Acts 27:29 ~ “And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.”

(Let me encourage you to read Acts 27 as we go through this dramatic story to learn a valued lesson for us today.)

The day had dawned with pleasant winds and a hopeful outlook. Despite the warnings of the Apostle Paul, the centurion determined to take the advice of the pilot of the ship and put out to sea. Circumstances quickly changed. What had started as a day of hope became a day of horror as the great Northeaster swept down upon the water.

Panic struck the ship as the crew furiously struggled against the power of the storm, all in vain. The storm was relentless, unforgiving and unwilling to release the captive vessel from its grip. Two weeks passed without relief. Desperate men cried out. Hope slipped away as they were powerless to change the circumstances. They never should have experienced the relentless torrent, if only they had listened to the Apostle rather than the pilot.

They prayed for daylight… have you ever been there? Have you ever been in a place of such despair that it seemed even the sun might fail? You listened to the wrong advice—though it might have seemed like the most knowledgeable person to give it. And now you are in a world of trouble for failing to heed the Word of God.

That is a difficult thing, though. We want to get the advice of the most experienced, the most strategic minds, the best thinkers of the moment—and many of us would have turned to the pilot for answers. What could Paul know about sailing? He was at best a mere passenger. How many of us turn to the world to get our directions? Rather than heeding the Word of God, many will turn to the advice of the world to find their directions.

Let me pose a couple of examples for you. There are Christians who will listen to the own heart. But consider what it says in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Rather than turn to the Word of God, they will ponder their own understanding and believe that if they feel it is a good idea, though the Scriptures says otherwise, they will pursue it. Yet Proverbs 3:5 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Others will seek out the advice of friends—even if those friends are of the world. Good advice is a treasure, beloved, but the only advice that is good will hearken to the truth. The story of Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 10 is a great example of listening to bad advice. The king listened to the young and foolish men rather than the wise and older men. And, in an instant, fractured the nation of Israel into two different kingdoms.

My friends, when we set our course according to the wisdom of the world rather than the Word of God, we will plunge ourselves into a storm. And then, rather than repenting and turning back to where we ought to be, we make frantic attempts to keep our course, to make for the shores of our own desires and are swept away, lost in the maelstrom of circumstances… praying for daylight.

A worldly decision in the past cannot be cured by another worldly decision in the present. Maybe you listened to the pilot instead of the prophet – to the counsel of the world rather than the Word of God. Pray for daylight. Pray that God will again shine upon you His wisdom and truth so that you can survive the storm. And once God does give you the understanding you need, have the courage to take it.

The pilot and crew of that ill-fated vessel lost their cargo. They lost the ship’s tackle, the anchors, even the ship itself yet found that when they listened to Paul, God saved them. It was worth the loss of all things that they might live. Consider Paul’s words to the Philippians, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

So, what would you give in exchange for your soul? Are you currently reaping the havoc of listening to the counsel of the world? When you pray for daylight, when you ask the Savior to deliver you from the storm, will you cling to foolishness of the world or will you determine to do what God has said?

In the end, for Paul and the rest of those on board the ship: “And so it was that all were brought safely to land” (Acts 27:44).

​In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

2 Peter 3:14 ~ "Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace."

Waiting is an integral part of the human experience. We wait in lines at the store, we wait for a call from a friend. We wait to take vacations or to advance in our careers. We wait for doctor appointments or for our meal to be delivered at a cafe. Everyone waits for something, and there is no way to avoid it. But, how do you wait? Do you wait anxiously or patiently? Do you wait with each nerve getting more frazzled as the seconds tick by or with a calm demeanor that brings stability to the waiting? The one common factor in all of this: you will have to wait.

But, dear Christian, we have something else to wait for. We are "waiting for the Day." Our text tells us that we are waiting for "these." And the question is: what are "these?" The text before it tells us, "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). There is a day coming that will bring to an end all sin and rebellion. That Day of the LORD, which will consume the earth in a final conflagration will also be the Day that all believers wait upon, for it will be the day of the fulfillment of all promises and the establishment of the eternal kingdom of Christ.

Let's start with a question: are you waiting for that day? Our text today says, "since you are waiting for these." There is an assumption made that all Christians have set their hope on the new heavens and new earth--the home of righteousness. Of all the tragedies and triumphs that occur, of all the victories we've won, there is a simple truth--this is NOT the home of righteousness. This fractured world is rife with sin and the rebellion against God of billions. And, in true confession of my own heart, the longer I walk in this valley of the shadow of death, I long for the glorious and everlasting city of life. 

But what do we do as we wait? Our text today tells us to be diligent. Waiting for some means a lounging or a leisurely approach to activity. They embrace the delay as some form of personal opportunity to bask in the slothful mindset. But that is not the Christian. We are given a great destination, a home of righteousness, and as we wait for that day we are to make haste or be earnest to be without spot or blemish. Do you long for Christ and love the LORD, then you see upon yourself the spots of sin that linger. Then, beloved, make haste to repent. Jesus commands the church in Revelation 3:19, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." If you see that spot, or if there is still a blemish that is discovered, then quickly seek the LORD in prayer and confess your sin. He will cleanse and remove those spots and blemishes.

And the other diligent exercise of your faithful walk with the LORD is to be at peace--and that means at peace with God. It is more than a settled calmness in your heart or a circumstantial "cease-fire" that you negotiated with the world that is the peace of which our text today instructs. In truth, if you have no expectation of the coming judgment of God or the soon arriving King of kings to rule and reign over all, then you also have no diligent desire to be at peace with the LORD.

There are those who believe that "one day" they will come to that place where they take God seriously, but there is no urgency in their thinking. Dear ones, do not lounge away the moment. If you've not yet made peace with God, do not delay! Run to Jesus by faith and seek His mercy and grace. He will receive all who come to Him by faith, trusting in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. And for all who believe already, let us strive to keep ourselves in faithful fellowship with our Savior. 

Keep waiting, dear ones. Soon our LORD will return and then all that you have ever hoped for in Christ will be astonishingly glorious, far more than you have ever imagined.

There's coming a day when all days will be done
When the journey is over and the race has been run
Through Jesus our LORD we'll be delivered from strife
As we step through the portal of death into life

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Malachi 3:16 ~ "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name."

Comfort yourself, dear Christian, God has never forgotten anything that you did in honor of His name. There is written a book of remembrance that contains all that you did as you walked in the fear of the LORD. You have not been missed in the constant gaze of the LORD upon the earth, for His eye sees all--and especially those who love and serve Him.

Consider the words of 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." In the context of this verse, Asa the king had relied on Syria, and not on the LORD to deliver the nation of Judah. So God Almighty reminded the king, and us as well, that His eye is always upon those who serve Him that He will strongly support those with a heart that fears Him.

So we learn from our text today that it is first those who "feared the LORD." What is this holy fear? What does it mean to fear the LORD? It is to reverence Him and hold the LORD Jesus above all others. To recognize His sovereignty and majesty and worship Him as Savior and King. Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." If one is to fear the LORD, then it will lead them to turn aside from evil ways--to seek to do that which is right and good. For their lack of godly fear, the LORD chastised the people through the prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 2:19, "Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the LORD God of hosts."

But, included in their fear of the LORD was a desire to converse about the LORD. They, "spoke to one another." The implication is that their conversations were governed by their fear of God. One of the great realities of the Christian life is that our conversations convey our fear of God. Let me ask this: what do you talk about on the way? What is the conversation taking place in your home? Do you seek out those who fear the LORD and, with open dialogue, embark on conversations filled with your love for and life in Christ? The world is filled with enough inane babble. Let it not be so with the Christian. Paul tell us in Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." 

And, what a wonderful promise is made in our text today: "The LORD paid attention and heard." How many times do you speak of the LORD, how often do you study His word in close fellowship with others? Beloved, know this wonderful truth: the LORD God Almighty is there paying attention to all that you have said--and He has heard every word. Your love for Him is not overlooked, for He is listening. There are places in our world where conversations of Christ must be done in whispers--and yet the LORD hears every word as if it was boldly proclaimed in heaven.

Do not dread that you may be forgotten by God Almighty. He has not lost one single word that fell from your lips. They all have been written down in His book of remembrance, and He will take up this book with joy and declare that all who fear the LORD and esteemed His name in their hearts and with their voice, will be His forever. Consider the words of Malachi 3:17, "They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him."  You who fear the LORD and faithfully stand with Christ will be taken up by Him as His treasured possession. He will lose not one.

Dear friends, others may not want to hear your conversations about Jesus. But God does, and so do all who fear the LORD. Christ listens and pays attention to every word. Let us then seek the fellowship of the redeemed and open up with delight in conversation about the LORD.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ~ “…pray without ceasing”

Step into your prayer closet for just a moment. Do you hear it? It’s that dull, hollow sound which reverberates across the heavens as if your prayers are banging against an iron sky.

