Friday, December 31, 2021

Darkness & Light 1

July Pass, Reservoir, Marmorera-Stausee

1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 

 

The excellent word “darkness” is defined as: 1. Absence of light. (Note, light is not the absence of darkness – light expels darkness and not vice-versa). 2. Obscurity (unrevealed, cannot be seen, incomprehensibility, vagueness, dimness, foggy); want of clearness or perspicuity (articulacy, clarity, fluency, lucidity); that quality or state which renders anything difficult to be understood (lacking enough facts to make an informed decision; missing all pieces of the puzzle). 3. A state of being intellectually clouded; ignorance. (an obstructed view that does not allow you to see, comprehend, ascend to the full truth). 4. A private place; secrecy; privacy. (Hidden, out of the sight of others, behind the scenes, behind closed doors, not wanting the attention or notice of others). 5. Infernal gloom; hell; as utter darkness. (eternal damnation as the wages of sin and unbelief). 6. Great trouble and distress; calamities; perplexities. 7. Empire of Satan. (the power of darkness). 8. Opakeness or Opaqueness. (Land of darkness, being impervious to light, the grave). - 1828 Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language (added detail mine). 

 

What a word study these eight definitions of “darkness” is to the children of God to help them know, understand and apply to the world in which we live and have our being. It starts with Almighty God, the Father of all creation. Genesis 1:1-5 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So, the evening and the morning were the first day.” Jehovah Jireh means “God our Provider”. The Lord, our God, is the provider and sustainer of everyone and everything in the earth, including physical darkness. 


Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”


In theology, providence is the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a providence, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. A belief in divine providence, is a source of great consolation to good men for by divine providence is often understood God himself. In Isaiah 45:7 the Lord God says, “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’” 

 

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”


Let's continue this message on "darkness' in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Thursday, December 30, 2021

The Light of Jesus

 Hochybrig, Schwyz, Switzerland, Alpine

God said in Isaiah 42:1-9 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom

My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.” Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name: And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

 

1 Peter 2:9 “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

 

Isaiah 42 was written about Christ 700+ years before Christ's encaranation birth and describes the attributes and actions of the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world and Lord of all. As fallen humans, we are dead in our sins and lost as could be with absolutely no hope. The Creator Father God, Giver and Sustainer of life sent Jesus Christ to the lost and dying world to rescue fallen humanity out of the darkness of sin and unbelief, to forgive and heal our brokenness; to know and have a restore relationship with Almighty Lord and abandon their Godless thoughts, words and actions in repentance. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare. The Truth came on the first Christmas and the gift of God is offered to all till the end of days. Do not take God’s offer of redemption and reconciliation for granted, know the dire sin situation in which you exist and with repentance, accept the forgiveness, salvation and eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life, out of darkness into His marvelous light. Isaiah is an eternal positive perspective; read it, meditate on it's means to and for you, then gloriously live.

 

In Christ, Brian

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

First Love – Part 2

 Winter, Hochybrig, Pre-Alps, Swiss Alps

Michael continues that Jesus himself came to inspire and convict those who are called to a holy different way of life. He gave them a different standard of righteousness. In Matthew 5:20-24 Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says,  ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”


We need to be right with our brothers and sisters before we can be right with God. If you claim to love your brother and sister whom you have seen and yet keep resentment against them, how can you love God whom you have not seen? In order to approach God’s throne of grace, then come with clean hands and a clean heart. This means to reconcile with your brothers, sisters and your neighbor to come to God with a heart free from guile and vindictiveness. Then when we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When our vertical relationship with God is aligned, as we walk in the light of Christ as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ will (continue to) cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus emphasized the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law. Living the beatitudes ... to love your spouse and to forgive others is to forsake worldly attitudes ... to give up a spirit of anger, strife, contention, vindictiveness, and resentment. Instead we reconcile our hearts with God’s heart with meekness and humility ... with a broken heart mourning over the sin nature that has separated our souls from God’s Holy Spirit. When we ask God for forgiveness, God cleanses our hearts by the of the blood of Christ, for He is our perfect sacrifice for sin, having shed His innocent blood in exchange for our guilty blood. Then we can walk in the newness of the spirit of life in Christ.

