Issue 14: Cross Style Connection by CrossStyle Connection

Issue 14 April - June 2012

CSC Cross Style Connection CrossStyle.org

Jesus is all sufficient!

Up co ming Even ts Cross Style Training Camp

Saturation

living in the Word of God Attracted To Jesus 04 with Stephen Manley .

Bible St udies

proclaiming the Message Sanctification by Jeremiah Bolich

06 .

Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vision by Stephen Manley

10 .

Reflection on Studies in Mark by Quincy Wheeler

14 .

The Word Became Flesh by Cory Clark

16 .

Always Advance by Delphine Manley

18 . . .

Ministry Updates International Update Evangelist Schedules

24 30

Come and Dine hospitality with love

APRIL-JUNE 2012

CrossStyle.org

ISSUE 14

C R OS S ST YL E C O N N E C T I O N Where CHRIST ! All!

In this month’s issue of Cross-‐Style Connection, we feature several studies and articles emphasizing the all-‐ suf=iciency of Jesus. We may hear, at times, that our message is too Jesus-‐focused, excessively Christocentric, but we have discovered that Scripture is Christocentric, the Universe is Christocentric, and the Father is Christocentric. God has taken All that He is and revealed Himself to us in the Person of Jesus, indwelt by the Father through the power of the Spirit. In Genesis 15 God announces His covenant to Abram, to give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. God has Abram kill and divide the carcasses of several animals and place the halves of the carcasses opposite each other, with a path in between. Then, God has His very presence pass – in the form of a smoking =ire-‐pot with a blazing torch – between the carcass halves, as Abram lies in a deep sleep. This procedure communicated in Abram’s day that the party passing between the carcasses is asking that it would be to him as it is to the slaughtered and torn apart animals if he does not come through on His promise. Abram has no ability to enact this covenant; unthinkably, God has called down a curse upon Himself if He does not ful=ill His Word. We hope you can see how clearly this brief passage is pointing us to the need for Jesus. When we were unable and unwilling to desire God, God came and was torn apart, His Heart exposed and bleeding on us with incomprehensible love! Jesus ful=ills the promise of God by the power of the Spirit. We are those on whom “the ful=illment of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11); every promise of God has been made available to us in the Person, Presence and Power of Jesus. Won’t you respond to this Radical Love with us?

Quincy Wheeler & NRJohnson CSConnection Editors

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Attracted to Jesus

By Stephen Manley

I am strongly attracted to Jesus. There is something about Him alluring me into His presence. I am drawn like metal to a magnet, a fly to honey, or hunger to food. I cannot stay away from Him. It is so strong you might call it an addiction, only with positive results. I cannot conceive of living one moment without His presence. Why would I want to? Let me attempt to explain: any bodyguard surpasses His protection all my involvements clarifies His guidance to the needs of others give vision His insights revenge toward others eliminate His mercies forgiving others compels His forgiveness hate blockades His love every upset calms His peace my uncertainties assures His consistency me to goodness pulls me His holiness in all confusions surrounds me His wisdom challenges me to know more His embrace to everything positive draws me His attitude a foundation for living His emotional stability creates I am complete in Him convinces me His wholeness with light fills me His countenance to live abundantly allows me His resurrection rest to my soul shares His serenity let me stray will not His boundaries He loves me declares His crucifixion from all harm defends me His Lordship all obstacles shrinks His authority every good thing grants me His generous heart all hidden things reveal His penetrating eyes confusion erases His discernment confidence gives His power in my failures embraces me His grace Why does He attract me? I was made for Him! I cannot live without Him; why would I want to try? Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 4

Sanctification

John 6:61 By Jeremiah Bolich

Sanctified At least in Nazarene circles, there seems to be much debate these days over this one word. Am I sanctified?

If I am, what does that mean?

Can I

"lose it," become un-sanctified. Are there outward signs of a person who is sanctified? If I'm a girl, do I have to grow my hair long and then put it in a bun? If I'm a guy, do I throw out all my shorts and tank tops? These are the kinds of comments I hear when the word sanctified comes up for discussion. If you were to search the word "Sanctify" in a NIV translation of the Bible, you would find it used twice in John 17:17-19, once in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and once in Hebrews 9:13. If you were to dig a little deeper, you would find that all four uses of this word are translated from the same Greek word, hagiazo, and that it means to consecrate, set apart (for sacred use), or to make holy. Most times, the dispute surrounding this word arises when a person or group seeks to define what being consecrated, set apart, or to be made holy actually looks like in day to day living.

course, I believe there are physical displays of sanctification, but who can actually nail them down and who would be the person or group to do that. As is the case with every question I have, I return to the Bible to find my answer.

I found it

intriguing that Jesus used the word twice in John 17 Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 6

in his lengthy discourse to his disciples and yet did not use the word in any of his teachings up to that point. It's not found in any of his teachings during his multiple visits to the temple. It's not found in his monumental conversation with Nicodemus. It's not even found in his thorough explanation of being a disciple to the crowd of 5,000 in John chapter 6. This might seem to lessen the weight of Jesus' sanctification teaching in chapter 17, but if you have followed closely Jesus' message as a whole over the prior 16 chapters, you would see that the word "sanctification" culminates in this chapter and does not make its first appearance. In other words, though the word has not been used up to this point, the concept has been clearly defined.