​Do you ever feel that way? I know I do. You offer prayers and petitions to heaven, spend hours upon your knees in humble submission and lift your requests up to God. Then, in one great resonance of silence, you hear… nothing.

There are times when it seems the greatest pain of my life is that I am listening for a returning voice that cannot, or will not, be heard. All I hear is the echoed words of my own heart as my prayers beat against the iron sky. Impenetrable, unbreakable, there are times when it seems that no matter how I pray, I cannot breech the wall. So if silence is deafening, the silence of God is thunderous.

David understood this. In Psalm 22:2 he cries out, “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.” Again, in Psalm 28:1, “To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.”

Day or night David listened, cried out, did not remain silent – only to languish in the silence of God. His distress was such that he likened it to being as one who had “gone down to the pit.” I am certain that all Christians know the great heartache when God remains silent. Imagine wanting to talk with the one you love only to receive the quiet turn of the head with no return conversation. It’s called the “silent treatment” for a reason. That’s because it hurts.

So… where did the iron-forged sky come from? Here are some possibilities.

• First, it is important to consider that the iron sky might have been sin-forged. Consider what God said through Isaiah the prophet, “…but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). It is no mystery. In the times of sinfulness, the relationship with God is fractured. The remedy is simple, though it will require humility: repent. If the iron sky was forged in sin, it is dismantled in repentance. Humble, honest repentance, from the contrite and lowly of heart, God will not despise.

 

• Second, the possibility is that the sky was forged through selfishness in prayer. Yes, selfishness is a sin as well. But there is a marked difference that is exposed in the Scriptures, a difference that is seen in your motivation for prayer. James tells us, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3). More than the commission of a sin, the very prayer you’re offering before God is only for selfish purposes. The remedy for this is just as simple: turn your mind away from worldly pleasures and seek that which is pleasing to God. Your prayers should be a reflection of your desire for God’s glory. Take to heart the words of Colossians 3:1-2 and set your mind and heart on “things above and not on earthly things.”

 

• Third, and perhaps the one that all of us understand in great detail, is the iron sky of time. There is a simple fact: God does not, and will not, subscribe to our insistence. He works according to His timing and will not change. Joseph suffered for years in prison; Abraham waited for years to have a son; the Israelites endured slavery for 400 years, crying out all the while. God hears our prayers, knows our need and has already set in motion the answer – though its arrival does not come in the immediacy of our need. This calls for patience – and that is the only remedy. Patient faith requires us knowing and trusting that God will do exactly what is best and right. Again, in James it says, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains” (James 5:7).

Though this is not a complete manifest of the iron sky that all of us experience from time to time, I hope you understand that God does hear your cry. If you’ve constructed the barrier, simply remove it through humble repentance. If time is the barrier, trust God and be patient. He does know your need and will answer in His time.

So even when the sky is made of iron, I leave you with the simple statement of Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Mark 14:8 ~ "She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial."

Not everybody can do what they want to do, but everyone in Christ is required to do what they can. This becomes a struggle for many, for they long to be able to do more with their lives than they are capable. They dream big, have grandiose ideas and desires for great accomplishments. In truth, however, if we fail to do what we can, we will never do anything.

On the other side of this dilemma, there are some who will not imagine themselves to be so low on the rung of spiritual importance that they should be called upon to do anything that might be considered menial. To function merely as an unrecognized servant is a reach that their own mentality cannot stoop to achieve. They will refuse to do anything because they cannot imagine themselves to do something so beneath them.

In our text today, we encounter a woman who came to Jesus and anointed the Savior with a jar of expensive perfume. We learn from the gospel of John that this is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (see John 12:3). This flask was worth a year's wages and it is quite possible that she had saved up in order to own such a treasure for herself. Now, however, the LORD was present and her heart to worship the King of kings was overwhelmed with the desire to bless Him. So, she did what she could. She broke the jar open and emptied the entirety of the contents upon the LORD. 

Let us first consider the idea that she "did" what she could. There is a dreadful condition of selfishness in the heart when we are unwilling to serve the LORD in the moment that is presented. We won't "do" what we can because it brings no recognition. Consider the words of James 4:17, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." Is there a "right thing" to do standing before you but you refuse to do it? Is there a moment of service offered to you that will honor and bless the LORD, but you dismiss it because you don't want to lower yourself to accomplish it? Have you looked at the task and determined not to give it a go because no one else will? There are many excuses people will give to avoid doing a task, and that avoidance might be a sin.

Then, another consideration, is that she did what she "could." I want to encourage you, today, to realize that you cannot do it all. God does not hold your feet to the fire of some expectation that is not given you to accomplish. A man on his sickbed cannot get up to minister to the world, but he can offer prayers and petitions on behalf of those who are upon his heart. He can do something--not everything. And that is what we are commanded to do. Do not think it is a tragedy of faithlessness when you cannot do even what your own heart desires. We are to walk in the good works that stand before us, for it is those which God has prepared (see Ephesians 2:10). But we are not at liberty to determine what those good works will be.

Jesus reminds us that when we serve one another in love, it is as if we are serving Him. He illustrates this in Matthew 25:31-46. When we have opportunity to do good to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are taking that moment and serving the LORD as well. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" Paul instructs the church with this same idea. In Galatians 6:10 we read, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Take to heart the understanding that it is "as we have opportunity." The occasion may not always come, though our desires are there. But when the opportunity arrives, let us take hold of it as if we are pouring the anointing oil upon the LORD Himself.

Jesus received this beautiful blessing, and responded with a promise in return--that her sacrificial service and love toward Him would never be forgotten. In fact, it would go forward as a testimony for all time. Even now, eons later, we are still reading of her love and service to Jesus. And so it will be with you as you serve the LORD. Our Savior remembers and it will be the testimony of your everlasting life that you did what you could to love the LORD as you served Him.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Ezekiel 33:7 ~ "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me."

​Atop the battlements, keeping vigil as they overlook the surrounding countryside, the watchman was tasked with one great responsibility--to warn the people of approaching danger. If an enemy attempted to come under the cloak of darkness, or a foe approached to storm the city, the watchman was the first line of defense. Even today, in our modern warfare era, strategic thinkers know that there must be an early warning system in place to keep an eye on any potential danger.

What a mercy it was for God to place a watchman upon the spiritual ramparts and provide warning for His own people when He was about to send calamity upon them. And God set Ezekiel to be that watchman. Through the prophet, the LORD would give warning against the sins of the nation, calling upon them to repent of their folly and turn from their evil ways. If Ezekiel was faithful in his task, then the responsibility fell upon the people to obey. If they did not take warning, then they would suffer the disciplining hand of the Almighty. 

Dear Christian, we have watchman still today. Consider the words of Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." There are those whom God has appointed to serve the church as watchmen--keeping vigil over your souls. To disregard those who serve such a task is to do yourself harm. It is of no advantage to you if you have been given warning from those who are keeping watch and then disregard it as nonsense. You will be held accountable before the LORD for failing to heed the warning He sent through His servants by His word. Consider Ezekiel 33:9, "But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul."

But for those who are appointed a watchman and do not give warning, they will be held accountable, even as Ezekiel was told of his own accountability before God. "If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand" (Ezekiel 33:8). 

However, could it be that the dilemma facing the church today is not an abundance of watchman, but a lack thereof? Those who are given the task of keeping watch have a grave responsibility to fulfill that task in faithfulness to God and compassion toward the church. If you're reading this and have been appointed by God to stand before His people and proclaim His word, then you, man of God, are so tasked as a watchman. Paul warned the elders of the church to pay careful attention to the flock of God--to be watchman--for there would be ferocious wolves coming to try and devour His people (see Acts 20:28-30). 

In this sinful day, we have a great need for courageous watchmen to open up the Word of God and proclaim His truth. And the church must have a heart to respond to such warnings. And though there are those who are appointed and called to the task of proclaiming the Word of God, I am certain that all of God's children can stand faithfully as watchmen upon the ramparts of their life. You might only have a small group of Christians around you, but if you see danger in the life of another, give them warning and help them to understand God's word. Paul told the church in Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

As we wrap up our thought for this day, it is important to consider the reason why God established watchmen on the walls. The LORD proclaims in Ezekiel 33:11, "Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?" 

Let us, today, take to heart the necessity to stand our post as watchmen upon the wall.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Joshua 1:9 ~ "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Look back at the steps you have taken and then look forward toward the steps left to go, and hold fast to the LORD for the courage you need to keep going till your journey's end.

Joshua was given charge over the nation of Israel, and was commissioned by God to bring them into the promised land. Moses, who had led the people of God for forty years in the wilderness, was now gone and it was Joshua's moment to lead. We know that Joshua was a man of faith, having stood his ground with Caleb when the spies brought their report of the land (see Numbers 14:6-9). Yet, there is a difference between leading warriors in battle and leading the people to follow the LORD. 

