Pastor Mary Haley

Galatians 5:16-26 (TPT)
The Holy Spirit, Our Victory
16 Let me emphasize this: As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. 17 When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.
18 But when you yield to the life of the Spirit, you will no longer be living under the law, but soaring above it!

19 The behavior of the self-life is obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, 20 chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, 21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!

22–23 But the fruit [harvest] produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love [agape] in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit (Lordship). Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

24 Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus Christ have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self-life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah. 25 If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives. 26 So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.

In our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul gives a very powerful reminder of the life we should enjoy when we are connected to the Vine—Jesus Christ. Our flesh may wage war within us, but we cannot give way to the demands of the flesh; the flesh has been crucified in Christ Jesus. Let’s not resurrect that which seeks to destroy our fellowship with the Lord. When we offend the Holy Spirit with our self-centered inclinations, we limit the expression of divine love flowing through us. This world needs to experience the agape love of God flowing through his children of Light. Live in the Holy Spirit; live in victory!

Prayer: Lord, in a culture that hungers to live by sinful flesh and unrestrained emotions, please raise me up by the power of the Spirit so that I might live in your Holy presence. Help me bear the fruit of your righteousness and be the original you created me to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 22:25-26 TPT

25 
You’re the reason for my praise; it comes from you and goes to you.
    I will keep my promise to praise you before all who fear you
    among the congregation of your people.
26 
Let all the poor and broken eat until satisfied.
    Bring Yahweh praise and you will find him.
    May your hearts overflow with life forever!

When we call out to the Lord, he hears our cries and answers our prayers. There are two aspects to a right response to such a loving and wonderful Deliverer. First, we should give him public praise; people around us should hear about the goodness of God operating in our behalf. Our witness should be powerful and positive; the Lord is the reason for our praise! Second, we should remain faithful to his commands and covenant of love. Our desire to live in a way that pleases God must be our priority every day. To fear God is to come to him with holy respect and awe for his goodness to his creation; to fear God is the beginning of godly wisdom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always coming to help me when I call. I praise and worship you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 14:26-31 (VOICE)
26 After the meal, they sang a psalm and went out of the city to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus: 27 All of you will desert Me tonight. It was written by Zechariah,
    I will strike the shepherd,
        and the sheep will scatter.
28 But when I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.

Peter (protesting): 29 It doesn’t matter who else turns his back on You. I will never desert You.

Jesus: 30 Peter, mark My words. This very night before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times.

Peter (insisting): 31 No, Teacher. Even if it means that I have to die with You, I’ll never deny You.
All the other disciples said similar things.

Throughout Scripture, God’s Word reminds us the Lord knows all hearts; he knows the attitudes and motives of our hearts. God knows our strengths, as well as our weaknesses. Although he loves us, he will always be honest with us about our need to grow in spiritual maturity. He is the Truth. We are physical beings, as well as spiritual beings; our physical actions can have spiritual importance. The more we allow ourselves to grow in spiritual formation the more we will be ready for the times ahead—either good or challenging.

Our passage today is an excellent reminder—the Lord knows how we will respond to the Truth each day. Praise the Lord for the Spirit’s work in your life. Don’t protest the change the Lord wants to bring; welcome the growth because he sees far ahead of you. We all want to say we are ready for Christ’s return. Now is the season for growth so let’s embrace it because the harvest always follows.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for how well you know me. Prepare me for the work ahead. Make me bold and strong in your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Galatians 6:8

8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul teaches us that everything we say and do becomes a seed that either feeds the Spirit or feeds our sinful nature. If we sow to our selfish flesh—feed the sinful and sensual desires that are opposed to God’s Word—we will reap destruction. We must persist in sowing righteous seeds.

If a farmer plants corn, he does not expect to harvest watermelons from his seeds; he planted corn so he knows he will reap corn. To think otherwise is folly. Therefore, how we live our lives as we manage God’s grace and resources determines what we will reap. We need to live in a way that pleases the Spirit, then we will reap the eternal resources of heaven. “Don’t get tired of doing what is good and right before our Lord, because in His season we shall bring a great harvest if we can just persist” (Gal 6:9).

Prayer: Lord, help me be persistent in sowing good seeds into the Spirit-life. I desire to reap the eternal life you have promised. Thank you for being my Helper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

April 26, 2021
Psalm 95:6-7

6 
Come, let us worship and bow down.
    Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 
    for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
    the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today!

In our passage today, the psalmist offers an invitation to humble ourselves and worship Yahweh Lord. We bow down in humility and adoration as we acknowledge our supreme Creator and Master. He is our Redeemer and Shepherd; we are the sheep in his hand. Yahweh’s commitment is always constant, his care is all-encompassing, and his love is extremely personal. So, come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Prayer: Lord, I worship you with my life today. I humbly bow down and praise your name. You are so good to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 23:4-6
4 
Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
5 
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
6 
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Our psalmist today, King David, is described as a man after God’s own heart. In Christ, God writes his laws on our hearts and renews our minds, so we will interpret and champion the things of His heart. Our obedience to live according to the righteous things written by God is the revelation that we truly walk with God. On our walks with the Lord each day, we must remember he is the Source of protection and comfort. As well, even when the world rejects our convictions, the Lord is there to anoint us and reward us with his presence. Make sure you focus on the goodness of God and make pleasing him in your walk through this world your highest goal. He alone can satisfy the longings of your soul and affirm you as living with His heart.

Prayer: Lord, stay close beside me while we walk together through the dark valleys in this world. There are so many things that grieve my heart; perhaps they grieve your heart, as well. Yet, I have hope in your ongoing work to redeem the world. So, Lord, protect me and my family from evil and be the comfort to each one of us that only you can be. I will remain focused on your goodness and love; I will ask for your blessings upon my life, as well as the lives of all believers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 23 A psalm of David.
1 
The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 
    He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.

In our passage today, we can clearly see God deeply loves us and cares for our souls (mind/will/emotions). This passage brings a loving affirmation from our Lord, as well as encouragement for his followers during the difficult seasons we face in life. The Lord takes us to peaceful resting places and he restores to us a sense of well-being. Our restoration is based on our willingness to follow our Shepherd back onto the path of righteousness where grace is abundant. Every step we take, as we follow our Shepherd, leads us into a more holy and intimate place in his love.

Life can really drain us, can’t it? Well, today, if you are feeling drained by life, then please follow your Shepherd because he desires to lead you into peace and restoration. Jesus is the Shepherd humanity needs and, according to God’s Word, believers know his voice (John 10:4). So, stop worrying about all the wrong and confusing voices you hear in the world, focus your attention on the One who really loves you, and invite the Lord to renew your strength and sense of wellbeing. You are made whole in the Lord and you have all that you need.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading me beside peaceful streams and restoring to me a sense of well-being each day. The world can never bring me peace or a sense of well-being; everything the world offers is merely a counterfeit that in a moment is gone. Only you can provide the eternal restoration I need. I love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 150 Praise the Lord!
1 
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 
Praise him for his mighty works;
    praise his unequaled greatness!
3 
Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
5 
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

The Book of Psalm—the Psalter—begins with chapter one proclaiming two choices for humans to follow as a path for life: 1) a righteous path which God watches over, or 2) a foolish path that leads to destruction. A wise person should view the two choices and know exactly which path to follow. However, throughout the next 149 chapters we see in reality the human heart is easily deceived, as well as inclined toward rebellion against God’s Word. With divine guidance, humanity must face and acknowledge its fallen state, bow humbly, and invite God to restore what the enemy stole—our innocence before God and our devoted worship of his holy presence.

Along with the psalmist, we must also cry out to God and lament our rebellious ways. Because of his agape, he comes as our Shepherd to rescue, redeem, and lead us back into righteousness. The Lord establishes and directs our steps. As we taste the goodness of God and his righteousness, praise fills our lips, joy fills our hearts, and soon we realize the contentment and satisfaction we experience and share when God watches over our lives. So, the psalmist ends the Psalter with our passage today as he calls all of creation to Praise the Lord for his mighty works. Let praise fill your soul!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have laid out the Truth before all your children—sons and daughters. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, help me stay the course with you on the path of righteousness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 John 1-6 Walk According to His Commandments
1 The elder [John—of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady and her children [spiritual family], whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who know and understand the truth— 2 because of the truth which lives in our hearts and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual well-being) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

4 I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but [simply reminding you of] the one which we have had from the beginning, that we [believers] love and unselfishly seek the best for one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love.

Conditional love—which reflects terms on the giving of love—never stands the test of time in a fallen world. An example of conditional love would be one person or group (A) requiring or demanding another person or group (B) to live with the purpose of keeping (A) happy. Conditional love is all about pleasing flesh and feelings. Therefore, there is no room for correction of (A) because it brings offense and hurt feelings. Conditional love [an antichrist counterfeit] is about manipulation and control and in time will destroy relationships; it is like building a relational house on sand knowing storms are coming. Conditional love between believers is not and has never been biblical.

As believers, the love we are to share is actually called ‘agape’ which is a sacrificial love. This love is not earned and is given freely because Christ has given every believer his sacrificial love (1 John 3:16). Love flows from our holy Source—agape has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit—rather than the worldly bottomless pit of our feelings (Romans 5:5). Agape is an act of the will for the purpose of healing others—having a high regard for their overall welfare. In fact, Jesus teaches [all his disciples] that loving our enemies is acting as children of the Most High (Luke 6:32-36). In Christ, we are to speak the Truth in agape because we desire the welfare of others even above our own. We share agape knowing it may produce positive or negative consequences for us. Agape is not sappy or prone to feelings; it’s the compassionate move of God to heal and redirect a sinful and selfish world that needs to know the Truth of The Creator in order to live by His precepts/commands. This certainly gives us something “unsappy” to think about, today, doesn’t it?

Prayer: Father, thank you for your agape love for me; I don’t deserve it and yet am so grateful for the love you gave for my well-being. Help me to spill forth into the lives of others that agape which you have poured into me, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 John 3:9-10 (MSG)
9-10 People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-born to practice and parade sin. Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.

In our passage today, the Apostle John shares a straightforward or simple way to know who belongs to God and who belongs to the devil. He maintains it is a simple test. When we are born of God, we become a part of his family. We desire to honor his Word and name; to reflect his character by honoring his laws of love. The Holy Spirit brings a rebirth that causes us to receive new hearts that are inclined toward love and obedience, as well as a new mind that desires to become more like Christ. If we do not desire to grow in Christ’s love and righteousness, we reveal the truth about who has the greatest authority over our lives. If we find ourselves speaking against another brother or sister in Christ, guess who is wrong?

Prayer: Father, may each day I be willing to allow you to work righteousness in my life; I desire to stay on that path with you. Continually fill me with a desire to serve you wholeheartedly and cause me to spill forth love to my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.