Pastor Mary Haley

1 Peter 1:13-16 The Voice (VOICE)
13 So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you. (unveiling or revelation) 14 Be like obedient children as you put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. 15 Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. 16 For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”

Are you ready for Jesus’ return? In our passage today, Peter reminds us to be ready is to find ourselves completely devoted to God in everything we do. In this way, we demonstrate to the world who Christ is in us; he is our holiness. God is surrounded in the heavenlies by holiness; that is why he commissions us to grow in the Holy Spirit so we can enjoy more of his manifested presence. Grace has planted holy seeds within us, so let’s make the right choices that grow us in character and empower Christ to be revealed through our lives. Then, we will actually be living life in the “presence of God.”

Prayer: Lord, every day I am getting myself ready for your return. While I wait, let me be revealing your presence in me to the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Peter 1:8-12 (TPT)
8 You love him passionately although you did not see him, but through believing in him you are saturated with an ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory. 9 For you are reaping the harvest of your faith—the full salvation promised you—your souls’ victory!

Overcoming Grace
10 This salvation was the focus of the prophets who prophesied of this outpouring of grace that was destined for you. They made a careful search and investigation of the meaning of their God-given prophecies 11 as they probed into the mysteries of who would fulfill them and the time period when it would all take place. The Spirit of the Anointed One was in them [in the OT prophets] and was pointing prophetically to the sufferings that Christ was destined to suffer and the glories that would be released afterward. 12 God revealed to the prophets that their ministry was not for their own benefit, but for yours [all believers]. And now, you have heard these things from the evangelists [extenders of hope] who preached the gospel to you through the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—the gospel containing wonderful mysteries that even the angels long to get a glimpse of.

In our passage today, Scripture reveals even the angels watch the mysteries of how God is unveiled through those devoted to Him. It really is quite an amazing thing if we, too, are transparent enough to witness to the mysteries of God; if we are willing to see the unveiling of the Spirit’s work in human lives. God takes the hearts of rebels—those who spiritually oppose and rebel against His Love and authority—and makes them lovers of God who long for more of Him. The Lord draws us near to His heart and when he does we are saturated and transformed by His glory. Just being near the Lord spiritually opens us up to see more about His gracious heart for humanity. Each encounter with Him fills us with waves of His indescribable glory. Be an extender of this hope to someone, today.

Prayer: Lord, your love and grace is always on the move in my life. Thank you for overcoming my heart with your Love and working to make me into a lover conformed to your image. Let me be an extender of your redeeming hope to someone who needs to know you, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 12:38-42 (NLT) The Sign of Jonah
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”

39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

In our passage today, Jesus aligns those who will not listen to his word or welcome his authority over their lives (in this case he is talking to religious leaders and Jewish Pharisees) with being a part of an adulterous and evil generation. Adulterous—being unfaithful— and evil—opposing God’s will for them—yet they are certain they are in fellowship with God. How is this even possible that people could claim to know and have fellowship with God and not recognize Jesus—the Word? I believe the answer is because the Word calls for change; these people do not recognize the Word is Living as an example to follow. Humanity must repent and receive the Word; it is the only way to know and have fellowship with God.

Prayer: Lord you proved your authority over heaven and earth when you rose from the dead, so I don’t need more proof. However, I do need to use my faith in your authority and power in order to embrace the daily change necessary to move forward with your Spirit. Thank you for helping me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:19-28 (NLT)
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

It is the work of the Spirit to help believers begin to experience resurrection existence here and now. Believers have already been raised with Christ; therefore, we have been given resurrection life. I believe it means the Lord desires for us to keep our focus on things above—the heavenly goals of the Father—and the ongoing work of Christ to deliver humanity from sin and death. Believers can participate in that process now; to make Christ known. We can share the Good News of the Savior and Deliverer and how he works in our behalf and on behalf of the world. We are delivered by surrendering to the authority of the Lord—the Living Word. For those who have trouble with authority, they will struggle with this requirement from the Lord. But we cannot oppose Christ and still call him Savior. We cannot practice what God calls sin and still call him the Deliverer. It’s like playing tug of war with God which is never wise. The Lord always wins and unfortunately our pride causes us to be pulled through the dirt and mud of sin further!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for delivering me from evil and giving me resurrection life. I accept your authority over my life. Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever! In Jesus’ name Amen.

Psalm 114 CVE The Lord Works Wonders
1
God brought his people
out of Egypt, that land with a strange language.
2 
He made Judah his holy place
    and ruled over Israel.
3 
When the sea looked at God,
    it ran away, and the Jordan River flowed upstream.
4 
The mountains and the hills
    skipped around like goats.
5 
Ask the sea why it ran away
    or ask the Jordan why it flowed upstream.
6 
Ask the mountains and the hills
    why they skipped like goats!
7 
Earth, you will tremble,
    when the Lord God of Jacob comes near,
8 
because he turns solid rock
into flowing streams and pools of water.

God created all things in heaven and on earth. All of nature recognizes his power, authority, and control over the earth. Think about God’s greatness; think about God’s overwhelming glory. The only ones who really have trouble recognizing and accepting God’s sovereign control are human beings; we tend to pull back from his power because it frightens us. Fear not. Put things into perspective. If God is for you then who can be against you? Learn a lesson from nature.

Prayer: Lord, you are all powerful and I want you moving in my life and in my behalf. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 16: 5-11
5 
Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance.
You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion.
I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands.
6 
Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places.
I’m overwhelmed by the privileges
that come with following you,
for you have given me the best!
7 
The way you counsel and correct me makes me praise you more,
for your whispers in the night give me wisdom,
showing me what to do next.
8 
Because you are close to me and always available,
my confidence will never be shaken,
for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment.
9 
My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory!
Even my body will rest confident and secure.
10 
For you will not abandon me to the realm of death,
nor will you allow your Holy One to experience corruption.
11 
For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life,
the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Messiah, the Anointed One is restoring to every believer his or her spiritual inheritance. Jesus Messiah is not only our inheritance, he IS our destiny. He is the great I AM. Therefore, Satan uses lies in order to feed fear in us; which actually distances us from our destiny in the fullness of Christ. The Lord is loyal beyond our comprehension, so choose to place your faith in the Anointed One and silence the fear around you that is driven by lies. If you chose to silence fear and feed your faith in God’s Word (promise), you choose to live in the wisdom and revelation of the resurrection life. Live in his wrap-around presence!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the life you provide me each day; I choose to live in the revelation of resurrection life. I know that means I will not always understand my path ahead of time. However, I trust you because you do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Colossians 4:2-5 TPT A Life of Prayer
2 Be faithful to pray as intercessors who are fully alert and giving thanks to God. 3 And please pray for me, that God will open a door of opportunity for us to preach the revelation of the mystery of Christ, for whose sake I am imprisoned. 4 Pray that I would unfold and reveal fully this mystery, for that is my delightful assignment.

5 Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers,[as you live in the wilderness] and make it your duty [making a full commitment] to make him known.

Do you see today as an opportunity to live in God’s wisdom even in the midst of this pandemic wilderness? Do you live to make Christ the Lord known? God has created us to live our lives by trusting him; he knows the world is watching. In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is seeking to reveal to believers they have everything they need in Christ; he alone is sufficient and will help them live out faith. Therefore, he instructs people to pray. Persistent prayer is a mark of our faith. If the answers are slow in coming, just keep praying and using your faith. God may not answer the way we want him to, but he will definitely answer in a way that is in our best interest. During this time when many people are filled with fear, be a source of Hope and confidence in Christ. Every Christian who has made a full commitment to the Lord knows he or she is an evangelist.

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk in your wisdom before others who need to know you. Help me to make you known. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 118:1-2, 4

A praise psalm
1 
Keep on giving your thanks to God, for he is so good!
His constant, tender love lasts forever!
2 
Let all his princely people sing,
“His constant, tender love lasts forever!”
4
Let all his lovers who bow low before him sing,
“His constant, tender love lasts forever!”

Many things have changed over the past four weeks; changes in my life, in the lives of others, and in the world. My point is not “what things” have changed, but rather the understanding that we really do live in a temporal world that can never give eternal stability to our lives. NEVER. What gives me security right now—in the midst of all the change and unknown—is the revelation that God’s love and character never changes and can be known. Yesterday, I experienced his wisdom, love, tenderness, holiness, and truth. Today, I experienced it again. Tomorrow, God will be there for me in every way he has promised. It doesn’t matter what changes in this world, God is consistently loving and his Word is living, enduring, and true. So, even though we might have to adapt to change in this temporal world, we can seek God’s Kingdom every single day and we will find the King tenderly responsive, full of mercy, abounding in love, and looking for ways to impart his goodness into our lives. Here’s why you can find security in God: he lives true to his covenant! He promised to take care of us in this unstable sin-laden world and he fulfills every promise! Priceless! Give him thanks!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the eternal Rock upon which I stand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Colossians 3:12-17 TPT Love One Another
12 You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. 13 Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. 14 For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark [girdle] of true maturity.

15 Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ live [grow] in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts!

17 Let every activity [commitment] of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!

Virtue has to do with goodness; a righteous inner disposition. Who we are at the core of our being will flow outward; our personal character traits motivate our actions. We are to put on the likeness of Christ by embracing the virtues taught to us from the Word of God. Things like faith, hope, love, wisdom, the practice of self-control, joy, courage, faithfulness, and peace. As we grow in these things, spiritual maturity rises up within us. It isn’t the number of years we have been attending church or how long we have claimed to be a Christian that makes us spiritually mature. It is our willingness, in the power of the Spirit, to apply the Word of God to our lives and practice righteous virtues. We can find real peace—inner rest and harmony—as we pursue maturity or holiness in Christ. It all begins with a spirit of gratitude for what Christ has done for us.

Prayer: Lord, create goodness in me and as you do I will act more like Jesus. Help me to practice your love by practicing self-control and peace will mark my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

April 13, 2020
Colossians 3:10-11
10 For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you; giving you the full revelation of God. 11 In this new creation life, your nationality makes no difference, or your ethnicity, education, or economic status—they matter nothing. For it is Christ that means everything as he lives in every one of us!

When we think about the resurrection of Messiah—Christ the Anointed One—we need to think about what it is he has done for us. He has given us new life and a new way to live. We no longer live only to please ourselves; we live to bring honor to God. This is our worship. Essentially, Jesus holds class each day and we are the students. In Christ, we never stop learning and never stop growing in the righteousness of God. And, less we forget, Christ reminds us there are no longer barriers, because all are welcome to come to him and receive this new life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for my new life. Help me to align my conduct with your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.