April 11, 2021

Need For The Needy

 

Over the last several weeks we have been assessing the different ways in which we can measure spiritual maturity.  This is not to assume there is some magic formula that exists, but undoubtedly Scripture provides clear foundational truths that mustn’t be ignored.  These are characteristics and attributes that serve as evidence of genuine, growing faith.  So far we have looked at the importance of our view of God’s word as well as how we view the sin in our lives.  Today we are going to look at an area that is often overlooked, but certainly not because Scripture is silent or vague about the issue. 

As followers of Christ we should have a strong passion and desire to care for those who are in need.  1 John 3:17-18 tells us that if we have resources at our disposal and we see that someone else is in need, yet we turn a blind eye to their need, the love of God is not in us.  Did you hear that?  Verse 18 follows up by explaining that we are not to just to love with our words, but with our actions.  Because if our actions don’t back up our words, we are just a noisy gong (1 Corinthians 13:3).  Words don’t fill bellies and keep people warm from the cold.  James teaches this very same thing in chapter 2, stating that if we are all talk and no action, that we have dead faith.

When we think about those who are in need, this can really encompass a lot of different things.  Some individuals are in need of food, some money, or clothes, a helping hand, a listening ear, encouragement, etc.  For those who are lost spiritually, they have a need for the gospel, to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and the redemption that is found through Him alone. 

I have been extremely blessed in my own life to see the desire to meet needs modeled by a man I respect dearly.  I have known Ron Morris for over 20 years (he happens to be my wife’s grandfather).  Ron has volunteered at a local Christian rescue mission in Central Illinois for over 30 years.  The mission is designed for men who are struggling to meet their basic needs.  The shelter provides meals for the men, a warm place to stay, complete with showers, change of clothes and more.  The mission even has programs that teach skills to the men so that they can get involved in the workforce and provide a stable income.  But, more importantly than all of those things, the mission provides men with the gospel message.  Two times a day, volunteers come in to preach a message, maybe even sing a few songs with the men.  The men who come to the mission come from all walks of life.  Some are drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals; some are just plain down on their luck, products of tough circumstances.  The rescue mission has been serving that community since 1955, but many drive by it daily and don’t even know it exists. 

You see, it is hard to get volunteers to serve down at the mission.  It takes time, it takes effort, it takes desire.  Faithful men like Ron Morris have served, making the ongoing work of this ministry possible, because they love God and love God’s people.  I cannot even fathom how many messages Ron has preached down there, how many times he has gotten last minute cancelations and quietly stepped up, doing what needed to be done for those men to hear the message of Jesus Christ.  He has missed some family dinners and holiday gatherings, sacrificing to meet other’s needs.  Through his actions, he demonstrates a heart for the needy.  His example has been instrumental to me.  In fact, it was many years ago that Ron first asked me if I would preach down at the mission.  Now, since he was family, he certainly had some pull.  I agreed and have preached down there many times after that.  I firmly believe it is always more of a blessing to me than it is to those men. 

God cares for those who are in need and so should we.  Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.  We honor God through our actions in serving those who are in need.  So, here are some questions we must wrestle with. 

1.        Do I have a genuine heart for those in need?

2.        When is the last time I have taken action to meet the needs of others?

3.        When is the last time that I have prayed for God to make me aware of others needs?

 

As we contemplate these things, my prayer is that God will work in this area of our lives.  May God be glorified as He continues to grow us into the image and likeness of Christ.            

 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                                

  

 

April 4, 2021

 Deep Contrition

I hope you have been both encouraged and challenged as we have considered the different ways in which one can measure spiritual maturity.  Last week we looked at the importance of how we view scripture, a critical element of spiritual maturity.  Another area of importance is our attitude toward our own sin, in other words, our level of contrition.  Simply put, contrition is our degree of remorse over disappointing God.  Contrition is a noun and contrite is the adjective form.  We see several times in scripture that a proper feeling about our sinful condition is to have a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 57:15, 66:2) 

We know that God is grieved by our sin, for every sin is quite literally against Him (Psalm 51:4, Ephesians 4:30, Psalm 78:40).  God hates our sin (Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 5:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10), thus we too should hate and forsake our sin.  What that means is living a habitual life of unrepentant sin speaks volumes about our attitude toward sin and quite frankly, our attitude toward God.  To love God is to want to please Him (1 Thessalonians 2:4, Hebrews 13:16), to bring honor to His name through our life and conduct (1 Corinthians 10:31).  That means that if an individual is indifferent to sin, is not affected by their sin, then their desire to please self is greater than their desire to please God.

Consider the earnest expression of David’s heart in Psalm 51, one that is anything but complacent about his sin.  It is safe to describe David’s anguish as deep contrition.  Plus, to prove his sentiment was more than just lip service, David implored the Lord to search his heart in Psalm 139:23-24.  I would encourage you to contemplate these questions.

