All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name. Psalms 66:4 ESV

     Keep it simple. Let everyone simply give the Lord our God and Savior worship and praise. Many times I fear that we try to overthink God. The fact is that God is greater than our minds could ever comprehend. I know there are times when God doesn’t make sense, and people may have questions and attempt to understand what He is doing or why He doesn’t act in a certain way. But in simple faith we must believe His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. The book of Isaiah addressed this in chapter 55 verse 9 , “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my way higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (ESV) The proof of this statement is the fact that He sent His only Son to die in our place for the consequence of our sin. Think about it. Let me make this comparison. How would you react to a friend with whom you had a wonderful relationship, that wounded you and created a debt in the relationship beyond what words could describe? Would you say, “I will sacrifice my only child to pay this debt and restore what was lost due to my friends poor choice?” Honestly…. I don’t think so. Yet in reality that is exactly what God did…. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. In the book of Psalms we find much concerning praising God and more. But today I would like for us to focus on praise. Simple praise by not trying to over think the reality of who, what, where, when, and the whys of God…. Just simple praise.

PRAISE HIM AS SAVIOR!
     Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Jude 1:24-25 ESV  This verse says so much as to the power and authority of God and what He does in your life…. “keeps you from stumbling”. It also states what He will do… “present you blameless.” Justified… Just as if I’d never sinned. He is able to do so because He has the authority to make it so. Therefore our lips should praise him with song and worship Him for this great thing He has done. Do not try to make sense of it; just praise and worship Him with much thanksgiving.

PRAISE HIM AS FREIND!

     Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:13-14 ESV When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 ESV

     Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole HEART. Psalm 111:1

     My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my SOUL also, which you have redeemed Psalm 71:23

     I will sing praise with my spirit but I will sing with my MIND also. 1 Corinthians 14:15b ESV

     This is how to praise Jesus as a friend /Savior . You praise him with heart, soul and mind. Everything within you needs to cry out to Him in praise. The closer you are as a friend the more you will cherish and enjoy speaking of how He redeemed you. Realizing you could never pay Him back, you sing His praises. That is much of what you see in the Psalms… written by those who have come to simply praise him.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     In the book of Job we read the account of his life and suffering, resulting from his godly testimony. The very first chapter gives a very good picture of the life and character of Job. In this chapter his losses were overwhelming, but the chapter closed out in verse 22 stating, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” In fact, in verse 20 and 21 it says he fell to the ground worshiped and spoke of the blessedness of God’s name. In chapter two Job’s health was severely attacked with sores from his head to his toe. The pain had to be overwhelming, and yet at the end of verse 10 it states, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job’s suffering was not the result of sin in his life but the cruel desire of Satan attempting to prove that Job followed God only because of His blessings. Satan, as always, was wrong.

     Suffering is not necessarily a word used to encourage those who do not know Christ as Savior to come to Him. Many people are already suffering for a host of reasons: consequences of bad choices, unhealthy living, and situations not even of their own making. Inviting them to come to Jesus, and informing them that doing so may bring suffering, does not seem like an attractive invitation. But this invitation is exactly the invitation that Jesus spoke to those who would followed Him. Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 ESV….. And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34 ESV  When Jesus spoke to Ananias telling him to go to Paul after Paul’s Damascus road encounter, Jesus told Ananias concerning Paul, these words. “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must SUFFER FORTHE SAKE OF MY NAME. Acts 9: 15-16 ESV

 
     I believe there is one of two reasons a person suffers: because of sin which is the mother of all suffering, or for the purpose of bringing God glory. The reality is that very few, if any, will travel for any length of time through life and not experience some type of suffering, or at the very least witness it in the life of another. Even God, who became flesh, being totally God yet totally man, experienced much human suffering. Isaiah 53:3 described the coming Savior of the world like this. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. War causes much suffering, and there has been a war from the garden of Eden to this present day. The battle ground from where this war is raged is …your life. Who is the enemy? Satan. Part of his strategy in this war is attempting to convince you that God, not him, is your enemy. Satan tries to convince man that God is the author of suffering, not Satan himself. Some would call it psychological warfare, and they would be correct. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 ESV However, be encouraged, for the battle has been won and suffering will one day be no more. Jesus, God’s only Son, has conquered death / suffering and is in the process of freeing those who have been imprisoned by Satan. In this process let us focus on two points.

