Eternal Expectations3/18/2024 1 Peter 1:4 ~ "...to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." What are your expectations... and are your eternal expectations of far greater worth than any here on earth? We all live with certain expectations in mind. People expect that the sun will rise upon the morning, that the day will carry along one second, by one minute, by one hour at a time, and that by the end of day the world will be shrouded in evening darkness. Those who have the opportunity to live what might be considered a normal, productive life, will hold expectations for things like retirement, vacations, home and stability. People who strive toward achieving a level of competence in a field of study or work have the expectation that their efforts will be rewarded with greater knowledge and ability. All who step onto an airplane have the great expectation that they will arrive safely at their desired destination. But then something happens along the journey of life that might change those expectations. A career might fail, or an illness might strike without warning. The economy might turn against you or an unexpected natural disaster might wreak havoc upon your plans. And then, with that unforeseen situation, your expectations are lost upon the wind of circumstances like a leaf blown in a storm. Therein lies the problem with making an anchor out of our expectations in this world. It is like holding a kite in a windstorm with a flimsy strand of web. Eventually, my friends, our circumstances will prove to fail our expectations. Jesus, our Lord, told us this when He said in Matthew 6:19, "“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal." 1 John 2:17 reminds us, "And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." We must remember that there is nothing in this world that is so permanent that we can anchor all our expectations upon it and trust that it will not fail. Moth, rust, thieves--all manner of decaying, destructive forces work against the life. But there is an expectation for the believer that is more secure than anything this world could offer. For those who are in Christ, there is promised an eternal inheritance. There is a kingdom given, crowns applied, rewards recompensed, the river of life, and of greatest delight--the very presence of God with His people (see Revelation 21-22). And from our text today, we find that this inheritance is eternal. First, it is imperishable. There is no force or enemy that can destroy what is promised to the believer. Disasters cannot befall it. Second, it is undefiled. There is no quality of this promised inheritance that can be corrupted or compromised by its own inner contamination. There are no impurities within this promised inheritance. Third, it is unfading. There is no limit to the eternal reward from the Lord Jesus. It is an enduring, perpetual inheritance that will never run out. And fourth, it is kept in heaven for you. Literally, it is being "watched over" or guarded by the Divine hand. And it is in heaven, outside the reach of any who would try to despoil the inheritance. My dear friends, hold to expectations in this transient world with a tender grasp, but cling to the expectations of the world to come with a grip of iron. For in this world, sudden circumstances might rob you of a hoped for expectation. But there is no calamity that can touch the eternal promises for those who belong to Christ. Let us do as Paul instructed the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 4:18, "We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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Gospel Advancement in Prayer3/17/2024 2 Thessalonians 3:1 ~ "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you." There are great advancements of the Word of God that launch into the world, and much of the advancement begins in the prayers of God's people. Consider, for a moment, the great saints of bygone days who, in courageous effort, spoke boldly the word of God and found the hearts of their hearers open to the power of the gospel. If you look, you might discover that those great saints were upheld in their endeavors through the faithful prayers of God's people. On this day, one such man of God is honored--Patrick of Ireland, a servant of the Lord and missionary to the people of that island. And though a legendary figure to some, Patrick was truly just a faithful and courageous evangelist who brought the gospel to the Celtic people. And now, dear ones, what has happened with the word of God among you? As Paul addressed the Thessalonian believers, he reflected on the truth that God's word was received with honor among them. And now he seeks the prayers of the people of that church that the message should speed along and be honored among others as well. Has the word of God found its rightful place of honor in your heart? Consider the courageous soul who first told you of the saving grace of Christ. Think of those who, in faithfulness, watered that first planted seed of truth and prayed for you that you should find the salvation of the Lord. And now, beloved, think of all those who never met you--and yet prayed for that person who introduced you to Christ that the word of God would speed its way to your heart and be honored because you came to believe. And now, dear friends, look ahead to those who have yet to hear of the saving grace of Jesus. Are there those, like the Apostle Paul, who are striving against the wind and tide of resistance to the message of Christ? Then you owe it to that person to lift them up in prayer. Even as Paul asked for prayer, so these saints who go forward with the gospel seek the prayers of the church as well. But what should you pray? Even as the apostle sought--pray that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored. Consider another request for prayer from Colossians 4:3, "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison." And, as all good servants of Christ, the Apostle Paul does not ask of the church what he is also not willing to do--as he prays for his friend Philemon, "And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ" (Philemon 1:6). You may not be one who is on the "front lines" of the spiritual battle to advance the gospel of Jesus, but you are called upon to pray for those who are. So let us do as the word entreats--pray for the advancement of the word of God, and that it will be honored by others as it is with us. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Desires and Affections3/16/2024 John 21:15 ~ "When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?'" Everyone has them, and neither of them are wrong if they are focused in the right direction: affections and desires. So let me ask you this--is Jesus the object of your desire or the object of your affection? Is there a difference? The answer to the latter question is: yes. Let me explain in brief before we look at our text for today. When there is an object of affection in your life, that is the source of your desires. Affection is to look toward the object and long for that object to receive blessing and honor, you will delight in the satisfaction of the object of your affection. And when the object of your affection is you--that is when you will desire only those things that will delight you. This is where the "love yourself" philosophy goes awry. And this is where the "prosperity gospel" and all other false gospels grow in influence, for they play into the fallen nature of self-affection, self-love. An example from long ago, Adam and Eve, faced the temptation to rebel against God (see Genesis 3). They were tempted, not with the desire to leave God behind and abandon their fellowship with the Almighty, but with the idea that they should love themselves and take the fruit. Their affection was for self, so their desire was to satisfy themselves. Another term for self-affection is... lust. Today, the rampant sin of lust has engulfed humanity. Mankind's insatiable need to satisfy self has led to the hyper-growth of industries that cater to the carnal delights of the fallen heart. Consider what it says in James 1:15, "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." There are many who turn to Christ, not for His sake but for their own--not because of their lost condition seeking a Savior, but because of their hard circumstances seeking relief. They don't go looking for Christ to find Him, they go looking for Christ to find something that will satisfy themselves. It was the same experience as in John 6:26, "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.'" Their only affection is toward self so their only desire is to satisfy their selfish appetites. However, when the object of your affection is outside of yourself, you begin to experience the Scriptural condition of love. Jesus commanded that we are to love the LORD our God with all our hearts (see Matthew 22:37). We are to place all our affection upon the LORD our God. So that, with the Savior as the object of our complete affection, our desires then will be to do that which satisfies Him. We will desire righteousness, holiness, repentance, truth, sacrifice, and a host of other qualities that please the LORD. In fact, the Apostle Paul instructed us to, "...try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). Jesus, Himself, became for us the Divine embodiment of love--of having affection outside of Himself. He showed His love in such a way that it was undeniable His desire was for mankind's deliverance from the wrath of God because of our sinful rebellion. Romans 5:8 illuminates this, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." By way of example, consider marriage. A strong, healthy marriage is built upon a man and a woman who look to the other as the object of affection. Thus, their desires then will be to do that which will bring joy and satisfaction to their spouse. Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 7:33-34, "But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife... But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." This is what it looks like to have your affections set outside of yourself. Now, to the text for today, Jesus asks a critical question: "do you love me more than these?" And that question is laid before us as well. Do you love Christ more than... and you can fill in the blank. For Peter, perhaps it was more than these other disciples, or more than your desire to set your own course, or more than your old career of fishing. What is it for you? Do you love the Lord your Savior more than any other object of affection that is in your life--especially more than being your own object of affection? Revelation 12:11 clearly states it, "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." My friends, let all other affections you hold be as nothing in comparison to the love you have for Christ Jesus the Lord. Consider the question asked of Peter as the question asked by our Lord of all our hearts--do you love Him more? And, if you truly have an affirmative answer, listen to the testimony of 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God." In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Enemies Remain3/15/2024 Judges 2:21-22 ~ "I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not." Through Moses, and then Joshua, the LORD delivered the nation of Israel to the promised land and then conquered the land through Divine victory after victory. Red Seas and Jordan Rivers, fortified cities and towering walls were nothing to the LORD who led His people into the land He promised to Abraham. They took great delight in the fact that God was with them. Until, that is, when the nation forgot the LORD. A telling statement is made in Judges 2:10, "And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel." The generation of Joshua, and all that generation that knew the victory of the LORD, departed in death. The generation next forgot the LORD their God. The self-indulgent, promiscuous and pleasure-seeking worship of the former nations in Canaan still lingered in the memories of those who were not completely destroyed. And the nation of Israel, in their complacency, fell into the waiting arms of the false gods and plunged themselves into the idolatrous practices of the nations they conquered. And so it is that God allowed those remnant nations of false gods to remain amongst the people of Israel in order to leave for them a test of their love for and faithfulness to the LORD. What are we to learn from this? Dear one, God has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the world and into the promised land of Jesus Christ. You are no longer of the world any more, you have fled to take hold of that salvation that is offered to all who will believe. In great power and display of His grace, Jesus Christ gave up His life to rescue you from the dominion of darkness and deliver you into His own Kingdom. Early on, you were like a warrior and with joy you entered into the battle against sin. Has there been victories in your life through the Divine hand of God? Have great strongholds been toppled because of your faithful obedience to His word? And now, perhaps years later, has all that was once won through your resolute trusting in Christ seem now more like a distant memory, forgotten in the pages long since turned? Has complacency and ease drained the fight out of your soul so that it becomes easy to play with the little sins left behind? My friend... those are the enemies which remain. God has allowed them to remain. Some sins He has vanquished completely, utterly destroyed in the splendor of His salvation. Others seem to have vanished into the shadows until an opportune time for them to strike. And that most favorable time for sin is when we let our guard down. Recall what was said of the devil in his temptation of our Lord, "And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13). The nation of Israel was strong as long as Joshua led them and the people remembered the deliverance of God. And, beloved, you will be strong as long as you follow Christ and remember the salvation purchased for you on the cross. People have asked why God does not remove every sin from the believer's life. Why does not God simply destroy the devil and eliminate even the possibility of temptation? He will someday. But for now He allows the remnants of the enemy of our soul--those remaining sins that will strike without warning--in order to test us, that we also should take care to walk in all His ways. In the great dilemma with the "messenger of Satan," the Apostle Paul sought for God's release, three times, from those "thorns in his flesh." God's answer to Paul is His answer to us as well, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Lest we allow ourselves to grow complacent, let us never forget that we need the power of God's grace as much now as we did in the beginning. For, until we stand in the very presence of the King of kings, there are enemies that remain. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Unbiased Anger of God3/14/2024 Psalm 7:11 ~ "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day." As we step into this day, I wonder how many have misplaced this truth: God is angry at sin every day. With the mainspring of many spiritual conversations centered upon the love of God, it becomes harder to remember that the Just and Righteous Judge is also completely unbiased in His anger against sin. Now, my friends, God does love--and His love is rich with such goodness and mercy that it is impossible to fully comprehend. But the best way to view the brightness of His merciful love is seen when painted against the backdrop of the darkness of His wrath. Most will never truly know the love of God because they know nothing of His anger. He is our Creator, and He made us that we should walk in the bright glory of His holiness. But mankind is off, wandering through the wilderness of sin and exploring every possible rebellion against God. Ecclesiastes 7:29 states, "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." But because most people don't see that God is filled with wrath against sin, they do not see their own need for mercy, nor do they fear the disaster of judgment that is looming over their heads. But God's anger is the unbiased anger of a righteous judge. The Almighty, Omniscient God does not look down upon mankind with a subjective point of view. The LORD knows the truth of everyone. It was said of Jesus that He knew what was in man. "But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25). Even David understood that God was justified in His judgments, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:4). In the face of God's anger, there is not one justifying position that any person on this earth can take. Our problem arises because we do not fully understand an unbiased anger. For most of mankind, the anger that we feel within our hearts is filled with such personal prejudices that it restricts our capacity to make righteous judgments. James 1:19-20 says, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." And because we are so biased in our thinking, we think that God's anger is biased as well and therefore not justifiable. And if we believe that God is not justified in His indignation against our sin, then we do not see the need to seek His mercy and grace. But, as we think of God's anger this day, let us not forget His compassion. If you know yourself to be guilty before the Righteous Judge, then throw yourself on the mercy of God's court and plead not for your sins but for His salvation. Jesus, the Righteous Son of God, took upon Himself the full measure of God's anger and wrath against your sin. In love, He stood in your place of judgment so that you can stand before God in His righteousness. Our Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (see Exodus 34:5-7). And if you know true grief over your sins against God, then let it also lead you to repentance and salvation. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." We end with the words of God through the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 3:12 states, "Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, 'Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever.'" In His Grace, Pastor Michael Repentance to Restoration3/13/2024 Jeremiah 15:19 ~ "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.'" To understand this text, let us understand that the idea of "return" is to "repent." There is a direction away from the LORD that is always sinful. In fact, no direction away from the LORD is righteous--for when you turn away from God, you turn toward sin. Repentance, then, is the turning back toward God that He should be loved and obeyed. And when repentance happens in the life of a believer, it leads to a life restored. And, it is the restored life that has the opportunity to serve the LORD. For to "stand before" the LORD is to stand in a place of serving Him. Did you know that when you are serving the LORD in this world, it is as if you are standing before Him. Jesus said that as we did it to the least of those who belong to Him, we've done service to Him (see Matthew 25:40). Restoration will always follow repentance and serving is found through a life restored. We have a wonderful God who loves us and calls us to service. However, our usefulness is limited if we have no desire to repent and live a life restored to God Almighty. Perfection is not the key to valued service in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, restoration is. We cannot serve the living God without His restoring us to Himself, and that is found in repentance. Consider the call of Jeremiah. He was set by God to be a prophet, speaking the very word of God to the people of God. What then must he do? He must offer the precious words from God, not worthless words of man. To make application for those who are not called to be prophets, give your very best of what God has called you to do. Have you been called to serve? Do so diligently. Whatever aspect of service is set before you, perform it in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ – working with all your heart (see Colossians 3:23). And, finally, do not turn to the world. Let them come to you, but you must not go to them. That is, you must not return to worldly ideas and principles that mark a person who is not restored in Christ. The world will always call to the church to come back into the muck and mire from which we've been delivered (see Psalm 40:1-2). It is a lie to think that for you to understand and communicate with a sinful world, you must participate in their sins like one of them. Let this people turn to you. You are the one following Jesus. Maintain your faithfulness to Him and don’t let yourself fall into the trap of worldliness. The pattern is simple, beloved. Service follows restoration, and restoration follows repentance. This is the path that God has prepared for those who want to follow Him. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Living to Please God3/12/2024 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ~ "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more." Believer, let living to please the LORD be the highest ambition of your life. How simple a thing it is to hear the command to please the LORD, but how difficult it can become in the trials and temptations of life. As the Apostle Paul was wrapping up this first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he reflected upon three things: first, he instructed them on how to live to please God; second, he recognized that they had already achieved a certain level of pleasing God; and third he encouraged them to do so even more. And so we begin with the first--instruction on how to please the LORD. Paul told the church that they had received from the Apostle and his companions how they ought to walk and please God. There is a necessary instruction that every Christian needs in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. And it is all found in the Word of God. Many who claim to be followers of Christ are devising their own schemes and plans that they enjoy or approve and do not even consult with God's written word. Yet, how is a person supposed to know how to please anyone without consulting that individual? We read in Ecclesiastes 7:29, "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." The original design of man was to live for God's glory, but sin turned us after our own devices and now we cannot know how to do anything other than follow our own schemes unless God gives us His instruction. Thus, we must trust and follow His word by faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him (see Hebrews 11:6). Next we move to the second--they had already achieved a level of pleasing God. And that is very true of the Thessalonian church. Consider what Paul said in the beginning of the letter. "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia" (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7). In the midst of affliction, the church received the word from the Apostle, and filled with the joy of the Spirit, lived out what they were told, becoming examples to all who were around. They looked to the Apostles and leaders of the church to gain the example they needed to live in such a way that it was pleasing to the Lord. How much have you achieved, dear one? Do you know some of the requirements of the Lord that instruct you on how to live, in order to please God? We can look to Hebrews 13:6 and learn how to please God through personal sacrifice: "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Or we can take to heart 1 Timothy 2:1-4 that teaches us to pray for those in leadership so that we can live peaceable and godly lives in this world--which is pleasing to God. And we take with dire warning Romans 8:8, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." We conclude with the third--an encouragement to do so more and more. Living to please God is a journey of learning and growing, increasing in your knowledge of God and your faithfulness to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 states, "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." And this is what all believers should do--take aim at a life that is pleasing to God. So, if you are just entering the day, let it be set for the glory and satisfaction of the Lord Almighty. The LORD has given you His word as the means by which you can know and trust Him. He who created you would not have you wander off into all manner of worldly schemes. Find, my friends, your deepest satisfaction in Him. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Lord, Our Portion3/11/2024 Lamentations 3:24 ~ "'The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" There is much in this world that people often look to as their portion, that which they believe is their due. Some, not unlike the prodigal son, will look to their inheritance as their due portion. "And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them" (Luke 15:12). Or as the man who cried out to Jesus in Luke 12:13, "Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'" There are others who look to their portion as that which is due them through their labors. Consider the workers in the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:10, "Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius." But, dear Christian, the LORD is our portion--He is our great inheritance. We do not look to the world to fulfill the desires of our heart, for our heart does not desire anything but our Savior. Which is why, when troubled times come and the world is rife with distress and hatred toward God, we look beyond what we can see and know that our portion is Christ. Consider the great weight of the persecutions and oppressions faced by Jeremiah. As he laments his prayer before the LORD, he recalls the very real truth that his one great hope, his absolute confidence is that the LORD was his portion--and there is nothing that can diminish such a promise. Let me encourage you to take time to read the book of Lamentations and hear the heart of the prophet as he watched the judgment of God fall upon the people of Israel. Through Jeremiah, the LORD tried to warn Israel, sought to lead them to repentance, and sent word to the king. "Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin" (Jeremiah 36:2-3). The king's response was to burn the words that were given (see Jeremiah 36:23). And now, today, we live in a world filled with sin, and God's word is often dismissed as if it were nothing more than fodder for a fire. And in their dismissal of the LORD, the world will come against the church and we may face the enflamed hatred that they have for Christ. If that should happen, dear one, look to the LORD for your portion. Let us not be like Demas who ran after the world, "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica" (2 Timothy 4:10). Those who long to have their portion from this world, will ultimately discover that they are holding nothing more than sand. And, if the LORD is your portion, then you can put your absolute hope in Him. If He is your portion, you very great reward, and you look beyond this world and to glory for the satisfaction of your heart, then you will never be in a condition of disappointment for you will discover that in His presence is the fulfillment of all His promises to those who long for Him. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Through Tribulation to the Kingdom3/10/2024 Acts 14:22 ~ "...strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Are you prepared for the journey from here to the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus? How many once sure professors of faith, at the time of trial, turned back from walking with Christ because the way became hard? And yet we are told in our text today that the road to the Kingdom is through many tribulations. Jesus, our Lord, expressed the cause of the defection of some when He told the parable of the soils. Matthew 13:20-21 says, "As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away." There are many who, for a season, seem to flourish in the faith, rising up in the church, singing the songs and reciting the Scriptures with abundant joy. For all their display, most would believe that they possessed a solid faith. But faith is not tested in the times of abundance and joy, when all is well and there is no difficulty to be endured. Faith is tested in the time of tribulation, when the world is set against the believer and the way becomes hard and pressed in on every side. Peter teaches the believer in 1 Peter 1:6-7 to rejoice in the testing, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." The Apostle Paul speaks of the Christian life as being like a jar of clay, yet enduring because of Who resides within. Let it be said of us, as it says in 2 Corinthians 4:8, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair." Consider the experience of the Apostle Paul in the verses just before our text for today. in Acts 14:19-21 we read, "But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch." Paul was stoned and left for dead, drug out of the city and probably thrown into the trash heap that was collected beyond the city walls. There the other disciples found him and what did the apostle do--he got up and went back into the very city where he was nearly murdered. And then, just for emphasis, he went to the cities of Antioch and Iconium--the cities where his oppressors originated! It was under these circumstances that Paul told the church that we must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom. There is a road set before you, dear Christian. And God in His sovereign determination has permitted you to walk through times of trial and testing to the validation of your faith. It will be proved to those who see you that your faith is either set like an anchor upon the Rock of your salvation or it is laid upon sand that won't hold you steady in the storms. If you are enduring a trial, then hold fast to Christ, dear one, and know that the Lord Jesus has permitted the time of tribulation for the refining and strengthening of your faith. Understand, if you are in Christ, your life will soon be beyond the reach of the enemy, outside the theater of tribulation and no longer gripped by temptations. Let us all hold fast in our faith and say as in 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Great Name of God3/9/2024 Malachi 1:11 ~ "For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts." During the days of Malachi, after Israel had returned to the land of promise and the practice of temple worship was restored, something happened that set them, once again, at odds with the Lord Almighty. The practice of offering the required sacrifice was in full force. The priests were in the temple and the fires were once again lit to the glory of God. Or, were they? Consider what is written in Malachi 1:8, "When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts." And then, in verse 10, God told the priests to shut the doors to the temple and quit lighting useless fires on His altar--the Lord God, the Almighty, took no pleasure in them. Why? Because their perfunctory effort at worship had no heart in it. They were willing to go through the motions, but the priests were not willing to truly honor the LORD. As the sacrifices during the days of Malachi were nothing more than the dregs of an offering, how much of our lives are offered as living sacrifices? Romans 12:1 teaches us, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Is what we do as believers in Christ all done for the glory and honor of the Savior? Or do we offer to God the "leftovers" of what remains of our life? We are to offer ourselves as a "living sacrifice." We must not offer the half-hearted dregs as they did during the days of Malachi, but lay before God in every aspect of our life a testimony of His greatness and goodness to us. And that is ultimately the target of worship--that the name of God will be great. Do you know the greatness of God? Do others see through your life that God is great? So much of what is called worship, today, is built to the honor and acceptance of the worshiper rather than the One who is worshiped. God's name is to be "great among the nations." That is, through His people, the world at large will see in us that we hold His name and His honor as the highest standard of our lives. For the people of Israel, it was through their willingness to bring the very best of their crops and herds to the temple in order to offer them before God as an acceptable sacrifice. Two things occurred when they refused to honor God as He required. First, they displayed a lack of trust that God would provide for them, so they needed to keep the best for themselves (see Malachi 3:10-12). Second, they testified that God was not worthy of their worship (see Malachi 1:12-14). For the church, today, we are to show through our lives that God is both able to be trusted and worthy to be honored in the way we lay down our lives for His glory. Consider what 1 Peter 2:5 states, "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." We are to show that we honor the great name of the LORD and lay down our lives in sacrificial obedience to the Savior. So... a simple question... do you hold the name of the Lord Jesus as the highest and most holy? Is His name great in your understanding and thus in your actions? Can you say, as John the Baptist, that even His sandals you are not worthy to untie (see Mark 1:7)? Oh, beloved, hear the words of the Apostle Paul as you enter this day: "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). Let us bow our knees today and exalt the glorious name of Jesus. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Epitaphs3/8/2024 2 Samuel 23:1 ~ "Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel." How will you be remembered? When the words of 2 Samuel were penned, and the final days of David's life was remembered, along with his final words, the author looked to the premier king of Israel and considered how the shepherd from Bethlehem should be remembered. Was David reflected upon as the man who killed Goliath and delivered the people from their enemies? Did the author of 2 Samuel consider all the grand expansion of the nation and the tactical brilliance of the king? Was David remembered for his strong leadership and his courage? Perhaps he might have been epitaphed with a recollection for some of the foolish judgements he made and the sins he committed. When the end of the king's days was upon him, was he remanded by the writer of the text for Bathsheba? Did the author of 2 Samuel forget about the great dilemma of Absalom? Surely all of that information was available as the writer penned his final view of the dramatic king of Israel. What would be said of David before the final words from David were added? Though all those experiences were true of the king, the author of 2 Samuel penned these words about David, that he was: "The sweet psalmist of Israel." David was the king that all other kings would be compared. How often in the records of the nation of Israel was the statement, "as his father David," or "not like his father David" (for examples see 1 Kings 15:11 and 2 Kings 16:2). But the statement made of David was not concerning his reign over Israel, but his worship of the LORD and guiding the people to worship God. David, for all his ups and downs as a king, never wavered in his desire to worship and serve the LORD. He was a man after God's own heart, and became the sweet psalmist of Israel. People are often remembered for their greatest contributions made during their lives. And if that is the case, then the greatest contribution David made was providing the nation of Israel a kingly worship leader. David lived to bring glory to God. 73 of the 150 Psalms are directly attributed to him. But David didn't live for the accolades of men, he lived that God's name should be honored and worshiped. Dear Christian, what will be the epitaph decorating the final words of those who would speak about you? You may have done great works--and those might be remembered by some. You may have committed and repented of great sins--and I can guarantee that there will be people to remember those. But, my friends, do not live that you should have a great name. Live in such a way that the name of God is greatly praised. And if there is a epitaph that we might should strive to achieve, let it be said of us from the Lord Jesus according to Matthew 25:21, "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’" Those are the words I long to hear. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Christian Conversation3/7/2024 Matthew 12:36 ~ “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” My friends, there is a great value in words. Creation formed at the word of God. Prophets warned through their words. The Apostles instructed with their words. Even worldly people understand the value of their words—to motivate, encourage, train, etc. Do you see the value of your conversations? When Moses was called by God to lead out the people of Israel from their enslavement in Egypt, his complaint was not that the way was too long or the work too hard. In Exodus 4:10, Moses great complaint was his ability to speak, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” The Lord responded to Moses’ complaint by asking a rhetorical question, “Who gave man his mouth” (see Exodus 4:11). Beloved, if God gave man a mouth to speak, a language to use, and a brain to think then, as our text this day reveals, God will hold accountable every person to the use of their words. However, think how often a stray thought rushes from the mouth like a geyser, or an un-checked word escapes like a bat out of a cave? Believers in Christ are commissioned by God to use the tongue for His glory, to speak words for a more noble purpose, to take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). Is this how you approach your conversations? Consider what God’s word says. Psalm 37:30, “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.” Proverbs 8:7, “For my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.” These two passages of Scripture give a clear picture of what the mouth of a believer ought to voice—only that which is wise and true. You will have a high value to your words when wickedness from your lips is considered an abomination to you. I remember, some time ago, when I walked with a group of Christians as we left a meeting. We navigated through the parking lot and made our way to the car, all the while speaking and laughing and carrying on with the wonderful fellowship we just experienced. However, one in our party thought to share a story—a witticism that carried a hint of vulgarity. As this person shared his version of humor, the remaining members walked in stunned silence at the lack of Christian character expressed in his quip. When confronted, the person quickly defended himself with the well-worn statement, “it was just a joke.” Has true faith become so watered-down by the world that believers can casually share at a joke that is vulgar and crude without a shred of conscience? Was Jeremiah right when he said that the people of God had forgotten even how to blush (see Jeremiah 8:12)? It was more than just a joke; it was a telling sign of what ruminated in that person’s heart. Jesus said, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Paul entreats the church, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6). The Bible states in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” And again, in Ephesians 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” All believers have a responsibility to God, to fellow believers and to the world at large to speak those words that will exalt Christ, edify the church and entreat the lost world to Jesus. Is this your conversation? It should be. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Commander of the LORD's Army3/6/2024 Joshua 5:13 ~ "When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?'" Joshua had just recently taken over the position held by Moses to be the primary shepherd of Israel. He had spent the past four decades wandering the wilderness with the people of God, learning from Moses and serving as the tactician and leader of the army. Now, as they entered the promised land, he faced the walled city of Jericho. Joshua looked up to see a man standing on the open plain with his sword drawn. The scene hints at a potential confrontation, so Joshua asks the one question that every leader would want to know--who are you for? Let's also understand that Joshua does not yet know exactly who this man is standing on the plain with him. And, after years of war, the battle-hardened Joshua could only see two options. We'll get to the answer of the man in a moment, but let's explore the question from Joshua: "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" From our human perspective we see life from the position that there are those who are on our side and those who are on the other side. And that "other side" is the side of our adversaries--our enemies--those that must be opposed. Don't we see that happen in the arenas of confrontation? Consider where some of the greatest adversarial skirmishes happen--from sports to politics--and you will discover the same question asked of those who happen to be nearby: who's side are you on? But concerning our true adversaries, the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." So... what of the answer? Consider what it says in Joshua 5:14, "And he said, 'No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, 'What does my lord say to his servant?'" The simple answer of the LORD was--no. Basically, He told Joshua that He was neither for them or for their enemies. Does that mean that God does not take sides? Of course He takes sides--He takes His own! And that's the point--God is the side, and all who oppose Him is on the side of the adversary. We do not ask God if He will stand with us or if He will stand with our foes. The question of allegiance does not go from us to God, but from God to us. God is the authority, He is the Commander of the army. The question is not whose side is the Almighty on, but who's side are you on. Will you take your orders from the LORD? If you want to know the right response to God's presence, look to Joshua. Upon the revelation that this man who stood on the plain with him was the LORD, Joshua fell on his face, worshiped and submitted himself to the Commander. Joshua had been commanding the army for a generation--that was of no matter. The only right thing to do when God has revealed Himself is to submit. Beloved, does the question from Joshua echo in your heart before the LORD: "What does my Lord say to His servant?" When you come to the Word of God, is submission your first intent? Do you wonder whose side God is on, or do you recognize that Christ, Himself, is the side that you must be on? Romans 6:13 states, "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness." My friends, let the encounter of Joshua with the Commander of the army of the LORD remind you that God is the One to whom you must submit--for it will never be the other way around. In His Grace, Pastor Michael With the Scent of Pigs3/5/2024 Luke 15:20 ~ “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Have you ever wondered at the return of the prodigal son? To refresh your memory, let me give you a bit of the back story. This youngest son of his father demanded his inheritance, squandered it in wild living, and found himself feeding pigs in a foreign land. At the point where he is so desperate that he longs to feed himself with the pigs’ food he finally comes to his senses. He remembers his father’s house, that even his father’s servants are better off than he. With a repentant heart, he longs to confess his sin (see Luke 15:18-19) and return to his father. So he walks away from the pigs and begins the journey home. Unknown to the son, the father had been waiting for him, and when he sees his son on the road runs to meet him. With mercy and love, the father receives his son and completely restores him (see Luke 15:22-24). There are two things absent from this story, and it is of great importance that we see them. The first is this: the son never cleans himself up before returning home. Think about it. The son of a wealthy, Jewish landowner walks down that blistering path home with the scent of unclean pigs lingering like a malevolent cloud all about him. But the son had “come to his senses” (verse 17). That’s the key. It didn’t matter the lingering memory of his wicked rebellion and his failure—his heart was changed. He longed for home and for his father and though he carried the scent of pigs on his body, it would not hinder him from returning. That is the humility of faith—that God will receive all who return to Him even though they still have the scent of pigs. How many have refused God because they thought they needed to “clean up” before they came back? How many have stayed away from God because they thought they were “unacceptable?” Of course you are unacceptable! If you were acceptable, you wouldn’t need grace. All of humanity is unacceptable to God—we all have the scent of sin on us. But God loves you and is watching for your return—all you have to do is come to your senses and come back to the Father. The second is this: the father never demanded his son clean up to be received. Again, think about it. This Jewish man, whose son squandered his wealth, sees his son returning on the road. Anger and resentment might be the normal reaction. But, before the son could protest, the father rushes him and throws his arms around him and kisses him—despite the fact that there remains the scent of pigs. Remember, the father was “filled with compassion.” That’s the key. Compassion—true compassion—receives and embraces those who return in humble repentance. This is the nature of grace—that God watches and longs for His creatures to return so that He can embrace them and be a Father to all who come. God does not hold people at “arm’s length” until they clean themselves up from all their past and remove the scent of pigs from their lives. God rushes to receive any who come to Him by faith and He casts His mantle upon them, blesses and kisses them with His unending love, and celebrates with great joy when one sinner returns (see Luke 15:10) The rabble of the world flocked to Jesus and He never cast them aside. The Lord knew that the only means of expressing God’s love is to embrace—going so far as to stretch His own arms on the cross and cry out, “Father, forgive them.” But what about righteousness and holiness? That will come in the presence of the Father. The “cleaning up” will happen. The longer the son remains in the presence of his father the less he will carry the scent of pigs. The longer we remain in the company of God, living in humble faithfulness, the more we lose the odor of this world, eventually to never again radiate with the scent of pigs. In His Grace, Pastor Michael A New Life3/4/2024 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Yesterday we saw that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. But the great joy of our hearts that comes from His salvation is also found in the fact that He does not leave us in our old condition. When we come to the Lord Jesus and trust Him by faith, we are made into a new creation. There are two qualities that exist in the Christian life--the first, the old has gone; the second, the new has come. And what are those "old" and "new" things that have changed within us? The "old" is the life of sin that we once enjoyed. Our sinful desires are crucified with Christ, the old nature is coming to nothing and the new life of Christ is being formed within us through the working of the Holy Spirit. Paul said in Romans 6:6, "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." Again, the Apostle Paul told the church that they were taught with regard to their former way of life, "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires" (Ephesians 4:22). Do you see your old corruptions fading away, dying within you even as the life of Christ and the desires of His Spirit are growing and making you new? That old nature will become less dominant as you walk with Christ, but it may never fully depart. Even Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, struggled against his old nature. Consider Romans 7:21-25, "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." But, beloved, there is a wonderful new life that grows within every believer. The transforming power of God's Spirit is at work with each of us to bring us to greater and greater holiness. So, what are some of those new things? The Scriptures tell us: We have new pursuits, "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). We walk in a new life. Romans 6:4 states, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." We live under a new covenant. Hebrews 8:13 declares, "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." Also in 1 Corinthians 11:25, "In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" We will, ultimately, live within the new heaven and new earth, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more" (Revelation 21:1). Even as Peter says in 2 Peter 3:13, "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." Though we cannot grasp the fullness of all that God has done for us (see 1 Corinthians 2:9), yet we can have our minds renewed so that we can grow in understanding and obedience to the Lord, having our lives transformed in holiness. Paul tells the church in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." As new creations in Christ, let every Christian rejoice that God, in His mercy and grace, does not leave us in our old condition. But through His Spirit working in us by the Word of God, we are being made new. In His Grace, Pastor Michael To Save Sinners3/3/2024 1 Timothy 1:15 ~ "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." What does it take for you to be saved? And... do you qualify? Have you come to Christ by faith and trusted in Him for the everlasting life promised to all who believe? For many, this is a "bridge too far" because it requires something that they are quite unwilling to do. For all who come to the Lord for salvation must first recognize themselves as a sinner. This is far more than what many do. Many will admit that they have sinned--have made some mistakes, even great mistakes--and they will acknowledge that there are aspects of life that they have lived wrong. But merely recognizing in yourself a bad behavior is not what the text is requiring. Christ did not merely come to save those who acknowledge that they did some things wrong, He came to save sinners. Then what is a "sinner" if it is not merely someone who does bad things? To know yourself to be a sinner is to know yourself to be at the very core of your being one who is in rebellion against God and desiring your own self-will. Many have described being a sinner as "one who has missed the mark" but it may be better understood when you realize that the reason you're missing the mark is because you're aiming at the wrong target. Many take their aim from the stance that they are inwardly a good person and merely want to leave bad behavior. That's the wrong target. Consider the sin in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:6). The taking of the fruit was the expression of sin, but the sin in the garden was the complete rejection of the authority of the Almighty to yield to self-will and desire. So... do you qualify? Do you see yourself as a good person who has done some bad things, or do you know yourself to be a real sinner, a person who, at the core of the heart, have been in rebellion against the LORD? If it is the latter, then Jesus Christ came to save you--for He came to save sinners. The Pharisees never saw themselves as real sinners. Their claim to being the descendants of Abraham, and, ultimately, being the children of God (see John 8:39-41) prevented them from knowing themselves as real sinners. And that prevented them from coming to Christ for salvation--for Jesus came to save sinners. The Apostle Paul understood this--declaring himself to be not only a sinner, but the foremost of sinners. And let this be your declaration as well. If you see yourself as a good person who has only done bad things then you don't qualify, for Jesus came to save sinners. But when you know yourself to be a sinner, then run to Christ for you will find Him to be a merciful Savior. He came to save sinners, so He came to save you. Do as the Philippian jailer did, and cry out with your heart, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). And we are told that this is "trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance." My friends, there is no one righteous, no one who is truly good. People can do good things. Behaviors can be modified to conform to a more moral standard. But it is in the heart where Jesus looks. God spoke to Samuel this very thing in 1 Samuel 16:7, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." If you hold doubts about your salvation, then let me ask three things: 1. Are you a sinner? 2. Did Jesus come to save sinners? 3. Will you believe on Jesus? If you answered yes to all three, then trust Him. He has never failed to do what He has promised, and He has promised to save all who trust Him. He will give you His righteousness in exchange for your sinfulness. He will cover you with His grace. He died to pay for your transgressions. He lives to deliver you from them. May this be a reminder to us all: Jesus Christ came to save sinners. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Way of Righteousness3/2/2024 Hosea 14:9 ~ "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." There are many who are of the world that consider themselves "wise and discerning." They have impressive intellects and educational pedigrees that boast of their considerable wisdom from the world. But the Apostle Paul entreats the Corinthians church in 1 Corinthians 3:18, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise." Being wise in this age has very little to do with being wise unto salvation and the ways of righteousness. But, what are the "these things" spoken of in our text today? Simply put, it is repentance and the restoration of our lives before God. Much of the world has turned aside from knowing the true wisdom that is from the Lord. James 3:17 clearly defines the wisdom from God, "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." But worldly wisdom has forsaken the ways of righteousness and pursued many other avenues and deviations away from the LORD. But the ways of the LORD are right. That is, they are always the only true way that is acceptable to the One who created us. So, believer, if you want to be truly wise in the things that are of highest importance, then you must understand and discern the things of God Almighty. And to find the things of the LORD, you must find them in His word. Romans 12:2 speaks to this, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." But discernment is of little value if it does not lead to a life of faithfulness. And in our text today we learn that the "upright walk" but "transgressors stumble." Let us consider those two conditions. The upright walk in the ways of God. There is a sense of a perpetual going, a continual putting one foot in front of the other along the path of the Lord's delight. Are you one who delights in the Lord? Do you hold some understanding and discernment concerning the ways of Christ? Even in our reading today, you've seen God's call to repentance and restoration. If you're ensnared in a sin, then repent--leave it behind and cry out to God for His deliverance. He promised that He will take away our iniquity and heal us from our apostasy (see Hosea 14:2, 4). Take a moment and recollect what you know of God's ways. Consider how He has called you to worship Him, to live in this world, to fellowship with His people and relate to those around you. Paul instructs the church in this in Philippians 3:15-16, "Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." You may not consider yourself mature, but you have attained to some level of spiritual growth. Live up to that my friends, and God will clarify for you the steps you are to take going forward. But transgressors stumble in the ways of God. Those who want to hold onto their sins will discover that they will forever stumble upon the ways of Christ. Peter addresses this in 1 Peter 2:7-8, "So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.' They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do." Transgressors who love their sins will argue with the Scriptures, twist the Scriptures, attack the Scriptures and malign the Scriptures--the one thing they never seem to do is obey the Scriptures. Unwilling to repent, they cannot follow in the ways of God for they consider the wisdom of God to be foolish. They love the wisdom of men and the ideologies of the world. They fall into the Proverb, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Proverbs 14:12). Dear friends, the ways of the LORD are right. No amount of debate will change it. If you want to walk upright in this world, you will walk according to the Word of God. You will also find yourself walking against the swelling tides of humanity that love their sin. They will never be able to walk in a way that pleases the LORD. And remember this promise as you enter the day, "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day" (Proverbs 4:18). May your life shine ever brighter today as you walk with Christ. In His Grace, Pastor Michael God is Always Watching3/1/2024 2 Chronicles 16:9 ~ "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars." Asa, king of Judah, trusted the LORD when foreign enemies came against the land. Until, that is, the northern kingdom of Israel attacked Judah. Then Asa did what all worldly kings would do, he sought the aid of another nation. He sent a gift to the king of Syria, inviting him to ally with Judah and go against the northern nation, Israel. Hanani, the seer (prophet), was sent by God to speak to Asa, and this rebuke against the king was not well received. Asa put Hanani into prison and in his anger caused harm against others. It was the worst possible response to the word of the LORD that Asa could have expressed. But, when a heart is not set to serve the LORD, the response will be to reject His word when it comes. And as Asa faced the northern nation come against him, have you experienced the attack of the enemy? Did you turn to Christ or to the world to find your support? The pressures set against the Christian are often great and the enemy still strives against the people of God. The enemy sends in his servants, and continues to harass those who follow Christ. But God is watching. And that's what you need to see at first. The eyes of the LORD range throughout the whole earth. And, yes, God is omnipresent as well as omniscient. That is to say, God is everywhere at all times and He knows all things. But there is an intentionality to the statement in our text today. God is specifically watching the entirety of the globe--and He is watching to see those who have a determined desire to trust in Him. Consider what the Lord Jesus said of God's search in John 4:23, "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." And that idea of being a worshiper of God is not just being a person who enjoys the experiential delights of praising God through music, but of one who has, in reverence and humility, bowed in submission and faith. God is seeking--maintaining a watchfulness over the earth--for those who have a desire for Him. The Almighty is seeking those who have hearts fully committed to Him in order to give them His strong support. And that is the second thing you need to see. God will strongly support those who have a heart "blameless." That word "blameless" can mean "loyal" or "at peace with." So, in that vein, God is looking to strongly support those who are loyal and at peace with Him. Jesus said at the end of Matthew that He will be with us always (see Matthew 28:20). There are those who might ask how come it seems that God's people are always suffering difficulty if the LORD has promised to strongly support them? Because, circumstantial deliverance is not always the best for God's people. If your difficult circumstances will bring glory to God, then be willing endure them by faith. For there will be no circumstance against you that is not, ultimately, going to be for your good (see Romans 8:28). God knows whether it is better for you to endure circumstances or be released from them. And, if your heart is "loyal and at peace with God" then you will trust Him even in the midst of suffering. Finally, Asa's unwillingness to trust in the LORD was declared to be a "foolish thing." Could there be anything more foolish than to trust something other than the LORD? Rejecting the LORD and trusting the world as an ally leaves you companioned with those whom the LORD will eventually destroy. Consider what it says in Isaiah 31:1, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!" The world might look like it can offer you assistance. But the cost is too high. Trust in the LORD, for He will strongly support and ultimately deliver those who are His. In His Grace, Pastor Michael A Thirst for God2/29/2024 Psalm 42:1 ~ "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God." My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do you long for God? Here, on this most rare of days--February 29th--a day that only comes through the calendar once every four years, let this be the day that you, again, rekindle a desire for the LORD. The very next verse rings out with the longing of the Christian heart, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" And yet, very much like a rare day on the calendar, I fear that it is the rare heart that has such an unquenchable thirst for God that nothing can ever satisfy except the Lord, Himself. We walk through this world like we walk through an arid and parched land, thirsting for the Living Water--the Lord Jesus. The world has nothing to offer. The best of mankind in its futile ability to strive for goodness falls far short of satiating the thirst of the Believer. It is the cry of the psalmist in Psalm 63:1, "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." We live in days where there is a dearth of the flowing streams of God. The Almighty warned us of this in Amos 8:11, "'Behold, the days are coming,' declares the LORD God, 'when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.'" And if we were to listen to the modern voices that fill the air, very rarely is the truth of God honored or spoken. We are in a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. But there are streams in this desert. Like an oasis in the Sahara, there are outposts of truth and streams of life flowing from Christ through His servants who faithfully proclaim the word of God. It may be rare, but they are like an overflowing stream. Jesus said this in John 7:38, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" And, my friends, if you are in such a place where the truth of Christ is faithfully proclaimed, rejoice that you can drink freely of the living word. But there are many who have no thirst for God. They gather around a myriad of other fountains that deliver only a false satisfaction, one that is agreeable to their earthly desires. Paul warned Timothy of this in 2 Timothy 4:3, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." They have no appetite for truth, but only those things that are comfortable and convenient. But I trust that it is not so with you, dear reader. If you are born again, then you are like that deer which pants for the streams of water--you have a thirst for the Living God. Your heart longs to be with Him, to drink deeply of the water of life flowing from the throne of God (see Revelation 22:1). And though you are still wandering in this arid promontory of earth, there are streams in this desert where you can find your thirst for God quenched. They may be rare, but in Christ they will never run dry. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Great Pardon of God2/28/2024 Isaiah 43:25 ~ "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." I've heard it said that the presentation of the Almighty in the Old Testament is one of a harsh and heavy-handed God who, with wrath and anger, deals judgment and punishment upon the earth. And yet, in our text today, we read the most profoundly gracious words that the LORD offers to a sinful people. Dear ones, do not gloss over this promise of the LORD and then simply move on, concerned more about practical instructions for your daily life. Pause a moment; consider the implications of our text today. For unless you come to understand what this means: that our sins are blotted out, all other practical Christian activities will have little value. As transgressional sinners, we do not have any standing before God. Our inner nature and outward behaviors are of such wretched conditions that the only expectation we could have is judgment. And that is what we were. Both inward as a sinner and outward in transgressing His law leaves us with no hope of securing His good favor. But God says, "I... even I..." There is such an emphasis on this, that we must not miss it. It can also read: "I and only I." It is God, and God alone who can offer pardon for sin. We must remember that every one of our sins are against the Almighty. David expressed this in Psalm 51:4, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment." And it is God alone who can pardon our transgressions and cleanse us from our sins. The first thing that the Sovereign LORD tells us is that it is He alone who "blots out our transgressions." In the books of remembrance, where every thought, word and action of your life is recorded, your sins are set down in absolute truth. On the day of judgment, we see those books opened and mankind is judged by what is written in the books (see Revelation 20:12). But for those who have their sins forgiven in the Lord, every transgression is "blotted out." The record is covered and the judgment removed. The second thing is that your sins are no longer remembered. More than just bad behavior (transgressions), every person is, by nature, a sinner born. The elemental condition of all mankind is sinful. Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And yet, God says to those who are His that He, though being the Righteous Judge, will "not remember your sins." What a promise--the very wickedness of our inner nature will be remembered no more and God will only know us in His righteousness. Why does God do this? What moves Him to consider pardoning such sinners as we? He does so for His own Name's sake. Beloved, there is a Name above every name. There is One who has done for us what no one else had the power or righteousness to do. There is One who has taken away our sins through His death and has given us life through His resurrection. It is the Lord Jesus. God the Father has exalted God the Son and has given Him a name above every name. And when we, by faith, run to the Lord in repentance of our sins and are pardoned and cleansed, it is His name alone that is exalted. There is no righteous man on earth. There is not one drop of self-righteousness in you or I that is pleasing to the LORD. And thus there is not one person who will boast before God on the day of salvation, but that all who are saved will boast on and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. His name will be joyfully lifted up in praise and honor for He has done what none of us could do for ourselves--He has redeemed us. And how did He redeem? He received from God the Father the full punishment for our sins and transgressions. He was counted as a sinner on our behalf--the innocent for the guilty--so that we can be counted righteous on His behalf. So let this be the reminder you need. For all the pressures and busyness of life, for all the chaos that fills our daily experience, stop for a moment and remember that Jesus Christ died and rose again. He received God's wrath on your behalf. If you have not yet run to the Lord Jesus for His mercy, to be forgiven of all your sins, do so this very moment. If you have come to know that your sins are forgiven in Christ, then rejoice--for your transgressions are blotted out, and your sins are no longer remembered. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Rest for the Weary2/27/2024 Mark 6:31 ~ "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." In obedience to the Lord, the Apostles went out and preached the message of repentance and did the work according to the instructions of Jesus (see Mark 6:7-13). It was long, laborious work bringing the gospel to the villages in the surrounding countryside. Some villages would receive them--others would reject them. They had no resources to sustain them and had to rely on the provision God would supply as they went. Weary from their travels and their labors, the Apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done and taught (see Mark 6:30). But the work still surrounded them. People continued to press their way to Jesus and the Apostles without end. Despite this, Jesus pulled away His men and isolated them away from the work. And this is the first thing I want you to see today--the work will never end. It can be an exhausting experience to continually press into the work. There are labors and strivings that all of God's people are commissioned to step into, and faithfulness requires that we are willing to spend ourselves for Christ. It is always a labor of love. The Apostles loved the Lord Jesus and in obedience to His command, they went into the surrounding land and preach the gospel. They were willing to lay their lives down for Him, as testified by Thomas in John 11:16, "So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'" My friends, you will be provided opportunities to labor for the Lord. Ephesians 2:10 clearly teaches this, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." We are to walk in the good works that the Lord has placed before us. And, hard work is a testimony of the heart--for the Scriptures condemn the lazy, "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied" (Proverbs 13:4). And we know that there is an eternal rest for those who labor unto Christ. Revelation 14:13 illuminates this for us, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'" But in the endless stream of effort, the Lord Jesus pulled away His disciples to find a time to rest. And this is the second thing I want you to see today--there is a need to rest from the exertion, to find a time of peace to recover from the exhaustion of work. The work hadn't ended. The people were still gathering around as the Apostles returned to the Lord to report all that happened. But Jesus left the crowd behind and isolated His disciples away from them so that they could find a time of recovery. And in that desolate place, the Apostles could find time to relax and shed the stress and pressures of their experiences. Are you overburdened with the exhaustion of effort in serving the Lord? You see the work around you and think that unless you continue to strive it will remain undone. So, with a tenacity of determination, you tap every ounce of strength until you suffer total, mental, physical and spiritual collapse. Jesus saw that His disciples had no leisure to even eat a meal and led them away from the crowd. Your desire to press beyond your strength in your service of the Lord may seem noble, but Jesus would lead you away for a moment to find time to rest. Fear not, the Lord will bring you back into the work. The Apostles' task had not ended. They would go and preach even more, work even harder and strive in the Lord's service until their dying day. And when you have taken the necessary rest from your weariness, then step back into the work and strive again. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Consider Christ2/26/2024 Hebrews 12:3 ~ "Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." There is a need for every believer to spend time and interest in the consideration of Christ. To "consider" is to have a deep, internal, abiding contemplation of the person and work of the Lord Jesus. It takes the investment of time in order to ruminate on all those things that are concerning Him. Today we are inundated with quick fixes and psychological slogans and the desire to dive deep into the text of Scripture and learn of the Lord is almost lost. Jesus, Himself, said this in Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." We are to learn from Him, and will discover His gentle and humble heart, finding rest for our souls. In a world filled with the restlessness of sin, finding that inner peace from Christ is a treasure beyond comprehension. So, are you willing to "learn of Him?" It takes time and will require your attention. More than just a Scripture soundbite or a quick read, you will need to immerse yourself in His book. Our text for today commands us to consider the Lord so that we will not grow weary or fainthearted. In the constant battle we have with sin, and the continual pressure from the world to relax our faith and give in to temptation and conform ourselves to their standards, we might very well grow weary and fainthearted. There is a weariness that comes from the continual battle against sin. Soldiers were often diagnosed with a condition called "battle fatigue," now known as "PTSD" (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). But whatever its name, the symptoms are such that it causes a weary, faintheartedness that attempts to collapse the courage and endurance of the warrior. But why are we to "consider Jesus" when we face the shattered reality of spiritual and emotional exhaustion? Should we not first look to "coping methods" and "therapy strategies" that will give us a better handle on our situation? The reason is simple--because He also "endured such hostility from sinners against Himself." The Lord Jesus was not only tempted as we are and without sin (see Hebrews 4:15), but He also suffered as we do--He endured hostility far greater than we have ever experienced and He was victorious. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:21, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." The victory of Christ was not to escape the hostility of sinners. He endured the cross (see Hebrews 12:2) He was hounded, persecuted, tried and executed by the world of sinners. The victory of Christ was to endure such hatred and remain faithful to the very point of His own death. He never once wavered in His determination to be true to His Father and the reason He came. Then He warned His disciples that we would endure the same. "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19). If you are a faithful Christian, and desire to live a godly life, you will be persecuted (see 2 Timothy 3:12). As the world grows more hostile to the Christian faith, and the persecutions rise against those who follow Christ, it is even more important to embrace this day the command to "consider Jesus." The more you learn of Him, the more you take the time to meditate and ruminate on His word, the more you will discover that He does give "rest for your souls" and you will not grow weary and fainthearted. Why? Because you will discover that through it all, Jesus is with you and, no matter what might happen, you will be with Him forever. As we close today, beloved, consider the words of James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." In His Grace, Pastor Michael Wicked Worship2/25/2024 Judges 17:3 ~ "And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, 'I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.'" There is a horrifying situation that takes place in this text of Scripture. This mother, an Ephraimite, a woman of Israel, was restored money that her son had stolen. In her gratitude, she wanted to dedicate it to the LORD. But look how she tells him to prepare it--she tells him to "make a carved image." I trust that even in the reading of our text today you have already surmised the problem with this woman's statement. She determined to worship God, dedicating the 1,100 pieces of silver to the LORD. But how she worshiped the LORD was an absolute affront to the Almighty. Remember the commandments... the second commandment to be precise: "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." ~ Exodus 20:4-6 Her desire to honor the LORD might be commendable, but her approach to it was wicked. There is no way her worship of the LORD could ever be acceptable when it violates the very commandments that enshrine the means by which we are to honor the LORD. Jesus rebukes the practice of worship that is human in its origin. Consider Matthew 15:8-9, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." And this is the point I want you to see, beloved, you cannot honor God apart from fidelity to His word. In fact, to go against God's word is wicked worship. God alone establishes the means and practice of worship. He is the LORD and there is no other, and it must be the believer's great delight and desire to honor Him according to His prescribed method. There are other activities this woman might have considered. She could have taken the silver and brought it to the Tabernacle and offered it as a freewill offering to the LORD (see Exodus 35:29). She might have contributed it to the poor and provide for them some benefit with it (see Deuteronomy 15:7). It would have been better had she merely kept it for her own needs rather than use it to make an abomination that was meant to be a dedication to the LORD. Let this story bring up the question in your own heart. How do you worship the LORD? What gives you the instruction you follow in your worship of God? Let me caution you away from doing as many do today. They follow their own hearts instead of God's word. Let your heart be so dedicated to the LORD that His word informs all that you do. Here are some acts of worship from God's word: We gather according to His word and offer the sacrifice of praise (see Hebrews 13:15). We hear and are taught the word of God--even the hard truths that convict our hearts (see 1 Timothy 4:11). Outside of the gathered fellowship, there is still the required worship of God in the surrendering of our lives (see Romans 12:1). The Scriptures will teach us to worship God--we just have to obey. And yet, there are those who participate in wicked worship still. They do as 2 Timothy 4:3-4 reveals, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." My friends, God is still seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (see John 4:23-24). He is seeking YOU to worship HIM. He is worthy of worship, for He has given us everything--including our very life. We are created by Him and for Him. Let your heart be so delighted in the LORD that your entire life becomes a tribute of worship to the Savior. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Think on These Things2/24/2024 Philippians 4:8 ~ "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." There is a myriad of ideas that roam around our minds. Stray thoughts become contemplations and then turn into considerations and eventually might even grow up into an obsession. The question is: what do you put into your mind? News feeds, social media, gossip, and a host of other voices will try to worm their way into your minds. In a world flooded with a continuous stream of information, it is a battle to keep your mind fixed on that which is of real value. For some, there is a tremendous danger of falling into a pattern of thought that is highly destructive. Obsessions, mental addictions, and the victimhood mentality are just a few of the damaging considerations that drag us into darker holes of our imagination and render us insecure and unstable in our mind. Consider what is says in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." There becomes a telling reality for those who do not keep their hearts with all vigilance, for they become challenged by many conflicts in their thinking and their lives begin to reflect their hearts. Let me ask, do you struggle with the anxiety that ensnares your mind and yet see others that navigate through life within a state of joyful communion with the Lord? Maybe you've decided that they have never struggled, or were never burdened with the considerations that drag you down. But, beloved, could it be that those who walk in the joy of the Lord have found what it means to "think on these things?" Consider our text today and look at the focus that the Apostle Paul has instructed for all believers. If your mind was set upon that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise, how much of that which causes the darkness of our thinking would be dispelled by the True Light--our Savior? For in each one of those considerations is the Lord. Jesus is all of these things! He is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. You may wonder how the Light can penetrate your darkness. For you cannot see the Lord in the circumstances wherein you live. If you will, let me reveal a few rays of sunshine from God's word. Are you born again? Have you been redeemed by the Savior? Then you have your sins forgiven on account of His name (see 1 John 2:12). This is the brightest light to shine upon your soul, for if your sins are forgiven in Christ, then you will be forever with the Lord. Do you think you're alone and the darkness of isolation causes anxious thoughts? Then hear our Lord tell you, believer, that He has never forsaken you. John 14:23 reveals, "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" Again, Jesus says in Matthew 28:20, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Are your circumstances sorely troubling? Have you not read in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Let that light shine down on you when you're tested and tried in the struggles of life. Do you doubt your salvation? You believe, but there are times of uncertainty that creep into your mind? Hear what John says in 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." In the pages of God's word is the constant reminder to those who believe that the Lord has secured them for eternity. Do you feel powerless? He has promised His power. Do you need wisdom? He has offered it freely. Are you needing grace? He supplies it in abundance. Is there a sin? Confess and find His cleansing. My friends, do you see how much God has given you? So, dear ones, think on these things. In every place where there is darkness in your life, Jesus is the Light. You will find Him to be the most excellent contemplation of your mind. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Giving All to Christ2/23/2024 1 Samuel 18:4 ~ "And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt." Jonathan was the crown prince of Israel. His father, Saul, sat upon the throne as the reigning monarch over the nation and there was every expectation in the mind of Saul that his son would someday sit upon the throne. But Saul also knew that God had rejected him as king and would seat David there instead (see 1 Samuel 20:31). David was the chosen king, anointed by Samuel to be the next ruler of the nation of Israel. He was blessed of God, protected and given great victories over the enemies of God's people. Where Jonathan loved David, Saul hated him, was jealous of him, and tried to kill him on several occasions. We see here the struggle between two rulers. The first king, Saul, represents the entirety of human dominion on this earth. The second ruler, David, is the representation of the Divine dominion of Christ. And Jonathan was caught between the two. Would Jonathan sacrifice his greatest opportunity, would he lay down his own glory for the glory of another? The answer is--yes. In doing what he did, putting the robe, his armor and weapons upon David, Jonathan in truth, recognized David as the next ruler of Israel. He offered his princely robe to him--a recognition of David's authority. He offered his armor--a sign of trust. He offered his weapons--indicating his belief in David to lead the nation to victories. Jonathan, in essence, parted with his own glory and surrendered it to David. And now, here we stand, caught between two kingdoms still. The kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of Christ. The world cringes against the Divine authority and will attempt, time and again, to strike against Christ and His anointed position. The question is, what will you do? You're now in the position of Jonathan. You have a decision to make. You know that Jesus is Lord, that He is the anointed of God, that He is given all authority in heaven and on earth. And the enemy tempts us with the same ruse: That you can cast off the Lord's authority and claim it for yourself. The enemy will tell you much of what Saul told his son, Jonathan--as long as He lives, you will never have your own rule. To which kingdom will you belong--the world's or the Lord's? As Jonathan did, let me encourage you, take off your own robes of self-authority and yield yourself to Christ. Trust that God has anointed Jesus to be the One true King of kings. Take off your worldly armor and trust the Lord to be your shield. All your earthly means of trying to guard yourself are no longer needed. You need not protect yourself from Christ, for He will not strike against those who love Him. And take off your weapons and leave them in the hands of Christ. He will lead you in victory, and conquer even your own sin that stands as an enemy against your soul. Beloved, part with your own glory and give it all to Christ. He has made an everlasting covenant with all who trust in Him. And He will bring you into His kingdom--He has promised to do so, sealing the promise with His own blood. In His Grace, Pastor Michael From the Mountains to the SeaEvery step we take on this journey called life ought to be used for greater understanding. I've lived from the mountains to the sea, and this blog is my personal thoughts and observations with a desire for Biblical understanding. Welcome. Archives
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