1.     When was the last time I was broken over my sin?

2.     Do I allow the reality of God’s view of my sin to trump my feelings and emotions?

3.      Is there habitual unrepentant sin in my life?

4.     Do you care enough about your sin to ask God to search your heart, knowing He will actively work to eradicate that sin from your life?

5.     What kind of verbiage do you use concerning your sin?  Do you downplay it, attempting to justify sin on the grounds of inclusiveness, with remarks like “no one is perfect” or “the Bible does say we are all sinners”? 

 

I would challenge you to give considerable thought to these questions this week.  May God be glorified through your diligence to look deeply into the area of sin in your life, and consequently be honored by your response to hate and forsake it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                   

 

 

 

March 21, 2021 

Pass The Meat Please

A question that gets asked with regularity is how does one measure success in a church?  I take issue with the question itself, since success is a word that requires explanation, as success is a rather subjective idea.  The appropriate question to ask, not to mention the more biblical one, is what level of spiritual maturity exists within your local congregation?  While success can be subjective, spiritual maturity is easier to define, since scripture has given us great insight on the issue. 

In 1 Corinthians 3 the Apostle Paul addresses the church in Corinth with a rather pointed rebuke.  Those within the church had been succumbing to the worldliness that was so pervasive in that city.  Paul had brought them the gospel message in his earlier journey, many received the gospel, placing their faith and hope in the Lord.  But, as time went on they were not living a life that was glorifying to the Lord.  Needless to say, Paul had expectations for the church in Corinth and we see that as he corrects them in chapter 3:1-3 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?  Here we see that Paul had assumed that over the course of this elapsed time, the church would be growing in terms of spiritual maturity.  But, to his dismay, that was not the case.  Paul uses the familiar analogy of spiritual infancy and milk.  Just like babies need life sustaining milk to survive, individuals need the truth of the gospel to bring about spiritual birth.  However, and to Paul’s point, babies do not continue to drink milk alone for the entirety of their lives, they eventually grow up, not only tolerating solid food but also desiring it.  Solid food is the deeper truths of scripture, understandings that come through the increase of wisdom and knowledge in the Word of God.

The frustration that Paul expressed in this passage demands that we take a good hard look at the spiritual maturity that is present in our own lives.  The question is, how do we do this?  How does one measure spiritual maturity?  There are certainly some indicators in this particular passage that we can glean, but this is most assuredly not an exhaustive teaching on the marks of spiritual maturity.  Why is this important you may ask?  I believe the Bible is quite transparent on the issue of spiritual growth.  God desires us to grow, to become more sanctified and useful for His will and purposes.  Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 

Over the course of the next several weeks we are going to look at and break down the different areas of Christian life that serve as a barometer of sorts for measuring spiritual maturity.  I pray this will serve as an encouragement as well as a challenge.  Please join me in prayer as we look to our Heavenly Father and desire to be found faithful in all our ways.  I am confident that there will be some areas revealed that will cause needed action, but I trust the attention will be rewarded greatly and the Lord will be glorified.                                                                                                                                                               

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                 

March 14, 2021

 

Don’t Confuse Me With The Facts

 

In light of some of the recent events, it occurs to me that as a society we have somehow lost our ability to distinguish the difference between historical fact and personal opinion.  This is not a trend that is isolated to governmental protocol or the way our country was founded, but it is actually infiltrating the church quite rapidly.  The serious danger in all of this rests on the perceived solution that if you don’t like the truth, just cancel it, pretending it never happened.  Now, I know many of you reading this are probably shaking your head, thinking this to be an infantile reaction at best.  But, let’s take a look at what has happened as of late in the ever growing confusion of fact and opinion, plus the consequent reaction to the issue. 

It is a fact that George Washington was one of the founding fathers of our country.  He was the first president of the United States of America.  These are irrefutable facts.  It is one’s personal opinion whether George Washington was a good person or whether his practices were ethical or not.  However, an individual's assessment of his merit and character does not change the facts about his presidency or his intricate role in this country's inception.  One’s opinion cannot erase the facts from existence, facts are still facts. 

When a child is born, they are either born as a little boy or a little girl, these are biological and anatomical facts.  Now, for a boy to say they feel like a girl or a girl to say they feel like a boy, this is a matter of opinion, but their opinion does not change the facts of who they are, better yet, who God made them to be.  Opinions do not dictate facts. 

So, how does this relate to the church and those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ?  Unfortunately this kind of mode of operation, one that runs off of factless opinions is all too common.  There are those who feel like hell is too drastic of a measure, in their opinion it is unloving and cruel.  Instead of focusing on the facts that scripture reveals about hell (Revelation 21:8 Matthew 10:28, Matthew 25:36), they choose to believe it doesn’t exist (annihilationism).

In God’s grace and mercy, He sent His very own Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross, providing the only way for man to be reconciled to God.  This is a fact.  Unbelief is an opinion, one that does not change the facts.  There is even a dangerous church movement right now that states that God would never have truly sent His very own Son to die, since this would be called “cosmic child abuse”.  Instead they claim the gospel accounts are not to be taken literally.  Again, this is their opinion, but it does not change the facts.

