​2 Thessalonians 2:8 ~ “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”
 
Soon, my friends, the LORD will come and the enemy will be vanquished. We often look to the conditions of the world and lament the increase of human depravity. Like a rollercoaster, traveling from a higher point to the bottom, we have watched the rising and falling of Christian virtue. Sometimes it seems as if all will be well, the rise happens and even revivals have broken out among the people. Then it plunges in the abrogation of righteousness and societies descend further into wickedness. But don’t wring your hands, dear Christian, and do not despair, for the victory of the LORD is assured.
 
In our text today we find those first two words: “and then...” I suspect you’ve asked the question as I have: “And when?” When is this lawless one to be revealed? 2 Thessalonians 2:7 tells us, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.” There is a restraint placed upon the wicked one, for the LORD will control all aspects of the redemption of His people, including the timing of the enemy’s advent. But we see that lawlessness is already at work. We merely need to look around us to see the very hand of wickedness perverting the causes of righteousness. In Matthew 24:24 Jesus tells us, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Has the love of many grown cold? Is there a cooling off of the genuine kindness and benevolence of mankind? There is. We learn from 2 Thessalonians 2:9 that there will be false signs and wonders that accompany the revealed enemy. Those, beloved, are also taking place. Which brings us to the second part of the opening of our text today, “...the lawless one will be revealed.” With all that is happening in our world today, the increase of wickedness is clearly seen. Lawlessness is on the rise and it won’t be long before the man of lawlessness is revealed. We may not be at the end of the ride, but we might be on the last downward trend.
 
I think many Christians today are not unlike the description of Lot in 2 Peter 2:8, “he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard.” We see what is happening and our souls are grieved and tormented by such unvarnished wickedness. And, before we venture another step, let me give you a word of warning: if you can embrace the rebellions of the world, you need to read James 4:4, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Do not condemn yourselves by what you approve (see Romans 14:22).
 
The day is coming, and will soon be here, when Jesus will return. The lawless one will face the might of our King and, as our text reveals, “the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth.” The antichrist and all of his forces will be cut down with one word from the LORD Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:15 illuminates this, “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” There will be no place for the enemy of God to escape. He will be utterly destroyed by the King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
But, you might think that though the enemy is vanquished, there remains the after-effect of his wickedness. It will not be. Our LORD will remove every vestige of evil. The final statement of our text today declares, “and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” The glory of Christ will eradicate every last shadow and the splendor of His being will fill the universe with His light. The moment a light is switched on it brings to nothing the darkness of a room. And the moment the glorious presence of Christ Jesus is revealed it will bring all evil to nothing. Consider this promise from Revelation 22:5, “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” Satan will be destroyed; sin will be removed and all who are made holy in Christ will abide forever in the presence of God.
 
Do not let your hearts be troubled. For soon, my friends, the LORD will come and the enemy will be vanquished.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​James 4:7 ~ “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
 
We long to be free from the constant attacks that come from the enemy of God. We fight, struggle and try to stand firm against the temptations that arise in our life. All the while we find that our power to overcome is limited and we slip and fall again, and again. I’ve heard those who try to “rebuke” the devil, as if they had some grand authority and they foolishly believe they can command the evil one to depart. If that were the case, he would have been vanquished long ago from every believer’s life. Then we come to our text for today and hear those words that call us to resist. With that charge nestled in our hearts, we gather up our willpower and believe that we must somehow draw up the strength for our firm resistance, only to find ourselves falling again.
 
Before we venture into our text today, let’s take a look at some other Scriptures. First, we read in Jude 1:9, “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’” Though we have no clear view to this grand conflict that occurred, it is of great importance to note that the archangel, Michael, did not stand in his own strength or power, but called upon the LORD to rebuke the enemy of God. Lest we forget, it was by the allowance of God that the enemy had access to the patriarch, Job (see Job, chapter one). And there were two disciples of the LORD who came under the enemy’s influence for a time: Peter (see Matthew 16:21-23) and Judas (see John 13:27).
 
So, how do we accomplish it? How do we overcome the enemy of God? He is far too great an enemy for us to casually consider, but let us not fear that we should cower away from the will of God. The devil’s cunning and trickery is to try and prevent your salvation (see Matthew 13:19). Not succeeding there, he would destroy your walk with Christ through all manner of deceptive attacks. Jesus warned Peter in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
 
The first command we find in our text today concerning overcoming the evil one, is not the one that many people rush toward. Most, from my observations, will gladly follow the second of the two commands, to resist the devil, but if the first is not first, then the second will be impossible. We are commanded to: “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God.” This is where it has to begin, for without first submitting to the LORD you will be unable to stand firm against the enemy. Our LORD, Himself, overcame the enemy through God’s word. But do not think that He merely threw Scripture at the devil as if were darts at a dartboard. Jesus submitted Himself to His Father in obedience to the Word. In the face of His great temptations by Satan, Jesus stood in faithful obedience to the Scriptures He quoted. That, my friends, is how you submit to God. Our text today is nestled in between two texts that entreat us to humility. Why? Because submitting yourself to God requires you to leave your pride behind.
 
And, only after submission to the LORD will you or I have the means by which we can resist the devil. This second command, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” cannot be done by your power alone. You must be submitted to Christ. Imagine going to battle against another adversary and your commander has all the necessary information, tactics, and strategies to win the conflict. Will you enter the fray with your own limited wisdom and strength? Or, will you be wise and obediently trust the commands given you from the one who knows the entirety of the battle? How many Christians today have proclaimed this statement: “I’m trying so hard to beat this temptation?” This, or one like it, is a statement from those who believe that they have the strength and wisdom to overcome. Beloved, we are weak and frail and do not have the power in ourselves to stand one moment. It is true, you are commanded to resist the devil. But obedience to that command is found only when you first submit to God.
 
And the result will be as promised: he will flee from you. But, just as our LORD experienced, the enemy doesn’t stay away. Luke 4:13 tells us, “And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.” And when the enemy returns again, we resist him again through faithfully submitting to the LORD Jesus Christ. In this way, we will find victory.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
 
It has been said that trust is an earned response to faithful behavior. That is to say, in order to gain trust you must earn trust and in order to earn trust you must prove yourself trustworthy. Very few lavish trust upon another without some concept of that person’s ability to prove themselves. You would never trust a person to build a house who has never even shown themselves capable of swinging a hammer. So, let us beg the question in this, has God the LORD shown Himself worthy of trust? The answer, of course, is a resounding “YES,” but let us gaze upon the evidence.
 
God has created all things. There is not one atom of this universe that is outside of His Divine hand. He has made it and He sustains it. God is all-powerful and can do all things well. The wisdom and might that it required to cast the universe into existence and maintain it can only come from God. There is nothing outside of His capability—He is trustworthy in this. And God is Supremely loving. Toward wretched and rebellious sinners, the LORD has given His offer of mercy and pardon. Not only that, He took upon Himself in Christ the very punishment that we deserved. God’s love is completely trustworthy. And in light of this we read in Psalm 62:11-12, “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.”
 
We come to the opening of our text today and read: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” How many doubts afflict us in our narrow understanding of all that there is? We are plagued by information coming from the world that may or may not be accurate. Perhaps we think we possess a greater wisdom and would prefer to listen to our own hearts. Yet, in Jeremiah 17:9 we read, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Like a walking stick made of broken reeds, we lean on our own understanding with tenuous results. We cannot understand the end from the beginning, we do not know the outcomes of every possible choice that we could potentially make. God, however, sees the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 46:10).
 
So, then, how do we trust in the LORD? Simple, we look to His revealed word. He has provided for us a clear and concise manifesto for life. The Scriptures teach us who God is, reveal the way of salvation, guide us in proper decisions, express God’s wrath against sin and His discipline toward His children. The Holy Bible is the very utterance of the Almighty and we will do well to trust it. I would encourage you to read Psalm 19. Consider verse 11 of that text, “Moreover, by them [God’s word] is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” And this trust we place in the LORD is with our whole heart. Do not give Him half-hearted devotion and trust. It does require faith to trust the LORD completely. You cannot see nor can you weigh the outcome of obedience to Christ, so you must take Him at His word and do as He commands.
 
And, with such a trust in the LORD, let us consider the second half of our text today: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” At every crossroad, with every dilemma, will you acknowledge Him? Not merely acknowledge His existence in your life, or even His presence on your journey. In every way you choose, does His will come into your decision-making process? We tend to walk upon crooked paths in life, suffering the anguish of sin’s dreadful consequences because we failed to acknowledge the LORD in a particular way we determined to go. We sought our own pleasure, or trusted our own pride and then, suddenly, the way became dark and twisted. James 3:14-15 describes the wisdom that is not from God, “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.” What a crooked road indeed.
 
But God will make our paths straight. He has the wisdom to lead us along the way that is best. It may not be the easiest way, nor will it be the most pleasurable way on many occasions, and it will never lead us along a path that elevates our own hubris. But consider the words of David in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
 
Beloved, let us walk along the path that God has provided. Let us trust Him and lean on His wisdom. There is hope and joy with the LORD—and His straight way will lead us to His promised end.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​1 Peter 2:21 ~ “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
 
When you want to know how the world will love you for your Christian faith, you need only look to the cross of our LORD Jesus and embrace it. How much history in the church is made up of dark and dangerous periods where persecution of the faithful was a common theme? There has never been a century yet since the days when our LORD’s feet trod upon this earth that the church didn’t suffer the villainy of the world. Jesus warned us in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” But, mighty warrior, you are called upon by the LORD to stand with Him, even when taking that stand comes at the price of persecution.
 