In our text today, God is going to bolster the man, Joshua, and present him two reasons for a courageous life. And we must be reminded of these as well, for it takes courage to walk with Christ to the end of our journey.

First, God reminds Joshua that the Almighty is the one in command. The LORD asks a simple question: "Have I not commanded you?" The full rendering of this question reconnects Joshua to the past as well as the present. That is to say, God asked: "have I not always commanded you? Look back to your past, Joshua, and see if there was any step before you that was not at the command of God." And the newly appointed leader of the people of Israel is called upon to remember that God had always led the way.

Joshua was there when they departed Egypt. He was witness to the plagues, the judgments, and the power of God. He crossed the Red Sea with the nation, saw the pillar of fire at night and cloud by day. Throughout his sojourn with Moses, during the entire ordeal of the wilderness wandering, Joshua was privileged to experience all the commands of God. And that must give him courage, for Joshua could see that obedience to God always brought about the fulfillment of what was promised.

My friends, sometimes all you need to do is look back and see that God has led you through, and up to, this point. You may have had to suffer along the way. There may have been times of great testing, and even the disciplining hand of God Almighty upon you, but not once did God forsake you. And, look back at the fulfillment of His commands in the lives of others. As Joshua could see in Moses the commands of God obeyed and the promises of God fulfilled, then you can do the same. Look to those who have walked with you, mentored you and given you a front row seat to the view of a faithful life. Has God not always commanded you? Of course He has, and that will not come to an end.

Which brings us to our second view, the promised presence of God. God, speaking to Joshua, reminded him, "for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Consider this promise from Joshua 1:5, "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." His courage must come from knowing, not that he has an army around him, but that he has the LORD with him. Going forward, God gave Joshua a promise that would bolster the heart of even the weakest saint. The promise of knowing that the Almighty, the LORD of Glory would be with him wherever he went. 

Beloved, we can have great courage going forward by faith in the LORD Jesus because He has promised to us that He will also be with us forever. Hebrews 13:5 declares, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" For all those who belong to Christ, there is nothing to fear in the presence of the LORD. And though you may have to go through trials of many kinds, and suffer the outlandish villainy of the world, yet you have a surety from Christ that cannot be broken--He is with you always, even to the very end of the age (see Matthew 28:20). 

So we look back and see that God has commanded our way. From that we can gain great courage. And we look forward and know that Christ will accompany us along the way, and thus we can be free from fear and dismay. Your source of courage, dear Christian, is not your prowess, wisdom or strength. Your courage comes from knowing and walking with the LORD our God--and that until the very end.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Job 31:1 ~ "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? "

As Job defends himself against the constant barrage of accusations from his three friends, he points to his determination to remain righteous in his behavior. Another translation of our text for today can read: "I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman." And this verse today begs a question: how have we taken the very members of our "self" and committed them to a righteous life?

Let me explain.

When you consider your eyes, as Job had done, have you committed to the LORD that you will use them for that which will bring Him glory? There is so much worldliness positioned against us visually, and random moments of accidental views sometimes cannot be helped. But what do you choose to look at? Jesus said in Matthew 6:22-23, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" What you willfully use your eyes to see may be an indication of where your heart is found. Do as Job, and make a covenant with your eyes to use them for the glory of God.

And this, beloved, goes for all other aspects of our life. For it is more than just the eyes for which we must be concerned. How have you set your feet to walk in this world? Do you go toward that which is righteous or do you navigate toward things that would be detrimental to your fellowship with the LORD? How about your tongue? About what do you use your lips to speak? James 3:6 says, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Peter also addresses the use of our mouth, "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit" (1 Peter 3:10).

The list is long so we won't go into further considerations, but I trust that you get the gist of the issue. My friends, each aspect of our lives must be brought into conformity to the LORD Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul looked at it as an athlete training for his sport. He illuminates it for us in 1 Corinthians 9:25, "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." Do you strive to exercise control--the spiritual fruit of self-control (see Galatians 5:22)--as you walk through this world? 

Peter again helps us to understand the importance of walking through this world with a faithful effort to live in righteousness. We read in 1 Peter 2:11-12, "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." The world will despise your good deeds and speak against you. Isaiah 59:15 states, "Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey." You will become prey for the haunt of jackals in this world if you depart from evil. And yet, when Christ returns on that Day of Visitation, He will receive glory from you for your desire to depart from evil.

So let the statement of Job wash over your mind. Even now, determine to make a covenant with all aspects of your life so that you will strive against anything that would defile you or dishonor the name of Christ. There is truly not one believer in Christ who has lived so righteous that they never need to repent. Take this moment to examine yourself and, if needed, to repent. Covenant again with that portion of your life to do only what will bring honor and glory to Jesus.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Titus 3:5 ~ "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
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Of all the considerations of life, of all the elements and achievements of mankind, there is one that is far more potent than any other: we are all sinners before a Holy God. This is the one unspoken link that binds all of humanity together. You can travel to any nation, find cultures buried deep in the hidden recesses of the earth, and there you will find sinners. And when I look in the mirror and see the man reflected back at me, he is a sinner indeed. Some might try to cover the evident truth of this with the fig leaves of philosophy or psychology, desperate to rationalize away the condition, but in the end you and I are sinners. Paul tells us this in Romans 3:10-12, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Of the roughly 8 billion people that inhabit this world, and approximately 30 billion people that have passed from it, we are all unified into one dreadful state of sin before the Righteous Judge. When you consider that the entire race of mankind is unified in their desperate situation, you might find it humorous to hear of the invented divisions in humanity: nation against nation, the elites who stand aloof and believe themselves above the rabble, the strong embracing the idea that they are superior to the weak. But those are mere fabrications of identity between groups of sinners. 

Why do I belabor the fallen condition of man? Because, if anyone is going to be renewed by the mercy of the LORD, they must first understand the untenable situation they are in. When standing before God, He will not ask if you were raised in Bangladesh or in Brooklyn, the only thing that will matter at that great judgment is being found in Christ. For there is a division that mankind has experienced, but it is not the division of greater and lesser men, it is the division between us and our Creator. And that great gulf fixed between God and man is an unassailable chasm that cannot be crossed from here to there. But it can be, and has been, crossed from there to here.

Found in those first three words of our text today is the great bridge of rescue for a people separated from God: "He saved us." The rescue and redemption of mankind came not from any sinner on this earth, for there is not one righteous act we could perform that warranted God's redemption. It was concocted, conducted and completed in the LORD Jesus Christ. He built the bridge, crossed it, and will carry back all those who believe on Him (see John 14:3). And if those three words, "He saved us," apply to you, you are separated from the world and connected in joyful union with the LORD by His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17 states, "But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him." The first step of our renewal is our being restored in unity with Almighty God through the salvation from Jesus Christ. 

But there is more. He did not merely put a bridge of salvation before us, but has purposed through His own mercy to wash us and renew us as well. Our text tells us that we who are born-again are washed in regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. As the father of the prodigal son, our Father in Heaven has placed His signet of identification upon us and given us new garments of holiness and righteousness to wear (see Luke 15:22). Beloved, if you are in Christ, you have been washed and restored, made new by His mercy. You were once in league with the world, united with all of mankind in sin and rebellion. But God rescued you and grafted you into Christ. You are no longer of the world any more than Christ is of the world. And though you still live here, your home is with Jesus.

So, which would you rather be: separated from the world and united with Christ or separated from Christ and united to the world? Soon Jesus Christ will gather His redeemed to Himself and cast the rest into hell and thus the final separation will be finished. Let us rejoice, dear Christian, for through His mercy we have been cut loose from the chains of sin that bound humanity and are given a new yoke--forever in union with Christ.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Zephaniah 1:18 ~ "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth."

What is the predominant reliance of mankind? Where do most people place their trust?

The Christian has found the failure of all worldliness, the unreliability of human ingenuity and the corrosion of manmade hopes. The Christian has one solid foundation--the LORD Jesus Christ.

But those who do not know the LORD... they hold a different trust indeed--an unreliable trust. For those without Christ have only the substance of their own strength to rely upon.

As we enter this day, let us begin with a real concern for the coming wrath of the LORD. Most people do not believe that there is going to come a fiery judgment against all mankind. Due to our rebellion and sin, the LORD will justly judge the whole earth. Consider what our LORD said in Luke 12:49, "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!" I have heard the notion that the LORD Jesus was a pacifist. It is an absolute absurdity. The Prince of Peace is also the Judge of the whole earth. The delay of judgment is for the redemption of all who will believe. But, dear ones, judgment is coming.

