What must you and I do that God will not do for us? Answer: we must choose. Joshua said, “Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Paul said, “live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” Again our choice. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned…” Our choice again.

All of creation is under compulsion…the caterpillar must become a butterfly; the chicken must lay an egg; only man has a choice of what he will be. Choice must have…well, …a choice. We cannot choose if there is only one thing to choose from. Example: Would you like an apple, an apple, or an apple?

We cannot choose heaven if there is no hell. We cannot choose a blessing if there is no curse, and we cannot choose single life if there is no married life and we cannot choose faith if there is no doubt.

LIFE LESSON: Many are distraught when they see doubt creeping into their lives, but doubt must appear if there is to be a faith choice. Again, life is all about choices. Doubt is the signal that faith is the other option. Don’t be undone when you see doubt. Move past it; push it aside on the way to a faith choice. Don’t hesitate, choose Faith.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see…and without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:1 & 6 There is no doubt in this
life choice!

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support. Please keep the ministry in mind as we approach the year end giving deadline. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Len Baker, Director

THANKSGIVING PROSPECTIVE

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh, yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has
no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve each other. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

The Apostle Paul said “…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.” Philippians 4:12

Happy Thanksgiving from Growing in Grace!

I recently heard the story of a Christian brother who told God that he wanted to be a leader and a bright light for the Lord. God told him that was not His plan; He wanted him to be an extension cord. The man objected and said, “No, Lord, I want to be a bright light, so I can bring glory to You and Your kingdom.” The Lord told him no, saying, I am the light, you are to be my extension cord. And if you choose not to be, I’ll pull the plug.”

After birth it seems to me people walk around with their umbilical cord, looking for a place to get plugged in. Galatians 1:10 asks us the question: “…are we trying to win the approval of this world or of God?” Because of our unregenerate spirit (not being born again and still in Adam), we plug into the world’s outlet which is 110 voltage. Galatians 1:10, get it?

However, once we’re born again, we can move to a higher power by plugging into Christ Jesus as our source. This power outlet is found in 220 voltage. In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle Paul wrote “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.” Galatians 2:20, get the connection?

Remember, the way, the truth, and the life is a person; and that person Jesus Christ now lives in every born again believer. So let His light shine brightly in and through you. Stay plugged in, and you will not carry out the desires of this world, the flesh, or the devil.

Oh, the privilege of the extension cord connection, to have the power of the Living God flowing in and through us! So stay plugged in.

LIFE LESSON: Born again believers are often defeated because they think they can carry out their good resolutions with God’s help. No! Just turn total control over to Christ who is able to do it all. Christ’s life in us expresses itself as Christ’s life in us, not as human life trying to be Christ-like. The secret of the Christian life is that the super natural becomes natural in us as a result of the grace of God. I Thessalonians 5:24 says: “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” That’s what we mean by extension cord connection.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support. We need both to meet the ministry obligations. Thank you for your faithfulness in both.

No book published has more meaning for our lives and more relevance to our problems than the Bible.

William Lyon Phelps for years known as Yale’s most inspiring professor said, “I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college degree is more valuable than a college degree without a Bible.”

The Bible (comes from a Greek word that means books) although written by at least 35 authors from a wide spectrum of backgrounds over a period of more than 1,500 years, is a book that has incredible unity in its message. The Bible has two major divisions, the Old and New Testament. There are 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

The late Roy Gustafson, a world- renowned authority on the Bible and prophecy, presented the division between the Old and the New Testament this way…

The New Testament is contained in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is explained in the New Testament.

The New Testament is concealed in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament.

The Old Testament anticipates the New Testament.
The New Testament authenticates the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament the New Testament lies hidden.
In the New Testament the Old Testament lies open.

The Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament.
The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament they were always seeking.
In the New Testament they found.

The Old Testament predicts a Person.
The New Testament presents that Person.

And that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ—who fully validated the Old Testament.

The Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) presents the Figures of Christ.

The Psalms present the Feelings of Christ.
The Prophets present the Foretellings of Christ.

The Gospels present the Facts of Christ.
The Epistles present the Fruits of Christ.

“The Epistles present the Fruits of Christ” made me think of what the Bible teaches in
John 15:5…Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

LIFE LESSON: As a branch, we do not produce fruit; a branch can only bear fruit, the fruit of the vine which is Christ Jesus. This explains the mystery of our faith found in Colossians 1:27 which is “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” It is no longer I who live, Paul wrote, but Christ living in me. That presents and produces the fruits of Christ.

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support. We need both to meet the ministry obligations. Thank you for your faithfulness.

What part does performance play in our Christian walk?

