April 2022

Daily Devotion April 2022

4/30/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/pYho4QQWJNI

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then . . . (completion at the end)

Today we go back in the archives of devotionals and share one from 1/18/19:

In Matthew 13, Jesus gives the parable of the farmer scattering seed. In verse 12 Jesus said, "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them." Considering what comes next, I believe this means listening with a soft heart—a heart that is pliable, a heart that has surrendered to God and is willing to be formed into anything God desires.

Verses 14 and 15 continue with the following words of Jesus, “This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' “

There are some serious consequences when we harden our hearts:

· When we hear the pastor speak, the words don't penetrate our hearts any longer.

· When we read God's word, the Holy Spirit no longer speaks through the words to our heart.

· We no longer hear God telling us to turn to him and let him heal us.

Brothers and sisters, let's keep our hearts soft toward God listening for his voice and obeying as he directs us to take action in some area of our lives.

Verse Completion: . . . go to a prophet asking for a message. Ezekiel 14:4 (NLT)

4/29/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/Kf9ed6qwlaI

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they . . .(completion at the end)

Jim Cymbala is the minister of the Brooklyn Tabernacle located in downtown Brooklyn, New York City. He tells the following story:

It was Easter Sunday, and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people.

As I was sitting there, I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?”

We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here’s a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine.”

He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I’d never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t inhale facing him.

I asked him, “What’s your name?”

“David.”

“How long have you been on the street?”

“Six years.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-two.”

He looked fifty—hair matted, front teeth missing, wino, eyes slightly glazed. “Where did you sleep last night, David?”

“Abandoned truck.”

I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out thinking, “I’ll give him some money.” I won’t even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don’t give money to people; we take them to get something to eat. I took the money out.

David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.”

I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels.

But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me! Forgive me! Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!”

Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell.

Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in six days.

He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing, and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford.

A year later, David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter, we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey.

And I was so close to saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy preacher.” We can get so full of ourselves.

Lord, thank you for sending others our way. May we never stop seeing them as Your precious children no matter how busy or tired we become. Amen.

Verse Completion: . . . saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Hebrews 11:13 (NLT)

4/28/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

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

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s final message in his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with “Learn to Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit.” Galatians gives us at least four lessons that need to be learned in order for us to stay in step with the Holy Spirit. The first is we can expect to face a challenge. There is a war between the flesh and the Spirit that takes place inside of us. The second is there is a need for carnality to be crucified. We are to put to death the deeds of the body.

Sometimes people deny their carnality; they deny they are living in the flesh. That is a quick way to lose the fulness of the Holy Spirit. When we deny that we got angry, were jealous, or gossiped about someone, we deny our carnality. We’re not being truthful. We must always deal with carnality when we see it lived out in our lives.

Galatians 6:1-2 tells us: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The third lesson we need to learn is there is character that needs to be developed. Galatians 5:22-26 says: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Character is what’s inside of us. Character is what we are in the dark. Character is what we are when we are away from home. Character is the heart of who we really are. Character change is from the inside out. When there’s carnality inside of us, a change has to take place that starts inside of us.

The fruit of the Spirit are character descriptions. The Spirit works with us to develop our character so there’s love instead of selfishness, joy instead of unhappiness, peace instead of discord, patience instead of anger, kindness instead of cruelty, goodness instead of meanness, faithfulness instead of inconsistency, gentleness instead of harshness, and self-control instead of an undisciplined life. We have to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to develop these character qualities in us so we become more and more like Jesus.

We are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. Quite a transformation takes place from a caterpillar to a butterfly, and quite a transformation takes place as we are changed to be like Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. There’s a change in life, because there’s a change in character. The Holy Spirit brings about the formation of godly character. It’s formed over time. It’s a process.

The fourth lesson we need to learn is there is a church to be built. Galatians 5:13-15 says: For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. In 6:1 it says: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Spirit-filled people serve one another in love. To be like Jesus is to serve. To be like Jesus is to love.

There’s a church to be built so don’t fight people in your church. Love those who are in your church. Hebrews 12:14,15 says: Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.

We are to work to restore those who sin, not criticize them. We are to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. Gifts are given to us by God to be used to build up the church (see 1 Corinthians 12). Cooperate with the Holy Spirit to build the church. Each one of us is called to contribute to the church by using the gifts God has blessed us with. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you into a ministry of building the church.

Galatians 6:7-10 says: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

What are you sowing in your life? Are you sowing to the Spirit or sowing to your sinful nature? Let’s be filled with the Spirit. Let’s be full of the Spirit as Stephen was in Acts 5:55, 56: But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Verse Completion: . . . have copied the standards of the nations around you. Ezekiel 11:12b (NLT)

4/27/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/XRW-jr_PnbQ

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: For God’s will was for us to be made holy by . . . (completion at the end)

On Monday, Pastor Del McKenzie concluded his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his twenty-seventh talk titled “Learn to Keep in Step with 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, being our comforter, the one who brings conviction, the one who brings unity, the one who brings assurance, the one who guards us, the one who leads us, the one who gives us hope, the one who sanctifies us, the one who puts to death the misdeeds of the body, the one who gives gifts, the one who gives peace, the one who gives joy, the one who gives rest, the one who transforms, the one who gives understanding, the one who enables money management, and the one you can be filled with.

Sometimes people think being filled with the Holy Spirit will make them perfect. They find they aren’t perfect, so they pretend to be perfect. They act how they think spiritual people should act and go around saying “Hallelujah” and “Praise the Lord”. Rather than admit they had slipped back into a self-controlled life, they pretend to live a Spirit-controlled life.

We have to learn to keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:26 says: If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit (ESV). We have to learn to walk in the Spirit so we can stay filled with the Spirit. How often do you speak to the Holy Spirit? The essence of keeping in step with the Spirit is building a relationship with him. Relationships are built with conversations. When was your last conversation with the Holy Spirit?

Galatians gives us at least four lessons that need to be learned in order for us to stay in step with the Holy Spirit. First, we can expect to face a challenge. Galatians 5:16, 17 says: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. There is a war between the flesh and the Spirit that takes place inside of us.

We have a sinful nature. Galatians 5:13 says: For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. We can indulge our sinful nature. We can do what our sinful nature tells us to do. We can give way to our sinful nature. Our sinful nature has desires, but those desires are opposite from what God desires. Consequently, there’s a battle that rages inside of us.

We can identify some of the desires of our sinful nature in Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. These behaviors come out of attitudes. Attitudes reveal our inner nature.

To be filled with the Spirit, we have to submit the control of our will to the Holy Spirit. Our sinful nature will challenge that control; it will challenge that submission we make. Our sinful nature is constantly wanting to play the game “King of the Hill” like we used to play when we were kids. As kids we would try to push any other kid off our hill because we were king of it. Our sinful nature tries the same thing with us. We have to choose who we are going to allow to be king of the hill—our sinful nature or the Holy Spirit.

After we invite Jesus into our life to be Lord and Savior, we can expect to be attacked by Satan. Attacks come in the form of temptations. None of us are exempt from temptations. Even Jesus was tempted to sin, but unlike us he never sinned. We should expect temptations to come our way. We should expect them to persist. We shouldn’t expect temptations to cease once we are filled with the Spirit. Learn to walk with the Holy Spirit through the temptations that come your way. Trust the Spirit to give you victory in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:56-58 tells us: The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

The second lesson we need to learn is there is a need for carnality to be crucified. Romans 8:13 says: For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 12:1, 2 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Sometimes we are tempted to compare ourselves to someone else, but that can get us into trouble. Each person is unique. Each person has a different background. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus—the founder and perfecter of our faith.

Our sinful nature can push us into being carnal. We see an example of this with Peter’s conduct in Galatians 2:1-14. We can look at our own lives and find times when our sinful nature pushed us into carnality. Carnality is when we live according to the sinful nature.

Romans 6:6-11 says: We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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

Verse Completion: . . . the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:10 (NLT)

4/26/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/w5ryOO_By1I

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: They will look for peace but not find it. Calamity will follow calamity; rumor will follow rumor. They will look in vain for a vision from the prophets. They will receive . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon titled “The Cleansing Blood of Christ” based on Isaiah 1:18. Today we will begin a recap of that message. Romans 3:23 says: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Ephesians 2:8, 9 says: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Psalm 103:12 says: He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 says: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

We are new creations through Christ. Jesus enters our life, and our sins are taken away. We are forgiven. When God looks at us, he sees us as pure. The sin that stained us is gone. Jesus doesn’t hold our sins against us. He doesn’t shame us with our sins. Jesus says we are pure rather than worthless. Jesus declares us holy, set apart from the world. Jesus reconciles us.

Romans 8:1, 2 says: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

What happens after we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior and we sin? Romans 6:14-18 says: Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Sin no longer has power over us. Sin can no longer control us. Our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus. They can no longer give us pain, shame, regret, or feelings of worthlessness. 1 John 1:8-10 says: If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

When we invite Jesus into our life, he restores us; he renews us. He reverses the effects of our sins. There can still be physical consequences of our sins. There can still be earthly consequences of our sins. However, Jesus no longer wants us to feel shame, guilt, or worthlessness for the sins he has forgiven.

There is no Plan B for your life; there is only Plan A. Jesus loves you, and he has a wonderful plan for your life—Plan A. There’s no sin so bad that Christ’s blood can’t cover it. When Jesus enters your life, he restores you. He forgives your sins, and they will never be held against you again. They have disappeared. There’s no reason to feel worthless; Jesus gives you worth. You have so much worth—Jesus gave his life for you!

In God’s Plan A for your life, he wants to use you to build his kingdom. You haven’t blown God’s plan for your life! Join Jesus today in his Plan A for your life.