And the wrath of God is not a local event, nor is it isolated only to a singular group or nation. The kindled fire of God's anger will consume the whole earth. There will be, as our text indicates, a full and sudden end. What does this tell you? Two things: first, there is no place to hide and second there is no warning. 

Mankind has tried to hide from God since the fall (see Genesis 3:10). In Revelation 6:15-17 we discover the greatest as well as the least desperate to hide from Christ. "Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'” David understood that there was no place to hide from the LORD (see Psalm 139:7-12). When the day of God's wrath falls upon the earth, it will find everyone.

Humanity strives to predict the future. Forecasts and conjectures fill the airwaves. From weather to politics, someone is always trying to foresee what the future holds. But God's judgment will have no predictions from man. It will be a sudden end. And for those who are unfamiliar with the Word of God, it will take them by surprise. Consider Matthew 24:38-39, "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." There will be no forecast prior to the wrath of God.

Let us return to the question at hand for today: what do people trust in outside of the LORD? Our text tells us clearly that their money will be no good on that day. No one will be able to buy their way out of God's anger. Bribes to thwart the plan of God will fall to the ground as merely dust. A great warning and encouragement is given to all who are willing to hear it. Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.'" 

Beloved, do you have any hope of escaping the wrath of God because of some measure of personal achievement? Your strength, wisdom and riches are as nothing before the LORD. Reject any vain hope you hold and trust in the LORD alone. Let your testimony be like that of the psalmist in Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." And, my friends, when you have your hope anchored in Christ alone, you need fear no wrath from Him.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Revelation 1:14-15 ~ "The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters."

Let us, today, take a look upon the Righteous One, the Holy Savior and King of kings. What do we see when we "fix our eyes upon Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2)?

John, in this vision given to him by God Almighty, was on the isle of Patmos, exiled there for the sake of the gospel. Driven away by the ruling leaders of his day, the aged apostle spent his Sunday in prayer (see Revelation 1:10). And as he was "in the Spirit" he heard a voice, a powerful voice speaking from behind him. He turned and there, in radiant glory, in regal majesty, stood the LORD Jesus. Where was He standing? In the midst of the golden lampstands--representative of the church He came to save (see Revelation 1:12-13).

Look upon His white hair, like wool and snow, and there we see Jesus in all His righteousness. The crown of righteousness is set upon the heads of the redeemed, but the Redeemer is crowned of His own nature, the very essence of righteousness. We struggle in sin, and we fall into the snares of our own broken nature. But our advocate has never sinned and though He is absolute in righteousness, He will stand in defense of His people. 1 John 2:1 states, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The LORD is perfect in righteousness, and has the right to condemn. But He will not condemn any who have placed their faith in Him. 

Gaze into the burning eyes of our LORD. With eyes like flames of fire, there is a sense in which Jesus will burn through all pretense and all falsehoods, He will see through all deceptions and all dissembling efforts of the world and the enemy. You can trust that when Christ looks upon you, He sees you with absolute clarity. We know this from John 2:25, "And needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." There is no need for you to hide your sin and shame from the LORD, for He sees you with perfect sight. Simply run to Him in confession and repentance and you will discover that He who looks on you with eyes of flames will cleanse you fully (see 1 John 1:9). 

And, beloved, let us walk with the LORD who steps through the world with feet like burnished bronze. There is no place where Jesus cannot go. His feet are as if refined in a furnace, for He went through the crucible of the greatest suffering--He endured the very wrath of God on behalf of His people. And the LORD Jesus stands in perfect stability, He will not be bowled over nor can His steps be prevented. The LORD crushed the head of the serpent (see Genesis 3:15). And though His heel may have been bruised in His suffering the cross, they now are burnished bronze and will crush His enemies. Ephesians 1:22 says, "And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church." The greatest enemy did not stop Jesus... and if we walk with Him, we will discover that nothing will. 

And now, beloved, will you hearken unto His voice? Will you listen to Him? His voice was the voice like many waters--like the thunderous roar that cannot be silenced. Great waterfalls that crash upon the rocks below and echo through the valleys are but a whisper compared to the LORD. The oceans, though mighty as they crash against the shore, fall silent to the voice of Christ (see Luke 8:24). There is such danger when we turn a deaf ear to Christ Jesus the LORD. Hebrews 12:25 warns, "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven." The thunderous voice of Christ speaks powerfully of His love and grace to those who listen, but to those who ignore His word, they will surely hear His just and certain condemnation. 

Beloved, look to Jesus. Trust Him. He alone is Savior and He alone is King. Cast yourself upon His loving mercy and receive His full pardon for sin, and be crowned in His righteousness. Follow Him, for His steps are always true. Listen to Him, for His words are life to those who believe.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Jude 1:22-23 ~ "And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."

​How do you respond to the people of this world? As Jude concludes his letter, he reminds us of some critical truth concerning the end of days. He recognized that scoffers against Christ would come, those who follow the path of ungodliness (see Jude 1:18). And in the midst of a culture of scoffers, there are three distinct types of individuals. And with those three, we are given instruction of how to respond to their condition. Those three types are: those who doubt, those in danger and those who are detestable.

There are first of all, doubters. Now, doubters may be either saved or lost. We know many who are truly born-again, who have surrendered their lives to the LORD Jesus, and on the way as they desire to walk by faith, they experience doubts. The disciples, themselves, found on several occasions that their hearts were shadowed in doubts. As Jesus called Peter out on the water, the apostle doubted. Consider Matthew 14:31, "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" Yet, most of those who doubt have come close to the LORD and often desire to believe but their own doubts frustrate them. 

For those who doubt, we are commanded to show them mercy. The trouble when doubts arise causes the individual to be tossed about like the wave of the sea, driven by the winds of differing thoughts and ideas (see James 1:6). It is of great importance that the solid, well foundationed believer offer to the drifting soul a lifeline of mercy in order to rescue them from their doubts. Do not shove them aside for their doubts, but draw them closer and give them grace in order that they should be better aware of the truth of Christ.

The next type are those in danger. We are to save them by snatching them out of the fire. The simple truth is, those who are aware that they are headed for the fires of hell need to be snatched out and are ready for the rescue. These are truly lost people, but their hearts have so overwhelmed them with the conviction of death and hell, the judgment of God hangs over them like an axe ready to strike. We find such people as in Acts 2:37, "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" Being cut to the heart, the fear of God's wrath was upon them. 

For those who can feel the flames of hell licking at their feet, your responsibility is clear: save them by snatching them out. We understand that no mere man can save another soul, for salvation is of Christ alone. But we can proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring them to the knowledge of salvation. Speaking to the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31, Paul said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." The apostle, along with his companion, Silas, reached out to the man who knew his need of salvation and gave to him the message of faith in Jesus. That, dear ones, is how you snatch them out.

The final type are those who are detestable. These are the ones who, in their desire for fleshly and carnal delights, are so engulfed in their own sin that it is as if even their garments are defiled. These types revel in their own corruptions, and it does not matter the variety of corruptions available to them, whether obtuse or obscene. These will not part with their wickedness, for they see no fault in themselves concerning their condition before God. 2 Peter 2:13 describes them, "They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you."

There are three things the believer is to do concerning this type. First, show them mercy--for even as Christ was merciful to you, it may be that by showing them mercy they could escape the corruptions of the world caused by their own evil desires. Second, let that mercy be mixed with fear, not fear of them but the fear of God. Let your concern always be the holiness of Christ. And third, have a godly hatred for the corruptions of the flesh. 

Beloved, these three responses give us ample opportunity to expose those who do not know the LORD to the saving grace that we have encountered. It will display mercy, proclaim salvation and expose corruption to the varied types of people who live in this world. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring a person to salvation, it is our work to live as ambassadors for Christ in this world (see 2 Corinthians 5:20).

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Luke 16:31 ~ "He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’"

We come to the story of the rich man and Lazarus today (see Luke 16:19-31). And the final statement of this story is one that is of such critical importance that your very soul is dependent upon it. Before you continue, I would have you read the story from God's word.

In this iconic story, the rich man was greedy, indifferent to the needs of the poor man, Lazarus, and had only the desire to fill his appetites with the sumptuous delicacies of the world. He was not condemned because he was rich, however. The evidence of his heart came forth in the way he behaved. Altruism, even humanitarianism, does not save a soul either. But, for those who are truly born-again, there will be the evidence of the heart as expressed in the life. Jesus tells us that the heart will be made known (see Luke 6:45). And, if you have read the story, you see that even the dogs treated Lazarus better than the rich man treated him.

So Lazarus was taken to the place of peace, Abraham's side. The rich man was cast into Hades. "The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side" (Luke 16:22-23). In such torment, the rich man pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers and warn them that they should never enter such a place. And the response the rich man received is our consideration for today. Abraham said, in essence, they should go to the Scriptures.

