How many times have you heard someone say, I am trying to figure out who I am, what my purpose is or what is my value? Many mistake and twist what they do and what they have into what they are and what they are worth. I am a plumber, I am a doctor, I am a mechanic is what they do, and does not define their identity. The million in the bank is not defining their worth. David knew his identity and worth was in the God of his salvation. “5 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. Selah” (Psalm 62:5-8). It is critically important for Christians today to have that same sense of their identity in our Father and Christ. To know who we are—how to define our worth—and…

It seems that there is an endless source of grief in this old world. It seems that on a daily basis some of us are stricken with more reasons to grieve that to rejoice, and sometimes that may be true. Isolation from COVID19 causes many to feel alone—to be emotionally drained—wanting for companionship, then there is death which is ongoing—and especially so, as we get older—our friends—family—all disappear from our lives. Sometimes quickly—sometimes with long and painful suffering. We will all experience grief throughout our lifetime—there is “no escaping this fact”. The good news is Christ is able to sustain us and carry our grief, not to minimize it, but to carry the heavy load. We all live in a fallen world, sin takes a toll but by the grace and power of God we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, experience the grief, and come out the other side only to rest fully on the grace of God…

We cannot afford to have unsecured heart which is faith without substance for that would most assuredly cause us to fall. Solomon wrote, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). We will consider “how” as Christians can secure our heart which begins with asking God through His breathed out word to enable us to, “…discern between good and evil” (1Kings 3:9). This is accomplished by having an anchor which is…

From 1 Peter 1 and verse 22 we learn that the very basis for Peter’s command “love one another fervently with a pure heart” is the prerequisite or “precondition” of a purified soul. Notice what Peter said first, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth [b]through the Spirit in [c]sincere love of the brethren” . Since / Because you have purified your souls in obeying the truth you are now set apart…

Read Job chapters 1 and two. Notice Job lost all this in one single day. No time to reset, just one after another.  What was Job’s mindset? Maybe I could say—his world view.  Was it not one of trusting God fully, completely in everything? What would you do today—if four people came one after the other and said this to you? If your Hope Rests Fully on the Grace you will do the same thing as Job…

Set Your Hope Completely on His Grace: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (NKJV 1 Peter 1:13) and “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being self-disciplined, set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 ESV), and “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13 HCSB), finally “Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how God will treat you with undeserved grace when Jesus Christ appears.” (1 Pet. 1:13 CEV).

Peter begins with “therefore.” Therefore, what? “Preparing your minds for action, and being self-disciplined” and the key phrase is “set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” When suffering, remember…

Listen to me my beloved brethren: the world around us may believe in hopelessness and despair. Remember the commercial and how it depicts misery as the “New Normal”? This world may want others to believe only in despair. But not so with us brethren,  we Christians have hope that is alive and “ready to be revealed”. Peter tells us that we are begotten to a living hope, we have…

There was a game show called, “Let’s Make a Deal” where contestants were given the opportunity to win prizes. A prize was offered then contestants were tempted to choose between what they had and an offer hidden from their sight. It could be a great deal, or it could be a “zonk”. Fun, maybe. But when it comes to eternity in Heaven or Eternity in Hell common sense tells us we don’t guess and hope we don’t get zonked. But that is what many do in fact. The door to Heaven is an open door and there is no guesswork involved. The same is true for the door that leads to Hell. 

We have all hear the saying, “When things get tough, the tough get going”. That should describe every child of God. When the problem comes when there is pressure—and things get tough—when doing right means standing up and speaking out against error—where are fair-weather Christians? Nowhere to be found. We have the word of God the greatest message ever told, the most powerful gospel, all supported by the Creator and our Lord Jesus Christ. We have all that pertains unto life and godliness, every spiritual answer to every spiritual question. When questions are asked what must we do? Run? God forbid it. We are commanded to “…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). When we are asked to participate in some “ungodly” activity what must we do? Go along with our peers? God forbid it. We stand for righteousness and say no! We need to stand firm during the storm and trust that the Lord will be with us and see us through. 

Unfeigned Love of the Brethren: Christians and their love, in the last 9 months have been tested by two things. (1) The advent of a killer virus—which has divided many—and continues to test the sincerity of our love and (2) The division of society, opposing ideologies, governing authorities—also test the sincerity of our love. If you took the time to read today’s bulletin you would have read the statement that Christianity has experienced many aberrations. By definition [aberration: is a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome, A characteristic that deviates from the normal type]. Perhaps none has been so difficult and, in many cases, unique—as those who because of health, or because of choice are now hermits of a sort—we tend to call them “shut-ins”. Paul wrote, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). This brings us to the point for this lesson. For every Christian, one part of our service in Christ—Is administering to the needs of others, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ…