Hope Enduring
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Pastor’s Blog

May 04 2020
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Hope Enduring

By Pastor's Blog
In our current reality, it is noteworthy that events that occurred nearly 2,000 years has an amazing impact on our lives today. It’s incredible how these past events have changed everything for humanity. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the apex of human history, to the birth of the church, those events brought hope and a renewed purpose in Christ. The hope the believer has in Him prevails and permeates in and through their lives to the world around them.
The prevailing and permeating of our Lord (His reigning and power working in and through believers surrendered to Him, as well as, His love and message of His salvation spreading through His people to a world yet to receive Christ) speaks not just of the individual believer, but also of His church (the sum total of all of us believers, as well as, local church families). As we the church work together, in surrender to Christ, His Spirit’s power is unleashed in and through us to advance His kingdom in our very own lives, our homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, our region, and beyond. We work together, under the Lord’s leading and in His power, to see His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We claim the promises of God in our lives as we allow Him to use us to claim territory in His name through our lives.
To illustrate what I am talking about here, I want to look at the Old Testament book of Joshua. Here are the words of God spoken to Joshua recorded in Joshua 1:3: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.” What did God say to Joshua? “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you.” God then draws the outlines of the Promise Land – all theirs on one condition: that they shall march through the length and breadth of it, and measure it off with their own two feet. Now we know through Scripture that the Israelites only claimed one-third of the property, and consequently, they never had more than one third. The Israelites had just what they measured off, and no more. Think about it. The Lord had offered them two thirds more than they claimed. They settled for only a third of what they were promised.
Today for the believer, besides the literal ground, unoccupied for Christ, there is the unclaimed, untrodden territory of Divine promises. In 2 Peter, we read of another sort of “land of promise” that is opened up to every believer (2 Peter 1:2-4). Peter writes that these promises (the resources and power of heaven unleashed in the life of a believer) are opened up to us and are God’s will that we should, as it were, measure off that territory by the feet of obedient faith and believing obedience.
As we know God, we gain the essential foundations for Christian living. Knowing God is the key to all things that pertain to life and godliness. They come to us through God’s power. Here is an unfortunate reality. We are willing to try almost anything except the knowledge of God. We will trust in the schemes and plans of people instead of the knowledge of Him. We will try knowing ourselves instead of the knowledge of Him. However, we are called to know God.
Since these promises are a gift of God, our posture in claiming is not of demanding spoiled children. We confidently claim what God has promised as grateful children acknowledging that God is in control and is the power behind every promise and the determiner of how they will be fulfilled. Our claiming of God’s promises and territory is by God’s power unleashed in and through our lives as we walk by faith in Him. When we, God’s church, by faith, fully claim God’s promises and territory, God’s power releases the resources of heaven so that we can honestly know Him and make Him known.
God has offered us a magnificent territory for faith to lay hold on and march through the length and breadth. Let me encourage each of us to enter into all our inheritance. Let us lift up our eyes to the north and the south, to the east and to the west, and hear our Lord say, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you.” We receive enduring hope in the Lord as He prevails and permeates in and through the lives of those around us.
It is such a privilege serving the Lord with each of you. Let’s open ourselves up to His prevailing and permeating in and through our lives to the world who desperately needs to receive the life offered only in Him. Let’s humbly claim the promises He offers us as we also claim territory in His name and by His power and leading. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!
Apr 27 2020
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Hope Awakening

