God Is Not For Sale

God Is Not For Sale

Author - Alfie Pfeifer

Editor - Doug Salaser

God is in heaven. Assuming we would all prefer to go there when we die, how exactly do we get there? Can we buy our way in?

Most people will say if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds you will go to heaven when you die. If that’s true, how would we "buy off God" so we can be sure that He will look the other way when our time comes?

Lets look at what God says in His book, the Bible. It clearly states that there is something very serious that separates man from God—it’s called sin. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). In order to be with God we must meet His perfect level of holiness yet the Bible says we’ve all come up short. Because of sin each one of us has a debt that needs to be paid for.

And that causes many to wonder how much will it take to "buy off God" so their sin debt is completely paid and they can be assured of safe passage to heaven? The bigger question is, "Can we pay for that sin debt ourselves?"

Many, perhaps most, people plan to offer their good works to God in an to attempt to pay this debt. In reality they are trying to "buy off God." Will keeping the Ten Commandments pay the price for my sin? As you examine the Ten Commandments can you say you have NEVER broken ANY of them? The Bible says "whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).

There are two things we must consider—God’s grace and our works. In the Bible we read, "For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves—it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9). In other words, God’s grace offers the only perfect and complete payment for our sin indebtedness!

God’s grace is the instrument through which He offers salvation. This "undeserved favor" not only completely secures a person’s eternal salvation it also keeps it safe throughout the entirety of the recipient’s life on earth. He has assurance of salvation from God’s Book: "This is the record, that God has given to us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11, 12).

The answer to the question, "How do I get to heaven?’ is clearly revealed in John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." "There is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

God provided this full payment by His grace through His only begotten Son—Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for all our sin once for all. Christ’s sacrifice was perfect and no one can duplicate or add anything to it. No amount of almsgiving or prayers can change the eternal state of the person that has died. Psalm 49:7 "A man cannot at all redeem a brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (Psalm 49:7). We all must make arrangements for eternity—for ourselves—in this life! The eternal state of someone cannot be changed: "It is appointed unto man once to die—after that the judgement" (Hebrews 9:27).

When man tries to reach God through his own merit, strength or deeds he is trying to "buy God." Money can’t buy God. Only one payment was enough and it has already been accepted. As the Apostle Peter said about true believers… "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
　
God’s grace is complete, but works never end and they keep a person under bondage. If you could pay for your own sin when would you know you have done enough? The work of the priests of the Old Testament was never complete. "And indeed every priest stands daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins" (Hebrews 10:11). Contrast this with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus "who does not need, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily, first for his own sins and then for the people’s sins. For He did this once for all, when He offered up Himself"(Hebrews 7:27).

Because of this there is no more need for sacrifice for sin. "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin" (Hebrews 10:18). Jesus’ perfect sacrifice was complete, and his resurrection three days later proved it! Any other payment would be a mockery in comparison to the death of God’s own Son!

Grace enables salvation to be a gift. One definition of the word "GIFT" is: "something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned." There is no way we can pay, earn or merit salvation on our own and be with God when we die. Think about this: Suppose you have been convicted and have been given the death penalty by a judge. A stranger comes in and tells the judge that he will take your place and pay the penalty for your crime. Would you accept this free gift?

God has provided the provision of Jesus Christ paying completely the sin debt we owe. Would you accept His offer to save you? Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe it personally, and you will be saved . . . "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved . . ." (Act 16:31) To believe is to trust Him completely to do all that is needed to remove my penalty of sin and give spiritual life to me. The Bible uses "believe" to mean absolute trust in the complete and finished work of Christ. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

Have you received the greatest gift?

Pfeifer's Journey - November 2009

What's Cooking?

The question was asked by several attending a seminar focusing on "Partnership Development" held at CAM Center. It was the last day of Candidate orientation. Besides Joshua and Meagan Owens who had just been accepted as appointees to serve with CAM International there were four other appointee couples from previous candidate orientations along with one of our missionaries from Uruguay. I (Alfie) was able to attend to learn and also to share input.
What prompted the question was the fragrant aroma coming from the mission home kitchen just around the corner from where the meeting was taking place. Karen was baking homemade oatmeal rolls to go with the lunch that she was preparing for the group. The only thing better than the aroma of fresh baked bread is eating it while it is still warm.

The seminar was given to help our appointees consider the importance of building and maintaining a growing partnership with those that pray and give. It was stressed that there is accountability between the missionary and those that partner with them. Partnership is Biblical. "Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants." Philippian 2:25 The Philippian Church, Epaphroditus and Paul partnered together and shared in the blessing of the ministry.

My part in candidate orientation was to explain to Joshua and Meagan Owens about the services I provide in helping them in their journey to their field of service. I will be producing their intro brochure that has their bio, ministry destination and contact information. I will also work up their prayer card. I went over the guidelines of the prayer letter service including how to submit their mailing list. I will not only serve them through their initial representation time but also continue to serve them when they arrive on their field of service in Guatemala.

The last two weeks of October are a blur. We started with candidate orientation with hosting Johsua and Meagan one evening in our home. The following Thursday Karen cleaned both admin buildings. On Friday she cleaned one apartment and fixed lunch for the 14 people attending the seminar. She had prepared food the day before for CAM missionaries coming for Quest that evening.

Quest is a program that focuses on leadership development—creating in the lives of those attending the focus of being life-long learners—being a disciple to make disciples. During the week the group focused on "Being and Making Disciples," Marks of a Healthy Disciple, and "The Work of the Holy Spirit and you in spiritual transformation."
　
We kept two couples that Saturday night—one from Guatemala and one from Honduras. Karen fixed breakfast Sunday morning and had one of the couples come back along with two other couples from our Mexico field for a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings after church. She also prepared a meal for about 30 of our CAM missionaries when they came back from Quest the following Friday. We kept one couple that Friday night and a missionary from South America Mission that attended Quest.

I recently worked up a quote on a booklet that is being sold through CAM’s Spanish book store. I can produce it through our copier—printed two sides, collated, stapled and folded for between 40 and 50 cents compared to $1:19 to $2:39 through a commercial printer. This will be a huge savings to CAM. There is a series of four booklets on the life of Christ.

The focus of CAM International is to see lives transformed. Our prayer is that our lives will continue to be transformed and through our relationships with others we will help them in the same transformation process. It is a joy to serve others.

Looking ahead at Thanksgiving we have much to be thankful for.

Jesus Christ and the relationship we have with Him.

Our children and grandchildren.

The ministry He has called us to. Those that partner with us in the ministry.

Our CAM family that we minister with.

Our local church and the ministry we have through hosting a small group.

　
Pray - I (Alfie) am working up a tract that I hope to have printed this month. I have the manuscript being critiqued by a friend that is involved in preparing evangelistic material.
Looking ahead - We will soon be setting up our itinerary for next March 29 - April 21 for representation meetings. This trip will take us through Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa. Please let us know if you would like to have us.

We thank the Lord for those partnering with us in the ministry and are praying for others to join in partnering with us.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

4603 Julian Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150
972-226-6728

kpfeifer@caminternational.org

Pfeifers Journey August 2009 Page 1

Summer time is a beehive of activity here at CAM Center. As I was working on a project one morning my concentration was interrupted by the buzzer letting me know someone was at the office door of the Hummel Building where I work. As I headed to the door I was greeted by the smiling faces of CAM missionaries Sergio and Miriam Rimarez. They are taking a break from their ministry in Northern Spain, in the city of Santander, to take a four month representation trip to the U.S., Mexico and Guatemala. Miriam has set up a meeting with me to go over their mailing list for their prayer letters.

As we were going over the list I get a phone call from one of our missionaries with a request. While I was making changes to the mailing list I noticed an e-mail come into my mailbox. I recognized the name and did a quick response. One of our short-term missionaries serving in Southern Spain I had just met that morning stopped by my office so I introduced her to Miriam. Later my supervisor stopped by and reminded me of a meeting we had coming up. Some days are filled with bits and pieces of activity but its all about serving our field staff.

In the last several months I have processed prayer cards and reply cards for 13 different missionaries. The communication between our missionaries and their support teams is critical. Over 13,000 letters were sent out in the last several months seeking to generate prayer and also share answers to prayer. The prayer letter ministry continues to grow. Serving our field staff and the local church is our mission. We wish you could feel the warm handshakes and hear the sincere expressions of our field staff as they express their gratitude for the services we provide for them.

The Mission Home—A home away from home—a comfortable resting place for our field staff as they pass through Dallas. Last August a work team from Sully Community Church, Sully, Iowa, redid apartment 5 besides painting apartment 1 and 2. They are sending another team this August to do more projects at CAM Center. Karen, along with Linda Arnold, have been busy making sure the five apartments are clean and ready for the next travelers. During the months of May through July, 20 different individuals or families and two work teams used the apartments.

Karen and I offer hospitality in our home when the mission home is full. One of our missionaries to Guatemala, his youngest daughter, another daughter and her fiance graced our table for several meals and spent one night in our home in July. We hosted a puppet ministry team from South Texas in our home for four nights in July. Four of the ten member team members stayed with Jennifer and Brian. Karen did the meals for the team.

Transformed to Transform
CAM International’s commitment to make disciples among Spanish-speakers worldwide is fueled by the needs of the lost, the church, and the less-reached peoples of the world. Our vision is to transform Spanish speakers to transform the world. Along with the personal ministry of our missionaries we offer Spanish speakers recourses in print and downloadable format.

Tienda Obrerofiel—After much planning CAM’s Spanish bookstore had it’s first open house on July 11. Twenty-seven non-CAM people enjoyed a free breakfast of tortillas, black beans, Spanish Rice, salad, a meat dish, coffee and juice. Karen and Jennifer prepared everything except the meat dish which was prepared by a guy from a Hispanic church. This was followed by a seminar given by Delwin Bardales, bookstore worker and Hispanic pastor. Those attending were then given a tour of the bookstore where they could purchase resources in Spanish which includes Bibles, Sunday School Material, VBS Material, books on Christian Living, Pastoral Material, Reference resources, Bible Studies and Music. All of the resources are also available on-line by going to: http://www.tiendaobrerofiel.com/

ObreroFiel.com is a web site which serves Spanish-speaking pastors, teachers, Christian leaders and Latin missionaries ministering around the world. About 30,000 unique users from 77 different countries around the world visit the site 52,000 times each month. ObreroFiel also sends 90,000 emails a month to users who request regular input and help for their lives and ministries. ObreroFiel has three goals as it ministers to Christian leaders around the world.

Goal #1: ENCOURAGE leaders in times of frustration
Goal #2: EDUCATE for more effective ministry
Goal #3: EQUIP with quality resources for ministry
The free resources are available by going to:
http://obrerofiel.com/

THANK YOU—A simple "THANK YOU" seems inadequate in expressing our appreciation to you for partnering with us. Together we are reaching souls for HIS Kingdom. You can rejoice with us in lives being transformed.

Pray:
That others would partner with us in the ministry. Several of those that have partnered with us on a regular basis are dropping off.
For balance in our ministry and personal lives.
That we would have boldness in sharing the Gospel.

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