“We want immediate results and lack a sense of eternity.”
“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40)
How well this morning’s devotional draws us to Hebrews 11. The OT saints persevered in faith not receiving the promised Messiah. Throughout the OT we learn from the reflections of the saints – how in times of trouble, uncertainty, danger, peace, they rested in the faithful promises of God.
We in turn can mimic this pattern. We live in an age where the promise of the Messiah has been fulfilled; we anticipate the time of His return, the fulfillment of His kingdom. How are we strengthened in times of uncertainty, trouble, danger…we draw on the faithfulness of God and find peace. We draw confidence from those that have walked before us and the knowledge that God’s ways will endure, His glory will unfold in His time. This gives us hope. We must cultivate a sense of eternity because it is the frame wherein God exists. When things begin to appear to be unraveling; when we sense urgency within our soul – this is the call to prayer not panic. We can follow the mindset of the New Testament church in Acts 4 – when facing persecution, their prayer was one of praise to the Almighty Sovereign Creator and then an appeal, “And now Lord, take note of there threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants many speak Thy word with confidence…”. God is faithful; we simply must rest and remain obedient within this truth.
Cindy
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Things We Leave Behind
Last Sunday as we worshiped during our morning services, I was deeply moved and challenged by the words of the songs we sang, the testimony by the Vanderpools, and the sermon. Truly, the way to be at peace with God and ourselves is to live out His will for our lives. Everything in our humanity cries out to cling to the things in life that bring us temporal joy and security, but God tells us to trust Him by seeking first the kingdom of God.
Scot Roley and Michael Card illustrated this point beautifully through the lyrics of the song sung Sunday, "The Things We Leave Behind." Take a moment to read these lyrics. Ask God to show you what things provide you the freedom that God wants to give you from the "things we leave behind."
Every heart needs to be set free, from possessions that hold it so tight
'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own, it's the power to do what is right.
Jesus, our only possession, giving becomes our delight We can't imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind
We show a love for the world in our lives by worshiping goods we possess
Jesus has laid all our treasures aside "love God above all the rest"
'Cause when we say 'no' to the things of the world we open our hearts to the love of the Lord and its hard to imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind.
Benny Stofer
Worship Pastor
Scot Roley and Michael Card illustrated this point beautifully through the lyrics of the song sung Sunday, "The Things We Leave Behind." Take a moment to read these lyrics. Ask God to show you what things provide you the freedom that God wants to give you from the "things we leave behind."
Every heart needs to be set free, from possessions that hold it so tight
'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own, it's the power to do what is right.
Jesus, our only possession, giving becomes our delight We can't imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind
We show a love for the world in our lives by worshiping goods we possess
Jesus has laid all our treasures aside "love God above all the rest"
'Cause when we say 'no' to the things of the world we open our hearts to the love of the Lord and its hard to imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind.
Benny Stofer
Worship Pastor
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Walking in Grace
A portion of the song, "Grace," by Laura Story is copied below. The song will be sung Sunday morning by a member of our worship team accompanied by the band. The message of the song is congruent with the message our pastor, Jason, will preach: Clear...."Cleaning out life's contaminants." As I have read and re-read the words, I have found the message profound.
Grace is a gift from God. Even though we tend to have a "pay back" mentality in life, grace cannot be paid back. How then can we respond to grace? The song says it well in verse three. "So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You." Read the words below and let them challenge and bless your life.
As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means. The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary. So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You by giving up my life to you For all that You've given to me.
I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?"
And you answer: " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."
Grace by Laura Story
2007 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Gleaning Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing)
Benny Stofer
Worship Pastor
Grace is a gift from God. Even though we tend to have a "pay back" mentality in life, grace cannot be paid back. How then can we respond to grace? The song says it well in verse three. "So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You." Read the words below and let them challenge and bless your life.
As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means. The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary. So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You by giving up my life to you For all that You've given to me.
I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?"
And you answer: " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."
Grace by Laura Story
2007 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Gleaning Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing)
Benny Stofer
Worship Pastor
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Heart of Worship
I appreciate the profound truth of today's devotion. Worship is a vital part of the believer's life. If a person is not able to worship well in the community of the redeemed, over time their faith will falter and they will fail to remain faithful to God. Worship is a primary indicator of spiritual health. As worship of God goes, so goes your life.
Why is that? We are made to worship. We are creatures that worship by nature. We cannot help it. We are drawn to that which we perceive is greater than ourselves to seek to draw meaning, joy, and peace from it.
Everyone is standing in worship of something. The question is what? What you worship defines the quality of your life. If you are not able to worship God well, it is because you are standing in awe and worship of something else. You are seeking something and making it higher in your heart than God.
Examine your heart and see what you worship. Repent if necessary and seek to stand in awe of God and worship the only one worthy of our praise - Jesus.
Pastor Jason
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Discouragement
In today’s devotional from Experiencing God Day-by-Day, Blackaby speaks of Elijah becoming overwhelmed and discouraged in doing kingdom work. As Christians, we can all get discouraged in doing kingdom work. It would be easy to emphasize the “don’t get discouraged” part and but I think we, as Christians, should look closer at the kingdom work in our lives. How has God uniquely equipped each of us and how can he see each one of us to do His work?
I work full-time at the church and it seems as though that would be an easy place to stay encouraged in doing kingdom work. Before working at Living Hope, I designed installed audio/video systems for churches across Kentucky. In dealing with church committees, pastors, volunteers, architects, vendors, contractors, and others, it was often easy to get discouraged. It was often hard to overlook the frustration of completing a system, to see how it would aid that ministry to do kingdom work. I find that can still be the case working in the church. The technical ministry is a support ministry. We don’t normally facilitate programming and events but often provide the support to help make those events successful. We don’t preach the sermons but we help make sure the message is heard clearly. We don’t write or pick out the songs but we put the lyrics on the screen so the congregation can sing them. We don’t plan the mission trip but we often produce videos to show others the work completed on the trip.
It can be discouraging at times to not always see the direct impact the technical ministry has on baptisms, discipleship, or church growth. Though I often can’t see the direct correlation, I have to trust that God has uniquely equipped me to do His work and has placed me in a position to use my talents for His kingdom work. I hope each of us can daily focus on our unique gifts and find ways use them for His glory. I hope we won’t become discouraged by focusing on the temporary, but encouraged by looking to the eternal.
Allen Cothran
Technical Ministries Director
I work full-time at the church and it seems as though that would be an easy place to stay encouraged in doing kingdom work. Before working at Living Hope, I designed installed audio/video systems for churches across Kentucky. In dealing with church committees, pastors, volunteers, architects, vendors, contractors, and others, it was often easy to get discouraged. It was often hard to overlook the frustration of completing a system, to see how it would aid that ministry to do kingdom work. I find that can still be the case working in the church. The technical ministry is a support ministry. We don’t normally facilitate programming and events but often provide the support to help make those events successful. We don’t preach the sermons but we help make sure the message is heard clearly. We don’t write or pick out the songs but we put the lyrics on the screen so the congregation can sing them. We don’t plan the mission trip but we often produce videos to show others the work completed on the trip.
It can be discouraging at times to not always see the direct impact the technical ministry has on baptisms, discipleship, or church growth. Though I often can’t see the direct correlation, I have to trust that God has uniquely equipped me to do His work and has placed me in a position to use my talents for His kingdom work. I hope each of us can daily focus on our unique gifts and find ways use them for His glory. I hope we won’t become discouraged by focusing on the temporary, but encouraged by looking to the eternal.
Allen Cothran
Technical Ministries Director
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Darkness cannot tolerate light.
We live in uncertain times – thanks be to God for His certainty. We live in times of seeming hopelessness – thanks be to God for the hope of Christ that anchors our soul.
The world is dark – thanks be to God for the light of Christ. We are strangers in this world – thanks be to God that we have the promise of an eternal home.
The Scripture is consistent that suffering and persecution are to be expected; they hated our Savior, so in turn, they will hate us. Yet within our thoughts, suffering and persecution seem inconsistent with the blessing promised by Christ. Our challenge is to confront our thinking with the consistent truth of God’s Word; to ready ourselves for warfare; to embrace the urgency of the hour and stand firm in persevering faith. As we know more deeply the character of God and we long for His glory to unfold, so we are comforted and empowered to live a life of faith regardless of suffering and persecution.
The book of Acts is such a powerful example of our response to persecution. Consider the prayer of Acts 4:27-30. When persecution came, they rested in the sovereignty of God and prayed for boldness and confidence in their teaching and preaching of Jesus. Later in Acts 5:42, the disciples went right on with what God had called them to in spite of opposition. Again in Acts 7 when Stephen was stoned to death – martyred for his boldness to preach Christ as the promised Messiah – a great persecution arose and the church scattered to fulfill the command of Acts 1:8.
Let us be encouraged to rest in the sovereignty of God; to know unfalteringly that God is in control; that His glory is our passion…regardless.
Cindy
The world is dark – thanks be to God for the light of Christ. We are strangers in this world – thanks be to God that we have the promise of an eternal home.
The Scripture is consistent that suffering and persecution are to be expected; they hated our Savior, so in turn, they will hate us. Yet within our thoughts, suffering and persecution seem inconsistent with the blessing promised by Christ. Our challenge is to confront our thinking with the consistent truth of God’s Word; to ready ourselves for warfare; to embrace the urgency of the hour and stand firm in persevering faith. As we know more deeply the character of God and we long for His glory to unfold, so we are comforted and empowered to live a life of faith regardless of suffering and persecution.
The book of Acts is such a powerful example of our response to persecution. Consider the prayer of Acts 4:27-30. When persecution came, they rested in the sovereignty of God and prayed for boldness and confidence in their teaching and preaching of Jesus. Later in Acts 5:42, the disciples went right on with what God had called them to in spite of opposition. Again in Acts 7 when Stephen was stoned to death – martyred for his boldness to preach Christ as the promised Messiah – a great persecution arose and the church scattered to fulfill the command of Acts 1:8.
Let us be encouraged to rest in the sovereignty of God; to know unfalteringly that God is in control; that His glory is our passion…regardless.
Cindy
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Discipline and Sin
God in His grace always disciplines His children. God desires that we be like Him our heavenly Father. We by nature are sinful creatures. When we are redeemed by grace the Lord give us a new heart and mind in Christ, but the habits of years of indwelling sin still have an impact on us. God has to train the sin out of us.
This work of God in removing sin requires discipline. God's discipline of His children is a gracious gift.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
We are to join God in the work of disciplining our lives. The truly mature believers that have a growing relationship with God discipline themselves.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God is at work in the lives of those He has purchased with His blood. We who have been purchased are to be at work too.
More on this tonight at Wednesday Night Worship.
Pastor Jason Pettus
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