Pastor Mary Haley

There are two realms in which humans may think: the natural earthly realm and the spiritual realm. The natural realm deals with what we experience with our five senses of the material environment. The spiritual realm is unseen, has no physical dimension, and engages in a connection to the divine. Human choice can connect the two realms; believers live at an intersection of the two.

Believers are to put on the mind of Christ. It is the work of the Spirit to get us aligned on spiritual matters, but sometimes it is hard to get out of our natural minds and into the Spirit. Because it is tangible for us, this earthly realm can feel much more real. But it is not.

In our passage today, Jesus has just finished feeding the crowds and has made his way to Capernaum, located on the other side of the lake. Even though the crowd missed him walking on the water, it isn’t long before the crowds discover him. They speak as if they came looking for him to teach them more as a Rabbi, giving spiritual food. Yet, Jesus knows their heart and tells them they came looking for him because he gave them a miraculous amount of physical food. Jesus proceeds to tell the people he is the manna from heaven provided by God to sustain life; the One who can truly provide for them.

These folks are trying to understand, but they know Jesus as the son of Joseph and Mary…what does he mean he came down from heaven? Did they really think that, as the son of Joseph, Jesus could feed 5,000 men plus women and children on 5 loaves and 2 fish? Obviously, they missed a really big Sign of the Spirit right under their noses, but their bellies were full.

John 6:25-35 NLT
25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Prayer: God, You alone can give us spiritual understanding. You make the impossible possible. When we face difficulties and challenges, we must remember You can handle all things. You have authority over heaven and earth, so there is nothing too far from Your ability to heal and restore. Our salvation is the greatest sign we will ever experience of Your love. Continue to help us see in the Spirit and choose wisely. In Jesus’ name.

LIFE Lessons Scriptures for Chapters 15 and 16:

Chapter 15

Genesis 3:5
Exodus 12:7-10
Matthew 16:25
Matthew 28:20
John 6:53-58
Romans 6:23
Romans 10:9-10
1 Corinthians 11:23-30
Galatians 1:15-16
Ephesians 4:11-12, 15
1 John 1:7

Chapter 16

Genesis 3:6
Exodus 12:11
Matthew 16:6
Romans 8:14
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Ephesians 5:26
2 Thessalonians 2:10
Hebrews 12:25-29

God desires to be enthroned in human hearts [core of our being]. If we are going to be faithful to allow this enthronement of God, we must accept the reality it involves a transformation that God alone can bring to our lives. God will always be pursuing righteousness and justice, because it is the foundation of God’s rule. Therefore, we will also be aware of our need to pursue these things in Christ. We go where He goes; we are the followers of His desires.

In our passage today, David writes a song about God’s royal rule. When God’s glory is revealed in all creation, it is called a theophany. God lovingly intervenes in humanity’s existence, but He never exercises His rule by force. We must welcome Him and be willing to obey Him.

Evil and conflict are a part of living in a fallen world. However, God never leaves us alone, so His righteousness and justice surround our lives. We can rejoice in His love while we oppose the entrance of evil into our lives and pray for our loved ones to do likewise. Righteousness is our inheritance; so, rejoice and be filled with great joy, “God is with us!”

Psalm 97
1 
The Lord is king!
    Let the earth rejoice!
    Let the farthest coastlands be glad.
2 
Dark clouds surround him.
    Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 
Fire spreads ahead of him
    and burns up all his foes.
4 
His lightning flashes out across the world.
    The earth sees and trembles.
5 
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
6 
The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
    every nation sees his glory.
7 
Those who worship idols are disgraced—
    all who brag about their worthless gods—
    for every god must bow to him.
8 
Jerusalem[a] has heard and rejoiced,
    and all the towns of Judah are glad
    because of your justice, O Lord!
9 
For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.
10 
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
    He protects the lives of his godly people
    and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 
Light shines on the godly,
    and joy on those whose hearts are right.
12 
May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord
    and praise his holy name!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving us, rescuing us, and guarding our hearts. We want to respond to life with faith in You even when the circumstances of life try to overwhelm us. Rule and reign in our hearts through the blessing of Your resurrection. We see Your glory and know it is an answer to Your prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus. In Your mighty name we pray. Amen.

