Is This Possible Today?

“Also, make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to earn your living by your efforts——just as we told you. 12 Then your daily life will gain the respect of outsiders, and you will not be dependent on anyone.”

— I Thessalonians 4:11

Sounds opposite of every direction we are being pulled. Yell loudly so your opinion can be heard, bilk the system because that is what the system is for, take because you are the most important person, even to the detriment of others.

As a person who sometimes breaks forth into a controlled state of rage (that verges on uncontrolled) I understand how hard it is to see those not playing by these rules and not be angry; however, we must remember we have a higher calling, one of divine inspiration by the Holy One of God, who set aside His life for this term on earth to gain what He did not need, for us who could not attain it.

Christianity is something that should recognized in a believer, not something we need to shout in someone's ear. We are those who never draw back because of difficulty, but neither do we push our way in to a discussion, and this because God has graciously, and mercifully enabled us to see the light without any justification to do so.

Be light today, not a spotlight in your face light, but path-showing, helpful light, that might stop individuals from plunging into the abyss. That's quiet help. Shining a light is pretty noiseless, but much more helpful than yelling, "Don't go that way you idiot!" And generally much more appreciated.

Pastor Brent

We Must Flee?

We have already praised and questioned David this week. We might as well stay on the trail of a man who God Himself says was after His own heart.

When David refused to deal with his family problem and Absalom killed his half/brother to avenge his sister, David needed to deal with this problem head on; however, he instead tried to put the problem away by isolating Absalom from his presence.

So Absalom rose up because he assumed he could shove his father out. And for a while he did. David fled from Jerusalem, from his own son, to save his household.....but why? Because David had gotten so used to relying on his own decisions that he had left God out of the loop. Would God have said, "Flee from this arrogant upstart!" Doubtful.

But, who knows, because He wasn't asked. We are coming to interesting times. I have to ask, when are we going back to church? Well, if you've been paying attention, we've been in church. (It's not the building) But obviously, when are we going to open the doors? The answer is, for me, when God directs me to. 

We have willingly and graciously complied with this lock down, but as other places open up, if churches are left off I will have to ask if this is an attack (not by any person) on the kingdom itself. And, if so, I will say that I must obey God rather than man. 

But I will not do that because I think it's time or any other selfish reason but simply under the guidance and protection of God.

My feelings and prejudices aside, (which is hard) I want to be led by God and not by political or peer pressure of any kind. I simply want what God wants and I hope you use this time to want the same thing.

Pastor Brent

Read The Word - Then Write It

In Deuteronomy Moses is giving a dissertation on how a king should behave even before the people had asked for a king, even before they had crossed over Jordan and entered the promised land.

In the dissertation, Moses spoke of taking too many wives, gather too many horses, or too much gold, and also that the king should copy the law for himself and read it often.

But David, the first king of God's choosing didn't even follow God's warnings and encouragement for being a king that stood a chance while leading God's people.

So, in today's reading in 2 Samuel 13, one son (Amnon) rapes a daughter (Tamar) from another mother and another son (Absalom) plots and kills Amnon as David watches and eventually has to kill Absalom to retain his kingdom.

What's truly disturbing about this whole soap opera type behavior is that it mostly would have been prevented by having only one wife or two, but not many! And David would have known this had he followed God's warnings about copying and reading God's laws. 

We have so much access to the written Word and we are free to choose what version we read and study, but I believe if we will also write down what we think God is saying to us His message becomes more focused and clear.

Please use a message for God to future kings and write His Word down and He will do the writing on your heart.

Pastor Brent

David's (and ours) Confusion

When David decided to move the Ark of the Covenant he did so on a new cart, thinking that it was the newness that God might appreciate; and that, since it was the first thing the ark carried God would be pleased.

What he did not do was consult God. In his battles, David would consult the Lord and ask for a battle plan and even if he should fight the enemy at all at this time.

But in this case he didn't even talk to the priests to ascertain how the ark should be transported. It came back to them from the Philistines on a cart, why not proceed further on a cart?

So, in David's mind battles are one thing, but obvious things don't need the blessing of God. But Pastor Brent I'm not going to be transporting an ark anytime soon! Okay, but will you be doing something without actually asking God what to do? I feel that I am guilty of this so many times. And, even though it doesn't necessarily cost someone their life, it causes me to believe I have something in my power that doesn't need God's covering.

Whether it is an investment, or a purchase ,or a simple case of where to go on vacation, have I allowed God to have His say? If God really meant that His ways are not my ways, maybe I should ask what His way would be. Plausible? I think so. Prudent? I think so. Necessary? I believe so. What will God's next great adventure for you be? Let Him in on every decision and find out.

Pastor Brent

Always Consult the Lord

Even after David had taken the city of Jerusalem and defeated Saul and his sons, the Philistines came and besieged the city; and David consulted the Lord as to whether he should attack the Philistines. The Lord said yes, and David and his men routed the Philistines.

But, they came back, and, once again, David consulted the Lord to see whether He would have them attack them again. The Lord said yes, but in a completely different way than the first time. They were to wait in the rear of the army until they heard the sound of rustling in the mulberry bushes. Then the Lord defeated the enemy before them so they basically only had to chase the enemy away.

So, my question is, "Do I consult the Lord in every battle that I face or just claim my inheritance and it is the Lord's job to back me up?" We need to know our place in God. Are we more than conquerors? Yes! But what does that exactly mean? I believe it means our lives are dependent on our relationship with God. Was Jesus more than a conqueror? Yes! But He also didn't say ONE thing He didn't hear the Father say or do ONE thing He didn't see the Father do. 

So if we intend to be like Jesus don't count on your last victory as if it was you were the one winning it, count on the Lord to make Himself known at every turn and trouble. For His victories will be glorious and magnificent, bringing wonderment and exaltation to God the Father, God the Son, and the Kingdom of God.

 And, in the end, isn't the kingdom what Jesus asks us to be concerned with? Is He worried about the victory? No, He is concerned with how you get there. Glory to His Name.

Pastor Brent

Opportunity Or.....

“I am surrounded by lions, I am lying down among people breathing fire, men whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongues shard-edged swords.”

— Psalm 57:5 - David future King of Israel

David wrote this Psalm as he reflected back on the time he was in the cave when Saul, the king of Israel, was hunting him down. Saul stopped and entered the very cave David was in and David's men convinced him that God had worked to deliver Saul into his hand.

So David crawled up and immediately regretted that he had been talked into killing Saul and, instead, cut off the corner of Saul's robe. As Saul left the cave and went back down the mountain David appeared and called out to Saul, trying to prove to him that David would not harm God's anointed before God's timing.

As we are in this time, what are you being talked into that is not what God has told you, but is rather what sounds good and reasonable to those giving you advice? It is for good reason the scripture says, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling!", because you are responsible for the actions you take and the things you say. Remember, Jesus told us in Matthew 5:22 that if we call someone a (good for nothing) we are in danger of the fires of Hell.

Salvation is a great responsibility, not because it is so easily lost, but because it is so easily obtained, and therefore can be easily thought to be easily disregarded. Our salvation is freely given, but has been obtained at a great price; and Father God will not let His Son be diminished by our lack of connection with the Father and the Son.

No matter how dire the circumstances look, God is only interested in WHERE you look, up or out.

Pastor Brent

To Wear You Down

In 1 Samuel 17 the Israelites are coming against the Philistines, and they are challenged by a big brute named Goliath. Which is what they were hoping he would do, you know, Go-liath somewhere else. Please, I've heard some of your jokes. Anyway, they have been at it for 40 days. Him coming out and challenging the army of Israel, them quaking in their sandals and running back to their tents.

But at the end of the 40 days David comes and hears the challenge; and promptly challenges back. When is your David going to show up in your circumstance? It's not a different person, it is a different Spirit. It is the Spirit of God saying, "You've got this, go forth and cut his big, ugly, head off."

Now, the question is, will you? Do you have a David Spirit? Can I get one? Yes!! His spirit was this.....I'm coming in the name of the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, you're coming at me with nothing of any note.

You have that same spirit within you. It raised Christ from the dead! It will raise you from your circumstance and into a glorious victory because the Lord will not allow His Name to be disregarded. Child, lift up your head, The Lord God Almighty draws near.

Pastor Brent

Good Friday

We celebrate the Lord's resurrection this Sunday but what about his death? What a glorious death it was! As Heaven looked down in awe that the Son of God would submit Himself to the will of His Father for the sake of beings, the most of whom will never appreciate the sacrifice, they were in another level of wonder that they had never experienced. The Son of God was giving up His omnipotence and taking on Himself frailty for humanity.

 He had submitted Himself to the Father for love. 

Have I done the same? Mine would certainly pale in comparison to the sacrifice of the Son, but have ,I at all, given up my comfort for the good of those who appreciate it, much less those who might never do so?

 God never asks us to do things above what we are able, or, things that He has not done; but He will lead us into places we might not want to go. Will you follow? It was the simple question He asked the disciples, "Follow Me". And He still asks it today. Good Friday? Yes, because of the good it did for you and me.

Pastor Brent

Be Careful To Set Aside

Following up our text to everyone I would like to share some scripture about how we as Christians are to view our obligation to tithe and to donate to the things we are committed to.

“Now in regard to the collection being made for God’s people: you are to do the same as I directed the congregations in Galatia to do. Every week on the first day of the week, let each of you set some money aside, according to their ability, so that when I come I won’t have to do fundraising.”

— 1 Corinthians 16:1

Paul is reminding the congregation of what Jesus himself said regarding our giving. He was in the process of chastising the Pharisees, when he said, "you tithe but you have forgotten the greater commands of mercy and grace. You should continue to do the former but also remember the latter." Giving isn't an either or, it is a choice we make to show God our priorities are right.

“ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

— Malachi 3:10

 In Malachi 3:10  God instructs the people to test Him in the tithe and see if He will not repay more than what we give. It's the only time God challenges us to test Him. We are in a unique situation for a while, one in which at best we will see each other at church at the end of April. But the work and the need goes on all the time. Our partners in missions are hit as well and they continue to need our support. The people coming for laundry can still contact us and get help, but if we don't remain faithful our funds will run out. And, like Paul, we will need to fund raise to support those who count on us.

Just as Paul said, it's according to your ability. I'm sure some of you have been hit by the layoffs, but adjust, don't stop. He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much. I cannot think of one person I know who is faithful in their tithing that is not financially stable. Put God to the test and see if He is not up for the task. And we will see you virtually again on Sunday with another word of encouragement from the scripture.

Pastor Brent

What Are You Living With?

No, I'm not talking about since the shelter in place order. Lol. I'm talking about in your and my life, what are we living with because of the fact it would require discipline and consistency to rid ourselves of what God has asked us to annihilate?

In Judges 1:19 the people settled in the hill country because the people in the valley had iron chariots, and they could not drive them out. It sounds plausible. Everything that Satan would have you give up on sounds plausible....except that it is never true! Not very many chapters from here, one of the first woman judges routes this very same enemy, with their iron chariots, because she allowed God to give her the plan and she wasn't afraid to trust Him to achieve it.

 So, the question becomes, what's your iron chariot? Because at first it will just be a compromise in a small way that doesn't really affect you and the way you live. It would be nice to have the freedom that my life would enjoy if it was gone -but it's not that big of a deal. But then it becomes more invasive. It's not satisfied with the valley that it has, but it begins to take over your life and become the focus rather than a small distraction.

“What is your iron chariot??”

Just know this, when God saved you, the very word means body, soul, and spirit 100% complete salvation without having to compromise any part of you. He granted you your Canaan land; and that means all of you. Don't feel it yet? Or haven't experienced it? Take on the iron chariots with God's plan, and get ready for the most satisfying battle since you said yes to Jesus. Reach out and ask those in your circle to join you in your battle, because light is our enemies biggest fear. Because one will put to flight a thousand, but two will put to flight ten thousand. Let's turn the tables on our enemy and put him on the run for a change. What do you say?

Pastor Brent