Samuel said, God doesn’t want your sacrifice at the altar... he wants your heart. He wants us to bow our hearts in humble adoration before we bow the knee. The object of prayer is to align my heart with God’s heart. As Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will but thine be done.” David prayed in Psalm 51 after having committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdering her husband Uriah to cover up the adultery: “God, against you and you only have I sinned. Create in me a new heart O Lord and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.” A broken and a contrite heart is the beginning of confession and reconciliation. In order to forsake sin, we need to recognize the sin that doth so easily beset us. Then we can come to our Father with a broken heart of meekness and humility. As David prayed, “Be merciful unto me O Lord according to your infinite mercy and loving kindness, blot out my transgressions.”

Who pursued whom? Did we seek God or did He seek us? God himself was the prime mover. For in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. God has called us from a world of sin and iniquity into the glorious light of the gospel of truth. Before the foundation of the world He chose us and elected us to be the holy and without blame before Him in love. This is amazing grace ... this is unfailing love. For Christ came not into the world to condemn the world but that they world through him might be saved.

Jesus said ... A new commandment I give you ... that you should love each other as I have loved you that we may ever live together in fellowship with Him to the praise of the glory of His grace!


Your brother in Christ, Michael

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

First Love - Part 1

 Lake, Mountains, Trees, Alps, Alpine

1 John 4:19 says, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Without God’s having loved us first, we would not have the capacity to love Him in return. God was the prime mover. He loved us not because of who we are but because of who He is. For God is love and in Him there is no darkness at all

This week Michael writes that the sermon on the mount began with Jesus’ teaching the multitude about the way to the kingdom of heaven, to put God first by loving Him above all. Approaching the Lord begins with a heart of meekness and humility. When we approach His throne with a broken and a contrite heart, realizing we are poor, lacking in the spirit of God and mourning over the sin that has separated our heart from His heart, He will fill us with His Holy Spirit and comfort us with the comfort of His Spirit.

The people had never heard a message like this. They had been to the synagogues and to the temple and listened to the teachers, Scribes and Pharisees. However, unlike the religious leaders, Jesus did not speak with great swelling words of vanity, but in the power and authority of God’s Spirit. He laid bare the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They misrepresented the path of righteousness by telling the people that they were justified by their own good works. Jesus said, they have their reward ... their reward is of men but not of God.  

Jesus contrasted the teachings of the religious leaders with the truth of the authority of the word of God. Six times, Jesus said, You have heard.... but I say unto you. He exposed and explained the false teachings of the religious leaders. Jesus said, You have heard it said that you should hate your enemies but I say unto you, love your enemies and do good unto those who persecute you and despitefully use you. If the law requires you to carry a Roman soldier’s pack one mile, then go a second mile. The first mile is of obligation, the second mile is motivated by the love of God to serve others from a heart of Love.

The Pharisees said, how can anything good come out of Nazareth? They did not understand Jesus’ message of salvation and redemption by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. They were blind and could not see from a spiritual perspective because they did not have the Spirit of God to see and perceive the truth of the Word of God. They were blinded by their own pride and by their conviction that they were right in their own self-righteousness. They thought they were the only ones deserving of righteousness by keeping their interpretation of the Old Testament Law and that they alone were deserving of righteousness. They thought everyone else was guilty of condemnation and death.  

Jesus said, Unless your righteousness is above the righteousness of the Pharisees, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees thought they were righteous and that Jesus was not. They railed against Jesus for ministering to sinners, the downcast, down trodden and destitute of this world. Jesus said, I have not come to minster to those who think they are healthy but to those who know they are sick and in need of God’s healing wholeness.

We are in the midst of a spiritual battle. In the Old Testament, the enemies of Israel represented sin and the contamination of the wickedness and evil of this fallen world. The Amalekites were the enemies of God’s chosen people and worshipped the wrong god. God said through his prophet Samuel to Saul the king of Israel, “You need to eliminate and utterly destroy the Amalekites. You need to purge the evil from this land in order for God’s righteousness to prevail.” However, Saul preserved the king of the Amalekites and the best of the cattle and sheep. This was a sign of the downfall of Saul’s reign as king over Israel for disobeying God’s commandment.


Let's continue Michael's message on the Love of God in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Monday, December 27, 2021

The Sovereign Good of Man

Trees, Forest, Snow, Snowy, Cold

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

 

Historic Conservative Christians believe in the total hereditary depravity of mankind; a direct result of the sin committed. They view man as being basically evil. Religious liberals do not believe in the total hereditary depravity of mankind. The natural man finds the thought of eternal damnation if Hell unthinkable, so they view man as being basically good. Philosophers debate about the sovereign good of man, but the Bible speaks very clearly on this issue. Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you were dead in your offenses [Any transgression of divine law] and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.” 