By Pastor's Blog
In our current reality, it is noteworthy that events that occurred nearly 2,000 years ago, within several weeks, literally changed everything for all of humanity. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension, we are offered eternal life. We are actually allowed to live the ascended life through our ascended Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Practically speaking of the believer’s life today, it presents hope as the Holy Spirit indwells them.
Among Christ’s last words to His disciples as these, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Christ is speaking of Pentecost, which the prophet Joel announced, some 600 years earlier, which would give birth to the New Testament church in the coming of the Holy Spirit to reside in all believers (see: Acts 2:1-3).
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is descriptive, not prescriptive. In other words, the description of how the Holy Spirit came to those at Pentecost is just that. Today, a believer does not need to wait to be filled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes into a person’s life at salvation permanently. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to live a Christ-honoring life, but this does not guarantee that the believer will act this way. For a Christian to become more and more like Christ, he must yield to the Spirit Who assists him in prayer (Jude 1:20), leads him into righteousness (Gal 5:16-18), and produces fruit in him as he yields to the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
When a believer yields to the Spirit, she is said to “walk in the Spirit.” To walk in the Spirit means that we surrender control of our lives to Him, following His lead, by allowing Him to influence our steps. In Galatians 5:1-25, Paul speaks about this walk, where he concludes with these words:
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal 5:24-24).
The hope for believers is found first, by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, but continues as they rely on Him to guide them in thought, word, or deed (see: (Rom 6:11-14). This brings believers a hope awakening as the Spirit works in and through their life in power.
To walk in the Spirit, a believer must understand that sin keeps him from genuinely yielding to Him. Therefore, He must keep a short account with God (1 John 1:9). Since obedience and repentance make up the pathway to walking in the Spirit, the believer is to know God’s Word, the Bible, and in the Spirit’s power walk in its truth.
Simply stated, hope is awakened in us when we come to Christ and are filled with the Spirit. It continues as we partner with the Spirit, as our senior partner. We walk in Him by surrendering control of our lives to Him, following His lead, and allowing Him to influence our steps.
It is my honor and joy to journey in Christ with each of you. The Spirit’s indwelling is a fantastic gift given to us by Christ. Let’s encourage one another to “walk in the Spirit,” yielding to His leading, walking in His power, and glorifying God. Let’s allow this hope to awaken us. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!
Apr 20 2020
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Hope Ascending

By Pastor's Blog
In these unprecedented times it is helpful to look back at the finished work of Christ that occurred 2,000 years ago and directly impacts our lives today. After Jesus rose from the dead, he “presented Himself alive” (Acts 1:3) to well over five hundred people. In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples further about the kingdom of God. Then, forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus blessed them and ascended into heaven. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven that was observed by many onlookers. As the disciples kept looking into the sky, two angels appeared and promised Christ would return “in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Much is spoken in churches about Christ’s death and resurrection and rightfully so. These two events radically changed the human predicament by offering us a right relationship with God. Jesus did, indeed, die for our sins and was resurrected for our salvation (Romans 4:25). Unfortunately, little is spoken of the ascension. This is a shame because Christ’s ascension marks His finished work in our salvation.
Jesus’ ascension signaled the end and signified the success of His earthly ministry. All that Jesus had come to do He had accomplished. It also marked the return of Jesus’ heavenly glory, symbolizing His exaltation by the Father (Matthew 17:1-9; Ephesians 1:20-23; and Philippians 2:9). The ascension of Christ allowed Him to prepare a place for us (John 14:2). It indicated the beginning of His work as our Mediator (Hebrews 9:15). Lastly, it set the pattern for His return. Jesus will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly (Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).
What is remarkable is that God’s Word teaches that we are called to live an ascended life in Christ. Paul writes in Ephesians:
“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-7).
Paul, in these verses, is writing of the past, present, and future of God’s work of salvation. God loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses (sin). He loved us when we were not showing any love to Him (v. 5). God took those dead in sin and allowed us to share in Christ’s death so that we could share in the power of His resurrection. The old person we were before receiving Christ is crucified, and we are new creations in Jesus with the old things passing away and all things becoming new. This great work of salvation is not earned but by the grace of God offered through the finished work of Christ.
As if this is not enough, Paul writes, that we are seated “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). This is the present position of the Christian. We have a new place for living, a new arena of existence, being citizens of heaven. Since our life and identity is in Christ, as He sits in heavenly places, so do we. This means we have a right to the kingdom of God, filled with the joy of the Lord as we walk in fellowship with Him.
Then, Paul writes, that in the future, God will continue to show “the immeasurable riches” of His love toward believers (v. 7). God will never stop dealing with us on the basis of His extravagant love. He will forever continue to unfold heavens riches to us through eternity.
Today, the believer lives in the heavenlies with Christ. We are called to live an ascended life. Living the ascended life means you live as a citizen of heaven while dwelling on earth. You live as one who brings the kingdom of God into the relationships and circumstances of life. You think like Christ thinks. You possess heaven’s point of view seeing yourself as loved by God, fully resourced, covered in grace, and empowered by the Spirit to share the message and love of Christ to the world. We are to walk like Jesus walked, demonstrating what an ascended lifestyle really looks like to the world around us.
When we partner with the Holy Spirit, He leads us in the journey of becoming more and more like Christ, we are enabled to see from a heavenly perspective. We are empowered to address the situations of life from heaven’s viewpoint knowing that God is for us and not against us (Romans 8:31). In short, we live as those seated with Christ in the heavenlies, living the ascended life.
It is an honor to live the ascended life in Christ with each of you. I ask our Lord to teach us more and more through His Spirit how to live as citizens of heaven while we dwell here on earth. I pray we will gain heavens view and walk-in heaven’s power with the ascending hope of our Savior. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!
Apr 13 2020
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Hope Rising

By Pastor's Blog
Easter has been an exciting time for me as long as I can remember. Sure, as a child, I enjoyed dying eggs, the Easter bunny, getting candy, and dinner with my family. However, it is the real reason for the season that began at a young age to foster in me a deep appreciation for Easter. The word “Easter” is related to the word “east,” which naturally points to the sunrise, to new days, and new beginnings. Easter is the remembrance and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the life we are offered in our living Savior.
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, Sunday (Matt 28:1). Jesus’ resurrection is most worthy of being celebrated (see: 1 Cor 15). His resurrection ought to be celebrated every day of our lives. However, this does not take away from the special time of remembrance and celebration of Christ His church has every year. Easter is about Jesus being resurrected from the dead and how this demonstrates that we can trust in His promise of eternal life by receiving Him as Lord and Savior.
We can understand the account and eternal implications of Christ’s resurrection by using the word Easter (E.A.S.T.E.R.) On Resurrection Sunday, followers of Christ found that the tomb was Empty (Lk 24:1-5). The tomb was not empty because someone had stolen Christ’s body, but because He was Alive (Luke 24:6). It is the Sacrifice of Jesus, His death, and resurrection that offers forgiveness of sins and salvation (Lk 24:6-9; Rom 4:25). The resurrection of Christ meant Triumph for Jesus and means sharing in His triumph for all His followers (Matt 28:16-18). The good news is that salvation is available to Everyone (Matt 28:19-20). All one needs to do is Receive Christ by “confessing Jesus as Lord and believe in his heart that God raised Him from the dead, and he will be saved” (Rom 10:9-10).
When we look at what Easter really means, it means that God loves us, Jesus is alive, and we can experience new life in Him. Easter means there is hope in Christ. In fact, Easter is hope rising. Jesus, our hope rising from the grave as well as hope rising in the life of everyone who comes to know the Gospel truth and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
At Easter, we will enjoy dying eggs. We won’t this year see Easter bunnies out and about. But that might not be so bad. We will give and receive candy. And, although we may not have gathered together to worship or share a meal with family and friends, I hope all of us celebrated in a big way, in our small spaces, our resurrected Lord, and the life we have in Him. All of this to say, amid our current reality, let’s not miss the genuine meaning and celebration-worthy truth of Easter.

The tomb was Empty.

Jesus is Alive!
His Sacrifice offers us salvation.
His resurrection demonstrates His Triumph as well as proves His offer of sharing in His triumph with His followers.
This promise is for Everyone.
It is for all who Receive Him as Lord and Savior.
Christ is worthy of our worship, our remembrance, and our very lives.
It is my privilege to serve our resurrected Savior with each of you. Let’s encourage one another to remember the real meaning of Easter. In response, let’s worship Him with our very lives and share the good news with others. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!
Apr 06 2020
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Hope Loving

By Pastor's Blog
In these uncommon times if is good to remember that nearly 2,000 years ago, within 60 days, events occurred that literally changed everything. From Christ’s Triumphal Entry to His crucifixion, to His resurrection, to His ascension, and on to Pentecost, this period brought hope to a fallen world. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. For instance, “I hope it will not rain tomorrow.” Further, the word hope is usually followed by the word so. This is the answer some may give when asked if they think they will go to heaven when they die. They say, “I hope so.” However, that is not the meaning of the words usually translated “hope” in the Bible. Biblical hope carries no doubt. One of the verses in which we find the word hope is Hebrews 11:1. “Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” This verse carries with it all the confidence that comes with knowing for sure, with no question, what we have been promised by God in His Word and made available to all of us through the salvific work of Jesus Christ. Biblical hope is a reality and not a mere feeling because it is founded upon the Rock of our salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We receive hope when we look at the events that took place during Passion Week. This is the time from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. It is a week that begins with Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and comprises of Maundy Thursday, and of course, Christ’s finished work on the cross on Good Friday. Passion Week speaks of hope loving. Passion week speaks of Christ, who is our Hope, as well as the One in whom we place our hope, showing sacrificial love for each and every one of us.
Passion Week is described in all four Gospels and contained several memorable events (Matt 21-27; Mk 11-15; Lk 19-23; and Jn 12-19). Jesus cleansed the temple for the second time. Jesus disputed with the Pharisees regarding His authority. Jesus gave His Olivet Discourse where He spoke of the end times and taught many other things, including the signs of His second coming. Jesus meets with His disciples in an upper room where He washes His Disciples’ feet and institutes the New Covenant in His blood. He gives His disciples last-minute instructions and encouragement. He prays His “high priestly prayer” over His disciples as well as over all of His disciples at all times. Jesus goes to the garden of Gethsemane to pray as He waited for His hour to come. It is here that He, being betrayed by Judas, was arrested and taken to several sham trials before the chief priests, Pontius Pilate, and Herod (see: Lk 22:54-23:25). Following the trials, Jesus was viciously beaten beyond recognition at the hands of Roman soldiers, then was forced to carry His own instrument of execution, His cross, through the streets of Jerusalem along what is known as the Via Dolorosa (way of suffering). Jesus was then crucified at Golgotha on the day before the Sabbath, was buried and remained in the tomb until Sunday, the day after the Sabbath, and then gloriously resurrected.
We call this week Passion Week because, in this time, Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in the suffering He willingly went through on our behalf and, in doing so, provides each of us with hope. The word passion is from the Latin pati, which means “to endure” or “to suffer.” Scripture often points to the suffering of Christ, indeed, the crucifixion of Christ as the apex of Human History and the grand theme of the apostles’ teaching (see: 1 Cor 2:2). It’s through the passion of Christ that we are made right with God.
We discover in Isaiah 53 hope loving. This prophecy speaks of the work of God’s suffering servant, fulfilled in Christ, our Hope, that is nothing short of exhibiting extreme love. Isaiah 53 foretells of Christ’s sacrifice, the witnesses’ initial reaction, and His truly salvific work. Through this prophecy, we receive hope from how others saw Him, how He bore our sins, from how Jesus suffered and died for us, His satisfaction, and salvific work and reward. Jesus’ passion was due to a settled purpose and love.
What is our response going to be to Christ’s passion? I would propose that we should be passionate in our worship of Jesus with our very lives. We ought to be moved to receive Christ as Lord and Savior and proclaim the good news to others of the salvation found in Christ. As Christ suffered for us, we should be willing to follow Him, no matter what suffering we may endure. In the passion of Christ, we see hope loving, as Jesus, out of love for us, endured suffering unto death, to save all who place their faith in Him as Savior and Lord.
I pray that this time of the year, where we celebrate the life, sacrifice, and resurrection of Christ, will bring you hope. I ask God to allow the hope we have in Him bear fruit as we worship Him with our lives by sharing His love and message with others. In Christ, we discover hope loving. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!
Mar 30 2020
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Share Your Story

By Pastor's Blog

Who doesn’t want peace in life? All of us desire to live above the harmful effects of the stressors we face day-in-and-day-out. Each of us hopes to live fearless lives. Serenity is a core desire for each and every one of us. However, the truth is, in our inner world, we wrestle with past hurts, unhealthy habits, and destructive hang-ups, leaving us with troubled souls. The good news is that we don’t have to remain where we find ourselves. God calls us to a life with Him that provides a way of entering into His peace.

Jesus declared: “Peace I leave with with; my peace I give to you.” Then, He adds: “I do not give this peace to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). Jesus is speaking of the confidence and courage that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The world speaks of peace as the absence of conflict. The problem is that the world doesn’t have the power to provide such peace. The peace Jesus speaks of exists in the midst of conflict. The peace Jesus gives to His followers is peace with God and the actual peace of God. Peace with God comes as we receive Christ as Lord and Savior. The peace of God speaks of that which is available daily as believers place their trust in God and keep in step with His Spirit, relinquishing control of their lives to Him.

It has been said, “If God is peace, then to know Him is to bask in His peace.” The closer we draw to the Lord, the more of His peace we enjoy (see: James 4:8). We draw closer to God as we enter into the presence of the Lord through His Son (see: John 14:6). As we grow in Christ, our understanding of the forgiveness and freedom we have in Him bears fruit in greater confidence and peace. As Peter writes: “Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). We grow as Christians through an ever-deepening personal knowledge of God and His Son Jesus. The Spirit uses this knowledge to enlarge our understanding and personal experience of God’s love and peace as we continue and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The peace Christ gives us results from hearing and responding to the message of Christ. This is why believers are called to share their faith story, their testimony (see: Rom 10:14-15). This is why one of the steps we can take to possess the Lord’s peace is to share our story. When we share our testimony of how our lives have intersected with God’s, it brings hope to others and continues to bring healing, peace, and purpose in our very own lives.

Peter writes, in the New Testament, that our stories are not merely our own, but are also opportunities to share the hope we have found in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). In Christ, we have freedom from our past (the hurts, the habits, and the hang-ups). When Christians share their story, it is used by the Spirit to draw others to salvation and hope in Christ. Further, there is healing power for us as we share our testimony. The Spirit uses it to continue the healing process in our own lives. In short, when we share our story, God allows us to be used for His good plan and to fulfill His salvific purpose (see: Acts 20:24).

John, in the book of Revelation, shares the power of story when he writes that Satan is defeated because of Christ’s finished work on the cross and because of the word of the testimony of believers (see: Rev 12:11). Our story of salvation is a powerful tool used by God to lead others to salvation and deepen His followers in His peace. This is why one of the steps to experiencing God’s peace and power in our life is to share our story.

It brings me great joy to rest in God’s peace with each of you. Let’s encourage one another to share our faith story. Let’s bask in God’s peace as we are reminded of the work he has done and is doing in our lives. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Mar 23 2020
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Embrace Godly Transformation

By Pastor's Blog

I know that things seem to be changing rapidly all around us. Who hasn’t said, “Please, give me a moment of peace?” We all desire serenity. But, we live in a world often defined by confusion and disorder. Even in our inner world, we wrestle with past hurts, unhealthy habits, and destructive hang-ups, leaving us with troubled souls. However, we don’t need to remain where we often find ourselves. God calls us to a life with Him that gives us a way of entering into His peace. In Christ, we discover a life of peace, gratitude, freedom, and blessing that comes only through His divine intervention. It is impossible to go through this life without facing pain and hardship, but through faith in Christ, we find hope, healing, and serenity (see: John 16:33). One of the steps we can take to possess the Lord’s peace is to embrace godly transformation. This life-change is not self-willed but comes as we turn our lives over to Christ’s care and control.

When the Bible speaks of transformation, it does so meaning “change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world to one that pleases God” (Rom 12:2). This change is accomplished by the renewing of our very minds. This metamorphosis is an inward spiritual transformation that is evidenced in outward actions reflecting Christ’s character, motives, and love (Col 1:10). Transformation involves those who were once far from God being brought into a right relationship with Him through Christ’s finished work on the cross (Eph 2:13).

Godly transformation is only possible in the life of a Christian. Further, it is only possible in a Christ-follower who recognizes that the source of such life-change is not themselves, but by the workings of the Holy Spirit when they surrender care and control of their lives to Him (Rom 8:9). Paul, writing of such an experience, declares:

“I have been crucified with Christ that is, in Him have shared His crucifixion; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Paul declares that the old self, who he was before coming to Christ, is dead. The new self, which he now is in the Lord, lives in Christ, or rather Christ lives in Him. Thus, the more of Christ’s truth a believer knows, believes, and by the power of the Holy Spirit walks in, the more like Christ they will be. It is the Spirit who, as we rely on Him, controls our lives, and cleanses us from any and everything contrary to God and His will. This is a daily walk and working. I have often said, “I am not what I ought to be, but I thank God I am not what I used to be. The Lord continues to work in and through me by the power of His Spirit.” This occurs as I yield to Christ’s control of my life.

Embracing godly transformation begins with the gospel message of Christ. Through this message, we learn:

“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24).

Just before the apostle Peter’s death, he provided specific instructions on how to live out our transformed lives. He writes:

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (see: 2 Peter 1:3-11).

Our history may reflect a lifetime of attempting transformation on our own. However, true transformation is a life-long journey, where we surrender control of our lives to the Spirit, growing from one form of godliness to a greater form of godliness.

It is an honor to be on journey with each of you. Let’s continue to walk in step with the Spirit. Let’s encourage one another to embrace godly transformation, which is not the work of human will, but by the power and leading of the Spirit in the life of one surrendered to Him with a willing heart. Let’s ask our Lord how we can spread His peace to our family, friends, and community. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone).

Mar 16 2020
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Establish Biblical Belief

By Pastor's Blog

I missed gathering on Crosswinds’ Canandaigua campus Sunday for worship but thankful to have worshiped with my family from home. I appreciate everyone who made a home worship experience possible. It is amazing to think that although we could not gather together, we could worship together. Technology can be such a blessing. If you have not participated in the service it is still available on crosswinds.church.

Our world is changing rapidly around us. This will not be forever, but is our current reality. All of us desire serenity, living with true inner peace. The problem is that we live in a world filled with chaos, where all too often, we find ourselves preoccupied with past hurts, unhealthy habits, and destructive hang-ups. Instead of Christ occupying the center seat in our life, we discover that it is these unhealthy issues driving us, leading our souls to cry out in distress. The good news is that our Lord calls us to a life with access to true peace found only in Him. This life of peace, gratitude, freedom, and blessing comes through divine intervention. No doubt, pain, and hardship are universal, but through faith in Christ, we find hope, healing, and serenity in God (see: John 16:33). One of the steps we can take to have the Lord’s peace is to establish biblical belief in our lives. We need to base our lives on Christ and who we are in Him.

Basing our lives on Christ is not merely a philosophical decision. It requires placing our faith in Christ. In the book of Acts, we discover a conversation between Paul and Silas with a Philippian jailer. The jailer asks, “Sirs, what do you have to do to be saved, to really live” (Acts 16:30). Paul and Silas responded, “Believe, put your entire trust in Jesus as Lord, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

One may ask, “Why do I need to be saved?” The simple truth is that we are all infected by sin and the consequence of sin (Rom 3:23). Sin is described in the Bible as any transgression of the law of God and rebellion against God. We are born with sin, and we all personally choose to sin. Sin divides us from a holy God. Sin is the root of our past hurts, unhealthy habits, and destructive hang-ups. We live in a fallen, sinful world and, without the salvation found in Christ, will suffer the consequences from today into eternity. Due to sin, we all deserve death (Rom 6:23). This death is not just physical death, but spiritual death eternally. We need to be saved from the destructive consequences of sin this side of heaven on into eternity.

Since sin deals with the wrongness in our life and has eternal consequences, only an infinite and holy God could pay the penalty, death. The dilemma is that God, in His divine nature, can’t die. Therefore, God took upon His divinity, humanity, entering into the world as a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus came, took on human flesh, lived among us, and taught us. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). He died for our sins on the cross and was resurrected for our salvation (Rom 4:25). Because Jesus Christ is God, His death has eternal and infinite value. Jesus’ finished work on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin (1 Jn 2:2). He paid a price we owed, but could not pay. He paid a price that He did not owe, but only He could pay. Jesus’ resurrection proves that His death was a perfectly sufficient sacrifice for sin and that placing our faith in Him is the way to salvation.

We cannot earn salvation. We cannot work for it. We cannot do enough good to receive it. We are not saved by how we behave. Nor are we excluded from salvation by how we have behaved in the past. We are saved by what we believe today. Remember the answer Paul and Silas gave to the jailer, “Believe, put your entire trust in Jesus as Lord, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). God has already done the work. All we must do is receive, in faith, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we are saved (Rom 10:9). We need to fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for our sins. We believe in Him, and we won’t perish (Jn 3:16). God offers all of us the gift of salvation. All we need to do is by faith receive it. Jesus is the only way to salvation (Jn 14:6).

If we are not moving toward a biblically accurate understanding of God and salvation, then we are left lost with the inaccurate. Our understanding of God forms the concept of our identity, purpose, and mission. Our belief about God directly influences our actions and attitudes. It is not a stretch to declare that our very lives depend on establishing biblical belief. We need to base our lives on Christ and who we are in Him.

When we rely on God, we are freed from the fruitless struggle of relying on self and others for what God can only do for us and in us. Serenity, true inner peace, is only found in Christ. To believe in something or someone is to commit to. We are to believe in and commit ourselves to Christ. Not only does such belief in Christ lead to salvation, but this right understanding of God and acceptance of the Lord takes us one step at a time further down the path of the purpose God has laid out for us.

Serenity is found in living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, following the Lord through the highs and lows of life. Embracing it all as the pathway to peace in Him. In the end, it is who we are in Christ and who we are meant to be in service and praise to Him that defines our future. Our future is only limited by our own inability to accept the grace God offers. By God’s grace alone, we are saved. By God’s power, we are filled with His peace as we base our life on Him and who we are in Him.

It is my privilege to do life with each of you in Christ. Let’s seek the Spirit’s leading as we establish biblical belief in our lives. Let’s encourage others to do the same in the knowledge that only through basing our lives on Christ and who we are in Him can we find real peace in our life. Lastly. let’s seek out opportunities to share our Lord’s peace with family, friends, and our community. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Mar 13 2020
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On Coronavirus

By Pastor's Blog

I do not usually send out such writing multiple times a week. However, as I was prayerfully collecting my thoughts on paper, I was feeling the Spirit’s leading to send this to you.  Never, since the 911 Tragedy, have I sensed in our country such angst, a rapid amount of updated and changing information, as well as decisions affecting our culture. The reactions seem to be ranging from those disinterested to hyper-diligence to outright fear. What ought my response be as a Christian?

I believe the Lord calls us to walk in His wisdom while filled with His peace. We discover these words in James: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). James is addressing believers who lack wisdom in handling trials. Biblical wisdom is a God-given and God-centered discernment regarding the practical issues in life. As we gather information, we need to prayerfully come to God in order to act wisely. The good news is that He promises to give to those who ask.

When we see the world around us in upheaval, how do we gain our footing? Paul gives us some sound advice:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).

Paul is echoing the teaching of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount (see: Matt 6:25-34) that believers are not to be anxious but are to entrust themselves into the hands of their loving heavenly Father, whose peace will guard them in Christ Jesus. It is the peace of God who guards the believer. Because God is sovereign and in control, Christians can entrust all their difficulties to Him. God rules over all creation, and He is wise and loving in all His ways.

I have to be honest. I do not know what the future hold. But, not to sound trite, I know who holds the future. So, I will take all the information I receive and take it to the Lord in prayer so that by the Spirit’s direction, I can walk in wisdom. I will choose to trust in God, allowing His peace to fill me. I will place myself, my family, and all else in the hands of my loving God in the hope that He will use me to bring His peace and wisdom to the chaos.

A couple hours ago, I attended the monthly Ontario County Health Coalition meeting. I left confident that our church leaders are taking the right precautions.  I also was encouraged by the chairperson’s final words. She said, “Be prepared, not scared!” I think that is a good summary of Scriptural teaching. Use wisdom and be prepared as you walk in God’s peace, and don’t be scared.

It is my joy to be found in Christ with each of you. I ask God to continue to fill each of us with His wisdom and peace. I ask Him to use us to bring His peace and wisdom to the chaos. He is my calm in the storm. I pray He is yours as well. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Mar 09 2020
Love0

Overcome Destructive Denial

By Pastor's Blog

When we are preoccupied with past hurts, unhealthy habits, and destructive hang-ups, God is not the center of our lives.  Our soul cries out in distress. Jesus calls us to a deeper life, one that goes beyond our own interests and desires.  Our Lord calls us to possess a soul that is well-cared-for. He calls us to have a soul with the capacity to enter into more than just the motions of faith.  This life is our connection to eternity and can help us see past the struggles of today.  This life has access to the kind of peace, gratitude, freedom, and blessing that comes only from divine intervention.

As we journey life’s path, however, we all too often lose our way and recognize, again and again, the need for a Savior, Who—in love and grace—has provided the way back to the path and the purpose laid out by God from the very beginning of humanity.  Pain and hardship are universal, but through faith in Christ, we find our hope, healing, and our serenity in God (see: John 16:33). There are steps we can take that lead us to the Lord, establishing His peace and power in our lives. One such step is overcoming destructive denial in our life.

Denial limits and robs us of living life in the fullness offered in Christ. The good news is that God calls us to partner with Him to defeat it. Denial is refusing to grant, admit, or believe. Denial leads us to think we don’t need God because we are in power and in control. Denial causes us to believe we’re okay the way we are. However, the prophet Jeremiah declares: “You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there” (Jer 6:14). Overcoming denial begins as we admit that we are powerless to overcome past hurts, unhealthy habits, and destructive hang-ups in our own strength. Paul writes in Romans: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Rom 7:18). Paul’s words seem hopeless. It is essential to look at this verse in context. Paul is speaking how we, in our own strength, are powerless to do the work that leads to wholeness and fullness of life. This is because apart from the operation of God’s grace in our lives, we are under the control of sin. But, therein lies the solution. Paul also writes:

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:24-25).

Paul writes about inward sinfulness as a fatal disease. It threatens to usher us into eternal death. We want to do what is right, but continue to do what is wrong, straying back to old patterns, entrapped again by past hurts, and all other kinds of hang-ups. Is there a cure? Yes! The remedy, our deliverance, is provided through Jesus Christ our Lord. We can be delivered from the control of sin, the destructive results of past hurts, and harmful habits. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we enter into peace with God that is rooted in the precious love of God.

Defeating denial comes first, through the work of salvation. This is where we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then, secondly, through the Spirit-empowered work of sanctification where we are set apart for God, where His Spirit is at work, making a believer more and more like Christ in character. First, we are set free, then comes the work of God, leading us to walk in freedom.

How do we partner with God to defeat denial? We must admit there is a God, and we are not Him. We must acknowledge and accept that we are powerless to control and manage the hurts and sin in our life, but that God is both all-powerful, capable, and willing to bring freedom. It is because we cannot fix ourselves that Jesus came to die for our sins and be resurrected for our salvation. Denial is defeated as we admit our weakness and come to Christ, opening ourselves up to the Spirit’s work.

It is my honor to walk in Christ’s freedom with all who believe. Let’s, in a spirit of openness, acknowledge our hurts, habits, and hang-ups admitting we need God and that He is capable and willing to defeat destructive denial in our lives. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!