Daily Devotion December 2021

12/31/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/FDZNnjqpAoM



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Those who love money will never have enough. How . . . (completion at the end)



Dr. Josh Moody started a series in Hebrews titled “A Better Future”. The second sermon was given by Associate Pastor Dan Hiben and is based on Hebrews 12:1, 2:


Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.


Traditionally, during the Summer Olympics, the final event of the games is the marathon. This culminating race of 26.2 miles is run throughout the streets of the host city by some of the very best athletes on the entire planet. As the athletes run the streets, spectators line the sidewalks, cheering them on. 


Perhaps the most powerful moment of the entire race, however, happens at the finish. It is tradition that the Olympic Marathon has its final 400 meters around the track inside the Olympic Stadium—one lap around the track surrounded by a full-capacity crowd cheering them on. Imagine the thrill of being one of those runners. Each competitor’s name is announced as they enter the stadium. With heavy legs, weary from literally hours of running and lungs gasping for breath, they run toward the finish line. They see the lights and hear the crowd spurring them on to the finish line. Imagine the thrill. Imagine the boost it must give to a weary runner. 


This is the image that Hebrews 12 gives us as it spurs us on today. The Christian life is pictured as a race, a marathon, and we are the athletes running, straining, pressing on toward the finish line. The Christian life is a race of endurance. The author of Hebrews calls us in this passage to be one of those endurance runners. We're exhorted to run the race with endurance. The challenge is, of course, that endurance is hard. It can be incredibly difficult to live the Christian life. How are we supposed to endure? What does endurance look like for us? Where is our strength to endure to come from? How are we supposed to press on when the going gets tough? 


In this text we have encouragement for endurance. We’re instructed, as well, in the hard work of endurance. We also see the power for endurance. This is written to exhort us to run the race with endurance. 


The opening line of our passage gives us encouragement for endurance. It says, ”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . .” We are pictured as the runners in the stadium straining toward the finish line and surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. But the witnesses aren't there as spectators to watch us; they're there for us as runners to look at. They're the saints of old that we read about in Chapter 11—the people who lived by faith and died infaith. We're called to look at their lives of faith and find encouragement. 


It's not that our heroes or loved ones are there as spectators watching us as we run; it's us looking at these heroes of the faith—those who have run before us. It's their lives that are a witness for us. We’re told in Hebrews 11: 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.


It's as if you were to go to the Art Institute of Chicago, surrounded by beautiful, timeless works of art by the likes of Monet or Van Gogh or Picasso—painting after painting, gallery after gallery, surrounded by the beauty of their arts—and then after having seen it, going home and being inspired to paint yourself. 


Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses is encouragement for our endurance. The witness of those who have gone before us, is an enduring testimony to the validity of the life of faith. They lived by faith, and they died in faith. We can look at them and be encouraged to run just like they did; to live just like they did. They were looking to the reward, and so should we. 


We so often need encouragement in the Christian life, don't we? When the going gets tough, when the pressures mount, when the race gets difficult, you can find encouragement in the lives of those who have gone before. Read the stories of the saints of old. We have many examples in Hebrews 11:


·      Abraham==believed God and his promises and was counted as righteous. 


·      Moses—considered it better to be counted with the children of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of Egypt. 


·      Rahab—gave a friendly welcome to the Israelite spies at great risk to herself and was preserved. 


The faith that they lived by is the same faith that we live by today. They finished the race; they kept the faith. There is encouragement for endurance in the lives of this cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. We can see their example and imitate their faith. There's encouragement for endurance. 


At the same time, there's also the hard work of endurance. Endurance is to keep on keeping on when the going gets tough. It's not giving up, and it’s not giving in. It's hard work. What is this hard work like? Our text says: let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. The hard work of endurance includes laying aside every weight and sin that might hold us back from finishing the race. The image we get is of an athlete taking off their normal, everyday clothes so that they can ready themselves for competition. 


It's standard practice when people run marathons during the colder months, to go to the thrift store beforehand and buy an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants to wear on race day. They are worn at the start of the race, but at a certain point, the sweatsuit becomes too warm and too cumbersome to be of any use, so the runners simply take it off and throw it to the side of the road. It’s removed because it has become an extra burden. The sweatshirt and sweatpants are cast off; they are laid aside, so the runners can continue to run in the race. 


Just like you wouldn't want to run an entire marathon in burdensome pants and a sweatshirt, we too must lay aside every extra weight that is keeping us from running the race of the Christian life. There are certain things in our lives that aren't sinful or wrong in and of themselves, but sometimes these things may become a hindrance to our Christian life. 


If something is weighing you down spiritually, it’s an extra burden that must be laid aside. Maybe the amount of Netflix you watch has gotten to the point where it's taking priority over your spiritual growth. Perhaps your involvement on social media has become harmful to your soul. Maybe a certain friendship or relationship has gotten to the point where it pulls you away from Jesus and never pushes you toward him. 


We all need to be willing to do an honest assessment of our lives. Is there something in your life that is no longer aiding your faith but rather hindering it and weighing you down? If there is something that's weighing you down spiritually, even if it is otherwise good, lay it aside and experience the freedom of running without it. Some of what weighs us down is not simply weight but sin. There are sins that so easily entangle us, and if we're not careful, they'll hold us down and keep us back from even being able to run at all. Each one of us has areas of sin in our lives that cling a little more closely to us. For some of us it may be gossip or slander or falsehood. For others, it may be envy or greed or lust. For others, it may be anger or hatred. But if we claim that there are none of these areas in our lives, we simply deceive ourselves. An animal never sees the trap or snare until it's far too late.


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Dan’s message with the second half. 



Verse Completion: . . . meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness. 2 Corinthians 10:17 (NLT)


12/30/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/oyEyMjdD2uk



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s message titled “The Holy Spirit Brings Unity”. We looked primarily at Ephesians 4:1-6 but also Jude 16-19.


The second passage of Scripture I’d like us to look at is found in Colossians 3:12-17:


12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


It’s clearly the work of the Holy Spirit that is pictured here. Only the Holy Spirit is able to bind us together in perfect unity because he is perfect. Unfortunately, we allow our sinful nature to get the best of us at times, and we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to do his work of perfect unity. Even though we have great differences, the Holy Spirit is able to unite us so we get along with each other, love each other, care for each other, and share with each other. When we allow the Holy Spirit to have full control of our lives, the result is perfect unity. 


Notice how it is said: as God’s chosen people. The choosing of God is a great and wonderful work of grace. It’s something only God can do. God reaches down and chooses us. Believers are chosen people who are holy in Jesus. We have imputed and imparted holiness. We are to grow in that holiness by perfecting holiness and sharing in God’s holiness. Chosen people are dearly loved by God. When we’re chosen people and holy people living in God’s dear love, there will be unity. There’s no such thing as perfect unity between a believer and a non-believer. 


Unity comes to those with godly character qualities: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and forgiving others. Love holds all these virtues together. If you’re having difficulty getting along with others, check to see if you have the character qualities that promote unity. We need to be pursuing these qualities making them a priority in our lives. 


We are told to clothe ourselves with these character qualities. Just as people see the clothes we wear, they should see these godly character qualities in us as well. We need to purposefully put on these virtues just as we put on clothes. Pray the following: “Lord, by your grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I put on kindness. I will wear it today.” 


All the virtues flow out of love. Romans 5:5b says: God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. We can ask the Holy Spirit to pour God’s love into our hearts, expect the Holy Spirit to do it, trust the Holy Spirit to do it, and depend on the Holy Spirit to do it.


We are told to let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. We are to be peaceful people: peace-loving and peace-giving. We’re also told to let the message of Christ dwell among you richly. That means abundantly and profusely. In verses 15-17 we see: be thankful, with gratitude, and giving thanks. We do it all in the name of Jesus. Let’s be people of peace so we can get along with each other. 


The third passage is found in Acts 4: 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Notice what they did: they prayed, they received the filling of the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God boldly. What was the result? All the believers were one in heart and mind. In thought and purpose they were all one. That’s the result of praying together—our minds get formed by the Holy Spirit into one. The early church had unity because of the filling of the Holy Spirit. There is an initial filling of the Holy Spirit, and there’s a renewed filling of the Holy Spirit. 


An amazing thing happened next: No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. There was no possessiveness in the church. Nobody hung on to what they thought was theirs. There was nothing to protect, promote, or prove in the lives of those people. No manipulation took place. There was a great atmosphere of trust that produced generosity. They spontaneously gave from their hearts. No one was pressured to give. The result was a powerful witness. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them.


How do we have power in sharing our faith with others? It’s through the Holy Spirit. 


God’s grace was powerfully at work in them all, and there was much free giving. Freely they gave, and freely they received. Unity is the result when the Holy Spirit is allowed to work and move in the hearts and lives of people. 


God hates arrogant divisiveness. Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us:


16 There are six things the Lord hates,

seven that are detestable to him:

17         haughty eyes,

   a lying tongue,

   hands that shed innocent blood,

18         a heart that devises wicked schemes,

   feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19         a false witness who pours out lies

   and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.


God desires unity. He wants us to be people who reflect him by getting along. Someone once said:


    With all the saints above

    That will be glory.

    With all the saints below

    Well, that’s a different story.


I’d like to share an article about a human family:


Perhaps the analogy of a human family will help us grasp our responsibility more clearly. We will imagine a couple called Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and their three sons: Tom, Dick, and Harry. They’re all one family; there’s no doubt about that. Marriage and parenthood have united them as a family. But in the course of time, the Smith’s family disintegrates. Father and mother quarrel. They keep up an uneasy truce for several years. They become increasingly estranged, and finally they get a divorce. 


The three boys also quarrel—first with their parents, then with each other, and then separately. Tom goes to live in Canada, Dick to South Africa, and Harry to Australia. They never meet. They never write. They never call. They lose contact with each other altogether. More than that, so determined are they to repudiate each other, they actually change their names. They do it by deed poll. 


It would be hard to imagine a family which has experienced a more disastrous disintegration than this. All mutual relationships have been severed. 


Let’s suppose we are cousins in the Smith family. How would we react? Would we shrug our shoulders, smile complacently, and mutter, “Oh, well. Never mind. They’re all still one family, you know.” We would be quite correct. In God’s sight, I reckon they are still one family—indestructibly so. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are still husband and wife and still parents of their three sons who are still brothers, for simply nothing can alter the unity of the family which the circumstances of marriage had brought together. 


Would we excuse, try to excuse, or minimize the tragedy of their disunity by appealing to the indestructibility of their family ties? No, that would not satisfy either our mind, our heart, or our conscience. What then would we do? Surely, we would seek to be peacemakers. We would urge them to maintain the unity of the family by the means of the bonds of peace—that is, to demonstrate their family unity by repenting and getting reconciled to one another.



I thought that was an interesting analogy. The Holy Spirit will enable us to get along if we ask him to, trust him to, and expect him to. 


As we conclude today’s study, I have two questions:


·      Are you at odds with another believer?


·      Do you need the spirit of unity in your life?


We can have it. It’s God’s provision. One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to help us get along with one another.



Verse Completion: . . . the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NLT)


12/29/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/qPRFk8sLIPw



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the . . . (completion at the end)



On Monday, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his twelfth talk titled “The Holy Spirit Brings Unity”. So far we have looked at the Holy Spirit wanting to be our companion, being the Spirit of life, making Jesus real to us, the enabler of worship, leading us in prayer, making us loving people, setting us free, giving us power, being our teacher, being our comforter, and the one who brings conviction.


One of my mentors, Ray Steadman, shared this story in one of his books:



When I was in school in Montana, I used to watch the cows in the corral. They'd be standing there peacefully and then one cow would kick another cow. Of course, that cow had to kick back. Then the first cow kicked harder, missed the second cow, and hit the third. The cow kicked back. I watched that happen many times—one single cow starting to kick another and soon having the whole crowd kicking and milling around and mooing to one another, all of them as mad as could be. This happens in churches, too. 



Unity is an essential element in most aspects of life—marriage, home, work, team sports, church, and so on. We don’t have to look far to see examples in each one of these where unity is not an essential element. Our world is in chaos partially because of the lack of unity. We see pain, suspicion, threats, futility, tension, and wars all around us. It started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Blaming each other broke their unity. It happens in marriages all the time: all the blame is placed on the wife by the husband, and all the blame is placed on the husband by the wife. This disunity will reach its climax during the Great Tribulation. 


