Job 19:25 ~ "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth."

What do you know?

In the continual strife that Job faced, and the onslaught of accusations from his three friends, under the perpetual suffering of his lamentable condition, Job said "I know that my Redeemer lives." 

There must come that moment when all those who hold to faith in Christ will have to know. Much of modern Christianity is mere speculation upon the summary facts of the case concerning the Lord Jesus. Those who have such an abstract faith whittle away at life, with a fairly passive desire for Christ while offering Him some modicum of praise that is more perfunctory than the full force of the expression of who they are. But that moment will come when what they know of the LORD will be evidenced.

In Job 19 we read the lamenting of a man whose life is filled with suffering. And, in the midst of that suffering the ancient patriarch offers this grand assessment of God Almighty--He is "Redeemer." If you were to sit with Job for a moment, without knowing the remaining part of his story, you might want to ask him about this. How can Job say with confidence that God is his redeemer? Simple--Job's confidence in God was not based upon his circumstances, but upon God's character.

Let's start with the right focus--the LORD Jesus is the living Redeemer. Job, in all his travails and the malicious attacks of friends, saw God correctly. He was confident that God's hands were upon all things and the LORD does nothing that is not right. Consider the words of Job in Job 1:21-22, "And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." Job did not understand the reasons behind what was happening, but he never once considered that God was in the wrong. 

Not only did Job see the LORD as Redeemer, but he saw the Almighty God as "my" Redeemer. I know that my Redeemer lives. Though God had allowed this testing of Job's faith to take place, and though Job had no comprehension as to when or if it would ever end, he looked upon God and embraced with his whole life that God was his Redeemer. Never once in the testimony of Job did he cry out for another to come and rescue him from his troubles. There is no place where Job sought the foreign gods of the pagan world. Not once did he inquire of his three friends if they might offer him a way out of his plight. Job looked to the LORD alone--and no one else.

So I ask again--what do you know? Do you know Christ Jesus as Redeemer? Do you know that your sins are forgiven in His name and that all the trouble of this world will be overrun in the redemption promised to all who look to Christ? When it seems as if God has abandoned you, beloved, can you say with confidence, "I know my Redeemer lives?" 

This is the tested faith of Job. James 5:11 illuminates this, "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."

When you, my friends, can say with Job--in the midst of your tests and trials--"I know my Redeemer lives," then you stand upon the solid foundation of the Savior. Look to Jesus, beloved, even when the way is hard and it seems that there is no relief in sight. He is Redeemer--and He will stand upon the earth. And all who trust in Him will stand with Him in full redemption.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Numbers 21:8 ~ "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.'"

How despicable it was for the people of Israel to grumble against God and Moses as they were led from captivity to freedom. Numbers 21:4 tells us why they grumbled: they became impatient on the way. In response to their grumbling discontent with God and Moses, the LORD sent a judgment among them--fiery serpents to bite them.

There are some who might think that the people of Israel had every right to be discontent with the LORD, but they are far from the truth. The fact is, the LORD Almighty has done nothing for which we have a right to grumble. The hardships of our life are given by God as well as the easy roads. And they both serve a purpose--and we are to glorify God through them all. But the people of Israel during the days of Moses, and at times the people of Christ in this day, look only to their circumstances and demand that God should cater to their whims and desires.

Such is the nature of our fallenness. From the Garden of Eden until now, we have reached out our hands for that which is forbidden, seeking to satisfy the cravings of our sinfulness. Consider James 1:14-15, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." The people of Israel wanted an easy road, a more convenient way, and their selfish desires tempted them to sin by grumbling against the LORD. And so the LORD judged them with the serpents.

In despair, the people of Israel confessed their sin and cried out to Moses that he should pray to the LORD and seek their deliverance from those dreadful serpents. God did not provide immediate relief, but gave them the opportunity to respond to Him by faith. He commanded Moses for make a bronze, fiery serpent and fasten to a pole. Then those who were bitten by a serpent could simply look to the bronze serpent that Moses had made and they would live. God would see their faith and He would deliver them from the venom.

There was no other bronze serpent permitted. God did not command the people to make their own bronze serpent. No one could copy the serpent Moses made in the hopes that it would be effective against the poison of the serpents. It had to be the one Moses fashioned and fastened to a pole. 

All of us, my dear friends, have been bitten by the serpent of rebellion against God and have within us the venom of sin. The soul that sins shall die (see Ezekiel 18:4). And as we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory there is no escaping the death that is coming (see Hebrews 9:27). Unless, of course, God intervenes. 

And the LORD has intervened. He has, in Christ, come to be for us the means by which we can escape the venom of sin. Jesus used the serpent on the pole to illustrate what He would do to deliver us from God's wrath. In John 3:14-15, Jesus said, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." Jesus was lifted up on the cross, taking upon Himself the wrath of God, and He offers to any who believe in Him escape from the judgment of sin and to receive everlasting life. In essence, we must simply look to Jesus and live.

You cannot look to an invented Jesus of the world. You cannot fashion a Jesus of your own design. You must trust the LORD Jesus Christ who, revealed in Scriptures, has given Himself to be for us the source of salvation. The grumbling discontent of a sinful world would have God make their way more convenient, and are impatient with the LORD for He does not fulfill their demands. But you, dear reader, be one who will give up your grumbling and, if you are still facing the judgment of God because of your sins, look to Jesus and live. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Titus 1:15 ~ "​To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled."

There are two distinct classes of people identified in our text today: the pure and the defiled. Both exist in this world, coexist in society and probably even have some commonalities in regular life. However, that is where their similarities end. 

Don't mistake this text as stating that there are some who are righteous on their own merits. All people are sinful. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Everyone begins at that same place, and must come to grips with the fact that there is no possibility of attaining a righteousness before God based on independent merit. It is only in Christ that we have imputed to us His righteousness--a righteousness that is pleasing to the Father. Through the atonement of Christ in His death and resurrection, all who look to Jesus have been counted righteous. 

So, then, who are "the pure" in our text today? It will be those who have their lives purified in Christ. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." If the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from all sin, then you stand purified before God. We find this also in 1 John 3:3, "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." Have you put your complete and absolute hope in Jesus for the salvation of your soul? Then, as the Scripture teaches, through your hope in Jesus Christ, you have purified yourself, your sins are taken up in the payment made by the LORD and no longer counted against you before God. 

How then, can "all things" be pure to those who are redeemed in the LORD? Surely sinful things cannot be pure--wicked deeds and evil thoughts cannot be considered a pure expression of the life of one of God's children. And, you're right. They are not. 

Consider it like this: the pursuit of the pure will always be directed toward all things that are pure. So, those who have their minds and consciences set free from the corrupting ways of worldliness and sin will have all things in their lives which will reflect their new life in Christ. They will have truth over lies, integrity over corruption, honesty over deception, love over hatred, faith over fear. You may not see these virtues in the full bloom of their perfection, but for those who are saved this will be the desire of their heart.

Consider the comparison that Paul makes when he says, "but to the defiled and unbelieving..." There is a different desire for those who are defiled, and do not forget the accompanying condition of the defiled--they are "unbelieving." What is the desire of the defiled? They have their "minds and conscience" defiled--contaminated by the sin and longing for the things of this world to satisfy their own corruptions. They have a conscience that is incapable of warning them, for they have a mind that only thinks of defilement. They are given over to a debased mind as Romans 1:28 reveals, "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." 