There are some cultures in the world today where many Christians live at peace. They enjoy relative ease and safety and a quiet, contented life. If that is you, then praise God for He has granted you an easier road than most. For the most part in the remaining part of the world, Christians are faced with hatred, hostility and even the threat of imprisonment and death. And our text for today brings us up to that place where we must prepare our hearts to the call to join in the sufferings of Christ.
 
And that is where our text for today begins: “For to this you have been called.” Some might think it a strange thing to be “called” to this experience. There are those who ask “what has God called me to do?” Well, according to our text, He has called you to suffer. Dear Christian, the truest sailors are proved in the fiercest storms. The greatest warriors are tested, not on the practice field but on the battle field. There is a reason that God has given us spiritual armor for our journey through this world (see Ephesians 6:10-20). Faith must be tested in the crucible of difficulty. 1 Peter 1:7 states, “So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Those who teach a doctrine of ease and comfort do not understand the value or the rich connection that comes from suffering with our LORD. Paul would say this in Galatian 6:17, “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”
 
And, let us then look at the connection that comes through suffering with Christ. Our text says, “because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example.” We look to Jesus as the absolute example of what He would have us do in the face of suffering. Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” When you endure suffering for being a Christian, and you face it with the grace and patience of Christ, you put on display the power of your faith in the face of trials. For your faith is to be always looking unto Jesus, whether in times of peace or times of hardship.
 
And, finally, let us see the end of our text that tells us that we should “follow in His steps.” You and I do not have a separate Christian journey than those who went before us. We are not exempt from suffering and persecution merely because we have not faced much difficulty because of our faith. We are commanded to walk in the way of Christ—and no other. You cannot order your own path, nor can you establish your own measure that is acceptable. It is the LORD Jesus who paved the way, and He is the one who will plan your way as well. 1 Peter 4:1-2 tells us, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” If your version of the Christian faith steers you away from “taking up your cross” and following Christ (see Luke 9:23) then you are on the wrong path.
 
So, why is this of necessity? Why talk about suffering and persecution? Because you need to be forewarned that it may be closer than you realize. You do not live in a friendly, safe world where Christianity is desired. Let us set our hearts to endure whatever we must as we strive to be faithful to the LORD Jesus, Who’s steps we desire to follow.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Zechariah 10:6 ~ “I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.”
 
There are many promises found in this rich text from Zechariah. God will strengthen His people—the house of Judah, from whom the Messiah would come. God will save His people—the house of Joseph, enslaved in Egypt and awaiting a strong deliverer. But for today, let us gaze upon the great compassion of the Almighty. At the end of the text, the LORD says that He will “answer them.” What question are they asking? It is the same question asked during their enslavement in Egypt—who will deliver us from our captivity? It is the question asked by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:24, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” And the answer is the same: “I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.”
 
How foolish we are when we do not trust the compassion of God. So many promises enrich the Scriptures revealing the LORD’s tender heart toward His people. In Matthew 9:36 Jesus says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The nation of Israel, delivered into captivity because they were rebellious against the LORD God, was given a tremendous promise of a compassionate restoration. And though the LORD may have sent us into a disciplinary condition to purge our rebellion, yet He will have compassion on His children still. So let us consider this promise from our text today: “I will bring them back because I have compassion on them.”
 
The first thing to note is that it is the LORD who will bring His children back. He says, I will bring them. There is no mistaking that it is impossible for a person sent away in captivity to rescue themselves from God’s discipline. Imagine Jonah for a moment. He ran from the LORD in rebellion against the command to preach to Nineveh. Thrown overboard, Jonah was swallowed up by a great fish and at that point, there is no possibility of rescue unless the LORD deliver him (see Jonah, chapter two). In Isaiah 43:13 God declares, “Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”
 
Next, let us consider where the LORD restores: “I will bring them back” He says. Back, meaning, returning to a place that had once been. The LORD will restore His people back to the land He promised them. The Nation of Israel was given a garden-like dwelling in the land of Canaan. They enjoyed the blessing and bounty of the Almighty and were delivered from their enemies. But, because of their unrepentant rebellion, the LORD sent them into captivity in Babylon. Yet, the land of promise was still there—waiting and resting until the people of God should be restored. And, for the Christian today, how many times do we lose that sweet connection to Christ and that delightful fellowship with His people when we walk in rebellion. The LORD may have to remove us for a time in discipline, but He will bring us back to Himself. Hebrews 12:9-10 says, “Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
 
Finally, let us open our hearts to the tremendous reason why the LORD restores: “because I have compassion on them.” How foolish it is to fail in believing that the LORD has true mercy for His children. We suffer under His rod of discipline, facing the painful consequences of our sins. But let us also remember that the LORD is as the father in the story of the prodigal son. He is waiting and watching for His children to return in repentance and love for Him. Consider the young son’s desire to return to his father, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:18-19). And when we do return, we discover a restoring compassion from the Father that will embrace us with love and receive us with forgiveness, “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).
 
So great is the compassion of Christ that it is as if we had never been rejected, as if we were never once rebellious. Consider Jeremiah 15:19, “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me.” Beloved, if you have wandered away from the LORD, even now turn back in repentance. He is ready to forgive you in Christ and receive you. And in His compassion, He will restore you to Himself.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Acts 2:37 ~ “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
 
What brings a person to their knees before the LORD in humble repentance and confession of sin? It is true conviction. A sinner lost or a Christian in sin are both in need of that real sense of the inner turmoil of the heart. A sinner lost must look to the Savior and a Christian in sin must do the same. Sin ignored is not sin removed. Colossians 3:5 instructs, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Oh that we all would have a burning sense of conviction over our sin for the mortification of the flesh and the growth of holiness in our lives.
 
As our text today reveals, it begins by hearing: “Now when they heard this.” Heard what? They heard the preaching of the gospel of Christ by the Apostle Peter (see Acts 2:14-36), culminating in verse 36 with this great crescendo, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” In essence, the One you crucified is not dead, He is risen and He is established for all eternity as both LORD and Christ. He is the One to whom you will bend your knee—either in humble submission or in forced acknowledgement (see Philippians 2:10). Yet I have seen a trend that indicates mere knowledge of truth is not enough. For an observation of this, consider those who smoke cigarettes. At this point in our medical knowledge, there is enough information available for every individual to know without question that smoking is a dreadful hazard to their health. Yet, with all this advanced knowledge, the behavior continues. Why? Because there must be something more than mere information. Romans 10:17 clearly states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Hearing must happen, but something else needs to accompany it.
 
Our text today gives us the very condition that must accompany the hearing of God’s word: “they were cut to the heart.” Like a sword plunging into their soul was the word of God into the hearts of those who listened to Peter. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” But where did this conviction come? Who cut them to the heart? There were far more than three thousand who heard Peter that day, but God’s word did not penetrate their hearts and bring them to such an anxious state in the sight of God. What was the difference? We find it in John 16:8, “And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” It was the work of the Spirit of Christ that brought the overwhelming sense of guilt and desperate need for mercy upon the hearts of those who were willing to listen.
 
And this true conviction brought about a real longing in their hearts as they cried out, “Brothers, what shall we do?” This is the cry of all who are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit over sin. And the answer is always the same: repent. In Revelation, chapters two and three, when the LORD Jesus confronts the churches with their sins, He calls them to repent. When John the Baptist began his work of ministry it was with a call to repent (see Mark 1:4). It is with a sense of such Divine grief that a person is drawn to repent of sin. 1 Corinthians 7:10 declares, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” This is no tactical or practical means of overcoming sin through some therapeutic approach, it is the heart-wrenching desire to be rid of sin and found in Christ. It is the work of the Spirit and the gift of God to lead a person to such a state of repentance that they will love righteousness and hate wickedness. There may be necessary steps to be taken afterward, but there must be that initial conviction of sin. And, when such godly grief comes upon the heart and repentance is produced... what a promise that comes: salvation without regret. True liberty and freedom are found when sin is forsaken and Christ is loved.
 
Have you heard the word of God and it has confronted your sin? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of guilt before the LORD Almighty? Then, do as they did in Acts—cry out to God and ask what you must do. Don’t delay! This is no time to ignore it. He will tell you this: “repent.” God delights to show mercy and longs to cover you in His righteousness. Joel 2:13 tells us, “’Rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” This is God’s purpose when He gives you true conviction.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Deuteronomy 33:27 ~ “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’”
 
Moses had come to the end of his labors in leading the people of Israel through the wilderness and back to the edge of the promised land. Soon, Joshua would take charge of the work and bring them over the Jordan River and conquer the land promised to them since the days of Abraham. Here, in Deuteronomy, chapter 33, Moses takes time to pronounce blessing upon the nation of Israel. Tribe, by tribe he speaks over them the prophetic word of the LORD concerning their future. But in the midst of his declarations, he also reveals far more than just their earthly habitation that will be theirs by the power of God. For all our earthly dwelling places are merely temporary, there is something far greater in store for the people of God.
 
