Pastor Mary Haley

Our beautiful 23-month-old granddaughter is talking more and more. Each time I am with her, I notice she has added more words to her vocabulary and usually connects them with the proper meaning. It is so fun to witness her learning; I talk to her all the time, but I also listen and respond to her efforts. Sometimes, I have to listen to her words carefully and pause for understanding; it can be a bit of a mystery until I catch on. Words have meanings that communicate information and each time we hear them we have the potential to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Every time the gospel is preached, it calls for a positive response from human beings. The meaning may feel hidden, but if we open our hearts to learn, we begin to understand and connect the Word with the proper meaning. The Word of God is the Seed and when it is released into the anointing it is sown in the soil of our hearts for the purpose of producing fruit and glorifying God. It’s a spiritual Word! Believers are to be receivers and responders to the revealed Word of God! The Word is hidden in our hearts.

We see the revelation of this Truth in our New Testament passage, today. Jesus is teaching the crowds in parables; this was prophesied in the Old Testament (Psalm 78:1-2). Parables serve two functions: They reveal truth [illuminated illustrations] to those who are spiritually responsive to God’s solutions; and they conceal truth from those who are spiritually superficial or hostile to God. Let’s not forget in the midst of the Word being sown, the devil seeks to prevent people from believing and being saved. May believers across the globe submit to God, resist the devil, and desire a pure heart, as well as the grace to produce a huge harvest!

Luke 8:4-15 NLT Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they look, they won’t really see.
    When they hear, they won’t understand.’

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making your Word and message understandable for those seeking to live by your grace and walk by faith. Continue to help us grow and produce abundant fruit. Be glorified in our hearts, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Although, I do not use the word ‘suffering’ frequently, I am very aware of the many manifestations of suffering as I care for and counsel people each day. Both Hebrew and Greek expressions lead us toward a greater understanding of this word. Some common meanings of suffering are: to allow, experience, endure, tolerate, sustain loss, or undergo judgment. Every human being will experience suffering, but will we suffer for believing and following Christ by making righteous choices or will we suffer for choosing to allow unbelief and evil to take dominion of our lives?

No one would make a deliberate choice to suffer; yet, we do suffer because the world is fallen and human nature is flawed—this we share in common. Suffering is a part of the Christian life; no one escapes a level of suffering. Sometimes we suffer alone and sometimes we suffer collectively, but at all times of suffering we still live in the grace and blessings of God. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers” (Mat 5:11). Remember, our purpose for living is to glorify Christ and, in order to fulfill God’s purpose for us, we will find ourselves suffering for God’s cause to make us like Jesus. Suffering is a place of spiritual refining that produces mature faith.

In our passage today, Peter reminds Christ’s followers to be prepared for levels of suffering, because sin loses its power when we exalt Christ in the midst of suffering. Much of our suffering is because of the war between Spirit and flesh. So, in the midst of suffering, Christ is delivering us from sin’s power [refining us].

Judgment is a part of suffering, as well. Humanity will experience the suffering of judgment by how and in whose power each person has lived. We reap what we sow. Therefore, people who truly know God do not deliberately persecute, seek to destroy, or inflict suffering upon others, nor do we rejoice or revel in another’s suffering (Pro 24:17). Mocking the misery of others is evil; it actually dishonors God. To do so reveals absolute ignorance of the character of God; the One who will one day serve as Judge for all humanity. Do not be a part of inflicting suffering or enjoying the suffering of others, because you open the door for suffering to visit you (Gal 6:7). Guard your hearts and actions, as well as watch your mouths!

1 Peter 4:12-19 NLT Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,

    what will happen to godless sinners?”
19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being with us in good times and even in our suffering. We know this world is not our home, so it consistently puts pressure against our allegiance to live for you. As well, we suffer as you refine us; so, in spite of the trials, may we remain faithful to the character of Christ. Holy Spirit, please be our Helper. In Jesus’ name Amen.

I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s loving the songs of Simon and Garfunkel, but one of my favorites was the song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” written by Paul Simon. I realize the meaning of the song lyrics is for the singer to convey the message to someone listening that no matter how bad things get in the world, he will be a source of support and comfort. Sadly, these two folk song stars were the best of friends until they released this song.

In 1971 Aretha Franklin took the song to church making it a gospel song about God and our Bridge being Jesus the Christ. Honestly, every time I hear the song, I think about Jesus and how he is speaking and encouraging me through it; he is so faithful and nothing can separate me from His love! Maybe Paul Simon did not know he was an instrument for Jesus when writing the song, but I recognize the fingerprints of God all over it, as well as the promises of Christ throughout it. Jesus is the Bridge over the troubled waters of the world who laid down his life!

In our passage today, Jesus returns to Jerusalem and were does he go? He goes to a pool that is surrounded with sick people waiting for troubled water. A common belief—but was actually unbelief—was an angel would come down during certain seasons and stir the water. The first person in the troubled water would be healed, but Jesus knew this false belief would never bring the miracle any of these folks needed. So to make a statement and provide an example of truth for the crowd, Jesus goes specifically to speak with a certain invalid; Jesus knows everything about him and plans to extend to him compassion and the power for new life (Psalms 139:2-4).

Our world is troubled and looking in all the wrong directions. Jesus stands before humanity each day; the Savior and Bridge to divine wisdom, compassion, and power. We need to cast our eyes upon Jesus, because only he can bring forgiveness of sin, connect us with Creator Father, and fill us with his miraculous righteousness. We are called to be believers walking toward his glorious presence each day. Don’t be afraid; just walk by faith and cross over on the Bridge of grace into the Christ life!

John 5:1-15 NLT Jesus Heals a Lame Man
1 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five [symbolic of grace].
covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”

11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.

13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Prayer: Lord, the spiritual waters of this world are certainly troubled, but we are going to cling to you and stay focused on your love in action. You are the only solid and trustworthy One and we are grateful for how you become the Bridge of salvation we need by grace through faith. You bring us ongoing healing as we are refreshed in the waters of the Spirit. Holy Spirit, help us to understand and remember we are healed so we can be containers of your holiness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Did you know according to Scripture, a person’s way or choices for living may seem pure to him or her, but be entirely based on self-serving motives and have nothing to do with God? (Pro 16:2). In fact, there is a path before each person, found in the sin nature, that seems right but it ends in death, so we must choose to follow the Truth according to God’s Word (Pro 14:12). It is imperative to remember creation was made for God’s purposes. Our sin nature wants to be god—a false one.

It would help us to remember our sin nature has a will of its own. God himself revealed this to be true when he told Cain, “…if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door; eager to control you. But, you must subdue it and be its master” (Gen 4:7). Because Cain did not do as God instructed, he killed his brother and was banished from God’s presence (Gen 4:8). If we do not take authority over our sin nature, it will take dominion and rule us.

In our passage today, God is still drawing attention to the choices made by his human creation. Eli had two sons who were a part of the Levitical priesthood; but even though they proclaimed to serve God, they were unfaithful. Eli and his sons knew the sin being committed against God, but they had gotten away with it for so long they began to have a false sense of security in their sin. God sent a message to Eli, his sons, and all human beings; “I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me” (1 Sam 2:30).

1 Samuel 2:22-30 NLT
22 Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 23 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

26 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

A Warning for Eli’s Family
27 One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord: “I revealed myself to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. 28 I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests. 29 So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!

30 “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many ways you love us through Scripture. This lesson today is incredibly relevant for us, because in this world we see the sin nature gaining dominion in humanity. Thank you for helping your children know the power, perversion, and penalty of sin lurking within and surrounding us, so we can call for the power of the Spirit, take dominion over sin, and continue to live in freedom with the ability to obey you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When we cry out to God in prayer, although it may take some time, He answers us and when he does joy just overtakes our souls (Heb 11:1). Every answer to prayer puts praise on our lips, because we know God loves us. Honestly, when we have to trust and wait for God’s Spirit to move, good comes out of that wait, because we grow more dependent upon God and become more aware of his incredible holiness.

In our passage today, we continue our reading about Hannah and her tear-filled prayer about her barrenness. Hannah has waited a long time for a miraculous move of God and she is not disappointed; God opens her womb and she has a child whom she names Samuel. Hannah deeply loves and treasures this miracle child, but after he is weaned she dedicates Samuel to the work of the Lord because of God’s great love and faithfulness revealed to her. In Hannah’s weakness, God came to make her strong. In Hannah’s distress, God came to provide her with experiential knowledge of his holiness and faithful integrity to love his children.

God’s holiness is the foundation for human security; holiness is the perfect descriptor of God’s character. He is set apart from us, because he is holy and we have a sin nature. For this reason, we praise God for the blood of Jesus that covers us and allows us to have a relationship with our holy Father. Hannah’s prayer of praise reminds us of just how precious a relationship with God truly is. So, pray for the things on your heart and place your hope in God’s love for you.

1 Samuel 2:1-5 NLT Hannah’s Prayer of Praise
1 Then Hannah prayed:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord!
    The Lord has made me strong.
Now I have an answer for my enemies;
    I rejoice because you rescued me.
2 
No one is holy like the Lord!
    There is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock like our God.
3 
“Stop acting so proud and haughty!
    Don’t speak with such arrogance!
For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done;
    he will judge your actions.
4 
The bow of the mighty is now broken,
    and those who stumbled are now strong.
5 
Those who were well fed are now starving,
    and those who were starving are now full.
The childless woman now has seven children,
    and the woman with many children wastes away.

Prayer: Lord, we humbly come before your throne of grace to receive mercy in your holy presence. We ask forgiveness for the times we have acted arrogant or disrespectful toward you or others. Continue to transform us in your image, feed us Truth by your Word, and fill us with your righteous Spirit, so we can remain strong and bold for you in this dry and dreary land. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our passage today, takes place during the time when judges ruled Israel; Eli was one of the judges. Every year Elkanah, a Levite [involved in public worship], traveled to Shiloh to offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. Elkanah, was married to Hannah who had been unable to bear children. Remaining childless was emotionally and socially painful for Hannah. Over time, she became very discouraged in her barrenness; she found her self-worth being destroyed and, for a season, tears simply filled her life. She quit eating. But she did not seek to mistreat others or act out of her discouragement in a resentful manner; instead, she continually prayed to the Lord and committed the child to the work of his glory.

As Hannah was praying in the tabernacle during the celebration of one of God’s feasts, Eli noticed her weeping and distress, but he terribly misunderstood the cause and falsely accused her. When Hannah responded with the truth and spoke of what she needed to Eli, God heard and made a promise to her. Once she was able to take the Lord’s promise to heart and believe, that Word began living and growing in her to give birth to her promise.

Spiritual barrenness leaves a person dry [poor in spirit] with little hope to give birth to a promise or dream. Certainly, barrenness goes with a time of long-suffering and waiting. Sometimes God’s people can get weary of the wait: not bringing to birth those things for which our hearts most greatly desire. Like Hannah, we may be hoping for a child; however, barrenness might be waiting for the restoration of a relationship, the ability to get ahead financially, success of a business venture, the ability to advance in God’s plan for your life, or the vibrant growth of a ministry. Waiting is a part of the spiritual journey [a wilderness] and we cannot give bitterness room to grow; we must keep eating the Word of God, because provision comes from God. Hannah’s promise gives us hope as we continue to trust God.

1 Samuel 1:9-18 NLT Hannah’s Prayer for a Son
9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh [religious center of the nation], Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”

12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”

15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”

17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our lesson today from Hannah. We can all experience a sense of spiritual barrenness; life can be very difficult and we may even be weary of the wait, today. Yet, we know you are faithful and as we pray and pour our hearts out to you, we know you hear our prayers and will fill our lives with good things. We also know it is your delight to give us the desires of our hearts. So, Holy Spirit, please help us to press on and resist the desire to stop feeding on your Word. Thank you for the Living Word who is our salvation and Hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I enjoy hiking and exploring, but I hike established trails during the day and I take a map to keep me going in the right direction. I always hike with family or friends. We learn a great deal by personal discovery, but we also learn from listening to everything and everyone around us. Sharing experiences, in God’s creation, is a wonderful part of life.

When I step out to explore the spiritual mysteries of God’s Word, I must invite the Spirit to bring me understanding, so I will properly interpret the directional ways and will of God. Remember, according to Peter, no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding or from human initiation (2 Peter 1:20-21). Our understanding of Scripture must be accurate, because we are illuminating lights listening to God and following the truth.

In our passage today, Jesus wants his disciples to know they are examples of the revealed Word; they must listen in order to understand. As well, they must use their faith to put the Word into practice, because in doing so they will gain more and more understanding. When we apply God’s Word accurately, we become lights for others to see God.

Today, as Christ’s disciples, we are to be examples of the applied Word. We must use what we have been given and put Christ’s teachings into practice. Don’t let the enemy snuff out your light. Gain understanding by being still in the Spirit, as well as sharing and talking about spiritual things with mature Christians who are on the righteous path with you.

Mark 4:21-25 NLT Parable of the Lamp
21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the light of Truth living in us. We are to be illuminating the reality of your presence in us every day by how we live. Help us listen and do as you command, so we can continue to grow in our understanding. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Unfortunately, many people in our world do not understand the power of Oneness; the unity of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit to lovingly work on behalf of all God’s creation. If we did, we would gather together and cry out to the Eternal to rescue us and bring the help we need to live in His righteous will instead of demanding our own way. The Spirit pleads with the Eternal for our hearts to be aligned with the will of God (Romans 8:27).

The great power of the Spirit can move a grace covered communal request from God’s children and place it before the Lord. When God’s people begin praying for one another and being real with the need for human hearts to be healed, that faith puts things into action inviting the God of perfect love to respond with tremendous power (James 5:16). Oneness in the Godhead is supernaturally powerful; oneness in God’s people, in whom the Eternal dwells, is also abundantly powerful! We must always remember, Christ makes us more than conquerors in his love; because of Christ we have sonship [oneness] with Father God (Romans 8:37). Believe!

In our passage today, David calls for oneness in God’s people before the Eternal [which is a posture of worship]. This oneness of prayer and worship reveals the people’s hearts; they have chosen a posture of submission before God. They are confident God not only loves them, but will respond to make them victorious in the battle against their enemy. Who’s humanity’s greatest enemy? Satan the author of all evil. So, may the Eternal hear our plea for help with our hearts, this country, and the nations of the world.

Psalm 20 VOICE For the worship leader. A song of David.
1 
May the Eternal’s answer find you, come to rescue you,
    when you desperately cling to the end of your rope.
May the name of the True God of Jacob be your shelter.
2 
May He extend hope and help to you from His holy sanctuary
    and support you from His sacred city of Zion.
3 
May He remember all that you have offered Him;
    may your burnt sacrifices serve as a prelude to His mercy.

[Lift up]

4 
May He grant the dreams of your heart
    and see your plans through to the end.
5 
When you win, we will not be silent! We will shout
    and raise high our banners in the great name of our God!
May the Eternal say yes to all your requests.
6 
I don’t fear; I’m confident that help will come to the one anointed by the Eternal:
    heaven will respond to his plea;
    His mighty right hand will win the battle.
7 
Many put their hope in chariots, others in horses,
    but we place our trust in the name of the Eternal One, our True God.
8 
Soon our enemies will collapse and fall, never to return home;
    all the while, we will rise and stand firm.
9 
Eternal One, grant victory to our king!
    Answer our plea for help.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please rescue us and help us align our lives with your will. As we do so, Holy Spirit, please help us pray for our country to align with the will of God. We place our confidence in you and know your love will lead us into victory. Thank you that believers can never be separated from your love. Empower us with your perfect love, Lord. We will keep our eyes upon you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died in service to the United States of America. The sacrifices that have been made for our national freedoms are priceless; with sincere gratitude may we remember the men and women who paid the cost for these freedoms with their very lives. On Monday, may we cooperate in a National Moment of Remembrance and at 3 PM pause to honor these precious lives.  “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

Scripture brings a great spotlight to freedom, because it is dear to God’s heart. The biblical definition of freedom is the capacity to obey God—the ability to freely choose to walk in the Spirit every day. Jesus, our Liberating King, served to bring the world this freedom; he laid down his life for those who would love, serve, and follow him (John 15:13). In Christ, we can know true freedom from sin and death, because the grace we gain through faith in Christ, leads us toward victory. Although many people may not understand or even really appreciate the unfathomable gifts we enjoy in this country of both national and spiritual freedoms, for many of us, we know these two provisions of God’s ordained work orchestrates the ability for human lives to enjoy peace and security. With Jesus we can have love, liberty and a life of purpose!

Without Jesus, human beings are spiritually dead and will work to destroy one another for power; we are shackled to our flesh with no hope to connect in the holy life of God—we remain enslaved to our self-centered and ungodly ways. Because of sin, this selfish and ungodly condition disrupted God’s holy plan for his world. But, God so loved the world he gave his Son and we can enjoy the Christ-life—a life of freedom and love—in exchange for dead and ungodly living. Oh, that the world would choose Jesus! “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17). Remember, whether we are talking about national freedom or spiritual freedom, we need to treasure and protect our liberty; otherwise, it will either be stolen or simply one day gone.

Romans 8:9-11 NLT
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for our spiritual freedom in Christ. May we remember the cost of his sacrifice and choose to live in the liberty and love he died to provide humanity. May the world wake up to Jesus and call upon the name of the Liberating King. This weekend, may we remember the sacrifices made by our military who chose to serve this country to ensure our freedoms, but never made it home to be celebrated and appreciated. You know who they are, Lord, and we thank you for their lives and their sacrifice. Help us to treasure and protect their gift to us. Holy Spirit, help us to have the right attitude and respect for these heroes as we head into our weekend. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Humanity needs a Savior, because every human being has sinned against God. Therefore, we must either pay the penalty for sin—which is death—or we must ask Jesus to share his redeeming blood and cover us with his righteousness. A blood sacrifice must be made: Christ’s or ours. Then, we need the indwelling Spirit to be our Helper. Seriously, our flesh is way to weak for us to live right before God without the work of the Spirit. His work is to liberate us and break the chains and power of our flesh that hold us back from Christlikeness.

God has promised to complete his work in our lives. In fact, Christ died and became the sacrifice for our sin, so we could be empowered by the Spirit to live for God. If we listen and follow the Spirit toward a holy life, we please God. This is the Christian life. However, if we listen to our flesh and follow its demands, we are not control by the Spirit and our lives are not centered on the Lordship of Christ to rule in our hearts.

If we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, then we can know the empowerment of the Spirit who has the strength we need in every circumstance. We are the equipped, my friends. The world without Christ is not equipped to pay for the wages of its sin against God; it is not willing to give up the pleasures of this world to find salvation in Christ. There is a consequence for that choice and the pleasures of the flesh are not worth the eternal cost. Choosing to obediently follow the Spirit is how we express our sacrificial love for Christ and our appreciation for the mercy and grace we have been given.

Romans 8:1-8 NLT Life in the Spirit
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature [flesh]. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our life-giving Spirit who brings us the power to overcome our flesh. We desire to please you, Lord, so continue to liberate us from the temptations of evil; help us to resist evil and choose to walk with you. We know to belong to you is to hunger for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.