Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 6:15-71. Following the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, the people follow Jesus and even strive to make Him their king. However, when he replies with the teaching of Himself as the "Bread of Life" - speaking to spiritual needs rather than the physical - the people, and many disciples find the teaching hard to accept and reject Him and His message.

Each of the four Gospels—Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, and Gospel of John—highlights a different aspect of Jesus’ triumphal entry, but all point to the same truth: He fulfills the prophecy of Book of Zechariah 9—a humble yet righteous King bringing salvation and peace.

Zechariah, written after the exile, describes a Messiah whose kingdom is not built by war but through righteousness and covenant faithfulness. As Matthew Henry notes, this is a spiritual kingdom, centered on salvation. Jesus riding a donkey reveals a King who comes in humility to save, not to conquer by force.

This contrasts with His return in Book of Revelation 19, where He appears as the victorious Warrior King on a white horse, ruling in righteousness. The same King who came in mercy will return in glory, visibly and unmistakably (Revelation 1:7), bringing final judgment and triumph.

Link to the video viewed during the service: https://youtu.be/TohLXneqL7I The conflict between Israel and the Amalekites begins in the family line of Abraham. Through Isaac and Esau came Amalek, the ancestor of the Amalekite people. Generations later this line included King Agag and eventually, Haman.

Amalek became Israel’s enemy after attacking the Israelites in the wilderness when they were weak and vulnerable. Because of this, God declared ongoing conflict with Amalek and later commanded King Saul to destroy them. Saul disobeyed by sparing King Agag and keeping the best livestock, and as a result, God rejected Saul as king.

Centuries later, Haman the Agagite (descendant of Agag) attempted to destroy the Jewish people in Persia. His plot was stopped by Mordecai and Esther. Haman and his sons were killed, and the Jews were saved—an event remembered in the festival of Purim. If God had not brought judgment on Haman and his ten sons, the Amalekite line might have continued and threatened the people through whom the Messiah would come!

Traveling west by wagon train in the mid-1800s was a brutal journey. Most people walked 15–20 miles a day beside the wagons through heat, dust, scarce food, and little water. Nights were spent near creeks if possible so animals could drink and families could wash off the day’s dirt before collapsing to sleep, only to rise and prepare again for the next day. After enduring the harsh prairie conditions, travelers still had to face the freezing storms and disease of the mountains. Yet they endured it all in hope of reaching a better place and claiming a new home.

In a similar way, the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem each year for the festivals and sacrifices, using the journey to prepare their hearts before God. As they traveled, they sang the “Songs of Ascents” recorded in the Psalms, remembering God’s deliverance and seeking His help. When they arrived, they brought their offerings as instructed in Leviticus 1:1-4. The worshipper laid his hand on the animal, identifying with it, and then killed the sacrifice, symbolically transferring his own sin to the sacrifice. But the priest alone took the blood of the sacrifice and applied it to the altar, symbolically covering the sin of the worshiper.

These sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice and High Priest. As explained in Hebrews, Christ entered the holy place not with the blood of animals but with His own blood, securing eternal redemption. Because of His sacrifice, the veil that once separated people from God was torn, and believers can now come boldly before God, cleansed and forgiven through Him.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 5:16-47, and John 6;1-14. As we finish John 5 we see the fallout amongst the Jews from Jesus' healing of the lame man at the pool at Bethesda on the Sabbath. This portion of scripture is almost entirely the words of Christ as He explains to the Jews exactly who He is - the Son of God. As we begin John 6, we see the creative miracle of the loaves and fishes as Jesus feeds the 5,000.

All four Gospels tell about Judas betraying Jesus, and Luke and John show us how it happened. Judas wasn’t a stranger — he was one of the twelve, someone who walked beside Jesus every day. Yet even in that closeness, his heart was far from the Lord. Jesus felt the real pain of being betrayed by someone at His own table. Still, He didn’t panic, chase Judas, or abandon His mission. What looked like a terrible interruption was actually God’s plan unfolding. The betrayal was real, but it never stopped God’s purpose.

Many of us face “Judas moments” too — times when someone hurts us, disappoints us, or when life suddenly turns in a direction we didn’t choose. In those moments we often think, “It’s over. I’ve lost what God had for me.” But Jesus shows us otherwise. Betrayal may rearrange our lives, but it cannot cancel God’s calling. He kept walking toward the cross knowing resurrection was ahead, and in the same way, God can use even painful situations to move our story forward, not end it.

Powerful moments of worship and spiritual experiences matter greatly to the seasoned believer, but we cannot rely on them alone—we need God’s Word to keep us steady over time. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul points us back to how faithfully God cared for Israel, providing deliverance, guidance, daily needs, and Christ Himself. When we stop and remember how much God has already done in our own lives—answered prayers, protection, forgiveness, and strength—we see that our continued walk with Him is not because we are strong, but because He is so faithful.

Paul lovingly warns us not to drift into spiritual complacency. Like guardrails on a dangerous road, Scripture protects us from slow compromises, pride, and bitterness, and trains us to finish well. The heart of the message is hope: God is holding on to us, giving us strength in temptation and a way forward when the road feels hard. So we are called to keep walking—repenting quickly, praying honestly, worshiping deeply, and depending on Christ every day—confident that the same faithful God who carried us this far will carry us all the way home.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 4:42-54, and John 5:1-15. As we finish John 4 we will focus on Jesus' healing of the nobleman's son and we will compare this healing to Jesus' healing of the lame man at the pool at Bethesda in John 5.

God’s love and provision works all things for the good of those who seek Him. Through seasons of anxiety, sacrifice, service, and even mistreatment, God is shaping hearts and supplying needs—sometimes by allowing us to give to others, and other times by placing us in the position to receive. Whether it is caring for difficult people, finding housing at exactly the right moment, or being sustained during financial hardship, each experience is offered as evidence that God is attentive to His children and actively involved in the details of everyday life.

Scripture repeatedly promises that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing, that nothing can separate us from His love, and that His steadfast love endures forever. We must not grow weary or stop praying, but trust that God still puts “food on the table,” meets real needs, and demonstrates His love in practical ways—because He cares deeply for each person listening, just as He always has.

In Malachi’s Message…to the Modern Day Church???, Malachi 3:16–18 reveals that even in seasons of spiritual decline, God sees and honors those who genuinely fear Him. Written to post-exilic Israel, Malachi confronts a religious culture marked by outward activity but inward decay—a condition that closely mirrors many challenges facing the modern church today. While corruption, compromise, and cynicism were widespread, God carefully recorded the faithfulness of a remnant who esteemed His name, promising to claim them as His treasured possession and to clearly distinguish between those who serve Him and those who do not.

The book exposes several sobering parallels between Israel’s day in the 15th Century BC and much of today’s modern churches. These patterns remind us that religious enthusiasm cannot replace obedience, and spiritual authority must be grounded in truth and humility.

Yet Malachi is ultimately a message of hope. God has always preserved a faithful remnant—even when surrounded by compromise. As in the days of Malachi, Mordecai, and Esther, God remembers, vindicates, and honors those who fear Him. The call to the modern church is clear: return to reverence, repentance, covenant faithfulness, and wholehearted devotion, for true renewal comes only when hearts are turned fully back to the Lord.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 4. In John 4 we will focus on Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well and see how the revelation of Christ as Messiah turned an outcast and a sinner into an effective evangelist in a single day.

This message invites the congregation to begin the New Year with intentional rededication to the Lord—not out of failure, but out of a desire for renewed alignment. Rooted in Psalm 119:5, it contrasts temporary resolutions with lasting devotion, reminding us that true blessing comes from walking in a Holy Spirit–directed life rather than from perfect circumstances.