Let us use a home as an example. If you were to walk into a Christian's home, you might expect some indication that they love the LORD. The Bible easily available, perhaps Scripture texts adorning the walls. In the life of the "pure" the expectation is that they gather to themselves that which is pure. If you were to walk in and find wicked slogans decorating the walls and vile imagery lingering about, it would be a clear indication that the home was not "pure" but "defiled." Despite the statement that it was a Christian home, the interior tells a different story. 

Titus 1:16 wraps it up for us, "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."

So, my friends, which are you: pure or defiled? Your life will, ultimately, tell the story of your heart. Have you been made pure through the LORD Jesus? If you are pure--though not perfect--the pursuit of your life will show it. But if you are defiled--even though you profess to know God, eventually your actions will inform on you. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Zechariah 3:3 ~ "Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments."

My dear friends, how ragged are our garments, stained with sin and death, when standing before the LORD? How desperate we are to be clean before Him, the Almighty Judge of mankind, and yet we stand before the LORD with such stains of sin that we cannot help but despise ourselves in His presence. Our text today is looking upon Joshua, the High Priest. And if the high priest is clothed in filthy garments, what hope do we have of standing before the LORD?

There are many have that same disposition within their minds, dreading the reality that they have no means of purifying themselves. The stains of sin run all the way to the heart, and no amount of self-effort can remove our guilt before the LORD. It's as if you found a blemish of rot upon the surface of an apple and tried to dig it out--only to find that it goes all the way to the core. So it is with our sins. We find this in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" 

And yet... let us turn our thoughts to the full story of Joshua the High Priest in Zechariah 3. For the story is not about the filthy garments, but about the cleansing of the LORD. And, beloved, we must see this to be true of all who have come to the LORD Jesus by faith and trusted in His provision for sin. Jesus Christ will cleanse us from sin and remove from us the filthy garments of our forgiven past. Zechariah 3:4 states, "And the angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Remove the filthy garments from him.' And to him he said, 'Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.'"

My dear, dear friends, remember the words of the prophet in Isaiah 64:6, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." The efforts that we make to try and purify ourselves before God are mere futility. It is God who must remove our filthy garments from us and that is done when we come by faith to Jesus Christ. Consider what our LORD promised to the church of Laodicea, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see" (Revelation 3:18). 

But how are we to "buy" what Jesus is offering? How can we afford such mercy and grace. We cannot. So God graciously covers the cost. He paid the price for our iniquity (see 2 Corinthians 5:21) and He offers freely to those who come to Him by faith the promised cleansing from sin. Consider what it says in Isaiah 55:1, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

If you sense the burden of sin still heavy upon you, come to the fountain of the mercy of Christ and listen to His promise to cleanse you. Take the encounter of the leper as an example of the work of Christ over sin. In Luke 5:12-13, "While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him."

Seek the LORD, come to Him by faith and call out to Him. Expose your sin to Him, don't hide a single thing. You cannot cover up your sins before God anyhow, why try? He is more willing to cleanse you of sin and remove the filthy garments of this world than many are willing to come to Him by faith and seek His mercy. But if you come, the promise is clear. He has made atonement for sin--let Him be the atonement for you.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Proverbs 18:10 ~ "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."

In times of distress it is good to have a place to go. Where can a believer run when the world is filled with danger? We can run to the name of the LORD.

When I was a child, at our school we would prepare for potential threats such as a fire or earthquake. It was drilled into us that we had a place to go, a location to gather that was safe and where everyone was accounted. Outside of that location, a child would be considered in danger, lost or in distress. The teachers would practice with the students and the administrators would evaluate our responses. At random times during the year the alarm would sound and we would frenetically try to line up and quickly get to the safe space. I'm sure, looking back, the teachers often thought the experience was like trying to herd cats. But the safety of the location was trained into us and eventually we would all, finally, be able to reach the location.

Dear ones, we have a safe place in the name of the LORD. And, you might have already asked--how does God's name provide a safe place to run? I'm glad you asked.

Our text today describes the name of the LORD as a "strong tower." The imagery is clear as a tower was a structure of protection and defense, where a person could find shelter from an encroaching enemy. In the same way, the name of the LORD is a place of protection--for we stand firmly fixed in the absolute security of the promises of God. How is that? Because God has given us His promises and now the veracity of His Holy Name is at stake. Consider Hebrews 6:18, "...so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us."

It is impossible for God to lie, so His promise to those who have fled for refuge will find in Christ the strong tower that they need against the encroaching enemy. The LORD has staked His name on it. 

And, it is the "righteous" who run to the tower of the name of the LORD. The unrepentant wicked will never run to the LORD for refuge, for they will prefer the encampment of the enemy rather than the tower of God. But those who have repented and come to the LORD Jesus as Savior, they have their eyes opened to the dangers surrounding them. 

What dangers surround the righteous? From what do we flee to the name of the LORD? 

There are many dangers in the life of a believer. And though we may suffer, and face temporary trials in this life, the greatest dangers are spiritual and not earthly. For the Christian, the first and greatest danger are lies. Faith and truth go hand in hand, for no one is ever saved by a lie. The devil is the father of lies (see John 8:44). The human race was plunged into sin because of a lie (see Genesis 3:4-5). We flee to the LORD when the enemy presses in with his lies and read texts like Psalm 86:11, "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name."

When you flee to the name of the LORD, you find yourself in the companionship of the Almighty. Gathered with Him, His children are kept safe. He will preserve us in the midst of a culture gone mad with deceptions. The righteous will run to Him. He is, and will be for all eternity, our place of safety.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Amos 7:7 ~ "This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand."

The LORD God stood before the people of Israel with a line of measurement--a plumb line--to see how the nation measured up. And, dear ones, the LORD still stands with a line of measurement to prove His people. 

In the days before electronic levels and precision lasers, ancient architects would use what was called a "plumb line" to measure the quality of a wall's construction, whether or not it was set to a proper vertical condition. A wall that was leaning would not be considered "true to plumb" and either needed to be repaired or replaced with one that would pose no threat of collapse.

In this vision given to the prophet Amos, God showed him a measuring line laid against the northern nation of Israel. In the two previous visions (see Amos 7:1-6) the LORD showed the prophet the destruction of the nation, and in anguish Amos pleaded with the LORD to relent. Both times the Almighty relented, not because the people were innocent, but because the LORD had not yet fully judged them.

And that is the vision of the plumb line. God is measuring them up to show how far off the people had wandered from His ways. The people of Israel are represented by the "wall" and it was leaning and no longer true to plumb. The kings were wicked, idolatry was rampant and those who called themselves by the name of the LORD were far from being true to His commands. 

Dear Christian, with what do you measure yourself? Is it the same measure that God uses? Does God lay a plumb line against the lives of His people today and measure those who call themselves by the name of Christ? 

Consider the words of 2 Corinthians 10:12, "​Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding." I can promise you this--if you measure yourself against those around you, it is the wrong standard. Many people do this, looking to those who are outwardly less virtuous and then make the mistake of thinking themselves to be one who measures up to God. But it is the unwise who looks to another to measure up their own lives.

Jesus commanded us in John 7:24, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." There is the means of making a right judgement, there is a plumb line still for the people of God--and that is the Holy Scriptures. Consider Hebrews 4:12, "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."

We are entreated to self-examination in 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" 

Do not look around you to the people in your life to see if you measure up to them. They do not hold the plumb line. God holds the measuring line against the lives of His people, and He does so in order to bring us to greater holiness. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 states, "But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world." 

Today, open your heart to the Lord's plumb line of Scripture. And let the Lord show you where you need to repair those places not true to Him.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Acts 11:23 ~ "When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose."

​When you read the Scriptures, there are times that some obvious questions arise. In our text for today, there is an illuminating statement that brings about a question in my mind, and I trust that it will in yours. It says that Barnabas "saw the grace of God" in the fledgling church at Antioch. When it comes to the evident grace of God, what did Barnabas see?

Great persecution had broken out against the church in Jerusalem, and the scattered followers of Jesus took the gospel to the regions where they dispersed. Primarily, the message of salvation went to the Jews living in those regions, but a few brave believers ventured to preach about the LORD Jesus to the Hellenists (Greeks or non-Jews) as well (see Acts 11:19-20). And in Acts 11:21 we read a tremendous testimony, "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord."

And that would be the first evidence of the grace of God that Barnabas witnessed among those in Antioch--that even the Gentiles turned to Christ by faith and received salvation. It is understood that only by the grace of God is anyone brought into the saving mercy of Christ. Paul expounds this in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." There is no boasting in the life of a believer, for all who are born-again know that they were not saved except that Christ has redeemed them from sin, death and judgment. 

Even the very act of believing on the LORD Jesus for salvation is a work of God's grace in your life. Jesus told the disciples this in John 6:29, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." If you are reading this, and your faith is place solely and completely on Jesus for salvation, then you are a living testimony of the evident grace of God at work.

Another evidence of God's grace at work in the church at Antioch is found in the description others used concerning them. The latter part of Acts 11:26 states, "And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." The church had developed such a reputation in the region that they were given a name that described them as people who were completely devoted to Christ. Consider what it says in 2 Corinthians when Paul warned them of the false apostles who wanted to lead the church astray, "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). 

Do we wear the name "Christian" as they did in Antioch? Do those around us know of our sincere and pure devotion to Christ, so that, if the term "Christian" had not yet been devised, it would be invented on account of us? Don't let the cultural caricature of Christianity be the target, but devote your life to Christ Jesus according to the Scriptures.

So, my friends, even as Barnabas, let us also be glad when we see the grace of God evident in the life of another. And if the LORD permits us the opportunity, let us do even as he did, and exhort them to remain faithful to the LORD with steadfast purpose. 

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Romans 3:18 ~ " There is no fear of God before their eyes."

​A great preacher* some time ago made a statement somewhat along these lines, and I agree with the statement and its conclusion: "Where there is no fear of God, there is no fear of sin. And where there is no fear of sin, a man has the capacity for all manner of evil." I believe that this statement hits to the core of the human condition, even as our text describes--there is no fear of God before their eyes.

We look around at the atrocities happening in our world and we can only conclude that there is no fear of God. Wickedness rises up and righteousness is considered egregious to the development of our modern society. The word of God is mocked, scorned, ridiculed and spurned--and by some who would consider themselves as belonging to God. We merely have to look to the current news reports to see the growing absence of the fear of God.

But what is the fear of God? In essence, it is either awe and respect or dread and terror. It all depends on your position before Him. If you belong to God through the saving mercy of Jesus Christ, you know Him as Savior and stand before God in awe, desiring to glorify Him in all manner of faithfulness and loving obedience. If you do not belong to Him, but know of Him, your fear is one of dread and trepidation, for He is not your Savior, but is your Judge. 

But what about those who have no fear of God? This is, my friends, the worst case for the human condition. Without the fear of God they do not even dread the coming judgment of the LORD. Those who do not fear God will live as if their life is the only measure by which it is counted as good or bad.

Let's consider what it is like when it is absent. 2 Kings 17:34 states, "To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." God had established the parameters for His nation--for the people of Israel. Without the fear of God, they departed the word of the LORD for their former manner--for their own selfish desires. To fear the LORD, then, is to live in recognition of His absolute sovereignty and willingly submit to His word.

And, as our text today says, they have no fear "before their eyes." That is to say, they look out at life and see nothing wrong with their life, though sinfulness is their chart and course. Psalm 36:1-2 give illumination to this, "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated."

It is quite easy to find the iniquity in the lives of others--and there are some who are eager to point out the sinful steps another soul has taken. But absent the fear of God you will flatter yourself in your own eyes so that you cannot see and hate the iniquity of your own heart.

Do you fear the LORD? Or do you flatter yourself so that you cannot see and hate your own sin?

That is the question every person must answer. By way of example, the Apostle Paul feared the LORD and understood himself in the light of Christ. He went from describing himself as the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9) to a wretched man (Romans 7:24) and ultimately as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Where many elevate their opinion of themselves, the great apostle to the Gentiles recognized the truth of himself in the fear of the LORD. 

So, beloved, seek to know the LORD in fear. Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." For if there is no fear of God in your eyes, you will be counted among the wicked.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

*Dr. Henry Blackaby

Genesis 1:1 ~ "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Sometimes... you have to go back to the beginning.

In the generations of bygone time, long before any person reading this (or any person ever) stood upon the earth, there exists One--God--infinite and almighty. And there in the first statement of the first book of the Holy Scriptures, He is mentioned: "In the beginning, God..."

If that is not enough to draw you away from all of the intrigues and interests of your current train of thought, then perhaps you need to remember that if the next statement is not mentioned--then you're never here. Creation is here because God created it. You are here because God created you. Our entire existence is here because God willed it to be here. 

Let us consider what the Psalmist said in Psalm 14:1, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good." And yet, how often do people believe that God exists but are more like the fools in their practice, carrying on as if He did not? There are fools who call themselves atheists, and there are fools who believe God to be merely an abstract construct of the human need for the supernatural. And if you are reading this today and also hold to the notion that there is no God, then I would implore you to repent of that foolishness and seek to know the One true God who created all things.

It is of absolute, essential importance that you know that there is a God who is. When Moses asked who it was that he should say sent him to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from slavery, the LORD said to tell them, "I AM, sent me to you" (Exodus 3:14). He is the self-existent, absolutely autonomous, and all-sufficient Creator and Sustainer of all things.

Knowing there is a God, you must know Him as Creator. The second statement of the first verse of the Scriptures is: "...created the heavens and the earth."

But why is it important to know that God created all things? Because, if what we know as creation was not the work of the Divine hand of Almighty God, then everything the Scripture teaches is suspect. Jesus, our Lord, referenced the creation in His message, citing the reality that God created them male and female as He spoke of the sanctity of marriage (see Matthew 19:4-5). Consider the words of John 1:3, "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." You may not know the Lord Jesus as Creator, but the Lord knows you as His creature. 

Creation is also the first point of faith in Hebrews 11:3, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." Step away from this and you will find yourself lost in the myriad of deceptions that would point you away from the Living God and His Son, our Lord Jesus who is the Savior of all who believe. 

My friends, this is God's earth. The stars are His. We are His creation as well. As His creation, we are not independent creatures that can self-determine the ends from the beginning. If I write a book, the characters are mine to do with as I choose. And as God has spoken this world into existence and has created you (see Psalm 139:13), He has absolute sovereignty over all that He made--including you. 

Dear Christian, sometimes we need to go back to the beginning and refresh our minds in the absolute truth that God is the Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign and All-Sufficient One. Look to Him this day, and remember who He is.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Micah 6:8 ~ "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

​Does God hold a standard up for His people to follow? Are there requirements from the LORD that are impressed upon those who belong to Him? The answer to both questions is: yes. 