Sanctified or Sinful The last 12 verses of this chapter contain the decisive moment where many who have followed Jesus as disciples turn back and no longer follow Him. Jesus' response in verse 61 is very important, for it reveals the spiritual condition of sin (in the context of our discussion; not being sanctified) that has captured the 5,000 crowd.

Aware Jesus is aware of the crowd's spiritual condition. The word aware is the Greek word oida and conveys a knowledge that comes from facts or information. In Matthew 6:8, Jesus teaches that in prayer, the Father already knows what we need before we ask. This is our word. Just as the Father already has the information that we bring to Him in our prayers, so Jesus already knew of the 5,000 crowds spiritual condition before they began to argue among themselves. There is much we could say about this spiritual condition and how Jesus knew about it, but it is enough to say, considering the conversation from verses 25-59, that the spiritual condition of a person bears fruit that is easily seen by a disciple.

Jesus'

awareness in this passage is not a supernatural phenomenon as much as it is a common supernatural result of one who is sourced by the Spirit.

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Grumbling Jesus compares the 5,000's spiritual condition to that of their forefather's by referring to both groups as grumblers. As their forefathers grumbled and did not trust, so they also are grumbling and not trusting. The Greek word translated "grumbling" describes an inward condition that breaks forth out of the mouth. In this crowd’s case, it is a deep discontent with Jesus and His teaching about the disciple lifestyle. Jesus uses phrases like "the work of God is this: to trust in the One He has sent" (v29), "...I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me" (v38), and "...unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." (v53), to convey to this crowd what the lifestyle of a true disciple looks like. As Jesus lived trusting the Father, His disciples will live trusting in Him.

Offend There are two extremely important aspects to Jesus' statement, "Does this offend you." The first is the word Jesus uses that we translate "offend" and the second is that it is a question. The word translated "offend" literally means to cause to sin.

The spiritual

condition of the 5,000 crowd is sinful. This is important and alarming, for the result of resisting the lifestyle Jesus called and demonstrated to us, is rebellion against God. And the way in which Jesus states this is also important. It is a question that reveals an awareness of the Truth.

In our cultural language today, we would say,

"Really?" Jesus is saying in shock and horror, “this is what is causing you to sin?” or “You are resisting me because you are not willing to be impartial to my heart and will?” The question of their sin reveals Jesus stunned response to the basics of discipleship.

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Sanctification: An Inward Work of the Holy Spirit To be sanctified is to be set-apart by the Holy Spirit to Jesus. It is to be enabled by the Holy Spirit to trust Jesus unequivocally. To be sanctified is to belong to Jesus so completely, that our mind, our heart, and even our will is so intimately sewn together with His, that it is impossible to tell where Jesus ends and the disciple begins. This is not super or next-level Christianity, but ordinary, average, everyday, don't-get-into-heavenwithout-it Christianity. What we learn from Jesus is that sanctification is the natural progression of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a disciple. In regard to the physical displays of sanctification, it is not surprising that Jesus does not bring up anywhere in John's Gospel outward aspects of the disciple (sanctified one). He does not give details concerning clothing, hair, makeup, or jewelry.

In fact,

you are under the conclusion after readying John's Gospel, that these issues are non-issues for those who are disciples. My aim and hope for you is the same for myself. I pray that Jesus would so capture us that the outward displays of our life would testify to His inward work. I pray that as we live in continual trust in Jesus, our outward physical life would bend and flex to the demands of a heart and will that is saturated with the Person of Jesus. I pray that it may it be so in our lives. â&#x20AC;˘

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By Stephen Manley

The day of Pentecost was a turning point in the Kingdom of God. Things would never be the same again. The outside God had now come inside the life of man. Three to five thousand men had come to Jerusalem from every part of the world and were astonished with what God was doing in and through the believers. They believed God was doing a new thing. They were open and seeking. Seeing the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the disciples, they ask, “Whatever could this mean?” (Acts 2:12). Moved by the Holy Spirit, Peter stood to give explanation. He selected a text from the prophet Joel and then began his sermon:

“Men of Israel, hear these

words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know -“ (Acts 2:22).

Peter was telling this great crowd what they already knew and

understood. “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you.” They embraced Jesus as a man and ate His free food as from the hand of a man. They did not believe He was an angel or ghost. They crucified Him understanding He was a man. Peter explained the most important factor about His manhood! He is “a Man attested by God.” The Greek word translated attested is the heart of the matter. The root word means “to show, to display.”

It also has a prefix which means

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“from.” In the context of our verse, there is coming from God a revelation or a VISION which is being made known to us. This Greek word is only used four times in the New Testament. In writing to the people of Corinth Paul uses it to mean “shown, displayed in terms of appointed or caused to be,” (1 Corinthians 4:9). In another epistle, he uses this word to mean “displayed or shown with the undercurrent of proving and authenticating,” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This same Greek word is used in the courtroom scene. The Jews from Jerusalem accused Paul before Festus while he sits on the judgment seat (Acts 25:7). However, they could not “prove” any of their accusations. In our passage (Acts 2:22), God displays, shows, points out, commends, authenticates, and validates one single thing. God has one focus or VISION. It is Jesus! He does not attempt to point out His power; He did that in creation. His primary attempt is not to prove His love; He did that in giving us life. His VISION is Jesus. God’s entire focus is on Jesus. He gives all of His energy and effort in Jesus. God’s one dream and passion is Jesus. Everything God wants for us is found in Jesus. Jesus is God’s VISION! If God’s VISION is Jesus, what should be our vision? If God is entirely focused on Jesus, what should be our focus? If God’s passion is Jesus, what should be our passion?

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While we cannot impose our time limitations on God, it is impressive to view the progression of the Old Testament. It begins with the account of man’s fall into sin. God rushes to the scene to begin the restoration work. His promise of redemption is focused in the first Messianic Promise (Gen 3:15). He promised the Seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. This coming Seed would be the single answer to bringing man back to intimacy with God. All that had gone wrong within man would be corrected by this Seed. It was Jesus! The entire Old Testament is about the unfolding plan to produce the platform for the appearance of this Seed. The history of Abraham is all about this coming Seed. The reason for Moses and the Law is this one single focus. Every sacrificial lamb offered pointed to the Lamb of God who was to come. The entire temple revolved around this coming of God’s VISION. In the New Testament, John the Baptist boldly declared His arrival. He cried, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). He literally stated that the King had arrived. God’s VISION was now present. There was nothing left to prepare. This is the completion of God’s dream. God moved in a direction and the arrival is Jesus. Jesus is God’s VISION! Everything God wants for you and me is found in Jesus! There is nothing outside of Him. The phrase “in Christ” is used at least two hundred times in the New Testament.

It is used eight times in Galatians, thirty-four times in Ephesians, and

eighteen times in Colossians. Paul shouts, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3). Indeed, God has blessed us. This blessing is Christ. God has spoken into being (blessed) every good thing. It is all in Jesus. No wonder, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (John 14:6). Paul echoed this truth when he said, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him,” (Colossians 2:9, 10). If we are to have a vision, should it not be God’s VISION? We must not focus on anything else. Jesus is our message, our source, and our being. He does not give us life, nor aid our life; He is our life! This is an hour to be captivated by Him. Is He not our distinctive? Every worship service, every Sunday school class must be about Him. Our people must leave our services saturated in Jesus. Each problem must be confronted with Jesus as the answer. The moment we substitute something for Him, however good it might be, we have strayed from God’s VISION. Let us be captured anew with the VISION of God. • Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 12

Heart for Prayer Do you have: * A fervent prayer life * An ache in your heart for lost souls * A burning to see believers seek a deeper walk with God... Perhaps, God is calling you to be a Cross Style Prayer Partner. The purpose of this ministry: A prayerful intercession focused on the Holy Spirit's guidance in accomplishing God's will through Cross Style Global Ministries. We are not a prayer chain. Our sole purpose is prayer for Cross Style Ministries. What it requires: * A commitment of prayer (not a casual approach) * Responsibility (purposeful prayer at specific times) * Special focus (the destiny of souls will depend on it) If you feel God is calling you to link with us as we pray for Cross Style International Ministries, the evangelists, ministries and missions - please contact Sue Sullivan and Sue Jackson by emailing: PrayerPartners@CrossStyle.org We'll be thrilled for you to be a part of the amazing things that God is doing!

Reflection on Studies in Mark By Quincy Wheeler

As part of preparation to saturate deeply in Mark, I have been doing

overview studies of the Gospel. In my studies I have identi=ied a common set-‐up for Mark’s accounts of events in the life of Jesus. First, Mark introduces his readers to an impossible situation – circumstances in which human effort is of no avail in bringing peace, restoration or happiness. Second, Mark describes the helpless people who are oppressed and burdened by the impossible situation that surrounds them. Finally, Mark introduces into these scenarios the Person of Jesus, and allows his readers to observe how Jesus, His Person and His Work, answers every need. For example, in Mark 6:35-‐44, there are multitudes of people with no food, and the disciples are helpless to meet their needs… Jesus supplies! In Mark 6:45-‐52, the wind is against the straining disciples as they attempt to cross the sea – Jesus not only calms the storm, he also walks on the raging sea! In Mark 9:17-‐28, a boy is possessed by an evil spirit, and the disciples are unable to drive it out – Jesus announces to the evil spirit that He HIMSELF has come against it, and the spirit is expelled immediately! In Mark 10:17-‐27, a man approaches Jesus wondering how he can achieve life after death, and it is revealed to the man and the disciples that eternal life is impossible for man to achieve – but Jesus announces that ALL THINGS are possible with God! Of course, the implications of this pattern are clear for my life. My world is entirely full of impossible situations in which I am helpless to overcome the forces of sin, nature, and ungodliness. I am trapped in a cycle of death and defeat which I have no special powers or abilities to combat. Mark’s Gospel has been speaking for 1,950 years that the answer to my problem is found in Jesus, the one whom God has sent. He has walked my streets, felt my pain, and known my struggle. He has within Himself the Spirit of the Father who will =ill all that I lack. Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 14

As we celebrate this April a day of special remembrance of the

resurrection of Jesus, I am reminded that Mark reverses his story pattern at the end of Mark. In Mark 15:33-‐39, we see Jesus as the helpless person in the middle of an impossible situation – the Son of God has been forsaken by the Father and left to die alone. Amazingly, the moment that Jesus experiences death, the veil (60’ wide, 30’ tall and 4” thick) separating the Holiest of Holies from the rest of the temple is torn in two from top-‐to-‐bottom. I see a clear communication from God that in the death of Jesus the life of God has been offered to everyone, no matter who they are, where they’ve been or what they have done. Even if I feel separated from God and lost without any idea where He is… the Son of God has now been there, too. But, amazingly, heartbreakingly, the story is not over! The impossible situation in which Jesus =inds Himself helpless in Mark is solved by the power of the Father who raises His beloved Son from the dead! What would the power of the Father do in my life were I to respond to Him in Jesus? What impossibilities would He turn on their heads? What curtains of separation would He rend? What dead ends of despair would He =lood with His glorious light, hope and joy!

Bring me Yourself, Jesus! We need you now, more than ever!

New Testament

The Word became flesh is found in the climax within the prologue of John Chapter one. Most scholars agree that John chose to write a prologue after he wrote the body of the gospel. Perhaps even more intriguing is that although John wrote the prologue after the letter, he still placed the prologue at the beginning of the book. His purpose for this is to provide focus for the letter itself. Scholars agree that John is writing his theology which provides a lens for when we read the dialogues throughout the gospel. If a person were to skip over the prologue there is danger of missing the purpose, and focus, of the book itself. John begins by writing about the relationship between the Word and the Trinity in the first couple of verses and then moves on to describe the Word’s relationship with creation. In verses 6-9 John the Baptist is the example of a man created through Jesus, and verses 10-13 show how we are created through Jesus when we receive Him. Verse 14 is the climax of the prologue. It is also a powerful statement referring to the plan of God, which is implemented through the Word to bring people into a new birth in God (verse 13). The Word became flesh. One might not take much notice of the word γινοµαι (became) in the sentence, except for the realization that John has already used this word seven times prior to the usage here. It is also interesting that the word John uses is γινοµαι since there is a more common word John would typically use to refer to becoming, or came. Instead of using the common word, John uses γινοµαι and has used this word carefully throughout the prologue. It denotes change from what something once was not to something totally new. In other words, a subject becomes something that it never was before. The force behind this word can be best explained from John 1:3, describing creation. Creation had no substance but it became a substance. It refers to a total shift into a substance that it previously never had. John 1:14 exclaims that the Word became flesh. Jesus came into the substance of humanity, when he previously did not have the substance of humanity. What is most striking is the choice that John uses to describe the substance that Jesus takes. He does not use the more accepted Greek word to describe the essence Jesus becomes; instead he uses the Greek word σαρξ. This word is typically used to talk about the sinful body, the cursed body, or the fallen flesh. It is most Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 16

By Cory Clark often used in a negative sense. Jesus is identifying with us in two ways. He is identifying with us in the state we were in before the fall; he is taking on a body with its limitations. But it should also be noted that Jesus is enduring a body that is not merely limited by those things that limited humanity before the fall, but he took on a body that had been scared due to the fall. Jesus is taking on σαρξ which is referring to the fallen body. Let’s be clear; we are not saying Jesus sinned. Jesus never sinned. But Jesus took on a body that was scarred by the infliction of sin. For example, Jesus aged, he probably fell sick, he grew tired, and he experienced death. All of these are examples of a body that has been scarred by sin. So if Jesus totally absorbed the flesh of humanity and thereby emptied himself of all his abilities while he totally retained his divinity, how could Jesus live the life he lived? John 5:19 says Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. At every waking moment Jesus lives in the flesh, he always lives out of the sourcing of the Father. Jesus focus is always on the Father and he allows the Father to live his life. Jesus is totally reliant on the moving of the Father at all times. As we read through the gospel of John we should always see Jesus through this lens; operating through the Father. This truth gives overwhelming hope in our lives. If Jesus, living totally as we live could live the way he lived, how much so could we live as Jesus lived? Colossians provides insight when Paul exclaims, for in Christ the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ. The same resource Jesus has been given is available to us in the person of Jesus. We are reproducing the life of Jesus on this earth. Somehow someone bigger than ourselves dwells within us, living a Life beyond what we can live. We begin to feel as we have never felt before. We speak as we never could speak previously. We love as we could not love. As John 1:13 says we are born of God! We have a new substance. What is in God is now in us. The way Jesus feels, is the way we feel. There is no mistake; we are sourced by Jesus as Jesus is sourced by the Father. Jesus took on flesh so that we will take on Jesus. • Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 17

I Have You In My

Heart

by Delphine Manley

Always Advance :: Philippians 1:12-30

Paul knows how much the Philippians love him and how much they are concerned about his wellbeing. Once he has expressed his feelings for them and tells them how he prays for them, he is free to speak of his present condition. He knows they want to know how he is getting along while in prison. Is he adjusting? Is this man who led them to Christ going to be able to survive when he is not free to continue his travels proclaiming the Gospel of Christ? Only words from Paul himself will be suďŹ&#x192;cient.

My Chains Advance the Gospel 12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

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Paul is adamant that the Philippians understand the Gospel has been advanced because of his imprisonment. He is not free to travel and preach but the Good News of the Gospel is not bound because he is bound. His imprisonment has had a definite positive eﬀect on the advancement. But how can this be? Paul had complete confidence in God. In another of his letters Paul wrote, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Paul knew that God was in charge no matter what the situation seemed to say to the contrary. He believed that regardless of his circumstances he could trust in God for the outcome. We need to understand the sp ecial circumstances of Paul’s imprisonment; the reason for his imprisonment is recorded in Acts 21-26. ese chapters tell of Paul’s arrest in the Temple of Jerusalem. He was accused of teaching against the people of Israel and the Law of Moses, as well as an accusation that he defiled the temple by bringing Gentiles into its walls. ese accusations came from the Jews who wanted to kill him. Even though Paul had done nothing against the Israelites, his own people, or the customs of their ancestors, he was made a prisoner in Jerusalem and was handed over to the Romans. Aer questioning him the Romans wanted to release him, because they found he had done nothing for which he deserved to die. e Jews violently opposed his release, which forced Paul, even though he had no accusations against his people, to appeal to the Emperor. Because of Paul’s personal appeal to speak his case before the Emperor he was taken to Rome by ship with other prisoners by a Roman army oﬃcer named Julius. Aer surviving a shipwreck, he arrived in Rome where he was allowed to rent a house. People could come and go to take care of Paul’s needs which explains why Timothy and Epaphroditus were allowed to be with him in prison. However, twenty-four hours a day Paul was chained at the wrist to a member of the palace guard. When you consider the fact that Paul remained in this situation

for two years awaiting his case before the Emperor, and if the guard he was chained to changed twice or three times in twenty-four hours, Paul undoubtedly was able to penetrate a large portion, if not all, of the Palace Guard with the good news of the Gospel With this background concerning his imprisonment we have a better understanding of how the whole palace guard could know why Paul was there. Paul was a very social person and with great boldness proclaimed the good news about Jesus Christ. He undoubtedly spoke of his Lord to each guard to whom he was chained. If he did not speak to them directly we know the guards heard everything Paul said to Timothy, Epaphroditus, or anyone who was visiting him. Commentators tell us Paul usually dictated his letter so the guard chained to him at the time of each dictation heard the content of each letter. During the two year period Paul’s reason for being there became well known to everyone, especially the Palace Guard. He was there because of his stand for Christ. He had been imprisoned because of false accusations but still desired to plead his case before the Roman Emperor. is, however, did not squelch Paul’s testimony and everyone who came into contact with him could not help but be moved by the love for Christ that this man exhibited. It moved through the Palace Guard like a strong wind through the trees. Another way Paul’s circumstances further advanced the Gospel was in regard to the brothers who were on the outside preaching the message of salvation. One would naturally expect these preachers to be hesitant and wary in preaching because of the peril of their great leader. Not so! Paul’s brave endurance of his situation, his persistent discourse concerning Christ to all who came within his reach, and even his heroic readiness to die for Christ, instead kindled anew their courage and zeal, and made them loud proclaimers of the truth. Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that what appeared to be against him personally was actually being used for Christ’s good and was advancing the Gospel, not hindering it.

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Preaching Advances the Gospel 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 e former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, As we look at verses fieen through eighteen we get to see Paul’s response to personal offenses against him. He speaks of two groups of people preaching in Rome during his confinement there. Each group has a different motive for their preaching. He has just mentioned in verse fourteen the group of Christian brothers who have a new boldness in preaching because of Paul’s circumstances. is group was of benefit in advancing the Gospel. e second group had another motive for preaching Christ. is group was moved by envy toward the apostle. It is believed that they thought that their preaching would somehow make matters worse for Paul in his imprisonment. ese people considered themselves Christians but preached from a jealous and quarrelsome spirit. e brethren, to whom Paul referred first, preached from love believing that Paul was divinely appointed by God to defend the Gospel. e second group does not proclaim Christ sincerely, but rather from selfish ambition hoping to cause Paul trouble. How would this make you feel if you were in Paul’s shoes? Human nature may be offended, be hurt, get angry, or pity itself. Not Paul! Paul is concerned not with himself, but his concern is for the advancement of the Gospel. With his eyes on Jesus he has no time to feel offended. He had died to his own feelings and his concentration is on getting the news of Christ out. Paul says that the motives of the two groups don’t matter to him. e news of Christ is

being preached, and whether the motives are right or wrong, Christ is being proclaimed and Paul rejoices because the Gospel is advancing. His great soul rises to the petty opposition of those who want to cause him trouble, in the knowledge that the name of his Master is more widely proclaimed. In fact, he says he rejoices now, and yes, he will continue to rejoice. Paul reveals his support system in verse nineteen. He feels the eﬀects of the prayers of the Philippians. He knows they are continually upholding him in their communication with the Father. ough he is separated from them by many miles they are together in the spirit of prayer. at is half of his support system. e second half is the Holy Spirit, who would remain with him to the end, whatever the end might be. Paul is confident that the end will mean freedom and this will be the result due to his tremendous support system.

To Live or To Die 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. Would Paul live or die? He was uncertain of the outcome. It could go either way, but to Paul, either way would mean advancement. In verse twenty Paul uses a word in the Greek which only he used. He probably coined the word himself. e word is apokaradokia. Apo means away from; kara means the head; dokein means to look. Paul eagerly, and with concentration and intensity turned his gaze away from everything negative and focused intently on the one object of his desire, Jesus. Whether Paul lives or dies, his one desire is to bring honor to Christ and that the Gospel ALWAYS ADVANCE. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. In life Paul desires to speak the truth with boldness and courage, to bring honor to Christ, even though he is in prison and faces possible death. But he also knows that in his death, Christ will be

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honored. So which should he choose? For him personally, to live is Christ: his whole life, whether in prison or in freedom, with all his energy of body and soul, is consecrated to making Christ known as the only Savior. But to die would be gain. Heaven would be immeasurable gain over his present condition, and if he dies a martyr’s death it would be known to all that he died for Christ; so either way Christ will be magnified in his body. His death would mean an end to his persecution, suﬀering, and imprisonment and would be more desirable than life at this point, and he would be immediately with the Lord. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. Paul does not know which he should choose. Here he looks at his reason for life. He was a called Apostle. Continued life would mean continued ministry, with a harvest of souls saved and believers comforted. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Paul leans toward the choice of death in verse twenty-three. Clarke’s Commentary explains Paul’s leaning this way. “It appears to be a metaphor taken from the commander of the vessel, in a foreign port, who feels a strong desire to set sail, and get to his own country and family; but this desire is counterbalanced by a conviction that the general interests of the voyage may be best answered by his longer stay in port where his vessel now rides; for he is not in dock, he is not aground, but rides an anchor in the port, and may at any hour weigh and be gone. Such was the condition of the apostle: he was not at home, but although he was abroad it was his employer’s business: he wishes to return, and is cleared out and ready to set sail, but he has not received his last orders from his owner, and whatever desire he may feel to be at home he will faithfully wait till his final orders arrive.”

24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. Now we see Paul lean back in the other direction toward the needs of his beloved Philippians. ey are more needful of his living. e needs of the church oﬀset his personal desire. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Paul spills out his hopes for the Philippians here. He shis gears from what he would choose if the choice were his, to what was best for the Philippians. He seems to suddenly realize that his return to Philippi would result in the enlargement of their faith and a deepening of their joy. If the Philippians could witness Paul’s steadfastness in the midst of unfair and troubling circumstances, they would then know how a man of God responds to such situations and Jesus shines through such a man. If Paul could face the worst and come out rejoicing in the Jesus who sourced him through the trouble then the Philippians would see what Jesus can do through a life surrendered to Him. Paul’s desire to see the Gospel ALWAYS ADVANCE is once again revealed to the Philippians by his resignation to their needs over his own.

Whatever Happens Always Advance 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your aﬀairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

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Paul speaks of their conversation as becoming the gospel of Christ. He does not refer to just their speech, but the Greek term here embraces the whole moral life. ey are citizens of a spiritual country, and as such they are to live as good citizens ought. e reference here is to their church life. Whether Paul should come and see them, or, remain absent, but hear from them, he expected them to be a strong church and show a style of conduct worthy of the Gospel of Christ. D. D Whedon writes in Whedon’s Commentary on the New Testament, that “they were to (1) show firm unity in a common spirit in thought and purpose; (2) be of one mind in soul, feeling and interest; (3) strive together for the vital faith which the Gospel gives; and (4) in nothing terrified stand with steadfast courage against all opposition. Only a united front will advance the Gospel.” is church was experiencing persecution for advancing the Gospel just as Paul was being persecuted. He could not miss the opportunity to encourage them in their time of suffering. Up to this point he has been speaking to them of his own response to his circumstances. Now he speaks to them of their response to their circumstances. e Philippian Christians are to stand fast in spite of their affliction; but it is only the Lord who enables them to stand in their evil day. en their persecutors will witness their calm courage and they may see the reality of their own sin. ey will set such an example that the pagans might be disgusted and revolted by their own way of life and realize that Christians have something which they do not possess. Perhaps they will seek to share in what the Christian possesses. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. It is the privilege of the Philippians, says Paul, to serve Christ, both by believing in Him and suffering for Him. Now they can take part in the battle with Paul. When Paul first came to Philippi, they witnessed him fight his own battle. ey saw him scourged and imprisoned for his faith as recorded in Acts 16. Now they are in the midst of their own persecution for the same reason. ey know firsthand what Paul experienced and is now experiencing. Paul’s resource is Jesus. e Philippians have an excellent example for allowing Jesus to source them as well. Paul says, in prison – ALWAYS ADVANCE; when men offend you – ALWAYS ADVANCE; in life or in death – ALWAYS ADVANCE; and when you are called to suffer for the cause of Christ – ALWAYS ADVANCE. As you and I advance together, remember “I have you in my heart.” •

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Cross Style

School of Practical Ministry

Spend a year . . . Change your life

Find more info at

CrossStyle.org

International “Madam, the teaching that we are offering through your ministry, Cross style packages - it has brought many lives closer to the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ and this is exactly the tools to be used in evangelism.” – Weston, Malawi, Central Africa –

This is just one of many comments we receive on the training materials that we send out around the world. In the month of January, we had 3 new contacts to which we sent materials. From our experience, we found that it is best to start small and see what happens. We usually send out one course “Being What You’ve Become.” If they’re interested, we hear from them again wanting more. If they’re not interested, we haven’t wasted the resources of sending a full package. One of the contacts is from India. We have been very impressed with the emails that we receive from him The second contact is from Ensenada, Mexico. This is very exciting for us as we have never had a Spanish speaking Training Center before. We have sent materials to Honduras, but don’t know if there is any training at this point so we have not included that country in our numbers at this time. The third contact is from Opuwo, Namibia. He is the very first to contact us from his country. We are anxious to see if this transpires into a training center. Namibia is in central Africa and even though we have many centers in Malawi which is a bordering country, it is too far to travel there for training. With the large donation we received last year, we opened 7 new training centers. All were in different regions of Malawi and Uganda and under direction of seasoned Directors. All 7 of these centers were started by graduates of existing training centers. Once many students graduate, they have a desire to start a Training Center in their area. Due to limited travel, it is impossible for some to get this training if they don’t have a Center convenient. Many students still have to

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Update travel by foot or bicycle for more than 10 miles each way. This is why we have so many people waiting to receive training packages. The list is getting longer and longer. Just in the month of December, we printed and mailed over 400 Graduation Certificates to locations in Africa alone. We have not idea of the exact number of students that graduated, as many of the centers do their own certificates in other countries. Our estimate is somewhere over 1,000 graduates. Imagine the impact this is having in the world around us. There is no limit to the possibility to spread of the message via these training packages. Right now there have been 175 Training Centers established in 24 countries. In the last 2 weeks, we have completed mounds of paperwork for our Homeland Security as we are inviting 6 international students to come for one year training in Lebanon at the Cross Style Practical Ministry School. Please be much in prayer for favor for the H3 visas which we have applied for on behalf of these who have been invited. We were blessed to receive the $1,950 needed to make these applications, but please pray for the funds needed to provide travel. It will take about $10,000. Also please pray for each of the students to be open and receptive to what Jesus wants to accomplish in all this. â&#x20AC;˘

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Come and

It is my pleasure to give you two of my family’s favorite congealed salads. These are also loved by my church family as well. They are great potluck recipes. – Delphine Manley –

Christmas Salad 2 small or 1 large raspberry or cherry Jello 1 ½ cups boiling water 1 (20oz.) can crushed pineapple including juice 1 can whole cranberry sauce (mashed) ¾ cup cranberry juice or water 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 1 8 oz. cream cheese ½ cup sugar ½ cup sour cream

by Delphine Manley

Dissolve Jello boiling water. Add pineapple with juice and mashed cranberry sauce. Mix well, pour into 9 by 13 pan and chill until firm. Cream together until smooth, softened cream cheese, sugar and sour cream. Spread over Jello mixture and sprinkle with chopped nuts. (I use water unless I have cranberry juice on hand. Really cannot tell the difference. I have tried both pecans and walnuts and prefer the walnuts.)

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Dine

Aunt Aliceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Four Layer Salad by Delphine Manley

First Layer 1 large or 2 small pkgs. lime Jello (I use sugar free.) 2 Cups boiling water 10 ice Cubes 1 Can Crushed Pineapple (drain and reserve juice for third layer.)

Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Add ice cubes and stir until dissolved. Stir in drained pineapple and pour into 9x13 dish and refrigerate until set.

Second Layer 1 pkg. Dream Whip prepared according to directions. 8 ounces cream cheese (softened) Whip prepared Dream Whip and softened cream cheese. Spread over first layer.

Third Layer 3 Tablespoons flour 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 Cup reserved pineapple juice 1/3 Cup sugar 3 eggs Mix these ingredients together. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick. Cover mixture with plastic wrap to prevent film. When completely cool, spread over second layer.

Fourth Layer 6 ounces finely grated Colby Cheese Sprinkle over third layer. Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 27

Come and Burrito Casserole

by Ellen Bailey

10 large flour tortillas

1 lb ground chuck 1 pkg taco seasoning mix 1 can refried beans 1 small chopped onion 1 can Enchilada sauce 1 small jar Salsa 8 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese Brown chuck & onion. Drain. Mix in taco seasoning (do not add water) Add beans & mix together. Set aside. Lightly brush each side of tortilla with oil. Place meat mixture in middle & roll up. Put in 13 X 9 pan with seam down. Mix sauce & salsa together and pour over the filled tortillas. Top with cheese. Dot with black olives if desired. Bake @ 350 until bubbly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 30-40 mins

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Dine

Taco Casserole

by Ellen Bailey

Boil & drain elbow macaroni so that you have 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 1/2 cup of drained noodles. Brown chopped onion with 1 lb. ground beef. Add 1 pkg Taco Seasoning mix & follow directions on pkg. Add: 1 jar of salsa Â˝ c frozen corn. 1 can of diced green chilies Mix together with drained noodles in a 9"x13" pan. Top with: 2 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese 2 c Mexican 4 cheese 1 can chopped black olives Cover with tinfoil and bake @ 350* for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Remove tinfoil and bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Serve with sour cream. This is a great 'make ahead meal'. It also freezes nicely.

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S t ep he n Ma nl ey CrossStyleChurch.org

Evangelist Preaching Schedules Je r e mi a h B o lic h JeremiahBolich.com

April 1-4 | Eastside Church of the Nazarene (Des Moines, IA) April 6-8 | Summit Church of the Nazarene (Summit, KY) April 15-18 | First Church of the Nazarene (Bluffton, IN) April 22-25 | First Church of the Nazarene (Anna, IL) April 27-29 | Vandaila Church of the Nazarene (Vandaila, OH) May 4-7 | Sheridan Church of the Nazarene (Sheridan, IA) May 11-13 | Mandan Church of the Nazarene (Mandan, ND) May 20-23 | Fayetteville Church of the Nazarene (Fayetteville, NC) June 3-6 | Des Moines Southside Nazarene (Des Moines, IA) June 11-17 | Cross Style Training Camp (Lebanon, TN) June 18-23 | Sky Lodge Jr. High Camp (Montello, WI) June 24-29 | MI District Sr. High Camp (Indian Lake, Vicksburg, MI) Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 30

Evangelist Preaching Schedules B i l l y Hu d dl e st o n BillyHuddleston.com

April 1-4 | Jackson Church of the Nazarene (Jackson, OH) April 8-11 | Buchanan Church of the Nazarene (Buchanan, MI) April 15-18 | First Church of the Nazarene (Bedford, IN) April 22-25 | Deuber United Methodist Church (Canton, OH) April 29 - May 2 | Montana Ave. Church of the Nazarene (Cincinnati, OH) May 6-9 | Marysville Church of the Nazarene (Marysville, OH) May 13-16 | Logan Church of the Nazarene (Logan, OH) May 20-23 | Broadway Church of the Nazarene (Parkersburg, WV) May 27-30 | Meigs Area Holiness Camp (Reedsville, OH) June 3-6 | Church of the Open Door (Richfield, PA) June 13-17 | NE Indiana District Camp (Marion, IN) June 18-22 | WV District Sr. High Camp (Summersville, WV) June 24-27 | Calvary Church of the Nazarene (Charlotte, NC)

B r i a n A r n er

BrianArnerMinistries.com April 1 | Carthage Church of the Nazarene (Carthage, MO) April 8 | First United Methodist (Cumming, GA) April 12-14 | Michigan State Gideons Conference April 15 | Cherry Grove Nazarene (Cadillac, MI) April 20-21 | Tennessee State Gideons Conference April 29-May 2 | Bluegrass Zone Camp (Irvine, KY) May 3 | South Texas District Assembly (Houston, TX) May 6 | Cornerstone Baptist Church (Lawrenceville, GA) May 11 | Banquet at Grace Nazarene (Portage, IN) May 13 | First Church of the Nazarene (Highland, IN) Joliet First Church (Joliet, IL) June 3 | Warner Robins Nazarene (Warner Robins, GA) June 11 | Suwanee Camp Meeting (Suwanee, FL) Cross Style Connection| April - June 2012 | Page 31

C h a d S ea b r i gh t enkindleMinistries.com

Cory Clark

CoryClarkMinistries.com April 1 | Marion First Church of the Nazarene (Marion, IN) April 8 | Brethren First Church (Marion, IN) June 11-17 | Cross Style Training Camp (Lebanon, TN) June 22-July 1 | Sharon Holiness Camp

N a t ha n Jo h nso n deeperChristian.com

June 11-17 | Cross Style Training Camp (Lebanon, TN)

Evangelist Preaching Schedules

Not an Event . . .

. . . it’s a Lifestyle CROSS STYLE GLOBAL MINISTRIE S PO Box 2089 Lebanon, TN 37088 (615) 443-4485 CrossStyle.org