The psalmist’s prayer reflects humility and dependence on God, showing that transformation begins in the heart through God’s Word. By seeking, treasuring, and storing Scripture within, our steps are directed by love and obedience. The message concludes by emphasizing that rededication leads to joy, calling believers to pray simply, “Lord, direct my ways,” and to begin the year anchored in Him.

Christmas reveals God’s way of working: humility comes before exaltation. Instead of entering the world with power and spectacle, God came quietly and lowly, just as He often humbles His people before lifting them up. Jesus’ birth shows that God Himself follows this pattern.

Christ was born in poverty and obscurity, not in a palace or with earthly power. The manger points forward to the cross, showing a life marked by humility and self-giving. Christmas reminds us that salvation comes by God’s grace, not human strength or pride.

This makes Christmas personal and hopeful. God meets us in our weakness and brokenness, coming down to where we are. Receiving Christ requires humble, childlike trust, and the God who came low is the God who lifts the lowly.

Advent is not a familiar teaching in some churches, like it is in more Liturgical churches. It is the four weeks leading up to Christmas, centered on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Though Advent is not specifically named in Scripture, it reflects a genuine sense of expectancy felt during each Christmas season—an anticipation not of gifts, but of something spiritual.

That expectancy is rooted deeply in Scripture, especially in Isaiah’s prophecy of light coming into deep darkness and being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Isaiah foretold the coming Messiah, and John 1 declares Jesus as the eternal Word and the true Light that darkness cannot overcome. This fulfilled hope assures believers even today, that God has already sent His light into the world through Christ.

Ultimately, Advent is less about candles or tradition and more about the posture of the heart. Hope reminds us that the Light has come, Peace is received through repentance and faith, Joy flows from welcoming Christ as King, and Love is revealed in Jesus laying down His life. Advent calls believers to live in humility, joy, peace, and love as they respond to Christ with renewed expectation.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 3. In John 3 we will cover Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus, the gospel summary of John 3:16, and John the Baptists reaction to his disciples' concerns about Jesus' growing ministry.

God is the God of all comfort, and He meets His people in suffering with mercy, not judgment. Paul reminds us in II Corinthians that when believers experience pain, God faithfully comforts them—not just for their own healing, but so they can share that same comfort with others. Our pain is never wasted when it becomes a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Suffering also teaches us dependence on God. Paul admitted their trials were so severe they felt like death itself, yet those moments forced them to rely not on their own strength but on the power of God who raises the dead. God often allows hardship so we will discover that real hope is not found within ourselves, but in Him alone.

Finally, the church has a responsibility to support one another through prayer. Paul called on fellow believers to pray, showing that God’s deliverance often works through the prayers of others. Prayer is not passive—it is powerful. When we pray, we participate in God’s rescue work and become channels of His comfort to those who are hurting.

Today we’re reflecting on what we’re thankful for by looking at one of my late husband's favorite passages—Hebrews 6:13–20. This scripture reminds us that God’s promises are absolutely secure, backed by His unchanging character and confirmed by His own oath. Because of that, our hope in Christ is a firm and steady anchor for the soul, giving us confidence and stability no matter what we face. I’m grateful for that unshakable foundation—and now I’d love to hear what each of you is thankful for today.

In Acts 4, the disciples faced fierce opposition as God worked public miracles through Peter and John—especially the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. This undeniable act drew thousands to faith, alarming the religious authorities, who arrested the apostles and demanded to know by what power they had acted. Filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter boldly declared that the miracle was done through Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified and whom God had raised, affirming that salvation is found in no other name.

Unable to deny the miracle, the leaders threatened them and commanded them never again to speak in Jesus’ name. But Peter and John answered that they could not stay silent about what they had seen and heard, revealing that no earthly authority has the right to silence the truth God reveals. Once released, the believers gathered to pray—not for safety, but for boldness—asking God to continue performing healings, signs, and wonders through the name of Jesus.

In response, God shook the place where they prayed and filled them again with the Holy Ghost, showing that the Spirit’s power is not a one-time experience but a continual outpouring for strength, courage, and renewal. Just as the early church depended on fresh infillings of the Spirit, we too must seek new outpourings today so we can stand boldly, witness powerfully, and experience God’s healing and miraculous work in our lives.

Elijah, once a prophet of great miracles and faith, found himself running in fear and despair after Queen Jezebel’s threats. Despite witnessing God’s mighty power through droughts, fire, rain, and resurrection, Elijah became weary and hid in a cave on Mount Horeb. There, God revealed that His true presence was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire—but in a gentle whisper. This still, small voice quieted Elijah’s fears, shifting his heart from complaint to submission, and restoring his strength for the mission ahead.

God used this moment to teach Elijah that divine power is not always displayed through force, but through quiet intimacy and mercy. Elijah’s circumstances had not changed, but his heart had. The Lord reminded him that he was not alone—there were still seven thousand faithful in Israel—and gave him new assignments to fulfill His purpose.

Just as God met Elijah in the stillness, He meets us today—not always through dramatic signs, but through the quiet moments of surrender. Like the pastor’s wife who learned gentleness through her daughter’s struggle, God calls us to listen beyond the noise. In His still small voice, He offers correction, revelation, and renewal. When we pause to listen, He restores our hearts and reminds us—He is not finished with us yet.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 2. In John 2 we will cover the wedding at Cana and the clearing of the temple in Jerusalem!

The breath of God represents His divine power to create, sustain, and renew life. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes into Adam, and humanity becomes alive—every living soul depends on God’s Spirit. Job 33:4 and Psalm 104:29–30 emphasize that the same breath that gives life also sustains it; when God withdraws His Spirit, life ends, but when He sends it forth, renewal and creation begin again.

God’s breath also reveals His truth and power through His Word and Spirit. As written in II Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is “God-breathed,” and carries divine authority to teach, correct, and transform. In Ezekiel 37, God’s breath revives dry bones, symbolizing His ability to restore what is spiritually dead. And, when Jesus breathes on His disciples in John 20:22, He imparts the Holy Spirit, giving them new spiritual life and purpose.

The breath of God is both the source and sustainer of all life—physical and spiritual. From creation to Pentecost, it is portrayed as the active presence of God working within creation and humanity. This breath continues to give vitality, faith, and renewal to all who receive it.

In I Samuel Chapter 4, the leaders of Israel suffered a crushing defeat and wrongly assumed that bringing the Ark of the Covenant into battle would guarantee victory. Instead of seeking God’s guidance or repenting, they treated the Ark as a magical object rather than a symbol of God’s presence. Their misplaced faith led to disaster—the Philistines defeated them and captured the Ark, the sacred vessel that represented God’s covenant and presence with Israel.

In Chapters 5–6, the Philistines placed the captured Ark in the temple of their god Dagon, only to witness Dagon fall before it and be destroyed. God’s power brought plagues upon the Philistines until they returned the Ark to Israel with guilt offerings, acknowledging His supremacy. Yet, even some of the Israelites were punished when they failed to show proper reverence, reminding us all that God’s holiness must never be treated casually or superstitiously.

This story reveals powerful truths: God alone is supreme over all idols, His power is independent of human strength, and His holiness demands respect. He exposes false worship and shows that His purpose is always to make Himself known among all nations. Today, believers are called to examine their own “idols”—anything they trust more than God—and remember that His presence now dwells within them through the Holy Spirit, not in objects or rituals, but in hearts fully devoted to Him.

Isaiah 29:13–14 reveals God’s rebuke of those who honor Him outwardly but lack true devotion. In response, He promises to perform a “marvelous work and a wonder,” which Dake interprets as the gospel of Jesus Christ—teaching, preaching, healing, and transforming lives. This divine work amazed some but offended others, as human wisdom clashed with God’s truth.

Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 1:18–21, declaring that the message of the cross seems foolish to the world but is God’s power to those who believe. The gospel divides humanity—it is life to believers and death to rejecters, as 2 Corinthians 2:14–17 describes believers as carrying the “sweet savor” of Christ wherever they go. Each person must ask: Do I reflect the fragrance of Christ, or the emptiness of worldly wisdom?

Finally, 1 Peter 5:1–4 urges church leaders to faithfully “feed the flock of God,” serving with humility and sincerity, not for personal gain. The main work of the church is not social programs or popular trends, but preaching the gospel—the true “marvelous work” of God. Those who remain faithful in this calling will receive a crown of glory when Christ, the Chief Shepherd, appears.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 1:14-51. We continue with the prologue, uncovering the beautiful way John describes the eternal existence and divinity of Christ.

Society often sends men mixed messages—expecting them to provide, lead and protect, yet labeling those same traits as toxic. Scripture shows that God gave men responsibility as a blessing, not a burden. Even when figures like Adam, Moses, and Peter failed, God still used them, proving that true manhood means trusting Him, embracing responsibility, and leading with sacrificial love.

Fear of being judged by others can cause paralyzing fear and insecurity but through prayer and God’s grace and provision, we can be assured that uses men and women alike—even in their weakness and failures, and does not require perfection. God’s grace is sufficient, and He accepts sincere offerings regardless of flaws.

Fear, passivity, and isolation hold people back, but God gives power, love, and a sound mind. Brotherhood, prayer, and perseverance strengthen us, while Scripture in Revelation 2:19-25 warns against tolerating the spirit of Jezebel—false authority and manipulation. In all, God calls His people to courage, faithfulness, and steadfastness in their calling until His return.

Today’s Society sends mixed messages about masculinity—expecting men to lead, provide, and protect, while also labeling those traits as “toxic.” This leaves many men fearful, passive, and unsure of their role.

But from the beginning, God gave men responsibility (Genesis 2:15). Work, protection, and stewardship were intended as blessings, not punishments. Avoiding these roles causes harm in broken families and confusion in society.

Adam, Moses, Gideon, Saul, and Peter all struggled with fear and responsibility. Yet God still used them, showing that fear of failure, or even adject failure does not disqualify a man from being used for God’s purpose.

Men are not called to carry manhood alone—God equips them with strength and grace. Through Christ’s sacrifice, men are redeemed, restored, and clothed in righteousness.

True manhood means embracing responsibility, trusting God, and leading with love and sacrifice. In Christ, fear is replaced with courage and purpose.

Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, showing them that his suffering actually advanced the gospel. Even while imprisoned, the message of Christ spread, and believers grew bolder in their faith. Though some preached with wrong motives, Paul rejoiced that Christ was proclaimed.

He admitted he longed to be with Christ but chose to remain for the sake of others’ growth and joy. His life reminded believers to live with a Christ-centered purpose, to face death with hope, and to keep serving others while they remained.

The message was reflected in the lives of two faithful saints who recently passed. Each, in different ways, advanced the gospel. Their loss reminded believers that God, in His sovereignty, could bring good even from sorrow, working all things for His glory.

Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, beginning with John 1:1-13. We start with the prologue, uncovering the beautiful way John describes the eternal existence and divinity of Christ.

Isaiah condemned Israel’s priests and prophets for their corruption, drunkenness, and mockery of God’s word. Though God gave them simple, repeated truths (“line upon line, precept upon precept”) that even a simple child could grasp, they rejected His word. Instead of rest and refreshing, their refusal brought judgment through foreign invasion. In

Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus offers that same rest—now fulfilled in Him. Where Israel’s leaders scorned simplicity, Christ invites all to come, take His easy yoke, and learn from Him. God’s truth is simple yet powerful, and rejecting it brings ruin, but receiving it brings rest, growth, and eternal life.

In 1 Samuel 16:13–24, we see a dramatic “transfer” of spirits. Samuel anoints David, and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him in power. At the same time, because of King Saul’s ongoing disobedience, God allows a troubling spirit to torment him.

David, known both for his skill in music and now for being anointed by God, is called to play for Saul. Each time David played, Saul’s troubled mind found relief, and the spirit that oppressed him departed. This reminds us that God’s Spirit brings strength, and that music—especially when offered in His presence—can be a healing balm for anxious, restless, or burdened hearts today.

Psalm 150 calls all creation to praise the Lord everywhere and with every instrument. Worship not only glorifies God but also strengthens and uplifts our own spirits. Just as David’s harp brought calm to Saul, anointed praise and music can bring peace to troubled minds in our own lives.

In seasons of mental struggle, praise becomes a pathway to peace. Whether through song, music, or simple words of gratitude, worship can lift us from heaviness to hope, reminding us that God still meets us in our deepest needs.

The Apostle John, devoted his ministry and writings to revealing Jesus Christ as the eternal Word of God made flesh, who came to bring life and light to all people. In his Gospel, John presents Christ’s invitation as broad and unrestricted—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). There is no distinction of race, class, or background limits…it’s God’s love and our belief.

In his epistles, John emphasizes that God’s love is the foundation of faith and fellowship, urging believers to walk in truth and love as evidence of truly knowing Christ. John’s work consistently testifies that the invitation of Christ is open to all, without partiality, and leads to eternal fellowship with God.

Finally, in the book of Revelation, John portrays Christ as the risen Lord who still calls individuals to Himself. His appeal is both urgent and personal, offering spiritual riches to all who will come: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:18).

The beautiful passage of scripture in Psalm 46 declares that God is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” grounding us in His unshakable presence, no matter the chaos around us.

Matthew 17:20 teaches that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. Jesus said that the disciples were unbelieving, possibly because what they saw in the young boy caused them to lose sight that faith’s power lies not in their strength, but in God’s. They doubted that THEY could deliver him. I think we share in this skepticism.

But, together, these passages remind us that when we take shelter in God’s steadfastness, even the smallest genuine trust in Him can unleash His limitless power in our lives.

Join us for a study through the brief but weighty book of Jude, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant against growing apostasy in the church.

In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul reflects on his past achievements and religious credentials, ultimately counting them as garbage compared to the worth of knowing Christ. His deep desire is to share in Christ’s sufferings and to attain resurrection life, even if it means enduring hardship. This reveals to us that rejoicing isn’t rooted in comfort or success but in the deeper joy of being found in Christ—of knowing Him and becoming like Him, even through suffering.

Yet, Paul was also the author of Philippians 4:4 which issues a clear command: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” And, it’s sobering to know that this instruction comes not from a place of ease and comfort, but from a prison cell in a deliberate act of faith.

Christian joy is not escapism. It's a discipline rooted deep in knowing Christ, trusting His worth above all else, and believing that His presence is enough—even when life is difficult. Rejoicing in hard times is possible because our joy is anchored not in outcomes, but in the person of Jesus Himself.

Judges 13 introduces the story of Samson’s birth. The Israelites once again do evil in God’s sight, leading to 40 years of oppression by the Philistines. In response, God sends an angel to a barren woman—the wife of Manoah—telling her she will have a son who will begin to deliver Israel. The angel instructs her to raise the child as a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth, abstaining from wine and unclean food, and never cutting his hair. Manoah prays for guidance, and when the angel appears again, both parents receive instructions. The chapter ends with God fulfilling His promise—the woman gives birth to Samson, and God’s Spirit begins to stir in him.

This reminds us that even in times of spiritual decline, God’s plans are still unfolding. He can use unexpected people and circumstances to bring about deliverance. It also highlights the importance of consecration—setting our lives apart for God's purposes. Like Samson’s parents, we are called to seek God’s guidance in raising the next generation, trusting that He equips us when we ask. Today, it challenges us to live intentionally, knowing that God can do great things through lives fully surrendered to Him.

Lately, we've found ourselves pouring time and care into restoring, maintaining, and updating our church building. We can’t say for certain what we’re preparing for—only that there's a deep sense that we must. That this is a faithful act of readiness.

Interestingly, some of us are doing the same at home—repairing, reorganizing, renewing. It’s as if God is stirring hearts to get things in order, both in His house and in ours.

The Bible speaks often about God opening doors for His people. The Apostle Paul mentions several such doors—opportunities to preach, to go, to serve. But these divine doors aren’t limited to ministry in the traditional sense. Sometimes they lead us into healing, into deeper relationships, or into new callings we couldn’t have imagined.

In Revelation 3:7–8, Jesus speaks to the church in Philadelphia and says, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” He reminds us that He alone holds the keys—that when He opens something, no power on earth can close it. That promise still stands. When God opens a door, whether it's for ministry, growth, or change, it remains open by His authority and grace.

Whatever the purpose behind this season of preparation, we believe it’s no accident. The important thing is that we are able to see the doors God opens—and be ready to walk through them in faith when the time comes.

Join us at Calvary Temple of Campbell, CA, for Sunday morning Prayer, Worship & Communion. July 6th, 2025

The comparison of these two prayers, Nehemiah 9 led by the Levites and Mattthew 6, taught by Jesus, teaches us very similar attitudes of prayer. They include the importance of our complete dependence upon God—for daily needs. They both teach us to highlight God’s faithfulness to us in times past, the need for us to confess our sin, and certainly the requirement by God for humility when we come before him. And they both show us the blessed hope we have in God to live in this world, according to His will.

In Luke 9:28–36, we read the awe-inspiring account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this moment, Jesus gave His disciples a powerful, visual revelation—an "illustrated sermon"—to affirm truths they had been struggling to grasp.

As they watched in wonder, Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothing became dazzling white. The prophets Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him, and the voice of God spoke from the cloud, declaring, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

This divine encounter was not only a revelation of Jesus’ glory—it was a profound encouragement meant to strengthen the disciples’ faith in preparation for the suffering to come. It reminded them (and reminds us) that Jesus is the radiant bridge between heaven and humanity.

In Luke 9:49, the disciples complained to Jesus that some people were casting out demons in Jesus’ name but, they weren’t closely following them, so the disciples told them to stop it. 

The disciples didn’t like their ‘new’ ways of doing things, because it wasn’t the way they were doing it.  Jesus’ response may have surprised them when he said, in essence, leave them alone.  Don’t stop them, because if they aren’t blatantly against us, meaning, “on the Jesus team,” then Jesus, and his disciples, should count them as for them—on the Jesus team! 

How meaningful for us in the body of Christ today. We see many different approaches in ministering for the Lord; different doctrines, different methods.  But is the core message the same—Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God and our soon coming King?  If so, leave them alone and let God be their judge.  It’s a hard lesson.

Today we continue to discuss our church's statement of faith and the scriptural support for our basic doctrinal positions. We also compare and contrast these statements with the Pentecostal Church of God statement of faith from which our church's statement of faith borrows.

Today we discuss our church's statement of faith and the scriptural support for our basic doctrinal positions. We also compare and contrast these statements with the Pentecostal Church of God statement of faith from which our church's statement of faith borrows.

Joshua 3 and 4 recount the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, where God stops the river’s flow to allow the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. These chapters highlight God's faithfulness, mighty hand of power, and guidance, demonstrating that He makes a way when His people step out in faith, just like the Levites had to first step into the water before God performed the miracle on their behalf.

For Christians today, this passage serves as a reminder to trust God during uncertain times and to remember His past faithfulness as a source of strength. The memorial stones set up in Joshua 4 symbolize the importance of passing down testimonies of God’s work to future generations. Thank God for the personal spiritual memorial stones that we can look back upon and about which we can teach our children! 

God’s divine purpose is not always made known to us.  It wasn’t to Abraham.  He saw only small pieces of the puzzle, but the whole scene was not revealed to him—not even in his lifetime.  How could he be the blessing to all families on the earth when he had only one kid—at 100 years old??

Yet, he didn’t see that he and his one child of promise would be directly responsible for the coming Messiah, who would surely be a blessing to all families on the earth.  And, since we are spiritual offspring of Abraham, and we believe in the Messiah, we have the same blessing as Abraham did!

Ever felt unworthy of God’s love, salvation, healing? In I Kings Chapter 13 we read the story of an unnamed prophet chosen by God to deliver a very strong message to the wicked king Jeroboam. The message said that God would destroy the altars to the king’s false gods and idols, and that the human ashes on top of the altar would be poured out in front of Jeroboam as a sign of the authenticity of the prophecy.

The king became so angry that he stuck out his arm and shouted to his soldiers to seize the prophet, and when he did, God sent judgment and withered his hand and froze his arm in the outstretched position.

The king had the audacity to ask the prophet, whom he was just about to have killed, to intercede in prayer to his God on his behalf and ask him to restore his hand and arm…and God chose to answer the prophet’s prayer on behalf of Jeroboam. Sometimes, even saints do wrong or make bad choices. We have a God who set up a system of intercession—we as saints intercede for the lost, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groanings for us, and Jesus intercedes for all to the Father.

In the familiar story in Mark 11:12-14 Jesus demonstrated to his disciples the need for believers to bear good fruit…it was representative of the Jewish leaders who had all the right trappings to appear outwardly righteous, but inside, were barren and void.

Later, in Verse 20 when the disciples commented about the fig tree being withered according to Jesus word, Jesus taught them about their own authority and responsibility, to speak instructions to their mountain, to be removed from their path. While this is very, very hard for some of us to grasp, it's Jesus' own words. ANd, what a beautiful time of speaking to our mountains we had!

Have you ever felt like you were going to perish? So did the disciples in Matthew 8:23-27. They were in the thick of a terrible storm, and their small boat was quickly filling up with water. They were surely aware of the miracles that Jesus, asleep in the stern of the boat, had previously performed but here, in this moment, they feared for their own safety.

While Jesus challenged them about their lack of faith, we can be comforted to know that he immediately recognized their fear and calmed the storm they were in. He saved them from peril and in doing so, built their faith and confidence in his deity, the One who speaks to the wind and the waves and they obey Him!

Jesus didn’t say that he would merely bring about resurrection, or CAUSE the resurrection to happen, both of which are true, but he said, I AM THE RESURRECTION—and the life. He was deity over death and deity over resurrection.

Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in fellowship with God are so are EMBODIED in Jesus and they can be found ONLY through RELATIONSHIP through faith in Him. Jesus echoed the covenant of old found in Deuteronomy 28:6, Blessed will you be in your coming in and in your going out when he said in John 10:9, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. He truly is the resurrection and the life!

Today we are looking at Exodus 12 to review the plague of Passover of the Death Angel, and how God made a way to spare the Israelites from death.

In addition, we will watch a video by David Guzik, centering on present-day Communion, and how it is related to the Passover—namely, Jesus Christ being our Passover Lamb!

Join us for guest evangelist Juanita Canavesio's study in 2 Kings 13:14 titled "How Much of God's Victory Do We Want? - There is a Whole Lot More!"

Join us for a study of Isaiah 6, where Isaiah encounters the Lord and is purified and commissioned to deliver a message to the people of Judah regarding the Babylonian captivity that will be repeated again by Christ during the Roman captivity.

God has a heart for the people of Israel, but as the Word says, whom He loves, He chastens. The message was that the people wouldn't see with the eyes, hear with their ears, or understand with their hearts (both in Isaiah's time, and again in Christs'), yet a remnant would arise who would embrace their Lord and Messiah.

Join us for our Sunday morning service, October 20, 2024, as we welcome an old friend of Calvary Temple - Juanita Canavesio.

In II Corinthians 3:18 the Bible says that we are being transformed into Christ’s image.  Many men of old walked with God and found favor with God; Enoch, Noah, Abraham.

We also must mature in the things of Christ the very same way the Children of Israel did—by doing his commandments, full immersion in his word, walking with him and, by loving one another. The Psalmist said the man whose delight is in the law of the lord is blessed and on his law he meditates day and night.

Sometimes the walk gets hard, and our faith will be tried and tested, but if we stay immersed in him, stay in love with him and with each other, he will produce a Christlikeness and maturity in us that we, and He will recognize. 

The writer of Hebrews 6:1-6 stresses the importance of knowing well the “elementary doctrines” of Christ.  Because if we haven’t mastered these, we cannot move on to more mature matters in Christ. 

Specifically,

·      Repentance from dead works

·      Faith toward God

·      Instructions about baptisms

·      The laying on of hands

·      The resurrection of the dead

·      Eternal Judgment 

The instruction is that we must grow up in Christ, because it’s impossible to restore those to repentance who have tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of the word of God, and the powers of the age to come and then deny God and fall away.  Advice we must heed.

Both anointing and adornment were used symbolically to designate or identify people or things which had been set aside for service unto the Lord. 

In Exodus 30:22-33 God told Moses to make a special anointing oil that would mark the temple furnishings and the priests as belonging to the service of the Lord.

In Psalm 149:4 and Isaiah 61:10, the bible says that God takes pleasure in his people and he adorns the humble with salvation and robes of righteousness and that those godly traits look just like a priestly headdress that a bridegroom adorns himself with, and sparkling jewels that a bride adorns herself with for her wedding day. 

We are anointed for the Lord’s service by the Holy Spirit and adorned with his godliness.

Pastor Debbie shares a personal testimony of trusting God's word, and God's grace and mercy in healing, as well as an old song that reminds us that there is peace in the midst of the storm, in the shelter of His arms.

Join us as we discuss the ‘mission statement’ for Calvary Temple Church of Campbell, CA – to be effective for Kingdom Purpose. To fervently seek the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to enable us to minister the Word of God with boldness and bravery, and to simultaneously soften, open and draw the hearts of the lost unto salvation.

Today we welcome our missionaries to Mexico Skip & Darin Kincaid of GuateMex Vision. https://guatemex.org

In John 16:7, Jesus that it was to the disciples’ advantage that He go away and return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come, and that when He comes, he will convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment.

In John 14:12, Jesus said, truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works He did, but greater works than these would they do, because I go to the Father.

Both of these verses makes it clear that the coming of the Holy Spirit would cover the sin problem, righteousness and judgment problems, and equip believers to do these greater works of which Jesus spoke. It’s essential that we are ready to share the gospel so that the Holy. Spirit can convict of sin, and that we are equipped to do the greater works!

In I Samuel 16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? FILL YOUR HORN WITH OIL, AND GO. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, FOR I HAVE PROVIDED MYSELF A KING AMONG HIS SONS.

And in Verse 4 we read, And Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. And of course, Samuel reviewed all the sons of Jesse, but the anointed one, God’s chosen one, wasn’t among the expected ones. So, Jesse sent for his youngest son, David, and it was he whom God had chosen to be king and he whom Samuel anointed with his full horn of oil.

The importance and the meaning of this to us, of having our spiritual horn full of oil, can’t be missed. Everything we do depends upon the oil of anointing to be upon us. To defend against sin, satan, hardships, etc. We need it like it was when Moses anointed Aaron for the priesthood and the anointing oil ran down his face, his beard, and his robes. Oh God, anoint us anew with your precious Holy Spirit and let it run all over us! In Jesus’ Name!

Deuteronomy 20 is God’s law book on war. He laid out concessions for those who shouldn’t go to battle, including those who were fearful and might spread their fear to other soldiers, and how to handle the cities outside of the Promised Land by offering them peace!

But inside the Promised Land, things were very different! God said not to leave alive anything that breathed, so that they couldn’t spread their evil ways of idolatry and sins against God.

The blessings were all-inclusive for staying within the bounds of the Promised Land covenant—even to the blessing of their children for a thousand generations. God is so faithful! And to the church of Jesus Christ, he says that the very gates of Hell will not prevail against us. Amen!

What’s in your spiritual bank account? Matthew 6:19-21 instructs us Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Have you focused on establishing a good bank account of imperishables from which our heavenly banker can make withdrawals? Do you invest in service to the Lord and others? Being faithful and having faith in God, even when things are hard?

God is so faithful to bless us on this earth, but we must also keep our spiritual account well-funded! Matthew 10:42 says, And, whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water will by no means lose his reward. I want to bank some good rewards, don’t you?

In Isaiah 42:8 God declares his name. I am the LORD Jehovah; that is my name and my glory I will not give to another, neither my praise to a graven image. In verse 13 he is the mighty warrior, great in battle; Jehovah is his name!

What a mighty God we serve. There is no comparison of our God Jehovah, mighty warrior, great in battle, with any other so-called, self-proclaimed ‘god.’ We must always be mindful of whom it is that we serve!

Many scriptures identify Jesus as the Son of God. In Luke 1 the angel Gabriel told Mary that this child will be called holy, the Son of God. In Luke 3:21 God spoke at Jesus’ baptism and said, This, is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased. But, in Luke 4:21, when Jesus read from Isaiah 61, the people in Jesus’ home town could only recognize him as the carpenter’s son, not the Son of God.

Satan also challenged Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, but Jesus overcame every challenge using the Word of God.

We must recognize him as the Divine Son of God, sent to earth on a Divine Assignment from his Father. I’m so thankful that Jesus accepted his assignment as the will of his Father. In John 10:11, Jesus said I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down my for the sheep. What an assignment for the Son of God.

In Malachi chapter 3:1, God introduces us to the Messenger of the New Covenant in whom we delight. This covenant was a greater covenant than that which had been handed-down to the Levites in laws and stories, but which they strayed away from.  This new covenant would be about personal relationship with the Messenger of the Covenant and would solve the sin problem once and for all.

This passage covers both the first advent of Christ as the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the second coming—which we believe is very soon to happen, when Jesus will sit in judgment as the refiner and purifier.  His first coming forces people to decide what to do about God.  The second coming will bring judgment and justice to those who reject it, and eternal blessing to those who hear it and accept it.  The question is, have you heard and accepted His salvation plan?

God requires holiness and respect for his name from those in the priesthood and those who minister to God and the people. In I Samuel 2 Eli, the priest’s sons began to treat the offerings that the people would bring to sacrifice to the Lord with contempt by literally taking by force, the most and the best parts of the animals for themselves. But God took the lives of the two sons in one day.

Again, in Malachi 2, God had a sobering message for the priesthood because of their deep levels of corruption, in that they were offering polluted food on the altar of God by offering blind, lame and sick animals to sacrifice to desecrate his name. God said he would not accept an offering from dirty hands. He cursed their blessings and their children.

I Peter 2:9 says that those who come to him are spiritual houses, and a holy priesthood and we offer spiritual sacrifices—which have been made acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice. It still matters that we bring holy and pure spiritual sacrifices before the Lord. He’ll not accept offerings from dirty hands.

James 1:17 tells us that Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  

Some gifts come with seemingly flawed aspects.  Parents are sometimes imperfect, yet they make us feel loved.  Pastors, teachers and churches are often flawed, yet we come to know the love of Christ, the word of God and Christian fellowship through them. 

Daniel and his three friends were the cream of the crop in Judah; well-studied in the laws of God, able servers in the temple.  But when they were taken into captivity in Babylon, they were forced to serve in the pagan king’s court and then slated to be killed.   But God answered prayer in a miraculous way, and Daniel thanked God for his gift of mercy and prayed, To you, Oh God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might and have made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.  Let's be thankful for the good and perfect gifts from God. 

Jesus gave us some very specific things that must occur in order to be his disciple. In Luke 14:26, 27, 33, Jesus listed three things he requires.

1. We must hate all others—hate is defined in Genesis 29:30-31 as, loving others less than we love Jesus,

2. We must bear our own cross of self-denial, described in Mark 8:34-38 as laying down our self-determination and taking up his will for our lives,

3. We must be willing to renounce all that we have, defined in Luke 5:4-11 as leaving all this world has to offer to follow Jesus.

These may seem hard to do, but Jesus said if we can’t do these things, we’re not worthy to be his disciples. Have you had a come to Jesus meeting?

Let the church say, Amen, Amen! God has spoken, so let the church say, Amen! Nehemiah 8:5-8 tells how, newly released from terrible bondage under Babylonian captivity, the people of Judah regathered to Jerusalem and set forth rebuilding the temple. Nehemiah, the governor, declares the day to be a holy day, and that the people should no longer be in mourning, but they should rejoice in the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is their strength.

So, Ezra read the Book of the Law, and the Levites interpreted the words he read, so that all the people understood the words they heard.

And Verse 6 says: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen! Lifting their hands and bowing their faces to the ground, worshipping God.

When the word of the Lord is spoken, either by the Holy Spirit or written in His book, Let the church say, Amen, Amen!

Sometimes, things are just not as they appear…or sound. This was the case in Ezra 3:10-13. The onlookers and listeners couldn’t tell whether the sounds they heard were rejoicing or mourning. Some of the people were shouting with joy because they were delivered from Babylonian captivity and because the temple at Jerusalem was being rebuilt. But others, the elders, were mourning because they’d seen the glory of the former temple and they knew that the new one wouldn’t compare with the old one. They were mourning what had been lost.

Our country may be in this exact situation at this time of our presidential election. Some people may be rejoicing, but some may be mourning, and it may be difficult to tell the difference.

But, the good news is that God remains in full control. Just as he did in Genesis, when he used the rain and flood to cleanse the earth of all things ungodly. But he used that exact same rain and flood to lift up Noah and his family—a remnant of believers—above the devastation. Stay in prayer!

These words are true and trustworthy—that’s what Jesus said of his own words in Revelation 22:6. Just before his ascension to Heaven to be with his Father, Jesus told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit to come to them. Again, this wasn’t new news, because, as Jesus said, they’d heard it from him.

In the book of John, Jesus reassured the disciples, whom he’d called friends to remember what he'd said, because his words would keep them safe from falling away from their faith. We’ve heard it from Him, whose words are true and trustworthy.

Join us for our Sunday morning service, October 20, 2024, as we welcome an old friend of Calvary Temple - Juanita Canavesio. We were inspired by Sister Juanita's testimony and her passion for the lost, and you will be too!

The Psalmist said that he would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of God than to dwell in tents of wickedness. In II Chronicles 23, God appointed and anointed gatekeepers to surround the house of God to protect both the king and the people from wicked evildoers! They were to always be on watch, with weapons in hand, and were to kill anything that was unclean in any way.

It was customary for a family to position their sheepfold at the front of their house so that it could be closely guarded by a hired gatekeeper or, sometimes, by the shepherd himself. In John 10, Jesus told us that He, the Good Shepherd, not a hireling, is our gatekeeper. He is the very door to the sheepfold, and anyone who doesn’t enter the sheepfold through the door, is a robber and a thief and has evil intentions to ravage the sheep.

Thank you, Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Gatekeeper, for loving us so much that you laid down your life for your sheep!

God used the ram’s horn, or shofar, as the trumpet of the day, to announce and commemorate important events. In today’s message, we look at three different long trumpet blasts.

1) In Exodus 19:16 a long trumpet blast was sounded for the importance of God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.

2) In Leviticus 23, a long trumpet blast was sounded to start the Feast of Trumpets, which was for the people to prepare themselves for the Feast of the Day of Atonement, when God would forgive their sins for the year.

3) The third long trumpet blast is found in I Thessalonians 4 and is yet to come. It is the trumpet of God that will announce the rapture of the church!

This is by far the most important trumpet blast of all, as it will announce the coming of Jesus in the air, along with the spirits of the saints who’ve died in Christ. They will come down from Heaven in the air, and Jesus will reunite their spirits with their bodies and gather up into the air, the living righteous. He will take us all, the bride of Christ, to Heaven to be presented to God the Father and forever be with Jesus.

This will be the crowning moment for the church. Are you listening for that trumpet blast?

Prayers of supplication are prayers that are not typical, not wishy-washy, shot-in-the-dark kinds of prayers, but are so targeted, heart-felt, sobbing kinds of prayers. The kind where we groan in our spirit and plead with God with open hands, desperately needing to receive from Him.

This is how Solomon prayed in I Kings 8 when he prayed over the newly built Temple at Jerusalem, asking God to dedicate it to His name and His presence forever, and to forgive the people’s sins who would worship there. This is how Hannah prayed when she was petitioning God for a child. No words would come from mouth; only groanings deep from within her pleading her case for a child.

And sometimes, we must care enough to pray this way over our loved ones who are walking in rebellion and need to seek God for forgiveness. God gave two men, Isaiah and Ezekiel the job of being spiritual watchmen on the wall of Jerusalem; but he also gave us charge to pray, to pray important prayers of supplication, over the walls of the hearts of those loved ones for whom we are spiritual watchmen, and to plead the case for their souls before God.

Deception in the church is something that we may not be as prepared for as we would like to think we are.

The Apostle Paul warned the church in Rome about this in Romans 16:17-20, advising Christians to avoid such people that would preach a different gospel than what they were taught.

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 that false prophets and teachers will come in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves. Jesus assured us that we would recognize them by their fruits—and, to also be assured that good and bad fruit cannot come from the same tree. Either they are good and pure inside, or they are ravenous wolves, even if they speak in Jesus’ name!

This message includes a true, personal experience of how such a cult of ravenous wolves tried to infiltrate our church, just a few weeks ago. This is serious business and we must be diligent to know the Word of God so that we recognize their fruits of deception.

Join us for this excellent podcast by Pastor Tiff Shuttlesworth and YouTuber Kap Chatfield on the end times eschatology.

Jeremiah, a faithful prophet of God had a very heavy message to deliver from God to the people.  In Jeremiah 20:7 he prayed,

V7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.

Sometimes, the Lord calls upon us to carry a heavy burden of prayer, love and concern, and maybe even to deliver a difficult message to others.  

And even though, like Jeremiah, we may be met with great opposition because of the content of the message, we cannot keep silent.  Jeremiah said in Verse 9, even when I say, I will not so much as even mention His name again, the message is so strong within me that it feels like fire shut up in my bones.

The point of this message must be clear; our weaknesses--though very real to us, are no excuse for not doing God's work, nor are they in any, a deterrent, to God using us in great power and with great results. God did strengthen Jeremiah, with words of personal encouragement, visions, dreams, and God will surely do the same for you, for all of us, if we remain faithful in the calling.

Are you walking in the light of God? Even when the world surrounds us with so much darkness, we can be sure of where the light is. I John 1:5-7 tells us how to do that. I John 1:5-7 in the Amplified Bible:

V5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].

V6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth;

V7 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

Join us for this study of Genesis 1:6-10 which recounts both the reasons why, and the benefits to us, when God separated the “waters from below from the waters that are above,” and, when he created the expanse, or firmament, in between them. Six times in creation God commanded his created matter to obey him, and they did so, without resistance! Thankfully, we can praise him because we love him, not because we were commanded to do so!

Ever wonder about what was “before the beginning?”  The Bible says a lot about what was before the beginning as we know it from Genesis 1!  

God’s creation was carried out by His spoken word—that word was the very cause of all that was created, and Jesus, as John 1:1-3 says, is the Word of God. 

Colossians 1:15-20 says that Jesus, the Word of God, and the image of the invisible God, created all things that were created, both in heaven and on the earth.

Join us for this interesting study of “Before the Beginning,” based on Proverbs 8:22-31.

In Isaiah 53:10-12, Isaiah the prophet wrote about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, 700 years before Jesus came to the earth! That tells us that the plan of God for a redeemer, God’s will, always was!

It was also God’s will that, even in death, it did not end the plan and will of God, because through resurrection, God’s will and testament, Jesus, would live on eternally. And Jesus gave us that promise, too.

That plan, the will and testament of God, was and is inclusive for all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself, and that He came to save us from our sins. Even one of the two thieves who died on the cross with Jesus believed and was saved! He believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and he believed that he was a sinner and that Jesus could save him from his sins,

even though he deserved death. Jesus gave him such a glorious hope and promise that, today, that very day of what seemed to be the worst day of that man’s life, would end in Paradise with Jesus—eternally. Even the thief on the cross believed and was saved! And again, that same promise is given for us, today. Do you believe?

The book of Deuteronomy 16:13-17 describes one of the feasts that God established for the Israelites as part of his Covenant with them. The Feast of Booths was to occur every seven years, and last for 7 days, after the summer’s harvest and gathering-in of crops. They were to remember God’s prior provision for them and rejoice over God’s current abundance. The Bible specifically says they were to be “altogether joyful.”

Later, after the Israelites rejected God and were taken into Babylonian captivity, in Nehemiah 8:13 the Feast of Booths was once again established for them to celebrate with great joy.

But after this, the solemn assembly was to be called; they repented, fasted and prayed! America can’t afford any more spiritual lethargy, in essence, “sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time!” America needs to remember God’s provision and freedom in this country; America needs to rejoice and worship Jesus! And, most importantly, America needs to call a solemn assembly and repent!

We see such a dichotomy of values in this present time. In I Corinthians 1:26-30 the Bible says that God chose His own definition of what’s wise, powerful, and wealthy, namely, those who ascribe to and receive the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation.

What God chose as valuable is foolishness to the world, but to those who believe, it is eternal salvation. That flies in the face of modern thinkers, who place such reverence on collecting material things and exuding power over others.

But, Jeremiah 9:24 tells us exactly what delights God, and it isn’t what the world values. God delights in those who practice lovingkindness, good judgment, and righteousness in the earth, because that’s what He, Himself, practices.

In Isaiah 5:7 the Bible says that the Lord planted himself a vineyard and he cared for it and tended it carefully and that the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, are his pleasant planting. 

Again, using the symbol of the vineyard of the Lord, in the gospel of John 5, Jesus tells the disciples “I am the true vine and my father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that  bears fruit he prunes; that it may bear more fruit.

Those who abide in the true vine, who is Jesus Christ, will be tended and cared for by the Father, the vinedresser, who will prune the true branches—those who center their lives in him, they will bear fruit that looks like the True Vine.  Else, the branches that are not centered in the Vine, are removed and burned up. 

It really pays to remain fully centered in the True Vine.

In Ezra 1:1-11, King Cyrus was mightily used by God to accomplish his will, even though he was not a Jewish believer, but a foreign king. God blessed him greatly, and stirred up his heart to repatriate the scattered Jews, who were in exile in Babylon. Not only did Cyrus allow the Jews to repatriate back to Jerusalem, he also facilitated the rebuilding of the temple destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar.

Sometimes, we struggle to understand God’s ways in our lives. But this prophetic story shows us that God uses whom he wills, and even blesses and equips them to accomplish his will.

A fundamental verse in the Christian faith is I John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The whole of scripture is very clear that confessing our sins or repentance, and faith in God to forgive us our sins results in salvation.

There is not a substitute for repentance and faith that can ensure salvation. Some popular statements used today completely ignore the requirement of repentance. How tragic for those who are truly seeking salvation!

We must follow the Word of God for something so important! The psalmist David said in Psalm 51:1: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me! Repentance and faith; it equals salvation!

In Numbers 15:37-41 God provided fringe benefits to the Children of Israel.  He instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to sew fringes, or tassels, onto the hems of their garments.  This accomplished two things: 1) it identified them to the world as God’s chosen people and 2) the fringe was to be used as a visual reminder for them not to follow their own hearts and will, and not to commit sin against God.

In the New Testament, the Pharisees also wore fringes—but they elongated them in order to appear more holy than others. Jesus taught against this practice—but he didn’t teach against wearing fringes in accordance to God’s instructions. And, Jesus wore fringes on the hems of his garments!  In Matthew 14:34 when Jesus came to Gennesaret all the sick were brought to him and they “implored him that they might touch the fringe of his garment, and all who touched it were healed.” 

Likewise, in Matthew 9:20, the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years also touched the fringes on the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed.

Today, we access those fringes on Jesus garment—his spiritual garment—by faith in his work on the cross.  The Holy Spirit gives us access, by faith to Jesus’ healing power.

Today is Father’s Day, when we celebrate our fathers.  Jesus loved his father! He prayed, Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name!

Proverbs 23:24 says that, The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. The Father God was well pleased in His righteous son!

Yet, God’s heart, as well as ours, is for the fatherless.  Psalm 68:5 says that the Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation, and Deuteronomy 10:18 says He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow. 

But, God also has the backs of fathers, too.  Our text, in Psalm 121, tells us that he is a helper, a refuge, a stabilizer, and One who will never sleep nor slumber in providing his protection to those who lift their eyes to him for help. 

And finally, fathers can be encouraged as I Corinthians 15:56 tells all believers to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that IN THE LORD, our labor is not in vain. Even in raising godly children.

Romans 8:1-2 tells us that there is no condemnation—no condemnation to eternity in hell, for those who are in Christ Jesus!  Because, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have the Spirit of Life in us, and He has set us free from the condemnation of sin and death through the blood of Jesus, which he shed at Calvary’s cross. 

But still, we sometimes wonder, have we done enough or believed enough to make the Heavenly Team?  Further in Romans 8 we learn that there is an absolute litmus test to find out!  We can know for sure which side we are on by our mindset—either we keep our mind on the righteous right side, or our mind stays on the selfish fleshly left side.  By knowing where our minds are set to, we can determine where we will spend eternity! 

We absolutely must know this, because in Mathew 25:31-34, and Verse 41, Jesus will determine where we spend eternity by our mindset. He will send the righteous sheep to the right, and the fleshly goats to the left.  Which side are you on?

In Galatians 6:2-10 Paul admonished those who name the name of Christians to take care of one another; to bear each other’s burdens and in so doing, we will fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is to love one another, just as the ultimate burden bearer, Jesus, bore our sins in his own body.

In Verse 7-8, Paul warns against becoming impressed by our own worth—for doing so brings deception! But God is neither deceived, nor mocked, for He certainly knows the source from which we sow—whether it be to the flesh or to the spirit!

And, finally, we must guard against becoming weary of doing good and giving up the fight of faith, for the harvest will surely come, if we don’t give up.

The value of our life’s journey can be seen in both natural and spiritual ways. The life experiences we have and the character that is developed, are all part of our journey. Sometimes it turns out like we expect, and sometimes it doesn't.

In the Luke 19 Parable of the Minas (about three month’s wages) Jesus tells about three different men, and how their life’s journey—their experience to handle situations, their business skill sets, and their character, prepared them for a significant test in their lives.

Each man was given an amount of money sufficient to make a profit for the master; two succeeded, but one miserably failed the test in both experience and in character.

Taking care of business is important in our Christian walk. So important that the Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 6:2 that today is the favorable time to get things done for Christ, and today is the day of Salvation!

Have you taken care of this most important business of your life?

I John 11 Martha, Mary and the Jews each said, if only Jesus had been here, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. In other words, had Jesus done what they'd asked, when they'd asked, this wouldn’t have happened. Sounds familiar, hmmm?

Jesus was not taken by surprise by Lazarus’ death, but they couldn’t comprehend what Jesus said they would see—the glory of God, because they’d only seen Him heal sick people before now. Jesus challenged their faith to believe for something more than they already knew.

By raising Lazarus from the dead, He not only demonstrated his divinity as God, but also prepared them to believe. Believe that, just as he said would happen, he would also be raised from the dead. Jesus promised in John 5:25-29 that ALL of the dead will hear his voice and will live on that day of rapture. Those who have done good will be raised in righteousness to God, and those who have done evil will be raised to judgment and damnation.

Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be your Savior? If so, you will be raised in righteousness unto God. If you haven’t done so, it’s not too late—yet! You can do so today! Praise His Mighty Name Forever!

In John 11:1-16, Jesus’ disciples couldn’t understand why Jesus didn’t go to Lazarus the minute that he heard that his good friend was ill.  They couldn’t even imagine what Jesus had planned.  A plan that was, until this miracle, yet unseen, but as Jesus said, was for their sakes—so they would believe in Him. 

Then Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead four full days before going to him.  This was done so that God would get the glory, and to refute the superstitions believed by the Jews that a deceased person’s spirit would hover over their dead body for up to three days, hoping for resuscitation so the spirit could re-enter the body. But, by the 4th day, due to decay, it would give up hope and depart.

Sometimes, we experience delays in answers to prayer that we simply can’t understand.  But, maybe our delay is because Jesus has a better plan—a plan that for our sakes, will increase our hope and establish our faith in Him so that God will get the glory.

The representation of Jesus in the Old Testament is very evident, for those who will see it. Scholars predominately agree that all the references to “The Angel of the Lord” is speaking of Jesus in each instance.

In addition to The Angel of the Lord being the pre-incarnate Jesus, many also agree that Jesus can be seen in so many other manifestations in the OId Testament, and the words of Jesus himself, in the New Testament certainly support this.

Join us for this interesting study in Exodus 40:36-38 to learn how Jesus was represented or manifested in the Passover, the Red Sea crossing, the Pillars of Cloud and Fire, the manna, quail and water out of the Rock, and how the Apostle Paul wraps it up nicely in I Corinthians 10:1-3.

In the book of Exodus, when the Children of Israel left Egypt’s bondage bound for the Promised Land, God provided an angel in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to go in front of them to lead them on the way.

But, just at the time when they were seemingly trapped between the Red Sea and the Pharoah's encroaching army, facing certain death either way they turned, God strategically moved…i.e., repositioned, the all-important angel of the Pillar of Cloud from in front of them, to the rear of them.

Now, they could no longer see it! But, what they didn’t know was, just how strategic and important this repositioning was to them, for: Exodus 14:19 says (New Century Version)

"Also, the pillar of cloud moved from in front of the people and stood behind them. So, the cloud came between the Egyptians and the Israelites. This made it DARK for the Egyptians, but gave light to the Israelites. So, the cloud kept the two armies apart all night."

So, if you ever think your angel has moved, you might just need to turn and look behind you; because, just maybe, the Lord has simply repositioned him for your protection!

In II Chronicles 20:12-24 King Jehoshaphat’s great horde of enemies were coming after him, so he went to prayer. Jehoshaphat said, we are powerless against this great horde and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you, Lord.

God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer through the prophet Jahaziel using the same language Jehoshaphat used saying, Do not fear nor be dismayed by the great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Sometimes, like the king Jehoshaphat did, we have to be battle ready. But, God said to believe Him, and believe the prophet, and they will succeed. And succeed, they did! For in the morning, after the worshippers were sent out before the warriors, the enemy had completely destroyed each other.

Do not fear nor be dismayed by the great horde you might see in your life. Believe in God and the prophet, and succeed.

Jesus said, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

A seed pod, so full of life and potential in itself, must fully surrender itself and die, become useless and dead, because the plant, which bears the fruit, grows from the life inside the seed, splitting apart and causing it to die. But without the seed, the plant has no chance of life.   

Similarly, the Apostle Paul explained the resurrection to the doubtful Corinthians, in I Corinthians 15:35 that the dead are raised in the resurrection because the seed—Jesus Christ—surrendered himself and died for our sins and was buried  in the ground, but like Him, the seed, was not what will be raised in the resurrection.

For then, we will be raised glorified, with the glory of a heavenly body, just like Christ was. Verse 49 promises us that, just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, so shall we also bear the image of the Man of Heaven, Jesus Christ.  Praise the Lord!! 

In Jeremiah 5:20-24 God instructs the prophet, Jeremiah, to tell the foolish and senseless people, in the house of Jacob and in Judah, that they need to fear the Lord. He said, I’m the One who drew the boundary of the sea in the sand and though the waves toss, they cannot prevail against that boundary. He also said, I am the One who sends the rain in its season, the autumn rains and the spring rains, and I am the One who keeps for you the weeks appointed for the harvest.

Sounds pretty sure that the harvest will surely come! Again in Deuteronomy 11:13-17, God talked about sending the rain in its season for the land, the early and the latter rains, that the grain, wine and oil harvests may be gathered at the appointed time.

But, He goes on to say that, turning aside from God, committing sinful worship of idols, can stop the rains from coming. If ever, America needs to repent of her sins, it’s now, so that the spiritual latter rains can come upon the church and the harvest of souls can be gathered in.

In John 19:28-30 when Jesus uttered the words “It Is Finished,” He meant a lot more than just the fact that his life on this earth was nearly over. Hebrews 2:10 tells us that Jesus’ obedience to the Father was perfected in his suffering on the cross, and through that suffering, Jew and Gentile were united in one spirit; the reign of eternal death was conquered and salvation was made available to all. Isaiah 53:5 tells us that the full payment for our sinful transgressions, our wicked iniquities, our peace, and our healings, were all finished on the cross. Thank You, Jesus for finishing it all on the cross.