Communing With God

1. Hayden 8-10-19

No one’s faith can grow to any significant level and no one’s relationship with the Almighty will be strengthened without spending time with God Himself. If we neglect communing with our spouses and children, those relationships begin to suffer and will eventually become non-existent. Unfortunately, so many who view themselves as believers in Christ have neglected communing with the Lord and therefore have forfeited any meaningful relationship with Him. But Saints, it does not have to be that way. God has made a way for us to come into His very presence anytime we wish. We sing about meeting with God, but do we. The song “in The Garden” is an iconic hymn that we love to sing, but far too often, they are only words we admire, failing to put them into practice. “I come to the garden alone…And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.” Wonderful words of life!

There isn’t even close to enough room on this page to list all of the scriptures telling us our need to pray. And that is exactly what prayer is, simply communing with God. After listing the armor of God in the 6^th chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul gives one very important piece of advice. “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:18). And in the book of Hebrews the Lord beckons us to come to Him. To commune with Him. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:15-16). It is in His presence we receive mercy and grace. It is in communing with God that His power is made abundantly available to His people with a fullness of joy. Enter God’s presence and commune with Him regularly. Your faith will grow exponentially.

Be blessed even more and have a wonderful week and thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!!

Pastor Chris         

Giants

1. Hayden 7-25-19

The past few weeks have been an adventure as the Thursday morning Bible study has been tackling the issues that surround overcoming and conquering the giants that people face in life. Louie Giglio, well known Pastor and speaker, has been taking us on an odyssey of courage reminding us that, even though we may be facing giants that want to destroy us, they must fall to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The last couple of episodes we faced down giants of “fear” and “rejection.” We are looking forward to facing down more giants in upcoming Thursday morning studies. The office was packed this last study with 9 in attendance. But we have room for many more so if you have an open hour, join us every Thursday at 10:00am in the church office.

This study surrounds the Biblical account of David and Goliath and how this young faithful shepherd boy faced down and defeated the mighty giant Goliath. In the same way, we can face down giants also, but Louie puts a twist on who David really is. As the study points out, we are not David. it is Jesus Christ who is David, our champion. We do not become victorious by being David. We overcome by relying on our David—Jesus Christ!!

The Word tells us in Romans 8:35-37 says, ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” We are conquerors through Him! The Lord is David who has defeated Goliath and by relying on Christ and His shed blood, we become victorious over the giants that would want to take us down. As the Apostle John said in 1 John 5:4-5 – ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Be blessed even more!

Pastor Chris         

Miracle in Your Mouth

1. Hayden 7-11-19

Many years ago, before coming into the ministry, I was listening to a particular preacher speak on the power that was in the tongue. His foundational Scripture was Proverbs 18:21 that says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” I was especially intrigued when he uttered the phrase, “There is a miracle in your mouth.” Now I am not a “name it and claim it” kind of person, but if we believe in God’s Word and His instructions regarding the things we say, we must admit that there is power in the kind of language we choose to use. I believe in miracles and I believe it God’s power. And there seems to be a correlation between what we say and whether we see God move in our life or not.

As well as the verse in Proverbs, we can how important our speech is according to these Scriptures:

·         Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; (1 Peter 3:10),

·         Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29),

·         I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37),

·         Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Psalm 141:3),

·         But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8), and

·         If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless (James 1:26).

These are but only a few of the many references to the importance of ordering our speech to line up with what God’s Word says. When the 12 spies returned from scoping out the Promised Land that was to be their home, only Joshua and Caleb spoke positively about being well able to take the land. The other 10 spoke negatively about how they were too weak, too small, and too incapable of driving out the current inhabitants that stood in their way. Because of their words, those 10 never entered the Holy Lands. But Joshua and Caleb did. That day, there was power in their words and they were rewarded for ordering their speech to line up with the promises of God. We must do the same.

Be blessed even more and have a wonderful week!!

Pastor Chris