The Holy Spirit has something better for us. One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is enabling people to get along with each other. We can expect help from the Holy Spirit to help us get along with others. We can ask for his help in teaching us, training us, and changing us. We can receive his help by faith as we trust him for it. 


There are many places in Scripture where the emphasis is on getting along. Philippians 4:2 says:  I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. These two ladies needed to learn to get along with each other. 


If you are having difficulty getting along with another person, God has an answer for you through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 


Let’s explore three Scripture passages and see what we can learn from them. The first is found in Ephesians 4:1-6: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.


The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity. He is a unifying person who pulls people together and helps them get along with each other. 


There are divisive people by nature. Jude 16-19 says:


16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.


The unifying power of the Holy Spirit goes beyond human ability. When the Holy Spirit is in charge of our lives, when we’re filled with him, led by him, and ministered to by him, we will have hearts that are set on getting along with other people. We can’t influence people if we can’t get along with them. 


The Trinity is unified; three in one. We are to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Notice the ones: There is onebody and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. There’s just one of all of these things. That’s the unity of the Godhead, the nature of God. The Trinity is unified. Wherever God is at work, there will be a unifying effect in the lives of people. 


Some churches leave out being born again by the Spirit of God when it comes to salvation. They skip over regeneration, coming to new life, and being born from above. Consequently, nothing comes of it because you can’t mix oil and water. If a vehicle becomes submerged in water, all the oil in the working parts must be replaced so there’s no water in with the oil. If we drain out all the water of our sinful nature and put in the oil of the Spirit, then we will take care of the friction that’s so often there between people. Unity reflects the true nature of salvation—being made new in Jesus, new creatures in Christ.


Unity also reflects the reality of the Church—one body. There are many religious organizations, but there’s only one true Church that is made up of true believers. There’s one faith and one baptism. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to baptize us into the Church, the body of Christ. When you walk into a church you will find different nationalities, different backgrounds, different economies, different personalities, different educations, and yet in the true Church there is a spirit of unity. Psalm 133:1 says: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!


Unfortunately, we have a great divider—the devil. His goal is to divide and conquer. If he can divide believers, he can conquer believers. He wants to wreak havoc in believers’ lives. He’s the thief that comes to steal and destroy the unity of the Spirit. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He’s that kind of thief. 


Fortunately, we have the Holy Spirit, and where he is there is unity. We don’t make unity, manufacture it, borrow it, or steal it. We keep the unity of the Spirit. We keep what the Holy Spirit puts in us. When he puts divine life in us, he puts in us an atmosphere and attitude of unity—getting along with each other.


Tomorrow we will explore two other passages of Scripture dealing with the topic of unity.



Verse Completion: . . . tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. Ecclesiastes 4:1a (NLT)


12/28/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/dRV5nJSTN-k



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon titled “Joseph’s Diary” based on Luke 2:1-40. If Joseph had kept a journal, perhaps we would find the following inside it:



30-Mar


Dear Journal, 


Jesus eats like crazy these days. He likes everything Mary makes, which is understandable; she's a wonderful cook. I like everything she makes. 


What a joy to see him grow and develop. He's so fun to have around; he's so enjoyable. He's really been the perfect baby, which I guess isn't too surprising. He's been the perfect toddler who has brought so much joy and love into our lives—so much satisfaction to our household. He's just like raising a normal baby, a human, but he's God. I don't understand that. It blows my mind. This little guy running around in our house laughing, getting messy as he eats, learning new things, is God. 



3-Jun


Dear Journal, 


We had some surprising visitors come to the house today. They were men from the kingdom of the East, from over Babylon way. They were advisers to their king and we're themselves princes. Some call them kings. The men had come to see Jesus. They travelled hundreds and hundreds of miles to see him. Imagine that,  traveling hundreds of miles to see a toddler named Jesus! And they came not only to see him, but to worship him. They actually bowed down before my son. These men who were kings in their own right, bowed down before Jesus—a 15 month-old toddler and worshipped him. They called Jesus the King of the Jews. That was the first time I heard that title given to my son. 


I hope Herod doesn't hear about this. Herod likes to be called the king of the Jews; that's one of his titles. There's no telling what he would do if he found out that my son was called the King of the Jews. 


These three kings brought gifts to Jesus. Not only did they come hundreds of miles, bow down before him and worship him, they also brought him gifts. And oh, the gifts they brought! They presented Jesus with gold—an overabundance of gold—and frankincense and myrrh. These are gifts that only rich kings receive—like Jehoshaphat, Solomon, or David—exalted and really great kings. They gave these gifts to my son, Jesus, the one I'm helping to learn his alphabet! 



4-Jun


Dear Journal, 


I got to thinking. How did these wise men know about Jesus? How did they even know of his birth? How did they even find us? The shepherds weren't too far away, and the shepherds had an angel telling them, but these men were from the other side of the earth, practically. I asked them. 


They told us that there was a star in the heavens, a new star that showed up. They regularly searched the heavens for signs. It was part of what they do. They searched, and they saw a new star show up. Immediately, they knew something big was up, so they searched for what it could be. They found some ancient writings from the days when Daniel was a wise man and prince in Babylon. They recognized that the star was a sign of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. They recognized that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was with them now in Jesus. They realized the star meant the Messiah had come to Earth, and they were determined to find him and worship him. They knew the Messiah was God come to Earth for the salvation of all people, so they followed the star. 


The star led them to my son, Jesus, the toddler that could now walk and talk a bit. He was known from across the world as the Messiah. Every time I start settling into thinking I know who Jesus is, something new, different, and amazing comes up. It’s difficult for me to fathom that my son is God with skin on. 


I could tell you about other amazing events that took place in our lives like the time an angel came to me in a dream in Bethlehem and said, “You need to leave and go to Egypt.” That night we left Bethlehem and headed for Egypt because Herod had found out that Jesus, the King of the Jews, had been born. Herod wanted Jesus killed so he decreed that all sons ages two and under were to be killed. I can only imagine what it would have been like in Bethlehem for those people who had babies like our baby; neighbors who had sons that grew up with Jesus who were under two years of age. Herod had them all killed, but we were safe in Egypt because of the angel’s words. 


I could tell you about the time we wanted to go back to Bethlehem, but the angel warned us and told us not to return there because Herod’s son was now the ruler, so we went to Nazareth where we were from. Nazareth was the place we were shamed because of Jesus. My friends and family wanted me to divorce Mary when she got pregnant.


I would love to spend time telling you about Jesus growing up, about our other children, and how they all interacted with each other. I’d love to tell you about Jesus learning to be a carpenter with me, but I really don't have time; suffice to say that Jesus has changed my life. He has changed my world. Nothing is the same as it used to be. Nothing ever will be again. Everything is different. 


I would never have thought that I would be the father to the Messiah. I thought I was going to lose Mary or lose my family. I never dreamed that by welcoming Jesus I would welcome Mary, and we would have this life of amazing awestruck wonder. 


I remember being so afraid of losing it all, afraid of what life would look like. Then I remembered the angel saying, “Don't be afraid. Fear not.” I didn't need to be afraid. I did lose my life as I knew it, but now I have this life with Jesus which is so different and better than I ever thought it would be. I have a life because I welcomed Jesus—a life that has changed who I am and changed what's important to me. I’ve changed the way I see the world and do things in the world. Welcoming Jesus was the best thing I could ever have done. It's the most amazing journey I have ever been on.


Jesus brought so much contentment, peace, satisfaction, joy, and happiness into our lives. Sure, life has been tough at times. We didn't want to leave Nazareth. We couldn’t find a comfortable place for Mary to deliver her child. It was a struggle to go to Egypt and then come back to Nazareth where there were more struggles. But I would struggle anything for Jesus. He gives my life purpose and fulfillment.


I had my life all planned out before Jesus arrived, but he changed it all, and I wouldn't change it back. He means that much to me.


I'm glad I welcomed Jesus into my life. Have you welcomed Jesus? You may be scared wondering what will life be like if I receive Jesus? It will change everything. You may be afraid of what you might have to give up; who you might have to give up. You might wonder many things:


·      What will have to change in my life?

·      What will I have to add in my life? 

·      Where will Jesus take me? 

·      What am I going to do? 


I understand that fear. Welcoming Jesus into your life will change your life because Jesus wants to change you and transform you. He wants to give you so much more than you ever thought or imagined was possible. Sure, there are going to be struggles and suffering, but that’s going to happen without Jesus, too. 


When you have Jesus, you have God with you—Emmanuel—God with skin on who brings satisfaction, contentment, peace, help in times of trouble, comfort, wisdom, and love. Who brings God into you? Jesus. I am so glad I welcomed Jesus. I am so glad for the change in my life. I would never trade him for anything. I would do it all again, but even quicker than I did before because it's about Jesus who has changed my world. 


Jesus wants to change your world, too. Do you know Jesus? Will you welcome Jesus into your life? Are you willing to let him step into your world and change your world? He will lead you on a journey you can’t even imagine. Don't be afraid. Don't be scared. Jesus loves you, and he wants to lead you to unimaginable things. Let him come into your life, and be your Savior and King. That's who Jesus is.



Verse Completion: . . . make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 2 Corinthians 8:12b, 13 (NLT)


12/27/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/FWo3qlqyW1c



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday Pastor Michael gave a sermon titled “Joseph’s Diary” based on Luke 2:1-40. Today we will start a recap of that message.


If Joseph had kept a journal, perhaps we would find the following inside it:



26-Dec


Dear Journal, 


Here I sit holding my son. Can I call him my son? God . . . my son? No, I guess he’s not really my son but your son, God. It’s hard to fathom the Son of God in my arms! God here with me—Immanuel. God in the form of a human—a baby. 


Baby Jesus, you are so helpless, yet so powerful. Here I hold you, yet somehow, I get the sense that, Jesus, you are holding me. Here I am caring for you, and yet I get the sense that you care for me. I love you, little Jesus, yet you loved me first. I guess that's why you're here, because you loved us first and wanted to save us. How strange and wonderful. 


God, what do I do? What are you asking of me? And why me? How do I father the Son of God? I don't know. I feel so inadequate. There are so many things that I just don't know. I guess it's enough for now that I have you in my arms. 



27-Dec


Dear Journal, 


It’s strange, oh God, that you would lead us to this stable; that you would lead us far from our home and far from everything we know. Here I am in this stable in Bethlehem not even able to care for my wife and our new baby. I think I could say “our” new baby. Not that I had any part in it; I know that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. I know Isaiah 7:14 says that the virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God with us. I never dreamed for a minute that my Mary would be that virgin, and I would be part of this wonderful fulfillment of the coming of the Messiah. 


You’re the Messiah, and yet I need to care for you and teach you. I need to be a father to you. I don't even know how to be a father, never mind a father to the Messiah, the Son of God! It’s strange, God, that you would lead Jesus, your Son, to be lying in a manger in a stable so far from home. Why would the Son of God, the Messiah, put himself in a human body? Why would he humble himself to the point of being dependent upon Mary and myself to be fed, changed, washed, and carried? Why would he put himself in my trust? Why am I his father? Lead me and teach me how to be a father to your Son, Jesus.



28-Dec


Dear Journal, 


The shepherds showed up again today. They keep popping in and checking on us. They love Jesus. They like to try to make him smile and laugh. They were the first ones to come after Jesus was born. I wonder how they found us or even knew about us. I mean, nobody else here in Bethlehem knew about us except maybe the man who runs the inn. He's checked on us a few times. 


The shepherds told us an angel appeared to them and there was even a whole host of the angels. They told us how they were afraid. I get that. I know what it’s like to be afraid. I had an angel come and speak to me, and he said, “Fear not. Don't be afraid. You can take Mary as your wife.”


Mary knows the feeling, too. She had an angel say to her, “Don't be afraid. You are chosen.” Even Elizabeth, her cousin, and Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, had angels speak to them. They all said, “Don't be afraid.”


God seems to be showing up a lot around here. The angels told the shepherds about Jesus and his birth here in the stable. One angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Jesus is the Messiah, God’s promised one to the nation, Israel. He's going to save us from our sins.


The shepherds were very excited and went on and on about Jesus. As I listened, I was amazed. This wasn’t a dream. This was real. It was amazing and crazy at the same time. 


The shepherds left, but they told everyone they came across about Jesus. People heard about us and Jesus. Bethlehem is no longer closed to us, and we're no longer alone. 



