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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: Obedience (Page 4 of 11)

Choosing Sides.

November 18, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” –Philippians 4:4.

While in prison, Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi. Within His letter, he reminds them—and us—to rejoice. Did you catch that? While in prison himself, Paul reminds his brothers and sisters to rejoice.While in prison? Yes.

While going through our own trials? Yes. Every Blood-bought believer will one day face having to choose sides. Faith or fear?

Even at the bedside of your ailing child? When you lose your job, husband, wife, or home? When the doctor’s report is less than favorable? Yes, yes, emphatically, yes! As Christians, we can rejoice always, and, like Paul, we can do it despite the circumstances we find ourselves.

How?

Let’s start with the Truth—it’s not easy. We must be determined. But it is possible because God’s Holy Spirit at work in us affords us the ability to choose rejoicing over sadness or despair, allowing God to dress us in garments of praise rather than our walking alone, clothed in rags of sorrow. Contrary to how we may feel, choosing to rejoice at all times, in every circumstance, will anchor us to God and bolster our trust in Him as we walk by faith. “For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].” –1 John 5:4.

1 John 5:4 and Philippians 4:4, along with countless other scriptures found throughout the Bible, point us to the Source of our ability to “rejoice in the Lord always.” As with anything of eternal value, Jesus, by the power of His Holy Spirit at work in us, gives us the ability we do not possess apart from Him to overcome, to choose to rise above our trials.

Like love and forgiveness—right and wrong, following the narrow or wide paths, character over comfort—we must intentionally choose to rejoice. Each of the above is a by-product of our will, forged by our obedience to God, His will, and Word.

Do you remember pick-up? When you and your friends would choose teams to play some schoolyard game? Two captains would be selected while everyone else lined up and waited for their names to be called. “I choose John.” “I choose Sarah.” On and on it went until everyone had been picked. Regardless of the game, those chosen to play knew there’d only be one winner, yet that knowledge never stopped them from hoping they’d win and giving it their all.

Friends, we are both team captains and those waiting to be chosen. Each is afforded the free will to choose who and what we will serve daily. Fear or faith? The Spirit or the flesh? Like those waiting to be picked, we who stand in line know that one day, perhaps two, our names will be called. Eventually, we’ll hear:

“I’m so sorry to inform you that your mom, dad, husband, wife, childhood friend has just passed away.”

“I’m going to have to let you go. I’m so sorry this comes at such a bad time.”

“Your test results didn’t come back quite as we’d hoped.”

Jesus never promised our lives would be easy—free from heartache, loss, pain, or difficult choices—quite the opposite. He assures us that if we are His, if we smell like sheep, then, like our Shephard, our name will eventually be called to come pick up some cross whose weight we’d fall under, if not for the One helping us to shoulder it—the One, in Truth, who carries its weighty load for us. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” –2 Corinthians 12:9.

Notice how the above Scripture assures us of God’s help “each time” He chooses us to carry such a cross.

It reminds us, too, that we have a choice to make. We’re free to go it alone—kicking the dirt, head down, focusing on everything that’s gone awry—or we can look up! At any moment, we can decide to accept God’s Truth and the sure hope that weeping over our loss of anyone or anything—any circumstance or “suddenly” allowed to touch us, may endure for a night, but joy will come again.

In this knowledge, we take comfort in and are kept afloat by the fact that nothing can touch our lives without first having passed through the hand of our Sovereign God. “Then he broke through and transformed all my wailing into a whirling dance of ecstatic praise! He has torn the veil and lifted from me the sad heaviness of mourning. He wrapped me in the glory-garments of gladness.” –Psalm 30:11. This knowing—coupled with our understanding that our God is good, loving, kind, merciful, ever-present and will always bring good from even the darkest, most difficult of days, weeks, months, out of every trail, whose intended end is to refine us—causing us to look more like Jesus.

Still, Jesus will not allow evil, injustice, or any trial we might face—those He sends or allows to strengthen and refine us—to overcome us. “As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” –Ezekiel 34:13;16-17.

As captains, or those waiting to be chosen, we must decide how we’ll respond one day when our “suddenly” shows up. Will we walk in the flesh—kicking the dirt, looking ever downward? Or look up by faith, daring to believe God. Daring to be transparent and with a trembling humble, voice cry aloud, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,”

So here it is, friends, the how-to and the why of it. “Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Dear friend, if you’re here today, doing your best to keep your head above water without Jesus, I would encourage you to invite Him into your heart and circumstances. Even if you need to be sure He’s listening or cares. He is, and He does. Jesus is big enough to handle your doubts and fears. Just pray, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” If you sincerely seek Him, I assure you He will answer you. “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.” –Matthew 7:7.

Child of God

October 28, 2023 /

Pastor Maria Braga

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11.

Jeremiah is a man who suffered profoundly and who speaks from his own experience. He is a man who had a calling from God to reach a rebellious people, his own people. He was ridiculed by the people he was assigned to lead and encouraged to return to their God. Jeremiah’s heart was broken over and over again by his own people. Sometimes, he wished he had never been born; Jeremiah wanted to escape, isolate himself in the desert, and, at times, he even questioned God and himself. In Jeremiah 2: 13:1-2, He speaks of two specific evils done. “They have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and They dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.”

The big question Jeremiah asked then is the same one many ask today: “Why is bad stuff happening to me?”

Naturally speaking, this question makes sense and has value. However, looking at it from a biblical/spiritual perspective, we understand it differently as a child of God. Every Blood-bought believer is a child of God, carrying God’s very nature in them, so it is up to each child “how” they’ll answer the question: “Why did God allow bad things happen to such a good man of God?”

Every person has moments of questioning, but from Jeremiah’s perspective, we see that he stood firm on the path God had called him, while these moments appeared eager to steal his calling.

Jerimiah’s example of steadfastness shows us, centuries later, how to handle tough times of discouragement and testing!

Jeremiah felt passionately about Jerusalem’s destruction and his people’s affliction.

In those moments, what do we see him do?

Jeremiah chose to seek God and pray for the people of Judah that they might turn back to their God. Deep in Jeremiah’s being was a knowledge far greater than his own. It spoke to him of God’s heart. What He wanted, what God was like—his Character.

After years of preaching and suffering, even his family turned against him and plotted to kill him. “I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.” Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands.” –Jeremiah 15:21. Over the years, Jeremiah was whipped and put in the stocks. He was attacked by mobs and threatened by the king. He was ridiculed in many ways, even thrown into cisterns where he sunk into the mud – yet regardless of what tried to come against him, Jeremiah stood firm!

Jeremiah knew deep within himself that God equipped him for these difficult situations, and he didn’t give up or stop whenever he was faced with one. He remained steadfast. Such deep knowledge of who God is, this supernatural knowing, fortifies the soul and body amidst the most difficult of trials a person can encounter.

 In His Sovereignty, our never-changing God is still calling us today—counting on us to stay steadfast to our calling! The question is, will we?

Jeremiah is just one example of how to walk out our faith and walk in the calling God has assigned each of His children.

Looking at Jeremiah’s life, we could reason and say that we don’t measure up or possess what he had, but the Truth is we do. It’s different, yet the same.

God puts inside each of us the calling He wants us to fulfill through us, just like He did with Jeremiah. Our calling is unique and personal. Spend time with the One who prepared your calling before you were born. Hear what He is saying to you specifically through His Word. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” –Jeremiah 1:5.

Jeremiah understood the weight of his call, and we must also understand the weightiness of our own. God Himself prepares us for our calling; we’re simply vessels in His Hands. Yet, we tend to shrink back and give up when things get tough. Yet God expects us to persevere daily, even when that call isn’t exactly how “we” want it to be or how we planned.

We must surrender to the Truth that our calling is being executed God’s Way, according to His plan. We must align with His strategy, not Him with ours.

Our faulty expectations often produce disappointment because we expect things in the natural, but we are Spirit beings and should handle our calling in the Spirit. We are to know that He is God, and we are not. We must accept whichever way God works in and through us to complete this calling; His will not ours be done, just like He did with Jeremiah.

God will also do with us; we must trust Him as Jeremiah did. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus reminds us: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.”

This steadfastness is how Jerimiah demonstrated his faithfulness to God. Let’s be wise and follow Jeremiah’s steadfast obedience to the Lord in our unique callings and faith walk. Just like the men and women of God before us. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” –1 Corinthians 11:1.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I pray every person reading this word is encouraged and renewed of their faith. Bless each, bless their calling, and launch them to the next level in their faith, amen! And those that have yet to know You as we do, I believe You’re calling them here, now. If this is you, please, like Jeremiah, obey God’s calling you into a relationship with Himself. Just say yes and mean it, like Jeremiah did. Then trust God to do what only He can. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” –Psalm 51:10.

Kingdom Builder.

September 16, 2023 /

Matthew Botelho

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” –1Corinthians 3:9-10.

One thing I love about our Lord Jesus is that first, He loves me and forgives me of all my sins! Secondly, I love how He speaks to one person in His Body and will confirm that Word through another within His Body.

A “rebuilding of hearts” and “reconciliation” is happening within the Body of Christ. Jesus is so powerful and awesome! Still, He does not favor one over the other. God looks at you in the pew with the same love as He looks at your pastor. The roles you each serve are different. Your assignment may not match what other brothers and sisters have been given, but God no less loves you. 

I pray that you will know how much our Lord Jesus loves you.

And I pray you know this also: God will not stop loving you when you fall. Because His Love enables us to pick up the broken pieces of our hearts and say, “Lord help me! Fix this heart that I am laying before You.” The Apostle Paul writes: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:37-39.

If you are Christ’s, then you are a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You are a coheir to the Kingdom of God and a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As ministers of His Word, we build on good ground—a sure foundation.

Building upon God’s Word assures us that as we build, so long as our works align with His Word, His Word will support our good works. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11.

Every building needs a strong foundation. Without it, the structure will fall. Our sure foundation is built upon our faith in Christ and our time spent worshiping Christ Jesus. We will never be able to support the things of God and the works He has assigned us without first knowing and obeying Him and keeping Him first in all things. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” –1 Corinthians 4: 12-14.

Everything man builds starts as a vision and is brought into existence.

As God spoke His vision, plan, and purpose for creation, they became manifest. God said, “Let there be,” and everything came into being. God creates. It is just one of His many Characteristics. He has also placed this ability to create—to partner with His will and plan into His children.

If you belong to Jesus, you have been given faith to speak life into that circumstance or over a family member. You can speak life into something you thought was dead, such as a dream or goal, mending relationships, and new beginnings. Whatever it is you declare, it will be done if it is according to the will of God within Christ Jesus. He is God. You are not. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, keep my commands.” –John 14:13-15.

The Holy Spirit that lives in you, child of God, will tell you how to pray when you are unsure what to speak. Romans 8:26 tells us this: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

When we lay the groundwork of worship and praise in Jesus Christ alone, we will see the vision of what God has for us come into focus.

Jesus is the Cornerstone the builders rejected. “Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” –Mark 12:10-11.

Yet, without a cornerstone, a structure will collapse. So, too, what we attempt to build without God.

The importance of a cornerstone is that it bears much of the weight of the building’s outer structure, and it connects and unites two of the walls. As a builder for God’s Kingdom, you need Jesus to be the Cornerstone of everything you build concerning life and ministry.

In other words, “Do not try to do what God must do first.” Put Jesus in the front of it. His name carries Authority. His Blood washes away our sins, and He sets the captive free!

Jesus teaches us about rock and sand, two very different types of foundations: It would be foolish on our part to dismiss God’s instructions for our lives.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that that house; and it did not fail, for it was founded on the rock.” –Matthew 7:24-25.

As we read and declare the words of Jesus, we must also apply them to our daily lives. Jesus says in the Scripture, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, AND DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Proverbs 1:7 reminds us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Now, fear of the Lord is not fear, as we understand it, being terrified or scared of something or someone; instead, fear of the Lord is a reverence for a deep and abiding love, respect, and awe of God.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell, And great was its fall.”

Jesus gave us the blueprint on how to walk out our faith, but if we choose not to adhere to the Word of God, the collapse, the storms of doubt and fear will rain on us and crush us just as they did the house built on sand. We who believe can and must rely on Truth: The Word of God is consistent and always will be. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” –Revelation 1:8.

As I close, dear friends, I pray the Holy Spirit speaks to anyone needing a firm foundation to stand on. Assuring you that to receive salvation, you need only confess and wholeheartedly repent your sins to the Lord Jesus, asking that He come into your heart.” for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.” –Romans 10:9-10.

Walk It Out On The Sea of Doubt, Pt.3

August 26, 2023 /

Matthew Botelho

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” –Isaiah 30:21.

The last teaching God gave me is still registering in my spirit, and if you have not read it, the teaching’s title is “Will You Follow Me?” I believe Jesus is speaking that so clearly to the body of Christ in this season. Hearing the words “Follow Me” still excites me as I pray it does you. My pastor read from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 during a time of edifying the church this past Sunday, and he touched on the timing of God and how all things work in His time.

There are seasons of life God places us to grow, prune, strengthen, and give us rest. To me, the Word the pastor shared was confirming. Be at peace, dear brothers and sisters, and walk in what God has specifically given you.

Because sometimes, in our walk with the Lord, we can get sidetracked by everyday life. The hustle and bustle of work and family can take us to a place where we lose sight. We can lose our focus on Jesus and try to follow Him in our own strength and time, And what comes as a result of trying to follow in our own strength can be a raging sea of doubt, anxiety, and disappointment.

You can say,” Oh, this would never happen to me. I would never walk it out on my own. Jesus is always my first and for most.” To that, I pray a season of doubt never overtakes you. As for me, I have fallen short; I will fall flat on my face if I rely on myself. I need Jesus to be my guiding light. I need Jesus in the hard times, I need Him in the good times, I need Him in my family, in my marriage, with my children, I need Jesus!

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” –Romans 3:23-24.

I want us to remember when the disciples were out on the sea of Galilee after feeding the five thousand. In Matthew 14:22-24 the disciples of Jesus are rowing to the other side, but a massive storm comes upon them. The waves are crashing, the wind is blowing, and fear and chaos surround them. They cannot see the other side but see something or someone approaching them in the distance. “Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried in fear.” –Matthew 14:25-26.

As part 2 of “Walk It Out On The Sea of Doubt” states, fear can take so much from you. It is a thief of joy and of peace in you. It can cause you to do things you would never usually do. It distorts your vision to see clearly both physically and spiritually. But know this: fear is not your portion in life.

Fear is a weapon your enemy uses as a distraction to stop you from reaching the other side. He will not only use fear but, with it, the lying voice of condemnation to tell you God is not for you, that He has left you in this mess you created. Know now that voice is not God’s. God comes for you in the middle of your mess or the middle of the storm. “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” –Matthew 14:27.

Notice when Jesus spoke to them.

It was immediately after they saw Him. God does not waste time in leaving you in doubt of whether it is Him or not. We are His sheep, and we hear the voice of the One who calls us. Jesus is that Shepard that will come for you in the middle of the storm you are going through. He knew where His disciples would be and precisely where you are now dearly beloved. Jesus says, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Though fear may have gripped you, Jesus sets you free from what holds you captive.

“And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” –Matthew 14:28-29.

I may give Peter more credit than he deserves, but he does something unique here!