IT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY JESUS
Jesus suffered for us and took the penalty of our sin. It was foretold in Isiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (ESV) It was remembered in 1 Peter 2:24 ESV…. By his wounds you have been healed.

 
SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD DOES NOT COMPARE
     The suffering you experience now is nothing compared to the joy of being in His presence for ever. For I consider the suffering of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 ESV

 
     Let me close with these thoughts from scripture.

     For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:18 ESV 
     Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:16 ESV
     And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8 :28 ESV

 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 ESV

     In the book of Esther the Jewish people were all condemned to die because of the craftiness of an evil decree made by man named Haman. Esther herself, being a Jew and the Queen, approached King Ahasuerus and in doing so risked her very life; for at this particular season in time no one was to approach the throne unless summoned by the King. Esther went as an advocate for the Jewish people seeking an audience with the king to speak on their behalf. Esther, being his bride and loved greatly by him, was received and offered her whatever she would ask even up to one half of his kingdom. Esther, by approaching the throne, was able to intervene and save the lives of the Jewish people.

     Are you aware there is another crafty and evil one (Genesis 3:1) who desires death for those whom God loves greatly? Through his craftiness, sin and death became a reality and not just a decree in this world. God, not willing for evil to have the ultimate victory, made a decree that would overcome Satan’s evil plot, nullifying his death grip in the lives of people. There are  three things which you must be aware of for this degree to be a reality in your life.

Be Aware Of The Crafty One.
     Satan is doing a very good job deceiving people today just as he deceived Adam and Eve in the garden. Many believe they are doing ok and living what they consider to be a good life that will one day make it possible for their entrance into heaven. With this thought let me ask you a question. Have you ever done anything worse than eating a piece of fruit? Really!!! Have you??? Take a moment and read Genesis chapter three. This is exactly what Adam and Eve did and it cost them dearly, and the cost is still the same today. Death and separation from God caused by the sin of disobedience and pride. Pride is the mother of all sin. (Proverbs 16:18) Satan fuels the lie that our lives are no one else’s business, but remember every decision we make has a consequence. Other lives are always affected by the choices people make. You choose evil; you will reap evil (Galatians 6:7) and many times those closest to you reap the consequence as well. Look at the affect it had upon Adam when Eve chose to listen to Satan. (Genesis 3) Look how it still affects our world today. This is a closing verse for this point…. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be Aware of God’s Decree.
     For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV – – – – Jesus said to him, “I am THE way, and THE truth, and THE life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV – – – – And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 ESV God’s degree was not mere words but action in order to bring about the end result …. forgiveness and life. God gave his Son as a sacrifice for sin because there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 9:22b ESV

Be Aware of How to Experience God’s Decree.
     The first thing a person must do is CONFESS AND BELIEVE. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 ESV
     The second thing a person must do is acknowledge their sin and REPENT AND BELIEVE. Jesus began his ministry with these words. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark1:14-15 ESV
   The third thing to do is REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED. Peter, in Acts chapter two, was proclaiming all that God did and is doing because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. There were men listening who were cut to the heart and asked Peter, “What shall we do?” (vs37) And Peter said to them,“REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of you sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 ESV.

     These three steps informing us how to experience God’s Decree is not a formula, but a path to begin your journey with Christ. The thief on the cross simple said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42 ESV To which Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 ESV It is a matter of the heart, and it is apparent in the thief’s heart in Luke 23:39-41. In his heart he confessed, repented, believed and was baptized by grace. Grace that enables us to come before the throne of God made possible by Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is seated at the right hand of His Father. Just as the scepter was lifted up that Esther might approach the throne as an advocate for the Jewish people ( Esther 4:11 … Esther 5:1-2 ) So is Jesus our advocate and was lifted up on the cross, raised from the dead, and seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Therefore we, who are in Christ as His bride that He loves greatly, might approach the throne. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 ESV
     Let me end today with a simple prayer of thanksgiving …. Thank you Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit for this great privilege of coming before the throne by grace. Ephesians 2:8-9.

 
Because of His Grace ~Pastor David

     Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:4-6 ESV

     Only God can take something that is dead and make it live again. There are many things in life which are impossible. Making a valley of dry bones come together, placing flesh upon them, and breathing breath into them would be at the top of the list. But that which is impossible with man is always possible with God. In fact impossible, does not exist with God. Jesus spoke these words in Luke 18:27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” So as we read this passage from Ezekiel, what are some important elements to experiencing the impossible?

You HEAR the WORD of the LORD

     What is it that dominates your thoughts? Many times our minds are cluttered with the noises of the world so that it is difficult to hear what is really important. I’ve been to large cities where the sounds of traffic, car horns and the general rush of people clutter the air with noise. Noise that would drown out the beauty of birds singing or the sound of a gentle breeze blowing in the trees or the flow of water in a gentle stream over the rocks….. if those things were there. You could also be in the middle of a park void of the noises of the city with all the afore mentioned and still not hear the beauty of God’s creation if your mind is cluttered with the noise of useless thoughts. It can be difficult to still our thoughts in the world in which we live. Difficult, but not impossible. Yet being still is of upmost importance when hearing the word of God speaking to us. Psalm 46:10 God says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nation, I will be exalted in the earth!” Don’t miss this!!!! Just as birds sing, the breeze blows, and the water flows, these things all happen whether you hear them or not. God will and is being exalted, and the last place you want to finally hear and know this is when it is too late. So the first step to seeing the impossible is to hear.

Behold /See What God Does

     Could you imagine being an eye witness of a valley of dry bones coming to life? If you read a little past the above mentioned verses in Ezekiel, you will see the command for Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones to come alive. Ezekiel did, and he witnessed the bones do exactly what God said would happen. In life we can see God do the impossible when we listen / hear and live the truth of the Bible. In many cases you will never see God move until you do what He speaks to you from His word… the Bible. Do you want to see God work? Do what he says and behold the impossible, not in someone else’s life but your own. Back to the first point in reference with this thought, “But be doers off the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 ESV

Know That He Is Lord 

     He is King of kings and Lord of lords, there is none like Him! God does not ask for our direction or opinions. God is sovereign in all that he does, and in love we should honor, respect, and devote our lives to Him. Ah Lord God, it is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17 ESV He is Lord over all creation and everything we hear, see, and do that is worthy of worship and honor should be offered up to Him by praising his name. I will give to the Lord thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing to the NAME of the Lord, the Most High. Psalm 7:17 ESV ….. Sing praises to the LORD, O you saints, and give thanks to his holy NAME. Psalms 30:4 ESV …. Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his NAME; give to him glorious praise! Psalms 66:1-2 ESV …. Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his NAME, for it is pleasant! Psalms 135:3 ESV Let them praise the NAME of the Lord, for his NAME alone is exalted; his majesty is above the earth and heaven. Psalms 148:13 ESV We know the name of the Jesus is most precious for God has made it so. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the NAME that is above every name, so that at the NAME of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-10 ESV

     This is how revival can begin in the life of all who seek and desire to experience His presence.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Mark 10:13-16 ESV

     This week we have the greatest opportunity afforded a church. To minister intentionally to children from the first through the sixth grades. I understand this is something that is done all year long in the church but, when you have a Vacation Bible School it could be compared to having a mini church camp at home for the children. We pour into the lives of these children everyday for three hours the good news of the gospel. We teach them that Jesus loves them more than life. We know this to be true for He gave his life as a sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven. So now comes the question, “How are you to be involved?”

BRING CHILDREN:

     There are many stories in the Bible in which people experienced and did great things. One of the greatest things, however, was when parents, grandparents or whoever they were, brought children to Jesus. You read the Bible story about the sea parting so that more than a million people could cross on dry ground, manna from heaven to feed them, and water pouring from a rock providing enough water to quench the thirst of all these people. Remember the generation that experienced these things did not enter into the promise land, but their children did. This page couldn’t begin to cover all the great events and miracles of the Bible but, the desire to bring children to Jesus should not be passed over as just another biblical account. If you see a miracle, you will talk about it forever, and it will have the greatest impact upon only those who experienced it. But if you bring a child to Jesus it will not only impact that child, but will be a living miracle of God’s grace that could touch the lives of many through their lifetime.

BECOME AS A LITTLE CHILD:

     Jesus said when speaking about the children, “For to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (vs 14 ESV) Think about this for minute…. we are to become like children in respect to heaven…. totally dependent. When is the last time you heard of a small child going off to work for eight plus hours a day to provide for the family? Obviously you haven’t, so how does that child survive? They survive by trusting the one who does provide. Left to themselves they would become sick, starved and eventually die. So it is with the one who enters into heaven, they are to be totally dependent upon the provision of grace and mercy from the heavenly Father. Dependent in every area of life. So this week, as we should every day, come as a child in our teaching, praying, and all we do, knowing it all depends upon the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every child God allows us to minister to.

BECOME THE ARMS OF JESUS:

     Be a servant used by God to touch and bless these precious children this week, whether you will be serving directly with the children or indirectly through prayer. VBS is a church wide event and requires everyone’s participation for it to be a success. Some of you will not be able to physically be present, but how very important is your prayerful support. Set your alarm clocks or whatever means you need to remember to pray during the 6:00 to 8:30 hour each evening this week. Jesus laid his hands on the children and blessed them, and I wonder….. what did the rest of their lives upon this earth look like? We will never know this side of heaven, but I would dare to say they were never the same as they experience the touch of the Master’s hand.

     I heard over the years many time the phrase, “Why doesn’t God do something?” This week He is. He is using us to minister to children that he one day may use to change the world. Many of you know Billy Graham as the evangelist who has affected the world in sharing the gospel of Jesus. Who were his teachers as a child? Who was his pastor? Who was it that prayed for him? How big was the church he attended? Unless you read his autobiography, most likely, you would not be able to answer those questions. My point is this; this is a very important time in our church this week. Don’t let it slip by unnoticed in your days, for we never know how God may chose to do great things in the life of the church this week.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalms 33:12 ESV

 “God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her thru the night with a light from above.” The words just written are words of a song written in 1938 by Irving Berlin. In many ways this should be more than just a song, but a prayer request to God for our nation. With such a prayer request should come the desire to be a people pleasing to God.

What does it mean to be pleasing to God?

 YOU LOVE HIM:

     And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength. Mark 12:30 ESV

     God is not to be a second thought in our lives or someone just to be tolerated but passionately loved with thanksgiving for all the wonderful blessings of life He has given us. He walks with us everyday and knows us by name. His love for us is beyond measure! In return we love Him by praising his Holy name, a name which is above every name. We love Him by keeping his commandments. We love Him by serving Him wherever He has planted us.

 WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR:

     The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31 ESV

This doesn’t mean you love just those who love you, but you love as Christ has loved you. Jesus lived the example he wanted us to live out loud in the world. He always did the will of his Father which included Him dying for the sins of the world. Remember in the garden the statement Jesus made just before he was led away to be crucified, “Not what I will but what you will.” Mark 14:36 ESV It is God’s will that we love one another as Christ has loved us. (Ephesians 4:1-2)

 WE WALK HUMBLY

     God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:6-7 ESV

     Anything in our life worthy of thanksgiving is a gift of God, and we should give thanks in all things. Except for the precious grace of God, everything about us would be worthless. We must alway remember that, “In him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28 ESV God alone is worthy of praise! Let us always remember we are who we have been as a nation because of God’s guidance. If we cease to recognize God and all he has done for us, we will fall. So as we sing let us pray, “God bless America,” and may we live to show that we are serious in wanting God’s blessing on America.

Because of His grace ~ Pastor David

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name Matthew 6: 9 ESV

     Last August I lost my second dad. I say my second dad because he was more than just my father in law. We became close over the years and had many long conversations about life and day to day events. I lost my first dad when I was twenty years old. He and I were best friends, and he has never been forgotten by me. Both men were influential in my life, and I have been so blessed to have the joy of experiencing them both. When my second dad died, I wrote the following tribute to them.

     My Two Dads…… Some men are fortunate to have one dad in life, but I’ve been blessed to have had two. I lost my first dad when I was twenty years old. He was my very best friend, and I still miss him to this day. He and I would talk long hours into the night, and we discussed many things. I could tell my dad anything … mistakes and failure I’d made, dreams and hopes I had, and he loved me even in my mistakes and encouraged me in my dreams. He was the best. I still love him so much that at times my heart secretly still hurts. Yesterday, I lost my second dad. My second dad came into my life when I married my wonderful wife Mary. Over the years I stopped referring to him as my father- in- law; I just called him “dad” and would introduce him as the same. He would say when introducing me: “This is my son- in- law, but I think of him as a son….” I was blessed. He was a man of great compassion for his family until he breathed his last breath. I learned many things from him over the years for which I am blessed and thankful . One evening he and I were talking and I told him I wish he could have met my dad. He paid me the greatest compliment he could have ever given me. He said, “I have met your dad because I met you.” Well, now I have had the influence of two dads that will forever be with me. If any one would ever say to me in the future, “You remind me of your dad,” I would have to reply, “Which one?” This hurt reminds me of when I lost my first dad, and it is a hurt that is felt more than seen. However, there is a part of me that smiles inside because my two dad’s have finally met. I love and miss them both but one day….. :o) We will all be together again because…. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

   In actuality, I have three dads. Three because I have been adopted by the Heavenly Father that recognizes me as his adopted son/child. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father! Romans 8:15 ESV …… And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,”Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:6-7 ESV There is strong meaning in calling Him “Abba Father.” It was the name by which Jesus addressed him in the moment of intense emotional agony in the garden before Calvary. (Mark14:36) While I want Christians to understand their personal relationship with God the the Father, I want to remind them that we should also view God the Father in reverence and respect. When Jesus’s disciples ask him to teach them to pray, which is talking to God, Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say:

“OUR FATHER” Oh how sweet to be able to address God as our Father. He who created the universe wants me to recognize myself as one of His children. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; 1 John 3:1

“IN HEAVEN” The place where God is going to bring all His children that we might worship Him forever. This was made possible by his sacrificial love and the giving of Jesus, His only Son, to die for our sins and take God’s wrath that was meant for us. Jesus spoke of this promise, “In my Fathers house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3 ESV

“HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME” Luke 11:2 ESV This means we recognize the preciousness of the name of God. We have been commanded not to take His name in vain. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Exodus 20:7 ESV In fact, if you study all the names the Bible uses in a descriptive nature of God, you will know how important his name, GOD, really is. It is almost indescribable, but God uses the meaning of these names by which he is described to help us to understand who He is. May we begin to comprehend this and sing out as the Psalmist did in Psalm 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Happy Fathers Day, to my Heavenly Father who loves me beyond measure.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     The walls around Jerusalem were destroyed because the people had sinned against God. Sin caused them to lose the protection of God and, in more than one case, to be taken into captivity. God, knowing the condition and vulnerability of His people, placed on Nehemiah’s heart the desire to rebuild the wall— a wall of protection that is just stones unless fortified by the power of God’s protection. Always remember, God will not have fellowship with sin; and when in willful sin against God, protection is lost. Through out the Bible we see this reoccurring theme. People begin well; but because of the tendency toward sin, they fall away from God and then His judgement. The wall around a city is for protection against the enemy for those living in the city. When we are in the will of God, by having Christ in our lives, we are surrounded by His protection. A spiritual wall, so to speak, protects us from our enemy who desires to destroy us. I heard it said many times over the years, “ For Satan to get to you he must go through God to do it.” That is a true statement if you are born again in Christ and living daily in his will. If God is not alive in your life, He is not there for Satan to go through. As people without a physical wall of protection would be vulnerable to their enemies, the person without Christ in their life is vulnerable to Satan. Also the Christian who willfully sins against God is in serious danger; for God does not have fellowship with sin. God is Holy and we should worship Him in Holiness. This means to live in love with His presence in our lives and to desire His presence more than anything else. You must remember that as a Christian you are the Bride of Christ, and to live in willful sin would be liken to having an affair with the world. Would you stay in fellowship with your spouse if they were having an affair? This should give you a visual picture and understanding as to why God removes the protection of relationship when you live in willful sin. As Nehemiah led in the rebuilding of the wall, remember it was built one stone at a time and each day the enemy began to take more notice of the wall and desired to stop the work. So it is as a Christian building a spiritual wall in relationship with God. Satan will take notice and want to stop the work. So what are some principles of building we can do in fortifying our lives in the protection of Christ?

HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION

     Jesus said, “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. Luke 6:47-48 ESV Peter was asked this question by Jesus in Matthew 16: 15-18 ESV, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you , Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you- you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. As a Christian, you are the church, and if you are not building upon Jesus, then you are building on sinking sand.

USE THE RIGHT MATERIALS

     As your relationship with God grows, it does so because you are using the right materials to build the wall of His protection. The material needed…. HIS WORD!!!!!!! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11 ESV … Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ESV

LEAVE THE RESULTS TO GOD

     God completes the work in all our lives…… For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV ….. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 ESV

Jesus is the wall of protection in the life of every Christian. He did not build this protection for us to go into hiding but rather to move with the confidence knowing that He is with us every step of the way. Jesus told us, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole of creation.” Mark 16:15 ESV With the fact that Jesus is with us, we know that we are never alone. Jesus himself made this promise to us in the last part of verse 20 in Matthew 28, “I am with you ALWAYS, to the end of the age.” (ESV) Thank you, God, for your Son who saved/redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit which lives in us. This gives us the confidence in living for you and knowing we can walk successfully and purposefully a life displaying the truth of you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Psalms 32: 10 ESV As Christians, let the light of his love surrounding us make it evident to the world that we have experienced the Gospel. The gospel that Jesus saves!!!!!

Because of His Grace ~Pastor David

     Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV
 
     When the Jewish people disobeyed and were unfaithful to God, he allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take them captive. In this process, the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed and laid in ruins for many years. After this captivity, God used three men to help rebuild all that was destroyed. Zerubbable rebuilt the Temple, Ezra led the people in the study of the Tora, or, law of God, attempting to restore the people in the ways of God, and Nehemiah led in the rebuilding of the walls. In the work of these three men, it is interesting to see a parallel of the building of lives that has been destroyed by Satan. It is through disobedience / sin that our lives are destroyed and lie in ruins. Adam and Eve, who, in God’s presence, once walked, were separated from Him, as are we, because of sin. Adam and Eve’s bodies, before sin, did not know suffering, nor experienced the destruction and pain that comes as a result of sin. This curse of destruction, suffering, and death continues, as we are all conceived in sin. All but one… he was conceived by the Holy Spirit ….. Jesus ….. the Son of God. Jesus came to rebuild the temple in our hearts, teach us the way to live, and surround us with Himself, that we might live victoriously under his protection. Let us evaluate exactly how this rebuilding takes place in the life of all who return to God.
 
OUR BODY~ GOD’S TEMPLE:
     In order for this Temple to be built in our hearts, we must first lay the foundation of Jesus in our life. There are popular teachings today saying there are many ways to God, but this is not true. Jesus, in his own words, speaking of himself, made this very clear. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 ESV  To believe there is another way to God is like saying, “Jesus, you really were not necessary, nor needed.” We must recognize and believe who Jesus Christ is to become a part of all that God is doing in restoring lives unto himself.  When asked by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 ESV ….. Jesus responded to Peter by saying, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 ESV  It is essential to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. If you do not believe this, then you are building on sinking sand, and Satan will bring you down. Another thought on this point: if you are not a Temple of the Holy Spirit, then whose Temple are you? Let that thought sink in, for you are a servant to either Satan or God. If you are a servant of God, it is because you were bought with a price. (vs:20)
 
GOD’S WAYS AND TEACHINGS:
     Jesus taught us how to walk in accordance with all that God wants us to do, and it all hinges on love. When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as your self. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 ESV  Love is the motive in all that God does, and He wants us to do the same. Learn to love, and you learn the ways of God; EVERYTHING HINGES ON LOVE. (1 Corinthians chapter 13)
 
LIVE SURROUNDED BY GOD’S PROTECTION:
     If it is the love of God that redeems us through Jesus, and love is the way God instructs us to live, then it is in the confidence of God’s love that we live protected and secure in Christ. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 ESV …… No one will ever be able to take us from His protecting hand. (John 10: 28-29)

The Temple in the Old Testament was the place for the people to experience the presence of God. This is why they wanted desperately to rebuild it, learn His ways, and live under his protection. God made it possible for us to live in His presence by being present in us; to learn of His ways by the Holy Spirit teaching us, and to know that He is faithful and will never leave us nor forsake us. With this blessed truth, may we live glorifying God in our bodies.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” Matthew 2:1-2 ESV
 
     Since we began our journey of Jesus in all the books of the Bible, we have seen one consistent theme. Man sometimes starts well, but he usually doesn’t end well, and sometimes there were even some who didn’t start well at all. One other theme also holds true through out our study …. God is faithful to all that he promised. While man continually fails, God remains faithful. That is encouraging because if all depended on our abilities, we would be doomed. I have often heard it asked, “If God is such a good God, why does he let so many bad things happen in the world?” To which I reply, “You are asking the wrong question.” The real question is, “Why are you here to even ask that question?” Based on that logic God would have destroyed Adam and Eve, and neither you nor I would be here to even ask that question. While God withholds His judgement that will come one day addressing all the evil in question, let us look at what He has done. He sent His Son Jesus to be the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16) King David wanted to build the temple so that people would have a place they could worship near the presence of God, but David’s son, Solomon, actually built the temple and made this place of meeting between God and man. Then in remarkable power, King Jesus came and made it possible for the temple to be in our hearts. To all who go by the name Christian, King Jesus is the King who is worshiped in our hearts. So how do we worship?
 
REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
     Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV …. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV
 
LET WORSHIP BE INTENTIONAL
     Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with song and praise! Psalm 95:1-2 ESV …. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Psalm 95:6-7 ESV
 
WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
     But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father is Spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 ESV
 
     In conclusion, let me address once more the fact that God has done something concerning the evil in the world. He sent Jesus; and if man would worship Jesus as King, following him faithfully, evil could not thrive. It is only when man refuses to worship God and honor Jesus, that evil continues. God also created you and me to be his hands, feet, and voice of this good news. Let us live as temples for the Spirit of God, proclaiming intentionally the good news with joyful singing and worshiping in Spirit and truth AND make known this gospel to the world. As I once heard and believe, Wise men still seek Him that they may worship him; he is born King of the Jews.
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David