Pastor Mary Haley

1 Timothy 12:15-16
15 I can testify that the Word is true and deserves to be received by all, for Jesus Christ came into the world to bring sinners back to life—even me, the worst sinner of all! 16 Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of his Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in him for eternal life.

Seems like every day Jesus practices his perfect patience with his human creation; he gives superabounding grace for those destined to believe. He never quits in calling hearts and reaching for the lost. God, alone, knows who is going to respond to his invitation and who will reject it.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul testifies to the work of the Word unto salvation. He shares about how God pursued him with patience and grace. He encourages his mentee, Timothy, to never give up in sharing the gospel with others. Even though some people may reject salvation and refuse to live by the virtues and character of Christ, the Spirit knows the ones who are actually searching for true meaning and fulfillment with God. We must always get beyond our attempts to please human beings, because our real goal for our lives must be to please God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for capturing me by your grace and for the great patience you extend each day in my direction. Fill me with your vibrant life, so others can see Christ in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

14 I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. 15-16 In fact, God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone. For people who are being saved, this perfume has a sweet smell and leads them to a better life. But for people who are lost, it has a bad smell and leads them to a horrible death. No one really has what it takes to do this work. 17 A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God’s message. But we are God’s sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with God as our witness.

In this second letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul thanks God for the ministry he has been given and the joy he finds as he helps others in their relationship with God. When the Word of God is preached, it can become the fragrance of life—Good News—to those who receive and apply it. Certainly, the Word leads surrendered hearts toward a better life. Additionally, when the Word of God is preached, it can become repulsive and offensive to those who reject it, because it reminds people of their own spiritual death.

God sets before us life or death, blessings and curses; he encourages us to walk in obedience to his commands and choose life (Deu. 30:19). The Apostle Paul quickly tells the Corinthians he is preaching to please God; therefore, some people will choose life and some will choose death. May the Spirit make us hungry for the Truth that leads to life.

Prayer: Lord, you make every one of your children useful for the Kingdom. Send us out in the power of your Holy Spirit to accomplish what only you have the ability to do. We are here to serve you and speak the Truth in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 3:7-10
Crowds Follow Jesus
7 Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

9 Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. 10 He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him.

In our passage today, a crowd of people have come to see Jesus. Maybe they have come, because they are curious about his miracles and they want to touch the Truth that heals their minds. Maybe they have come, because they need physical healing and they reach out to touch deliverance and restoration in the power of his name. Or, maybe, they have come because they are hoping he is the Lamb who brings spiritual healing and they want to touch the forgiving love of Almighty God. Whatever the reason, the people need healing from Jesus.

My friends, I am no different from the crowd, because every day I need to touch him, too. I need to touch his love, grace, holiness, mercy, and life-giving ways. I reach out knowing he is at the same time reaching for me. I am his follower and I thank the Father every day for this beautiful life-giving connection I have in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, this day is my day to enjoy fellowship with you. Let’s celebrate life, together. Thank you for letting me touch the splendor of your presence and enjoy you, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 15:36-41
Paul and Barnabas Disagree
36 After some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s travel to the regions where we’ve preached the word of God and see how the believers are getting along.”

37 Barnabas wished to take Mark (also known as John) along with them, 38 but Paul disagreed. He didn’t think it was proper to take the one who had deserted them in south-central Turkey,[a] leaving them to do their missionary work without him. 39 It became a heated argument between them, a disagreement so sharp that they parted from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. 40 And Paul chose Silas as his partner.

After the believers prayed for them, asking for the Lord’s favor on their ministry, they left 41 for Syria and southeast Turkey. Every place they went, they left the church stronger and more encouraged than before.

In our passage today, Paul and Barnabas come to a standoff when making decisions about their second missionary venture. Paul does not trust John Mark (Barnabas’ cousin) to stay with them during the tough times, because he left them on their first missionary journey. This is not a matter of who is right or wrong; this is a personality and lack of trust issue and Paul is not willing to chance a rerun. Yes, my friends, sometimes Christians disagree. And, yes, too many times it is because our prideful flesh gets the best of us.

It is during these times we must stay the course in love, because only then can the problems we face be solved in a way that honors God and one another. Demonizing another person is NEVER birthed of the Spirit of God. True, God used this disagreement and division for good, because instead of one missionary team going out and spreading the Good News, now there are two teams. However, whether or not we are involved in ministry, God holds us accountable when we mistreat or diminish other brothers or sisters. Everyone in time answers to God for how we love the spiritual family.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being so loving and understanding when our flesh tries to get the best of us. Help us, Lord, to remember our call to deeply and sacrificially love one another. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 14:1-3 TPT
Miracles and Revival in Iconium
14 When Paul and Barnabas arrived at Iconium, the same thing happened there. They went, as they always did, to the synagogue and preached to the people with such power that a large crowd of both Jews and non-Jews believed.

2 Some of the Jews refused to believe, and they began to poison the minds [embittered the souls] of the non-Jews to discredit the believers. 3 Yet Paul and Barnabas stayed there for a long time, preaching boldly and fearlessly about the Lord [Yahweh]. Many trusted in the Lord, for he backed up his message [manifestation] of grace [divine power which brings delight, joy, pleasure, and sweetness] with miracles, signs, and wonders performed by the apostles.

The Lord Yahweh sends his followers to share the gospel with others; it is called evangelism. Sometimes the reaction people have to the gospel is positive and receptive. Sometimes the gospel is completely rejected when it is shared. Still other times the gospel is shared and the reaction is mixed.

In our passage today, we see both kinds of reactions to the gospel message delivered in Iconium. The folks who reject the evangelistic message try to stir others up to join their opposition. However, this strong opposition does not hinder Paul or Barnabas; they continue to preach the message of salvation in Christ while demonstrating the miraculous power of Jesus’ name until they are forced to leave town. If you feel your testimony about Christ is falling on spiritually deaf ears, don’t worry. Keep doing what you are doing until God moves you. Don’t take things personal. People are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Christ. Pray for them and stay in peace.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the courage and power you give your children to share our testimony with others. We will remain faithful. Holy Spirit, we will leave the convincing to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 12:9-14
9 Then Jesus left them and went into the synagogue where 10 he encountered a man who had an atrophied, paralyzed hand. The fault-finding Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it permissible to perform a work of healing on the Sabbath, when no one is supposed to work?” They only asked him this question because they hoped to accuse him of breaking the Jewish laws.

11 He answered them, “If any of you had a lamb that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you reach out your hand and lift it out? 12 Isn’t a man much more valuable than a lamb? So of course, it’s always proper to do miracles, even on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he turned to the man and said, “Hold out your hand!” And as he stretched it out, it was restored, exactly like the other.

14 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started to scheme about how they would do away with him.

On an ongoing basis, I cannot help but notice how people may share the same experience, but view things very differently. I imagine how we view something is connected to the motives of our hearts, right? According to Scripture, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart (Luke 6:45).

In our passage this morning, we see the heart and words of Jesus, as well as the hearts and words of a group of Pharisees [religious teachers]. Clearly, they all see the same struggling person—a man with a withered and paralyzed hand—but they do not share the same concern for this man. They are all in the same space—the synagogue on a Sunday—but they do not share the same reason for being there. The Pharisees look at the physically challenged man and see an opportunity to use him in order to further their agenda of discrediting Jesus; their words match their motive. Jesus looks at the physically challenged man with compassion and wants to bring his life wholeness and lasting change; his words match his motive.

There are many things going on in our lives, country, and the world. Although we may see things differently, let us make sure we are always looking at a situation with a heart that desires God’s highest and best for others. Destroying another person with whom we may disagree reveals the darkness in our own hearts. God sees. God hears. God saves. Let’s choose to produce good things from the treasury of a good heart.

Prayer: Lord, let the meditations of my heart be glorifying to you. Help me to serve you by helping others find your healing love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Proverbs 12:16-21 TPT

Learning to Speak Wisely
16 
If you shrug off an insult and refuse to take offense,
you demonstrate discretion indeed.
But the fool has a short fuse
and will immediately let you know when he’s offended.
17 
Truthfulness marks the righteous,
but the habitual liar can never be trusted.
18 
Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword,
cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt.
But the words of the wise soothe and heal.
19 
Truthful words will stand the test of time,
but one day every lie will be seen for what it is.
20 
Deception fills the hearts of those who plot harm,
but those who plan for peace are filled with joy.
21 
Calamity is not allowed to overwhelm the righteous,
but there’s nothing but trouble waiting for the wicked.

There is so much wisdom nestled in the Book of Proverbs. In our passage today, King Solomon shares a series of proverbs—short, concise sentences that convey moral truth—that will help tame our tongues if we will listen. The proverb that stands out for me is verse 19: “Truthful words will stand the test of time.” The enemy is a liar and many times his lies may sound like truth, but real Truth is a person—the Living Word—and so to make sure we know the difference between a lie and Truth, we must consult the Word, exalt the Truth, and believe the eternal Christ to bring timely revelation. If we will follow this wisdom, we will find ourselves closer to God. May we take this wisdom to heart and allow it to govern our lives.

Prayer: Lord, every human being needs to apply these proverbs to his or her life. We are too easily offended and lie to manipulate our own agendas. We say something is true because it pleases our flesh. Help your children stand for the Truth of your Word and speak that Truth in love. Cause us to be counselors of peace who are filled with your joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 5:14-20

Our passage today continues the story of Jesus and the demon-possessed man in Gerasenes. Jesus commands the legion of demons to come out of the man and make a heard of pigs their host instead. The pigs are so tormented by the demons, they jump off the cliff and drown in the waters below. This results in a tremendous economic loss for the community.

14-15 Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man.

16-17 Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.

18-20 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.

Wait…What? That’s right, the people care more about the pigs than they do the Son of God or this man who desperately needs to be delivered from evil. Where’s the mercy or compassion? If we are going to follow Jesus, we need to maintain the understanding that he cares more about the spiritual needs of people than anything else. Spiritual health come first, because when our spirits are right with God, and we abide in his love, everything else is provided. Jesus said it this way, “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly (Matt. 6:33).
The people of Gerasenes have no faith in God’s ability to lovingly provide for them even though they witness an amazing transformation and miracle. The Kingdom of God comes near, but only one person enters—the demon-delivered man. Until we are willing to completely entrust ourselves to God’s care, we will fight the work of the Spirit who comes to bring us all the riches of the divine Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for pouring mercy and compassion into the lives of your followers. May we consistently seek your Kingdom above all other things knowing you hold the whole picture and will provide accordingly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 5:1-13 (MSG)
1-5 They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him. He lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him—he couldn’t be chained, couldn’t be tied down. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him. Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones.

6-8 When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him—then howled in protest, “What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don’t give me a hard time!” (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, “Out! Get out of the man!”)

9-10 Jesus asked him, “Tell me your name.”
He replied, “My name is Mob. I’m a rioting mob.” Then he desperately begged Jesus not to banish them from the country.

11-13 A large herd of pigs was grazing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs so we can live in them.” Jesus gave the order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned.

Scripture teaches demons have the ability to inhabit human bodies in order to deceive and destroy people. As believers, we are to submit ourselves to God then resist evil of any kind; the enemy has to leave when we refuse to be his host. Remaining in God’s Word is our best defense against evil, because from the Word we understand what pleases God and how he created us to live. The goal of the demonic realm is always destruction of humanity, because we are made in the image of God.

In our passage today, Jesus is approached by a demon-possessed man. The man bows, but the demon—who recognizes Jesus and his superior authority—tries to negotiate with the Creator. As requested, Jesus gives the demons permission to enter the swine and immediately we see the magnitude of what this poor man had endured. The lesson is clear. Christ came to set humans free from the evil plans of Satan. “So if the Son sets you free from sin, you are truly free” (John 8:36).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for setting me free from sin and spiritual death. I submit myself to you and resist evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 1:21-22 TPT People Stunned by Jesus’ Teachings
21 Then Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum, [translates the village of the comforted] and he immediately started teaching on the Sabbath day in the synagogue. 22 The people were awestruck and overwhelmed [hit with a blow] by his teaching, because he taught in a way that demonstrated God’s authority, which was quite unlike the religious scholars.

In our passage today, Jesus demonstrates the authority of God by how he speaks, lives, and loves. Hearts are pierced by the Word and the love that delivers it; people know God is the power behind everything Jesus—the Anointed One— says and does. Jesus speaks from an inner knowledge of what pleases the Father; obedience to God’s commands of love. Beyond keeping the Law, Jesus wants his followers to willingly obey the Father from his or her heart, too. In Christ, may we speak from our own experiences with the love of Yahweh as we share the Good News with others.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me today about the love that must permeate everything I say and do. Keep me accountable and obedient. In Jesus’ name. Amen.