Notes of Faith February 23, 2022

When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him... When He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.”— Luke 22:14, Luke 22:19-20

Considering that we have an all-knowing, all-powerful, always-present God as our Deliverer — One who is both able and to help us in any situation — why is it that we worry? Why would we do so? Ultimately, our problem finds its root in that we not only forget who we are but — even worse  — we fail to remember who God is. We neglect to consider who we are in Him and what He has promised to us.

Because such forgetfulness is human nature, right before He went to the cross, Jesus had one last supper with the disciples. Christ realized that when His followers saw Him beaten, suspended on a cross, and buried in the tomb, they would be overcome with fear. So He took one more opportunity before His crucifixion to teach what He was going to accomplish for us all. During that historic meal, He gave them a visual illustration of what He was doing for them —so that whenever they would break bread, which was a daily occurrence, they would remember the salvation He provided. He knew they would need such a reminder in the days ahead. And that we would too.

In Luke 22:14-20, we read that Jesus met with His disciples in the upper room, and He said:

I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.—Luke 22:15

Even though He had taught them about His path to the cross on several occasions (Matthew 12:40; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19), they didn’t know what He was talking about. What they did know was that the Passover commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. When the Hebrew people were hopelessly enslaved by the Egyptians, God had saved them in a miraculous manner —sending Moses to lead them and ten devastating plagues to set them free of Pharaoh’s grasp. During the final plague, God said:

I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and fatally strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the human firstborn to animals; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments —I am the Lord.—Exodus 12:12

 However, to ensure that the people of Israel would remain safe, He said:

They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses... The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.—Exodus 12:7, Exodus 12:13

They remembered how the Lord liberated them through the blood of the lambs on their doorposts.

The Passover became a reminder of God’s protection and deliverance

— how the Lord liberated them through the blood of the lambs on their doorposts. But then, centuries later, Jesus took a cup and said:

This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.—Luke 22:20

Jesus’ blood? New covenant? The disciples knew about the old covenant, which God established after He freed the Israelites from Egypt by giving them the law of Moses (Exodus 19:5-24:7). But what of this new covenant? And what did it have to do with Jesus’ blood?

For us today, it might help us to understand how two people would enter a covenant relationship in Jesus’ day. It was a very serious commitment. The two parties would meet and exchange cloaks, which was their way of saying, “All that I have now belongs to you. What I own, you now own; and what you own, I now own. We are one.” Then they would exchange weapons. In this way they were saying, “My strength is yours and your strength is mine. This is my commitment to you that if you need protection, I am available.” Then they would cut their wrists and join them at the cut so their blood would intermingle, thus becoming one in their covenant relationship. Their scars served notice on would-be aggressors that they each had a “blood brother” who would come to their defense. Also, they adopted a part of each other’s names.

Then, the covenant would be ratified by cutting an animal in half and separating it. The two parties would make a figure eight through and around the two parts. As they did this, they would make their oath or covenant, pledging their faithfulness and their support of each other. The two parties would decide what blessings and curses would come on the other as a result of keeping or failing to observe the covenant. Then they would pile stones together and at times would inscribe the conditions of the covenant on one of the stones —all to serve as a reminder of their pledge to each other.

Finally, the two would eat a simple meal together: a piece of bread that they would exchange. In this way they would be saying, “Here is what I am, and as you eat this, I am coming into you; I am becoming a part of you.” They would exchange their cups of wine, again signifying that they would exchange their lives for each other; and thus, in all of this, demonstrating that whatever affects one affects the other. When one has need, the other responds. When one is under fire, the other is responsible to come to his or her defense. It was a binding blood covenant, joining the two parties in a relationship that would last for a lifetime.

This was the commitment Jesus was making with us as He sat with the disciples at the Last Supper. 
Luke 22:19-20 tells us:

When He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.’

Notice Jesus didn’t say, “our blood” or “your blood.” He said, “My blood.”

This is significant because the sacrificial system given through the law of Moses was only provisional and imperfect; it couldn’t save us. It was a temporary measure to atone for — or cover over — our sins until the Lord could implement His great plan. We could not give anything — not the blood of animal sacrifices or even our own blood — to make ourselves right with the Lord. But now, almighty God was ready to enter into a new covenant relationship with all mankind. And because it was wholly based on Jesus’ body and blood, He was taking the full responsibility for the fulfillment of the new relationship. Our responsibility would be to accept it and live in gratefulness for what He has done for us.

This is what the Lord meant when He said this through the prophet Jeremiah:

Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke... For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall beMy people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.—Jeremiah 31:31-34, emphasis added

Notice the many times God says He will provide the new covenant for us. We could not pay the price of this new relationship, so Jesus paid it for us with His blood. Just as the lambs’ blood on the door-posts protected and delivered Israel from Egypt, Jesus’ blood —the blood of the Lamb of God —would save us from our sins.

And just like the covenants of His day, Jesus is saying to us, “All that I have now belongs to you. What I own, you now own.” Or as He promises in Philippians 4:19:

My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Christ is also saying, “My strength is yours. This is My commitment to you that when you need protection, I am available.” Or as He assures in Isaiah 41:10:

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.

This new relationship with God you and I have is an eternity-long commitment He has made to us —irrevocable, unchanging, everlasting, and unalterable. We have become a part of His family forever, and He is committed to being our peace, our provision, our protection, and our Guide.

When you have Christ, you have everything. So why should we ever worry?

Certainly, there is no good reason. As Psalm 118:5-7 NLT says:

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; He will help me.

Friend, don’t forget who you are and what Jesus has done for you. The God of this universe cares about you and will help you.

Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.—Hebrews 4:16

The next time you sit to eat a piece of bread, remember His body was given for you. And the next time you take up a cup, think about Jesus’ blood, which provides for your salvation and protection. Do it in remembrance of Him, and take heart that He will never let you down.

Excerpted from The Gift of the Cross by Charles Stanley, copyright Charles F. Stanley.

Jesus' commitment to us is lasting, it's forever, it will never ever end! He means it when He says He loves us. He loves us to death!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 22, 2022

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. — James 1:16-18

There’s this guy in the city who sings everywhere — coffeehouses, street corners, music festivals, churches… anywhere he can draw a crowd. His voice has that gritty edge, and his songs churn up all kinds of emotions in those who listen. They make you think. Even cry.

His beat-up, twelve-string guitar looks like a yard-sale reject: it’s covered with surfing stickers, duct tape, and “graffiti” from friends (notes, doodles, and autographs). Amazingly, though, he manages to pull incredible beauty out of something so ugly.

This guy is talented, yet — like his guitar — his life is pretty messy. It started out that way.

His mom and dad abandoned him when he was a small boy, pawning him off on his grandparents. There he was, just out of diapers and barely able to talk, and his young heart was already torn and bruised. He actually started believing that he was so unlovable, so flawed, that his parents couldn’t stand to be around him. And when they ended up getting a divorce, he blamed himself for that too. Slowly a toxic mix of shame, self- loathing, and rage began to bubble inside.

Things got messier through the years, mostly because of alcohol and drug abuse during his teen years. He plunged deep into the Rastafari movement as a young man, searching for meaning to his life, but he ended up becoming more confused (not to mention really, really high all the time). He hit rock bottom at age twenty-four and spent time behind bars for using and dealing drugs.

And then he met Jesus.

After that, everything began to fall in place… right? He did a “Christian 180,” and now he has a perfect life.

Not exactly.

Despite ten years of “trying to get things right,” his life is still pretty messy.

He reads his Bible, he prays, he devours every spiritual growth book he can get his hands on, he serves in church, he hangs out with Christ-following friends — he does all kinds of Christian things that Christians are supposed to do, and yet he still slips on life’s messes and falls flat on his face.

In fact, he’s even dealing with some new twists to a bunch of old problems: abandonment (this time by his wife), divorce (this time his own), and imprisonment (this time by his emotions). As for that toxic shame thing, it’s still pooling and swirling inside. On some occasions, usually during weak moments, it gets the best of him. Old habits and negative ways of thinking seem to take over, and before he realizes it, he has lost the day spiritually.

Here’s what’s changed during his decade of walking with Jesus: he doesn’t try to hide his mess.

He’s actually pretty open about it, and he even writes songs about the things that trip him up. This brings out a sigh of relief in some believers who have heard his story. I’m not alone! they tell themselves. I can stop pretending that I have it all together, and I can start living with authenticity just like this guy. I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I can take a step toward God, warts and all.

Others, though, write off his life as yet another depressing story and even label him hypocritical, phony, or backslidden.

I think we should lean toward the first group, knowing that God can fix a crazy life. That’s the hope in Christ we need to communicate.

Following Christ is about authenticity, not performance.

It’s more about the everyday journey than a level of achievement. Even though your hang-ups and my hang-ups may be different from this guy’s, the fact is, we all still get hung up from time to time. Even as Christ-followers, we don’t always keep it together.

And if we’re honest with ourselves, we know:

We have a messy faith and a messy life.
We fall flat on our faces — more often than we care to admit. We desperately need a Savior.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we know we’re all a little bit like this guy.

“There are a lot of broken people in this world,” he once said. “I’d say that all are broken, but only a few admit it. We like to believe we’re okay — that we have it all together; it makes us feel better about ourselves. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be broken. When we get to this point, we can put away all the junk that gets in the way — our efforts to ‘get things right,’ and to ‘do Christian things’… our pride, our stubborn wills, our attempts to control everything and everyone. God is our Healer. He can accomplish in us what we cannot do on our own.”1

Wise words we need to share with a broken and hurting world.

Lord, I know we’re all broken, and we all need You. Thank You for fixing my sometimes-crazy life. Don’t let me get buried in shame; rather, let it help me communicate Your hope with a broken world. Bring people on my path who need a healing touch. Empower me to love, share, and care. Amen.

1. Anonymous source. Quote drawn from interview conducted by Michael Ross, August 10, 2004.

Excerpted from Fields of Grace by Cara Whitney, copyright Cara Whitney.

Is your life messy? Is it a little crazy? Don’t be ashamed. Take it to Jesus. Let’s go out into the world sharing that God understands mess and loves us all, through our hurts and disasters.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 21, 2022

Fear and anxiety are at an all-time high the world over.  I pray that you find these prayers comforting, exhorting, and hopeful!

Son of God, who subdued the troubled waters and laid to rest the fears of men,

let Your majesty master us and Your power of calm control us.

Replace our fears with faith

and our unrest with perfect trust in You,

who lives and governs all things, world without end.

~ John Wallace Suter (1859–1942), Adapted

Set free, O Lord, the souls of Your servants

from all restlessness and anxiety.

Give us that peace and power which flow from You. Keep us in all perplexity and distress,

that upheld by Your strength

and stayed on the rock of Your faithfulness,

we may abide in You now and forevermore.

~ Francis Paget (1851–1911)

To You alone, O Jesus, I must cling; running to Your arms, dear Lord,

there let me hide, safe from all fears, loving You with the tenderness of a child.

~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897)

You say that if I give You my burdens,

You will take care of me.

You say that I should cast all my cares upon You,

because You love me,

because You can handle them all, and because it shows my faith in You.

A burden that is heavy enough to sink me is as light as a feather to You.

A fear that can paralyze me

has no power over You.

So I unload it all before You

and hand it over for You to manage.

I put my trust in You — not in my perspective or resources. You can do anything, God!

I will not be afraid, because You are my King and Father. You are with me, and You are for me.

You accept me as I need You and rely on You,

and You walk with me now and always.

You will strengthen me for whatever comes.

~ C. M.

Lord, my emotions could propel me downward or pull a curtain around me, blocking Your light.

But instead, I look to You and pray:

Train my mind on Your truth.

Shape my thoughts with Your Spirit.

Fill my heart with Your peace.

Guide me and give me self-control to do what is wise. I trust that what You say is more real than what I feel.

~ C. M.

Make my body healthy and agile,

my mind sharp and clear,

my heart joyful and contented,

my soul faithful and loving...

Above all let me live in Your presence, for with You all fear is banished

and there is only harmony and peace.

Let every day combine the beauty of spring, the brightness of summer,

the abundance of autumn,

and the repose of winter.

And at the end of my life on earth,

grant that I may come to see and know You in the fullness of Your glory.

~ St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

Everything I could be worrying about right now, I’m praying about instead.

My concerns could take over my mind all day and seize my heart with despair.

But instead I’m taking those thoughts captive

and turning to You.

I want to make my mind obedient to You, the Truth.

I tell You what I need and hope for,

then let the matters rest in Your hands.

I rejoice that I belong to You, and You are a good Father. You’ve provided before, and You will again.

I realize my situation is an exercise in faith-training,

an opportunity to trust You and give You glory.

Now, Holy Spirit, the Great Helper,

give me self-control throughout this day

and help me fix my thoughts where You want them. May I find the good all around me.

May I fill my mind with what’s right and pure—

“the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

May I dwell on—and give power to—what is true.

May I find even simple things to delight in.

Help me choose joy; choose hope; choose peace.

~ C. M., quoted materials from Philippians 4:8 The Message

Most loving Father,

who has taught us to dread nothing but the loss of You, preserve me from faithless fears and worldly anxieties.

~ William Bright (1824–1901)

O my Lord and Savior,

in Your arms I am safe.

Keep me and I have nothing to fear...

I know nothing about the future,

but I rely upon You.

I pray that You would give me what is good for me...

If You bring pain or sorrow on me,

give me grace to bear it well—

keep me from fretfulness and selfishness.

If You give me health and strength and success in this world, keep me always on my guard lest these great gifts carry me away from You.

O Christ, You died on the Cross for me,

even for me, sinner as I am.

Help me to know You,

to believe in You,

to love You,

to serve You,

to always aim at bringing You glory,

to live to and for You.

~ St, John Henry Newman (1801–1890)

Excerpted from A Prayer for Every Occasion by Carrie Marrs, copyright Zondervan.

These are strange and difficult times around the world. It’s human and normal for feel fear and anxiety. But, our prayers reach the throne of Heaven! God is listening. Tell Him your thoughts and concerns. He is working on your behalf even before you utter a word! 

Prayer is the key to a great relationship with God.  Speak, then listen, then respond as you are spoken to from God.  Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 20, 2022

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

—Lamentations 3:21-23

Father, I feel discouraged. Sorrow wells up in me because of disappointments, losses, deep needs, and unmet expectations. Of course, You understand my sadness even more than I do. You see what is truly causing this deep hurt and making me feel hopeless. But, Lord, I realize that whenI focus on what I don’t have, my problems, or my regrets, they will always overwhelm me. They will always be bigger than they really are. So, Jesus, I will set my focus on You. Encourage and comfort me, my Lord and Savior.

I call Your faithfulness to mind, and therefore have hope. Thank You, Father, that You will always fulfill what You’ve promised. You have vowed to give me hope and a future. You have guaranteed that You will never leave or forsake me. You have assured me that You will walk with me on the mountains and in the valleys of life. I praise You because You are reliable, steadfast, unfailing, unwavering, constant, and trustworthy. You never forget, never falter, and You never fail.

You are always unswervingly faithful in all things.

This is because You, Lord God, are omniscient — You know everything and, therefore, understand how to prepare, mature, and lead me in every changing season of life. You are omnipotent — You have the power to do anything and aren’t hindered by any force on earth or in Heaven. You are omnipresent — I am always within the reach of Your strong and loving hand. And You are unchanging — Your faithfulness endures forever. You can be trusted to keep Your promises in all things and at all times.

Surely, knowing You are with me encourages my heart and helps me to continue forward. You work all things together for my edification, and even the trials I experience are for my good and Your glory. Your precious Word gives me assurance, directs me through the changing seasons of life, and reminds me that no matter what I face, I can do so with absolute confidence. You have delivered me through many trials and will continue to do so. You have set me free from bondage and persistently work in me so I can walk in Your liberty. Your loving, faithful presence will be with me today and will accompany me in all my tomorrows.

There is no reason for my soul to be downcast, because I can put my hope in You — the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, my Great High Priest, Redeemer, Defender, and Provider. I praise You for how awesome, loving, and encouraging You are.

Thank You for encouraging me and comforting me, Father. Thank You for forgiving my sins and teaching me to walk in Your truth. Thank You that nothing is impossible for You. Thank You for the precious promises You bring to mind and Your presence, Your power, Your compassion, and Your loving-kindness toward me. I will put all my hope in You.

In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Excerpted from When You Don’t Know What to Pray by Dr. Charles F. Stanley, copyright Dr. Charles F. Stanley.

If you are discouraged today, the Lord holds you so close. He desires to comfort you with His presence and soothe your worries and hopelessness. Lean on Him for support and rest in Him!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 19, 2022

John Piper

Giving Voice to Gladness

The worth and the glory that we see in others is measured by the gladness that we have in their presence. My pleasure in her presence is a tribute. It’s not selfishness; it’s celebration. My pleasure is a measure of her treasure to me. And so it is with God and worship. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him and his presence as our dearest friend. God has given singing to his people as one of the most precious and powerful expressions of our gladness in his glory.

“God has given singing to his people as one of the most powerful expressions of our gladness in his glory.”

It’s the gladness of Godward singing — We say it again. It’s the gladness of Godward singing, especially through obedient suffering, that makes God’s glory shine most brightly. So, for those two reasons, I’m thankful to be here and that this missions conference exists.

Now my task, in these last few minutes, is to draw out some of the connections between the gladness of Godward singing and the finishing of the great task, of the Great Commission, to gather God’s elect from all the peoples of the world, or as Isaiah 35:10 says, to see all “the ransomed of the Lord . . . come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon on their heads.” So, I have five connections to draw your attention to. I’ll just point to them, and you can trace them out later, and I’ll give you a scripture for each one.

Singing Sends

First, the gladness of Godward singing sends the lovers of Christ to the nations. Psalm 96:2–4: “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations” — while you’re singing, do that — “his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” How many thousands of missionaries have heard their call in Psalm 96? “Declare his glory among the nations.” Do you hear that? “Declare his glory among the nations.” Sing to the Lord a new song — there, to them.

“The gladness of Godward singing sends the lovers of Christ to the nations.”

Every year at Bethlehem, when I was a pastor there for 33 years, we would have a missions conference, and at the close of the missions conference we gave an invitation to all those who in the conference for the last two Sundays had heard or felt what they sensed to be a compelling leading of the Lord to cross a culture, to take the gospel, spending the rest of their lives to do it. That’s a pretty high standard for an invitation. We would sing. We would stop. There would be no music, and no head bowed, and no eye closed, and I would wait. And Chuck, who helped me with that for so many years, was sitting over there as a precious partner in it, our worship leader.

And they’d come. They’d just get up out of their seats and come — twenty, fifty, one time two hundred. And then we’d get them connected with the nurture program. Then we’d close with a song:

We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with thee, through endless days.

That’s the hymn that the five Ecuador martyrs were singing when they were speared to death in 1956. And I believe with all my heart that as they walked to the front, uncertain and struggling, but sensing God’s leading to give their lives to world missions, that call was sealed with that song. Singing sends lovers of Christ to the nations.

We need to complete the work that God has given us, just like the work that He gave His Son to do, and who completed it.

Matt 28:19-20
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 18, 2022

GENESIS 15

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.—Genesis 15:6

God met Abram at a time when he was doubting God’s promises. God saw Abram, came to him, and spoke great encouragement.

Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.—Genesis 15:1

In his old age, Abram focused on the physical: what his eyes could see and what his mind could comprehend. God promised to make him into a great nation, but he had no children. God graciously reassured Abram that a son was coming.

He told Abram to look to the heavens and count the stars and said,

So shall your offspring be.—Genesis 15:5

Without any change of circumstances, Scripture says Abram believed the Lord. He believed God would do what He said He would do. That is faith. And God responded to Abram’s faith by crediting righteousness, right standing with God, as his reward.

Righteousness is an important word for us since it is said that we are counted righteous for believing in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6-24; Romans 4:5:19; Romans 4:10:3). In both Greek and Hebrew, the word is full of meaning. Part of its meaning is doing what is right — that is, obedience to God, and doing justice in the world. The second part of its meaning, and just as important, is the connotation of having a legal right standing before a judge. Both of these meanings are inseparable from each other in the biblical sense of the word.

As with Noah, righteousness — or right standing with God — did not mean Abram was a sinless person. He simply trusted the Lord. Read Romans 4:4-5. God’s Word says this same situation applies to all men and women who trust in the Lord. Describe what it means for you to place your trust in the Lord.

Reread Romans 4:4-5 and meditate on its meaning, jotting down your thoughts.

God’s ways have not changed over these thousands of years. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Trusting God at His Word... trusting His promises... will lead us to righteousness. The key is faith. Abram was renamed “Abraham” by God because of Abram’s faith to believe that God would make him the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5).

Faith doesn’t mean we never doubt or have questions.

In fact, Abraham immediately began asking God how the things He spoke of were possible (Genesis 15:8) and even laughed at other things God promised (Genesis 17:17). Have you ever doubted God, or asked God why difficult things happen? How were your questions or doubts answered?

God’s promises are eternal and unchangeable. They will not fail because God cannot fail.

We can believe the enemy or we can believe God.

We can succumb to lies or stand on Truth. In the garden, Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of the enemy. Noah and Abram (Abraham), on the other hand, chose to believe the truths of God. Though, let us not forget, Noah and Abraham were not perfect. The times Noah and Abraham failed to follow God and misplaced their longings, God sent harsh consequences as a result.

We learned this week: Choosing lies and self-satisfaction leads to negative consequences. Choosing truth and humility leads to blessings and fulfillment. Why? Because when we choose to believe lies, we fall into the hands of the enemy. We hear the devil’s voice instead of God’s, so he determines who we are, our path, even our destiny.

When we trust ourselves, or others, over God, we risk moving so far from God that we forget His heart. His goodness. His love. We forget God’s commands are good. His purposes are good. He is good.

Trusting in and obeying God’s Word is where we find our true and lasting significance, satisfaction, and security.

Abraham lived this well. God had promised to make him into a great nation, yet Abraham found himself without children. How could God’s promise come to fruition with no heirs? Was God truly trustworthy?

Abraham cried out to God in discouragement. God came to Abraham and graciously reassured him a son was coming. He reminded Abraham of His promises. Scripture says Abraham believed the Lord... without any visible proof... without Sarah being pregnant. Abraham took God at His Word. He believed God would do what He said He would do.

This, my friend, is the essence of faith. God’s ways have not changed. God’s promises and purposes are eternal and unchangeable. They will not fail because God cannot fail. When the lies of the enemy — fear, doubt, anxiety, unbelief, discouragement — rush in, we must immediately take those thoughts captive. Captive to the Truth of God’s Word. The Truth of who we are as children of the One TrueGod.

Read aloud the truth of who you are in Christ.

You are Loved. 1 John 3:1

You are Forgiven. 1 John 1:9

You are Redeemed. Ephesians 1:7

You are A New Creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17

You are Holy. Hebrews 10:10

You are Set Apart. Romans 8:30-39

You are A Temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:6:19-20

You are Made with Purpose. 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 4:10

Now, pray and declare these truths over your heart and mind.

Abba Father, my Creator,

I praise You that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You that I am forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You that in and through the power of Your Holy Spirit, I am a new creation. Because of Your grace and mercy, I am Your hand-crafted masterpiece and You have good and perfect purposes for me. Please grant me wisdom and discernment as I walk out that plan. Help me to discover who You’ve created me to be. Expose the lies of the enemy. Wash away anything You have not authored for my life. Protect me from the devil’s schemes. Give me eyes to see myself, not in the world’s eyes, but in Your eyes. Father, may I know deep in my heart that I am holy, created in Your image and set apart for Your purposes. Open my eyes to see my true beauty, a beauty that reflects Your heart, Your character, Your strength and Your dignity. Plant Your Truths deep in my heart. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and bless me all the days of my life. I ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Excerpted from 40 Days Through the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team, copyright Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries Team.

God considers it a very big deal when we believe Him and take Him at His word! He counted Abraham’s faith as righteousness. Believe Him! He will do as He said He would do!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 17, 2022

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ can never be reduced to merely producing Christian character in ourselves or loving one another, as important as those things are. Being a disciple of Jesus means making other disciples, because that is what our Lord has commanded us to do. God’s sovereign purpose in this world is to create a redeemed people to worship and enjoy Him eternally, but He has chosen to accomplish that purpose through human beings. He has made us stewards of the gospel, placing that precious knowledge in earthen vessels, in the fragile container of our lives.

I assume you are reading this because you are a Christian, and you understand that sharing the good news of eternal life through faith in Christ is every Christians responsibility. You may know that and still not tell anyone about Jesus. Do you think you do not know enough to be an evangelist? Do you think you need more training? I doubt that is your problem. In the unlikely event that you knew absolutely nothing about the Bible before you began reading, you know enough to tell someone how to become a Christian. You could take the verse on the Cross and salvation and lead someone to Christ.

The problem for most Christians is not knowledge but obedience. It is not that we do not know what we need to do or how to do it. What we lack is the intention to do it. We have not made up our minds that the commands of Jesus will come before the demands of this world. When we genuinely deny ourselves and follow Him, when we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, our minds and hearts will be transformed. As disciples of Jesus, our first priority will be to make other disciples for Him.

Why the Church is Here

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.—Matthew 28:19-20

Do you ever wonder what our real purpose is in the world? Here is the end of your confusion. Our purpose is to make disciples of all the nations. The risen Jesus Christ gave this command to His apostles just before He ascended to the Father, but He intended it for all of us. That is why these verses are known as the Great Commission. It states the mission of the church.

In the original Greek, there is only one verb here —“make disciples.” That is imperative. The other words that seem like commands are actually participles modifying the main verb. What I mean is that the main verb in the sentence is “make disciples,” which you do by going, baptizing, and teaching (all participles).

To make disciples in another nation, you have to go where people do not know about Christ. Once you get there and they come to faith in Christ, you have to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That is to say, you need to bring them to an understanding of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which is demonstrated in baptism.

Baptism is important not because it saves, but because it is the public confession of salvation. Then you instruct them to be obedient to their Lord, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. You are not alone in this enterprise. Jesus says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Until the time is completely done for evangelism, I will be with you helping you to make disciples.

How would you answer if I asked you the reason for the church? Why are you still on earth? What should we be doing?

Some might say we should be living a holy life. That is a good thing, but it is not the main reason we are here. If that is all the Lord wants, we might as well on on the Heaven, because we can’t really live a perfectly holy life down here.

Some might say we are saved so we can be in fellowship. That is good, too, and we do have fellowship with other believers. But the fellowship is very imperfect, as you must know from experience. We have all kinds of problems getting along with another as Christinas. We don’t actually do fellowship very well down here.

Some might say the real priority for us is worship. We do work on worship in the church, but we don’t always get that right, either. Sometimes our minds wander and we find it hard to focus on God. Sometimes our emotions are swept away by music, but they go to a place that has little to do with God. We are fickle creatures, easily distracted.

All of that is to say that our holiness is imperfect, our fellowship is imperfect, and our worship is imperfect. If those were our top priorities, then we would do better to go on to Heaven. When we get to Heaven, we will be perfectly holy; our fellowship and worship will be perfect. That leaves us with only one reason to stay here on earth. There is one thing we can do on earth that we cannot do in Heaven —that is make disciples of all nations.

The Great Commission is given to us individually and corporately as the church.

Make sure you are involved in carrying out this commission. No one is exempt from this joyous duty. Go to people who do not know Christ. Tell them about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Encourage them to acknowledge faith in Jesus Christ and to demonstrate that by baptism. Follow up by teaching them to obey the things Jesus told us to do. And do it all knowing that Christ Himself is with you as you accomplish His purpose for you.He will be with you to the very end.

This Little Light of Mine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.—Matthew 5:16

Excerpted from The Heart of the Bible by John MacArthur, copyright John MacArthur.

You don’t need a prestigious education to share the gospel! It’s something that is for all of us, every single Christian, to share in!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 16, 2022

This is from Lamb and Lion Ministries, a great resource for Bible study and especially prophetic studies.  You may have heard this revelation from God’s Word from me or someone else in our church (I believe we have shared it many times) but it is a great reminder of the Word of God being about revealing Christ and our need to come to Him for salvation.  Enjoy!

Nathan Jones: For the past several months, our television program Christ in Prophecy has been going through a book-by-book Bible series highlighting Jesus in the Old Testament. Beginning in Genesis, we have been looking for appearances of our Messiah — either in pre-incarnate Christophanies, or in types, or as symbols — that point forward to Jesus Christ.

Tim Moore: We knew from the beginning that this series would be an ambitious one as we could only scratch the surface of each book. Our goal was to introduce you to revelations of Jesus found in places you wouldn't expect to find throughout the Word of God.

I've long believed that there is much more to each book, chapter, page, and verse of the Bible than we often realize. Sometimes that's because we simply haven't studied enough. And, sometimes it's because the Holy Spirit has not yet revealed certain truths to us. I'm sure that you've experienced that yourself?

Nathan Jones: Most Christians have experienced a time that as we were reading the Bible, then all of the sudden, a passage that we've overlooked many times just kind of lept off of the page, grabbed our hearts, and really convicted us. Having such a series has really helped open my spiritual eyes more and more to finding the pre-incarnate Jesus either there physically in person as He was say with Abraham or Gideon as the Angel of the Lord, or through typologies using different symbols such as the Ark of the Covenant or a biblical personage's life. They all point to the Messiah being Jesus Christ.

Tim Moore: It's amazing how many types point to Jesus Christ and the Gospel!

The Genealogical Example

Tim Moore: Here's an example of the beauty that often eludes us until we dig deeper into the Word of God. In Genesis 5, Moses records the genealogy that led from Adam to Noah. The men cited lived and died thousands of years ago and had names that are sometimes hard to pronounce. When you explore the meaning of certain names, though, you'll come to realize that God has woven an incredible truth into His Word pointing to Himself and His Good News for mankind.

For example, Genesis 5 lists the genealogy of ten men: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. What do their names mean?

Adam = Man

Seth = Appointed, or Anointed One

Enosh = Mortal, or Man

Kenan = Sorrow

Mahalalel = Blessed God

Jared = to Descend, or Descent

Enoch = Dedicated, or Teaching

Methuselah = Man of Death, or Man of the Spear

Lamech = Despairing, or to Make Low

Noah = to Bring Relief, or Comfort, or Rest

So, if you stitch all of these names together it appears that the Lord is providing a summary of His whole Gospel story as revealed in Scripture. Together they mean:

"Man is appointed to be mortal and live in sorrow, but the blessed God shall come down teaching that His death shall bring the despairing comfort and rest."

While these names can obviously stand on their own, there are reasons why God puts what He does in Scripture. I find great beauty and gain insight from this example. I've actually carried a page listing this example in my Bible for many years now as a reminder that meaning can be found in every aspect of God's Word.

Nathan Jones: This lineage of names and meanings serves as one of the great arguments for the Bible being the very Word of God because it shows the uniformity of theme and purpose as found throughout the Scriptures. The very fact that we're given an entire line of genealogy where each name adds up to a message that points to the Messiah and His redemptive work — well that rather blows my mind!

Not to mention, the Bible is filled with chiastic structures, Christophanies, typologies, and so forth that all point to Jesus Christ. The argument could be made that everything in the Bible inevitably points to Jesus. We are reminded that all of human history from Genesis, when Adam and Eve walked and talked and had fellowship with God, to all of the way to the end of Revelation when mankind is once more walking and talking and having fellowship with God — the whole Bible is one unified theme that demonstrates a future restoration of mankind to God.

God has a redemptive plan for mankind. Therefore, should He want to hide it, as some people believe? Does He want to obscure it? Do you have to spiritualize the interpretation of the Bible in order to get to its conclusion? Not at all! A literal interpretation of the Bible will provide you with God's meaning. God wants to redeem a remnant of mankind to dwell with Him forever in perfect love. He didn't create robots who are forced to obey and worship Him. Even the angels got to choose the Lord or not.

And so, the Bible means to openly declare its unifying theme about the redemption of mankind, but all for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God. Scripture is all about setting that relationship right where we mortals are the creation that worships the divine Creator.

Tim Moore: So, even as we study the history that is contained in some of these narrative books, such as 1 Kings, we really are talking about His-story — God's story — of revelation to mankind. The Bible exists to point people to and bring glory to God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 15, 2022

Notes of Faith February 15, 2022

Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. — Joshua 6:4

*

“The rules are simple,” Pastor Chris told my wife and me.

“Take this Bluetooth speaker into that room, blast some worship music, and start worshiping and praying out loud together.”

Jill loved those instructions. I hated them.

I’m a pastor, so you wouldn’t think that would be a difficult task for me, but I can’t stand praying with my wife. She’s an incredible prayer warrior, and I feel like a stuttering idiot. Even after all these years of marriage, this far into my relationship with God, it still feels awkward for me to pray with her at length.

I hope that is freeing for some of you. Stop feeling guilty. It’s not just you!

“That’s right,” he continued, “it’s time to start worshiping. You’re both going to pray out loud for thirty straight minutes at the volume of the music.”

When Pastor Chris saw the deer-in-the-headlights look I gave him, he explained the method to his madness. He reminded us we were in a battle, and the first two weapons we needed to use were prayer and worship.

The whole thing was a little confusing. Prayer doesn’t fix my anxiety; at times it gives me even more of it. And worship is something we do in church services that, truthfully, makes me feel insecure and often makes my feet hurt when they have us standing for so long.

I thought, I’m here fighting for my life. We are going to war. And our weapons of choice are prayer and worship?

But then he said something that changed the trajectory of my life:

“Satan hates it when we pray like this. It destroys him.”

That’s what I needed to hear. His words instantly brought me back to something that had happened less than a year prior, an experience that changed my family’s lives forever. An event where I felt like God was telling me to stop seeing worship as singing songs in church and begin viewing it as a weapon to battle for my freedom.

THE WALLS OF JERICHO

I had been studying and preaching in the book of Joshua, the man who miraculously took the nation of Israel across the Jordan River into the promised land. But when he got into the promised land, as I mentioned earlier, he still had to fight thirty-one battles to take possession of it.

The very first battle is somewhat famous. Even if you haven’t been in church much, you may have heard of the Battle of Jericho. It’s this crazy story where God instructed the nation of Israel to march around Jericho for seven straight days. And on the last day, God told them to start worshiping, singing, yelling, praising God, and playing instruments.

The interesting thing is, the trumpets God instructed them to play were sometimes used as a battle cry before the battle but were most often used to celebrate after a victory. The Israelites would always fire up the worship music after they won a battle.

But in this case, God told them to start worshiping, singing, yelling, and playing those instruments before they saw the victory.

What?

Celebrate before they had anything to celebrate? Worship before they saw the outcome they wanted? That doesn’t make any sense, and yet that’s exactly what God called them to do.

And the results were mind-blowing. You can read all about it in Joshua 6. Essentially, as soon as they started worshiping, Jericho’s walls, which were securely barred, miraculously fell, and the Israelites were able to overcome the city.

The Israelites didn’t have a chance on their own strength. However, right in the middle of their confusion, fear, anxiety, depression, and (I have to believe) feelings of hopelessness, God showed up in a spectacular way. They experienced freedom and a victory they never dreamed possible. And the whole thing was put in motion with a weapon called worship.

Sometimes we worship because we’ve had a victory. But sometimes we worship until we see one.

God demonstrated to Joshua that there would be times in life where worship would be the way to victory. Worship will be the way you defeat your Enemy. Worship will be what brings you the very freedom you so badly desire.

Excerpted from Attacking Anxiety by Shawn Johnson, copyright Shawn Johnson.

Worship in celebration! Worship regularly. Worship when you grieve. Worship in prayer. Worship in battle! Satan hates it!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Fatih February 14, 2022

Notes of Faith February 14, 2022

Article by David Mathis

Executive Editor, desiringGod.org

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Little did they know how well they spoke — not only for themselves, but for the whole human race.

John 12:20 reports that “some Greeks” had come to worship in Jerusalem for that fateful Passover leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion. They approached his disciple Philip, who told another disciple, Andrew. Together, the two came to their Master with the request of the Greeks “to see Jesus” — to which Jesus gave this spectacularly unexpected response:

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

That was not the answer they were expecting — the disciples or the Greeks. But their wish to see Jesus was not rejected but redirected. It was an admirable wish, profoundly so — and if they remain in Jerusalem for the week, they will soon see the most important sight of him, crushing as it at first will be. His time has come to be “glorified” — which will not mean leading a charge to overthrow Rome and seize the crown, but laying down his life. Like a grain of wheat, he will not bear much fruit unless he first dies.

These Greeks will indeed see him, and glimpse a sight far greater than they could have anticipated or imagined — far more horrible, and far more wonderful. They will witness the depths of his humiliation that will prove to be the very height of the glory of the one who truly is David’s long-promised heir to the throne, as shocking and unexpected as it will be.

And as they see him — in his divine and human excellencies, united in one person, and culminating in the cross and its aftermath — they will have all they wished and more in the request they made expressing the deepest longing of every human heart.

Infinite Abyss

Famously, Blaise Pascal wrote in his Pensees of “the infinite abyss” in the human soul that we try to fill with all the wonders and the worst this world has to offer.

There was once in man a true happiness of which there now remain to him only the mark and empty trace, which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings, seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present. But these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God Himself.

So also the great Augustine, more than twelve centuries before Pascal, had spoken of the great, undeniable restlessness of the human heart, until finding its rest in God: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Moses, seeking to leverage God’s remarkable favor on him, was so bold as to ask to see God’s glory. God permitted him a glimpse of the afterglow of divine beauty, not his face, and Moses made no complaints. Yet redemptive history was not done at Sinai. Centuries would follow. The kingdom would be established in the land, and decline. Human kings would rise and fall, and the nation with them. And the same Gospel in which the Greeks expressed their wish to see Jesus opens with one of the most stunning claims possible:

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

The desire to see Jesus was far more profound than these Greeks could have guessed. They wished for amazement in the presence of someone great. And what they got instead anticipated the heavenly vision the apostle John would receive while in exile on the isle of Patmos.

Behold the Lion

In John’s vision, none in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth, is at first found worthy to open the scroll of God’s divine decrees of judgment (for his enemies) and salvation (for his people). Sensing the weight and importance of the moment, John begins to weep — perhaps even wondering if his Lord, the one who discipled him, the one to whom he’s dedicated his life as a witness, is not worthy. One of heaven’s elders then turns to him, and declares, in Revelation 5:5,

Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.

Having heard the good news, John turns to look — and what does he see? Not a lion. He says in verse 6:

I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes . . . .

We might mistakenly assume this was a disappointment, that John, hearing “Lion,” experienced some letdown to see a Lamb. But that is not how John reports it. This Lamb is no loss. The Lamb is gain. The one who was just declared to be the only one worthy is no less the Lion of Judah. He is also the Lamb who was slain. The Lion became Lamb without ceasing to be Lion. He did not jettison his lionlike glories, but added to his greatness the excellences of the Lamb. He is a Lamb standing — not dead, not slumped over, not kneeling, but alive and ready — with fullness of power (“seven horns”), seeing and reigning over all (“and seven eyes”).

So too for the Greeks in John 12 who wished to take counsel with the purported Messiah and Lion of Judah. Whatever disappointment they experienced in the moment in not having their immediate request fulfilled, and whatever devastations they endured on Good Friday as they watched in horror, it all changed on the third day. Then their wish, and perceptive inquiry, was answered beyond their greatest dreams — not just Messiah, but God himself, the very Lion of heaven. And not just divine, but the added lamblike glory of our own human flesh and blood, and that same blood spilled to not only show us glory but invite us into it — Jew and Gentile, Greek and Barbarian.

Looking to Jesus

Plain as it may seem, the author of Hebrews provides profound direction for the human soul when he says, simply, “Consider Jesus”. This is not a one-time exhortation, but continuous counsel, for every day and at any moment. And again, at the height of his letter, drawing attention to the great cloud of witnesses, Hebrews charges us to “lay aside every weight and sin” and “run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). There is unmatched power in the Christward gaze. As Jesus himself would soon say, in John 14:9, to the same Philip who relayed the Greeks’ request: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Paul too, in one blessed flourish in 2 Corinthians 4, would celebrate, and commend, the unsurpassed glory of the Christward gaze: “beholding the glory of the Lord [we] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” Unbelieving eyes have been blinded to “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,” but we, by the mercy of God, have eyes of the heart opened to “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

We might here speak of the manifest Christocentrism of the New Testament, and a kind of healthy asymmetrical trinitarianism in the Christian faith — “contemplating the Trinity through a christological lens,” as Dane Ortlund writes, “and Christ through a trinitarian lens.” We wish to see Jesus. He is the interpretative key to the Bible, the pinnacle of history, and central in Christian preaching, evangelism, and sanctification, and so we fix our eyes on him. Biblical trinitarianism doesn’t constrain us to symmetrically parcel out our attention and focus to each of the three divine Persons, according to modern notions of fairness, balance, and equality. The New Testament is far from “fair” in this way. Rather, as humans ourselves, we receive a peculiar centrality of the God-man, as the one Person of the Godhead who has drawn near in our own flesh, taking our own nature, to no diminishing of the Father or Spirit, but precisely according to their plan and work to direct attention to Jesus.

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus” would be a happy refrain to echo at key junctures in the Christian life. Before morning Bible meditation: “I wish to see Jesus.” Before conversations with the unbelieving: “I wish them to see Jesus.” For pastors, preparing to preach, to imagine these words on the lips of our people: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Made for Him

We were indeed made for God — with an infinite abyss only he can fill, with a restlessness of soul satisfied in nothing less than him. And even more particularly, we were made for the God-man — for the greatness of God himself who draws near, in our own flesh and circumstances, in the person of Christ. The lionlike greatness of God in his divine glory is sweetened, deepened, and accented by his lamblike nearness and human excellencies. And his glories as the humble, meek, self-giving Lamb are enriched and magnified in the register of lionlike poise and majesty.

We wish to see Jesus — to know him as both great and near, and enjoy him forever.