Once you have invited Jesus into your life and you are living God’s Plan A for your life, then praise God for redeeming you. Psalm 103:1-13 says:

Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD ; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Jesus has come to make us pure again no matter what we have done in the past. Jesus gives you worth. You are worth every drop of Christ’s blood that he shed for you. You are worth every bit of love that God has ever poured out on anyone. You are worth just as much as any other person God created. Jesus died for you. He died for your sins. He died for that which causes you pain, shame, guilt, and regret. Don’t hold on to your sins any longer. Give them to Jesus who takes your sins away and restores you to a right relationship with him. He will give you a new nature. Remember that your sins have not wrecked God’s Plan A for your life.

Verse Completion: . . . no teaching from the priests and no counsel from the leaders. Ezekiel 7:25b, 26 (NLT)

4/25/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/SLAwq29bXdk

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: . . . Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday Pastor Michael’s sermon was titled “The Cleansing Blood of Christ” based on Isaiah 1:18. Today we will begin a recap of that message.

Have you ever wanted to turn back the clock so you would be able to correct some regrets you have in your life? Have you ever said, “I wish I hadn’t . . .” or “I wish I could reverse my decision to . . .”? We all have regrets! We’ve all done things we wish we hadn’t done. Some of the things we did as youngsters we did because we had no fear. As we get older and look back on our life, we relabel some of our “no fear” moments as “no wisdom” moments. Some of our foolish actions as young people have consequences as we age.

The decisions we made in the past affect who we are today. They can affect us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We sometimes ask ourselves, “Why was I so stupid? What made me think that was a good idea? What made me think that action would not have consequences? Why didn’t I listen to the advice of those who were older and wiser? Why didn’t I listen to God?”

Some of our poor decisions have minor consequences. Some of our poor decisions have severe consequences. The consequences of some decisions don’t linger for very long while other consequences never seem to leave us. A lot of our “wish I hadn’t” choices are forgotten while others are never forgotten because they cause us deep pain, deep regret, and deep shame. Sometimes our regrets leave us with a sense of uselessness or worthlessness. We say to ourselves, “You must be the most stupid person in the world. I can’t think of anyone with less sense than you.” If you continue to beat yourself up for the bad decisions you made in your life, if you continue to have the wrong understanding of who God is, if you continue to have the wrong understanding of what sin is, and if you continue to have the wrong understanding of what forgiveness is, your life can spiral down in a hurry!

Does God have a best plan for your life, a Plan A for your life? If we ruin Plan A because of sin in our life, then what? Does God have a Plan B for us? If we ruin Plan B, does God have a Plan C? How many plans does God have for our life? Do we have less worth in God’s kingdom because of a bad decision we have made at some point in our life?

When God created Adam and Eve, they were without sin. Their hearts were pure. They were clean before God. God told them they were allowed to eat of any of the fruit in the Garden of Eden except the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. God said if they ate from that one tree, they would die. The serpent said, “You won’t die. God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Both Adam and Eve ended up eating the forbidden fruit. They sinned by disobeying God.

Romans 3:23 says: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Galatians 5:19-21 says: When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

We have all been stained by sin, and that’s a problem! Romans 6:23 says: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Sin separates us from God. A spiritual death takes place when we sin.

James 2:10 says: For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. One sin will stain our whole life as one drop of food coloring will stain all the water in a jar.

When we sin we attempt to get rid of the sin by trying to cover it up so the sin can’t be seen by God or others. We may try good works. We may try to be religious by going to church. We may read the Bible on a regular basis. We may pray often. We may attempt to be a good, moral person. However, none of these things take away our sins! It’s like adding more and more water to a jar with water that has been stained with food coloring—the food coloring just won’t go away. We are unable to get rid of the sins in our life. All of our attempts to get pure before God do not work. The reason is sin still stains our character; we have a sin nature.

Ephesians 2:8, 9 says: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Romans 5:8 says: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. It’s the blood of Jesus on the cross that is able to get rid of the sin stain we have in our life. Nothing else will do. We should have been on the cross dying for our own sins, but Christ in his love chose to die in our place. He’s the only one who could die in our place because he was the only one who lived a sinless life. Only the blood of Jesus can cover our sins so they are gone—completely wiped out. The blood of Jesus gets rid of all of our sins.

Isaiah 1:18 says: “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” Jesus takes away our sins.

Psalm 103:12 says: He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. They will never meet. When Jesus enters our life by our invitation, he takes away our sins. The stain of sin is gone. Our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice is sufficient to accomplish that which we can not do. When Jesus enters our life, he takes away our pain of sin, our shame of sin, and our guilt of sin. We are not useless to God. Jesus restores us to purity. He gives us a new nature.

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

Verse Completion: . . . bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27b (NLT)

4/23/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/LrhSjP5988E

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again . . . (completion at the end)

Today we are going back in the archives of our devotionals to January 15, 2019. These were pre-COVID times. We might be tempted to look back on them as the good ol’ days, but were they? Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). We all face difficult times in our life. If this happens to be one of those times for you, I hope the following words will encourage you:

Today I was reading Matthew 11:28-30:

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

Sometimes it seems like life is full of burdens. It may appear like life has you either taking on a burden, carrying a burden, or finally getting rid of a burden. When we're carrying the burden, the good news is there is a place we can take our heavy burdens (and some of us are carrying VERY HEAVY burdens at the present time), and that is to Jesus. And what do we find there? Rest for our souls. And that's exactly what we need. When we come to Jesus, he doesn't pile on more weight; he lightens our load so the load is easy to bear.

My prayer for today is, "Lord, be with those carrying a burden so heavy they don't know if they can take another step without collapsing. I pray you would lift that load they are carrying so they are able to continue on. You have told us you won't give us more than we can bear, and some of our brothers and sisters are at full capacity. So we ask you to give them rest. May we cast all our cares on you knowing you care for us. May we feel your presence. Give us the strength we need to make it through the difficult situation we are facing. In the powerful and loving name of Jesus. Amen.”

Verse Completion: . . . remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Hebrews 10:16, 17 (NLT)

4/22/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/2fs760h4yI4

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Then you will say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says!’ Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del’s message titled “Being Filled with the Holy Spirit.” There are at least five principles of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The first is there has to be a desire to be filled. The second is we need to deal with all known sin.

The third principle is we need to die to self. Our old nature is a sinful nature. It likes to be the boss. It likes to draw attention to itself. It likes to be in control of other people. It likes to nurture self-pity.

Romans 12:1, 2 says: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Sacrifices are put to death. We are to die to our old selves. Galatians 2:20 says: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Holy Spirit must be allowed to be in control of our lives. The Holy Spirit must be free to glorify Jesus, not us. If we want the Holy Spirit to fill us so people will pay more attention to us and say, “Look how spiritual he is!” then we have it all wrong. All glory goes to God, not us. Self-glory must die. Self-promotion must die. Self-pleasing must die. Self-will must be put to death. Self-pity must be put to death. We must come to the point where we submit totally to God. We submit our ambitions, motives, desires, longings, thoughts, attitudes, and everything else to God. Nothingis kept under our control. Submission is voluntary. We yield to the one we love and appreciate. Our homes should be places of mutual submission.

Submission to God needs to be total, voluntary, and final. We give everything to God and don’t attempt to take anything back once it’s given. Everything we have is God’s to use as he pleases.

The fourth principle is there has to be a definite asking to be filled. Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). We are asking God to give us something he wants to give us when we ask for the Holy Spirit. Have you ever prayed, “Father God, fill me with the Holy Spirit”?

Jeremiah 29:13 says: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Hebrews 11:6 says: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Asking is based on the Father’s supply. Acts 2:33, 39 says: 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” All who ask for the Holy Spirit will receive.

The fifth principle is there needs to be a declaration of the reception of the Holy Spirit. We do this by faith. Galatians 3:2 says: I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? We receive the Holy Spirit by faith. We ask him to enter us. Wouldn’t it be strange to ask someone to join you for dinner at your house, and then you greeted them at the door but never invited them in? It’s just as strange in the spiritual realm when people talk to the Holy Spirit, but they never invite him into their being. Receiving the Holy Spirit is verbalizing the invitation. The invitation can be given many times.

John 1:12, 13 says: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

When did you receive the Holy Spirit?

Someone has put it this way:

This is the faith that appropriates, having met the conditions. Reckon the thing done. Wait not for any sound or cornet or flame. But go forth to live and work, not trying to feel filled, but daring to believe that you are filled and that that feeling will become to you an experience more real than any which there is in all of the universe.

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we declare it. And then we go to live in the light of that reception and declaration. When the devil accuses you of not being filled with the Holy Spirit, remind him of the words of Jesus, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

If you have asked for the Holy Spirit to fill you, but your life hasn’t changed, go back over these five principles and make sure you have met the conditions. Perhaps there are some hidden sins you have not dealt with. Make sure you do your part, and God will surely do his part.

Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? When was that filling initiated? When were you last filled with the Holy Spirit? If you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit, will you receive the filling by faith and declare that you have met the conditions?

Verse Completion: . . . refuse, for they are rebels. Ezekiel 3:27b (NLT)

4/21/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/0gGa1w_bnvM

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to . . . (completion at the end)

On Monday, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his twenty-sixth talk titled “Being Filled with 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, being our comforter, the one who brings conviction, the one who brings unity, the one who brings assurance, the one who guards us, the one who leads us, the one who gives us hope, the one who sanctifies us, the one who puts to death the misdeeds of the body, the one who gives gifts, the one who gives peace, the one who gives joy, the one who gives rest, the one who transforms, the one who gives understanding, and the one who enables money management.