There are far more examples of this dangerous trend but they all have the same underlying problem, letting personal opinion overrule facts.  This kind of practice places a low view on scripture and a high view on self.  If we are not careful, I think we might start seeing a push for removing parts of scripture to best suit one’s feelings.  Now, this is just my opinion, it is not a proven fact. 

God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), by nature it is inerrant and infallible.  No amount of opinion can change the truth of God’s word.  I hope you find great encouragement in that.  It is quite understandable to have an opinion on certain matters, but let us not be unnecessarily confused with what is fact and what is opinion.  Praise God and rest on the assurance we have through His Holy Word.                                                                                       

 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam

 

March 7, 2021

Where Strength Is Found

 

Without question, the Bible has many amazing characters that serve as examples, some good, some bad.  Perhaps one of the most fascinating characters is the Nazarite, Samson.  It is a story most of us are familiar with, but one that has an often forgotten lesson. 

From the beginning God gave detailed instruction of how the boy was to be raised, born of a barren woman to be set apart for God’s purposes.  One of those details was an untouched mane, which the young man attributed to his great strength.  Samson was a man who knew what he wanted, arguably passionate to a fault.  He was also a very strong and virile man, a warrior to be reckoned with.  First his heart was set on pursuing a Philistine woman, despite this act being taboo to say the least, since they were known as enemies to everyone, especially Israel.  At their wedding feast, Samson challenged the young men in attendance with a riddle.  Out of frustration the young men threatened the bride to be, demanding she coerce the brute into revealing his answer.  Samson gave in to the woman’s pleas and indulged her wishes.  After learning that he had been tricked, the Narcissistic Nazarite had a personal vendetta that would see him stop at nothing to get revenge.  In his mind the mission was clear, kill all the Philistines that he came in contact with. 

The warpath included burning the Philistine’s fields by way of live foxtail torches and killing 1,000 men with nothing more than a jawbone of a donkey and fierce determination.  Samson was a seemingly unstoppable force, that is until the harlot Delilah entered the scene.  For Samson this was lust at first sight, forgoing any logic or reason to pursue his new desire.  Low on morale and manpower, the Philistines decided to try another route in stopping the great Samson, they bribed Delilah.  After repeated attempts, finally Samson gave in to the woman’s inquiry, divulging the source of his strength, his long hair.  Upon cutting his hair, guards came in and seized the Nazarite, gouging out his eyes in the process. 

Up until now Samson’s life had been a rollercoaster of highs and lows.  He was used by God, yet he didn’t even realize his desperate need for the Lord.  What could Samson possibly have left to offer in this life?  Well, the answer is nothing.  Samson had nothing to offer.  Thank goodness God did have something to offer. 

The Philistines brought Samson into a large assembly where they were making great sacrifices to pagan gods.  Samson, blind and powerless was brought in by guards.  He asked the guards to allow him to rest between two columns in the building.  With over 3,000 people in attendance, Samson did what he had failed to do in his entire life thus far, submit to the Lord.  In a genuine petition to God, the seemingly weak man prayed “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes (Judges 16:28).  The Lord responded to Samson’s prayer and provided him with more strength than he had ever had before.  Placing one hand on each pillar, Samson pushed with divine power, collapsing the building, killing himself along with the 3,000 Philistines. 

You see, even for a man of great physical power, nothing compares to the power of submitting to God.  In that moment of submission we see the single greatest thing Samson did in his life.  If you have been born again into a new life in Christ, submitting to the Lord is the single greatest thing you have ever done, which is done only by the grace of God and all for the glory of God.  True strength is found when we submit ourselves to the Lord.                                                             

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                 

     

 

February 28, 2021

New Package - Same Heresy

This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching on James 5:15, as part of a systematic journey through the book of James.  While digging deep to accurately exegete this verse, we looked at the error that exists among many false teachers.  One of those groups leading many astray is called the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).  It gives me no delight to call attention to this false teaching movement, however it is careful attention indeed that is required to remain watchful against these wolves (1 Peter 5:8).  So what is the NAR?  Why is this movement so dangerous?

The charismatic movement gained a great deal of steam in the 1960’s, from there spawning new groups along its path to present day.  One of those groups was pioneered by C. Peter Wagner, who after organizing a massive meeting with other like-minded leaders in 1996, called themselves the New Apostolic Reformation. 

The ‘New’ in the NAR describes the revelation that these self proclaimed modern “apostles” receive from God.  They believe this is a God-given role that exceeds the role of a pastor/elder, since their self proclaimed title equips them with the same miraculous functions as the apostles of the Bible.  Of course, this lofty title is one they capitalize on, boasting of their ability to receive new revelation from God, as well as perform miracles and healing.  Anytime one claims to receive new revelation from God, they directly undermine the sufficiency and authority of Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6 Revelation 22:18-19).  When God is not enough, leave it to fallen man to step in and assert himself as the missing link.  The emphasis placed on the leaders of these churches is appalling, not to mention in complete contradiction to God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:4-9).

