Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: Faith in God is essential for human life, because only God can save us in our individual times of need. We all face different needs; therefore, our faith has to rise and reach for God knowing he desire to meet us in that place. Maybe some of us are struggling to find a job, deal with health issues, cope with the loss of a loved one, rid ourselves of sinful desires and addictions, or stumbling to walk in obedience with the Spirit. We must use faith to triumph over the things evil is using on a steady basis to destroy our confident trust in God.

Quite honestly, as believers we know an active faith is what pleases God, but at times we are just spiritually “tired” and may struggle to understand how to use our faith in order to bring victory. Have you ever found yourself spiritually fatigued? It’s a real thing! Therefore, spending time in the Word of God sets us up to receive the help we need whether we understand how or why it works or not. Jesus said, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes form the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4). Faith is strengthened by our belief in the Living Word of God—Jesus. For this reason, we must draw near to God and his righteousness, place our trust in his love, and ask for him to strengthen and increase our faith.

In our passage today, once again faith is an issue for the disciples because of the past erroneous teaching of the self-righteous religious leaders. They know nothing about the dependance required by Christ’s followers. The disciples have watched Jesus do miracle after miracle and they are strong when they can “see” the evidence of his power with them, but each challenge must be faced with fresh faith and the disciples fail to understand the true Source of the power they need before it manifests.

With every challenge we face, we must apply fresh faith knowing God will accomplish his purposes one way or another. Unfortunately, a little bit of evil can grow and destroy the believer’s trust in Christ. Light and dark cannot co-exist; so, we must choose to live in the Truth, serve the Lord with gladness, and look for the Spirit of Christ to move in our behalf. God is worth trusting and that is the faith we use each day. Blessings for your weekend…

Matthew 16:5-12 NLT Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? 9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? 10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? 11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”

12 Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sharing your love with us by warning us about evil. May we cling to you, Jesus, because you are the living Word who alone can help us please the Father. Help us to remain in the Truth and handle each challenging circumstance in life with fresh faith and trust. We know you are with us! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Several years ago, John and I took a trip with our family to California. We flew into San Fransisco, rented an RV, and camped in Napa Valley, Tahoe, and Yosemite. Although once we started on the trip we had some concerns about the RV company, we did not have a clue just how corrupt it was until the end of the trip when they stole our sizable security deposit. Truly, it was despicable how they lied, cheated, and treated us.

The experience taught us a great deal about sinful human nature and what it felt like to do business with a company that has zero integrity and is driven by dishonesty and greed. It also taught us about sacrificial love; to accept the financial sacrifice, forgive them, and trust Jesus to use it for our good. The world may accept dishonest and corrupt people and companies, but Jesus does not and he will have the final say as the world’s Judge. The Lord has blessed us beyond measure since that time; so, that sacrifice was well worth it!

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul teaches about lawsuits that can arise between believers. We can all experience disagreements, but what should set Christ followers apart from the world’s system is that we have the wisdom of God to settle our disputes with love and integrity. We are not following Christ if we cheat others or do not fulfill our word or promise to them. We are disobedient to the integrity of God when we act like the world and live for self and money—which according to Scripture will fill the world in the last days (2 Tim 3:1-2). Our passage reminds us we may live in an unjust world, but we serve a just and righteous God who is not blind to how we—as his children—are treating one another or being treated by the world. Hold onto your Hope in Christ and live for the Kingdom!

1 Corinthians 6:1-9a NLT Avoiding Lawsuits with Christians
1 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!

7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.

9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for using even the unjust things we suffer in life in a way that brings blessings back to us. Help us to always remember you are experientially molding us into your image. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Last weekend John and I took a short camping trip to Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest. When we arrived, we saw a large sign upon entering the campground which read, “Under Boil Water Advisory.” Therefore, the water hook-up to the RV would not be delivering pure water for our drinking, cooking, dishwashing, or bathing. Hey, the advisory was a surprise to us, but we were focused on enjoying our time. We did not allow potentially contaminated water to stop us from having a safe trip, because, by faith in Christ, we chose to adhere to the advisory and for two days boil water! Besides, in spite of the inconvenience, Jesus used the springs to cool, sooth, and refresh our souls—AMAZING!

In our passage for today, Jesus uses the faith of a Gentile—a Roman Centurion—as an advisory for the action to be taken if a person wants to emulate a pure faith. This Gentile was considered contaminated and unclean by the Jews; but, Jesus uses the faith of this man as an example to be modeled. Christ moves on the faith of everyone who calls on his name and brings the refreshment of his presence to those in need. The faith of the Jews had become stagnant—inactive and impure. Can you imagine their surprise when Jesus admonished them instead of the Centurion?

Genuine faith is never stagnant—we should have a constant flow of revelation moving us forward in the work and purpose of Christ for saving the world. Opportunities to minister to people surround us every day, we just need to think differently about faith and be willing to adapt to the advisory of the Spirit. Never lay down your JOY. It is the work of the Spirit to be with us and help us enjoy the love of God even in troubled times (John 14:16). The world is watching…

Matthew 8:5-13 NLT The Faith of a Roman Officer
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer [centurion] came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant [child] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers [100 men]. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us stay in the flow of the Spirit and live out pure faith. May we be willing to move beyond the inconvenient in order to enjoy the beauty of life with you. Holy Spirit, refresh our souls in the River, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: God created His people to be successful and to approach work knowing He has placed us in His world to steward the gifts and resources He has given us for His mission. So, to be successful in life is to believe God has created us, gifted us, allows certain events, and will provide everything we need to fulfill His plan for us. Everything about us and the events of the world have been designed and directed by God to lead humanity into godliness. Therefore, two things are essential for us to reap what Christ has sown in our behalf: 1) belief and 2) honor.

“True Honor is an outflow from a heart that fears God.” (John Bevere)

Belief is based on recognizing and trusting God as Creator, Savior, Helper, and the promised Provider of grace. Honor is about committing every aspect of our lives to love God and His Word and to work to enhance His reputation in the world. When we honor God, He honors us (1 Sam 2:30). As well, we must choose to honor others (Rom 12:10). Certainly, new life in Christ is not given for our own selfish ambitions (Phil 2:3). Success is about overcoming an evil world in the power of God (1 John 5:4). Belief + Honor = Successful Living.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul shares about Israel’s unbelief—God temporarily hardened their hearts, because they chose disobedience and rejected belief and honor. Disobedience brings judgment; but, because of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants—those of belief who would honor God’s guidance—will have the ability to come to God and overcome evil through godliness. God has not forgotten his people; He knows those who place their belief in Him and honor Him with how they live.

For believers—Jews and Gentiles—we are blessed by Christ who is our Vine. To be connected to Christ is to be connected to the Father who has decided to make us One with Himself. Now, as the branches, we can by faith drink in the holy nourishment God has provided and live our saved lives as an offering to Him.

Romans 11:13-24 NLT 13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles [Non-Jews]. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being so faithful to Your people. Help believers worldwide to live with such passion and love for You that others cannot help but take notice and become hungry for Your nourishment, as well. We pray for the nation of Israel and for the Jewish people to turn to You for salvation in Christ. As well, we pray for the Gentile nations of the world who do not know and serve You. May they turn toward You, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: News—both good and bad—comes at us from every direction. Seems these days bad news travels the fastest. In other words, reports of misfortune or adversity get the most time on network news. In getting your news, do you prefer hearing the bad news first followed by the good news or the other way around?

Personally, I want the good news first because it fills me with Hope! Over the past fews weeks in worship we have spent quite a bit of time in the Book of Matthew reading the good news—gospel. This good news is what traveled fastest and as it came it filled the towns around the Sea of Galilee with excitement and anticipation of more and more good news. Jesus was the focus of this good news and it was touching the lives of people near and far! He was performing miracles—healing all kinds of infirmities—and he began to teach his apostles he would one day be sending them to the north, south, east, and west—the four corners of the earth.

