The Promise

Genius 17:18 Oh, that Ishmael might walk before you!

That is where we left off last week with Abraham listening to God listing the things He’s going to do through Abraham, and even changing his name to take in those changes.

But Abraham wasn’t ready for the real miracle. He was content just to settle for what he considered a miracle, that he had a son at 86!

It wasn’t through Sarah, but it wasn’t specifically said through Sarah until this part of the promise when Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 89.

But the real miracle was coming. And God reminded them both when He told them to name this child Isaac which means laughter: which is what they both did as the promise came forth.

And so this morning what has God asked you to name laughter? Where are you in your life that you never thought you could have been, but then God promised? Or, what is just around the corner with God’s promises that you are chuckling at because you don’t believe that anything like that could ever happen.

The word Heaven means, “ever expanding,” Is your mind expanding enough to hold God? He will not shrink back from His promises, will you?

Don’t shrink back, go ahead and laugh. Laugh every time you remember those promises of God fulfilled in your life. God loves a joyful people!

Pastor Brent

Abram or Abraham?

Gen 11:26 Terah begat Abram. Gen 17:5 No Longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of many nations.

Abram means “exalted father”, certainly a decent name. Abraham, means “father of a multitude, or father of many nations.”

A change from what his earthly father named him even though it was with pretty good expectations. But our Heavenly Father has greater than in mind for us.

Do you know the name God has given you? Could it be that we have settled on what everyone else “calls” us?

Notice in the scripture, “no longer will you be “called” Abram, your name shall be Abraham.

Is it what we are called, or is it who we are? Is it what everyone’s expectations of us are, or is it what God, the Father’s, exceptions of us are?

Remember, this name change came when Abraham was 100 years old and only had one child by Sarah’s handmaiden and he was not the child of promise.

So don’t give up on yourself or be framed by someone else’s and let God have the glory.

Pastor Brent

In The Dark

As I write this, we are sitting in the dark. Power outages are the result of an interruption of the lines carrying power to your house or place of business.

It takes maintenance and diligence to ensure that those lines are free of obstructions and dangers that could separate them from their source.

Trees falling on them, ice building up on the lines, and wind, which could topple the poles that support the lines.

Does this sound anything like your spiritual life? If we don’t maintain the lines between us and God, interruptions will occur, darkness will occur. The earth was without light until God spoke. W were without light until God spoke, And trees (men) falling on our lines, wind (confusion) blowing us in every direction, and ice (cold heart) will keep us from our connection with God.

Are you maintaining or inspecting your lines with God: or do you just assume that power will always get to you? The power is always there. It’s the lines which Jesus asks us to keep open.

Hey, the lights are back on! Thanks someone for reconnecting to our lines. Reconnect your line with God. The dark and being powerless is no way to live.

Pastor Brent

New Year or New You?

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.”

— Lamentations 3:22-23

What about you and I is new every morning? Do I wake up with the same expectations, or do I allow room for new thoughts, ideas, and actions to enter the realm of my life?

Last week we talked about eyes being opened and God walking “with” us. How are you putting this into play?

We are at the brink of a new year. Are you convincing yourself that nothing is ever going to change and all will carry on has it has always been?

That’s what the Israelites told themselves right before destruction, “Oh, it will go on forever just as before!”

But with God all things are made new! We simply have the chance to put it to the test at the beginning of a new year.

Let’s make our resolution to read and write about our reading, to let God change us through His Word, physically as well as spiritually. Let’s be new. Let’s be willing. Let’s be on the Lord’s side, starting with this year and every year from now on.

Give the Lord His due and see what the blessing poured out looks like.

Happy “New” Year

Pastor Brent

Philippians - Peace Vs. Anxiousness

In chapter 4 of Philippians, Paul expressed the need for a state of mind we seemingly rarely have....peace.

We search for ways to obtain peace but rarely settle in to what is in Paul’s letter, a necessity.

How do you try and get to a place of peace in your life? It can’t be by looking around at this world, or the things in it, because they only bring desires that fuel worry, discomfort, and dissatisfaction.

No, we turn to the One who sustains peace because of His faithfulness and continuity. He continues to bless us in spite of ourselves and if we can turn these blessings into gratefulness we achieve the peace that goes with thankfulness. Thankfulness will do more for your life than any spa or retreat, or anything beyond our gratitude for God’s love, mercy, and grace.

Be thankful in all things in Christ Jesus concerning you, because there is great peace in trusting the God of the universe with our soul.

Pastor Brent

Philippians 3 - Citizen of ??

As we close out chapter 3 of Philippians and get into chapter 4, Paul asks a very important question in the midst of his statement.

Our citizenship is in heaven. But is it? As Paul describes those who are enemies of Christ but seem to walk with Him, he speaks of their focus. Is it this world or the kingdom of God? Only those with kingdom vision have the chance to know God.

All else reflects that we haven't really died to self, we haven't picked up our cross, and we are not walking according to the Spirit and not the flesh.

All of which leaves us rudderless and driven by whatever the latest fashion and doctrines that are being put forth.

The creed of the Foursquare Church is; “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If we believe that then there must be a fundamental base, a foundation if you will, that we compose our lives and beliefs on that give us comfort to rest as He accomplishes that which He has called us to.

We are in Christ! In Him we live and move and have our being! Nothing can intrude into the personage of Christ. Dwell there in the peace and knowledge He sits at the right hand of the Father.

Pastor Brent

Philippians 3

In this chapter we are going to find some surprising things. They are to me anyway. It really is who you know, even if we don’t want to believe that. If you don’t know God, you don’t know anyone useful.

Paul thought he knew the right people, had the right bloodline, studied at the right schools, and pursued the right things. Boy, was he wrong!

In the pursuit of God Paul had forgotten to introduce himself to God. Only a slight faux pas on his part.

As with most of us, we want to equate our ability to compare ourselves with others as our measure of spirituality, but, as with most comparisons, we are comparing apples to oranges.

In Heb 12:2, we see who our mentor and comparison should be. Looking to JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith. All else pales without His example of what the Father wants.

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

— Hebrews 12:2

Nothing about our pursuit has to do with another human being except how we treat them. If we become satisfied, we lose the edge needed to keep at bay our enemy and we allow complacency to take over our lives.

Knowing the Father and the Son should be enough to fulfill our time here and keep us content. If it isn’t, we need to ask if it’s really knowing them that we desire.

Pastor Brent

P.S. It’s going to be great to see you all again

Philippians - To Complain or Not to Complain

“Do all things without complaining or disputing.”

— Philippians 2:14

Can we just work on these the rest of our lives? I know I mentioned this last Sunday; but honestly, how many of you made it to Monday morning before you complained about something?

I seriously thought about calling everyone Monday morning to ask this question, but then just complained that not that many people would answer their phone.

But, there is another part to this verse; disputing. Disputing is arguing. If you are having trouble with complaining, maybe start with disputing. It takes two to argue and if you will not engage, then there is no dispute. If it’s some really important matter, ask someone else to step in and settle the matter. And be ready to accept the verdict.

But we shouldn’t get stuck on one verse, because Paul goes on to give us a great promise from God to be lights in this perverse generation. This world needs light. And we can be the reflectors of the one who makes the light. But it means giving up those things we need to let go of.

Paul is fine if he is poured out as a drink offering. An offering that no one enjoys any part of except the Lord. It is an act of sacrifice on many levels, but one that is primarily the Lords. Am I ready to never be noticed (so I think) except by God, to be the light He has made me to be? Time (and complaining) will tell.

Pastor Brent

Philippians - The Way to Live

Philippians 2 in a brief outline:

1 . Our attitude

2. Christ’s attitude

3. Our responsibilities

Paul relates what our attitude needs to be regarding ourselves and others. He reminds us of the immense burden we share as the representatives of Christ.

Do we have the right mind-set, can we think about someone other than ourselves, do the goals we have mesh with the future God has in mind for us?

Then, Paul paints the picture of Christ and His attitude, which plays perfectly with the goals that God had in mind for His son to save the world.

And Christ accepted and excelled in the mission, not thinking about His own glory but rather that of the Father. Jesus had no reason to give up what He did other than His love for the Father, and because of that, His love for the Father’s children.

Then, Paul goes back and places responsibility on those of us who would call Jesus our Lord. If it is our desire to be a child of God and an inheritor with Christ, we must do more than say things with our mouths. The world needs to know we are God’s workmanship by our deeds.

Pastor Brent

Phillippians - The Attitude of Paul

As we continue our study in Philippians, Paul is asserting a treatise on the preaching of the Gospel that I assume that many of us might have an issue with.

Paul wants the Gospel preached. I think that most of us would say the same. But we want sincere preachers, backed by the lifestyle choices and learning from prestigious seminaries. Not those that preach from selfish or insincere motives.

Paul, on the other hand, doesn’t care. And, in fact, says so in the 18th verse of the first chapter. In whatever way, as long as the Gospel of Christ is preached. Then he will rejoice.

Do I have such confidence in the Word of God that it can overcome any and all motivation and present Jesus as the Christ?

Paul is not saying you can present any form of the Gospel, but rather that as long as the true Gospel is preached it can overcome the motive behind the preaching. Conveying the resiliency and power of the spoken Word needs to be repeated to those of us in a struggle with children, family or friends who don’t seem to be getting it.

Faith in the Lord is faith in His Word. Believe in the Holy Spirit’s power through your presenting of God’s Word and we will all rest easier knowing He is at work.

Pastor Brent