Pastor Mary Haley

Every believer must use his or her faith when it comes to trusting God for the future. So much of God’s plan must be revealed over time. Still, we always have a foundation of Truth on which to stand, because Jesus is the Solid Rock and Word of Wisdom and he existed from the beginning of time and faithfully directs our paths (John 1:1; Pro 3:5-6). We must trust him and stay connected to the Word if we desire to grow in the Truth.

The Apostle John is the author of the Book of Revelation; written around 95 AD while John is exiled on the island of Patmos as a punishment for preaching the message of Christ in Asia Minor [modern day Turkey]. The word “revelation” actually comes from the Greek word “apokalypsis” and translates “unveiling.” God uses the apostle and his letters to begin to unveil what has been unknown about the future of the world and the heavenlies. John is issued a command from the Lord to write his Word to the seven churches is Asia Minor. Only two churches mentioned in those letters actually gain the Lord’s approval.

In his letter to the Church in Philadelphia [translates “brotherly love”], the Lord sends a Word of encouragement. Their wholehearted love for God and one another pleases the Lord; they emulate the characteristic of Christ. Because of their love, these believers are used by the Lord. This spiritual family in Philadelphia faces challenges; however, God also opens righteous doors of blessings and provision to face these difficulties. This church is the recipient of divinely “opened doors.”

Challenges come to those who please God, but with every hardship there will be an open door from God for provision and help. Righteous Love [agape/selfless] always leads the Way to victory! This was true from the beginning of time and it will be true at the end of time, as well.  “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Cor 13:7).

These letters from the Lord to the churches and especially this one today are tremendously important for believers across the globe. Before Christ returns for his Church Body [all believers seeking to walk in obedience to God’s Word through the Spirit], the world will be shaken and unsettled in order to give an occasion for every human to call upon the name of the Lord. God wants to save humanity and he will even allow challenges in order to provide witnesses [believers] to the rescuing Savior who opens the door to God’s mercy and care.

For the present day church, abundant courage and trust will be necessary if we are to fulfill our mission from God. The unveiling is happening over time. No one knows when Christ will return, but the Word of God has revealed some things to notice as we follow and obey him (Matthew 24–which we will explore in our LIFE Lessons soon). Our response should be positive and hope-filled when we begin to see more unveiling of Christ’s return for us.
This is not a time for fear, because the enemy will use fear to stop the blessing of God’s love (1 John 4:18). This is a time for great faith and love. God will protect his own and those obedient to his Word. Fear not! Instead, have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. Rise Up; be filled with excitement, courageous faith, and see the salvation of the Lord. It’s a privilege for those who connect to Christ [the Living Word].

Revelation 3:7-13 NLT The Message to the Church in Philadelphia
7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.
This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
    the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
    and what he closes, no one can open:[quoting Isaiah 22:22]

8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.
10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 I am coming soon [suddenly]. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Prayer: Lord, your commands are clear. We are to love you wholeheartedly and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In our desire to fulfill your commands, we gather as a spiritual family and we help one another grow in all of these areas. We know our first love must be you, Lord. When we love you in a righteous and wholehearted way, we have the power and desire to love others into a place of wholeness with you. A preoccupation on self and selfish desires are always trying to gain power in our lives, but we cast down wrong spirits for the Holy Spirit who leads us in the Truth of your agape [selfless love]. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In our Bible Study Wednesday night, we spent time in Matthew chapter 10 highlighting the courage of the apostles to Jesus’ commission of sending them out to share the gospel. Courage is not action in the absence of fear; it is righteous action despite fear. The apostles had every reason to withdraw from Christ’s instructions. There were so many areas that would require trust. Even the warnings Jesus gave these men—the negative responses from others they could expect—was enough for them to say, “No thank you, Lord.” But, instead these courageous ambassadors of Christ let faith for the Lord’s mission to save the world drive them further into the miraculous unknown.

Throughout Scripture, faith is confident trust that what God has said he will do. We each have a part in sharing the gospel and every part will require courage. God’s story must be shared according to God’s thoughts, by God’s power, for God’s glory…so there will always be a plethora of unknowns for our human mind that will required trust. God’s thoughts and ways are always higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9). It takes great faith to be conformed to the thoughts and ways of Christ (Ro 8:29).

Today, we continue with the writings of Dr. Luke in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Our lesson is focused on two Apostles, Paul and Silas, and the mighty work of grace upon them to draw people to Christ. The location of the reading is Thessalonica—a very wealthy city in Macedonia [northern Greece]—where God took Paul to plant a church. People were turning to God through salvation in Christ and the church was growing strong.

In our passage today, Paul goes to the synagogue to preach. He begins his teaching with what is known from the Old Testament Scriptures and he brings people’s attention to what is presently unknown to them—Jesus the Messiah. The religious leaders become jealous of the power of God on the apostles; they cannot refute the Truth but they can hate the messengers. And they do. As well, they try to punish Jason, a man honoring the Jewish command of hospitality. Jason gets very little attention for serving God, but by courageously sharing hospitality with the apostles he becomes a spiritual hero who proclaims the world’s true King.

Where do you need supernatural courage, today? Every believer has the commission to share the gospel and serve Christ. Our calls are all different, but every call is essential to share the rule of our King and the growth of his Kingdom. Whatever part you are called to offer in service to Jesus, do it with courage. Fear will always come to stop you. Remember, you never know what you can do in the power of the Holy Spirit until you step out. Have a blessed weekend.

Acts 17:1-9 NLT Paul Preaches in Thessalonica
1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” 4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd [city council]. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

8 The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9 So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

Prayer: Lord, even though the forces of evil never seem to stop trying to draw us into a place of fear, we thank you for supernatural courage. We know you love us and we know your plans for us are holy. However, many times we need a gentle reminder about the measure of faith and trust that is essential to please you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I read a statistic this morning that 25-30% of young people struggle with an unhealthy form of perfectionism—a personality trait that involves having unrealistic expectations for self and others.  Anxiety overwhelms these young people with the fear of failure or even simply making a mistake.  For them, flawless living is the perceived goal to success and many times striving to please other people consumes their individuality and creativity.   

Perfectionism may be prevalent in young people, but we all struggle with a taste of it.  Failure—not being able to fulfill the desired outcome—is emotionally unpleasant and it certainly leaves its mark on every soul.  Trauma can cause false perceptions of the truth. However, perfectionism is an impossible standard to achieve. Perfection is an illusion in this fallen world and it will never be achieved in our human strength. 

We must stop comparing ourselves to others. You are a unique creation of Almighty God; you are filled with wonder and awe (Ps 139:14). On top of that basic truth, we now need to invite Jesus to rule our lives. He is the only Perfect One. 

So, let’s connect to Christ and be grateful for his love, acceptance, forgiveness, and guidance.  We can grow way beyond our failures into that unique creation in Christ.  Our lives are designed to bring glory to God—the true goal to success.  On our own, pleasing God is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Mat 19:26).

In our passage today from the Book of Hebrews, the writer encourages us to run the race of life with endurance, because living for the glory of God is hard work.  If we lean into perfectionism, we will not want to run, because we will face disappointments, struggles, and perhaps even failure by the world’s standard.  But God NEVER gives up on us and he is laser-focused on our hearts, not our performance.

We cannot perform or earn our way into heaven; we need the Savior. Jesus certainly cares about righteous living and we are learning to please him; he transforms our motives and desires according to his glorious standard of Love.  Therefore, we must press on knowing Jesus is waiting at life’s finish line for us…inviting us to cross over to his complete and perfect image by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).  Hallelujah!

Hebrews 12:3-17 NLT  

3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[those who hurt themselves by opposing him] then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? [sons] He said,

“My child,[son] don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6 

For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 

8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?[really live]

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

A Call to Listen to God

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for this encouragement today.  We need to honor you with our lives, but also rest in your work to bring righteousness to our souls.  As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, we are believers who are becoming more like you.  When we fall, you pick us up and help us continue in the race of faith.  Today, we cast down any worldly spirit of perfectionism for the truth that you are making us sons and daughters.  We are blessed to belong to you and to be disciplined by your love.  In Jesus’ name.

Every time I come to the gospels to read, I am amazed by the courage of our Lord as he demonstrates living in hostile earthly environments. He very carefully chooses where and when to reveal his righteous anger; he is patient yet focused. Surprisingly, it is not against the Roman ruling authorities or sinners. No friends, Jesus’ anger is focused on those who say they belong to God, but actually live in resistance to Him by disrespecting the Father and taking advantage of others.

In our passage from Dr. Luke, today, Jesus has made his triumphal entry. He has shed tears for Jerusalem [the Holy City of Peace], because she does not recognize the Lord of all creation in her midst. The people desperately need salvation from sin, but the leaders are fleecing people and turning saving grace into a commodity. So, Jesus comes to offer himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world; he is right there before them and people are so entrenched in what they can do to maneuver salvation or extort it they feel no shame for how that reflects upon the holy reputation and character of God. This indifference to the holy makes Jesus angry. Nothing that is going on in God’s house reflects the heavenly Temple for which the earthly temple was to emulate.

Both the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied to God’s intent for his house to be filled with prayer, but the religious leaders allowed evil and fleshly endeavors to fill it. “I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa 56:7). “Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Jer 7:11). God’s Word was given, so God was going to deal with the hypocrisy in his House.

To take it a step further, Jesus came to be the sacrificial Lamb to pay for our sins, forgive us, and make human hearts a holy temple for his presence. When we do not allow the purification process—the transformation of our souls—we are taking what has been purposed to make us a holy temple of grace and traded it for a hypocritical replica. Jesus weeps when we do not recognize the cost of salvation and we just want a “bit” of him—just enough to keep us out of hell.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Heb 4:12). When we invest our time in reading the Word of God, we are actually saying, “I choose to put myself under your Physician’s knife, Lord, so you can cut away the things that make me a hypocrite to your Word!” Salvation is the most holy experience that will ever touch our lives, so we dare not treat it as an earthly exchange or transaction.

Luke 19:45-48 NLT Jesus Clears the Temple
45 Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. 46 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

47 After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. 48 But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for salvation and for the work of the Word and Spirit to influence our hearts and desires with divine holiness. Help us remain focused like Jesus on prayer and the power of living righteously. May we have an awareness of your presence with us every day and may we press in to receive your strength and grace for the growth of our souls. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sharing the gospel of Christ with the world is not just a good idea, it is a God-directed commission for believers. In other words, the people who are called according to the name of Christ—the Church—are instructed by the Lord to take his message of hope and salvation into all the world (Mat 28:19-20). According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit is sent at Pentecost to empower the Church’s commission and the Book of Acts chronicles the expansion of God’s Kingdom through the Apostles. It begins with Peter sharing faith in Christ with a Jewish audience and then moves through him to share the Gospel message with Gentiles. Paul carries the Good News further, because it is the goal of Christ’s passion to save “everyone” from sin (Mark 16:15).

In the midst of proclaiming the Gospel and sharing the Acts of the Apostles, we meet Stephen—“a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). Stephen has been “performing amazing miracles and signs” among the Greek-speaking people in the Church (Acts 6:8). Therefore, this amazing man of God meets tremendous opposition from Jewish religious leaders who truly hate him and have chosen to set up false testimonies against him in order to kill him.

In our passage today, we find Stephen’s last time to witness for Christ and it’s before this unjust religious council. He shares the truth about Jesus being the Messiah and how the Savior has changed his life. Stephen never disrespects the Jewish forefathers and prophets of old, the Law, or the work of the Temple. Instead, Stephen boldly shares his faith in Christ and confronts the sin of the leaders before him who prefer to honor a dead religion for salvation instead of running to the Living Lord of all creation who came to save them—the Promise of Messiah the forefathers actually believed. This moment with Stephen is a crossroad for these leaders; God wants them to know and be loved by Christ.
The Spirit uses the words of Stephen to convict the religious leaders; however, that conviction is turned into violence against Stephen rather than help the leaders run to the Savior. Religion can create self-righteous people who desire to silence what they do not want to hear. Remember, the Truth convicts, as well as affirms. As a result, Stephen becomes the first martyr of the Gospel and all he does to warrant this death is speak the truth.

When we are confronted by the Spirit with our sin [lack of trust and reliance on God/unbelief] how do we react? Do we bow humbly to allow Jesus to do what he knows is God’s best for us by leading us toward the truth? Or, do we defend ourselves, lash out at others, and try to silence the internal war building in our souls? Christ offers an unsettling path toward peace with God. Conviction is a gift from God; we must receive and empower the work of the Spirit. Otherwise, we too, will resist the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:44-53 NLT
44 “Our ancestors carried the Tabernacle [tent of witness] with them through the wilderness. It was constructed according to the plan God had shown to Moses. 45 Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.

46 “David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built it. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,
49 
‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
Could you build me a temple as good as that?’
    asks the Lord.
‘Could you build me such a resting place?
50 
    Didn’t my hands make both heaven and earth?’[Is 66:1-2]

51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen [uncircumcised] at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

Prayer: Lord, sometimes the Spirit pierces our souls with a Truth that can be hard to hear, but we ask for the strength to receive it. We desire to work with you in salvation and the renewing of our souls in the Truth. We need to hear it, so please continue what you have started in Messiah. We love you and trust you; yet, we pray for the power to believe for more opportunities to learn, grow, and witness to your passion for saving the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In our world, there are many “sensitive, controversial, or even difficult” topics people avoid talking about; they are like “hot potatoes” because to discuss them is “risky.”  Yet, there are many topics we need to discuss, anyway; the most important being salvation in Christ.  The world needs Jesus and it is the work of believers to share the Truth. Without Jesus, humanity will face the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). 

In the Old Testament Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 4, the Philistine army is at war with Israel and because of Israel’s apostasy the Lord allows Israel to be defeated.  But, instead of placing their faith in a relationship with God, the Hebrew elders decide to bring the Ark of the Lord into battle thinking the object will save them from their enemies.  All it does is cause the Philistines to fight harder; after all they had heard about the Ark of God and how the Egyptians were destroyed with plagues.  

So, the Philistines defeat Israel again and capture the Ark of God.  They are excited to get the Ark, because they practice the worship of many gods.  Adding one more god to their collection would make things better, right?

In our passage today from 1 Samuel Chapter 5, the Philistines place the Ark of God next to their chief pagan god, Dagon.  God does not share space with other gods, so Dagon takes a nosedive and the people in the vicinity of the Ark begin to get sick.  The people realize the power of the Ark of God and decide to shuffle it around to other capital cities, but no matter where they take the Ark it brings people chaos, pain, sickness, and tumors—perhaps the bubonic plague due to mice.

The Philistines struggle and ask, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” It’s like a hot potato no one wants.  Instead of submitting their lives to God, the elders decide to get rid of the Ark…the shuffling continues.  If the Philistines would have submitted to God, the Ark would have become a beautiful blessing.  But, the people’s rejection of God made the Ark a curse that brought judgment.  The Old Testament foreshadows a deeper meaning in the New Testament.

The New Testament teaches the rejection of Christ will bring the consequence of judgment (Luke 10:16; John 12:48).  Jesus is the Messiah bringing the necessary salvation for people to be spared judgment. We need a relationship with Jesus. So, according to Scripture those in our world who reject Jesus will not experience the blessing.  That hot potato should bring a sobering thought and quick repentance…

1 Samuel 5 NLT  The Ark in Philistia

1 After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. 2 They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. 3 But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. 4 But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.

6 Then the Lord’s heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors.[a] 7 When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, “We can’t keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.” 8 So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?”

The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath. 9 But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the Lord’s heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.

10 So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, “They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!” 11 The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town. 12 Those who didn’t die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.

Prayer: Lord, your gospel is a warning and message for the world.  It is Good News that is either accepted or rejected.  We pray for human hearts to be open and for the harvest of souls saved for your Kingdom to be multiplied exponentially.  You bless us all the time, Lord, and we want to be a blessing by sharing salvation in you.  Empower us, Lord.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

“More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them.”

[anonymous]

Humanity desperately needs a Guide [Plumb Line] for behavior; consequences—positive or negative—are a part of effective learning. We learn self-control from facing our mistakes. Cause and effect for wrong choices is purposeful and should be a powerful teacher. Consequences for unrighteous and unjust actions toward others must be enforced; otherwise, people will not be motivated to turn toward the holy and Almighty God who can forgive them, empower them, and guide them into abundant living (Jo 10:10).
Our culture is struggling and deteriorating, because it needs to learn a new way of living—the righteous way of Christ. Jesus is the Teacher for Life, because he is Life itself. Jesus is also the Judge of Life, because he is the Judge every human being will one day face (Mat 25:31-46). Scripture reminds us every person will one day kneel before Jesus the Christ and give an account for how he or she has lived on earth (Ro 14:12). It doesn’t matter whether we believe this is the truth; our faith or lack of faith does not change what God has ordained in his Judgment. Denial will not exist. As our Creator, every life will be weighed by Almighty God (Rev 20:11-16).

In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews reminds believers they know the Truth—Jesus. Therefore, there is no excuse for denying our mistakes or sinful living. The Lord is not only Life and Judge, he is also Love. Yet, this Love put into place consequences so we will learn from them. Believers and unbelievers will face consequences. Those who honor and live by the Lordship of Christ will face rewards. Those who spurn the authority of Christ over their lives will face punishment.

Brothers and sisters, when we know Jesus—the Living Word of God—we have the Truth. We must not accept into our lives what God rejects. Instead, we need to choose to follow the Holy Spirit into deep love, respect, and devotion to our Lord. As believers, we all make mistakes and the Spirit challenges us to learn from them. It is such a gift to have a Guide who wants nothing but holy abundance for us.

Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
    I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of the Spirit to guide us into the Truth and away from denial. We need to be real with you and trust you will lead us toward spiritual maturity. Thank you for the consequences we have faced in the past that have helped us grow in your character. Continue to help us reach for the abundant life you offer. We honor your authority, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The season in which we presently live is a “God-season” and whether we realize it or not we live at the crossroad of grace every day.  We must decide to follow God’s path for us, because it is easy to become distracted by the world.  Time moves forward each day and we must move in synchronicity with the eternal Spirit to manifest Christ’s anointed love in real time. 

As the redeemed of the Lord, we must be about our Father’s business to love the world and reveal salvation in Christ. We cannot afford to find ourselves going backward or off to the sidelines. We are Christ’s witnesses. Living in his salvation is the agenda every day. 

How we live and treat people each day is not only important it is a place of judgment for our very own souls.  The Church needs to take this God-season very seriously.  To do or not to do…that is the question.  What is the right thing to do in order to reveal Christ’s way of living? Do it!

In our passage today from Dr. Luke, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the urgency to be ready for his return.  Think about that for a minute…just under two thousand years ago Jesus is teaching his servants about the urgency of their work and the potential for reward.  Jesus presses the point that no one knows when the Son of Man will return by sharing an illustration with his disciples and instructing them to be ready.

Peter asks a question that I find fascinating, because I believe some folks today think like him.  Is the illustration Jesus shared just for his small group of disciples? We are either faithful disciples living the Word of God and proclaiming Christ for salvation with our very lives pointing the way to Truth, or we are religious people who think simply caring for our own salvation is sufficient—a false gospel.

Believers are recognized in the world by the righteous Light and passion he or she brings to all of life. We are constantly allowing the Word to feed us, so we can turn to feed others the true love of God. Worldly love never satisfies. Jesus has high expectations for his followers, because we have been provided grace to fulfill our commission. We can share Christ in power and passion each day, we simply must choose to do so.  

A faithful servant of Christ not only gives his or her heart to the work of the Lord, a believer’s entire life revolves around the understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing.  The blessing of the Lord is not simply to enrich our lives—although it certainly does so.  The blessing of the Lord is the power to be Christ’s ambassadors in the world, as well as welcoming humanity to his holy table to eat the Truth.  What will we do today to reveal our love and faithfulness to Christ with all that we have been given? 

Luke 12:41-48 NLT  41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for our passage today that reminds us about the empowerment of our salvation.  Please forgive us when we make salvation about anything we may bring to life.  We are simply recipients who should do the right thing each day to reveal the love of Christ in a dark and wicked world.  If we are honest, as believers, we know what is righteous and what is not.  So forgive us when we have not chosen wisely and help us to stay moving faithfully forward to your call and commission.  You truly have entrusted your disciples with life itself.  May that understanding humble us today and help us to look at each day with the same urgency you did years ago.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Good Morning!  I have missed writing and sharing the devotionals with you; however, in my absence, Jen has shared the Word of God beautifully and I have enjoyed being on the receiving end of her devotionals this past month.  The Spirit moves through us all as we open ourselves up to the work of the Word to stir and increase our faith.  Thank you, Jen!

In our passage this morning, we continue with the letter to the Hebrews that began, yesterday.  These heroes of the faith are described as calculating—in Gk. λογισάμενος or logisamenos—meaning through logical thought they weighed the circumstances before them and they formed a conclusion to stand in a place based solely on what they had experienced or understood about God’s character and power written in His Word and lived through previous generations.  Conclusion:  If God revealed his faithfulness in miraculous ways in the past, he will be faithful to reveal himself and manifest his promises to every child of faith. Period.

These heroes are not standing on the foundation of wishful thinking, they are firmly placing their present hope in what the Word of God has revealed to his people in the past while looking for his goodness to manifest in the present and future.  How far into the future will that faith need to sustain God’s people?  Well, for many of these biblical heroes they had to hold onto their faith for a very long, long time.  Some even died holding onto their faith in the work of God through future generations.

Our faith isn’t just important to our Author; it is His passionate life-giving work.  Jesus died to rewrite our lives according to the living Word of God—the character of Jesus.  Spiritually, we arrive into this world lost and blind. Jesus comes to open our eyes and help us see through experiential learning opportunities that God exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him (Heb 11:6).  The more we pursue God, the more we understand his character and desire to emulate him.  

We were created to bring honor and glory to our Maker….our Creator.  Without the saving work of Jesus, the guidance of the Spirit, and the confident application of our faith in the Lord’s goodness and purpose, we are incapable of pleasing God.  So, let’s continue to pursue our Lord and increase our faith, today, because we are seeking to understand a very BIG God who loves to release unfathomable grace to his children!

Hebrews 11: 17-28 NLT  17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”[a] 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

Prayer:  Lord, when we are actually called according to your name, it requires an act of our faith to follow you.  Thank you for rewriting our lives in your love.  Thank you for stretching our faith as we pursue your goodness by choosing to allow your passionate work to bring holy love to our lives. Change is never easy and having the faith to believe you have only better things for our lives will be our challenge.  Yet, we want you and the life you died to provide us.  So, continue to refresh us in the Spirit and motivate us to want all you have for us.  Make us heroes of the faith who prevail in your power and grace.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Sometimes we need a whopping dose of hope to go with our faith if we are going to believe God for big things. In our passage and lesson, yesterday, we read about how the Shunammite woman was barren and unable to have a child, so Elisha spoke a promise from God for her and she soon became pregnant. This woman struggled to receive that blessing, because she saw no way for it to be fulfilled. Yet, is anything too difficult for God?

The Shunammite woman did indeed get pregnant and have a child. God revealed himself to her as the God of the impossible. Her understanding of God’s power and promise never left her; the Truth remained with her. She was blessed by the Lord and she knew it.

Our passage continues today with the need for even greater faith. This child suddenly becomes gravely ill—perhaps a brain aneurism—while out in the field with his father. Even though the child is taken back to the house for the mother’s care, he dies.

Therefore, this woman of faith can only think of one thing to do; she must go find Elisha. So, she places the child’s lifeless body on Elisha’s bed, neglects to tell her husband about the death, and travels to Mount Carmel to find Elisha, but instead first sees his servant Gehazi. She neglects to tell Gehazi of the child’s death and presses on to find Elisha. When see encounters the man of God she faces her grief, finds comfort and the confidence to believe in another miracle.

While our faith will have to endure many challenges, we must remain persistent in our understanding of the Truth: there is no greater power than God and our hope must be in him. If you are in a battle of faith that presses your endurance, please do not give up hope in God. He alone writes your life story; he wrote it with love in mind. Talk to the Lord and you will gain the persistent strength you need. As we celebrate our Declaration of Independence, please remain faithful and “dependent” upon God.

2 Kings 4:18-31 NLT
18 One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters. 19 Suddenly he cried out, “My head hurts! My head hurts!”
His father said to one of the servants, “Carry him home to his mother.”
20 So the servant took him home, and his mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died. 21 She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there. 22 She sent a message to her husband: “Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back.”

23 “Why go today?” he asked. “It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.”
But she said, “It will be all right.”

24 So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, “Hurry! Don’t slow down unless I tell you to.”

25 As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, “Look, the woman from Shunem is coming. 26 Run out to meet her and ask her, ‘Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?’”
“Yes,” the woman told Gehazi, “everything is fine.”

27 But when she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground before him and caught hold of his feet. Gehazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone. She is deeply troubled, but the Lord has not told me what it is.”
28 Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, ‘Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up’?”

29 Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face.”
30 But the boy’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.” So Elisha returned with her.

31 Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The child is still dead.”

32 When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed. 33 He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again! 35 Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!

Prayer: Lord, you move the mountains in our lives and help us press on in faith to believe in better days to come. Thank you for being our Hope and Helper; to look for miracles and to come boldly before your throne of grace to ask for what we need, as well as share the deepest desires of our hearts. It is safe to be vulnerable and real with you. Help us to stay strong Lord and remember your power is so great it cannot be measured. In Jesus’ name. Amen.