When you place your faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, in that instant you become totally accepted by God, an “heir of God and co-heir with Christ”. (Romans 8:17)

Your performance had nothing to do with gaining God’s acceptance; however, your performance is extremely important in gaining God’s approval. II Timothy 2:15 tells us to “present yourself to God as one approved”.

The sole criterion for whether or not you gain God’s approval is based upon the method you use to perform, not on whether or not it was better than someone else’s performance. Did you allow Christ to do it through you by faith? This is the critical factor.

There are only two methods for Christian living, living by the flesh or living by the spirit. Example: you can perform a simple task like making a meal, pouring a drink or driving your car with an attitude “I can do this on my own, I don’t need Christ as life to do these things for me”.

Although simple things, they are works of the flesh and Scripture tells us to put no confidence in this flesh. (Phil 3:3) However, on the other hand, you can say “Lord, I’m going to do these things, believing by faith that you are doing them through me.” Scripture tells us to live by the Spirit and we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. (Gal 5:16).

In John 15:5 Jesus said: “I am the vine and you are the branches and apart from me, you can do nothing.” In Acts 17:25, 28 it reads, “He is our very life and breathe and everything else….For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

In I Corinthians 15:10b Paul writes “No, I work harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” Paul says here “I work harder than all of them.” That’s performance. Then he said “yet not I”, that’s method and that equals God’s approval.

In Galatians 2:20 Paul further clarifies when he writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me and the life I live in this body, I live by faith…” That’s the mystery of our faith, “Christ in us the hope of glory.” (Col 1:27)

LIFE LESSON: I Corinthians 10:31 says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Only a work of God is going to pass at the judgment seat of Christ. God will look at every action and word and determine whether it was an independent performance or a dependent performance. Independent fails while dependence upon Christ passes. (I Cor 3:10-15)

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support. We need both to meet the ministry obligations. If you need additional Galatian Road minibuks in English or Spanish, let us know. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Growing in His Grace

One of the great teaching tools in the Word of God that is so very helpful for learning its truth is contrasts.  Example:  light and darkness, life and death, lost and found, etc.  But the very best educational contrast in the Bible is law and grace!

Law and grace is far from being a dull theological subject, and is in fact the very backbone of the gospel message.  The difference between the two is at the heart of how a person is saved and equally important how a person will live their Christian life.  Law and grace is not a side issue; it winds its way into every nook and cranny of the Christian life.  Without a proper understanding of law and grace, countless Christians will be double-minded and unstable in all of their ways, plus the Bible will be hopelessly contradictory to them.  Further, they will have difficulty relating to God with confidence and thanksgiving.

As you can see, if a child of God doesn’t know the difference between living their life under law or under grace, they will be frustrated in their Christian walk. 

What does the Bible say about the law?  You may be surprised.  It is generally believed that knowing and following the do’s and don’ts makes you a better Christian.  However, the Bible says the Law empowers and increases sin.  Do you believe the Bible?

The Bible says: “…the law gives sin its power.”  (I Cor 15:56)

The Bible says:  “The law came in so that the transgression (sin) would increase;” (Rom 5:20)

The Bible says: “And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God’s laws.” (James 2:10)

The Bible says: “For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.”  (Gal 2:21)

The Bible says: “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under His curse…” (Gal 3:10)

The Ten Commandments, which are part of the law, were not given to stop sin.  They have no power to stop sin.  God gave the commandments to expose sin.  Paul tells us in Romans 3:20, “For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what His law commands.  For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.” 

Now what does the Bible say about grace?

The Bible says: “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”  (Romans 6: 14)

The Bible says: “…for all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  (Rom 3:24)

The Bible says: “for by grace you have been saved..not by works so that no one can boast.”  (Eph 2:8,9)

The Bible says: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” (Titus 2:11) 

Living by grace through faith (not by the law) makes everything of Jesus and nothing of man.  Grace allows man to live by constant faith in Jesus Christ for everything.  Remember John 15:5, “For apart from Christ, we can do nothing…”  The law reveals man’s effort while grace reveals Jesus’ finished work and gives all the glory to God. 

By grasping this truth, you will understand one of the greatest misunderstandings in the church today.  In the gospels which were still under the old covenant, Jesus was teaching under the law and letting us know that no man could keep the law, and that everyone needs a savior.  The law was used to lead everyone to the only Savior, Jesus Christ.  The old (law) became new (grace) at the cross. (Heb 9:16,17) 

LIFE LESSON:  Jesus alone satisfied every aspect of the law, and if we are in Him and He is in us, nothing more has to be done but to abide in His completed work.  His life frees us from the power of sin.  It’s all about Jesus; He lives in and through our bodies and gets all the glory.  (Rom 12:1) That’s grace!  Amazing grace!

