​Philemon 1:4-6 ~ "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”
 
How much of our joyful communion do we miss with Christ when we do not strive to share our faith? I would venture some speculation upon that, and think that many believers do not directly participate in actively sharing that which Christ has given, and in so doing, they miss much of the good things that God has placed within us. And, as a result, those around them are at a loss to acknowledge the good that Christ has done for the saints.
 
As Paul greeted his friend, Philemon, the apostle opened with the warmth of kinship that they shared in Christ. He thanked the LORD in prayer, and recalled the great love and faith Philemon held toward the LORD and His church. He wanted to encourage such faithful love, knowing that the runaway slave, Onesimus, was returning. It could be that Philemon might hold some great resentment for the way he was treated by Onesimus, or that there was a residual anger held over for the betrayal he experienced. But now Onesimus was coming back, and was returning as a brother in Christ. Paul wanted to make sure that the same love and faith that Philemon held for others would be the same love shared with the one returning.
 
And now, Paul’s prayer for Philemon turned to the effectiveness of his friend’s faith. And that effective faith begins with the “sharing of your faith.” And so it does with all of us. Understand this idea of “sharing” our faith is not just evangelism, but is more aligned with fellowship. It is the willing sharing of all that the LORD has done for you, with the idea that others around you begin to experience your faith in Christ in the outworking of your life among them. Let me ask you, how active are you in the sharing of what the LORD has done for you? This faith-sharing is not only the weekly gathering of the saints in harmonious worship (though that is definitely part of it). It is living out your love for Jesus Christ in the open, willing that others might come to know Him through you.
 
Concerning the runaway, Onesimus, there was some deficiency regarding Philemon. For the slave had encountered the Apostle Paul and through the apostle became a believer in Christ. Philemon 1:10 says, “I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.” And though this is speculative, there is some indication that Philemon let Onesimus “slip through the cracks” and never shared his faith with his servant. Truly if there is someone who is close to us, let us not let them slip away without sharing our faith—living out our love for Jesus so that they see and hear the message of hope from the Gospel.
 
And that, beloved, is how our sharing becomes “effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” It is a two-fold experience of effectiveness. First, it brings a greater understanding to the heart of the believer. For when we are actively sharing in our faith, we begin to experience those things promised to the saints, things like the joy of fellowship, the power of His word, the sharing of strength, encouragement and ever-increasing love for Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Second, it brings a greater illumination of the LORD Jesus Christ through your life to the lives of those around you. When people begin to see the joy, hope, peace, love and gratitude of your life (not to mention all the other promises of belonging to Christ), they will begin to see that we have within us something good, and something far better than this world can offer. For we hold onto the everlasting life offered in Christ, and anyone outside of Christ have nothing but the dreary concerns of finality looming in their future. We go through our lives with hope—eternal hope.
 
Let us pray, even as Paul prayed for Philemon, that we will be effective in the sharing of our faith—living out what we have in Christ until that day when we shall live with Him forever.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Psalm 137:1-2 ~ "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres."

The greatest sorrow I have ever experienced is not the sorrow of unjust suffering or unexpected turmoil. The greatest depths of sorrow I've ever known as a believer is the sorrow that is born of sin. In our text above, the nation of Israel is taken captive into Babylon. Their continued sins and unrepentant ways had brought God's retribution against them and they were led away into slavery. The nation delivered from slavery in Egypt now was, once again, caught in the same condition. And isn't that the way sin defeats a believer? Sin brings a true Christian down to the lowest depths of despair and anguish of soul, as if you were simply back in the same condition where God had once rescued you.

​And so, there by the waters of Babylon, the people of God sat down and wept, remembering the land of their past--the land of promise. In this first statement of Psalm 137, the depth of grief and sorrow of loss was echoing down the river. In their captivity, they remembered. And so do we weep when we remember the lost land of our faithfulness, the lost opportunities to glorify and serve the LORD who rescued us and wants us to live under His gracious hand rather than His stern discipline. I knew a man who sat alone in a broken house, bereft and filled with sorrow. It was there, in his Babylon that he finally wept for the condition he experienced. It was there that his tears ran faster than the rivers. And it was there when he remembered all that he lost.

How precious are the tears of sorrow that comes flowing when we experience the bitterness of our sin. The nation of Israel did not weep against the LORD as if they were "weeping and gnashing their teeth" (see Luke 13:28). God had not abandoned His people, He sent them away into exile in order to drive from them a heart of rebellion and desire for sin. The people wept because they remembered. And does not the Scripture teach us to remember? Consider Revelation 2:5, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." Let the tears of sorrow for sin flow, and then let those tears be transformed into the tears of repentance. We find this grief unto repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

In their despair, they had no song to sing. The people of God hung their lyres in the trees. How fitting it was this tree, a tree known by a different name: the weeping willow. No sturdy oak or bold cedar for their sadness to be hung--only upon the forlorn tree of sorrow was their instruments of praise retired. And when our sins have brought us into captivity, we lose the song of our heart--the song of joy that Jesus is LORD and that our Savior reigns. How many Christians remain silent when the songs of praise are raised? Oh, their mouths might offer the words, but their hearts will weep for the sadness of a broken fellowship with the LORD. And though the world might taunt the grieving Christian with a mocking desire to hear some song of joy, there will be none. 

But I don't want to leave you, dear reader, in a desperate state. God does send His people into times of discipline, to remove from them their rebellious ways. But that time is limited, will come to an end, and at the point of repentance, the LORD will bring the sorrowing soul back to the land of joy. Consider Psalm 126:1-3, "When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.' The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad." In the story of the man above, the ending was wonderful. He remembered and went seeking the LORD. He found his way back to the place of hope and there, in grace and mercy, the LORD Jesus received that man--and joy was restored.

There is hope and joy to be found in Christ. You may find yourself reading this today and seeing that you are again in a state much like before you were found by Christ, brought there because of unrepentant sins. The LORD had been amazingly patient with you and given you time to repent. And now you may fear that only sorrows and weeping are your expressions. You've hung up your praise in the willows, and no longer have a song of joy. Even now, look to the LORD and repent. He will lead you from exile and restore you by His grace. Psalm 130:7, "O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption."

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Revelation 22:17 ~ "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."

The Book of Revelation spells out for the entire world the final and ultimate judgment of God and redemption of those who have trusted Christ for salvation. It ends with a view of the glorious city of God, King Jesus enthroned and His bride, the church, with Him forever. It also reveals those who will forever be in the outer darkness of eternal judgment. And then, in our text today, is the clarion call--the last invitation to those who would hear and respond to the salvation of Christ. Two destinations are illuminated and two final outcomes of all humanity is made known. The question we hearken unto is this: will you heed the final call?

There are three making their plea to those remaining outside of the redemption of the LORD to come. But "come" where? What destination is laid before the wandering soul that is of such critical need that the three mentioned in our text would beseech anyone to leave the world behind? It is to come to the salvation of Christ. To come to Jesus and look unto Him for the redemption of your soul and the gift of eternal life. 

The first is the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit says "come." This invitation of the Holy Spirit does not come in some sky-writing in the air, but upon the deep-seated conviction of the heart concerning sin. The LORD Jesus testified to this in John 16:8, "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." The "he" referred to in the aforementioned text is the Holy Spirit. It is the working of the Spirit of Christ to begin the process of leading a sinner to repentance and faith in Jesus. Many who try to resist the Spirit, discount the conviction of sin in their heart and try to mollify their conscience with the idea that their sins are more acceptable to society so they must be agreeable with God. But the Spirit calls to the heart of a lost person with the conviction of sin. Dear reader, if you are not yet a true believer in the LORD Jesus, and conviction of sin has hit your heart, then know that it is the Spirit telling you to come to Christ Jesus and believe on Him for your salvation.

The second is the Bride, and that would be the church, calling you to "come." And who better to call to the unrepentant sinner to come to Christ than those who have found mercy and grace with Jesus! We who have fled to take hold of the hope in the LORD surely understand that His promise is true. It is those in the church who, once they knew their wretched state before the Holy God, pleaded for His mercy and found a full and free pardon from sin through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. It is as if one beggar found favor at a palatial estate, and the owner of that estate has promised to care for any--whether beggar or not--who come to His door and seek His grace. And we who are the church were once the spiritual beggars, for our sins had impoverished and condemned us. But we have come to find that Jesus the King died in our place and rose from the grave. And the church, the bride of Christ, is bound to Him with such eternal love and gratitude that we are eager to reach any who would heed our call to repentance. 

The third is: the one who hears, says come. This would be all those who have now understood that salvation is of the LORD and there is enough grace for any who would place their faith in Jesus. They have heard the Savior's call, have bowed beneath the Spirit's conviction and have trusted in Jesus for salvation. You might even now be "one who hears." For, perhaps even now you have come to trust Christ as your Savior and are filled with the new life promised to all who believe. Perhaps you're a long-tested saint, having walked with Christ for the span of your generation. You are also "one who hears," for you did hear, and still hear, that salvation is of the LORD. 