As we consider our text for today, let us take a moment to understand this great and glorious promise: “The eternal God is your dwelling place.” We look so much to our temporary shelters in this world. We strive to be comfortable, careful to hold fast to that which will shelter us and give us peace. Many people stroll down memory lane as they reminisce on the places they used to dwell. There is nothing wrong with appreciating our earthly habitations. Even I have enjoyed going back to the old farmsteads and homes of my growing years, recalling former days with happiness. Certainly, Israel looked toward the promised land of Caanan with anticipation. But Moses reminded them that there is a greater life—an eternal one—to look upon. The Apostle Paul spoke of such a dwelling in 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Paul does not reference our homes built with wood and stone, but the habitation of this earthly body. For truly you do not merely exist in time and then are no more, but you have an eternal soul, a life that will outlive this mortal shell. So I ask: is God your eternal dwelling place? With all that would happen for Israel to receive the promised land, it was a clear reminder to them that the Almighty was their true habitation.
 
And, as God is the dwelling place of His people, He is also the one who upholds them. As our text for today states, “and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Girding up, holding all things, are the mighty arms of the LORD. They are “underneath.” That is, they are the support for Israel, the resting place for the people of God, and the sure security for all who place their faith in the LORD. And they are the “everlasting” arms. That is, from the days of antiquity to all future days that will come, the LORD will support His people. Paul understood the strengthening might of the LORD. We read in 2 Timothy 4:17, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.” Despite the abandonment of friends and the persecutions from the world, Paul looked to the LORD for strength. Dear ones, we must do no less. If you belong to God in Christ, He will give you the strength you need to do what He commands. Even as the LORD gave strength to Israel as they obeyed in the promised land, so we will experience God’s sovereign arms holding us up as we strive in faithfulness with Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 states, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”
 
As the LORD upholds His people, providing strength and support, the Almighty also provides deliverance from the enemy. Our text today closes with this thought, “And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy’.” God drove out the inhabitants of Caanan as He led His people into the promised land. He thrust out the enemy and destroyed them. And someday the LORD will put away all who are enemies of those who belong to Christ. Revelation 20:10 says, “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” God Almighty will command His enemies to be destroyed—unable to corrupt His people ever again. Romans 16:20 declares, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” If you ever find yourself struggling against the enemy of God, trust that soon Jesus will destroy him.
 
God, dear Christian, is our dwelling place. He is our shelter, our strength, and our defender. He will do as He promised. Israel experienced it as they entered the promised land; you and I will as we walk with the LORD until we arrive at His everlasting home.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Hebrews 1:1-2 ~ “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
 
Do you hearken to the voice of God? He has given His voice to mankind throughout our entire existence, from the day that Adam breathed his first breath, unto the very final day of man, God is speaking. For multitudes it is an unfamiliar voice, one that is missed because the listener does not desire to actually listen. Like the ruling council that condemned Stephen, they put their fingers in their ears lest they hear God’s actual word (see Acts 7:57). Atheists refuse the voice of God; skeptics ignore His voice. But all who reject the voice of God do so to their own peril. Hebrews 12:25 says, “See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.”
 
In the past, the LORD God spoke “at many times and in many ways.” There is ample evidence in the Old Testament to verify that the LORD spoke to the people of the earth. He spoke to Adam and Eve after they had sinned in the garden (see Genesis 3:9-24). The voice of the LORD came through for Elijah when he went up the mountain in 1 Kings 19:12-13, “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” With all that, the LORD’s primary method of communicating with His people was through His prophets who would bring the Word of the LORD to the people. These men wrote down the message of the LORD so that it would carry on for all generations. Peter understood this when he declared in 2 Peter 1:19, “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” But what confirmation came for the prophetic word? It was the birth, life, death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ. At every point along the progress of the life of our LORD, the Old Testament declared that it would be so. Not one prophetic word concerning the Messiah failed, every one was fulfilled in the LORD Jesus.
 
And now, as our text today declares, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,” we must understand it is of vital importance that you and I pay attention. We learn from John that Jesus is the abiding Word of God. Consider John 1:1-2 & 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Do not do as some who pass off the Word of God as an archaic message that has little value in a modern world. For the timeframe of its proclamation does not negate the truth of its message. For Jesus as LORD declares His word and it rings with the authority of the Maker of all things. For we see in our text for today that Jesus not only is the Son of God, but He is, “appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” If the judge made a way for you to be freed from the punishment of the crimes you’ve committed, would you not treasure those words like gold? And the Judge of all mankind has given us His Word and instructed us on how we can obtain salvation in Christ.
 
As we started in this reading, I ask again: will you hearken to the voice of God? What prevents you from hearing His voice from His word? Simple: a lack of faith. Hebrews 4:2 states, “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” Those who died in the flood did not believe God’s word so they did nothing (see Genesis, chapters 6-7). The firstborn who perished at the first Passover did so because they did not apply God’s word by faith (see Exodus 12:1-32). And those who depart unto everlasting judgment do so because they did not believe the Word of Life (see John 3:18).
 
Hebrews 10:22 states, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” So, today, I encourage you to listen to the Word of God. God is speaking through His written testimony and He calls you to attend to His words by faith.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Habakkuk 2:20 ~ “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”
 
As the LORD proclaims His dreadful woes against the society that has abandoned the ways of God, He culminates it in the woe against idolatry, the sin by which one worships a false god. It is truly ludicrous from God’s perspective for mankind to worship any idol, for they are as nothing. In Habakkuk 2:18-19, prior to our text for today, the LORD speaks and declares, “What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.” Let it be a despised thing in our hearts as well, for idolatry and the false religions of the world only lead people away from the Living God and unto all manner of woeful paths. Beloved, there is no one besides the LORD. None can compare to the Almighty, nor is there anything created by men or schemes devised in the mind of man that is of greater worth than the knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ.
 
As we consider our text for today, it opens with a simple conjunction: “but.” That is to say, despite all the idolatry that has ravaged the world and defiled the minds of men, God, the LORD, still is. And, no matter the images of men that are elevated, or the mentality of mankind that seeks to depose the LORD, He will always and forever stand alone as the only Creator and Sovereign over all creation. Psalm 2:1-3 speaks of the kings of the earth striving to break free from God’s sovereignty, but it is all in vain. Psalm 2:4 says, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD holds them in derision.”
 
As we observe the text, let us look upon three critical things
 
First, God is exalted. It declares that “the LORD is in his holy temple.” Dear ones, this is not the temple built by human hands. This is not Solomon’s temple, created during the reign of the wise king. This is the temple of the LORD which is in the highest of places. Isaiah 6:1 says, “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Though the LORD humbled Himself and took on flesh as Jesus the Messiah (see Philippians 2:6-11), He is exalted above all and is seated on the throne in glory. Do not bring God down in your estimation, for He is, and ever will be, the LORD of all.
 
Second, God is worshiped. Look, my friends, at the location where the LORD is present: “in his holy temple.” Temples are created for deities to be worshiped. The temple of Diana in Ephesus is supposed to have been one of the great wonders of the world. Again, in Isaiah 6:2-3 we find the angelic seraphim gathered for the worship of God, “Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Our LORD Jesus declared that the Father is to be worshiped in spirit and truth (see John 4:23). Do you seek to worship the LORD? In defiance of all the idolatry this world will bow before, let us worship the LORD Jesus.
 
Third, God is feared. This understanding comes from the closing statement of our text: “let all the earth keep silence before him.” So much noise happens in this world. Let not our expression before the LORD merely add to the voluminous amount of noise. Courtrooms get cleared when the gallery of observers show no respect to the judge or proceedings because they were making too much noise. How often is it that we come before God to listen rather than speak? Consider Ecclesiastes 5:1, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” Let us do as the Scripture indicates and be still so that we will know that God is the LORD (see Psalm 46:10).
 
In this cacophonous, self-adulating and idolatrous time wherein we live, let every Christian find themselves firmly fixed upon the LORD Jesus, that He should be exalted, worshiped and feared. May this be true of all of us.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​John 2:17 ~ “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’”
 
Do you know the great passion the LORD has for the house of His Father? He is driven by love for the Father that all things pertaining to Him should be holy and righteous. There is no acceptance of anything that would taint the glory of the LORD nor anything that is acceptable that is not also consecrated to Him. The LORD Jesus, upon entering the house of God, found all manner of worldliness transpiring. It had become a market, with people buying and selling, and a great money exchange happening. John 2:14 describes it, “In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.” The response of our LORD tells the tale. He was not merely somewhat frustrated, nor was He mildly disappointed, the LORD Jesus was zealous for the honor of His Father. So much was this zeal upon Him that He took drastic steps to clear the floor. John 2:15 tells us, “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.”
 
How about now? Today, no specific structure exists in Jerusalem where the nation of Israel gathers. No physical edifice remains that can be considered a temple to the LORD. Does that mean the zeal of the Son now grows cool as there is no “house” for God? On the contrary. There is now a different structure being built—a different house that is under construction. Hear the words of 1 Peter 2:5, “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Not only is the church considered the “spiritual house,” we are also the temple of the Holy Spirit. Consider what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” We see in Revelation, chapters two and three, the LORD Jesus navigating through the churches, expressing His delight in their faithfulness to Him. But we also see in those two chapters the LORD exposing sins in the churches and commanding repentance. Zeal for the house of the LORD still consumes Him.
 
We will use the experience in the temple as an example for us. Within the temple, under the guise of providing the necessary elements for the sacrifice, all manner of worldliness and corruption took place. The high priest did not confront the wickedness within, nor did the various Scribes and Pharisees. The ruling council had little concern. Who should have cared about the worship of God, that it was holy and set for the honor of the Name of the Almighty? Should it not have been the people inside? Yet, it took Jesus with a whip to cleanse the temple and remove worldliness from within. So, let me ask you this: what will it take for Jesus to cleanse out of your heart all worldliness? He will have His bride purified, righteous and holy before His Father. And, as He did in the temple, He does still today in the lives of His people.
 
There are many who plead with the LORD to heal them. Often the prayers of the saints go up before God on behalf of their circumstances, that their way should be eased of difficulty. On occasion, the people of God will pray for the lost that they should be saved. All these, and many other prayers are of great value, and should continue to be voiced in our times of prayer. But who, reading this, can say that they have prayed for the LORD Jesus to come into their lives with a whip and drive out all wickedness from within? Many seek the comfort of God, but let us also desire the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Concerning the disciplining hand of the Almighty, we read in Hebrews 12:10, “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
 
But before the LORD takes such drastic measures to bring us to holiness, let us do as 2 Corinthians 7:1 entreats, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” I would have you read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 to understand the promises referenced in this text.
 
Do as the Apostles did, and remember that it is written, zeal for God’s house will consume the LORD Jesus. You are God’s house if you are born again, and He is consumed with a desire for your perfection, for your moving away from sin to righteousness and from wickedness to holiness. Out of love for Christ and in the fear of God, let us cleanse ourselves from all things that defile. May the same zeal for holiness consume us as well.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Hosea 2:19-20 ~ “And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.”
 
The story of Hosea and Gomer bear a great reflection upon the nation of Israel and the LORD God. How often Israel would depart from the LORD and turn to idolatry and the practices of the nations around them, only to bring the anger of God against them. Even as Gomer would depart Hosea to her former life, abandoning her husband for the world, so the people of Israel abandoned the LORD. But God is rich in mercy as we discover in Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” We often forget how truly great is the Father’s love for His children. We tend to wander away from the pure and sincere devotion we ought to have for the LORD and play again in the world. But as a Bridegroom, the LORD Jesus has established His covenant with us and will not break it. He has redeemed us, and all who belong to Him will be with the LORD forever.
 
So, as we consider our text for today, let us take a moment and give thanks to the LORD for His rich and patient love with which He loved us.
 
We find at the beginning of the text today that the LORD will betroth His people with Himself forever. This is not built upon some sentimental condition of the LORD, nor upon some flighty, insubstantial emotion. This betrothal is a profession of Divine love that Jesus makes for His bride, the church. It is a promise that will be fulfilled at the wedding of the Lamb of God and His people. He has promised, and will keep, the eternal declaration of His union with us. Matthew 25:10 tells us that there will come a day when the LORD shall return and bring His people in with Him. “And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.” Beloved, the Bridegroom—the LORD Jesus—is going to come again and lay claim to His bride and He will take the church to be with Him, holding firm to the loving promise of the betrothal.
 
But, as often is the case concerning the vows shared between the bride and groom, so there are commitments and promises to follow along with the joining of Christ and His bride. There are five pledges of commitment offered in this text, four are masculine and one feminine—let me explain. The first four: righteousness, justice, steadfast love and mercy are imputed to the church by the LORD, for we do not possess the capacity for any one of those virtues independent of the LORD. We know from the Scriptures that there are none righteous—no, not one (see Romans 3:10-18). Consider Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” But the last one, formulated in the feminine in the Hebrew language, conveys the idea that this is an offering of the church to the LORD. Our vow before the LORD in this betrothal is: faithfulness. The LORD’s faithfulness to His people is assured, proven over the length of time that mankind has existed on this earth. It is our faithfulness that is in question—as illustrated in the story of Hosea and Gomer. We read in Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Faith is a gift from God, imparted to the heart (see Ephesians 2:8-9). But faithfulness is our willingness to live out that faith through loving obedience and trust in the LORD.
 
The final statement of our text today is rich with promise and the fulfillment of the covenant of God in Christ: “and you shall know the LORD.” The greatest love is found in greater and greater knowledge and understanding of a husband and wife. Such it will be for the church, knowing the LORD and growing to know Him more and more. Paul prayed this in Colossians 1:10, “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
 
Let us, also, lovingly wait for our LORD who will come and receive His betrothed. Soon, my friends, the betrothal will be fulfilled and the LORD and His people will be together forever. Until that day, keep your spiritual lamps lit as watch for His return.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Colossians 1:29 ~ “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
 
As we looked upon the need for Christian preaching yesterday, it seems of necessity to follow up with the Apostle Paul and understand the passion of Christian preachers. There are many halfhearted proclaimers who determine to try and slide through the work with little effort and only a modicum of preparation. Some perform their duty with their eye upon a worldly prize, hoping to try and gain for themselves some measure of personal success or fame. These ones will dispense all manner of talk, shifting from one man-centered topic to another as they try to build a standing in society. Paul would describe them as peddlers, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). And our LORD Jesus would characterize them as “hirelings.” Consider John 10:13, “He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” These hirelings will not suffer through hardship for the sake of the church.
 
We read in Proverbs 14:23, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” And this is the first thing we must see from the apostle—and strive to find within ourselves—is the willingness to labor at the work. Paul said of himself, “For this I toil.” To understand this word “toil” you must see it as labor that leaves you exhausted. It is the striving that brings you to a place where you have spent all your effort and energy. This is the true pursuit of the preacher. Paul’s “this” referenced back to his determined work to bring all believers to maturity in Christ—that was his toilsome labor which he endeavored to finish. But it goes for all of God’s servants that there must be a pursuit that drives your life in Christ. Paul picks up a similar thought when he says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). So, dear Christian, what is your “this?” What is it that has so gripped you in Christ that you must labor unto exhaustion until your time on this earth is complete? Paul described it in his own life as a “pouring out.” He says in Philippians 2:17, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
 
What we find next in our text today is the passion of the preacher. Paul states that he toiled, “struggling with all his energy.” There was no great lack of passion on the part of the Apostle Paul. The grace of the LORD Jesus that Paul experienced was so transformative in his life that he spent the rest of his days pushing the gospel as far as he could reach. He testified to this in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” The term “struggling” in our text today conveys the idea of agonizing as if in an athletic competition. No one runs half-hearted if they have any desire to win the race, and no Christian goes into the work of Christ with a lackadaisical approach to the task. Our LORD Jesus tells us, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Beloved, the way is hard. It takes a certain determination to continue in Christ. But you must see this truth: it is the LORD who energizes. It is “his [God’s] energy” that Paul relied upon. We are a weak and frail people who cannot lift one pebble of the mighty will of God. But let God energize you and you will find that you have the means to move mountains as you passionately pursue His will.
 
Which brings us to the final thought for today: there is power in the preacher. But, my friends, this is not the power of the servant of God, but power from God for the servant to work. Paul declared, “that he powerfully works within me.” We are limited creatures at best, incapable of accomplishing the commands of the King of kings. But, let me ask you this, do you desire to serve the LORD? Is there that flame of passion in you to fulfill the will of God through your life? Then, beloved, you must function in His power that works within you. Jesus promised such power in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” But to work in His power you must submit yourself in obedience to His Word. If you have your own agenda, you will have to do it in your own might.
 
So, let us strive, my friends, to be found faithful till the end.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Colossians 1:28 ~ “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
 
One of the great dangers in the modern era of Christian preaching is to present the call to a changed life without a surrendered one. Self-help messages that give spiritual advice for the betterment of your personal life sound reasonable to the listening ear, but they lack any true transformative power for they forsake the proclamation of the One who does the work of transforming the heart. But the great apostle to the Gentiles did not miss the true message. And, my friends, if you are reading this and are a pastor or preacher to the people of God, or if you hold any opportunities to make proclamation to any who would listen, then I would urge you to heed this writing today. For there is only One who can save, One who can transform a sinner into a saint—and He is the LORD Jesus Christ.
 
And that is where the Apostle Paul begins in our text today. “Him we proclaim.” The central theme to any Christian truth is Christ Jesus the LORD. And this is where we start: the Person we Preach must be the proclamation of the preacher. Any effort to help people find a better life or rebuild a shattered one that does not point the sinner to the Savior nor point the wayward to the King will ultimately lead people astray. Paul expressly declared this in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Beloved, if you are willingly to heed spiritual messages that do not bring you to the LORD, I would urge you to depart from such teachings. That which does not elevate and magnify Christ, no matter how winsome, is a masquerade. Remember, the servants of the enemy are disguised as ministers of righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 11:15).
 
