I would like to take just a moment to review last week’s blog.  I began by defining the term “Law” as it is used in this context.  When contrasting “Grace” and “Law”, the term “Law” is used when referring to the Ten Commandments.  This set of Biblical principles was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and contain instructions for worshiping only God; for keeping the Sabbath; for honoring our parents; and prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, theft, dishonesty, and adultery.  In order for mankind to be acceptable in God’s sight, obedience to these principles was expected.  History shows that when the Israelites were in line with God’s will, he blessed them.  But we also learned that in their disobedience, God either withheld his blessing or sometimes they experienced his wrath. 

In addition to revealing God’s standard for living, the “Law” also served two other functions.  First it was civil law for the Israelites so they could live in harmony as they wandered in the wilderness. And secondly it was used to reveal man’s sinful nature.  While God’s standard was clearly stated, it immediately became clear that adherence to those ten principles was contrary to our human nature.  Regardless of how hard we tried to live in obedience to these principles, mankind continued to sink deeper into the quagmire of sin.  Even Apostle Paul, much to his chagrin, struggled with his human short-comings and lamented in Romans 7: 21,24; “It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?” 

Mankind had from Creation to 2014 years ago to wrestle with the same pathos Paul was lamenting.  Who hasn’t cried out, “Oh what a miserable person I am!” and then committed to try even harder to free themselves from a life dominated by sin…only to fail once again!

The good news is…the very essence of God is love, forgiveness, mercy and grace.  Ephesians 1:4 tell us that “even before the world was created” God had always planned to send a Jesus as the sacrificial lamb to deliver us from sin’s death-sentence.  The “law” was intended to show man’s need for a Savior.  Romans 5:6 reveals his plan: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”  

The timing of this blog could not be better as we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Good Friday brings to end an era known as the Old Covenant, which was before Jesus Christ and an era dominated by the “Law”.  Easter Sunday begins a new era known as the New Covenant, which is after Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection; and an era dominated by “Grace”. Under the Old Covenant, man worked to make himself acceptable to God.  Under the New Covenant, it is not about what we do to make ourselves acceptable to God, but what Jesus did on our behalf so we would be acceptable to God.  The gift of Jesus Christ as the sacrificial lamb to die in our place for the forgiveness of our sins is God’s Gift of Grace.  It’s a Gift of Grace because we did nothing to deserve the gift, and we definitely were not worthy of it.  But that is how much God loves us and wants an eternal relationship with us…“While we were utterly helpless (pathetic; lost in sin), Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” (stained with sin; God’s enemy)

CLARIFYING TWO COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Let me clarify two scriptural truths before we move on.  First: Jesus Christ came to die for the sins of all mankind, regardless of who you are or what you have done. (Romans 3:22).  So does this mean that every man and women will have eternal life?  No, and here is why.  God gave us free will at Creation.    Therefore, because He is true to his word and his will never trumps our will, we have to choose to accept his Gift of Grace (Jesus’ atonement for our sins).  Our decision to accept this gift is our ultimate show of trust in Him.  Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are in Christ – meaning we are grafted into God’s family as his children and are “heir to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm” (Ephesians 1:3), and all the promises in the Bible.

 And second: let’s talk briefly about the issue of sin.  We are in Christ because we made a decision to accept him as our Lord and Savior.  We believe that He is the Son of God and that He chose to die in our place to pay the penalty for the sins of the world – past, present and future!  Apostle Paul explains in Romans 8: 3-4, “The law of Moses (the Ten Commandments) could not save us because of our sinful nature.  But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son…as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the requirements of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.  In other words, when we are in Christ, the sin issue has come to an end.  Romans 8:1 emphatically states, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus”, and Jesus reiterates the same message in Matthew 5: 17-18, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come.  I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets.  No, I came to fulfill them.  I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.”

So you may be asking yourself, “is the Law no longer in effect?”  The answer is simply this…the Law is still in effect because God’s standard has never changed.  What has changed under the New Covenant is how the requirements of the Law are fulfilled.  Under the Old Covenant, and for anyone today who has not accepted God’s Gift of Grace, it continues to be a matter of our own effort to make ourselves acceptable in God’s sight.  Under the New Covenant, we are made acceptable to God not by our own effort but because of what Jesus Christ did for us.  

LIVING UNDER THE NEW COVENANT

At the time we make a decision to accept God’s Gift of Grace (at our rebirth), 2 Corinthians, 5:17-18 explains what happens. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone (Our sin nature), the new is here. (the Holy Spirit).  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.”  We are a new creation in Christ.  We are no longer slaves to our sin-nature because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to empower us to become the person God created us to be.  Ephesians 2:10 refers to our new creation as His “masterpiece”. 

Now that the sin issue has been put to rest, the challenge for the new Christ-follower is to learn how to live in a way that brings honor and Glory to God in this fallen world. That, my friends, is the ultimate challenge!  Unfortunately at our conversion we were given no mental delete button to erase our past;  life and “stuff” still happens; our circumstances are still the same; and people stretch us to the breaking point.  (Wow!  Now we’re getting a glimpse of Apostle Paul’s struggle…“Oh what a wretched man I am!”)

But bear in mind we are beginning a process of transformation, and our growth as a Christ-follower happens as we overcome challenges.  Will we fall short?  Of course we will.  But remember, we are a new creation in Christ; we are Saints (sin-free) in God’s eyes.  So now we ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome the challenges we are facing:  “Holy Spirit, give me the wisdom; the courage; the strength; the patience; the perseverance…whatever it is we need, to be victorious in our endeavor  to serve you.  God’s promise to us is “whatever we ask for in Jesus name will be given to us.”  (John 16:23-24)  1 John 4:4 assures us, “He that is in me (Holy Spirit) is greater than he (Satan) that is in this world.”  So you see, we are already promised victory!  It is this, and every other scriptural truth, that allows us to step out in faith because we are confident we are heirs to all the promises in the Bible!

The New Covenant is all about life. Yes, the Law is still in effect, but we are successfully fulfilling it because now we have chosen to let Jesus Christ (the Holy Spirit) live his life through us.  As Christ followers we are called to “love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind; and to love our neighbor as our self.” (Matthew 22:37).   If we live those two directives, we automatically fulfill the requirements of the law.  Our job now is to proclaim this truth to those who are still unbelievers, and to let Jesus’ light shine in us through our words and our deeds.   As we choose to honor God with our life, there is a peace and serenity that surpasses all understanding because his kingdom has already come for those who are in Christ.   Thank you, Jesus!

So my question to you is:  Can you step out in faith knowing you are heir to all the promises in the Bible?

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

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

Probably no other subject has caused more confusion and separation in the church family than this subject!  That might seem like a bold statement  because to be referred to as “a Christian”, we would have to understand and accept that we are saved by grace through faith.  In fact, that is the very cornerstone of Christianity.  Then you might ask yourself, “why is there controversy?  Is it just a misunderstanding of the terms “grace” and “law”, or is there something else contributing to this dilemma?”  Well…that is the very question I want to explore  during the next two weeks.

Let us begin by simply defining the terms. The “law” was given to Moses on Mt. Saini in the form of Ten Commandments.  When the law was given it served three purposes.  First it was civil law for the Israelites who were wondering around in the wilderness after being in bondage to the Egyptians for four hundred years.  As a community they were in a state of chaos.  Freedom presented many new challenges, so the law gave them the needed framework for living together in harmony.

 It was also God’s law.  Not only was it civil law, but God gave the Israelites (and all people) his standard for becoming acceptable in his sight.  If they adhered to these laws, they were “being obedient” and consequently found favor with God.   He  also told them he would  bless and protect them as a nation if they continued to be in line with His will.

 And finally, and more subtly, it was used to exposed man’s sinful nature.  As Apostle Paul points out in Romans, 7: 7-8,10; “Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil?  Of course not!  The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin.  I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said ‘Do not covet.’  But sin took advantage of this law and aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within me!  If there were no law, sin would not have that power. So the good law, which was supposed to show me the way of life, instead gave me a death penalty.”  And again in Romans, 4:15 we are told, “But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!”  

Notice in Romans 4:15 it says “try to obey it.”  The fact is…the law is contrary to our human nature (sin nature).  We can try our hardest to live according to this standard, but the futility of that endeavor is pointed out in Matthew 5:19; “anyone who breaks one of the commandments is guilty of breaking all the commandments.”  Apostle Paul, even after his transformation from Saul to Paul, struggled with this issue, as he clearly laments in Romans, 7:15-18, 21. “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.  Instead, I do the very thing I hate.  I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. I know I am rotten through and through…and no matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do what is right.  I want to, but I can’t.  It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.”  Does that sound familiar?

From Mt. Saini to the death of Jesus Christ, the law and the issue of sin has been the dilemma of mankind.  Under the Old Covenant (before the death of Jesus), the issue was dealt with in the Jewish culture by religious rituals, specifically the Day of Atonement.  On that day each person would offer to God an animal sacrifice to cover their sins of the past year.  Unfortunately the sacrifice only covered the sin but did not erase it, so the ritual had to be repeated annually.  If the law was sufficient for making us right in God’s sight, there would have been no reason for Jesus to have come. But the fact is…we had from Creation to two thousand years ago to make ourselves right with God – but undeniably mankind kept sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire of sin.  Apostle Paul gives us the solution in Romans 7: 24-25; “Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?  Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

The Scriptures tell us we cannot come into the presence of God if we are stained with sin.  1 Peter 1:16 tells us, “we have to be holy (without sin) because God is holy.” And why is that?  Because sin spreads, contaminates kills and destroys. Therefore let us be ever thankful that we have a loving God who knows us better than we know ourselves, and one who wants a relationship –an eternal relationship with us. Because of his unconditional, unending and unfailing love, he did what the law could not do for us, and also what we absolutely could not do for ourselves.  Romans 5: 6 tells us that “when we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”  While Paul doesn’t specify exactly what constituted “the right time”, being “utterly helpless” certainly conveys our pathetic state.

So you may be saying to yourself, “OK.  I get the picture.  I know that sin is an issue.  But I also know that Jesus died for my sins and I have eternal life. So where is the conflict?”

The conflict is in how the gospel of grace is presented.  The issue of forgiveness of sin and eternal life is the message that draws most people to Christianity, and well it should.  There is incredible comfort in that message.  But there is more…much more, but many times churches don’t talk about the freedom that comes from being in Christ.  That is most unfortunate, because it is that message that “sets Christians free.” And if that message is not joyfully proclaimed, many new Christians can continue to live in bondage to their “old self”, and also in bondage to the inevitable guilt, shame and remorse that accompanies that lack of awareness.  In my mind that is an incredible disservice on the part of the message-carrier. So next week I will talk about the freedom that comes from our new identity in Christ.  I invite you to tune in for  the full “baptism” of grace.

May God bless you, and feel free to respond to this posting.

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

Oh that we would listen to God’s voice today!  The Psalmist writes in Psalm 95: 8-11:  The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.  For there your ancestors tried my patience; they courted my wrath though they had seen my miracles.  For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts turned away from me.  They refuse to do what I tell them.  So in my anger I made a vow:  ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ”  (That passage is quoted again in Hebrews 4: 3-7.)  And what was it that inflamed God’s anger? It was the disobedience of the Israelites. God had promised them the land of Canaan.  All they had to do was enter the land and conquer it.  But the Israelite’s unbelief was more real than God’s promise, so they were punished by aimless wondering in the wilderness for the next forty years until the older generation passed away.

God wants us to obey his word. We can clearly see throughout the Old Testament numerous examples of God’s wrath manifested in floods, famine, wars, fire and brimstone, pestilence, and droughts when people or nations are disobedient. But conversely, when people and nations were in line with His will, they were blessed. That’s the way God worked.  He protected those who were selected to be his very own, either by punishing their enemies or bestowing blessings on them.  Malachi 3: 10-11, is very specific“…If you do [as I say], says the Lord Almighty, I will open the windows of heaven for you.  I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in.  Try it!  Let me prove it to you!” Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.  Your grapes will not shrivel before they are ripe.  Then all the nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight.” 

The “rest” promised to the Israelites was the land of Canaan. That was their destination.  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, and also the reason 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”.

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 is a gift 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 is no longer about our work and effort, but about our faith in the finished work of Jesus.

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he died for all sins…past, present, and future. I know how hard that is for us to wrap our mind around because I have heard the same response more than once…”What?  Come on! That makes no sense to anyone with a brain in their head!”  The fact is…you’re right. When limited by our rational thinking it makes absolutely no sense. But God knew we would struggle with many of “his ways”, and also his majestic qualities such as omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience.   That’s why he spoke through the prophet Isaiah in 5:8-9 and said, “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are beyond anything you can imagine.  As high as the heavens are above the earth, my ways are not your ways; my thoughts are not your thoughts.”  His plan for our salvation, “which existed before the world was created” (Ephesians 1:3) is perfect, and it is based entirely on our faith in Him.

Since God knows us better than we know ourselves, he knew we could never – of our own volition – be worthy of coming into his presence. Why? Because we, like it or not, are sinners and are stained with sin. And sin has been proven to spread, contaminate, kill and destroy.  If you doubt that, just look at the world around you.  This was originally paradise, but would you call the world paradise today?

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, and we too are expecting paradise. But the wonderful truth of being a Christ-follower 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. And we can begin experiencing it right here, right now…even in this fallen world.

WHO IS THIS NEW PERSON?

That is part of being in Christ that too many Christians don’t seem to have digested. Jesus came to give us life… a new life, and he wants us to live it to the fullest. At the moment of rebirth, we become a new creation. Our old self (our sin nature) is taken away, and we are filled with a new spirit, the Holy Spirit. It is this spirit of life that empowers us to rise above the world around us.  Prior to our rebirth we were slaves to our sin nature. But after our conversion we are set free from our bondage to sin, so now we can choose to make different choices that are in line with God’s will for our life. Notice that I said, we can choose.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to become the person God created us to be, but we have to choose that path of change.  It must be a conscious effort on our part. But the more we mature as a Christ-follower, the easier it becomes to make different choices because we have, and are, experiencing the truth of God’s word in our new life. Remember…the reason the Israelites were forbidden from entering the Promised Land was because of their unbelief.  They did not believe God’s promises.

Perhaps the most unsung benefit of this new life is the “rest” that comes from being in Christ. 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 tell us, “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’ve always wanted. It also becomes clear that we had been looking for answers in all the wrong places. Conforming to the patterns of this world is clearly not the answer. And the harder we try to fill that “hole in our soul” with worldly “things” and endeavors, the more we sink deeper and deeper into the quagmire of hopelessness. Yes, we may find temporary answers here, but there is only one eternal answer that fills our need.  And that answer is Jesus Christ.

The source of our peace and serenity comes from knowing who we are in Christ. Our new identity tells us we can stop working for His approval.  Unlike the Israelites who remained disobedient to God, we accepted God’s gift of grace, and that IS his will for our life.  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”.  Yes, we will eventually enter our promised land (Heaven), 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.  If you are in Christ…you’re IN!  A-men!!

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)

I would like to open this blog with reference to Psalm 36: “Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.  They have no fear of God to restrain them.  2. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.  4…they make no attempt to turn from evil.”  But… “5. Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. 6. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains…You care for people and animals alike…7. How precious is your unfailing love O God!  All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 9. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.” 

I wrote a few weeks ago about the moral decay of our culture in a posting entitled, “The Proclamation Has Never Changed” (February 17th & 24^th).  The proclamation referenced was the same one shouted to a fallen world by prophets of the Old Testament, John The Baptist, Jesus, Apostle Paul, and even Billy Graham: Repent! Turn from your sin and turn to God!”  While the proclamation itself has not changed, I believe the method of effectively delivering that message to today’s culture has certainly changed.  This is a visual, digital, sensory-oriented culture.  Therefore the timeless message must be delivered in a way that speaks today’s language.  Yesterday Pam and I witnessed what we think is a very effective method of resounding that timeless message, and if the response we saw around us was typical, the audience was certainly ready to hear such a message of hope.

The release of the movie, God’s Not Dead, could not be more timely. Culturally speaking, we are sinking into moral abyss and this is rapidly becoming an era of denigration. By that I mean what once was revered and held sacred is now being mocked, ridiculed and vilified. What used to be tasteless, shameful or even down right disgusting is now center stage and basking in the spotlight.  We could accurately describe the current political/social climate as one filled with anger; with hatred of other people and other people’s ideas if they are contrary to what is culturally “in vogue”; a time of name-calling, finger-pointing and shunning personal responsibility; and a time when lying, cheating and stealing at all levels is a common occurrence.  The worst part of that social indictment is…instead of being repulsed by society as a whole, it is often casually dismissed as “that’s just the way it is today.”  Have we become numb?  Then when you add to that the constant bombardment of a liberal/progressive political agenda that calls into question fundamental principles and shrouds moral and ethical questions with a hefty “gray area” in order to promote an agenda, is it any wonder our culture is DESPERATE for a message of hope?

WHAT MAKES THE MOVIE SO SPECIAL?

I led off with excerpts from Psalm 36 because I believe the first four verses accurately describe the pervasive attitude of our culture.  Verses 5-9 offer what I believe is, and always has been throughout history, the solution.  When people, or nations, are in line with God’s will, they are blessed.  When they are out of line with God’s will, they are on their own.  The movie God’s Not Dead addresses our need for God in a culturally relevant way.

The issue that keeps man separated from God is- and always has been- SIN, and I’m using the term as a noun in this case referring to our “state of being” rather than as a verb indicating action.  Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, mankind has been born with a sin-nature, meaning the spiritual connection that existed between God and man at the beginning was severed when sin entered the world. Without that spiritual connection, man – by his human nature – lives with the focus on himself rather than on God.  (Apostle Paul refers to “us sinners” in Romans 5:6). Therefore, we can go from the cradle to the grave living only for ourselves and in bondage to our sin-nature, or we can restore that original connection with God anytime WE choose to do so.

OUR HUMAN NATURE DEFINED

The first four verses of Psalm 36 describes accurately our sin-nature.  “Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.  They have no fear of God to restrain them”. We don’t awaken in the morning and exclaim, “It’s a good day for sinning.  I think I’ll sin today.”  It’s not a conscious effort on our part; we just do it because it’s our nature.  Our number one priority is “ME!” We aren’t sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. Therefore, unless we “repent”, which literally means to change our mind, we will continue to live in that fallen state.

“2. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are”. The biggest obstacle we have to overcome in order to repent is our pride; realizing “I am not God.”  The same lie the serpent used to entice Eve in the Garden is just as seductive today as it was then.  Unfortunately, while we are in the grips of our sin nature, we are our own god.  Whatever doesn’t fit into our paradigm of reality is dismissed as trivial or useless.  But James 4:6 tells us, “God mocks the proud, but he exalts the humble.”

God knew we would wrestle with his directives, either because they were beyond our ability to comprehend or because they just didn’t “make sense” to our way of thinking.  That is why he spoke through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 55:8-9: “My ways are not your ways; my thoughts are not your thoughts.  As high as the heavens are above the earth, as far as the east is from the west, my thoughts are not your thoughts; my ways are not your ways.”  And Psalm 46:10 tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.”  It seems clear to me that God is telling us not to try to figure him out, because we never will.  And we all know that “being still” and “trusting” in anything is our ultimate challenge.  We like being in charge. Right?

Now when you add to that scenario the fact we are living in a fallen world with this message: “be all you can be”; “you’re #1”; “go for the gusto”; “look out for yourself first if you want to get ahead”; “you’re in charge”; “ya gotta do what ya gotta do”…or you look at what’s on TV; what’s in the latest pop-culture magazines, or you listen to the lyrics of the latest and greatest songs and videos. Wow! It’s easy to begin deluding yourself by thinking, “Nothing’s wrong with me.  I’m just doing what everyone else is doing.  I’m not really a bad person…so what’s the big deal?”

THE SOLUTION

Well, the big deal is this…At some point we are all going to come face to face with a life changing event.  It might be a catastrophic issue with our health; our finances; a relationship; our career, or even our reputation.  We might have to admit for the first time that we are powerless to overcome this monster through our own volition.  What are you going to do?  Who are you going to turn to?  Where is your hope?

Well, the good news is…it’s in that state of brokenness that God becomes the answer-our ally our friend if we humble ourselves and ask him for help.  As stated in James 4:10, “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” And as we were told in the opening Psalm, “5. Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.  6. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains… 9. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.”  These are not just scriptures.  These are God’s promises to those who are in Christ.  Because of our choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are heir to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm and heir to all the promises in His Word.    Stop!  Think about that.  Do you get what that actually means?

That, my friends, is why we should answer the timeless proclamation, “Repent! Turn from your sins and turn to God.”   In the movie, God’s Not Dead, you can see the truth of the opening Psalm and the scriptures contained herein come to life in a timely message that is relevant to a culture that is rapidly sinking into moral decay.  It is a true-to-life portrayal of the conflict between the teachings of the world and the truth of God’s Word.  I personally would like to thank Pure Flix Entertainment for their courage to produce a film that boldly makes a statement that runs contrary to our culture’s bias, but also a film that brings hope to those who are looking for an answer to the question, “How did we get ourselves into this socio/political malaise?”

I believe the fix we are looking for will not be found in a political solution; a military solution, or – heaven forbid – in a revolution, but rather in a spiritual awakening. I believe if we can change the heart and soul of our culture, we can change our nation. This movie is like a life boat on a sinking ship.  And if the response I witnessed in a theater-filled-to capacity is a typical indication of the message’s impact, I believe God’s Not Dead is as welcomed today as water to squelch a blazing fire!  So I encourage you to grab your popcorn; take a seat in your local theater that has the courage to show the movie, and join the movement.  God is NOT dead!

My question to you is…Are you ready to support and proclaim the movement?

May God Bless Ya, and feel free to respond to this posting.

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

That may seem like a redundant title, but I know I’ve been drawn to write about it, so consequently I’ve given it a good deal of thought.  To me… saying, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ” speaks much louder than saying, “I’m a Christian” or even saying, “I’m a Believer.”  I say that because to make the statement, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ” means whoever is making that proclamation has also given some serious thought to its subtle implications.  For many of the Christians and Believers I know, going to church on Sunday and checking the “Done” box pretty much sums-up their commitment.  When they walk out of the church, the remainder of the week is “business as usual”.  But the truth is…if you walk out of church with the same mind-set as when you walked into the church, you just attended a “social gathering”.  Perhaps that is the root cause for one of the most common criticisms of us Christians; “Well, I know he claims to be a Christian, but I don’t see anything different about him.  He still acts like everyone else!”  Wow!  That’s quite an indictment.  If there is one thing Christians should not be, it’s “just like everyone else”.

To be a “follower of Jesus Christ” makes a much bolder statement.  I have heard people ask in various situations, “What would Jesus do?”  Well…you can be sure he would do SOMETHING!  Jesus was anything but a pacifist.  He came to change the world, and you don’t do that by sitting on the sidelines watching life go by and expecting someone else to “do it”.  He challenged the hypocrisy and erroneous teaching of the religious elite, and his preaching was contrary to the world’s view.  Can you imagine listening to his first sermon: “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven; blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5: 3,5)  No one had ever spoken like this before. And he also boldly spoke the truth to his followers about the conflict they would have with the world.  In Matthew 10:28, Jesus tells his Disciples, “All the nations will hate you because you are my followers.” That’s hard to misinterpret!  But he also goes on to tell them why they would make the choice to follow Him; “But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.”  Jesus came to save the world, and as his followers we are charged to follow his example. Therefore, sitting idly by and pursuing “life as usual” is not the answer.  He wants us to be active…to be participants in this endeavor.

That is, no doubt, a daunting challenge.  I also realize how it can strike fear in people.  But regardless of those two “minor” details, this is the truth you must never forget:  God’s salvation plan for us is perfect! As we are told throughout the scriptures, whatever God expects from us, he will equip us to complete  successfully.  His promise to us time and time again has been, “I will never leave you or forsake you”, Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5, etc.  When we stand on that truth we are ready to be “followers of Jesus Christ.”

HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY DO IT?

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, a transformation takes place, and to reference Bob George again, author of Classic Christianity, “You can’t have a changed life until you experience an exchanged life.”  How true that statement is, and contained therein is the “how” part of being a “follower of Jesus.”  2 Corinthians tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here!”  The “old” referred to in that scripture is our “old self (our “sin nature”, or as our culture calls it, our “human nature”).  The “new creation” means we now contain the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to empower us to accomplish our new purpose in life, and that new purpose is to become more Christ-like.  Apostle Paul clearly states this in 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 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 sinful nature.”   That is HOW we live the life we are called to live.

The sad reality is, I’ve seen and heard want-to-be Christians throw up their hands in exasperation and exclaim, “I just can’t do it!”  And the truth is…they (we, I) can’t do it of our own volition.  It’s as though they have never heard about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and what it means to be “empowered” to live the new life we are called to live.  While churches teach forgiveness of sin and eternal life when talking about salvation, not all teach about the power of the Holy Spirit and the freedom we have as new Christians.  It is that part of the Salvation package, the power of the Holy Spirit, which, in my opinion, makes this plan so incredible.  Now we are empowered to be Christ-followers in this fallen world.  Now we are empowered to begin living the life Christ modeled when he was walking the earth. This is the meaning of 1John 4:4, “But you belong to God, my dear children.  You have already won your fight…because the Spirit that lives in you (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the spirit who lives in this world.” (Satan)   My friends, you have to get this!  This is Key!!  This is a promise from a loving God who wants YOU to be his light in this fallen world.

Unfortunately, as new Christ-followers we have no mental delete buttons to push.  We still have our past to contend with; we still have relationship issues to deal with; we may still have crabby bosses, crappy circumstances to deal with, etc.  The list can go on and on, but make no mistake about this:  once you make a decision to change your life, Satan is going to go into warp speed to try to shipwreck you new pursuit.  He is going to come after you in every way imaginable because he knows your every weakness, and he is relentless!  He is the father of lies; the master manipulator and the great deceiver.

But…take solace in these scriptural facts from a loving God who has made it possible for you to become the person he created you to be:  He will never leave you or forsake you (paragraph 3); you are no longer a slave to your sin-nature (paragraph 4); and you are already victorious because the Spirit in YOU is greater than anything Satan can bring your way. (paragraph 5).  Once these truths get from your head to your heart and you stand on them because you KNOW and BELIEVE they are true, you are in the process of becoming more Christ-like.

ONCE AGAIN…WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO?

The Holy Spirit does not do these things for you.  The growth and maturity of a Christ-follower takes place in the process itself.  Therefore the Holy Spirit empowers YOU to accomplish the tasks.  Your role is to see the temptation; the relationship issue; the addiction; the behavior or anger issue; whatever it is you are facing, and simply ask: “Holy Spirit, help me overcome this issue so I can continue becoming the person God created me to be.  Please give me wisdom; give me patience; give me strength; give me courage; give me perseverance, WHATEVER IT IS I NEED to tackle this problem.  Then tackle it with confidence knowing that you are already victorious.  Keep at it, keep praying and asking the Holy Spirit to guide you until you are victorious.  Remember…that’s God’s promise to you!  It’s his promise because you are now his child; you are in Christ.  Jesus made this all possible because of his sacrifice on the cross.  As a Christ-follower, you are covered with his blood and committed to following his example in both word and deed.  You are to actively carry a message of hope and salvation into a dark world.

I would like to close with this personal story.  I was driving back to St. Louis from Crooksville, Ohio two summers ago, and once I got around Columbus and was heading west on I70, I was committed to turning off the radio, my cell and concentrating on this predetermined question: “What does it mean for Jesus to be Lord of my life.”  It took no time to become thoroughly immersed in that thought process and I gotta tell you, about two and a half hours later when I finally snapped out of my “trance”, I was crossing from Ohio into Indiana, wondering who had been driving.  I was in the Thunderbird convertible, so the top was down, sun was shining and I became aware of the scenery.  If you know that part of I70, it is very wooded on both sides of the highway from the Ohio border to Richmond, IN.  About ten miles down the highway (on the south side, my left side) was a clearing, and in the middle of these dense trees was the biggest bright white billboard I have ever seen with this message in crimson red:  JESUS IS REAL.  Not a scripture…but a message.  Jesus IS real!!

I have since talked with people I know who are traveling in that direction, and have even asked truckers who have made that trip many times, but so far, no one else has seen that billboard with that message.  But it was there when it needed to be there, and it was the perfect affirmation for my decision that day… .  to make Jesus Lord of my life: to put Him first; to make Him my number one endeavor, knowing full well that this process is all about progress and not perfection.  The perfection part will only come on the other side, but the more prominent He becomes in my life now, the more I can experience the Kingdom of Heaven right here, right now, and the more I can share this message with others.

 So my question to you today is:  Is Jesus Lord of your life?   And why?

 May God Bless Ya, and feel free to respond to this posting.

 Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Well… we’re back from our walk, Glenn and Cliff are snoozing on the floor and I’m listening to the last concert by the Saint Louis Wind Symphony with a nice cup of hazelnut coffee in hand.  So far it’s an awesome day.  Next weekend’s concert will end this regular concert season, but what a great season we’ve had.  This concert features a work commissioned by the STLWS, Symphony No. 7 (Symphony for Sam) by Andrew Boysen.  It’s a befitting tribute to a wonderful man, Sam Goldstein and it certainly shows off the talent of the players.   If you’re in the St. Louis area next weekend, please take it in.  You’ll be glad you joined us.

I started last week’s blog with the following statement: “Christianity is unique among all world religions in that it is based on faith rather than works”.  Jesus said in Mark 9:23“If you can believe, all things are possible for him who believes.”  So the question you have to ask yourself at this point is…do you believe Mark’s  statement?  If the answer is “no”, all that means is you need to engage in more reading, studying, meditating and praying.  Why?  Because believing is another word for faith, and Apostle Paul is very clear about the origin of faith: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing, and from hearing the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)  That is paraphrased by Bob George, author of “Classic Christianity”, when he states, “You can’t have faith in something you know nothing about.”  In other words, since we are talking about a specific kind of faith (faith in God and in Jesus Christ), that faith can’t develop if we know nothing about the very essence of God and Jesus Christ – and that can only happen through a relationship. As stated in Deuteronomy 4:29,“if we seek Him we will find Him”, and again in John 15:4,“…if we abide in Him, he will abide in us.”   In other words, God is waiting for us to begin seeking, and he wants us to keep seeking.  But the truth is…the development of that relationship is contingent on the first two words of those two scriptures:  “if you”.

Let me present a scenario here.  Suppose you are outside watering your grass and you hear one neighbor tell another neighbor, “The burglaries are getting out of control in our neighborhood.  Thieves are boldly breaking into people’s homes and robbing them at gun point.”  You think, “Wow, I’d better do something to protect me and my family.”  So you go home, sit down at your computer and look up burglar alarms.  You find one that has impressive credentials and you deem it to be the best, so you make a purchase.  You go to the store to pick it up; you bring it home; you get it installed, and right away you feel safer.  BUT…the only thing you don’t know for sure is…“does it really do what it says it will do?”  Hmmmm…  A week goes by, all is well, but one evening when you are watching your favorite show on TV, the lights and whistles on the control panel go off.  A person is entering your property from the east side of your house.  But before the intruder can get to your porch, a police car arrives and they arrest the culprit. WOW!  Now you’re really excited about this new purchase. Two weeks later that same scenario repeats itself.  WOWzer! Now you’re even more excited about this system because you know it works.  What’s more, you have just become the latest volunteer salesman for that product.  Why?  Because you know it works.  The truth of the purchase has been manifested in your life, so now you have faith in it.

FAITH VS FEAR

As we experience the truth of God’s word manifested in our own life through study, prayer, and meditation, we begin developing a foundation of truth on which we can stand.  This is what Apostle Paul is referring to when he talks about putting on the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-12: “Be strong in the Lord’s mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor (the truth of his Word) so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” It is this foundation of truth that allows us to step out in faith because our experience with God’s truth trumps our own fear.   And what is fear?  Fear is the opposite of, or lack of faith.  It is fear that keeps us mired in bondage to our old self!

But as followers of Jesus Christ, we have been called to our life according to a much higher standard than what we see in the world around us.  That is indeed a challenge because: 1. we are still living in these fleshly bodies that want to yield to our lustful desires; 2. we see most people around us doing things that seem perfectly natural to them, but we as Christ-followers know we must resist those temptations; and 3. because Satan, the great deceiver, is working at warp speed to shipwreck our new life.  The truth is,we will never be free of that conflict.  Apostle Paul clearly states this in 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 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 sinful nature.”  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen people throw up their hands in exasperation and exclaim, “I JUST CAN’T DO IT!” But I always like to applaud them for reaching that state of enlightenment.  You’re right…you can’t do it.  But the good news is…He can.  And that is why the Holy Spirit is part of God’s salvation plan for us.  He wants us to overcome this world; he wants us be his shining light in the darkness that is all around us.

TO BE IN CHRIST

In a previous blog I wrote about what it means to be in Christ. Even before the creation of the world, God’s plan was to send a savior, Jesus  Christ, to do for us what we (mankind) would prove we could not do for ourselves.  Ephesians 1:4 tells us, “…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.  And this gave him great pleasure”.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are in Christ and subject to all the promises in the Bible and heir to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm.  And what are those spiritual blessings?  Our sins are forgiven: we are now acceptable to God; we are his children; his will for us is revealed; we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and we are loved unconditionally.  Roman’s 8: 38-39 tells us: “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 demons can’t.  Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.  Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  I would like to suggest reading Ephesians 1:1-14 to get a very clear picture of what it means to be in Christ. 

When Jesus was talking with his Apostles at the last supper, he told them again about his impending death.  He told them he would be arrested, tried and crucified, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. His followers were in a state of shock and grief at the thought of losing their beloved Jesus, but they apparently missed the part about his resurrection.  Jesus  knew as he looked at this rag-tag assemblage, they were a rather weak lot, yet these were the men who were going to be responsible for carrying his message into the world.  He was keenly aware that whatever strength they did garner, they got from him, so he told them he would not leave them as orphans, but would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth; to be their counselor, teacher, comforter, guide.  He told them, in John 14: 15-17, “you do not need the Holy Spirit at this time, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”  In this passage, Jesus makes very clear that the Holy Spirit and Jesus are one.  The same way Jesus empowered his Apostles 2014 years ago, he empowers us today through the Holy Spirit to accomplish his purpose.  That’s the meaning of 1John 4:4, “The Spirit that is in me (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the spirit in this world.”(Satan)

Take note as well as delight: we are already victorious in our Christian endeavor.  That is made quite clear in the last scripture.  The stronger our foundation of faith, the more we can step out in faith.  Why should we be stymied by fear?  God’s salvation plan for us is absolutely perfect.  Not only are we called to live to a higher standard than the world around us, but we are given the power to accomplish HIS purpose.  That is why today we are even more than his “proudest creation” (Genesis 1:27), we are his “masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10) because now we can become the person he created us to be.

Christians…now it’s all about living the abundant life Jesus promised us.  Don’t be like the Israelites wandering around in the wilderness for forty years fearing to take the land that God had already promised them.  Go for the gusto!  Grab the victory that is already yours in Christ.  You’ve already won the battle!!

So my question to you today is, do you step out in faith?  Why or why not?

May God Bless Ya, and feel free to respond to this posting.

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

I would like to begin today by presenting  a scenario.  You’re walking down the street and a well-dressed, articulate man comes up and tells you he is the buyer for Joe’s Electronic Center and they are overstocked with flat-screen TV’s.  They are out of space and they need to liquidate some of their current inventory to make room for the new stock, so they are having a close-out sale on their name brand TV’s and are offering them at 70% off the manufacturer’s suggested price.  All sales are cash-only and are non-refundable.  He gives you a hand written invitation to view the TV’s at a warehouse nearby and reminds you to bring cash for the transaction?  Would you go??

Most people would probably say “no”, and if asked why, the most common reasons would probably include:  “I don’t know the man, so I don’t know if I can trust him”; or “I’m not familiar with Joe’s Electronic Center”; or “I don’t feel comfortable going to the warehouse carrying cash”.  All of those reasons are valid reasons for being suspicious, and they also would validate a statement made by an author I admire, Bob George.  He states in his best seller, Classic Christianity, “you can’t have faith in someone or something you know nothing about.”  In other words you can only have faith in something if you have knowledge of it and have experienced the truth of your faith-object.

If the salesman were your uncle; or if you were aware that this was common practice by Joe’s Electronic Center and you previously had bought a computer there at a deeply discounted price; or if you had been to the warehouse and knew there were security guards in the parking lot as well as inside, that information would have greatly impacted your decision.  Therefore I believe we can conclude that developing faith in something depends not only on your knowledge of the faith-object, but it’s also necessary to experience the truth of that knowledge coming to fruition in your own life.

HOW DOES THIS SCENARIO PERTAIN TO OUR CHRISTIAN WALK?

Christianity is unique among all world religions in that it is based on faith rather than works.  Jesus said in Mark 9:23“If you can believe, all things are possible for him who believes.” Now don’t misunderstand what I just said; works are undoubtedly important, (James 2:20 tells us “faith without works is dead.”) but the impetus for the work is different.  Other religions of the world stress works in order to make us acceptable to God. Christianity stresses God’s gift to us, Jesus Christ, and our work results from our faith in what he has already done for us. (John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”)

Everything about Christianity points toward our faith, and it is exhibited in our words and our deeds.  As a new Christian, we become “a new creation” in Christ, but that is just the beginning of a process called “transformation”.  How quickly that process develops depends entirely on our commitment and our willingness to participate in the process. Let me explain.  I proudly belong to a 12-step program called “Alcoholics Anonymous”.  That program, like Christianity, is also a process – a life-long process.  And like Christianity, AA is also a program of progress, not perfection.  The more we participate in the process and continue to practice the principles of recovery in all of our affairs, the more joy, peace and serenity we experience.  As stated in the Big Book of AA, “half-measures avail us nothing”, so unless we surrender to the process (admit our powerlessness over “our addiction” and surrender to the power of the 12 steps), relapse is the most likely end result.  Unfortunately I have witnessed that truth in literally hundreds of cases during the past fourteen years, so I am undoubtedly a believer.  (FYI: the 12 steps are based on Biblical principles.)

All of what I just wrote is parallel to the Christian walk, and it begins when we realize our own limitations and shortcomings and make a decision to do something about it. That decision is admitting our powerlessness over our sin nature; realizing that of our own volition we are incapable of making and maintaining the necessary changes in our life; then asking God to do for us what we have been unable to do for ourselves.  It would be wonderful if this were the end of the journey and from this point forward everything would be “paradise”, but unfortunately this is just the beginning. To change from our “old self” into the “new person” God created us to be requires our participation in the process, because it is in the process itself where we experience growth and change.

Most people turn to God in a state of brokenness, but occasionally there are those who, like Moses, have an epiphany (or burning bush experience). In either case, fanning the flames of the awakening is essential to keep the embers from dying out, and the best way to do that is to come to know Him and experience Him.   Therefore God chose to reveal himself to mankind through His Word, the Holy Bible.   We are told 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.” And again, 2Timothy 3:16-17 states, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true…It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing He wants us to do.” The Bible reveals to us God’s personal and majestic qualities: a God of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, patience; He is unchanging, always there, all knowing, all powerful, and immutable.  It tells us how/what he thinks; what he thinks about us; his plans for us; what his standards are; what his promises are, and how we can achieve those promises. We need answers to these questions before we can choose to enter into a relationship with Him, but then it is by growing in knowledge of these truths and experiencing these truths manifested in our life that faith develops and grows.  As our faith forms and builds this scriptural foundation, the more we can step out in faith because our faith trumps our fear.  We now have a trusting relationship with God.

While the Bible is undoubtedly God’s “owner’s manual” of life, unfortunately most people are ignorant of its content.  I don’t mean ignorant in a derogatory sense, but rather “unaware of the truth” contained therein.  Jesus stated very clearly in John 8:31-32, “…if you follow my teachings, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. Notice that He was very specific about the source of “the truth”; “follow my teachings”.  But the process begins with the first two words, “if you”.  If you are willing to put forth the effort to learn about, then follow Jesus’ teachings, the promise is…you will be “set free” from bondage to your sin nature.

MY EXPERIENCE:

And what did Jesus teach?  During his life on this earth, he taught and modeled the truth of God’s word.  John states in 1:14, “So the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.” There was a time in my life when I mocked and ridiculed those words.  How could any rational, logical, “intelligent” person (like me) believe such a fairy tale?  That truth certainly didn’t fit into my paradigm of thinking!  Why?…because I was ignorant of the truth.  I was totally immersed in the “gospel of the world”! But like so many others, when I was humbled to the point of surrender and opened my eyes, my ears, and my heart to “a new way of thinking”, I could begin connecting the dots of truth found in the scriptures.  As Apostle Paul tells us 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.”

Today I have a completely different perspective on this matter, and it is based on my own seeking of Scriptural truths.  And the more I see these truths and promises manifested in my own life, the stronger the foundation of truth on which I stand. Remember…this is how faith develops and grows.  For instance: We are told in Deuteronomy 4:29,  “if we seek Him we will find Him”.  John 15:4 tells us, “…if we abide in Him, he will abide in us.”  Deuteronomy 31:6 proclaims, “Be strong and courageous….for He will never leave you or forsake you.”  And James 4:10 exclaims, “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.”  Today I believe with all my heart that anyone who seeks God will find him.  I also know – without a doubt – that even if a smart person (like I was) will put forth the effort to seek answers and is willing to connect the dots, you can come to no other logical conclusion than: Jesus Christ IS who he claimed to be,  and he came to do what he said he came to do.  This was always God’s plan for mankind, and it is clearly stated in Romans 5: 6, 10, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies (sinners), we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.”   The truth of that verse alone should set you free.  AND… it is clearly God’s will for all of us!  A-men!!

Next week I will continue with part 2 of  Developing and Stepping Out in Faith.  So my question to you today is: have you humbled yourself enough to bow down before God and admit your dependence on Him?  Have you experienced the truths of Scripture come to fruition in your life?   Feel free to respond to this post.

May God Bless ya,

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

I began my blog last week with the following prologue. “Today’s post will be a bit different from my previous posts.  I feel compelled to write about something that is on my heart, and something that I know many of my readers are concerned about as well.  This will be a two part series, but from a different perspective than is usually presented.  This is Part 2.

I love America.  I believe in America, and I hope you do too?  I believe that America, even with its faults, is still the greatest country the world has ever seen. I proudly served my country. Therefore when I look at the political and moral decay that is undeniably evident at the very heart of our great nation, it saddens me.  When I look around and see its insidious impact on today’s culture, it grieves me even more.

So what happened?  How did we get in this current state of identity despair where good has become bad and bad has become good; where heroes have become villains and villains have become heroes?  Did it start with political correctness?  Did it happen because good men did nothing…or even worse, sold out to a power broker who made them “an offer they couldn’t refuse”?

Well, we can talk about “the problem”. But to be aware of it; to talk about it, yet to do nothing about it, contributes zilch, nada, zip, ZERO to alleviating “the problem.” Therefore I would like to offer some ideas that are not political, rebellious, racist or terrorist in nature, but ones that I know will begin a healing process that can change the very heart and soul of this great nation. It will be a challenge, and it will take the efforts of many like-minded Americans, but the power of this endeavor can certainly be traced through history.

I have a dream that our culture will be exposed to the truth, and the truth will set us free!  The original author of that statement, Jesus Christ, was very specific.  He stated in John 8:32, “If you follow my teachings, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” 

And what did Jesus teach?  His message was simple, yet profound: to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind; to love our neighbor as our self; forgiveness, mercy, grace and service to others.  That message is the blueprint for changing the state of one’s heart.  When a man’s heart is changed, the man is changed.  Therefore, when the “collective heart” of a culture is changed, I believe the culture will change.”

Last week I pointed out that the common theme of the Bible is, and always has been, “Repent [change your mind]; turn from your sins and turn to God.”  That message has been proclaimed throughout both the Old and New Testament, and I cited numerous scriptures to substantiate that statement including Jeremiah 18:7-10: “If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 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.”   

I also cited references from an insightful book by Jonathan Cahn, messianic Rabbi, history scholar and author of the best-seller, The Harbinger, who compares the United States and the events of 9/11/2001 to ancient Israel and the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel.  The author draws undeniable parallels between the events, and presents compelling evidence that history is repeating itself.  I would invite you to check out the first posting to get the background and perspective for the remainder of this blog.  It can be found at meetpastordan.com/blog 

THE PROBLEM:

I personally believe the problems our country faces today are not solvable by electing a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent candidate to any office.  I believe the crux of our problems have been brewing for the past few generations and are way beyond a political solution. I also believe that the principles of Jesus’ teaching, as outlined above, have become so convoluted, so marginalized as to be virtually un-recognizable today.  To support that last statement, let’s look at the anger; the hatred of other people and other ideas; the name calling; the finger pointing; the lack of personal responsibility; the lying, cheating and stealing at all levels; the vilifying of achievement and success; the increasing sense of hopelessness; the decline of honor and integrity in our leadership and our pathetic acceptance of that as, “just the way it is today” by a culture that has been both numbed and dumbed down!  Then there’s the constant bombardment by the liberal/progressive agenda (one that smells a lot like socialism to me); one that calls into question the fundamental principles on which our country was founded and shrouds all moral and ethical questions with a hefty “gray area”, thus permitting the agenda to move forward by questioning the value, validity and cultural relevance of “the truth” as outlined in the opening statement.

I believe all of this points to a deeper, more sinister malady that affects our nation’s very heart and soul.  In my opinion our country is MORALLY BANKRUPT and in desperate need of a spiritual transformation.  Think about it.  What used to be revered and held as sacred is now mocked, ridiculed and vilified. What used to be tasteless, shameful, or even down–right disgusting is now center stage and basking in the spotlight.

 Is this a new problem?  Is this something unique to America today?  The answer is NO!

Whether looking back to the fall of the Kingdom of Israel; the fall of the Egyptian Empire, the Roman Empire, or even at the Twentieth Century fall of the Japanese Nation or the Third Reich, it is easy to see commonalities. And at the heart of every nation’s demise has always been a spiritual and moral decay of the culture.  That’s why The Proclamation has never changed from Jeremiah, to Zechariah, to Jesus, to Billy Graham; “Repent! Turn from your sins and turn to God!” 

 THE VISION:

As stated previously, I believe the answer to solving the problems that are plaguing our beloved country today will not be found in a political solution, a military solution or, heaven forbid, a revolution. No. I believe we need another solution; a more powerful solution that will impact the very heart and soul of this great nation.  Just like the nations referenced above, when a country-even a great country like America- begins the downward spiral into the morass of spiritual decline and moral decay, the very foundation of the country becomes fractured. Values change; ethics are questioned; what once was evil has now become accepted; what once was sacred is now shamed and what once was shamed is now sacred.  The unfortunate result of this scenario is the hope for America’s future begins to die away. And what’s worse…we can feel the life being sucked right out of us!  So where do we look for a solution to this nightmare???

 THE SOLUTION:

Since I believe our nation’s problem is a spiritual problem, I believe the answer will be found in a spiritual awakening. In my opinion our culture is prime for – no, even desperate for – a spiritual awakening. Therefore, wouldn’t a message of hope and truth that people can count on…or better still, stake their life on, be looked upon as a blessing?  A message of love; of forgiveness – regardless of who we are or what we have done; a message of redemption and salvation; a message of compassion, mercy, grace and service to our fellow man…I can’t believe those words would not be welcomed today like water for a blazing fire. Haven’t we had enough anger, hatred, name calling, finger pointing, lying, cheating and stealing! Wasn’t our nation founded on more lofty principles and ideals?  Wasn’t our nation viewed as “that shining light on a hill? Were we not a world leader and a bastion of hope for everyone when we adhered to those principles and ideals?

 One undeniable truth that has existed from Creation until today is:  When people (or nations) are in line with God’s will, he blesses them.  When they are out of line with His will, they suffer the consequences of their decisions and actions.  That is the story of people and nations throughout the Bible.  Unfortunately, I believe our nation today is reaping the consequences of its decisions and actions.

The Proclamation referenced above and delivered to people and to nations throughout the Old and New Testaments has never changed. And while I believe The Proclamation contains the answer to our nation’s woes, I also know that for any message to hit its target, it must speak in a way that will have maximum impact on its target. It will have to be a new voice and a new presentation of the proclamation’s timeless truth because today’s target is a visual, digital, and sensory oriented society that is totally wrapped-up in worldly teaching and values and virtually ignorant of the truth found in John 8:32 referenced above.  Will it be a challenge?  Yes!  Is it impossible?  No…and I say No for two reasons:

1. 1.    I believe most of our culture is ready to hear – no desperate to hear and experience– a message of hope and truth.  I believe they would be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  I believe if we can change the heart and soul of this culture, we can change this nation.

1. 2.    As stated in Luke 1:37, “Nothing is impossible with God!”   As in Jeremiah 18: 7 referenced above, “when we turn from our evil ways and turn to His ways, he will welcome us home.”  Our God is a loving, merciful, forgiving God who does not want to lose anyone.

Is a solution of this sort available now?  It’s commin’!  And it will resound The Proclamation in a new key…the key of RENEWED HOPE AND REBIRTH!   May God bless America!!

Today’s post will be a bit different from my previous posts.  I feel compelled to write about something that is on my heart, and something that I know many of my readers are concerned about as well.  This will be a two part series, but from a different perspective than is usually presented.

I love America.  I believe in America, and I hope you do too?  I believe that America, even with its faults, is still the greatest country the world has ever seen. I proudly served my country. Therefore when I look at the political and moral decay that is undeniably evident at the very heart of our great nation, it saddens me.  When I look around and see its insidious impact on today’s culture, it grieves me even more.

So what happened?  How did we get in this current state of identity despair where good has become bad and bad has become good; where heroes’ have become villains and villains have become heroes?  Did it start with political correctness?  Did it happen because good men did nothing…or even worse, sold out to a power broker who made them “an offer they couldn’t refuse”?

Well, we can talk about “the problem”. But to be aware of it; to talk about it, yet to do nothing about it, contributes zilch, nada, zip, ZERO to alleviating “the problem.” Therefore I would like to offer some ideas that are not political, rebellious, racist or terrorist in nature, but ones that I know will begin a healing process that can change the very heart and soul of this great nation. It will be a challenge, and it will take the efforts of many like-minded Americans, but the power of this endeavor can certainly be traced through history.

I have a dream that our culture will be exposed to the truth, and the truth will set us free!  The original author of that statement, Jesus Christ, was very specific.  He stated in John 8:32, “If you follow my teachings, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” 

And what did Jesus teach?  His message was simple, yet profound: to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind; to love our neighbor as our self; forgiveness, mercy, grace and service to others.  That message is the blueprint for changing the state of one’s heart.  When a man’s heart is changed, the man has changed.  Therefore, when the “collective heart” of a culture is changed, the culture will also change.

THE PROCLAMATION HAS NEVER CHANGED

The common theme of the Bible is, and always has been, “Repent; turn from your sins and turn to God.”  This message has been proclaimed throughout both the Old and New Testament:

2 Chronicles 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.” 

Jeremiah 18:7-10, “If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 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.”

Luke 13:3, And Jesus, when speaking to a crowd, stated “…And you will also perish unless your turn from your evil ways and turn to God.”   (Additional scriptures in the Appendix)

Jonathan Cahn, messianic Rabbi, history scholar and author of the best-selling book, The Harbinger, compares the United States and the events of 9/11/2001 to ancient Israel and the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel.  The author draws undeniable parallels between the events, and presents compelling evidence that history is repeating itself.  Below are some excerpts from The Harbinger:

“America was founded on prayer. Therefore, the removal of prayer from its public life was a central part of its fall from God. A nation that turns away from prayer will ultimately find itself in desperate need of it.” 
― Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger 

“But no nation in the modern world has ever been given so much. None has been so blessed. But to whom much is given, much is required.

But if a nation so blessed by God should turn away from Him, what then? Its blessing will be replaced with curses?

Yes.

And has America turned away from God? I asked.

It has turned and is turning.

How?

In the same way Israel turned. It started with a spiritual complacency, then spiritual confusion, then the merging of God with idols and then, ultimately, the rejection of his ways. Just as with ancient Israel, America began ruling God out of its life, turning, step by step, against His ways, at first subtly and then more and more brazenly.” 
― Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger 

“As God was expunged from American life, idols came in to fill the void; idols of sensuality, idols of greed, of money, of success, comfort, materialism, pleasure, sexual immorality, self-worship, self-obsession. The sacred increasingly disappeared, and the profane took its place.” 
― Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger      (Additional excepts in the Appendix)

 WHAT IT MEANS

 Did any of that reading get your attention?  Does any of it sound like America today? (If you want even more of a jolt, read The Harbinger in its entirety.)  Not that I think we should develop our point of view based entirely on this book, but Jonathan Cahn, as a Rabbinical scholar as well as a noted history scholar (and former atheist, I might add) certainly has portrayed with accuracy the social, political and spiritual climate of our great country.  And I suspect the commonality and concern of everyone reading this is… maintaining our status as a great country.  Not only great in terms of power and prosperity, but great as that shining light that exemplifies freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; tolerance and respect for others; justice, and a reverence for God.

No doubt Israel was blessed from the beginning: first as a people group because they were descendants of righteous men, (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ), then later as a nation, delivered from bondage to the most powerful nation at that time-Egypt, to be led  through the wilderness to their Promised Land.  God chose to show his power through Israel because it was the smallest and weakest of nations at that time. (FYI: that’s how He works.  When we let Him, by His grace He turns our weakness into our strength!)

As Rabbi Cahn so emphatically pointed out, America was the only other nation to receive such a blessing.  And why was that?  Because this was a nation founded on prayer and built on Judeo-Christian principles.  “Therefore, America would rise to heights no other nation had ever known. Not that it was ever without fault or sin, but America did aspire to fulfill its calling.” And what was that calling, you ask? “To be a vessel of redemption, an instrument of God’s purposes, a light to the world. It would give refuge to the world’s poor and needy, and hope to its oppressed. It would stand against tyranny. It would fight, more than once, against the dark movements of the modern world that threatened to engulf the earth.”

As God’s chosen nation, he put a hedge of protection around us (just like he did with Israel) and was with us in times of conflict.  But as clearly stated above in Jeremiah 18, “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.”  (Remember, this quote is from the Bible, not from the other best-seller, The Harbinger!)  In other words, when we turn from God’s way and become embroiled in evil, God will withdraw his hedge of protection from us.  Do you doubt that?  What about 9/11/2001?  Rabbi Cahn refers to that event as the first harbinger, which means “warning”.  Has there been a second harbinger?  Hummm… What happened in 2008?

So I ask you…are the wheels coming off?  Are we headed in a good direction?  What’s the answer?  Well, this was just the prologue.  Next week I will talk about the “problem” and what I believe are sound ideas for a solution.

So my questions to you today are… “Are you concerned about America?”  Do you talk about it?  Are you willing to become involved in a solution? Feel free to respond to this post.

May God Bless Ya,

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

                                                                                                           APPENDIX

Ezekiel 18:21, “But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my laws and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.”

Mark 8:38, “If a person (nation) is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person.” (nation)

Excerpts from The Harbinger 

“The reason was tolerance?” I asked.

Yes he replied, the same tolerance that overtook ancient Israel…a tolerance for everything opposed to God, a growing tolerance for immorality, and a growing intolerance for the pure.  A tolerance that mocked, marginalized and condemned those who remained faithful to the values now being discarded. Innocence was ridiculed and virtue was vilified. Children were taught of sexual immorality in public schools while the Word of God was banned. It was a tolerance that put the profane on public display and removed nativity scenes from public sight…contraband, as if somehow they had become a threat-a strangely intolerant tolerance.

“But still, I countered, how does all that compare to what happened in ancient Israel? America doesn’t offer its children on altars of sacrifice?

“Does it not? he said. Ten years after removing prayer and Scripture from its public schools, the nation legalized the killing of its unborn.” 
― Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger

But there was one other – a civilization also conceived and dedicated to the will of God from its conception…America.  In fact, those who laid its foundation, the Founding Fathers…no, long before the Founding Fathers… those who laid America’s foundations saw it as a new Israel, an Israel of the New World. And as with ancient Israel, they saw it as in covenant with God?

Meaning?

Meaning its rise or fall would be dependent on its relationship with God. If it followed His ways, America would become the most blessed, prosperous, and powerful nation on earth. From the very beginning they foretold it.

And what they foretold would come true?

America would rise to heights no other nation had ever known. Not that it was ever without fault or sin, but it would aspire to fulfill its calling.

What calling?

To be a vessel of redemption, an instrument of God’s purposes, a light to the world. It would give refuge to the world’s poor and needy, and hope to its oppressed. It would stand against tyranny. It would fight, more than once, against the dark movements of the modern world that threatened to engulf the earth.” 
― Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger

“Which do you think is greater,” he asked, “the moral distance that separates us from the most monstrous of Nazis or that which separates us from God?” ― Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger  

This is the final segment in this mini-series, Why Would I Accept Jesus? Well…  You have read in the previous posts that this series was prompted by a question that was asked of me by a young man after I delivered a message at Sunshine Mission about a year ago.  He asked, “What’s the big deal about Jesus?”  My immediate answer was, “Jesus isn’t just a big deal, He’s THE ONLY DEAL! No doubt there have been enough books written on this subject alone to fill a library, so my intent has never been to be all-inclusive in this blog-format.  For a reader who is searching for answers, or one who is “on the fence” about their belief like the young man at Sunshine Mission, hopefully this series will give you enough perspective to begin searching for “more”. And believe me, there’s more!  As you begin your journey of “coming to know Jesus Christ”, I believe the deeper you dig, the more you will realize that he is undoubtedly the most important figure ever to have lived.  He changed the world in which he lived; and he changed the world forever, and he will certainly change you.  Jesus tells us in Luke 11;10 “if we seek him we will find him.” 

The first week I talked about what Jesus had to say about himself.  He referred to himself as “I AM”, meaning he is one with God; he is everything; he is immutable. He said, “I am the Son of God”, meaning he came from Heaven; he existed before he existed in his mother’s womb. He said, “I am the Son of Man”, meaning he is the natural “counterpart” to the Son of God; he was thoroughly human; he was one of us. He said, “I am the Messiah”, meaning the anointed one from God; the Savior of the World.  And He said, “I am the “truth”, meaning he is the Word of God incarnate. (Ref. John 1:1)

Last week I wrote about how we develop faith.  As we come to know Jesus and begin to experience that “the truth of his teachings do set us free” (John 4:32), we begin building a solid foundation of truth on which we can stand, and from which our faith develops.  And what did Jesus teach: to love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind; to love our neighbor as our self; mercy, grace, compassion, forgiveness and service to others.  I also talked about the issue of SIN.  That has always been the barrier that has separated God from man, but for followers of Jesus Christ, that issue has become a non-issue since Jesus came as the sacrificial lamb to die in our place for the forgiveness of our sin. 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST

This week I want to wrap-up by talking about what all of this means to us:  Why Jesus is not just a “big deal”, but why he’s THE ONLY DEAL!  As believers, or followers of Jesus Christ, we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.  That means we believe He is who he claims to be; that he came to do what he said he would do (pay the price for our sins); and as his follower, we inherit eternal life and are heir to all the promises found in the Bible – and they are numerous!

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, something incredible happens at that moment of surrender.  We immediately experience what Bob George, author of “Classic Christianity”, refers to as “the exchanged life.”  According to Mr. George, “we will never experience a changed life until we experience an “exchanged life.”  The basis of that statement is found in 2 Corinthians, 5:17-18: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…”  The “old things” referenced above is our “sin nature”, meaning our natural inclination to live our life with the focus on satisfying ourselves and our lustful desires and pleasures rather than bringing honor and glory to God as was originally intended.

The “new things” referenced above is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which replaces our “sin nature”.  As stated above, prior to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we were slaves to our “sin nature”.  But now we have options.  The nature of the Holy Spirit is not to sin but to please God.  Apostle Paul states this beautifully in Romans 8:12-14, “So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.  For if you keep on following it, you will perish.  But if, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”  This reinforces the welcomed proclamation found in Romans 8:1-2: “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!”  How’s that for a message of blatant HOPE!

THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER

So why are we children of God? Because we are in Christ.  Why are our sins forgiven? Because we are in Christ. Why do we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Because we are in Christ.  Wow!  As you can clearly see, being in Christ is important, but it’s more than important…it’s imperative! Being in Christ IS Christianity, and because of that, when God looks at me he no longer sees Dan the sinner, nor will he see you as a sinner.  No, if we have accepted His Gift of Grace (Jesus Christ), we are children of God because we are covered with the blood of Jesus.  Hebrews 9:22, “In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses,…everything was purified by sprinkling with blood.  Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. In 1John, 7:1, “…and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.”  As hard as this is to grasp, we are sin free; we are set apart because we are in Christ. In God’s eyes we are now a Saint!

And there’s more.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we inherit the same eternal life he has.  Why? Because we are now sin-free. If you remember from last week’s posting, I talked about the nature of sin; how it contaminates, spreads, kills and destroys.  But that is no longer an issue.  We are washed white as snow by the blood of Jesus, so we can boldly come into the presence of God because we are no longer stained with sin. That barrier is gone; the sin issue is a non-issue for those in Christ.

THE SOURCE OF OUR POWER IS NOT US!

Now the challenge for new Christians is to accept that our old self IS gone and that we ARE new creatures in Christ. Only when we get that TRUTH will we be able to live the new life we are called to live in this fallen world.  But because God’s salvation package is absolutely perfect, that problem is solved by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus knew his disciples drew their strength from him.  That’s why he told them in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you do because he lives with you now (IT’S ME!) and later will live in you.”

Unfortunately many Christians live their lives as though they are totally oblivious, or worse yet, uninformed of the POWER and FREEDOM we have as Christians.  We are already victorious!  That’s God’s promise to us.  That’s why 1 John 4:4 tells us, “The Spirit that is in me (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the Spirit in this world.” (Satan)  The Holy Spirit empowers us to be the person God created us to be.  Do you get that? That is absolutely overwhelmingly POWERFUL!  That is how we go from being his proudest creation to being “his masterpiece.” (Ephesians 2:10)  The Holy Spirit is our secret weapon so to speak, but do not mistake his role:  he empowers us to do the work, he does NOT do it for us. Why?  Because our growth and maturity as Christians takes place in the journey.  We have to be in the trenches, not on the sidelines watching, in order to grow more Christ-like, and that is our goal day-by-day.

God’s plan and his provision for us, is perfect…absolutely, totally complete.  He never gives us more to do, nor will he expect more from us than he equips us to handle. And the truth is, we can handle anything if we call on the Holy Spirit to give us strength, courage, perseverance, wisdom, whatever it is we need to bring honor and glory to Him!  Apostle Paul used running a race as a picture of the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, he challenged us not just to run but to run to win, saying, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”  In his final epistle, Paul again refers to the race metaphor, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Having finished his race, Paul joyfully anticipated receiving the victory crown from the King of Kings!  A-men

So my question to you is…Do you get it?  Do you understand the Power and Freedom we have as Christians?  If “yes”, God Bless Ya!  If “no” call me, post a comment or if you’d prefer to learn more on your own, I would suggest a trip through Chapter 1 of Ephesians.  He spells it out throughout this entire Epistle.  Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, they were  already given the Promised Land.  All they had to do was take it.  Instead, they didn’t believe, so they wondered around in the wilderness for forty years.  Think about it?  Ya got 40 years to spare?

May God Bless Ya, and feel free to respond to this posting

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