Mid Week Connection

June 11, 2020

I was thinking about truth as I read the account again of Pilate saying to Jesus in John 18:38 ”What is truth?” We are living in a world that is saying the same thing. There seems to be a concerted effort, a movement to teach and believe there is really no objective truth. This should not surprise us for this goes all the way back to the garden of Eden with Satan  saying, “Has God said?”

Over two thousand years ago Isaiah 5:20 declares, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

We see in the Old Testament book of Judges man hating God, loving their sin and doing what they perceived right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25. In other words slaying truth and attempting to live in an altered reality of their own choosing.  This is said seven times in the book. If you have ever read the book of Judges you know is was a colossal mistake.  Without people following the truth of the Creator and Sustainer of their lives, their existence unravels and is reduced to chaos.   

This is the experience of many in our culture today and we are seeing the dangerous results. Sadly the unbelieving world is drowning in the quagmire of their own feelings and subjective opinions. This is the death knell, the imminent destruction of all who dangerously follow this path. Do not be fooled you are either on one path or the other. 

Matthew 7:13–14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrected Savior declared, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “  John 14:6

"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12 The apostle Paul declared in Ephesian 4:21, “the truth is in Jesus”

The unbelievers path is a slippery slope ending with separation from God for all eternity in hell but the offer of salvation is given.  

“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” Romans 3:10

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For  it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

“For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”  Romans 5:1-2 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1

By trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ you have a new life now based in God’s wonderful truth and a new eternity. 

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” Colossians 1:13

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.” Colossians 2:13

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.” Psalm 40:2

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

As a believer allow God’s Word to guide and direct your life. He has given you the words of life to move you through life and then into His glorious presence. Yes, we live in a dark, sinful, rebellious, confused world where many have jettisoned truth; “but you have not so learned Christ.”

Walk in truth. Live the truth and walk in reality. / Pastor Steve

~~~

Ephesians 4:20-32 

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Mid Week Connection

June 3, 2020

There is Hope

As we watch the  news, most of us l am sure are disheartened to say the least. Sadly this has been the way of sinful man from the fall. 

From nearly the very beginning there was rebellion against God by Adam and Eve. Then right on the heels of the rebellion, Adam and Eve turn on one another by shifting the blame to one another and ultimately towards God. 

Then we are reminded of Cain and Abel. Here the heart of man is exposed again as wretched. Cain rebells and rejects God and His righteous way for his life. That is where it always begins. 

Romans 1:30 “slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil...”

John 3:20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

But that is not where it stops. Man hates God and the creation of God, disdaining his fellow man. He sets himself up, as does Satan his master, and wreaks havoc. 

Cain in Genesis 4: was “very angry” with God and his brother. Along with the anger there was jealousy, bitterness, prejudice, hatred, revenge and yes, murder. The inner evil hearts or natures of men are revealed, exposed when things are not as they desire. 

They want to rule. They want to be first. And why not? Deep down they deem themselves better than everyone else. They believe they are entitled. They think they are the greatest seated on the throne of their lives. Their lustful cravings include power, prestige, fame, wealth and compliance from those they consider the lowly lower class. 

We are a corrupt people, and only by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ will we be forgiven for our crimes against God and humanity. With that forgiveness comes a new heart from God which enables us to love God and one another. 

Hopefully it is becoming clear to those who are trying to cure society and man’s problems that their ongoing attempts are failing. 

Reform doesn’t work. Why? It does not change the problem, which is the heart. 

Rehabilitation isn’t lasting. Why? It does not change the problem, which is the heart. 

Well then, it must be education that will solve man’s problems. We are all for true education, but as C S Lewis said, “It will only make for a more clever devil.” It does not change the problem, which is the heart. 

Environment isn’t the solution. Why? The old saying is true,

“You can take the pig out of the mud, but you can’t take the mud out of a pig.” Environment does not change the problem, which is the heart. 

Then there are those who feel they have the solution in their religion. They pontificate their opinions. They live in the realm of deception and at the same time deceive others. Jesus called such religious leaders blind guides leading the blind. These religious leaders, though dressed in different clerical garb, are in unison saying the same things such as,

“By your good works you earn eternal life and gain favor with God.” Or, “Because God is love all people of all religions go to heaven. All roads lead to heaven.”

And of course, “Man is basically good.”

Let it be clearly understood, biblical historical Christianity is opposed to the previous statements. Yes, the statement is true that God is love, but that attribute is linked to all His other attributes including justice, righteousness and holy wrath against sin and sinners. So what do we have? We have the clergy telling their congregants they are good with good hearts. They tell them what they want to hear not what is the reality of their hearts.  So religion exacerbates the problem. Why? Because it does not acknowledge the heart of man which Is the problem. 

If all this falls short of making mankind a sane, benevolent creature, then, some may say, “It must be wealth that is the missing factor.”

Is that really so? You fill in the blank — So-and-so had everything they would ever want and more and still committed suicide. Money was no object but they were sad, worried, fearful, anxious and depressed. They started businesses and organizations to help people but that did not satisfy or give them lasting joy and peace. 

They attended the best schools and had many letters after their names but were unable to keep their marriages and families together. 

They lived in grand mansions, in the best communities and still were empty hearted and looking for more. Yes, empty hearted, but some things still remaining. Still the jealousy. Still the prejudice. Still the bitterness. Still the unforgiving spirit. Still the hatred in their hearts with some going the next step and murdering their fellow man. Surely you have sadly seen this scenario time and time again in the news. 

What is the problem? The problem is the heart or nature. 

“The heart is deceitful above all things,And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

We need a new heart and that is what God gives for those who turn from their sin and call upon Him for forgiveness and salvation. 

2 Corinthians 5:17–Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

God transforming a heart is the only hope for peace with God, peace in your heart and peace with your fellow man. God offers inner peace in this life and eternal life in the next. You know this if you have trusted the resurrected Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

Be encouraged! There is coming a time and place where sin will be eradicated with no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. Revelation 21:4. 

So what are we suppose to do now as Christians?

Do we just wait around to be absent from the body and present with the Lord? No. Our lives have purpose. We are called to proclaim the gospel, the good news of Christ crucified, risen and coming again. The good news that we can be forgiven of our sin, stand declared righteous before a holy God and live godly lives. 

This is the transformation that is needed. This is the solution for the wicked heart and the woes of man. The news anchors chatter day and night. The politicians give their grandiose speeches only to deal with symptoms, but God provides the cure. 

Yes, these are challenging changing times and yes, they are our God given times. If you are a true Christian you have the privilege and command to be an ambassador for Christ declaring His kingdom truth. Let us thank God for His forgiveness and giving us the privilege to be part of solution for all that is going on around us today. 

By His Grace,

Pastor Steve