How, then, should such proclaimers conduct their work? Paul expresses it as this: “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom.” This is the Presentation in Preaching. Through words of warning and instruction, the Apostle Paul would have the church taught to follow the LORD Jesus. The warnings are given to divert the wandering soul away from the wrong path. The teachings are given to guide them on the right. And it is done with all wisdom—the wisdom of Christ. The world doesn’t understand the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 declares, “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.” At every point of your life and mine we must turn to Christ, trust in Christ and repent of all things that do not adhere to Christ. If at any point we believe that our own wisdom can deliver us, let us turn back to the Word of God and hearken to the warnings and teachings that He has given. 1 Corinthians 1:30 states, “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
 
And we come now to the great demand upon the minster of the gospel: “that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” This, my friends, is the Purpose for Preaching. You may be reading this and saying to yourself that you do not hold any official duty or office that requires you to preach. Be that as it may, it does not release you from your pursuit of your own maturity in Christ. Do you seek out those who will sharpen you with the Word of God, and not pander to the desires of the world? Paul warned Timothy that a day will come when such people arise, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3). And if you are reading this and have the duty of preaching and teaching God’s eternal truth, then I would implore you to stand firm upon the solid foundation of Christ and His Word. Do not veer to the right or left, but stick to the narrow way. For the great purpose of preaching is to bring people to full maturity in Christ. As John the Baptist would declare, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30). If the pursuit is to find your own inner strength, to discover your great destiny or superior purpose in this world, who then is doing the “increasing?” Let the preaching of Christ bring us to humble ourselves before the One who is exalted above all. For true Christian maturity will always and only be found when we are fully and completely His.
 
There is the need for the clear and valiant preaching of Christ. I write this today in the hopes that it stirs you up to listen to those who both warn and teach with His wisdom. And, if you are to be one such preacher, then you must adhere to this directive from the apostle in order to fulfill the purpose of bringing others to maturity in Jesus.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Psalm 139:7-10 ~ “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
 
What happens when you begin to comprehend the awareness of God? When you know that He knows all things pertaining to you, does it set anxiety in your heart? It is a proper response to tremble at the knowledge of God’s greatness. It is essential to fear the LORD for His power and authority. But what happens when you know that HE knows all the hidden secrets of your heart? It may cause you to want to flee from Him. Let me encourage you, even now, to read the entirety of Psalm 139.
 
In our text today, we discover the full measure of God’s absolute knowledge of all things—and especially all things pertaining to mankind (see Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16). Nestled between two statements of God’s perfect knowledge, David cried out, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” Oh what anxiety rises up in the heart of a man who knows that his ways are found out! All who dwell on this earth have sinned against the LORD and many have imagined that they have carefully hidden all their thoughts and secrets. But the LORD God Almighty knows every hidden thing. Consider what it says in John 2:24-25, “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” It would be as if you stood before a judge, and he is the very one you have wronged. Locked in the courtroom, there is no place for you to flee from the certain judgment that will come. David knows that there is no place to go. Heaven belongs to God… Sheol does as well. Great distances of far away places cannot be far enough to flee from God’s presence, for God is the Ever-Present One.
 
However, I want you to see a difference in the mentality of the psalmist. As he considers the vast understanding of the Almighty, David looks and perceives a different purpose to the full awareness of God. Many look to the LORD (and at times rightly so) as the severe judge that will condemn all sin and punish the wicked. For them, the presence of God is too much and they would rather have the rocks and mountains fall upon them and hide them from God’s wrath (see Revelation 6:15-17). But David writes, “even there your hand shall lead me.” The “hand” mentioned in our text today is not a closed fist waiting to crush, but an open hand ready to guide. David sees the LORD reaching out with an open hand to lead. Oh, beloved, reach out and grasp the open hand of the Savior. See the wounds placed there, marks of your redemption that remain as the evidence of His great love for you. He wants to guide you, to take you by the hand and shepherd you. God Almighty knows all there is to know of you, and in His mercy and grace, He will redeem you and pardon your iniquity. Shall you not be guided by the nail-pierced hand of the King of kings? Hear the call of the Savior in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.”
 
Not only will the LORD guide you with His open hand, but our text today also states, “your right hand shall hold me fast.” The “right hand” is the hand of strength and authority. But, dear ones, you are not locked in the death grasp of the LORD of Hosts. If you belong to the LORD Jesus Christ, you are grasped by the hand that will preserve and protect you all the way to eternity. You are secured firmly in the loving hold of the LORD Almighty. Jesus said as much in John 10:28-29, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” Rejoice, dear Christian, for you are held fast in the hands that cannot and will not let you go.
 
This blessed Psalm opens up our minds and hearts to the wonder of God’s perfect awareness of all mankind. There is no place to hide, nor is there any means of preventing the LORD from knowing all about you. Does this cause you to want to flee? Then run straight into the hands of the Savior and do as David did: pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Philippians 4:19 ~ “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
 
How confident are you in the LORD? In our text for today, many have laid hold of this text in the hopes of manipulating the LORD into giving them everything their heart desires. But does this Scripture put God under conscription to the church? Does the Master have to bow to the demands of the servant? My dear friends, this will never be. The LORD has not once given Himself to be subservient to the whims of man—even redeemed man. He does not prostrate Himself before us. There are some who are very much like the crowd that had partaken of the fish and loaves. When they found Jesus had departed, they went looking for Him. Their purpose was not to worship or glorify Him, but to demand of Him another meal. The LORD said as much in John 6:26, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”
 
He does, however, provide blessed promises that we can anchor ourselves upon and know that as we are faithful to Him, we will experience these very great and precious promises. Our text for today is one such Divine promise, expressed by the Apostle Paul, who himself went through hardship and suffering, yet understood that the LORD supplies everything. Peter expressed this in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” And this is how we must come to our text for today.
 
There is a source to this promise—and that source if God. We read right in the very first part of the text, “my God will supply.” How dreadful is it when we go chasing after the supplies of the world, seeking the resources of those who are hostile to the LORD. Consider Abraham for a moment. We read in Genesis 14:22-23, “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich.”’” Our LORD Jesus commands us in this matter as well in Matthew 6:31-33, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This does not mean we should lounge about and wait for gold to fall from the sky. We are commanded to work hard to provide as we are able. But there are many who have squandered their virtue and integrity in order to accumulate the treasures of this earth. Let it be said of those who belong to Christ that we will work hard and seek the LORD, trusting that He will provide—for His promise is given.
 
There is also a need to be met. Our next statement in our text for today is this: “every need of yours.” To grasp this, we must come to understand what is our “need.” The term signifies a necessity of the moment often associated with our faithful obedience to Christ. Paul considered the sacrificial giving of the church in Philippi (see Philippians 4:18) and told them that the LORD will meet their need. Because of their service to Christ and the apostle, they now were in a greater state of necessity. And that is where our needs arise. Our willing service to the King of kings is the seeking after His kingdom, and for our obedience to Him, we have needs. There is no indication how the LORD will meet that need, either through our own work, through the generosity of others or by some other method, but God has never failed to do exactly as He promised. At every point of need, the LORD will provide. What will not be provided by God is the satisfaction of our covetous whims.
 
Finally, there is an abundant supply. God will provide for all our needs “according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” It is only in Christ that these promises find their fulfillment. Paul said as much in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” God, alone, has access to the fulness of riches that can be provided to the saints. But this storehouse is richly abundant and He is able to provide all things for His glory. And, if on some occasion there is little provision in this world, then hold your faith secure in knowing that you will be amply supplied when you arrive in His presence. There are times when God, for His own purposes, withholds His bounty while we are in this world. He does it for our good, knowing that it will be to our benefit.
 
So, beloved, we must have confidence in God. Do not look to the treasury of the LORD, but look to the LORD and trust that He will provide according to your need, in conjunction with His will.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​2 Corinthians 6:14 ~ “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
 
I have seen this text often used in regard to the condition of marriage. Many have suggested that to be “unequally yoked” is to be partnered with a spouse who is not a believer in Christ. Or, even less than that, they view the issue of compatibility as the standard for which they determine if they are “unequally yoked.” Though this text is good in its application regarding your potential husband or wife, for surely if you are planning on joining with a spouse, it is of great importance that they be a believer in the LORD Jesus. Yet the primary thrust of this passage of Scripture is not in respect to marriage but in the connection we have with those who are of the world.
 
To be “yoked” to someone is to be bound to them in mutual cooperation and the fulfillment of objective tasks and personal priorities. The image is from a yoke of oxen, bound together and providing mutual effort to do the work of plowing a field. Our LORD Jesus used this very illustration when He said in Matthew 11:29-30, “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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” We are to be yoked to Christ, and that in itself leaves no place for any believer to be bound together with the world as well.
 
There are some who argue against this, taking the fallacious position that this might mean that Christians cannot do anything with those who are not saved. They use such arguments as this: if a believing and unbelieving fireman were attempting a rescue, the believer must not be “unequally yoked” to the other. Of course, the illustration is ridiculous. To use the illustration correctly, to be unequally yoked in that scenario would be to have a fireman with a hose yoked together with a clown holding a water pistol. This would be unequally yoked, for both say they have water to douse the flames, but only one is equipped to do so.
 
And that is the condition of a believer being yoked to the world. It is only those who belong to Christ that hold the understanding of salvation. The world may have all manner of different ideas on how a person can find their life free from sin and rescued by God, but they will all fail. For it is through Christ alone that a person can be redeemed. And it is only those who are redeemed that carry the gospel in truth. I would have you read all of 2 Corinthians chapter six to draw into the full measure of what the Apostle Paul is saying.
 