The people of Judah, during the time of the prophet Micah enjoyed a sense of external stability and prosperity, all the while only giving mild observance to the LORD God who rescued them from slavery and delivered them into their own land. But isn't that often the way with the people of God? When times are relatively peaceful and the comforts of life are abundant, there is a tendency to forget the LORD. Moses warned of that very thing in Deuteronomy 8:13-14, "...and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

Micah, in verses 6 and 7, rhetorically repeated the sentiments of the people. The questions that are asked in those verses are as if the people were asking, "What more does God want from us? Haven't we given enough?" But all they could understand was the external expression of religious duty--God was looking for something deeper.

And that brings us to the verse for today. It is the answer to the people concerning the expectation of the LORD for those who claim to follow Him. And the first thing that Micah says is--"God has already told you what He expects." And the fact is, my friends, God did tell Israel what was expected of them. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 we read, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?"

In response to the people's reticence against the requirements of God, Micah reminds them--do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with the LORD. And these three carries with them the fullness of a believer's heart. For to "do justice" is to view sin and rebellion in the same light that God does. And then, "to love kindness" (at other times, translated as "mercy") is to show the same merciful disposition to those who are repentant toward the LORD. And, finally, to "walk humbly with your God" is to have a heart filled with the desire to know and follow the LORD. 

The external, sacrificial service that we offer to the LORD does not come before the heart is transformed. Those who try to serve Christ Jesus without having their hearts renewed in His grace will ultimately find it to be a burdensome weight that they cannot carry. Consider what the LORD says to the people during the days of Malachi, "But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 1:13). 

Therefore, beloved, God does have a standard--but it not the rote, religious duty that comes out of an empty heart. God's standard is an inward disposition that reflects His character.

If you want a view of justice, kindness (mercy) and humility, you must look to the LORD Jesus who upheld these without failure. Upon the cross of Calvary, the LORD Jesus showed each quality in perfection--He took our punishment for sin, receiving in Himself our just condemnation (justice). He made the way for all who believe to be forgiven, becoming our substitute (kindness). And, He went to the cross as a lamb went to the slaughter (humility). 

So, when the Almighty God sets out His requirements, it will always be set upon us to bear a right reflection of His Son.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Habakkuk 3:18 ~ "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

There is a great need for every believer to have their joy anchored upon the LORD. When circumstances fail and the conditions of our world show themselves to be completely fractured and unstable, shall we then try to hold on to those things that cannot sustain? Many do--and suffer in their lives with a dreadful instability.

But the prophet Habakkuk looks at the circumstances around him and says a tremendous word that shifts his focus... and that word is: "yet."

Consider the failing circumstances that Habakkuk described in the verse previous to our text for today: "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls..." (Habakkuk 3:17). Then, in the face of all that, the prophet says: "yet."

When your surroundings fail and your situation falls into the depths of anguish, do you have a "YET" statement in your life? Where do you look when the storms of life assail you? 

For many, their "YET" is to look to some worldly solution. Some false teachings will tell you that you need to "look to yourself" to find the hope that you need. Governments will insist that if you look to them, they can sustain you. Scientists will proclaim that you must trust their wisdom to lead you away from the fractured conditions you've experienced. Economists will entreat you to trust that they can provide you with the means of providing for yourself. And, my friends, the list goes on and on and on. 

But for those who have put their faith in Christ, when we find ourselves in the dire throws of untenable circumstances, we must look to the LORD for our support. Our focus when we see the ravages of life must be Jesus.

Two things the prophet says when he faces the condition of his world: he will rejoice in the LORD and he will take joy in the God of his salvation. 

Can you "rejoice in the LORD?" Can you trust that, despite the circumstances that are swirling around in this world, God Almighty has not lost one moment to chance or allowed one circumstance to escape His governing power? To rejoice in the LORD is to look to Him and know that all He does is right, that He is sovereign, just and good. To rejoice in the LORD is to rejoice in the character and conduct of the Almighty even when you might not understand His work.

Can you "take joy in the God of your salvation?" The wrath of God Almighty will never touch those who belong to Christ. His salvation is as secure as He is, and all who have come to Christ for the salvation of their souls will discover that He has lost none of all that belong to Him (see John 6:39). To "take joy" is to look to what God has promised in salvation and receive it for yourself. We may suffer in this world, but we will never lose the next one if we belong to the LORD Jesus.

Is that your "YET" point of view? When troubles mount and hardships come, can you say as the prophet Habakkuk that your view is focused elsewhere--that it is set upon the LORD who saves. Concerning God's judgment and wrath that will fall upon the earth, Jesus told us in Luke 21:28, "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 

Beloved, if circumstances should rise or fall and the conditions become a blessing or a burden, let none of that shift your focus away from the LORD. Find your rejoicing in Him, and draw up all your joy from the infinite well of salvation. 

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Ezekiel 37:3 ~ "And he said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, you know.'"

Their sins had ruined them, idolatry was rampant in the land, and the rulers who should have turned the people back to God were steeped in the revelry of wickedness. The judgment of God had come and Israel was taken into captivity. Once again they languished under the weight of oppression and were bound over to serve another nation. In this condition, the people of God groaned against their circumstances and saw no hope of restoration. We read their lamentable cry in Ezekiel 37:11, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.'"

God takes Ezekiel to see a valley of dry bones. It was a vast display of death as he gazed upon the desiccated remnants of a vast army. There is no knowing what brought an end to so many. Were these the victims of a great battle? Israel had fought many wars in their history. Could these be the bones of those who wandered in the wilderness during those 40 years with Moses until that whole generation had died? What we do know is that these bones were the subject of a question from God to the prophet: "Can these bones live?"

The first and obvious answer is: no. Bones, no matter how well preserved, cannot again reanimate and live. There is no natural function that can cause life to return to the desiccated body of anything. Yet, that is the wrong answer.

The second, and less obvious answer is: yes. Imagine Ezekiel talking to God and declaring or proclaiming life over the framework of these corpses. Like the false prophets who spoke their positive words to Ahab (see 2 Chronicles 18:12), Ezekiel could have spoken his positive words of affirmation over the valley of dry bones. But that is the wrong answer as well.

The only right answer was the one Ezekiel offered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

It is only the Lord God Almighty who has the power to restore life to those who are dead. Israel's nation had died--deceased in exile at the judgment of God. But, even from the days of Moses, when God called His people out of Egypt and provided them a land of their own, He made such promises to them. Consider what it says in Deuteronomy 30:4, "If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you." This promise is made by God to the people in response to their repentance (read Deuteronomy 30). 

God has never and will never forsake His people. He may cause them to suffer under His hand of discipline, but He will restore. David understood that iniquity was the great culprit of his own suffering. Psalm 31:10 says, "For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away." And if sin is the cause of death (see James 1:15) then repentance is the road to restoration (see 1 John 1:9). 

Dear one, do you know yourself to be in the grip of sin? And now you sense that you are far away from God--cast off into an exile of separation and cut off from Him. Look to the example of Israel and know that God does not forsake His people. Your iniquity has separated you from God and He is calling you to repentance. Do as the dry bones did, and hear the word of the LORD.

Consider Acts 3:19, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out."

Or hear the words of Ezekiel 18:30, "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin."

Our God is rich in mercy and will grant it to all who will humble themselves and respond to Him. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, who came to this world to take upon Himself the judgment for all our sins. He will not forsake any who turn to Him, seeking His grace--He will freely bestow it to all who call upon the name of the LORD.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael 

Galatians 5:22-23 ~ "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

The evident quality of the Christian life is found not in the gifts of the Spirit but in the fruit of the Spirit.

