In 1894 Congress set aside the first Monday in September as a time to celebrate the contribution of American workers to the strength, prosperity and well-being of this great country.  It was proclaimed “Labor Day”, and originally constituted a “day off”, or a “day of rest” for the workers.  So in that spirit, “Happy Labor Day” to one and all, and I hope you enjoy your day of rest with your friends and family.

Since today is about experiencing rest from our labor, I would like to carry that theme into today’s posting and talk about God’s place of rest.  Joshua 1:13 tells us, “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, “The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.”  The “rest” promised to the Israelites was the land of Canaan. That was their destination; their “Promised Land.”  Had they continued to live in accordance with God’s will, their work and effort would have come to an end and they would have experienced rest, peace and prosperity as they communed with God. 

However that was not the case.  Rather than being obedient to their God who was leading them through the wilderness and displaying miracle after miracle, they continued to to live in doubt and fear.  Remember, God had already promised them the land of Canaan.  All they had to do was go in and take it. But their fear was greater than their faith.

Now if we fast forward to the New Testament, that story is referenced when the author of Hebrews writes in 3:15, “Today you must listen to his voice.  Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled.”  Since those who first heard the message were disobedient and did not reach their destination, God set another time for entering his place of “rest”, and that time, according to the psalmist David, is “today”.  (Note the fore-shadowing of the New Covenant.  The Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land.  All they had to do to receive their blessing (or gift) was be obedient and trust God and he would lead them home.)

WHAT IS OUR PLACE OF REST TODAY?

As followers of Jesus Christ, God invites us to join him in his place of rest. You see…God’s plan for our salvation is perfect. He knew that we could never achieve his standard of perfection through our own effort. History would, and has, proven that.  But today we can enter our place of rest, not by our own effort, but by accepting God’s gift to us. And this is a Gift of Grace because we did nothing to earn it, and we were certainly were not worthy of it. But this gift is from a loving father who wants an eternal relationship with his children. As followers of Jesus, we are “heir to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm” (Ephesians 1) and all the promises in the Bible. Now it’s no longer about our work and effort, but about our faith in the finished work of Jesus.

The Promised Land the Israelites were seeking was described as a fertile land, a land where their crops and livestock would flourish. To them it was a land of milk and honey; a land that would fulfill their dreams. As Christ-followers, we are also looking forward to our Promised Land (Heaven), and we too are expecting paradise. But the wonderful truth of being in Christ is…we don’t have to wait until we die to begin experiencing God’s kingdom!  His Kingdom has come to those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are a new creation in Christ, so we can begin experiencing a new life right here, right now…even in this fallen world.

WHO IS THIS NEW PERSON?

Perhaps the most unsung benefit of this new life is the “rest”, or peace and serenity, that follows. Apostle Paul clearly portrays the confusion, strife and hopelessness found in a life directed by our sinful nature.  In Galatians 5:19-21, he states: “…your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, contempt, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.  Now contrast that with a life directed by the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.  This is a life that produces, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.   1Corinthians 14:33 confirms this:  “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace”.

As we begin to see the truth of God’s word manifested in our lives, the more our faith grows and the more we mature as Christ-followers. It doesn’t take long to realize that the peace and serenity we are now experiencing is what we have always wanted, but unfortunately we had been looking for answers in all the wrong places. For instance, conforming to the patterns of this world is clearly not the answer, because the harder we try to fill that “hole in our soul” with worldly “things”, the more we sink deeper and deeper into the quagmire of hopelessness.  While we may find the temporary “fix” we are seeking, there is only one eternal answer that fills our need.  And that answer is Jesus Christ.

The source of our “rest” comes from knowing who we are in Christ. Our new identity tells us we can stop working for His approval.  We are now his “masterpiece.” (Ephesians 2:10) Accepting his Gift of Grace is our ultimate display of trust in God, and because of that choice we can now come boldly into His presence.  Romans 8:1 tell us, “There is NO condemnation for those in Christ”.  Therefore we have confident assurance we will eventually enter our Promised Land, BUT we can begin living the abundant life right here, right now because we are sin-free; worthy and acceptable to God; we are adopted into his family; and made the righteousness of Christ because of His work at the cross…not because of anything we did.  

So the good news for us today is…if we are in Christ, we’re IN!  Think about that today as we celebrate this day of rest.

My question to you today is, “Are you experiencing the peace and serenity that comes from your new identity”

May God Bless ya, and feel free to respond to this post.

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

King Solomon, considered the wisest man alive in his day, had it right when he referred to the cycle, or season, of life in Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2, 4:  “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.  A time to sow; a time to reap.  A time to laugh; a time to cry.  A time to grieve and a time to dance; a time to live and a time to die.”  That cycle is inescapable. We all will experience  God’s goodness in this life, but unfortunately we will also be adversely affected by the wages of sin, which includes such ugliness as poverty, famine, wars, hatred, injustice, diseases, sickness, suffering and death.  

Let me refer to the previous two blogs. We are told in 1John 4:8 that “God is love.” Therefore, God can only beget goodness. 1John 1:5 supports that statement: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.”  On the other hand, satan is the author is ALL evil. Ephesians 2; 2 confirms satan’s role, “He is the spirit at work in the hearts and minds of those who refuse to obey God”, and John 10:10, states: “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.” 

Now let me remind you…at Creation God’s world was Paradise.  Does this world look like Paradise to you?  Absolutely not!  Therefore, everyone born after Adam has to contend with a world contaminated by the residue of sin, and an adversary who wants to do everything within his power to separate us from God’s love and keep our focus on ourselves and our circumstances. So I caution you to keep this truth in mind.  The author of ALL sin and evil is satan.  So if you are experiencing the curse of poverty, famine, wars, hatred, injustice, disease, sickness, and suffering in this fallen world, shake your fist at satan who authored sin, evil and death!  Put the blame where blame is due.  God is NOT responsible for such ugliness. 

Now let’s look closely at the “cycle of life”.  The very term “cycle” indicates finality because all cycles have a beginning and an end.  But “life” itself is a process.  It is a series of ups and downs that defines us by how we respond to them. For instance, there is a time to live – which includes sowing and reaping, laughing and dancing, but also a time for crying, grieving, sickness and suffering – AND a time to die.  Many of those scenarios are a result of the choices we’ve made, but unfortunately… not all of them.

No doubt, the joyful times are our bright spot…our reward. But what about the challenging times; the crying, grieving, sickness, suffering and death? The simple answer is…it is just an inevitable part of the life cycle. Wow! Even though that is true, it certainly isn’t very comforting in our time of need, is it?  And what about in the paragraph above, where it is stated, “God is love.”  Where is God in my time of crisis? 

Here are two truths that will provide comfort during trying times.  God revealed to us in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous…I will never leave you nor forsake you”, and in again in 4:29: “But if you seek the Lord your God with all your heart, you will find him.”  These two truths are from a loving God who desires a relationship with each one of us.  Notice the second promise begins with an effort on our part; “if you.”  God IS with us to be our comforter in our time of need. All we have to do is ask, “God…I can’t do this alone…please help me!”

This is where the choices we make in our life come into play big-time.  If you remember, it was the fall of man that severed the original spiritual relationship that existed between God and man.  By yielding to satan’s temptation, man took the focus off of God and declared his own self-sufficiency.  Therefore it is up to man to restore that relationship.  But the good news is…we can make that restoration any time we want, and just like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God is waiting with open arms to welcome us back home. (Luke 15: 11-2)

I talked in the previous two blogs about God’s divine plan that has been – is – and will continue to play out throughout eternity.  It started even before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:3) and will continue even after the end of this world. (Revelation 22: 3-4)  I referred to it as a spiritual morality play about the forces of “good” vs “evil”. Our option during this brief time on earth is to contribute our part to that play by either to “opting” into God’s plan or into satan’s plan.  God’s plan for mankind has always been that we would accept his Gift of Grace so we can spend eternity with Him, Jesus and all fellow believers in Christ. Romans 5:8,10 tells us, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.”

If we accept His Gift, we are in Christ.  Now we are capable of becoming God’s “masterpiece” because we can grow into the person he created us to be.  (Ephesians 2:10) And as we become this new creation, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.  So as our roots go down deeper into the soil of God’s marvelous love and we begin to see the reality of his promises coming alive in our life, we start building a platform of spiritual truth.  This becomes the rock on which we stand, and it is this rock that empowers us to face life’s trials and tribulations with courage, strength and hope. We have no doubt, because we know where God is in our time of crisis. We have turned our will and our life over to His care, and we are resting in “the shadow of the Almighty. He alone is our refuge, our place of safety. He is our God and we are trusting Him.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

As God revealed to Apostle Paul when he struggled with the “thorn in his flesh”: “My gracious favor is all you need.  My strength works best in your weakness.” As Christ-followers, also saved by His gracious favor, we are part of God’s divine plan of goodness, and our efforts will be realized eternally. As proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” This is the rock on which we stand as we face life’s challenges.

I hope you enjoyed this three part series on “Where is God in My Time of Crisis?  Feel free to share your thoughts.

May God Bless Ya…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Today’s blog is part two of last week’s publication, “Where Is God In My Time Of Crisis?”  I would encourage you to peruse the first blog if you have not already done so. It lays the foundation for my focus today.  However, to recap a bit…I believe God is a sovereign God who has a divine plan that is designed to stretch throughout eternity. The letter to the Ephesians tells us it started “even before the world was created” and Revelation tells us this plan will extend even after this world ends into the “New Jerusalem”. (Revelation 22:3-5)  Therefore, when we are born we become part of an existing “morality play”, the premise of which has been – is – and will continue to be, “good” vs “evil” in this fallen world.  Our role is to contribute our unique addition to that play. 

Let me quote from last week’s blog: “The author of all goodness is God.  The author of all evil is satan”. Ephesians 2; 2 confirms Satan’s role, “He is the spirit at work in the hearts and minds of those who refuse to obey God.” (ie. Pharoah, Nero, Hitler, Osama bin Laden, Isis). “Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.”  Unfortunately everyone in this fallen world will witness the result of sin’s residue, which includes such ugliness as poverty, famine, wars, hatred, diseases, sickness, suffering and death.  Now add to that abysmal picture the evil that exists in the minds, hearts and actions of fallen people, and it becomes obvious that all inhabitants will be adversely affected by the curse of sin...even those of us who are in Christ.  But what we have as Christ-followers is the  promise of eternal hope and glory that is so beautifully stated in Revelation 22:3-4:  “…Look, the home of God is now among his people!  He will live with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them.  He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”

Because God is a sovereign God, his perspective of events and time spans eternity.  But as humans, our perspective is contained in this speck of existence called “our lifetime”. Therefore it is humanly impossible for us to grasp the big picture that is being orchestrated by God. But because the essence of God is love, mercy and grace, he can only beget goodness.  (The Bible and science both tell us that likeness begets likeness.)  1John 1:5 confirms that. “God is Light and in him there is no darkness at all”. 

Remember too that God gave us free-will, and he always remains faithful to that decision.  No doubt many of our choices grieve Him, but He never trumps our free-will by imposing his will. Therefore our life is a compilation of the choices WE make, and many times the end result turns out to be disastrous.

We are told in Galatians 5: 17: “…the forces of good and evil are constantly at war with each other, and our choices are never free of that conflict.” When we make bad choices and experience their consequence, it is easy to default to our humanness because our circumstances look bigger than our God.  I’m sure we have all at one time or another given into that lie, but Satan is the master of deception and the “father of lies”. (John 8:24)  But while he is a formidable foe, he cannot stand up to the truth of God’s word, as portrayed in the “Armor of God”. (Ephesians 6:10)

God’s divine plan will play out.  Those who are in Christ will spend eternity with God, Jesus and all Christ-followers. This truth is how we maintain our faith in times of trials and tribulations.  We made a decision, most likely in a time of brokenness, to turn our will and life over to the care of God. Some of us came to that truth in a moment of “epiphany” (enlightenment), but most of us turned to God in our moment of despair, pain or suffering. The Scriptures tell us that when we cry out “God help me!”, if it is motivated by a humble heart that is ready to repent (change our ways), He will hear that plea! But truth be told, it is possible to go from the cradle to the grave and totally miss what Apostle Paul refers to as God’s “good and perfect plan” (Romans 12:2) if we never seek to discover it.

Let’s look now at two examples of God’s sovereign plan resulting in goodness…even though at times it was hard to see any goodness in the circumstances. Joseph found favor with his father, which infuriated his brothers.  They became jealous of him, so when they had an opportunity to betray Joseph, they threw him into a dry well to die.  But when they saw a caravan coming their direction on its way to Egypt, the brothers decided rather than let him die in the well and experience the inevitable guilt that would follow, they decided to sell Joseph to the merchants.  Once in Egypt, he would be sold into slavery and they would be rid of him forever.   At this point, things looked bleak for Joseph.  First, betrayal by his brothers; then he was sold into slavery.  No goodness here.

But as the story continues, we learn that he is purchased by Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s palace guard.  Joseph finds favor with him and is promoted to be in charge of everything he owns.  But as things were starting to look up for Joseph, there was betrayal once again.  Potiphar’s wife, after being shunned in her attempts to seduce Joseph, became angry, so she lied about an attempt on his part to rape her. Undoubtedly her husband was furious, so Joseph was thrown into prison.  Again…things looked bleak.

Later Joseph was later summoned from prison to interpret one of Pharaoh’s dreams.  Pharaoh was so impressed by his ability and insight that he promoted Joseph to the second highest position in all of Egypt. Circumstances improved; now there’s hope.

Seven years later when the famine takes Egypt and the rest of the world in its grip, Jacob, Joseph’s father, sends his sons (Joseph’s brothers) to Egypt to buy food.  Joseph supervised the food distribution, so the brothers, unbeknownst to them, were dealing with the one they sold into slavery ten years earlier.  Joseph recognizes them and devised a plan that would eventually get his whole family to join him in Egypt.  When Joseph finally divulged his true identity, he said, “Don’t be afraid of me.  As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil.  He brought me to this high position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50: 19-20) (my underline for emphasis)

The point I want to make through this story is that Joseph’s life was a series of ups and downs, but he never lost his faith in God.  I’m sure his faith was stretched at times (just like ours is sometimes stretched), but Joseph never gave up. Even though there was betrayal and insidious behavior on the part of his brothers and Potiphar’s wife because of the evil in their hearts, Joseph always knew that his strength came from God, his shield and protector. No doubt Joseph had cause to doubt and shake his fist at God during those low points, but he remained faithful. Satan’s plan for evil was thwarted and the ultimate goodness of God’s plan is revealed in Genesis 50:19-29 above. But like so many wonderful stories, this story unfolded in God’s good and perfect timing.  It took more than a decade to unfold.

Let’s look at another example of God’s good and perfect plan.  Jesus came to be the sacrificial lamb for our atonement. Even though he was faultless, he was willing to pay the ransom for the sins of all mankind. This is a gift to all of us from a loving God.  And if we accept His gift, we are in Christ and can boldly come before Him with no fear of condemnation.  (Romans 8:1)

Now let’s look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. How did he feel about God’s plan at that moment?  The Bible tells us in Luke 22: 42, 44: Jesus fell face down on the ground and prayed: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will not mine…he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” Even Jesus experienced a moment of humanness. And again the next day He cried out these last words from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)  To everyone gathered at Golgotha that dark afternoon, it was over. Jesus was dead. The Jews and the Roman authorities were celebrating a victory.  It appeared that the evil in the hearts and minds of men had prevailed.  And to the Christ-followers left behind, they saw no love or goodness in the event they had just witnessed.

However, three days later Jesus was out of that tomb and had overcome the grip of death. On Friday he paid the penalty for the sins of mankind (past, present and future). On Sunday he made it possible for those of us in Him to rise to eternal life too.  What first appeared to be the darkest day in the history of mankind turned out to be the beginning of a new era with a hope that had heretofore only been prophesied.  The Old Covenant was fulfilled; the New Covenant had arrived.  Again, what looked like defeat was actually part of God’s good and perfect plan.

As Christ-followers, we too have to deal with the pain, suffering and the injustice we see in this fallen world.  In fact, Apostle Paul struggled with such an issue, the “thorn in his flesh”. Paul asked for the removal of this condition, but 2 Corinthians, 12:9-10  reveals: “Each time He said, ‘My gracious favor is all you need.  My power works best in your weakness’. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong”.  That is the answer.  When we turn to Him,  like Apostle Paul,  our weaknesses can become our strength.

What separates us from the worldly answer to these issues is we have the platform of God’s Word and his promises to stand on. This is how we remain strong and steadfast like Joseph, Jesus and Apostle Paul.  While it may be hard to understand, or even see the love and goodness in our particular pathos, we can still handle the situation with dignity, grace and hope, because we have absolute certainty of our inheritance in Christ.  We are part of God’s divine plan of goodness, and our efforts will be realized eternally when we are in Paradise with God, Jesus and all other Christ-followers. As proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  That is the rock on which we stand!

Next week I will continue this mini-series and discuss how as Christ-followers we are able to rise above this fallen world and live the life God calls us to live.

May God bless ya…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

I have been considering this subject matter for my blog for quite a while, but the holdup has been…how do I get it started, and can I get it all into one posting?  While I’m still not totally satisfied with my first choice,  it will at least open the door and from here I’ll let the Holy Spirit guide me.  But I feel certain now that today’s posting will be the first in a mini-series of at least two or more blogs.  After all, books – many books – have been written on this subject by authors whose experience and credentials far exceed mine. But what interests me is…their insightful presentations are not always copacetic. 

If you were to look up “sovereign” in the dictionary, you would get words and phrases like “superior”, “greatest”, “supreme in power and authority”, “independent of all others”, and “ruler”.  But if I’m going to talk about God’s sovereignty, I must add to that impressive list of accolades such words as omnipotent; omniscience; omnipresent; immutable; God-head of the Trinity; and Creator of the all things seen and not seen.  So the simplest way to condense all of that into a bite-size sentence is to say, “God is in complete control of all things.”  In fact, Psalm 46:10 is even more succinct: “Just be still and know that I am God.” To everyone who has a relationship with God, it is incredibly comforting to know that He IS in charge, especially when we stand on the truth of 1John 4:8: “God is love.”

But the reason I want to take my shot at today’s subject matter is…regardless of “how good” this news IS, it can – like so many other good things, be a double edged sword.  For instance, how many times have you heard people ask, or perhaps you have even asked …“Why does God allow_____ to happen” (you fill in the blank).  Or the question I find particularly disturbing; “Well if God is a loving God, why does he allow ____ to happen?   After all…He IS in charge!”

Sometimes God receives praise for being in charge. Other times people shake their fist and blame him because in their mind he should have stepped in and changed the situation.  I know this to be true because there was a time in my life when I asked those same questions…even after I was a Christ-follower.  But thankfully, my perspective on this matter is different today.  While I certainly do not claim or pretend to have THE answer to this weighty question,  I am happy to be able to share the Scriptural truths that have led me to my current perspective.

First, I have come to believe without question that God is love and He wants a relationship with each of us. Those two truths jump off each page of the Bible, and even if not stated that boldly, they are certainly inner-woven in the scriptures themselves.   I also believe God is a sovereign God.  We are told in Ephesians 4-5: “Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.”

Therefore I believe God’s loving plan has been in effect even before the world was created, and will remain in effect even after the world comes to an end.  Revelation 21: 3-5 tells us: “…Look, the home of God is now among his people!  He will live with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them.  He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  For the old world and its evils are gone forever. And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look I am making all things new! And then he said to me (Apostle John, who was in heaven “in the spirit”), “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”  I believe what Apostle John wrote about was an account of what we will experience after death and after the second coming of Jesus Christ.

When we are born into this world, I believe we are born into a morality play that has been, and will be, playing out through eternity. We are here to contribute our part. And the premise of that play has been – is – and will be, “good” vs “evil” in this fallen world. And let me remind you, the world at creation was Paradise.  The world we see today is the result of sin entering the world!  Does the world look like Paradise to you?  What you see today is the result of evil taking its toll.  The consequences of sin include sickness, sorrow, famine, war, injustice, disease and death, and we (mankind) have been cursed by their very presence.

The author of all goodness is God.  The author of all evil is satan.  Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.”  And again in 1Peter 5:8 we are warned: “Be careful!  Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” So our option during our brief time on this earth is to either opt in or opt out of God’s plan or satan’s plan.  Remember, we all have free will so our choices are OUR choices.

No doubt our life will be blessed if we opt into God’s plan, but there are still inevitable crises that we all will have to face, and unfortunately many times they are beyond our control.  Why?  Because we are involved in this process called “life”!  And even under the best of circumstances, “life” in this fallen world; in this culture; and in these fleshly bodies is certainly a challenge.  Unfortunately, even for Christ-followers, our human nature sometimes takes over.  In that scenario, too often our circumstances look bigger to us than our God.

During King Solomon’s lifetime, he was the most wise and wealthiest man alive.  When sharing with an audience his perspective on “the seasons of life”, he reminded them in Ecclestiastes, 3:1,2,4 “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.  A time to reap; a time to sow.  A time to laugh; a time to cry.  A time to grieve and a time to dance; a time to live and a time to die.”  Unfortunately every human being has been and will be adversely affected by the wages of sin.

Now let’s back up for a moment and look at God’s nature and his eternal plan. Since God is love (1John 4:8), and we are told in 1John 1:5: “God is light and in him is no darkness at all”, therefore God can only beget goodness.  Wow!  Sometimes it certainly doesn’t seem like that does it?  I mean where can the goodness be in sickness and/or death?

Now let’s look at his plan.  Remember this plan was put into effect before creation and will continue after the world ends.  And since God is a God of love and goodness, his plan must also be a plan of love and goodness.  Wow, again? “Why didn’t the person recover?” or “why did the person die…even when prayers were being offered up?”  Where’s the love and goodness you’re talking about?

Next week we will look at these questions and specific examples that hopefully will be of help to all of us who have, or will, struggle with challenges to our faith.  What I am looking forward to sharing has certainly given me hope in my challenging times, so my prayer is that this perspective will be of comfort to you as well.

My question for you today is… “have you had to face a challenging life situation, and if so, was your choice to turn to God as your hope and refuge, or did you shake your fist and ask, “Why me?  Why me?  Why are You allowing this to happen?”  Feel free to share your story and give feedback on what I have written so far.

Best wishes to Ya…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

When I set down to write last week’s blog, I fully intended to write about today’s topic.  But as I was writing the introductory material, I obviously got carried away because the introduction became last week’s blog itself.  So with that in mind, even though this post has a different title, welcome to part two of last week’s message.  A review of “What is Truth?” found at www.meetpastordan.com would still be a good introduction for today’s presentation.  Feel free to peruse it.

When I think of people who are not familiar with the Bible and its content, I feel saddened for them.  The Bible is a treasure-trove of history, enlightenment and hope, but first one has to open the book to experience the many blessings contained therein. And each experience is a personal experience. In other words, the Bible speaks to each of us in a unique way depending on where we are in our journey as a Christ-follower. Ten people can read the same chapter of the Bible and it will speak to each of them in a different way. But make no mistake…each person will glean from the experience what they need at the time in order to continue their growth into a mature follower of Jesus Christ.

The Bible reveals to us God’s nature, which can be summed up in three words: “God is love.”(1John, 4:8)  His love is demonstrated by his forgiveness, mercy and grace; his desire to protect us;  his desire to bless us; and his salvation plan through Jesus Christ so we can spend eternity with Him, Jesus and all other believers…past, present and future.

I now would like to turn to one of my favorite passages, Psalm 91. This is only one of literally hundreds of gems that reveal God’s love, mercy, grace and promises.  This alone is a bastion of hope for anyone. (It was originally written in the second person [you], but I am presenting it in the first person [I] to make it even more personal.  The bold face words are also my editing.)  

¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High, will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Verse 1 shows intent and effect. Those who live (some versions say “dwell”) reveals a commitment to developing a relationship as opposed to an occasional visit.  It indicates a hunger to be in the presence of God because we realize we are in the process of transformation.  It brings to life John 15:4, “Abide (remain) in me and I will abide in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine…”  Rest refers to the peace and serenity that can only come from a committed relationship with God. In Romans 12:2 Apostle Paul refers to His plan for our life as a “good, pleasing and perfect plan.”

² This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.

Verse 2 reveals my awareness of the truth.  He alone indicates my realization that there is NO other true refuge or place of safety.  The worldly offerings pale by comparison. He is not only God, but he is my God, so the more this relationship grows the more my trust (faith) in Him grows.  This is how we become the person God created us to be.

³ For he will rescue me from every trap and protect me from deadly plague.   ⁴He will cover me with his feathers. He will shelter me with his wings. His faithful promises are my armor and protection.

God’s word is filled with promises. He will rescue me; protect me; cover me and shelter me.  As I grow in my relationship with God, I begin to realize I can stand on these promises because His Word is true.  And it is these promises that become my armor and protection against the lustful desires of my flesh; the temptations of the world; and the wiles of the Enemy.  

^5 I I will not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.  ⁶   I will not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

⁷ Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, these evils will not touch me.

⁸   I will open my eyes and see how the wicked are punished.

God is telling me unequivocally that he is my protector.  As long as I stand on the truth of His Word, others around me may succumb to the enemy’s lies and deception, but His Word will keep me ”standing firm after the battle.” (Ephesians 6:13) When I see others  snared in  Satan’s trap, my faith becomes even stronger because I see the truth of His word coming alive.  He IS my protector!

⁹ If I make the Lord my refuge, if I make the Most High my shelter, ¹⁰ no evil will conquer me; no plague will come near my home.

As we begin the second section of this Psalm, David reiterates two of God’s promises: “no evil will conquer me” and “no plague will come near my home.” But now he predicates it on my role in the process: “If I”.  All of these promises come only to those who have engaged in the process, which begins with accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. If I accept God’s Gift of Grace, I am in Christ and therefore heir to “all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm” (Ephesians 1:3) and “all of God’s promises in the Bible.” (Ephesians 1:13-14) 

¹¹ For He will order his angels to protect me wherever I go.  ¹² They will hold me up with their hands so I won’t even hurt my foot on a stone.  ¹³   I will trample upon lions and cobras; I will crush fierce lions and serpents under my feet!

God even tells me in verse 11 and 12 that he will put a hedge of protection around me to protect me from the Enemy, familiar spirits (sorcerer’s servants ready to obey their command, i.e. to contact the dead) and demonic spirits.  In verse 13, He tells me I will be empowered to trample and crush the metaphoric lions, cobras, lions and serpents we all will face at one time or another. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am already promised victory in this fallen world. 1John 4:4 tells us, “He that is in me (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.”  The enemy was defeated 2000 years ago! 

¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

¹⁶ I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

The last section of Psalm 91 is a recap of God’s promises.  Notice there are six “I will” statements. Not “I might”; or “perhaps” or “maybe I will” but “I will”!  These are the promises of a loving God who wants a relationship – an eternal relationship with me.  Not only do I have his promises, but in verse 16 he says he will reward me with a long life here on this earth as well as eternal life with Him in Paradise. But as a Christ-follower, I can begin experiencing His Kingdom right here, right now because I have the power of the Holy Spirit to empower me to  become the person God created me to be.  I can now become his “masterpiece”  (Ephesians 2:10)  because I am in Christ.

How absolutely awesome is this Psalm?  And as I stated in an earlier paragraph, it is just one example of literally hundreds of hope-filled, awe-inspiring scriptures found in His Word.  Reading the Bible is like peeling an onion. With each layer you peel away, there are more layers underneath.  But this was God’s way of revealing himself to mankind, so everything we need to know about Him and about our life can be found throughout the pages.  To reiterate what I wrote last week, 2Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.  It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” 

If you are not familiar with His Word, I wholeheartedly encourage you to delve into this treasure-trove of wisdom and truth.  If you will accept this invitation with an open-mind and a desire to seek the truth, I know God will meet you wherever you are and guide you down the appropriate path. My promise to you is…your life will never be the same.  But what a Glorious life you will find!

What do you think of Psalm 91?  Feel free to give feedback.

May God Bless Ya…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

I was recently talking with a friend concerning the concept of faith.  His perspective and mine are quite contrary, but we still have been able to maintain a close friendship for many years regardless of our differences.  He has told me more than once that he too lives by faith, but he quickly qualifies that statement by telling me that the laws and principles he believes in can be, and have been, proven in the “natural realm” through science or mathematics. When I talk to him about my concept of faith as defined in Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see”, he smiles…rolls his eyes and says something like “how can you believe that without proof?”  When I tell him I have all the proof I need as I see the truth of the scripture come alive in my life, he just shakes his head and smiles.

Every day when I leave my neighborhood I drive by a church that, on a weekly basis, has a new life-enriching statement on its marquee. As I slowed down to get a good look at the message for this week, I saw B.I.B.L.E…Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. “Wowzzer,” I exclaimed. “That is right on the mark!”

As I have stated many times in my postings, I believe there are two fundamental principles from which everything else written in the Bible emanates: (1.) God is Love (1John 4:8) and (2.) He wants a relationship with us – an eternal relationship.  And because God is God…he knows something about relationships!  For instance, he knew that before we could enter into a relationship with him, we would have to come to know him.  We would have to know who He is; what and how He thinks; what He says; what He says about us; what His standards are; what His promises are; and how we receive those promises. Because He is a Spirit and we are human, he chose to reveal himself to us through His Word, the Holy Bible.  Everything we need to know about living a life that is pleasing to him (based on His truth) is in that collection of Scripture.  This book truly is our “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”.  It is also the key to eternal life.

We are told in 2Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.  It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”   And again in 2Peter 1:20-21: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy.  It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.” 

HONESTY

Unfortunately most people have never read the Bible, but none-the-less they have an opinion – albeit a faulty opinion – of its content.  In fact I was one of those people for nearly half a century. And like my friend mentioned in the opening paragraph, I would have told you I had faith in “my belief system”. But in reality I had nothing to base my belief on other than if it made sense to me; it satisfied my needs; and if there were no undesirable consequences, I considered it worthy to live by.  As I look back on that time in my life, I see it as clearly as a time of ignorance.  Not ignorance in terms of stupidity, but ignorance of  “the truth”!

OPEN-MINDEDNESS

So how did I begin to realize the Holy Bible was “the” truth”?   I was willing to open the book to the New Testament and start reading from Matthew through – well, in all honesty…to Revelation.  An interesting truth about the Bible is…even with my skepticism and preconceived notions, it met me where I was at that time.  While I can’t say I experienced any real depth of understanding or revelation, as I kept reading I began to realize there was no basis for my skepticism or preconceived notions.  The contradictions and inconsistencies that I had thoroughly expected to find were not there.  In fact, just the opposite was true.  I began to see incredible consistency in the scriptures, and that is what enticed me go back and read again more slowly and carefully.  As I kept reading, I kept asking myself “What if this is true?  What if this Book is really what it claims to be…The Word of God?”   Hummm?  I was beginning to see a glimmer of hope in what I was reading.

Since God chose to reveal himself to mankind through the Holy Bible, it opened itself up to never-ending scrutiny.  And as expected, there has been scrutiny since the first collection of His words. Non-believers of every ilk have attempted to discredit the authenticity and validity of these 66 books that make up today’s Bible.  Academics, scholars, philosophers, scientists, atheists, agnostics, idiots have all taken a swing at the Bible.  To my knowledge no one has been able to establish a flaw.

Just think about what would happen today if someone were able to discredit the sanctity of the Bible.  It would be the top news story on every network; it would make the headlines in every newspaper and magazine; it would be the topic of every talk-show host from coast-to-coast.  THE BIBLE IS A FRAUD! Ablaze in all capital letters, this long-awaited announcement would kick off a day of frenzy for its critics.  Could it mean they had been right all along?  (That must be how the critics felt at Jesus crucifixion.) 

So far I don’t know of any event like that happening. And if there were  evidence to substantiate such a claim, no doubt EVERYONE would know about it.  Without question many people have read the Book and concluded, “this is contrary (or inconvenient) to the way I want to live my life” and walked away. That reaction does not indicate a flaw in the Book’s content, but only confirms the truth found in John 3: 19-20: “…The light from heaven came into the world (Jesus), but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness.  They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished.”

WILLINGNESS

But I am convinced that anyone who opens the Word of God and begins reading with the intent of enlightenment will find God. Deuteronomy 4:29 tell us, “…if we seek Him with all our heart and soul we will find Him.”  Once we begin connecting with God, he begins revealing more and more truth to us.  As we begin experiencing His truth coming alive in our life, our faith starts to develop.  It is this platform of truth and faith that becomes the rock on which we build our life.  The stronger our faith becomes, the more we can step out with absolute assurance we are standing on the truth of His Word.

The Bible is resplendent with promises from God.  But virtually all promises begin with the all- important first two words… “If you”.  We are told in John 8:32 that Jesus told his Apostles, “If you follow my teachings you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  The promise is: “the truth will set you free”, but it is predicated on “following the teaching of Jesus”.  As with all promises…it begins with OUR willingness to participate in the endeavor… “If you”.  We soon learn that the promises and blessings come to us as we choose to participate in the transformation process.

As we become engrossed in the New Testament, it doesn’t take long to realize that God’s plan for mankind is to know his Son, Jesus Christ.  He is our Redeemer, and it is through Him that we become reborn and can experience eternal life.  Once we make the decision to accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are in Christ and heir to every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm; heir to all the promises to Abraham; and heir to every other promise in the Bible.  Why?  Because we are in Christ. That position was not established because of anything we did or because we are worthy of such a distinction, but because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.  That was God’s plan for mankind even before the world was created.

Once we begin to realize our new identify in Jesus Christ, the more we can step out in faith, realizing full well we are standing on a platform of truth…God’s truth.  Our proof does not come from scientific or mathematic conclusion, but from our UNSHAKABLE trust in a loving God who revealed himself to us through His Word so we could enter into a relationship with him.  As this truth springs up in us and shapes our life, we can now experience the many blessings promised in Scripture because we are in Christ.  Ephesians 2:10 tells us “We are now God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  We are now capable of becoming the person God created us to be, all because of our new identity in Christ.

This is indeed awesome news!  And best of all…it’s the truth!

May God Bless Ya, and feel free to chime in with your thoughts….

Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)        

Pam and I returned last night from our trip to California.  She went there for work on behalf of one of her clients, and I went along for the ride.  While she was slaving away for two days in San Luis Obispo, and I spent that time on the beach reading and preparing scores for this up-coming STLWS season. Then it was off to Ventura for two and a half days of play-time.  It was indeed a good gig!

While I was gone I got a call from a former client who moved to Louisville last year.  When we last talked, which was about three months ago, she was in great spirits, but life has recently taken a downward spiral.  I want to share this scenario with you because it is a situation that plagues too many of us.  Unfortunately, none of us are immune from that torment.

Kate had been experiencing the pain of guilt, shame and remorse which eventually led her to a mild state of depression.  According to her own admission she has been making a series of bad choices, and what was taking shape in her mind for that night was like too many previous choices. Feeling alone and “empty”, she was preparing to go out for “a drink or two…”; to hear a band;  and “maybe meet someone.”  That very thought process was weighing on her because she knew from experience the truth of that “lie”.  It was never just “a drink or two…or three…or four…”, and “meeting someone” had proven to be euphemistic for “going home with someone”.  But…truth be told, there could have been a band in that scenario.  Thank God she had the courage to cry out.

Here are a few more contributors to Kate’s pathos.  She is a follower of Jesus Christ, but again in her own words:

“I’m certainly not acting like it.  Consequently I’ve been feeling totally separated from God.”

“I know how disappointed He is in me…and why wouldn’t He be?  Just look at me and what I’ve become”.

“I don’t want to do what I’ve been doing, but it seems like everywhere I turn Satan has opened a new door to entice me to follow him into the pit of Hell!”

“I can’t connect with God…my words keep falling on the floor and I feel totally alone.”

“I don’t want to do keep doing this, but I keep falling into the same trap!”

I know Kate’s background from previous conversations concerning her upbringing; her church experience; her history of relationships. And I also how she enthusiastically embraced her walk with Jesus.  She was on fire for Him.  So what happened?  How did she get from “there” to “here”.

I could have directed her to Apostle Paul’s tirade in Romans 7:15-25, but we had visited that passage a few times in the past.  Instead I choose to highlight the truth found in Romans 12:2: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” Then I drew from Galatians 5:16-18: “So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit.  Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.  The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what he sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.  But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to your sin nature.”

Next came the truth about our Enemy: “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10); “master of lies and deception” (John 8:44); “like a roaring lion looking for some victim to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  And finally we stood on this truth found in Romans 8:38: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love.  Death can’t and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t.  Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.”  (Let me assure you Kate was not barraged with Scriptures.  I listed those above to substantiate the scriptural truths (or scriptural facts, as Watchman Nee likes to say) used in the platform for our conversation.  Now let’s look at four planks of that platform.

1.Satan is our enemy and he NEVER misses a chance to do EVERYTHING in his power to sabotage our effort to cast off our human nature (sin nature) and become a “new creature” in Christ.  As long as we are living according to the desires of our flesh and the teaching and behaviors of this world, he leaves us alone.  Any why not?  We are already in the palm of his hand.  BUT…when we make a decision to follow Jesus Christ, we have a BIG target on our back and he is relentless in his effort to get us back.

His lies and deception abound: “You’re a total disappointment to God.”  “Surly you don’t think he has forgiven you for what YOU’VE done!”  “You’ll NEVER be worthy and acceptable to him.  Just look at YOU!”  All of that trash, dear Brother and Sister, is a lie! The very opposite is God’s truth.  When we are in Christ,“nothing can separate us from God’s love.”

2. God’s salvation plan is perfect!  Not only is our eternal destiny sealed by our choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, but God knows first-hand, through Jesus Christ, how difficult it is to live the life he has called us to live in this fallen world. That’s why we become a “new creature” and exchange our sin nature for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  (Ref. Galatians above.)  That is how we rise above the world around us and become victorious in our Christian walk.  1 John 4:4 reveals this promise: “He that is in me (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.”  We are already victorious!  Why?  Because we are in Christ, and “he has already overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

3. The Holy Spirit is the essence of Jesus Christ living in and through us.  Just as Jesus knew his disciples drew their strength from him, he promised us – his future disciples  – the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be our source of wisdom; our comforter; our guide; and our teacher.  But this we must understand: the Holy Spirit does not do the work for us; the Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work.

As Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 17:20: “I assure you, even if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible.”  So when we are faced with our mountains in life, our role is to call on the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, strength, courage, patience, perseverance, whatever it is we need to accomplish God’s will, and His promise to us is we will be victorious.  Why?  Because we are in Christ and “he has already overcome the world.”

4. Because we are in Christ, our new identity comes from him.  So don’t let satan or anyone else take that away from you.  But is your new identity based on your behavior?  Absolutely not! It is based on what Jesus Christ accomplished at Calvary and your decision to accept that Gift of Grace from a loving God who wants an eternal relationship with you.  Because of that decision, Romans 8:1-4 tells us, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death…God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Holy Spirit.” 

As we continue to grow in our relationship with Christ and begin to realize the fullness of what his sacrifice means to us, we cannot help but want to live our life in a way that brings honor and glory to Him.  After all, it is because of Him our sins – past, present and future – are forgiven; we are the righteousness of Christ; we are worthy and acceptable in His eyes; we are loved unconditionally; we are heir to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm; we are heir to all the promises in the Bible.

NOTHING…ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can separate us from God’s love.  Because we are in Christ…WE’RE IN!!

Are you in Christ?  If not…why not?

May God Bless Ya, and feel free to chime in with your thoughts.

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

As Christ-followers I know we have all had this same frustrating experience. We know someone with whom we want to share the truth of God’s Word, but there’s nothing we are sharing that seems to be making an impression.  They have their own idea of “the truth” and they’re stickin’ to it. Not only that, but they express surprise that YOU believe what you’re telling them! 

Did you ever have that experience?  I have more than once…in fact I used to be that experience.  Prior to coming to Christ, I had my own belief system.  It was the gospel of Presgrave and was founded on my own perception of “the way things are or ought to be”.  I had no idea of the content of God’s Word because I had never opened the book, yet I was convinced the message of God’s love and his “gift of grace” had to be riddled with myths, distortions and inconsistencies.  And…I didn’t hesitate to tell you how I felt!  After all, that’s what I had heard other people say, and it was certainly outside my paradigm of rational thinking.  I mean how could any rational, logical intelligent person like myself be expected to believe such nonsense?  So there I was, perfectly blissful in my own ignorance.

Apostle Paul addressed this issue when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18-20, “I know how very foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction.  But we who are being savedrecognize this message as the very power of God.  As the Scriptures say, ‘I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas.”  He continues in verse 21 and 25: “Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe.  This “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans…” 

God knew that man would constantly question and struggle with his truth and his way. That’s why he spoke the prophet Isaiah and stated: “My thoughts are completely different from your thoughts; my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9) 

When Adam and Eve were communing with God in the Garden, they were spiritually connected to him.  It was paradise. They wanted for nothing.  But unfortunately that short-lived glimpse of God’s plan came to an abrupt end when the occupants became disobedient.  They took their focus off God and put it on themselves.  That was the original sin, and that’s what is referred to throughout the Bible as our “sin nature”.

Not ironically, that very sense of self-awareness is what our culture refers to as “human nature”, meaning “we just do what comes naturally”.  So the chasm that has exists between God and man from creation until today is: we were created for a spiritual connection with God, but without that connection, man inevitably becomes his own god.

And how did that work out?  Just look at the world we live in and ask yourself if Paul was accurate when he wrote in Galatians 5: 19-21: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, pride, out-bursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisiveness, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sin.” Now turn on the television; look at faddish magazines and books of today’s culture; listen to the lyrics of many pop culture/rap songs… then ask yourself, what is the origin of that?  What produces that motivation?  Is it wrapped in goodness or is it wrapped in evil??

In recent postings I have referred to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are the poor in spirit (those aware of their brokenness)  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn (willing to repent), for they will be comforted.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (longing of the human soul for more of God) for they shall be filled.  These teachings are as contrary to worldly thinking today as they were when Jesus spoke them.  But these words describe the heart of a humble person seeking God; one who is aware of his own insufficiency.  The good news is…that original spiritual connection with God can be restored any time man is ready to surrender to the age-old proclamation: “Repent! Turn from your sin and turn to God.” (2Chronicles 7:14)

God’s proclamation is a simple message.  So simple in fact, anyone who is willing can understand it, but too simple for the prideful to grasp.  His message is founded on two principles that serve as the underpinning of virtually everything else written in the Bible: 1. God is Love (1John 4:8) and 2. We were created for a relationship with Him.

Did God know humanity would follow the path it chose to follow from Creation until 2000 years ago?  Absolutely!  We are told in Ephesians 1:4 that his plan for our redemption was in place “even before the world was created”, and that plan was to provide a Savior to do for man what man would prove without a shadow of a doubt he was incapable of doing through his own volition.  His plan – his Gift of Grace – is our only solution to the sin issue, and our only hope of spending eternity with Him.

But in order to enter paradise, “we have to be Holy (sin-free) because God is holy.” (1Peter 1:16)  There is only one way that can happen.  “God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus.  For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself.  He is the one who made us acceptable to God.  He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.  As the Scriptures say, ‘The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.”(1Corinthians 30-31)

When Bob George, author of Classic Christianity, was asked, “how does one find themself condemned to Hell?  His answer was short and sweet.  “By doing nothing.  Just keep following the path you’re on and you’re well on your way.”  No doubt that is true, but unless the person asking the question sees the need to change; unless they know the nature of God – that He is embodiment of love, compassion, mercy, grace and forgiveness itself ; and unless they have connected the unmistakable dots found in scripture concerning Christ – who he is; why he came,  and that he IS the only answer…it either sounds like a fairy tale or too good to be true.  Then when you add to that mix the cultural acceptance of their way of life right now; a prideful, arrogant, self-sufficient attitude; and the fact that the truth is many times inconvenient to the way they have chosen to live, you can clearly see the mountain in front of you.

Matthew 17:20 gives us the answer to these mountain situations.  Jesus told his disciples, “I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible.” And nothing is impossible when we call on the Holy Spirit to empower us to accomplish God’s purpose.  That’s God’s promise to us in 1John :4: 4,  “He (The Holy Spirit) that is in me is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.”  We must never forget our role as the messenger.  We show up as God’s representative and rely on the Holy Spirit to work through us.  We plant the seeds; God brings them to fruition in his good and perfect timing.  That is how we work in perfect harmony with the Master Planner.

May God bless ya, and feel free to chime in on this with your own thoughts.

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

As we wrap up our 238^th Independence Day celebration, I hope it was a time when we all reflected on the true meaning of this day and took time to thank God and a Veteran for the privilege of living in a country that is free. As you partook of various parades, concerts, festivals, family BBQs, perhaps even a memorial service or a patriotic speech,  I hope the truth of this statement, “freedom isn’t free” will become ablaze in your heart and inspired you to embrace it as a mantra rather than as a bumper-sticker slogan.

Unfortunately these are perilous times in which we are living, and freedom itself seems to be in jeopardy. Contributing culprits include today’s hostile political climate; a world news that tells us we are facing a formidable foe that hates us and our way of life; our country’s economic uncertainty; and the sense of despair that sets in when we are not sure what to believe or who to trust.  Now couple that with the downward spiral of our culture’s moral values and it’s easy to see how all of these factors can contribute to a sense of uneasiness.

But the good news is…we don’t have to look at the world through that lens.  Oh yes… those issues are today’s reality, but I believe if we look up for a solution rather than down at the cesspool in which we are standing, we can  find hope.  I’m still an optimist, so when we stand on the only truth that will never forsake us, I believe we can become energized once again as individuals and as a nation.  I love America.  I believe in America.  I was proud to serve my country.  And I still believe that with all our faults and shortcomings, America is the greatest country the world has ever seen.  It was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and the founding fathers even bowed in prayer on April 30, 1789 at St. Paul’s Chapel to consecrate this new nation’s future to God.  No other nation in modern times has been so blessed, but to whom much is given, much is expected.

Throughout the Bible God spoke through prophets and delivered a Proclamation to both man and nations.  That Proclamation was always the same:  “Repent!  Turn from your sin and turn to God.” (ie. Ezekiel 18:21-23)  I believe the psalmist David not only captured the heart of God in Psalm 37, but when superimposed on our present day malaise, it should give us nothing but hope for our future. It tells us not to worry about the evil we see around us, but to patiently trust the Lord.  He is sovereign, and we who believe in Him will prosper and the wicked will stand in judgment for their evil ways.  Let’s enjoy verses 1-11:

“Don’t worry about the wicked.  Don’t evny those who do wrong.  For like grass, they soon fade away.  Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you. 

He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop your anger!  Turn from your rage!  Do not envy others – it only leads to harm. 

For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

In a little while, the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone.

Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security.

The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. 

But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. 

I know it’s easy to look around and see the dramatic changes that define America today and ask yourself, “how did we ever get in this mess?”  Truth be told…there are as many opinions and answers to that question as there are people answering the question.  But let’s look at just one Biblical principle that can provide an answer on many levels.

Throughout the Bible when God’s chosen people (the Israelites) were in line with his will, he blessed them.  When they were not following His will for their lives there was calamity in many forms: famines, floods, earthquakes, pestilence, wars etc.  There are two sets of scripture that specifically answer the above question. Romans 1:25, 28, 32: “ Instead  of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies…When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.  They were fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.”

And concerning his covenant with a nation, we are told in 2Chronicles, 7:14: “then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” And again in Jeremiah 18: 9-10: “But if I announce that I will build up and plant a certain nation or kingdom, making it strong and great, but then the nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless that nation as I had said I would.” 

Do you get any clue from those scriptures concerning America’s standing in terms of fulfilling God’s purpose?  To me, the scripture from Jeremiah could not be clearer.  America was founded on prayer and Christian-Judeo principles.  Therefore the removal of prayer and the Ten Commandments from its public life would most certainly be out of line with God’s will.  Add to that the 55 million aborted babies since Roe vs Wade in 1973; our acceptance of sexual immorality as the new norm; and our tolerance for lying, cheating and stealing as “just the way it is today”, and it isn’t difficult to see why God would be grieved by our disobedience.   All one has to do is backtrack through the Bible and look at the history of a nation that has ignored God’s Proclamation. That little excursion can give us ample reason to be concerned about the direction of our country.

So as followers of Jesus Christ, how do we rise above our morally bankrupt culture and a government that is methodically removing our individual liberties?  Lines 3-5 of Psalm 37 provide the answer.  And let us not forget where our liberty originated.  It was God who gave man “free will” at Creation.  He could have made us perfect boys and girls, but he didn’t.  And knowing full well this decision was a double edged sword, He still gave us the right to choose to love him back or reject him.  In my opinion, no man or government has the authority to take away that inalienable right.

1John 4:4 reminds all Christ-followers of their identity in Christ. “He (the Holy Spirit) that is in me is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.  When addressing the holy people in Ephesus who were struggling  with their culture,  Apostle Paul clearly points out satan’s activities in Ephesians 2:2, 4: “You used to live like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life…through Jesus Christ.”

As Christ-followers we are called to carry His message of truth into the world and be his shining light in on the hill.  When we call on the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, strength, courage and patience, we can fulfill that calling and resist the enemy in these evil times.  His Word says He will bless our effort as we continue to stand up for our freedom that was endowed by the Creator himself.  My hope is that we would all stand on that truth and become His shining light on the hill.  Our country needs to hear His Proclamation one more time.  Let’s accept that challenge and be His voice!

May God bless you, and feel free to chime in with your thoughts.

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Before I get into the body of this posting, I would like to take this opportunity to wish each one of you a “Happy Birthday”.  At the end of this week, “We” (Americans) will be celebrating our 238^th birthday, so I would like to encourage one and all to take a moment to reflect on what it means to live in “the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”  Yesterday the Saint Louis Wind Symphony performed what has become our annual concert at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO, and everyone was in the red, white and blue spirit!  What an honor to be part of such a meaningful celebration, and it brings to life the reality of the phrase “freedom isn’t free”.  Those three words tell us why we should take a moment and thank a veteran or a current soldier for their service.  As far as I know, only two people have volunteered to sacrifice their life so others might live in freedom: Jesus Christ and the American soldier.  “Thank You” to both!

I have been drawn to the “beatitudes” for the past few weeks, realizing, as did the crowd gathered around Jesus, how absolutely contrary to “worldly thinking” and seemingly impossible that message was…and is! It was certainly a divisive message.  Many who heard it were astounded by Jesus’ confidence and the authority with which he spoke.  It was quite unlike what they were hearing from the teachers of religious law.  But others thought he was nuts!  “Are you serious? Blessed are the poor in spirit…the meek…those who mourn? ”   Let me refer back to a paragraph near the end of last week’s posting, “Victory through Humility.”

Jesus described in the beatitudes the person after God’s own heart.  This is a humble person; one who is aware of his own brokenness and his need for God. “Blessed are the poor in spirit (those aware of their brokenness) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn (willing to repent), for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek (seeing the needs of others), for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (longing of the human soul for more of God) for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart (those filled with God) for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers (repairers of relationships), for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (faithful to the truth of Jesus) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:2-12)

Wow!  What a calling.  As Bob George states in his book, Classic Christianity, “the Christian life is not only hard to live, but impossible to live through our own effort.”  So undoubtedly the answer begins with our attitude.  God is clearly looking for a humble person, one who is aware of his lack of self- sufficiency.  Nothing humbles a person more than finding themselves is a state of brokenness.  Perhaps we are faced with the consequences of our choices: an addiction; an affair; outbursts of anger…or perhaps a threatening health report; a financial crisis; or the loss of a loved one.  When we hit our bottom and there is no other place to turn; no light at the end of the tunnel and we finally cry out in total pathos, “GOD, HELP ME”, the good news is…God is waiting with open arms to welcome us home.  In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32), the father on the porch waiting for his son to come home is God; ALL OF US are the prodigal son.

We are told in Jeremiah 29: 13, “you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  “With all your heart” means with a repentant heart.  God isn’t interested in our words. He looks at the state of our heart.  He knows the difference between a cry that means “God…get me out of this mess I’m in right now” and a cry that means “God, I know I can’t do this without YOU…HELP ME!”  Repentance isn’t saying “I’m sorry” or “I’ll never do this again”.  No!  Repentance is about changing our mind; making a decision to live our life according to God’s will. Once we find ourselves in this state of “enlightenment”, we can begin thinking differently about God’s calling in the beatitudes.

Once we have cried out to God, “Help Me”, his first order of business is for us to come to know his Son.  God is a loving God who wants a relationship with us – and eternal relationship, and the only way that is going to happen is by accepting his Gift of Grace.  That was God’s plan for mankind “even before creation itself”. (Ephesians 1: 4)  And we are told in Romans 5:6, 9, 11 “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment.  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us…”

In other words, God’s plan was always to send a Savior to do for mankind what we were unable to accomplish from Creation to 2000 years ago through our own effort.  And that was to live a sin-free life that measured up to God’s standard as required by the law (the Ten Commandments).  Romans 3:20 gives us an insight into man’s dilemma: “For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands.  For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.” In Galatians 3:19,21-22, Apostle Paul answers this question about the law: “Well then, why was the law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are.  But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child (Jesus) to whom God’s promise was made. If the law could have given us new life, we could have been made right with God by obeying it.  But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God’s promise is to believe in Jesus Christ.”

God’s plan for our salvation is perfect! When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our sins – past, present and future – are forgiven because Jesus became the sacrificial lamb and paid our penalty at the cross.  Now we can come boldly into the presence of God without any fear of condemnation because we are in Christ. Three days later He rose to eternal life. More good news…we inherit that same eternal life because we are in Christ. Those two truths bring a sense of peace and serenity to all Christ-followers regarding our eternal destiny.

But what about now?  How do we live the life Jesus called us to live in the beatitudes?  That calling is as  un-worldly and seemingly impossible today as it was when Jesus was preaching to the crowd.

The answer lies in the nature of God.  God spoke through the prophet in Deuteronomy 31:6 stating: “Be strong and courageous!  I will never leave you nor forsake (leave you hanging) you.”  That’s a promise!  So be strong and courageous!  He will not ask us to do the seemingly impossible unless he equips us to meet that challenge, and that’s exactly what he did in the remaining part of the salvation package.  When we accept His Gift of Grace, besides receiving forgiveness of sins and eternal life, we also receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (the essence of Jesus Christ in us.)  The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to empower us to rise above this fallen world and to fully accomplish God purpose. Galatians 5: 17-18 tells us: “The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.  But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to your sin nature.”  This is “how” we become the Christians referenced in the beatitudes.

Being a Christian is not just a title or a statement of belief.  Being a Christian is about how we live our life and about our life-style. We are called to become more like Christ-like every day. So what did Jesus model in his life?  He modeled the truth of the God’s Word, and he did this by staying in communication with the Father. In John 5: 19, Jesus answered the Pharisees by saying, “I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself.  He does only what he sees the Father doing.  Whatever the Father does, the Son also does…”  We are to model the same dependency on Jesus that he demonstrated with the Father.  In John 15:5, Jesus tells us, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jesus learned first-hand how hard it was to live his teachings in this fallen world, and he also knew whatever strength and courage his Apostles had when carrying his message was drawn from him.  That’s why he told them in John 16:7, 13, 15: “But it is actually best for you that I go away (to the Father), because if I don’t, the Counselor (Comforter, Guide, Teacher, Encourager, Advocate) won’t come.  If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard.  All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.”

1John 4:4 tells us, “He (the Holy Spirit) that is in me is greater than he (Satan) that is in this world.”  That’s a promise!  And that says we are already victorious in this fallen world. So when we ask the Holy Spirit to give to us his wisdom, courage, strength, patience, perseverance, whatever it is we need to accomplish God’s purpose, the Scriptures tell us our prayer will be answered because we are in Christ.  That is how we live the life of a “beatitude Christian.”  It’s not done through our own effort, but by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us! And that is only possible because Christ has already overcome the world! John 16:33.

Are you a “beatitude Christian”?  Why or why not?   Feel free to give me your thoughts on this truth.

May God Bless ya…

Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)