Improving

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

 

Everyone wants to improve. Just about everyone and every business sets yearly goals that they want to achieve, and at the end of the year look to see if they accomplished the goals. Many of those goals are to improve. The word “improve” is defined as: 1. To make better; to advance in value or good qualities. 2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account. 3. To apply to practical purposes. 4. To advance or increase by use. The opposite of improving is wasting, Deteriorating, worsening or declining; none of which anyone desires in their life.

 

We rejoice in successfully meeting our annual goals and examine the unsuccessful endeavors to determine the factors that led to their shortcomings, so that adjusting amendments enrich and enhance the next attempt to reach those goals. New goals are set for the coming year and plans made how to make them. Many people set a person goal to identify an area of their life that is in need of development, expansion, or progress and establishing a conscious daily effort to improve in that area of their life and become a better person in the process. Many folks make “New Year’s Resolutions” to that affect to take an account of the honest effort and outcome.

 

This is true in our spiritual lives also. Lamentations 3:40-41 instructs us, “Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord; Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.” We need to stop each year and take account of our personal relationship with God (Father, Son and Hold Spirit). How are we doing in our walk with the Lord and what steps can we take to improve it. The soul of the child of God must align their mind, will and emotions to the Lord and the Will of God for their life. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:59-60, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”

 

With all the festivities of New Year’s holiday, may we use this holy day to resolve to improve our lives with spiritual growth for the glory of God and the advancement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ in our time and place and the improvement of this world.

 

Have a blessed New Year.

In Christ, Brian

A Year in the Life

 

In Genesis 1:14-19 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.”

 

In the Creation account in Genesis, God created the Cosmos (time, space, and matter), including the earth with water, and light to distinguish day from the darkness He called night. On the fourth day, God created stars, galaxies, constellations, our Moon and our Sun (for the earth to rotate around) to light and warm the planet perfectly for life and distinguishing seasons, days and years. I encourage you to watch the video titled “The Privileged Planet” to learn all the astronomically impossible natural combination of evidenced things that had to be in place at the same time for life to exist on earth, but supernaturally possible by special Divine Intelligent Design of an almighty Creator God.

 

In Genesis 1:26-31 God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. The earth is anthropomorphic, being designed for biological life and human discovery and growth for the glory of God. 

 

Yet honestly, the original sin of doubting God that lead to the “Fall of Man” and bought decay and death into existence. Psalm 19:1-3 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” But the darkness of sin fostered unbelief in God and rejection of God’s authority. But God's over-arching story is about light and life for those 'created in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them'.

  

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) states that the true length of a year on Earth is 365.2422 days, or about 365.25 days. We keep our calendar in sync with the seasons by having most years 365 days long but making just under 1/4 of all years 366-day "leap" years. We are quickly coming to an end of another full 365 day rotation of the earth around the sun, ending one year (2022 A.D.) and beginning another (2023 A.D. – an abbreviation for the Latin words “annō Dominī”, literally meaning “in the year of the Lord”; since Christ was born. All time and history of the years are divided and counted by the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s gift to the world by His grace, the Savior of the world and Lord of all. 

 

Romans 1:18-25 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Amen. Praise our creator Father God from whom all blessings flow. Thank God for another year and for the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

 

Happy New Year, Brian

Days of Old

Deuteronomy 32:7 “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you.”

 

The human race is body, soul and spirit. Our soul is made up of mind, will and emotion, accompanied with one major and one or two minor personality traits, making us designed for family relationships, social interaction and community. Outside of God-given instincts (cry when you are wet and needing changed, cry when you are hungry, and nurse when milk comes to your lips), you are a blank slate for knowledge and a sponge for experiential input for growth. It is pretty well-documented that one of the most critical stages of development and learning is from birth to five years old, with most learning happens in the first 3 years. Yet, we learn all our lives and there is more information available then anyone could learn in many lifetimes. Children learn from the life experiences of their parents, their grandparents, their great-grandparents and (maybe even) their great-great-grandparents communicating what they have learn in all their years of life. It’s natural. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” They also learn from experience from their own life encounters, and from friends, teachers, instructors, courses, readings, and training over time also. Knowledge leads to wisdom. 

 

Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.”

 

The total amount of information in the world is increasing. In 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every 100 years. By the end of 1945, the rate was every 25 years. Not only is human knowledge, on average, doubling every 13 months, experts says that we are quickly on our way, with the help of computers, hand-held devices and the Internet, to the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours. Everyone needed to be solidly grounded in the foundational truths of the Word of God found in the Holy Bible. They are the instructions for life from the Creator of life. There is godless misinformation in this fallen world which will lead you astray from the straight and narrow path of righteous and truly healthy knowledge and wisdom for life. You must know what God says and why. You must know holiness, identify unholiness and expose darkness. You must take heed of yourself and be aware of your surroundings, and diligently keep yourself (your thoughts, words and actions) pleasing in the sight of the Lord, that you may grow in knowledge and mature in godly wisdom, not swayed by lies, distractions, and deception. Then, pass this knowledge and wisdom of “days of old” on to the next generation. 

 

Romans 15:4-6 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

In Christ, Brian

New Beginnings 2

2 Corinthians 5:14-18 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

 

The week between the holidays of Christmas and New Year’s Day are days that many businesses shut down and others go on vacation. Not much is usually going on as the family gatherings, Yuletide celebrations and festivities have completed, decorations are being taken down and packed away for another year, public schools are closed for Christmas vacation, and it is a time of peace before a new year begins. It is time between the world receiving their Savior that bought reconciliation with God to all of mankind (Christ provided the way to salvation, adoption into the family of god, citizenship in heaven and abundant righteous life on earth, and a landmark date based upon that birth of Jesus Christ. The terms anno Domini (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term anno Domini is Latin and means 'in the year of the Lord'. A new beginning in Christ and a year begin 'in the year of the Lord'. 

 

In John 3:14-20, 34-36 God’s plan of salvation is proclaimed “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And 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. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

 

They Lord Jesus explained that faith in God, repentance of sin and belief in Jesus as the Savior – gift of God by His grace was a decision that each person makes personally. The prophet Isaiah declared in Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” The Apostle Paul confirmed in Romans 10:9, that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” This is the joy of Christmas and the promise of a new beginning each year. 

 

Those in darkness of sin and unbelief choose to reject and deny God, so they attack the gospel light of truth. Do not allow those dead in their love of inequity with God, trespasses against God’s authority and sins against their Maker restrict or hide your light in Christ or steal you’re your joy of new beginnings. Have a blessed new year!

 

In Christ, Brian

New Beginnings

 

As we end this week with a new year, Michael writes: According to 2 Corinthians 5, If any man is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. As we walk with Jesus and progress through the way He has prepared for us, we become new day by day. Then In retrospect we can look back on the road we’ve travelled with the Lord, we can see the progress we have made and the growth we have enjoyed in His presence. God is a God of new beginnings. Our old reputation, our old habits, our old man nature has passed away ... in our work, in our relationships, in our marriage, in our immediate family and in our extended family ... especially within the family of God. The grace of God has no expiration date ... for Jesus said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

The devil will accuse us of having fallen short of God’s righteous standard. He will tell us that we have failed to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He’ll make us beat ourselves up for our unworthiness in our own works and in our own behavior. If we look to the world, we’ll be distressed, if we look to others we’ll be stressed, and if we look in the mirror we will be depressed. But if we look to the Lord, we’ll be blessed. Proverbs 20:6 asks, who can find a faithful and trustworthy man? According to Ephesians 4, What matters is that a man be found faithful; faithful to follow the Lord, walking worthy of the calling wherewith He has called us according to His Word and according to His will. Faithfulness is in walking in the light as He is in the light, then the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

In Matthew 26, after Jesus met with His disciples in the upper room, He said to them, “You will all fall away from me this night for it is written I will strike down the shepherd and the sheep from the flock shall be scattered.” This was the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. Peter responded that he would follow Jesus even to death. Then Jesus said, to Peter... “Before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me three times.” Peter needed to learn a difficult lesson ... a lesson in humility. He needed to understand that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. In my own power, I am powerless to follow faithfully from a heart of love and grace.

A wise man said, I cannot keep my vows, but my vows keep me. When a person is committed to his vows, the decision has already been made. Keeping vows means to burn the bridges so that you cannot return the way you came. You can only move forward. As Jesus said, abide in me and I will abide in you. I am the vine and ye are the branches, apart from me you cannot bear fruit. The apostle Peter’s sin was not premeditated. He was impetuous and lived in the moment. As he warmed himself by the fire of the courtyard outside of Chiaphas’ house, a girl approached him and said, I recognize from your accent that you are a Galilean, one of Jesus’ followers. Peter denied Jesus, he said, “I know not the man.” Then the cock crowed and Jesus locked eyes with Peter. Peter went away and wept bitterly. Peter was broken of his pride and his self sufficiency... Thank God for breaking our hearts for what breaks His.

After the resurrection, Jesus had said to His disciples, I will meet you all in Galilee. The disciples were offended when Jesus said that they would fall away. They were offended because they trusted in their own prideful ability. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. As Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. The problem with the Apostles is that they did not know their own hearts. According to Timothy, the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. There was only one traitor among the disciples, but they were all deserters. When Jesus was arrested, Jesus said to the Roman soldiers, Take me but let these others go. Then disciples ran off into the night.

Without the grace of God, the fallen nature of man is judgementalism and a critical spirit. We especially judge ourselves unto self-condemnation. However, according to 1 John 3, even though our heart condemns us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. God knows that His love and grace covers a multitude of sins. The people of Jesus’ time were astonished that Jesus met with publicans (tax collectors), prostitutes, known sinners, and those of questionable reputation. Jesus said, I have not come to minister to the healthy but to the sick. When the people asked Jesus, What’s your plan?, He pointed to a disposed tax collector and lowly Galilean fishermen and said, those guys over there, they are the plan.

God takes the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. This applies to the people He chooses and also to the trials and tribulations of life. Jesus called and is calling men and women of God. What is a man or woman of God and how are they different from people of the world? What is God’s value and purpose of a child of God? When you call a man or woman, a “Person of God,” most people will look down and look away. They feel unworthy of such a title. They think a person of God is one who serves enough, gives enough, studies the Bible enough, loves enough and teaches enough. When is enough, enough? There are three characteristics of a person of God. The first is that they love Jesus. After the resurrection, the disciples went back to the Sea of Galilee to fish. Jesus came to the shore and asked the men, have you caught anything? They said, we’ve fished all night but have caught nothing. Then John realized that it was Jesus who was speaking to them. Then Peter jumped out of the boat and swam and then ran to Jesus on the shore. Peter knew that Jesus was a Lord of grace and reconciliation, not of judgement and condemnation. When Jesus cooked the fish on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he restored them into fellowship with him. Then Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me?” Loving Jesus Chrsit is the first quality of a man of God.

The second question of a person of God is, have you given your heart to Christ? The third question to determine if a person is a man of God is, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like Jesus?” A person of God answers yes to each of these questions. Discipleship training is learning to become like Jesus. Many people in church today do not have the opportunity to say yes to discipleship because it’s not popular in many churches. However, when the student is ready, the teacher will come. The teacher is the Holy Spirit. According to John 14, Jesus said, I need to leave so that the comforter can come. The comforter is the Holy Spirit who comes alongside to help us and to teach us all things. The WSavior of the world came into this fallen world to set the captive free. The Spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death. For Jesus Christ, who was without sin, was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. For He hath shown thee o man what is good. And what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

 

Our Joy

The day after Christmas and Michael writes: Joy is a major theme of this time of year when we celebrate the advent 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, good will 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, rather, joy is the presence of the Lord. Even though children anticipate Christmas presents, the greatest present of all is God’s greatest gift. 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 believes 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 and following says: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, 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 Spirit. Joy does not depend on circumstances and the situations of life. Jesus said to his disciples in John 15, If 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 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 world tempts us to escape the troubles of this world through temporarily satisfying the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Some turn to drugs, 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. When one man was asked how he was doing he said, “under the circumstances I’m OK.” The question is “why are you underneath your circumstances?”  

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 14:27, My 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

Merry Christmas 2022

 

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.”

Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas!

Brian 

Joseph & Mary - Part 3

Matthew 1:20-24 “ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, 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.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.”

 

Pastor Herk continues: Joseph loved Mary, not based on some emotional feeling, but takes action that met her needs. The Israelites were expecting their Messiah from God to be born of a virgin ever since Isaiah’s professed 700+ years prior, But in reality, society accepts the natural processes over supernatural miracles, and would believe that Mary broke her cultural betrothed prewedding contract and shamefully become pregnant by natural means with another man, thereby bringing down the wrath and rage of the community on such an immoral act. Joseph, who shared their naturalist belief (until divinely enlightened by the Angel of the Lord that turned his world upside-down), was sheltering Mary from inevitable public ridicule and persecution. Could it possibly be true that this was the promised Messiah of God? 

 

Everything that Mary had told him about Archangel Gabriel’s visitation and her immaculate miraculous concept of the Christ with no infidelity, as inconceivable as it seemed, was confirmed by his own divine visit from the Angel of the Lord. This angel came to Joseph and informed him that this child, conceived supernaturally in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit was the Promised Messiah; God’s plan was revealed and what was happening explained. The child’s name was to be Jesus. The Greek word for Jesus” is “Iēsous”, [“yᵊhôšûaʿ” or Joshua in Hebrew], meaning “Jehovah is salvation”, for this child was the Savior of the world who will save His people from their sins. 

 

Both Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 proclaim that a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” The Archangel Gabriel informs Mary that she has found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son [ that she was the woman chosen to bear the Promised Messiah], 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.” Each independent source collaborates the this child, born of a virgin with no earthly father, was the begotten Son of God, God incarnate [God in the flesh] with His people which He created, the Lamb of God, Savior of the sin-condemned world, and sovereign heir to the throne in the kingdom of Heaven for eternity.  

 

Hebrews 2:17 explains, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” God with us, yet without sin. In Romans 6:22-23 the Apostle Paul explains, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” To pay the price for the sins of the world would require a sinless Savior, because if Jesus was not sinless then He would have to pay for His owe sin also. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus Christ was sent into this world that Christmas morning to live a holy sinless human life and pay a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. On the Cross, He took all repentant born-again Believer’s sins upon Himself and by His blood exchanged His sinless righteousness upon them all that they may be forgiven, have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and receive eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. That is the “Good News” of the gift of God in Jesus Christ.

 

Merry Christmas! Brian

Joseph and Mary – Part 2

  

Pastor Herk continues: When Joseph found that Mary was pregnant and before his divine visit from an angel of the Lord in his sleep explained, by mercy and grace he justly planned to send her away secretly for the best social outcome. The reason that God sent Jesus into the world was also for our best present and eternal outcome. God’s Law states that the punishment for sin is spiritual, physical and eternal death (the Second Death in Hell). Our just and holy sovereign heavenly Father must punish sin, but this loving God, in His mercy and grace, provided a plan of Salvation, a narrow gate and path on Redemption road through the atoning work of sinless Jesus Christ (God with us, incarnate) on the Cross in our place. Romans 3:21-24 tells us, “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” 

 

But, belief by faith is a choice. John 3:16-18,36 declares, “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. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

 

Ephesians 2:1-5,9 confirms “And you (repentant born-again Believers) He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” God rightfully could have dealt with sin by the punishment of spiritual, physical and eternal death already in place. 

 

The Lord Jesus explains in John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. The Apostle Paul reinforces this truth in Galatians 5:16-18, So I say, walk by the Spirit [in the light of righteousness], and you will not gratify the [dark and sinful] desires of the flesh. For the [fallen] flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit [light], and the Spirit what is contrary to the sin nature of the flesh [darkness]. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. That is why Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, instructs us in Matthew 7:13-14 to “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Jesus Christ is not a way to forgiveness and eternal life; He is the Gate; the one and only way. 

 

The Savior of the World [Jesus Christ] proclaimed in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. The late pastor of Moody church in Chicago stated: “Jesus Christ is not a problem; He is the solution to every problem for life, for death, and for eternity.” That is why God send Jesus from Heaven to Earth that Christmas morning. 

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on the Advent of Jesus Christ in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Joseph & Mary - Jesus' Parents - Part 1

Luke 1:26-35 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “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.

 

Pastor Herk preached an Advent message stating that Christmas is a confirmation that you really matter to God and that He loves you more deeply than you can comprehend. There are so many traditions that have made their way into original Christmas story that people start to replace the actual history and assume that things happened which really didn’t. We are under many misconceptions about the actual Christmas story that are not biblical accounts.

 

In the Christmas story, Joseph and Mary were betrothed to each other. A betrothment

is defined as mutual promise, commitment or contract between two parties, for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; espousals. To become betrothed means a contract with one for a future spouse; to espouse; as, a man betroths a lady. The word “troth” means Belief; faith; fidelity; Truth; verity; veracity. A betrothal is to contract to any one, in order to a future marriage; to promise or pledge one to be the future spouse of another; to affiance; used of either sex. "The father betroths his daughter. An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself. During this period, a couple is said to be fiancés (from the French), betrothed, intended, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged. Future brides and grooms may be called fiancée (feminine) or fiancé (masculine), the betrothed, a wife-to-be or husband-to-be, respectively. The duration of the courtship varies vastly, and is largely dependent on cultural norms or upon the agreement of the parties involved. Long engagements were once common in formal arranged marriages, with no sexual relations. 

Isaiah 7:14 declared, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

 

It was during this betrothal period that Mary became pregnant, yet not a betrayal of her betrothal fidelity. Mary had been visited by the Archangel Gabriel of the immaculate conception of the promised Messiah in her womb by the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. But, upon discovery of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph only knew that the baby wasn’t his. In Deuteronomy 22, God gave the Israelites many laws concerning this situation. But, Matthew 1:18-24 explains, “Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,” 

 

 Let's continue Pastor Herk's Advent of Christ message in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Joy to the World - Part 2

 

Michael continues that in Chapter 2 of Philippians, the joy thief is “strife and division in the church”. We experience the joy of the Lord when we are joined together in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. When we forsake our selfish pride and look unto the Lord, old things have passed away and behold all things have become new. Philippians 2:2 says, Fulfill ye  my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

God is the God of new beginnings. Contrary to popular opinion, the trials of life are a blessing. James 1:2-4says, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. According to Romans 5, for tribulation works patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope makes not ashamed because the Holy Spirit is given to you. Through the trials of His refining fire, God will reveal His true character in us. He will teach us the meaning of hope and love. He will prove His nature in us in the fire, by the fire and through the fire.

In Chapter 3, the joy thief is “things”. What is it that you hold dear? What do you value in this life? Paul said, whatsoever things I have counted gain for me, I count them but rubbish that I may gain Christ. Therefore treasure treasures in heaven and not treasures upon earth. Everything that is seen is here today and gone tomorrow. This too shall pass. Everything in this world will come to naught. The things of this world will soon be past, only that which is done in Christ shall last.  

In Chapter four, the joy thief is “worry”. Therefore rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your kindness and yieldingness in insignificant things be made known unto all men, the Lord is at hand. 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. Rejoicing in the Lord is a command. It is a choice to rejoice, not in the things of this world, but in the Lord. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His joy transcends the fleeting broken relationships, trials, and things of this world. 

Joy thieves relentlessly pursue us without mercy. In our own power we have no defense against the adversary; the thief who comes to steal, kill and to destroy. However, when we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will fulfill His purpose that we might have life more abundantly. When we walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Despite the troubles of this world, what shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Therefore, Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King, that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

 

Joy to the World - Part 1

This is Christmas week and Michael writes how Christmas looks back at God’s promise of our Savior, our Redeemer Jesus Christ. It also looks forward to when Christ shall come again as King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts when he was inspired to rejoice about the ultimate victory, when we shall see the Lord Jesus as He is ... for eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. Joy and rejoicing in the Lord is not the result of a fleeting momentary feeling, instead, joy is a command. Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, for this is the will of the Lord concerning you. The commandment of Jesus Christ is that His joy may be in you. Jesus said, ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full.

Joy is the theme of the book of Philippians. Warren Wiersby says that in each of the four chapters, there is a thief that will steal your joy. Whereas happiness depends on circumstances, joy is not happy happenstances, rather, joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord. Regardless of the tribulations of this world, our joy is in the Lord. He is our comfort and strength, He is our sufficiency in all things and He is our all in all, working all things together for good to those who love Him.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were preaching in the city of Philippi and Lydia, a prominent business woman, a seller of purple, invited them to stay in her house. While Paul and Silas were teaching, a young slave girl followed them around. This slave girl was possessed with a devil spirit and her masters used her to make money by fortune telling. Paul and Silas cast out the devil spirit. When her masters found out, they realized that they had lost their source of income so they instigated an uprising against Paul and Silas in the town square. In the midst of the riot, the authorities took Paul and Silas, threw them into prison and charged them for inciting the riot. In jail, Paul and Silas were singing praises to God when the doors of the prison were miraculously opened. Paul said, despite tribulation and persecution, my joy is in the Lord. Joy is a deliberate, purposeful, and intentional choice. Paul’s mission and commission was to live his life “as it becometh the gospel of Christ” ... for we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and Him crucified to deliver us from sin and the consequences of sin.  

If you are not joyful, then you have allowed one of the four joy-thieves to steal your joy. The joy thief in the first chapter of Philippians is “people”. Who is it that has hurt wounded you which you have built up anger and resentment against them. This root of bitterness will steal your joy. Who have you hurt whom you did not ask for forgiveness? The misdirected blessing is focusing on ourselves instead seeking to forgive and bless others. It is a fact of life that people will disappoint you. If you look at others you’ll be distressed. If you look into the mirror, you’ll be depressed, but if you look to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be blessed. Every relationship in this life will end in sorrow except one. However God has said, whatever comes to pass, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Let's continue Michael's message on "Christmas Joy" in the next post. Merry Christmas in Christ, Brian

A Joyful Noise - Part 3

Ephesians 5:18b-21 “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 

Pastor Herk continues that there is one main act that takes place from the moment that we enter through the Sanctuary door on Sunday until the Service ends and we exit through those Sanctuary doors; that is all a part of Worship. In Romans 11:33-12:1-2 the Apostle Paul states “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

Psalm 59:17 “O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress,

the God who shows me steadfast love.”

 

The word “worship” is defined as to (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore).Chiefly and eminently, worship is the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to our heavenly Father in religious exercises, consisting in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. John 4:24 tells us that “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The regenerated spirit within the born-again Believer has direct access to their Creator God in spiritual connection. The worship of Almighty God in all of the worship service elements (singing, prayer, the message) in adoration and reverence are an eminent part of religion. Do not take any part of the corporate Sunday worship service of Believers lightly. 

 

The fourth kind of music that is pleasing to God is (4) composition that has both a horizontal and vertical aspect. Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is the horizontal aspect. The people of God gather together as the body of Christ, collectively worshipping united in song, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; which is the vertical aspect because God is our audience of One. Psalm 7:17 “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” 

 

Psalm 100:1-3 says, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. May your spirit sing and your soul rejoice.