But to whom do we call? To everyone--and the ones who are thirsty will respond to the call to drink deep of the waters of life. Jesus is the well and grace is the water and all who come to Christ by faith and trust in Him for salvation will discover a refreshing stream ever flowing from the heart of the Savior. He will wash away your sins and refresh you with His love. The price for your soul has already been paid by the LORD Jesus. He died in your place, took your deserved punishment and received as your substitute the Father's full and furious wrath against sin. He did it all because He loves you and would have you delivered from your sins and redeemed for eternity.

Dear reader, if you have not yet received the salvation offered by Christ, then do so now. And, if you are already a Christian, then be another voice with an invitation to the lost to come and trust in Jesus.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Leviticus 19:18 ~ "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."

A great calamity that befalls the people of God is to hold any position that leaves you in a state of unforgiveness. We are, by the command of our LORD Jesus, to look with mercy upon our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 18:33, "And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?" Let me encourage you to go back and read through Matthew 18:21-35. When we do not hold our fellow servants with the same grace that our LORD holds with us, there will come that moment when you will be offended and, without His love being your guiding principle, you will hold a grudge. 

Our text for today is the expression of the second part of the LORD's great commandment. We find it here in Matthew 22:37-40, "And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'" And the fulfillment of loving our neighbors as ourselves is two-fold: do not take vengeance, and do not bear a grudge. 

The first part of our text, forsaking the desire for vengeance, is to look upon your brothers and sisters in Christ with a desire for their benefit, even if they have in some way wronged you. Too many of God's people strike against each other for the simple fact that they feel slighted or maligned in some way. They've been wronged, and must make sure they set it right. Paul warned the church against this very attitude in Galatians 5:15, "But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." Consider the attitude expressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:7, "To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?" You might find it hard to hear, but I would implore you to make it your ambition to find it nearly impossible to be offended. 

There will be some who will say that they don't seek vengeance, that they don't strike out against another--even if they have been wronged. However, do they simmer with a bitterness of soul that corrupts their compassion toward their fellow believer? The second part of our text is to not even bear a grudge. To bear a grudge is to hold within a silent, inward disposition of anger or bitterness. But let the words of Hebrews 12:15 move you to abandon such an attitude, "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." The default of some is to claim that they are, by nature, a person who cannot easily forgive. But, beloved, you have a new nature! Did not Christ redeem you and have you not now His Holy Spirit dwelling within? Paul tells us that we are new creations in Christ Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Yield yourself to the obedience of faith and let God's loving grace have its full effect upon your heart. God does not bear any grudge against you. We ought to strive after such godly character, reflecting the same gracious mercy of God. 

We conclude with the reason why this command is so vital--because God said so. In such a simple, but absolutely authoritative statement, God Almighty says simply: "I am the LORD." That's it--reason given. We do this because God has commanded it, provided for it, and empowers us to walk in it. Let me ask you this: what objections now can you or I make when it comes to our walking in faithfulness to this command? At every step, we are charged with fulfilling this requirement. And, if you dispense with this as something that is only for the children of Israel, as only an Old Testament law, do not forget that our LORD Jesus reiterated this command as we saw already. The only position we can take is either faithful obedience or willful disobedience. 

Let us do as our LORD did for us, and bear no grudge against our brothers and sisters in Christ. It will lighten the load of our hearts and free us to love our neighbors, even as the LORD has loved us.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

2 Thessalonians 2:15 ~ "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter."

Your salvation in Christ gives you the strongest, most firm foundation upon which you can stand. If you were to move off the solid rock of Christ you will discover that the storms of wickedness in this world will topple you rather quickly. But those who know their salvation in the LORD Jesus, the assaults of the world cannot shake them from the confidence found in Christ. Those two little words that open our text today call upon us to look at the verses that came before, and we find in those a glorious and joyful promise of God's gracious salvation. "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). You are beloved, chosen and sanctified in order that you may obtain the promise given to all who believe--eternal life.

There are two commands in our text today: stand firm and hold. To stand firm is to remain unmovable against the assailing storms of temptation and the increasing hostility of the world. And to hold is to "hold fast" to those traditions and teachings, given in the Word of God, through faithful obedience to the truth. 

​It is on the foundation of Christ that you must stand firm. There must be an immovable quality to your faith in Christ. Unlike the shifting sands of false beliefs, the LORD has given His word and it is on His word that we find our stability. Jesus our LORD said in Matthew 7:24-25, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." Remember that the coming of the lawless one is with false signs, wonders and great deceptions that are embraced by those who refuse to love the truth (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). But true believers will find their sound footing upon the Word of God, trusting in what has been written through the apostles and prophets as the most sufficient source for life and faith. 

Not only do we have a sufficient place to stand, but we also have a trustworthy truth to hold. We are, as our text commands, to hold fast to those things that are passed down to us through the LORD's apostles. They were commissioned by Christ to instruct the church, passing down through the written word those disciplines and traditions that we grasp. Perhaps you're wondering about the statement from our LORD about not holding onto the traditions of men. In Matthew 15:3 Jesus asked, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" Those traditions from the religious rulers of the day were nothing more than human efforts to maintain an external show of self-righteousness. Paul, in our text today, is concerned that the church holds onto the traditions that are established by the LORD through His apostles--those things that were passed down and required of the church. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." 

So, dear ones, let us stand our ground against the encroaching darkness of this world. Many have already succumbed to the deceptive workings of the enemies of God. Many have already let go their grasp on the Word of God. But you and I, beloved disciples of Jesus, must not be moved. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Until the coming of the LORD or the day we depart this world, all Christians must stand firm in the faith. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 ~ "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame."

Who do you hang out with? Much to the surprise of many, your friendships do shape and hone you into the person you're becoming, whether it is a person of godly character or wickedness. So you must evaluate with whom it is you desire to remain in close fellowship. It will not be the casual acquaintance or the hit-or-miss associate that brings to ruin the righteous character that God would have in you. So, as you consider the text today, ask yourself: what company do you seek?

It begins with the axiom: "bad company ruins good morals." So, let us ask the simple question--who are these that comprise the "bad company?" All those who deny the resurrection of Christ are part of that collection of bad company. It is those who look at life with a futility concerning the end and determine that there is nothing better than to eat, drink and be merry (see 1 Corinthians 15:29-32). And, in truth, anyone who does not believe on the LORD Jesus for salvation, they have a destiny that awaits which is, to say the least, dreadful. For all who depart this life without the salvation of Christ only have this life to enjoy, for the wrath of God remains against them.

The axiom mentioned above is preceded by a caution: "do not be deceived." There is a dangerous enemy prowling around that wants to turn you aside from the true and righteous way of Christ and divert your attentions to the more self-minded concerns such as personal pleasure, temporary satisfaction and immediate gratification. "Eat, drink and be merry" is the mantra of the nihilistic unbeliever who can only see the moment and has no hope for eternity. And, dear Christian, you must not be deceived by them. They will encourage you with the very pleasures of the flesh, tempt you to forsake your hold on the hope of everlasting life and endeavor to make you reach for the candy of this world and forget the feast that awaits you in glory.

It is in such company that your moral strength is weakened, until you have no heart to remain steadfast in righteousness for the glory of Christ. It's not hard to predict the collapse of a righteous life when the company kept is worldly. They will forsake the fellowship of the saints, welcome no encouragement to stand firm, and resent any correction offered by those who love them in Christ. Ultimately, they will become like the company they keep. Proverbs 13:20 says it clearly, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." 

So, dear reader, have you found yourself surrounded by friendships that no more love the LORD Jesus than do the devils in hell? Then the admonition from Paul is targeted at your heart--wake up! Literally, the command is to "sober up" or to leave off your drunken stupor of worldly delights. If your companions have been your downfall, and you are still holding them close in fellowship, it is time to cast off those friendships for ones that will encourage you and strengthen you in righteousness. And, as you break free from the corrupt fellowships, so break free from the corruption itself. As it says, "do not go on sinning." If we do sin, we have the promise of God that through confession and repentance He will cleanse us. Do not continue down that road of corruption, but turn around and follow Christ Jesus.

The reason for all of this: "some have no knowledge of God." This world is filled with the spiritually dead, those empty of truth and more desirous to fulfill all their earthly appetites. If you become like one of them, how will they ever leave off their ignorance of God? If you look just like them, not in physical appearance but in character and deportment, then they will never see in you the transforming work of grace through the LORD Jesus Christ. They will remain without the knowledge of God and salvation through Jesus Christ our LORD. 

And, like a goad in the side, God does not hold back His disappointment but says clearly, "I say this to your shame." For those who walk with Christ and still try to walk with the world and hold close companionship with worldliness, are shameful indeed. There is no virtue in being "just like the world" when we are to be more conformed to the image of Christ Jesus. Let us leave off any pursuit of friendships that tear apart the righteousness Christ would form in us and humbly, joyfully walk in faithfulness with the LORD Jesus and His church.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

2 Kings 23:15 ~ "Moreover, the altar at Bethel, the high place erected by Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, that altar with the high place he pulled down and burned, reducing it to dust. He also burned the Asherah."

Upon the hills and mountains of the nation of Judah stood places of worship for the false gods of the surrounding nations. They were not there from the time of Joshua who entered and conquered the land. Those high places had been built by the kings of Israel and Judah during the history of the nation. Even from the time of Solomon, these centers for despicable worship were established, "And the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites" (2 Kings 23:13). There are some who might think that religious freedom is an acceptable condition in a nation. And, truly, in a secular nation who is not the people of God, such provisions for religious tolerance could be acceptable.

But let me give you a different view. This is Israel, the people of God, the nation delivered from captivity and slavery in Egypt and established to be a nation whose God is the LORD. To allow this type of religious tolerance would be like permitting in the church of the LORD Jesus Christ the idolatrous worship of the various pagan and false gods of our day. For we are the purchased ones, the saved who look to Jesus Christ and no other. We who have fled to take hold of the hope found in Jesus must have no grip on any other object of worship--and when we do, we must tear down our high places.

Josiah, the boy king who took the throne at the generous age of eight years old, grew into a man of deep conviction and absolute resolve to restore the land of Judah to the worship of the One True God. A clear expression of how God viewed Josiah is found in 2 Kings 22:19, "Because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord." And though Josiah had a father whose kingship was marked by idolatry and rebellion toward God Almighty, yet the young man did not follow in his father's steps, but walked in the ways of the LORD.

When Josiah was done with his reforms, the idolatry of the land was removed. He restored the worship in the temple, restarted the celebration of the Passover, and re-established the law of God in the land. It was said of Josiah, "Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him" (2 Kings 23:25).

Now, dear ones, why do I tell this to you today? It is both meant as a warning and an encouragement.

A warning comes from this record of Josiah as we clearly discover God's unbending anger at idolatry. The high places were an abomination to the LORD God, despised by Him and yet tolerated in the kingdom. His wrath was kindled against His people and He would discipline them. It is a call to examine yourself, and see if there is any "high places" remaining in your heart. Do you have a lingering tolerance within for that which the LORD hates? Are there old idols that remain untouched? Let us fear the LORD as the Scripture teaches and hate evil, even as Proverbs 8:13 teaches, "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."

There is also an encouragement that is found in this epic narrative of Josiah. Josiah grew into a man of deep conviction and absolute determination to remove all that which the LORD despised. He hungered for truth, was repentant from sin, and desired above all that God should be esteemed as Holy. Let this give you great hope, for God will uphold you in your desire to remove all that which is not set to honor Him. It is not enough to merely hold an indifference to the lingering sins and idols that remain, God is mighty and will empower you to remove them. Heed the words of Isaiah 1:16-17a, "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good."

We can, as Josiah, humble ourselves before the LORD and examine every place in our own lives. And when we discover another high place, another hold0ver from our former fallenness, let us remove them in repentance and grow in the worship and fear of the LORD.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

2 Kings 20:11 ~ "And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz."

Hezekiah was suffering an illness that would lead to his death. Warned to put his house in order by Isaiah the prophet, the king wept bitterly and prayed to the LORD. His prayer was not to be rescued from the illness or to be delivered from harm, but he prayed to be remembered by God. 2 Kings 20:3 recounts Hezekiah's prayer, "Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." I would encourage you to take a moment and read the opening of 2 Kings, chapter twenty, so that you have a clear understanding of all that transpired. 

After the king prays, God sends Isaiah back to where the monarch remained and pronounced God's word that Hezekiah would revive in three days, worship the LORD and then live another fifteen years. God did remember Hezekiah, and the LORD did heal the king, and the verification that it would happen came from a sign offered by God. It was a dramatic sign--a sign that, in truth, impacted the entire world. For the sign that was given was the shadow upon the steps reversing course and going in the opposite direction. For this sign to take place, God would stop the planet and reverse the earth's rotation. It was a dramatic display of God's absolute sovereign power over His own creation. 

​Now, before you run off looking for any variety of signs in your circumstances, remember that God sends signs for a specific purpose and those same signs cannot be mistaken. The signs sent by God are often dramatic and clearly understood. Gideon did not question it when God, on two different occasions provided dew on either the fleece or the ground (see Judges 6:36-40). Noah did not doubt the sign of the rainbow that illuminated the sky (see Genesis 9:8-17). I fear today that there are those who are chasing after signs in the hopes of discovering some untold truth from God or of finding some new means of pursuing His will. Yet, in the Scriptures, Divine and providential signs are very few--and have specific purposes governed by God alone. They cannot be demanded nor can anyone manipulate God into providing one. 

There is one ultimate sign that God provided, and that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our LORD says in Matthew 12:39-40, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." This same statement is also found in Matthew 16:4, Mark 8:12, and Luke 11:29. Beloved, if we believe the greatest sign given in the resurrection of Christ, let us then trust Him. As Hezekiah could trust that he would recover from his illness because of the power of God, then let us trust that we are redeemed from our sins by the resurrection of Christ. 

Yet, my friends, there is a sign for which we must still watch. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked the LORD the very question that sits upon the heart of many believers, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" As all of God's given signs are clearly evident, so this one will be also. Consider what our LORD says in Matthew 24:30, "Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." That day is coming soon, dear ones. It will not be delayed, nor will there be anyone who has the power to prevent it.

As we see the condition of our world deteriorating rapidly, our hearts cry out for the coming of the LORD. He will come, and we will see Him. So, if you must seek after a sign, seek for the LORD, and watch until He returns.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

2 Chronicles 30:1 ~ "Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel."

Long before Hezekiah was king in Jerusalem, the nation of Israel was divided, with Israel in the north and Judah in the south. And this division caused no little friction between the two nations. Border skirmishes, times of war and palpable animosity grew between these two kingdoms. Occasionally, they would partner with each other in order to fend off a stronger assailant, but after the brief alliance, the strife would continue. Despite their fractious condition, they had this in common: they all were still the descendants of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All were included the nation delivered out of slavery in Egypt. It was the whole of the people who received the commandments in the wilderness. All twelve tribes conquered the promised land. They were, in fact, bound together in their common history.

Now divided, the temple was still in Jerusalem and that was the place for worship--no other location had been designated for the national sacrifice to the LORD God, for the gathering of the tribes before the LORD, for the high priest to offer the atonement offering before God. For years--decades--even centuries--the northern kingdom of Israel had failed to join in the worship of the LORD. Remaining distant from the worship of God, they fell into idolatry and wickedness almost immediately. They forsook the worship of the Almighty and formed false gods for themselves. And so it is with anyone who sets themselves apart from the truth. Even today, there are those who are of a heritage of Christian faith but lack any substance for they have removed their heart from the solid foundation of the Word of God and established their own narratives and ideologies.

Hezekiah, the king of Judah, was a man who worshiped God Almighty. He tore down the idolatry of the land, restored the worship of the LORD in the temple, consecrated the priests for the service of the LORD, and led Judah in a national repentance in the fear of God. In 2 Chronicles 29:6, Hezekiah spells out the problem, "For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned their backs." But it was not enough for the king of Judah to only call one tribe back to the worship of God. All of the heritage of Abraham must needs return to the place of worship.

And now we come to our text for today. 

Hezekiah sent letters to all the tribes of Israel. The invitation was total, the purpose was to bring back in repentance those who belonged to the LORD that the people of God would be united--not under one earthly king, but under the ONE TRUE GOD. He saw the need for repentance in his land, surely there needed to be repentance across the land. Consider what he said through the curriers in 2 Chronicles 30:8, "Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you." Hezekiah was not asking the northern kingdom to rejoin with Judah, he was calling on the people of God to return to the LORD, to give up their wicked ways and receive God's mercy (see 2 Chronicles 30:9). 

Now, let me ask you, all who are in Christ, are we not bound together as one body belonging to Him? Even as the nation was divided and Hezekiah sought to bring restoration of true worship of all the people, so the church today must seek to worship the LORD in spirit and truth. Many of those who call themselves by the name of Christ have defected to the world and are more in agreement with the worship of modern-day idols than with the LORD Jesus. But, even as Hezekiah called to the northern kingdom, so I would this day call all who are reading this to the true worship of God in humble repentance and faithful obedience to Christ Jesus. You may have sinned, strayed from the truth and maybe even now are delighting yourself in the practices of the world. You can repent and return to Christ. 

Do not let your response be as those who heard the words of the curriers in 2 Chronicles 30:10, "So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them." And yet, even though they were mocked and scorned, there were some who heeded the warning and returned (see 2 Chronicles 30:11). Will you be one of those? If you have wandered from the truth, do not let this day depart into night before you return to the LORD Jesus Christ.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Habakkuk 1:2 ~ "O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save?"

