Pastor Mary Haley

Ephesians 2:1-7 (TPT) Made Alive with Christ
2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

How deeply does God love you? Listen up! He loves you so much he found a way to raise you from dead living! All believers share in the likeness of his resurrection. In fact, you are an example to the world of the incredible wealth of God’s love, grace, and kindness. Therefore, out of a spirit of gratitude for all he has done for us, we respond by living in obedience to God. We stand against the devil, because obeying God has become the greatest desire of our hearts. Because of our connection to Christ, we are not subjected to God’s anger. Instead, he permeates our lives with the Spirit, so we may reveal to the world the depth of our love and worship.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your extravagant love, grace, and kindness toward me. I am so grateful for the blood of Jesus covering me and helping me live in a way that honors you.

Luke 24:44-53 (TPT)
44 Then he said to them, “Don’t you remember the words that I spoke to you when I was still with you? I told you that everything written about me would be fulfilled, including all the prophecies from the law of Moses through the Psalms and the writings of the prophets—that they would all find their fulfillment.”

45 He supernaturally unlocked their understanding to receive the revelation of the Scriptures, 46 then said to them, “Everything that has happened fulfills what was prophesied of me. Christ, the Messiah, was destined to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 Now you must go into all the nations and preach repentance [grace and conversion] and forgiveness of sins so that they will turn to me. Start right here in Jerusalem. 48 For you are my witnesses and have seen for yourselves all that has transpired. 49 And I will send the fulfillment of the Father’s promise [the Holy Spirit] to you. So stay here in the city until the mighty power of heaven falls upon you and wraps around you.”

The Ascension of Jesus
50 Jesus led his disciples out to Bethany. He lifted his hands over them and blessed them in his love. 51 While he was still speaking out words of love and blessing, he floated off the ground into the sky, ascending into heaven before their very eyes! 52 And all they could do was worship him.

Overwhelmed and ecstatic with joy, they made their way back to Jerusalem. 53 Every day they went to the temple, praising and worshiping God.

When we read the Word of God sometimes we struggle to understand the meaning for our lives, because we try to make sense of things from a purely human point of view. However, the Word of God—spoken through Christ—is described as spirit and life, so we need help spiritually processing the Word. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make the Word alive to our spirits by bringing forth revelation (communicating divine Truth).

In our passage today, the disciples are having trouble putting all the pieces together regarding Christ, so he supernaturally unlocks their human understanding and helps them receive revelation. Christ—the Anointed One—does the same thing for us as we connect. The Lord was there in the beginning, hung on the cross to make repentance a way of life, commissions believers to help others turn toward salvation in the power of the Spirit, and will one day return for his faithful. He knows the WHOLE story, because he wrote it. So whatever you face today, he is able to lead you through it; the revelation of Christ is your Guide. Let the love of Christ wrap the power of heaven around you, today, as you live the Word. Then turn to tell someone else about the goodness of God. Praise God for today we celebrate Ascension Day; Christ is exalted, sits at the right hand of the Father, and rules as Lord of All! Hallelujah!

Prayer: Lord, unlock my understanding each day in the Spirit to help me make the connections that will lead me into abundant life. As well, help me share those revelations with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 16:16-24 (TPT)
16 Soon you won’t see me any longer, but then, after a little while, you will see me in a new way.”

17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean, ‘Soon you won’t see me,’ and, ‘A little while after that and you will see me in a new way’? And what does he mean, ‘Because I’m going to my Father’?” 18 So they kept on repeating, “What’s the meaning of ‘a little while’? We have no clue what he’s talking about!”

19 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and it was obvious that they were anxious to ask him what he had meant, so he spoke up and said, 20 “Let me make it quite clear: You will weep and be overcome with grief over what happens to me. The unbelieving world will be happy, while you will be filled with sorrow. But know this, your sadness will turn into joy when you see me again! 21 Just like a woman giving birth experiences intense labor pains in delivering her baby, yet after the child is born she quickly forgets what she went through because of the overwhelming joy of knowing that a new baby has been born into the world.

22 “So will you also pass through a time of intense sorrow when I am taken from you, but you will see me again! And then your hearts will burst with joy, with no one being able to take it from you! 23 For here is eternal truth: When that time comes you won’t need to ask me for anything, but instead you will go directly to the Father and ask him for anything you desire and he will give it to you, because of your relationship with me.24 Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name,[to ask in the fullness of I AM] but now you can ask, and keep on asking him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits!