In Christ, Brian

A Joyful Noise - Part 2

 

Ephesians 5:18b-21 “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 

Pastor Herk continues: We need to saturate ourselves with the Word of God. We cannot just analyze, discuss and describe worship music. But, singing out to the Lord in expressive adoration that God is great! But, what kind of music is pleasing to God? (1) Music that is centered on God with reverence; focus to the Lord, to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ because the sole aim is to glorify God. Psalm 84:2 “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

 

 (2) Music that is from the heart. Not just singing words memorized, on a screen or paper, but in thoughtful and joyful prayer as worship to a just and holy Father God, not allowing our minds to wander in other directions, but focused on the words we are expressing to the Lord with purpose. Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

 

Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Prepare your hearts for worship in praise, adulation and admiration. What are you singing the rest of the week, when we are away from church? Hopefully, our thoughts encompass godly things. If we are reading the Scriptures of the Bible and saturating ourselves in the Word of God on a daily basis, then when we come together on Sunday to worship the Lord together, the service is going to be impacted from what is in our hearts and infused into our lives through the Holy Spirit during the week. 

 

(3) Music that recognizes the sovereign goodness of God, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Always and for everything, but not everything is good on this side of eternity. Nations war, governments are corrupt, haste, violence and crime abound, disasters arise, illness and death occur, inflation rises, markets fall and loved ones turn to walk from the Lord. The only way to give thanks always and in everything in a fallen world is to have trust in God’s sovereign goodness. In God We Trust is the American National Motto. We have to trust God, His all-powerful hand and His all-knowing wisdom. 

 

Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God is good and works all things for good in the long run. Once we understand that truth, mere words are often inadequate to articulate what we experience in our soul, so our hearts sing out. God is good all the time.  We need to think about how our joyful noise reinforces the sovereign goodness of our God. Blessed be the name of the Lord! This leads to the body of Christ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ; our common good. 

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on making a joyful noise unto the lord in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

 

A Joyful Noise - Part 1

 

Ephesians 5:18b-21 “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 

Pastor Herk continued in his Sunday sermon series through the Pauline Epistle of Ephesians. The kind of music that flows from the spirit of the inner being to the eternal Almighty, when our lives are controlled byt eh Holy Spirit. Psalm 21:13 proclaims, “Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.” There are debates in the Christian church over whether traditional hymns or modern contemporary songs should be sang. Scripture tells us that our music is designed to be a unifying force to bring the church body together; to unite us, instead of divide us.

 

 The Apostle Paul warns Believers to live their lives carefully. We are to make the most of the opportunities that we have available today, even though we are living in evil days and times in this dark and fallen world. God’s overall plan to redemption, reconciliation and restoration will conform our lives to godly living. If we allow it the Holy Spirit to saturate us. Psalm 95:1 “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”

 

The Apostle gives us five participle phrases that describe the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit. (1) BE filled with the Holy Spirit.  (2) Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. (3) Singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. (4) Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (5) Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is allowing Him to control our lives. The Apostle Paul explains in Galatians 5:16-18, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Though born again of the Spirit, we live with the fallen flesh and it’s sin nature on this side of Heaven, so we have to make a choice to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25 tells us that, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” 

 

Walk, led by the Holy Spirit, is a continuous process that is experienced on a moment by moment basis our entire life. The fruit of aligning your conscious walk in this life with the indwelling Holy Spirit guidance is what every person is seeking. Galatians 5:22-23 confirms, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.“ Being controlled by the Holy Spirit means much more than singing. Yet, rejoicing in song is the natural response to unspeakable joy in the Lord. Psalm 71:23 “My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” You cannot help but sing in joy and adoration. 

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on singing a joyful song unto the Lord in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Blessed - Part 3

 

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

 

Pastor Kyle continues: Know God and have no fear of the unknown. If God has called you “to it”, then He will see you “through it” as a God-centered citizen of Heaven in this earthly experience. Romans 8:29-31 proclaims, “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. God's Everlasting Love What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” The Christian’s first response to the things of this world should be: “it’s like water on a duck”. In the works of the timeless classic: “O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

 

The fallen world will continue to throw trials at us and things will continue to go wrong, but a Christ-following, child of God’s first response looks for faith-filled peace in the uncertainty of the situation and leads to the blessed life. Blessed lives have very little to do with financial prosperity, personal safety or life going well. Our “blessed” status comes 100% from how we live: our trust in God, our obedience, our life of surrender, and our faith as a first response. 