The prophet, Habakkuk, opens up his letter with the cry of an anguished heart. He stands in the midst of a nation plagued with wickedness, surrounded by violence and injustice. He looks to the LORD and, to the lamenting prophet, it seems as if God is standing idly by, just letting the situation grow increasingly worse. Consider what he expresses in Habakkuk 1:3-4, "Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted." And there are times that every believer gets to wondering the same thing: where is God when things go wrong.

Habakkuk begins with a question: how long shall I cry for help? And, dear ones, have you not also sat in the closet of prayer crying out the same thing? So often, when we are in times of distress and find our hearts gripped with despair, our prayers go from long, pronounced orations to a simple cry for help. We become like a man drowning in the ocean--lifting up our hands in desperation and hoping against hope that someone will see and rescue. We may get like the psalmist in Psalm 69:20, "Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none." And we find that all the platitudes of positivity are merely empty words.

Then, in a clear moment of grief, the prophet languishes with the sense that God will not hear his cry. It is of necessity to point out that the prophet did not say that God "cannot" hear but that He "will not" hear. His lament was not the inability of the Almighty to hear the cry of his heart, but the unwillingness to hear. And is that not our own concern as well? At times, when we mournfully sit upon our beds and cry out to the LORD, we wonder if God has closed His ears to our plea. Perhaps we fear what it says in Ezekiel 8:18, "Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them." We know that the Scripture says that God is in His heaven and He will do whatever pleases Him (see Psalm 115:3). And so we ask in our heart--what if God is not pleased to come to our rescue?

But, beloved, God has never forsaken His own, nor will He leave His children in perpetual turmoil. God was well aware of the condition that filled Habakkuk's environment. He knew the rebellions that the nation had embraced--their idolatry and rampant wickedness. And, Christian, the LORD is well aware of your environment also. He knows the grief that comes from walking in a world that despises Him. Just consider Jesus our LORD and you will immediately understand that He was, Himself, despised and rejected--hated by those He came to save (see John 15:24).

It may seem that God is delayed, but keep your faith fixed on Him, for He will do as He promised. In Habakkuk 2:3, the LORD responds, "​For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." And as we look around our world, it seems as if the rampant wickedness and hateful disposition of much of our society is growing by the day. We cry out to the LORD when injustice happens, and yet it does not get corrected. We pray to God Almighty that He should right the wrongs that are perpetrated against His people, and time just keeps on going as it always has. But as we see in Habakkuk, we are called upon by God to wait for it. Even if it seems slow to us, God will accomplish what He has promised. 2 Peter 3:9 states, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 

So, let us press on my friends to be faithful to the LORD. The day will come when God will right all the wrongs, and will enact justice against those who are unrepentant. James 5:7 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." Do not wring your hands in despair, for the LORD God Almighty is fully aware and faithfully doing what He has promised. Let us be patient, for soon we will stand before Him in glory. Let not a temporary turn of events--even events that last our lifetime--despoil us from our constant hope in Christ.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

James 2:13 ~ "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

If you are in Christ, you have experienced the greatest expression of mercy over judgment. All who are in this world stand condemned by God. John 3:18 says, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." There is not one person who will be able to excuse their rebellion and unbelief. But God, who is rich in mercy (see Ephesians 2:4), made the way for all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ, to find forgiveness. And now, for those who are in Christ, God has given you a full pardon through the suffering, sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Mercy, dear ones, is the highest expression of the divine love of God. For it is in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our LORD that we find His mercy. Romans 5:8 says, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." And, as we consider our text for today, we begin at the point that it makes: mercy triumphs over judgment. Perhaps you ask, "how can that be?" Let us consider a few things.

First, judgment is the payment made from a righteous authority for a rebellious act. A turncoat in the military will receive a court martial, a criminal in society will receive prison time and even children who are disobedient to parents should receive some form of punishment. At every level of our social structure in life, there is to be a just and fitting punishment for the crimes committed. When that does not happen, we wonder why justice has failed, and without justice, we see the decaying of a people into anarchial rebellion. 

Then there is mercy. The expression of mercy is not just an empty platitude or the acceptance of a rebellious act. It is not the purpose of mercy to placate the commission of a sin, but to cover it. For mercy has at its heart a compassion that does more than merely overlook a sin, it forgives the sinner. And in the case concerning a sinner before God, mercy is the payment made by God in order to satisfy the just and righteous judgment against man. It is the means by which the LORD can forgive our sins. 

And it is this mercy that triumphs over judgment. For judgment, which will send a person to hell is overcome by mercy which provides the grace necessary for a person to arrive in heaven. The first question on the table for everyone reading this today is: have you received the mercy of God in Christ? The second question then is this: do you offer toward others the mercy that you have received? For along with this wonderful, triumphant expression of mercy in our text today is a very grave warning against those who do not show the same mercy toward others. And that warning is the first part of our text: judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.

Dear Christian, you have received the abundant mercy of God! Is it now so vitally important that you withhold such mercy from any other person in this world? Can you truly say that the sins against you are far greater than your sins against the Living God? Of course you cannot--no one can. We have so wronged God in every thought, word and deed throughout our lives that we deserve a thousand eternities in everlasting judgment. And God is overwhelmingly rich in mercy toward us who believe. Let that mercy of God transform your heart toward others that you can offer mercy to them as well.

Consider carefully the story given in Matthew 18:21-35. Verse 35 sums it up: "So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." We can echo back to the two great commandments--love God and love your neighbor as yourself (see Luke 10:27). To love God is to put your full faith in Him, trusting in His salvation through Jesus Christ and living to glorify His holy name. And then, to love your neighbor is to do for them what you would have done for yourself. Have you sought mercy? Then show mercy. Have you needed forgiveness? Then also be forgiving.  

Beloved, if the mercy of God has triumphed over His judgment in your life, then do likewise for others. Again, mercy is not the excusing of sin nor is it the placating of the sinner. It is the genuine compassion of Christ shown to others, the same compassion that you also have received. May this be the shining testimony of all those who are in Christ.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Hosea 6:3 ~ "Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."

Knowing God is far more critical to your life and mine than many are aware of. The knowledge of God, in the sense that we know of Him, have heard of Him and even believe that He is all that the Bible has revealed is not quite the same as knowing Him. James warns us in James 2:19, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" It is good to know that God is, but there must be more than mere mental understanding. If that is all we have, we are in no better situation than the demons. And, perhaps, many are worse off--for even the demons shudder, whereas many live in this world with no fear of God at all. 

In our text today it would seem that there is a great desire to know the LORD. The nation of Israel seemed to have the desire to truly know God. But the verse that follows is a telling statement from the LORD concerning the heart of the people. "What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away" (Hosea 6:4). The same vaporous love of the descendants of Abraham is often expressed by the hearts of many who claim to desire Christ. The nation of Israel remained self-focused and not God focused. They looked to God for deliverance, for relief from sufferings, and for the betterment of their own lives. And so it is with many today, looking to know Christ, not for who He is but for what He can bring into their lives.

Let me illustrate this with a view to marriage. Let us say that a man and woman marry, overwhelmingly delighted to have the other as part of their life. The man rejoices that the woman can cook, clean, and handle the ever-increasing challenge of raising the children. The woman celebrates that the man can work hard, bring in resources and is industrious around the home. They look toward each other, not for who the person is but for what they bring to the table. Rather than learning of each other in order to sacrificially love their spouse, they only learn what the other can do for them. 

Many will behave in the same way with the LORD. They consider the LORD Jesus as a means of some form of betterment for their own life. They read the Scriptures not to learn of the LORD but to learn what value-added information can be gleaned for themselves. They will come away from a time of reading the Bible with little comprehension--for they read it to find something for themselves rather than read it to learn of the Author. Their actual desire is self and they don't desire to know the LORD. But the great condemnation of our LORD Jesus is found in Matthew 7:23, "And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" Four words of judgment--"I never knew you"--might be the most terrifying words ever spoken. 

In our text for today, the principle does still apply--but it requires a heart that desires God and not just His gifts and power. So, let me ask you: do you desire to know the LORD? You may look at your circumstances and want God to clear them up for you. You may struggle in your earthly condition and desire Christ to fix your situation. So you seek God, but your desire is for yourself. Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." It is the desire to know God that must press our efforts into study of His word and prayer. He has revealed Himself to us in the pages of His Scriptures and there we will discover a rich storehouse, filled to the rafters with who He is. We read in John 20:31, "But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." 

Jesus, in His great call to unbelievers, says this in Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Beloved, let us run to the Bible and fill our minds and hearts with God's word, that we should learn of Him. It will be there that we discover more and more the wonder and majesty of our Savior. 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Judges 16:22 ~ "But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved."

Have you come to the end of your vitality of spirit because you have surrendered to some wicked sin and rebellion? Have you stumbled in the way of righteousness and your strength has failed in your walk with Christ? I have often said of our text today that it is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture found in the whole of God's word. If you need it, let it encourage you today.

