Striking It Rich

Striking It Rich

Have you ever watched the show, “Let’s Make a Deal!”? I remember watching this show when I was younger and trying to imagine what I would do with the money if I were to strike it rich. There are many people today who dream of “striking it rich.” Can I share with you today that many people are already rich and don’t realize it because they keep watching for their earthly riches to arrive? Stop the fantasizing and let’s look at what God’s Word says about being rich.

If you are a child of God, you’ve already struck it rich. You have been given a treasure that is accessible to you for the rest of your life. All you have to do is learn how to tap into the resources available to you.

In Colossians 3:16, the apostle Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Richly comes from the Greek word plousios that describes the following: extreme wealth, incredible abundance, great prosperity, and immense riches. Are you getting the picture? Paul is saying that if we get into the Word of God and allow the Word of God to get into us, then it will enrich us spiritually and make us billionaires.

I know you are asking, “How can the Word make us spiritually rich?" Paul continues to tell us what the Word can produce in us if we allow it. He says, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

These words describe someone so full of the Word of God that their entire being is affected – hearts are full of joy, minds are flooded with wisdom and understanding, and mouths singing praises. Looks to me like Paul is saying that these people have struck it rich spiritually!

When the Word of God comes into your life with full authority and dwelling in your heart, it enriches you with the wisdom, gifts, and the power you need for today. You are so full of God that He comes spilling out on all who come near. When you are filled with the Word you can’t contain its life-giving flow. By using the word “richly” in this verse, Paul is painting a picture of what the Word of God will produce for you if you allow it to live in your heart and mind.

So if you are feeling spiritually weak and tired, don’t take another step without making the decision to let God’s Word play a major role in your life. If you do, you will instantly become a spiritual billionaire! Then you can be generous with your words and your efforts.

Ponder today how you can give God’s Word the priority it should be in your life.

As I was praying today, I felt the need to give the Word of God a priority in this devotional. I was tempted to write about the filthy Grammy Awards and how Christians struggle on how to live out their faith in an increasingly secular world. One minute we are outraged by a secular society pushing the envelope and then we do nothing about it. TV networks and politicians count on us to postpone our actions after our anger has subsided. They know we will go right back and support another show or buy another product they endorse or vote for them because of other issue. I feel better that I didn’t pull my soap box out. Just live your life according to the Word of God, stand strong in this compromising world, and do all things with Jesus leading the way. Then you will know the Will of God and His Holy ways.

I’m looking forward to a great day on Sunday. Pray the snow will hold off so we can all come and worship as one.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Called To Be Holy

Called To Be Holy

God says, “Be holy because I am holy.” Sounds like a pretty tall order to live a holy life. In 1 Peter 1:1-12, Peter is celebrating the gift of salvation only found in the saving work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the inheritance of believers and focuses on their ever-increasing joy in God. Based on the privilege we have to live in the days when God’s promises are being fulfilled, Peter calls believers to a holy life based on what God has already done. Look at 1 Peter 1:13-21 with me from the Message Paraphrase:

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

You call out to God for help and He helps—He’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, He’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew He was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

First, God has given us an unshakable hope in Jesus Christ so we are to fix our hope completely on what Christ has done. That means reorienting our thinking and live our lives in full trust of God’s promises and provisions. Second, we are to live different lives as God’s chosen people, conforming our lives to God’s character. Our holiness is not based on how good we are, it is based on how good God is through us. God calls us out but does so under His power. So it is not something that needs to be mustered up by the individual. I Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” God not only calls us but provides a way out of the darkness. Third, we are to live in fear. Our Father in Heaven is also our judge who will do the right thing at the end of our earthly existence. Good old fashioned fear of the consequences of life is a healthy mindset to live within.

So, roll up your sleeves and trust fully in God for the resources to live a holy life that is pleasing to Him. He has already done the work. All we need to do is empty ourselves out and be filled with the Spirit of God.

May your day be filled with indescribable peace because of your unflinching dedication to follow God’s Word.

Looking forward to a great day on Sunday as we, “Take Hold of Life.”

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

What You Should and Should Not Do

What You Should and Should Not Do

Today as I was reading the Bible, I was drawn to Philippians 2. This chapter is rich in focusing our heart and minds on being content with life as it unfolds before us. Each one reading this devotional has an excuse to complain or be taken back by someone. Life happens and sometimes it doesn’t happen very well. Look with me at a few verses that can put a proper attitude in your day today.

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:14

Do everything without grumbling or arguing…

Let me remind you today that someone else is having a harder time, or going through a more difficult situation, or even dealing with life and death struggles. God never promised we would be without challenging situations in life. But let me also remind you that God goes with us through whatever trial you are facing. Be faithful. Do nothing out of selfish ambition and do everything without grumbling or arguing. You will be remembered most by how you approached an obstacle standing in your way. God is always faithful to the very end of all things. I just wish some things would end a little sooner than others.

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.

What a relief. God does the work in us. All we have to do is obey and respond to God as we seek Him with all of our heart. I can do that – He leads and I follow.

Looking forward to a great day on Sunday as we, “Take Hold of Life.”

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Victory Beyond Our Circumstances

Victory Beyond Our Circumstances

I love the start of a new year. New resolutions, more pounds to shed (if only I would have lost the ones from last year), new habits to form, and many opportunities to bring glory to God’s name. Then all of a sudden an old problem reappears. Yes, it has returned. The roof that took many months to replace on our church has decided to spring a leak. It’s not even Spring yet (I need to joke in order not to cry). This brings back a flood of memories (pun intended) that aren’t so pleasant. I thought these days were gone. Now I sit at my computer just waiting for the ice to melt and find out what the problem is. Thank the Lord for people like Vaughn Newcomer who is able to help. But there is only so much you can do when the weather wreaks havoc on your roof.

Have you ever been there before? When you think you are through a certain issue, it returns? I thank the Lord it isn’t more serious. But it still is an annoying problem. What do you do?

I first turn to the Scripture and see in Psalm 91:1, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” That’s what I need – rest. I need not fret over this or other issues. I need to rest in the Lord. Shortly after the Israelites crossed through the Sea and the Egyptians had drown, they were complaining of being thirsty (Exodus 17). They had stopped at a place called Rephidim which means, “resting place.”

Rephidim was also the place where the Israelites defeated the Amalekites. It is where  Aaron and Hur kept the hands of Moses lifted up to the Lord as He interceded in prayer. When his hands were up then they were winning the battle. When they were down, they began to lose. It is because of the faithfulness of Moses' intercession and the support of Aaron and Hur that the Israelites were victorious. But there is one other thing we should not fail to remember. It is through the power of our God that we can live and be victorious.

When challenging times come —and they are bound to come — we need to hit it head on with the Spirit, attitude, and presence of the Almighty God. We do that when we rest in Him. I have a list of things that I want to do about this leak but I have to first seek God’s way of handling it. He is the Lord of all things. The enemy will try to get a foothold, but rest assured, he is a defeated foe. I must not re-empower a disempowered devil. I must stand my ground and claim the victory in Christ. I think I will go get a cup and go get a drink of water and show the devil that he is no match for my God.

“The victory is mine,” says the Lord….

As we face another new year, enter it with confidence and know that we are on the winning side. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Rest in Jesus and take your stand against a defeated devil. Drink up…

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

God's Great Love

God’s Great Love

The Prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 9:6-7,

⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

God’s grace in the flesh. As we pondered at the Christmas Eve Service, out of His deep love for you and me, Jesus was willing to leave His majestic realms of glory to enter the realm of humanity. Shedding all His visible attributes that were too much for man's flesh to endure, He dressed Himself in the clothing of a human being and was manifested in the flesh. That little baby in Bethlehem was the eternal, ever-existent God Almighty, who dressed Himself in human flesh so that He could dwell among men and purchase our salvation. Christ did all of this conquer the darkness. He is the Light of life. What a Savior!

As we come to the final days of 2013, I think of the many new faces that have come to be a part of our church. We are so blessed to be having so many new babies added to our families. We are so blessed to see new members come into the church. I also think of the ones who have gone home to be with the Lord and the ones who have been diagnosed with cancer. The enemy will not discourage God’s anointed. We are overcomers! God has many good days in store for us.

Thank you for being an awesome church. My family and I are overwhelmed at the love of Jesus present in our fellowship.

May you be found seeking Him in the days ahead…

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Four Essential Ingredients: Mission

Mission

We continue to look at the four essential ingredients for a thriving Christian life represented in Acts 2. This is where we see the very first church focused on the four ingredients necessary to grow together – nurture, worship, community, and mission. In order to grow as vibrant Christians, we need to make sure we place these as a priority in our faith journeys.

In Acts 2:42-47, it says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Have you ever heard of Christmas caroling after Christmas? That is what a particular small group did one time. Since the retail stores are jumping the gun by getting ready for Christmas shopping in October, a small group decided to extend the message of the Christ child a few days after Christmas. Their witness sparked curiosity and they were able to share the love of Christ. Another small group adopted a missionary together. They took turns writing notes of encouragement and sending small gifts on special days. The people in these small groups took serious the fourth component of a thriving Christian life — they were involved in mission together. Everyone doesn’t have to do the same thing in order to be involved in missions. It is probably impossible for that to take place since we have different spheres of influence.

All through the book of Acts we see where groups came together to serve and minister to the needs of people around them. It looks like sometimes it was the whole church and then other times it was a smaller group of people. The point is, we all need to be serving. Let’s look in Acts at different examples where this took place.

Acts 1 – Having been promised the Holy Spirit and commanded to be Christ’s witnesses locally and worldwide, the Twelve gathered with several women and Jesus’ brothers to pray. After they prayed they began to preach. An incredible revival broke out and 3,000 were added to their number.

Acts 4 – As the believers began to mature, they became one in heart and soul, and all they possessed belonged to each other. There was no one who had need. The Apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and grace was upon them all. They began to experience authentic community and all the material needs of each other were met. The word spread and God was glorified.

Acts 6 – A group of people started complaining because a small group of widows were being overlooked. People were extended so the Twelve decided to create a small group of seven to help with the issue. It was a simple task but it met a big need and oversight. This let them focus of the most important task – prayer and the ministry of the word.

You can continue to see this thread of mission throughout the book of Acts (Acts 13, 15, 16-17, 24).

Mission is sharing the good news of Christ’s love in word and deed. We must individually and together, reach beyond ourselves. Starting this January, we are going to give people an opportunity to be a part of a group that will mature together in the faith and minister in word and deed. Are you a part of a group that is mission oriented for Christ’s sake?

In order to follow the first Church's example, we are going to encourage people to be a part of a Discipleship Class and then breaking it down smaller into a Disciple Group. Each class could have several Disciple Groups in them. This will allow our classes to get larger while still keeping the smaller feel. It is going to be amazing to see these groups ignite with the passion of Christ.

This past Sunday was tremendous as we saw the church choir sing in the service. Unfortunately there were several who were not able to come because of the snow storm. This Sunday will be a great day. It is our Christmas Sunday Celebration. A special quartet will open up the service. You may remember this quartet from last year. Come and see the new song they will perform. Also, I keep forgetting to mention that I have done a tradition for 26 years in each church I have been in. All the men are encouraged to wear red socks. I will be wearing mine so join me as we bring in the Christmas Sunday with our red socks.

Come out tonight and enjoy a Christmas Concert at 7:00 p.m. It has become part of our celebration each year.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike