Daily Devotion October 2022

10/31/2022


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/e3RRU25dpPg



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s diamond Can a human be righteous before God? The first statement we considered was: Sinful people can become righteous.


The second statement we will consider is: Righteousness and justification go together. Romans 5:1-2 tells us:  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 


Justification is being declared no longer guilty but righteous. With justification comes peace with God. By faith in Jesus we are turned from being enemies of God to friends of God. We are reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus—through the death of his Son. Romans 5:10 says: For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!


It’s always us who are being reconciled to God; God is not reconciled to us. As we are reconciled to God, we are no longer alienated from God. When we are reconciled to God, we submit to his kingship. After we repent of our sins, we no longer oppose God. We turn to being God’s servant. Justified people have peace with God. We no longer oppose God, and that brings peace.


Not only do justified people have peace with God, but they also have righteousness. They have been made right with God through faith in Jesus. Jesus was made sin for us even though he had no sin. All that made us wrong with God has been made right with God through the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus, the Son of God, was the substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. In him we become the righteousness of God. God’s righteousness is put on our account. The righteousness of Jesus became our righteousness. This is imparted righteousness; his righteousness becomes a part of us. We have righteousness because we have been justified. Justified is a legal term that means the judge has declared it. God has declared us righteous. Even though we were sinners, we no longer carry that sin because our trust has been placed in Jesus who carries that sin for us.


How are we justified? First, we are justified by faith. Romans 3:20 says: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. We are not justified by the law, because no one has ever kept the law. We are not justified by works which we have done. We are justified by the mercy of God. Because of God’s mercy we are declared righteous. We are not justified by our good behavior. We can never be good enough to earn God’s righteousness. We can never achieve it by personal effort or working hard; we would never know when we had done enough right things to be right with God, right with ourselves, or right with others. Romans 5:9-10 says: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 


Titus 3:4-7 says: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.


We are justified by God’s grace when we put our faith in Jesus. We are declared no longer guilty but righteous. This is imputed righteousness.


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Del’s message.



Verse Completion: . . . accomplish His work. John 4:34 (NASB) 


10/29/2022


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/0AQ3bHr80PM



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Set your mind on . . . (completion at the end)



Pastor Del McKenzie is doing a series of messages titled “Del’s Diamonds”. The first diamond we recapped was: A holy God has provided for his people to be holy. Today we will start a recap of: Can a human be righteous before God?


In Job 25:4, Bildad asks Job, “How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?” This question has been repeated through the ages innumerable times. How can a mortal be right when he is wrong? Scripture reveals much about righteousness; it’s a diamond that needs to be scrutinized and looked at from many angles to discover what it really means. The bottom line is people can be righteous. That’s a wonderful gem we need to explore, understand, and believe. 


As we dig into this nugget of truth, let’s consider three statements. The first is: Sinful people can become righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: God made [Jesus} who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Meditate on this verse. Let it sink in. Ponder it as you go about your day. Sinful people can become righteous but how? Let’s discover that now.


Righteousness comes from the base word right. There are three aspects of being right. The first is we can be right with God. The second is we can be right with ourselves. The third is we can be right with other people. Positional righteousness is being right with God. Experiential righteousness is being right with ourselves and other people; it’s practical righteousness or righteousness that is practiced. 


There a many helpful verses that help us understand righteousness. Let’s look at a couple. First, Genesis 15:6 says: Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Abram’s trust was in God; he took God at his word. That kind of faith was credited to Abram as righteousness. This is an example of positional righteousness. It’s a declaration that comes by faith. When people put their faith in Jesus Christ, God declares them to be right with God. This is a wonderful truth. We need to feast our hearts and minds on it. The moment we believed in Jesus, we were declared right with God; we were declared righteous.


A second example that helps us understand righteousness is found in Luke 18:9-14:


To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’


“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’


“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”


One recognized his need to get right with God; the other did not. One recognized his need for mercy—God not giving him what he deserved (punishment), and grace—God giving him what he didn’t deserve (reward). We all need to reach that point where we say, “I don’t deserve to be right with God.”


The tax collector went home justified—no longer guilty but right with God. Every true Christian has been declared right with God; they are no longer guilty of their sins. 


We will continue this recap of Pastor Del’s message next week.



Verse Completion: . . . the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (NASB) 


10/28/2022


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/2En8rWSPdzs



Complete the Verses & Name the Book:


·      If you forgive men for their transgressions, your . . .


·      But if you do not forgive men, then . . . (completions at the end)



Today we will conclude the recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Law and Faith” based on Galatians 3:1-18. In this passage we find eight proofs for why salvation is through faith. So far we have looked at the following proofs:


·      Proof #1: Jesus was crucified.


·      Proof #2: The Holy Spirit is received through faith, not works of the law.  


·      Proof #3: Miracles happen as a result of the Holy Spirit, not the law. 


·      Proof #4: Abraham was justified by faith, not the law.


·      Proof #5: God planned for the Gentiles to be saved by faith


·      Proof #6: The law brings curse, not salvation.


As we continue to explore, Proof #7: Jesus redeemed us from the curse, let’s look at Matthew 5:17 where Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” To fulfill means to complete. When you order something from Amazon and it arrives at your door, Amazon has fulfilled your order. There’s nothing more they need to do. They have accomplished what they set out to do. 


Jesus fulfilled the law. He accomplished what he set out to do. There’s nothing more he needs to do. The free gift of salvation is sitting at our door. All we have to do is accept it. The price for it has been paid by his shed blood on the cross. There’s nothing we can do to try to pay for the gift. It’s been completely paid for by Jesus. Accept the gift by faith.


Jesus was never cursed, but we were. He never sinned, but we have numerous times. Jesus became a curse for us; he took our place on the cross. We should have been the ones on the cross dying for our sins, but Jesus took our place so we could be made right before God. Jesus became sin for us. 


Matthew 27:46 tells us: About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). For an instant, Jesus was sin (our sin), and God looked away because God doesn’t look upon sin. Jesus redeemed us from the curse with his death and resurrection. The law brings curse, not salvation. 


Proof #8: The law did not set aside the covenant promise of God.


Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise (verses 15-18).


The law did not cancel the covenant promise of God to Abraham. God promised salvation by faith to all people through Jesus. Salvation by faith alone was promised even before the law came. The Mosaic law came 430 years after the promise to Abraham. The Mosaic law was a particular law given to a particular nation at a particular time. Israel had never been a nation before. They had never had their own justice system. They had never had their own health system. They had never had their own economic system. They had never had their own religious system. The law showed them how to operate. The law was given to them by God. 


Paul is saying that the Mosaic laws didn’t supersede the covenant. They didn’t do away with the promise of God. They were just laws to help people live rightly before God and each other in community. The promise of God came first. The promise wasn’t made void by the Mosaic law. The promise still stands. Jesus is the one who fulfilled the Mosaic law. That which is fulfilled is done. However, the promise isn’t done; the promise stands forever. Salvation was promised through Abraham: I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). 


Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. The nations would be blessed by the seed of Abraham, Jesus. Jesus would give the gift of salvation to the whole world. Anyone who believes in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life (see John 3:16). Jesus truly is the Savior of the world. Faith in Jesus gives us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. 


We are not bound to follow Old Testament law. We follow Jesus, and Jesus said concerning the law, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Justification is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Sanctification is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Our focus needs to be on following Jesus. We are made right by following Jesus only. If you follow Jesus, he will keep you from sin. If you follow Jesus, he will show you the way to go. 



Verse Completions:


·      . . . heavenly Father will also forgive you.


·      . . . your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:14-15 (NASB) 


10/27/2022


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/U8YbYm5eqMI



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Law and Faith” based on Galatians 3:1-18. In this passage we find eight proofs for why salvation is through faith. So far we have looked at the following proofs:


·      Proof #1: Jesus was crucified.


·      Proof #2: The Holy Spirit is received through faith, not works of the law.  


·      Proof #3: Miracles happen as a result of the Holy Spirit, not the law. 


·      Proof #4: Abraham was justified by faith, not the law.


As we continue to explore Proof #5: God planned for the Gentiles to be saved by faith, let’s look at Romans 4:1-10:


What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”


Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:


“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.


Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”


Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!


Salvation is by faith. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Works of the law did nothing to credit him as righteous. Salvation is not a reward for doing good works or following the law. Salvation is a free gift based on faith. 


Proof #6: The law brings curse, not salvation.


For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” (verses 10-12)


Let’s take a look at James 2:10: For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. It’s impossible for anyone to follow the law his entire life and never break a single law. Once one, single law is broken, salvation through following the law is unattainable. The consequence for sin is separation from God. The law brings curse, not salvation. 


Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-20). 


It’s impossible for the law to justify you and give you salvation. All it takes is one law that is broken, and you are cursed. In order to have salvation by following the law, you would have to be a perfect person your entire life. No one is capable of doing that. Only Jesus, who is God with skin on, was able to live a perfect life. 


Romans 3:23 says: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 


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


The law lets us know when we sin. It brings a curse. The law never brings salvation. The law says to us, “You sinned, and there’s a penalty for you.” The law condemns us. It brings a curse on us.  


Proof #7: Jesus redeemed us from the curse. 


Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit (verses 13-14).


We’ve all been cursed by our sins, but Jesus redeems us from the curse by his death and resurrection. His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus purposefully became the curse of the law, because the law cannot bring us to salvation. Everyone has been separated from God by sin, and there’s no amount of doing good works or following the law that can save us. Jesus is our only hope. 


Tomorrow we will continue with this seventh proof and conclude with the eighth proof as we recap Pastor Michael’s sermon. 



Verse Completion: . . . hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:9 (NIV) 


10/26/2022


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/YpdpYo0GgAI



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: For God has not given us a spirit of . . .(completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Law and Faith” based on Galatians 3:1-18. In this passage we find eight proofs for why salvation is through faith. So far we have looked at the following proofs:


·      Proof #1: Jesus was crucified.


·      Proof #2: The Holy Spirit is received through faith, not works of the law.  


·      Proof #3: Miracles happen as a result of the Holy Spirit, not the law. 


Proof #4: Abraham was justified by faith, not the law.


So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham (verses 6-7).


Abraham believed in God the same way you believed in Jesus—by faith. Abraham was declared right before God because of his faith—the same way we are declared right before God now. Abraham was not declared right before God because of his works—following the law. Abraham had a personal relationship with God because of his faith in God. Following the law didn’t draw Abraham into a relationship with God. 


Being God’s chosen people made the Israelites feel special. They were proud to be children of Abraham. Paul was asking them, “How did you become Abraham’s children? Was it through works of the law or through faith?” It is only through faith in God that anyone becomes children of Abraham. We read in John 8:31-47:


To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”


They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”


Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. ”


“Abraham is our father,” they answered. 


“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” 


“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”


Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”


Jesus was telling the Pharisees, who vehemently claimed to be children of God, “No, you are not children of Abraham. Abraham believed in God by faith, not by works of the law. You are all about works. You are very different from Abraham.”


Proof #5: God planned for the Gentiles to be saved by faith.


Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith (verses 8-9).


Paul is quoting Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” The Gentiles are able to be saved through faith just like Abraham was saved through faith. Abraham didn’t need the law to save him, because the law could do nothing to save him. Likewise, the Gentiles do not need the law to save them. All they need is faith—just like Abraham. Before the law was ever given, God had a plan for people to be saved by faith. 


Tomorrow we will continue with this recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon. 



Verse Completion: . . . timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB)


10/25/2022


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/OVYlgm3MM0c



Complete the Verses & Name the Book:


·      See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, . . .

·      For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells . . .

·      and in Him you have been . . . (completion at the end)



On October 23, Pastor Michael preached the sixth sermon in his series of messages on the book of Galatians. “The Law and Faith” is based on Galatians 3:1-18.


The book of Galatians was written to the churches in Galatia to defend the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the first two chapters Paul defends the gospel using his personal testimony. He gives his conversion story. The same gospel Paul shared is confirmed by the other apostles. Paul also defended the gospel when he confronted Peter about making the gospel about Jesus and Jewish law rather than Jesus only.


In Chapter 3 Paul defends the gospel based on biblical theology. Paul grew up as a Pharisee, so he knows the Old Testament well. However, when Paul realized Jesus truly was the Messiah, the Son of God, he saw the Old Testament in a whole new light. He came to see that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus and not by works. The law never could give anyone salvation, and the law never will give anyone salvation. Salvation is through Jesus alone. 


As we go through these eighteen verses, eight proofs for why salvation is by grace through faith will be given. 


Proof #1: Jesus was crucified.


You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified (verse 1). When Paul calls them “foolish Galatians,” he’s reprimanding them for not thinking clearly—for going back to the old covenant when Jesus gave a new covenant. Their reasoning was off; they weren’t perceiving things correctly. It’s like Paul was saying, “Are you daft? Have you lost your senses? Why have you allowed yourself to be led astray? Why have you fallen for things that aren’t true?” 


It’s an undisputed fact: Jesus was crucified.


Proof #2: The Holy Spirit is received through faith, not works of the law.  


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? (verse 2) We receive the Spirit by following Jesus. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit; the law can never give us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is received by faith, not works of the law. 


Romans 10:9-15 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. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”


Faith comes by hearing, believing, and following Jesus. It’s not by following the works of the law. The law does not give us salvation; Jesus gives us salvation.


Proof #3: Miracles happen as a result of the Holy Spirit, not the law. 


Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain?


So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? (verses 3-5) 


Paul is asking, “Do the miracles you see come through Old Testament law, or do they come through the power of Christ in his Holy Spirit?” Of course, miracles happen as a result of the Holy Spirit, not the law. 


Tomorrow we will continue with this recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon. 



Verse Completions:

·      . . . rather than according to Christ.

·      . . . in bodily form,

·      . . . made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; Colossians 2:8-10 (NASB) 


10/24/2022


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/XOfhr_AiZNk



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Then Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you. In the . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue a recap of Pastor Del McKenzie’s first message A holy God has provided for his people to be holy from his series titled “Del’s Diamonds”.


People must have holiness. Hebrews 12:14 tells us: Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 


We are to pursue holiness. There will be no eternal life for those who are not holy. There will be no heaven for those who are not holy. It also means we will not experience God in the life we are living now. 


Jesus said in Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” There’s a difference between purity of heart and purity of life. Righteousness is right living. Holiness is a right heart. Righteousness is a rightness in how we speak, think, act, and respond. Holiness is what’s happening inside of us. Without holiness no one will see God. We must have holiness because God is holy. 


1 Peter 1:15-16 tells us: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” If you have responded to God’s call on your life, you are responding to a holy God. 


In Isaiah 6:1-3 we read: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:


“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 


The word holy means to be set apart; separate; different from others. God is holy, and he is also pure. God is sinless. He is a perfect God. He is without any defect or fault. God is absolutely holy. He has authentic holiness. There’s no phoniness in his holiness. 


God’s people are called to be holy. 1 Peter 1:15 says: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. Being called to holiness is a marvelous gift of God’s grace. Jesus said in Matthew 22:14: “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” 


2 Peter 1:10 says: Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


We are to make sure our calling and election have been heard and answered. We are called to holiness so we can go to a holy heaven. There’s no sin in heaven. There’s nothing in heaven that defiles. 


Another reason God calls us to holiness is so we can be happy. God wants us to be joyful people. Joy is an inner satisfaction and contentment that’s not affected by circumstances or the harshness and hardness of the world around us. We can only be joyful people when we are holy people. Being joyful is a result of being holy. Holiness comes first and joyfulness follows. Our happiness depends on our holiness. 


The two points I have made so far are:


·      People can have holiness in this life.


·      People must have holiness.


My third point is:


·      Holiness is a big, biblical topic that we need to pursue.


There’s a huge amount of information on holiness in the Bible. It takes a great deal of digging to really understand holiness. Sanctification is the act of being declared holy through the work of the Holy Spirit and in the person of Jesus as people put their faith in Jesus Christ. 