From the above statement, do not entertain the notion that the gifts are of no value or interest in the Christian's life. They are of extreme importance for they are the means by which the work of God is accomplished in and through those who believe on the Lord Jesus. 1 Peter 4:10 instructs, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." But it is not by the gifts demonstrated that a person will be judged, but by the fruit produced.

To understand this more clearly, we look to the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9. As the owner of the tree found no fruit on it, verse 7 indicates his response, "And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'" Matthew 7:19 clearly shows that a fruitless life will be judged, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Fruitfulness is of great worth, for it demonstrates those who are true disciples of the Lord Jesus. In John 15:8 Jesus states, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." It is the testimony of the fruit tree that it has upon it the fruit for which it was planted. And it is the testimony of the Christian who produces the fruit that God has purposed--the quality of Christ in the life of the believer. Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:33, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit."

In our text today, we see that it is the "fruit of the Spirit." Two things will be seen from this.

First, it is the Spirit's fruit. It cannot be mimicked or added from external sources. The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer. And from within the changed life blossoms forth the fruit that displays the quality of Christ in us. There are some who behave like Christmas trees--hanging the external ornaments of self-righteousness in hopes that they will appear fruitful. But a Christmas tree, for all its glitter, is dead--cut off from the source of life. It is by the Holy Spirit working to transform the inner man that the true fruit is produced.

Second, it is singular in nature. The term "fruit" is singular in its Greek construction, and that is a remarkable thing for the list of the fruit of the Spirit is varied. What this indicates is the singular reality of the fullness of Christ within, being revealed through the life of the believer. Examine the various qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit and consider Christ. When you do, you will run full-force into the truth that each of those qualities are perfectly found in Jesus. And for the Christian, those qualities now are yours because His Spirit dwells within you.  Colossians 2:9-10 says, "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." You, beloved, have been filled in Him. Thus, as the inner life of the tree produces the fruit that grows, so the inner life of the Christian--Christ in us--produces the fruit of the Spirit.

So, as you have entered this day, let me encourage you to come before the Lord in prayer and ask Him to inspect the fruit of your life. Are there those qualities of Christ being formed--love and gentleness, peace and self-control? Read the list above and prayerful ask what David asked in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" 

And, dear friends, don't fear if you do not find them perfectly formed or complete. You will know a tree by its fruit, but the maturity of fruit does take time. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Peter 1:4 ~ "...to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

What are your expectations... and are your eternal expectations of far greater worth than any here on earth?

We all live with certain expectations in mind. People expect that the sun will rise upon the morning, that the day will carry along one second, by one minute, by one hour at a time, and that by the end of day the world will be shrouded in evening darkness.

Those who have the opportunity to live what might be considered a normal, productive life, will hold expectations for things like retirement, vacations, home and stability. People who strive toward achieving a level of competence in a field of study or work have the expectation that their efforts will be rewarded with greater knowledge and ability. All who step onto an airplane have the great expectation that they will arrive safely at their desired destination.

But then something happens along the journey of life that might change those expectations. A career might fail, or an illness might strike without warning. The economy might turn against you or an unexpected natural disaster might wreak havoc upon your plans. And then, with that unforeseen situation, your expectations are lost upon the wind of circumstances like a leaf blown in a storm.

Therein lies the problem with making an anchor out of our expectations in this world. It is like holding a kite in a windstorm with a flimsy strand of web. Eventually, my friends, our circumstances will prove to fail our expectations. Jesus, our Lord, told us this when He said in Matthew 6:19, "“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal." 1 John 2:17 reminds us, "And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." We must remember that there is nothing in this world that is so permanent that we can anchor all our expectations upon it and trust that it will not fail. Moth, rust, thieves--all manner of decaying, destructive forces work against the life. 

But there is an expectation for the believer that is more secure than anything this world could offer. For those who are in Christ, there is promised an eternal inheritance. There is a kingdom given, crowns applied, rewards recompensed, the river of life, and of greatest delight--the very presence of God with His people (see Revelation 21-22). 

And from our text today, we find that this inheritance is eternal. First, it is imperishable. There is no force or enemy that can destroy what is promised to the believer. Disasters cannot befall it. Second, it is undefiled. There is no quality of this promised inheritance that can be corrupted or compromised by its own inner contamination. There are no impurities within this promised inheritance. Third, it is unfading. There is no limit to the eternal reward from the Lord Jesus. It is an enduring, perpetual inheritance that will never run out. And fourth, it is kept in heaven for you. Literally, it is being "watched over" or guarded by the Divine hand. And it is in heaven, outside the reach of any who would try to despoil the inheritance. 

My dear friends, hold to expectations in this transient world with a tender grasp, but cling to the expectations of the world to come with a grip of iron. For in this world, sudden circumstances might rob you of a hoped for expectation. But there is no calamity that can touch the eternal promises for those who belong to Christ. Let us do as Paul instructed the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 4:18, "We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

2 Thessalonians 3:1 ~ "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you."

There are great advancements of the Word of God that launch into the world, and much of the advancement begins in the prayers of God's people.

Consider, for a moment, the great saints of bygone days who, in courageous effort, spoke boldly the word of God and found the hearts of their hearers open to the power of the gospel. If you look, you might discover that those great saints were upheld in their endeavors through the faithful prayers of God's people. On this day, one such man of God is honored--Patrick of Ireland, a servant of the Lord and missionary to the people of that island. And though a legendary figure to some, Patrick was truly just a faithful and courageous evangelist who brought the gospel to the Celtic people.

And now, dear ones, what has happened with the word of God among you? ​As Paul addressed the Thessalonian believers, he reflected on the truth that God's word was received with honor among them. And now he seeks the prayers of the people of that church that the message should speed along and be honored among others as well.

Has the word of God found its rightful place of honor in your heart? Consider the courageous soul who first told you of the saving grace of Christ. Think of those who, in faithfulness, watered that first planted seed of truth and prayed for you that you should find the salvation of the Lord. And now, beloved, think of all those who never met you--and yet prayed for that person who introduced you to Christ that the word of God would speed its way to your heart and be honored because you came to believe.

And now, dear friends, look ahead to those who have yet to hear of the saving grace of Jesus. Are there those, like the Apostle Paul, who are striving against the wind and tide of resistance to the message of Christ? Then you owe it to that person to lift them up in prayer. Even as Paul asked for prayer, so these saints who go forward with the gospel seek the prayers of the church as well. 

But what should you pray? Even as the apostle sought--pray that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored. Consider another request for prayer from Colossians 4:3, "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison." And, as all good servants of Christ, the Apostle Paul does not ask of the church what he is also not willing to do--as he prays for his friend Philemon, "And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ" (Philemon 1:6). 

You may not be one who is on the "front lines" of the spiritual battle to advance the gospel of Jesus, but you are called upon to pray for those who are. So let us do as the word entreats--pray for the advancement of the word of God, and that it will be honored by others as it is with us.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

John 21:15 ~ "When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?'"

​Everyone has them, and neither of them are wrong if they are focused in the right direction: affections and desires. So let me ask you this--is Jesus the object of your desire or the object of your affection? Is there a difference? The answer to the latter question is: yes.

Let me explain in brief before we look at our text for today.

When there is an object of affection in your life, that is the source of your desires. Affection is to look toward the object and long for that object to receive blessing and honor, you will delight in the satisfaction of the object of your affection. And when the object of your affection is you--that is when you will desire only those things that will delight you. This is where the "love yourself" philosophy goes awry. And this is where the "prosperity gospel" and all other false gospels grow in influence, for they play into the fallen nature of self-affection, self-love.

An example from long ago, Adam and Eve, faced the temptation to rebel against God (see Genesis 3). They were tempted, not with the desire to leave God behind and abandon their fellowship with the Almighty, but with the idea that they should love themselves and take the fruit. Their affection was for self, so their desire was to satisfy themselves. Another term for self-affection is... lust. Today, the rampant sin of lust has engulfed humanity. Mankind's insatiable need to satisfy self has led to the hyper-growth of industries that cater to the carnal delights of the fallen heart. Consider what it says in James 1:15, "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

There are many who turn to Christ, not for His sake but for their own--not because of their lost condition seeking a Savior, but because of their hard circumstances seeking relief. They don't go looking for Christ to find Him, they go looking for Christ to find something that will satisfy themselves. It was the same experience as in John 6:26, "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.'" Their only affection is toward self so their only desire is to satisfy their selfish appetites.

However, when the object of your affection is outside of yourself, you begin to experience the Scriptural condition of love. Jesus commanded that we are to love the LORD our God with all our hearts (see Matthew 22:37). We are to place all our affection upon the LORD our God. So that, with the Savior as the object of our complete affection, our desires then will be to do that which satisfies Him. We will desire righteousness, holiness, repentance, truth, sacrifice, and a host of other qualities that please the LORD. In fact, the Apostle Paul instructed us to, "...try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). 

Jesus, Himself, became for us the Divine embodiment of love--of having affection outside of Himself. He showed His love in such a way that it was undeniable His desire was for mankind's deliverance from the wrath of God because of our sinful rebellion. Romans 5:8 illuminates this, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

By way of example, consider marriage. A strong, healthy marriage is built upon a man and a woman who look to the other as the object of affection. Thus, their desires then will be to do that which will bring joy and satisfaction to their spouse. Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 7:33-34, "But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife... But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." This is what it looks like to have your affections set outside of yourself. 

Now, to the text for today, Jesus asks a critical question: "do you love me more than these?" And that question is laid before us as well. Do you love Christ more than... and you can fill in the blank. For Peter, perhaps it was more than these other disciples, or more than your desire to set your own course, or more than your old career of fishing. What is it for you? Do you love the Lord your Savior more than any other object of affection that is in your life--especially more than being your own object of affection? Revelation 12:11 clearly states it, "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

My friends, let all other affections you hold be as nothing in comparison to the love you have for Christ Jesus the Lord. Consider the question asked of Peter as the question asked by our Lord of all our hearts--do you love Him more? And, if you truly have an affirmative answer, listen to the testimony of 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God."

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Judges 2:21-22 ~ "I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not."

Through Moses, and then Joshua, the LORD delivered the nation of Israel to the promised land and then conquered the land through Divine victory after victory. Red Seas and Jordan Rivers, fortified cities and towering walls were nothing to the LORD who led His people into the land He promised to Abraham. They took great delight in the fact that God was with them. Until, that is, when the nation forgot the LORD. A telling statement is made in Judges 2:10, "And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel." The generation of Joshua, and all that generation that knew the victory of the LORD, departed in death. The generation next forgot the LORD their God.

The self-indulgent, promiscuous and pleasure-seeking worship of the former nations in Canaan still lingered in the memories of those who were not completely destroyed. And the nation of Israel, in their complacency, fell into the waiting arms of the false gods and plunged themselves into the idolatrous practices of the nations they conquered. 

And so it is that God allowed those remnant nations of false gods to remain amongst the people of Israel in order to leave for them a test of their love for and faithfulness to the LORD. 

What are we to learn from this?

Dear one, God has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the world and into the promised land of Jesus Christ. You are no longer of the world any more, you have fled to take hold of that salvation that is offered to all who will believe. In great power and display of His grace, Jesus Christ gave up His life to rescue you from the dominion of darkness and deliver you into His own Kingdom. 

Early on, you were like a warrior and with joy you entered into the battle against sin. Has there been victories in your life through the Divine hand of God? Have great strongholds been toppled because of your faithful obedience to His word? And now, perhaps years later, has all that was once won through your resolute trusting in Christ seem now more like a distant memory, forgotten in the pages long since turned? Has complacency and ease drained the fight out of your soul so that it becomes easy to play with the little sins left behind?

My friend... those are the enemies which remain. God has allowed them to remain. Some sins He has vanquished completely, utterly destroyed in the splendor of His salvation. Others seem to have vanished into the shadows until an opportune time for them to strike. And that most favorable time for sin is when we let our guard down. Recall what was said of the devil in his temptation of our Lord, "And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13). The nation of Israel was strong as long as Joshua led them and the people remembered the deliverance of God. And, beloved, you will be strong as long as you follow Christ and remember the salvation purchased for you on the cross.

People have asked why God does not remove every sin from the believer's life. Why does not God simply destroy the devil and eliminate even the possibility of temptation? He will someday. But for now He allows the remnants of the enemy of our soul--those remaining sins that will strike without warning--in order to test us, that we also should take care to walk in all His ways. 

In the great dilemma with the "messenger of Satan," the Apostle Paul sought for God's release, three times, from those "thorns in his flesh." God's answer to Paul is His answer to us as well, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Lest we allow ourselves to grow complacent, let us never forget that we need the power of God's grace as much now as we did in the beginning. For, until we stand in the very presence of the King of kings, there are enemies that remain.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Psalm 7:11 ~ "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day."

As we step into this day, I wonder how many have misplaced this truth: God is angry at sin every day. With the mainspring of many spiritual conversations centered upon the love of God, it becomes harder to remember that the Just and Righteous Judge is also completely unbiased in His anger against sin. Now, my friends, God does love--and His love is rich with such goodness and mercy that it is impossible to fully comprehend. But the best way to view the brightness of His merciful love is seen when painted against the backdrop of the darkness of His wrath. 

Most will never truly know the love of God because they know nothing of His anger. He is our Creator, and He made us that we should walk in the bright glory of His holiness. But mankind is off, wandering through the wilderness of sin and exploring every possible rebellion against God. Ecclesiastes 7:29 states, "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." But because most people don't see that God is filled with wrath against sin, they do not see their own need for mercy, nor do they fear the disaster of judgment that is looming over their heads. 

But God's anger is the unbiased anger of a righteous judge. The Almighty, Omniscient God does not look down upon mankind with a subjective point of view. The LORD knows the truth of everyone. It was said of Jesus that He knew what was in man. "But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25). Even David understood that God was justified in His judgments, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:4).

In the face of God's anger, there is not one justifying position that any person on this earth can take. Our problem arises because we do not fully understand an unbiased anger. For most of mankind, the anger that we feel within our hearts is filled with such personal prejudices that it restricts our capacity to make righteous judgments. James 1:19-20 says, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." And because we are so biased in our thinking, we think that God's anger is biased as well and therefore not justifiable.  And if we believe that God is not justified in His indignation against our sin, then we do not see the need to seek His mercy and grace.

But, as we think of God's anger this day, let us not forget His compassion. If you know yourself to be guilty before the Righteous Judge, then throw yourself on the mercy of God's court and plead not for your sins but for His salvation. Jesus, the Righteous Son of God, took upon Himself the full measure of God's anger and wrath against your sin. In love, He stood in your place of judgment so that you can stand before God in His righteousness. Our Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (see Exodus 34:5-7). And if you know true grief over your sins against God, then let it also lead you to repentance and salvation. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." 

We end with the words of God through the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 3:12 states, "Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, 'Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever.'"

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

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Jeremiah 15:19 ~ "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.'"

​To understand this text, let us understand that the idea of "return" is to "repent." There is a direction away from the LORD that is always sinful. In fact, no direction away from the LORD is righteous--for when you turn away from God, you turn toward sin. Repentance, then, is the turning back toward God that He should be loved and obeyed. And when repentance happens in the life of a believer, it leads to a life restored.

And, it is the restored life that has the opportunity to serve the LORD. For to "stand before" the LORD is to stand in a place of serving Him. Did you know that when you are serving the LORD in this world, it is as if you are standing before Him. Jesus said that as we did it to the least of those who belong to Him, we've done service to Him (see Matthew 25:40). 

Restoration will always follow repentance and serving is found through a life restored. We have a wonderful God who loves us and calls us to service. However, our usefulness is limited if we have no desire to repent and live a life restored to God Almighty. Perfection is not the key to valued service in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, restoration is. We cannot serve the living God without His restoring us to Himself, and that is found in repentance.

Consider the call of Jeremiah. He was set by God to be a prophet, speaking the very word of God to the people of God. What then must he do? He must offer the precious words from God, not worthless words of man. To make application for those who are not called to be prophets, give your very best of what God has called you to do. Have you been called to serve? Do so diligently. Whatever aspect of service is set before you, perform it in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ – working with all your heart (see Colossians 3:23). 

And, finally, do not turn to the world. Let them come to you, but you must not go to them. That is, you must not return to worldly ideas and principles that mark a person who is not restored in Christ. The world will always call to the church to come back into the muck and mire from which we've been delivered (see Psalm 40:1-2). It is a lie to think that for you to understand and communicate with a sinful world, you must participate in their sins like one of them. Let this people turn to you. You are the one following Jesus. Maintain your faithfulness to Him and don’t let yourself fall into the trap of worldliness.

The pattern is simple, beloved. Service follows restoration, and restoration follows repentance. This is the path that God has prepared for those who want to follow Him.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ~ "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more."

Believer, let living to please the LORD be the highest ambition of your life.

How simple a thing it is to hear the command to please the LORD, but how difficult it can become in the trials and temptations of life. As the Apostle Paul was wrapping up this first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he reflected upon three things: first, he instructed them on how to live to please God; second, he recognized that they had already achieved a certain level of pleasing God; and third he encouraged them to do so even more.

And so we begin with the first--instruction on how to please the LORD. Paul told the church that they had received from the Apostle and his companions how they ought to walk and please God. There is a necessary instruction that every Christian needs in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. And it is all found in the Word of God. Many who claim to be followers of Christ are devising their own schemes and plans that they enjoy or approve and do not even consult with God's written word. Yet, how is a person supposed to know how to please anyone without consulting that individual?

We read in Ecclesiastes 7:29, "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." The original design of man was to live for God's glory, but sin turned us after our own devices and now we cannot know how to do anything other than follow our own schemes unless God gives us His instruction. Thus, we must trust and follow His word by faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him (see Hebrews 11:6).

Next we move to the second--they had already achieved a level of pleasing God. And that is very true of the Thessalonian church. Consider what Paul said in the beginning of the letter. "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia" (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7). In the midst of affliction, the church received the word from the Apostle, and filled with the joy of the Spirit, lived out what they were told, becoming examples to all who were around. They looked to the Apostles and leaders of the church to gain the example they needed to live in such a way that it was pleasing to the Lord. 

How much have you achieved, dear one? Do you know some of the requirements of the Lord that instruct you on how to live, in order to please God? We can look to Hebrews 13:6 and learn how to please God through personal sacrifice: "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Or we can take to heart 1 Timothy 2:1-4 that teaches us to pray for those in leadership so that we can live peaceable and godly lives in this world--which is pleasing to God. And we take with dire warning Romans 8:8, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

We conclude with the third--an encouragement to do so more and more. Living to please God is a journey of learning and growing, increasing in your knowledge of God and your faithfulness to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 states, "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." And this is what all believers should do--take aim at a life that is pleasing to God. 

So, if you are just entering the day, let it be set for the glory and satisfaction of the Lord Almighty. The LORD has given you His word as the means by which you can know and trust Him. He who created you would not have you wander off into all manner of worldly schemes. Find, my friends, your deepest satisfaction in Him. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Lamentations 3:24 ~ "'The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"

There is much in this world that people often look to as their portion, that which they believe is their due. Some, not unlike the prodigal son, will look to their inheritance as their due portion. "And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them" (Luke 15:12). Or as the man who cried out to Jesus in Luke 12:13, "Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'" There are others who look to their portion as that which is due them through their labors. Consider the workers in the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:10, "Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius."

But, dear Christian, the LORD is our portion--He is our great inheritance. We do not look to the world to fulfill the desires of our heart, for our heart does not desire anything but our Savior. Which is why, when troubled times come and the world is rife with distress and hatred toward God, we look beyond what we can see and know that our portion is Christ. 

Consider the great weight of the persecutions and oppressions faced by Jeremiah. As he laments his prayer before the LORD, he recalls the very real truth that his one great hope, his absolute confidence is that the LORD was his portion--and there is nothing that can diminish such a promise.

Let me encourage you to take time to read the book of Lamentations and hear the heart of the prophet as he watched the judgment of God fall upon the people of Israel. Through Jeremiah, the LORD tried to warn Israel, sought to lead them to repentance, and sent word to the king. "Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin" (Jeremiah 36:2-3). The king's response was to burn the words that were given (see Jeremiah 36:23). 

And now, today, we live in a world filled with sin, and God's word is often dismissed as if it were nothing more than fodder for a fire. And in their dismissal of the LORD, the world will come against the church and we may face the enflamed hatred that they have for Christ. If that should happen, dear one, look to the LORD for your portion. Let us not be like Demas who ran after the world, "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica" (2 Timothy 4:10). Those who long to have their portion from this world, will ultimately discover that they are holding nothing more than sand. 

And, if the LORD is your portion, then you can put your absolute hope in Him. If He is your portion, you very great reward, and you look beyond this world and to glory for the satisfaction of your heart, then you will never be in a condition of disappointment for you will discover that in His presence is the fulfillment of all His promises to those who long for Him. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Acts 14:22 ~ "...strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

Are you prepared for the journey from here to the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus? How many once sure professors of faith, at the time of trial, turned back from walking with Christ because the way became hard? And yet we are told in our text today that the road to the Kingdom is through many tribulations.

Jesus, our Lord, expressed the cause of the defection of some when He told the parable of the soils. Matthew 13:20-21 says, "As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away." There are many who, for a season, seem to flourish in the faith, rising up in the church, singing the songs and reciting the Scriptures with abundant joy. For all their display, most would believe that they possessed a solid faith. 

But faith is not tested in the times of abundance and joy, when all is well and there is no difficulty to be endured. Faith is tested in the time of tribulation, when the world is set against the believer and the way becomes hard and pressed in on every side. Peter teaches the believer in 1 Peter 1:6-7 to rejoice in the testing, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

The Apostle Paul speaks of the Christian life as being like a jar of clay, yet enduring because of Who resides within. Let it be said of us, as it says in 2 Corinthians 4:8, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair."

Consider the experience of the Apostle Paul in the verses just before our text for today. in Acts 14:19-21 we read, "But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch." Paul was stoned and left for dead, drug out of the city and probably thrown into the trash heap that was collected beyond the city walls. There the other disciples found him and what did the apostle do--he got up and went back into the very city where he was nearly murdered. And then, just for emphasis, he went to the cities of Antioch and Iconium--the cities where his oppressors originated!

It was under these circumstances that Paul told the church that we must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom. 

There is a road set before you, dear Christian. And God in His sovereign determination has permitted you to walk through times of trial and testing to the validation of your faith. It will be proved to those who see you that your faith is either set like an anchor upon the Rock of your salvation or it is laid upon sand that won't hold you steady in the storms. If you are enduring a trial, then hold fast to Christ, dear one, and know that the Lord Jesus has permitted the time of tribulation for the refining and strengthening of your faith. 

Understand, if you are in Christ, your life will soon be beyond the reach of the enemy, outside the theater of tribulation and no longer gripped by temptations. Let us all hold fast in our faith and say as in 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." 

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Malachi 1:11 ~ "For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts."

During the days of Malachi, after Israel had returned to the land of promise and the practice of temple worship was restored, something happened that set them, once again, at odds with the Lord Almighty. The practice of offering the required sacrifice was in full force. The priests were in the temple and the fires were once again lit to the glory of God. Or, were they?

Consider what is written in Malachi 1:8, "When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts." And then, in verse 10, God told the priests to shut the doors to the temple and quit lighting useless fires on His altar--the Lord God, the Almighty, took no pleasure in them. Why? Because their perfunctory effort at worship had no heart in it. They were willing to go through the motions, but the priests were not willing to truly honor the LORD. 

As the sacrifices during the days of Malachi were nothing more than the dregs of an offering, how much of our lives are offered as living sacrifices? Romans 12:1 teaches us, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Is what we do as believers in Christ all done for the glory and honor of the Savior? Or do we offer to God the "leftovers" of what remains of our life? We are to offer ourselves as a "living sacrifice." We must not offer the half-hearted dregs as they did during the days of Malachi, but lay before God in every aspect of our life a testimony of His greatness and goodness to us.

And that is ultimately the target of worship--that the name of God will be great. Do you know the greatness of God? Do others see through your life that God is great? So much of what is called worship, today, is built to the honor and acceptance of the worshiper rather than the One who is worshiped. God's name is to be "great among the nations." That is, through His people, the world at large will see in us that we hold His name and His honor as the highest standard of our lives.

For the people of Israel, it was through their willingness to bring the very best of their crops and herds to the temple in order to offer them before God as an acceptable sacrifice. Two things occurred when they refused to honor God as He required. First, they displayed a lack of trust that God would provide for them, so they needed to keep the best for themselves (see Malachi 3:10-12). Second, they testified that God was not worthy of their worship (see Malachi 1:12-14). 

For the church, today, we are to show through our lives that God is both able to be trusted and worthy to be honored in the way we lay down our lives for His glory. Consider what 1 Peter 2:5 states, "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." We are to show that we honor the great name of the LORD and lay down our lives in sacrificial obedience to the Savior. 

So... a simple question... do you hold the name of the Lord Jesus as the highest and most holy? Is His name great in your understanding and thus in your actions? Can you say, as John the Baptist, that even His sandals you are not worthy to untie (see Mark 1:7)? Oh, beloved, hear the words of the Apostle Paul as you enter this day: "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

Let us bow our knees today and exalt the glorious name of Jesus.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

2 Samuel 23:1 ~ "Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel."

How will you be remembered?

When the words of 2 Samuel were penned, and the final days of David's life was remembered, along with his final words, the author looked to the premier king of Israel and considered how the shepherd from Bethlehem should be remembered. Was David reflected upon as the man who killed Goliath and delivered the people from their enemies? Did the author of 2 Samuel consider all the grand expansion of the nation and the tactical brilliance of the king? Was David remembered for his strong leadership and his courage? 

Perhaps he might have been epitaphed with a recollection for some of the foolish judgements he made and the sins he committed. When the end of the king's days was upon him, was he remanded by the writer of the text for Bathsheba? Did the author of 2 Samuel forget about the great dilemma of Absalom? Surely all of that information was available as the writer penned his final view of the dramatic king of Israel. What would be said of David before the final words from David were added?

Though all those experiences were true of the king, the author of 2 Samuel penned these words about David, that he was: "The sweet psalmist of Israel." 

David was the king that all other kings would be compared. How often in the records of the nation of Israel was the statement, "as his father David," or "not like his father David" (for examples see 1 Kings 15:11 and 2 Kings 16:2).

But the statement made of David was not concerning his reign over Israel, but his worship of the LORD and guiding the people to worship God. David, for all his ups and downs as a king, never wavered in his desire to worship and serve the LORD. He was a man after God's own heart, and became the sweet psalmist of Israel.

People are often remembered for their greatest contributions made during their lives. And if that is the case, then the greatest contribution David made was providing the nation of Israel a kingly worship leader. David lived to bring glory to God. 73 of the 150 Psalms are directly attributed to him. But David didn't live for the accolades of men, he lived that God's name should be honored and worshiped.

Dear Christian, what will be the epitaph decorating the final words of those who would speak about you? You may have done great works--and those might be remembered by some. You may have committed and repented of great sins--and I can guarantee that there will be people to remember those. But, my friends, do not live that you should have a great name. Live in such a way that the name of God is greatly praised.

And if there is a epitaph that we might should strive to achieve, let it be said of us from the Lord Jesus according to Matthew 25:21, "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’"

Those are the words I long to hear.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Matthew 12:36 ~ “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”

My friends, there is a great value in words. Creation formed at the word of God. Prophets warned through their words. The Apostles instructed with their words. Even worldly people understand the value of their words—to motivate, encourage, train, etc. Do you see the value of your conversations? 

When Moses was called by God to lead out the people of Israel from their enslavement in Egypt, his complaint was not that the way was too long or the work too hard. In Exodus 4:10, Moses great complaint was his ability to speak, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” The Lord responded to Moses’ complaint by asking a rhetorical question, “Who gave man his mouth” (see Exodus 4:11). Beloved, if God gave man a mouth to speak, a language to use, and a brain to think then, as our text this day reveals, God will hold accountable every person to the use of their words.

However, think how often a stray thought rushes from the mouth like a geyser, or an un-checked word escapes like a bat out of a cave? Believers in Christ are commissioned by God to use the tongue for His glory, to speak words for a more noble purpose, to take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). Is this how you approach your conversations?

Consider what God’s word says. Psalm 37:30, “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.” Proverbs 8:7, “For my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.” These two passages of Scripture give a clear picture of what the mouth of a believer ought to voice—only that which is wise and true. You will have a high value to your words when wickedness from your lips is considered an abomination to you.

I remember, some time ago, when I walked with a group of Christians as we left a meeting. We navigated through the parking lot and made our way to the car, all the while speaking and laughing and carrying on with the wonderful fellowship we just experienced. However, one in our party thought to share a story—a witticism that carried a hint of vulgarity. As this person shared his version of humor, the remaining members walked in stunned silence at the lack of Christian character expressed in his quip. When confronted, the person quickly defended himself with the well-worn statement, “it was just a joke.”

Has true faith become so watered-down by the world that believers can casually share at a joke that is vulgar and crude without a shred of conscience? Was Jeremiah right when he said that the people of God had forgotten even how to blush (see Jeremiah 8:12)? It was more than just a joke; it was a telling sign of what ruminated in that person’s heart. Jesus said, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). 

Paul entreats the church, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6). The Bible states in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” And again, in Ephesians 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” 

All believers have a responsibility to God, to fellow believers and to the world at large to speak those words that will exalt Christ, edify the church and entreat the lost world to Jesus. Is this your conversation? It should be. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael