Pastor's Points

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV) God has always sought us out! Adam and Eve hid from God when they sinned and He sought them out. Eijah hid in a cave thinking he was a failure yet God sought him out. Paul persecuted the Church and God sought him out to be a champion of faith. So, you've somehow failed God, you've sinned, you feel you've failed Him and your actions may even be an embarrassment to the Church yet, believe me friend, brother and sister; God is seeking you out to set you free. God has spoken to us through His Son Jesus who came not to condemn but to save that which was lost. This is God calling you to Himself.  

It is every believer's duty even a desire to please God the Father.  2 Tim. 2:15 counsels us to "study to shew thyself approved to God". Diligent study will help you grow in knowledge and wisdom which in turn grows your faith. Growing your faith is the product of "hearing" the Word of God. "Hearing" or understanding God's Word comes from exposing ourselves to the preaching and teaching of the Bible in both private and public study and worship. Faith and Holiness don't just happen, they are built through diligent study, prayer and worship both personal and communal. 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

It is inevitable that the storms of life will assail us from time to time. We know not when the will occur, we do not know the effect they will have, until they are over we will not know how long they will last nor what effect they will have. We're powerless to prevent them but we're not powerless to survive and overcome them. It's a matter of faith how we face, endure and benefit or lose to these storms. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him " Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 Then He rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"  Mark 4:37-40 (NKJV)

1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 (NKJV) Spiritual gifts and wisdom are not accidents nor are they only for an elite few believers. Wisdom, deep and profound wisdom is, to be sure, one of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. God endows a select few with supernaturally deep and profound wisdom that it may be shared and used for the edification of the church. While this true it is also true that wisdom can be attained through diligent study. Wisdom, counsels Solomon, should be sought after with the same diligence that we pursue our livelihood and the most valuable things in life. The benefit? One will come to understan

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) This month America pauses to celebrate its declaration of independence from oppression by a foreign power. We take great pride and we should yet what we cannot and must not do is forget that the quest for freedom and liberty was started by God's influence in the hearts of our forefathers. It was that sense of spiritual freedom that drove early patriots to demand and even die to set our nation free. May I humbly remind you that it was God's love in the person of Jesus Christ whose sacrifice on the cross won our salvation and freedom from the tyranny of sin? Paul's advice to sustain our spiritual freedom by avoiding sin should also be applied to our political freedom. Today, now, more than ever we as Americans and Christians need to influence our nation that it not entangle itself a self-imposed oppression and bondage.