Pastor Mary Haley

Philippians 1:9-11

In our passage today, Paul is writing to the believers in Philippi while he is in a Roman prison. He is joyful in his encouragement to this spiritual family, yet throughout his letters he is real to acknowledge his sufferings are for the glory of God.

Philippians 1:9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

The Apostle Paul wants his spiritual family to know what is really important to the Lord, so he writes to reveal the Christ life with them. He wants believers to use their faith in order to grow in knowledge and understanding of the Word of God which has been made living and active for their lives (Heb 4:2). It is through suffering for Christ (the Living Word) that we learn obedience and find the power to align our wills to the holy plumb line of our Creator. Please remember the suffering Jesus mentioned his disciples would face; in fact, he told them to count the cost before they made the commitment (Luke 14:33). Like Paul, we will experience different sufferings, but we must be willing to deny ourselves and take up our cross for the sake of the Word (Luke 9:23). So, we must stay the course in love, joy, and peace while God uses each trial in our lives for our spiritual good and for the advancement of his kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, years ago when you offered me your love and welcomed me into a relationship with you, it was not an invitation to an easy life. It was so I could understand my spiritual destiny. It was so I would never have to face things alone. It was so you could be the strength I would need for every trial or challenge. Thank you for always being with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Philippians 2:1-13 Joined Together in Perfect Unity
1 Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One! You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love. You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy.

2 So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy.

3 Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. 4 Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. 5 And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation.

Unity is really about forming a whole; it is the opposite of being divided. Unity is not necessarily good or bad—it’s neutral—until it is motivated by a purpose. If our purpose is to accomplish something good and godly, then as others unite in that purpose it remains the work of righteousness and brings glory to God. Of course let’s not forget that Satan works to unite people, too, but his purpose is to motivate or instigate lawlessness and wickedness in God’s world.

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul reminds the Church to be unified in love and purpose; this unity is a gift that flows from the grace of God and sets Christ’s followers apart from the world. Holy unity fills believers with love and keeps our minds focused on honoring God and each other. We are all spiritually united—one—in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). So, may Christ’s thoughts and ways be revealed in how we live and worship God, as well as how we love one another.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be motivated by your mindset as I seek to protect the precious unity among your spiritual family. Keep me focused on your purpose as I reach out to love and encourage others. Unite us in the bonds of your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

James 4:11-12 (TPT)

11 Dear friends, as part of God’s family, never speak against another family member, for when you slander a brother or sister you violate [slander] God’s law of love. And your duty is not to make yourself a judge of the law of love by saying that it doesn’t apply to you, but your duty is to obey it! [personal responsibility to the law] 12 There is only one true Lawgiver and Judge, the One who has the power to save and destroy—so who do you think you are to judge your neighbor?

Did you know engaging in slander (false information and character assassination) against another believer is violating God’s law? In our passage today, James reminds God’s children engaging in slander is not the way we are to live; to partake in such behavior is to set oneself up as a judge of his or her neighbor. Remember, Jesus summed the law up when he declared to his disciples the greatest commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself” (Mat 22:37-38). So, when we judge and slander someone else—especially those who claim to have a relationship with God—we stand guilty of having sinned against that person, as well as violating God’s greatest commandments.

Slander, condemnation, and hatred is at the foundation of the world’s system until Satan is destroyed and Jesus comes to rule his creation. Don’t miss it, Satan forms the words of those who slander and condemn others; he is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). Slander is cruel, motivated by self-exalting pride, and drips of self-righteous judgment for the sake of attaining influence and power. I would just love to send all of the politicians and leaders who are supposed to be representing the American people, as well as all media networks who are supposed to report the facts without bias, a truckload of duct tape to cover their mouths—the masks are not working as an effective filter—because I am grieved by the sin causing them to use their positions to slander others rather than cast a vision for our nation. I want to hear policy goals and fresh and righteous ideas that honor God’s authority while loving our neighbors, ensuring our country’s security, upholding our constitution, supporting the rule of law, as well as extending liberty and justice for all NOT slander. As we wait for Christ’s return, please don’t allow Satan to put slander in your mouth. Speak about others the way you would want them to speak about you; love and honor them the way you want to be loved and honored. This is every believer’s duty.

Prayer: Lord, no matter how ugly people’s words may become, please do not allow me to become desensitized to how that grieves you. Please keep a watch over my tongue, as well as my attitudes, because I do not want to sin against your commands of love nor my neighbor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 18:1-5 (TPT)

Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom Realm?
1 At that time the disciples came to ask Jesus, “Who is considered to be the greatest in heaven’s kingdom realm?”
2 Jesus called a little one [toddler] to his side and said to them, 3 “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. 4 Whoever continually humbles himself [see the importance of others beyond yourself] to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm. 5 And if you tenderly care for this little one [others who need to feel important] on my behalf, you are tenderly caring for me.

Toddlers are so fun to be around as they are beginning to walk. They are wide-eyed explorers of life who enjoy family, touching things, and learning much of the time by trial and error; they are surrounded by developmental opportunities. Toddlers learn to understand and follow simple commands, as well as grow in how they imitate their parents. Little by little, toddlers learn to walk with confidence.

In our passage today, Jesus tells the disciples that unless we become like toddlers in our quest and view of our heavenly Father and the spiritual realm, we will never be able—have the power, skill or means—to enter the Kingdom of God. This truth Jesus speaks is really quite hard to hear for the disciples. They have had the most earthly experience with Jesus, yet, that really does not guarantee them spiritual greatness in the Kingdom. Instead, Jesus tells them it is learning to “walk” in his spiritual ways—to be teachable in the things of the Spirit—that actually opens the Kingdom of glory and greatness. Life with Jesus is all about a brand new way to live—a mindset that understands victory comes through obedience, experiential learning, and selflessly caring about our neighbors (everyone). Your life in Christ is meant to focus you on learning to walk by the Spirit. We help others recognize their worth and value to God, because we are blessed to be a blessing. We all begin as spiritual toddlers, but we are invited to grow up in Christ—to become sons and daughters of God who are led by the Spirit of Truth—as we imitate our Father. Keep your eyes focused on Christ, listen to his Word carefully, and walk toward greatness, today.

Prayer: Father, every day you teach me something so valuable about myself, about you, and about the world you died to save. Thank you for continuing to walk and talk with me about Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BTW, I have a praise to share with you, today! I have now progressed to walking with a cane—at about the steadiness and speed of a toddler! lol!

Romans 16:17-20 (MSG)

17-18 One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.

19-20 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!

Since I have been home convalescing from the effects of unbridled horsepower (lol), I have had a lot of time to think and pray about how I am fulfilling my life’s purpose before the Father, praying for our spiritual family and my leadership, evaluating my relationships (family/friends) looking for growth and health; basically paying attention to what is truly important according to the Word—Jesus Christ. I want to enjoy the best of Jesus with this rest time I have been given. But, of course, I have had to face and win some spiritual battles to do so.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul encourages the church in Rome to continue to press on for spiritual maturity as well as avoid being tricked by the smooth-talking work of evil. Now, Paul is referring to those who use pieces of the Word in order to satisfy their own sinful appetites; they twist the Word to sound good and noble—even obedient—but it is not the whole Truth nor the real message of Christ. We feast on the Bread of heaven—EVERY Word that flows from the mouth of God (Mat. 4:4). We guard our hearts through every battle by remaining in peace and holding onto the Truth of God’s love. When you know the Word and take it to heart, you know the real or genuine heart of God. Don’t let smooth-talking evil gain any ground in your life; put Satan under your feet and remain obedient to the Word.

Prayer: Lord, every spiritual battle is won in my life as I remain true to the Word. Thank you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 119:97-98
I Love the Word of God
97 
O how I love and treasure the revelation of your word;
throughout the day I fill my heart with its light!
98 
By considering your commands I have an edge over my enemies,
for I take seriously everything you say.

Recently, I have been reading a book written by Rabbi Schneider in order to reflect upon his thoughts regarding the biblical book of Revelation and end times. It is truly amazing how much great information is in the book and the way it builds upon my knowledge and understanding of how the Word of God—from Genesis through Revelation—all fits into an amazing story of God’s love and plan for redeeming his human creation. Yet, if all I did was read the Rabbi’s book to amass more knowledge or I never brought that insight to the whole of Scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ, I would fail to lay hold of true godly wisdom. We must activate the truth of the Word by allowing it to permeate our attitudes and behaviors; the Word has been given to feed us the truth of God and his will for us. If we reject the Word, we will follow what seems right to us not necessary what God says is right. When we apply the Word of God to our lives, we begin to live the truth of who we are in Christ; here we can remain in the shadow of the Almighty and have power over our enemies.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds us that no matter what is going on in the world, the challenges we face or the attacks of the enemy, God has revelation for us through his word that leads to victory. If we will allow God to guide our lives, wisdom will be released to us and we will find ourselves overcoming our enemies—the world (1 John 2:15-17), the flesh/our sinful nature (Gen 5:3-4), and the devil (1 Peter 5:8). If you need help understanding the world, your sinful nature, or the attacks of Satan to draw you away from Christ, then start spending time in the Word of God; take God’s Word seriously and begin to practice it.

Prayer: Lord, every day your inspiration comes through your Word and I become more and more aware of how very well planned out your mission to redeem humanity has been from the very beginning. Please continue to teach me through your Word and through the insights of your children. Light my path with your Word! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 19:23-26 TPT

23 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Listen. Do you understand how difficult it is for the rich to enter into heaven’s kingdom realm? 24 In fact, it’s easier to stuff a heavy rope [Gamla] through the eye of a needle than it is for the wealthy to enter into God’s kingdom realm!”

25 Stunned and bewildered, his disciples asked, “Then who in the world can possibly be saved?”

26 Looking straight into their eyes, Jesus replied, “Humanly speaking, no one, because no one can save himself. But what seems impossible to you is never impossible to God!”

In our passage today, Jesus has just finished talking to the rich young man and answering his question, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  Jesus tells him, “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments…love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 19:16-21).  This young man tells Jesus he has done all these things throughout his life, but truly Jesus helps him see that an eternal relationship with God must have a new starting point—an encounter with Jesus—that is followed by a changed perspective and obedient actions.  No amount of money or good deeds can substitute the responsibility of humanity to submit every aspect of one’s life to the Lord.  When we make Jesus Lord, we give him the right to direct our life paths, how we love and treat others made in God’s image, and how we use our time, talent, and treasures in a way that pleases God. Essentially, we place the Lord in the driver’s seat of our lives.

Many translations interpret verse 24 using the word “camel.”  Yet in Aramaic the word (Gamla) is a homonym that can actually be translated “camel or rope.”  No matter how it is translated, we get the message that Jesus is proclaiming.  It is impossible to save ourselves.  We know we cannot buy or push our sinful way (heavy rope) into the righteous (narrow) Kingdom, only God can open the Kingdom realm to us.  We must enter the Kingdom through the narrow Gate; the Gate to the Kingdom is Jesus (John 10:7).  If you have never invited Jesus into your heart, you need to do so, today, because he is the only Way to have eternal life with God in the Kingdom realm.  You can have a form of religion without making Jesus Lord, but you cannot experience eternal life in the presence and care of God, know the heart of true Love, have fellowship with Truth, or flow in the righteous power of the Spirit apart from Jesus.   Once Jesus enters our hearts, he provides a new starting point in life and we begin to see a life of worship (oneness) unveiled before us that Creator God designed for his children from the beginning of time. This is the relationship God had in mind for humanity.  And, it gets better; the Spirit comes to be a companion and helper so we can live for the glory of God as we enjoy continual fellowship with him. It is the work of Christ on the cross and the work of the Spirit in human hearts that makes all the difference in where we fit!

Prayer:  Lord, the enemy is always busy trying to tempt humanity to “fit” into the world.  Thank you Jesus for the new beginning you brought me years ago and how you open every day with opportunities to follow and emulate you.  Continue to mold me and shape me to fit your Kingdom.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:1-4 Weakness and God’s Power
13 This will be my third trip to you. And I will make sure that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be confirmed. 2–3 Since you are demanding proof that the Anointed One is speaking through me, I will give you proof by exercising discipline among you. For just as I told you the last time I was there—and now, though absent, I say it again—that when I come I will not go easy on those whom I’ve already warned and those who continue to persist in their sin. Christ is not weak or feeble in his dealings with you but mighty and powerful within you. 4 For although he was crucified as a “weakling,” now he lives robed with God’s power. And we also are “weak ones” in our co-crucifixion with him, but now we live in God’s triumphant power together with him, which is demonstrated on your behalf.

The word integrity is connected to the Hebrew word, shalom. Integrity is demonstrated when our motives, what we say, and how we behave both privately and publicly are in harmony with God’s righteousness. Here is another way to think about integrity; accepting the responsibility, as a believer and follower of Christ, to live according to the authority of God’s Word. A person can have an admirable nature, but fall short of biblical integrity because true integrity, as I mentioned earlier, has to do with agreement with God. Frankly, we can have a kind personality in the natural and still sin against God. This leads us to remain in our weakness; we reject the power God provided to make us holy. That is why we need the revelation of the Word and the convicting work of the Spirit, because our wrong thinking and living needs to change by the grace and power of God.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the church at Corinth (and us) that the believers lives must align with the Word of God—practice the discipline and sacrifice of our human nature and wills—if we are actually going to profess his Lordship and reveal his integrity manifesting in our lives. Paul basically tells the people of God, “Listen to what I say, but also watch how it matches the way I live.” Christ is only Lord of our lives when we surrender our weakness, our brokenness, and our sinfulness in exchange for his integrity—wholeness. Grace is a wonderful gift and, as believers, this grace covers us everyday. Praise God! But, grace has not been given as an excuse for God’s children to continue to sin against the integrity of the Lord. Grace is given to provide a way for us to rise above sin in order to embrace the wholeness of the Lord and his anointing—his powerful hand resting upon our lives. May we as God’s children make his integrity our goal, today, tomorrow, and forever.

Prayer: Lord, we can have all kinds of excuses as to why we rebel or sin against your Word and your ways, but ultimately we have simply revealed to you and to ourselves our lack of faith in your power to redeem us and make us holy. I want you to continue to develop your integrity in my life, so I invite your discipline and I accept my responsibility to surrender to your righteousness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 11:20-25 TPT Lessons of Faith
20 In the morning, they passed by the fig tree that Jesus spoke to and it was completely withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Teacher, look! That’s the fig tree you cursed. It’s now all shriveled up and dead.”

22 Jesus replied, “Let the faith of God be in you! 23 Listen to the truth I speak to you: If someone says to this mountain with great faith and having no doubt, [refuse to be undecided in your heart] ‘Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the midst of the sea,’ and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done. 24 This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—believe that you have received it and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults.

In our passage today, Jesus is speaking and revealing the reality of a coming time of judgment and our need for faith in the redeeming work of Christ and the righteous fruit-bearing work of the Spirit moving in our lives. As believers, we know it is the Spirit who moves us into Kingdom living. We are humbled that God would forgive us, use us, and empower us for his glory, so we are quick to forgive others. We also understand that in Christ we turn from barrenness to fruitfulness by the grace of God, so we embrace the Spirit of Life and stand on the Word of God believing all things are possible. We see ourselves in the Gospel story and boldly live it out through righteous prayer. This is what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Jesus cursed [judged] the fig tree because it was not bearing fruit. Jesus is perfectly righteous and he would never judge unfairly, so we know the tree had potential but failed to fulfill its destiny when the Master called for fruit. There are so many lessons here, but let’s take a minute to look at the symbolism of Christ cursing the fig tree. Like the tree, our religious rituals, worship, works, and prayers are fruitless without the anointing of Christ and the creative and healing movement of the Spirit. Our prayers must be driven by the purpose of God in the power of the Spirit. Jesus reveals two essentials for prayer: 1) believe you are a carrier of Kingdom potential and the restoration that God wants to reveal on earth and 2) focus every request on your faith in God alone to perform it. Whatever obstacle stands before you [mountain] God is greater! Obstacles are simply opportunities for the authority of God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Truth and for the ability to flow in the Spirit for the Kingdom that I carry within me. Make me bold in my asking and holy in my expectations. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 14:22-23 (MSG)

22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.

Many years ago, Saint Ignatius developed a spiritual discipline to evaluate his growth in relationship with God. During my four years in seminary, I read many things about this amazing man of God. At the end of each day, Ignatius shared about meditating (visualizing himself at the scene of the Gospel story) to examine his moments and choices; to look at how he responded to the work of the Spirit that day, how he interacted with and treated people, as well as evaluating how he handled challenging situations in light of Christ’s love. This was not to make him feel prideful nor inadequate, it was to celebrate his small victories, as well as ask God to help bring correction and help as needed. Spiritual maturity was his goal: to have the resurrected Christ freely live, move, and have his being in him. In other words, for Jesus to be Lord of his life.

On August 30, John, Jimmy, Whitney, and I traveled to the Grand Teton range (WY) to take a horse tour of this beautiful mountainous area God created for humanity. The horses where necessary, because ATVs, motor vehicles, etc., could not pass through much of the area and hiking the trail would be too much. Two miles into the ride, we came to an open range and remained mounted while waiting for further instruction. Quite unexpectedly, my horse made a very fast turn to the right and began to gallop into the field; I held on trying to stop the horse, but was thrown off. I hit my lower back and just laid there trying to examine what had happened; I could not move my legs and my vision was filled with flashing lights. Jimmy was first to my side and began to assess my condition, but it was clear I was way too hurt to move or proceed. I laid in the field amidst the sagebrush for three hours before EMTs (called runners) could get to me and medically triage my injuries. Even in pain, I laid there examining my thoughts, physical symptoms, and looking for the loving care of God that I knew was coming. The owner of the horse range—young man in his early thirties—arrive shortly after the accident and stayed with me the whole time. He was so troubled and my heart just connected to him. He kept saying, “I am so sorry, Pastor Mary! Is there anything I can do?” I looked at him and said, “This is not your fault; nor do I hold you responsible. Please know that God has always and will always take care of me and he will use even this accident for my good. Don’t be afraid!” I was also preaching to myself; encouraging my faith. As I laid there, I spent the next two hours trying to share the reality of Christ with him; sharing about God’s love for him and helping him see my heart. I know God was working in his heart, because he had such tenderness and concern for me. He was with me until a rescue team arrive and carried me on a special gurney back two miles to an area where an ambulance could gain access.

No matter what goes on in a day, the attitudes, words, and actions of believers must be consistent with what we say we believe. And, when we are obedient to represent Christ even in our suffering, we have seen glimpses of the work of Grace and the power of God sustaining us and moving through us for his glory. We can take no credit for this miracle; it is the work of the Spirit. Every day I physically improve and the pain lessens. I sit quietly at night and look at how far God has brought me in two weeks and just how amazing his Grace and strength can be in all things. I am more concerned each day that the totality of my life be consistent with what I say I believe. May you be challenged to do the same.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wonderful wisdom I find in your Word and for how it challenges me to grow up in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.