Notes of Faith August 2, 2025

Notes of Faith August 2, 2025

Rousing Send-Offs: The Great Commission

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.

Matthew 28:19-20

According to Nations Outreach, 31 percent of the world identifies as Christian, 23 percent as Muslim, and 16 percent as atheists, agnostics, or people who do not identify with any religion. Forty-two percent of the world’s population has heard the Gospel. But the most unreached nations are still largely in darkness: India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Iran, and Turkey.1

Turning Point and many other groups are working around the clock to spread the message of Jesus. Sometimes the work is dangerous, especially in restrictive nations. Persecution is widespread. Yet God is moving, the Gospel is spreading, and we’re still taking the Great Commission of Christ seriously. The One who sent off His disciples two thousand years ago is still sending you and me in our day. Let’s take our job seriously!

God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.

George Whitefield

1 “2025 Christian Missionary Statistics,” Nations Outreach, February 3, 2025.

Making disciples of Jesus is more than just leading them to understanding who He is and coming to Him with believing faith. “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” is a life-long discipleship process and continued learning from the Word of God. There are many, even in our churches, who do not know God well. They do not know His character and nature nor understand what He desires from a relationship with Him. This is a much deeper life experience than simply sharing the gospel for them to know that they are a sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus spent years with the Apostles and they were a disaster without the Holy Spirit living within them and even after continued to fall into sinful behavior, just as we do. That is why we need daily to be in the Word, to meet and have relationships with other believers, to strengthen our walk with God and our witness before the unbelieving world. My prayer is that the intention of our heart be to bring people to the throne of grace and continue to nurture and lead where God places us, to truly disciple those who come to faith in Christ, “teaching them to observe all things that He commanded.”

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 1, 2025

Notes of Faith August 1, 2025

The Greatest Privilege

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Luke 11:1

There is a general perception among Christians that prayer is a topic for the New Testament rather than the Old. But prayer was not an unknown subject among the Jews as evidenced by the fact that John the Baptist had instructed his disciples how to pray.

That makes Jesus’ disciples’ request to Him a little unusual: “Lord, teach us to pray.” Perhaps they had learned from Jesus that prayer could be a very personal discipline instead of just a religious practice. Their request to Jesus suggests a newfound dimension to an ancient practice: prayer to a personal Father rather than only to the God of the nation (Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2). And perhaps the disciples had done what we often do—taking conversation with our Heavenly Father for granted rather than entering into it as life’s greatest privilege.

If prayer for you has become more of a formality than an adventure, consider using the prayer Jesus taught His disciples as a model for your own prayers (Matthew 6:9-13).

Prayer is the key of heaven; faith is the hand that turns it.

Thomas Watson

When we realize that we can talk to God (prayer) at any time, for any length of time, literally at all times, it should humble our hearts and minds that God wants intimate personal relationship with each of us! He hears and responds to our prayers. His response is usually not our plan (thank You, Lord!), but He answers for our good and His eternal glory. Learning to pray is learning to commune with God, at all times, even without words, just thoughts…He knows before we pray what we need. Let us seek to commune with God the way Jesus did with His Father!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 31, 2025

Notes of Faith July 31, 2025

No Coasting

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Earlier this year at the Faun-Ardèche Classic bicycle race in France, the leading group of riders went in the wrong direction near the end. Cyclists were sprinting toward victory when they took the wrong turn at a roundabout, allowing Romain Grégoire of France to claim the victory.

Each of us wants to finish the race well. We don’t need any wrong turns near the finish line. Someone called this “long-distance Christianity.”

Leighton Ford wrote, “God has a purpose in and for our aging. That purpose has to do with the hidden life of the Spirit so that, as the body grows older, our spirit may grow deeper and stronger. Our ongoing calling, in later years as in earlier years, is to die daily, perhaps even hourly, with our Lord, and to realize (especially in our later years) the reality and power of his death and of his resurrection.”1

Ask God to help you stay focused on the goal of the Christian experience rather than becoming distracted by the things of the world. Look to Him today!

Live ready to go when Christ comes for you.