How many people today insist with such statements as: "if Jesus would appear right now," or, "if I only could see a miracle now," or, "if the Almighty would merely write it in the clouds... then I would believe." It is not unlike those who mocked and hated Jesus as they passed by, "'Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.' Those who were crucified with him also reviled him" (Mark 15:32). Jesus warned us that it is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks after signs (see Matthew 12:39). 

But, dear ones, God has already done that very thing. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and the eyewitnesses gave a clear and compelling account of the matter. If they needed a miracle to believe the LORD, why was His resurrection not enough? Because they do not believe the Word of God. It is through the Word of God that the testimony and record of God's work for the salvation of mankind is revealed. To those who reject the Word of God, it does not matter that there is ample evidence from eyewitness testimony to give a clear and compelling account of the resurrection of Christ.

When Jesus encountered the two on the road to Emmaus, what did He do? Did the LORD give them a swift and certain revelation of His glory? Did He immediately unveil their eyes so that they could see that it was Himself, resurrected from the grave? Not at all. Jesus began with the Scriptures. "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). 

So, beloved, let me ask you this: are you willing to trust God's word, even if there is no outward evidence from some supernatural experience? Do you pray, seeking some manifestation of the LORD in order for you obey Him, or is the written testimony of of the Word of God enough to move you to love Him and keep His commands? For those who do not believe the Scriptures, a miracle won't convince them. How do I say that with such certainty? Because our LORD said it in our text today. 

There are those who want to try and convince people of Jesus outside of the Scriptures. Don't try. Until the Word of God is heard, no amount of supplementary information will avail. Hebrews 4:12 declares, "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." Let us hold fast to the Word of God, for therein is the message of salvation.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Micah 7:18 ~ "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."

Have you ever noticed that the invented gods of mankind, all through the ages of our history, are petty, quick-tempered and merciless. The mentality of mankind is such that we are judgmental and unforgiving. And when we invent a deity of our own design, it always reflects our own character. Our very first act after having sinned against the Almighty God was to accuse those around us. God's response was to give us clothing to cover our shame.

To know the depths of the mercy of God, you must understand the anger of God against sin. Psalm 7:11-12 states, "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow." The LORD God is righteous and He is angry every day at sin. He looks upon the unrepentant and prepares to go to war against him. Yet this same God, the only God, the Divine Judge who is Creator and has every right to condemn all mankind in our sins, has extended His mercy toward us. 

During the days of the prophet Micah, cruel and merciless behavior was the norm for the idolatrous worshipers of the false gods. And Micah begins our text today with a question: who is a God like you? And the answer is truly a simple one--there is no other God like the LORD. In fact, there is no other God at all. He is, and there is no other. But Micah looks upon the Holy One and sees in Him the gracious mercy of a pardoning King. God Almighty, who is angry at sin every day, is also the God of all compassion and will pardon the iniquity and pass over the transgression of His people. To illustrate this, the LORD had them fashion the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat on top (see Exodus 25:17). The Law of God within the ark was covered by the mercy seat above it. And does not James tell us that? "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13).

Dear ones, have you need of God's mercy? Of course you have, and so do all those who live and breathe upon this earth. There is no one without sin, and there is not one person who has the means by which they can overcome their own sin. We all are in the desperate state of the condemned if we do not receive mercy from the Judge. Our text reminds us that God does not remain angry forever. However, His wrath is not satisfied merely with a pretense of remorse or a self-imposed standard of morality and virtue. It is only in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus where the anger of God is turned aside and His mercy showers down like rain. And those who come rushing to the Judge to seek His pardon must do so in the name of the LORD Jesus alone.

But then, consider the final statement of our text for today: "he delights in steadfast love." The phrase "steadfast love" can also be translated as "mercy." God delights to show mercy! Consider the words of Ephesians 2:4-5, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." Our God is rich in mercy. Do not think that you come to a dry well or an empty streambed trying to drink from the shallows of some empty pool. There is more mercy in Christ than there is sin in you. And He who loves you, delights to show you mercy.

There are only two types of people who will not rush to the fountain to drink of the mercy of Christ: those who think they do not need it and those who think they can cover their sins on their own. Remember, God has set his weapons against the unrepentant, and His anger against sin still remains upon those who refuse His grace. Hear the words of Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

If today you know yourself a sinner, then come to the LORD Jesus. He will abundantly pardon. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Peter 1:8-9 ~ "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

One of the most remarkable, supernatural and wonderful truths of the Christian life is to love the LORD Jesus by faith. Unseen, yet loved. My friends, our very salvation is found in this love for Jesus. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God." To be born-again is to love the LORD Jesus and to have genuine love for the LORD is to be known by God. Never will the believer need fear the dread words of Jesus in Matthew 7:23, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." For those who love God are known by Him.

For many, love requires direct contact, a personal connection to another that is set in the physical domain of existence. How then, could it be that a person can love the LORD without ever laying eyes upon Him? For our text today says that though we have not seen Him, we love Him. How is love for Christ generated in our hearts without ever having some form of direct connection? It begins with God Himself. 1 John 4:19 states, "We love because he first loved us." How did He first love us? Simple: Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 says, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We were still sinners, but God loved us to the extent that the LORD Jesus gave up His life to be the sacrifice for our sins.

It is God who poured His love into our hearts through the working of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5). Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says He will give us a new heart. "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). If there is within your heart true love for Christ, true affection for the LORD, that was given to you through God's grace. 

​And though we don't see Him now--though there is no direct personal contact with the LORD--we believe in Him. Faith also is a gift from God, exercised by those who love Jesus. Doubts crowd the corridors of the faithful, not unlike Thomas who demanded to have proof that Jesus was resurrected. In John 20:29 Jesus speaks to Thomas about his need for proof, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." And there are those who demand proofs and more proofs. But, beloved, do not demand such from Christ. Look to His resurrection, trust His word and believe on the LORD. It comes with a tremendous promise attached: an everlasting and inexpressible joy. 

And then, from our text today, there is an outcome that is happening and will be fulfilled. It is the outcome of your faith and love and it results in the salvation of your soul. The book of Ephesians tells us that we are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9). The faith that we need to believe on Christ and the love that is necessary to belong to Christ, all comes from the LORD.

Before we end, let me ask you some fundamental questions. Do you love the LORD Jesus Christ? Do you believe Him? Is your faith rested upon the Savior and Redeemer of all who believe? Though you have not seen Him, can you say with Thomas "my LORD and my God?" Even as Paul told the church in Corinth, "All this is from God" (2 Corinthians 5:18) so we come to understand that it is possible to love and believe in the LORD without our physical eyes beholding Him. And in so doing, we discover a tremendous joy that is filled with the glory of God. It is my prayer for you, today, to know this joy through faith in the LORD Jesus and love for Him.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Obadiah 1:11 ~ "On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them."

In the first family, sin and anger ruled in the heart of the elder brother, Cain. He regarded Abel as an enemy and grew hot with envy and malice toward him. God, in His great mercy, confronted Cain and exposed the elder brother's sinful heart with a clear call to repentance. However, Cain disregarded God's mercy and struck down Abel, killing him. That moment encapsulated the reality of the fallen nature of man. When God confronted Cain, the brother's response was dismissive: "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). 

Advancing a multitude of generations later, and we come to the life of Jacob and Esau. Two brothers, both at odds with each other early in their lives, and yet, brothers. Both Jacob and Esau became the father of a nation--Jacob was the predecessor of Israel and Esau was the forerunner of Edom. And, as the years progressed and the nations descending from those two men grew in strength and influence, an underlying hostility grew. However, God never once forgot that they were brothers.

And that brings us to our text for today. In the book of Obadiah, the LORD rebukes the nation of Edom for their callous disregard and shameful behavior toward the nation of Israel. 

It is important to understand the circumstances concerning the nation of Israel. They had rebelled against the LORD, turned to idolatry and forsook the commands and instructions of God Almighty. They rejected those whom God had sent, and followed their own sinful desires. Because of this, God sent against them the surrounding nations to chastise and punish His people for their rebellion. They were a nation who had fallen into sin and were suffering under God's reprimand. Then Edom, the descendants of Esau, took advantage of Israel's misfortune. Once again, one brother had risen up against another.

My friends, the answer to the question posed by Cain, "am I my brother's keeper" is a resounding YES! You and I, as family in Christ, are to be more concerned for the wellbeing of those around us. Consider what Proverbs 24:17-18 says, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him." If we are not to gloat over the stumbling of our enemies, how much more should we be concerned for our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Let me encourage you to take a moment and read the book of Obadiah. It is just one chapter with twenty-one verses. As you read it, hear God's anger against Edom for how they abused the moment when Israel was punished by the LORD. 