We can be filled with food, self-importance, self-pity, and so many other things, but of utmost importance is being filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit means being possessed by him and controlled by him. It means the Holy Spirit is Superintendent of my life.

Being filled with the Spirit is a command. Ephesians 5:18 says: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. One of the reasons for being filled with the Spirit is the Holy Spirit fills us with the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 says:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The Holy Spirit was sent to communicate the fullness of God to us.

How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? There are things we can do whether it’s an initial filling of the Holy Spirit, a renewed filling, or an expanded filling. An expanded filling is similar to blowing up a balloon. We can blow a balloon up to have a diameter of three inches, and the balloon will be full of air. But then we can blow more air into the same balloon so it has a six-inch diameter. We say the balloon is full of air, but that doesn’t mean more air can’t be put into it. We can always expand to receive more of the Holy Spirit. Remember that in the first four chapters of Acts, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit three times.

Let’s look at five principles of being filled with the Holy Spirit. First, there has to be a desire to be filled. Apathy will keep us from being filled. If we are content to be empty, we will stay empty. If we are content to be powerless, we will stay powerless. If we are content to be defeated, we will stay defeated.

Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37). Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit here.

Isaiah 41:17-20 says: “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Isaiah 44:3, 4 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. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

When our hearts are dry and thirsty, the Holy Spirit responds. An appetite for the Holy Spirit is essential for being filled with the Spirit. Thirst is an appetite. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Psalm 107:8, 9 says: Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

If we don’t have a desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we won’t be interested in following any of the other principles. The world is in great need of the ministry of the Holy Spirit! We need to develop the desire to walk with the Holy Spirit through life. A key part of developing such a desire is by meditating on Scripture. The Holy Spirit reveals the meaning of Scripture to us, and we see our need for the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. We know the fullness of God through the fulness of the Holy Spirit.

The second principle is we need to deal with all known sin. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and 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” (John 14:15-17). Without obedience our asking is useless. Without obedience the desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit will fade away. Obedience is essential.

Peter and the apostles said to the Sanhedrin, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God.

How do we deal with sin? Psalm 32:5 says: 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.

We have to acknowledge our disobedience and confess it before we can be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Putting off our old self is like taking off dirty clothes. Putting on the new self is like putting on clean clothes. Dirty clothes represent our disobedience to God. Clean clothes represent our obedience to God.

Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23, 24).

We can’t cleanse ourselves from sin, but we have to be willing to give up sin. In addition, we have to set our will against sin; we have to renounce sin. We accept the blood of Christ to cover our sin.

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

Verse Completion: . . . intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25 (NLT)

4/20/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

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

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? Instead, let us . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we continued the recap of Pastor Michael’s Easter Sunday sermon titled “The Victorious Death of Jesus” based on Colossians 2:13-15 and 1 Corinthians 15:12-28.

Jesus could make atonement for the sins of the people because he was perfect; he never sinned. Satan realized that Jesus had come to pay the penalty of sin for humanity, and he did not want that to happen. He attempted to derail Jesus from his mission. This is why the devil tempted Jesus in the desert (see Matthew 4:1-11), and throughout his entire life. He kept trying to get Jesus to sin. If Jesus sinned, he could not pay the penalty of sin for humanity. Satan would still have power and control. Sin and death would reign over humanity.

Since Jesus did not sin, Satan planned to destroy Jesus, to kill Jesus. Satan was successful in using people to kill Jesus on the cross. What Satan did not know or understand was that the killing of Jesus on the cross was, in fact, God’s plan all along! It was the way in which Jesus would pay the penalty of sin and redeem humanity from the power of Satan and death! Colossians 2:13-15 says: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

It was by the death of Jesus that Satan was disarmed! The power of Satan over humanity was broken. He did not have any hold on humanity. People could receive salvation from sin because of Jesus. Jesus paid the penalty of sin. He canceled the charge of our indebtedness. He paid the price required for sin – death. He shed his

blood for us! Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Jesus represented humanity and was able to pay the price because of his perfect blood that was shed. Satan’s condemnation of mankind has been nailed to the cross. It is over. Satan has been defeated on earth as he was in heaven. Jesus triumphed over Satan for humanity! While Jesus was dying on the cross, he was putting Satan to shame.

The importance of the death of Jesus on the cross was to disarm Satan by paying the penalty of mankind’s sin. It was paid in full. No more payment is needed. Sin and death have been overcome by the death of Jesus on the cross. The cross symbolizes our freedom from sin, death, and Satan’s curse.

Now we come to the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. 1 Corinthians 15:12-28 says: But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

The resurrection of Jesus is important! Because he arose from the dead, he is alive! The consequence of sin – death – has been done away with! Father God accepted the sacrifice of his Son by raising him from the dead. Jesus is alive and able to forgive us our sins. He is alive and able to give us everlasting life. He is able to restore our relationship with God like it was before sin entered into the world. No more animal sacrifices are needed. No more sacrifices for sins are needed. Jesus paid it ALL! He made the way of salvation for all people. All who believe in him and receive him will be saved. John 3:16-17 says: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 10:9,10 says: 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.

The story doesn’t end here. There’s more! Jesus is coming back to inaugurate his heavenly kingdom—his eternal kingdom! Rom 16:20 says: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Rev 22:20 says: He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

One day, sin and Satan will be banished to hell. Heaven will begin where there will be only goodness and God, just like at the beginning of creation.

It was the consequences of the fruit taken from the tree of good and evil that caused mankind to fall into the power of sin, death, and Satan. It was the consequence of the fruit of the tree, called the cross, that provided mankind with everlasting life. Jesus died and rose again for the salvation of all mankind. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Will you believe in him? Will you receive him today? Your destiny hinges on your decision.

Verse Completion: . . . test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.. Lamentations 3:39, 40 (NLT)

4/19/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/GnBRrIa25NY

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s Easter Sunday sermon titled “The Victorious Death of Jesus” based on Colossians 2:13-15 and 1 Corinthians 15:12-28.

Sin separated mankind from God. Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden of Eden. They could no longer walk with God. They were separated from God. Now the issue facing mankind was how to get back into a right relationship with God? The answer lie in faith. We can read of some great examples of faith in Hebrews 11 (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, people of Israel, Rahab). Genesis 15:6 says: Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

God made a way whereby the sacrifice of an animal could atone for the sins of a person. Leviticus 17:11 says: For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

In Hebrews 9:22 we read: In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Abel sacrificed an animal; Cain did not. In Genesis 4:4b-7 we read: The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain was not accepted and became angry enough to kill his brother. Murder entered into the world. Genesis 4:8 says: Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Clearly Satan was influencing mankind taking us farther away from God. By the time of Noah, almost all of humanity had no faith to follow God. Noah was the exception. By faith he built a boat, and by faith he and his family were saved. This was a type of reset for humanity. They had a chance to get back into a right relationship with God, but still humanity did not! Consequently, God called Abraham to be set apart for him. God would use Abraham and his family to bring blessing and salvation to the world (see Genesis 12).

The nation of Israel was supposed to live in a right relationship with God so as to show the rest of the world who God was and how to know him. Unfortunately, they failed. We’ve seen this as we have read through the book of Judges.

Then came the kings, but they were no better. God made a covenant with David and his descendants to be kings forever. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David (see Matthew 1).

We had the Noahic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant, and Davidic Covenant, but Israel could not live up to any of the covenants. No person on earth could. There had to be the continual sacrifice of animals in order to pay for sins and follow the law. The law could not bring salvation because no one could follow it perfectly well. No amount of working could bring salvation to mankind. No amount of self-goodness could bring forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. There was a continual cycle of sin and sacrifice. It seemed like Satan was winning the war with humanity. The power of sin and death was still at work in humanity.

We were created to live eternally with God. What mankind needed was a way to get back into a right relationship with God. So far nothing seemed to be working.

The penalty for sin had to be paid by mankind because they had sinned against a holy God. There was no one on earth who could pay that penalty. Romans 3:23 says: . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . Things were looking hopeless for humanity, until Jesus enters the world as a human being. Jesus is God with skin on. He took humanity upon himself.

We find a description of Christ in Philippians 2:6-11: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The coming of Jesus to earth is the Christmas story. He first appeared as a human baby born in Bethlehem. His purpose was to pay the penalty of sin for us. Romans 5:8 says: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Hebrews 2:14-18 says: Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus could make atonement for the sins of the people because he was perfect; he never sinned. Heb 4:15 says: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Tomorrow we will continue Pastor Michael’s Easter Sunday sermon with the third and final part.

Verse Completion: . . . unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Hebrews 6:18a (NLT)

4/18/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/ObvvXb55Y48?t=4

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has not abandoned Israel and Judah. He is still their God, even though . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday Pastor Michael’s Easter Sunday sermon was titled “The Victorious Death of Jesus” based on Colossians 2:13-15 and 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. Today we will start a 3-day recap of that message that essentially covered the Bible in one sermon.

Our whole faith and the fate of the world hangs upon Easter Sunday. We wouldn’t be gathered here today if Jesus hadn’t died and risen from the grave. Jesus is the reason for our hope of everlasting life. The death and resurrection of Jesus is central to life on Earth and life after Earth.

Today let’s answer two questions:

1. Why is the death of Jesus on the cross so important?

2. Why is his resurrection of Jesus so important?

Without the death and resurrection of Jesus, there is no hope for mankind to have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.

Let’s begin at the beginning with Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God . . . God has always existed. He is self-existent. God is not created; he is the Creator. God is the first cause of creation. Even if you want to say it started with a big bang, God was the initiator of the substance and the event of the big bang. There had to be something to go bang. God was the provider of that something. God is the creator of life.

In heaven with God are his holy angels. God created the angels. Colossians 1:16 says: For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Psalm 148:1-6 says: Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.

One of the angels created by God was Satan. He was created by God to serve God. Ezekiel 28:16-17 says: Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

Satan did not want to serve God. Satan wanted to be like God. In fact

Satan wanted to be God. Satan’s sin was pride. 1 Tim 3:6 says: [An overseer] must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

Satan led a rebellion against God in heaven, with some of the other angels. Of course they were not successful, and they were banished from heaven and condemned by God. Revelation 12:7-9 says: Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Isa 14:12-17 says: 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! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

Satan now seeks to oppose all of mankind. 1 Peter 5:8 says: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He has set up his kingdom on earth.

Let’s go back to Genesis 1:1 and complete the verse: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God created the world and all that is in the world, including mankind. God called His creation very good. There was nothing wrong with the world or with mankind who lived in perfect harmony with God, even walking with God in the garden. God, did, however, tell them not to eat of the one tree in all of creation, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were doing very well until Satan came along in the form of a serpent.

In Genesis 3 we read about the fall of Adam and Eve. Because they listened to Satan, they began to doubt God’s word, doubt God’s goodness, and doubt God’s love toward them. They were tempted, and they disobeyed God. This is when sin entered into the world. In Romans 6:23 we read: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Death entered the world—physical and spiritual!

Sin separated mankind from God. Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden of Eden. They could no longer walk with God. They were separated from God. They experienced shame, conflict, toil, struggle, and suffering. All of creation was affected. There was now a continual conflict and war between mankind and Satan. Genesis 3:15 says: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Now the issue facing mankind was how to get back into a right relationship with God?

Tomorrow we will continue Pastor Michael’s Easter Sunday sermon.

Verse Completion: . . . their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. Jeremiah 51:5 (NLT)

4/16/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/2ms-IasUFBs

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Josh Moody’s sermon based on Psalm 20. The theme for this psalm is because the King wins the victory, so shall we. Christ’s victory means we will be victorious. This should give us great confidence and joy. Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

We have been in the last days since the Spirit came at Pentecost. In the last days there will be a special time of difficulty. Why? Because the gospel is flourishing while at the same time there is growing spiritual opposition. When those two clash, there will be special times of difficulty—days of trouble.

May he answer us when we call. Your victory is not directly related to your behavior. Your victory is not primarily related to how good you are as a person. Your victory is not directly related to how many commentaries you have read or your knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Your victory is rooted in and established in the victory of Jesus. Because of that we can celebrate and shout for joy. We’re part of a kingdom with a King, and our King has won the victory. Because the King has won the victory, we will win the victory. This should change the way you look at your life. The bookstores are full of self-help books that give you techniques to follow in order to be victorious.

The Bible says your victory is dependent on God’s victory. If you are a Christian, you are in Christ. Christ has risen, and therefore in Christ you spiritually have been raised from the dead, and on that day of trouble, the day you die, you will rise from the dead to be with Jesus. It won’t be because you were a good person or knew Greek or Hebrew; it will be because Jesus rose from the dead. We’re a kingdom with a King, and we are inextricably connected to Jesus. Jesus won over the grave, and therefore we know we will win over the grave.

How do we put this into practice? First of all, don’t trust in chariots. There’s nothing wrong with chariots, horses, money, health, being creative, having talents and abilities, or education. These are all things God can use, but we’re not to trust in them. It’s so easy for us to trust in our talents, trust in our ability to make money, and so on. What matters is Jesus is King. We are to put our trust in him and his spiritual power to persuade us of his reality.

We’re not to trust in politics or politicians. The king in this passage is not the king of England, the President of the United States, your senator, or your mayor. Your trust is not to be in them. We don’t trust in human kings. D.L. Moody said this in a sermon: “If the question could be put to a popular vote, I do not believe a single state would vote for the coming of Jesus to reign here as he reigns in heaven. I do not believe a single county, a single ward in this city, or a single precinct in this country would vote for Jesus’ coming again. The Republican Party would vote for the biggest criminal on Earth rather than for Jesus. The Democrats would vote solidly against Jesus. Even the Prohibitionists wouldn't want Jesus here. I see some of you shaking your heads. Well, shake them! I'm talking facts.”

Do we really think the President of the United States will save us? What nonsense! Do we really think of the Queen of England will save us? What nonsense! The only king that can save us is King Jesus! That's who we trust!

Whenever the next election comes around, they'll be trying to persuade you that life and death hangs on who you vote for. You know that’s not true! Life and death hangs on who you trust. If you're to be saved, there’s only one you can trust, and his name is Jesus. Don’t trust in chariots or anything else.

We trust in the name of the Lord our God. The name of God is the summation of all his character and virtues—everything that represents who God really is. John 1:1-5, 14 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the expression and reality of God himself. This is who we need to be trusting.

I’d like to read you a description of something that happened over a hundred years ago:

During the 1880s, a group of American ministers visited England prompted especially by the desire to hear some of the celebrated preachers of that land. On a Sunday morning, they attended the City Temple in London where Dr. Joseph Parker was the pastor. Some two thousand people filled the building, and Parker's forceful personality dominated the service. They said his voice was commanding, his language descriptive, his imagination lively, and his manner animated. The sermon was scriptural. The congregation hung upon his words. The Americans came away saying, “What a wonderful preacher is Joseph Parker!”

In the evening they went to hear Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The building was much larger than the City Temple, and the congregation was more than twice the size. Spurgeon's voice was much more expressive and moving and his oratory noticeably superior. But they soon forgot all about the great building, the immense congregation, and the magnificent voice. They even overlooked their intention to compare the various features of the two preachers. And when the service was over, they found themselves saying, “What a wonderful Savior is Jesus Christ!”

Don't trust in chariots. Trust in the name of our Lord; trust in King Jesus. And then shout for joy! Our victory is secure and certain. In this we rejoice!

Verse Completion: . . . themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. Hebrews 6:6b (NLT)

4/15/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/2ms-IasUFBs

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Their captors hold them and refuse to let them go. But the one who redeems them is . . . (completion at the end)

Pastor Josh Moody of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, recently started a series of messages titled “Songs of Victory.” Today we will begin a recap of his second sermon in this series based on Psalm 20:

May theLord answer you in the day of trouble!

Maythe name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary

and give you support fromZion!

3 May he remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!

4 May he grant you your heart's desire

and fulfill all your plans!

5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up ourbanners!

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

withthe saving might of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of theLord our God.

8 They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king!

May he answer us when we call.

Because the King wins the victory, so shall we. This is the theme of this psalm. In the context of the book of Psalms, the king is King David, but the fulfillment of King David is the anointed King—the Messiah, the Christ.

As we look at the context of this psalm, we see God’s people facing a day of trouble—a very bad situation. It is written before victory. They’re not there yet. It’s about to happen. They’re getting themselves ready, and yet they have this kind of confidence. What is the day of trouble you are facing? Is it an exam, a health condition, the global scene we are currently facing, or something else?

Psalms 20 and 21 are a pair; they go together. Psalm 20 is looking ahead to victory with massive confidence because when the King wins the victory, we win the victory. Psalm 21 looks back after the victory has been won.

When we are facing a day of trouble, it’s easy for our emotions to get stirred up causing us to become anxious. In the day of trouble, our emotions need to be trained to connect to the word and connect to the Christ. The Navy SEALs have a saying: You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. We have to prepare and train for the day of trouble so when it happens we aren’t blown off course.

There’s a theological truth in Psalm 20 that isn’t taught much. As Christians, we aren’t merely individuals in our relationship to Jesus, we are part of the community of the church. This is taught, but what isn’t taught is we are part of a kingdom with a King, and his victory means we will be victorious. We’re not just a communitarian group, we’re a community with a King. The King’s victory is our victory. This should give us great confidence and great joy.

Because the King wins the victory, so shall we. We see what gives them confidence in what is said in the first verse, May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!, and what is said in the last verse, May he answer us when we call. In Hebrew the last verse says: May he answer us in the day we call, which mirrors the first verse: May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The day of trouble is the day we call.

We know that the Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem based on what we are told. David has won that victory, but there’s another day of trouble about to happen—a battle with the Syrians. It’s going to be a serious battle because the Syrians have technology the Israelites don’t have. In the seventh verse we read: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. The Israelites were foot soldiers. They were outgunned, outmuscled, and had no chariots or horses to help them in battle. They were facing a real day of trouble, and yet before the battle took place they were confident in their victory. Why? Because when the King wins the victory, they win, too. There’s a sense of celebration even before the battle is fought. They know David is God’s king, and they know he’s going to win. They are a community with a king, and the king is God’s king. That is what gives them confidence.

In the Rocky V movie, Rocky has a talk with his son and says to him, “Look. This life is not a life of roses. There’s going to be trouble and difficulty. You’re going to get hit, but what counts is not how hard you can hit back but how hard you can get hit and still get back up.”

In Psalm 20 there is a confidence based on a spiritual reality reflecting a theological framework. We’re a kingdom with a King. In their context it was King David; in our context it is King Jesus. Because of who is king, we don’t have any doubt as to who is going to win. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

In the middle of the psalm there’s a wonderful conversation that goes on between the king and his people. We’re a kingdom with a King. In the first part of the psalm we have God’s people talking about God’s king. May the Lord answer you(King David) in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you(King David)! May he send you (King David) help from the sanctuary and give you(King David) support from Zion! May [God] remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! May [God] grant you (King David) your heart's desire and fulfill all your (King David’s) plans!

In the fifth verse we read: May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Salvation in this context means victory in the battle that will take place. Banners will we waved in celebration of the victory. May God answer all of David’s prayers (verse 5b).

Now King David starts to speak in Verse 6: Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. David can sense and feel that the people are with him, supporting him.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call. We’re not just individuals; we’re a kingdom with a King. I don’t know what kind of trouble you are facing. Just remember the words of Jesus, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus is King, and we are in his Kingdom! Jesus was victorious, and therefore we will be victorious.

Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Dr. Moody’s sermon with the second half.

Verse Completion: . . . strong. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Jeremiah 50:33b, 34a (NLT)

4/14/2022

Good morning!

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/oAkTN2iiurc

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned . . .(completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del’s message titled “The Holy Spirit Enables Money Management.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says: But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

In Acts 4:31 we read: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. The filling of the Spirit produced results including boldness and unity.

Another result was gracious giving: And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all (4:33).

They didn’t consider their possessions as their own; they considered them as God’s gifts to them. They saw themselves as managers of the gifts God had given them rather than owners of what God had given them. There was a willingness to share their possessions with others. They all shared with each other; it was universal sharing. They met each other’s needs. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need (verse 34). Because they were filled with the Spirit, he enabled them to handle their money in this way. We hinder the work of the Spirit when we refuse to allow him to manage our money.

One great filling of the Spirit will do more for the managing of our money than hours and hours of teaching on the subject. Here are three truths Scripture teaches about giving:

1. Be generous in your giving. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. The Holy Spirit makes us joyful in our giving. The Holy Spirit is a giver. He gives and keeps giving. Giving brings him joy, and it brings us joy when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. All the “ministries” we have been talking about in this series of messages are gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

2. Be systematic in your giving. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2: Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. They were to give when they gathered for worship. We need to be systematic in our giving, not careless in our giving. Many believers toss their gifts around as if they didn’t expect to have to give an account for what they did with their money. Sometimes Christians donate to organizations that squander the money they receive. We have to be discerning in our giving.

Our money is not really our money; it’s God’s money. We have been given the responsibility to manage the money God has put into our hands.

3. Be sacrificial in your giving. Luke 21:1-4: Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

God measures differently from the world. The world measures how much we give; God measures how much we have left after we give.

The Holy Spirit can be obeyed or he can be resisted when it comes to managing our money. Acts 4:36-37: Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. The apostles then used that money to do the work of Jesus in and through them. Barnabas joined Paul as a missionary in spreading the gospel. This gift was the beginning of a great and fruitful ministry. Barnabas’ motive was right. He wasn’t trying to impress people with his gift. He wasn’t giving to satisfy his ego. He gave to please God, honor God, and further God’s kingdom.

Failure to give as the Holy Spirit directs has kept many people from moving into ministry. God is always looking for good managers. When he finds them, he blesses them by giving them more to use for him. They may receive more money, ability, time, or understanding. It was the work of the Holy Spirit in Barnabas’ life that prompted him to sell a field so the apostles would be able to carry on the work they were doing in spreading the Good News.

There’s a very different story in the next chapter that also involves the sale of some land in order to further the work of the apostles (see Acts 5:1-11). We see that Ananias and Sapphira were hypocritical in the handling of the proceeds of the sale of their property. The consequences were severe for being poor money managers. They desired the praise of men while being deceitful. They lied to the Holy Spirit and they tested the Holy Spirit. They put him to the test, and it cost them their lives.

Some people withdraw giving to a church because of a personal gripe they have with the church. They think by doing so it will hurt the church, and may even kill the church. They think their giving is invaluable to the church. Well, it isn’t. When people give with the wrong motives, they don’t help the church. Their giving wasn’t pleasing to the Holy Spirit in the first place.

God’s church is a living church. It’s alive by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He uses consecrated money and blesses those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as he directs their giving. It’s impossible to rob God because everything belongs to God.

John Bunyan wrote the following poem:

A man there was, and they called him mad;

The more he gave, the more he had.

Generous giving, systematic giving, careful giving, giving led by the Holy Spirit is what we are to do. Giving is a great ministry. You can trust the Holy Spirit with your money. Let him guide you in the management of your finances.

Verse Completion: . . . obedience from the things he suffered. Hebrews 5:7b-8 (NLT)

4/13/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/Xrmlv806bGM

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: I will discipline you, but with . . .(completion at the end)

On Monday, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his twenty-fifth talk titled “The Holy Spirit Enables Money Management.” 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, the one who brings conviction, the one who brings unity, the one who brings assurance, the one who guards us, the one who leads us, the one who gives us hope, the one who sanctifies us, the one who puts to death the misdeeds of the body, the one who gives gifts, the one who gives peace, the one who gives joy, the one who gives rest, the one who transforms, and the one who gives understanding.

Zechariah 4:6 says: Then [the angel] said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”(ESV) It takes supernatural power to do spiritual work through an individual or a group of people such as the church.

We can’t worship God without the Holy Spirit. John 4:23-24 says: But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We can’t pray effectively without the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:18a says: praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

We can’t guard the spiritual life in us except by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 1:14 says: By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

We can’t have the peace of God without the Spirit of peace. Romans 14:17 says: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We have hope because of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 says: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

We need to be asking the Holy Spirit to do what he wants to do, trusting him to do what he wants to do, and expecting him to do what he wants to do. Man can build. Man can remodel. Man can promote. Man can organize. Man can advertise. However, man cannot produce life nor get people to heaven. Only God can do these two things.

One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to enable us to manage the money that God puts into our lives. Without the Holy Spirit we will not manage that money as it can and should be managed. Proper money management is one of the great struggles of life. When people would come to talk to me during my pastorates, almost always the topic of money entered the conversation. People don’t seem to know how to get money or how to manage money when they do get it.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 says: But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

John Wesley said, “There are two conversions that need to take place in every person’s life. One is a conversion of his will so it is turned around to do the will of God. The other is a conversion of his pocketbook.” It takes the work of the Holy Spirit to make these two conversions take place.

We need to handle our money in a way that honors God, but our old nature fights against this. We like to manage our money by ourselves. We want to spend our money how we want to spend it without anyone telling us otherwise. Often we don’t do well with the way we handle our money. We don’t trust the Holy Spirit to guide us in what we do with our money. The result is the body of Christ, the Church, is often left struggling. The ministry of the Holy Spirit enables us to manage our money. This is one of the great essentials of life.

The Holy Spirit will influence our giving. This idea comes out of Acts 4. In the first chapter of Acts we have the ascension of Jesus. Jesus had told his followers that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them, and they were to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. In the second chapter we have Pentecost—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that had been prophesied in the Old Testament—with the result of 3,000 people giving their hearts and lives to Christ. In the third chapter we have the healing of the lame man in the Temple. In the fourth chapter we have Peter and John getting into trouble with the religious leaders and their reply of: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19b-20). A few verses later we read: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (verse 31).

There is an initial filling of the Holy Spirit when a person comes to Christ, and there are repeated fillings of the Holy Spirit. In just the first four chapters of Acts we see that Peter was filled with the Spirit four times. We don’t see that they asked to be filled with the Spirit; it just happened while they prayed.

Why do we need to be filled with the Spirit more than once? It’s because our capacity increases; because our need increases. As Peter and John faced opposition, they were able to stand and prevail because of the infilling of the Spirit. We need to be filled again and again because we are imperfect vessels, and we leak.

The filling of the Spirit produced results. One was boldness in witnessing (see 4:20). Another was great unity: Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul (4:32a). Not only were they unified in their spirits, the second part of the verse says: and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. There was unity in their possessions.

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

Verse Completion: . . . justice; I cannot let you go unpunished. Jeremiah 5:7b-8 (NLT)

4/12/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/-fU5KdMBzBs

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon titled “Satan, Supper, and Salvation” based on Luke 22:1-38. God is a God of order and design. He’s a God of truth who prepares the way for us and secures the way for us. Jesus prepared and secured the way for his disciples. When we follow Jesus, we can know that Jesus has prepared and secured the way for us.

Satan works to divide people. The one disciple who is not following Jesus with his heart begins to influence the other eleven disciples who are following Jesus with their hearts.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Satan is about destruction—pulling people apart; ruining lives, deceiving; telling people lies. Jesus is about construction—lifting people up; encouraging people; telling people the truth; putting lives that have been torn apart back together. Satan works to divide. Jesus works to unite. Satan is about destruction and death. Jesus is about construction and life. The kingdom of God is a team. He wants his disciples to start acting like a team.

The kingdom of Satan is all about self-promotion—doing whatever is necessary to get to the top while keeping everyone else below you. The kingdom of God is all about servanthood—putting others before you and building others up.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Satan is real. He wants to destroy Simon and the rest of the disciples, but Jesus is praying for each one of them. We have protection as Jesus prays for us. We like to hear people tell us they are praying for us. Isn’t it great to know Jesus prays for us? Jesus secures the way for us and he protects us along the way.

Jesus is praying that their faith may not fail, but he knows they are going to fall. How do we know that? Jesus said, “And when you have turned back . . .”

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Jesus is telling Peter he is going to fall. Jesus is telling us the same thing. We will fall. We fall every time we stop following Jesus. We fall every time we turn our eyes away from Jesus. Each one of us has fallen. All of us have sinned. But Jesus says, “I’m praying for you that your faith won’t fail.” Just because you fall doesn’t mean you fail. Peter fell when he disowned Jesus three times, but his faith didn’t fail. What did Peter do after he fell? He turned back. He repented of what he had done. He came back to the table of Jesus. When we fall, our faith doesn’t need to fail. We need to turn around from the path we were on and return to Jesus; turn away from Satan and go back to the table. We don’t have to fail when we fall.

Some of us fall hard. Some of us fall often. Nevertheless, we don’t have to fail as Judas did. Like Peter we need to repent of our sins and turn back to Jesus. 1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. When we confess our sins, Jesus welcomes us back to his table for fellowship.

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus is commissioning his disciples again. The kingdom of Satan is real and with that reality comes suffering. One day the kingdom of God will completely replace the kingdom of Satan. Right now the kingdom of Satan is trying to destroy you just as it tried to destroy Jesus. You are going to be faced with opposition to the gospel. We are being called to go into the kingdom of darkness and defeat the darkness. We are told to bring light to the darkness. We have to be discerning. We have to understand that there is a real kingdom of Satan. His kingdom is trying to destroy those of us who follow Christ. We are to bring everything we need with us as we go about building the kingdom of God. We may need to stay in one place for a long time as we do our work for Christ.

The sword we need is the word of God because we are in a spiritual battle with the evil forces of Satan’s kingdom. We want others to be able to enjoy everlasting life with Jesus in paradise. Before we head out into the world to spread the gospel, isn’t it great to know that Jesus goes before us preparing the way and securing the way?

If you are not a follower of Christ, Jesus is inviting you to join him at the table for supper. He wants to forgive your sins and give you everlasting life. You may have fallen by taking your eyes off of Jesus. You don’t have to fail. You can do something about your fall. You can return to Jesus and repent of your sins. Don’t stay in a state of fallenness because that’s when we fail. Come back to Jesus.

Revelation 3:20 has the following words of Jesus: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus is inviting us back to the table with him. The spiritual battle is real, and sometimes we will fall, but Jesus always invites us back to the table to be with him. Jesus loves you. Satan hates you. Get out of Satan’s kingdom. Jesus loves you so much he died for you. Jesus is calling you to the table. Will you answer that call?

Verse Completion: . . . to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)

4/11/2022

Good morning.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

--Charles Studd

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/7asEdmZsSPo

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday Pastor Michael gave a sermon titled “Satan, Supper, and Salvation” based on Luke 22:1-38. Today we will start a recap of that message.

As we have studied the book of Judges, we have seen the downward spiral of humanity. It started out bad and just got uglier and uglier with all the corruption, confusion, chaos, immorality, and sin that was taking place on a national scale. How were the people living in all the sin able to look at it as “normal”? As people leave God and step out of a right relationship with God, life gets ugly!

As people walk away from God, they open themselves up to the influence of Satan. Spiritual warfare is real. Satan is constantly working to deceive and destroy people. One of the deceptions he tries to plant is the idea that there is no God, and there is no absolute truth. Satan’s message is: You can live your life however you want to live it, and there are no consequences. As we’ve studied the book of Judges, we can clearly see that Satan is a liar.

Let’s look in the New Testament to see what Jesus has to say.

1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Everyone is in Jerusalem for the Passover. They are remembering and celebrating the time when God delivered his people from slavery and brought them out of Egypt. They remembered when the death angel passed over each person’s home and didn’t take the first born when he saw the blood of a lamb on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses.

The religious leaders are looking for an opportunity to put Jesus to death. Satan is the worker of destruction, falsehood, and deception. Satan has convinced the leaders that Jesus is not the Messiah. Now the leaders are working for Satan. Because the leaders are not following Jesus, they are open to the influence and work of Satan in their lives.

How does a person such as Judas, a follower of Christ, get to the point where Satan enters him? How does Judas become a vessel of Satan? As we look at the life of Judas, we find that Judas was not following Jesus with his heart. He loved money more than he loved Jesus. Judas opened himself up to the influence and work of Satan. The result was Judas initiated the destruction of Jesus. Satan works to make evil happen.

Judas betrayed Jesus. Betrayal involves deception. We see evil at work in the life of Judas.

In the next verses, we see a change in the story—from destruction to construction; from deception to truth:

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

God is a God of order and design. He’s a God of truth who prepares the way for us and secures the way for us. Jesus prepared and secured the way for his disciples. When we follow Jesus, we can know that Jesus has prepared and secured the way for us. Satan wants us to think Jesus hasn’t prepared and secured the way for us. Jesus speaks truth. As we read his truth, we can be assured that Jesus has prepared and secured the way for us so we are able to follow his truth.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Jesus indicates he is going away. He indicates he is going to suffer. He wants his disciples to know about the reality of evil and the kingdom of Satan.

It seems strange that Jesus would say, “ . . . until the kingdom of God comes.”When Jesus, who is God, is standing right in front of you, it would appear that the kingdom of God has come. Jesus is telling his disciples that there is still a kingdom of evil in this world. Satan is allowed to operate, but a time is coming when Satan will not be allowed to operate.

Revelation 20:10 tells us: And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Until that time comes, there will be suffering in this world. Jesus himself would suffer. He came to earth as the Savior to save people from their sins. He came to do something about the deception of Satan. Jesus came to the earth to tell everyone the truth.

1 Peter 5:8-9 tells us: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Peter knows the reality of Satan.

James 4:7b-8a says: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. The brother of Jesus knows the reality of the kingdom of Satan. The devil is trying to deceive you and destroy you! He wants everyone to join him in hell.

We see that Satan has entered the hearts of the religious leaders, and he has entered the heart of Judas. The disciples begin to wonder who the disciple is that will betray Jesus. They begin to look at one another in a negative light. They begin destructing themselves. They begin to pull each other apart. Division among the disciples begins to take place. Satan works to divide people. The one disciple who is not following Jesus with his heart begins to influence the other eleven disciples who are following Jesus with their hearts.

Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Dr. Wedman’s sermon with the second half.

Verse Completion: . . . help us when we are being tested. Hebrews 2:18 (NLT)

4/9/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/B-Ryd6xwTn4

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine , and disease in Egypt, where you . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s talk titled “The Holy Spirit Gives Understanding.” We looked at some key passages in Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:2-5; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25. Pastor Del provided eight statements about the Holy Spirit from the second chapter of 1 Corinthians. He also spoke about some conclusions we can draw from Scripture. The first is the understanding we receive from the Holy Spirit is based on the death of Jesus.

The death of Jesus paid the debt we owed. Hebrews 2:14-15 says: Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Colossians 2:13-15 says: You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

All of our gifts come through the cross. The cross provides heaven for us. The understanding we receive is based on the death of Jesus. We never want to get away from this truth.

The understanding we receive depends on the power of the Spirit. The Spirit has the power to get our attention. He speaks to us, but we have the option of turning away from the Spirit. The Spirit enables us to see what we otherwise would not be able to see. He makes things plain to us. He teaches us the truth. He lets us see beyond the natural.

A.W. Tozer wrote:

We must press on in the Holy Spirit. If we do not see beyond the visible, if we cannot touch that which is intangible, if we cannot hear that which is inaudible, if we cannot know that which is beyond knowing, then I have serious doubts about the validity of our Christian experience.

The Bible tells us: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

That is why Paul goes on to remind us that God has revealed these mysteries to us by the Holy Spirit. If we would only stop trying to make the Holy Spirit our servant and begin to live in Him as the fish lives in the sea, we would enter into the riches of glory about which we know nothing now.

Heaven is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Are we going to listen to him? The Holy Spirit is omnipotent; he has all power. Nothing is too difficult for him. He can enable us to see that which he wants us to see. The understanding he gives is different from human understanding that involves the ability to think things through. The understanding he gives involves doing for us what we can’t do in our own power.

The understanding we receive from the Holy Spirit comes from the flow of God’s grace. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9b). We can’t generate this understanding; it comes from God. Everything that comes from God is by grace—his free giving. John 1:17 says: For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Out of God’s grace we have received one blessing after another. Every gift we receive comes from God’s free giving. 1 Peter 5:10a says: In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. God’s love is unconditional. It can’t be earned. It’s not something we deserve.

The understanding we receive from the Holy Spirit is accompanied by revelation. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets (1 Corinthians 2:10). Revelation is God letting us understand the mysteries. Without revelation we wouldn’t understand the gospel. Without revelation we wouldn’t understand that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Without revelation we wouldn’t understand about the resurrection that not all will die. The Holy Spirit reveals mysteries to hungry, seeking hearts that are pursuing God. Without revelation we wouldn’t understand grace.

The understanding we receive from the Holy Spirit is available to believers only. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means (1 Corinthians 2:14). All unbelievers are without the Spirit. All true believers have the Holy Spirit. When you became a believer, you became a new creation. You can ask for understanding. You can walk with the Holy Spirit. You can trust the Holy Spirit. You can expect the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to see things you could never see without him revealing them to you. As a believer you have something beyond the natural.

The understanding we receive from the Holy Spirit is completed with the mind of Christ. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the LORD’S thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). Romans 12:2 says: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Christ’s mind can be in us. We can have a mind that is in the flow with the Holy Spirit. Throughout the day you can pray, “Holy Spirit, what do you think about my plans? Should I keep them or change them?”

Understanding is clarification. It is spiritual and intellectual enlightenment. Understanding is light in a dark world that has been darkened by sin. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12b). Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16).

We have so much potential when we have the mind of Christ and the understanding the Holy Spirit gives us! God has prepared great things for those who love him.

Verse Completion: . . . insist on going. Jeremiah 42:22 (NLT)

4/8/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/uU7Hn-10J8E

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to . . . (completion at the end)

On Monday, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his twenty-fourth talk titled “The Holy Spirit Gives Understanding.” 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, the one who brings conviction, the one who brings unity, the one who brings assurance, the one who guards us, the one who leads us, the one who gives us hope, the one who sanctifies us, the one who puts to death the misdeeds of the body, the one who gives gifts, the one who gives peace, the one who gives joy, the one who gives rest, and the one who transforms.

Are there certain things you don’t understand? The area of the greatest need for understanding is in the spiritual realm—understanding God and his ways. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 says: No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. Here we see the reason why the Holy Spirit is at work in our world today. What is said on one side of the word “so” has a connection with what is said on the other side. The two ideas are tied together with the word “so”.

We see this in verse five of 1 Corinthians 2:2-5: For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to illuminate the hearts and minds of people so they can have a proper understanding of God and his ways rather than depending on human understanding and getting misdirected. There are three gifts from God that we have to have in order to become believers:

1. A spiritual hunger—a hunger for God and righteousness

2. Conviction—having one’s eyes opened to see sin in his/her life and the need for change; seeing one’s need of a Savior

3. Illumination—understanding God’s provision to meet our need; seeing Jesus as our Savior

The Holy Spirit is active in each of these gifts. He is able to do what we cannot do. The Holy Spirit has power we do not have.

In the second chapter of 1 Corinthians, we find eight statements about the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit is powerful. Verse 5: I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

2. The Holy Spirit reveals God and his ways. Verse 10: But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

3. The Holy Spirit searches out all things (also verse ten).

4. The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is God; he knows his own thoughts. He also knows our thoughts. Verse 11: No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.

5. The Holy Spirit is God. He comes from the Trinity as a representative of the Trinity in this day of grace. Verse 12: And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

6. The Holy Spirit gives words to preach and teach the gospel. Verse 13: When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. When we share the gospel with others, we want to use the words the Holy Spirit gives us.

7. The Holy Spirit is not in some people. Verse 14: But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

8. The Holy Spirit gives gifts of grace that come from God. Verse 14b: for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

The understanding we receive from the Holy Spirit is based on the death of Jesus. Verse 2: For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. Jesus is able to forgive my sins because he paid the penalty for sin. 1 Corinthians 1:17 says: For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. When we try to use human wisdom, it robs the cross of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25 says: The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Some of the lyrics to an old hymn include the following:

In the cross of Christ I glory,

towering o'er the wrecks of time;

all the light of sacred story

gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o'ertake me,

hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

never shall the cross forsake me.

Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming

light and love upon my way,

from the cross the radiance streaming

adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,

by the cross are sanctified;

peace is there that knows no measure,

joys that through all time abide.

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

Verse Completion: . . . care for people who will inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)

4/7/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/KrYhiK2nQBg

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s talk titled “The Holy Spirit Transforms.” He mentioned two key passages of Scripture that deal with transformation: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 and Romans 12:1-2.

A third key passage of Scripture is found in Romans 8:28-30: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (NLT)

Here is a synopsis of God’s plan for your life. In his foreknowledge, God predetermined that people will be like Jesus—shaped and molded to be like Jesus. We have been chosen by God, and we are being called by Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”(John 14:6). Jesus also said, “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up” (John 6:44). We need to be thanking God for choosing us, calling us to himself, giving us right standing with himself, and giving us his glory! As followers of Christ our sins have been forgiven, we’ve been cleansed by his blood on the cross, we’ve been accepted into the family of God, and we’ve been given citizenship in heaven. God sees us as righteous and holy people. We have been confirmed by God. An old hymn includes these lyrics:

More like the Master I would ever be,

More of His meekness, more humility;

More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,

More consecration for work He bids me do.

Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;

Take Thou my heart and make it all Thine own;

Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,

Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.

More like the Master is my daily prayer;

More strength to carry crosses I must bear;

More earnest effort to bring His kingdom in,

More of His Spirit, the wanderer to win.

More like the Master I would live and grow;

More of His love to others I would show;

More self-denial, like His in Galilee,

More like the Master I long to ever be.

A fourth key passage is found in Galatians 5. Before transformation occurs, we see the kind of life that is lived:

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God(Galatians 5:19-21).

After transformation occurs, we see the kind of life that is lived:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23)

The desires of our sinful nature fight against the Holy Spirit. They produce actions. When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, actions are produced, and they contrast sharply with those of the sinful nature. As the life of the Holy Spirit flows into us, it produces fruit. Transformation is a work of God’s grace that changes us from what we were to what we are and can be.

What place does transformation have in my life? There’s an old hymn that goes like this:

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Let’s let the Holy Spirit do his ministry of transforming us into the likeness of Jesus.

Verse Completion: . . . mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and a new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 (NLT)

4/6/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/OvK5UdDpb1I

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is . . . (completion at the end)

Last week, Pastor Del McKenzie continued his series of messages on the Holy Spirit with his twenty-third talk titled “The Holy Spirit Transforms.” 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, the one who brings conviction, the one who brings unity, the one who brings assurance, the one who guards us, the one who leads us, the one who gives us hope, the one who sanctifies us, the one who puts to death the misdeeds of the body, the one who gives gifts, the one who gives peace, the one who gives joy, and the one who gives rest.

Transformation is a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Transformation is change, but it’s a particular kind of change with specific characteristics.

Sometimes as people age they become sour, snarly, snarky, joyless, pessimistic, and turn into complainers. They become sour in their seventies, edgy in their eighties, and not productive in their nineties. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are people who move into the later years of life and are sweet, gentle, helpful, cheerful, prayerful, kind, peaceful, and positive people. The difference between these two groups of people is transformation. The second group has allowed the Holy Spirit to transform their lives.

Let’s look at some key verses in Scripture that deal with transformation. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says: But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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 more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (NLT)

The Holy Spirit brings about real change in our lives, not apparent change. The internal change brought about by the Holy Spirit results in external change. Sometimes people only have an external change. This is not real change. This is not change brought about by the Holy Spirit. Jesus described people who only have an external change this way in Matthew 23:27-28: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Transformation is real change, internal change, and it’s substance change rather than surface change. With transformation our character and our nature are transformed by the Holy Spirit. Transformation is also lasting change rather than temporary change. Finally, it’s divine change; it’s the Holy Spirit at work in us. Transformation is not something we manufacture, produce, or concoct. It’s the Holy Spirit working change within us.

We read in 2 Corinthians 3:17 that we have freedom, freedom from what we were and freedom from what we are. There is freedom from the power of sin and selfishness. Where the Holy Spirit is active, there is freedom and increasing glory in people’s lives. People who are being transformed by the Holy Spirit reflect the glory of God. We gaze on the glory of the Lord, and it is reflected in our lives. The glory of God in this context can be described as beauty or loveliness. The words to an old hymn include the following:

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity,

Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

With our souls we gaze on the beauty and loveliness of Jesus until that beauty and loveliness is transmitted into our lives. There’s a reflection, meditation, and soul contemplation on Jesus. We desire to be like Jesus.

The transformation that takes place is progressive; it gets greater and greater as the Holy Spirit does his work in our lives. Am I becoming more and more compassionate? Am I becoming more and more gentle? Am I becoming more and more generous? Am I becoming more and more patient? Am I becoming more and more a peacemaker? If we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit, we should be able to answer “yes” to these questions.

A second key passage of Scripture is found in Romans 12:1-2: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)

As Christians, we don’t want the world to transform us into being like it. We want to be transformed into being like Jesus. We don’t want to conform to the world. We have to guard against the world chiseling away on us. The world wants us to look like them and act like them.

The way we think has to be transformed. Studying God’s word, praying, and surrounding yourself with other Christians as much as possible are some things we can do to help us transform the way we think. However, the transformation is primarily internal. We are what we think, and we become what we think. We become what we behold—what we look at, what we think about, what we meditate on. Transformation won’t take place unless we allow the Holy Spirit to change our minds. When we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit, we will ask the Holy Spirit often, “Am I thinking correctly? Do I need to change my thinking?” If we recognize our thinking is wrong, we need to pray, “Holy Spirit, change my thinking.”

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

Verse Completion: . . . good. His faithful love endures forever. Jeremiah 33:11 (NLT)

4/5/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/tXQpDDcrN-w

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have . . . (completion at the end)

Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon titled “Immorality in Israel” based on Judges 19 and 20. We left off at Judges 19:22 and following:

While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”

The owner of the house went outside and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing. Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”

But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.

When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!”

The owner of the house knows homosexuality is wrong. Scripture makes this very clear in Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:18-32, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, to name a few references. It’s outrageous what the men of the city want to do to the Levite, but it’s also outrageous what the owner of the house is willing to do instead! He is offering his virgin daughter and the visitor’s concubine to them to do with them whatever is right in their own eyes. God was no longer present in their lives. Romans 1:28 describes their condition: 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.

There’s a similar story in Genesis 19 when Lot offers his daughters to the men of Sodom.

Homosexuality is a sin, and what the owner of the house and the Levite are planning to do is also a sin! One is willing to give his daughter and the other is willing to give his concubine wife to the men. Men are supposed to protect their daughters and wives from anyone who would do them harm, but that’s not what these two men are doing!

The concubine wife is given to the men who rape her throughout the night while her husband sleeps! The farther we get away from God the worse we treat other people including our family. Life gets ugly! There’s no compassion or caring. It would seem like the Levite had reached rock bottom in the pit of depravity, but it gets even worse! He cut up his concubine wife into twelve parts and sent them to the twelve parts of Israel! There is no morality whatsoever left in this Levite. This is how far Israel has slipped away from God and his word!

In Chapter 20 we see that 400,000 armed soldiers assemble to go after the person who did this outrageous, vile deed. When the Levite tells his story, he leaves out parts and spins it to make himself look innocent and a victim. It’s decided that the Benjamites are the bad guys and responsible for this crime. They need to be punished.

The Benjamites are told if they turn over the men in Gibeah who are responsible for the crime, only those men will be killed. The Benjamites won’t do that and they assemble their own army of 26,700 swordsmen including 700 sharpshooters. A battle ensues around Gibeah and 22,000 Israelites are killed by the Benjamites.