J. I. Packer

Hebrews 12:1-3

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Every day we receive of life is by the grace of God. Babies in the womb, young children, teens, young adults, middle age adult, elderly adult, are all awaiting the same end…death.

Let us pursue Christ, to live pure and holy as Christ, to show the world and speak to the world the truth of Christ that they might live eternally with Him and not be judged and condemned for their sin eternally in the Lake of Fire.

Live every moment with an expectation to do something for Christ. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart. Love others the way He loves you!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 30, 2025

Notes of Faith July 30, 2025

Rules for Aging

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

Job 12:12, NIV

Dr. John Dunlop, a gerontologist, has two rules for staying mentally healthy as we age. “Rule 1: Wake up every morning knowing what you are going to do that day. Rule 2: Go to bed every night knowing that you helped someone.”1 Those rules work for us whatever our age, but a benefit of growing older is developing a richer appreciation for how the Lord can use us every new morning.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed” (Isaiah 50:4, NIV).

As we enter new chapters in life, we may feel we’re too busy, too weak, too weary, or too old to serve Him. But part of running the race of the Christian life well is serving God throughout our entire lives. Look for ways you can serve Him today, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Those who trust in God should never view any season of life as unproductive; even the last stage…. God has a purpose for you to fulfill each day of your life.

Dr. John Dunlop

1 John Dunlop, Finishing Well to the Glory of God (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 21.

No matter what age you are Dr. John Dunlop’s rules seem to apply very well…

Rule 1: Wake up every morning knowing what you are going to do that day. Rule 2: Go to bed every night knowing that you helped someone.

It is good to have plans for each day. Idle hands are the devil’s workplace. I think I may have heard that from my mom but have also found it to be true in my life. How about you?

Job 12:7-12

7“But just ask the animals, and have them teach you;

And the birds of the sky, and have them tell you.

8“Or speak to the earth, and have it teach you;

And have the fish of the sea tell you.

9“Who among all these does not know

That the hand of the LORD has done this,

10In whose hand is the life of every living thing,

And the breath of all mankind?

11“Does the ear not put words to the test,

As the palate tastes its food?

12“Wisdom is with the aged,

And with long life comes understanding.

Wisdom only comes as we age if we learn from the decisions we have made. It all starts with a relationship with God, listening to His will for our lives and being obedient to His commands.

Love God! Love others!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 29, 2025

Notes of Faith July 29, 2025

Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Before it’s completely forgotten, we should revisit the hymn, “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” and recover its spirit: “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.”

It’s harder to squabble when you sing and live those lyrics. It’s often hard to live peacefully with all the other members of the Body of Christ. Even Paul and Barnabas had a falling out in Acts 15:36-41. Time and maturity seemed to heal their division, and we need to learn the art of allowing wounds to heal, divisions to dissolve, and hearts to unite.

All Christians are part of the Body of Christ, and it’s healthy to reach out to those who may be in a different category—married or single, young or old, rough or polished, rich or poor. Especially those with a need about which we can pray. After all, “our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.”

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear, and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.

John Fawcett

1 Corinthians 12:20–25

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

As the body of Christ, we must be one! We must support one another, bear one another’s burdens and rejoice in one another’s blessings! This is difficult to implement when we have members at a many levels of spiritual maturity. But the end thought and resulting action should come from being one in Christ! Let us consider others as more important than ourselves and strengthen one another so that the body is strong and useful for the Lord!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 27, 2025

Notes of Faith July 27, 2025

I was delayed in getting to California on Saturday the 26th, and preparing to preach two messages on Sunday, totally forgot to send out a morning devotion. Though it is a day late, I pray that you will enjoy reading this from Amir Tsarfati.

Miracles are one of the languages of God. You all know that. He is the God of miracles. In fact, so many times to get the attention of people, He would perform miracles. This is God; that’s who He is. I think a lot of people think that this is a miracle right now, meeting today in September in a church, it is a miracle. And I want you to know that the story of Israel is just one long miracle. And the reason why it’s important for me to say that is because when you understand the role of God in Israel’s history, you understand it’s not a man-made story, but it’s a God-made nation for His purposes. And the last time I checked, He is not interested in your opinion.

Amir Tsarfati: God Speaks Through Miracles

Other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, few sources in scripture teach us more about the nature and character of God than that of His relationship with the nation of Israel. Through Israel we have learned that the Lord is our provider, protector, redeemer, enabler, and deliverer. We learn that He is faithful to His word, He neither leaves nor forsakes us, and, even in His disciplines, He remembers His promises.

Romans 11:25-29

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

While it may be popular to believe and teach that the church has replaced Israel, this is nothing more than the proverbial “cut off your nose to spite your face” idiom. In other words, if God is in the business of casting off those to whom He has made unconditional and eternal promises, then we are all in trouble. If He cast off Israel, then He could do the same with the church.

Paul reminded the Romans that someday “all Israel will be saved.” This has not happened yet. Instead, it will occur at the second coming, according to Zechariah 12:10. Does this not demand that there be a nation of Israel in order to save them and that the nation must exist at the time of tribulation?

Deuteronomy 7:6-8

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

It is a bit odd that many who do not believe that modern Israel is biblical Israel do believe that God chooses to save some and not others, and that those whom He chooses to save cannot be lost because they are eternally secure. Yet they deny this very security when it comes to the nation of Israel. If God doesn’t change, then how can their belief about modern Israel be true?

God is omniscient and knows what will happen long before any of it actually takes place. Why would He choose Israel only to cast them off later? This too is a denial of the nature and character of God. The only way to look at this is that God has not cast off His chosen people. Despite knowing full well of their national rejection of the Holy One of Israel, He chose them anyway.

After all, He chose us while we were His enemies (Colossians 1:21) and were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). He chose us knowing we would fail and falter at times, and yet He doesn’t cast us off. Besides, there are too many prophetic scriptures regarding Israel that are yet unfulfilled for Replacement Theology to be true or for modern Israel to be anything other than biblical Israel.

So take heart! Learn from Israel that God is faithful to His promises, and not even nearly 2000 years outside of their national homeland can separate them from His unconditional and everlasting promises. That means we can know that when we blow it – and we all do – that He will remain faithful to us, for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

You won’t find a greater proof of this than the miracle of the regathered nation of Israel being back in their national homeland.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,

Pray for the people of Israel to recognize their Messiah, Yeshua, to come to Him in faith, repenting of their sin, that they might be saved…just as you and I have!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 28, 2025

Notes of Faith July 28, 2025

Unoffendable

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

Proverbs 12:16, NIV

Sometimes an ordinary statement can make a big impact. One day Brant Hansen heard someone say, “It’s a choice we can make, to just choose not to be offended.” Hansen latter quipped that he found this statement offensive! But with reflection, he concluded, “We should forfeit our right to be offended. That means forfeiting our right to hold onto anger. When we do this, we’ll be making a sacrifice that’s very pleasing to God. It strikes at our very pride. It forces us not only to think about humility, but to actually be humble.”1

When we accept Christ as Savior, we begin the process of sanctification. And part of that process involves learning how to get along with other believers. As followers of Christ, we have strong beliefs, and all of us have differing personalities and perspectives. As you interact with fellow Christians at home, work, or church, choose to forgive them and love them. Overlook insults. The Bible says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Learn to be unoffendable.

We can love; we can forgive; we can refuse to be offended…because God loved us first.

Brant Hansen

1 Brant Hansen, Unoffendable (Nashville, TN: W Publishing, 2023), 2.

Eph 4:29-32

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

It is hard not to be offended, or to respond appropriately when you are offended. This is a sacrifice of love. May we learn from Christ and be unoffendable as part of our sacrifice to God in living for Him!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 26, 2025

Notes of Faith July 26, 2025

The Summer Retreat: God’s Presence

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

The teacher of a large women’s Bible study in a major metropolitan city decided to take the summer off: no quiet time, no Bible reading, and no prayer life for the entire summer. When September rolled around, she found herself more miserable than she had ever been in her life.

Summer can be a great time for restoring strength and energy. But what is the best way to do that? When the psalmists were burdened and busy, they found rejuvenation by spending time in the presence of God, not by avoiding His presence: “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2). “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]” (Psalm 84:10). If you have lost your joy and the pleasures of the Christian life, consider David’s words: “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Consider this summer as an opportunity to accept Jesus’ invitation: “Come to Me...and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Anxious care is out of place in our heavenly Father’s presence.

Kenneth Wuest

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I have not met a person taking time off or retired who has said that they are more rested than they were before the time off or retirement. But Jesus is speaking of spiritual burdens. The Jews were taught that they could earn salvation by keeping the Law, when what is true is that no one can keep the whole Law except Jesus! We must look to Jesus and His completed work on the cross bringing forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God, by His grace through His gift of faith. I pray that you believe in Jesus and His work, not your own, to provide a righteousness acceptable to God. You will indeed find spiritual rest, when you trust in Jesus, follow Him, obedient to His Word. His grace and mercy are far above any amount of work we might consider worthy of sacrifice to God. Be abundantly blessed in the saving grace of Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 25, 2025

Notes of Faith July 25, 2025

Be an Example

Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

1 Corinthians 4:16

History is filled with examples of examples—relationships in which one person influenced another by their example. Steve Jobs was an example for Mark Zuckerberg; Warren Buffett was an example for Bill Gates. Socrates was an example for Plato, and Plato was an example for Aristotle. Mahatma Gandhi was an example for Nelson Mandela, and the list is almost endless.

Recommended Reading:

Philippians 4:8-9

Everyone is an example to someone whether for good or for ill. One of the most striking things the apostle Paul wrote was his encouragement for others to imitate his example. This was not a prideful or egotistical exhortation by Paul as he clarified in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” His ultimate purpose was for believers to be like Jesus Christ, not like Paul. And because the four Gospel accounts of Christ were not available to be read, the only way to be like Christ was to be like others who were imitating Him.

Consider this: When others witness our words and actions, if they imitate us, will they be imitating Christ or just imitating us?

A good example is the best sermon.

Unknown

Philippians 4:8-9

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, consider these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

It is fun and brings great joy to be around godly people that we want to imitate. Children are a perfect example of imitators. They listen to our words, watch our actions and imitate us. My prayer is that they only imitate the good…but that is not always true…is it? It breaks my heart to fail in word or deed and have a young one imitate my unrighteous word or deed. Being in the Word of God and around others that are seeking to be like Christ, brings encouragement and opportunity to practice godly imitation. Be a good witness for Christ’s sake! You can take that last sentence however you need to take it…

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 24, 2025

Notes of Faith July 24, 2025

Duplications

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 3:17, NLT

Have you heard of mimeograph machines? They preceded photocopiers, scanners, and 3-D printers. For many churches, the first opportunity to print their own materials came with mimeograph machines. A waxed-paper stencil was inserted into the typewriter, which cut letters onto the film. The film was rolled around an ink drum which was turned with a crank.

The church has always been in the duplication business. Our main object of duplication is people. The Lord Jesus stamps His image on us, and as others pattern their lives after ours, we help them grow to be duplicates of Christ.

God’s Word must be passed on to those who aren’t as far along as we are in our Christian walks. Through formal discipleship programs or informal times of sharing God’s Word, giving counsel, and praying together, let your life guide someone closer to Jesus. Ask God to duplicate Christ’s likeness in you, then through you!

There are few people whom God calls to do great things for him, but the best thing most of us can do in this world is to live out a real, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life in our allotted place. Thus in our little measure we shall repeat the life of the Master himself.

J. R. Miller

Being perfectly Christlike is impossible as long as we carry the old nature with us. One day God will take that nature away and we will be perfectly holy and live without sin, in the presence of God forever.

We should follow and imitate those whom God places around us who display the character of God. They will not be perfect, but we are given these to be blessed with the glory of God we find in them. Imitate those things that are righteous and holy and work on the things in yourself that are not, that others might be able to watch your life and imitate you! May you be a godly blessing to someone today!

Pastor Dale