Notes of Faith August 30, 2022

Notes of Faith August 30, 2022

Don't Doubt the Devil

The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. — Romans 16:20

Who is responsible for the infamy, terror, and agony that we see all around us? How can we account for the sufferings that we all experience if evil is not a potent force? Education has, in truth, impeded our minds. Because of allegedly scientific findings, some have lost their belief in the supernatural powers of Satan, while others worship him.

George Galloway summed up this dubious contribution of current education when he said, “The theory that there is in the universe a power or principle, personal or otherwise, in eternal opposition to God is generally discarded by the modern mind.”

The modern mind may discard it, but that doesn’t cause the evil principle itself to disappear! Once asked how he overcame the devil, Martin Luther replied, “Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart and asks, ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here but he has moved out. Now I live here.’ The Devil, seeing the nail-prints in His hands, and the pierced side, takes flight immediately.”

What can you do when you are confronted with evil?

Resist and Pray

Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. — 1 Peter 5:9

A poet once said, “The devil trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”

We can depend upon the blood of Christ when we are under attack. There are times when we simply must hide behind the person of Christ and ask Him to handle our problems. Jude says, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (v. 9 KJV). That’s what we need to do — call upon God.

Now, the Bible says that we are to “resist the devil, and he will flee” from us (James 4:7 KJV). But before that, God says, “Submit yourselves… to God.” If you have fully submitted, 100 percent yielded and surrendered yourself to Christ, then you can “resist the devil,” and the Bible promises he will flee from you.

The devil will tremble when you pray. He will be defeated when you quote or read a passage of Scripture to him and will leave you when you resist him.

Does the devil flee from you when you pray in Jesus’ name?

Excerpted from Peace for Each Day by Billy Graham, copyright Billy Graham Literary Trust.

Wherever you are, enter into a place of peace and safety . . . and

Chorus:

Shut de do, keep out de devil

Shut de do, keep de devil in the night.

Shut de do, keep out de devil

Light de candle, everything is alright

Light de candle, everything is alright

Oh when I was a baby child (Shut de do, keep out de devil)

Good and bad were just a game (Shut de do, keep de devil in the night)

Many years and many trials (Shut de do, keep out de devil)

They proved to me they're not the same (Shut de do, keep de devil in the night)

You better listen to me...

Repeat Chorus

Oh, Satan is an evil charmer (Shut de do, keep out de devil)

He's hungry for a soul to hurt (Shut de do, keep de devil in the night)

And without your holy armor (Shut de do, keep out de devil)

He will eat you for dessert (Shut de do, keep de devil in the night)

Repeat Chorus

Well heh, hey, hey, hey, shut de do

Hey, hey, hey, shut de do

Hey, hey, you better shut de do

Say a prayer, he won't be here back no more.

My mama used to sing this song (Shut de do, keep out de devil)

Papa used to sing it too (Shut de do, keep de devil in the night)

Jesus came and called them home (Shut de do, keep out de devil)

So I sing this song for you (Shut de do, keep de devil in the night)

Repeat Chorus

Everybody say... Light de candle, everything is alright

One more time, I said... Light de candle, everything is alright

Songwriters: Randy Stonehill.

Scriptural Reference:

"'In your anger do not sin:' Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4: 26-27

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4: 7

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 29, 2022

Notes of Faith August 29, 2022

A New Way to Live

My oldest went to college this year and, like all slightly crazed mothers, I tried to cram every last lesson into his precious mind in the final weeks before he moved out, as if this was the last legal time to preach to the poor kid.

Here was the last speech, the final words, my “sermon on the mount” (in the car)…

“Son, you are light. I know this because I have seen God in you. I have seen you go from a selfish punk kid to a young man who responds to conviction. A young man who hears from God. You love people and you even put others ahead of your own interests. All of this is evidence that God is in you.

“So you are light. It’s a fact. It’s your God-given identity as one of His kids. And you are headed into the pitch-black darkness.

“There will be times you act like the darkness, but you will never be the darkness, and you will never be at home in the darkness again.”

And team, same goes for us, if you know Jesus Christ as Savior. We have been given new life, new identities, and a new motivation. The light of Jesus resides in us and through us. No matter what spirals we face on a day-to-day basis. Yet, our flesh, the world, and the adversary are doing everything in their power to stymie us with our past.

We moved from being slaves to sin to being children of God.

We will probably be trying to wrap our minds around this astonishing truth until we get to Heaven.

But we must try because it shifts everything about us. As God’s children, filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:16; the issue is whether we’re using it to think the thoughts that Jesus might think.

Are we taking every thought captive and training our minds daily in the right paths? Are we moving forward instead of looking backward?