Another major error in this false teaching movement is the belief that the church is establishing a new order of control on earth.  Insisting that God has appointed modern prophets and apostles to set things in order on earth is not a biblical premise.  But, they believe it is their responsibility to govern and dominate every facet of life, from politics, to the arts, to economy, and so on, bringing about a utopia of sorts.   This not only contradicts the reign that satan has been allowed to have on earth (2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 John 5:19) but also ignores the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Hebrews 9:28).

This dangerous movement preys specifically on the younger generation, swooning them with what has been known as their ‘hook’, contemporary music.  Organizations like Bethel and Hillsong pump out chart topping song after song (these are musically talented people), while flying under the banner of this horrendous NAR movement.  To say that music is used as the gateway would be a severe understatement.  Creating an experience is their top priority, while God’s Word takes a back seat. 

Not preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ, elevating man while devaluing God, seeking signs and wonders to validate personal prestige, ignoring the sufficiency and infallibility of Scripture are just a few of the many reasons why this movement is one to avoid completely.  This abominable movement is leading many astray and we need to be on guard, being able to spot the wolves for the sake of protecting the sheep.  This is nothing new, false teachers have been cleverly concocting innovative deceptions since biblical times (2 Timothy 3:1-9) and I am sure we have not seen the last attempt.  It is important that we remain steadfast and immovable when it comes to standing firm on the Word of God and upholding His precious name with all reverence and honor (1 Corinthians 15:58).  Press on, proclaim the truth and refute the false.                                                       

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                 

     

February 14, 2021

 

 

Literarily Confused

Oftentimes when students get through (pass) literature and grammar classes, they sigh in relief, hoping to never have to use that information from there on out.  But, before you go and wipe any and all data from the existence of your mind, might I caution you to consider rethinking your actions?  You see, we use literature and grammar all the time, more often than you are likely aware of.  Even if one does not enjoy reading, we use literary principles all the time.  Parents will occasionally speak “code”, using symbolism to conceal the matter of the conversation from their children.  Sometimes we use sarcasm (“sometimes” being sarcastic in itself), other times we use hypotheticals, instructions, or even allegories.

As believers, we should have a strong desire to not only read God’s Word, but also understand Its meaning.  The Bible uses many different literary forms, so we have to be aware of these and notice when they are being used.  Let me give you an example.  In John 10:9 we see Jesus referring to Himself as a door.  Revelation 13:8 calls Jesus “The Lamb Who Was Slain”.  If we don’t understand the use of metaphor in these passages, we would get unnecessarily confused.  It would certainly be a wrong conclusion to render that Jesus is a rectangular structure on hinges with a handle, or that He is a fluffy animal with four legs and hooves.  There are a number of major literary devices used in particular sections of the Bible and getting these mixed up can cause great misunderstanding. 

The book of Genesis, as well as the four gospels, was written in a historical narrative form.  That is, these books are to be read as literal, as they give a detailed account in order of the events that took place.  Of course within these books, as previously mentioned with John 10:9, there are uses of other literary forms as well.  Symbolism, metaphors, parables, and more are used to support the lesson being explained.  We see wisdom or lyrical books, written by use of poetry throughout Psalms and Proverbs.  Even within this poetic style, subcategories are used, such as acrostic and alliterations.

The knowledge of the use of hyperbole (exaggeration) can save us from believing we have to cut off our hand if it ever causes us to sin (Mark 9:43).  Parallelism helps us determine the unified meaning of what appears to be two or more unique phrases.  There are also prophetic books (Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi, etc) as well as books of instructions or epistles (Ephesians, 1 &2 Timothy, Titus, etc.). 

So, what is the point of all of this?  Does this mean that we need to all go back to school and master literature and grammar?  No, take a deep breath, because that is not what I am suggesting.  What I am suggesting is that you give more caution and thought to what you are reading, where in the Bible you are reading it, and use the necessary tools to interpret the passage correctly.  We are to be students of the word.  With that said, it does take work and effort on our part.  Start off slow, recognizing the major themes first (narrative, poetic, prophetic, allegorical).  I can assure you of this, the instance of wrongly interpreting a verse will be greatly reduced if we recognize what literary style is being utilized.  You don’t need to be a literary genius to know and understand the Bible; thank goodness that is the case.  But, the more we are equipped with the tools to rightly interpret scripture, the more we will understand who God is and what He desires in our lives.  It is worth it.                                                                                     

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                           

  

 

 

February 7, 2021

 

The Friendship Fallacy

It is always disheartening to me when the gospel message is shared in any way that deviates from what we see laid out in scripture.  One of those deviations that has increased in popularity, as many churches have endorsed this ideal, is what is known as friendship evangelism.  Why do I say deviation?  Well, simply put, the ideology behind friendship evangelism is seen nowhere in scripture. 

So, what is friendship evangelism?  It is the belief that one must establish a friendship and build a level of trust before sharing the gospel.  Now, let me pause by saying, there is certainly nothing wrong with sharing the gospel with your friends, in fact this is the appropriate and God honoring thing to do.  But, becoming friends with someone is not a qualification to sharing the gospel. 

At the very center of a friendship is the shared commonality with the other person.  Friendships are born out of many different interests, like sports, work, hobbies, family, etc, etc.  The more time two people share together, the closer friends they become, furthering the level of trust.  Friendship evangelism supposes this is the ideal scenario in sharing the gospel.  Is this biblical?  Is this the way that Jesus shared His gospel message.  Is this the way the disciples shared the gospel?  In Mark 16:15 we read the instruction that Jesus gave to His disciples regarding the sharing of the gospel - And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”  Obviously in this passage we see no indication that suggests that friendship had to be established before sharing the gospel. 

Another fault with friendship evangelism is the appearance of deception.  Since “the right time” to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ is subjective to the one sharing, this can actually be viewed as distrustful.  Because it is after trust is established and the friendship has matured that you are going to now reveal the most important thing in your life.  First off, this should be glaringly evident to your friend anyhow.  If they have no idea that you are a Christian and that you are living your life for Christ, then needless to say there is a problem.  Secondly, your friend may feel tricked, and rightfully so, as you were not divulging pertinent information from the get go. 

Not only does friendship evangelism lack logical sense, it lacks biblical support as well.  John the Baptist preached the message of repentance (Mark 1:4), Peter preached a message of repentance (Acts 2:38), Paul preached a message of repentance (Acts 26:19-20), and more importantly Jesus Christ preached a message of repentance (Matthew 4:17, Luke 5:32).  A certain level of friendship is not a prerequisite for preaching the message of repentance.  The false notion propelling friendship evangelism is man-made and at the very least creates the tendency to greatly limit the number of people you share the gospel with.  My prayer is that you are encouraged to share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as the Lord provides you with.  Friend or not, this is a message that all need to hear.  Who knows, they may have not been your friend, but by the grace of God, they may become your brother or sister in Christ.  Let us seize every opportunity we are given.                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam 

 

 

 

 

January 24, 2021

 

The Testimony Of God

One of the most wonderful things to hear is the testimony of an individual that has been radically changed by God.  When we hear the word testimony, it should remind us of the wonderful work that God has done and continues to do in our lives.  However, I have noticed an unhealthy, and all too common, dialogue that exists with many testimonies.  Although a testimony is personal, there is such a thing as making it too personal.  Let me explain.

How often does one’s story start off with, “I was a pretty good person”, or “I wasn’t terrible, just the typical guy/girl”?  Sadly, this is a tragic way to begin one’s testimony.  If this is how one begins, the hearer has already been misled.  Apart from Christ we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) with wicked hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) that have us in a spiritually dead state (Romans 6:23).  With that said, no one was pretty good and the typical guy/girl is sinful and rebellious.  To begin a testimony in this way is a major misunderstanding of the sinfulness and depravity of mankind. 

The next part of the testimony is the explanation of how salvation took place.  Again, a common misconception revolves around phrases like “I invited Jesus into my heart” (found nowhere in scripture), or “I decided to let Jesus into my life” (again not in scripture).  Up to this point the word I, me or my has been used a great deal.  When we had absolutely nothing to offer a Holy God, by means of His grace, He intervened in our lives.  John 6:44 tells us that no one comes to Christ unless God draws (‘helko’ literally drags) them.  In God’s perfect redemptive plan, He not only accomplishes salvation in lost souls, but He also initiates it (John 6:65) and instills the faith required to accomplish it (Hebrews 12:2), sealing them (Ephesians 1:13) for eternity (John 6:37).  God’s sovereignty, His grace, love, and mercy should be the focus of every testimony. 

Even when the testimony moves to post-salvation, many unnecessarily insert too many personal pronouns.  “I have become a better person”, “I have grown in such and such a way”.  Again, this shortcuts and undermines the source of all of these changes in our lives.  Our testimony should not highlight ourselves, rather it should point to the Glory and Majesty of the Lord, the only One capable of changing who we were.  Our testimony should serve as a firsthand account of the wonderful salvatory work of God. 

An easy way to break down a testimony is in 3 areas, life before, during and after salvation.  The only ownership we should be taking in these areas is the first area.  It was our sin that separated us from the perfect Holiness of God (Isaiah 59:2), making us sinners in need of a Savior (Ephesians 2:1-10).  May the testimony that we share be one that honors and glorifies God for doing what He alone can do.  My prayer is that the Lord would provide you with many opportunities to share the story of how He changed your life forever, and that God would use that to touch the lives of others.                   

 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam   

 

 

  

January 17, 2021

The Casual Casualty

The word nominal can be defined as a role or position that operates on name only, meaning it does not possess any supporting attributes or character of the role/position.  Today, there are many who profess the name of Christ, but their proclamation is as far as it goes.  The nominal Christian often lives a life of complacency, with little to no regard for what is taught through Holy Scripture.  I came across a wonderful passage (1 John 3:1-10) that explains the severity of this kind of complacent lifestyle. 