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.  We need both to meet the ministry obligations.  If you need additional Galatian Road minibuks in English or Spanish, let us know.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

“For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body.”  “We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.”  II Corinthians 4:11, 5:20

I don’t know about you, but I have had it with the media.  This is not the age of information but the age of misinformation.  When asked what I thought of a certain politician, my response was, “I don’t know him.”  The inquirer proceeded to tell me exactly what he was like.  I asked, “How do you know all that?”  “Well, it was on television!”  Amazing!  But most of us have done the same thing ourselves. 

There is the constant promoting of an agenda in the media.  Why is all the bad news shown on TV?  The news is calculated to stir our flesh to resentment, fear, frustration, anxiety, bigotry, and divisions.  Once the bad news is received and our focus is on it, we will surrender our peace to it. 

There is always something the world offers to stir pride, to encourage self-righteousness or unrighteousness, and to make us think the world and its “elite” must do something.  It is all piffle (pure nonsense).  We can’t believe any of it.  One can go months without watching the news and nothing will have changed the next time they see it.  It would be interesting to look at what was reported as absolute truth last year and see where the facts lie today. 

This brings me to my point.  Christians are not of this world.  The things of the world belong to the world.  The world is creating the mess; let them report it and stew over it.  Sure, it can be very upsetting, but the Holy Spirit reminds me of the big picture.  His Word tells us to “be not afraid; and to be about our Father’s business.” 

Lay it all aside and follow Him.  Jesus said, “Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead.”  (Matthew 8:22 NLT)  We are alive in Christ Jesus, and we have a kingdom above.  Like the scuba diver, the things that bother the fish ultimately don’t bother the scuba diver, for his world exists above.  What happens in the world, even if it is true, does not change our job description.

Our job description is to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.  Remember, we are ambassadors in this world but not of this world…our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ! 

The U.S.A. is still the greatest nation that the world has to offer.  We are blessed and should be grateful that we live here.  But here’s the big question…where will all the people be living one thousand years from now.  That’s what I’m talking about, being ambassadors for our kingdom above. 

LIFE LESSON:  “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit….and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19, 20, the great commission). 

We appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.  We need both to meet the ministry obligations.  If you need additional Galatian Road minibuks in English or Spanish, let us know.  Thank you for your faithfulness

Growing in His Grace,

Len Baker, Director

The world divides human history between BC and AD.  BC meaning before Christ and AD meaning the year of the Lord.  However, the cross is God’s dividing line of human history.  This should help us to understand that the gospels which were before the cross are still teaching under the old covenant.  The truth is the gospels are the conclusion of the Old Covenant.  Hebrews 9:16-18 confirms that “a new covenant never goes into effect until the one who makes it dies.  It never takes effect while the one who made it is living.  This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.”

So you see the new covenant begins at the death of Jesus not at His birth.  The cross changed everything, from old to new. 

Major Ian Thomas wrote “Jesus died for us to give His life to us, to live His life through us.”   The truth is, all of Jesus’ teaching was meant to be applied to the new life He puts within us at salvation.  

Dr. Charles Stanley wrote in the In Touch magazine January 2007, “The truth is, apart from the work of the Spirit of Christ, we cannot live the Christian life.  I had already been in ministry a long time when I finally understood that, and it was a major shock to me.  Nowhere in the Bible does God say it’s my responsibility to live a godly life; rather, it is the work of the Spirit to live the Christian life through me.”

Now with this being said, what is the work required of a Christian?  In response to this question, Jesus said, “To believe in the one that God has sent,”  (John 6:29).  His Word also tells us to stay connected to the vine and to yield to the Spirit life within remembering “that we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Always remember that He must increase; we must decrease.  This is a day by day, moment by moment yielding to the life within. 

When we are born again, we are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ who enables us to live in a way God knew we never could on our own.  As the Apostle Paul taught us in Galatians 2:20: “. . .  it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”  Well, amen!

We pray you embrace Paul’s teaching of God’s Word and that you are participating in the divine nature, allowing Christ to live His life in and through you.

LIFE LESSON:  The cross changed everything!  “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 36).  Oswald Chambers writes on this verse in My Utmost to His Highest, November 18 the following. . . “Do not substitute Savior for Son in this passage.  The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son.  It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ . . .”  His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him.” . . . you shall be free indeed” . . . free to the very core your being; free from the inside to the outside.  We tend to rely on our own energy, instead of being energized by the power that comes from identification with Jesus.”

We appreciate and need your continued support and partnership to keep this gospel of grace ministry going.  Giving has been down this year but we are believing that God will provide the increase needed.  Thank you again for your faithfulness.