As believers, we are called to guard the authority of Christ and protect the Truth with our spiritual weapons of knowledge, wisdom, faith, hope, and love. In our LIFE Lessons Study last Wednesday, we looked at the dangers of “false teachers” and “fault finders” from Jude’s letter to the church. This happens when believers do not defend the faith that God entrusted to His people (June 1:3). Leaders have the authority and responsibility to bring and uphold the Truth.

In our passage today, we return to Jude’s letter. Jude is the half-brother of Jesus and the brother of James; neither of whom came to salvation during Jesus’ time of ministry. Jude addresses the state of apostasy he witnesses in the early church teachers. Some teachers are rejecting Christ’s authority and living by their flesh however they please. Jude is a Truth-Teller, so he does not mince words or choose a softer tone when addressing the problem. He likens these unfaithful people to Cain and how he killed his brother Abel, because he followed his fleshly nature.

Apostasy is defined as the willful abandonment of genuine faith and the rejection of someone who once believed in Jesus and claimed to follow Him. Jude reminds us to build one another up in the faith, pray, and act in the love of God.

Jude 1:17-25 NLT A Call to Remain Faithful
17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

A Prayer of Praise
Now all glory to God, who can keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Gratitude—a choice to honor God’s goodness and love—is different than being thankful. Although we tend to use them interchangeably, biblically they are distinct. Gratitude flows from an inward posture of the heart. It is a permanent state of being—the root—that grows God’s children in being thankful. Thankfulness involves an outward, active response of praise. We express gratitude and acknowledge God’s goodness through an outward expression of thanksgiving, even when life challenges us.

Biblical praise is expressed through worshipers who deeply love God and are compelled to thank Him for who He is and all He has done. Worshipers recognize God’s pure character, goodness, and mighty works for His sons and daughters. So, we honor God by celebrating, boasting about Him, extending our hands toward heaven, bowing down in reverence, singing and playing instruments, and shouting triumphantly about His glorious goodness. Praise is our expression and declaration. Glorifying God is how we should live; forming a lifestyle of making God our first priority and highest treasure.

In our passage today, the psalmist begins with a declaration about the Lord’s goodness, mercy, and love that never change and calls His people to do likewise. We are instructed to testify to His salvation and redeeming work within us against sin. Many times in life we are helpless to fix ourselves, yet God remains faithful even when we are vulnerable. We pray. God hears us and responds in love to deliver us. Our grateful hearts should lead to public expressions of thanksgiving and praise for the glory of God!

Worship is a celebration of the Lord who rescues, redeems, and sustains us in His love. We should be a “joyful bunch” of believers as we gather in worship. Don’t wait until Sunday; worship the Lord today. No matter what circumstances life brings, God is greater!

Psalm 106
1 
Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
2 
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
    Who can ever praise him enough?
3 
There is joy for those who deal justly with others
    and always do what is right.
4 
Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people;
    come near and rescue me.
5 
Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones.
    Let me rejoice in the joy of your people;
    let me praise you with those who are your heritage.
6 
Like our ancestors, we have sinned.
    We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly!

Prayer: Lord, we take time today to declare Your goodness and praise You for the faithful love You extend to each one of us. May our hearts be rooted in gratitude. May we be filled with “Joy Unspeakable” at the very mention of Your name. May we unashamedly declare Your goodness, today, wherever we go. Holy Spirit, lead us in a day of praise. Be glorified in our respect and honor of You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the Old Testament, God instituted ceremonies to remind His people about the need and attitude of worship—which is saying “yes” to God’s Word accompanied with action. God takes commitment very seriously, and we should, too, because sin brings death. We need a Mediator and Savior. When people accept the covenant work of Jesus on the cross and invite Him into their hearts to serve as Lord, it is a very serious decision; a discipleship contract that is written in Christ’s Blood.

In our passage today, we witness the Old Testament Mosaic Covenant God makes with Israel. God seeks to raise the people as worshipers—a binding relationship ratified in blood between God and Israel [people of faith]. Note the importance of the Word, the altar, sacrifice, and the blood in our passage.