We’re going to talk about how to go the distance. How to persevere and keep growing in strength and maturity. In chapter 3 of Philippians, Paul is telling us how to mature in our thoughts. Paul is exhorting this young church to follow his lead; to follow his example of maturity as he fixes his mind on Christ.

Why do we need to mature? Because we want Christ. Maturity as a Christian is the process of becoming more like Christ.

And none of us are there yet.

And perhaps surprisingly, one of Paul’s indicators of maturity is the discipline of forgetting what’s behind so we can move on to what’s ahead. So we can grab on to what’s ours in Christ. Later in this lesson, we will process the why and how of forgetting.

But for now, let’s go — Philippians 3.

READ PHILIPPIANS 3

Paul begins chapter 3 with a warning. What exactly is he asking the church to watch out for? (Philippians 3:2-4)

List the things Paul says he could put his confidence in. (Philippians 3:4-6)

What does Paul do with all of his most precious earthly gains? (Philippians 3:7-9)

Why would he do this? (Philippians 3:10-11)

Paul is going to challenge the mature followers of Christ (Philippians 3:15) to think a certain way in this passage. Read Philippians 3:12-16 and list the train of thought and action that Paul models here.

Philippians 3:17 says why we should think and act like Paul. What is the reason for Paul’s hope?

Read Philippians 3:18-19 and describe the enemies of the cross of Christ.

In Philippians 3:20-21 Paul builds out our ultimate motivation for godliness. Describe it here in your own words.

Summarize Philippians chapter 3 in your own words. Those of us who are mature think this way” (Philippians 3:15 ESV).

Keep your heart with all diligence

In my research on biblical maturity it became clear, very quickly, that maturity was a subject Paul cared a lot about. No one in the Bible talks more about maturity than Paul. I know why. Because he was writing letters to a fragile young church, and his deepest desire was that this small flame of faith would catch ablaze and spread to the ends of earth. These first-generation believers had grown up in a culture and belief system different from the identity they now possessed, and Paul’s letter to the Philippian church is discipleship from a distance.

Let’s look at some of his key phrases connected to mature thinking. He draws from the imagery of a running race — having a vision of focused endurance to the finish line. No longer is Paul’s finish line achievement or status.

Press on.

The phrase I want to come back to is forgetting what lies behind.

Straining toward what lies ahead.

Toward the goal, the prize, which is the call of God in Christ Jesus.

The phrase I want to come back to is “forgetting what lies behind.” As we look to reign in our thoughts and mind, this is no small command. We are terrible forgetters when it comes to our past, aren’t we? No matter if it was an achievement or a shameful decision, we too often allow our past to dictate our thoughts and lives. But Paul was addressing something deeper than his past actions and accolades; he was talking about his motivations. Forgetting what lies behind sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Our brains never stop working, even when we sleep. So yes, it is impossible to only forget and be left with nothing in our minds.

How do we become great at forgetting?

WE BECOME EXPERTS IN REMEMBERING

Paul’s single-minded goal was what motivated him to forget, to leave behind his past. Paul’s new motivation was so consuming that he gave no value to his past — thus leaving no room for his past to define him. As long as we leave room in our minds for the past, we will allow it to define us.

When I sit down with a woman who genuinely loves Jesus and says she is not in bondage, yet I hear bitterness and unforgiveness… we have a problem. Because even though this is invisible bondage, it is bondage and a hindrance to focused endurance to the finish line. And roots of bitterness and unforgiveness will not just fade away. Every thought bears fruit.

So whatever does not produce the fruit of righteousness must be held up to the light of the gospel, to allow God to deal and heal.

And guess what happens when you get free from the past? You get free to run your race. Now for many of you, before you can move forward you need to process & forgive & work through difficult circumstances. Do the work, but then it is time to no longer be defined by it.

FORGETTING

Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

— Proverbs 4:23

The heart here can be defined as “the seat of our thoughts, will, and emotions.” Who we are, our very intangible essence that makes us uniquely us, lives somewhere in the recesses of our mind.

So we, as maturing Christ followers, guard our minds because flowing out of it… comes every aspect of life.

What we think will directly become who we are.

So why do you have to become great at forgetting? Because you are a new creation, with a new identity, and a new motivation. And Jesus is just that good.

Some of you need to forget because your past is filled with how awesome you are, and you have built your identity on your ability and the applause of man, and you wonder why you don’t feel like you need God or why you don’t want to grow in maturity.

Some of you need to forget because you built your identity on your lack of awesomeness, and all you can do is think of yourself as well, but not in a good light. You can never imagine being confident enough to pour your life into another person.

Some of you have a past full of shame. Whether you were a victim or actively ran from God, your past still defines you and holds you in bondage, and your greatest fear is still being found out.

Forget what is behind… race toward what is ahead.