Growing in His Grace,

Len Baker

P.S.  Praise God!  We have already given, by request, over 700 copies of the Spanish version of the Galatian Road, the Road Less Traveled.

In order to save money a college drama class purchased only a couple of scripts of a play and cut them up into the separate parts for the actors.  The director gave each player their individual part in the proper order of the play and then started the rehearsal.  But nothing went right.  After an hour of missed cues and mangled sequences, the cast gave up.

At that point, the director sat all of the participants on the stage and said, “Look, I’m going to read the entire play to you, so don’t any of you say a word.”  He read the entire script out loud; and when he was finished, one of the actors said, “So that’s what it’s all about!”  And when the cast understood the entire story, they were able to fit their rolls together and have a successful rehearsal. 

It is wonderful when we fully understand what our role is all about! 

How about you?  Do you know and understand what your role is as a Christian?  Max Lucado’s Facebook page on 3/10/14 needs to be repeated. 

“When grace happens, Christ enters.  Christ in you, the hope of glory!  For many years, I missed this truth.  I believed all the other prepositions:  Christ for me, with me, ahead of me.  But I never imagined that Christ was in me.” 

“I can’t blame my deficiency on Scripture.  Paul refers to the indwelling Christ 216 times.  John mentions His presence 26 times.  No other religion or philosophy makes such a claim.  No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers.”

“Mohammed does not indwell Muslims.  Buddha does not inhabit Buddhists.  Influence?  Instruct?  Yes.  But occupy?  No! “

“The mystery of Christianity is summarized in Colossians 1:27:  “Christ is in you!”  The Christian is a person in whom Christ is happening!  Little by little a new image emerges!  All because of God’s grace.”

So that’s what it’s all about!

LIFE LESSON:  Jesus died for us to give His life to us to live His life through us.  It’s not a role we play; it’s a life we live.  His life in our bodies.  Christians truly are the body of Christ.  And all God’s people said “Amen!”

We pray that you will have a blessed and joyous Easter weekend.  He is risen indeed!

We appreciate your continued support and for partnering with us to proclaim the truth in God’s Word about His amazing grace.  To Him be the glory!

How do you recognize a wolf in sheep’s clothing?  Well, you had better know the Word of God.  “For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword.  It penetrates even into dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.“  Hebrews 4:12

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path .”  Psalms 119:105

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of God.”  Romans 10:17

Now there is a difference between deliberate deception by a wolf and spiritual ignorance.  When Apollos preached in the synagogue at Ephesus, his message was correct as far as it went, but it was not complete.  Priscilla and Aquila, two mature believers in the congregation, took him aside privately and instructed him in the full complete message of Christ.  Apollos knew only John’s baptism, a baptism of repentance, not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 18) 

Preachers and teachers alike must be careful to preach the full counsel of God, remembering that “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness…”  II Timothy 3:16 

If you ignore or neglect any part of the Bible, you invite trouble.  Christians should want to read and study the whole Bible and be able to correctly handle or rightly divide the Word. 

We should discern in the Bible what God says to different people at different times!  There are passages that apply specifically to the Jews or to the Gentiles or to the Church.  We must be careful to distinguish between them.  Although all of the Bible was written for us, not all of it was directed to us.  False or misguided teachers, however, often pick out of context only what they think apply to believers today; passages that were actually given only for ancient Israel. ..like the law.

The Word of God in Romans 10:4 tells us, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.  Romans 6:14 tells us, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”  Galatians 5:4 tells us: “you who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”

LIFE LESSON:  A Christian who spends time daily in the Bible and in prayer will walk in the Spirit and have the discernment he or she needs for rightly dividing the Word of God.  

We appreciate your continued support and for partnering with us to proclaim the truth in God’s Word about the love and grace of God.  To Him be the glory!

John 13:35 says, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. “Really?” she heard whispered. “I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!” and, “I didn’t know others liked me so much,” were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and with one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. ‘Were you Mark’s math teacher?’ he asked. She nodded: “Yes.” Then he said, “Mark talked about you a lot.

After the funeral most of Mark’s former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

“We want to show you something,” his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. “They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.”

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him.

“Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.”

All of Mark’s former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.”

Chuck’s wife said, “Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.”

“I have mine too,” Marilyn said. “It’s in my diary.”

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed a worn and frazzled list to the group. “I carry this with me at all times,” Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued, “I think we all saved our lists.”

That’s when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and all his friends who would never see him again.

LIFE LESSON: The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day as we know it. And we don’t know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important, especially to God. Tell them before it is too late.

P.S. One way to accomplish this is: Make copies of this letter and share the love. I got my copy from Jan Olmstead. Thanks for sharing the love. And remember “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”