I fear there are many Christians, today, who keep close fellowship with the world. Sin is rampant in our culture and there are those who believe that joining in with those who practice such wickedness will be the means by which we can show them the love of Christ. But consider this question from 2 Corinthians 6:15, “What accord has Christ with Belial?” There can be no union with the LORD and with His enemy. There is no joining of righteousness and iniquity. And, beloved, if you are in Christ then you are no more of the world than Jesus is of the world. Hear the words of our LORD in John 17:14-16, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
 
In our text today, Paul asks two rhetorical questions: “For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” There are two words (partnership and fellowship) that convey to us the significance of such an alliance. To be a partner is to be in like-business together, to share a mutual endeavor to accomplish a mission. To be in fellowship is to be in union with each other, in close communion and friendship akin to the bond of brothers. And in both these settings, there can be no such condition between righteousness and lawlessness or between light and darkness. And yet, are there Christians, perhaps even now reading this, who have joined in agreement with the wickedness of the world? If so, then consider 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.” Beloved, let there be no partnership or fellowship between the church and the wickedness of this world. And if there is, then do as the text entreats and “go out from their midst, and be separate from them.”
 
Remember the warning given by the Apostle John, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). You will be yoked to what you love. If you love the LORD, you must forsake the world. And if you love the world, you will eventually forsake the LORD. You cannot be mutually yoked to both.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​1 Timothy 2:1-2 ~ “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
 
The practice of the church in the culture is to live as a light and witness of the LORD Jesus Christ until the day we are taken to our Savior and enjoy the presence of the Almighty forever. We are not to conform to the culture around us, but to express godliness and righteousness. Often conflicts arise when we have to strive against the tidal forces of societal sins. But even in those times of conflict, there must be the practice of peacefulness from every believer. And so, we pray.
 
This brings us to our text today. Paul tells Timothy that as of first importance, he is to pray. Not only is he called upon to pray, Paul uses the word “urge” which is to beseech or to implore the young pastor to do this very thing. This is not just a passive mention or a passing reference to the spiritual discipline of prayer. Paul makes it clear that this is of such high priority that it is first in line for the urgency of need.
 
There are four aspects to this call for prayer. 1. Supplications. This is a direct entreaty before God on behalf of the individual. You have noticed that they have challenging situations and you go before the Father on their behalf. 2. Prayers. This is the basic call to stand before the LORD and speak with God concerning the individual. It is earnest conversation with God about the other. 3. Intercessions. The one about whom you pray has great needs that God can fulfill and you are standing in petition on their behalf that the LORD should meet their needs. 4. Thanksgiving. Being exactly what it says, you offer thanks for the one about whom you pray. Even if they are causing strife, you go before the LORD with gratitude. This simple view does not convey the full gravity of prayer, but is meant to help guide you as you are in God’s presence on behalf of another.
 
And who are those “others” supposed to be? I’m glad you asked. Our text today tells us that we are to pray “for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions.” It begins with “all people” and, just in case it was overlooked by some who saw that those in authority were the ones causing the greatest strife against the church, Paul reminded them that “kings and all who are in high positions” are still part of “all people” as well. We are often challenged in our praying when we face the onslaught of the authorities who reject the LORD Jesus and try to silence the church. But our praying for them is not based upon their potential beneficence to the church but of the love that was shed abroad in our hearts through the LORD Jesus. Jesus told us this very thing in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” If we are to emulate our Father in heaven, it will be best seen in the way we love our enemies—and especially in how we pray for them.
 
And, then, we must understand that our prayers have a purpose. The final statement of our text today says, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Is it not an interesting thing that the text does NOT say, that they may become peaceful and quiet toward the church, but that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives. Now, in truth, we are much more able to lead a peaceful and quiet life in this culture when there is a general calm to society. But unrest and the hatred of the LORD and of His church has been the mode of operation the enemy has taken from the start. We must pray then that we will be peaceful and at rest—not in the culture, but in the LORD. When we pray for all people, and those in positions of authority, it changes how we will face them when that time comes. We are to be “godly and dignified” as we navigate our way through this world. The example of our LORD is key. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
 
So, my friends, let us pray. Let us pray for those around us, for all who are in authority, for the principal makers of the rules of society. Perhaps the LORD will grant them a godly wisdom that would lead to a better, more holy society. But if not, let us pray that we can live, not in harmony with the wickedness of this world, but that we can be at peace, even when the world has departed from the truth.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Ecclesiastes 3:1 ~ “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
 
Time is the one commodity that you must spend. You cannot save time, nor can you stop time. There is no means of slowing time or reversing time. All you can do is march through time from this point to the next until you arrive at the end. And, beloved, all will come to that final conclusion. As Solomon pursues the exploration of all things pertaining to life and the value and meaning of things upon this earth, with his statement that “all is vanity” (see Ecclesiastes 1:2) and it is merely a “chasing after the wind” (see Ecclesiastes 1:14), we come to the grand chapter on the disposition of time. Let me encourage you to take your Bible and read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 as they will have a voice in today’s reading.
 
So, let me ask you as we consider the text for today: how do you spend your time? Many will pursue the grand materialism of this world, chasing after the proverbial rainbows of prosperity and personal gain. They go from one potential investment of time to another in the hopes that they will amass enough wealth as to be outside of the reach of earthly struggles. We read in James 4:13-14, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” Others will chase after the hope of pushing the very limits of life, desperate to extend their stay in this world, fearful of what might come beyond the boundary of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 states, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” They have a fear of death and are enslaved because of it. Then there are those who see the opportunities afforded by life are there to collect as much pleasure as possible, desperate to find that one delight that will help them feel alive. They fall into the mindset as stated in Isaiah 22:12-13, “In that day the LORD God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’”
 
All of these conditions Solomon pursued with wisdom (see Ecclesiastes 1:12-13). And in our text today, we read that “for everything there is a season.” Verses 2-8 define for us the very extremities of experience. Birth and death, war and peace, love and hate, in all these experiences there is a season. And in all these things I am certain that each of us have experienced the very elements of such extremes. Your one, singular life is amassed with a multitude of experiences that come through without fail. And soon you will discover, if you have not yet already found out, that the second part of today’s text is also true: “a time for every matter under heaven.” Both suffering and joy, both love and hate, both war and peace, both life and death will find their way through your life—and there will be nothing you can do to stop it, for the relentless advancement of time is appointed unto all of God’s creatures.
 
There will be those who ask concerning their life, or perhaps the life of a loved one, the insistent question: why. They look at their circumstances and ask, “why must I endure this?” Or they see the tragedy of suffering in another and ask, “why must they go through that?” Perhaps they see the advancement of the unjust or the prosperity of the wicked and wonder, “why would God allow that?” Dear ones, all things will be taken care of in time. Because, my friends, someday there will come an end to time. God is eternal, He is not burdened by time, but has created it for the express purpose that mankind would hearken to His call to believe. Ecclesiastes 3:14 says, “I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.” If you are to examine the passage of time in your life, then look through the lens of faith in Christ. See that all things are done so that you will come to know and fear the LORD your God. Consider the words of Paul in Acts 17:26-27, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.”
 
Let us spend our time, in every season (whether good or bad) and with every activity (whether great or small), in the pursuit of and living for the LORD. That, my friends, will be time well spent.


In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Leviticus 13:13 ~ “Then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean.”
 
Communicable diseases, especially those that could be transmitted through some casual touch of skin, caused those in the camp of Israel to be declared “unclean.” This would prevent the unclean person from freely navigating about the camp, spreading the contagion and causing a massive outbreak of sickness among the nation. These skin diseases were often described in the Scriptures as leprosy. It did not specifically mean the exact malady, but any skin disease that could be transmitted from one person to another. The individual who was afflicted would be taken outside of the camp of Israel and quarantined until the priest would declare the person clean.
 
It only took a small mark of disease to declare a person unclean. Leviticus 13:9-11 speaks of this, “When a man is afflicted with a leprous disease, he shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall look. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean.” As we consider this situation, we must consider its analogous expression, for the skin disease that has broken out is an indication of a sickness that is raging within. And such it is with sin. So often, until the sin is broken out so that it becomes evident to all, it remains a hidden and corrupting inner condition. And, like a disease, it will eventually rupture through and show itself. An inner heart of deception will break forth in outward lies. A prideful heart will show in some way through boastful actions. Greed will corrupt the heart and prove itself through materialism. A bitter spirit will be exposed through angry words. Beloved, the list is long—for it is the inner corruptions of the life that defile a person. Jesus said as such in Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
 
But now let’s consider our text for today. Consider what it says about the leprous individual: “and if the leprous disease has covered all his body.” Our first response might be to think that this individual is so far gone that there is no coming back to a life that is clean. Every inch of skin is covered, no clean patch remains. How can this be anything but the full and final corruption of the man? Yet, that is NOT what the text declares: “he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean.” From an outward perspective, this is a ludicrous pronouncement. How can a man be clean when he is covered with the disease? Because, beloved, the body on the inside has fought off the disease and driven it out. It can do nothing more than fall off the body and be gone forever. The inner corruption is destroyed.
 
And so, it is with all who come to Christ by faith. You must understand that it is the inner corruptions that defile a man. Remember what God told Samuel concerning the king that He would select? “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). And though the outward expression might still have the remnants of a sinful condition, yet the inner life of the born-again soul is transformed by the power of Christ. Now, all that remains is the continual shedding of the old life, revealing the pure, clean and holy condition that God has created in the new man.
 
The problem with many who see only the outward appearance is that they are desperate to cleanse the shell and not the heart. Jesus warned the Pharisees of this very thing in Matthew 23:25-26, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” The transformation of the outer life can only come from the cleansing of the heart.
 
So, let me ask you this: has Jesus, our High Priest, pronounced you clean? Has your heart been changed by the LORD so that you love righteousness and hate wickedness? Do you love the LORD your God and have humbled yourself before the Savior, receiving His promised pardon? Jesus said to Peter that those who have taken a bath (been born-again) are completely clean (see John 13:10). My friends, if Jesus has cleansed you on the inside, it will eventually be revealed on the outside as well.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​1 Thessalonians 2:2 ~ “But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”
 
The Apostle Paul often received the hatred of the world for the sake of the Gospel. His entire ministry is covered in scars, a valiant testimony of faithful endurance that reflected his love for the LORD and the church. The LORD Jesus, on the day of Paul’s salvation, spoke to Ananias concerning this. We read in Acts 9:16, “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” The testimony of Paul was given voice through the continual trials he faced. There was no mistaking his devotion to our Savior.
 
Think on this, dear Christian: for what are you willing to suffer? As we consider the text today, there is much that suffering brings when it comes to the clarity of our faith. For you see, a tested faith is one that is proved, not to God, who already knows all things, but to the faithful and to the world. James 1:2-4 states, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The Apostle Peter described the testing of our faith as a crucible to purify it as gold, refined in a fire. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
 
As Paul relays his experiences to the Thessalonian church, he reminds them of what occurred in Philippi. As our text describes, they had, “suffered and been shamefully treated.” The Apostle spoke of events that had occurred in the past, violence against him and his companions that took place in a city not far from Thessalonica. Surely this suffering should have brought an end to Paul’s adventurous efforts to spread the Gospel of Christ in the region of Macedonia. They were ridiculed, hated, spoken against, beaten and imprisoned all for the sake of Christ. But, like the Apostles that began the work, Paul also rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer for the LORD (see Acts 5:41). He was not thwarted through suffering, he was emboldened.
 
But where did the Apostle get such boldness? Was he a naturally courageous soul who could face down the fiercest attacks with a calm attitude? Paul tells us where his courage was found: “we had boldness in our God.” Dear ones, there is no means of ratcheting up the courageous boldness to stand for the LORD without the strength and courage of the LORD to sustain you. Many believe they are of such lion-hearted devotion to the LORD when the troubles are light. But, are we like Peter before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:13, or like Peter in Gethsemane. Consider the bold words of Peter in Matthew 26:35, “Peter said to him, ‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’ And all the disciples said the same.” And yet, at the time of the LORD’s arrest, Peter fled and denied Jesus three times (see Matthew 26:69-75). Think on this: boldness in our God does not come from our willingness to pick up a sword and do battle for Jesus, it comes when we embrace God’s will and do what He has commanded. Paul was commanded to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. His boldness came through because He was walking in faithfulness to the LORD.
 
And because of this boldness in God, the Apostle Paul could do exactly as he described: “to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.” Suffering and conflict are never the stopping points for our faithfulness to Christ. We must never put on the brakes of our willingness to serve the LORD simply because the way has become difficult. For it was in the midst of conflict that Paul preached the Gospel. He did not wait for the issues to settle down, nor did he look for a more agreeable circumstance. The moment came for him to preach the gospel and he took it. Consider how Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9, “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” It was a wide door for effective work, and the adversaries had no power to close the door. He acknowledged the opposition, but he did not use them as the excuse not to work.
 
Let us take to heart a courage for the Gospel. Let us not shrink back from our submission to the LORD, for in faithfulness to Christ we will find boldness to serve Him. And though suffering, shame and conflict arise, let us persist in obedience to Jesus. For therein abides our victory.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​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.”
 
How often do our memories play tricks on us? We recall a certain condition or circumstance only to find out from other reliable sources that we were far afield in our comprehension. We think that someone did something and when investigated, discover that it was all in our imagination. But, perhaps, the worst memories are the ones concerning our sins. We have two different judgments about them: either we think them to be of no consequence, thus, not really a sin—or—we think them to be so grave as to be beyond even the grace of Christ. Both thoughts are wrong. God wants us to remember rightly, that we should walk in faithfulness with Him.
 
For the church in Ephesus, the LORD Jesus chastised them on account of forsaking their first love (see Revelation 2:4). Considering that the church had Paul, Timothy and even the Apostle John as leaders in the fellowship, it is hard to imagine this congregation going astray. Yet, they had. But Jesus did not leave them in the condition, He provided the means by which they could return to the love they had at the beginning. And the command of our LORD was first to “remember.”
 
Before we explore the text for today, let us consider one initial thing. To remember the heights from which they had fallen, the church needed to acknowledge the fact that they, indeed, had fallen. It will be of no use to you or I if we hear the rebuke of God’s Word and then deny that it is true. In Jeremiah 25:7, God rebukes the Israelites because they would not listen, “Yet you have not listened to me, declares the LORD, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.” Beloved, if God’s word declares it to be so, it is so. There is no debating the matter, nor is there making excuses in order to try and negate the truth of it. If you have fallen, listen to the rebuke of God’s word for the LORD is calling you to return to the heights.
 
Okay… you’ve fallen. Now what? The LORD Jesus commands a simple strategy and the first stage of that plan is to remember. But what are we to remember? Our text clearly tells us: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen.” So often we tend to remember, and even replay—over and over again—the state of our fallen condition. We’ve stumbled in sin, tripped up along the way and now are we supposed to lament and wail against ourselves? God has shown us our sin, but He would not have us remain on the heap. It is time to remember, not our failure, but from where we had fallen. Had you achieved growth and strength in Christ? Then look again to that place where you once were. Imagine an athlete having forsaken his training and he develops into a man of no strength or vitality. He needs but to remember where he had already been, and be encouraged that he could arrive there again. So it is with you, beloved. Every Christian is subject to falling in sin. But let those who have stumbled look to the LORD and remember where they belong.
 
The next stage in the stratagem of the LORD is from where our initial steps in Christ originated: “repent.” We started in Christ through repentance, and we continue in Christ with repentance. No amount of personal effort to regain the heights will avail you if you are unwilling to relinquish your sin in the process. A mountain climber who is encumbered by all manner of other paraphernalia will never be able to make an ascent. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
 
The final stage in this procedure is simple: “do the works you did at first.” Basically, get back to that which brought you into a life that was glorifying to God. Were you a man of prayer and have you forsaken those quality hours when you would meet with your LORD? Then, do the things you did at first. Did you feed on the Word of God through daily study and found your life in Christ growing stronger? Then, do the things you did at first and return to His Word and study to show yourself approved of the LORD (see 2 Timothy 2:15). For all the sins that will take a believer off their spiritual feet, the answer of repentance must be followed up with a response of obedience. Paul preached that very thing. In Acts 26:20 Paul states, “But declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”
 
Let us, beloved, remember things rightly. Our imaginations may distort the way we understand things. Turn to God’s word and when the Spirit of Christ convicts you, then do what Christ has commanded so that you can return to walk joyfully upon the heights with Jesus.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​James 3:10 ~ “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
 
How quickly does a person’s heart get revealed when an unguarded moment happens? It gets passed over as merely a “slip of the tongue” but what is hidden in the heart is illuminated when that tongue slips and the words come rolling out. And, before we launch into this writing today, I admit with great sorrow that there have been times when I have spoken words that are not a blessing. I am certain everyone reading this will recognize this to be true of themselves as well. James 3:2 says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” Only the LORD Jesus was ever the perfect man to walk upon this earth. He never once slipped in anything that He said. He was self-controlled in every thought, word and deed—bringing glory to His Father in heaven. If we are to emulate our Savior, it will often be tested first with our words.
 
Let us first begin by looking at the condition pointed to us in the text today: “From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing.” Consider the examples given in James 3:11-12, “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” Can there be from the same heart a fountain of bitterness as well as a river of joy? Those who surround our lives will experience one or the other—and the question is always: which one. Our lives are meant to be a wellspring of living water for those who encounter us, that they should drink deep and find the life of the Savior. Jesus said in John 7:38, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Not only that, but we are to bear the right fruit—the fruit of the Spirit. You cannot declare yourself to be a joyful person when what flows from your lips are the harsh sentiments of a bitter soul. Nor can you declare yourself to be a person of peace when strife issues forth from your lips. Beloved, let it be that our hearts are not mixed with both blessings and curses. Our words prove our heart. Jesus our LORD said this very thing in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
 
We continue with the admonishment of James when he said: “My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” Are they “so” of you? This is where the examination of our lives demands clarity. We do all stumble in many ways, as James has said. Not one of us can fully control his tongue, nor always put a guard upon our mouths that we should never again speak a bitter word. What we must do is something far deeper than that—we must examine the reservoir itself, and not just the spring that flows from it. We must examine our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 commands, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” If the source is poisoned, every stream that flows from it will contain the tainted water. If it is purified, then from our lips will pour forth that which is a blessing and not a curse.
 
John 7:38 gives us our first purifier—believe on Jesus as the Scripture said. Turn to the Word of God and have your faith anchored to Jesus through His revealed truth. Do not look to any other source than the Holy Bible to discover who Jesus is and how to believe on Him. Proverbs 4:23 gives us another purifier—do not let in anything tainted. To keep your heart is to guard it, to stand watch over it, for you know that from it will issue the things of your life. If you want purity, truth, blessing and not curses, then you must not let your heart be governed by anything other than Christ Jesus—not even your own understanding (see Proverbs 3:1-8). And though this is not an exhaustive list, here is a final purifier from Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” In those times when we find ourselves again bringing forth curses instead of blessings, let us draw near again to the LORD and have our hearts sprinkled—washed clean from an evil conscience. We cannot truly stay in the presence of Christ for long except that it will have a transforming effect upon us—making us to be more and more like Him.
 
My friends, the tongue is a restless evil—proving the condition of the heart. Let us then take our hearts before the LORD that He should transform us from one who shouts a curse to one who shares a blessing.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

​Malachi 4:2 ~ “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”
 
There is a Day coming that will clarify everything. Like the sun shining bright after the darkness, this Day will bring with it a revelation of Christ unlike any other day. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” The limited knowledge we have of the glorious goodness and majestic greatness of the King of kings shows with every step we take. However, soon we shall no longer trip over our own sins nor stumble over the snares and traps set for our feet. Soon, beloved, we shall walk in the full light of the Day of Christ.
 
Before we venture into our text for today, I am compelled to give warning to those who do not fear the name of the LORD. Those who reject and despise the LORD Jesus Christ, who hate His ways and scorn His people, upon the same day they will have a vastly different experience. Malachi 4:1 declares, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” The same sun will rise, but it will bring the scorching heat of the wrath of God Almighty upon those who do not fear His name. If you are reading this and are in that category, I plead with you to repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ. Turn from your sins. Fear the LORD and trust in the Savior who took upon Himself the wrath you and I deserve. Soon the day is coming and those who are not born again will do as they did in Revelation 6:15-17, “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’”
 
But for those who fear the name of the LORD, those who have humbled themselves before Him and received from Him the pardon purchased by Jesus Christ, who by faith have surrendered to Christ Jesus as LORD according to His Word, to them God Almighty has given a very great and precious promise. For all who belong to Christ will stand in that Day and rejoice. The scorching sun that will burn the rebellious is the same sun that will rise with healing in its wings. That day will be a day of restoration. Consider what is promised in Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Dear Christian, we have a day coming that will restore us before God and deliver us from the calamity of sin and the decay of mortality. All the elements of life that brings sorrow, pain, suffering and any other tragedy born of our wickedness will be removed forever. Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
 
And then we consider the great joy with which the redeemed of the LORD shall rejoice! Consider the description of our text: “You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” Just imagine for a moment the farmer who goes to the stall where the calves have been locked away, safely sheltered from the elements but still limited by their captivity in the stall. Once released, however, they simply bound with the vigor of their youthfulness, with joy unbridled and the delight of freedom. And such will be every saint of Christ! We shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace (see Isaiah 55:12). In Christ we shall discover a liberty and freedom like we’ve never known while still penned up in this stall of sinful flesh. Once that Day dawns, we shall experience a healing joy unlike any other. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” It is waiting for all who believe, my friends.
 
The Day is coming. Let us fix our minds and hearts on that which God has prepared. For soon, dear ones, upon the great sunrise of glory, we shall see it for ourselves.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

Daniel 3:17-18 ~ “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
 
Three men stood before the raging furnace that was set to destroy their lives. The king demanded that all people in his kingdom would bow down and worship the golden image that he had set up for his own glory. The Chaldeans came forward and declared, “You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image” (Daniel 3:10). And where the population complied with the regulation, there were three prominent Jewish men who determined not to do that which was forbidden by God. Concerning the carved images and idols the LORD commanded, “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:5). Yet, the judgment of king Nebuchadnezzar was such that anyone who did not worship his image would be burned in the furnace.
 
Our text today does not come during a quiet lull as these men stood enjoying an afternoon in spiritual discussion with the king. They stood at the very mouth of the fire that was meant to kill them. They could probably hear the crackling wood as it heated the dreadful furnace. Perhaps a blast of hot air burst forth from the open portal. They were bound, and nothing lay between them and their dreaded fate. They could rescue themselves, for all they had to do was bow to Nebuchadnezzar and they would live. The most common-sense thing to do would be to bow.
 
But God does not call us to obey common sense. He commands us to obey Him no matter what might make more sense in the moment. And I want to ask you a stark question: are you willing to take your stand, even if it means that you have to stand before the fire? For in truth, it is no brave thing to say that we will hearken to the will of God when doing so poses no great threat against our lives. But let our lives face the angry opposition of this world like these men and then remember that the will of God is greater than the demands of the world. This is not unlike the apostles who stood the test in the face of the Sanhedrin. We find them in Acts 5:29 declaring, “We must obey God rather than men.”
 
As we consider Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, let us remember that they were arrested and charged with the crime of failure to worship the golden idol of Nebuchadnezzar—a crime punishable by death. So there they were, standing before the fire and the reason they could with such courage was built upon their absolute confidence in God Almighty. There was no doubt that God could deliver them from the fire, rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar and secure them from death. They declared, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.” It begs the question: what if He does not rescue you? It didn’t matter. They knew God’s command; they would not violate the orders of the LORD. So, as the flames grew hotter, they spoke their bold and resolute words, “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
 
And this is what it takes to stand before the fires of this world when the hatred of the wicked lash out against the people of Christ. Our LORD told us that we would be hated by all men for His name’s sake (see Matthew 24:9). There may come a day when you will be dragged before the magistrates of this world who demand that you bow your knee and worship their false gods. God Almighty has the power to rescue all of His children from the terrors that the world might devise. He can rescue even out of the fire. But, like these three men of our text today, we must also be resolved to stand firm—even if it means we must do so in the very face of the persecution and hatred of the world. Let us take the same view of those in Revelation 12:11, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Are we so in love with our lives in this world that we will defect from Christ in order to preserve it here? Let us not be so! Christ instructs us in Mark 8:35, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” May we all find our lives secure in Christ so that not even the threat of death can move us away from Him.
 
Our lives secure in Christ the LORD
No matter the threats they give
Though we stand before the fire’s door
We shall trust the LORD and live.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael
 
 

​Ezekiel 18:23 ~ “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the LORD God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”
 
The heart of God is the richness of love, not wanting that any should perish but all come to salvation in Christ. There are those who hold God up as a Divine Tyrant, seeking to destroy a man at the first instance of his departure from God’s ways. Others view the LORD Almighty as a thunderous Despot, unrelenting in His desire to obliterate sinners. Those who hold such a view of the LORD have not one clue as to the patient and steadfast love He possesses for His creatures. He made mankind in His own image (see Genesis 1:26-27). And despite the perpetual wickedness of the image bearers, the LORD continues to pursue mankind that they should be saved. However, God is Judge and will punish sin and rebellion. Yet, in His anger He remembers mercy. Consider Habakkuk 3:2, “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.”
 
As we consider our text for today, we must first understand that there is a “death of the wicked” waiting for all sinners. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Many view death incorrectly. They consider it a termination and not a transition of life. To experience death is to experience separation from those who are left behind. Death in this world is to be separated from those we love and live amongst. Even though our bodies die, yet our souls will live on for all eternity. Death spiritually is to be separated for all eternity from the LORD who has loved you and be cast out of His presence forever. So the question is, then: to where will you transition. Jesus declared in Matthew 25:46, “And these [wicked] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” We look at the opening of our text and do you hear the great compassion of God Almighty? He asks a rhetorical question, “have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” The answer is an obvious “no.” And though God will gain glory for Himself through their judgment, for our God is the Righteous Judge, yet there is greater glory for the LORD from our receiving His mercy. James 2:13 declares, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
 
The LORD God takes no pleasure in the death of those who are wicked. Let us hold out to them, then, the great hope of salvation through Jesus Christ our LORD. For if we want to give God glory and bring joy to His heart, then let us pursue the wicked with the gospel that He gave for their salvation and ours. Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Do not think that God is wanting to withhold His gospel from anyone. They may reject it, despise it and prefer the messenger be silent concerning it, but the LORD who loves them will call all men everywhere to repent and believe on the LORD Jesus.
 
That brings us to the response that God expects for all who will come to Him by faith. From our text we read, “and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” The sinner must repent. We read in Ezekiel 18:27, “Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.” As with every other aspect of our lives, our repentance is not perfect, it is often incomplete and yet the question will be: is it real? Is it merely an outward show of remorse or is there a true inward brokenness over sin and a desire for God, a longing that leads a person away from wickedness and to God’s righteousness. The Pharisees were good at the outward display, all the while still loving their inward corruptions. Jesus said to them in Matthew 23:27, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”
 
Let us remember that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. We might rejoice when we see a criminal prosecuted, or a murderer sentenced to his just judgment. But what will occur when we stand before the Righteous Judge of the universe? Do not deceive yourself, or anyone else, into thinking that there is enough righteousness in you to satisfy God. There is not. We all must repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ for salvation. In Mark 1:15, Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Let us strive in this favorable hour to pursue Christ with all our hearts, despising our sin and repenting from them that we should live to bring God pleasure.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael