Take Your Spiritual Vital Signs

Dear friends,

If you go in for a health check up, the doctor or nurse will be sure to check your primary vital signs, which include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate. This is the first method they employ to see how you are doing and these simple signs are a good indicator of what kind of shape you are in.

Did you know there were spiritual vital signs too? What are some of these vitals that ought to appear in the heathy born again Christian? The great preacher, C.H. Spurgeon lists six “signs to prove the soul.”* Here they are in italics, with my summary comments added:

1. The Christian must show a conviction of sin.

You must recognize you are lost and condemned by your many sins before you can fully understand the good news of salvation. You are spiritually unhealthy if you think you are good enough on your own.

2. The Christian must exhibit a simple faith in Jesus Christ.

The believer must trust that Jesus alone makes it possible to have salvation because he paid the price for sin on the cross. You are spiritually unhealthy if you are trusting in anything other than Jesus.

3. The Christian must have unfeigned repentance of sin.

If you really are saved by Jesus, then you will hate the sin for which Jesus died. You are spiritually unhealthy if you continue to cling to sins without concern.

4. The Christian must enjoy a real change of life.

Being a Christian is not just a change of mind or attitude, it means you have become a new creature completely. You are spiritually unhealthy if you live and think just like you did before claiming a relationship with Jesus.

5. The Christian must practice true prayer.

Imagine if you claimed to be in a relationship with another person and yet you never talked to him or her. You are spiritually unhealthy if you do not talk to God often about what is going on in your life.

6. The Christian must show a willingness to obey the Lord in all His commands.

If you know what God wants you to do and determine to ignore it or if you are totally uninterested in what God expects of you, then you cannot possibly call yourself a real believer. You are spiritually unhealthy if you ignore God’s rules for living in this world.

How is your spiritual health friend? Praise God if you see good spiritual vital signs. But if you detect an illness (or worse) there is no time like the present for getting in shape!

Your friend,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

* Spurgeon, C.H., The Soul Winner: How to Lead Sinners to the Savior, Eerdmans. Grand Rapids, 1963

Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain

Dear friends,

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).

These verses teach us how to relate to wealth in this world. However, there is a broader and more general meaning as well. Not only should we seek “godliness and contentment” outside of money, but also other things such as pleasure, rest, fame, fitness, and worldly success. “Godliness” begins when we place our trust in Christ and have our sins washed away. It continues as we strive to love and honor Him by obeying His commands. “Contentment” comes from valuing and appreciating our relationship with the Lord more than anything else in this life.

Many people chase after the toys of this world and find that peace and happiness always elude them. This is because everything in the world will eventually spoil, perish, and fade away. Only the soul lasts for ever and only a Christ possessed soul will be prepared for heaven. This is why the greatest gain comes when we find salvation and satisfaction in Him.

“Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.”

Your friend,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

Angels Celebrate Our Wonderful Salvation

Dear friends,

“I tell you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

Here is some of the evidence that shows how wonderful our salvation is. When we turned away from sin and placed our trust in Christ, the angels celebrated! They did not worship us, rather they praised God who once again displayed His sovereign grace in rescuing us from sin and hell while making us members of His family through faith in Christ Jesus. Our salvation is to “the praise of His glorious grace” (Eph. 1:12).

Nevertheless, Jesus blesses us by letting us know there was a celebration in heaven as a result of our particular salvation. When a man, woman, or child believes in Jesus it is a significant moment in the universe. Although it may go unnoticed by our fellow humans, it is an important item on the agenda of heaven. The angels rise up with joy and praise God for His work of salvation through the gift of the Savior. There truly are no insignificant Christians. Just ask the angels.

Your friend,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

The JIBC Elders’ Statement of Vision for 2011

Dear friends,

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Pr. 29:18, KJV).

This verse teaches us it is important to have guidance in this life and that the very best vision comes from the Bible. Not only is life difficult without listening to the Word of God, in the long run it is impossible!

Here at the Jakarta International Baptist Church (JIBC) we have tried to define our purpose according the scripture. We seek to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31) through worship (Ps. 100), discipleship (Mt. 28:19-20), and evangelism (Mark 16:15). This is a simple, biblical purpose. Nevertheless, it involves a lot of effort from all of us!

In order to help us focus our efforts as we finish the year and enter another, the elders of JIBC have adopted the following statement:

In order to facilitate our purpose, the elders of JIBC think the church should focus its vision on the following three things in 2011:

1. Improvement of our Sunday Morning Worship Service and Sunday School Ministries.

2. Investment in a Family Pastor with a primary focus on youth ministry (this investment must include follow up on the progress of this ministry throughout 2011).

3. Implementation of a system that will clarify the role of various leaders and how they relate to each other and the congregation (these leaders include pastors, elders, deacons, church staff, and ministry directors).

Please be in prayer as we use this vision to set goals that will help us to accomplish our purpose over the next 17 months!

Your friend,

Stephen

Why did Jesus pray?

Dear friends,

“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16).

The Lord Jesus set a good example for us in this way. As busy as He was, He was never too busy to pray. In fact Jesus would get up before the sunrise so He could have some time alone to pray (Mark 1:35). Apparently there were times when Jesus would stay up all night praying (Luke 6:12). And on the darkest night of His life, He dedicated the final hour before His betrayal to prayer (Mt.26:36).

Have you ever wondered why Jesus prayed? He was God after all, so it hardly seems necessary. Let me just suggest a few possible answers. First, Jesus never sinned and it would be a sin not to pray. He lived to “fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15). Second, Jesus prayed so that we would follow his example. After praying for Lazarus, Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around” (John 11:42). Jesus prayed so we would see and believe that we should pray too. Finally, in that same verse, He gives one more reason why He prayed. He said: “I said this… that they may believe that you (Father) sent me” (John 11:42). Jesus wanted those around Him to see that He was sent by God in Heaven.

So that is why Jesus prayed. What about you? Are you obedient in prayer? Are you setting a good example in prayer for others? Are you demonstrating that you are in a relationship with God by talking to Him often?
Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John

Trust God With Your Future

Dear friends,

It is difficult to plan your life. Jennifer and I joked recently about how ridiculous it would seem if someone told us 20 years ago that we would end up in Jakarta, Indonesia where I would be a Baptist pastor and we would have seven children!

Only the Lord knows exactly how everything will turn out. Of course there are a couple of different ways to look at that. Some may say that our uncertainty about what lies ahead is stressful and there is no doubt that many people worry excessively about the future. On the other hand, the Christian can find comfort and encouragement in the fact that God knows exactly what lies in their path and even controls the future. Thus the scripture says:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28).

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).

Only God knows for sure what is ahead in your life and He is the only person who is 100% in control. We can thank Him, however, because He assures those who love Him that His plan is the very best!

Your servant,

Stephen

Dwelling on God’s Good Gifts!

Dear friends,

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).

This is a verse that we rarely obey! Much of our energy and time is spent thinking about problems, troubles, and challenges that we face. Of course some of this is a result of our duty at home, at work, or in the ministry. It certainly would not do for us to “stick our heads in the sand” and ignore reality.

Nevertheless, we must come to terms with our lack of attention to the Lord’s instruction above. We are, without question, worse off for not taking time to meditate on the great things around us. Indeed “every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). This means we can enjoy pondering the material, relational, and spiritual blessings He gives. God has provided them for our enjoyment and edification. Let us not forget the great Giver of good things and spend less time dwelling on the bad while we thank Him for the good in this world.
Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder

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