intensity or duration. He possesses all the ability needed to comfort us in all our afflictions and trials. His comfort has no limit or boundary. He’s simply the God of all comfort.

But there’s more. Not only is he the God of all comfort, Paul went on to say that he “comforts us in all our affliction.” From that we can surmise that he not only possesses all the comfort we might ever need, but that he takes the initiative in comforting us in “all our affliction.” I’ve known such limitless comfort from God, and it’s likely you have too. But there’s still more to observe.

Paul makes it clear that once we are on the receiving end of God’s comfort, we are expected to “comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” In other words, Paul wants us to funnel God’s comfort to others in their afflictions. This now becomes very practical for each of us. Here’s what I mean by that. No single person has experienced all the afflictions that are represented in a group of God’s people. No one person can say to everyone, “I know how you feel.” Nonetheless, when God’s people gather, it’s likely that there is at least one other person who has indeed felt God’s comfort in a situation similar to another person, and to whom one might honestly say, “I know how you feel.”

This is where you and I can be very intentional about how God might use us in sharing the comfort we have known with another person. Let me encourage you to be alert to how God might direct you to another individual who is facing something you have faced, something God has comforted you in. When you sense God’s leading, take the initiative in sharing God’s comfort with them as you say, “I know how you feel.” It’s amazing how God uses us in that manner. He does so because he is "the God of all comfort.”

“In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith…“ (Ephesians 6:16).

It’s not too hard to understand what’s expected of us as Christians when big and unexpected events bring us to our knees. During such times, we are called on by the Apostle Paul to “take up the shield of faith.” But what about those times when we feel overwhelmed by a barrage of lesser events? That’s been the case for me this past week.

Over the course of the past week, my computer has twice been infected with a serious virus, one daughter’s car is in need of repairs plus her computer is not functioning properly, my grandson became ill, an additional vehicle needs new brakes, and I felt ill earlier in the week with no opportunity to stay home to rest. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining (even though it sounds like it). What I’m saying is that according to Paul we are to take up the shield of faith “in all circumstances,” which certainly includes major faith-stretching events; but in particular, it includes the ongoing presence of lesser things as well. I’m certain you know exactly what I mean.

Here’s what I learned over the past seven days. Each time something new cropped up, I told God the following: “I don’t like this. It gets in the way of what I had planned. Yet I know you are in control and oversee my life. I trust you for _____.” Frankly, I found myself saying that on multiple occasions throughout the week.

As I did so, here’s what was reinforced for me as I sought to take up the shield of faith. God is so very good to us when we make an attempt to heed Paul’s words. Each time something new cropped up, God provided me with a renewed sense of peace. Frankly, it was a very good feeling to be on the receiving end of his generous and continuous peace. It’s a lesson I hope to carry through as I continue to learn to exercise faith in all circumstances.

Now how does this apply to you? Well, for many of us, it’s not the huge wound that hurts the most, but rather the multiple paper cuts that tend to bleed us of faith. At times, it seems as though they just keep coming. Now there’s no way I can know all the faith challenges you have faced this past week, or will face in the week ahead. Some may be huge, while others may be less so, but many in number.

Here’s what I continue to learn, and trust you will learn as well. God expects us to trust him in all circumstances. All means all, no matter their nature, frequency or magnitude. It’s only as we take up the shield of faith that the “flaming darts of the evil one” are extinguished. Make no mistake. Flaming darts are on their way, aimed directly at you. God asks us to do something as they arrive. We are to take something up. Would you join with me in taking up the shield of faith in all circumstances?

“So with yourselves since you are eager… strive to excel in
building up the church” (I Corinthians 14:12).

One of the things I enjoy the most about reading the Bible is the wonderful manner in which God brings passages to light that I’ve never noticed before. Such is the case with the verse cited above. It comes from the pen of Paul in the midst of a lengthy section where he instructed the Corinthians regarding the proper functioning of the church.

Now as you know, the church in Corinth was not functioning in a way Paul approved of. Spiritual gifts were abused, people were selfish in sharing meals together, and in general their worship was confusing and disordered. Yet after admonishing and instructing them in these things, Paul left them with a very simple formula for proper church functioning. He wrote, “Strive to excel in building up the church.” You see, it was not their eagerness that was the problem, but rather the way in which they misinterpreted the best way to build up the church.

As I’ve reviewed the things Paul was concerned about, what I noted was that they were selfish toward one another in meeting physical needs, misguided about the proper use of spiritual gifts, intent on making something of themselves, and in general dysfunctional and ineffective in their witness for Christ. Sounds like much of the church scene today, would you agree?

What does it mean to “strive to excel in building up the church”? Well, as I’ve thought about that, several things came to mind. First, our lives should be such that we bring no reproach to the church. That means that when outsiders see how we live, they think well of the church we identify with. Second, it means that no one in the church has any personal agendas. As a body, we must strive to be unified in purpose and desires, doing as Paul said: “putting the needs of others above our own.”

Third, we should be passionate about serving the needs of the church. Fourth, we serve the church well when we worship wholeheartedly. Yes, worship is a form of serving the church because it puts God where he belongs, fully deserving of our worship. And finally, we serve the church when we honor the scriptures, allowing God’s word to penetrate our hearts and change our behavior.

We are blessed as a congregation to see these things in our midst. Yet for God’s glory and our good, I am jealous for more. Paul said, “Strive to excel in building up the church.” The word strive means to “crave.” By God’s grace, let’s join together and crave to honor Christ as we excel in building up his church!

“And the Lord added to their numbers day by day…” (Acts 2:47).

Every time I read the above passage, I am reminded of the power of the word of God, and for this reason. The early church had no understanding of or gimmicks for church growth. They did not have a library of church growth books or materials. They did not have church health or church growth seminars to attend, no church growth experts to consult, no DVD’s on how to grow a church. They had no such things. In light of that, how do we best understand Luke’s words, “And the Lord added to their numbers”? I see two things that account for their growth.

First, note the phrase, “the Lord added.” The right type of church growth is always of God, never of men. O yes, men can design programs, produce music, schedule activities, and in general, make growth happen. The right person, gimmick, location and music will generally result in growth. But is such growth of the Lord? In many instances the answer to that question is no.

Frankly, as a pastor, I am not interested in growing simply for the sake of growing or growing as a result of what men can do. Not interested now nor ever have been. So the first thing to understand as it relates to the growth of the early church is contained in the phrase, “And the Lord added to their numbers.” But there’s more to observe.

Earlier in the chapter we read, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” Later in chapter six, as their numbers grew and the work load on the apostles became quite heavy, they said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Those two passages contain the second reason for their growth. Simply put, they grew because the word of God has power. As the apostles preached and the people devoted themselves to their teaching, many people came to faith in Christ, Christians grew in their faith, and the church became healthy and a powerful witness to the reality of Jesus Christ.

There is a simple principle in this. Not all growing churches are healthy; yet all healthy churches grow. That’s how God honors the faithful teaching of his word. There has never been a single instance in church history when God has not honored his word by bringing health and growth to his church. Never!

Our goal at Wausau Alliance Church is to bring God’s word to God’s people. Growth and health is his business. Our mandate is to stay committed to the faithful communication of His word. Pray for your pastors and leaders in this regard. Hold us accountable. That way, as God brings health and growth, he gets all the glory. That’s the way it’s supposed to be!