I know for some of you this sounds too simplistic. Seasons of difficulty in my life have required a lot of counseling till the gaping wounds have begun to heal. But the point is, we have to fight down the distractions and bondage that keep us from wholly advancing the gospel with every part of our lives. Let’s become free people — because free people free people.

Excerpted from Get Out of Your Head Study Guide by Jennie Allen.

In my experience and I expect yours as well, Satan uses our past to attempt to weaken or destroy if that were possible our relationship with God. I battle with the shame and regret of the past. The struggles of the present are enough to keep me occupied. And what the future holds only God knows. Let us strive to forget the past and press on toward what we do know of the future . . . the Lord Jesus is coming back!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 28, 2022

Notes of Faith August 28, 2022

Some Predestined to Believe

Predestination refers to God’s appointing the final destiny of a person before creation. So, for example, Ephesians 1:4–5 says, “[God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” So God assigns, or destines, the elect for adoption; that’s the destiny. He plans for his chosen ones before creation. Hence, the term pre-destined — destined beforehand for adoption.

These predestined ones always correspond in real life with those whom Jesus calls to himself and those who believe on Jesus and are justified by faith. And we know that the predestined and the believers always correspond because of Romans 8:30, which says, “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified.” And we know that justification is by faith and no other way. So those are believers. Those whom he called he brought to faith and justified, and those whom he justified he glorified.

“Human beings are morally accountable, even though they do not have ultimate self-determination.”

So, the predestined ones and those who are justified by faith in Jesus are always the same group. Because God not only predestines, but he also calls people to himself, and brings them to faith, and justifies them, and finally glorifies them. There are no predestined ones who do not believe, and there are no believers who are not predestined. God is sovereign in the whole process of salvation — beginning to end, eternity to eternity, in every aspect of it.

Some Destined to Disobey

Now, the term double predestination is used to refer to the fact that if God destines some for salvation and adoption, then he passes over others, so that their destiny is judgment and not salvation. Now, some people think we should not call this passing over a second predestination, since the Bible does not speak of it that way. And I would agree that we at least shouldn’t make a focus out of what the Bible does not make a focus.

But in fact, while not using the word predestined for unbelievers who perish, the Bible does refer to the reality of it. And it’s not just a logical deduction. Sometimes this gets a bad rap because they say, “There you go applying your crusty, wooden, cold logic, which the Bible doesn’t do.” Well, forget that. We’re not talking about a logical deduction here — we’re talking about texts.

For example, consider these three texts. First Peter 2:8, the one that was mentioned, refers to those who “stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” Romans 9:22 refers to those whom God “endured with much patience” — namely, “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.” Proverbs 16:4 says, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”

Now, each of those texts needs careful attention and true interpretation. But my effort over the years has yielded the fact that I think they do in fact teach that God plans the destiny of each person, whether judgment or salvation. And that, of course, is very controversial. But it’s also very important.

I mean, think of it. It’s not marginal. Think of what it says about the sovereignty of God either way, or about the nature of saving grace and its power — its sovereign effectiveness. Think about the implications for prayer and evangelism and assurance and so many other things. This is not a marginal issue, as though you could just shunt that aside and say, “We’ll just talk about other things.”

‘Free Will’ or Sovereign Grace?

Now, the primary objection to this biblical teaching of predestination — whether you call it single or double — is that it seems to result in people being punished when they are not morally accountable. So this seems to be unjust. It seems unjust to people and unjust in God. The alternative view says that God does not decide anyone’s destiny before they exercise their ultimately self-determining free will.

The assumption of this alternative view is that a person cannot be morally accountable unless each one has ultimate self-determination — which is usually called “free will,” but “[ultimate self-determination” is the crucial definition. The text that most often is appealed to for this view (which is not my view, I’m not in favor of this) is 1 Timothy 2:4, which Josh specifically asked about. It says God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Then the inference by those who read it is drawn from this verse that God cannot choose only some to be saved because he desires all to be saved.

Now the problem is this: both interpretations admit that God prioritizes something above his desire for all to be saved — because not all are saved. Something restrains God from saving all. And one view says that what restrains God is that he prioritizes ultimate human self-determination above saving all. Better to have some perish than that all should be deprived of ultimate self-determination (usually called “free will”).

The other view (this would be my view) says that what restrains God from saving all is that he prioritizes the glory of the freedom of his sovereign grace above saving all. Better that some perish than that the freedom and greatness of God’s grace be diminished.

God Grants Repentance

So the question is, Which of these two explanations is the biblical explanation of why God doesn’t save everybody? Is it God’s commitment to ultimate human self-determination? Or is it God’s commitment to his own freedom and the glory of his predestining grace?

Now, that’s a massive question. But let me give one pointer from inside Paul’s letters to Timothy. I’m very, very jealous here not to be controlled by a system. I know that whatever view you have, it is very easy to be controlled by other truths besides the text you’re dealing with, rather than looking in the context to see what it really means. So, I want to stick with these — what are called the Pastoral Letters of Paul. Let’s just take 1 and 2 Timothy and show how close the language is between 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Timothy 2:25.

So in 2 Timothy 2:24–25, Paul uses language like this. And what’s close about it is the phrase “coming to a knowledge of the truth” in both texts. But here’s what he says:

The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

That’s the same phrase as in 1 Timothy 2:4. Now, what seems clear to me from this verse is that Paul does not believe in ultimate human self-determination when it comes to the all-important act of repentance. In this verse, repentance does not ultimately depend on human self-determination; it depends on the free gift of God to a person in the bondage of sin and Satan. “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).

“Human beings are morally accountable, even though they do not have ultimate self-determination.”

Therefore, within these two letters of Paul to Timothy, he shows that what keeps God from doing what he at one level desires to do — namely, save all — is not his commitment to ultimate human self-determination. No one is saved unless God grants repentance. Repentance is not the product of ultimate human self-determination. It’s a gift of God.

Predestined and Accountable

Here’s the paradox — not a contradiction, a paradox. Lots of people try to make this out to be a logical contradiction. It’s not. It runs through the whole Bible. Human beings are morally accountable, even though they do not have ultimate self-determination. There is no injustice with God (Romans 9:14). No one is punished who does not truly deserve to be punished. And the measure of the punishment is always in righteous proportion to the measure of the evil. Though God predestines who will be saved and who will not be saved, no one comes into judgment who does not deserve judgment.

This is not a logical contradiction, which so many try to make it out to be. It is a mystery. I don’t think the Bible makes plain how both of these truths — God’s sovereignty and man’s accountability — are in perfect compatibility. But the whole Bible testifies to both truths. They are compatible. The Bible teaches the truth of both. And they are profoundly important to embrace for the good of our souls, and for the integrity of God’s word, and for the health of the church, and for the advancement of God’s mission, and for the glory of God’s grace.

.

This is one of the hardest doctrines to understand and takes considerable time to study and meditate on the Word of God and time in prayer asking the Spirt of God for understanding. Though we may never come to a clear conclusion that can be shared/taught to others for their understanding, we must contemplate the truth of the Word of God as holy and perfect, just as He is. Blessed are those who are given faith to believe in Jesus Christ! No matter your leaning in understanding this doctrine, worship, praise and give glory to God for His gift of life and coming to a knowledge of His grace . . .

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 27, 2022

Notes of Faith August 27, 2022

The Power of the Blood

Have you ever thought about why the Earth needs the moon? Do you know how whirlpools form, what makes something glow in the dark, or the incredible properties of blood?

Blood. Some people faint at the sight of it, but you couldn’t live without it!

Blood is made up of red and white blood cells floating in a liquid called plasma.

The red blood cells are a kind of delivery system. They carry oxygen and other nutrients to all the cells in your body, and then they carry away all the waste, like carbon dioxide. Blood is pumped through your body by the heart. Your heart is one strong muscle, and it’s fast too — it can pump blood to every cell in your body in less than a minute! Blood travels through tubes called blood vessels. The vessels that carry blood away from your heart are called arteries, while the ones that carry it back to your heart are called veins. The white blood cells are the warrior cells. They work together with your immune system to fight off germs and diseases.

His blood can carry your sins away

Your blood is pretty powerful and important stuff! But the blood of Jesus is even more powerful. Because He is the Son of God, lived a perfect life, and never sinned — not even one single time — His blood can carry your sins away and give you the forgiveness you need to live forever with God. All you have to do is believe and obey Him. When Jesus gave His life for you on the cross, it was both terrible and beautiful—terrible for the way Jesus was hurt, but so beautiful for the gift of love and forgiveness and heaven He gave to you and me.

Lord, it’s hard to think about Jesus’ death on the cross, and I’m so sorry for all He suffered. But I am so grateful for His blood that washes my sins away.

HOW GREAT!

Platelets are another very important part of your blood. (You say it the way it looks: PLATE-let.) When you get a cut or scrape, these little guys spring into action, sticking together to stop the flow of blood — called clotting. They not only keep blood inside your body but also keep germs out!

Excerpted from How Great Is Our God by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 26, 2022

Notes of Faith August 26, 2022

Keep Fixing Your Eyes on Me

I, the Creator of the universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything.

It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord!

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? — Romans 8:31-32

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. —Micah 7:7

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. — 1 Corinthians 12:3

In Me you have everything you need

When things don’t go as you would like, accept the situation immediately. If you indulge in feelings of regret, they can easily spill over the line into resentment. Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding.

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life yet to come. Don’t let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective.

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. — 1 Peter 5:5-6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6

Excerpted from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young.

Heb 12:1-2

… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

NASU

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 25, 2022

Notes of Faith August 25, 2022

Happy anniversary to my dear wife of 43 years. Amazing grace!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11

I was at the gas station, staring off into the distance while the tank filled. The thought flitted across my mind, “It’s Tuesday…” and I remembered that I hadn’t asked Jesus to come with me. The realization washed over me. Leaving Jesus in the armchair in my living room was more of a common occurrence in the rest of my week than I’d like to admit. I left Jesus at home and just about everywhere else. Sometimes I left Him in the pews at church or at a Starbucks table, or in the prayer at dinner time. I acknowledged Him where I expected to see Him… and where other people expected me to see Him. Did He belong at a gas station on a Tuesday morning? He would have gone anywhere with me, even the places He didn’t seem to fit. I just didn’t invite Him.

Tuesdays reminded me that I needed to take Jesus with me everywhere.

Those Tuesdays with Jesus transformed me. Not only did I develop a habit of talking about Jesus, I became more confident talking with Him. What was most surprising was when I became more confident in my ability to listen to Him. What did He say, you ask? Well, turns out, Jesus has no tolerance for those negative thought spirals. I’d start dogging on myself for something, like being late for a meeting or distracted with my family, and He’d say, “Megan, you have a choice. You can either continue feeling guilty or be grateful for awareness.” Truth is, He wasn’t very sentimental about it. Or in the aftermath of a mistake, I’d consider His character and imagine Him saying something like: “You’re not perfect, but you’re Mine!”

I needed to take Jesus with me everywhere

The conversations went a lot like this: He’d remind me that I belonged to Him. Again and again, He affirmed my identity as His. And then He’d point me toward someone else who needed to know it too. Pretending to see Him next to me changed the way I heard from Him.

In my new awareness of His presence, I could discern His nudges. I could sense His elbows jabbing my side, making me less aware of myself and more aware of the people who needed to meet Him for the first time or needed to be reminded that He was with us. There were plenty of times when I wanted to ignore Him, and, honestly, many times when I did. But I’d look over at Him after the moment of obedience had passed, and realize that He had more chances for me, continually offering opportunities to step into His plans. Slowly but surely, I became aware of the fact that Jesus not only wants to speak, He wants to speak into every area of our lives. He wants a say in how we act, share coffee conversations, sometimes even dictate what or whom we listen to as we drive.

Tuesdays with Jesus reminded me that He is present — always. And His presence prompted me to listen.

1 Rich Ferreria was the first person I ever heard share stories from spending time with an imaginary Jesus. Thanks for the life-changing idea, friend.

2 Jesus shows up at a Pharisee party and calls the host out on not inviting the poor (Luke 14:12–14). He also shows up at the parties of tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:13–17). And who could forget that wedding at Cana where he turned water to wine (John 2:1–11)?

Excerpted from Meant for Good by Megan Fate Marshman, copyright Megan Fate Marshman.

Being away from home takes away the security of familiarity. We need Jesus there and just the same when we are away from home and feel more insecure. We are enjoying children and grandchildren, staying ever close to Jesus loving arms as we are loved and warmed by the arms and hearts of our family.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 24, 2022

Notes of Faith August 24, 2022

Hope and Healing

Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

— Luke 8:50

I am prone to lose hope. As a father of five children, I desire to see them all well adjusted and hungry for Christ. What happens when one of them wanders? The waywardness of a son is a deep grief. My wife and I have sought to love him, bring the gospel to him, and find resources to aid him in his struggles, but we have been met with deceit, distrust, and dangerous behavior. At night, he has risen from bed and vandalized the house, endangering us all. I am prone to fear. After seven years of heart-wrenching struggle, I cry out, “How long, O Lord?” I am prone to lose hope.

Do you believe that Christ can mend? Jairus’s daughter was dead, yet Jesus said, “She will be healed.” Not even the dead are beyond the reach of our Great Physician. No loss, no grief, no tragedy is beyond the power of Christ to restore, to console, to mend. Do your fears
steal away your sleep? Think on Him in the watches of the night. Does your heart ache with unbearable loss? This, too, will be healed. Jesus hears our griefs and knows them well, and He gives His sure words of comfort: “Don’t be afraid.”

~ CALEB

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. — 1 Chronicles 22:13

There was a time in my life when strep throat was the worst-case scenario. I was a seven-year-old girl who adored school and hated doctors, especially doctors who wanted to ram oversized Q-tips down my throat.

My younger brother held the same opinion about strep, but for him it was the antibiotics. I’m not sure who thought it was a good idea to flavor the already-terrible children’s medicine with sweetened hot-pink syrups, but my brother, who didn’t like desserts anyway, wasn’t fooled. So when sickness season came around and a nurse tried to soften the diagnosis with promises of “pink bubblegum!” and “strawberry milkshake!” we cried in unison.

One winter night the situation was especially bleak. We had
the misfortune of not one, but two cases of strep throat. My brother resisted the prescribed medicine like a champ, pulling out just the right number of tears and kicks to send our family’s dinnertime peace into an immediate nosedive.

“You’ll love the pink bubblegum!” my parents pleaded.

“Your favorite — strawberry milkshake!” they tried, knowing it was false.

He needed backup. Enter yours truly, his seven-year-old sister, to the rescue. I jumped into the middle of the spat, motioning for him to climb on my back. Piggybacked and void of socks, jackets, or plans, I opened the door and whispered, “We’re running away. I won’t let them get you.” We ran out the back door and into the woods, only to abandon our plans and return home after hearing the first noise we couldn’t identify.

I hated my little brother’s pain and wanted to help him find comfort as soon as possible. But finding temporary comfort wasn’t the same thing as healing.

God doesn’t like our pain either, but His plan for us is better than our just escaping it.

He wants to heal us and redeem us, providing each of His children with an active hope and eternal comfort. But we can’t always see the ways He’s doing this, and many times we may wonder
if we’re still on His agenda at all. This is why we need strength and courage too — to bridge the gap between hurt and healed.

God tells us to be strong and courageous because He knows we will want to listen to the pain rather than to His promises. He knows we will want to find our own solutions and escape routes, and He understands we will struggle to trust His plan is good when it feels anything but. Our fear is not a surprise to Him, which means He has anticipated it and prepared for it with the gift of His Word. Because of these promises, we can be brave.

~ KAITLIN

Excerpted from The Book of Comforts by Caleb Faires, Rebecca Faires, Kaitlin Wernet, Cymone Wilder, copyright Caleb Faires, Rebecca Faires, Kaitlin Wernet, Cymone Wilder.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your fear and anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 23, 2022

Notes of Faith August 23, 2022

Storm

/ˈstȯrm/ noun

1. a disturbance of the atmosphere marked by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

— Matthew 7:25

One early morning I began journaling in the middle of a storm. All around me the rain was pouring, the thunder was pounding, and the lightning was striking disconcertingly close to home. Between the flashes and claps, there were pauses of peace and calm.

As the rains came down, and I thought back to the way water cleansed God’s people in the desert, I meditated on my desire to live a pure, cleansed life, free from storms.

Unfortunately, storms do happen, and more often than not, they pop up suddenly and without warning. The night before this strong gale, I absorbed the most brilliant sunset, painted with God’s brushstrokes dipped in magnificent shades of pink, watching in awe as the sun sank into the horizon.

The storms are momentary, but His love and grace are eternal

There was no evidence of a storm coming. However, in the quick turn of a moment, the storm hit. As I lay awake and journaling, I wondered how equipped I am to weather these storms. How prepared am I for the onslaught of wind and rain coming without warning? Certainly, little squalls cross our path — soaking showers that give way to rainbows and brilliant sunlight. There are also those slow, gray drizzles that seem to settle in and saturate our spirits. Still others erode our hearts with their vicious violence and ferocity. In any case, I want to be prepared and equipped. I want to fortify the banks of my heart so they will stay firmly planted and not be washed away.

God promised me, just as He promised Noah — and you — that undoubtedly, no matter the intensity of the storm, He will cause the sun to reappear. He will stop the rain and silence the thunderous claps. He will push the clouds apart and reveal His peace and assurance over my life, if only I will cling to the hope that He gives us in Jesus, and the hope He spells out for us in His Word. When I cling, He quiets.

The storms are momentary, but His love and grace are eternal

Is there a storm or some sort of natural disaster that’s shaking up your life? Today I invite you to find shelter in God’s warm, sturdy embrace.

Dear God, thank You for calming the storms that assault my life. Thank You for Your promise to quiet the thunder. I ask today that as I brace for the storms ahead of me, I would look to You as my Captain and not be afraid of the lightning above me.

Excerpted from Anne Nielson’s Angels, copyright Anne Neilson Fine Art LLC.

Belief, faith, and trust, especially in the midst of the storm, are things God provides to His maturing child. Stay close little children to the One who loves you most and your eternal safety is guaranteed.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 22, 2022

Notes of Faith August 22, 2022

Before I Go to Bed Every Night

We’re learning that a key part in practicing forgiveness is keeping our hearts swept clean — staying humble enough to admit and confess where we need God’s forgiveness, and then daily forgiving whatever may have made us feel wronged. Keeping our hearts swept clean protects us from the enemy and from slipping into the bitterness that can take over our thoughts and actions.

After I began thinking about this more, I started to see God’s call to this task repeatedly in Scripture:

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold… Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

— Ephesians 4:26-27, Ephesians 4:31-32

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you… Purify your hearts. — James 4:7-8

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. — 1 Peter 5:6-9

Make a peaceful nightly ritual

I became aware that I must get intentional when I go to bed every night. Isn’t God gracious that He allows this teaching to be tied to something we see every night? As the sun is going down, I remember it’s time for God to clean me out. I do not want to go to bed with anger or other difficult emotions sitting heavy in my heart.

What exactly are we supposed to do instead?

Psalm 4:4-5 (ESV) says,

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent… put your trust in the Lord.

When I lay on my bed and search my heart, I find all kinds of unsettled hurt. If I fixate on it, it could lead me to sin. Instead, if I turn my thoughts to God, He will work in my heart every time.

Psalm 36 lays out the specifics here. It warns us against overlooking our own sin, embracing what is wrong, plotting evil, and failing to act wisely or do good (Psalm 36:2-4). This is where harbored resentment and unresolved anger takes us.

The psalmist guides us to think instead about God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, abundance, delight, life, and light (Psalm 36:5-9). When we think on these things, God will take our mess of emotions and turn it into peace. He’ll shift our thoughts from our perspective to His.

I’ve been trying this each night. It’s making me more patient during the next day because I do not want the reactions of the day to become my regrets of the night. I’m having less anxiety and feelings of angst because I’m no longer stirring up my hurt and letting it consume me.

Make a peaceful nightly ritual of being silent before God.

Let Him search out your heart and ask Him to turn your thoughts to Him. Ask for His forgiveness and His presence. Ask Him to help you forgive others. Learn to savor the silence and welcome His renewal and rest.

I’m still not able to do it perfectly, but I’m getting better, and it’s making a difference.

Excerpted from The Forgiveness Journal, copyright Haven Place Ministries.

Matt 6:34

34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

NASU

I tend to have regrets at the end of the day. How about you? I think of things I am unhappy with concerning my failures of the day, maybe some hurts experienced, not feeling forgiven and not anxious to forgive. Staying awake all night or getting a poor nights rest is not helpful in preparing for the next day. Let us try to live more in the presence of Jesus and imitate His love, grace and mercy. We will be much better for it!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 21, 2022

Notes of Faith August 21, 2022

Take Every Thought Captive

I’m a college dropout. Not because I’m not smart enough. But because when I was eighteen years old I was losing the battle of my mind. The Enemy had gained a foothold in my life, and that foothold was called laziness. I could sleep through morning classes like a champ. If there had been an Olympic competition in skipping class and making excuses, I’d have gold medals hanging on the wall. Eventually, the letter arrived from the dean of my program requesting that I kindly take some time off from pursuing my university education.

No worries, I thought. I’ll enroll at the junior college in town.

Not long after, I received a similar notice from them. I had succeeded in failing out of two schools in the same year.

Talk about the Enemy sitting at your table and eating your lunch!

All the while, I still had huge dreams. Through a powerful experience of being called to ministry, I knew God had big plans for my life. I could clearly see my future. But I had lost sight of what it was going to take to get there. I was pumped about eventually going to graduate school for further ministry training. I had just lost interest in the undergraduate grind necessary to get there.

Once the light bulb came on and I connected the two steps, I literally took the next exit on the freeway and within an hour was sitting in that same dean’s office, begging him to let me back into Georgia State. He was gracious, and I was awakened to my future plans and what it was going to take to get there. My identity wasn’t being a college strikeout. I was called by God to preach His Word. I had the capacity to sleep through class, for sure. But, as I demonstrated, I also had the ability to crush two years’ worth of classes (crush in the very best way) in a little over a year. I graduated with my original freshman class and enrolled in grad school on schedule.

I won the battle of my mind. I woke up every day convinced God was going to accomplish through me all He had called me to do. I believed I could be who He created me to be.

Can you see where you want to be?

I’m not only talking about where you want to be in some personal accomplishment, business success, sports endeavor, or financial goal. I’m talking about where you want to be in your soul. I’m talking about being in charge of your thoughts, attitudes, and actions. I’m talking about moving into purpose and living the life God has designed you to live.

Perhaps the Enemy has convinced you that you can’t move from where you are to where you want to be. You’ve listened to the voices of fear. You’ve been caught in the spiral of sin and temptation. You’ve convinced yourself you have no value. Your mind is clouded by worry and uncertainty. The Enemy has accomplished this by sitting down at your table, but you don’t need to let him stay there and get comfortable. You do not have to entertain the Enemy’s voice.

Through Christ, you can move to a place of victory in your life.

This happens when you learn to win the battle for your mind. The Enemy knows this. One of his main ploys is to go after your thought life. He’s patient too. In the garden of Eden, the serpent didn’t shout his temptations to Eve over a loudspeaker. He planted seeds in her mind and waited. He prompted her to question God’s goodness. He coaxed her to wonder if God was withholding something good from her. Eventually Eve relented and let those seeds take root. Eve acted out what she had been thinking about.

That’s how the Enemy works. If he can win the battle for your mind, then he can win the battle for your life. In Numbers 13, when Moses dispatched the twelve spies to explore the land of Canaan in preparation for Hebrew conquest, ten spies returned with a fearful, faithless report. “We can’t attack those people,” the ten spies said, shaking in their boots. “They are stronger than we are…. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them”

(Numbers 13:31, Numbers 13:33).

Hang on. How did the ten spies know what they looked like in the Canaanites’ eyes? Did the spies ask their enemies, “Hey, what do you think of us? How small and puny do we look to you?” No, a seed had been planted in the spies’ minds. They tended that seed and let it grow and acted on it, and as a result, they wandered in the desert for the next forty years. They never tasted the promises of God for their lives.

It didn’t have to be that way, in the wilderness never tasting God’s promises — not for them, and not for you and me today.

Victory can be yours. Right here. Right now. Victory is about examining the seeds that have been scattered in your mind and not letting them take root. It’s about pulling up and throwing away the thoughts that do not coincide with the heart of God. It’s about changing the way you think. And one prayer helps in particular.

Victory is not about something you do

Readiness for the Power Prayer

Maybe one of the seeds planted in your mind is doubt. You don’t know if any of this teaching is going to work for you. You’ve tried other ways to change before, and none of them worked, so why should this? Or maybe some change will come, but it won’t last because it’s never lasted before.

Already the Enemy has influenced your mind. Seeds can be scattered in your mind anytime, anywhere, and particularly when you read a book such as this. Before the truth can set you free, you need to see the lies that are holding you hostage. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you which lies you’re believing. Ask Him to be specific. Are you having any of the following thoughts?

I’ll never change.

I’ll feel better if I sin.

The gospel doesn’t really work.

I’m not worth much.

No one loves me.

No one believes in me.

I deserve to be bitter.

I deserve to be filled with rage.

I am my failure.

I am my addiction.

I’ll always be this way.

None of those thoughts came from God! Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of John 10 and Psalm 23, did not tell you that you’re a failure. He doesn’t prompt you to worry. He doesn’t provoke you to fear. He provides clarity, not chaos. He doesn’t stick your nose in the vomit of sin. He provides green pastures, not dry wastelands. If any of these things are in your life — fear, worry, temptation, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of confusion — guess what? The Enemy has shown up and dropped a seed in your thinking. He knows that if he can lodge a deceptive thought in your mind that goes unchecked, it will eventually take root and settle into your heart. If you harbor a deceptive thought and let it take up residence within you, in time, you will act on that thought.

Maybe you’re saying, What’s the big deal? It’s just a thought. Nobody sees it except me. It’s harmless. No. All the thoughts we entertain in our minds eventually get played out. Either our attitudes will reflect those deceptive thoughts or our behaviors will.

As he thinks in his heart, so is he. — Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

One way or another, those thoughts will harm us.

That’s why it’s so important for you to step into your new identity in Christ immediately. Jesus is already in the story of victory, and He has invited you into this story with Him. The way you step into that story is by reminding yourself of these truths:

I was a sinner saved by grace who is now a new creation. I do not have to sin.

I am in Christ, and Christ is in me. Christ has all victory, and His victory is mine too.

God is always faithful. He will always provide a way out. I can always take the way out.

Stepping into these truths changes your mind. All twelve of the spies knew that the promised land was good. They all viewed the abundant milk and honey. They all saw a single grape cluster so big it took two men to carry it on a pole (Numbers 13:23). But ten of those spies didn’t believe they could get to the promised land.

How about you? Do you believe you can live in victory? If the answer is no, the deceiver is winning the battle for your mind. He’s real, and he has a real plan. He’s circling your table, ready to sit. So keep this in mind: the stakes are high. This is your life we’re talking about. This is your now. This is your future. This is your family. This is your sanity. Your peace. Your success. Your calling. Your destiny. This is everything God has made you to be. The Devil wants to destroy you. He has no mercy, and he has all the time in the world.

Fortunately, any seeds the Enemy scatters in your mind don’t need to remain for more than a millisecond. Seeds do not need to take root. Any new seeds can be immediately removed. Even seeds that have been there for years can be removed. And it’s not about you using your superpowers. I want to drive this point home. Victory is not about something you do. That’s not the message here. The message is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s about what Jesus does for you.

Jesus won the total victory Himself. God makes the way.

Excerpted with permission from Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

We all too often give the devil a seat at our table and allow him to eat our breakfast, lunch and dinner. He fills our mind with things that are not true and draws us away from God…his ultimate desire.

Prov 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight

NASU

Pastor Dale