 

French Theologian Blaise Pascal states that for the natural man, we seek truth and find ourselves with nothing but uncertainty. We all have sinned against a just and holy God. We seek happiness and we find misery and death in this lost and dying world. And we are incapable of having either certainty or happiness in life. Outside of God, we have been punished by having this desire, to make us realize how far we have fallen. The Garden of Eden was paradise. Yet, it is good to be weary and frustrated with the fruitless search for the good, so that one can reach out one’s arms instead to the Redeemer – Jesus Christ. Man without faith can neither know reality of good or of justice. All look for happiness without exception. Although they use different means, they all strive towards this objective. So this is the motive for every deed of man. 

 

Yet for many years since the fall, no one without faith has ever reached the goal to which all are continually striving. All complain all the time in all ages and under all circumstances. Surely an explanation like this which has gone on without pause or change for so long really ought to convince us that we are really quite incapable of attaining the good by our own efforts. But example teaches us little. No two are exactly the same, and that is what makes us expect that our efforts will not be disappointed this time as they were om previous occasions. While the present never satisfies us, experience deceives us and will lead us from one misfortune to another until death comes as he ultimate and eternal finale.

 

Pascal asks: But what does all this restlessness and helplessness indicate, except that that man has was once in true happiness which has now left him? So he vainly searches, but finds nothing to help him, other than to see an infinite abyss that can only be filled by One who is Infinite and Immutable. In other words, it can only be filled by God himself. For Gods alone is man’s true good, and since man has rejected Him, it is strange that nothing has been found in all creation to take His place. Since he lost his good. Man is capable of seeing it in any object, even his own destruction, although it is so different from what God ordained for him. 


God is good.

In Christ, Brian

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Faith, Family and Forgiveness - Part 3

Trees And Mountain

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a, 12-13 “If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good. Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

 

Pastor Herk continues: We are finite and know only a portion of the truth; that which is revealed by God to us. God is almighty, infinite and eternal, knowing everything. So, what we say about our omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent Maker is incomplete, because we do not have the complete picture in His overarching plan. There is evil, immorality, hate, greed, injustice, natural disasters, wars, disease, and death in this world, but we can trust in our sovereign Creator Father God who is in control in His plan of salvation and know that love never ends. We have this faith, hope and love to stand on (they remain perpetually with the Christian), but do we stand firm on them with confidence, fearing not through the storms of life? Does the love that the apostle Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 reflect our love today, having the reality of God with us now and eternal perspective of Heaven? 

 

Do we live the real meaning of Christmas? God’s powerful love for us gave us a Savior and eternally more with Christ. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, by grace through faith redeemed from hellbound sinner to a forgiven life and a future in the kingdom of Heaven in the family of God forever, with a regenerated spirit, an indwelling Holy Ghost, a reconciled connection directly to our heavenly Father with spiritual discernment based in love now. Thank God for Christmas! Thank God for Jesus Christ! Jesus, the blessed Savior of the world, came so that we could be forgiven and saved (the second birth) from the eternal damnation for sin (the second death). In Christ, we overcome our sin and have a relationship with our God. We have sin, so God, in love and mercy, sent Jesus. All we have for Christmas is the gift of forgiveness in redemption, adoption into the family of God and eternal life today, tomorrow and forever more in Jesus Christ.

 

Matthew 1:20b-21 “for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 

"Christmas" is a shortened form of "Christ's mass". Crīst (genitive Crīstes) is from Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of Hebrew Māšîaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), "Messiah", meaning "anointed"; and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist. Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the promised Messiah of God, the Savior of the world, God with us. The name Jesus literally means Jehovah (God) saves. His name was his mission and that’s why He came at Christmas. Thank God for Christ on and in Christmas!  Christmas emphasizes the importance of giving and receiving forgiveness. In Luke 1:30-35,37 the angel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

 

Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.” In Jesus’ humanity, he was ordinary, approachable, touchable and relatable; a fellow man that you could talk to, yet extraordinary. The God/man, Savior and son, Majesty and man, came to set us free from sin. How does Jesus do that? By allowing us to repent, confess our sins and be forgiven. Our greatest need was forgiveness of sin, so God sent us a Savior. Romans 3:22-25a “it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation [the acceptable atoning sacrifice] in His blood through faith. 

 

Thank God for Christmas!