And yet, let us consider our own ways this day. When the LORD rebukes one of His children, or takes them through times of difficulty for their chastisement and deliverance from sin, we are not to gloat or rejoice over their struggle. Edom should have encouraged Israel's repentance and comforted them in such difficulty. Let us not "stand aloof" and merely watch the spectacle of their suffering. Galatians 6:1 instructs us in this, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." 

The Word of God does rebuke, correct and chastise those who are disobedient to the LORD (see 2 Timothy 4:2), but let us use it as God intended--and not as a battering ram to destroy those who have fallen. Let us make sure that we do not add our own judgment against another, or use their misfortune to ravage them with personal abuse. Vitriolic attacks and self-righteous judgments do nothing to benefit the moment.

It may be that the LORD must punish the unrepentant so that they will reject their sin. Even Paul spoke of handing some over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme the LORD (see 1 Timothy 1:20). There is, however, a tremendous difference between the LORD using the enemy to punish those who refuse to repent and our willingness to attack those who are down because of God's chastisement. 

If we are to learn a lesson from Edom, let it be that we will, instead of abusing the fallen, we shall pray for them, seek their repentance and encourage them to walk faithfully with the LORD. Are you your brother's keeper? The answer, beloved, is yes.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Proverbs 18:17 ~ "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him."

How often do people embrace the quick accusations of wrongdoing without ever investigating into the matter? One of the greatest (perhaps one of the most damaging) dangers in the fellowship of the church is gossip. Without gaining both sides of a situation, lines are drawn against another because of an imagined wrongdoing. And thus, as our text for today states: "The one who states his case first seems right."

Years ago, with no evidence and surreptitious accusations, men and women were tried and convicted of the ghastly crime of being—you guessed it—a witch. In the same vein, “drumhead courts” were conducted with swift collaboration and often harsh, if not brutal, judgments. These ancient forms of jurisprudence have managed to find their way into the modern vernacular, and now most everyone knows what is meant by a “witch-hunt.”

Perhaps you've been wronged. I would venture a guess that all believers have experienced some form of affront from another. The church of our LORD is a family, drawn together in mutual love for Christ and one another. But that does not immediately negate the still-present condition of our sinful nature. And, like a family, there are times when the challenge of personalities, the difficulty of communication and the friction from a moment of immaturity comes crashing against us and ruffles our emotional feathers. There is a Biblical, Christ-honoring response to such situations: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

But I have found, as I am sure you have as well, that the actual first response to such an injury is to "state their case first," rather than taking the Biblical route of Matthew 18:15, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." So, in stating their case first, the hope is to gain a valued set of allies who will embrace them with sympathy and pity. Whispers of gossip begin to flow like a breeze through the fellowship and then, without the other party knowing why, a bevy of hatred and mistrust has stirred up against them.

Beloved, if you have been given such intriguing information about another, step into the second half of our text today and do some diligent research. Examine the matter. With only half the story, there will be no means of proper discernment and understanding. Paul was concerned about this for the church in Corinth. "For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder" (2 Corinthians 12:20). Do not become a party to an accusation against another without actually examining the matter.

1 Peter 4:8 gives us clear instruction, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." If you have been wronged, if you were on the receiving end of another person's malice, then do as Christ did and love them. Cover over their sin with the love of Christ. Do not let your heart be overburdened with the bitterness that comes with unforgiveness. Release it unto Christ and trust that as you willingly love the person who wronged you, the LORD will use that love to heal the rift in your fellowship.

And, dear ones, if you are a willing vessel for receiving gossip, then repent of such a hunger. Be, rather, as the LORD instructs, a peacemaker. Jesus told us in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." What a blessing it will be for you and for the parties involved if God should use you to bridge the rift between two of His children.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Ephesians 2:20 ~ "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."

The entire church is built upon a solid foundation established in the LORD Jesus and provided through His word. As we consider our text for today, it begs the question: what foundation do you stand on? There are many in this world that will tell you of various elemental so-called "truths" that exist: humanism, secularism, post-modernism, and a host of other "isms" that portray themselves as foundational philosophies for mankind. But all of them will fail in the trial of life for they have no true substance that is capable of holding the weight of living. 

Consider morality for an example. God has established a moral standard, a solid and certain foundation for mankind. Remove God's standard and all you have left is mankind trying to determine for themselves what true moral virtue should look like. So, rather than one solid rock where all can find footing, there are now seven billion independent pebbles trying to self-determine a moral code. The Bible would refer to that as "shifting sand" (see Matthew 7:24-27). And yet, is that not what we have seen happen throughout history and even today? 

And this condition of instability is found in all aspects of the disciplines of life. Ethics, morality, education, business, industry, family, and any other situation that humanity finds themselves faced with becomes unstable for the lack of a solid foundation. Concerning the nation of Israel, the Apostle Paul addresses their unwillingness to submit to the LORD. We read in Romans 10:3, "For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." Though this text in Romans deals with the salvation of the Jewish nation, it conveys the same idea that they prefer their own standard rather than the standard of righteousness established by God. Jesus confronts this as well in John 3:19, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil."

From our text today, we learn that God has established a foundation for His people, those who belong to Christ.

This foundation starts with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone. The cornerstone of a foundation was the primary stone upon which the rest of the foundation would be measured. The ancient architects would set the first cornerstone and make sure it was square, for the remaining foundation stones would be set against it. If the cornerstone was off, everything else would be useless. And Christ is the perfect and proven cornerstone. 1 Peter 2:6 states, "For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'" Jesus is, beloved, our absolute source for all things pertaining to life. All who believe on Him, who obey His word, will find Him to be a solid rock to stand on. 

Then, connected to Christ are the Apostles and Prophets. The words of the apostles and prophets would be of no use to anyone if they did not connect back to Christ. How thankful that they do! The LORD Jesus appointed the apostles for this very reason, to write down for us the foundational truths that all believers need to walk in faithful obedience to Christ. The LORD Jesus prays for those who would believe in Him. John 17:20 says, "“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word." Consider that statement: those who will believe... through their word. The foundational teaching of the Apostles is a necessity in every Christian life. Along with the Apostles are the Prophets, those Old Testament writers who conveyed God's work to His people. Jesus addresses this in John 5:39, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me." All the Old Testament points to Christ, and all the New Testament is concerning Christ. Thus, the Word of God is the foundation for the Christian.

Not unlike the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream where the feet were mixed with iron and clay (see Daniel 2:42), there are Christians who mix the foundation they stand upon with worldliness as well as the word of God. If this happens, it will be a weak and unstable place to stand. You will do well, my friends, to stand firmly on the Word of God in order to have a secure foundation for your life. The first thing to do is to believe on the LORD Jesus. Climb upon the Rock of your salvation and trust Him. Then stand firm by learning His word and putting it into practice. You will discover that if you do this, even if the world collapse into chaos, you will remain stable through it all.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Philippians 2:21 ~ "For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ."

There is a condition that affects all mankind, a disposition that is endemic to the nature of every person on the planet, and that is a condition of willful self-interest. It finds itself in colloquial statements like: "look after number one" or "if you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will." Even Christians face this constant companion of self-interest. The Apostle Paul expressed it in Romans 7:15, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." Those things that are hated by believers will be anything that departs from our love for the LORD Jesus. And yet, does it seem to you that it is impossible to depart from that willful self-interest that plagues mankind? 

In our text for today, Paul was referring to the young man, Timothy, as an example of someone who departed such interest and sought to serve the LORD. In Philippians 2:19-20 he states, "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare." Timothy was concerned about the things that concerned the LORD, and that example of such determined faithfulness is the target of our consideration today.

There are two questions to ask from our text: what are "our own interests" and what are "the interests of Christ?"

The first question is relatively simple to answer. Our own interests are whatever we desire outside of our fellowship with Christ. An example of this will be the situation after the resurrection where Peter and the other disciples determined to go fishing rather than wait for the LORD in the place He commanded (see John 21:1-14). There is nothing sinful about fishing. But to go fishing when the LORD told them to meet Him at a different location begs the question why? Simple: because they wanted to. It could be that Peter was impatient with having to wait, it could be that it seemed that returning to his former occupation was all that remained for him. No direct reasons were given, but it was a departure unto willful self-interest.

Are there things that we do which are built upon such self-interest? Of course there are, and it is the fight within our hearts to battle those desires. They may not be sinful longings, and they may be well within the parameters of a normal life in this world. But are they of the LORD? Surely the sinful things are obvious to every believer. Paul references these things in Galatians, chapter five. And we do well to avoid the works of the sinful nature. Let us also, then, evaluate the rest of what we do against the revealed will of the LORD in His word.

