Notes of Faith April 19, 2026

Notes of Faith April 19, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: “Worry”

August 4, 2002

“THE CURE FOR ANXIETY” Part I

Matthew 6:25-34

In Matthew 6:24 Jesus has just told His disciples, “No one can serve two masters; for you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (NLT).” He continues in verse 25:

For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

The point is well taken. Life is more than the essentials – or what we consider essential to a fulfilled life, yet modern day society contradicts this principle. It seems that everything in life revolves around not only food and clothing, but also desiring a better job, a more lovely home, the latest model car. I wonder what Jesus thinks of today’s world?

How society envies the lifestyle of the rich and famous – yet more suicides are taking place in this high-class level of living than on skid row! Folks, it seems as if some people can cope better with poverty than with wealth.

I don’t think I want either one. I try to be satisfied somewhere in-between. Didn’t Paul say that he had learned to be content with whatever provision the Lord provided (Philippians 4:11)?

Yet we worry. Will my paycheck stretch? Oh, God! My children are - - - -! What will the doctor say about my latest tests? And our church - - - - -! (Fill in the blanks!)

In this short series of verses we are going to analyze worry, its cause and, hopefully, its cure. George Mueller put it into perspective – “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety!”

So buckle your seat belts for the next few weeks as we put the sin of worry in its place. After all – worry won’t get you anything but ulcers! God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles

Our lives are filled with problems (tribulations).

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

House issues, water leaks, broken appliances, trying to get birds to not nest where you don’t want them, flat tires, car accidents, trying to help people at your job, boss issues, children growing up issues…I think I could fill pages with things that we encounter in a day that need to be fixed! Or do they?

Maybe God allows things into our lives and then watches how we deal with them. Do we respond with a pure and righteous heart? Do we cause more problems by our actions?

Let us do what we know to do…get help with the things that we don’t know how or what to do…in all things first taking it before the Lord to hear His heart in our time of need. He will answer with “you can do this”, or He will send the help that we need at the appropriate time, even giving us opportunities to share the gospel that those helping us might be blessed for all eternity and the Lord be given much glory for the very things that we tend to sit and wallow in worry about.

That presumptive “don’t worry, be happy,” may be more spiritual than one might first think. God takes our worry and gives us peace through the trial, problem, tribulation…whatever it is that causes you to worry. Praise God that it is not our job to fix everything!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 18, 2026

Notes of Faith April 18, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

July 28, 2002

“NO SEPARATION” Part III

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Based on all he has written in the foregoing chapters of Romans, especially Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Paul is convinced of one great and eternal fact: NOTHING - -

1. Neither death – Jesus has conquered the grave (I Corinthians 15).

2. Nor life – A lot of inequalities and trials happen to the believer in life. Jesus said in John 16:32, “Be of good courage. I have overcome the world.”

3. Nor angels – These are evil angels, especially Satan. Jesus has overcome the devil I John 4:4).

4. Nor principalities – These are special evil angels that govern evil human rulers (Ephesians 6:12).

5. Nor things present – This includes anything in this present evil world. Again, Jesus has overcome the present world.

6. Nor things to come – this takes in everything beyond the present.

7. Nor powers – Here he includes powers of any kind – human or otherwise.

8. Nor height nor depth – These two include anything and everything in the universe; nothing in life’s path, from beginning to end, can separate us from Christ’s love.

9. Nor any other created thing – We are the highest of God’s created order. Nothing else is implied. This covers everything but the Creator Himself.

- - will be able to (will have the power or ability to drive a wedge) separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!

He is our Savior and Lord. What a truth to be convinced of! This will put spunk in your trunk and starch in your backbone! Are you convinced of this glorious fact beloved? You can be. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles

If you or someone that you share spiritual relationship with has doubts and concerns about the security of their salvation…know this…It is God who is in control of your eternal salvation, not you, and if you have come to Him in true faith, repenting of your sin, pressing on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…you will be saved, both now and for all eternity!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 17, 2026

Notes of Faith April 17, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

July 21, 2002

“NO SEPARATION” Part II

Romans 8:33-37

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Paul continues teaching on the subject of no separation from God. In verses 8:33-35 he asks three challenging questions:

1. Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? He answers his question. God is the one who justifies. The only one who has a legitimate right to charge us has declared us righteous. Enough said.

2. Who is the one who condemns us? Again consider the logic. The only one in the universe who has a right to condemn us died for us. More than that He was raised from the dead as proof that our sins are gone. In addition He ascended to the right hand of God and there He intercedes for us.

Note: The Holy Spirit prays within us (Romans 8:26-27). Jesus Christ prays for us. The Father’s ears are open to both sets of prayers.

3. Who will separate (put space between) us from the love of Christ? Last question. The remainder of the chapter answers that question for us. Paul suggests several possibilities. “Will tribulation, or distress or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” It seems that if anything could separate the Christian from God from the standpoint of the worldly mind, these could.

Paul goes back to the Old Testament to show that the believer has suffered for Christ throughout time. He quotes from Psalm 44:22:

For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Note: In the midst of these things – in the thick of the battle - we conquer overwhelmingly. We conquer and more through Him who loved us.

What does this mean – we more than conquer? We will not only conquer, but we also gain the prize for overcoming! This is done through Jesus who loves us.

In our next Pen Pulpit we will take a look at the finale of this fantastic chapter. Until then, God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Deut 7:8-9

But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Jer 31:3

3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love

John 15:9-11

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Eph 5:1-2

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Rom 5:5

The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Rom 8:39

(Nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:9

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

Jude 21

keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

2 Cor 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God (the Father), and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

We clearly see here an expression of the triune nature of God, one God, three persons.

We should also see in these verses that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. He is faithful. His love never ceases. He will never leave or forsake us. Trust in Him for salvation from His wrath, to enter into the glory of His heaven and your eternal resting place. Give Him praise for His love for you, His eternal care and provision for life with Him… forever!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 16, 2026

Notes of Faith April 16, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

July 14, 2002

“NO SEPARATION” Part I

Romans 8:31-32

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Having clearly declared what God has accomplished for us in 8:28-30 – foreknew, predetermined, called, justified, glorified – Paul now calls for a reply.

“What can we say to these things” – (truths just declared). “If God is for us” –

A little grammar lesson here! In this verse, if is used as a first class condition – a statement of fact i.e. “If (or since) the stove is hot (and it is) I will get burned if I touch it!”

If (or since) God is for us, and He is, all the way from eternity past, who is or can be against us? This question can only be answered with “no one can be against us!”

Paul goes on to elaborate further, going into even more detail –

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,

In the great antitype of Christ found in Isaac, God did spare Abraham’s son (Genesis 22:9-13). But He did not spare His own Son – He delivered Him up on Calvary’s cross for all of us.

“how will He not also with Him freely give us (the) all things?

In the original text there is a definite article (the) before the words “all things” which gives limitations to the “all things”. He loves us too much to literally give His people all things without exception. He means all things that enhance our life and lifestyle.

Note: They are freely given. If He has freely given us the greatest gift already, His Son, how could He possibly withhold that which is less than the greatest? We ask, “how will He?” God replies, “I will not!” Note too, that it states, “with Him, (Jesus)”. We have nothing in our lives apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything we are and have is in His name.

Believers, you are rich beyond your wildest dreams! Let’s live like it this week. In next week’s Pen Pulpit we go into a series of great questions that further confirm the fact that there is no separation from our Heavenly Father. So until then – God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Deut 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Heb 13:5-6

"Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you."

6 So we say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?"

John 10:27-30

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 "I and the Father are one."

These verses give us proof of eternal security of salvation. If…or since one has come to Christ Jesus in true faith, believing in the work that He has done, paying their debt for sin, forgiving their sin, redeeming them to relationship with the Father, then, they are guaranteed eternal salvation! You can never do anything that could change that truth! If you are saved, you were saved by God and nothing can take you away from God’s power and authority! You belong to Him forever!

Let us trust God to live in us, be with us, and go before us for the rest of our days on earth and finally, bring us home to be with Him, transformed into the perfect state that meets the requirements of our eternal home! God is at work in you!

Phil 1:6

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Amen!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 15, 2026

Notes of Faith April 15, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

July 7, 2002

“PANORAMA OF SALVATION”

Romans 8:29-30

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

In Romans 8:29-30 Paul continues the thought of verse 28 where he says we are called according to His purpose. He then gives a great panorama of that purpose:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

Much explanation is needed here. This verse does not say that God foreknew my actions. It says He foreknew me, which is Step One in the redemption plan.

Nor does he say that God foreknew what I would do. It implies that He foreknew what He would do! Predestinated means that He predetermined our destination, which is not to salvation, but to Christ conformity. What a goal!

Everything that comes into our lives is designed to make us a little more like Jesus Christ, Who is the firstborn among many brethren. He is the firstborn from the dead in a glorified body. There will be many, many more in that glorified image. God is starting to work on us now in that respect.

Now comes the procession, the chain of salvation that links eternity past with eternity future:

. . . and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

In God’s eternal plan we are already glorified. He states it as if it has already happened – and in God’s mind – it has! Just as sure as we have been predestined, called and justified, we will be glorified.

What powerful verses we have here. God’s eternal purpose for His people, from start to finish, is outlined for us.

Beloved, read this over and over again until it sinks into your minds. And remember, God causes all things that come into our lives to work together for our good, which is to conform us into the image of His blessed Son. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Eph 1:4

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

Phil 3:8-11

I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

God chose you! Amazing grace…to think that with all of my issues and sin against Him, God still chose me (and you) to be conformed to His will, and makes us into the image of His Son, Jesus! Our highest focus in life should be to imitate Jesus. We must know Jesus, have intimate relationship with Him, become more and more like Him, and filled with the joy of the Lord, even through earthly suffering, look forward to the eternal life provided by Jesus, who is doing the work of completing our life in Him! May we “press on” toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, daily!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 14, 2026

Notes of Faith April 14, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

June 30, 2002

“GOD AND ALL THINGS”

Romans 8:28

We were reminded in Romans 8:27 that the Holy Spirit prays for believers according to the will of God. Because of that fact we have the promise that follows in verse 28:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

In verses 26 and 27 we are reminded that God is behind everything that comes into the believer’s life. In fact He actually causes everything to work together for good.

Notice that he doesn’t say that everything IS good, because that just isn’t so!

God knows just what is needed in your life and mine. Some things are good. Some things are bad. Our Lord knows how to blend the good and the bad together for our benefit.

When my wife makes a cake, it seems as if everything in the kitchen goes into that cake. Some of those ingredients are very good. Sugar and butter and eggs are yummy. But have you ever tasted baking powder or flour? Yuck!!! Those things alone are not so good. Then she mixes it all up. If she beat me the way she beats that cake, I would be in bad shape indeed! Then she puts the whole conglomeration into a pan and puts it in a hot oven. Again, that would be very bad for me but evidently very good for the cake, for after a certain period of time, out comes a most delicious confection! Eva took the good and the bad and mixed it all together for our family’s good!

But who are the ones that God is working with? Everyone? No, only the ones who love Him. Those whom He has called “according to His purpose!”

Our God has a specific purpose for the life of each believer. He is bringing everything to bear on the fulfilling of that purpose. What is that purpose? We will discuss that in our next Pen Pulpit. But just a hint this morning! Verse 29 reads, “those whom He knew He predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.” That pretty much says it all. We’ll deal with this in more detail next time.

Beloved, view your life like the making of a cake. God allows the good things and the bad things into your life. But all things come out in Christ-like character. Neat concept, isn’t it? Just remember that God is behind it all. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles

John 16:33

33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

1 Cor 10:31-11:1

whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Heb 12:1-4

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and 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.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin…

But Jesus did for you and me! Let our every thought flow from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that we might do the will of God in all things! Work hard at resisting and striving against sin…ask God for greater faith to trust that you belong to Him. He loves you and is making you like Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 13, 2026

Notes of Faith April 13, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

June 23, 2002

“THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PRAYER LIFE”

Romans 8:26-27

And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit not only gives us the strength we need to overcome the power of the flesh within us, He also helps us in our specific weaknesses, namely our prayer life.

Verse 26 tells us that we do not know how or what to pray for as we should. The Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. This means that His deep praying cannot be uttered in words. This is not the believer praying, this is the blessed Holy Spirit praying within us and for us.

But what is the Holy Spirit praying for? God the Father is constantly searching the hearts of His people. He is well aware of what is in the mind of the Spirit. How? The Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of the Father (I John 5:4).

Many times our prayers reach no further than heaven’s door. Why? Because we often are ignorant as to what to pray for.

How glad I am that some of my prayers aren’t answered positively. Because they are so far out of the will of God - God just couldn’t answer them!

Does a loving earthly father give his little one everything he asks for?

I am also aware that prayers that are not my own are being answered on my behalf. Other believers are praying for me through the Holy Sprit’s leading or the Holy Spirit Himself is praying for me! What an awesome thought!

Believer, you can’t lose. The Father’s ears are always open to prayer. God the Son is praying for us at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34). The Holy Spirit is interceding within us and others are praying for us.

So you see, we can’t lose! We are on the winning side! Beloved, remember that glorious fact at those times when you can’t seem to get through to God. The Holy Spirit is interceding for you, according to the will of God.

God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

We don’t know how to pray as we ought! Our selfish and fleshly desires often ask God for things that are outside of His will for us. We must remember to imitate Jesus and fully align with “not my will, but Yours be done”! I recommend that you read the gospels often…all four of them, looking closely at Jesus, His actions, His reactions, His prayer life…and imitate the One who loves you most! He died for you, that you might be saved through believing in Him, and trusting His work in your life. You literally have God living inside of you. Live your life according to that truth in His power, authority, and will!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 12, 2026

Notes of Faith April 12, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

June 16, 2002

“SAVED IN HOPE”

Romans 8:24-25

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

This is Father’s Day, 2002. I’m thankful for where I am today. By the Heavenly Father’s grace I have come a long way since Father’s Day, 1999. Praise His Name. I appreciate my salvation all the more.

Thank God for hope. Paul says,

For in hope we have been saved.

When God saved us, He saved us with a view to hope. While salvation is complete, salvation has not yet been completed. There is more coming!

When you stand before the minister and he pronounces you man and wife, your marriage is complete. However your marriage is not completed until the day God takes one of you home. There is much more coming after you say, “I do” (smile, guys)!

Although promised, we don’t see that hope yet (the coming of Christ and eternal life in Heaven with Him). If we see it, hope would not be hope! The logic – “for who hopes for what he already sees?” This is an incentive to faith. If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with perseverance. We keep on keeping on. Paul says that we wait eagerly for it.

How many things we wait eagerly for – that shiny bike, our first car, graduation, marriage, family, that big promotion, retirement – how even more eagerly should we look forward to seeing our Savior face to face.

Dads, how about it? How is your hope this Father’s Day? Does the future look brighter because you have been saved in hope? Are any of you on the verge of giving up hope? If you are, go over this passage carefully. Nothing will encourage your heart like hope. I guarantee it. If I had not set this hope before me, I don’t think I would have made it. Jesus Christ became more real than ever during those dark days in Mirada Hills.

Let’s close out by looking again at this precious passage:

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

God bless. Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Ps 42:5-6

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation 6 and my God.

Ps 71:5-6

5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

you are he who took me from my mother's womb.

My praise is continually of you.

Ps 71:14-16

I will hope continually

and will praise you yet more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

of your deeds of salvation all the day,

for their number is past my knowledge.

16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;

I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

Ps 119:49-50

Remember your word to your servant,

in which you have made me hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction,

that your promise gives me life.

Ps 119:116

Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

Rom 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 8:23-24

We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved.

Rom 15:4

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Rom 15:12-13

12 And again Isaiah says,

"The root of Jesse (Jesus) will come,

even he who arises to rule the Gentiles (all people except the Jews);

in him will the Gentiles hope."

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Do you hope in God and His work today? Come to Jesus, in faith, believing that He is God the Son, your Lord and Savior, and be filled with true HOPE!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 11, 2026

Notes of Faith April 11, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

June 9, 2002

“PRESENT SUFFERING – FUTURE GLORY”

Romans 8:18-23 Part II

“For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Little did I know when I began this study in Romans 8 that midway into this glorious chapter I would spend a week in the hospital and another week-and-a-half in the rehab wing of Mirada Hills, the hospital in which I convalesced for so many months after my stroke. Always a favorite passage, these verses have become even more pointed and personal.

“For we know the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

. . . and Paul continues to talk about the anxious longing that the present creation is experiencing and that it looks forward, with great anticipation, for the revealing of the Sons of God (Colossians 3:4). He now connects the futility of the inanimate creation with the sovereign will of God.

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it” - - IN HOPE!

Creation will one day be liberated from its present corruption of decay, death and destruction… into the freedom of the glory of the children of God! Creation will be returned to its’ original glory without decay and death when God gives man the future glory waiting for those who love Him!

It is common knowledge among Christians that the whole created order is going through the pains of childbirth. This is something that the inanimate order inherited from the fallen human race.

• Every storm reveals this fact.

• Every natural disaster demonstrates this truth.

Nature’s destiny is inseparably linked to man’s. The pain of childbirth describes creation’s period of waiting. Creation, like a mother-to-be, travails to give birth which brings forth new life! And when man’s glory is divinely restored, the natural world will be restored as well!

Next week we will talk about how this truth affects Christians.

Eva and I want to again thank you for your prayers. A special thanks to the trio who transformed a dismal hospital room into a concert hall, giving glory to God! This coming week more tests are scheduled which will determine future treatment. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Ps 98:8-9

8 Let the rivers clap their hands,

Let the mountains sing together for joy

9 Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth;

He will judge the world with righteousness

And the peoples with fairness.

Isa 55:6-9

6 So you should look for the Lord before it is too late;

you should call to him while he is near.

7 The wicked should stop doing wrong,

and they should stop their evil thoughts.

They should return to the Lord so he may have mercy on them.

They should come to our God, because he will freely forgive them.

8 The Lord says, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts.

Your ways are not like my ways.

9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 Rain and snow fall from the sky and don't return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seeds for the farmer and bread for the people. 11 The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do.

12 "So you will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands. 13 Large cypress trees will grow where thornbushes were. Myrtle trees will grow where weeds were. These things will be a reminder of the Lord's promise, and this reminder will never be destroyed."

Rev 21:5

And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Rev 22:12-13

12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. 13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Rejoice in hope for the Lord is coming soon!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith April 10, 2026

Notes of Faith April 10, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans 8

May 19, 2002

“PRESENT SUFFERING – FUTURE GLORY”

Romans 8:18-22 Part I

For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Paul talks about the suffering of this present time (literally “the now time”). He says that these “now time” sufferings are not in the same category of intensity with the glory that is to be revealed to us. That is the suffering is not to be compared with the future glory.

The fall of man affected, in a drastic way, the creation we live in – both animate and inanimate. He says the anxious longing of the created order waits eagerly (literally “with neck outstretched”) for the revealing of the sons of God.

I so well remember, on long ago Christmas mornings, swinging on the gate in front of our house with my neck stretched out as far as I could reach as I looked, with great anticipation, down the road for the arrival of my cousins!

It was the fall of man that brought about the ruin of creation. Man was over creation (Genesis 1:28). Whatever happened to man also affected creation to the same degree. Paul says:

For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope. (Romans 8:20).

It is God who subjected creation to futility - in hope. In other words, God had a plan for restoring fallen creation. He explains that truth in verses 21 and 22. Creation will be liberated from its slavery to corruption, which is evident all around us, into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Creation was enslaved because of the sin of man. It will be liberated into the same blessed glory of God’s redeemed people. Paul then describes, in graphic terms, the suffering of the created order.

For we know the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Creation will one day receive a new birth (Isaiah 65:17 ff) for which it is anxiously awaiting. This also includes you and me. What a legacy! We will take up that subject in our next Pen Pulpit

Have a great week, rejoicing in the goodness of our wonderful Lord. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

We all suffer because the fall of man brought sin and death as a consequence. The Apostle Paul suffered much and gives us great detail about his physical suffering. But he also suffered spiritual suffering. He calls himself the chief of sinners for he persecuted the church even chasing down followers of Jesus, putting them in jail, standing by while they were stoned to death, actually doing in his ignorance, what he thought God wanted him to do. After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, pursuing more followers of Jesus, he was transformed from Saul the Pharisee, to Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ!

Acts 9:15-17

he (Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."

Paul suffered greatly, both physically and spiritually in this world, saying that these things are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

He was filled with joy about the promises of God for future glory both physically and spiritually! Let us endure this temporary earthly suffering knowing that our eternal glorious life is prepared and waiting for us in heaven!

Pastor Dale