An Eroding Culture (Still Eroding)

1. Hayden 4-24-16, revised 7-28-20

Last night, in a fit of prayer, I felt led to crack open an old favorite book of mine, Chuck Swindoll’s text “The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call For Renewal.” In a nation that continues to drift further and further away from the moral moorings that were considered at one time common sense, the Church is in desperate need for spiritual renewal. On the back cover of Swindoll’s book, we read this quote, “Postmodernism (there is no absolute truth or reality) began in the academic community, oozed into leadership, then morphed into Congress, public schools, and our homes. Sadly, the slumbering evangelical church has also now slid into the murky waters of a post-Christian swamp.” This is often the result of a church that, rather than seek to draw closer in a holy relationship with God, settles for a shallow, religious form having no power. A church that is more interested in being accepted, and better yet, liked by our politically correct world, escaping the persecution that Jesus said all who live Godly in Christ Jesus would suffer (2 Timothy 3:12).

Some feel that we are in the process of the great “falling away” in the church, spoken of in the Scriptures, as we see denomination after denomination buckle to the pressures of the world to accept more and more behaviors, lifestyles, and faiths as acceptable alternatives to Biblical truths held by the church for the last 20 centuries. Could this be the great falling away linked to the revealing of the anti-Christ spoken of in the Bible? In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 we read, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” There has always been societies filled with eroded morality (maybe every society). But now many sectors of the church, after holding to standards of Biblical holiness and truth, are voting (and have voted) to not only affirm alternative faiths and lifestyles as acceptable to God but actually plotting to weave these changes into the church. We need to continue to pray that the church will be renewed in the Holy Spirit, be salt and light for the world, leading people to repentance and forgiveness in Christ rather than allow the world to lead the church into a politically correct social club based on good feelings rather than God’s Word. It is time for the Church to rise up, be bold in Christ, speak truth to counter the deception out to destroy our world, call the church to revival and preach repentance and faith in Jesus to a lost world.

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris         

What’s the Answer?

C. Hayden 6-10-20

                Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Well country singer Lynn Anderson recorded a song most of us probably remember entitled “Rose Garden.”  While you may not remember it at first, I bet you will recall it the moment I state the first line of the song’s chorus.  The tune echo’s the sentiment that things will not always be fun and games. The chorus of the song goes like this:  “I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden.  Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain some time…”

Well I think most of us would agree, that even though we have had a few years of sunshine, we are in a rainy season now as our country has been facing one difficult situation after another.  With struggling through the pandemic and now protests crossing our nation, the question has surface, what’s next? Well I am still waiting for the killer hornets to make an appearance? 

                So what can we do?  First let me just say, we will never be able to stop problems from happening.  Tribulation will come.  We are not going to be able to solve all our problems by:

1. Money – Throwing more money at things never seems to work

2. Education – The more we know the more we realize we don’t know

3. Uniting – Unity is great but without God it is folly (remember the tower of Babel?)

4. Politics – I think we all realize that no matter who is in office, no one is ever satisfied

5. Begging – Appealing to everyone’s good nature?! Good luck with that

So what is the answer?  Two things I know. We will always have problems, and secondly, we will never be able to solve all of our problems in our own flesh.  We need Jesus and we need the power of the Holy Spirit!  We live in a broken world with broken people living in it.  No amount of community organizing will ever fix that.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the community working together to make a broken world continue to run, but only God Himself will be able to put Humpty Dumpty back together every time he falls.  Zechariah 4:6 says that it is not by our might or our power, but it is by His Spirit. Only through Him the world can ever hope to be fixed.  We must turn back to God as a nation.  Only then can true progress take place.  We will have more on this subject in two weeks.

Be blessed even more,

Pastor Chris

Interesting Times

1. Hayden 2-10-20

We sure do live in interesting times. With news of the impeachment acquittal behind us, the upheaval in the relationship change among European nations (Brexit), the rising angst surrounding our next election, proposals for peace in the Middle East on the table, and now with a 10-week extension of professional football through the newly formed XFL, we are left to wonder what is next around the corner. Well what is next around the corner? It is not always clear what may be lurking just beyond eyesight and earshot, but we certainly are experiencing an increasing interest in apocalyptic knowledge. Many people are asking, what in the world is going on?

David Jeremiah, one of the foremost and well respected teacher of end-time events released a book in 1992 entitled, “The Handwriting on the Wall: Secrets From the Prophecies of Daniel.” In this offering Dr. Jeremiah reveals the Prophet Daniel and his cry to the children of Israel about what God is revealing to His people, just around the next corner. However, Daniel’s apocalyptic vision was not released only for the benefit of his generation. The Book of Daniel translates to our generation as well and begs a very important question. Do we see the handwriting on the wall? As Dr. Jeremiah puts it, “This is a time when all of God’s people need to keep their eyes and their Bibles wide open. We must ask God for discernment as never before.”