The second aspect of sanctification is the work of making us holy. Hebrews 10:14 tells us: For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. This is describing imputed holiness. God has a part, and we have a part in holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says: Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. We are to pursue holiness; we are to chase after it just as a hunting dog chases after its prey. They are persistent. They don’t give up until they have it. 


You might ask, “Why would I pursue something I already have?” It’s because we have imputed holiness, but we need to get imparted holiness. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says: Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 


How do we perfect holiness? You can’t perfect imputed holiness because it’s already perfect, but you can perfect imparted holiness. We don’t know how holy we can be until we pursue it. We don’t know how holy our heart, attitudes, desires, motives, thoughts, and responses to people can be until we pursue holiness. Our standing is perfect holiness, but our experience is not yet perfect. Therefore, we pursue holiness. 


We try to get rid of the spots. If there’s a spot of anger in my life, I need to get rid of it. If I have a spot of bitterness in my life, I need to perfect that area of my life with the work of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 12:10 tells us: They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.


All the holiness we’re ever going to get is God’s holiness that we come to experience through his gracious work in our lives. We pursue holiness, we perfect holiness, and we participate in God’s holiness. We incorporate more and more of God’s holiness into our lives—more and more purity. It happens as we walk with Jesus, study his word, dialogue with him, listen to him, obey him, and learn his ways. This is how we participate in his holiness.


Verse Completion: . . . name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Act 3:6 (NIV) 


10/22/2022


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/Ei84uOUI2SY



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: I have been crucified with Christ and . . .(completion at the end)



This week Pastor Del McKenzie started a series of messages titled “Del’s Diamonds”. The first diamond is: A holy God has provided for his people to be holy. 


Diamonds are the hardest minerals found on the earth. The first diamonds were discovered in Brazil and India. The countries with the most diamonds at the current time are South Africa, Russia, and Canada. It takes a lot of work to extract diamonds from the earth, so they are expensive. In addition, diamonds are highly regulated which keeps the price of them high.


As valuable as diamonds are today, there’s another kind of diamond that’s even more valuable, and that’s a spiritual diamond. There are truths that are of immense value. Just like the mineral diamond, spiritual diamonds aren’t easily discovered. It takes some spiritual, mental, and emotional digging to find them. It takes a lot of time and energy. These spiritual diamonds are found from Genesis to Revelation. Sometimes these diamonds are found in places where we don’t expect to find them. These diamonds don’t float to the surface; they are reached by some diligent study of God’s word and talking things over with God as you study. A casual reading of the Bible doesn’t usually produce many diamonds. 


In this series of messages, I will share with you some of the spiritual diamonds I have found in God’s word over the years. The first one I’ll share is: A holy God has provided for his people to be holy. Let’s look at this truth from three angles. First, let’s start with 1 Corinthians 1:2: 


To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people . . .


People can experience holiness in this life. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven; we can experience holiness now. Sanctified means to be set apart, declared holy. Paul was writing to people who were sanctified in Jesus—declared holy in Jesus. All holiness is in Jesus. Whatever measure of holiness you have is in Jesus. It’s because we’re in Jesus that we have holiness. When we are in Jesus, we are believers in Jesus. We believe Jesus is the Son of God. We put our trust in Jesus. 


John 1:12 tells us: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—


When we receive Jesus, we invite and accept him into our lives. When you invite someone to your house, you receive them when they enter your home. When we receive Jesus, he enters our being. 


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.


All who are in Christ Jesus are holy. If you are in Christ Jesus, you are holy; you are a saint. Jude 1:14-15 says: Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 


God has provided for us to be holy people—saints. We can only be holy when we are in Christ. The holiness of Jesus is put on us. When God the Father sees us, he sees us in Jesus. In Jesus we are holy. Jesus has absolute holiness. He has authentic holiness. Sometimes we try to promote our own holiness, and it’s not authentic holiness. 


Jesus has awesome holiness. He told us how to address the Father in Matthew 6:9b: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, . . . Hallowed or holy is the name of God. We proclaim his name to be holy. People who are in Jesus have Jesus dwelling in them; they have holiness. We have holiness only because we have the holiness of Jesus. This is called imputed holiness because it’s holiness that has been put on our account. If someone deposits money into our bank account, that money becomes ours. It’s as if Jesus put “money” into our account. That “money” is now ours, only it’s not money he put on our account, it’s holiness. His holiness is now our holiness. We are not made holy because we’ve earned it or because we deserve it or attained it. We are made holy because we received the holiness of God as a gift in Jesus. 


There’s another kind of holiness called imparted holiness. When I understood what imputed and imparted holiness were, the diamond I found started to sparkle in the new light I had. Imparted holiness is a personal holiness, an experiential holiness, an applied holiness. Christ puts his holiness in us, not just on our account but in us. 


My first statement is that people can have holiness in this life—imputed holiness and imparted holiness. My second statement is that people must have holiness. We will explore the second statement on Monday. 



Verse Completion: . . . I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 


10/21/2022


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/GOIQJVMD1jU



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue looking at verses that deal with the topic of pride:


·      Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. Proverbs 18:12


·      Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. Proverbs 21:4


·      There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise. Proverbs 26:12


·      Don't brag about tomorrow, since you don't know what the day will bring. Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips. Proverbs 27:1-2


·      Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. Proverbs 29:23


·      The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead. Psalm 10:4


·      Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. Psalm 138:6


·      Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3b


·      Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Romans 12:16


There are many examples of prideful people in the Bible. One is found in Daniel 5:1-6:Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had takenfrom the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.


Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king's palace near thelamp stand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him.


Daniel had something to say to King Belshazzar in verses 20-23: "But when [Nebuchadnezzar's] heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he livedamong the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdomsoff the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.


"You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honoredthe God who gives you breath of life and controls your destiny!"


Let's be humble people God can use to further his kingdom here on earth and ask God to remove any pride in us.



Verse Completion: . . . compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Our world sure needs examples of this, doesn’t it? Colossians 3:12 (NASB) 


10/20/2022


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/ERCWceSN6t4



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will conclude the recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Law and the Gospel” based on Galatians 2:11-21.


The law has value—pointing out that I’m a sinner in need of a Savior. That’s what the law does. However, the law doesn’t provide salvation; Jesus provides salvation. When Jesus died and rose from the grave, he overcame sin. He made a New Covenant through his blood. Jesus made the Old Testament law, the Mosaic covenant, obsolete. We no longer follow the Old Testament law. 


Doing works for salvation is a waste of time and effort. Salvation is about believing in Jesus and receiving him as our Lord and Savior. Since we have been crucified with Christ, it’s no longer us that lives; it’s Christ who lives in us. We now live by faith. We live by trusting in Jesus. We no longer live by works. We no longer think we can be made right with God by doing good works. We are made right through Jesus. Consequently, we are dead to the law; the law no longer has any appeal to us, because it does nothing for our salvation. 


Paul is a new person because of Jesus. He used to persecute Christians, but he has been forgiven. Paul has been declared right before God because of the grace of God and Paul’s faith in Jesus. Paul had been a strict follower of the law until his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. After the encounter, Paul realized all his works counted for nothing as far as his salvation was concerned. Paul’s life did a 180, and from that point on he lived his life for Jesus. He realized only Jesus is able to save. 


Paul is saying, “The actions I now take, I take because I am made right before God. I’m not declared righteous before God because of the actions I take.” What declares Paul right before God is Jesus. Therefore, Paul will take the right action. The Judaizers had it turned around. They said, “Take the right actions, do the right things, and then you will be declared right before God.” 


Paul said, “I do right because I have been declared right by Jesus.” He did not say, “I do right so I can be declared right by Jesus.”


It’s receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior that makes us righteous. We are not made righteous by our works.


If someone tells you you have to do certain things to be right before God, you can say, “No, I don’t have to do those works. I’m declared right before God because of Jesus. I have believed in his death and resurrection. I have received Jesus into my life. By faith I trust in Jesus for my salvation. I recognize that I am sinful—that I break the laws all the time. The laws simply tell me I’m a sinner, and Jesus is the only one who can do something about it. Jesus forgives me of my sins so my life is changed. I’m dead to the law but alive to Christ. The actions I now take, I take because I am justified. I don’t take actions so I can be justified.”