2-Jan


Dear Journal, 


We took Jesus to Jerusalem today. We went to the temple to have Jesus consecrated to God on the eighth day as our law requires. We brought the sacrifice with us and met a very old man named Simeon. He was one of the priests. He held Jesus and told us that he was waiting to see the salvation of Israel before he died. He had prayed to see the Messiah, and now he was holding Jesus, the promised one. He praised and worshipped God saying, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 


A light for revelation to the Gentiles? This was news to me. I thought Jesus was the salvation for Israel. Was Jesus, my son, the Son of God, this little baby in my arms, the salvation for the whole world?


There was a prophetess there at the temple also. Her name was Anna. She too was very old and was awaiting a Savior. When Anna saw Jesus, she prophesied that Jesus was to be the redemption of Israel. Jesus: the Redeemer of Israel, the light to the Gentiles, the Son of God, the Messiah, Immanuel—God with us. He's only eight days old, yet somehow, he's the Redeemer of Israel, the light for the Gentiles, the salvation of all. I wonder; what is life going to be like for all of us?



30-Jan


Dear Journal, 


I've been watching Mary these past days and weeks. She's an amazing mom—so attentive to Jesus and so loving. She hasn't even complained once about our situation. She's amazing! She doesn't have her mom. She doesn't have her sisters. She doesn't have her family to help her, and she hasn't complained even once. I can see why God chose her to be the mother of the Messiah. I can tell she is as awestruck and amazed as I am. She doesn't really say much about it, but I can tell she's doing a lot of thinking. I see her gazing off just as I do. I know she treasures these days in her heart. I know she is wondering what will life be like for Jesus with already so much attention and expectation.



1-Feb


Dear Journal, 


People continue coming to see Jesus and to talk to us about the salvation of Israel. We're in a house now, no longer in the stable. Once the shepherds began to tell people about Jesus, it didn't take long for lodging to open up to us. We are, after all, part of the same tribe of Judah. Our relatives keep stopping by to look at the baby and talk about the future now that the Messiah has come. They are really excited about Jesus, and they can't wait to see what he means to our nation. 


I'm a little worried about all these expectations they have. He's only a little baby. He hasn’t even started walking or talking, but they keep coming. They bring us provisions and gifts. We hardly have to cook anything because they just keep bringing us food. We certainly don't have want of anything; we're well supplied—not because of my efforts as a dad, but because of Jesus. This little baby is taking care of us. I don't know how that works, but he's caring for us. 



15-Feb


Dear Journal, 


I began to do some work in Bethlehem, just some simple carpentry work—fixing table legs and chairs and things like that. I also made a nice crib for Jesus. I feel good about that. It's something that I can do for him. It's something I can provide.


Bethlehem seems like a nice place. We're starting to make some friends here. Perhaps we’ll stay here and raise our family. 



25-Dec


Dear Journal, 


It's Jesus’ birthday today. It's been a year now since he was born—a year already! I still can't get over the fact that God chose us to care for the Messiah, and I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, the salvation of Israel, the Savior of the world. 


I keep watching Jesus as he grows and changes. I'm really struck by how human he is. Can he really be God? 



20-Mar


Dear Journal, 


It's been about 15 months now since Jesus was born. He's walking now, and it won't be long before he's running all over the place keeping us busy chasing after him. I have to remember that and put my tools up in the workshop. He’s all over the place, and he gets into everything. He’s amazing to watch.


I don't want Jesus getting into my tools quite yet. One day I will teach him my trade. I envision the two of us working together in the carpenter shop. I think he’d make a fine carpenter, if, of course, that's what messiahs are supposed to do. I don't know. 



23-Mar


Dear Journal, 


Jesus is developing his own little personality now. It's so fun to watch him. He laughs at our funny faces, and he has a few of his own. He's learning something new every day. It's amazing! How can the Son of God learn something new?! How does that work? I don't get it. It's really too much for my brain to process—how the Son of God, God with skin on, can learn something new. How can he be so human? I'm just glad to have him in our lives. I don't know how it all works. I don't understand at all, and it amazes me every day. I just know that I'm glad I have Jesus in my life. 



Tomorrow we will continue with the second half of “Joseph’s Diary” presented by Pastor Michael.



Verse Completion: . . . justice for those being crushed. Proverbs 31:8 (NLT)


12/25/21


Merry Christmas! This is the day the LORD was born; let us rejoice and be glad in it!


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/e95UjsCQZmA



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Dr. Duane Litfin’s message from Luke 2:1-7. He said we need to keep this passage in the context of the bigger picture provided in the rest of Luke and the Bible. God uses the things that the world considers to be nothing to accomplish his purposes.


We have the context of the entire gospel right here. What is the gospel? The gospel can be expanded or distilled down to its very essence. Perhaps the tightest definition of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6: 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. The gospel can be stretched out to include all of what’s in the entire Bible—cover to cover. The gospel is God’s eternal plan. It’s the story of what the Father is doing through his Son-centered plan focused on what his Son has done, is doing, and will do to redeem the world for himself. From cover to cover the Bible is the gospel. 


It’s in this context that we need to see Verse 7: And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.  Rome isn’t important. It might look like Rome is who is engineering this couple’s trip to Bethlehem. No, they were in that lonely place by God’s design. God was the one orchestrating the event that the divine Son of God would humble himself taking the form of human flesh so he would be able to give himself on our behalf. 


This wonderful story of Christ’s birth is what we celebrate at Christmas. What we must never do is allow this beautiful passage to be plucked from its context and sentimentalize it into some kind of well sanitized Christmas nativity scene. We need to remember God’s way of working in the world. He delights in using the things that are insignificant and nondescript to accomplish his purpose in the world. 


As we look at the baby in the manger, we need to see what Charles Wesley saw when he wrote:



Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled.”

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies,

With th’angelic host proclaim:

“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”


Christ by highest heav'n adored,

Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come,

Offspring of a Virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail the incarnate Deity,

Pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”


Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Ris'n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,

Born that man no more may die,

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”


John 1:11 tells us: [Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. C.S. Lewis likens this to an author of a play. In the midst of the play, the author steps out onto the stage as one of the characters, but nobody recognizes him. 


Jesus’ own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12, 13) 


You may be one who has received Jesus and believed on his name, or you may be a skeptic. I’d like to tell you a story:



He was a kind man. He wasn't a Scrooge. He was a decent and mostly good man. He was loving to his family and upright in his dealings with other people. The problem was that he simply did not believe all that nonsense people talked about at Christmas. It didn't make sense, all this business about God becoming a baby born in a manger, and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Christmas story. Why would God ever want or need to become a human being? 


“I really am sorry to disappoint you,” he told his wife on Christmas Eve, “but I'm not going to church with you tonight. I'd feel like a hypocrite.” But he told his family he was happy for them to go if they liked; he would wait up for them. And so he stayed home on Christmas Eve while his family went to the midnight Christmas Eve service without him. 


Snow had been falling all evening. Shortly after the family drove off, the man went to the window. The flurries were becoming heavier now and it looked as if the temperature was dropping. He turned to his fireside chair and settled in to read his newspaper. Minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound and then another. He thought at first it was someone throwing something against the window, but when he went to the door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the snowstorm, and in a desperate search for shelter, they tried to fly through his large picture window.


“I can't let them just lie there and freeze,” he thought. Pausing for a moment he considered what to do. He remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter if he could manage somehow to direct the birds into it. Quickly, he put on his coat and boots and tramped through the snow to the barn, and there he opened the doors wide and turned on the light. But the birds didn't move. They wouldn't come to the barn. 


Another man at this stage might well have left the birds to their plight figuring he had done what he could—making his shelter available to them. If the birds didn't want it, he had done all he could do. But this was a man of genuine compassion, and so he paused again to consider the problem. 


“Maybe food would entice them in,” he thought to himself. Hurrying back to his house, he gathered up some scraps. Outdoors, again, he sprinkled the crumbs on the snow, making a trail to the open doorway of the barn. But to his dismay, the birds in their distress ignored the scraps and continued to flutter around helplessly in the snow. 


Frustrated, the man tried catching them. That didn't work. He tried shooing them, chasing them into the barn by dancing around and waving his arms. But instead, the birds just scattered in every direction except into the warm barn. 


Finally, the essence of the problem hit him. He wanted to help them but the birds were too senseless to understand. They did not even know what they needed, much less that he was there to help them. To them, he thought, I'm just a strange, terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they could trust me; that I only want to help them. 


But how could he do that? Any move he made only frightened and confused them more. They were dying, but still they would not follow him, and they would not take his direction. 


With no awareness of what was coming, the man said to himself, “If only I could become a bird. I could join them there in the snow, and speak their language, and tell them not to be afraid. I could show them the way into the barn.”


He paused in the darkness and the falling snow with an uncertain look on his face. Then he continued, courageously, but also more slowly. “But that would mean I would have to become one of them so that they could see and hear and understand.”


At that moment the church bells began to ring again. The music of Christmas reached the man's ears above the sound of the wind, and he stood motionless, frozen—not by the cold, but by something else. 


And then as the bells pealed the good news of Christ’s birth, the man sank to his knees in the snow. 



We are the beneficiaries of the willingness of God to become one of us so he might lead us into the barn showing us the way to provide our salvation. 


That's the meaning of this child lying there in the manger scene. Let us never forget that.



Verse Completion: . . . righteousness be a partner with wickedness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)


12/24/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/PrLoWt2tfqg



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: As iron sharpens iron, so . . . (completion at the end)



On Sunday, Dr. Duane Litfin spoke at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. The text for his sermon was Luke 2:1-7: 


In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


Let’s begin a distance away from this passage and make our way towards it. In Chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing an arrogant crowd. They were a proud group, and Paul needed to remind them of who they really were. He wrote: 


26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.


What does the Bible reveal to us about God’s preferred modus operandi—how he deals with the world? God delights in choosing and using that which the world says is nothing—absolutely zero—to accomplish his divine purposes in the world so that what is accomplished in the end no human can boast about. 


Paul was dragged before the Roman governor, Gallio, by an angry mob who were displeased with Paul’s preaching of the gospel. Gallio brushed Paul aside as one would brush an insect aside. The entire Roman Empire brushed Paul aside placing him in prison. Eventually, Paul was executed by Emperor Nero. Paul was considered by the Roman Empire, the most powerful force of the time, to be nothing. It’s so ironic. Where is the Roman Empire today? Where are all the Caesars today? They’re in the dust heap of history. On the other hand, Paul changed the world for Christ. God delights in using the things the world considers nothing to accomplish his purposes in the world. Today we name our dogs Nero and our sons Paul. 


In 2007 there was a conference in the modern city of Corinth. The topic was “The Apostle Paul and the City of Corinth”. A series of academic papers were submitted on the topic and put together in a single volume. In the introduction to the volume, the mayor of the modern city of Corinth said this: The time has come, finally, for Corinth to fulfill its great debt, a spiritual debt, to Paul, the apostle to all nations—the apostle that opened up the horizon of the divine revelation for the city and endowed the city with so much prestige that by his presence in Corinth it is known today everywhere in the world, mainly through Paul's work and his extremely significant epistles to the Corinthians. How very ironic. It is that God uses the things that the world considers to be nothing to turn around and accomplish the purposes that he has for the universe. 


The greatest example of that principle is Jesus. Today’s text centers around the last verse: And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. All the other details of the story reinforce that this event really did take place. The events took place at a particular time, place, and way. 


Mary was in her teen years and had just walked 90 miles being nine months pregnant. When they arrived in Bethlehem they could not find lodging because so many people were there for the census. In order to have some privacy for the birth of her child, Mary went to a stable. It wasn’t very sanitary conditions. She didn’t have family for support, and no one with any training in delivering babies was present. Joseph would have to do the best he could do. 


After the baby was born, he was wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in the feeding trough of the animals. There’s a grittiness to this account. We ought not to sanitize it because we lose something when we do. We are looking at God’s way of operating in the world. He takes the lowly, that which is most inconsequential, and he uses them to accomplish his purposes. We don’t want to undermine the loneliness of this event. 


We need to keep these seven verses in their context. If we remain only in these seven verses we miss the big picture of what God is doing in and through the birth of this child. When we back up to Chapter 1, we find an angel appearing to Mary and explaining exactly what is going to happen to her. We read Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” and her song of praise found in verses 46-55.


After our text we read about the shepherds receiving the announcement of the birth from an angel and hearing a heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” We should look at these seven verses in the context of the whole gospel of Luke along with the other three gospels. 


