Ambrose Brothers

Death Becomes Us

If I were to give you the choice, would you rather be present at someone’s death, or someone’s birth? Would you rather be at a party or a funeral? Would you rather laugh or cry, do you prefer comedies or tragedies? If we answer honestly, I’m sure I can guess your answers. It seems almost ludicrous to ask the questions in the first place. Yet once again, what we see as right isn’t, the world isn’t as we think it is. And the world’s wisest man explains to us why.

Today we’ll be sharing a passage from our continued study in Ecclesiastes, chapter 7 verses 1-4. Although we took a look at the first half of verse 1 a couple days back, I will include that as well, as it offer’s a strong truth worth repeating, and allows the second part of the verse to make sense.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
      And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;
       2 Better to go to the house of mourning
      Than to go to the house of feasting,
      For that is the end of all men;
      And the living will take it to heart.
       3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
      For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

Well once again, our world has been turned upside down with the teachings of Solomon. It’s better to die then to be born. It’s better to go to a funeral then to a party. And sadness does more for the heart then laughter does. These teachings could probably all be spoken about separately, and in much greater depth then were going to look at this morning. But they do all go together in some ways.

So why do death and sorrows find their way ahead of happiness and party’s, truth. That’s right our favorite word here at Ambrose Brothers Ministries truth. Death and sorrow offer a truth, where as partying and laughter is often an escape from such truth. We can not avoid the question of eternity at a funeral. When someone dies, when tragedy strikes, it’s at those times that we realize our own mortality. Let me offer that truth now the death rate here in America and around the world has held steady, since the dawn of time it stands pat at 1 to 1. That’s right, if you’re born, you will die. And in thinking about that question, we have to ask the question what comes next.

In America we hate the topic of death, its almost taboo to speak of our own death or the death of others, we act as if not speaking about it we can somehow mineralize its effects. Instead we promote a culture of worldly things. Of extravagance, we say there is nothing more then the next electronic device, or better food. Our society is built around making money, and using that money to enjoy yourself. Even those in the church often get caught up in the same things, as they place their priorities on things like sports, vacations, and a solid work schedule rather then finding themselves in the house of the Lord.

Out time here on earth is fleeting.

We never know if our family and friends will be here another day. But how often do we take the time to share our faith with them. How often do we ourselves live the way we believe? We live like we will be here forever, which is why it’s good to attend the funeral, why it’s good to watch the tragedy, Why it’s better to cry then to laugh. Because in these things we realize that we are just traveling through this world and we are not here to stay.

Before we close today and look at an action point, I’d like to take a moment to clarify that Solomon is not telling us it’s wrong to be happy, or to feast, or to laugh. Instead he’s telling us that it’s important to look at things with an eternal perspective.

For our action point today let’s take a moment to look at things with an eternal perspective. Is there that person in your life who you have never shared your faith with because you were afraid of how they would react? Stop and remember if they die without Christ they will spend eternity in hell. How much worse is that then the little bit of uncomfort you will feel in speaking with them. Or perhaps you yourself have been holding off committing your life to Christ, because you just want to experience what the world has to offer. Let me encourage to look at things with an eternal perspective and commit your life to Christ today.

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Pastor for Sale

You know, I found this on the web earlier today and I’m not even sure what to say about it. I guess I’ll let you hit the link below and think what you will. But let me say this; what is our world coming to and what does the Lord think about his faithful leaders. (By the way check out the pictures attached to this sale.)

Pastor for Sale

Represent the Name

Ecclesiastes 7:1a

“A good name is better than a fine perfume,”

“A good name” When was the last time you stopped to think about your name? Throughout history there was a lot more to a name than simply a few letters thrown together to separate us from each other. With a name you could tell something about the person, the family, what morals and values a person believed. A name came with honor, or disgrace, with pride or embarrassment.

What about today? Do the ways of the past ring true? As I look around, and see people lie, cheat, and steal to get to the top. As I turn on my T.V. and see shows where a large number of desperate women all fight and compete for the chance to marry one guy, then it is reversed with guys and only one girl. People acting like desperate fools, with no self respect on national television with thousands sitting at home watching. We place cameras in celebrities homes and we watch just how crazy and messed up their lives are. Musicians, actors, athletes, those we look up to the most acting like immature fools with no concern for their name.

What about you? It is easy to look at the rich and famous and point out their flaws, but how about you? When was the last time you stopped to consider the impact a specific decision in your life would have on your name? How will you be remembered? When your children introduce themselves to someone new what response will the other person have as they hear their name? “O your one of those “Ambrose kids” guess I should watch my back” or “O your one of those “Ambrose Kids” it is nice to meet you I have heard a lot of good things about the Ambrose family.”

But whose name are we really trying to uphold? Whose name should we really be trying to bring glory? Who should we be doing all can to carry on His good name? Many times in scripture those who follow the One True God are referred to as the Children of God. And in Acts chapter one Jesus says that we will be His witnesses. It is you and I, those who claim to follow Christ that are charged with the task of holding up His good name.

If we claim to be a Christian, yet we live as the world we destroy the good that Jesus Christ did. We destroy the reason He died on the cross. We destroy how a lost and dying world will view a loving and just savior. However if we make all our decisions based upon upholding His good name, the world will see Jesus Christ as he Truly is. The only one who can truly change lives, the only one who could pay a penalty He didn’t owe, the only perfect and just sacrifice for our sins.

Action steps for today:

1) Make choices that will create a good name for your family. Whether your family has a bad past or clean record, stand up and raise the standard. Set the bar for future generations, live an honorable life, be a man of your word.

2) Live a life that upholds the good name of Jesus Christ. Don’t be ashamed of your belief, instead boldly proclaim who’s family you are part of. As followers of Jesus Christ we are a unique family. As the old Hymn says “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod, for I’m part of a family, the family of God.”

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 6:7-12

Now for everyone who has started wondering why I’m taking a song title from the Rolling Stones, let me tell you, I’m not a great fan, as a matter of fact, I wonder if they took the idea from another man who couldn’t get any satisfaction. That’s right I’m sure you guessed it; Solomon, the original man who could get no satisfaction, although he tried and he tried and he tried.

In our passages today Solomon’s soul is finding no satisfaction. In verse 7 he is working only for what can be consumed. The lack of difference between the wise and the foolish in verse 8, in verse 9 he finds no satisfaction in his knowledge of the future. Finally in verses 10-12 he finds no satisfaction in arguing his point with God, because God is far greater then he.

We all get to this point don’t we, where we just throw our hands up in defeat. I think Solomon has reached that point. Nothing matters, nothing makes sense, yet on top of it he admits that God is in charge. In verse 12 Solomon posses the question "For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?" Of course the only answer could be God.

For all the futility offered here, there is a valuable lesson we can learn, God is in control. Solomon was the one of the richest wisest, most successful men the world will ever know, yet even with all of this; he realized his insignificance and weakness as he stood in Gods great shadow. We may sometimes look at life and see its vanity. We get up, and go to work, so we can buy food, so we can eat the food, and it will energize us so we may go to work again. Sure it seems like vanity. We go to school to get an education, gain all the wisdom we can so we can go and work for the next 50 years; seems futile. We strive to look better and better, yet in the end those looks fade, its like grasping for the wind.

We find hope however in Gods word, Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." I learned an interesting thing about the word "all" this last weekend. All means all and that all, all means. (A special thanks to Pastor Steve Smith for that one). But it holds so true here, all things work together for good for those who love God. It doesn’t matter if life seems futile, it doesn’t matter if we understand all things. In the end God is in control, and all things happen to us for his good.

An action point for today let it go. All the worry you’re carrying, all the stress you have, the feelings that life just isn’t what you had hoped for. Let it all go. If you are truly a child of God, we can cast those cares to him. We can eat drink and be merry, because God is in control.

I Got It All, Yet I Have Nothing

Ecclesiastes 6:1-6

Is this study beginning to sound like a broker record?  Solomon is still struggling with the things he has found with all his unsurpassed  wisdom.  Meaningless, a chasing after the wind, futile, pointless  are all words we have already seen used to describe our short lives on this Earth.

Today's passage again focuses on riches and possessions.  Things in life that God choses to blessed us with, yet if we use them to try to find satisfaction we will be greatly disappointed.  Solomon actually states it would better for a man to be stillborn than to go through life without satisfaction in what he has.  This passage describes how miserable a life is when we are never satisfied with God's blessings. 

During a Bible study I was in this morning I read a verse that fits perfectly with this passage.  Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

What Paul had learned, was what Solomon was speaking of.  It doesn't  matter the things we have, or the things we lack.  What matters is our relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is our relationship with the Almighty Creator.  The one who gives us each blessing, the one who created us out of His love, and died on the cross out of His love, and conquered death because of His love for us.  Our satisfaction, comes from our relationship with Him.

If we are walking right with God, it will not matter what we acquire here on earth, because or focus in on eternity.  We will be content with much, as well as little.  Whether we drive a Lexus, or a Escort.  Our satisfaction is in knowing Jesus Christ.  Not simply knowing of Him, but Knowing Him as you savior.

Action step for today.  Look around at your life.  Take a quick survey of the things God has blessed you with.  Your house or apartment, or whatever roof is over your head.  The food you eat. The steak and lobster, or the Ramen Noodles.  Stop and thank God for the things He has blessed you with.  And be satisfied with it. 

A Warning to False Teachers

Have you ever heard something that you just knew wasn’t right; I’ve had one of those moments over the past week.  I was watching one TV preacher on YouTube, as he claimed that God wanted us all too happy, healthy, and wealthy, and if were not, were probably not right with him.  I’m hoping you all see the problem with this as well.  Where does that leave guys like Paul, Peter, John and James?  Where does it leave Martin Luther and John Knox, and other reformers?  Where does it leave the late Rich Mullins who never accepted more then an average working mans salary before he was killed in a tragic accident.  As a matter of fact where does a teaching like that leave Jesus, who was born in a manger lived the life of a poor carpenter was tortured and killed on a cross, all while being the only truly innocent person to ever walk the earth.

Sometimes these teachings are given to please men.  They fill churches and sell books, to be honest who wouldn’t want to hear that fame and fortune were headed their way.  It sounds good to me, only that’s its not the true teachings of Christ or those men who were inspired by the Spirit before and after Him to. 

I guess I bring this up today, as I came up with an interesting teaching from Paul well having devotions with my wife.  Galatians 1:6-10 says:

“6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

This passage of scripture in one we don’t often use when speaking against false teachers but its teachings are clear.  I personally appreciate verse 10.  As a pastor we can sometimes walk the line of preaching truth without offending men. Sometimes however the gospel is offensive, we don’t like hearing were sinners.  We don’t like hearing we are helpless without Christ.  We want to believe “Good” people always go to heaven.  Yet if we spoke only to please men, we would not be a servant of Christ.  We would not be following in His footsteps.

 

Book Review: The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment

By Tim Challies

I have to say, I am excited to finally be bringing you a review of this book. I’ve had it for a couple months now, but had a few other books I wanted to read first. I first heard of this book while at the Basics Conference this spring. Tim Challies was a speaker at some of the break out secessions and I heard him at secession on blogging. Tim helped inspire me to start what you see here at Ambrose Brothers, and I’m grateful to him for that. Tim Challies also runs one of the most successful Christian Blogs out there, and I encourage you to check out his site. (There’s a link to the left).

Anyway, Tim’s second secession of the conference was on Spiritual Discernment, which also just happens to be the topic of his first book. There are few books out there dealing with the topic of Spiritual Discernment, and in the days of Emergent, Seeker and Post Modern teachings filling the church we need discernment more then ever. We need to look discerningly at the books we read, at the websites we visit, at the messages we listen to, and the teachers we watch on TV. And in only 185 short pages Challies helps to equip us to do just that.

Now as we take a brief look at this book, you may be wondering what exactly Spiritual Discernment is all about. Tim Challies describes it in this way in chapter 3: "Discernment is the skill of understanding and applying God’s Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong." Basically Tim suggests we hold all things that we would question, up against what we would know to be right; the Word of God.

Through this book, Tim masterfully breaks down discernment. He examines it from all the angles, starting us with our basic calling to be discerning people, and then looking at all the negatives of discernment. He examines motives of discernment areas we should be discerning, and areas we should be leaving alone. He looks at discernment as a spiritual gift, God’s will in discernment, and gives you a practical breakdown in chapter 10 on how to look at something with a discerning spirit. And in all these things, Tim isn’t merely spouting his own ideas, instead, he quotes ample scripture, along with many of the great theologians of our day, including MacArthur, Piper, and Tozer.

One quote I especially enjoyed was found in chapter 5 "To be people of discernment we must acknowledge the existence of both truth and error." We live in a culture where truth and error and going out of fashion and quickly. We know speak of individual truth instead of absolute truth. And error is completely gone, as how dare we ever tell someone there wrong. I want to say I appreciate Challies standing up and saying there is right, and there is wrong.

Well if you haven’t guessed it yet, I enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it. Sometimes it does read a little slow, but that’s only because of the amount of information you take in. 1 Thessalonians 5: 21-22 tells us "21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil." Our personal call to discernment. I encourage you to take a look at this verse, and this book and truly step out, and test everything so you may abstain from what is evil.

Third Time's a Charm

As we’ve been looking through the sometimes difficult book of Ecclesiastes, we’ve come up with two overwhelming themes. The first is life is meaningless; the second is to find a way to enjoy it. It’s sad to think of what life must have looked like for someone without the knowledge and assurance we have in Jesus Christ. Yet we can still find truths in these words of Solomon.

Today were going to look again at the second of our themes again. We first saw this thought in 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. Again in 3:13 Solomon goes back to these thoughts and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. In today’s passages Solomon again returns to these ideas. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says 18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

It’s true we are blessed with a life so much deeper then eating, drinking, and enjoying it. Yet there are still truths in these words. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Therefore we know there it is profitable for us to heed these words; eat, drink, and enjoy the good of your labor.

Usually at this point I would try to add some meaningful application. But I have already done that twice before on this message. Instead I’m going to cut out early today, I’m going to eat, drink, and enjoy the good of my labor on this Fourth of July holiday. The steaks are marinating, the Diet Mt Dew is chilling in the fridge, and my family is waiting for me to get off the computer. Let me encourage you to do the same today.

And happy Fourth of July.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved

One Short of a Decade

Today is a very special day.  Nine years ago today I met my wife at the alter of the church that we grew up in.  We stood in front of family and friends and confessed our love for each other, and our dedication to put God first in our marriage.  I was 18 and she was 20 and I am proud to say that nine years later our love for each other and our commitment to God, has never been stronger.

Sure we have had some hard times.  We have had our disagreements, our pain, our tears, and sometimes our knock down drag out brawls.  And I would not trade a single moment of it.  You see what we established on our wedding day, is what we have built our lives upon.  Here are a couple keys:

1) To make Jesus Christ the center of our marriage.

This has been absolutely essential in our marriage.  With Jesus Christ being the center of our marriage, that makes Him the focus in our lives.  It unifies the decisions we make because both of us have in mind the things of Christ and what will be most beneficial in His kingdom not our kingdom.  It has given us a united passion, and focus for our lives.  To live a life pleasing to God and to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. 

Having a unified vision is crucial in a successful marriage.  We do sometimes disagree on the specific way of accomplishing the mission, but our destination is always the same.  This reduces fights, and when issues get heated we simply stop, spend some time in prayer with each other seeking God's will not our own. 

2) Keep your word.

This is a practice that is done very little in todays world.  Words, are words with out meaning, and a hand shake means nothing.  Just the other day I was in the process of selling one of my vehicles, the deal was closed with a hand shake, and the buyer said he would go to the bank in the morning, and stop by right afterward to pay for and pick up the car.  Instead he called me in the morning and had had changed his mind.

When I told my wife, "I Do" and she did the same, what we really meant was "we do"  For sickness and health, better or worse, rich or poor, till death do us part.  We meant it!  We decided before we got married that divorce would never be a word in our home.  Regardless of how tough things got, divorce was not an option, we would work through any and all situations together.

3) Love your wife like Christ loves the church (unconditional)

You want a happy marriage, men you want to connect with your wife?  You want your wife to respect you, and seek to please you, then here is the simple solution.  Love her!  That's it.  Love her no matter what, without strings attached, without a hidden agenda, simply love her.  Whether the dishes are done or not, love her.  Whether you have to iron your own shirt, love her.  Whether she cooks or doesn't just love her. 

Words could not describe how much I love my wife.  If she never cooked again, or if she never washed my clothes or cleaned a single dish my love for her would not change.  My love is not based on her "good works" it is based on who she is.  And who she is, is the women who God has created for me to spend my life with.

It is funny that these 3 keys to a successful marriage are the same 3 keys to having a great relationship with Jesus Christ.  We need to make Jesus the center of our lives.  He needs to be our number 1 priority, all our decisions should be based on His plan, and be focused on increasing his Kingdom.  We need to keep our commitment.  We we said Jesus was Lord of our life, we need to make Him Lord of our life.  All the time, with no backing out.  And we need to love Him unconditionally.  After all that is how He loves us.  Not a Love based on "Well Jesus if you do this for me, I will pray this week"  But a love for who  He is.  Our Savior.  The one who loves you enough that He died for you.  The one that God has sent for you to spend your entire life with.

Happy anniversary Jenny, I love you, and thank you.

You Can't Take It With You

I hope the meaninglessness of the last few weeks haven’t started to depress you yet. I know I have really started looking at things differently over the past month, as you start viewing some things of this world as the true futility that they are. But let me tell you to take hope, stick with us, because it all comes out good in the end.

Today we will continue on our journey through Ecclesiastes with chapter 5 verses 13-17. In these verses Solomon continues to take a look at the futility of wealth. In these 5 verses Solomon speaks of a severe evil that he sees across the land, the fact you can’t take your wealth with you. You spend your life toiling and working to achieve something, yet in the end you go out the way you came in; with nothing. Verses 15 & 16 say:

"15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return,
      To go as he came;
      And he shall take nothing from his labor
      Which he may carry away in his hand.
       16 And this also is a severe evil—
      Just exactly as he came, so shall he go.
      And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?"

Have you ever met someone who held tightly on to money? As a child I admired this type of lifestyle, my childhood hero was Donald Trump, (I even owned his board game). I not only wanted to be rich, but I wanted to be rich for selfish reasons. I used to tell my parents I wanted a big house, and an even bigger fence, to keep out those people who wanted my money. For years all I could think about was having money and lots of it.

Well to make a long story short, God has changed my views on this. Not that I am opposed to money, but I no longer live to acquire it, and I no longer wish to horde it. I guess its good I never bought into the whole idea of prosperity theology, or I would be in trouble now.

So today let me challenge you to take a look at your own views on money. Do you live to acquire it, do you desire to have huge amounts of it. Does making money control your life to the point you hold your work life to lower standards then the rest of your life. If you answered yes to these questions then today perhaps its time to look at where your priorities lie.

Now for the hope I mentioned earlier. In verse 15 we see that there is nothing we may carry away in hand. But there is something we can take from this life, and that is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have that relationship today, are the things you’re doing here on earth going to count for something in eternity. Matthew 6:19-21 says:

"19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Remember today, store up your treasures in heaven, because as for the ones here on earth, you cant take them with you.