Which brings us to the second question: what is the interest of Christ? That can be varied depending on the situation, but it all comes down to your desire to love the LORD and love your neighbor (see Luke 10:27). For Timothy, we discover that he had a genuine interest in Christ because of his genuine concern for the welfare of the Philippian church. Jesus said, "And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me'" (Matthew 25:40). Again, in the Gospel of John, chapter 21, Jesus asked three questions--all with the same focus: do you love me (see John 21:15-17). And that is the question Jesus asks us in every situation that we encounter: do we love Him? Because it is love for Christ that delivers us from the self-interest that dominates our thinking.

What things do you do that are built upon your love for Christ? Often we go to some of the basic things: gathering with the church, serving the underprivileged, reading the Scriptures, praying. All these are absolutely of great interest to the LORD and you will do well to practice them. Then there are those moments when it seems unclear what is of interest to the LORD. At that point, come back to the Scriptures and seek His wisdom. Through His word, the LORD has given us what we need to walk in this world in faithfulness to His will. Two questions might benefit you in those times of uncertainty: how does this love the LORD and how does this love my neighbor? 

Today, let me encourage you to reflect upon those things that captivate your interest, evaluating them to see whether they are of self or of Christ.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

2 Timothy 1:5 ~ "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."

2 Timothy would be the Apostle Paul's final letter before he was executed for being a Christian. His final words are sent to a young man who journeyed with Paul, served the LORD with the aged apostle, and proved to be a faithful and trusted companion and minister of the gospel. As Paul begins his last letter, he is reminded of a heritage of faith that was passed down to the young Timothy by two others: his grandmother and his mother. 

We know from Acts 16:1, Timothy's mom was a Jew and his father was a Greek, "Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek." We know nothing more of Timothy's father, but the statement made in our text today speaks volumes of the faith of the other two, portraying devotion to Christ as it is passed down from generation to generation. 

We do not know how Eunice and Lois came to know Jesus Christ by faith. By the time of Paul's second letter to Timothy, he had already ventured into the area where Timothy lived (see Acts, chapter 14), and perhaps had shared the gospel in the synagogue where Eunice had heard the message. Then, having believed, she passed down the faith to her daughter, Lois. And then it came to rest in the heart of Timothy as well. What we do know is that by Acts chapter 16 it must have been believed by the grandmother, then the mother, and finally it was believed by Timothy.

In countries around the world there is a celebration called "Mother's Day" that gives emphasis upon that singular class of people: moms. And there is no better gift that a mother can bestow upon her children than a heritage of faith, poured out from her heart to the heart of her children. The value of a mom cannot be dismissed--for it the nurturing quality of motherhood that often brings about the catalyst that stirs the heart of her children toward love for and faith in Christ. 

And look how Paul describes their faith in our text for today. It was a "sincere" faith. Literally, it means, "without hypocrisy." Let your heart consider that for just a moment. It was not a "perfect" faith, it was sincere. And let that be a comfort to you as you strive to pass down the faith you have in Jesus Christ. Let it be without hypocrisy. Don't try to portray yourself as a "super-saint" who has all the answers and never wavers in trembling doubts. The generations to come do not need to see some form of Christian showmanship, but your real and sincere faith in Jesus Christ. 

And, beloved, I want to also remind you that the LORD Jesus must be believed by each individual. Paul did not say to Timothy, "I see you trusting in the faith of your grandmother." There are no "coat-tail" Christians, those who do not believe on the LORD Jesus for themselves, but trust to the faith of those who have gone before. Each individual must have, as Paul stated, a faith that dwells in them.

So, dear ones, do you have a sincere faith in the LORD Jesus Christ? Has He brought you into His salvation? Do not hold onto someone else's faith as if it will save you in the day of judgment. You must believe on the LORD Jesus. A good example of trying to hang onto another person's faith was the seven sons of Sceva. Acts 19:13 illustrates, "Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, 'I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.'" They did not believe on the LORD Jesus themselves, but tried to ride the faith of the Apostle Paul and perform a work in the name of Jesus. But true faith must dwell in you and it must be sincere.

There is a generation behind us, beloved. It is a generation that needs to see in us that sincere faith in the LORD Jesus. For those mothers who pass on the heritage of faith to the coming generation, as the Apostle Paul remembered both Eunice and Lois, so you are remembered as well.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Psalm 19:1-2 ~ "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

There is a constant voice from creation declaring with unwavering truth the magnificence of Almighty God. Much is made of creation, and there are those who try to use the elemental nature of things to dissuade others from believing that God is truly the Creator. But, for all their constant effort to use creation against the LORD, the handiwork of God continues to speak volumes concerning the One who made everything. My question to you, are you listening?

I have the privilege of living in an area of this world where I can enjoy a multitude of different locations. Grand mountains are but a short journey, and the roaring Pacific Ocean is near to my own doorstep. Dense forests dress the rolling hillsides and pristine lakes dot the landscape. Storms echo with thunder and when the sky is clear, there is little to compare with the beauty unveiled. It is a veritable chorus of wonder and delight for those who are willing to recognize it as God's handiwork.

Look up to the heavens, my friends, and see if you can count the stars. The vast expanse of the heavens is filled with splendor. And that splendor declares the glory of God. In fact, all things are made for God's glory. You are, as well as I, are created that through us the LORD God will receive glory. Hebrews 3:3 gives us a view as to the reason why, "For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself." God is the builder of all that there is--nothing in creation exists except that God has created it. All of the great inventions and developments of mankind are simply the using of God's creation. 

From the very fabric of creation to the vast measure of the greatest stars in the universe, all things are made by Him and for Him. Consider Colossians 1:16, "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." Why does an artist paint a picture, or why does an architect create a structure? In order that others will see it. And God Almighty is the greatest artist, the most profound architect, the Designer of unlimited creativity. And HE has created all that there is so that it can be seen as His handiwork.

Not only is His creation on display to showcase His handiwork, but to draw men to Himself. Consider Acts 17:27, "...that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us." We are told that because of creation, men are without excuse when it comes to their knowing about God. Romans 1:19-20 tells us, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

As our text for today states, day to day they pour forth speech. There is a constant and clear revelation of the Almighty God that comes in the voice of creation. Many have plugged their ears and shaded their eyes from actually seeing and learning about God Almighty. The LORD Jesus came into the world, the very Creator walking among His creation, and they failed to recognize Him as well. John 1:10 says, "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him." Authors receive awards and artists are recognized in their galleries, but when the One who created all things came to His creation--He received no honor and was given no recognition by the world. But for those who believed, He was (and is) glorified.

So, beloved, let me encourage you to open your eyes and see, open you ears and hear and discover the power and glory of the LORD Jesus through His creation. The splendor and beauty of this world brings with it a voice of testimony concerning God. He would have you look upon all that He has made and listen with your heart to the wondrous voice proclaiming to you: The Almighty God--He has made it all!

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 ~ "We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

As Paul addressed the church in Thessalonica, with an abundance of thankfulness, he reminded them of how well they were remembered. There is an exuberance of joy pouring forth from the apostle for this church. First, he was always thankful for them. What a tremendous testimony of gratitude. And not only was he always thankful, but he was constantly mentioning them in prayer. Truly Paul prayed for all the churches he founded in Christ. But this constant mentioning in prayer was more than just the habitual praying that many believers do. Paul was deeply moved by the Thessalonian church, and his thankfulness welled up in his prayers.

Take a moment and think about how precious it must have been for the Thessalonian believers to receive such a letter as this. Here is Paul, letting the church know that he was telling God about them. If an illustration would help, consider this: It is the foreman of a construction company, going to the owner of the company and constantly telling the owner how wonderful his team performed their work. And then, that same foreman writes a letter to the team and tells the team that he constantly informs the owner that they are excellent in their tasks. And thus, Paul lets the church know that their efforts are well reported before God.

There are three qualities of the church that Paul remembered before God and they ought to mark our Christian walk as well. They are a work of faith, a labor of love and a steadfastness of hope. These three make up for every Christian the expression of effort that is born of faith in Jesus Christ. James reminds us that faith, without work, is dead (see James 2:26). And the church of the Thessalonians embodied that expressive effort.

The first is their "work of faith." This was not merely a religious effort from the church, but the outward pursuit of faithfulness to Christ. That "work" they performed burst forth like an artesian well from their faith in Christ. They wanted to serve the LORD, wanted to pursue with obedience those commands given by Christ. For the work of faith is not merely religious work, but the dedicated effort to do that which Christ commanded. Menial or magnificent was of no consideration, they just worked to faithfully serve the LORD and each other.

The second is their "labor of love." The term "labor" also means weariness or fatigue. They loved Christ and one another even unto utter exhaustion. In truth, our LORD gave us that same charge when He exclaimed the heights of true Christian love. Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." To love someone, at the risk or cost of your own life, is the ultimate labor of love. And that is the love Jesus showed on the cross--having gone all the way to death for the sake of those He loved.