Paul closes this section with the following sentence: I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”


If we could be made right by doing works, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. Jesus would not have had to come to Earth and die if everything was fine. Anything we do cannot make us be declared right before God. We are declared right with God by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. We can never boast about our own works, but we need to boast about the work of Jesus. Jesus is the only one qualified to declare us right before God, and he declares us right by his grace. It’s the work of Jesus that saves us, not our own work. 


Works can never be added to grace for salvation. Because of what Jesus did for me by his grace, I am going to live a new life. I am going to walk with Jesus and do works for Jesus because I have already been declared righteous. I’m not working to be declared righteous, because I already am righteous by God’s grace. I have believed in Jesus and received him as my Lord and Savior. 


Salvation is by grace alone through faith. Salvation is a gift of God, not by works so no one can boast. 


Do you think you are a better Christian because of the good works you do? Do you think you are closer to God because of your works? Do you think God is impressed with your good works? Remember that good works are rubbish when it comes to those works providing salvation.



Verse Completion: . . . I became a man, I did away with childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NASB) 


10/19/2022


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/DMHttJ_TRLQ



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there . . .(completion at the end)



Today we will continue a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Law and the Gospel” based on Galatians 2:11-21.


The law is why they trusted in Jesus, because the law couldn’t bring them to salvation. The law simply pointed out that they were sinful. It pointed out how many things they did that were wrong. It pointed out their need of a Savior, and Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior of the world. 


“But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker (verse 17).


The only way to be declared right before God is through Jesus. In order for us to receive Jesus, we must admit to being sinners. We must admit that we cannot come to salvation on our own. Sin separates us from God, and doing good works does nothing to unite us with God. All it takes is one sin to separate us from God. James 2:10 says:


For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.


Sin has a penalty—spiritual death, separation from God forever. When Paul said we are justified in Christ, he was saying we admit to being sinners. That doesn’t mean that Jesus promotes sin. It doesn’t mean we promote sin. It means we admit to sin. We recognize that nothing we do can earn our salvation. We admit that it’s only by the grace of God that we are saved. By the death of Jesus on the cross, the penalty of sin was paid for once and for all. Only Jesus could pay the penalty for sin, because he was the only person who ever lived a perfect life and never sinned. He is the spotless Lamb of God without blemish. John 1:29 says: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!


When we admit we are sinners, we are not promoting sin. What it means is we are taking the first step towards justification. It’s saying, “I admit I need Jesus to save me from the penalty of sin!” I’m declared right before God when I realize I have sin in my life and call on Jesus for salvation.  


“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 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. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”


What promotes sin is going back to the law and depending on it for salvation rather than depending solely on Jesus. If you tell someone they need Jesus andgood works in order to be saved, you are promoting sin; you are promoting a falsehood. Justification by works is a lie. Justification means God declares us right before him because we have received the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers us.


God does not justify the godly but the ungodly. In other words, God does not justify those who believe they are righteous by their own works; God justifies those who realize they are sinners and realize their own works cannot do anything toward impressing God. 


Luke 18:9-14 tells us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:


To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’


“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’


“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 


Jesus and Paul are saying the same thing: If we believe our works make us right before God, we are being deceived. What makes us right before God is recognizing our sin and asking Jesus to forgive us for our sin and believing in him for our salvation. It’s by the grace of God that our sin is forgiven. We have to humble ourselves before God and admit we are not basically good people, we are sinners. 


Tomorrow we will conclude this recap of Pastor Michael’s message. 



Verse Completion: . . . is knowledge, it will be done away. 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NASB) 


10/18/2022


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/eCopCjder1I



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: From everyone who has been given much shall . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we started a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Law and the Gospel” based on Galatians 2:11-21. Today we are picking it up at the fourteenth verse:


When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?


Paul is saying to Peter, “Peter, you know better! Your message was the same as my message: Salvation is through Jesus alone by grace through faith. Salvation is a gift of God not by works so no one can boast. So why are you now adding to that message?” 


Paul likely reminded Peter of his rooftop experience that is recorded in Acts 10:9-11:18 where Peter is shown in a vision that there are no longer clean and unclean foods. The Old Testament laws concerning what’s clean and unclean have been abolished. Peter does not need to worry about eating and associating with Gentiles any longer in spite of the fact that Rabbinical law forbid Jews from entering the homes of Gentiles because Jews were better than Gentiles. They followed the Old Testament laws and Rabbinical laws while the Gentiles did not. In Acts 10:34-35, 44-47a, we read:


Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”


While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 


Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.


Paul had to remind Peter that Jesus died for all people. God doesn’t show favoritism. Everyone is equal before God. Salvation is by grace alone. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. On the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead. Now Jesus offers forgiveness of sins and everlasting life to anyone who will believe in him and receive him. All who put their faith in Jesus will be saved by his grace. 


Paul can’t figure out why Peter, who clearly understood the message of salvation, is now going back to the old ways and wanting Gentiles to look like Jews. Paul clearly sees the fallacy of Peter promoting salvation by works laid out in the Old Testament and Rabbinical law, and Paul calls him on it. Paul tells Peter his actions are wrong. Neither Jews nor Gentiles need to follow Old Testament law because salvation is by the grace of God through faith. 


In verse 15 the defense of the gospel gets even more pointed:


“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles (This is Paul speaking tongue in cheek. He wants Peter to wake up and see both Jews and Gentiles as equal before God.) know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.


Justified means to be declared right before God, to be in a right relationship with God. We are not declared right by the works of the law. Following human dos and don’ts do not make us right before God. What we wear does not make us right before God. Rituals we do do not make us right before God. Going to church does not make us right before God. Reading the Bible doesn’t make us right before God. Giving to the church does not make us right before God. Helping others does not make us right before God. 


We are not declared right before God by the works we do. We are declared right by who we believe in—Jesus. It’s only by faith in Jesus that we are declared right before God. When we receive Jesus into our life and believe in him by faith, trusting in him for salvation, that is when God declares us right before him. He doesn’t declare us right because we do good things; he declares us right because of the death of Jesus on the cross. It’s the blood of Jesus that covers our sins and makes us as white as snow. It’s the resurrection of Jesus that insures our resurrection. It’s all by the grace of Jesus that we are saved. Nothing else can save us. 


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



Verse Completion: . . . much be required; and to whom they entrusted much of him they will ask all the more.  Luke 12:48b (NASB) 


10/17/2022


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/q3EG6oPQ49U



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: greater is He who is in you than . . .(completion at the end)



On October 16, Pastor Michael preached the fifth sermon in his series of messages on the book of Galatians. “The Law and the Gospel” is based on Galatians 2:11-21.


Galatians is often referred to as “The Mini Romans”. Galatians was written before Romans, and what Paul said in Galatians he expanded on in Romans. 


Paul wrote Galatians because he received word that the churches in Galatia that he had planted were deviating from the truth of the gospel he had given them. Paul had preached the true gospel message: Salvation is by grace through faith and not by any works; salvation is a gift of God so no one can boast. 


The Pharisees and Judaizers were likely the ones who were adding to the gospel message and turning it into a falsehood. In response, Paul wrote to defend the gospel and defend himself. He began his defense by reminding them of his changed life. He used to persecute Christians, and now he is an outspoken Christian. He used to be all about the law, but now he is all about Jesus. He used to think Jesus was a sham, but now he clearly sees Jesus is the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament. 


Jesus opened Saul’s eyes that were blinded by the darkness of this world, and Saul saw that salvation doesn’t come by following a bunch of laws; salvation comes by the grace of Jesus who died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin which is death. It’s Jesus who turned Saul’s life around. 


Paul’s second defense was that the truth of the gospel message that he preached to the churches was confirmed by the Apostles—the pillars of the Church. 


Today we will look at Paul’s third defense of the gospel:


When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray (verses 11-13).


Cephas was Peter.


Antioch was Paul’s home church. It’s the church that commissioned Paul and Barnabas to go on their first missionary journey which ended up in planting four churches in the region of Galatia. 


The church in Antioch is made up of Jews and Gentiles. They are aware that salvation is by faith alone. It’s the same message for both. There isn’t one message for the Jews and a different one for the Gentiles. Both groups depend on Jesus alone for salvation. They’re gathered together in one place as equals before Jesus. They are enjoying food and fellowship together as they share communion. They were reminded that Jesus died for all people—Jews and Gentiles. 


The Pharisees and Judaizers had a difficult time letting go of the Old Testament law and the Rabbinical law, and they have come from the home church in Jerusalem. They have a difficult time wrapping their minds around the idea that Jesus alone is sufficient for salvation. Therefore, they hold the position that salvation is through Jesus and the law. 


What caused Paul to oppose Peter to his face? Peter had been eating with the Gentiles, but when the Jewish religious leaders came along, Peter felt peer pressure to back away from the Gentiles. Peter started compromising the gospel message. He started thinking there might be something to following Jesus and following the old laws. By separating himself from the Gentiles, he was sending a message to the Gentiles that they were not equal with the Jews. In order to be equal with the Jews, they would need to follow the Jewish laws of old. This made the Gentiles wonder if Jesus alone was adequate for salvation. Peter was instrumental in leading people astray, including Barnabas. 


Paul told Peter that he stands condemned before Jesus if his message is salvation is by Jesus and something else. It’s hypocrisy—saying one thing but doing another. It’s wrong. It’s being a person of duplicity.  


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



Verse Completion: . . . he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4b (NASB) 


10/15/2022


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/Wm0O_1Xqn5o


Complete the Verse & Name the Book: To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become . . . (completion at the end)



Yesterday we took a look at what the Bible has to say about being humble people. By no means was it a comprehensive study, but we could clearly see God desires us to be humble. One Scripture we didn't look at is Philippians 2:3-4: Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.


Today we are going to look at some verses on pride:


All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13

I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. Psalm 101:5

The LORD detests the proud; they will surely be punished. Proverbs 16:5

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. Psalm 5:4-5

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:28-32

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6b; 1 Peter 5:5b; Proverbs 3:34

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. Proverbs 13:10

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19


Tomorrow we will continue looking at verses from Scripture that deal with the topic of pride. 



Verse Completion: . . . all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NASB) 


10/14/2022


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/dD5AZX5Zv7A



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted . . .(completion at the end)



What kind of prayer pleases God? Jesus gave the answer in Luke 18:9-14:Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'


"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."


The prayer of the humble pleases God. The prayer of the proud does not please God. God doesn't want to hear about our good works either. Jesus made this quite clear when He said,"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, 'Come in and eat with me'? No, he says, 'Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.' And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.' "(Luke 17:7-10) 


We tend to think we are unworthy servants when we don't do our duty as Christians, but we should be feeling like unworthy servants when we do our duty as Christians. That's what humility is all about.


Here are other verses in the Bible that tell us we need to be humble people:


Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud. (Psalm 18:27)

He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. (Psalm 25:9)

The LORD supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust. (Psalm 147:6)

For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)

The LORD of Heaven's Armies has done it to destroy your pride and bring low all earth's nobility. (Isaiah 23:9)

My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud." (Daniel 4:37)

Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. (Daniel 10:9)

Seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you—protect you from his anger on that day of destruction. (Zephaniah 2:3)

Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:12)

"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." (Matthew 11:29)

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. (Ephesians 4:2)

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves before God. (James 4:6b-7a)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:10)

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:6)

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. (1 Peter 3:8)



Verse Completion: . . . beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)


10/13/2022


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/dD5AZX5Zv7A



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will conclude the recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Truth of the Gospel to the Gentiles” based on Galatians 2:1-10.


In order to bring balance to the freedom we have in Christ, let’s read 1 Corinthians 6:12: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.


Paul is saying here, “Don’t let your freedom master you. Don’t let sin master you. If you let freedom master you, then you are actually a slave and your freedom has become slavery.” Paul is telling the people they no longer have to worry about clean and unclean foods; they don’t have to worry about sacrificial rituals or the Old Testament laws concerning the washing rituals. But Paul is also warning them about the danger of letting their freedom turn them back into slaves of sin by doing different things. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 which is very similar to the previous verse quoted:


“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.


We are no longer slaves to good works, but that doesn’t mean we can do anything we want. We should never have the attitude that says, “I’m a Christian. I’m forgiven. I can sin all I want. It doesn’t matter any longer.” Such an attitude compromises the truth and turns truth into falsehood. As followers of Christ, there are things you cannot do. As followers of Christ, we follow the teachings of Christ. 


Galatians 2:6-7 says: As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.


Paul preached the gospel message to the Gentiles while Peter preached the gospel message to the Jews. It was the same message: Salvation by grace alone through faith. Salvation is a gift of God so no one can boast.  


For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised (verses 8-9).


They were all united in the gospel message that was being shared with Gentiles and Jews. 


 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along (verse 10).


Paul was there because Barnabas and he were delivering an offering to the poor. 


In our modern day churches, we have our own type of rabbinical law. We say you should wear your Sunday best to church. God is far more concerned about the internal than the external. We look on the outside, but God looks at the heart. 


There are those who would preach that Christians don’t participate in sports on Sunday. That’s adding works to salvation by grace through faith. The Sabbath is a day of rest. God doesn’t want us engaged in economic gain seven days a week. We are to have a break from that. We need time to recharge our batteries. Playing sports can be an activity that helps us do that. God rested on the seventh day of creation. We need to do the same. 


The ancient Near East people believed there were good gods and bad gods. They believed that if the good gods rested while the bad gods were at work, creation would fall apart into chaos. Therefore, the good gods had to be constantly working. Jehovah opposed that way of thinking. God is sovereign over all. 


Is it biblical that we can’t wear baseball caps inside church buildings? No, our salvation is not about dos and don’ts. Our salvation is about Jesus. We have so many traditions and church laws that we make up to make ourselves be more impressive before God. 


We are saved by the grace of God. His grace doesn’t give us a license to sin. His grace says no to works that try to impress God or works that try to add to what Jesus did on the cross. Acts 4:12 tells us: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Salvation is not Jesus and; it’s Jesus only. This is the message all of us need to take to heart. 


Is there anything you are putting on par with Jesus—that which is equal to Jesus? If so, you need to get rid of it and just follow Jesus. Make your life all about Jesus and bringing glory to him. 



Verse Completion: . . . Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8 (NASB) 


10/12/2022


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/F_g1rcUXN1I



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue the recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Truth of the Gospel to the Gentiles” based on Galatians 2:1-10.


When Paul said, “I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain,” he wanted to make sure that what he was preaching had an effect on people’s lives. If he was preaching something other than the truth, it wouldn’t have an effect on people’s lives. In addition, the people he was preaching to might think they are saved when they really aren’t. It’s imperative that what Paul preaches is truth. 


If the gospel message of grace through faith is true for the Jews, it’s also true for the Gentiles. Gentiles can be fully saved by the grace God extends to them as long as their faith is in the Jesus, the one who died for their sins. The false teachers were saying the Gentiles could have faith in Jesus, but they had to do works, also, such as being circumcised. Paul was opposed to the false teachers who taught “Jesus and” rather than “Jesus only”. 


Galatians 2:3-5 says:


Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.


The Jews wanted Titus to follow the Jewish traditions if Titus was going to use the Jewish Scriptures, but Paul corrected them. Salvation is by grace alone through faith. Jewish laws and traditions did not have to be followed. The Jews felt comfortable adding Jesus to their religious beliefs, but the Gentiles didn’t have their background. The Jews were fine with the Gentiles believing in Jesus for salvation, but they felt the Gentiles needed to do more. 


The Jews had it wrong. Salvation is not about adding Jesus or adding anything to Jesus; it’s about accepting Jesus as the sole means of salvation. All that is necessary for salvation is the grace of Jesus. Paul told the Jews that the message of salvation would not be compromised in order to make them feel better because they were doing works that others were not doing. Titus was not going to be doing any works for salvation, and nobody else would either. Salvation was by grace through faith. Period. Works play no part in gaining salvation. Titus was not going to be circumcised. 


When Paul said, “We did not give in to them for a moment,” he was insuring the gospel message would not be compromised. Nothing would be added; nothing would be taken away. Anything different from the gospel message of grace through faith is a sham. It’s falsehood. Those who promote that which is false are working against the gospel. They are not walking with Jesus; they are walking in the opposite direction of Jesus. How can a person be a follower of Jesus when he is walking in the opposite direction of Jesus?


If you claim to be a follower of Christ, but you are walking in the opposite direction of Jesus, you are a sham believer. Sham believers add works to the gospel of Jesus. They say Jesus is not enough for salvation; grace is not enough; faith is not enough. They say you must work to earn your salvation. Anyone who says these things is a sham believer. Don’t fall for their lies. 


If a Seventh Day Adventist would say that a person has to believe in Jesus and worship on Saturday in order to be saved, they would be speaking a falsehood. However, if the Adventist said, “You must believe in Jesus in order to be saved,” and later mentioned that worshiping on Saturday was their preferred day of worship but definitely not necessary for salvation, that would be a different situation. We just have to be alert for those who would add to the gospel or subtract from the gospel.


Paul spoke the truth when he said salvation is by grace alone through faith. It’s a gift of God. Salvation does not come about by works so nobody can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.


Everyone who shows up at church is not there because they want to worship and praise Jesus. Sometimes people show up at church in order to lead people away from the truth, away from Jesus. 


We can be slaves to the law like Paul was before his encounter with Jesus. We can try to impress God with our works. We might even have a false hope that our works will earn us salvation when we have more good works than bad works. Jesus set us free from all that. We don’t need to be slaves to the law, because the law doesn’t provide salvation. God’s grace provides salvation.


Tomorrow we will conclude this recap of Pastor Michael’s message.



Verse Completion: . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 (NASB) See also Mark 4:18-19 and Luke 8:14.


10/11/2022


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/zKiBz-hTj7w



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, . . . (completion at the end)



On October 9, Pastor Michael preached his fourth sermon in his series of messages on the book of Galatians. “The Truth of the Gospel to the Gentiles” is based on Galatians 2:1-10.


The book of Galatians has one message. Consequently, the sermons in this series may start to sound repetitive. Paul is writing this letter with a specific purpose. Galatians is different from Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, or Philippians where Paul provides teaching and instruction on a number of topics. Galatians has one topic—one big idea. 


Paul planted the churches in Galatia and moved on. When he received word that the churches were straying away from the truth of the gospel, something had to be done. Falsehood was being taught. The false teachers said the gospel was Jesus and . . . rabbinical law, circumcision, traditions, and so forth. The gospel message Paul shared with the churches was Jesus only. Salvation is through Jesus alone, not Jesus and something else. 


Paul wrote Galatians to defend the gospel. The gospel message Paul shared was that salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. Salvation is not by works. Salvation is a gift of God so nobody can boast about their works. 


The first chapter lays out the gospel message. The rest of Galatians is written to prove that the gospel message Paul shared is truth. Those who deviate from it are teaching that which is false. 


Paul gives his testimony in Chapter One. He writes about the sufficiency of Christ for his salvation. He used to persecute followers of Christ, but now he is a follower of Christ himself. Jesus transformed Paul’s life on the road to Damascus. Paul life has taken a 180 degree turn from what it used to be. Paul was changed by the grace of Jesus. Paul’s faith is in Jesus and Jesus alone. It’s Jesus who forgave his sins and made everlasting life with Jesus possible. 


If it was true that people are saved by works, then Saul was well on his way to salvation because Saul was a great Pharisee who diligently worked to keep the 613 rabbinical laws. Saul was all about the law. He couldn’t see how Jesus could be the Messiah, the Son of God. But when Saul encountered Jesus, his life was changed. His eyes were opened as he reread the Old Testament. It became very clear to him that Jesus truly was the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophesies that foretold the coming of the Messiah. He saw the Old Testament in a new light. Clearly, Jesus was the Savior of the world.


Paul used to live by the law but after meeting Jesus, Paul turned his back on the law. He saw that the law cannot save anyone. Only the grace of God saves people. 


Paul’s transformed life proved the gospel message is truth. However, Paul isn’t done defending the gospel. Let’s see what other proofs he comes up with in Chapter Two.


Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.


Let’s get more information on this by taking a look at Acts 11:25-30:


Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.


During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.


This is what Paul is referring to in the first two verses of Galatians 2. 


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon.



Verse Completion: . . . “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 (NASB) See also Hebrews 10:30 and Deuteronomy 32:35.


10/10/2022


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/kX42GlZ6r0o



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and. . . (completion at the end)



Today we will conclude the recap of Pastor Michael’s message that he preached on Sunday, October 2, titled “The Passion and Purpose of Paul” based on Galatians 1:10-24.


Galatians 1:21-24 says: Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.


Paul is saying, “If you don’t believe my story, go check it out for yourselves.” The churches in Judea didn’t know Paul, because he didn’t spend time there. 


Paul realizes the gospel is for God’s glory. The gospel changes lives by the grace of God for God’s glory. Paul changed from a man who preached law to a man who preached grace. Philippians 3:7-9 tells us:


But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.


Paul does not bring any of the old traditions into the gospel message. The gospel is all about Jesus and Jesus only. Paul wants the Galatians to get back to the purity and truth of the gospel—Jesus. 


Do we add things to the gospel today? Unfortunately, we do. What we learn about Christ in our early days, we tend to hang on to and bring into the church. If your first encounter with Christ was in a Baptist church, you learned how to be a Baptist. When you change churches, you tend to hang on to what you know about being a Baptist. 


It makes no difference which church you attended—Lutheran, Catholic, or any other church—you tend to hang on to the traditions of that church. It just doesn’t feel right when those traditions aren’t there. 


Paul came to Christ with more traditions than you’ll ever have, and he counted them as garbage. All that mattered to him was Jesus and the message of Jesus—the gospel message. We need to be the same way. Let go of tradition, and cling to Jesus. We don’t want to be caught saying, “I want Jesus and those traditions I’m comfortable with. I want Jesus and those traditions that just make me feel right.” That’s what the false teachers were saying in Paul’s time. That’s what we say in our churches today:


·      It’s just doesn’t feel right without pews.


·      It just doesn’t feel right without a certain color.


·      It just doesn’t feel right without having candles.


·      It just doesn’t feel right without a choir.


·      It just doesn’t feel right without a special song being presented by a soloist.


·      It just doesn’t feel right without an organ.


·      It just doesn’t feel right with the order of service we do.


·      It just doesn’t feel right with the songs we sing as a congregation.


Paul said that all the tradition he carried around with him was a burden; in fact, it was garbage! Our focus is to be on Jesus and Jesus alone. It’s faith in Jesus that changes lives. The color of a table covering or anything else doesn’t change lives. It’s Jesus and Jesus only who changes lives by his grace so those changed lives can bring glory to God. Paul turned his back on all of his traditions, and so should we. 


Don’t be fooled by thinking the traditions of mankind—the liturgies, the furniture, the order of service—are what matter in our churches. They don’t matter. What matters is that we focus on Jesus and Jesus alone, giving him the glory that is due him. 


What makes me right before Jesus is the grace of God through faith. Nothing I do makes me right before God. All my good works are garbage when it comes to salvation. Having the right table and furniture in the church does not make us right before God. 


Notice how Paul closes this section: And they praised God because of me. Paul wants all the praise going to God, not himself. He knows it’s not about favor, fame, or finances; it’s about the grace of God through faith in God. 


We have a job to do—to make Jesus known to others so his kingdom can grow and God can receive all the glory for changed lives. 


The gospel is about faith in Jesus and living a transformed life by the grace of God and for his glory. Let us turn our backs on tradition, turn fully to Jesus, and give him all the glory for the grace he’s given us.



Verse Completion: . . . upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4 (NASB)


10/8/2022


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/U8YbYm5eqMI



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue a recap of Pastor Michael’s message that he preached on Sunday titled “The Passion and Purpose of Paul” based on Galatians 1:10-24.


Let’s continue reading Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia with Galatians 1:11-16:


I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.


For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 


The gospel is about faith that changes lives. Paul’s life was radically changed by Jesus as Paul was walking down the road to Damascus on his way to persecute Christians. Paul didn’t like Jesus because Jesus seemed to be against the traditions of Judaism that Paul was schooled in. Paul wanted to protect Judaism. He had his idea of what the Messiah would be like, and Jesus definitely didn’t fit the picture he had in his mind. However, when Jesus confronted Paul on the road to Damascus, everything changed. 


But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.


Jesus changed Pau’s life completely. In that encounter on the Damascus road, Paul learned about grace. He discovered the gospel is about a faith that changes lives because of the grace of God. Paul changed from a persecutor of the Church to a preacher who was used to build the Church. 


God had a plan for Paul’s life even when Paul was in the womb. We find something similar in Isaiah 49:5: And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has been my strength—


Isaiah says that when he was being formed in the womb, God’s grace was already upon his life. God had a plan for his life. 


Jeremiah 1:5 also says something similar: The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” God’s grace was upon the life of Jeremiah even in the womb. God had a plan for his life.


Why am I a minister that is against abortion? It’s because of these verses from Scripture. Even unborn babies are called by God and given grace by God. 


God has a plan for you. If you are pregnant, God has a plan for the baby you are carrying. God’s grace extends to that period of time before you are born. 


Paul recognizes that God calls us. We can’t work to get salvation; God calls us to salvation. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:44). On our own, we can’t take steps toward God without God’s grace of drawing us to him. It is God who initiates salvation. It’s God who makes it possible for us to move toward him. 


Paul recognized that following the Old Testament law did nothing towards saving his soul. Any works that Paul did counted for nothing. He finally realized he was helpless. He needed help in order to be saved, and that help came from Jesus. Only Jesus was qualified to give Paul salvation. Only the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary could blot out Paul’s sins. Paul didn’t see that before, but now he clearly sees it. It’s by the grace of God through faith that anyone is saved. 


Galatians 1:17-20 says: I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.


Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.


Paul is saying that what he is writing was not learned by tradition. He learned tradition from the Pharisees. He learned tradition from the Rabbinic laws. He learned salvation was by works through tradition. However, when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, his eyes were opened to truth. He saw Jesus for who he was—the Savior of the world, the only one who can give people salvation that leads to everlasting life. It’s only by grace through faith in Christ alone that anyone can have salvation. Works count for nothing, and Paul had done a lot of works. Paul became a changed person by faith in Jesus alone and by his grace. 


We will conclude this recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon in the next devotional.



Verse Completion: . . . he shall not lose his reward. Mark 9:41 (NASB)


10/7/2022


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/L9bb5xwQyls



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not . . . (completion at the end)



On October 2, Pastor Michael preached his third sermon in his series of messages on the book of Galatians. “The Passion and Purpose of Paul” is based on Galatians 1:10-24.


After Paul’s conversion, wherever he traveled he spread the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ: repent, and believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life. As Paul traveled he planted churches. He wanted to see people born again and come into a relationship with Jesus. 


As he worked to this end, he was persecuted for preaching the gospel. Acts 13:49-50 tells us: The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.


We see more opposition to Paul’s message in Acts 14:1-2: At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.


We read of more persecution in verse nineteen: Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.


After investing his life in the churches he planted, Paul is astonished that some of them are turning away from the gospel. Paul defends the gospel message he gave them starting in Galatians 1:10-16:


Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.


For Paul the gospel is not about favor, fame, or financial gain like it was for the false prophets. For Paul the gospel is about faith in Christ alone. What is it about the gospel message that people don’t like? They don’t like it because it starts with sin: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). They don’t like that sin has a penalty: For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). They don’t like that they can’t get to heaven by doing some good works that will cover their bad works. 


People don’t like being told they are bad; they don’t like being told they are sinners. They like to believe they are basically good. Romans 3:10-12 tells us: As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” This is part of the gospel message, and people don’t want to hear it. People didn’t want to hear it in Paul’s time, and they don’t want to hear it today.


Nobody is able to get to heaven on their own. We all need help, but  people don’t like feeling needy. They like feeling self-sufficient. They’re not looking for any handouts. Salvation as a free gift sounds like a handout. They like feeling that everything they have is from themselves—they earned everything they have. They are an entity unto themselves. They look at religion as a crutch. If you need a crutch, go ahead and use one, but they don’t need a crutch. It’s seen as a sign of weakness. 


Why is a crutch a bad thing? If I break my leg, a crutch is a very good thing! When I realize I am broken spiritually and I cannot walk on my own, I need Jesus. You can call Jesus a crutch if you want to, but I realize I need Jesus. The whole world needs Jesus. The whole world is broken because of sin, and Jesus is the only one who can deal with our sin. Without Jesus we can’t walk into heaven. We have all been broken by sin. We can’t get into heaven on our own strength. We have to have Jesus. 


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Michael’s message.



Verse Completion: . . . gather with Me, scatters. Luke 11:23 (NASB)


10/6/2022


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/R_pYrJ8MLUY



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will conclude the recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Uniqueness of the Gospel” based on Galatians 1:1-9.


Paul said in Galatians 1:7: Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. Confusion, chaos, and corruption do not come from God; they come from Satan. The false teachers were taking something that was good and turning it into something that was bad by twisting the truth. That which was right was twisted into that which was wrong. Instead of drawing people closer to God, the false teachers were turning people away from God. 


There are those who twist the gospel today and say that once you say the sinner’s prayer, your eternal salvation is secure. Really? If you are walking away from God, and you continue to walk away from God, how secure are you? Eternal security is for those who are walking toward God and with God. They know God’s voice, and they respond positively to it. You can’t be walking away from God and walking towards God at the same time. 


Joshua said, “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-15).


Paul said in verse nine: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! That’s serious business to be under God’s curse, but that’s how important it is not to deviate from the gospel of Christ. A person who leads people away from truth, away from Jesus, is under God’s curse. That person is an enemy of God. 


Ultimately, our trust is not in angels or preachers; our trust is in Christ and Christ alone. Angels can’t save our souls. Preachers can’t save our souls. Only Christ can save our souls. No angel died for our sins. No preacher died for our sins. Only Jesus died for our sins. He was the only one qualified to die for our sins, because he lived a perfect life and never sinned. 


2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says: For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 


If we aren’t careful, we can be fooled by Satan who deceives people into thinking he is an angel of light. Don’t believe anything other than the gospel of Jesus: Jesus died for our sins. He was raised from the grave on the third day. It is by grace we are saved through faith, not by works. Salvation is a gift from God. Nobody can boast that they were saved by their works. Only Jesus can give salvation. 


There are false religions out there, and Mormonism is one. They do not believe that salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone. They believe salvation is through Jesus and works. Jehovah Witnesses and Christian Scientists have some similar beliefs to us, but they don’t depend on Jesus alone for salvation. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).


The truth of the gospel leads us to forgiveness, salvation, and everlasting life. The gospel is central to our salvation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is original. It’s unique. It’s one of a kind. Here’s the gospel in a nutshell:


·      Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 


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


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


·      Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.


·      Romans 10:9-10: 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.


·      Revelation 3:20: “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 that person, and they with me.”


Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Are you believing in him alone for salvation? 



Verse Completion: . . . have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10 (NASB) 


10/5/2022


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/vXMPNXXnCls



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: For everyone who exalts himself shall be . . . (completion at the end)



Today we will continue a recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon “The Uniqueness of the Gospel” based on Galatians 1:1-9.


In his opening Paul says it is God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection is foundational to our salvation. 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 tells us:


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.


When Paul talks about the resurrection of the dead, Paul is talking about the centrality of our faith. Without the resurrection, there is no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, and no eternal life. The salvation message is Jesus died on the cross for our sins and God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Paul’s gospel message corrects the false teaching given by others. 


Paul mentions grace and peace. Grace is undeserved favor. It’s the result of Jesus dying on the cross and being raised on the third day. God’s grace is extended to all who will receive it. The false teachers said it was God’s grace and . . . works, the Law, circumcision, and so forth. They said the work of Jesus wasn’t enough. Paul said the grace of Jesus is enough for salvation. Salvation is a free gift. 


