Knowing the Voice of God2/10/2024 John 10:27 ~ "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." How many of you who read this are struggling to understand the voice of Christ? Many have thought they were listening to the voice of God when, in fact, it was their own hearts speaking to them--for that is the voice they are familiar with. A great danger occurs when we think we are listening to God and do not actually know how to discern the difference between our own hearts and His voice. Listen to what it says in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" And so, people are often deceived in their belief that God has spoken to them, when their own emotions and dispositions are the only voice they know. Consider an illustration: A child is born, and there he grows up in the midst of the family of his origin. Surrounded by the speech of his parents, and the language of his nation, the young child learns to converse with his family. Through proximity and familiarity, there is no question--all things being equal--that a newborn will eventually adopt and understand the language of his culture. A baby born in Holland will invariably learn Dutch, and one born in Kenya probably will understand Swahili. And, once that individual is full grown, the challenge for learning a new language becomes increasingly difficult. Why? Because it is during the young stages of life that a person becomes familiar with language. And now, reflect upon the beginning stages of your life in Christ. Jesus said that we must be "born again" (see John 3:7). A new life must be formed and a new nature given. Thus, like a newborn in a home, a new Christian begins to learn the language of the Lord. In 1 Peter 2:2 we read, "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." That "pure spiritual milk" is the milk of the Word of God. And the longer we linger in the Scriptures and the more we hold proximity to the teaching of God's word, the more familiar we become with the voice of the One who gave it. When I was a young man, I could be in a crowded room full of dads and sons, and, though separated from my own father, the moment I heard his voice I had no doubt that it was him. All the other voices in the room had no influence on me, for I was very familiar with my dad's voice. Jesus said in John 10:5, "A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." And yet, there are many who hearken to the strange voices around them and do not know how to discern between that and the voice of Christ. But, as a Father with his children, the Lord God wants His people to learn how to hear His word. Stop and think for a moment at what God did to bring us His word. Through kings, priests, prophets, apostles and, ultimately, His Son, the Father in Heaven made sure that His Scripture was provided to His people. He did not leave us without the means of learning from Him, soaking in the richness of the Bible, so that we can grow more familiar with Him and His voice. Yet there are those who, in their Christian infancy, listened to various teachings and ideas that were not entrenched in the Scriptures and thus learned to hear other voices, even the foolish voices of their own heart, and assumed it was God. And now, having grown familiar with those voices, find it difficult to come back to the very basic language of Christ in the Scriptures and relearn all over again. It's not impossible, but it requires greater effort. Hebrews 5:11-14 speaks powerfully to this, "About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." For those willing to listen to all manner of other voices rather than the word of God, their powers of discernment have never been trained and thus they struggle to understand the voice of Christ. So, beloved, linger long in the Scriptures. Become familiar with the Bible through constant use. Proximity to the voice of God is always going to be nearness to the Word of God. If you want to know that you are listening to the Great Shepherd, it will always be in His word. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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Who's to Blame?2/9/2024 Genesis 3:12 ~ The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” From the outset, mankind has been putting the blame for sin on everything else but self. Let us draw ourselves within earshot of the conversation between God and Adam. Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating of the forbidden fruit (see Genesis 3:6). Then, in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve heard God coming. In desperation, they hid themselves from the eyes of the Righteous Judge, for they had rebelled against Him. Calling out, God sought them and Adam responded, telling God that he was afraid because he was naked (exposed). Think of this for just a moment. Man was naked, exposed before God, and there was no actual hiding from the eyes of the Holy One. Fig leaves could not disguise them. The flora could not shield them. Adam and Eve were not going to escape the Lord. Then God, in His rich mercy, gives Adam an opportunity to come clean--to confess his transgression. God asks a simple question: Did you eat of the forbidden tree (see Genesis 3:11). And, with this open opportunity for Adam to seek the mercy of God, he instead, looks to put the blame on another. It seems at first that he would blame the woman. After all, she was tempted by that serpent and then handed him the fruit. And Adam's first blast of blame is just that: "the woman." But it didn't end there. Adam, ultimately, blamed God. It was not just the woman, but, "the woman whom you gave to be with me." Adam, in the very presence of his Maker, in the overwhelming glory of the Almighty, looked to God and said, in essence, "You're the one to blame. For surely this would never had happened if she weren't around--and she'd have never been around if you didn't give her to me." And from that moment on, our disposition has been to cast blame as far and as high as possible, thinking that none of it will ever stick to us. For surely God must know it's not our fault that we sin. Consider King Saul of Israel. In 1 Samuel 15, The LORD had commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. Yet, Saul and the people kept the spoils--the best of the plunder of the Amalekites. When confronted by Samuel, Saul did what came naturally to all of us--he made excuses and cast blame. "And Saul said to Samuel, 'I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal'" (1 Samuel 15:20-21). Basically, Saul said: "It's not my fault... the people did it." How many times do we know of when children (ourselves included when we were young) always sought a way out by casting the blame on another? But, even as God called to Adam, so God calls to us all, to confess and repent of the sins we commit against Him. Without excuse and without self-justification, we are to come clean with our sins. 1 John 1:8-10 lays it out clearly for us, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." What a promise is nestled in the midst of those verses. God, who is righteous and holy, will cleanse us from our sins if we would but confess them to Him. But if we say we have not sinned, then we make God out to be a liar for He has said that we did sin. To confess is to agree with the Lord and His word concerning them. In truth, you cannot confess nor repent of a sin you did not commit. But, when God has revealed your sin as He did to Adam in the garden (did you eat?), then do not cast the blame, and look to no one else to hold your guilt. Confess, agree with God, and repent of that sin and find the everlasting Lord and Judge to be your righteous Redeemer and Savior. To answer the question, who's to blame, is simple. You are... and so am I. We have no one to blame but ourselves for the sins of our life. But we also have a merciful and faithful Lord who will pardon our transgression and cleanse us from every sin. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Contend for the Faith2/8/2024 Jude 1:3 ~ "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered [entrusted] to the saints." Three reasons to contend for the faith: The Urgency of the Hour You cannot read this text of Scripture in Jude without first recognizing there is urgency to Jude’s letter. What had happened to cause Jude to change directions from writing about the common salvation to writing about contending for the faith? There began an attack on the very foundation of the church, the person of Jesus Christ. It became an absolute imperative that Jude needed to warn the people of God that heresy and false teaching was “secretly” slipping into the church. False teachers were turning the grace of God into a license for immorality, denying Jesus Christ as the only Sovereign and Lord. The hour was urgent and there was no time to delay. The church needed to contend for that which the false teachers were trying to destroy. The Priority of the Faith Another reason that we must contend for the faith is the issue of faith itself. In this text, Jude is not speaking of some form of religious dogma or practice. Jude is clearly speaking to the very core issue of the Christian life. Friends, this life we call Christianity is a faith life. That is to say, we are to do everything in association with the life that we have in Christ Jesus. In the text, Jude uses the direct article in connection with the word “faith.” Literally, it is the faith, not a faith, or some faith. The issue of our faith in the Living God is the very core priority of all our existence. We are to contend for the faith for it is the faith that has brought us into the life we have in Christ. There is a specific reality that is unique to the Christian life and that is our complete identification with Jesus Christ and our complete confidence expressed in loving obedience. The Duty of the Saints The last reason we contend for the faith is that it is our duty to do so. If there were no other reason to contend for the faith, this would be reason enough. We read in the text that this faith has been “once for all entrusted to the saints.” We have been given a trust, and we must prove faithful. Let’s break this down a little. First of all, it is “to the saints.” That is, it is given over to those who have personally come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus never entrusted His word to the unbeliever, only to those who have come to know Him by faith. So, if you’re a believer, this is you. Second, it is “entrusted.” Literally, this means that it has been delivered to you as a sacred trust. You have been given God’s greatest gift, the life of His Son in you. Finally, this is “once for all.” Now this can mean “once for all time” signifying the saints’ duty to pass this faith on through generations, or it can mean “once for all people” signifying the saints’ duty to pass this faith on to all people. Either way is agreeable to the text and the significance is clear. Let me ask you: Do you see the urgency of the hour? Do you see that the time we live in is given over to casual faith and a sense of self-satisfying Christianity? Do you understand that there is no other “faith” except the faith of Jesus Christ? Do you understand that people are still lost if they don’t believe the truth? Do you know that this faith is a sacred trust? Do you know that you are obligated to prove faithful to the trust given you? It is the urgent call of God to every believer that we must contend for the faith, entrusted to us once and for all. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Come to the Teaching of Jesus2/7/2024 Matthew 5:1 ~ "Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him." Jesus was pressed by large crowds during the length of His ministry. They often sought to see another miracle from Him, and in the midst of those works, He faithfully spoke God's word to them. There were times the massive crowds of people loved what the Lord spoke--other times they wanted to throw Him off a cliff (see Luke 4:29). But Jesus didn't perform His miracles and do His work in order to amaze the crowds. His entire work was to bring glory to the Father and give evidence to who He is. And it is His teaching that must drive our feet to follow Him. The Lord said this, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24). The works of miracles were there to confirm His word. In John 10:38 Jesus said, "But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." As the crowds grew, the Lord climbed up a mountain and sat down. The time had come for the work of healing and miracles to stop and the work of teaching to begin. In the day, a rabbi would have his disciples gathered around him to teach them, and he would signal that time when he sat down. Jesus does this very thing, and what a message He presented--the Sermon on the Mount. But why did Jesus climb a mountain? With such a crowd around Him, it would make it very difficult for all of them to gather around. He would have greater access to the crowd if He remained in their midst. But Jesus didn't sit down to teach the crowds. In truth, the crowds did hear Him as seen in Matthew 7:28-29, "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." But Jesus didn't sit down for the crowds--He sat down to gather His disciples. The time of teaching had come, and His disciples came to Him. What a wonderful statement of the desire that His true followers have for the very word of God. When the time of the teaching of the Word of God comes, do you gather to listen? Peter recognized the extreme value of the words of Christ in John 6:68, "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" In a society driven toward entertaining attractions, the preaching and teaching of the Word of God is often forsaken for something more exciting. And there are those who see this trend and try to compensate their work to accommodate the desires of the crowds. Jesus did not do that. He never stooped to the demands of those who sought Him out only for another sign. Even at the moment when they wanted to make Him King through force, Jesus withdrew Himself from them (see John 6:15). But when the Scriptures are opened and the opportunity arrives to come to the feet of Jesus' words, His disciples will gather around to listen. May it be said of the church today that the longing of our hearts is still for Christ and His word. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Keeping Watch2/6/2024 Proverbs 15:3 ~ "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." There is no escaping God's careful gaze upon your life. He knows all things, sees all things and even your very thoughts are known to Him. Psalm 94:11 states, "The Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath." Evil and good are both in His watchful perception, and He is not confused as to what is evil and good. Mankind is often confused, uncertain as to whether or not something is objectively evil or good. We tend to speculate about things, trying to make determinations about what we might consider as evil--compromising here and there and allowing ourselves to justify our attitudes and actions based upon our own subjective understanding. Yet Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us away from our own understanding of things. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Knowing that God sees all things, what do you have put in place that will give you what is needed to keep watch over your own life? Are there safeguards established, or do you constantly need lifeguards to rescue you from various potential disasters? Let me encourage you--there are safeguards available. Like lighthouses that warn against trouble and instructors that give you needed wisdom, God has provided what you need to keep watch. Before we look at the tools given by God, you might be asking why you need to take such care over your soul? First, because Jesus commanded it. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus commands, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Another reason flows from the fact that our hearts need guarding. Proverbs 4:23 states, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." What has God given to put a watch upon our lives? First, He's given the Word of God. Consider what Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." There is no subjective quality to the Word of God. It is not speculative, but objectively true and absolutely right. The moment the question of what is evil or good is in play, the Word of God will give clarity. Moreover, it is a warning against that which would lead us into evil. Psalm 19:11 says, "Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Next, He's given us leadership in the church. Hebrews 13:17 tells us, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." Godly men in the church who serve as elders are there to provide the guidance and instruction needed for every believer to avoid evil and pursue good. These are men who will stand before God and give an account of their service to the fellowship. They hold the work of the gospel in the lives of every believer as a precious thing, striving to guide the church to holiness before God. It is to your advantage to heed their guidance (see also Hebrews 13:7). Finally, God has given the church for the purpose of keeping our lives away from sin and pursuing righteousness. Galatians 6:1 tells us, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." The fellowship of the family of Christ is a strong support in living for Christ. There are those who see the church as a casual affair, passively engaged in the life of other believers. But it is in the fellowship that we grow in Christ. Ephesians 4:15-16 instructs us in this, "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." As God is keeping watch over us, so He has given us the tools we need to keep ourselves away from evil and pursuing good. Let us live with these safeguards firmly placed in our lives and, perhaps, we will need fewer lifeguards to rescue us from the calamity of sin. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Runaway and Redeemed2/5/2024 Philemon 1:15 ~ "For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever." The story of Onesimus, the runaway slave, speaks to our redemption with some clarity. Take a moment and read the book of Philemon--there are but 25 verses, and they are rich with grace. To understand what is happening, the slave, Onesimus, had run away from his master, Philemon. Not only did he run away but he potentially robbed Philemon of precious resources as well. The law was set against Onesimus--and Philemon had every right according to the law of the day to have him punished. Yet, somewhere along the way--and probably in prison--Onesimus met the Apostle Paul and heard the message of the gospel. And, in the glorious grace of God, the slave became a believer and a brother in Christ. And, in faithfulness to the Lord, Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon to be received with love and mercy, and welcomed back as more than a bondservant--as a brother. Now... let us take a look at our redemption as we see it illustrated in the story of Onesimus. First, we all start off as runaway slaves. We were created by God, for God and to love and serve Him with our whole heart. He created us to love us as well, to be God over us and provide all things necessary for life and joy. And in rebellion against Him, mankind has rejected God's right to rule us--though we are His creatures, created by Him and for Him. All we have to do is look back to mankind's rebellion in the Garden of Eden. "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3:6). In our sin we are wildly independent of God, and we want it that way. In Psalm 2:3 we read, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." This is our disposition toward God before we are redeemed--we want to be free of Him. But we cannot be, for we must still use His creation to sustain our lives. We breathe His air, eat His food, use His lands, drink His water--and so on. There is not one thing we can do independent of God, but we reject His authority and steal from Him. But then, in His providential grace, we are encountered by the gospel of Christ. As Onesimus met Paul who shared the gospel with the runaway, so we encounter someone who tells us of Jesus Christ. We have tried to run as far as we could from the Lord and, no matter where we go, His gospel will find us. 2 Timothy 1:9 states, "...who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began." And now, beloved, we are restored to our Master! His love and grace have paid for our rebellion. And in our restoration to the Lord, we are no longer just His creation--bondservants and nothing else--we are given the identity of brother. Hebrews 2:11 reveals this, "For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers." The runaway slave is now redeemed, the lost has been found and is restored to the Lord. Is this your testimony? Jesus Christ will receive all who come to Him, all those who believe the gospel and yield themselves to Him. We see in the story of Onesimus the illustration of all who have rebelled against and rejected God--and have been saved by His grace and returned to the Master who made them, forgiven them and welcomed them back in love. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Aggressively Pursue Righteousness2/4/2024 Isaiah 51:1 ~ "“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug." The reality of gaining righteousness is two-fold. First, righteousness is a granted thing. God has granted us to be covered in the righteousness of Christ. We cannot earn a place in glory before God, there is no righteousness of our own that is remotely agreeable to God. We are told in Isaiah 64:6, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." And we learn in Romans that there are none righteous, not even one (see Romans 3:10). So, having no righteousness of our own, we must be given the righteousness of another--and that is the righteousness of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Romans 10:4 says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." God will impart to all who believe on the Lord Jesus, the very righteousness of Jesus. Jesus lived the life we could never live, pleasing His Father and walking in perfect obedience to the law. And now He provides for us the covering of His perfect righteousness which He purchased for us on the cross. Second, righteousness is a pursuit. There is an active aspect of righteousness in a believer's life. There are those will come to Christ and have, afterward, a passive approach to their love for Jesus. In many other endeavors of life, they will aggressively chase after those desires and passions that rule their hearts--and Christ is mildly considered. But, reader, do you aggressively pursue a righteous life? In our text, there is a parallel pursuit which reflects our desire for righteousness, and that is to "seek the Lord." Both those pursuits happen at the same time. For you cannot have a life that is righteous outside of Christ, and you cannot find righteousness without Him. But the pursuit of righteousness is not a passive condition but an active one. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11, "But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." Again, the apostle reiterated it in 2 Timothy 2:22, "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." It stands to reason that to go in pursuit of something, you also then have to flee something. And as we read in the text above, we flee youthful passions and we flee "these things." Hebrews 12:1-2 commands, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Beloved, let us do that very thing--laying aside the weights and entanglements of sin and pursue righteousness. To give you an illustration, consider a person who says they are in pursuit of a healthier life. The talk about exercise, read about healthy foods, learn about the dispelling of bad habits--but all the time they never get off the sofa, while they eat down a entire box of chocolate candy. They have not set aside their sedentary life for an active one. But the believer in Christ has something that the illustration above does not--the Christian has the Holy Spirit. Dwelling within, the third person of the Trinity who moves us to desire the righteousness of Christ will also empower us to pursue it with great fervor. Paul said that he metaphorically beat his body so that he would not be disqualified (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). There is a righteousness given by Christ at salvation--but there is also a righteousness that is gained in pursuit of it. Let us, then, aggressively pursue that condition of life that is pleasing to God. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Under the Command of God2/3/2024 Exodus 40:32 ~ "...as the Lord commanded Moses." More than a dozen times, between chapters 39 and 40 of the book of Exodus, is this statement made concerning the obedience of Moses. Often things are repeated in the Scriptures to provide the emphasis needed for the people of God. And if, between two chapters at the end of Exodus we read repeatedly that Moses did all that the Lord commanded, we may discover that obedience to the Lord is the expectation given to the redeemed. As we open this day, we shall consider the simple ramifications of this statement. Let us first realize that these are the thing that the LORD had commanded. No imagination from Moses was implemented in the setup of the Tabernacle or taken into account in the worship of God. Many times, God's people want to serve the Lord according to their own designs, but that is not left to them. The Lord God Almighty is the King, He is the righteous Ruler of the world and He does not give us the latitude to serve Him in any manner we desire. Consider the words of our Lord Jesus in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" Consider the details that God established for the construction of the Tabernacle. The Lord did not give them the liberty to put the place of meeting together according to their own specs. And though the church does not have a physical temple as the nation of Israel did, we still have requirements set for us that God has commanded. How are we to know what they are? Simple... by learning the word of God. Jesus left this world with a simple command to His apostles--make disciples (see Matthew 28:19). But let us hear the final command of that Great Commission: "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). Another truth to extract from this text today--Moses obeyed. As you read through chapter 40 of Exodus, you discover that all those requirements given by God were observed in obedience by Moses. He did not question, quarrel, or rage against the stipulations laid upon him by the Lord. He did not try to remake the commands and institute policies that were more congenial to his desires. He did not attempt to reword the instructions of the Lord so that they were easier to follow. He simply obeyed. When set in the heart of the believer to obey the Lord Jesus, how precious it is to Him when we do obey. It is a sign of love and devotion--of trust and faithfulness. Jesus said that if we loved Him we would keep His commands. John 14:21 says it clearly, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Imagine a father in the home who has his children around him and they are doing as he has instructed. Does not that father who loves his children see their obedience to him as an expression of love to him? And even if our earthly fathers fail in that regard, truly our Heavenly Father never will. He receives your obedience derived from your love for Him with tremendous joy and celebration. Look at how it is described in Luke 12:37, "Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them." The idea of being "awake" is illustrative of a servant who is alert to to his master's commands. In no way does our dutiful obedience save our souls from sin. But when we are saved by the grace of God, our hearts are warmed with the desire to show forth all our gratitude to the Lord Jesus in loving obedience to Him. From the least to the greatest tasks given, our life must be lived for His glory. So, as Moses repeatedly obeyed the Lord God, let us do the same, looking to God's word and learning how we also can walk in obedience to Christ. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Words Unsaid2/2/2024 Acts 20:27 ~ "...for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." Do not leave good words unsaid. There are plenty of times when it is wise to remain silent. Often those malicious rants and vicious tirades would be better off when they remain unspoken. Proverbs 17:28 confirms this, "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent." How much foolishness is exposed merely because the words refuse to remain inside? The tongue is a restless world of potential evil. James speaks on this in James 1:26, "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." Again, James states in James 3:6, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Words cannot be retrieved once spoken. And harsh, bitter, inflammatory words are like the spark that sets a forest ablaze. Jesus gives us a stern warning about the importance of our words in Matthew 12:36-37, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Why? What is it about our words that will either justify or condemn us? Simple--words are the verbal commentary of the heart. This is found in Luke 6:45, "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." With all that, perhaps it's better to remain silent, to refuse to speak out on anything and keep our mouths shut in the face of such risk. For the believer, however, this becomes a problem, for we have the most important message available for all people. Consider what is revealed in Jeremiah 20:9, "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks, and, my friends, if your heart is abundantly filled with the Lord Jesus Christ then you must not let your good words go unsaid. We are to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We must heed the instruction of 1 Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." The very first quality example Paul instructed Timothy to display was in speech (see 1 Timothy 4:12). As we see in our text, Paul did not shrink back from the whole counsel of God, but he declared it faithfully and fully. There are times when it seems that our words will fall upon deaf ears, so we ask what's the use? That's the wrong question. It is not about the response of those to whom you speak, it is about your willing faithfulness to speak God's word when the opportunity arises. Does your heart burn with the need to tell others of Jesus? Do you seek to be someone who speak God's word in your daily conversations with others? Will you refrain from the moment when God has invited you to share? My friends, do not leave good words unsaid. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Gospel Unchained2/1/2024 2 Timothy 2:8-9 ~ "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!" Beloved, we will suffer at the hands of the world for our willingness to stand firm for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This should not take us by surprise, however, as our Lord told us that these things would happen. Consider John 15:18, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." Again, in John 15:20, Jesus says, "Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." It is a foolish thing, in the midst of a war raging around you, to ignore the battle taking place. Imagine yourself as a soldier on the frontlines and you live in denial of the ammunition flying overhead and the bombs exploding around you. If you take a casual stance in the conflict, you will become a casualty of war. Or, worse yet, you might decide that the struggle is not for you and so you abandon the gospel and turn away from the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 10:39 tells us much in regard to this, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." Paul was not one to "shrink back." In his continual preaching and teaching the gospel, he faced constant persecution and danger for his faithfulness to the Lord. The persecution ran so violent against him that he was often jailed, beaten, and hated. If you want a comprehensive list of Paul's persecutions, read 2 Corinthians 11:21-29. But look at Paul's great boast: "the word of God is not bound!" You must understand that God has given to us an unchained--and unchainable--gospel in Jesus Christ. The term "gospel" means "good news" and it is the best news to all who have put their faith in Christ. Do you understand how impossible it is to chain the gospel of the Lord? You might as well try to stop the sun from breaching the horizon. 