An interesting study is to look at how the word fulfill is used in the four gospels. What you will find are constant references to the divine plan within which the event of Verse 7 is to be found. There was a detailed, divine plan announced centuries before through the prophets that unfolds all through the gospels regarding the birth of Jesus, his life, his ministry, his death, his resurrection, and his exultation. We need the context of God’s plan that he is orchestrating and directing from heaven through what was prophesied beforehand. When we see God’s plan, we begin to understand more clearly what God is doing to accomplish his purposes through this gritty, “insignificant” event. 


We have such an advantage over Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and others who were in the moment but didn’t have the perspective we have provided by the apostles. For example, we read of Christ in Colossians 1:15-20: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 


John 1:1-3 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. It’s Jesus who upholds everything that exists. Jesus is the divine Son of God who is the Creator of all things, the sustainer of all things, the goal of all things. 


Philippians 2:5-11 says: 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 


1 Corinthians 15:56, 57 says: 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. When it’s all finished and the kingdom is complete, the Son will hand the Kingdom back to the Father in its redeemed form. This Son is the same Son that was lying in the animals’ trough.


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Dr. Litfin’s message with the second half. 



Verse Completion: . . . a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)


12/23/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/dCRunZGYBi4



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday Pastor Del McKenzie spoke to us about “The Conviction of the Holy Spirit”. Today we will continue the recap of his message. Yesterday he answered the questions, “What is the meaning of the word conviction?” and “How does the Holy Spirit convict us?”


What can we do with conviction? We can resist the Holy Spirit, grieve the Holy Spirit, and quench the Holy Spirit. We need to be careful we don’t do these things. Instead, we need to listen and respond. 


When the high priest asked Stephen if the charges against him were true, Stephen answered in part: 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” (Acts 7:51-53) The Sanhedrin was convicted of their sins. Their response to that conviction was the stoning of Stephen to death. 


In Paul’s trial before Felix, recorded in Acts 24, we read these words: 24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. Felix’s response to conviction was to put it off and deal with it at a later time. That later time never came.


When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, the way Pilate dealt with conviction was to put the blame on someone else. Matthew 27:24 records the following: 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Pilate resisted the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 


When convicted by John the Baptist, Herod responded with anger that resulted in imprisonment and death for John. 


In Psalm 32:1-5 we see David’s response to conviction:

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavyon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.


When the Holy Spirit convicted him of his sins of adultery and murder, David resisted him for about a year, and he was miserable—he developed many physical ailments. But then David confessed his sins and got peace with God. Peace came to his heart. 


Our hearts can become calloused as we resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We’re unable to hear the Holy Spirit like we used to hear him. Proverbs 29:1 says: Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. Romans 1:28 says:  Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. We can try to justify ourselves, excuse ourselves, defend ourselves, rationalize ourselves, ignore the conviction, and walk away from God. Our conscience can become seared. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we have to decide what we are going to do with that conviction: resist or respond.


An example of people responding is found in Acts 2:37-39: 


37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”


38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”


When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit we need to repent. 


When Paul was talking to King Agrippa, he said: 12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen while plowing. Conviction is painful, and a person can kick against it if he wants to. Fortunately, Paul did not; he responded to the Holy Spirit and was converted. 


This ministry of conviction is one of the great gifts of God. God, in his love and mercy, sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin. Daily we need to thank God for sending us the Holy Spirit and giving us the gifts of hunger, conviction, and illumination. 1 John 1:8, 9 says: 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 


There is a difference between conviction and accusation. The Holy Spirit convicts. The devil accuses. We need to learn to distinguish between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the accusation of the devil. Conviction is usually specific and accompanied with some kind of hope and light. It’s accompanied with a nudge to do something to change. Accusation is usually general. What might be said is, “You’re an awful person. You will never amount to anything.” A message like that is from the devil. Don’t listen to that voice; listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that says, “You shouldn’t have said that. What you did is wrong.” The Holy Spirit will lead you to Jesus where after repentance you will find forgiveness, cleansing, relief, and peace that passes understanding. 



Verse Completion: . . . disappear when gossip stops. Proverbs 26:20 (NLT)


12/22/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/KZMhH_9VJD0



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or . . . (completion at the end)



On Monday, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his eleventh talk titled “The Conviction of the Holy Spirit”. So far we have looked at the Holy Spirit wanting to be our companion, being the Spirit of life, making Jesus real to us, the enabler of worship, leading us in prayer, making us loving people, setting us free, giving us power, being our teacher, and being our comforter.


There are three great gifts of grace that have to be received if anyone is going to become a believer in Jesus Christ and follow him. The first of those gifts is a hunger for God, truth, and reality. Without that hunger we will be satisfied with the things of the world. The second gift of the Holy Spirit is conviction. Without the conviction of sin, we would never turn to God and become believers. The third gift is illumination. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us: The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. There must be a cognitive understanding that Jesus is the Messiah, Lord, Savior, and King. This understanding comes through illumination brought by the Holy Spirit. 


The Holy Spirit is a very gracious person. He has long-suffering and patience with us. He is gentle, tender, and full of compassion. He’s a loving Spirit. The lyrics to a song include the following words: 


    There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,

    And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.

    Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly dove,

    Stay right here with us, filling us with your love;

    And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise

    Without a doubt we know that we’ll have been revived,

    When we shall leave this place.


This is in contrast to the Holy Spirit, the One who convicts. Jesus said: 7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”  (John 16:7-11) We can be thankful that one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to point out guilt. Sometimes we aren’t thankful when sin is identified in our lives, but it’s for our good. 


What is the meaning of the word conviction? It means to reprove, blame, condemn, or find fault with. It means to rebuke or speak to in a disapproving way. An example of this is when John the Baptist convicted Herod—he blamed Herod, condemned him, and spoke to him in a disapproving way because Herod had taken his brother’s wife and was living in adultery. John told Herod that was wrong. Herod became angry and put him in prison in order to silence him. Eventually, Herod demanded the head of John on a platter. (See Mark 6:14-29)


Convict means to convince of a wrong, crime, or fault. It exposes sinful deeds. One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to convict people. It’s a legal term that one author has described as “the judicial verdict by which the guilt of the culprit at the bar of justice in heaven is defined and fixed. It brings them to an inescapable sense of guilt. The Holy Spirit is the prosecuting attorney from heaven who presents God’s case against people, against humanity, and against the world.” It’s the court of heaven. Due to the saving work of Jesus, we have an Attorney who declares us not guilty. Romans 5:1, 2a says: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Because of the death of Jesus on the cross and our faith in him, we are no longer guilty. Unbelief is the essence of sin. A court can convict a person of murder, but only the Holy Spirit can convict a person of unbelief. 


The Holy Spirit convicts two groups of people. To the non-Christian he speaks to the heart and says, “You’re a sinner. You’re not ready for eternity.” The only way to become a Christian is to submit to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. To the Christian the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins. Consequently, we have to confess our sins and repent of them. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our failures—things we have done wrong. We’re miserable until we confess and repent. Pain is the gift nobody wants. When our body hurts, it’s good for us because it tells us something is wrong and needs our attention. Conviction by the Holy Spirit is good for us. The conviction tells us something is wrong and needs correction. 


How does the Holy Spirit convict us? Generally, he speaks in a still, small voice. When Elijah felt like he was the only believer around and he felt like he’d be better off dead than alive, he heard from God: Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11b-13) 


Sometimes we think our thoughts originate from us when it’s the Holy Spirit who puts those thoughts in our minds. The Holy Spirit also puts thoughts in the minds of unbelievers such as: “I’m lost! I am a sinner,” or “I’m not ready to face Jesus,” or “I’m missing something in life,” or “I’m not happy like the Christians I know.” 


The Holy Spirit puts thoughts in the minds of believers such as: “I shouldn’t have said that,” or “I shouldn’t have thought that,” or “I shouldn’t have done that,” or “That was wrong,” or “I shouldn’t feel that way,” or “Go back and apologize for how you acted.”


The Holy Spirit uses different channels for our thoughts. One is the conscience. We have a sense of right and wrong. Sometimes our conscience is terribly skewed, but most of the time we know when we have done something wrong. Sometimes our parents and our church helps us form a conscience that works well. 


Another channel the Holy Spirit uses is the word of God. James 2:8, 9 says: 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. The purpose of the law is to convict of sin. As we are reading God’s word, the Holy Spirit may remind us of something we have done that is not in accordance with his word. He tells us what we need to do to make it right. Sin will keep us from the word of God, and the word of God will keep us from sin. Psalm 119:11 says: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 


A third channel the Holy Spirit uses is people. They may confront us, challenge us, teach us, or point things out to us. Sometimes people share with us gently and quietly.


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Del’s message with the second half.



Verse Completion: . . . muddying a spring. Proverbs 25:26 (NLT)


12/21/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/e1g1hp_Eb3o



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon titled “Joseph’s Decision” based on Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph’s shame-based culture demanded that he retaliate and dismiss Mary for becoming pregnant outside of marriage.


The only viable solution to a gut-wrenching situation is to hear from God. Joseph hears from God. Now all he has to do is follow through with what God had told him. God told Joseph to go against the culture. Joseph was told to be counterculture. When we hear from God, we are to follow through with what he tells us to do. Joseph followed through with the countercultural directive and took Mary to be his wife. Would there be a great wedding feast filled with celebration? No, there would be a quiet ceremony. 


Joseph was not to listen to the counsel of his family. He was not to listen to the counsel of his friends. He had heard from God, and that’s all he needed to make the right decision regardless of the consequences. Joseph stepped out of the norms and expectations of his culture, and he followed God. 


We, too, have to make the choice to follow God. We have to decide if we are willing to be counterculture and suffer the repercussions of that decision. In Matthew 10:26-40 we read the following words of Jesus:


26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36  a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. 40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.


Joseph decided he was going to follow God. He had much to think about because that decision could result in him losing everything. It’s a decision we have to make, too. Will we risk it all to follow God?


Joseph was the first person who had the opportunity to deny Jesus, but he didn’t do it. At any point he could have said, “The shame that has come upon me is greater than the reward for following God so I’m out of here,” but he didn’t. He remained true to God and true to Mary regardless of the consequences. Joseph could easily have caved in under all the cultural pressure, but he didn’t; he followed God. He could have justified himself in leaving Mary, but he didn’t; he followed God. We, too, need to follow God regardless of the pressures and shame placed on us by our culture simply because we are followers of Christ. 


God was vital in Joseph’s life. He needs to be vital in our lives, too. 


The name of the baby would be Jesus which means savior. Jesus would grow up to be the Savior of the world because he would save people from their sins. The Savior of the world would be born into the home of Joseph and Mary. 


Christmas is about welcoming Jesus, but that welcoming goes far beyond a cute baby. Jesus demands our loyalty to him. We have to lose our lives in order to welcome his life and become transformed people. 


Christmas is more than family, friends, gifts, fun, frivolity, food, and fellowship. It’s about Jesus—following him and welcoming him into our lives. Like Paul we need to say: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16) 


7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)


Paul could not be shamed by the gospel of Christ, and neither should we be able to be shamed by the gospel of Christ. People may say Christianity is a crutch, but we will not be shamed by it because we know it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. 


Joseph and Paul purposefully chose to be counterculture because they chose to follow God instead of the culture. 



Verse Completion: . . . Holy Spirit within us; and by our sincere love. 2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT)


12/20/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/XMgxfkwZL4k



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday Pastor Michael gave a sermon titled “Joseph’s Decision” based on Matthew 1:18-25. Today we will start a recap of that message.


18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.


Joseph and Mary lived more than two thousand years ago. They lived in a different culture from ours. They fell in love and decided to marry. We don’t know if Joseph got down on one knee and asked Mary to marry him, but at some point the decision to get married was made. The word of their engagement spread quickly even without the aid of Facebook. Excitement, joy, and wonderment were in the air. Plans are being made for the big day. The parents of Joseph and Mary are looking forward to the day when they will have grandchildren. 


There are so many hopes and dreams until the unthinkable and unforgivable happens—Mary ends up pregnant and Joseph is not the father. This is a big deal! This is something that can’t be swept under the rug. Two Jewish families are involved. These are families who follow Jehovah. They are well aware that sex outside of marriage is a sin. In our culture sex outside of marriage is no big deal; it’s widely accepted. However, for disciples of Christ, sex outside of marriage is a big deal:


·      4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (Hebrews 13:4)


·      18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)


·      3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)


Mary is pregnant outside of marriage, and Joseph is not the father. Surely, Joseph wondered who the father could be. How could Mary betray Joseph like this? He thought he could fully trust her prior to this pivotal moment. Nothing was making sense. 


