Jude Part 3

A big thanks to our brother, Rick Barber for filling in and bringing a message from the Lord.

We are in a volatile season, to say the least and as we continue to work our way through Jude; we need to know that he has valuable information for us to chew on.

 We are saved, we are secure, but we are not left to our own to do what we want.  God has plans for us.  Plus that includes a future together with Him and millions upon millions of saints and angels.

And so we get set free to choose.  And there’s the rub.  The Choosing!

Before we were saved we were not free to choose, not really.  But now we are and we are held accountable for our choosing.  What is the biggest struggle in your life?  Is it because of choices made?

I’ll bet it is a big part of it.  Because of our choices other things come into play that Jesus has literally already paid for and gotten mastery over.

Set free to choose!

Choose Christ!

Don’t sink back into looking for other things than Christ.  He is always the answer.

Listen to Jude and his examples and warnings and we will be the much better for it.  Remember, it’s all about Him!

Pastor Brent

Jude Part 2

In verse 3 Jude talks about our common salvation.  He is agonizing over the fact that the faith, once delivered, has been adulterated and lost the impact it should have.

Once we get saved and have received this salvation, we understandably could become complacent; thinking we have climbed the highest hill and everything else will be easier.

But, as you may have noticed, our faith becomes a point of contention in our lives because faith proceeds to grow in magnitude.

We have managed to believe for things in our young Christian life that challenge us in our older Christian life.

The very same thing we once believed and were rock solid on, now is a point of worry or doubt because we are not as intensely in tuned to the Lord, and as grateful as we once were.

And many times this turns into a backlash against other Christians.

What do I wish for those that have other thoughts than myself?  Do all Christians have to think the same, dress the same, and vote the same?  Are there unbreakable thoughts or opinions that causes me to have a terrible opinion about another Christian?

Paul got to the place that he said this, “I will preach Christ Jesus, and Him crucified.:”  I understand now why.  Common salvation.  We need it.  Don’t destroy or weaken those who have found faith in Christ because they don’t measure up to YOUR standard.

Believe that we all need to measure up to God.

Pastor Brent

Jude-Patron Saint of Hopeless Cases

Sounds like the perfect Saint for my golf game.

But, really, as we take the next few weeks to study this tiny book of the Bible; we will see that he takes on many of the discussions of this age.

We learn that he warns of how we live and what we listen to and the fact that we all need to stay aware of the teachings that come our way.

He reminds us that we have an obligation, no, responsibility to be mindful and vigilant of our walk.

We can be our own worst enemy as we meander through our life, not seeking God, but wanting the next new thing that catches our eye or ear.

Normally we would have just gotten back from men’s retreat and been given some new inspiration for moving forward; also, many school activities, i.e., sports, band, and other things would be in play.  But now is a different and unique time bringing new challenges and other things that could cause us to lose heart or vision.

But let us endeavor to push forward as Jude encourages, embracing our position in Christ as He leads us to better things.

Moving forward,

Pastor Brent

What Do I Do?

We have just studied the book of Daniel and our last message was on prayer and how to enter in and believe God.

We have learned how to be accused for believing in God and how to stand up to the consequences, while watching God take over and deliver His people from harm.

Canyon Strong

But what do we do now?  Last week our amazing church body came together and served breakfast to people who came in,  we continued the laundry ministry, we sent the extra food to the guys on the front line fighting the fires and guarding the canyon.  Hopefully you donated something elsewhere to lessen the burden on those who have lost everything.

And we, for our part are helping people with gas cards as they travel back and forth to Salem or wherever they have been evacuated to, and also to the volunteers that helped move the animals out for people that couldn’t.

You will run into a number of people who will have that look on their face like, “I don’t know what to do next!” and let me say this, “you don’t need to know the answer.”  You simply are there for them to have someone to fall apart with, or cry with, or get some information about who to call or where to turn.

This is the best time to be a Christian because we have the Holy Spirit to answer for us.  And one thing to leave out of your vocabulary for this time, “Well, all things work together for good. And God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

Leave those on the shelf for now and truly be quick to listen, slow to speak, and excellent at comfort.

Learning these things too,

Pastor Brent

Daniel - Part 7

 In this week’s message we are looking at a dream Daniel had in the first year of Belshazzar.  It closely resembles the dream Nebuchadnezzar had that Daniel interpreted for him. 

But Daniel’s dream is darker, and more ominous.  Also included is a more specific call for the establishment of an everlasting kingdom with the ruler being the Ancient of Days.

Many, many, many people have interpreted this dream and put former kingdoms, and present kingdoms, and even future kingdoms in the place of the horns and the rams and the goats. 

But may I caution you to simply be satisfied with what scripture says and leave speculation out of the discussion?

There is enough in this dream without trying to fill in the voids with our own ideas of what God might have meant.

Daniel is alarmed at the interpretation of his own dream, and yet, he is also comforted because God not only entrusted the dream to him but has given him a conclusion which allows the people of God to possess the kingdom forever.

If we, as a people can forgo getting caught up in the symbols and trust in the outcome and the fact that God will keep His saints informed; we can live a peaceable life with the expectation of a life we can share with those who God has called.

Pastor Brent

Daniel - Part 6

When the new ruler took over the kingdom, God protected His children and gave them favor immediately. However, this did not go over so well with the people used to being in charge of the king’s ear.

So, jealousy set in, and since they could not find a corrupt bone in Daniel’s body, they set about to bring his faith to the test. For either he will reject his God, or he will disobey the order of the king and be thrown to the den of lions. Either way, rid of Daniel. Or, so little people think.

For God knows the plans and hearts of men before they do, and He thwarts them before they have ever been born. But still, I believe God enjoys the suspense that we get from seeing how easily God can turn the table on even the most dire of situations.

Dare to be a Daniel!

Do you have a routine that your enemies could pick on and say, “They always pray at this time, or they are reading their Bible at this time, or Sundays are a no go til church is over, because they set that time aside for God”? Or not.

People are always going to be jealous of the people of God because we enjoy His favor. And all of the blessings that go along with the inheritance that is in Christ. But can we be swayed because of the promises the world might make if we change our priorities? People want to know that you are as committed to your devotions as you are to God and they will know when they ask you for something, you will be as committed to their needs.

Dare to be a Daniel! Throw open your windows and pray, not as a show, but as a shower of praise and thanksgiving highlighting the glory and goodness of God.

Pastor Brent

If Jesus Can Do Nothing Of Himself...

 In John 5:19 Jesus states, "The Son can do nothing of Himself" So if we extrapolate  this on out we can do nothing of ourselves…and yet we do. I read continually that God is saying this or God is saying that, or God is for this person or God is for that person. God is not. You are not hearing from God. God cannot support both things.

   That's because I am right, no, I am right. I'm sorry to have tell you this but, God is right. And He is not saying any of the things I hear you saying. For He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.

   As important as this election might be for our country, we are not the world. In fact, we are so small a percentage of it that we kid ourselves if we think God thinks more about us than the bulk of the world He is saving.

   So don't tell me God hates this person or prefers that person, because He loves us all. He loved Paul as He was killing His people. Yes, He did. He loved those who were slavers as well as the slaves. He loved them because He made them. Will He withhold judgement from them in the end for their (or our) deeds if we do not repent and believe in His name? No! But if even Jesus said it wasn't His job to judge, it certainly isn't ours.

“The Son can do nothing of Himself”

— Jesus -- John 5:19

   I go back to  the premise of this writing. Jesus said He could do nothing of Himself, so why would we want to? Jesus is setting the precedent for us to follow, but are we humble enough to do that? I submit that we need to hear from God before we commit to words that WE think. I believe, unless there is scripture to back up our words, they should remain just that, our words. And even if there is scripture, have we handled it correctly, and been given the green light to share what we are about to?

   Jesus told Pilate, "You would have no authority if it had not been given you from above." So, where will our next leader come from? God. Jesus certainly could have answered many of the questions asked Him during His trial, but he only answered those things He had been given the authority to answer. Will I be able to say the same thing of myself? I prayerfully hope so and encourage us all to do the same.

Only what He wants,

Pastor Brent

Daniel Part 5

When Belshazzar takes over from his father Nebuchadnezzar he doesn't really learn anything.  In fact, he goes backwards, making the same mistake of forgetting who is really in charge.

We often make this mistake, maybe just not to this degree.

When we neglect to audibly give the glory to God we rob Him of what He rightly deserves.  Our affection and respect.

And when I say audibly, I mean that we should give God His due by shouting or singing, or affirming in an audible way how He has affected our situation and without Him we are lost.

I think of the scripture that asks if we are ashamed of Him.  And when we can let those around us know we are not, it causes Jesus to do the same to those around Him.

“For I’m not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus, it’s the good news of the living Christ. ”

— Romans 1:16

Give God His due honor and it will come back to you in your time.  Withhold it, and you could find out what the writing on the wall might mean.

Pastor Brent

Daniel Part 4

This week, we shift focus from the Hebrew children to the king in his own words.

Nebuchadnezzar tells of how he came to respect God and take inventory of his own life in comparison.             

He had another dream.  Only in this one he became the receiver of God’s judgment instead of the receiver of praise as to his position in history.

And, as he found out, God will follow through on His discipline if we don’t heed the warnings given to us.

But how long do we listen to the message of God?  Is it burning in our hearts and so huge that it overtakes any thoughts or doubts we might have.?

God is on our side.  Period.  But He also will not be mocked by children that don’t respect their parents.  He will have order and civility in His household.

There’s a sign in one of my friend’s house that says,

“Unruly children will be sold as slaves.”  I think they might have stole this right from the scriptures.  And even though they were just joking, God will go to any lengths to get us in a frame of mind where we understand our position in this world and the next.

Be prepared for the mountains and steel yourself for the valleys.  God will take care of both.

Pastor Brent

Daniel Part 3

We take a small break from looking at Daniel specifically to see what his companions are made of.

When the king set up his impressive gold statue, he forgot who had revealed Himself to him.

All of a sudden Nebuchadnezzar was caught up in his own power and importance.  He was so angry at the thought of somebody not bowing to him that he lost all control.

Trouble is, we do that when someone wants to contradict our opinion.  You understand that’s what it is right? Whatever you are basing your story on, it’s still just your opinion.

But people seem to lose their minds over anything that’s going on.

So, be sure of this one thing, God will defend Himself and His people.  But even if we have to give our lives, He still reigns.  God is watching what your and my response is to situations that are not fair, that are not equal, that are not even in the realm of what we think we should be going through.

And he is watching with pride because He knows what your response has a chance to be. GREAT!  But, He allows us to hear those words coming from our own mouth.  And it’s the greatest blessing on earth to know we stood up to the temptation and spoke right in it’s face.

Take heart brother and sister, redemption draws nigh, speak to the elevation of Christ and God the Father and come out without even the stench of smoke on your clothes.

Pastor Brent