The final one is their "steadfastness of hope." It is hope that gives the Christian the willing endurance to continue on. If hope was more a wishful notion rather than an absolute certainty built on the promises of Christ, there would be cause to give up and not press on. For who would press on if there was no real hope. But when hope is real, the church will continue until the end--knowing that this hope must be fulfilled. Consider what 1 Corinthians 9:10 says, "Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop." Endurance would end if there was no real hope.

Let me ask... have you not seen these three qualities of Christlikeness before: Faith, Hope, Love? This is the trifecta of Christianity. It is our faith in Christ that causes us to strive in faithful effort. It is our love for Christ that gives us the tenacity to labor unto fatigue. It is our hope in Christ that keeps us steadfast in our endurance. These are the qualities that Paul remembered before God our Father--and these are the qualities that should mark the believer still today.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Acts 1:8 ~ "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Believer in Christ, you have a testimony to share. The LORD Jesus has empowered you for this very purpose, that you should be a witness concerning Him.

Let us first consider what a witness is meant to be. We get our word "martyr" from this term, and it conveys one who is willing to testify to that which they have seen or heard. It soon grew into a definition of those who were hazarding their lives for the sake of that truth--even risking their lives for Jesus. You have been given something that others need to know.

If you were called upon by a court of law to bear witness to a set of circumstances, all you would be expected to do is share what you know. And that, dear friends, would be the limit of your testimony. No judge would allow you to pontificate on hearsay evidence, or to carry on a lengthy hypothesis concerning your opinions on the situation. You are a witness of events--and that is all.

So, let me ask you, what do you know of Christ Jesus? What have you come to know concerning Him? Because you are not just a witness, you are to be HIS witness. Many Christians go on and on about their own experiences, circumstances and travails of life--bearing witness of themselves. They will say things like "I believed" or "I placed my faith in Jesus" or "I confessed." These are all true statements, for you must believe, place your faith in and confess Jesus Christ as LORD. But are they bearing witness of HIM?

You might be thinking, as others have, that you haven't actually witnessed the work of Christ. But are you sure? Have you found the Scriptures to be a true account of the life and work of Jesus? Have gone to the Gospel of Matthew and listened to the Sermon on the Mount or have you found your way to the Gospel of John and heard Jesus command Lazarus to rise from the grave? These are two things that Jesus did and you can bear witness of HIM by testifying to what He had done. Beloved, go to the cross and the tomb and see His death and resurrection--and then testify to what HE did. 

There are those who think that what a believer must do to be a witness of Christ is to be able to convince others that the gospel is true. But that is not what a witness does. A witness testifies to what they know is true, but it does not mean that the others will be convinced. Consider what king Agrippa said to Paul in Acts 26:28, "And Agrippa said to Paul, 'In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?'" If you want a clear witness testimony of the LORD Jesus simply read Acts 2:22-36. 

And the one testimony you can definitely bear witness to is His salvation in your life. If you are born-again, the LORD Jesus opened your heart and your understanding to the truth of the gospel and quickened you to believe. If your faith is anchored to Christ, then it is good to show people the cable of your faith, but it is better that you expose them to the Rock which holds you fast. For salvation is found nowhere else--only Jesus.

And this is why He empowers you through the Holy Spirit. The power that He gives is the efficacious power, the power that gives you the strength to do the work of being a witness. And truly we need His power to be a witness for Him since we live in a world that genuinely hates Him. He does not empower you to your own tasks or intrigues. 

Have you told of Jesus Christ? Have you pronounced His work of redemption on the cross and His resurrection from the dead? Dear believer, use your testimony of salvation to leap-frog into magnifying the person and work of Christ. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Romans 2:29 ~ "But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God."

​Many years ago, early in the days of ministry, I knew a man who possessed great abilities as a solid worker in the church. He was a skilled carpenter and gardener, and generally would perform his work with determination. Until one day he declared with absolute resolve that he would no longer serve the church in any capacity. When asked why, his reasons were thus: "Why should I do all this work--nobody ever even notices?" What he wanted was a constant stream of praise, a vocal trophy wall from the fellowship for all his hard work. He was an affirmation addict. 

Is it wrong to give and receive praise? Not at all. God's word is clear on this when, in Proverbs 27:2 we read, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." Again, in Romans 13:7 it says, "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." It is good that we lift one another up, to give honor and praise to those who have strived to serve the LORD with faithfulness and courage. Paul repeatedly praises many by name throughout his letters in the New Testament. We must never go around boasting about ourselves, or praising our own name. But when another rejoices in your faithfulness, receive it as a glory to the LORD.

But what if there is no one to give you glory and honor for serving? What if no one notices that you are striving to be faithful? Will you throw up your hands in despair and decide that it's just not worth it? Could it be, then, that you might fall under the category of an affirmation addict? 

Consider our text for this day. Paul was referencing the outward sign of circumcision as the marker for those who were Jews. It was an external sign, done when a boy was just an infant, and it was a testimony of the covenant between God and Israel. But the real circumcision, the one that mattered most, was the inner one--a matter of the heart. Consider what Deuteronomy 30:6 says, "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." Remember what God told Samuel when choosing a king--that the LORD looks at the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7).

And then our text today says this: "...his praise is not from man but from God." Is it enough for you that God is honored in the service you render to the LORD Jesus? There is so much striving today in the world for the various "atta-boy" praises, but let that not be the condition of the church. Jesus warned against such desires. In Matthew 6:2 we read, "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." A key phrase is: that they may be praised by others. 

If you never hear another voice in this world tell you "well done," is it enough to do well, knowing that your Father in heaven looks down upon your good works and is glorified and will reward you with honor in His presence? When the master of the house returned and found his servants faithful in Matthew 25:21 we read, "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.’" 

Beloved, do not fall into the down-trodden disposition of those who must receive a continual stream of affirmation. That streambed will run dry soon enough, for it cannot sustain such a thirst. But if you seek the praise that comes from the Almighty, and long to be pleasing to Him, there is then a river of life to drink from and it will sustain you with joy in His service--no matter if it is noticed by others or not. Even now there are those who are serving the LORD with unwavering faithfulness, anonymous in the world but seen by God. Their delight is in His glory and they serve that He might be made known.

​Let that be said of us as well.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Psalm 30:5 ~ "For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."

A tremendous malady falls upon the heart of the Christian when, in the willful acts of sin, we find ourselves in the displeasure of the LORD. It is a sorrow unlike any other when we find that God has seemingly departed and we are bereft and alone. A grief born of the anguish of loss--not the loss of salvation, but the loss of fellowship with the LORD and a loss of the joy He brings. We can endure any suffering if we know that God is pleased with us, but who can stand up in that moment when the anger of the Almighty is heavy? 

David cried out in his distress of sin as he called upon the LORD for His cleansing mercy. His desperate plea was simple and he concluded his petition by asking this: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:12). He longed for that joy again, the ever-sustaining joy of the LORD which is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10). What misery it is as we walk in this world if we are absent the joy of Christ's salvation. It is an ever-present reminder that sweet fellowship with Christ is broken, and it is all due to our sin. 

​(Let me lay out a caution before we move further on--if you are joyful in your sin, if there is no grief from God's anger toward sin, if the salvation of Christ is to you more doleful than the entertainments of the world, you may not be truly saved.)

As we look upon our text for today, let us remember that God's anger is but for a moment. He is slow to anger, abounding in love, delighting to show mercy and pardon to those who truly repent. Consider the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses: "The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation'" (Exodus 34:6-7). The LORD's anger is real. And those who are under the heavy hand of God's discipline will find that their joy has turned to sorrow and their peace has turned to grief. And that brings weeping.

This weeping that lasts for a night is the grieving heart of the believer for the sins committed against the LORD. A believer sins against the very grace that saved them. Many who have come to know the mercy of God, and received His salvation and pardon for sin still stumble in their former wickedness. Let it bring a godly grief to your heart that will cause you to weep in grief for your breach of faithfulness. Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." And it is this weeping that lasts for a night which brings true joy in the morning. When sins are again cleansed through God's great mercy (see 1 John 1:9), when our feet are washed again by Christ Jesus (see John 13:1-11), then there is great joy--a joy that breaks forth like the dawn of a new day.

Beloved, understand that sorrow must give way to joy even as the night must give way to the dawn. Your weeping over sins will bring the cleansing showers of mercy upon you from Christ and that, my friends, is a joy that will never fade. Remember, His mercy is new every morning (see Lamentations 2:22-23). Our text declares that God's favor is for a lifetime whereas His anger is but for a moment. 

Have you sinned? Then quickly run to the Father who is rich in mercy! Plead for His grace through Christ Jesus and make no excuses for sin. Do not trifle with sin, and do not let it linger. Let weeping come in repentance. And though it may last for a night, the forgiveness of God will break forth like the dawn and His joy will shine once more upon you.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael