Brilliant colors! Explosive, resounding pops and booms! Streaks of color in the darkness! Firework! And one more item: the church of Jesus! Like fireworks, on the fourth of July, God wants a resplendent church bursting with God’s “colors”. And with one big difference: this explosive display is not just for one day of the year, but every day! And it is not to revive the darkness of night but to rejuvenate the soul of man.  A recent hit song, Firework”, by Katy Perry, underscores this theme (intended or not) with lyrics that almost seem to describe God’s plan of salvation and his dream to fill the world with his manifold wisdom.

Ignite the Light

The song begins with a slow haunting beat as it describes a person “drifting like a plastic bag-through the wind, wanting to start again.” The scriptural counterpart is Zechariah 10:2closeZechariah 10:2 2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the spaniners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV) closeZechariah 10:2closeZechariah 10:2 2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the spaniners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV) 2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the spaniners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (ESV) :  Many follow the “deceit” of “idols” and “wander” like sheep “oppressed for lack of a shepherd”. The song goes a level deeper, describing a person with no hope and no Inspiration, “buried deep…six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear.” That would include God himself, as stated in Isaiah 59:1closeIsaiah 59:1 Evil and Oppression 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; (ESV) closeIsaiah 59:1closeIsaiah 59:1 Evil and Oppression 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; (ESV) Evil and Oppression 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; (ESV) :  “Your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” It is a scary position to feel buried in life, trapped, with no way out, like a person buried alive underground, yet this is the state of anyone without God – buried, and no one hears the screams. But in another way, God is listening, and deeply concerned, and things will change, as in the song. A rising crescendo paints the picture of a person ascending on the quick, having had the spark ignited in his heart:

“You just gotta’ ignite the light, and let it shine, just own the night like the fourth of July.” Now the song, like a fired-off bottle rocket, scales up dramatically with Perry’s fantastic pipes. The song itself bursts into life!

God –the God of second chances – does the same! He comes along, touches us through circumstances and through other people he has placed in our path. His message, the Cross, lights a fire in us. Sin is removed, replaced by a pure desire to please God, and … Firework! We see the “colors” and the “light” of God. Our life changes. He has lit the spark in us, poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”(Rom 5:5closeRomans 5:5 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV) closeRomans 5:5closeRomans 5:5 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV) 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV) )

The “firework” of God is the Light of God now shining, consisting of all “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:9closeEphesians 5:9 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (ESV) closeEphesians 5:9closeEphesians 5:9 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (ESV) 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (ESV) ). Truly a multi-colored burst! And where does this light shine? In a very dark night sky on the fourth of July. Spiritually, that light shines in our darkened hearts:

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6close2 Corinthians 4:6 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV) close2 Corinthians 4:6close2 Corinthians 4:6 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV) 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV) )

Ah! Ah! Ah!

We’re on fire now! Having been whitewashed by Christ’s blood and lit up by God’s fire and glowing with his radiance, what does he want us to do? The song makes it clear:  “make ‘em go ‘ah, ah, ah’ as you shoot across the sky, sky, sky”…”come on let your colors burst”… “show ‘em what you’re worth”… “it’s time to let it through…”  Jesus made it explicit with his own words:

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may
see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:16)

God wants us to radiate his glory by our newfound life and good deeds, as demonstrated not only individually, but through the collective church itself. Sunday services in the churches should be creative, inspiring, and carried out in an excellent manner in all aspects. There are many practicals, but here is one example of thinking “In the colors of God”. Instead of lead ministers huddling with their associates as they all get ready for service, and guests and friends are arriving, shouldn’t the leaders be at the door greeting guests as they arrive? Who would’ve thought this? Perhaps the world has taught us in some subtle way that the “CEO” is the guy who’s supposed to be hard to get to and surrounded by layers of people who are always protecting his time or helping him get ready for his speech. But in the gospels, Jesus – the world’s busiest man – is also the most available, even down to the “discards” of society. Why should the busiest among us be any less?

Leave ‘em Fallin’ Down

The song has another curious phrase, “leave ‘em fallin’ down…”. We find in the bible, regarding a sinner:

“and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, saying ‘God is really among you’.” 1 Cor. 14:25close1 Corinthians 14:25 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (ESV) close1 Corinthians 14:25close1 Corinthians 14:25 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (ESV) 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (ESV)

People can fall down, overwhelmed, as they watch a spectacular display. And they can fall down and worship God too, when they realize what they’ve been missing and their heart has been laid bare by the message of Christ. Though the verse speaks in context of the assembly where tongues are being spoken, a deeper principle seems evident: when a sinner enters the assembly of God, he should realize the power of the Holy Spirit working as if it is speaking to and convicting his own heart. At a certain point his fuse is lit and burning in one sure direction. Seeing his heart’s condition painted in true colors by the message, he “falls down” in humility and proclaims that God is present!

This then is the goal for all churches: to display God’s fireworks in the assembly, to make it plain that “God is really among” these people. How so?  It starts with a group willing on the other six days of the week to “strain with all his energy”, and who love God enough to use his word and offer up consistent prayers, and “present one another perfect in Christ.”  Then, on the first day of the week, that same group orchestrates a creative combination of powerful preaching, great singing, music, electric fellowship, and the breaking of bread and prayer – all so that people come in and cannot walk out without saying, “God was here. This is the part of life’s color spectrum I’ve been missing!” In God’s true, full display, there are no duds!

 Brilliant Colors!

The strides toward God’s dream of real spiritual fireworks have been evident in the Greenville church this year. The church pleads for God to double their numbers – any which way he decides – by the end of the calendar year. Progress towards the goal is happening. Already, the church has initiated or strengthened, in a short time, the following budding but hopefully “brilliant exploding colors” ministries – all designed to display God’s full glory, call people out of darkness, and keep them in the light:

Campus and singles

Chemical Recovery

Harvest (for new Christians)

Hope

Marrieds

Worship (with focus on Sunday worship/assembly)

Youth and Family

Sometimes God will choose his moments before lighting the fuse, yet when a prayer is answered, it’s done brilliantly – with the imprint of a spectacular God. A brother in Greenville had been struggling for his life for a number of months, and in need of a heart transplant. All types of prayers were offered up, from upper rooms to lower rooms, to under a late night sky and beyond. One recent morning, while more prayers were being offered, the doctors in Atlanta huddled for discussion on a very big matter of fate: whether or not to put this forty-nine year-old brother on the transplant list. A message had recently rippled through the insurance system that their insurance had been cancelled. At the same time, in the hospital room, the brother saw in his wife’s face the accumulated strain of months of being by his side and helping him to fight for his life. And now: cancelled insurance”.  He saw she had entered a valley – a very low place in her faith. Breaking the tension, he said to her,

“Use my faith. Yours is low, so use mine.”

Not long after, he answered a phone call, spoke for a few minutes, hung up, looked at his wife, and an encouraging exchange happened. Not one literal minute later, the doctors entered and said,  “We would like to put you on the transplant list, but we have one big concern. The system shows you have no insurance.”

“That’s all changed,” the brother answered. “I just got off the phone with the insurance company, and they said I am covered!”

This was only gleeful news for the doctors, who offered immediate congratulations.

“Well then,” they added, “We’re going to keep you right here until the transplant instead of sending you home.”

This was God’s incredible timing and deliverance after months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering! When God intervenes, he makes it the real Light Show. Consistent and powerful prayer exposes and yields the resplendent power and timing of God in the lives of his people!

              Zambelli Quality

In New Castle, Pennsylvania, a famous Fireworks family, the Zambellis, produce the finest fireworks in the world. All fireworks are carefully handcrafted in special, separate, sawdust buildings according to original recipes handed down for generations. Today, God also wants us to handcraft his church with his “original” recipe for spirituality, the Bible – handed down through generations. With the same care and attention the Zambellis give to their fireworks, he wants us molding and shaping every soul we meet into the image of Jesus.  Like Zambelli, there are no shortcuts, no cheap light shows, or “factory-model” assembly lines.  The Zambellis know metals, because metals are responsible for the colors: strontium for red, copper for green, sodium for yellow, etc. And God knows exactly the spiritual metals needed to fire our hearts up, the Scriptures, which he wants us to study and apply. The only light show God really wants or desires is the real one. As in the song:

“Boom, boom, boom, even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.”

Or as it says in Isaiah 30:26closeIsaiah 30:26 26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. (ESV) closeIsaiah 30:26closeIsaiah 30:26 26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. (ESV) 26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. (ESV) :

“The sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.”

God wants a spiritual light show that moves the human heart – a show which comes by binding up bruises, healing wounds, and creating a collective group of people who
demonstrate his love and wisdom in all their vast array of colors. All appropriately so, because as on the fourth of July, it is about freedom – the freedom of men to worship and call on God. And men’s desire to see the full colors of God displayed in their lives.

1. Download the Handbook.  The first step is to download the Bible Study handbook to your computer. Save it to your desktop, My Documents, or any folder you choose. Just remember where you saved it. Download The Bible Study Handbook now.
2. Go to the online printer, www.staplescopycenter.com.
3. Staples Copy & Print.  Choose “Create Copy Project”.
4. Find Store Locations. Enter your address or zip code to locate the closest store for pickup.  Then click “Go”.
5. Click “Select This Location” next to the closest store.
6. Upload Your File.  Click ”Browse” to locate your Bible Study Handbook file on your computer.  Then Click “Upload File”  to begin the upload.  The process will take several minutes to upload and process the file.
7. Once the file has been uploaded, it will appear under “File(s) Added to This Job”.  Click “Next”.
8. Print Options.  When I uploaded my file, the price was originally $134.97.  We’ll correct this by adjusting the print options.  Change the following options:
   • Color type: B&W.
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   • Back Cover: Black Vinyl
9. Once the options have changed, click “Next” to preview your print job.  The price should be updated.  My price was $22.11.
10. Enter the “Jobname” (any name you want) and “quantity” at the top of the page.
11. Click “Add to Cart” to review the order and enter a pickup time.
12. Click the calendar icon to choose a date and time.  Click “Save” when done.
13. Click “Checkout” to enter payment information.  You’ll be required to create an account or log in if you haven’t already done so.

That’s it.  You’ll be able to pick up your print job from the store you selected at the time you selected.

The goal of bible study is to have fellowship and walk with God through his word, to bring God glory and to live a life worthy of the calling we have received, and to be wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

(2Co 5:14-15) For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

(Col 3:15-17closeColossians 3:15-17 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV) closeColossians 3:15-17closeColossians 3:15-17 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV) 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV) ) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Consider the following scripture:

(Ja 1:22-25) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (1:23) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (1:24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (1:25) But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Reflection and Obedience are the two keys to experiencing and learning the word of God.

Scott will immediately take over leadership roles in the Greenville Church of Christ.