As the good news spread, crowds followed Jesus as he traveled to different locations around the Sea of Galilee, because people were determined to bring loved ones and friends to be touched by Jesus. With such large crowds, it was difficult for people to get close enough to Jesus for him to touch them individually. So, the people reached out to grab the fringe [tzitzit] of Jesus’ robe and when they did they were healed. Why the fringe?

According to the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy, God instructed the Jewish men, “You must put four tassels on the hem of the cloak [outer garment] with which you cover yourself—on the front, back, and sides” (22:12). This was to help men remember they were servants of God who were committed to keeping the commands [mitzvah] by sharing in acts of compassion and kindness. Reaching for the tzitzit on Jesus’ robe was like reaching for the Holy Creator who came to bring wholeness to broken lives on earth by fulfilling God’s instructions or commands (Num 15:37-40).

Matthew 14:34-36 NLT
34 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
Prayer: Jesus, you are the Lord of Salvation. Whether we call on you in English, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, or any other language or dialect, you are the same Person—the Holy One we must know for salvation. When we cry out to you, with one touch you heal and make us whole; you lift us from death into life eternal, from ignorance about your nature into Oneness by grace, from fruitless to fruit-bearing living, and from sinful to godly desires by filling us with your Holy Spirit. You mark us as your own when we come to you for salvation and you know everything about us. You call us Beloved because we connect to your Life; we call you Lord and Master by how we live. Thank you for making your nature known in all languages to all people who seek salvation in you. Be exalted in our hearts and lives in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Some things are always true in this life, because when God speaks and declares a thing it always happens. For example, Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and sinned in the Garden of Eden; their sin was to exalt their flesh or will over God’s command. Because God had already spoken the truth about the consequences they would face before they sinned—the curse of separation, suffering, and death—it most assuredly came to pass when they did not heed God’s word. So, one minute Adam and Eve are “genuine” [Heb. meaning belonging to the original stock/God’s glorious image] and the next minute they are stripped naked and “barren” [Heb. meaning to be torn away from the family stock]. And time rolls on…

In our passage today from Isaiah—perhaps 3500 years later—God promises to provide forgiveness for the world’s sin against him. Some 700 years following, God provides salvation in Messiah. God wants the return of his “genuine” creation. Since we cannot redeem ourselves because of a sin nature, we must declare allegiance to God. Humanity must now seek the Lord who offers “genuine” salvation.

Humanity is still struggling with allegiance to the Creator; I see it in every direction. God is the only One who can offer us righteousness—which we need in order to receive eternal life once again. Yet, there is a battle all the time with the human will. We cannot have it all; a sacrifice of self and a rejection of evil is the Way; it has always been the Way.

“Genuine” believers are the carriers of God’s righteousness, models of his love, and boasters of his glorious presence for salvation. So, take time today to thank God for his faithfulness to an unfaithful creation and praise him as he takes you on a journey to reveal his glorious righteousness living in you!

Isaiah 45:20-25 NLT
22 
Let all the world look to me for salvation!
    For I am God; there is no other.
23 
I have sworn by my own name;
    I have spoken the truth,
    and I will never go back on my word:
Every knee will bend to me,
    and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”
24 
The people will declare,
    “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.”
And all who were angry with him
    will come to him and be ashamed.
25 
In the Lord all the generations of Israel will be justified,
    and in him they will boast.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for all of your creation to bow in allegiance to your Word and Way of salvation. Forgive our stubborn attempts to rule ourselves; we continually ask for your merciful hand to strengthen our commitment to live as the genuine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Some things in life have the ability to send us quickly into a state of panic—a sense of terror, danger, and body-numbing fear. Life can be so unpredictable and that leaves human emotions susceptible to fear. In fact, only those who have a relationship with Christ can cast down that kind of fear when it rises up in human emotions. Jesus is the Prince of Peace we all need as we live in this chaotic world!

When I think about the people of Lahaina, Hawaii, as they dealt with the wildfires ravaging the island and coastline last week, it must have been so terrifying for everyone. I read that many people tried to use their garden hoses to fight back the flames, but with very little water pressure they had no chance of subduing or extinguishing the fiery flames approaching their homes. In praying for them and their recovery, I pray the people reach for the Peace and Comfort of Almighty God to get them through this long and emotionally painful process.

I saw a photo in the Washington Post of the charred remains of Lahaina and above the Pu’u Kukui mountains there was a rainbow in the sky—God’s sign and promise. According to Genesis 9:16, after the flood of judgment, God said to Noah, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. I will remember my promise…” Fear [awe and respect] of God is the way into successful living while we are in this shakable world.

In our passage today from the Gospel of Matthew, the disciples find themselves in a state of panic and terror; they fear death. Jesus and the disciples are in a boat [powered by sails and oars] when a terrible storm rolls across the Sea of Galilee. Twelve disciples with oars have no chance to outrun any storm. Jesus is in the boat sleeping peacefully; however, the disciples are filled with fear. What do they do? They wake up Messiah and they learn a whole more about his power to protect!

Matthew 8:23-27 NLT Jesus Calms the Storm
23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the calm for our storms, because life is unpredictable and you are the only One who can protect us and help us prepare for each day. Be our Peace. Be our Comfort. And, Lord, help us to share who you are in our lives, so others will choose to call for your protection and salvation, as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In order for you to forgive someone, do they first need to apologize to you? It is a common but misguided thought that holding onto anger and resentment is acceptable until someone takes responsibility for the mistreatment. Forgiveness is a command; it is one of the hardest decisions to make and one of the most challenging actions to extend to others who have hurt or harmed us.

To forgive is to let go of resentment and anger. In fact, as we forgive others we emulate Christ who forgave all of our sin. Offering genuine forgiveness cannot be done in our human strength; rather, it is based on our decision to trust God to make things right in his time. We can then receive God’s power to live in his shalom or peace. To let go of a spirit of resentment and embrace forgiveness is liberating for the soul.

Leading up to our passage for today, Joseph has experienced tremendous abuse by loved ones. Even the prophetic gifts God gave Joseph are not appreciated by his family. At the age of seventeen, Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and alienated from everyone familiar. He is transported to Egypt and purchased by Potiphar who is working with the king of Egypt. Our passage, today, picks up at this point.

Is Joseph resentful or sitting in a pool of self-pity? No, in fact, he is working with utmost integrity to serve his new master, Potiphar. Therefore, God blesses Joseph with favor which makes him successful in everything. But, the blessing does not stop there. Not only is Joseph blessed by God, Potiphar’s household is blessed by God through Joseph…and, the blessing continues until Egypt is blessed by God through Joseph. Forgiveness sets Joseph free to receive the blessing of God and multiplication of the blessing continues from that one righteous act. When we forgive others based on God’s command, we position ourselves for blessing, as well.

Genesis 39:1-6 NLT Joseph in Potiphar’s House
1 When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching us the value of letting go of resentment and anger; to forgive others as we have been forgiven by you. Joseph made a decision to forgive long before his brothers asked for it. In the meantime, you blessed Joseph and caused him to walk in your ways and blessings. Injustice is a part of this fallen world and we know we will all need to forgive others at different times in our lives. Help us, Lord, to forgive and live free in your blessing. What the enemy meant for harm in Joseph’s life, you redeemed and made it work for his good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: When it comes to Jesus, people can always find a reason not to believe he is the only way to experience the fullness of God, as well as connect to salvation. People are skeptical about such claims, because so many different religions profess to know, serve, and worship a god. Jesus himself taught it was possible for people to have a form of godliness, but their hearts be estranged and lawless (Mat 23:27-28). For this reason, Jesus came to offer the humble and repentant heart a relationship and an opportunity to learn the truth about God, because to know Jesus is to know God (John 10:14-15).

To experience the fullness of God in relationship is to discover his amazing attributes and character, to taste his perfect holiness, to experience his supernatural life, and live fueled by his powerful love. Jesus is the fullness of God in human form (Col 2:9). And, to take it a bit further, “So you (believers) also are complete through your connection with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority” (Col 2:10).

In our passage today, we encounter skeptics. The religious leaders—Pharisees and the Sadducees—of God’s people have failed to recognize Jesus as the long-promised Messiah (the Christ) even though he had been doing many miracles around them. These two groups of religious leaders were very different in their beliefs; they held very little in common. However, both groups did believe only God could provide a sign revealed in the sky. I guess one sky sign was not enough, because the miraculous star over Bethlehem marking the birthplace of Messiah—the Light of the World—did not convince them.

The Pharisees were fastidious about their rules and traditions and how honoring them gave favor with God. As well, the Pharisees honored the authority of the sacred Scriptures and writings and believed in the resurrection from the dead. The Sadducees only honored the Torah—5 books of Moses—and did not believe in the resurrection. Really, the only thing these two religious groups absolutely agreed on was to terminate Jesus.

If you have never chosen to begin a relationship with Jesus, please do so today. Skepticism has no power when we decide to trust our lives and understanding to Christ. We learn and experience the truth from the Living Lord to whom every knee will bow (Ro 14:11). The truth sets us free from further doubt and disbelief (John 8:31-32).

Matthew 16:1-4 NLT Leaders Demand a Miraculous Sign
1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times! 4 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” (a metaphor for Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection). Then Jesus left them and went away.

Prayer: Lord, you are living and loving us all the time. Thank you for making a home for us in your heart. Please continue to teach us about your perfect nature, character, and love in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: As I was watching the news this morning, I witnessed a report about “magic mushrooms” that are being used in U.S. churches in California, Oregon, Alabama, and Utah. Magic mushrooms and cannabis buds are being given as “sacraments.” In fact, in Oakland, CA, the church founder believes and states, “There’s no doubt in my mind that mushrooms were the first way our ancient ancestors understood there was more to this existence.” This church has 80,000 registered members who pay $5 per month to pick up a “sacrament” in order to experience spiritual development by bringing people closer to the “divine” and the “theological heart of faith.” ($400K/mo) Here’s my thoughts: Not a chance! This is a church acting as a drug dispensary that leaves the mind open and unprotected to evil spirits.

What does it mean to be open-minded? According to Merriam Webster, we are open-minded when we are willing to listen to or accept different ideas or opinions. As I sit here considering that definition this morning, it occurs to me that my mind and the minds of all people have a different starting point of thought or understanding based on individual exposure. Besides, all minds are affected by sin and tempted to follow deception. I cannot just leave myself open-minded to just anything; I must guard my mind because it affects my life (Pro 4:23). So, I must decide where to find the truth and build my understanding from there or I will believe just about anything.

Scripture teaches the Lord is the one who opens our minds to the truth (Luke 24:45) It is the work of the Holy Spirit to witness to our spirit; “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

In our passage today, the Bereans are an example of being properly open-minded. They listen to the message from Paul and Silas, then they allow the Old Testament Scripture to be their filter for the truth about the Messiah, because at this time the New Testament had not been written. These people gather, because they want to learn the truth about Christ; they know there is truth to discover as they read Scripture and wait on the Holy Spirit. Beware, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Pro 14:12).

Acts 17:10-15 NLT Paul and Silas in Berea
10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.

13 But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. 14 The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. 15 Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.

Prayer: Lord, this morning I simply bow humbly before your throne of grace and call for mercy for those deceived by false shepherds. I pray for the ability to speak and share the truth that leads others into abundant living and righteous peace in the Spirit. Please help guard our thoughts, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.