We need to understand the culture of that day. It was a shame-based culture. Everything is based on shame and honor. A person is born into a class of people and remains there because they don’t have enough honor to move up to a higher class. A higher class person will never give honor to a person of lower class because the higher class person wants the lower class person to remain in the class they are in. In a shame-based culture, if you were shamed by a person in the same class as you, it was expected of you to shame the person back. Retaliation had to take place. If a person didn’t retaliate, it was as if the person was saying, “I am willing to be lowered to a lower class by accepting the shame.”


If a person of a lower class than you shamed you, you simply ignored them because the lower class person wouldn’t have enough honor to bring shame on you. Retaliation is not necessary. 


Mary has shamed Joseph by becoming pregnant outside of marriage. Their culture demands that Joseph retaliates against Mary. If he doesn’t, he is in danger of losing his own family. If Joseph doesn’t shame Mary, his own family will shame Joseph. It would appear that Joseph will either lose Mary or lose his family. He is in a terrible predicament. He decides on retaliation by separating from Mary, but because of his love for her, he would dismiss her as quietly as possible. 


That night he has a dream where an angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. He was not to be afraid of public opinion or losing his potential position in the future. He was not to be afraid of who the father was because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit? The angel wants Joseph to know Mary has been faithful to him. She was not with another man. Mary became pregnant supernaturally. God took an egg from Mary, fertilized that egg, and placed it in Mary’s womb. This concept is difficult for Joseph to wrap his mind around. It has never happened before in the history of the world.


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Michael’s message with the second half.



Verse Completion: . . . one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)


12/18/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/bXmfkFoX-PE



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del’s message “The Holy Spirit, our Comforter”. He said the Holy Spirit is a paraclete. He’s our teacher, guide, supporter, and comforter. The Holy Spirit is able to do what no human can do. He is able to meet the deep needs of the heart. 


We can have peace and we can have the joy of the Lord. In times of sorrow and agony, the joy of the Lord can come into our hearts and lives. The joy comforts us. 


We can find rest in God. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). This is an internal rest that results in calmness, quietness, peacefulness, tranquility, and serenity. Sometimes we want other people to do for us what only the Holy Spirit can do. With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we never have to say, “No one helped me when I needed help.” Sometimes we expect from other people what we can only receive from the Holy Spirit. Some people become cynical and nasty when they think people haven’t done enough for them. We need to pray that we can be channels through which the Holy Spirit can flow and bring comfort.


God supplies good news in a bad news world. We can live with an attitude of gratitude. We can look forward to heaven. The lyrics to an old song start out:


This world is not my home

I’m just a-passing through

My treasures are laid up

Somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me

From heaven’s open door

And I can’t feel at home

In this world anymore.


Jesus rose from the dead, and he is alive. He sent the Holy Spirit. He ascended to the right hand of the Father. He sits there today praying for us. That’s good news in a world of bad news. Jesus was sent to bind the brokenhearted. He puts a splint on broken hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus heals broken hearts. He gives strength where there is weakness. He gives peace to those that have brokenness eating away at them. Whatever is broken the Holy Spirit can heal. Someone has said, “When our children are young, they walk on our toes. When they get older, they stomp on our hearts.” Thankfully, that’s not always the case. Thankfully, many children make their parents proud and bring great satisfaction. However, if you are broken in some way, the Holy Spirit wants to bind up that brokenness and put a splint on it. He wants to bring it to the place where it can heal properly. 


Another ministry of the Holy Spirit is proclaiming freedom to the prisoners who have no light and no answers. There are people in prison today because of their faith. Jesus, through the Spirit, is able to give those prisoners internal freedom—freedom in their hearts and in their minds. There’s also freedom from things like fear, anger, and jealousy. If you have a broken heart because of any of these, there is healing available through the Spirit. Healing is available to those given to anger, a temper, or rage. You can be released from it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Healing is available for those who struggle with worry, hatred, or sin. A person can become enslaved to sin. It becomes a habit that he/she can’t break away from. The sin can become part of your character. Fortunately, we have the Holy Spirit who is able to release us from those sins that have us bound. The Holy Spirit can turn fear into hope, hatred into love, worry into trust, anger into self-control, jealousy into contentment and gratitude. 


There is legitimate grief, but we don’t grieve as those who don’t have hope. We can grieve over losses and pains. We can also grieve for someone else. Isaiah 61 says: to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. Ashes were a sign or mourning. A crown of beauty is a sign of rejoicing. Also spoken about is the oil of gladness instead of mourning. Oil was not placed on the face during a time of mourning; ashes were placed on the head. Gladness would be their oil. Are you glad for what you have? We are given a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. For the Christian there’s no black robe of sorrow, despair, or hopelessness. Instead, we are given a garment of praise. A spirit closed with gloom is like a black robe. If gloom has you wrapped up, there’s an answer—a garment of praise given to you by the Holy Spirit, a coat of praise to replace that coat of black gloom. 


One of the definitions for praise is saying good things about God. When we praise God, we eulogize him—we talk about all the good things that he is and does. 


How do all of these good things happen to us? We have to recognize and reach out to the Holy Spirit and acknowledge him saying, “Spirit of God, I call you to my side. I call you, the  paraclete, to come alongside of me and give me comfort because of the events that have brought sorrow into my life. Habakkuk 3:17-19 says:

17 Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to tread on the heights.


We can rejoice in the Lord through the comfort of the Holy Spirit even when bad things surround us. Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15a). Invite the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter in all of your sorrows of life. 


Have an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Just the two of you have a dialogue—talking and listening. Say something like, “Holy Spirit, I’m grieving over this . . .” or “I’m burdened over this . . .” or “I’m broken over this . . . and I ask you to bring healing to my soul.” Bringing healing to your soul is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit. We can expect him to do this, count of him to do this, and fully trust him to do this. The Holy Spirit is a great Comforter in this world of sorrow and mourning. Praise God he sent the Comforter to us!



Verse Completion: . . . things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18b (NLT)


12/17/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/VDmIddF7DfQ



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but . . . (completion at the end)



On December 13, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his tenth talk titled “The Holy Spirit, our Comforter”. So far we have looked at the Holy Spirit wanting to be our companion, being the Spirit of life, making Jesus real to us, the enabler of worship, leading us in prayer, making us loving people, setting us free, giving us power, and being our teacher.


In Luke 4:18, 19, we have the words of Jesus as he quoted from Isaiah: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:1-3). The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus to give comfort to people who needed comfort. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us when we have reached the end of our rope. One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to give comfort. 


John, Chapters 14-16, has much to say about the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Earlier in John 14:15-17, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” 


Jesus was going away but in his place he was sending another paraclete. Jesus said, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). Paraclete comes from two words:


·      The Greek word para which means near or beside.


·      The Greek verb kaleō which means to call. 


Sometimes the word is used passively meaning to call as a pastor might be called to the hospital. A paraclete might be called to be an assistant, teacher, guide, supporter, lawyer, or attorney—someone called alongside another person. Sometimes the word is used actively as one would call out to another person for help. 


As Christians, we are paracletes who are calling believers to come near to God. A paraclete is one who gives confidence and strength by coming near another person and calling the person near to God. 1 John 2:1 says: My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Jesus is our lawyer who comes to our defense. 


As we think about the Holy Spirit, he is the one who comes alongside to give comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 says:


3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.


The comfort of Jesus comes through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit calls us to God. He calls us to Jesus Christ. He calls us to himself. When we call out to him, we receive help and comfort. 


Now let’s explore the manner of comfort. As believers we are to comfort each other. The first thirty-nine chapters of Isaiah are parallel to the first thirty-nine books of the Old Testament dealing with law, judgment, and a call to repentance. In Isaiah 40 a change takes place. The first verse starts out: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Romans 12:15 says: Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. We have the idea here of coming alongside of people who are weeping and weeping with them in their sorrow. We also rejoice with those who are rejoicing. We’re to come alongside each other and support each other by praying, encouraging, and teaching. Human comfort is great but it’s limited. It can only go so far. If we are comforting others without the power, life, and ministry of the Holy Spirit, the comfort will be limited. People need the supernatural touch of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can do what no human can do. He can meet deep needs no human is able to meet. 


Galatians 6:2-5 tells us: 


2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.


There are times when no human help is sufficient to meet our need, and we have to bear our own burden. It’s during those times that we can receive a touch of the Holy Spirit and get the help only he can give. Philippians 4:6, 7 says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. We have peace with God when we become believers. We’re reconciled to God. The barriers are broken down. God pours his peace into our hearts. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Del’s message with the second half. 



Verse Completion: . . . the victory belongs to the Lord. Proverbs 21:31 (NLT)


12/16/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/yFoFOZmSIfY



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s message titled “The Holy Spirit Is a Teacher”.


So far we’ve explored what teaching is and what the Holy Spirit teaches. Now let’s explore what the Holy Spirit’s teaching will do. What happens is change is brought about. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. We are being changed from the inside out. A transformation takes place. Real change happens; change that is apparent and lasting. The change takes place as our focus is on Jesus. We are changed into the likeness of Jesus. True learning always brings change. We haven’t learned unless we have changed. We can think we have learned but unless that learning brings about change, we have not learned. We haven’t learned that smoking is harmful to our health until we quit smoking. Paul said we are being changed into the likeness of Christ with ever-increasing glory. 


When the Holy Spirit takes over our lives there is fundamental change, not just surface change. Galatians 5:19-25 says: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.


The Holy Spirit brings about fundamental change, characteristic change, and gracious change—we become gracious people. We see this in Acts 4:33: With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. Grace became a characteristic of them. 


How does the Holy Spirit teach us? Primarily, he teaches us through the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 tells us: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 


Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. We can’t be taught by the Spirit and ignore Scripture. He makes the words come alive to us so they grip our hearts, minds, and lives. The words become the delight of our hearts. Jeremiah 15:16 says: When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. The Holy Spirit draws us to his word, and it becomes a living word to us. We find joy and delight in meditating on his word. 


The Holy Spirit uses other people to teach us. Ephesians 4:11-13 tells us: It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Sometimes a fellow Christian is prompted by the Holy Spirit to give a word to us. Sometimes we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to give a word to another person. We need to look for those opportunities and listen for the Holy Spirit’s prompting. 


The Holy Spirit teaches us by speaking personally to our hearts. There’s a big difference between being Bible-taught and Spirit-taught. “When the Holy Spirit illuminates the heart, then a part of man sees which never saw before; a part of him knows which never knew before, and that part was a kind of knowing which most astute thinkers cannot imitate. Everywhere among evangelical churches we find people who are Bible taught but not Spirit taught. They conceive truth to be something which they can grasp with their mind, not with their heart.”


There is no truth apart from the Holy Spirit, and there is no life apart from the Holy Spirit. He takes the things of Christ and makes them real to us. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says: But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


We need to be people who generate life around us, not death. The Spirit generates life. We generate death when we are arrogant, caustic, judgmental, argumentative, defensive, or harsh. We need to be Spirit-taught people. The Spirit is beyond words and reason. One of his ministries is to teach us the things of Jesus and what it means to walk with God and fellowship with God. How does this happen? Here are a few suggestions:


·      Open your heart to the Holy Spirit deliberately and consciously. Say, “Holy Spirit, I open my heart for you to be my teacher.”


·      Open your mind to the Holy Spirit. Say, “Holy Spirit, change my way of thinking to be the way it should be.”


·      Seek the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 44:3 says: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Pray to the Holy Spirit. Reach out to him.


·      Turn from your own understanding. Turn from your own natural ability, understanding, and wisdom and say, “Holy Spirit, you be my teacher.”


·      Let the Holy Spirit change you. We need to submit to the changes the Holy Spirit wants to bring about in us. Pray, “Holy Spirit, as you enable me, I will change.” As we do that, we will understand more and more.


·      Be filled with the Holy Spirit. 


The Holy Spirit will make the things of Jesus real. The Holy Spirit will make God real. The Holy Spirit will make the word of God living and powerful to the point where it grabs hold of us. May we be Spirit-taught people.



Verse Completion: . . . stay out of trouble. Proverbs 21:23 (NLT)


12/15/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/Xw38pGhPXIk



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And  the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us . . . (completion at the end)



On December 6, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his ninth talk titled “The Holy Spirit Is a Teacher”. So far we have looked at the Holy Spirit wanting to be our companion, the Spirit of life, making Jesus real to us, the enabler of worship, leading us in prayer, making us loving people, setting us free, and giving us power.


One of the reasons people give for not becoming believers is they don’t understand. Believers will sometimes give the same excuse for not growing in the faith. The good news is we have a teacher in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:


“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:25, 26).


“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:12-14).


The Holy Spirit will teach us if we will be open to him and look to him. 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13 says: We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The Holy Spirit puts words in our thinking that can be used by God.


The Father wants to pour the Holy Spirit into us in great waves of blessing and revival. It happens as we allow him and trust him to be our teacher. We can’t neglect, reject, or resist him. We need to seek him, hunger for him, and constantly be filled by him so the Holy Spirit can teach us. 


What does it mean to teach? Teaching is not telling. It’s more than imparting facts or pouring in information. Teaching is creating a desire to know and find out. A good teacher is able to stimulate the students to hunger to know more. The Holy Spirit stimulates us to want to know more from the word of God. We want to discover the will of God and know the mind of Christ. We desire to hear from God and respond to that voice. 


There are several things we can do to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit: resist him, lie to him, despise him, insult him. Hebrews 10:29 says: How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Insult means to look down on or scorn. It’s an insult to the Holy Spirit when we prefer to focus on things of the world instead of on things of God. The Holy Spirit wants us to study and pray. The Holy Spirit directs our hearts as he directs our thoughts and our minds. He stirs us to want to know the ways of God, the word of God, the will of God, and the things of God. 


1 Corinthians 2:9 says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us things we couldn’t grasp otherwise. He teaches us how to have peace, how to have joy, how to be contented people, how to be victorious people, how to be people that reflect the loveliness of Christ. Verse 14 says: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.


There are people who think it’s foolishness to be gentle or humble. They think it’s foolishness not to fight for what you want. They think it’s foolishness to pray or go to church. They can’t understand those who are fully engulfed in the worship of God. They can’t understand how one can be happy without alcohol or immorality. A Christ-like lifestyle is foolishness to them. They can’t understand those who are happy with less material goods. 


God’s ways are different from our ways. Isaiah 55:8, 9 says: 


“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.


“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


Romans 11:33-36:


Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!


“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”


“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”


For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.


The things of God need to be taught to us by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit we may think it’s better to be a controller than a submissive person. Without the Holy Spirit we might never be content without travel, recreation, or the latest and greatest gadget or philosophy. The Holy Spirit can teach us things we could never grasp by human understanding or by human wisdom. 


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Del’s message with the second half.



Verse Completion: . . . more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)


12/14/21


Good morning, Proclaimers of Good News.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/CYDCIAQc8Ms


Memory Verse for the Week: He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/7/20.



The church at Thessalonica was one of the healthiest churches in the New Testament. Paul said in I Thessalonians 1:2-7:


We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.


Why was this such an influential church? Because they"received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought" them. Affliction and joy don't seem to go together, but on December 29, Pastor Michael spoke to us about Paul and Silas being beaten and placed in the inner part of the prison. What did they do there? They sang songs of praise. The Christians in Thessalonica were able to be joyful in spite of severe suffering.

I don't like suffering. I like for things to run smoothly—no conflict, no stress, no hatred, nothing lacking, no sickness, no death. I like to be where everyone is happy, there's peace, quiet (except for music and powerful engines), calmness. But which environment provides an opportunity to grow in the Lord? I'm afraid it's where there is suffering. Suffering is necessary for us to grow individually and as a church.

When we are joyful in suffering, we are a powerful testimony to the world around us. When Laurie lost her son a year ago, she was definitely saddened by the loss, but she wasn't angry with God. She was joyful that her son could be in a better place than this world. Her faith was strong enough to weather the storm, and she came out stronger on the other end. She's been able to witness to others who have experienced similar losses, and share her faith with them. God can bring good out of any bad that happens to us. He can even give us joy in our sorrow! He did it for Paul and Silas, He did it for the Thessalonians, He did it for Laurie, and he can do it for you. Let suffering be a time of growth in your life.

Be patient, though, as growth takes time. You don't go from an infant to a toddler in a day. In fact, it's difficult to detect any growth on a daily basis. However, after a year or so has gone by, it's easy to see the growth that has taken place. Are you growing spiritually? Take a look at where you were spiritually a year ago, five years ago, ten years ago? Do you see growth? If not, maybe you should start praying for suffering.


II Thessalonians 1:4-5 says,


We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.


Sometimes we suffer because of our bad choices. Sometimes we suffer because we have broken God's laws, and we are simply suffering the consequences for that. That's not the kind of suffering being spoken of here. It's suffering because of our faith—ridiculed by nonbelievers, standing for what is truth in God's word and being given a hard time for it, ostracized for being counter-culture.

As a church, let's strive to be like the Thessalonians. As individuals, let's strive to be like the Christians in Thessalonica.


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12/13/21


Good morning, Servers of God.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/2ZpzCxDYOlk


Complete the Verse and Name the Book: It is not those who are healthy who need a physician .  .  . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/6/20.



In Pastor Michael’s sermons, he has warned us against wandering out to the border of God’s will. He’s asked us why we would want to get as far away from Jesus as we can and still be “good.” He has encouraged us to draw close to God; get as close to Jesus as we can possibly get. Build a personal relationship with Him. Relationships cost time, so spend time with Him in His word and in talking to Him in prayer. Move into the very center of His will. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide our every step.

Looking at Revelation 13 we see the importance of having a strong relationship with Jesus. If we don’t develop that relationship now, when persecution comes (and it is coming), we will likely forsake our God in lieu of avoiding persecution or saving our life. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 16:24-26:


“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”


Let’s take a look of what is coming our way:


Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.

I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”

Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. 

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. (Revelation 13:1-10)


This passage was about the beast of the sea. You can finish the chapter and read about the beast of the earth. Both passages tell of persecution that’s coming for Christians. I would caution you about being overly concerned about when this will all happen. It’s easy to get distracted from what God is telling us here. We need to be diligent about our faith so when persecution comes we don’t drop off into the abyss because we were hanging out on the periphery of God’s will. And what’s God’s will? 1 Thessalonians 4:3a says, “God’s will is for you to be holy.” Holy means set apart for God’s service—being sanctified. When we are holy, we are distinct; we stand out from the crowd. We’re different from the masses. That difference should be obvious to others. We will stick out like a sore thumb. When we’re called on because of our faith, we need to stand strong for Jesus. We don’t want to be like Peter before Pentecost and deny our Savior. We want to be like Peter after Pentecost and be bold about our faith and be willing to die for it like he did. 

It’s important to read Scripture like this in Revelation, because it helps us evaluate ourselves and see where we stand with Jesus. If we don’t have any hesitation about facing persecution for our faith in Jesus even to the point of death, hopefully that’s an accurate evaluation and we are in the center of His will. 

If we have doubts about it because we feel like we’re probably somewhere on the periphery, it’s not too late to do something about it. Have an honest talk with God. Tell Him where you are, and tell Him where you want to be, and ask for His help to get you to the point where you should be. He is faithful to us, so let’s be faithful to Him.



Could there be a missing ingredient in the Lord’s prayer in John 17? Listen to Dr. Josh Moody explain what that missing ingredient is: https://godcenteredlife.org/broadcast/the-prayer-of-jesus-the-great-missing-ingredient/


Verse Completion: . . . but those who are ill. Matthew 9:12 (NASB) Note: This verse is also found in Mark 2:17 and Luke 5:31-32.


12/13/21


Good morning, Servers of God.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/2ZpzCxDYOlk


Complete the Verse and Name the Book: It is not those who are healthy who need a physician .  .  . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/6/20.



In Pastor Michael’s sermons, he has warned us against wandering out to the border of God’s will. He’s asked us why we would want to get as far away from Jesus as we can and still be “good.” He has encouraged us to draw close to God; get as close to Jesus as we can possibly get. Build a personal relationship with Him. Relationships cost time, so spend time with Him in His word and in talking to Him in prayer. Move into the very center of His will. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide our every step.

Looking at Revelation 13 we see the importance of having a strong relationship with Jesus. If we don’t develop that relationship now, when persecution comes (and it is coming), we will likely forsake our God in lieu of avoiding persecution or saving our life. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 16:24-26:


“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”


Let’s take a look of what is coming our way:


Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.

I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”

Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. 

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. (Revelation 13:1-10)


This passage was about the beast of the sea. You can finish the chapter and read about the beast of the earth. Both passages tell of persecution that’s coming for Christians. I would caution you about being overly concerned about when this will all happen. It’s easy to get distracted from what God is telling us here. We need to be diligent about our faith so when persecution comes we don’t drop off into the abyss because we were hanging out on the periphery of God’s will. And what’s God’s will? 1 Thessalonians 4:3a says, “God’s will is for you to be holy.” Holy means set apart for God’s service—being sanctified. When we are holy, we are distinct; we stand out from the crowd. We’re different from the masses. That difference should be obvious to others. We will stick out like a sore thumb. When we’re called on because of our faith, we need to stand strong for Jesus. We don’t want to be like Peter before Pentecost and deny our Savior. We want to be like Peter after Pentecost and be bold about our faith and be willing to die for it like he did. 

It’s important to read Scripture like this in Revelation, because it helps us evaluate ourselves and see where we stand with Jesus. If we don’t have any hesitation about facing persecution for our faith in Jesus even to the point of death, hopefully that’s an accurate evaluation and we are in the center of His will. 

If we have doubts about it because we feel like we’re probably somewhere on the periphery, it’s not too late to do something about it. Have an honest talk with God. Tell Him where you are, and tell Him where you want to be, and ask for His help to get you to the point where you should be. He is faithful to us, so let’s be faithful to Him.



Could there be a missing ingredient in the Lord’s prayer in John 17? Listen to Dr. Josh Moody explain what that missing ingredient is: https://godcenteredlife.org/broadcast/the-prayer-of-jesus-the-great-missing-ingredient/


Verse Completion: . . . but those who are ill. Matthew 9:12 (NASB) Note: This verse is also found in Mark 2:17 and Luke 5:31-32.


12/11/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/4cP26ndrmtg



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by . . . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/17/19.



I was reading today in Genesis 39 about Joseph in Potiphar's house and then being put in prison. Several things struck me. First of all, in verse 2 it says, "The LORD waswithJoseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master." We need the LORD with us, don't we? The book we've been reading in Home Teams is called With, and that's the premise of the whole book—that we need to spend time with God (praying, reading His word, building relationship). When God is with us, we will succeed in all we do as we serve Him.


When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, he replied in verse nine with,"How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God."I think we often feel like our sins against other people are simply that—sins against another person. But when we sin, it's always a sin against God. David realized that. When David was tempted with lust for Bathsheba, he should have done what Joseph did and literally RUN AWAY from the temptation. Instead he moved toward the temptation instead of away from it and ended up committing adultery with Bathsheba. Psalm 51:1-4 contains David's prayer of repentance:


Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.


Joseph ends up getting thrown into prison by Potiphar for doing what was right. Potiphar believed his wife's lies. When we do what is right, the result can be negative. That doesn't mean we stop doing what is right. God calls us to do what is right, and leave the consequences up to Him to sort out. Verse 21 tells us what happened in prison:But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden . . . The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.


What happens in the end is what really matters—temporary setbacks aren't that big of a deal in the big picture. What happens to our souls in the end is what really matters.



Verse Completion: . . . their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)


12/10/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/eMcK_Cevxyw



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are . . . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/14/20.



Everything “bad” that happens to us is not necessarily something bad. In Matthew 10:16-20, Jesus is talking to His disciples:


“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. Butthis will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”



Being brought into court, getting flogged with whips, and standing trial before governors and kings is something I would classify as being BAD! It would be something I would try to avoid to the best of my ability. But here is Jesus saying this is a time of opportunity. You’ve heard the adage, “When opportunity knocks, open the door.” Opportunity is something good—it looks to a better future. However, getting flogged doesn’t sound like opportunity knocking on my door. Yet Jesus says it is; it’s an opportunity to tell rulers and other unbelievers about Jesus, and that’salways a good thing!


When seemingly “bad” things happen in our lives, they may be opportunities for good to happen. This was certainly the case with Joseph when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. This event was an opportunity for God to open doors for Joseph and bring about good. Abraham’s obedience to God provided God an opportunity to save Abraham’s son from death. Esther had an opportunity to intercede for the Jews who were going to be killed, but by doing so, Esther put her own life in danger. Nevertheless, she did it and the Jews were spared. Rahab had an opportunity to help Joshua’s men spy out the land, and she took it even though it meant possible death for her.


If any of the following things happened to me, my first reaction would be, “This is BAD!”:


·       Put in prison


·       Whipped times without number


·       Faced death again and again


·       Received 39 lashes on five different occasions


·       Beaten with rods on three different occasions


·       Stoned


·       Shipwrecked on three different occasions


·       Spent a whole night and day adrift at sea


·       Faced danger from rivers


·       Faced danger from robbers and other people who meant to do harm to me


·       Spent many sleepless nights


·       Was hungry and thirsty


·       Shivered in the cold without enough clothing to keep warm


·       Lowered in a basket through a window in a city wall in order to escape guards who wanted to capture me


If just one of these bulleted items happened to me, I would think I was in a bad place. I wouldn’t see the event as an opportunity for good to come from it. Yet this is exactly what happened with Paul. Every single bulleted item happened to him! (see 2 Corinthians 11:16-33)


God is sovereign. Nothing catches him by surprise. The events that happen in our lives can be used by God to bring about good. It just might happen that someone comes to know Jesus because the “bad” thing that happened to us opened up the door of opportunity to share Jesus with rulers and other unbelievers.


The next time something “bad” happens to us, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the opportunity to bring good out of it.



Verse Completion: . . . being saved and by those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT)


12/9/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/ElJ0fiD0lkc



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a . . . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/11/20.



Genesis 24 is the story of how Abraham found a wife for his son, Isaac. Abraham didn’t want Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman. Therefore, his servant went to Aram-naharaim to find a wife for Isaac. He prayed he would find the right lady for Isaac. Let’s pick the story up at verse 12:


“O LORD, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”


Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”


“Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.


Don’t you wish your prayers were answered that quickly? While the servant was in the process of praying for the answer to his prayer, in walked the answer to his prayer!


Rebekah was clearly the wife for Isaac. Now all that had to be worked out were the details. Let’s pick the story up at verse 55 with Rebekah’s brother, Laban, saying,“But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.”


But [the servant] said, “Don’t delay me. The LORD has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master.”


“Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.” So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her.


And she replied, “Yes, I will go.”


God was clearly at work in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Rebekah.


This story reminds me of two other stories—“modern day” stories. The first one took place around 1940. It centers around my mom. She had just graduated from high school, and even though she attended church, she wasn’t a follower of Christ.


One day my aunt from Pasadena, CA, was visiting my mom’s family in Duncannon, PA. Her visit was drawing to an end, and my aunt (who was a committed Christian) said to my mom, “Why don’t you come back with me to California tomorrow? You can ride along with me. It would be a great adventure, and I’ll see what I can do about getting you started at college in Pasadena.”


My mom replied, “Oh, no. I’m not interested in doing anything like that. I have a boyfriend here, and going to California just doesn’t appeal to me.”


My aunt prayed through the night, and the next morning my mom said to her, “You know what? I’ve changed my mind! I’ve decided I do want to go to California with you today.”


That decision totally changed my mom’s life! She found Jesus as her personal Savior, went to a Christian college in Pasadena, met and married my dad, and they ended up being missionaries in the Philippines for 35 years.


Come to think of it, that was a fairly fast answer to my aunt’s prayer, too!


The other “modern day” story took place in the 1970s. Peter Jenkins decided to walk across America and discover the real country. He started off in Alfred, NY, and ended up in Florence, OR, by way of the Deep South. While in Mobile, AL, he attended a revival and gave his heart to Jesus. Later, he fell madly in love with a student at a seminary in New Orleans, LA. They got engaged, and we’re looking forward to marriage when Peter’s girlfriend started to realize how her life would drastically change if she married Peter. She began to have second thoughts. On numerous occasions, she broke up with Peter, and then got back with him. Finally, she said to him, “I just can’t take this torture of not knowing what I should do any longer. I’ve decided to go to church with you one last time. If we don’t get a sign, or if something doesn’t happen, then everything between us is over—for good.”


They decided to attend church together one last time. On this particular Sunday there was a guest speaker—80+ year old Mom Beall from Detroit who would speak from her wheelchair. She told the story of Abraham finding a wife for Isaac. Let’s have Peter tell the story in his own words as he describes that church service:


“The next day,” Mom [Beall] told us, “Rebekah’s family called her to them because the servant was ready to ask her and give her gifts.” At this point Mom paused, ready to emphasize a point as dramatic as any I had ever heard. Her pause was long and over a thousand people were totally silent.


Although Mom was over eighty she now looked shot full of the most powerful energy in life. A radiant glow circled her entire body. She pounded the arm of her wheelchair with her right fist and half yelled and half quivered,“Will you go with this man?”


The simple phrase, one of thousands in the Bible, burst through me with a surging power; it echoed and shot through my body like holy electricity. This was Barbara’s sign! I knew it as I glanced over at her for the first time since Mom’s story had begun.


Again, with fantastic power, Mom shouted those words from Genesis:“Will you go with this man?”


The impact of that message pushed Barbara back into her cushioned chair. She was sort of slumped down, her eyes staring nowhere. She had prayed all night, yet this direct message from God seemed to shock her.


“Will you go with this man?”Mom’s lily-white hand banged the wheelchair, emphasizing each and every word. Barbara gasped as though each word hit her heart with the force of a sledgehammer pounding on iron. She sat up straighter, blood flushed her pretty face and her hair seemed to stand out fuller than before.


One last time, Mom cried,“Will you go with this man?” I couldn’t believe this was happening. I looked over at Barbara again. She knew that I knew. Her eyes were wide and clear except for the crystal tears that gathered in the corners. She leaned close to me and whispered, “Peter, I’ll go with you.”



Note: You can read the whole story in Peter Jenkin’s book A Walk Across America and Peter and Barbara Jenkin’s book The Walk West.



Verse Completion: . . . gate locked with bars. Proverbs 18:19 (NLT)


12/8/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/zp2gCXZTwgY



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a . . . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/10/20.



The seventh chapter of Matthew has some sobering words from Jesus. Verses 13-14 say,"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."This is not what the world says. It's not unusual to hear, "There are many paths that lead to heaven. Christianity is only one of the ways, Buddhism is another path, Shintoism still another, and so on." That sounds like a broad highway, but Jesus said that road leads to hell. These two beliefs are in total contradiction to each other. Which are you going to believe? Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Notice how Jesus did not say, “I am a way, a truth, and a life.”


So how can we tell if we are on the narrow road? For one thing, it's difficult to travel on that road. There are other paths that are difficult, too, but they don't lead to heaven. Just because a person suffers, that doesn't mean they are on the right path. It's when we suffer for the sake of Jesus that we know we're on the right path—when we won't back down from our faith in Jesus even if it means pain and suffering on our part. We don't back down no matter how difficult it gets. Not very many people are willing to be that committed to Jesus, and that's why Jesus said,"only a few ever find it."


Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12,16-18:We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in ourbodies.


Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.


That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.


Another way we can tell which road we're on is by our fruit. Right after talking about the narrow gate, Jesus talked about fruit—our actions. Matthew 7:35-20 says,


"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes fromthorn bushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree thatdoes not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."


Jesus made another statementthat shows the world is mistaken when it says all roads lead to heaven. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said,"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' " 


Do you see what I mean by sobering words? We can't afford to becomelackadaisical as followers of Jesus. What we do and don't do have eternal consequences. Our hearts must be right with God. Lip service with Him doesn't cut it. Let's ask God to search our hearts, reveal to us what He finds, and then let's respond accordingly. 



Verse Completion: . . . gate locked with bars. Proverbs 18:19 (NLT)


12/7/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/wGpcHhmv-ys



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: He comforts us in all our troubles so that . . . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/8/21.




Ken Ham is the CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis (a fundamentalist Christian apologetics parachurch organization with headquarters in Petersburg, Kentucky), the popular Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, and the world-renowned Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. He posted the following on Facebook yesterday:


America is in a mess spiritually, morally, and politically. How should we understand what is happening? Should our emphasis be one of trying to save America? First, how does God view America or any nation? “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales.” (Isaiah 40:15)


Should we look to man to solve the problems in this nation? “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man” (Psalm 118:8).


“Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2:22) “Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.” (Psalm 60:11–12) Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.’” (Jeremiah 17:5–7)


Should we look to politicians to solve the problems? “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” (Psalm 146:3–4)


Should we look to an army to solve the problems? “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” (Psalm 33:16–20)


What is wrong with the nation? To quote my good friend Ray Comfort, this nation could be summed up this way: “The nation forgot the Lord their God who had blessed them abundantly, and had instead given itself to lawlessness, and slaughtering their own offspring in the womb. Therefore, the judgment of God fell upon them.” In many ways, this fits with what God was saying to the people at the time of Hosea. “The LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land.” (Hosea 4:1)


How then should we deal with these problems? America or any nation is not going to last forever, but the souls of people will live forever. Surely our emphasis should be on seeing souls saved for eternity through salvation in Christ. “This Jesus. . . . 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 4:11–12)


The same God who spoke to Solomon about the people of Israel, is the same God who is watching over everything today: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)


Yes, so many people in this nation, including many rulers (politicians, judges, etc.), have turned their backs on God. They have rejected God and his Word in the education systems. They have sacrificed millions of children to the god of self. They have rejected God in many ways through rejecting prayer, rejecting nativity scenes and crosses, and replacing the truth of God as Creator for the lie of evolution. (Even many church leaders and Christian academics have compromised God’s Word with evolutionary ideas.) “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:21–23)


How does God view the plans of rulers who reject him? “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’” (Psalm 2:1–6)


Is America under judgment? This description in Romans chapter 1 certainly fits with what we are experiencing. “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:28–32)


What can we do? We need to tell the nations about the one true God and about the message of salvation that only he provides: “Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.” (Psalm 96:1–6)


And we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) for the souls of those who have rejected him. And remember — there’s a raging spiritual war, but: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” 2 Corinthians 10:4.



Verse Completion: . . . we can comfort others.  2 Corinthians 1:4a (NLT)


12/6/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/GoeecAbmvHw?t=19



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything . . . (completion at the end)



Note: Due to being on vacation, this is a repeat from 1/7/20.



The church at Thessalonica was one of the healthiest churches in the New Testament. Paul said in I Thessalonians 1:2-7:


We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.


We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.


And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.



Why was this such an influential church? Because they"received the message with joy from the Holy Spiritin spite of the severe suffering it brought" them. Affliction and joy don't seem to go together, but on December 29, Pastor Michael spoke to us about Paul and Silas being beaten and placed in the inner part of the prison. What did they do there? They sang songs of praise. The Christians in Thessalonica were able to be joyful in spite of severe suffering.


I don't like suffering. I like for things to run smoothly—no conflict, no stress, no hatred, nothing lacking, no sickness, no death. I like to be where everyone is happy, there's peace, quiet (except for music and powerful engines), calmness. But which environment provides an opportunity to grow in the Lord? I'm afraid it's where there is suffering. Suffering is necessary for us to grow individually and as a church.


When we are joyful in suffering, we are a powerful testimony to the world around us. When Laurie lost her son a year ago, she was definitely saddened by the loss, but she wasn't angry with God. She was joyful that her son could be in a better place than this world. Her faith was strong enough to weather the storm, and she came out stronger on the other end. She's been able to witness to others who have experienced similar losses, and share her faith with them. God can bring good out of any bad that happens to us. He can even give us joy in our sorrow! He did it for Paul and Silas, He did it for the Thessalonians, He did it for Laurie, and he can do it for you. Let suffering be a time of growth in your life.


Be patient, though, as growth takes time. You don't go from an infant to a toddler in a day. In fact, it's difficult to detect any growth on a daily basis. However, after a year or so has gone by, it's easy to see the growth that has taken place. Are you growing spiritually? Take a look at where you were spiritually a year ago, five years ago, ten years ago? Do you see growth? If not, maybe you should start praying for suffering.


II Thessalonians 1:4-5 says,


We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.



Sometimes we suffer because of our bad choices. Sometimes we suffer because we have broken God's laws, and we are simply suffering the consequences for that. That's not the kind of suffering being spoken of here. It's suffering because of our faith—ridiculed by nonbelievers, standing for what is truth in God's word and being given a hard time for it, ostracized for being counter-culture.


As a church, let's strive to be like the Thessalonians. As individuals, let's strive to be like the Christians in Thessalonica.



Verse Completion: . . . with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13, 14 (NLT)


12/4/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/D5zBF-zPXpU



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: We may throw the dice, but . . .(completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Baxter Helm’s message titled “A Privileged Position” based on Hebrews 11:39, 40. Being in a privileged position, God has given us a better presence and a better future. God’s promises cannot be earned or forced, but they should be trusted from life to death. Like the saints of old, we need to live by faith and die in faith.


We have in this moment confidence to come before God—to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus. Jesus is our Great High Priest who intercedes for us. Hebrews 10:14 says: 14 For by a single offering [Jesus] has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 9:11, 12 says: 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.


This position is offered to anyone today who would seek to receive this position by faith. Notice how in our text for today it says: 40 since God had provided something better for us. Nothing was earned here. It was graciously given by God. When we are immersed in something, it’s easy for our appreciation of it to dissipate and disappear. It’s easy to take things for granted. 


We need to be living in gratitude for the present realities we have in Christ. We have a privileged position, and our appreciation of this position ought to be contagious. There is no greater gift that has ever been given than the Son of God giving his life for us that we might know him through relationship and have our sins forgiven. How great is our God! Jesus said, “16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16, 17). May we never take our privileged position in Christ for granted!


John Calvin said: “. . . for if they on whom the light of grace had not as yet so brightly shone displayed so great a constancy in enduring evils, what ought the full brightness of the Gospel to produce in us? A small spark of light led them to heaven; when the sun of righteousness shines over us, with what pretense can we excuse ourselves if we still cleave to the earth?”


We have a great privilege and responsibility given where we are situated. Yet as good as we have it, we are still seeking the culmination of the promise. We have yet to fully receive it. There’s a tension between the already and the not yet. Hebrews 13:14 says: For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. We have the down payment and the details of the promissory note. We have the first fruits of Christ’s resurrection, but we still await the harvest. We haven’t arrived at the city. A better future awaits us. 


     39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. The purpose of the future is the uniting of the past and the present. By our power we do not make the past perfect. What is being said is they are not made perfect without us. Perfect here implies completion or wholeness. Without us they are not made complete. It’s like a family gathering to share a meal together. It’s not complete until the entire family is seated. God is waiting for all who will to come to his table and partake. 


We are called to appreciate the past and the present, but we are ultimately called to appreciate the future—what is yet to come. We, like the saints of old, are travelers and sojourners. We have yet to arrive at this city that’s being spoken of. We have yet to sit down with our brothers and sisters of the past and to feast together in fellowship. 


Many of us are discouraged by this world and rightfully so. We’ve taken some hits and blows to the head, but we need to remind ourselves where our head is. Position yourself rightly in relationship to the past, understanding the present in order to look forward to the future. We get to see what the saints of old didn’t get to see. When the saints of old looked out the window of their airplane, they saw darkness and clouds as they flew through them. They didn’t have a view. They could feel the turbulence of the plane and hear their pilot’s voice. They had faith in their pilot and trusted in him to get them to their final destination. We, on the other hand, are on a plane that has broken through the clouds. We see the city where we are going though it seems far off. We see our destination in a way the saints of old never got to see it. We see what they longed to see, and we rejoice in that. 


What should we do today? We should look out the window of our plane rather than being preoccupied with what’s going on in the plane. We need to pause and appreciate where the pilot is taking us. Some of us are concerned about the turbulence. We want to turn around and get out of the turbulence, but our pilot says, “Why would I do that? Look out the window. Look where you are going! Look where I am taking you by my providential hand! Look at the better view that you have.” Revelation 21:1-4 tells us:


Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”


Scripture helps us get our bearings. It positions us in the truth. What’s ahead is better than what we can imagine. The future is secure for those who are found in Christ and live by faith. 



Verse Completion: . . . the Lord determines how they fall. Proverbs 16:33 (NLT)


12/3/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/QP0TGh6c-Ss



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that . . . (completion at the end)



Dr. Josh Moody is the pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. He recently started a series in Hebrews titled “A Better Future”. The first sermon was given by Associate Pastor Baxter Helm and is based on Hebrews 11:39, 40. Today we will begin a recap of his message titled “A Privileged Position.” 


While playing soccer in a rec league, two of us attempted to hit a high bouncing ball with our heads as we approached each other from opposite directions. Instead of hitting the ball, our heads struck each other. The result for me was a feeling of confusion. I took myself out of the game so I could get my bearings back. 


We live in a world that sends so much at us at a high velocity that we can wake up in the morning feeling like we are getting knocked in the head as we watch the news and look at social media. We feel concussed by the chaos and confusion of our day. 


The Bible is a great place to go to get our bearings. The end of Hebrews 11 lays the groundwork for the exhortation that takes place in Chapter 12. It tells us what we have, a privileged position, as it pushes the reader to endurance that’s found in Chapter 12. God has given us a better presence and a better future. This is the privileged position of God’s people. The case for this is made in three parts:


1.   In verse 39 the author focuses on the past. 


2.   In verse 40a the author focuses on the present.


3.   In verse 40b the author focuses on the future. 


39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.


In each of the three parts, a different group of people are emphasized. In the first part (the past), the emphasis is on the people just mentioned in Chapter 11. In the second part the emphasis is on the people currently living. In the third part the emphasis is on the future—those from the past and those alive now. The author begins with the past in order for us to interpret the present. He begins with the people of faith from the Old Testament: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Samuel. They are examples of people who lived their lives by faith. They lived by faith and died in faith. They are examples of people who endured. 


The author is concerned about the endurance of his readers. Hebrews 10:36 says: For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Today’s text is situated between two calls for endurance. Verse 39 summarizes the people who endured. They received one thing—commendation for their faith, but didn’t receive something else—what was promised. They did not obtain the promise. Verse 13 says: These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.


Have you ever been greeted by someone from afar? They wave at you and you wave back, but you’re not quite sure who you are waving at. This was their relationship with the coming promise; they greeted it from afar without receiving it. They are travelers or sojourners traveling toward the promise described as a city: 10 For [Abraham] was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. It’s a city God is preparing for them:  16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. The travelers did not arrive at the city even though it was their intended destination. They received commendation for their faith, but they did not receive the promise. 


They did not receive the promise because of something they did wrong. You would think if anyone deserved to receive the promise, it would be those described in verses 32-38:


32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.


God’s promises cannot be earned or forced, but they should be trusted from life to death. Like the examples given, we need to live by faith and die in faith. Wouldn’t this be a great epitaph: _______ lived by faith and died in faith?


These examples are given to us so we rightly interpret and understand our position in the present. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us. God has provided something better for us in the present, and it’s better than what those in the past had. Without knowing the past, you aren’t able to see that the present is better. The better part is the new covenant realities inaugurated by the work of Christ compared to the old covenant realities. Hebrews 10:19-25 says: 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Helm’s message with the second half.



Verse Completion: . . . nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15: 58b (NLT)


12/2/21


Good morning. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/XG347euXoTM



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. A gossip goes around . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s message titled “The Power of the Holy Spirit”. He said that it’s by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to put to death the misdeeds of the body. 


When we put to death the deeds of our sinful nature, we put to death our ego. All of us have an ego, and it gets us in trouble. A.B. Simpson wrote a pamphlet titled “Thirty-one Kings” in which he picked out thirty-one kings in David’s time and likened them to thirty-one aspects of the ego. Here are three of them:


·      Ego of Self-glory. People try to get credit for themselves. They try to look good in the eyes of others. They steal glory from God. Isaiah 26:12 says: Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to put self-glory to death.


An example of self-glory is found in Daniel 4:28-33:


28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.


Self-glory gets us into trouble but the Holy Spirit puts an end to it as we trust him.


·      Ego of Self-will. We have to have things our way. We try it with other people, and we try it with God. We insist that things be done our way. We fight for what we want. We refuse to yield. 


We see an example of this with Lucifer when he was the prince of heaven. In Isaiah 14:12-17 we read:

12 How you have fallen from heaven,

morning star,son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth,

you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart,

“I will ascendto the heavens;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,

on the utmost heightsof Mount Zaphon. 

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,

to the depthsof the pit.

16 Those who see you stare at you,

they ponder your fate:

“Is this the man who shook the earth

and made kingdoms tremble,

17 the man who made the world a wilderness,

who overthrewits cities

and would not let his captives go home?”


Another example of self-will is found in the story involving Balaam in Numbers 22. 


·      Ego of self-pity. When we fall into the pit of self-pity, we lose our joy, peace, and purpose. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to put self-pity to death. 


We see an example of self-pity with Elijah. 1 Kings 19:3-5a says:


3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.


The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of power. The Greek dunamis is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo, and dynamic. 


The weight of an Allis Chalmers HD21 bulldozer is 44,000 pounds. One day while I was logging, our HD21 got hung up on a tree stump. I climbed under the bulldozer and partially cut away the stump. After I was out from under the bulldozer, it was started up. As the brake was applied on one side, the bulldozer spun around and snapped the stump off freeing the bulldozer. A 30-pound chainsaw had the ability to do something a 44,000 pound bulldozer could not do. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to do what we can’t do in our own power. 


What is it in your life that you need the ability to do that you can’t do but needs to be done and should be done? The Holy Spirit will give you the power to do it. He is willing, ready, and eager to give you the ability to do what God wants you to do.



Verse Completion: . . . telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11:12, 13 (NLT)


12/1/21


Good morning. Welcome to December. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 


Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/MCdGikDU1V8



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the . . . (completion at the end)



On Monday Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his eighth talk titled “The Power of the Holy Spirit”. So far we have looked at the Holy Spirit wanting to be our companion, the Spirit of life, making Jesus real to us, the enabler of worship, leading us in prayer, making us loving people, and setting us free.


People find power interesting: the power of an engine, the power of appeal, the power of purchase, political power, sport team power, etc. Power is all around us. Scripture has much to say about the power of the Holy Spirit. As we use the word power, it will mean the ability to do something. We don’t plug into the power of the Holy Spirit. We don’t work up the power of the Holy Spirit. We receive his power. We become clothed in his power. 


Jesus said in Luke 24:49, ”I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Acts 1:8 contains the following words of Jesus: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We can read this as: “You will receive the power to do after the Holy Spirit comes on you.” In many other places in the Bible one can find the words Holy Spirit and power associated with each other. Acts 6:8 says:  Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. In the next chapter we read: But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (7:55).


As we read Scripture we find out what we can expect the Holy Spirit to do and what we can trust the Holy Spirit to do as the Spirit of Power. Much of Romans 8 is about the Holy Spirit. Chapter 6 gives us a vision of a Spirit-filled life. Chapter 7 gives us the struggle of living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 8 gives us the foundation and the way the Holy Spirit’s power can be ours: 


12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.


By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to put to death the misdeeds of the body: the tongue of lying, boasting, and gossiping; lusting eyes; hands hurting others; the brain thinking sinful thoughts.   Based on the authority we have in Christ, we are no longer under the authority of the old nature; we are under the authority of Jesus Christ. Acts 17:24-28:


24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’


The sinful nature has the ability to kill. As we just read: For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. The Spirit gives us the ability to control our tongues, our eyes, our hands, and our brain. It’s through the Spirit we are able to put to death the misdeeds of the body. 


The Spirit gives us the authority to be sons and daughters. Romans 8:14-16: 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. When we become a believer in Jesus Christ, we have a position as a child of God. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to worship God. The Holy Spirit gives us internal power to be what God wants us to be. John 1:11-13:


11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.


Jesus said, ”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). With the Holy Spirit living in us, we have the ability to be a witness for Jesus. Sadly, according to statistics, only about 5% of professing Christians in the United States ever talk to anyone about their faith. The other 95% are not witnesses for Jesus. It would appear that they have not yet received power from the Holy Spirit to be a witness. We need the witness enabling that comes from the Spirit. He will teach us to witness and enable us to bear witness. Witnessing can take the form of evangelizing, teaching, leading, or preaching. 


When the Holy Spirit gives us power, people respond and their lives are touched. They develop a hunger for God and truth. They become convicted of the wrong in their lives and their need of a Savior. They find that Jesus is their only hope of a Savior. The Holy Spirit illuminates them helping them to understand what the gospel is about. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. If we’re going to witness for Jesus, we need to have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. 


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Del’s message with the second half.



Verse Completion: . . . first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT)


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