On the second day of battle, the Benjamites kill 18,000 Israelites.

On the third day of battle, the Israelites set an ambush around Gibeah. The Israelites took up positions against Gibeah, and after 30 Israelite casualties, they turned and fled. The Benjamites chased after them leaving Gibeah vulnerable. The 10,000 Israelites on the west who were in hiding rushed into the city and set it on fire. There were 25,000 Benjamites who were killed while 600 of them escaped into the desert where they stayed for four months.

Verse 48 says: The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.

This is not what God told them to do. They are doing what is right in their own eyes. These are outrageous acts! Chapter 20 is full of outrageous acts! Chapters 19 and 20 are full of outrageously immoral acts, and it all because God no longer has a place in their lives!

How did the Israelites become so corrupt? How did their morals get so confused and corrupt? It’s all because they did not see the truth of God as important for their lives. They rejected the truth of God and accepted falsehood. They no longer had an objective moral standard of what was right and what was wrong. Consequently, they did what was right in their own eyes. Their actions became selfish, self-centered, and self-promoting.

Those who ignore the truth of God and his word do not know how to love people rightly. When a society does this, they degenerate into moral chaos, moral confusion, and moral corruption. This is a story about a society over 3,000 years ago, and it’s a story about our society today. It’s a story about individuals today and churches today. Are we willing to say there is an objective standard of truth and morality that comes from the truth of God and his word? If we say “no,” we can expect the same things to happen to us as what happened to Israel. When we do what is right in our own eyes, what God says is immoral is seen as moral—wrong is seen as right; right is seen as wrong. God’s truth is exchanged for our own truths.

Our hope is the truth of God’s word, and we need to stand on it. God is real. Sin is real, and we need to call that which is sin “sin”. There is right and wrong. There isan objective standard found in God’s word.

We are to learn from the stories in the Bible. We can take action so our society doesn’t turn into the society we see described in these two chapters. We need God and his truth to permeate our land. It’s time that we as individuals and we as the Church stand up for truth—preaching it, speaking it, living it. We don’t want to live in a land where there’s no love for God or people.

Will you commit to being a person of truth? Will you read God’s word to know truth? Will you adjust your life to be in line with his truth? Will you call right, right and wrong, wrong?

Verse Completion: . . . sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Titus 2:2 (NLT)

4/4/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/zlZ_Cp_J0zE

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And I will give them one heart and one purpose; to worship me forever, for . . . (completion at the end)

On Sunday Pastor Michael gave a sermon titled “Immorality in Israel” based on Judges 19 and 20. Today we will start a recap of that message.

What is immorality? Here are a few definitions you might find: immoral conduct; practices harmful or otherwise offensive to society; wickedness, baseness, badness, corruption, vileness; evil sinfulness, wrong behavior; violation of moral laws, norms or standards.

What are moral norms? They have changed through time, and different societies have different norms. What’s not accepted at one time or in one society may change and be accepted at a different time or in a different society.

Years ago chewing gum or wearing a hat in school was not acceptable. Now those behaviors are accepted. Lying, stealing, and cheating used to be unacceptable, but now they are considered entrepreneurial skills. The norms of society have changed and continue to change. For example, sexual immorality used to be defined as any sex outside of marriage. Now sex outside of marriage is the norm. Marriage used to be one man and one woman. Now marriage can be anything one wants: man and man; woman and woman; one man and multiple women.

Morality has become subjective. However, the standard of morality doesn’t come from an individual’s feelings or the standard set by a society. The standard of morality comes from God. God has set objective standards of right and wrong. Morality is about what’s right and what’s wrong. It’s about truth and falsehood. Morality is defined by truth. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Morality is what God says is right. Immorality is what God says is wrong. Psalm 19 is about the word of God being words of truth. Psalm 119 is about the truthfulness of God’s word. God’s word is the moral standard. Any deviation from it is immoral.

We live in a society that doesn’t want to accept truth. Because God is truth, people don’t want to accept God. They want truth to be whatever they want it to be: “You have your truth, and I have my truth.” When people push God out of their lives, they push truth out of their lives. When people get rid of God, they get rid of the objective standards of how they must live their lives.

In Judges 17 and 18, we saw that when people got rid of the truth of God, they:

· failed to receive the promises God wanted to give them

· sought false gods

· went down false paths

· trusted in false securities

· took false actions

· ended up in a false place

Romans 1:25 says: They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

As we look at Judges 19 and 20, we will see more of what happens when people don’t follow the truth of God—what happens when people determine what truth is rather than living in the truth God has already defined. God has said we are to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. When we get rid of truth, we stop loving God. When we stop loving God, we stop loving others.

Chapter 19 starts out: In those days Israel had no king. In other words, Israel had no standard for morality; God was no longer King of their lives. People were doing what was right in their own eyes.

The Levites were to be looking out for the spiritual well-being of Israel; they were to be instrumental in leading people into a close relationship with God, but instead they were leading people away from God.

In the first verse we see that the Levite had a concubine. One of his wives leaves him for four months returning to her parents’ home in Bethlehem. The Levite misses her and decides to try and persuade her to go back with him to the remote area in the hill country of Ephraim.

When her father saw the Levite approaching, he welcomed him. The Levite stayed for three days, but on the fourth day he attempts to take his concubine wife and a servant home with him. The father-in-law talks the Levite into staying another day. On the fifth day, the Levite resists the father’s pleas to stay, and sets off toward Jebus (Jerusalem).

Not wanting to be where the Jebusites were, the Levite, his concubine wife, and his servant press on north to Gibeah. They go to the city square to make themselves available for an invitation to someone’s home, but no one invites them. Finally, an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who happened to be living in Jebus, invites them to his place. The Levite turns down the invitation until he receives the warning that they should not spend the night in the square since it wouldn’t be safe there. They go home with their newfound friend.

Let’s pick the story up at verse 22 and following:

Tomorrow we will conclude this recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon with the second half.

Verse Completion: . . . their own good and for the good of all their descendants. Jeremiah 32:39 (NLT)

4/2/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/-TGkqjQfZyU

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by . . . (completion at the end)

Micah 6:8b tells us: “This is what [the LORD] requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” When this verse tells us to do what is right, that same message is repeated in other Scriptures:

· The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. Proverbs 21:3

· Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. Amos 5:23-24

· But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD. Zechariah 8:16-17

Micah tells us to love mercy. Mercy is a higher quality than justice. Justice has to do with giving people what is due them. Mercy implies kindness, compassion, and love to people we don’t owe anything to. Mercy includes helping the poor, the oppressed, the disabled, and the underprivileged. However, mercy goes beyond giving possessions; it involves giving of ourselves to lift and redeem those who need it. We can expect God to show us mercy in proportion to how much mercy we show to others. James 2:13 says, “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”

Even higher than the other two is God’s requirement to walk humbly with your God. It starts with us acknowledging our own iniquity and insufficiency. Every thought we have needs to be brought into submission to God’s will. We need to stop fighting God and trying to make Him follow us; we need to surrender our will to His, and walk with Him as He leads. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” Our walk with God is based on faith and demonstrated by our love.

This triple command to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, cannot be dismembered. It’s possible to do what’s right without showing mercy. It’s possible to be merciful without doing what is right. For example, Pablo Escobar (a drug lord) gained money through the sale of illegal drugs and then gave money to the poor. It’s also possible to claim to follow Christ and yet not do what is right and show little to no mercy to others. The three commands are tied together and must not be separated; it’s a package deal.

Samuel Chadwick said, “The solution to our modern problems, as those of Micah’s day, will not be found in legislation or machinery, but in realizing the sufficiency of God. No great and permanent solution of social problems has ever been reached without religious influence. The only way is to get back to God, to go to the house of the Lord and there find the power to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Then will be found the true bond of brotherhood.”

Another way to answer the question, “What does your religion require of you?” is to quote the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40:

“ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Verse Completion: . . . the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good. Titus 1:16 (NLT)

4/1/2022

Good morning. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/GDWubS3Mqp8

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: ”I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished . . . I will give you back your . . . (completion at the end)

If you were asked, “What does your religion require of you?” how would you answer the question? A short answer could be taken from Micah 6:8b: “This is what [the LORD] requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Let’s back up a couple of verses and get some context:

What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8

Like many today, the people of Judah were trying to earn God’s favor by performing external duties. They were willing to do whatever God required of them as long as it didn’t involve reforming their lives. The people of Judah were like the Pharisees criticized by Jesus in Matthew 23:23: ”What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” God was more concerned about their spirit than their substance. He cared more about their hearts than their sacrifices.

It’s easy for us to complicate religion, but Micah simplifies it to doing three things God asks of us: doing what’s right, being merciful, and walking humbly with God. It’s not out of our reach. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 says, “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.”

Because of Jesus coming to Earth in the form of a man, we are more fully aware of God’s will than the people in Micah’s time. There are many voices out there telling us what God demands, but we have the very words of Jesus to guide us. Jesus made our duties simple and plain, so everyone can understand what is expected of us.

The Word of God is the basis and final authority for our faith. We do not consult ourselves; we go to God’s Word to see what He has to say to us. The Holy Spirit makes God’s Word clear to us. He will speak our language until we are able to speak His. When someone is not acquainted with their duty toward God, it’s likely because of negligence or obstinacy, because God’s Word is readily available to most people.

Verse Completion: . . . health and heal your wounds,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 30:11b, 17a (NLT)

951 E Dalby Rd,
Union WA 98592
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PO Box 232
Union WA 98592
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New Community Church of Union

Daily Devotion April 2022