"The Whole Human pt2" Dec 3rd

As we mentioned Sunday, this series will consider the make-up of we humans.

The flesh is the first of the three we shall observe. The flesh is obvious to us because it is what we see, what we hear, and what we smell.

The flesh is suited to being driven by animalistic desires. It consumes but is rarely satisfied, it is driven by the idea that there is something better or more satisfying.

And, it doesn’t have the capacity to consider the consequences. There is nothing the flesh, given the circumstances, wouldn’t pursue.

So, what is there to be done with this unruly, obtuse, and obstreperous interloper that would thwart our true desire to follow Jesus here on earth?

Give it to the Spirit. Easier said than done, but hardly impossible. We have the opportunity to allow the Spirit of the living God to renew our minds, which can turn the desires in the direction of Jesus.

Discipline is a welcome friend of bringing our flesh into order. We limit or deny that which we know is not helpful to us. Paul compares this to getting ready for an Olympic event. Setting our eyes on the prize and counting the cost of the sacrifices needing to be made to get there.

We pursue whatever we want most. Pursue God at all cost.

Pastor Brent

"Jehovah Shammah" Nov 19th

The Lord shows Ezekiel a new city coming down, and the name of the new city is The Lord is There.

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John sees a new city coming down from Heaven and it is the new Jerusalem.

But, further, in this new city there will be no need for the sun and moon because Jesus and Father God will be the light.

Further on Jesus promised He will never leave us or forsake us.

As David put it in Ps 139, God is everywhere. Whether we are trying to get away from Him, or whether we need Him in our darkest hour, God is there.

Jesus said He must go away. Why? Because the Holy Spirit, the very representation of God Himself was released upon the Earth to be everywhere at once.

Jesus, himself, was confined to His body while on Earth, but now He truly will never leave us. Remember that when you feel alone the man who has never lied says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.) (Matt 28:20)

Give thanks Thursday in front of Believers and non-believers alike that the ever-present one might be praised.

Pastor Brent and Eileen

Wishing for you a blessed Thanksgiving

"Jehovah-Tsuidkenu" Nov 5th

When we consider God’s name concerning righteousness, we have to know it’s one of, if not the most, important characteristics of God that we need most.

We cannot, and never will be able to be, righteous on our own. We needed and need the righteousness that Jesus gave to us as a gift.

As humans we believe that if we put our mind to it we can achieve anything. Wrong! We cannot obtain the righteousness needed to come into God’s presence. But Jesus provided the righteousness that is inherent in the Godhead, and gave to us.

Righteousness is the standing that we have with God. But, without Jesus, we have no standing. We cannot boast, any of us, about our goodness, or holiness, or even our ability to figure out God Himself. We are wandering in the dark if we trust in ourselves, but walking in the Light if we are trusting the Lord’s provision.

Why don’t we embrace what God has done? It’s really simple, we are stubborn, rebellious and prideful. All of us. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It’s just the human condition.

Fortunately for us, God has provided the appropriate amount of mercy. Let’s all accept the gift of God through His Son Jesus. We just can’t get there by ourselves.

Pastor Brent

"Jehovah Raa & Jehovah Shalom" Oct 29th


The Lord is my Shepherd, the Lord is my peace.

I put these two names together because, to me, they are the same.  If the Lord is truly my Shepherd over me, there is no need to fear.

In Ps 23 we plainly see that God is giving us peace and comfort, even in the midst of our enemies.

Think about this-if Mexico was lobbing 1,000 rockets a month in the U.S. (even if we were knocking them down with an iron dome) would we be as calm as Israel.

It is literally a part of their everyday life there.  But they are taught the promises of God and they can rest in the peace that only a shepherd can provide.

Granted this is not the same peace that Jesus gives, but it is still the Word of God, the Father, as He is watching over His beloved.

Shepherd=peace
As long as that Shepherd is the Lord. If we take David as our example, he killed a lion and a bear in defense of his flock.  They knew if they were close to David they would be safe.

Safe to eat, safe to drink and safe to rest.

If you are missing any of these things, call out to the Shepherd of your soul.

Pastor Brent

“Names of God Pt4" Oct 22nd

“For I am the God who heals you.” Ex 15:26 as the Israelites came out of Egypt, they needed water and instead of asking or praying, they complained about the way the Lord was treating them.

But, the Lord was gracious and made the water sweet after all. Imagine that! God having a plan!

I’m afraid we think God is making this all up and He doesn’t really know what the future holds. But that’s on us. He’s shown us plainly in Scripture and in our own lives His ability to relieve and eliminate those challenges that we face.

He heals our souls, He heals our bodies and He heals our minds. God is interested in our whole being. He wants to see us free from worry, fear, and anxiousness.

But that takes accepting His role in our lives. So do you? Do you accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Again, I say, the Lordship. Lordship allows God to take the lead in your life. That involves every move you make.

And accordingly, God will allow you to make mistakes as we give Him that control, even as He did to the Israelites who were complaining and still He gave them the life-giving water. So start. Let Jehovah-Rapa heal you of all that holds you back from a life with Christ.

Pastor Brent

"Names of God Pt3" Oct 15th

Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord is my banner.

If you look around this world people are flying different flags.

The nation of Israel, or the nations of the enemies of
Israel.

And, if you will notice the nations who surround the nation of Israel, their flags all have white, red, green and black colors on them.

The same colors as the four horsemen of the apocalypse.  Coincidence, yeah, think that if you want, but God knows the future and influences His enemies to announce their alliances with the enemies of Him and His beloved Israel.

We lift up the Name of the Lord because He is the One and only One.

God is faithful, God is kind, God is good, God is blessing itself, God is gracious, God is merciful, God is our Redeemer, what is God that we need that He is not?

He is our all in all.

And we lift Him up.  Send up the flag of Jesus over your heart and your household.  Pray for Israel and the conflict over there.  Look to the east because these are all signs of His imminent return.  Pray that this isn’t the beginning of World War 3, because it could easily come to that as Israel conducts a campaign to protect its borders.

Evil has raised its own banner, our prayers and declarations are what we need to lift up now to let the principalities and powers know where we stand.

Pastor Brent  

"Names of God Pt2" Oct 1st

When we look at the next name, we may not readily understand what God is asking of us. The Lord who Sanctifies.

How do we consecrate ourselves to God? How do we separate and keep ourselves apart from the world while living in it.

When God first used this term it was to set apart the seventh day. Scripture says He rested even though God never tires. He rested so we would know to rest.

Setting ourselves apart is not divorcing us from the world, it’s just not being stained by it. We are the light of the world, don’t let your life be dimmed by the practices of the world.

God says, “I am the Lord who sanctifies!” He will bring us to a point of separate, but useful. In the world, but not of it. It’s His show, we are but the beings who He has blessed to see behind the curtain.

Pastor Brent

"Names of God" Sept 24th

Jehovah Jireh is introduced when Abraham tells his son, Isaac, that God will provide the sacrifice.

Which made Isaac very glad since he was the one moments before laying on the altar.

We sing about God’s provision. We testify about God’s provision. We have an underlying understanding that God will come through, but do we live like that with the proverbial knife raised over our situation?

God is so longing for you and I to believe Him. Will I go to glory with doubts about the provision of Him?

Scripture talks about our doubts and what they do to us. But what do we do with our shortcomings?

Do you ever write down all the times God has come through? Do you rehearse His victories over your enemies and situations?

Your kids need to know, your friends need to know, but, most importantly, you need to know, you need to remember that God is faithful. God is faithful.

Jehovah Jireh my provider. My provider. The one with unlimited resources. And power. And mercy. And understanding.

Yes, Him

Remember

Believe

Hold On

Pastor Brent

"James Pt 6 The Finale" Sept 17th

 Do not grumble against one another.
Should we stop there?  Maybe we should do another series on how to prevent grumbling.

` It is not easy when you are around people for a number of years to accept their flaws and failures like we expect people to accept ours.

James really deals with relationships in the church because we are going to be around each other for a long time.

Habits are very hard to break.  If you have one that seems to annoy more than a couple of people, maybe it is something you should pray that God would show you a way out.  It takes 30 to 60 days to break a habit and you need to be consistent in resisting the temptation to go back.

But what about those who will not change, or those who become belligerent or nasty when you try to hold a conversation about mutual understanding?  What then, pastor?

PRAY!

Prayer is us saying to God we trust He will have an answer and show it.

Confess to one another, open up the communication  lines, (which go both ways) and let God heal wounds and hurts in order to bring about kingdom peace.

May God enlighten us all as to our relationship to each other and how that impacts our relationship to God.

Pastor Brent