To understand fully the story of Samson, you will need to read Judges chapters 13 through 16. We won't cover the entirety of his life in this brief moment, but let us come to understand some valuable moments that led up to our text for today. First, Samson was set apart by God to be a Nazarite from birth. Judges 13:5 says, "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines." In this Nazarite condition, it was required that he never cut his hair as an outward sign of his inward devotion to the LORD. That devotion began with Samson's parents, as his mother did not eat or drink anything that would defile the child, and then it continued into his adulthood as he never let a razor touch his head.

Until, that is, when Delilah entered the scene. Up to this encounter, though Samson had sinned against the LORD in other areas, yet his strength had not failed. The LORD was faithful to Samson despite the man's insolent ways, for as yet, Samson had not shaved his head. Was there still a shred of devotion for the LORD in his heart? There is a telling statement which arises concerning the man's affections: "After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah" (Judges 16:4). He loved Delilah; now his heart was divided. And, after many efforts on her part to wheedle out of the young man the secret of his great strength, Samson gave in to his affection for Delilah and failed in his devotion to the LORD.

And how many have found that they have given in to some affection they have in this world, but in so doing you have left off your devotion to Christ? Our devotion to Christ is often tested in the affections we have in our lives. Jesus our LORD warned us in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Temptations come to us, and are found not in the things we despise but in those things in which we took delight. As Samson had loved Delilah, so it was through Delilah that he eventually succumbed to the pressure to give in to her demands. Three times already she had questioned him and proved to be a trickster. However, her demand that he prove his love for her overrode his devotion to the LORD. His hair was shaved... his strength was gone... he was now a prisoner to the enemy.

And yet... look back to the text for today. Samson had failed in his devotion to the LORD, but the LORD had not forgotten him. In such a simple statement, we read a powerful promise of restoration. And so I ask a simple question: can one be restored who has given in to the temptations of the world and failed in their devotion to Christ? Will God restore such a one as Samson? And have you been--or are you even now--one who has failed like him? 

My dear friends, our God in Heaven is rich with mercy. And though our sins deserve the greatest of punishments, and we find ourselves taken captive by the very enemy we fought against, yet our Savior can cause our hair to grow again. He is the one who can restore the fallen and give them again the spiritual strength needed to rise up and do what God requires. Look through the history of even the greatest men in the Bible you will discover that many of them suffered a failure of devotion to the LORD. And though their failure cost them, even as it cost Samson his eyes, yet in their repentance, they discovered the tremendous grace of our Loving LORD to restore them that they might serve God once again. Consider Jeremiah 15:19, "If you return [repent], I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them."

Let us, beloved, look to the LORD. If you have given in to any affections contrary to your devotion to Christ, look to Him and humble yourself. Seek His mercy and grace, and repent. He will restore your strength that you might walk again in the power of His Spirit and faithfulness to His word.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Numbers 22:23 ~ "And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road."

The story of Balaam and his donkey is one that is often told to children. Yet the overwhelming faithfulness of the prophet's beast of burden must teach us all a lesson today. Balaam rode upon a true and faithful servant, and he knew nothing of it until this epic moment occurred in his journey. Danger stood before the prophet and he was completely oblivious to it. It is my prayer for all who read this, that you will understand your part to play when it comes to the work of being faithful to those who are with you.

The story of Balaam is one of a prophet who saw opportunities for himself. Though a messenger of God Almighty, Balaam had designs of his own in order to gain wealth and influence--and all this apart from being fully and truly faithful to the LORD. 2 Peter 2:15 states, "Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing." As a prophet, he was required to only and fully proclaim God's word. So when he went with the princes of Moab he was instructed by the LORD in exactly what work was required. Numbers 22:20 says, "And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, 'If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.'" So, why would God be angry at Balaam and send the Angel of the LORD against the prophet? It appeared that he was obeying the LORD. But God who knows the hearts and the thoughts of everyone, knew the intrigue that filled the prophet's mind. 

The first thing I want to point out in our text today is this: the donkey saw the danger when the prophet could not. With a mind filled with his own notions, Balaam was blind to the danger before him. The Angel stood there with a sword drawn, clearly the next moment would be the death of Balaam. But the donkey saw the danger and did the one thing it could, it turned aside and protected its master.

Do you, beloved, when you are walking with your brothers and sisters in Christ, pay attention to the dangers ahead? If your friend is clearly headed toward the judgment of God, will you even risk harm to yourself in order to warn them away from God's wrath? Consider how Balaam responded to the beast: "And Balaam said to the donkey, 'Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you'" (Numbers 22:29). Notwithstanding the fact that the donkey spoke, Balaam actually answered with the threat of a sword. However, there was another sword drawn on the road that day, and it was aimed right at him. 

Which brings me to the second thing we need to see: sometimes when you give warning against the dangerous road that another is on, they will grow hostile to you. Many people despise those who see danger and warn others. The thief has no interest in hearing how his behavior is hateful toward God and hurtful to others. The violent man would rather believe that he is justified in his indignation than be told that the way he's choosing is fraught with deadly peril. The arrogant man prefers not to challenge his own suppositions about himself rather than hear that pride goes before destruction. 

But the faithful companion of Balaam, a donkey with no natural voice to speak, did the only thing available to it. And because it turned away from the danger waiting for Balaam, the prophet struck the donkey, threatened the animal and beat it. It could see what the prophet could not, and dear ones there may be times when you can see what your friend cannot. Do you have a natural voice to speak warning? Is there something you can do--perhaps you might be the only one who can. Consider what God told Ezekiel, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me" (Ezekiel 3:17).

2 Thessalonians 3:15 teaches, "Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." If you are to be a faithful servant of the LORD and a faithful companion to your brothers and sisters in Christ, then it is upon you to care enough about their ways to warn them if you understand that they are going astray. It could be that you will rescue them from a greater rebuke from God.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Psalm 68:5 ~ "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."

In over one hundred nations around the world there is a celebration. It goes by varied names and traditions, but the foundational element is the celebration of fathers. The grand distinction of fatherhood compared to other masculine endeavors is found not in the propagation of offspring, but in their care and development. Many men are hard at work, industrious, and disciplined. There are many men who are highly intellectual and can fathom great depths of knowledge. There are warriors, men who show themselves valiant against an opposing force. But fewer seem to stand with the courage needed to be a true father, one who cares for, instructs and disciplines his children. The father who embraces with godly love the child in their care has come to understand, in some small way, the magnitude of the Fatherhood of God.

And it is this Fatherhood that we will strive to understand. For God is revealed to those who have come to faith in Christ as--Father. Jesus our LORD has instructed us in this. In teaching His disciples to pray, the LORD instructs them in this way, "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name'" (Matthew 6:9). And in our text today, we discover a grand love and tender care that truly exceeds all others and stands as the magnitude of what fatherhood should be.

Let us first consider the relational expression of God. He is known by many titles and wears many crowns of exaltation. He is LORD and He is King. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is the Provider and Protector of His people. He is God, the true and only Deity. Navigate your way through the Scriptures and you will encounter the Almighty page after page. But you will not find Him more intimately connected to His people as when He is known as "Father." In John 20:17 we read, "Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Jesus did not say that He was departing to His Father and our Creator. He brings us into close and loving fellowship when He says to His disciples that God Almighty is also their Father too.

But how can God be also our Father? He is Creator of all things, and He will be Judge of all mankind. God can be our Father because He has determined to be so, as He is the Father of the fatherless. He has purposed to adopt all who come through Jesus Christ for the pardoning and cleansing of their sin. Ephesians 1:5 tells us, "He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will." He is not everyone's Father, but only the Father of those who believe on the LORD Jesus Christ for salvation. The Almighty is Father to those who belong to Him by faith. 

Beloved, before you came to Jesus Christ by faith you were an orphan. Bereft of hope and outside of the family of God, you wandered in this wicked world along with the rest of those who have no fellowship with God. But the LORD God, the Almighty, invited you in and placed you in His family, not as a servant but as a child of adoption. And as His child, He has fully vested His interest in you, for in Christ, He is now your Father. No wonder John proclaimed these tremendous words in 1 John 3:1, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 

Finally, God is in His holy habitation. And, dear ones, He will bring you to that habitation as well. You will not long walk this world, though it may seem like you still have many steps to go. Soon the LORD will take you to His palatial estates in glory and you will be enriched in all the wonder of His eternal and ever-present love. Jesus said that though He depart this world, He left for a purpose--to prepare a place for all who will believe (see John 14:1-3). He also said in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." We are not abandoned to this world. Jesus did not depart that He should leave us orphaned once again. We are adopted, and we have now an inheritance with all the saints. 

So, dear Christian, look to God Almighty and know Him in His most intimate revelation of Himself--know the LORD as Father. He brings with that title all the love and interest that it implies.
​
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Colossians 2:8 ~ "​See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Guard your steps, dear Christian, for there are snares abounding to take you captive. We have it as a command from God's word that we must take very good care not to be ensnared by those things that would lead us away from Christ. The very opening statement of our text today, a seemingly simple phrase, "see to it," is an imperative command that we must be openly discerning in order that we won't be tricked into believing something that is not of Christ. There are many who walk through this world with their eyes half-closed against the lies of the enemy and the wicked practices of this world. Shrouded in terminology that seems to be from Scripture, they twist the truth in order to facilitate their deception. But the discerning believer will turn to the truth of God's word in order to avoid such pitfalls. 

What does it mean to be taken captive? It is to be plundered by an outside agency. There are those in this world that want to plunder you, to take you captive through spiritual fraud and deception and lead you away from the truth in order to carry you off into all manner of lies. Galatians 4:17 says, "They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them." Understand, they will praise you for your sin, encourage your self-indulgent desires, and tell you that it is in your best interest to follow your own path. All the while, they will twist the Scriptures to try and justify themselves and convince you. Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for making proselytes under their deceptive practices, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves" (Matthew 23:15). 

Two cunning tricks are mentioned here: philosophy and empty deceit. And in these two we find a tremendous draw for those who are not discerning. Regarding philosophy, many might think that this is such an innocuous consideration, for philosophical discussions can be relatively harmless. But this is the love of wisdom, and not necessarily godly wisdom but more inclined to human wisdom. And then we find empty deceit to be the close companion to philosophy. It is the pandering lies that are hollow and void of truth. You find that these will appeal to emotions rather than truth and bring a person into captivity through the sinful self-interests that all mankind experiences. 

These philosophical and deceptive efforts are founded upon two very strong attractions--human tradition and worldly principles. Mankind is riddled with traditions that saddle people of all cultures with varied beliefs and practices that do not lead a person to the truth. And people cling to these traditions with firm resolve that they will not be moved from their lives. But what a rich warehouse of deceitful treasures the enemy has when a person is more inclined to cling to their traditions. And then there are the "elemental spirits of this world," otherwise known as "worldly principles." Epicurean or stoic, religious or atheistic, the governing principle is not the issue, so long as it keeps you away from Christ. That is the enemy's goal. Personal pleasures often govern the worldly heart, as 1 John 2:16 says, "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." And the enemy makes use of such personal pleasures in order to take captive those who are so inclined.

The problem with human traditions and philosophies is that people will cling to them as if they are treasures, but in truth they are chains. They bind people like shackles that must be severed. What a blessed truth that Jesus has come to set the captives free (see Luke 4:18). Beloved, do you measure everything according to Christ? Does the Word of God get opened by you when other teachings and traditions find their way to your interest? Let us strive with diligent discernment to understand everything according to Christ. Any other so-called wisdom must be measured, not by how it affects us or makes us feel, but whether or not it is of the truth--whether or not it is of Christ.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

2 Chronicles 10:8 ~ "But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him."

Rehoboam took counsel when he was elevated to be king in Israel. Solomon, the man of wisdom and son of David, surrounded himself with those who would give him honest and godly counsel. Those same counselors stood before Rehoboam and offered sage and trustworthy advice as the young man stood to receive the throne and shepherd the people of God. Yet the young king also had advisers, those of his own age and deportment who forsook the aged counselors and offered their inexperienced opinions to the fledgling king.

If you are to read 2 Chronicles, chapter ten, you will see that there was no moving Rehoboam to listen to the wise and experienced men who helped Solomon. He hearkened to the counsel of those his own age, he listened to his friends who had grown up with him and enjoyed the luxury of youthful self-indulgence. And, because the young king listened to the words of his friends and not those who would guide the monarch with wisdom, he ended up dividing the nation of Israel--with ten tribes defecting and forming their own kingdom. A nation formed by the LORD to be His people united was now a nation of brothers divided. All because of who Rehoboam heeded.

Let this text today bring a question to the surface of your thinking. To whom will you listen? What counsel do you heed when you have real decisions to make?

It is true that many will want to listen to their friends, or find people who will always agree and offer their affirmations of anything that you might want to think. Their wisdom is of such little value, you'd be better off not heeding any advice at all. Proverbs 22:15 states, "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." Others seek the wisdom of the world, hoping to gain some new insights or acquire a grand philosophy that satisfies their self-interests. But the Scripture describes the wisdom of the world, "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice" (James 3:14-16). 

And though it is true that not all gray-haired saints are rich with wisdom, yet there is a strong axiom that proves out: experience is a great teacher for those who are willing to learn from it. Consider the words of Elihu from Job 32:7, "I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’" And though he later rebuked the three friends for failing in their refutation against Job, the principle does still apply. There is wisdom with those who have walked by faith, and especially those who have long journeyed with the LORD. Paul would say in 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." If you hold yourself to be one who goes forward with wisdom, it will be necessary to put those childish ways aside.

So, we go back to the question at hand--from where do you seek wisdom? To whom will you listen? Proverbs 15:14, "The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly." Let us not be like Rehoboam and abandon the wisdom of those who have walked many years with the LORD. If you are a young in the faith, newly striding through life in following Christ, then it will be to your blessing and benefit to find those who have long obeyed the word of God and heed their counsel as you go. Remember the words of Proverbs 11:14, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Chronicles 29:11 ~ "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all."
​Let us exalt the LORD.

Many church structures are built with the concept of pleasing the people who would draw in for worship. The seating, the lights, sound acoustics and all manner of other considerations are applied when addressing the idea of building an edifice for the church. Questions like: "What are the sight lines" or "how many can it comfortably seat" come into the conversation. But when was the last time a structure was built not with the crowd in mind, but with the LORD in mind? When was the majesty of the LORD the first consideration?

As we consider our text today, we come face-to-face with David collecting the materials for the construction of the Temple for the LORD. Solomon, David's son, would be the one to build the Temple, but it was David who began the project by gathering the resources that would eventually be needed. And those resources were given with joy. The people gladly, even joyfully gave to the project. We see this in 1 Chronicles 29:9, "Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly." The first thing, the highest consideration of the people and of David, was the exaltation of God. And that, dear ones, must be the first and highest consideration of our lives as well. 

As we look to the text, we discover a wide swath of glorious truths concerning our LORD and Savior. For today, let us break them down into three categories. 

We first come face-to-face with the very exaltation of God. There are five words of acclamation listed here: greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty. Each of these deserves its own thought, but we will for today consider them all at once. These words describe not a weak and feeble God, nor a God who is distant and aloof. We do not see the LORD except that we find Him in all His splendor. He is power itself. There is none equal to the LORD. Though David might have slain his ten-thousands, the LORD rules them all. His is the victory--for the LORD in undefeatable. Is this how you draw near to the LORD in worship? Is this how you know the Savior who is God and King over all? Yes, He will receive the humble and contrite, for it is the humble who will lift up their praise in honor of the One who is the true and only God.

Second, we discover God through His creation. As our text reveals, God alone has true ownership of all that is, for He is the Creator of it all. All that is in the heavens is His. The stars, sun, moon and all that drifts through this universe was formed at the command of the LORD and is sustained by His power. But for a moment let the LORD lapse in consideration of all He has created and the creation itself will cease to be. And, the earth is His as well--and all that have or had or will ever dwell upon this globe belongs to the One who made all things. Psalm 95:6 proclaims, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" He is the Maker of the atheist as well as the Christian. And eventually all will bow before the One who established the heavens and the earth.

And third, we see the LORD Almighty in His coronation. Here is David, king of Israel. It was through David that the borders of the people of God were expanded, that the surrounding enemies were subdued and that peace had been hard-fought and won through the king's many victories. And yet, here we see David the king recognizes and worships the Sovereign King of kings. David took no ownership of the nation, but declared, "Yours is the kingdom." Not only does the kingdom--even all kingdoms--belong to Christ, but He is ruler and head over them all. Consider Colossians 1:18, "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

This, beloved, is the Majesty of God. He is worthy of all worship. As David collected the needed items and treasure to build the temple, and all the people gave with great joy, let us do the same with the life God has granted unto us.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

1 Timothy 4:12 ~ "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

As Paul set Timothy to serve as the pastor in the church of Ephesus, it was a challenging place, for Timothy was still a relatively young man. But one of the great truths of the Christian life is that the age of God's adult children is not as much a matter of consequence as maturity in Christ. David, king of Israel, said in Psalm 119:100, "I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts." Before we go further, it is important to note that this example being set is done by one who is already a grown man. Do not mistake the youthfulness of Timothy as being one who is not actually fully grown into manhood. However, the young pastor was in a fellowship whose makeup was such that many were well advanced in years. So, let us apply this text appropriately, not to the children of the church but to the adults--even the young adults--who have an obligation to set the example.

So, dear Christian, do you have the same responsibility to set an example for others? Not all who read these words today are pastors or leaders of a church. Does this negate the command to set the example? Not at all. Every believer is to be a light in this world to display the transformed life. It is true that those who teach are held to a different standard. James 3:1 says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." The judgment described does not merely come at the end of all things when we will all stand before the LORD, but it happens even in the time that we live, for a teacher has put themselves into a position to say to others that they know by experience what they are teaching. For an example, if a teacher of advanced mathematics could not perform basic calculations, it would not go well for that person.

Though all Christians have the requirement to set an example, no one can set an example beyond what they have grown into. As we get ready to dive into the five qualities that are found in our text, take note that it says to "set the believers an example." It is important to realize that you and I have a blessed opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in Christ by setting an example of the qualities of Christian virtue. Ephesians tells us that when each part of the body is working properly, then the whole body will grow and build itself up in love (see Ephesians 4:15-16). Let it be noted, one of the greatest evidences of your Christian walk is the way you conduct yourself with your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

In our text today, there are five qualities listed that are both practical and profound. They are like a road into the very core of a believer's heart, inviting those around you to navigate down until they experience the very depths of your love for and faith in Christ. Each virtue brings them closer. We won't tarry on each one too long, for they all deserve a rendering unto themselves. But I want you to consider something that is very illustrative. The first is the most distant a person can experience your life--your speech, the last is the most intimate a person can know you--your purity. In each step along the path, they draw in closer until your Christianity is transparent to them. 

Let's consider briefly these five qualities:

Speech: How do you use your words? What comes forth from your tongue that begins the process of another person knowing your love for Christ? Let your words invite people around you to draw nearer for you speak with the grace of the LORD.

Conduct: How do you live the external part of your life? Do your visual actions reflect the testimony of your lips? It is important that what is seen in your functional living is able to verify your testimony of faith.

Love: How do you treat others? Not merely having moral actions and kindness toward your fellow man, do you love the brotherhood of believers? It is an expression of sacrifice toward those who are with you in the LORD. 

Faith: Closer now to your heart, do those around you know the depths of your faith in Christ? More than just the testimony of your words, and the behavior of your actions, there is the evidence of a true and unbreakable confidence in Christ.

Purity: This is the closest of all, for now those around you see the transparent you, the inner you. We understand that there is still the struggle against sin, are there those around you in Christ who see the purifying work of His Spirit within you? 

Let us, dear ones, in love for our Savior, strive to set this example for one another, seeking to help each other grow in our walk with the LORD.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

1 Peter 4:8 ~ "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

The majestic height of the Christian life is the Christ-like virtue of sacrificial love. Many strive to climb the mountain and find that the summit is of such difficulty that they settle for the lower plateaus of spiritual fulfillment and acceptable moral standards. Neither of those are bad, and yet there is a pinnacle of virtue that exceeds them all--that is "above all." Are you willing to navigate the heights with the LORD Jesus, to love others as He loved you, or will you remain content upon the plains, fearful that to love as Jesus did means to leave all the world behind, deny yourself, and risk a real experience with Christ?

At this point, many Christians feel a strong sense of vertigo. They are dizzy just thinking about how life is meant to be a willful sacrifice, as Christ did for us. Jesus tells us this very thing in John 13:34, "​A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." Let me ask you this question: do you look to be loved, or do you look to love? A great many believers frown at others because they sense some calamity of love happening to them. The accusation, "they didn't love me like Jesus did" must be replaced by the urgent desire to respond with, "how can I love them like Jesus did." Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." 

So, in climbing this height of Christ-like love, we look to our text today and see that it is a perpetual love. We are to "keep loving one another." Let me ask you this: is there some measure or barrier wherein you will reject the opportunity to love another as Christ loved you? Is there some elevation too high--"this far and no farther" will you declare in your unwillingness to climb another step? But our text does not say to "stop" loving one another, but to "keep" loving one another. It literally means to "have a continual disposition of love" among yourselves. Consider what Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." In light of that, is there anything that can separate your love from your brothers and sisters in Christ? If there is, then you will not venture upon the heights with Christ.

With every step upon the narrow way to reach the summit, we find that we must have a passionate love. We are to "keep loving one another earnestly." This earnest love is more than just the lip-service kindness that is often found in the conversations of many Christian acquaintances. It is a love that is filled with a zealous fervency, a passionate desire for the betterment of the object of love. It is the love that should exist between a husband and a wife, or the love of a parent and child. It is truly the love that is found between our Savior and His redeemed. The barrier of our own sin was no match for the boundless love that He displayed when He gave up His life to save us. Romans 5:8 declares, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Shall you see the fervent passion of the love of Christ? Then look no further than the mountain of suffering that Jesus climbed and the cross upon which He died. 

Finally, if we are to find our way to the very peak, the height above all others, then we will see that this love is a pardoning love. Our text concludes with this: "since love covers a multitude of sins." Too many unforgiven transgressions course through the hearts of God's people. Bitterness ensues and a growing animosity toward other believers begins to poison the well of love that is meant to flow out of every born-again life. Jesus declared that out of those who believe on Him, rivers of living water will flow (see John 7:38). But what flows out of your heart? Is it a life-giving stream of His truth and love? Is it the polluted waters of a poisoned well? Do you want to see the greatest example of this love that covers a multitude of sins? Then look again to the cross and hear the words of Jesus as they drove the nails into His hands and feet, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). True forgiveness puts you upon the heights with the LORD. Leave this off your walk with Christ and you will never make the ascent to the top of the mountain.

Beloved, let us walk with Jesus "above all." Not better than all or faster than all, but upon the heights with the LORD in the same love wherein He loved us.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael
​

Ezra 1:1 ~ "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing."

It is God who is in charge of fulfilling His word. The Divine Hand of providence works to do that which He has proclaimed. Nothing can stop Him and no one can thwart His purposes. Despite their aggressive attempts to intervene to stop the LORD, He will have His word fulfilled.

The Word of the LORD by the prophet Jeremiah says, "For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place" (Jeremiah 29:10). There are some who believe that God is rather arbitrary, doing what He wants without any plan or purpose in place. That the Almighty will do His work, but without a timeline. And, in truth, God dwells beyond time--He is eternal and is not governed by the constraints of our progression of time. But God does not merely randomly work in this world, but has given direct revelation through the prophets and apostles in order to show His might and mercy. 

And now we come to our text this morning and we see the LORD working to make sure His word is fulfilled that He spoke through Jeremiah. And this is what I want you to see--there is nothing that God has said that He won't fulfill. Every word, every proclamation of the LORD will be accomplished. The LORD Jesus spoke to the two men on the road to Emmaus and told them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled" (Luke 24:44). Jesus said in Matthew 5:18, "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." There is no reason at all for you to doubt or disregard God's word, for He will accomplish all that He has declared. 

The next thing to show you today from our text is that there is not one person who will stand in God's way when it comes to the fulfillment of His promises. Cyrus, the king of Persia, had no direct faith in the God of Israel. He was a foreign monarch who stood upon his own might and power. And yet, the LORD stirred the king's heart to do exactly what was prophesied by Jeremiah. Consider what is revealed in 2 Chronicles 36:23, "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.’" Somehow, under the influence of God, Cyrus came to understand the will of God and opened up the way for the captives to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Consider Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." God is never thwarted by any who might oppose Him--in fact the Almighty God will even use those who stand against Him for His own purposes. Revelation 17:17 states, "...for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled."

Let this reminder today draw you into a strong confidence in our Savior. He is the Mighty God and not even His enemies can hinder what He has purposed. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." If you are finding your heart flooded with doubts because you see the downturn of our current society, or that persecutions and hardships have begun to rise up in their attacks upon God's people, take heart. God is not outside of what is happening. He is in full control and we must trust Him to do what He has purposed.

So, beloved, hold onto this promise from Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." For as God has promised, He will also see to its fulfillment.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Acts 2:42 ~ “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
 
There was something different about the early church. Their leaders were “uneducated, common men” (see Acts 4:13). They had no marque members, no organized social events, no Sunday school, no eight-week study course on spiritual formation and no building to meet in that could be cleverly decorated. The early church didn’t stage protests – they prayed. They didn’t organize marches – they ministered. And they didn’t call people to self-imposed religion – they called people to self-denying repentance. And they changed the world.
 
What was it about the early church? They were devoted, not to a cause but to Christ, and that devotion was played out in every aspect of their lives. So let me encourage you: take these four devotions as a challenge for your own life. You may be surprised at how God will use you when you follow them.
 

• Apostles Teaching – Devoted to the Word of God

This is where it begins. Without true devotion to the Word of God, there will be no real foundation that can be trusted. But this foundation cannot merely be knowledge of the Word of God, that’s just where it starts. The true foundation is built through obedience to the Word of God.
 
This is how discipleship is built: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).
 
Love is seen in obedience: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).
 

• Fellowship – Devoted to the People of God

God has called us to live in fellowship. There are Christians today that believe they can go it alone and live their faith without the structure and support of the church. But God has purposed that only together will each Christian grow and develop as God intended.
 
Through fellowship we become mature: “…from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
 
It provides the means of mutual encouragement: “…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).
 

• Breaking of Bread – Devoted to the Worship of God

“Breaking bread” together is two-fold. First, it is the remembrance that Christ has given us when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (see Luke 22:19). It is an expression of worship as we remember the One who saved us. Second, it is a demonstration of sacrifice toward those around us by bringing them into our homes to “break bread” with us, especially those who cannot repay.
 
It is a call to self-examination: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28).
 
Christ is honored in this: “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).
 

• Prayer – Devoted to Communicating with God

In all healthy relationships communication is critical. No marriage truly grows in depth and happiness without it. No family can survive when communication is lost. And no believer in Christ will have any hope of truly knowing and living in relationship with the Lord if prayer is not an essential devotion in their lives.
 
Prayer is personal communion with God: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
 
Prayer is essential for spiritual readiness: “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
 
People are devoted to many things. People are devoted to causes, political endeavors, altruistic philanthropy, medical research – and all these can be good. But the Christian must be devoted, first and always, to Christ Jesus our LORD. This devotion is experienced through the Word of God, the people of God, the worship of God and prayers to God. This is how the early church anchored their faith and grew in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ~ "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

The great declaration of the people of God is love for the Almighty. And that love is more than a sentimental desire or a sympathetic connection, it is an all-consuming affection for the LORD. Set up your life to this plumb line of detection (see Amos 7:7) from God's word and see where you might be off the mark. But before we go into this text for today, I want to assure you that no one has ever loved God to the level that He deserves or to the fullness of perfection.

We must begin with what we desire--for the LORD judges the heart. Do you want to love the LORD? Is there something within you that has a longing for His Name to be held in honor, to be glorified and exalted through your life? Is it within you to pursue Him with all that you can? And though you might not be able to run with the swiftest, will you crawl if that is all you can do? Your "all" is not the same as anyone else's "all." Do not sit in comparison against another, it is your heart, soul and strength--unmeasured against anyone else.

We begin with your heart. At the point of salvation, the LORD has taken from you a heart that is dead and replaced it with one that is alive. God says in Ezekiel 36:26, "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." The heart, in our text today, is the seat of our mind, will and emotions. And, so, do you love the LORD your God with how you think, and what you think? Do you love Him with the driving determinations that you hold? And, do you love Him with total and dominating affections, with passion? Many see the "heart" only as the place of emotion. But there is far more involved when you love the LORD with all your heart. And the delightful thing of the heart, is that it will expand with exercise. Your mind will grow as you study and consider the things of Christ. Your driving determination will strengthen as you walk with Christ. And your affections will increase the more you know of Christ. 

We continue with your soul. What does it mean that we must love the LORD our God with all our soul? The soul is the very core element of who you are. The soul is your very self--your character and nature. And we are to love God with our character. The problem before we know Jesus as LORD is to have our souls darkened with death. But, just as God gives us a new heart at salvation, so the LORD breathes life into our dead soul. We see in the book of Acts that upon belief, there was added to the kingdom 3000 souls. "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). And, can your "soul" increase? Unlike a muscle, it does not grow larger, but it will improve in character. Consider a mirror as an example. Unpolished, it is challenged to reflect any visage. But continually polish it, improve its nature, and it will begin to reflect with clarity. So God is "polishing" your soul, improving your character and changing your nature so that you will bear a right reflection of Him.

We conclude with your might. How do we love the LORD our God with all our might (or strength)? The term "might" means force or "muchness" of our ability. As you consider what it means to love with "all" of something, this would mean that we will love the LORD unto physical exhaustion. There are levels of weariness that prevents us from going forward with projects and tasks. And times of rest are precious, for Ecclesiastes 5:12, "Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep." But that blessed sleep goes to the laborer, not to the lazy. In fact, the sluggard is condemned in Proverbs (see Proverbs 21:25). Dear ones, not everyone has the same level of strength to offer the LORD. But to love the LORD with all our might is to give all that we can. 

So, let us declare our love for the LORD in every aspect of our lives, growing and strengthening and improving along the way that we should love Him even more.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

Zechariah 12:10 ~ "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."

Look, dear Christian, upon whom you have pierced. He is the LORD of glory, the Son of God and the Righteous One. He bore such love for His people that He would come and pay the ultimate price to redeem us. Are you an inhabitant of the heavenly Jerusalem? Then you must have looked upon Him whom they pierced.

There is a direct correlation between Divine grace and a disposition in the heart that mourns, even weeps over the LORD who shed His blood. God Almighty has poured out on the house of David and inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy. It is in that grace of God that the heart is overwhelmed by its own sinful guilt, so much so that there is a desperate desire to find mercy. But where should we look when our guilt rises up in our hearts and we are inwardly condemned by our own sinfulness? Let us look to the LORD. Let us plead with Him for mercy. Cast your eyes upon Him who was pierced. Consider the words of Isaiah 53:5, "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." 

Perhaps the better question will be: what is your response when you understand the sacrifice of Christ? Does your heart grieve over the cost of your own sin? Do you look at the cross and the Savior who died and do you mourn and weep with a bitterness of soul that the punishment for your sin was upon Him? Oh, let us hear the words of James as he writes, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you" (James 4:8-10). When you consider the LORD upon the cross do you know your own wretched state and then mourn and weep, knowing that your King did all that to redeem you? 

Gather around the cross and hear the mocking voices of the passers-by. Listen to the ridicule of the watching crowd and the vile hatred of those who despised the LORD. They witnessed His suffering. They beheld His wounds. Yet they had no desire to see Him wept over or to mourn for their sins that hung Him there. The chief priest tormented the LORD with their derisive words, "So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him'" (Matthew 27:41-42). 

And, today, there are so many who look to Jesus and see in the LORD of Glory an opportunity to better themselves. They consider the cross a mere tool used of God to bring a better life, a fuller purpose, a more uplifted state of being to the wicked souls that meander this earth. Even Paul warned Timothy (and us) that there are those who consider godliness as a means of personal gain (see 1 Timothy 6:3-5). How dreadful it is to think that Jesus Christ died and rose again merely to pave the way to a more profitable future for an unrepentant sinner. You must look at the One who died on the cross and know that He died there in your place.

If you can look to the cross and not weep and mourn, you have not looked at the cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." There is enough folly in this world to pollute the universe. Let us not be as those who look to the LORD and miss the cross, turning the sacrifice of Christ into a means of personal self-indulgence. Look and see the Savior bleed. Look and see the Son of God pierced and crushed. Look and mourn and weep in bitterness over your own sin that cost Jesus His life. Let the spirit of grace fill your heart and let the plea for mercy be heard from you.

And then, beloved, hear the LORD Jesus say, "Your sins are forgiven." 

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

​2 John 1:3 ~ "Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love."

There is a trifecta of Divine promise that fills this opening statement of the aged apostle. John writes to the "elect lady" the warmth of the love of God, much like the Apostle Paul opened his letters to Timothy (see 1 Timothy 1:2 & 2 Timothy 1:2). And these three blessings of God are what every Christian needs. It's like the sweet fruit of a tree, hanging down to refresh all who pass beneath the shadow of its boughs. Will you, beloved, pick the fruit of grace, mercy and peace this day?

How much Divine grace are you in need of today? Could it be that you hear the word "grace" and think of the undeserved favor of the Almighty? It is that and so much more. The grace of God is the effectual working of His salvation upon the sinner. Jesus offers grace to all who come to Him by faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Grace is also the power of God working through the redeemed. The LORD tells the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." The grace of God that has saved you will be the same grace that is all-sufficient to sustain you.

Perhaps, today, you find yourself in the dire condition of another sinful fall. There is the offer of mercy from the LORD to those who will come to Him for cleansing. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." But God's mercies are new every morning (see Lamentations 3:22-23). Surely we should strive against sin, watch and pray to fight temptation, and flee those moments when the desire to sin is upon us. But what happens if we fail? God does not spare His rod of discipline (see Proverbs 13:24), but He also does not withhold His generous mercy. Consider your Advocate, the Son of God Himself. 1 John 2:1 says, "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." Jesus will plead on your behalf before the Father, for in Him we find mercy.

And, in this troubling world, you might need God's everlasting peace. Reach up and pluck this ripe fruit, dear ones, for there is more peace with God Almighty than there is trouble in this world of sin. The unsettling condition of our world often leads to a troubled mind for those who have forgotten the LORD is Sovereign. We lose sight of Christ and we discover that the howling storms of life fill our hearts with anxiety. Yet, consider the LORD's word to us in Isaiah 26:3, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." But, like Peter walking on the water (see Matthew 14:28-30), we look away from our LORD and begin to sink in dismay. The LORD has provided the means of receiving His peace within your heart--it is through prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 states, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Divine peace is promised to those who join their lives to Christ and stay connected through prayer. 

And, dear reader, all of this is done in truth and love. God does not make promises of grace, mercy and peace and then not be able to provide those blessings. He, the LORD, speaks the truth. And, the Divine Sovereign does not offer this trifecta of compassion grudgingly, but He opens His hand before you and draws you to receive His gifts with love. He has placed His affection upon His children--all those who belong to Christ. And in love and with truth, the LORD's grace, mercy and peace will be with us.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael