September 4th 2022 "Follower, Questioner, Mocker?" Pt1

Jesus dealt with all kinds of people, and His response as well as His non-response is a lesson we can well use as we live this Christian life.

As we look at these three categories—Follower, Questioner, or Mocker—you might be surprised to find how close you might be to one of the categories you don’t want to find yourself in.

Some of our questions about Jesus and what He is like or what His response might be are good. But when we question other things, like His motive, or if He really loves us, or even why He would let me go through certain things; it crosses a boundary. We begin to ask ourselves if God really did say—exactly what Satan said to Eve in the garden.

And we may not think we are mockers, but what about those who have a different idea of faith or what worship might look like? Are we tolerant or simply dismiss them as “simple minded folk” or high-minded snooty people more interested in this or that than the Gospel.

I guess, what I am saying is, “The gospel is about you, it’s your growth and maturity that Jesus is interested in. His walks reveal how we are to treat people—all people.

Let’s learn.

Pastor Brent

August 21st “Miracles”

The last two categories of miracles I want to look at are

these: life-changing and resurrecting the dead.

We have the opportunity to look and see what happens

when people have been a certain way all their life (or a good

portion of it) and then, transformation happens and they have

to change how they think of themselves.

The last miracles we will talk about is Jesus’ mastery

over death.

He needed to show that there is not a limitation on the

Father’s reach into this realm. Soon dead, or long dead,

people can be raised to life.

Long saved or recently saved you can be raised to the

life God has for you. This is not a game or a show in which

You get to cheat or change the rules, this is eternal life which

Jesus demonstrated by extending the life of those physically

dead.

Allow Jesus to change you. But then don’t continue to

identify yourself as what you were before.

Don’t dwell on the deadness of your trespasses and

sins, but define yourself as possessing a life indestructible.

Everlasting. Powerful.

Let Miracles Happen

Pastor Brent

July 31st "Miracles of Jesus"

A tree that withers, a storm that calms, water that turns to wine, fresh fish that are caught, dead fish that multiply, is there anything the Lord cannot do?

Of course the answer is no, but we couch our answers in circumstances that are more outlandish that the miracles He did.

I’ve heard so many times, “I wish the Lord knew what I was going through.” Or if only God could d o something!

Why do we think He put the miracles of nature in the Scripture? Because we need to know He is Lord over all. Nothing is out of His reach or domain and any problem we have has a solution that He can bring.

Why don’t we simply trust that God not only knows stuff, but can do stuff as well, while we look at the circumstances of this morning’s miracles? What do you say?

Pastor Brent

July 24th "Miracles of Jesus"

Next in our series on the miracles of Jesus, let’s consider the healing. The healings of Jesus are almost an afterthought because we find that even in His hometown where He could do very little, He still managed some healing.
Where in your life do you have room for miracles of healing? If they are such a small drain on the power of Jesus, shouldn’t we be looking for them frequently?
When my wife and I were first saved, we were in a very much faith based church who believed in healing through belief. Period.
We didn’t get our children vaccinated, no drugs in the house, doctors visits for repairs of broken limbs and cuts, etc.
We saw some awesome, miraculous things in ourselves and the lives of our children. It wasn’t because we had more faith, it was because we had placed the burden on Jesus. Eventually, we have backed off of a strict set of beliefs only but, sometimes I think it has been to our detriment.
God will move with us as we mature and gain wisdom, but never move beyond believing in all God has for us. It is a must for God’s ability to move in us.
Pastor Brent

July 17th “The Miracles of Jesus”

The next set of miracles we look at are those who were possessed of the devil.

Say what you will about those who believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, but demons are still active today and we need answers as to what to do.

Jesus confronted the demons and they begged Him to not curse them at this time. They knew who He was and what He was capable of doing to them. It’s a trait we need to cultivate in our own lives and live knowing that we confront them everyday in various forms.

Demons run rampant in our society for the very fact that we don’t believe they do. Haven’t you wondered why people are doing more and more violent acts and depraved behavior?

We need to fast and pray that God would show Himself bold on our behalf and that we might have the wisdom to deal with them on Jesus’ terms not theirs.

The demons asked permission of our Lord and He granted them their wish, only to have the herd of swine plunge in to the sea.

Don’t believe the movies! The demons are not more powerful than those that God will send to deal with them. Believe it or not, you have confronted demons when you quote scripture to those who need comforting. Many in our institutions are plagued by demons and our psychologists simply put a different diagnosis to it.

We, as a believing group of Christians should be engaged in warfare on a spiritual level if there is someone who God has revealed is being tormented. Listen to what the encouragement from the one who put them in their places says, “This kind only goes out by prayer and fasting.” He didn’t pray and fast right then! He was prayed up, He was fasted up, and He was fed up with the devil oppressing those who are weak.

The question is, are we?

Pastor Brent

July 10th "Miracles of Jesus"

As we look at an overall view of who Jesus did the miracles for, I hope we never exclude ourselves for who we are or what we have done.

We are going to see people from all walks of life and social strata. They range from beggars to those of the ruling and religious classes.

They also range from the very poor to the very rich.

Anyone who needed a touch from Jesus was included in His sphere of ministry and didn’t have to qualify in some way to receive His touch.

Anyone who needed a touch from Jesus was included in His sphere of ministry and didn’t have to qualify in some way to receive His touch.

Are we hesitant to pray or come to Jesus because of our supposed standing in Christ? Then we need to reevaluate our thoughts.

Where does our war rage? In our minds. Where do the thoughts come from that would discourage us from wanting to come near to Jesus. Short answer, the enemy.

Don’t let the one who regrets his decision rise up against God to keep you from reaching out to the only one who can bring your miracle.

Pastor Brent

July 3rd "The Miracles of Jesus"

There are 37 listed miracles Jesus performed during

His ministry on earth. As John was finishing up his Gospel on

the life of Jesus he wrote that he supposed if all the works of

Jesus were written down, all the books in the world not be

able to contain them.

So, let’s take a look at the miracles of Jesus. Let’s see

what they were, who received those miracles and what it

changed about their life, if we can find it.

Most believers I know have had a miracle from Jesus.

Whether it is a healing, a deliverance from a destructive

lifestyle, or a change of heart from bitter and hard to sweet

and soft.

We need to see what Jesus means by, “You’ll never

thirst again!” “Walk in the light as I am in the light!” “Rivers of

water will pour out of your inner being!”

Are you waiting for these things, asking for these

things, or living these things?

Jesus has invited us to be one with Him and the

Father. That is an invitation that begs an answer. One that

will begin a true miracle in your life.

How will you respond to His invite?

Pastor Brent

June 26th “Freedom—Right or Privilege?”

The Lord stood up in the synagogue and proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

When He made that statement He was quoting Is. 61:1 and He was the embodiment of one who would be given that authority.

But, until then Jesus had only been teaching, but He was becoming more and more well-known. And when he finished reading from Isaiah, He sat down and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Could anything ever be so bold? Will all captives be set free? Will all the prisoners come out of darkness? Will all the brokenhearted be comforted and good news be given to the poor?

The short answer is no.

But the power and authority is here to make it happen. It’s just that those who need it don’t reach for the right remedy.

We turn to alcohol, or drugs, or sex, or power, or fame, or money as if those inanimate objects could ever fill the God shaped hole in you.

Many times Jesus has asked us what we want and too many times we answer with, “To be like other nations.”

He wants to make us separate so all the things He came to do can apply.

Won’t you accept the responsibility?

Pastor Brent

June 19th “Father's Day”

It’s always tough on Father’s Day to have a service honoring fathers. I never thought it was until I heard from people whose experiences differed greatly from mine.

Fathers are meant to be protectors, providers, leaders, mentors, and give us the example for boys, to learn how to love; and for girls, how to be loved and appreciated.

But not all fathers are. Some fathers are really abhorrent. When Jesus came people had a very different view about who God, the Father, was. They pictured him as the religious leaders needed, a firm-handed tyrant who is just waiting to punish you for your sins. But, when Jesus came, He did His best to show people who the Father really is. Every act, every parable, every teaching, and every miracle was in order to show the people God’s true heart. When mankind was formed what did God desire to do? Walk with them in the cool of the day, to be a companion and friend. One who could be counted on and who was in tune with your needs. You know, a father. My personal father was faithful and funny, friendly and always had time for his grandkids. I was fortunate to have the example. But, even if you didn’t, listen and read of Jesus, because as He says, “When you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” See Jesus today.

Pastor Brent

June 12th Response

Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
This is a very simple saying but one which we hardly ever embrace as people.

We have all kinds of answers to people’s questions but how many of them are inspired by the Holy Spirit?

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Jesus was a man full of answers and wisdom, and yet, over and over He chose to say, He only spoke the things He heard the Father saying!

We often give ourselves free reign to speak whatever comes to mind, or to repeat words that someone else has said without even really knowing the truth, if it can even be known.

Jesus only asked questions that would save people from themselves. An example was when the Pharisees asked Him under whose authority He did the things He did. Jesus came right back with a question about John’s baptism. It was a simple quid-pro-quo situation, but because they had evil intent and were not seeking the true and living God, they could not answer for fear of being exposed.

We need to know our own motives for answering, or asking questions. God doesn’t need us to grill people on His behalf—simply ask the questions He wants asked.

But, can we do that? Are we humble enough to let God have the glory and get great benefit from our obedience? Or, do we also turn away and have to say we don’t know if God said that or not.
Pastor Brent