7/16/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, we begin this short study through the Book of Habakkuk. We should only be here for five studies at most but through them we will learn how we are to maintain our faith in evil times.
Now, the Book of Habakkuk is very contemporary in its application, especially during evil times. And yes, we are living in difficult, troubling, and evil times. We are living in a time when people do not know their identity and are searching for hope in all the wrong places. Yes, we are living in evil times as 2 Timothy 3:1–5 says, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” So how do we maintain our faith during evil times? Let’s study the Book of Habakkuk and learn together!
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7/9/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, the most important types of baptism are discussed in our text this morning and there is much controversy surrounding how this historical narrative should have application to believers today. It should be clear that there is some type of progression in view from - first, the baptism of John the Baptist that, is described as a baptism of repentance, of preparation for faith in Jesus Christ to -second, a baptism by fire.
What does not seem to be in view here is any type of infant baptism experience or any type of connection between baptism and circumcision as if Christian baptism is somehow the fulfillment of circumcision. The big idea is this: Christian Baptism should symbolize both our union with Jesus Christ and our reception of the Holy Spirit. While many may argue whether or not there is a second filling of the Holy Spirit, which some call the baptism of the Spirit, the reality is this: many Christians do not appropriate all of their sufficiency in Christ. Many believers leave so much of God unwrapped and unused for His glory. May that not be said of us! 7/2/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, Paul was pressing on. He was hard core! He said in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
We also have been called to press on, to carry on and move forward. May we do so with the heart of Christ! 6/25/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, by the time the Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth, he had many reasons to be discouraged. In city after city Paul’s life had been threatened and he needed to be encouraged.
We have seen how on his first missionary journey in Pisidia Antioch – persecution instigated by the Jews arose and Paul had to shake the dust off his feet. In Lystra, where Paul healed the lame man, he was stoned and left for dead. In addition, there was the painful parting of ways with Barnabas over the issue of taking John Mark. The jealous opposition and painful persecution in Philippi; hidden by Jason and the brethren in Thessalonica from the angry mob and snuck out of town to Berea; and fled to Athens where he ministered all alone against a bunch of intellectuals who ended up mocking the message of the resurrection. So, by the time Paul gets to Corinth, he is lonely and ministering by himself. He is physically exhausted and probably still suffering from earlier beatings. He also has new challenges ahead because of the depressing sinful state of this commercial hub and seafaring town; plus, he is out of money and would not have much time for ministry because of the need to work to support himself. Paul needed some perseverance and some encouragement. The Lord was going to provide both! 6/18/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, in his book, Knowing God, J I Packer said, “What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the “eternal life” that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God. John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Packer goes on to say, “What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God. He quotes Jeremiah 9:23- “Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.” Beloved, as the Apostle Paul comes to these sophisticated intellectuals in Athens, he brings to them the precious knowledge of God. He presents the gospel argument in a way that exposes the inconsistency and foolishness of worshiping their many idols while focusing on the majesty and glory of the One True God. He proclaims the truth about God. Like a yearlong seminary course on the Nature and Attributes of God, Paul presents true theology. Beloved, do you know God? There is no greater pursuit in life than to know God! 6/11/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, this morning we have a special guest speaker. Pastor Rick Barnett of Calvary Chapel Okinawa Japan will be teaching today’s study. Pastor Rick is a personal of a couple of our members. Please welcome him and his family to our fellowship!
Also, please remember that VBS will be soon upon us. Invite neigborhood friends to come and join with us. Also, please note that help is still needed in the Children’s Ministry! Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord! Blessings- PJ 6/4/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, our passage this morning presents a tale of two cities – Paul’s missionary outreach to Thessalonica and to Berea. As always, he meets with a variety of responses to the presentation of the gospel message – some positive, but the majority negative. It is instructive to see the contrast in the way Luke records what took place in these two cities.
This tale of two cities is a tale of truth versus tradition. The big idea here is that our response to the gospel reflects our value system. Do we have a passion for the truth of God’s Word or are we jealous for the security of man’s traditions? Beloved, we live in a world turned upside down by sin and as a Christian it is our responsibility to help turn it right side up. This will take courage so that the content of the Gospel will bring converts, which always brings conflict. As believers, we don’t run from conflict but hit it head on with God’s grace. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” Beloved, the world is lost and needs desperately your help. Will you help turn it right side up? 5/28/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, our passage this morning presents a tale of two cities – Paul’s missionary outreach to Thessalonica and to Berea. As always, he meets with a variety of responses to the presentation of the gospel message – some positive, but the majority negative. It is instructive to see the contrast in the way Luke records what took place in these two cities.
This tale of two cities is a tale of truth versus tradition. The big idea here is that our response to the gospel reflects our value system. Do we have a passion for the truth of God’s Word or are we jealous for the security of man’s traditions? Beloved, we live in a world turned upside down by sin and as a Christian it is our responsibility to help turn it right side up. This will take courage so that the content of the Gospel will bring converts, which always brings conflict. As believers, we don’t run from conflict but hit it head on with God’s grace. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” Beloved, the world is lost and needs desperately your help. Will you help turn it right side up? 5/21/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ still living in bondage to sin, you need to open your eyes and see that the chains have fallen off. God delights to use simple object lessons and we have one of those clear pictures in our passage today. This passage is about the divine deliverance of Paul and Silas from the chains of prison in Philippi. But it is also about much more than that. For you see that the cry of the Philippian jailor is “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
As you recall your own salvation, what type of chains fell off your life? Maybe there were chains of anger or fear. Certainly, there were chains of selfishness and pride that prevented you from relating to God and to others around you in the type of love Christ came to demonstrate to us. But even though we have been delivered once for all in a positional sense from sin and from Satan and from the value system of the world around us we still struggle with fully experiencing that deliverance. This passage reminds us of the power of God and should encourage us to go out from the prison of sin rejoicing in the sufficiency of our salvation. That should be the testimony of all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The all-powerful God delivers believers from the shackles of Satan and sin. Chains be broken! 5/14/2023 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, are you as appalled as I am at the amount of profiteering surrounding false religion in our day? Just look at the false teachers who tickle the ears of their vast followers on TV, radio, or the WEB. Follow the money stream; examine their extravagant lifestyles and you will see that they have nothing in common with those who offer the unadulterated gospel message from pure motives of serving the Lord.
But today’s spiritual trafficking is nothing new. Go back in history and look at Martin Luther's complaints against the Roman Catholic Church. Look at how he exposed the church, which took advantage of its people's faith for monetary gain – through the practice of the selling of indulgences. Yet, as we know there is nothing new under the sun. In today’s study we look at some spiritual trafficking, which occurred on Paul’s second missionary journey while in Philippi. In this instance, a young slave girl was used by her owners (pimps) for, not the sex trade, but the religious trade. Beloved, there can be no peaceful co-existing with false religions and their greedy exploitation, no tolerance of demonic religious superstitions with their false promises and false hopes. Jesus Christ and Gospel must stand alone! |