Well this is why end-time prophecy and Biblical revelation of future events are so important. Biblical prophecy helps us foster a sense of urgency in regards to taking our faith to those who do not know Christ. Quoting the good Dr. Jeremiah one more time, “My study of prophecy convinces me that God intends knowledge of future events to help us ‘occupy’ with a sense of urgency until the Lord returns.” Throughout Scripture we are told to “keep watch for you do not know the day or hour of your Master’s return” (Mark 13:35). The fact that we do not know when Christ is coming back should never give us a feeling that we have plenty of time to share our faith with others (or to receive Christ for ourselves), but that we may not have enough time for the Lord may be on the cusp of His return! Do you have that sense of urgency that time is slipping away and Christ may be returning just around the next corner? Interesting times indeed!

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris       

The Law of the Lord is Perfect

C. Hayden 1-12-20

I love the Scripture passage in Psalm 19, verses 7 through 8.  This passage declares, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” If anyone wants to know what converts the soul, it is spelled out right here.  It is not our great charisma, or programs, or talent. It is God’s Word that brings an individual to the point of salvation.  As we preach God’s Word and teach His statutes, the Holy Spirit opens the heart of a receptive unbeliever, enlightening them to their sinful condition and revealing the way to everlasting life through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The New Testament confirms the importance of God’s Word in a person’s conversion.  In Hebrews 4:12 we read, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” This verse reminds us that it is the Word of God that gives us the ability to decipher what is our own thinking from that which God is revealing to us.  It discerns human soul thoughts from God infused spiritual insight.  Through God’s Word we are able to separate and recognize the truth of God from the lies of the devil.  And doing so, are free to believe in Christ’s sacrifice, setting people free from the penalty of transgressing against God’s law. 

The law is good! Through the Word of God we are able to see our need for a Savior.  After the Holy Spirit convicts the non-believer of their transgression of the law, faith in Christ leads us to receive God’s grace through the Blood of Jesus Christ! While hearing God’s Word at first may taste bitter, being condemned by the Truth, through repentance the Word of God turns sweet as we humble ourselves before the Lord and become beneficiaries of the God’s grace through faith in the Savior: For it is by grace through faith that we are saved!  It is a beautiful thing! 

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris         

The Christmas Presence

C. Hayden 12-10-19

Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman), a 17^th century Friar, wrote one of the all time great Christian classic books on the subject of God’s presence in the life of the believer.  Titled “The Practice of the Presence of God,” Brother Lawrence’s work is a collection of letters and teachings examining what it means and ways we may achieve an awareness of God’s tangible presence in everyday life.  The Scriptures are clear that having an awareness of God’s abiding presence should be the norm for Christians and not the exception.

 In Mathew 1:21-23 we read about Joseph’s conversation with an Angel, “’She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means God with us).”

That’s right, Immanuel, God is with us.   Jesus confirmed this understanding that we may enjoy his presence when He said this, “’He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.’ ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, ‘Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?’ ²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him’” (John 14:21-23 KJV).

This Christmas holiday, may we celebrate Christ our Lord with the understanding that He is with us in the midst of all of the activity and busyness we find ourselves in.  He is Immanuel and we can always recognize His presence if we choose to do so.  Not just in theory, but in the tangible real presence that the Holy Spirit provides.

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris         

Contentment – Not a Dirty Word

1. Hayden 11-24-19

In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul addresses the church thanking them for the gifts that they had collected on his behalf. He was not necessarily in need of the gift they had given, in fact he goes on to say that very thing to them. But he was thankful for their generosity and the blessing that was attributed to their account for showing Christ’s love in their giving. The Scripture reads thusly, ¹⁰ ”But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:10-13).

Contentment—what a word for growth! When the Apostle writes to the Church at Philippi and tells them that he “can do all things in Christ”, it is in reference to being content no matter what the circumstances may be in our own personal lives. Paul declares that no matter the circumstances that surround him or what the state of his economics may be, he will live in contentment and joy regardless. In fact, the Book of Philippians is known as The Epistle of Joy; being joyful whether good or bad may knock on your door. It is in Philippians that we read such things as “Rejoice in the Lord always”, “Be anxious for nothing”, and “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Peace, love, joy, and relatedly so, contentment are to be what the world sees when viewing God’s Church throughout the whole year, and especially at Christmas time. As we enter the season of gift giving and gift receiving, let us remember that having Christ in our hearts and family at our side is the most precious gift we can give to ourselves and those we love. Mark Twain wrote a famous quote that was later adapted to the film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The quote goes like this, “No man (“No one” in the movie) is a failure who has friends.” And if you think you don’t have a friend in the world, you are wrong. As your Church family, we want to be here for you. But One who knows you the best, loves you the most. Jesus Christ wants to be the friend of every man, woman, and child in the world. And a better friend no one could ever have! That fact only should make us content in all things. Have a wonderful Christmas season!

Be blessed even more!!

Pastor Chris