In our passage today, Jesus wants to help his disciples better understand what is about to happen; Jesus is going to die a physical death on the cross for the sins of humanity in order to save believers from spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Following the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the Father will send the Spirit of Christ to be the saving spiritual life within those who will receive his Gift by faith. The Father does not want anyone to perish, but he requires faith in Christ and cooperation with the Spirit. Ponder this reality; Immanuel is being formed and should be growing within believers. We now see Christ in a new way; in the core or womb of our being we carry the Savior and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal the divine presence guiding us. We labor by faith for the Spirit to exalt Christ in us by obeying the Word and sacrificing our own selfish inclinations. Together as believers we are the Church and we labor to reveal Christ in our lives to the world. For this reason, it is essential that we grow up in Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank you for salvation in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Help me to cooperate with your plan for my salvation. Give me a heart for sharing your love with others. Open my eyes to see your presence within me and lead me to reveal the beauty of your presence to those around me by how I live. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Peter 3:8-12 (NLV) Teaching for All Christians

8 Last of all, you must share the same thoughts and the same feelings. Love each other with a kind heart and with a mind that has no pride. 9 When someone does something bad to you, do not do the same thing to him. When someone talks about you, do not talk about him. Instead, pray that good will come to him. You were called to do this so you might receive good things from God. 10 For “If you want joy in your life and have happy days, keep your tongue from saying bad things and your lips from talking bad about others. 11 Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and go after it. 12 The Lord watches over those who are right with Him. He hears their prayers. But the Lord is against those who sin.”

God comes with expectations for those who belong to him. He expects us to remain connected in his love; to care deeply about one another, as well as grow. We are to model the love, concern, and kindness of our Lord. This passage today is written to believers in order to teach them how to treat other believers. Spiritual maturity and leadership come to mind for me. The truly mature believer realizes his or her call to model righteousness even when immature believers operate in his or her flesh (sin). Maturity calls us to confront the offending believer in love then turn to pray and speak blessings over those who have mistreated us. We are to express unlimited forgiveness. When Peter was upset with a spiritual family member, he went to Jesus and asked, “How many times do I have to forgive my fellow believer who keeps offending me? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven times! (Matt. 18:21-22). At first glance this may seem unfair, but God uses the immaturity in others to work for the maturity of his leaders. “It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another” (Pro. 27:17).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sharpening my character as I seek to love everyone around me. I realize some will be easy to love and some will not, but help me to pray and speak blessings over all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 14:27 (TPT)
27 “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”

The gift of peace Jesus leaves with us reflects a sense of wholeness; a characteristic of the messianic kingdom. If we are submitting our souls (mind/will/emotions) to the Spirit of peace, we cannot also yield to fear. It is not possible to submit to both peace and fear at the same time, because they originate from two entirely opposite spiritual realms—we must choose our master. God has not given us a spirit of fear and the love imparted by God to believers has the ability to drive out fear (2 Tim. 1:7, 1 John 4:18). If we are going to live our lives in the wholeness of God, we will need to exercise courage—confidence in God’s perfect love for us. When we operate courageously, we are not deterred by fear. Remember, it is God’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). So, be careful not to yield to fear; rather, be courageous in your living and know God is with you wherever you go.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the courage to live in the midst of challenging times and thank you for the peace that occupies my spirit, soul, and body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Peter 3:13-15a Suffering for Doing Good
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.

In our passage today, Peter challenges us, as Christians, to truly love one another. When people insult or mistreat us, we are to turn and bless them. That is a challenge isn’t it? Our tongues are not to engage in evil slander of others; it is the work of evil and God turns his face against those who do it! God sees when we do the right thing in loving others especially when the right thing is not happening to us.

A big issue for humanity right now (in the midst of Covid-19) is the abuse of power and the tongue is leading the way. Intimidation is used to gain control over others. Many times it functions under the pretense of caring for people. Intimidation is defined as: the act of making others timid or fearful by either “real or implied threats.” At the core of an intimidator is a self-serving agenda for power. When we read Scripture, we are able to identify both the intimidators and the true leaders, because God has revealed their hearts to us by letting us observe their actions. The Pharisees were intimidators and Jesus who is love incarnate never agreed with them or their tactics. In fact, he rebuked them and ticked them off. Remember, true leaders are always extending wisdom tools that build hope while empowering and encouraging others toward a better future.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the assurance that you see when I suffer for doing what is right. Help me to be diligent as I prepare people for the future. Cause me to operate in love rather than fear. Help me to be a source of encouragement and empowerment for your Kingdom and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 66:8-20 The Voice
8 
Everyone, bless our True God!
    Let praise-filled voices be heard near and far—at home and on foreign soil!
9 
Praise the One who gives us life and keeps us safe,
    who does not allow us to stumble in the darkness.
10 
For You have put us to the test, O God;
    You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 
You trapped us with a snare;
    You have laid upon our backs a heavy burden.
12 
You allowed us to be conquered and let our enemies run over us.
    We journeyed through dangers, through fire and flood,
But You led us finally to a safe place, a land rich and abundant.

God goes to great lengths in order to bring his people into salvation and deliverance from evil; he does so while extending us freedom of choice. Our passage this morning is a great example of how God loves us and allows us to choose our master. Satan desires to tempt (lure) us into his evil bidding and foolish living in order to later beat us down and destroy our lives. God protects us while testing us during our journey through the wilderness of foolish living. His purpose for allowing such experiences is so we will know and recognize the Truth of his wisdom in contrast to the foolishness of evil. When we know the Truth, we will choose, invite, and trust the Lord to lead our lives into the eternal abundance his wisdom. The psalmist understood the journey and praised God—the Giver of Life and Wisdom—for it. Can we end by focusing on the word “finally?” Truth is not that the Lord “finally” chose to lead us into abundance. Rather, Truth is that we “finally” turned from evil, chose to make Christ Lord of our lives, and that decision opened the door to his eternal goodness that he desired for us from the beginning.

Prayer: I praise you, Almighty God, for your amazing goodness and wisdom leading my life. Thank you for your protection, refining process, and power that guides me toward the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Proverbs 3:13-18 (TPT)
13 
Those who find true wisdom obtain the tools for understanding, the proper way to live, for they will have a fountain of blessing pouring into their lives. To gain the riches of wisdom is far greater than gaining the wealth of the world.
14 
As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted, greater than many bars of refined gold.
15 
It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones, for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her.
16 
Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand and wealth and promotion [honor] in the other.
Out of her mouth flows righteousness, and her words release both law and mercy.
17 
The ways of wisdom are sweet, always drawing you into the place of wholeness.
18 
Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings, for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits.

We need all kinds of tools in life and in our passage today, we are taught wisdom brings the ability to take raw facts and draw right conclusions and meaning from them. Wisdom—the applied Word of God—brings the tools we need to understand our hearts, how to love others, navigate the world in which we live, the deceptive work of the enemy, and most importantly the heart of God for his creation. I seek wisdom in every direction these days, because I want to grow in the integrity of Christ Whom I profess to be Lord of my life. By faith, God has connected us to Christ; wisdom helps us take the raw facts of what is happening in us and around us, interpret things correctly, and draw the right conclusions based on his holy standard. Make a decision to increase in wisdom, today, then you will be able to use those tools for understanding how God will use you in his salvation plan.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making wisdom available to me in Christ. With every passage I read of your Word, help me to interpret it wisely and apply it to my life so I may have the tools I need to be successful for the advancement of your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-10 (TPT) Wisdom’s Guidance
5 
Trust in the Lord completely,
and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on him to guide you,
and he will lead you in every decision you make.
6 
Become intimate with him in whatever you do,
and he will lead you wherever you go.
7 
Don’t think for a moment that you know it all,
for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion
and avoid everything that’s wrong.
8 
Then you will find the healing refreshment
your body and spirit long for.
9 
Glorify God with all your wealth,
honoring him with your very best,
with every increase that comes to you.
10 
Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings
from an uncontainable source of inner joy!

What comes to your thoughts when you hear the word “undivided” in our passage, today? The biblical context of being “undivided” has everything to do with reverence and obedience to God; this is wisdom. I might choose the word “integrity” to translate “undivided.” To gain wisdom, we must operate with integrity in connection to Christ in every area of our lives. Our hearts are then undivided and faithful in his love. Remember, a house divided cannot stand; because of Christ you are a “house” or dwelling place of the Lord God. Well, our lives cannot stand strong if our allegiance to God is divided by the world; the world’s attitudes are at odds with the Holy Spirit. Just for the record, a nation under God finding itself divided (suffering a lack of integrity with God) cannot stand either. Integrity has to do with wholeness; a completed or mature image of love. We have been made in the image of Creator God and his integrity is our standard. Therefore, we stand in undivided devotion or worship when we have given God our whole being and asked that he cut a path through the garbage of the world to lead us in the paths of righteousness for his name sake. “Then” you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for!” Walk in the Lord’s integrity, today, and abundant blessings are yours in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help me transcend the world’s attitudes to embrace a fuller measure of your integrity, today. I want to be led by your wisdom and live undivided in your Love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Exodus 13:17-18 (NLT) Israel’s Wilderness Detour
17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.

Clearly, God does not always lead us in the way we may think is best; his ways are not our ways. God knows all things, so he knows what will cause us to grow in holiness and develop in our faith; that is always his purpose. Think about the story of the Israelites in our passage today. God led his people the long way into a place where they found themselves completely hemmed in and helpless. God deliberately took them on a detour, so he could demonstrate his delivering power and love in action for his people. If you find yourself feeling a bit hemmed in and helpless, please use this time to ask God to come and reveal his delivering power in your life.

Prayer: Lord, my life has tasted many detours that left me feeling helpless, but with each one I have witnessed you there working in my behalf. Thank you for your faithfulness to rescue me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.