What John is delineating in this passage is the stark difference between a true child of God and everyone else.  A true child of God is one who is defined as hating sin, removing sin from their lives at all cost.  Sin is recognized in their lives and, by the power of God working in them, earnestly resisted.  Those who do not go on practicing sin are shown to be God’s children by evidence of their faith.  What a wonderful testimony this is to the power of God to not only change behavior, but to change the heart of sinful man.  We see in verse 9 that those who are born of God (spiritual birth), cannot go on practicing sin.  John goes on to intimately tie in salvation, abiding with God, to the character of God Himself.  What that means is, if a person was truly saved and continued to live a life of sin, practicing sin, then this would make God a liar.  This would mean that the work He has done in that person’s life was not effective enough to actually change them.

Those who practice sin do not abide in God, they are not His children.  It does absolutely no good mincing words or watering this truth down.  I am afraid that is precisely what has gone on for far too long.  The church has either been too quiet about sin or too inclusive with their definition of who God’s children are.  Here is the deal, it is not up to us who God’s children are, it is up to God, and His word is explicitly clear in what that looks like.  Making a profession of faith and then living a life of sinful rebellion is nothing more than nominal Christianity.  Many churches are afraid to speak in these kinds of terms because they might offend people, they might even lose some attendees.  But, listen to what John says here in this passage through the Holy Spirit.  Verse 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil; and Verse 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.  

Many would say this kind of directness is not loving, it is too harsh and rigid.  Those feelings are brought forth from a distorted view of what love really is.  Loving someone is telling them the truth.  The truth is if we abide in the Lord, we will live a life that reflects that.  And if one lives a life of habitual sin, then they are not of the Lord, rather they are of the devil.  We need to stop fostering an environment that supports and encourages nominal Christianity.  May we be found faithfully heralding the truth of God’s word, unhindered and unedited.  Nominal Christianity stops the moment an individual cries out to the Lord for forgiveness of their sin, repenting and submitting unto God in salvation.  For it is not our clever rendition that has the power to change lives, rather it is the Sovereign God who has spoken with saving power through His Word.  Praise be to God for doing what He alone can do.                

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                 

   

January 3, 2021

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know

On Sunday morning we have been systematically going through the book of James.  In the fourth chapter of James we are taught that our lives, as followers of Christ, are ones that should be lived by the guidance and direction of the Lord (James 4:13-16).  The decisions we make are important and they are many.  But, how does one maintain a consistent focus on making decisions that honor God? 

In Proverbs 3 Solomon provides a wonderful look at how we can accomplish this task.  In verse 5 we see the need to trust God with all of our hearts.  Trust can be a fickle thing can’t it?  We extend trust based on our knowledge of the one being trusted, don't we?  We determine if the person has good character and if they are proven by experience.  Oftentimes we trust an individual with carefully selected things but not necessarily the important stuff.  But, here in this verse we see that we are to trust the Lord with our whole heart, with everything that we have.  The Lord is certainly trustworthy and proven (Psalm 18:30, Isaiah 25:1).  When we wholeheartedly trust in the Lord, we will inevitably cease to lean on our own understanding (V:5).  If we lean on our own, carnal, finite understanding, we would not be completely relying on the sovereign, omniscience of God.  In all humility, we have to consciously yield our own understanding to seek the understanding of God (James 4:7). 

In verse 6 of Proverbs 3 we read that we are to acknowledge the Lord in all of our ways.  The Hebrew word for ways is ‘dârak’ which literally means road or journey.  That means that our trajectory should be one that is in a constant state of acknowledging the Lord.  Notice the verse says in all your ways acknowledge Him.  This removes any tendency to pick and choose what part of our lives we choose to acknowledge God in.  The verse is explicitly clear that we are to acknowledge God in everything, in every circumstance.  Recognizing our need to trust in the Lord should permeate every part of our lives. 

When we trust fully in the Lord, instead of our own intuition, and acknowledge Him in our lives, then we are left with a wonderful promise.  The promise is found in the latter part of verse 6, He will make straight your paths.  Trusting in the Lord provides clarity, knowing that He will set our course according to His will and purposes for our life.  There is no better place we can be than in harmony with the will of God, the path of His choosing. 

Trust can be fickle, but we have every reason to put our full assurance in the Lord.  May we commit to acknowledging Him in all our ways, for He alone is worthy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam  

  

December 27, 2020 

Claus And Effect

It has always been compelling to me how so many will teach their kids to love, idolize and adore a false character (spoiler alert) like Santa Claus, yet retort of the absurdity at the belief of an Almighty Sovereign God.  Nevertheless, those who get all wrapped up in the holidays (pun intended) will inevitably feel a bit lost when the festivities come to a swift close.  The excitement is over and they are forced to move on to something else to fill their time.  But for believers, we have cause to continue our celebration.  We have a great deal in common with the Bible character Anna. 

We find the account of Anna in Luke 2:36-38, following the birth of Jesus Christ.  This is the only place in scripture you will find this prophetess, but we need not forget her important role.  Depending on how you interpret her age, Anna was likely between 84-104 at the time of this account.  She was a devoted woman of God, spending her days praying, fasting and worshipping.  Verse 38 tells us that Anna began thanking God among those who had been waiting, indicating Anna too had been waiting.  Clearly her thanks to God were directed toward the birth of the Messiah, the One that they had been waiting for. 

As children of God, we have the finished work of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.  Although the work is finished, let us not forget that we, in similar fashion to Anna, have much to look forward to.  Fulfilling scripture, Jesus will one day return to establish His kingdom, war against opposition and bring about judgment (Revelation 19:11-16, Zechariah 14:2, Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Corinthians 5:10).  Just like Anna continued to praise God, even after the Messiah was born, we too will continue our praise of the Lord for eternity.  Our joy and hope are fixed on the promises of God and no season of life can change that. 

As the lights come down this Christmas and once lively evergreen trees are seen dried out on the curb, may we be reminded that we have a Savior that is so much more than temporal, fading, stuff.  I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.  But, on December 26th, I pray that you find just as much cause to celebrate.  For our God is worthy.                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam

 

December 20, 2020

The Working Of The Spirit

As Christmas draws closer, many believers will read through the account of Christ’s birth, found in Luke 1 and 2.  It is wonderful that the more we read scripture, things are brought to light that we may have not noticed before.  I think spiritual maturity plays a part in this, as we grow in knowledge and understanding we start to recognize the details more, as they pertain to a greater understanding of the totality of scripture.  For many who will read this account, the tendency is to focus on the glory that is revealed through God’s orchestration of events and circumstances.  However, a commonly overlooked reality is the integral part that the Holy Spirit had throughout this unfolding. 

The Holy Spirit is mentioned five times throughout this account.  In an unprecedented fashion, John The Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:15).  Part of the message that the angel Gabriel relayed to Mary was that she would be filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).  This was to be done so that Mary would undoubtedly accomplish all that God had planned through her.  Mary was a common young lady who God used as an instrument to bring the Messiah into this world, God taking on the form and appearance of man.  The means by which He accomplished this through her was that she be filled with the Holy Spirit.  We see that the Spirit was actively at work in the lives of those involved in the account. 

When Mary went to visit her relative Elizabeth, sharing with her all that had transpired, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).  She too was part of the master plan of God, as was her husband Zechariah, who would also be filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:67).  A short while later we see that Simeon was given revelation that he would see Christ before his life would come to a close, a revelation that was given by the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:26).  So, you may be thinking, what is the significance here, what do we do with this knowledge of the Holy Spirit? 

Unfortunately the Holy Spirit is commonly viewed as a lesser part of the Trinity.  In other cases, the Holy Spirit is perverted and made out to be something that we experience through special services, calling on the Spirit through repetitious music and low lit gatherings.  These are both major errors that do not give the Holy Spirit the proper reverence that is due.  As followers of Christ we have the Spirit of God who works in and through us to accomplish His will and purposes for our lives (Romans 8:9).  The same Spirit who was active in the birth of Christ is the same Spirit who we have at work in our lives.  This is certainly a remarkable truth that should cause us to praise His wonderful name with Thanksgiving.                                                         

                                                                                                                                                 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                   

 

November 8, 2020 

Free To Be Slave 

I am often baffled by those who feel they need to choose a specific camp when it comes to a particular theological stance.  Don't get me wrong, there are without question stances that need to be made and maintained when it comes to proper theology that is formed from the truths of scripture.  But, there are those issues that are really not issues at all.  I have witnessed brothers and sisters who have adamantly demanded that believers are free and liberated, and no longer slaves.  On the other hand I have also encountered those who declare with persistence that we are slaves to God.  So, the question that unavoidably springs forth is, which one is right?  Herein lies the problem with the debate, assuming that since one is right that the other has to be wrong. 

Those who stand on the premise that we are liberated and free are correct.  Galatians 5:1 says For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  This verse is explaining the freedom that Jesus Christ has provided from the law, we see a similar example in 2 Corinthians 3:17.  Then in a more than convincing passage, John 8:34 points out that those who practice sin are slaves to sin.  However, in verse 36 we see that the Son, Jesus Christ, is the source of freedom and liberation from sin's enslavement.  This is a crucial understanding that scripture reveals, that Jesus Christ came to save people from their bondage of sin.  If we are compelled to choose a camp, this one is looking pretty promising. 

Those who stand firm on the understanding that we are slaves, must provide ample evidence.  Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.  In this text we see that those who are in Christ have been removed from sin's enslavement and become slaves of God.  It would be irresponsible for us to reason that this is merely a transfer of slave ownership alone.  Rather, this is a momentous positional change that is done only through the salvatory work of God.  The only way that we can be freed, liberated from the eternal grasp of sin's clutches is by God drawing us to salvation.  As Matthew 6:24 says, we cannot serve two masters.  Luke 9:23 tells us that as believers in Jesus Christ we are to deny ourselves and follow Him.  The Lord is our Master and we are His servants.  Suddenly this camp has us wondering what side we should be on. 

I hope you are picking up on where this is going.  This is a classic case of the unnecessary nature of needing to choose between two theological principles.  In this particular case, both camps are completely right.  By the grace of God, He has provided the only way to be free from the bondage of sin, through the redemptive blood of His Son.  When an individual is drawn to salvation by God, they are then removed from sin's enslavement and placed into servanthood of the Lord, a slave of God.  The two camps are not opposed to one another, rather they are two parts to a whole.  As I have stated on many occasions, my encouragement is that we always look at what we are saying and ask ourselves the question "what does this say about God?"  In this case, both angles of approach say the same thing, that being a slave to God is the only way to be free from eternal punishment that we deserve as a result of our own sin.  Praise be to God for providing mercy and grace to an undeserving lot like us.  He is good.                                                                                                                  

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam                  

October 11, 2020

Season Of Change

As I look out our back dining room window the changing colors of the maple leaves quickly reminds me that a new season is being ushered in.  Soon enough the leaves will fall, the air will grow colder and pumpkin spice will be replaced with the fragrance of spruce and peppermint.  For all the complaining that can be made at the expense of the erratic Midwest weather, I do love the changing of the seasons.  It’s always amusing to watch “out of staters” getting off the planes in the Midwest airports.  Apparently no one mentioned to them that a week-long trip would warrant a coat, jacket, shorts, sandals, and snow boots. 

The Apostle Paul had a great deal of valuable instruction for Timothy, the young man from Lystra.  In 2 Timothy 4:2 Paul urges Timothy to preach the word; in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  Timothy had been entrusted with weighty responsibility of leading and shepherding the church in Ephesus.  Paul knew that Timothy would find out soon enough that there would be times where the message of Christ would be heard with ease and conversely there would be times when that message would not be well received.  Thus Paul encourages Timothy to preach during all seasons.  The results of good biblical preaching and teaching are what Paul mentions in the latter part of verse 2, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort.  These are results that God’s Word can produce in either scenario. 

Though the Midwest weather may be ever changing, there is no doubt that we live in a time where the Word of God is in large part, out of season.  God’s Word has been taken out of schools, taken out of homes, and sadly, even taken out of many churches.  The truth that God’s Word contains brings about an acknowledgment of sin, and sin brings to light the separation between the lives of fallen mankind and the perfect holiness and righteousness of God.  As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to herald the name of Christ, to proclaim and share the saving gospel.  We need not worry ourselves with the nature of the season we are in.  Instead, let us boldly preach the message of the Savior, which is never changing.  Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So grab your coat, your stocking hat, your sunglasses and t-shirt, because we have work to do.                                             

 

By His Grace And For His Glory,
Pastor Sam         

 

  

         

October 4, 2020

The End Of The Story

During a discussion in a men's bible study one Friday morning, we got talking about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  We were commenting on the extraordinary responsibility that God had set before Mary.  A few of the men shared their thoughts on what that must have been like for the young betrothed virgin girl.  When the angel Gabriel told Mary of the monumental task that she was about to embark on, one is led to wonder what was going through her mind.  Mary was a young engaged girl, who, before that day, likely day dreamed about the future.  Whatever her plans and aspirations were, God intervened with a different ending to the story of her life. 

I asked the guys in the group, if God had not intervened in their lives, how different would the end of their story be?  Without hesitation some of the men shared about the predictability of how their lives would have played out.  Most commented that their sinful behavior would have landed them in jail or worse yet, the morgue.  It was a sobering moment as all in attendance recognized the grace that God had lavished on their lives.  You see, these men knew who they were before they submitted their lives to Christ and they knew the trajectory that old life had them on.  They could have easily finished the story of their lives.  BUT......God had a different plan for them.  God's redemptive plan in their lives would change the ending. 

If God has done a mighty work in your life and brought you to salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, then you have great cause for rejoice.  The God of the universe and all that it contains saw fit to change the end of your story.  He is the only one that can take the enslaved sinner, change their heart and declare them righteous.  However, there are a great many people out there who are living out the very predictable story of their lives.  They are dead in their sins, being condemned by the very thing that ensures their story's unsurprising end.  But, God's message of hope, the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, is a message that changes lives, it changes the ending.  My encouragement for you this week is to find someone to discuss this with.  Ask someone how they see their life playing out, ask them to write their ending.  This gives you a wonderful opportunity to share with them.  As followers of Christ, we did not write our ending, God did (Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 3:18).  Praise God for doing what we couldn't do.  To you alone Lord we give all honor and praise.

By His Grace And For His Glory,

Pastor Sam