2 Timothy is Paul's final letter before his execution by Rome. He knows that his days are now over (see 2 Timothy 4:6-8). But the apostle does not despair or think that the cause of Christ is over at his departure. He knows that no matter how bound up God's servants might become, the gospel of the Lord Jesus is never going to stop--it cannot. And that, my friends, should give you great courage in your testifying to the salvation of Christ. Paul, bound in chains as a criminal, reminds us to "remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead." He doesn't say "remember me after I'm gone" or plead for some great mercy to come his way. No, it is Jesus Christ and the unchained gospel that is his greatest desire. Consider the encouragement that Paul gives to the church in Philippians 1:12-14, "I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." He saw his chains as merely the means of advancing the gospel, so that it was known throughout the entire imperial guard (the praetorium) that Paul was there for the sake of Christ. I could imagine that every soldier to whom the apostle was chained heard a constant plea to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. So, beloved, do you see your own suffering as the means by which God can use you to advance the gospel of Christ? Do not let the word of God be bound up in your heart so that you hold it back for fear that you might suffer. Let me encourage you to this: when God presents to you an opportunity, be faithful to share. In His Grace, Pastor Michael You, too, Can Pray.1/31/2024 James 5:17 ~ "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth." We look at the men and women of the Scriptures and see the great achievements and amazing communion they enjoyed with God. God spoke to Moses face to face (see Exodus 33:11). Abraham was considered God's friend (see Isaiah 41:8). David was that man who was after God's own heart (see Acts 13:22). And then there was Elijah. The premier prophet of Israel. Along with Moses, he was the companion of Christ on the mountain of transfiguration. The man who stood against the false prophets of Baal and called down fire from heaven. This prophet, Elijah, was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, separated from his companion, Elisha, by the burning chariots of God. Even John the Baptist was called the "Elijah who was to come." This Old Testament prophet appears in the Scriptures as a bulwark of a man, a resounding saint that stands firmly entrenched in his absolute trust in God Almighty. And then James tells us that "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours." Literally, Elijah was just as human as you and I. For all the moments of opportunity to serve the Lord and see God do amazing things, Elijah was still a sinner saved by grace. It is hard for us to imagine that the prophet was anything like us, but the truth is--there is only one who is good and that is God alone (see Mark 10:18). The rest of the world, including the great saints of God, are still just like us. There are three words that tell us much of Elijah's connection with God: "and he prayed." There are several times that we see the prophet crying out to the Lord in prayer. He prayed for the widow's son in 1 Kings 17:20, "And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?" He prayed on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:36, "And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.'" He prayed while hiding in the cave (see 1 Kings 19:9-18). And, from our text above, we know that he prayed that it should stop raining--and it did. But why were Elijah's prayers so effective? The text just before our text for today will tell us: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16). And that's the key... the prayer of a righteous person. But how can Elijah be considered a righteous person if he is a person just like us? We know ourselves, see ourselves in truth, and know that there is nothing of great righteousness in us. In fact, does not the Scriptures teach that there are none righteous, no, not one (see Romans 3:10). How, then, can there be any effective and powerful prayers? The answer is--Elijah believed God. Just as it was spoken of Abraham, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:3). Elijah believed in God, which moved him to believe God, to take God at His word, trusting His promises and living in obedience to the Lord. If you believe in Christ, do you also believe Him? It is necessary in order to pray. Doubting does not produce a prayerful life (see James 1:6). John tells us in 1 John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." One of the droughts of the church in this modern era is prayer. And one of the prime reasons why God's people don't pray is a lack of confidence in prayer. But, beloved, you, too, can pray--even as Elijah prayed and saw God move according to His promises. Elijah prayed in confidence because he faithfully trusted what God had said. And you, my friend, can do the same. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Serving in the Salvation of Christ1/30/2024 John 4:2 ~ "...although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples." There is a wonderful connection between the Lord and His disciples, so that in the work of Christ to bring the lost to Himself, it was the disciples who ministered the ordinance of baptism. Even today that same work is taking place as the Lord brings into the church those who are being saved and the discipling leaders of the church are the ones performing the work of baptism. It is the Lord's work to bring the lost to salvation. Consider what it says in Acts 2:47b, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." It is the Father who draws the lost to Christ to be saved (see John 6:44). And yet, in that work of saving souls unto eternal life, the Lord Jesus gives opportunity for those who are already His disciples to serve with Him. So, as we mine this text, let us see if there are some golden nuggets we can find. First, Jesus baptized no one--and we can reasonably assume that included His own apostles. The baptism that Jesus provides is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire (see Matthew 3:11). All who believe on the Lord Jesus are marked out with a baptism that is eternal. The baptism by water is done by the church--by those who are His disciples--identifying believers to the world as those who belong to Christ. This is why water baptism does not save--for it is only an outward sign of the real baptism that takes place with the Holy Spirit. Second, the disciples did the work of baptizing new believers. What does this show? It marks out that, even from the beginning of the work of Christ, believers are to participate with Jesus in the work of making disciples. Water baptism is often the first expression of obedience to Christ that is made by the redeemed. Consider in Acts 8:36 the Ethiopian eunuch who heard and believed the message of Christ. "And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?'" The apostles were called to make disciples--baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19). It is of great importance to remember that the church is still called by Christ to participate in the discipling and sanctifying work of the Lord. We are to encourage one another, support and pray for each other, to exhort and admonish, and to build each other in Christ. The work of baptism begins that process and it does not stop until we arrive in His presence. Third, believers were being baptized by the disciples. A connection was being made for those who would follow the leadership of the apostles. Jesus would not always remain--for He would depart to go to the Father after the work of redemption was completed in His death and resurrection (see John 16:28). These new believers needed to be connected to those who would still remain. Had they been baptized by Jesus, and not the apostles, there would be a break in their connection after Jesus had gone. But, being baptized by the apostles--and now, today, by the discipling leaders of the church--there remains a connection for those who have come to faith in Christ. Those who say they do not need the church to be a Christian miss a very important aspect of being a Christian--we are called out of the world to be a body, a fellowship, a family and live in this world being united to each other in Christ. People are baptized into Christ, but that baptism is done through the fellowship of believers so that the newly redeemed would have a connection that traces its lineage all the way back to the apostles. Jesus, alone, does the saving of a soul. But it is the church who participates with Christ in the work of discipling. So, beloved, let us serve in His salvation, even as the apostles did, and provide the opportunity for others to be discipled according to God's word. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Light of the World--The Church1/29/2024 Matthew 5:14 ~ "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Like the moon shines in its fullness upon the darkness of the earth, reflecting the light of the distant sun, so, Christian, you are to be the light upon which the world can see their way to God. No one who knows the make-up of the moon holds to the idea that it possesses its own light. It is a dark satellite that orbits the earth. And, without the sun to reflect upon it and shine down to the earth, the moon would remain dark. But the sun does shine upon it, and though the moon may wax and wane, it still reflects the light. Unlike the moon, however, the Christian life is more than a simple reflection of the light of Christ, for the light of Christ shines from within the believer and radiates outward to shine upon those who come in contact with them. But, how can the Christian be called the light of the world when we learned yesterday that Jesus is the light of the world. Does the Scripture help us to understand this? Yes... it does. Consider what Jesus said in John 9:5, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." This is a conditional statement, for Jesus did not stay in the world, but ascended into heaven and will return at the time appointed (see Acts 1:11). While Jesus walked upon this earth, he shone forth the light of the glory of God through His work of ministry and, ultimately, through His death and resurrection. But as God will not be without a witness, at the departure of Christ, the Holy Spirit inhabited the church and now we are the illumination for the world to know Him. But how does our light shine? Jesus gives us the means of illumination in Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." In the same way as what? The Lord gives us two illustrations: a city on a hill and a lamp on a stand. The city on the hill was easily understood by the disciples as they could not have missed the illuminating glow of the city of Jerusalem, perched atop the mount. And a lamp on a stand was a clear designation as no one actually intentionally lights a lamp and then proceeds to hide it. So, in the same way, your life in Christ is to be seen and not hidden. And that glowing expression of your faith is radiant in your good works, shining as natural as light--not that you seek to be noticed, but that it cannot help but be seen by others who will give glory to God. And that should be your motivation--that God is glorified through the light that shines from you. Consider what the Apostle told the church in Philippians 2:14-15, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." We live in a crooked and twisted generation, and those who live out the goodness of Christ shine like a full moon in a darkened sky. As Jesus was in the world, so He has left us in the world in order to continue the work of bringing His light to those who walk in darkness. Our Lord said as much in John 20:21, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.'" The question I want to ask is this--will you shine? It is certainly dark enough around us that the world needs to see Christ in us, that they might seek the Lord themselves and find their way out of darkness and into His marvelous light. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Light of the World--Jesus1/28/2024 John 8:12 ~ "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" We live in the land of shadows, where darkness permeates every quarter of our lives. Let a man find himself in a darkened cave, with no light, and he will discover the great quality that light brings to his life. If he even sees a flicker of light, he will pursue it with hope that he should be delivered from groping through the darkness in a maze of unseen caverns. He will fix that light ever in his eyes, as if it is his only hope and chance of finding his way out. And, in that same way, Jesus Christ is our Light. He has entered into this sin-darkened world and has shown forth the "way, truth and life" (see John 14:6). And if we are to walk out of the darkness of sin and into the light of the glory of Christ, we must follow Him. Consider how light has been so vital to the identity of Christ: The prophetic message of Christ was light: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shone" (Isaiah 9:2). The pronouncement of Christ by the angels was ablaze with light: "And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear" (Luke 2:9). The presentation of Christ on the mountain was glorious light: "And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light" (Matthew 17:2). And in the pain of Christ as He endured our judgment on the cross there was--darkness: "And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour" (Mark 15:33). Have you ever wondered why there was darkness when Jesus suffered on the cross? Consider: the light of the world took upon Himself every sin--and was treated by the Father as if He had lived our lives--would that not bring darkness? 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he [God the Father] made him [Jesus the Son] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus paid the cost of our sin so that He could impart His righteousness and deliver us from darkness. Sin is darkness, and all people in this world--including you and I--are rife with sin. And Jesus is the light of the world. He came to deliver people out of darkness and into His marvelous light (see 1 Peter 2:9). We were the man in the cave, and Jesus has come to lead us out of sin and into His righteousness, out of darkness and into His life. The question, then, will you follow Him? Because, as Jesus is the light of the world and has given us the knowledge of salvation in Him, we must place our faith in Him and follow Him out of the caverns of this world. It is not enough to say you believe that the Light of the World is true, you must strive to follow Him. For true belief in Christ is to become a follower of Christ. To illustrate this, you have a cross-country flight to take and if you don't believe the plane will safely get you to your destination--you won't get on. But if you do believe, then you enter the plane--displaying your faith and confidence that it will transport you to your journey's end. And Jesus is our only hope of salvation. He has proved His trustworthiness to save all who believe--all who will follow Him by faith. You do not become your own savior, you trust completely in the One who has made the promise of salvation and has purchased it with His own blood. And this promise holds true for all who follow--they will walk in the light of the Lord, they will have the light of life. Consider what John 1:4-5 states, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Is it possible for darkness to overcome light? Try this experiment. Enter a darkened room and turn on the light. Does the darkness cast the light away, fighting to regain mastery of the room? Of course not. Light dispels darkness--never the other way around. And so it is with Christ. Open your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will dispel all darkness, He will vanquish all sin, He will remove from you even the tracing of worldly shadows as His light of truth shines upon and within you. And you might then discover something happening to you--you start to bear forth His light through your life as well. But that lesson is for tomorrow. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Unyielding Appetite of Sin1/27/2024 Proverbs 30:16 ~ "...and the fire that never says, 'Enough.'" Three things prevent a fire from spreading--a natural barrier, the lack of fuel, or an attack against it by those who know how to douse the flames. A wildfire will continue unabated unless something or someone comes against its progress. It will never, of its own accord, finally say "enough." And so it is with sin. The very condition of mankind is overwrought with an unyielding appetite for sin. Even the introduction of God's law did not curb the appetite. Paul, himself, stated as much in Romans 7:8, "But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead." How many people do you know, who are aware that their habits are harmful and their sins destructive, still participate in them with regularity? For an example... we know that smoking causes all manner of physical problems--and yet the tobacco industry is made rich in the habits of those who are addicted. Just knowing that it's bad for their health does not seem to be a restraint on their behavior. Paul would say in Romans 7:19, "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." Here is a born-again man of God, an apostle of Christ and servant of the church who is not free from the unwanted fires of the sinful nature in his life. And those three major conflagrations of sin--the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (see 1 John 2:16)--will never yield its burning rampage across our souls of its own volition. The burning fire of sin must be extinguished. And let us use the three measures presented at the beginning of this reading to overcome the flames. First, go to the One who has conquered sin--the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are burning with sin, He alone has the power to extinguish it. Flee to Christ, run to Him in prayer and call upon Him in your desperate hour, confessing your sins, for He will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9). Consider what John the Baptist said of Jesus in John 1:29, "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" Jesus, alone, has the authority and the power to forgive and vanquish sin. Second, remove the fuel source and prevent your sinful nature from having access to greater opportunities to entice you. A great image is found in the removal of filthy garments and donning clean attire. Ephesians 4:20-24 reads, "But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." You must put them away--far away--so that the sinful nature is starved out and the righteous life of Christ is fed and growing in greater holiness. Finally, dwell near those natural barriers that God provides for the sanctification of your soul. The primary one in this world is the fellowship of a solid, biblical church. Many have discovered a great weapon against sin merely by being near those who are also walking with Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." And Romans 1:12 reads, "...that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." 1 John 1:7 tells us, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in Christ (see Hebrews 10:25) for in that gathering is found mutual encouragement and strength to overcome sin. Remember, beloved, the sinful nature does not want to do anything other than consume your life like a fire consumes a forest. If you love Christ and His righteousness, I implore you, do not submit to the cravings of sin. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Divine Maturity1/26/2024 1 John 2:14 ~ "I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning." Layer upon layer of spiritual progress in Christ leads to one absolute and overarching truth--you will come to know the Father. There is no greater height to gain than to know God. From the very beginnings of the new life--knowing your sins are forgiven in Christ, through the maturing and strengthening of being a young man who is strong and viable against the enemy because of God's word, all leads to the ultimate rock of truth--knowing God the Father. There are a couple of truths I want to show you concerning our text today. The first is the description of how a mature believer knows the Lord. The "children" in Christ know the Father in the simple trust of a toddler. It is so much more with one who is mature, for the mature believer, with depth, knows "him who is from the beginning." Like a submarine in the ocean, that statement buries us in the depths of the knowledge of God. It speaks to God's greatness--for He is "from the beginning." The fathers of Christian maturity know the Lord in His glory, they have experienced the goodness of God and the greatness of God and they now have in their lives an absolute confidence in the Lord for they have come to know the Faithful Savior, who is God from the beginning and will be God through it all. God is from the beginning--the Creator of all things. He is Sovereign and the ultimate and absolute authority over His creation. All things have their origins in the One who made it all. The mature Christian knows Jesus as He who was and is and is to come, the Almighty (see Revelation 1:8). The Apostle Paul prayed that he should know God (see Philippians 3:10). Is that your prayer? Do you want to know the Lord--not just know His gifts, or His callings, or His promises or His power? Do you want to know Him? There is a deep relationship formed in the life of the one who knows God as the "one who is from the beginning." It speaks of a depth of familiarity that has moved you beyond calling Him "daddy." Consider where the greatest relationships are found--in the greatness of familiarity. I have known newlyweds as well as those who have been in each other's lives for more than half-a-century. The newlyweds may know the joyful exuberance of the new relationship. But those who have spent their lives together are so intimately familiar with each other that they are like one mind and heart. And that is where God wants to take your fellowship with Him. The second truth to see, is that those who are mature are identified as "fathers." That identity is rich with meaning. A father has a deep responsibility to those in his care. Fathers are to be the ones who have answers for the children in Christ. Fathers have a maturing influence on those who are growing in Christ. A spiritual father is one who has come through life and experiences, trusting Christ, failing at times, learning and growing and have gone from a child nature, through the experience of life and faith, in obedience to God's word, have built their spiritual muscles as a young man and now--mature and confident in the Lord, they are stable, even unshakable, in the Lord. And this is the level to which God wants to bring you. Let me draw from a statement in our text to close out our thought today: "you know Him." Let those three words become the fullness of your pursuit in life. Strive to know the Lord. These last three days have been a view to your spiritual growth. Begin where we all must begin--to know your sins are forgiven in His name. Grow strong into a solid, vital believer through the Word of God. And then, mature into that condition that is so stable and strong that you are as a father in the faith. I trust this is your desired path. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Young and Strong1/25/2024 1 John 2:14 ~ "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one." I remember the days when I could run through fields, make mad dashes over rocks and logs, climb exquisite trees, and hike upon mountainous terrain. I was young and strong. But that is the delightful nature of being young--there is strength to overcome the daunting barriers that stand in the way. As we grow beyond the childhood nature of our Christian life, there comes that time when it seems that we would willingly "take hell with a water pistol." We hear the words of Jesus and believe that there is no stopping the advancement of the army of the Lord when He says, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Emphasized in both verse 13 and 14 is the idea that the "young men" have "overcome the evil one." It hearkens us back to the statement of the Apostle Paul when he declared in Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." To be "more than conquerors" and to have "overcome" derives its meaning from the same root word--to be victorious. There are reasons why armies are filled with young, strong soldiers--for they are capable of taking the fight to the enemy and winning. And there is a strength of vitality that is in the growing Christian's life. A strength that stands against the ever-present temptations of this world and stands for the Lord Jesus in the face of the enemy. But, before you begin to think that the strength of the young man in Christ is derived solely from his own personal abilities, remember what our text says: "the word of God abides in you." Paul told the Ephesians, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (Ephesians 6:10). There is no strength outside of the Lord. There is no power beyond faith in Him. And there is no source of strength for any believer who does not have the word of God abiding in them. We cannot know where to go but by the word of God. We don't have the understanding of how to stand except that God's word teaches us. And those who do not have the word of God abiding in them, will discover they have no means of being strong an overcoming the evil one. God spoke through the prophet Zechariah a message to the king that we must take as an absolute if we are to stand against the enemy. "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts'" (Zechariah 4:6). The Psalmist teaches us that there is no one saved by their own great strength, but that God alone is the deliverer of all (see Psalm 33:16-19). Do you want to be strong? Do you want to stand victorious over the enemy of God? You must do what the strong, young men mentioned in our text would do--let the word of God abide in you, that you should live it out in faithfulness and discover the strength of Christ and the power of His Spirit to keep you strong. Let there be a well-worn Bible in the hands of the faithful, for therein lies the strength of the Christian life. In His Grace, Pastor Michael A Child's Faith1/24/2024 1 John 2:13 ~ "I write to you, children, because you know the Father." What a blessing it is to simply know God as our Father. As children, there is a precious recognition that is found when they know their parents. In a crowd, amongst the gathered multitudes of church, I have seen children weave their way through the forest of people to find that one person who they know--their father. And here, John writes a simple expression that carries a weight of wonder for all of us. For each of us started in that simple expression--we know our Father in heaven. The first statement made concerning children in verse 12 states simply, "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake." What a blessed and wonderful knowledge to have, that our sins are forgiven for His name's sake. And that is where it all begins--in the forgiveness of Christ. Have your sins been forgiven? Do you know the merciful love of the Lord Jesus who died and rose again? He did that all out of love for you. He bore your sins and paid your debt before His Father, zeroed out your negative balance and gave you His righteousness in exchange for your sins. If you know your sins are forgiven--then the very next drop of knowledge is simply this: you have a Father in heaven. A child does not know much about their father when they are young. Truly they look to their earthly fathers with a simple view--he is their daddy. He guides and protects them, disciplines and comforts them, provides for their needs and loves them. Jesus, our Lord, said that we must come to faith like a little child (see Mark 10:15). So how wonderfully simple is a child-like faith. I recall the story of a young boy who had missed his bus to travel home and he was on the corner, alone, huddled in the shelter of the bus stop. Several strangers offered to help the child find his way home, but his only answer was, "my daddy will come for me." And, sure enough, he did. Rounding the corner, a rickety old truck rumbled up to the stop and with joyful delight the boy jumped up and hurried to his dad. Do you know the Lord God Almighty as--Father? Jesus said that we must. Even in our prayers we are to pray, "our Father" (see Matthew 6:9). The Lord also said that He was departing to go to His Father--and ours. "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'" (John 20:17). Do not despair, beloved. If your sins are forgiven on account of Jesus, then you have been adopted into the family of God. You have a new heritage, a new lineage, a new family--and a Heavenly Father. And if you are in His family, He will never lose one of His own. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Best is yet to Come1/23/2024 John 2:10 ~ "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus attended the wedding at Cana in Galilee, enjoying the wonderful celebration of a young couple's new life together. And I would like to use this situation as an example to set before you concerning what is yet to come. When the believer first tastes of Christ it is the "good wine." The fellowship of believers, the word of God, the comfort of His Holy Spirit, the promises in Christ, the participation in worship, and so many more riches of Christ are found in the tasting of the wine of salvation. We truly discover that we can, "taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8). I remember my first steps in the Lord Jesus, when He brought me into His salvation and I was enriched in the warmth of His joy and peace. It was like a celebration in my heart--and in truth it was, for I was made new, my sins were cleansed, my soul set right with God and my name written in that book of life that will never be erased. Like drinking good wine, I was flushed with the exuberance of delight for Jesus. At the wedding, the circumstances changed and the good wine ran dry. There was none left and the guests still remained. Now, the expectation of the host was limited in his view, for he only relied on the human tradition of bringing out the best at first and the worst in the end. And there are many who look at their own lives in the same way. How many believe that they had better enjoy their good things now, for soon the troubling reality of the end is coming and only that which is poor and pitiful will remain? How many live with the belief that they had better, "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (Isaiah 22:13)? They want their best now... for they fear that the worst is yet to come. But, for those who are in Christ, that initial taste of the "wine" of faith--an early taste of that which is the good wine--only holds a promise for something more. For the Christian, the best is yet to come! Consider what the Apostle Paul said to the church in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.'" And here is the illustration that I want to leave you with--just as Jesus commanded the servants and it was the best wine at the end, so at the command of Christ, the best is still yet to come. All things will be made new. Worldly people will have their pleasures now, but all who hope in Christ will have their delights fulfilled when He brings us into His kingdom. Whatever we experience in this world, whatever circumstances that occur and we must go through times in life when we rely on the good wine of faith, we will someday have the best wine of His presence. Consider what our Lord says in Matthew 26:29, "I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." So, beloved, hold out in faith until Jesus brings us into His kingdom. There is coming "that day" and we who have our hope in Christ, will have that hope fulfilled. In His Grace, Pastor Michael An Exclusive Relationship1/22/2024 Exodus 20:5a ~ "You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God." As the Lord delivered His people from their enslavement in Egypt, bringing them through the Red Sea and leading them with a pillar of cloud and fire across the wilderness, He provided for them the moral requirements to live in fellowship with Him. One of those requirements was to maintain an exclusive relationship with Him. In the land of Canaan where they were going, the nations of that land were rife with all manner of gods with practices that were abhorrent to Yahweh. In fact, all other so-called gods of man's imagination are reprehensible to the Almighty. And so, in the second commandment, God forbid the worship of anything of man's crafting--even if their desire was to worship the true God with their carved images. And the Lord gives the reason why--He is a jealous God. Imagine, for a moment, being in the camp of Israel and led of God out of bondage in Egypt. God fed them, kept them, protected them, guided them and He required that they turn to no other God but Him. Then, imagine, that at the first opportunity, the nation delivered by God turned their attentions to the pagan and worthless idols of the lands around them. Should that not raise the jealousy of the Lord? Believer in Christ, you have been delivered from the bondage and enslavement of sin through the sacrificial love of God in Christ Jesus. He came to rescue you, paying for your crimes against the Almighty, and freeing you from the "Egypt" of the dominion of darkness. You were bought with a price (see 1 Corinthians 7:23) and the Lord God, Jesus Christ, still requires an exclusive relationship with His redeemed. And yet, have you adopted the idolatries of the world in your worship of the Lord? Many have. There are those who look to the world's entertainment, excitement and enthusiasm for the next expressive thing, and believe it must be adopted into the church for the purpose of worshiping God "better." The idols of the world may not be carved today, but they are no less detestable to God. I recall one pastor who informed his congregation that their music team needed to be able to "perform better than Hollywood" because the world would never want to come to a church that was "boring." And so entered the idol of entertainment. If ever we look to the world for the guiding principles of our fellowship with God, we are embracing idols. And God, who is still a jealous God, will rebuke His people. Beloved, look to the word of God and do not go beyond what is written (see 1 Corinthians 4:6). If you are born again, you are to walk exclusively with Christ and have no fellowship with worldliness. 1 John 2:15 warns, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Jesus, our Lord, clearly taught that we cannot obey two masters. "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24). Just as Israel departed the Almighty to worship the carved images of the world, so many of those who call themselves Christians have departed their true relationship with the Lord Jesus to embrace the philosophies and ideologies and practices of the world. Let that not be said of you. However, if you do find that you have departed from your pure devotion to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11:3), our God is a tender and merciful Savior who will receive you back into fellowship with Him if you only repent. Let nothing of this fallen world hold any attraction to you. Let your love and affection be given over to the Savior who loved you with an everlasting love and showed you His love in taking upon Himself the very punishment of your sins (see Romans 5:8). Our God is a jealous God. Our God is a merciful Savior. How will you experience Him? In His Grace, Pastor Michael Through Darkened Glass1/21/2024 1 Corinthians 13:12 ~ "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." Years ago, in ages long before we walked upon this world, the mirror was once called a "looking glass." It was a highly polished metal sheet that was used to try to see yourself. The mirror described in our text is that very thing, a looking glass to try and see the condition we are in. And our view is obscured, literally darkened and hard to comprehend--an enigma. When a person looks in a mirror, unless they are a narcissist, they are trying to see if everything measures up to the desired condition or if they are in need of some repair before they venture into the world at large. What are we looking for? What will help us to see that we "measure up" in our spiritual appearance? Well... the context of this text is--love. Paul just went through the entire expression of what love is supposed to be, and then he declares that when he looks at himself in the mirror, the view is obscured. And such is the view of all who are in Christ. Beloved, have you seen little in yourself that resembles the Lord Jesus and His love? You're not alone. As we look into the mirror the image that we see fails to measure up. But, remember, our view is obscured. You do not even see yourself correctly. Shrouded by the constant companion of our former sinful condition--a condition that seems to hang on despite our rejection of it (see Romans 7:18)--we look at the mirror and our lives just do not seem to reflect correctly the image that magnifies and glorifies God. We are supposed to look like Jesus in His character and with His love. And we can barely see Him in our reflection. But, beloved, do not let this bring you to despair. If you are born again, you are clothed in His righteousness. And though it may not shine through when you look at yourself in the spiritual mirror, it will be revealed in the moment you step into His presence. We see dimly now; we shall see with absolute clarity then--even face to face. It will be the full revealing of the love of God in us. We only know in part--in a very limited understanding of our life in Christ. Then we shall know fully--even as we are fully known by Christ. If you know Jesus as Savior, and He knows you as one of His redeemed, the Lord does not look upon you according to the former things, but as a new creation. So, continue to strive in the love of Christ, building yourself up in the faith (see Jude 1:20-21). There will be growth, your reflection will improve. You will put off the childish ways of your old self and begin to mature in His love. The perfection of His love will increase (see Matthew 5:43-48) in you. And then, one day, you will see Him as He is--and perhaps with great astonishment--you will see His perfect reflection in you. In His Grace, Pastor Michael For the Love of God1/20/2024 2 Corinthians 5:14 ~ "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died." Let there be no doubt concerning the love of God--and that He loves you. The challenge most people have when it comes to the idea of "love" is from the subjective nature with which we consider it. Human affection is often based upon some quality of interest that the object of our desire has impressed upon our heart and mind, and so we say we "love" them. When that interest wanes, many will determine that they no longer love the other and they will separate their affection from the object. It is not so with God. Look at the condition of our nature when God loved us. Romans 5:8 clearly reveals His love, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." There was no character within us, no quality of interest that should have attracted God's affections toward us, there was nothing but sin--that is all we had. And, in that condition, God loved us to such an extent that Christ died. Oh, beloved, does this love hold any interest to you? God did not love you for anything other than that you were needing to be loved by Him. He loved you simply because it is in His nature to love (see 1 John 4:8). We were prisoners in the dungeon, justly waiting our eternal punishment and then the word came to us that the King had taken our place! He died to satisfy our crimes. Then, because His life could not be constrained by death, Jesus rose from the grave and now calls anyone who will be His to leave the prison and embrace His love through repentance and loyalty to Him. Romans 2:4 states, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" Let the other prisoners laugh at us, let the remaining inmates who reject the King's offer mock us for our abandonment of this earthly dungeon. I, for one, am eternally grateful for His love that rescued me from His wrath and delivered me from His judgment to receive an eternal inheritance in His family. The Lord Jesus suffered and died on the cross for you--do you now think that if you receive His love that He will sit in heaven not also longing for you to be with Him? Does not love desire to be in the presence of the object of affection? If you are in Christ, you are the object of His affection and He delights to know you. It is this love that God offers to you, not human subjective love, but the solid, unwavering sacrificial love of Christ. And it should be that love which compels us to Him. Thus, the love of Christ controls us. Another word for "control" is "constrain." That is, it holds us fast--confines us in this life that we should no longer live for anything other than His love. Consider the follow-up verse, 2 Corinthians 5:15, "And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." What will you do for the love of God? Not, what will you do to earn it--for you cannot earn His love, but you must humbly receive it. What will you do with your life going forward knowing that He has loved you with such sacrificial mercy? Will you do as the Apostle states, and no longer live for yourself but for Him--that is, Jesus--who died for you and was raised to be the King of kings? Though we still live in this world, believer, we are no longer bound to its condemnation. We are free--delivered by His love, for His love, and to be in His love forever. In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Absolute Right of God1/19/2024 Isaiah 45:18b-19 ~ "I am the LORD, and there is no other... I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right." Of all the imaginations of men, none is more destructive than imagining a god who is not. The idols of mankind come in a plethora of forms, shapes, ideas and ideologies. They have a myriad of doctrines, practices and procedures. They are energized by a host of participants and practitioners. But they are, all of them, a lie. There is only One God. Consider what the Lord declares in Isaiah 45. It is an echo back to the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Deuteronomy 5:7). Some have implied from this statement that there are other "gods" available, but that is not the case. the problem of idolatry is to form and fashion a god after the imaginations of men and then turn to that god instead of the true God. It would be like asking a telephone pole to instruct you in the ways of communication. It has been fashioned by man to carry lines of communication, but it has no voice of its own--it just won't happen. Hear the words of Hosea 4:12, "My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles." Or again in Isaiah 44:19, "No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, 'Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?'" Our text declares with absolute certainty--there is no other. The Lord God, the Almighty, is not the first among many gods, He is the only God. This must be understood by all mankind, for without this knowledge no one will ever truly seek the Lord. If the pantheon of this world dominates the mentality of her inhabitants, people will naturally gravitate to the "god" of their liking. When all other false deities are eliminated as hoaxes and lies, the true God is all that anyone will have left. And, perhaps, they will desire to know Him. Not only is there no other God, but this One and Only God is the Sovereign over all that is true. The Lord does not merely acknowledge what is true--He declares it. The moment God has said a thing, it is an absolute reality of truth. God cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18), it is impossible for Him to do such a thing. Yes, it is a part of His unwavering righteousness, but also it is tantamount to His nature. It's not that God "does not" lie, He cannot lie. If, for example, God suddenly declared that the sky was green instead of blue, it would immediately become a sky colored like an emerald. Along with that God has the absolute authority, enthroned above all other authorities, and has declared what is right and wrong. The modern mentality of subjective morality is contradictory to the objective standards of the Almighty. All men will be judged before the highest court--the judiciary of the Almighty. The Apostle Paul understood this in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me." And you must understand that God's judgments are not subjective but absolute. They will not be based upon any moral code of mankind, but upon His sovereign declaration of right and wrong. Unbeliever, you ought to tremble at the idea of standing before the Sovereign Judge. He has already declared your guilt (see John 3:18). But, just as God has absolute sovereignty over your life and is just in His judgments against you, He also has declared another promise--a promise of a full pardon through Jesus Christ. If you will put your faith in the Lord Jesus and trust that He, on the cross, took upon Himself the full penalty for your sins against the Almighty God, you will be saved. Believer, let the unwavering truth and absolute nature of God give you great encouragement. You cannot be declared lost if God has declared you saved. For if the Son of God has set you free from the judgement and punishment of your sin, you are free indeed--for God has declared it to be so (see John 8:36). The world can no longer rise up against you, nor the devil himself accuse you, in order to cast you into the fiery judgment of God. If you need this promise, hear the word of God from Isaiah 55:6-7, "'Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'" In His Grace, Pastor Michael The Lord's Side1/18/2024 Exodus 32:26 ~ "...then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, 'Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered around him." How much of what is called worship today is merely the dancing around a golden calf? Moses had departed up Mount Sinai, having left the people in the care of Aaron and the elders of Israel. They had been instructed in the law of the Lord, and were given by God His Ten Commandments. Yet, when he was gone for many days, the people in restlessness forsook the commands of God and demanded that Aaron fashion for them a symbol of God, an image that they could see and touch, one that was agreeable to them. And so, he did. Let me begin by saying this: pastors and worship leaders beware of pandering to the demands of a crowd who want to express their revelry of worship based upon their imagination of God. God has established His word, and His people must worship not only in spirit but also in truth (see John 4:24). Moses and Joshua returned from the mountain in time for them to see the debacle of idolatry in the camp of the Lord. The camp had "broken loose" and everyone was gyrating around the fire and the idolatrous calf with unbridled enthusiasm. They had departed from God's clear directives and their worship was nothing more than the unrestrained havoc of self-expression. Moses, enraged by what he saw, shouted to the multitude: "Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me." And that is a great question: who is on the Lord's side? Surely not those who were gyrating around the fire, claiming to worship God, yet all the while doing exactly what He commanded them not to do. But Moses' cry is also a call to repentance: come to me. There is this glorious moment when anyone who recognized their wickedness before the Lord in violating the second commandment had opportunity to flee from their sin and return to God by returning to the one He had commissioned to be their shepherd. And all the Levites came to Moses--including Aaron who had actually carved the image for the people. Even Aaron's great sin (for he was the leader of the people while Moses was gone) may be forgiven. Let me ask you, pastors and leaders, have you fashioned an idol for the people to worship? Have you made for them an image of God, though not carved from stone or metal, but drawn out of your own imagination or fitted to the imaginations of the crowd? Then hear the question of Moses--who is on the Lord's side? Let me ask you, Christian, is the word of God too constraining and you want to break loose in your worship, doing that which satisfies your desires? You must also hear Moses' question--who is on the Lord's side? If you want to be on the Lord's side, you must flee from such idolatry and run back to the place where God has established His ways--in the Word of God. For Moses represented the word of God and the violation of the Law of Moses was to violate the Law of God. The Lord Jesus is the living and abiding Word of God and through the Scriptures we can know and respond to God correctly. For our Lord said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). No one who maintains their own, independent ideas of God and how He is to be worshiped and loved actually worships and loves Him. And if you need to come back to Him, as the Levites came back to Moses, then you must abandon your notions and return to the Word of God. In His Grace, Pastor Michael Death in the Pot1/17/2024 2 Kings 4:40 ~ "And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, 'O man of God, there is death in the pot!' And they could not eat it." During a time of famine, when Elisha was gathered with the sons of the prophets, a meal was prepared. This is, in itself, no small thing during a time when food was scarce. During famines, you forage and gather what you can and everything that can be food is procured. But not all things that look like food are edible, and some things can be deadly. During their foraging, a young man gathered up a cache of wild gourds, a seemingly innocent addition to the stew being prepared. They sliced them up, added them in, and at first taste, it was poison. Okay... just dump it out and start again. After all, it's just a stew and another pot can be boiled up and made ready in a short amount of time. Except for one thing... there was no other food. There was a famine in the land. They cried out to Elisha and he cast flour in the pot and they could eat without fear of death. There is no great anti-poison quality to flour, it was an act of faith on Elisha's part. So, what have you added to your life that is mixed in now with your spiritual food and is actually death in the pot? There are all manner of worldly, tasty gourds that get blended in to the mix of our spiritual food and end up being deadly. In truth, our world is living in famine conditions concerning Christ, where there are fewer and fewer locations where a believer can be fed adequately for the work of the Lord. And then, there are some "pots" where they will add anything from the world that looks like godly ingredients in the hope that it will nourish and supply what is lacking. Things like marketing gimmicks, self-help philosophies, entertainment attractions, new age mantras, and many other "wild gourds" are added to the teachings of many churches. The purity of the word of God and the simplicity of faith in Christ are mingled with these and so many other things that to actually eat what is presented will be a deadly concoction for your soul. What do you do? As the sons of the prophets called out to Elisha to rescue them, so let us call out to the Lord that He should cast His grace and truth back into the pot of our lives and nullify the poison that was added. The wild gourds were not removed, they were neutralized. And when we seek the Lord and be true to His word, we will discover that even though those foolish poisons are still mingled in, they will have no effect upon our spiritual nourishment. For God's truth will always neutralize the world's lies. 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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