In Christ, Brian




Saturday, December 25, 2021

Merry Christmas 2021

 Brown Pine Cone With Pine Tree Leaves Shallow Focus Photography

Isaiah 9:6-7  “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.”


Friday, December 24, 2021

Faith, Family and Forgiveness - Part 2

 Snow Covered Mountain Under Blue Sky

John 1:1-5, 9-14 “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

Pastor Herk continues, that Jesus Christ is the gift above all gifts. There is no greater gift than the giving of self for others. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us].” Jesus is the reason for the season and therefore Christmas is a joyful season. Joyful songs are sung in jubilant delight of the true light of the world, from Heaven to earth, God incarnate dwelling among us, come to forgive and save all who receive Him as Savior and Lord. O’ Holy Night, the enlightened world rejoices in glory. 

 

America is a Christian nation because the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world, but is being dismantled by increasing darkness of sin and unbelief. Jesus said in John 3:19-20 this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” The [secular humanist] world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. In hate of the light of truth, they legally ban the true meaning of Christmas, refining it and the celebration of Christ’s arrival. Jesus Christ is offensive to those condemned, who live in darkness of sin and unbelief. But sinful man cannot take away that which sovereign God gave the world. In God We Trust.

 

Proverbs 14:34 “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus is the gift from above that is above all gifts, encapsulated in God’s love. Love is the foundation of any family, community, society, nation or religion. Love binds us together. Love is all round us, and it started with reconciliation, forgiveness, the outing aside of offenses, and looking forward to joyful godliness and holiness in the future. God gave His Son, to be born as we are born and to live as we live, to suffer as we suffer and tempted as we are tempted, and die as we die in order to experience life as we experience life. Ephesians 5:2 tells us, “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Love is the only way to reconciliation. 1 John 4:7says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

 

Ephesians 1:3-10 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”

 

In John 3:3 Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. To know Him is to love Him. Love is the only way to forgiveness. Why did Jesus come and die? Jesus came to die for our sins, that we may be “born again” and see the kingdom of God. Christmas is just the beginning of things come. God reveals His love for us in the birth of Jesus and the proof of that love comes on Resurrection Sunday at Easter. Romans 4:24-25 “It [Righteousness] shall be imputed to us who believe in Him [God] who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our [sinful] offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Glory to God in the highest!

 

Merry Christmas, In Christ, Brian

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Faith, Family and Forgiveness - Part 1

Reflection of Trees

Matthew 12:46-50 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.” But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

 

Last Sunday, Pastor Herk preached that a couple of the greatest aspects of Christmas for the people of faith are family and forgiveness. The world celebrates the birth of Christ (God incarnate with us) each year on Christmas in the world-wide family of God. John 1:12-13 confirms, “as many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.” 

 

Christmas celebrates the gift of God given by grace to the world for redemption from and forgiveness of sin in Christ, our Savior. Families gather at Christmas, sing carols, exchange gifts, laugh and enjoy a feast together in celebration and love as “family”. The tradition of giving gifts comes from the three Wisemen who gave the gifts of gold, frankincense and mire to Christ [the King sent by God] at his birth on the first Christmas. In the Matthew passage above, Jesus is speaking about the priority of our faith family relationship with God, our heavenly Father. Jesus was using His biological family relationship with His mother and brothers to illustrate in contrast the ultimate and overarching spiritual family relationship with the Lord, God. It all has to do with coming under His authority as willful obedient children of the kingdom of God and doing His Will.   

 

Jesus said the plan of Salvation in Acts 26:18, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

 

So, to have a loving family relationship with Jesus depends on repentance of sin, receiving Christ as the atoning gift of God, and being as dedicated and devoted disciple [student/follower] of Jesus, Savior and Lord. In is based on both an internal relationship and eternal relationship with God himself. You have to ask yourself at this point in time, what kind of relationship are you in with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit? Are you in the family of God and a citizen of the kingdom of Heaven? God, through us, issues an invitation to this lost and dying in sin world to join His family. The Lord Jesus commanded the family of God, all brothers and sisters in Christ, and all His disciples to make disciples of all nations that make disciples ongoing to advance the kingdom of Heaven, increase the family of God, and decrease the population of Hell by repenting and receiving Jesus, the Savior of the world.  