Exodus 24:1-8 NLT Israel Accepts the Lord’s Covenant

1 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. 2 Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”
3 Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.
7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”

8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

Now let’s link this to the New Testament Covenant of Christ. He is the Living Word of God whose sinless blood was spilt on the altar of the cross, and to offer His life by atoning for our sins. Jesus proclaimed the blood covenant at the Last Supper as the fulfillment of the ceremony. Thank you, Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the covenant You made with Your people through Moses, so we could identify its fulfillment in our Lord, Jesus Christ. You laid down Your life, so we could enjoy fellowship with You. May we gain a greater understanding of Your sacrificial love for us each day and turn to worship You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If we are going to resist doubt and cling to hope, we will need the unshakable anchor of God’s Word. In Scripture, we find the power of God’s Word to instruct us in living and we find the promises on which to place our hope. Because suffering and opposition come into every life, we need to allow the commands of the Lord to guide our paths and welcome His promises to bring supernatural comfort.

In our passage today, David is struggling as he faces harsh circumstances. We all know life can bring seasons of suffering. David believes God has called his name and will be faithful, but the pressure to take matters into his own hands is great. David teaches us that we must resist those pressures and allow God’s Word to inwardly stir righteous emotions and actions. To protect his spiritual identity, David decides to put on praise and give God the anxiety that seeks to overtake him. He practices obedience to the instruction of the Lord and endures to see the goodness of God and His love.

David’s faith leads him to ask God to act on his behalf. He prays, “Your promise to me.” This is a very personal promise, so David rests his hope on it and essentially claims, “Let this promise be complete for me.” So, like David, when we find ourselves in the midst of difficult situations, let’s pray, remain obedient to God’s instructions for living, and remember God has promised never to leave us. Hold on to our faithful God, because He cannot lie and will always work things together for our good even when things do not “feel” good (Hebrews 6:8; Romans 8:28).

Psalm 119:49-56 NLT
49 
Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
50 
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
51 
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
52 
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
53 
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
54 
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
55 
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
56 
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Prayer: Lord, David’s hope does not come from a change in his circumstances or from escaping the enemies of his soul. His hope is in Your character and faithfulness. So, as we walk through life today, help us remember Your promise to us and let it bring the comfort we all need to press on in hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LIFE Lessons:  We will be covering two chapters.  Below are some Scriptures for us to review:

Chapter 13 Scriptures

Exodus 12:3, 6 NLT

Matthew 13:19 NLT

Matthew 16:14-17 NLT

Luke 14:25-33 NLT

Romans 5:6-11 NLT

Chapter 14 Scriptures

Psalm 51:10-12

Isaiah 58:9-12 NLT

Jeremiah 15:19 NLT

Matthew 5:22-24 NLT

Matthew 7:1-2 NLT

Matthew 25:40 NLT

Luke 17:1-2 NLT

1 Corinthians 5:12 NLT

1 Corinthians 10:10 NLT

2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT

Galatians 6:1 NLT

Philippians 2:14-15 NLT

Jude 10-21 NLT

Convergence can be defined as two or more things coming together to make a whole, moving to the same point. Think about the convergence of two rivers merging to make one or two roads merging in a “Y” to become one. Convergence happens in the
spiritual realm, as well as in the natural realm.

In our passage today, we see God’s work in convergence. Two things happen in salvation that come together and make us whole. God automatically and immediately orchestrates the impartation of the Spirit of Christ to our hearts. Something happens within us, and something happens to us when divine life converges with human life. When we invite Jesus into our hearts to live His life through us, we are never the same. This convergence changes everything, because it brings the revelation of Truth.

The arrival of Jesus to our hearts automatically makes us a new person. He starts cleansing His dwelling by getting rid of old sin. Therefore, our motivation and desires change; we are interested in God’s Kingdom and sharing His love with others. Self gets bumped off the director’s seat. Immediately, we become members of God’s family. These things make us right with God, and Jesus did it all. Our part is simply to make room in our hearts and lives for Him. The revelation of God’s spiritual convergence in our hearts makes us believers.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds us, as believers, that our work of reconciliation continues until His return to earth. We need to proclaim God’s love and work of salvation found only in the cross of Christ. Human sins can be forgiven, and eternal life can be assured. While we share the message of reconciliation, we await the future convergence of the Bridegroom coming for His Bride/the Church.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NLT 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[a] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for coming to find us and saving us. It is such a privilege to be a part of Your family. The revelation we experience of Your love abiding within us calls us to respond to Your commission. Continue to empower us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, so others will welcome Your presence into their lives in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For believers, Jesus is the foundation [Rock] for our lives. We have been anchored to God through Jesus the Living Cornerstone. We are living stones and He is building our lives in His Kingdom. We have been created to offer our flesh as living sacrifices. Our purpose is to bring glory to God and praise His name for bringing us out of darkness and into His glorious Light.

Don’t ever let rejection define you. God will never reject you, because He has chosen you. He has chosen to love you.
None of us are worthy of God’s love and mercy, but because He is true to His Word, God’s love is sure. He has called each one of us to declare His name among the nations. Friends, God transforms us from the inside out and takes us from rejection and makes us royal sons and daughters of His Kingdom.

1 Peter 2:4-10 NLT Living Stones for God’s House
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[holy priesthood] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,[Zion]
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”

7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.”
8 And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
    the rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 
“Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for adopting us in Christ Jesus and making us Your spiritual sons and daughters. Help us to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, because when we do, the world will never be able to define us or make us feel rejected. What You say about us is all that matters. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We may all be tempted to complain about things in life, even daily tasks, but when we do, our grumbling isn’t motivated by Jesus…it’s our flesh demanding its own way. Grumbling is the opposite of gratitude. When we complain and grumble, it stirs negativity and disrupts the atmosphere of peace and unity around us. In fact, complaining is destructive to our Christian witness; we are not being “lights” in the world when we grumble.

Maya Angelou once said, ”If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” As Christians, when we complain about our lives, we directly criticize our Lord and how He provides for us.

In our passage today, Paul reminds the early church at Ephesus that when people stop complaining, they actually prove their faith is sincere and true. As we grow in the character of Christ, we will obey God and approach the tasks of life with a joyful attitude. What is your attitude when doing necessary daily tasks?

Philippians 2:14 NLT: Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to pay attention to our attitudes and pause when we are tempted to complain. You are so good to us, and we need to act responsibly by approaching every task before us with a good attitude. We desire to be good witnesses to the world. Help us shine, Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I enjoy reading books that expose the heart of a worshiper and nothing does that better than the Psalter—a book of praise songs. There are Five Books and one hundred and fifty chapters filled with songs in the Psalter. Each chapter expresses the heart of God’s worshipers, and displays every emotion humans can experience. The humble honesty found in these songs is beautiful. Each Book works together to call God’s people to praise, exalt, and enjoy the greatness of our God no matter what is going on in our earthly circumstances.

Out of the whole Psalter’s Five Books, Psalm 19:14 is the key verse:
“May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

I read a great challenge today from The Worshiper and I want to share it with you. It’s entitled, Always Pray For Alignment:

Before you ask God to give you what you want, ask Him to give you what is right.
Before asking Him to change your circumstances, ask Him to change your heart.
Before asking Him to bless your path, ask Him to make sure you’re walking on His.
We don’t want a life that simply looks blessed. We want a life that is aligned with God.

So, that leads me to ask if are you praying about everything and asking God—who is glorious and powerful—to act on your behalf? This means we must be aligned with God’s way and will in Christ.

Psalm 19 NLT For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 
Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
3 
They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.[a]
4 
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 
It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
    It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 
The sun rises at one end of the heavens
    and follows its course to the other end.
    Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 
The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
    reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
8 
The commandments of the Lord are right,
    bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
    giving insight for living.
9 
Reverence for the Lord is pure,
    lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
    each one is fair.
10 
They are more desirable than gold,
    even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
    even honey dripping from the comb.
11 
They are a warning to your servant,
    a great reward for those who obey them.
12 
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.
14 
May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Prayer: Lord, the galaxies beyond what we can even see all proclaim Your glory. You made it all, and You sustain it all. So, Lord, as Your worshipers, we know we must align our lives with Your plan and purpose for us as part of Your vast creation. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to You! Be glorified in our hearts and through our lives, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.