Grace For The Journey

  There are many metaphors we can use for this life. Some describe it as a race and find excitement only by increasing its speed. Others describe it as a party and believe we should eat, drink, and be merry – for we only go around once. Regardless of our view, every “life metaphor” influences, to an altogether unsuspecting extent, the way we live our lives at every level – personally, professionally, and spiritually.

God has given us the truth about life in the Bible. Our study of Scripture will, by God’s grace and through the working of His Spirit, cause us to develop a biblical worldview. As we grow in that worldview, we’ll discover Life’s Three T’s, which are designed to teach us some basic truths about how we should live our lives and let our salvation be worked out by the power of God. Let’s take a brief look.

#1. Life is a TRUST!

The Bible says in Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”

Adam and Eve were given what I call an “Almighty Trust Account.” They were owners of nothing and stewards of everything. God gave them authority and dominion over all of creation, and they were to care for it in such a way that would bring honor and glory to God. Nothing has changed today; you and I are stewards of all God’s creation, just as our first parents were – except that today, the creation has been distorted and disfigured by sin.

#2. Life is a TEST!

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 8:2-3, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Adam and Eve failed their test in the Garden of Eden, and the result is that you and I inherited their sinful nature. Even after we place our trust in Christ and are filled with His Spirit, the results of our own testing will always be a mixed bag: we respond successfully on some occasions; at other times we don’t do so well! Abraham was tested by God, and he responded beautifully, offering his son Isaac . . . but he lied about his wife (calling her his sister) to save his own skin. David was a man after God’s own heart . . . but he committed adultery and murder. Peter was one of the first disciples Jesus called . . . but he denied his Lord three times.

The goal of our testing is progress, not perfection. We will only be perfect when we are taken home to be with our Lord; until that time, we should be making measurable progress in reasonable time . . . even if that progress often feels like one step forward and two steps back!

#3. Life is a TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT!

The Bible says in Psalm 39:4, “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.”

Because our identity and life is in Christ, our home is in heaven. We are simply pilgrims passing through this life, and we have been called, equipped, and empowered by God to expand the cause of His kingdom while we are here, regardless of the cost or circumstance. We are to always live with that on our mind and heart.

So . . . how are you doing with Life’s Three T’s? If you are holding on tight by faith to the truth of the trust God has granted you, if you are prayerfully striving to meet every test, and resting in the fact that eternity awaits after this temporary assignment, I congratulate you and exhort you to keep pressing into these truths.

But perhaps you’ve read this article and feel convicted; you’ve been focused only on your own “stuff” . . . you’ve failed a test as dramatically as Abraham, David, and Peter did . . . or you’ve been focused on the things of this world for so long that eternity feels like little more than a fairy tale to you. Let me close with this gracious invitation from our loving, forgiving Lord:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Draw near to the Lord, as James invited, and He will draw near to you. He has promised you His full forgiveness, His eternal power, and everything you need for life and godliness. Don’t let Life’s Three T’s drive you to despair; let them drive you to your knees, where you and I should be every day! It is there that you will find the grace and the power you need for this day.

This is God’s Word For Today … This is Grace for your Journey …

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

Today we conclude a three-part message, which is based on Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” We have looked a part 1, His Patient, and part 2, His Prescription. Today we will look at   . . .

PART III – His Promise … “And He shall strengthen your heart”

What a wonderful comfort for God’s people to know! God never commands us to do anything without equipping us to actually get it done!  God did not simply say, “All you who hope in the Lord, be of good courage.”  After God tells us what to do, He proceeds to tell us how it will get done: “He shall strengthen your heart.”  It is important to take careful notice what is held forth to us in this incredible promise.  The psalmist says the Lord “will strengthen your heart.”  He does not say any of the following will strengthen your heart:

• A better economy
• A new job
• A different church
• More money
• Better health
• Higher education
• A new address
• A longer vacation
• Less rebellious children
• A more loving spouse

The psalmist makes it crystal clear that it is God and God alone who will strengthen the hearts of those who trust in Him in every circumstance.  Make no mistake, a lack of courage is a disease of the heart; there is only One who can cure it: our Creator, Savior, and Provider, who delights in showing Himself strong on behalf of His people.  All strength comes from our Creator, Savior, and Provider!

The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”

The Bible also says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

What deliverance do you need today?  What Red Sea are you facing, with an implacable enemy thundering up behind you?  What wall of Jericho is standing in the way of the land promised to you by your God?  What Garden of Gethsemane are you kneeling in, hoping desperately to hear from your God?  What dark night of the soul have you been struggling with, hoping to see the light of the morning star?  Where in your life have you been wrestling with God, refusing to let go until you receive your blessing?

Clearly, the Cosmic Cardiologist is not finished with you yet.  Do you know why I make that statement so confidently?  It’s because you’re still here!  God has more for you to do to advance the cause of His kingdom.  When we keep our eyes on Jesus, no matter what difficulties we are facing, we will, by God’s grace, be able to do what David did – in spite of feeling distressed, dejected, rejected, weak, and not at all courageous.

Listen to what the Bible says in 1 Samuel 30:6,“David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters.  But David strengthened himself in the Lord His God

As we close out this three-part message, I hope you will never lose sight of the fact that one of ways God strengthens us is by connecting us to each other.  Yes, we were saved individually, but we were saved to community.  We were called to be members of one body (Ephesians 2:16) and we need each other!

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “God does not work needless miracles.  He will not send an angel when a brother or sister will do.  A brother’s sympathy is more precious than an angel’s embassy.”  Wow!  Who better to help a hurting heart than one who has the scars from the same battle?!  When a brother or sister speaks into our lives it is “like apples of gold in baskets of silver.”  Sometimes it may come in the person of Barnabas the encourager.  At other times it can come in the person of Nathan the confronter. Either way, it is a great grace the Cosmic Cardiologist gives to all of His patients: He strengthens our hurting hearts.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

 Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 

Grace For The Journey

  I shared in yesterday’s blog a sermon I wanted to share with you this week on the blog. The message is based on Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Monday I talked about Part One: His Patient. Today we’ll look at Part Two: His Prescription.

His Prescription: “Be of good courage”

Charles Spurgeon rightly observed, “They err from the Scriptures who make the grace of God a reason for doing nothing . . . for it is the reason for doing everything.” The Gospel sets the captives free (Ephesians 4:8). We are freed from the dominion of sin, Satan, and death, to be sure, but we are also freed to live the life God is calling us to live. Grace is the reason for doing everything, not because of what we might get, but because of everything we have already been given! You might say we march behind two banners:

The first being the finished work of Christ;

The second is the promise of His return to make all things new.

His finished work and His promised return combine to give us a glorious freedom . . . freedom to live the life we have been called to live, spurred on by a heart that overflows with thanksgiving.

When the psalmist tells us to “Be of good courage” he presupposes that there are times when our lives are marked by something other than good courage. We all know times of doubt, discouragement, fear, and frustration. So how are those who hope in the Lord to apply the exhortation to “Be of good courage” in their lives? The Scriptures tell us there is only One who can give to us the courage we need in every circumstance we face:
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 12:2, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

One of the clearest examples in all Scripture that illustrates what happens to our courage when we focus on anything other than Jesus is found in the story of Jesus walking on the water:

“In the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost’” and ‘Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” (Matthew 14:25-32)

I’m sure many read this account and shake their heads at Peter’s failure. Big talk about walking on the water, but there goes Peter, sinking to the bottom of the sea! I read that story a little differently; Peter was the only one of the disciples who had enough “good courage” to step out of the boat and actually walk on the water! Peter wanted to experience the power of God in his life in a new way, and he was doing just fine until he took his eyes off Jesus and glanced anxiously around at the winds and the waves. When Peter focused on something other than Jesus his courage vanished and he began to sink.

So the key to courage is focusing on Jesus. Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we need only to look to Christ and we will have all the courage we need to get us through whatever it is we are going through. And let me point out that when Peter failed, and looked at natural things rather than the Master of all nature – He to whom the wind and waves grant immediate obedience – at that moment when the waves were about to swallow Peter and he uttered his despairing cry, did our loving Lord hesitate? No, immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. What a gracious, patient Savior we have!

But let me utter a word of caution here: don’t wait until you are in the midst of a storm to fix your eyes on Jesus; we must also focus on Him in times of triumph. In spite of overwhelming evidence that God is our only hope, Satan is a master at getting us to focus on self rather than the Savior.

The Bible records one such example in 1 Kings 19:1-8: “Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’ And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’ And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. (1 Kings 19:1-8)

The account of Elijah running for his life is a great reminder not to forget our God in times of great victory, which is far too often the case with us! Proverbs 27:21 solemnly warns, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” To be sure, Satan comes after us when we are in times of weakness, fear, and doubt. But he also comes after us in times when we might least expect it: in times of great victory.

We will look at Part 3 tomorrow.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

 Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

  I have a sermon that I am working on titled. The Divine Cardiologist. It has really spoken to my heart as I have been studying it. I would like to share it on this blog over the next three days.  I pray that you will be as challenged and encouraged by it as I have been.

The message is based on Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord” – and is laid out in three parts: His Patient; His Prescription; and His Promise.  Today we’ll look at Part One: His Patient.

“All you who hope in the Lord . . .”

It is important to notice at the outset what this verse does not say.  It does not say, “All you who hope in their good works” or “All you who hope in their religiosity” or “All you who hope in your baptism” or “All you who hope in your repentance” or “All you who hope in your church.” In short, it wasn’t written for “All you who hope in yourselves” . . . like the Pharisee in the temple.

The Bible says in Luke 18:9-14, “Also He [Jesus] told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Scripture succinctly spotlights the Pharisee’s problem: Jesus told the parable for those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.  The Pharisee was not hoping and trusting in the Lord and His righteousness; he was hoping and trusting in himself!  Self is a miserable substitute for God, the only One who is worthy of our hope and trust.  The Word of God has nothing to say to those like the Pharisee, who trust in themselves. Anything we hope in other than God is not a hope worth having.  It is hope-less!

The Bible identifies others who put their hope in people and things other than God.

• Some trust in chariots and horses (Psalm 20:7), which is another word for the strength and power of military might.
• Others trust in the government (Psalm 146:3), banking on rulers and governing bodies to fix the world’s problems.
• Still others trust in their money (1 Timothy 6:17).

So . . . what have you been hoping for and trusting in lately?  What would those who are closest to you say?  Remember, if your hope is in anything other than Jesus, Psalm 31:24 does not speak to you.  But if your hope is in the Lord, as I pray it is, you will know hope in the way that the writer of Hebrews described it:

“By faith [Abraham] made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:9-10)

All those who hope in the Lord have a divine dissatisfaction with life today.  Like the apostle Paul, we have learned to be content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:12), yet we recognize that something is radically wrong with ourselves and the world around us.   All those who hope in the Lord have something to look forward to in this life and the life to come!  We can look forward to every day that we live because the grace of God sustains, strengthens, and supplies our every need.  And, we look forward to the future with great anticipation to a better future because God’s glory will shine and all the heartaches and problems of this world will be gone!

That leads us to have the greatest trust and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

  God used Moses to order Pharaoh: “Let my people go that they may serve Me!”

This command brings out a biblical truth. We have been saved for service. But if our service is not rooted in love, we have missed the most important aspect of service. Make no mistake; our hearts are more important to God than our hands!

“I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it.” (Psalm 50:9-12)

God does not “need” our service. The Gospel is not a Help Wanted advertisement for the people of God. To be sure, we are called to serve our God, but our primary service is heart-service. God wants our hearts to beat for Him. He will tolerate no rival, for He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). Sometimes we can get so caught up in serving God with our hands that we forget all about bringing our hearts to our service.

But this is not what God wants from you! The Pharisees served God, but only with their hands. Jesus said their hearts were far from Him. The psalmist tells us that God owns everything and has everything and needs nothing from us. The logical inference is that whatever we give to Him must be given through a heart of love. David made this crystal clear in the very next chapter of Psalms:

‘You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)

When our hearts are “broken and contrite,” our hearts are beating for Jesus; when our hearts are beating for Jesus, service is more than simply service. It is a privilege to put a heart on display that beats with humble gratitude for God. The Christian is to be thankful, not only for the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also for the work He is still completing in the world and in us.

The Lord Jesus will complete what He started . . . and that includes what He has started in you! He is not finished with you yet. And as part of that process, He has ordained service as a sanctifier in the lives of His people. But the only service that sanctifies is service that flows from a heart of love.

So . . . what has your heart been beating for lately? Have you been serving God out of a sense of duty or a sense of devotion? Have you been serving like a slave or like a son? When duty is our motivation for service, there is no joy. But when devotion moves our hands, the joy of the Lord is the strength for the service.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

We have all heard of tug-of-war, and most of us have played it.  It is a contest that pits two teams against each other in a test of physical strength and endurance.  When I was in college at Georgia Tech, a group of my friends and I entered into a tug-of-War competition called the “Tug-a-Ton!”  Each team was allowed up to but not exceeding 2000 pounds of total man weight on their side of the rope.  You could have as many men as you wanted on your team as long as the total weight of all the men combined did not exceed a ton (2000 lbs).

I will never forget the team we lost to in the finals.  After a long day of tugging on the rope, everyone’s hands and forearms were pretty well beat up with cuts and bruises.  The team we were up against came out for the championship match wearing special “lobster” gloves for a better grip on the rope.  The gloves were allowed, but we were too proud to wear our gloves.  We fought hard for nearly ten minutes, but in the end we were pulled across the center line and into second place.

So the term “tug-of-war” can describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing teams.  Today I want to employ a metaphorical use for the term “tug-of-war” to describe the battle going on daily inside the heart of every Christian believer – a-tug-of-war between the sinful nature and the Spirit of Christ.  The apostle Paul described it perfectly in his letter to the church in Galatia . . .

“The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”  (Galatians 5:17)

Like two opposing teams straining at their side of the rope, the sinful nature is at war against the Spirit, and the Spirit is fighting against the sinful nature.  The Bible makes this truth crystal clear.  In The Gospel For Real Life, Jerry Bridges writes, “We must acknowledge this tension if we are to make progress in the Christian life.  Indwelling sin is like a disease that we can’t begin to deal with until we acknowledge its presence.  But in the case of sin, we must also count on the fact that, though it still resides in us, it no longer has dominion over us.” 

Sin remains, but it should no longer reign.  Jesus reigns, and the grace that He poured into your life when you were saved is the same grace that He continually pours into your life as He is sanctifying you.  Sin should no longer be our master (see Romans 6:14).  Jesus is our Master, and it is His Holy Spirit that has power and control over us.

It is the grace of the Gospel that empowers us to keep on pulling, even when we have fallen into the dirt time and time again and feel like we have no strength left to pull.  When we are weak, we are strong because of the One who is on our side.  In knowing that Jesus will never take His hands off of our side of the rope, regardless of how often we slip or let go altogether, we find the strength to keep fighting the good fight.

You see, for the Christian, the One really pulling on our side of the rope is Jesus.  It is His hands.  It is His strength.  It is His grace.  And Jesus has never lost a match!  He’ll pull us across the center line and into the winner’s circle!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

  The Bible says in Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Can you picture a deer literally panting with thirst on a blistering July afternoon? Does your soul ache like that for God? Do you thirst so greatly to be in His presence that you feel your breath quicken? Or . . . maybe not so much?

What does your thirst for God – or lack thereof – testify to in your life today?

The best way to glorify the worth of a stream of water is to drink in great gulps of its cool, clear refreshment . . . and to keep coming back for more! The same is true for our God, who is our only source of living water. Whether we acknowledge it or not, our soul does thirst for the living God. The Sovereign Lord “has set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11); as Augustine said so beautifully, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

We feel that thirst within . . . but all too often we work hard at trying to quench our thirst in countless ways other than coming to the living waters. We look for fulfillment in:

• Our work
• Our finances
• Our relationships
• Physical intimacy
• Recreation
• The applause of man

Yet, we all know from personal experience that none of these “false fountains” can deliver on their promises. We are left unsatisfied and far more thirsty after we drink from these soiled streams then we were when we started. There is a God-sized void inside of every one of us that can only be filled by God; only by sipping from the streams of living water will we find the refreshment our soul longs for.

If you want to perform a quick self-evaluation on the testimony of your own thirst, consider how much time you engage in these two means of grace: Bible Study and Prayer. God has given us His Word that we might drink it in daily; along with His Word, He invites us to come into His presence through prayer. The best gift we can offer our God is a thirst that pants for Him who delights to satisfy us through multiple streams of living waters. One final thought: when God moved the prophet Isaiah to write, “Come, all you who are thirsty” (Isaiah 55:1), He made it clear that the waters are available to all who thirst. Isaiah did not identify a special few who have access to these waters; the invitation is made to all . . . the invitation is made to you. If you have never come to these waters, come today, just as you are, and drink. If it has been too long since your last drink, come back and sip from the sublime streams of your Savior. You’ll be glad you did!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

The devil is on the prowl for unbelievers; he is busily engaged in keeping them in utter darkness.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Satan is on the prowl for the believers too! The Bible begins and ends with admonitions to be on guard against our cunning and terrible adversary.  God cautioned Cain, “Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). And Peter warns the church, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).

To be sure, Satan can never take you out of the hand of your Savior (see John 6:37 and 10:27-30).  But Satan can and will mess up your life . . . if you let him.  I once heard a speaker quote John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) – and declare that Satan is working tirelessly to steal your innocence, to destroy your dreams, and to kill you!

The devil is on mission to blind you to the truths of the Gospel in subtle and surprising ways.  You would do well to review how Satan approached Eve in Genesis, Chapter Three.  Satan doesn’t try to convince you that there is no God; instead he smoothly seeks to convince you that a Godless existence isn’t all that bad – it’s actually quite fun and fulfilling!  The more the devil can ensnare us in living a life of self-seeking personal pleasure, the more profoundly we are blinded to the life God calls us to live.

Christian believers are blinded when the devil distracts and diverts their affections to things other than God.  And how frighteningly easy this is to do – especially when these things are not inherently bad . . . or even incredibly good.

• Work is good . . . but not when it blinds us to Jesus
• Relationships are good . . . but not when they blind us to Jesus
• Recreation is good . . . but not when it blinds us to Jesus
• Taking care of our home is good . . . but not when it blinds us to Jesus
• A hobby is good . . . but not when it blinds us to Jesus
• Serving the church is good . . . but NOT when it blinds us to Jesus!

Someone once said, “Good things become bad things when they become ultimate things.”  Our love for the good things in this world can blind us to what should be the one true love of our lives: Jesus.  The devil has expertly developed the diabolical tactic of blinding believers by keeping them busy being busy.  We are certain that idle time is the devil’s workshop, so we keep on keeping on, chasing after lesser gods that never deliver what they promise.  At the end of the day, we realize that our problem is not so much in what we are running after, but in what we are running away from.

The only cure for the blinding of believers is the Gospel, which tells us that repentance and recovery of spiritual sight are gifts from God.  Paul wrote to encourage us “in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

Elsewhere Paul exulted that “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).  We are not to fear, for we know our victory was eternally secured when our Redeemer Lord cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).  Martin Luther exulted in the victory Christ won for us in “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

his rage we cannot endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.

By resting in the truths of the Gospel and recalling all that Jesus has done for us, we begin to see more clearly.  And in seeing more clearly, we see Jesus as the only thing and the only One who can satisfy our deepest needs: pardon for our sins and peace for our weary souls.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

  Far too many in the church today mistakenly believe that the adversity they are currently facing is a sign of God’s abandonment – But that is NOT TRUE! Regardless of the reason for the adversity, God has not abandoned His children, and in the end it will prove to be for their good and His glory.

Think of all the adversity the children of Israel experienced shortly after their divine deliverance from over four hundred years of captivity in Egypt. They experienced the adversity of an army of angry Egyptians thundering up behind them, with the Red Sea blocking their only means of escape. God led His children through the Red Sea – they passed through on dry ground – and annihilated the Egyptians. Israel experienced the adversity of hunger; God provided manna from heaven. They experienced the adversity of thirst; God provided water from the rock.

Adversity did not equal abandonment for the Israelites. God was with them in every adversity they faced, teaching them to call out to Him in every circumstance. One of the most important lessons you and I should take away from the Exodus is that, despite the difficulties they faced, God could and indeed did bless them every step of the way into the Promised Land.

Listen to the following Bible passages that demonstrate this truth . . .

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Adversity is a part of life in this fallen world. But in every adversity we will see that our God is with us. Not only does adversity not equal abandonment, but adversity is actually a stepping stone upon which we advance in the direction of God’s call in our lives. Peter exhorted us to remember that adversity has come “so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).

So . . . what adversity have you been facing lately?

• Trouble at the office?
• Difficulties in your marriage?
• Tough times at school?
• Struggles in your singleness?
• Prodigals in your parenting?
• Failures in your personal life?

Adversity and hardships are designed by God to humble us and strengthen us. Trials remind us to depend more on our Savior than on ourselves. Remember, some blessings in life can only be found on the other side of adversity.

Keep on keeping on, knowing that Jesus is with you every step of the way. Adversity does not equal abandonment; it’s the necessary precursor of blessing!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Grace For The Journey

  I learned the term “pain reflex” while I was in seminary … it refers to the witness of the early Christian church.  It is said that some of the most powerful Gospel preaching came through the “pain reflex” of the early church.  For many in the church today, especially in the United States, this term is somewhat foreign; we have yet to deal with much pain regarding our faith!  But the early church certainly did, as have many throughout the world during the past 2,000 years. Here are just a few examples of how the early church suffered under the Roman emperors Nero and Domitian, as recorded by the first-century Roman historian Tacitus:

• Christians were thrown to voracious wild animals to be torn apart while crowds of thousands watched and cheered the mauling
• Fully alive and alert, Christians were covered with pitch and set on fire to provide lighting for nightly parties at Nero’s gardens
• Christians were crucified by the hundreds and sometimes thousands along the main highways in and out of Rome as a lesson to all those observers who might desire to claim any lord other than the emperor

The horrific stories of the affliction of the saints are as numerous as they are atrocious. The extent of their persecution was only limited by the depraved imagination of their persecutors.  But it was not the suffering that drew unbelievers to the claims of Christ; it was the way they suffered that did.  It was their “pain reflex” that preached a clear, compelling message and caused the watching world to take notice of their claim of a crucified and risen Christ.

Christians could be heard singing hymns and spiritual songs as they were being torn apart by snarling beasts.  As they were brought to the stake to be burned alive, Christians were overheard telling their executioners there was no need to tie them to the post, because their faith in Christ would keep them there.  One of the most remarkable biblical stories regarding the “pain reflex” of the early church is recorded about the death of Stephen . . .

“When they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at [Stephen].  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.   And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’   But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.   Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.   And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’   And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:54-60)

Here we read the biblical account of the first Christian martyr, who followed the model of his Master, who, as He hung on the cruel cross, prayed: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

What does all this have to do with you and me?  After all, even in our God-forsaken, God-rejecting world, it’s not likely that you or I will ever be thrown to the lions. What should we take away from the sterling faith of the early Christians?  The answer is that you and I are given many opportunities to preach Christ to a watching world through our own pain reflex.  Though as of today we don’t face violent persecution here in America, we do deal with a great deal of pain on this side of the grave.  With every trial and every season of suffering, we are given the opportunity to testify to the truth of what we say we believe – very much like our first century brethren.

We always have two different ways to respond to the struggles of life.  We can shrink back from them and demonstrate a pain that points to the self.  Or we can embrace our trials and demonstrate a “pain reflex” that points to the One who suffered for us and with us.  This is the “pain reflex” of the redeemed.  Is it yours?

This is the truth of what it means to preach the Gospel with both our lips and our lives. This is the truth of what it means to preach the Gospel with both the profession of our faith and the practice of our faith.  And this truth shouts the loudest when we find ourselves in the furnace of affliction – we demonstrate to those who are watching a confident faith that points straight to Jesus!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”