 

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

 

With all the distractions in the secular Holiday season, with all the decorations, lights, sales, wrapping gifts, parties, sports and maybe traveling, it is easy to forget what Christmas is really about. But, as we celebrate this gift of God’s love towards us through the incarnation unto forgiveness and Salvation, we must follow the example. We know that Christmas and family go together, but Christmas is also about reconciliation. God made the first move, not us. Sin threw the world out of control in a death spiral to Hell, but He thought of, designed and implement the plan to bring humanity back into the family. He sent His Son, sinless Jesus, miraculously conceived by God and born from a virgin, to redeem, forgive and save all who repent and receive this gracious Christmas gift by faith. 


Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on the Christmas aspects of family, faith and forgiveness in the next post.

In Chrust, Brian 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Unspeakable Joy

Aerial Photography of Snow-covered Trees

This Christmas week Michael writes, Joy is a major theme of this time of year when we celebrate the advent [birth] of our Lord Jesus Christ. The angels who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds on a Judean hillside proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”  

Christmas carols focus on the Joy of the Lord. Isaac Watts took the lyrics from Psalm 98, and even though there is nothing in this song about the birth of Jesus, “Joy to the World the Lord is Come” focuses on God’s work of redemption and salvation that began on that special night. O Holy Night when Christ was born. The birth of Jesus Christ ushered in a new era for all mankind ... an era of joy and peace. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns ... He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found.

Joy is not the absence of pain or depression, rather, joy is the presence of the Lord. Even though children anticipate Christmas presents, the greatest present of all is God’s greatest gift – the Savior of the world. It is a different type of present. The greatest Christmas present is the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. For God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  

Unspeakable joy is in the joy of the Lord, not because of what He gave us but because of who He is. He is the source of our joy and rejoicing. Paul wrote Philippians, the epistle of Joy, by God’s divine inspiration. Philippians 1:12-14“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Paul’s rejoicing was in the progress of the gospel taking root in the hearts and lives of those born again of God’s Spirt. Joy does not depend on circumstances and the situations of life. Jesus said to His disciples in John 15If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love ... these things have I spoken to you that your joy may be full. The joy is in keeping his commandments and thereby abiding in the Love of Christ. In abiding in Christ, this is the joy of the Lord in us and through us as we walk together in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Despite the wounds inflicted by the God-rejecting world around us, our rejoicing is in the Lord and not in the world’s so-called comfort. Our deep-seated joy in the Lord is not affected by trials, tribulation, pain, suffering, illness, and broken relationships that the world inflicts.

In the book of Philippians there is a thief in every chapter that will steal your joy. These include: Circumstances, People, Things, and Worry; Fear and anxious thoughts separate our hearts from God’s heart. The sinful world tempts us to escape the troubles of this chaotic world through temporarily satisfying the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Some turn to drugs, gambling, money, power, or the forbidden poison fruit of illicit relationships. 

Paul said to Timothy, “when we hear foolish speculation, don’t let it steal your joy.” How do we defeat joy-stealing thieves? The answer is in Philippians 4:5-8 ... Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation [your charity and yieldingness in insignificant points] be made known unto all men, the Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. For Jesus said in John 14:27My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Joy is not in circumstance. Our joy is in the Lord. Therefore, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is set down upon the right hand of the throne of God. Our Joy is in the object of our joy... Our joy is in the Lord. He is the reason for the season ... Joy to the world, the Lord is come, that we may ever live to  the praise of the glory of His grace.


Your brother in Christ, Michael

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Joy to the World - Part 2

 

Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room; And heaven and nature sing.

 

Pastor Herk continues that Christians remember the Savior in the manger, but do you remember your Savior in your heart? That baby (the promised Messiah, born of a virgin by the power of the Most High) grew up and went to the Cross to pay for our sins and save the world from our deserved eternal punishment in Hell. Jesus gave you forgiveness and new life; living in the Believer’s heart today, to give us unspeakable joy. Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 

 

The God-rejecting world is creeping its sin and darkness into every aspect and institution of society where the true light of God’s Word and Gospel truth do not shine and stand firm against. If that which is sin in the eyes of our Sovereign Lord and unholy is accepted and normalized, then how does that fit into God’s Christmas plan of Salvation, because we are allowing in that which Christ came to be a remedy for and rid. It doesn’t work. The word “Lord” is defined as: An Owner, a master; a person possessing supreme power and authority. In scripture, the Supreme Being; Jehovah, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. The sovereign Almighty Creator owns and reigns over all creation and creatures, not sinful and rebellious man. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns. Let men their songs employ. While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy.

 

Acts 20:35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 

The second of the three places to focus our heart and mind in the acronym for the word “JOY” is the letter “O”, which stands for “others”. Focusing on Jesus should help us develop an attitude of joy of giving in generosity (in ministry, missions, philanthropy and offerings for the health, happiness, safety and well-being of others). When we bless others, we bless ourselves in the process. Christmas is the time when we celebrate the ultimate gift of God in Jesus Christ. Our Maker’s focus on giving the Savior of the world was “love” (John 3:16“For God so loved the world that He gave ). 1 John 3:16 tells us, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.” He gave us an example they we should willingly follow ourselves. True joy does not come from getting all that we can receive from others, but in giving all that we can give to others. It is this focus on others that will bring you joy, so discover the joyful blessing of giving out of pure love. It is wonderful to see the happiness and appreciation. 

 

Matthew 25:40 “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.” Blessing others blesses the Lord as well. Find somebody in need, then give to them of your time and treasures in the name of Christ because that is what the Lord does and wants His people to do and for the kingdom of God. Let them know that you are giving help in the name of Christ because Jesus loves you. There are a lot of lonely and truly needy people in the world that the Holy Spirit will show you, if you are willing to ask and look ... people that need aid, support and Jesus. Share Jesus with them.  

 

Romans 12:3 “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

 

The third of the three places to focus our heart and mind in the acronym for the word “JOY” is the letter “y”, which stands for “you”. Self is the third focus chronologically in order to keep our priorities straight, make sound judgments and pride at bay in a healthy balanced life. Ephesians 5:29-30 says, “for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are parts of His body.” We all start out single at one point, but must willingly make room for others (in family, vocation, church, and community). We will always find that “self” is a source of joy, but life and the joy of living is not just about you, so be sure to make room and space. You are a part of the equation (J+O+Y=JOY). We are comfortable with normal routines, but routines will change with time, situations and circumstances, so we have to  adjust to be open and flexible, while standing firm on God, His holy Word and the Gospel truth. 

 

No more let sin and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found. Love self (the holy person that God designed and made); not sin or sorrow, but joy, because when we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord into our righteous heart, our lives are sacredly transformed and there is room for God, others, church and ministries. All virtues are a source of great joy. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove. The glories of His righteousness. And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love

 

Joy to the world.

In Christ, Brian 

Monday, December 20, 2021

Joy to the World - Part 1

Psalm 118:14-16 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”

 

The word “joy” is defined as: (1) the passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. (2) Gayety; mirth; festivity. (3)  Happiness; felicity. (4) A glorious and triumphant state.

 

Luke 2:8-11 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

 

Pastor Herk preached a couple Sundays ago that "Joy" starts with Jesus. Many people do not understand what the holiday and season of Christmas is all about. Joy, like love, is more than a delightful emotion or state of mind; it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus gives us the joy of our salvation that last forever in our hearts, knowing that our sins are forgiven and our eternal home is in Heaven, no matter the plight of our walk on this side of glory. Where do you choose to put your focus on this journey through life? 

 

Pastor Herk suggests three places to focus our heart and mind 24/7/365. They come in the acronym for the word “JOY”. The first is in the letter “J”, which stands for focusing on Jesus. Christmas is not primarily about us or what is going on around us, it is about Jesus the Christ, “Emmanuel” (God with us), God “Incarnate” (God with skin on), experiences what we experience and feels what we feel in life, fully man yet fully God- the promised Messiah, the gift of the Savior of the world sent by God through love and grace, the Way, the Truth and the Life. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Christ. "Christmas" is a shortened form of "Christ's mass". Crīst (genitive Crīstes) is from Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of Hebrew Māšîaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), "Messiah", meaning "anointed"; and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist. The term derives from Middle English Cristenmasse, meaning "Christian mass". Xmas is an abbreviation of Christmas found particularly in print, based on the initial letter chi (Χ) in Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός). "Nativity", meaning "birth", is from Latin nātīvitās. In Old English, Gēola(Yule) referred to the period corresponding to December and January, which was eventually equated with Christian Christmas. "Noel" (or "Nowel") entered English in the late 14th century and is from the Old French noël or naël, itself ultimately from the Latin nātālis (diēs) meaning "birth (day)". Thus, the joyous birth of Jesus Christ. 

 

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

 

Isaiah 9:6 tells us about Christ, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” If you don’t get everything that you wanted for Christmas this year, remember that it isn’t your birthday we are celebrating; the gift of God given to the lost in sin world. Yet, the lost in sin, unbelieving world takes true focus and meaning of Christmas away from us. Today, in a secular humanistic society, in is politically incorrect to say “Merry Christmas”, as the term “Happy Holiday” has replaced it. Ironically, the word “holiday” comes from the Old English word hāligdæg (hālig "holy" + dæg "day"), therefore saying “Happy Holyday”. The word “holiday” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: a day set apart for commemorating some important event in history; a festival intended to celebrate some event deemed auspicious to the welfare of a nation; particularly an anniversary festival, devoted to religious solemnities; as Christmas holyday. Christmas is about Jesus Christ and is holy, hallowed; consecrated and set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God – a sacred day of celebration. God showed up.


Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on Christmas joy in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Perversion – Part 2

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”


Decades ago, I attended another church where the president of the church counsel (a married man) secretly started having sexual relations with a single woman in the church choir, then openly dumped his wife and moved in with his mistress, stating that Jesus died for his sins and he could do whatever his heart desired, as he continued to attend church weekly as the congregation’s president with no conviction. The pastor’s biblical reasoning fell upon deaf ears. This man’s imagination, based upon his sinful sexual desires, created an imaginary, all-forgiving Jesus to fit his lifestyle; a self-made distraction and perversion from the truth to suit his depravity. Blaise Pascal stated, “Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for our miseries, and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries”; the misery of sinning against a sovereign, just and holy God.

 

Romans 1:18-25 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”

 

Lately, I found out that the wife of a faithful church-going family member was exposed as perverting both the church and the family in multiple adulterous sexual extra-marital affairs that led to a pregnancy and child. The wife plans to continue in the marriage, the church and the adulterous extra-marital affairs as "normal, natural and healthy" with no conviction of sin or remorse within the new cultural standards of morality that are to be accepted by both husband and church because an all-forgiving Jesus Christ died for her sins. This is a total perversion from what is “right” in the eyes of God, and reinterpreted to what is wanted to be “right” in her own depraved heart ... a god that is Savior, but not Lord.

 

In the godless Communist’s 45 goals to internally destroy the United States, published in 1958, goals number 25-27 are (25) Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio and TV. (26) Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural and healthy." (27) Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, [personal feelings & interpersonal relationships], which does not need a "religious crutch." In his Farewell Address in 1796, President George Washington put his finger on the importance of religion and biblical morality within a society: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness-these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”

Destroy biblical morality (the fixed point and moral compass of God) and you destroy the civil society and nation. Let’s not let that happen.

 

Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” “In God we Trust” is the American National Motto, but “In God We Obey” is the real test of our faith and the rock-solid foundation on which we stand or fall. Stand.

 

In Christ, Brian

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Perversion – Part 1

Jude 6-8 “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.

 

The word “perversion” is defined as: The act of perverting; a turning from truth or propriety; a diverting from the true intent or object; change to something worse. We speak of the perversion of the laws, when they are misinterpreted or misapplied; a perversion of reason, when it is misemployed; a perversion of Scripture, when it is willfully misinterpreted or misapplied

 

I was shocked earlier this year to hear of a married member of our church’s worship music band, who sang praises to the Lord weekly, having marriage difficulties and instead of working to mend and restore the holy marriage, dumped his wife, found a girlfriend and spent a wild sex-filled weekend at a mountain resort, then bragged about it openly. When confronted of this sin and marriage-crushing error by the pastor, he stated that Jesus died for his sins then proceeded to commit character-assassination against the pastor on Social Media for his outdated views of morality. We expect this from non-believers, but this false-salvation imagination of a self-made, non-conviction, all-forgiving pseudo-savior based on a sinful flesh desires and a perverted mind mentality is not new in the church.    

 

Ephesians 5:1-4 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”

 

French mathematician, physicist and theologian Blaise Pascal wrote in the mid-1600’s, “Those who indulge in perversion tell those who are living normal lives that it is they who are deviating from what is normal. They think that they are following a normal life themselves. They are like people on a ship who think that it is those on shore who are moving away. But, we need a fixed point by which to judge it. So, the harbor is the fixed point for those who are moving aboard ship. But in morality, where are we going to find a harbor? Secular society has no moral compass or a "just" fixed point of reference. It time of sorrow, physical [biological, sexual attraction] science will not console me for my ignorance of morality. But a knowledge of [biblical] morality will always console me for being deficient in the knowledge of physical science. Imagination is the dominate facility in man. It is the mistress of error and falsehood, all the more so for not being evident as such an impostor.”


Let's continue my timely message on sinful "Perversion"  and the Christian response in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Friday, December 17, 2021

Salt of the Earth - Part 2

Continuing Michael's message: To accept Jesus as Lord means to forsake self-serving pride. This is the root of the problem with the rich young ruler who approached Jesus and said, “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus knew what was in the heart of man so he replied, “Why do you call me good? There is none good (in the flesh). Only God himself is good.” Jesus continued, “You know the law: Do not commit murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not bear false witness, honor your father and your mother... in other words, love your neighbor as yourself.” The young ruler said filled with pride, “These things I have done since my youth.” Then Jesus said, “One thing you lack. Sell all your goods and give the proceeds to the poor. Then come and follow me.” The young man went away sorrowful, for he had great material wealth. The rich young ruler may have kept part of the Ten Commandments, but he did not honor the first of the ten commandments ... Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. The gods he worshipped were his material possessions and his own self-serving pride. According to the Aramaic text, this verse says, “Thou shalt have no other gods between your face and my face.” He had the wrong gods that came between him and the one true God. The first and great commandment is to love God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. When we do the first commandment, the other nine.... will fall in line. Why? Because the love of God covers a multitude of sins.

The problem with the church is “casual Christians.” A casual Christian follows Christ only when it’s convenient, easy, and without heartache, trials and tribulations. Casual Christians are casualties in the spiritual battle. Jesus said you have to count the cost of following me. The last of the beatitudes says, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.  

There is a difference between Jesus of Orange County and Jesus or Nazareth. The false Jesus of Orange County is a broad way that leads to destruction. Jesus of Nazareth is the narrow way through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Jesus of the OC says there is no cost to follow me. Jesus of Nazareth says count the cost, take up your cross daily and follow me. Jesus of the OC says you can come on your own terms. Jesus of Nazareth says, come on God’s terms. His terms are unilateral and non-negotiable according to the Word of God. Jesus of the OC says obey when it’s convenient. Jesus of Nazareth says obey no matter what. Jesus of the OC says, make decisions based on fear. Jesus of Nazareth says, make decisions based on faith, for God never honors fear but he always honors faith. Jesus of Orange County says, look out for number one and you’re number one. Jesus of Nazareth says look to the things of God for you are my bond servant, bound by the bond of love. You are servants of whom you obey, whether sin unto death or the spirit of God unto eternal life.  

God never said that life would be without pain, trials, tribulation and heartache, especially in marriage. If you’re miserable, then you are miserable because you have forsaken God and you have not learned patience for God to deliver you. Through tribulation you will learn endurance ... true godly character, refined by God’s testing and trial. Then you will discover that joy is not the absence of pain but the presence of the Lord. Jesus of the OC wants to be politically correct. Jesus of Nazareth wants to be biblically correct. Jesus of the OC says, Jesus is my guide. Jesus of Nazareth says, Jesus is my Lord. Jesus of the OC says truth is relative. Jesus of Nazareth says truth is absolute. Jesus of Orange County says peace depends on circumstances. Jesus of Nazareth says that my circumstances are working out for the good of the gospel. Therefore, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God ... and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The peace of God is not dependent on circumstance but upon the presence of Christ.

Jesus of the OC says follow me and you will have no pain. Jesus of Nazareth says, in this life, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. Jesus of Orange County says study the Bible to know it better. Jesus of Nazareth says study the word for the renewing your mind that you will be transformed that you may prove what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, be not deceived, bad company corrupts good morals. You’re most like those with whom you choose to associate. We are called to the church the body of Christ so that we can link together with likeminded men in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

God will not strive with America... The choice is truth or consequences. If God removes his hand of blessing and protection from this land because of the nation’s unbelief, He is preparing the hearts of His men and women of God for such a time as this. Despite the brokenness of this fallen world, our hope is not in our nation but in the country of our new birth for we are born-again citizens of heaven.

God doesn’t call the qualified and equipped. He qualifies and equips the called. The qualification and the equipment is the power of his Holy Spirit. God did not call us to deliver the message, but to be the message... to be about our Father’s business. Our father’s business is to be the salt of the earth... to be witness of the truth, the message of salvation to reconcile God’s people back to God through our Lord Jesus Christ... this is our mission and our great commission: to go give ‘em Heaven that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!


Your brother in Christ, Michael