Sources to Help You Speak Against Abortion

It is my understanding that January is "Sanctity of Life" month. For that reason, as well as the fact that all Christians need to be better informed on the issue of abortion, I have posted the following information. This article is from John Piper's resource library at www.desiringgod.org written on January 19th 2007.

Dear friends of life created in God's image,

This is mainly for pastors and teachers who want to say something in connection with the January sanctity of life effort. Don't think you don't know enough. One of the young men in our church just told me that this past week he spoke with a junior higher who did not know what abortion was! Never heard of it! If you know anything about abortion, you know enough to be helpful. Here are a few suggested resources:

1. Pictures of the beautiful preborn.
2. The S.L.E.D acronym is a very helpful summary of arguments against abortion.
3. Warning! Stomach-turning graphic. A horrific video of an actual abortion.
4. Abort73.com is a very compelling overall site with everything you need.
5. Corrine and Brian Cords have put together displays that are visually provocative and educational for churches and schools to use.
6. The Live Education And Resource Network have a web site highlighting the implications of abortion for the black community.

5 Things to Commit Too For 2008

The beginning of each year is usually when people resolve to do something different, better or not as much, during the coming year. Below are 5 things we all would benefit from doing well in 2008.

1. Give something away regularly. (Acts 20:35)

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." No one practiced than precept more than Jesus. You may give something material or you may give someone a compliment, a "thank you", a card, a phone call; but when you give, Jesus said you receive a blessing.

You are blessed because, among other reasons, your spiritual muscles grow. If we’re not careful we can become greedy. That’s why the Bible says, "The love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6:10)

But our greed can be not only with our material possessions but also with our time and our abilities. It has also been said, "Measure wealth not by the riches you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money." (Anonymous)

2. Live more for others, less for yourself.

In Philippians chapter one, the Bible lays out the great quality of selflessness exemplified by Jesus. He is our benchmark.

You might think you don’t have anything to give in comparison to Christ. But you can help someone excel in their work. You can look out for the advancement of others. You can guard against the sin of envy by praising others for their achievements.

You can think less of yourself at home. You don’t always have to prove you are right. You can say, "I’m sorry." You can forgive.

3. Invest more in heaven than in retirement.

Jesus said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:20)

Jesus said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:34)

Jesus is not telling us not to plan. He’s telling us not to worry about our future. Plan for the future state of your financial affairs, but don’t worry about them. Concern yourself more with the treasures you are storing in heaven.

4. Watch less TV, read more Scripture.

Psalm 1 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

5. Make Sunday a day of Worship and Rest.

Don’t try to out think God. He rested and He told you and me to rest. We are not smarter or stronger than God. Don’t try to play Spiritual Superman or Superwoman by doing everything on Sunday. How ironic is it that churches often take away the opportunity for Sunday to be a day of rest by a long list of meetings to attend on the Lord’s Day. Make Sunday evening’s family night, stay in, have devotion and play games. This is also a good time to practice Christian Fellowship by spending time with your church family.

Salvation is at Work in You!

The following passage of scripture should cause us to be encouraged, but also to reflect on our spiritual growth.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:2-6

What a promise we have in verse 6. For each one of us who have accepted the call of Christ, we can be sure that He will finish in us, what he has started. We all need the confidence of knowing that the Lord is working in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He has not left us alone, which is what he promised his disciples.

Sometimes we experience a season that we might consider stale and dry where we seem to have reached a brick wall in our spiritual development. One cause for this that must be considered is sin or rebellion. Once you are clear that there are no unresolved issues relating to sin or rebellion, there still can be times that you feel you are in a holding pattern. If this is the case, this word is for you. Simply continue to seek God and desire to experience Him more and more. As you do so, remember the following.

First, the work that was begun in you was regeneration. When you trusted in Christ and were born again, you were changed. This is the beginning of the work of God in your hearts. God saves us as we are, but He does not leave us as we are. He changes us. Initially, when we are saved, we are justified; that is, we are declared righteous in God's eyes. This is the free gift that is all given by the Lord.

The part that we struggle with is change. It is called sanctification, and this is the process God puts us through to conform us into the image of His Son, Jesus. This process of sanctification is hidden in verse 6. When Paul writes "...will complete it..." he is referring to the Holy Spirit in us. In other words, the Lord is "performing" or "perfecting" us. This perfecting will proceed until "...the day of Jesus Christ." This is a reference to the return of Christ.

This work will continue in all Christians until the return of Jesus. Once He has been revealed, we will all be with Him (1 Thess. 4:16-5:2) and we will no longer as a church or as individuals need to be perfected since the full manifestation of our salvation or adoption will be complete when we put on immortality. Remember, we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

Philippians 1:6 carries with it the past, present, and future work of God in us and for us because of what Jesus has done on the cross. Remember, it is because of Jesus, and only because of Jesus that the Lord will and is working in us.

Do you doubt your salvation, or, are you unsure about your spiritual growth? Let the Lord speak to your heart by spending time in prayer and reading His word. He uses these things to "perfect" the work that He has begun in you. Remember that the Lord will never leave you or forsake you.