 

The Greek word for “blessed” is “eulogeō”, meaning favored of God, who causes one to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings; enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God; enjoying heavenly felicity. Psalm 84:12 broadcasts to the world, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”

 

Psalm 32 declares: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

 

You have been blessed to be a blessing to others.

In Christ, Brian

Blessed - Part 2

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

 

Pastor Kyle continues: We are the jars of clay that the truth of God resides in. We have been molded by our Maker into a unique individual in a particular shape with a certain purpose so that God can use us for the sake of advancing His Kingdom. And part of that molding involves continually surrendering our plan and will to God. Romans 6:5 explains, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” We are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. A little part of the natural fallen man need to die every single day and be surrendered to God so that the life of Jesus can be more and more evident in our lives. That is a blessing in and of itself.  

 

Your and my initial surrender of our life marked by sin and rebellion to God was only the first step. The “Blessed life” is full of surrender; sometimes many instances in one day; surrendering to the reality that God has something better elsewhere in store for them. Surrendering to God’s will is not easy and takes a leap of faith from comfortable and familiar territory with love and trust. God has something new for each of us to do in this ministry of Reconciliation on planet Earth. Christianity is not about our comfort; it’s about our surrender. Life has moments of natural comfort and joys, but the longer that we walk with Jesus, the more that we come to realize that it is all about continual sweet surrender to God. The Lord Jesus tells us in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” God tris away every unproductive branch in our life, one at a time. A blessed life is a life of surrender to the Master Vinedresser.

 

Luke 1:39-45 “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

 

(3) Blessed equals faith as a first response. Doubt of God’s word, will or way is in the final analysis unbelief. The original sin in the Garden of Eden was doubting God, not eating the apple. Elizabeth saw that Mary had believed by faith and the blessing of fulfillment lay ahead with great joy. We may get to a place of faith, but it is not always our first response. First responses can be paralyzing fear, frozen in place, or to fall back and figure it out. Part of the spiritual growth that God want to work inside of us is to get all of us to that faith first response mindset. But, faith is not the same as optimism, because reality must be a factor. Biblical faith is staying grounded in God, staying grounded in reality, and responding in tune with the Holy Spirit, rather than reacting out of our feeling or opinions in a given moment. Thereby, able to stand on a solid foundation and calmly look for ways of bringing together, and find solutions instead of pulling apart. 

Lret's continue PAstor Kyle's message on being blessed by God in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Blessed - Part 1

 

Luke 1:26-38 “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

This last Sunday, Pastor Kyle preached an Advent sermon on being blessed. We often associate being blessed with financial prosperity, marital bliss, and things in general going well in life. But, there is much more to being blessed then just that. 

 

Pastor Kyle gave us four fresh insights about what it means to be blessed. (1) Blessed does not equal easy. The virgin Mary becoming pregnant via the Holy Spirit while [betrothed] engaged was a tremendous biblical and social issue, as sexual sin always is for God and His people (Mark 7:21, Ephesians 5:3, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 5:18). Obedient Christian living leads to blessings, but we tend to forget how hard the road to God’s blessings really is that we must walk. Children are a blessing from God but raising children is no “cake walk” on easy street; it is hard work to do it right with many amazing moments along the way. 

 

(2) Blessed means obedience when no one is looking. Obedience comes down to faith. The power of God’s blessing kicks in when we are the same in private that we are in public. God looks beyond the external and our character is a key factor that God will use to appoint us for the most important tasks in our life history. (3) Blessed equals a life of surrender; not just a moment of surrender, but a life of surrender. Our life journey with Christ starts with surrendering our will to God’s will. Let go of your lordship over your life, allow the Lord God to reign and rule forever more in kingdom living. Most people believe in God, but do not want His authority over them or want to do what the Lord says, so they refuse to surrender and reject His Plan of Salvation. Though this is the eternal decision between Hell and Heaven for every person, for those who repent nd accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it is only the first step of what defines a Christian disciple’s life. It is a life of surrender that God can fully bless.     

 

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Let's continue PAstor Kyle's message on being blessed in the next post.

In Christ, Brian