It’s the grace of God that brings us peace. We can’t have peace with God without the grace of God. There is no peace with a works mentality; people are constantly wondering if they’ve done enough good works to be saved. Peace comes when a person can say, “I know Jesus has forgiven me. I don’t have to try to do enough good works so the good outweighs the bad in my life. It’s only by the grace of God that I have salvation. There can never be enough goodness in me to earn my salvation.”


Paul said in our text for today, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age.” 


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


The heart of the gospel is found in John 3:16: 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.


We don’t need rescuing unless were in trouble. A person who needs rescuing is unable to rescue himself. Jesus came to rescue us because we are sinners and sin has a penalty—death (Romans 6:23). Sin keeps us from having peace with God. 


We live in an evil age. People don’t seek to please God; they seek to please themselves. They don’t seek to glorify God; they seek glory for themselves. In the first five verses of Galatians, Paul gets right to the heart of the gospel.


Verse six begins an admonishment of their behavior. He can’t believe what he is hearing. How could the Galatians so quickly turn to a different gospel than the gospel of Christ? Quickly here is not a measurement of time; it’s a measurement of their willingness to walk away from truth or turn their backs on truth. Paul wants them and us to know how important the gospel is to our faith, to how we live in this present age, and to our eternity. 


There is only one true gospel, and that is the gospel that comes from God. It must be central in our lives. Acts 4:12 records these words from Peter: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Salvation is found in Jesus and Jesus alone. The gospel is the Good News about Jesus. 


Tomorrow we will conclude this recap of Pastor Michael’s sermon.



Verse Completion: . . . humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. Luke 14:11 (NASB)


10/4/2022


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/eKz_lF_IUt4



Complete the Verse & Name the Book:  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day . . . (completion at the end)



On September 25, Pastor Michael preached his second sermon in his series of messages on the book of Galatians. “The Uniqueness of the Gospel” is based on Galatians 1:1-9:


Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me, 


To the churches in Galatia:


Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!


Have you ever had something that is unique, something that is one of a kind? My dad had a sunroof put in our Suburban which made it one of a kind. At that time nobody else had a Suburban with a sunroof. Val’s father had a unique tractor that he built himself using parts from a variety of old tractors. There was no other tractor on the planet that matched his. 


God has given us something that is unique; it’s the message of salvation. The gospel message is unique; there’s no other message like it. No other message can provide forgiveness of sins, save a person from death, and provide eternal life. 


After Paul planted churches, false teachers came along and tried to change the message Paul had given them. The message was similar to Paul’s message, but it was different. Paul’s message was often imitated but never duplicated by the false teachers. Paul’s message was that salvation was by the grace of God through faith in God and not by works.


Usually Paul would begin his letters with a note of thankfulness and praise, but his letter to the churches in Galatia is different. He is concerned about what is going on in the churches. They were given the gospel message, but now they are deviating from that message. They are walking away from Jesus; they are walking away from truth. That is always dangerous!


Paul begins his letter saying he was sent by Jesus. Jesus called Paul to share the gospel message with others. There was authority behind the message Paul shared—God the Father and God the Son. Paul was qualified, called, and correct because he was sent by God the Father and God the Son. 


Acts 9:1-6 tells us of Paul’s conversion:


Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”


“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. 


“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”


This is Paul’s encounter with God. This encounter changed Paul’s life completely. He did a 180 degree turn. This encounter with God made Paul qualified, called, and correct. 


Tomorrow we will continue this recap of Pastor Michael’s message.



Verse Completion: . . . is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 (NASB)


10/3/2022


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/n3t6CdeiN1M



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife . . . (completion at the end)



Have you ever felt like God needed your help? Have you ever felt that things would move along a bit faster if you stepped in and gave God a hand? Abishai felt that way. He knew David would replace King Saul, and he had the opportunity to make that happen "quickly". 1 Samuel 26:5-12 tells what happened:


David slipped over to Saul's camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors. "Who will volunteer to go in there with me?" David asked Abimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother.


"I'll go with you," Abishai replied. So David and Abishai went right into Saul's camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.


"God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!" Abishai whispered to David. "Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won't need to strike twice!"


"No!" David said. "Don't kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD'S anointed one? Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in a battle. The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let's get out of here!"


So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the LORD had put Saul's men into a deep sleep.


If this story were rewritten using your name, where would you fit in? Would you replace Abishai's name or David's name? I would want my name to replace David's name, but I'm afraid it's a lot better fit with my name replacing Abishai’s name. Sad but true. I would have looked at this opportunity to make David king as from God. I probably would have thought, "God put me here today to play an important part in David becoming king."


David was much wiser saying,"Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed!"


So how do we become wise? We pray for wisdom. We ask God to direct our steps. We pray that God's will be done in our lives, not our own.


Another impatient person was Saul, and his impatience cost him his kingdom. 1 Samuel 13:7b-14 tells what happened:Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.


Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?"


Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, "The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven't even asked for the LORD'S help!" So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came."


"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD'S command."


Saul had waited seven days to do things God's way, but that's as far as his faith would take him. He decided to lend God a hand in getting things done, but Saul found out obedience is better than sacrifice.


Even the disciples fell into the temptation of taking matters that belonged to God into their own hands. Luke 9:51-56 tells the story:As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, "Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.


Even John jumped the gun when he told someone to stop using the name of Jesus. Mark 9:38-41 tells us:John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop, because he wasn't in our group."


"Don't stop him!"Jesus said. "No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded."


Peter took things into his own hands when he should have waited on the Lord. John 18:7-11 says,Once more [Jesus] asked [the contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards],"Who are you looking for?"


And again they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene."


"I told you that I AM he,"Jesus said. "And since I am the one you want, let these others go." He did this to fulfill his own statement: "I did not lose a single one of those you have given me."


Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?"


Let's not get in the middle of God's business. He doesn't need our help. Let's not overstep our boundaries, and we'll know what those boundaries are when we spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to live in us and direct our steps.



Verse Completion: . . . loves himself. Ephesians 5:28 (NIV) 


10/1/2022


Good morning! Welcome to October!


Only one life ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.


                                           --Charles Studd



Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/BCc7TCmKcwQ



Complete the Verse & Name the Book: If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and . . . (completion at the end)



Today our focus is on our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:1-10 tells of His resurrection:Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.


Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.


Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.


The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel's message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them,"Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."


A person doesn't have to have blind faith to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. It's fairly easy to prove you were in church last week with evidence you can produce: eye-witnesses who say they saw you at church (several who even agree as to which seat you sat in), you have a copy of the bulletin, you can recall what the pastor said, you can recall a song or two, you even remember some side conversations you had with individuals before/after the service. In the same way, it's easy to prove the resurrection with empirical evidence. After his resurrection, Jesus was seen by over 500 people on twelve separate occasions. In addition to the guards and the women who saw him in the passage of Scripture above, there were hundreds more—see Luke 24, John 20-21, Mark 16, Acts 1, 1 Corinthians 15:6. Were they credible witnesses? All of his disciples who saw Jesus after his resurrection were willing to die for him. That alone proves the resurrection was true, because no one is willing to give up their life for something they know is a lie or give up their life for someone they know is a phony.


After Jesus rose from the dead, Peter preached to a crowd, and his words are recorded in Acts 2:32-41:"God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet." '


"So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!"


Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"


Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God." Then Peter continued preaching for a long time strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"


Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.


When Paul preached in Athens, he said,"God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead"Acts 17:30-31.


We can trust everything in the Bible, as it was originally written, as truth. The penalty for a false prophet was death, so truth was valued. The prophets foretold of the birth of Jesus, his death on the cross, and his resurrection. Everything came true just as they prophesied.


We now look forward to the next big event in history when Jesus will return. Acts 1:9-11 says,After saying this, [Jesus] was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!"


Hebrews 9:27-28 says,And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also 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 bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.


1 Thessalonians 5:13-18 says,And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.


We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.


We have much to praise God for! He has risen! He has risen, indeed! Let's thank God for raising Jesus from the dead. We know if he has power to do that, he has the power to raise us from the dead, also, just as he promised. In addition, we can give thanks to God for his promise to return and take all his followers (dead or alive) to heaven to live with him forever. It doesn't get any better than that!



Verse Completion: . . . heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 (NIV)


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