A Deep Well to Draw From
“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite – wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom” (1 Kings 4:29-34).
Arthur Pierson defines a proverb as “a wise saying in which a few words are chosen instead of many, with a design to condense wisdom into a brief form both to aid memory and stimulate study.” He describes them as parables in which wisdom is to be drawn into like a deep well, or like a rich mine to be dug after. All in all, they are full of wisdom to aid our lives. The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom that was given to Solomon from the Lord. Later in Solomon’s life, he should have heeded his own words because he allowed some of his wives to lead him astray and serve other gods. To learn more on that, read 1 Kings 11:1-13.
Have you ever had a pattern of reading a chapter in the Book of Proverbs each day? I would recommend you take the month of June and read a proverb a day. It will be easy to remember the one you are on because it will correspond to the day of the month. I believe you will be enriched and you may learn that there are pitfalls you have fallen into that could have been avoided.
Reverend Billy Sunday adopted a similar style of teaching. He was a professional baseball player who was converted and is what some refer to as a revivalist in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Look at some of the examples:
- “We have not had a revival because the Church is indifferent, dignified, and worldly. You can’t scald a hog in ice water.”
- “Our forefathers wrote ‘In God We Trust’ on the American dollar. Our children trusted in the dollar, and that explains our trouble.”
- “Who said being sorry was repentance? If that’s true, the best repenters are in the penitentiary.”
- “A sheep and a hog are not at home with each other; their natures are different. So it’s possible for a bootlegger to enjoy himself in a prayer meeting.”
God is still into pouring wisdom into those who seek Him. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to saturate in the Word of God every day. Solomon says it best in Proverbs 2:1-5. Go ahead, turn to Proverbs and begin seeking the wisdom of God.
What a moving day on Sunday as we remembered five individuals from our church who went home to be with Jesus. I sat and looked at their pictures and had a flood of memories come across my mind of each one of them. They were special people who loved the church so much. They will be missed but the spirit in which they served the Lord is evident in all of God’s people because it is the Spirit of God. Praise the Lord that we can recognize His mighty hand at work when we serve others out of the love only He provides.
Sunday is going to be a great day!
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
A New Breed
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19
In this passage, we are encouraged to make a paradigm shift in the way we look at Jesus, others, and ourselves. Paul tells us that if we are in Christ, repenting of our sins and accepting Him as Lord and Savior, then we are new creatures; a new breed of people. When Cody is asked where he gets his height, he responds by saying he is a new breed. I don’t know where he gets his humor. I know, I’ll blame it on his mother. In a sense, that is exactly what we are when we confess our sins to Jesus Christ and make Him our source for all things. Old things are gone. New things come and we now live from new power and for new reasons. We are a new breed. This is our position in Christ! I find that most people live from their old experience rather than their new position. Our days are governed by what’s happening on the outside rather than what’s happened in the inside.
We not only have a new position, but we have new possessions. We have the Holy Spirit in us to do a brand new work in our lives and the lives of those we come in contact with. We also have a new potential – a ministry of reconciliation to the world. All of this is possible because of what we are celebrating this weekend. It’s not because it is Memorial Day weekend, it is because we are celebrating Pentecost. It is Pentecost that makes living in the power of the Holy Spirit possible.
The story of Pentecost is found in Acts 2. It is where the first followers of Jesus were all together in one place and the Spirit of God came down like tongues of fire resting on their heads. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak” (Acts 2:4). The languages spoken by the early Christians were heard by thousands of Jewish people. The people were amazed while some thought they were drunk. Peter stood up and preached his first sermon. He interpreted the events in light of prophecy given by the prophet Joel. God promised to pour out His spirit and they were right in the middle of it.
Peter went on to explain that Jesus had been raised from the dead and poured out the Spirit in fulfillment of God’s promise. The crowd was stirred and they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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” (Acts 2:38). Over 3,000 were added to their numbers and the church was birthed. Because of that great event, held 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus, we now enjoy the fellowship provided through the church – sharing life, breaking bread together, hearing the teaching of the Word of God, and praying on all occasions.
It’s going to be a great Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost, remember those from our church who have gone home to be with Jesus, and remember those who have died in active military service. Invite someone to come and be changed from the inside out as we continue the series, “Lead Me to the Cross.”
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
Whatever It Takes
Have I told you lately that I am blessed to be your pastor? The people of our church are an amazing group of people. Our staff, our leadership, our families, and our teachers are a blessing beyond measure. I say that because of the “can do” spirit that is present. Our people are willing to step up and fill in the gap when called upon. I have seen people initiate things even before we have a chance to ask. Thank you for making our church a place where God is unleashed to do amazing things.
I am reminded of a time when Jesus was teaching in the towns and villages, miracles were happening and many were coming and accepting the good news. “35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’ ” (Matthew 9:35-38).
There were people responding to the message of the gospel and seeking true forgiveness. Ministry was taking place in a powerful way. Jesus was bringing people into the kingdom of God not only for His future return, but for a very present reality. God was enlisting more workers to spread the good news of salvation and transformation.
On Sunday, I got up and announced, “The babies are plentiful, but the workers are few.” We have been praying for the Lord to rise up more workers. Did you know that six people responded that morning and said they will help wherever there is a need? So I say it again, “We are a blessed church.” Thank you for having the attitude that says, “Whatever it takes.”
Do you know that those babies are going to grow up someday and have a hunger for the gospel of Jesus Christ because people who love the Lord are pouring that love into these little ones? Every baby represents a parent that is so grateful for the love you share with their children. The fact that we have a booming children’s department is a direct result of people hungering to know more about Jesus. The parents of these children are being fed the Word of God and lives are being transformed.
Not only are our nurseries and children’s departments growing, but our whole church is growing. We are literally using every square inch of the building. So with all of that said I want to say, “Thank you!” Thank you for allowing God to use you at whatever capacity He is using you. From teaching to cleaning; from cutting the grass to cooking meals; from helping with the youth ministry to calling on the sick; from investing in children beyond the church walls to investing in them within the church walls; there is no task too small in a thriving church. Every person is vital in seeing God unleashed in the atmosphere.
Great days are upon us. Let’s continue to move forward with the “can do” spirit for there is more work to do and more souls to see added to the kingdom.
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
Forgiven to Forgive
John 15:1-12
Jesus gave a powerful instruction on prayer when He prayed “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13). Toward the end of this prayer is the emphasis on forgiveness. The forgiveness I extend to my brother, and the forgiveness I receive from God, are connected. Simply, if I don’t forgive my brother then I can’t expect forgiveness from God. John, in his Gospel account, gives us additional teaching on this. He gives us the Parable of the Vine and the Branch (John 15:1-12). It is describing the oneness we are to have with God. It speaks of the top priority of my life – oneness with God. Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches. The branch and the vine are entwined together. You cannot tell where one leaves off and the other begins. And yet they are both separate and different. The branch looks like a little vine. It has the bark of the vine, and it bears the fruit of the vine. It is not the vine yet they are still together as one. How can we experience that kind of a relationship with Jesus?
As we begin to read the passage, the word abide or remain seems to be the key. How can I remain in Jesus? “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9). Oneness with God is connected with remaining (abiding), and remaining is connected to His love. How can I continue in His love? By keeping His commandment (John 15:10). What is His commandment? “My commandment is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Oneness with God hangs on my oneness with others. I cannot love God without loving others. It is what we looked at on Sunday as we looked at the greatest commandment.
Let me lay this out to you. You are to love the person who cut in front of you as you were driving to work. You are to love the person who took the cart from you at Wal-Mart. You are to love the person who hurt you many years ago. You are to love your husband for better or for worse. It’s not a multiple choice answer. I had to throw that in there. I guess it applies to husbands loving their wives as well. You are to love that person who continues to turn their back on you when you did nothing to deserve it. Are you getting the message? God has attached Himself to each one of those scenarios. My intense love for God will give me the desire and strength to love the unlovable in my life.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:46-48, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus is calling you to be perfect as He is. The only way we can do that is to remain in Him and allow Him to spill out of us in every situation. I believe you can live that way today. If Jesus said it, then you can do it. Read John 15:1-17 today and allow the Lord to speak to you.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to cherish the one who brought you into this world. Come to worship this weekend with great anticipation that God will begin a new work in you. May the God of peace fill your hearts with joy and peace today as you prove to the world that Jesus is alive and living in you.
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
www.findlayfirstnaz.org