Yes, he walks on the water, but he says to the Lord, “If it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Is Peter testing God here? Peter knows the voice of his Lord, and he knows if that is Him, then nothing will go wrong. But stepping out onto the water will take a giant leap of faith if it’s not.

Peter places all of his faith in Jesus and then waits for Jesus’ next command. “Command me to come to You on the water.”

Tell me to step out in faith, step out with my family, ask me to start this ministry, and speak to that person about You. Just tell me what to do, Lord. You know Jesus spoke to you. You know it was His Word. You know it is Him saying, “Come, follow Me”. So, what stops you from jumping out of the boat you’re in?

Whose voice will you listen to?

You can almost hear the voices of the other disciples yelling at Peter. And their voices are no different than those you are hearing now. “Are you crazy!”, “This will never work!”, “Mark my words, Peter, you are going to drown!” You have heard these words before, these voices of doubt. But you have also heard God say, “Follow Me.” “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” and immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” –Matthew 14:30-32

When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he started sinking. He became so focused on what was going on around him that he forgot all about what had gotten him out of the boat in the first place: his faith, entrusted entirely to Jesus. When Peter put his complete faith in Jesus, he was able to walk on the water. When Jesus told him to come, Peter could jump out of that boat. Scripture does not say Peter was hesitant about stepping out onto the water, only that he stepped out once Jesus bid him to come.

We cannot be hearers of the Word of God only. We must be doers, pliable enough to go when it is time to go.

At times, you will fall short. We all will. When you call on Jesus during those raging storms, He will immediately stretch out His hand and catch you. Will may get a rebuke as Peter did, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” But when you fix your eyes on Jesus again and allow Him to guide your steps, you will get to walk on that water again. Scripture says that they got into the boat. The boat did not come to them. They walked to it together. Hallelujah!

I pray this teaching blessed you because I know it truly blessed me.

So to anyone who feels like they are in the storm alone, I encourage you to focus instead on the One that brings calm to every storm. Jesus can and will be that Savior you have been searching for. He will deliver you. Cry out to Him and proclaim Him Lord of your life this day! Then watch as His outstretched hand saves you. Amen. “…May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!” –Psalm 20:1.

Will You Follow Me?

August 19, 2023 /

Matthew Botelho

Sometimes situations at the workplace, within our family, school, or some “shift’ in our walk with Jesus will bring us to that next level in our faith walk. During these times, will you follow Christ? I entitled this teaching “Will you follow me” because God asks this question of all believers. He has a way of getting our attention regarding our walk with His son Jesus. He will use His Holy Spirit to guide us and direct our steps. That is why during such times, we must remember, dear brothers and sisters, that our walk with Jesus is by faith and not by sight. Many of us would stop dead in our tracks if it were by sight! “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” –Hebrews 11:1.

When I said “shift,” I meant things in your life may change suddenly. How will you operate your faith when a shift happens?

For example, driving a car. When driving down your local streets, you’re usually in a lower gear, basically a steady pace (I will assume I’m sharing with aw-abiding drivers here.) But when we are about to go on a highway, we must shift our car into high gear to go faster. Depending on where God wants you to go, you will need that measure of faith.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6.

“Will you follow Me” when things start looking rough?

“Will you follow Me” when I take you out of your comfort zone?

“Will you follow Me?” Period.

Let’s look at Luke 5:1-11. Jesus meets Simon, who would soon be called Peter. Jesus is teaching a multitude of people, and He sees Simon and asks to use his boat. Jesus then asks Peter if he would put out a little from the land so he could teach and be heard (Luke 5:3). After Jesus is done speaking, He looks at Simon again and says, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” –Luke 5:4.

In the first instance, Simon seemed ok with allowing Jesus to use his boat to teach. It’s not like he had to do any work. It was a simple enough task to do. But then Jesus asks Simon to go out into the deep parts of the sea and let down his net for a catch. Well, have you ever been tired after a long day of work? Especially one when nothing went according to plan. Ever feel like “all I want to do is go home and plop on the couch and eat a whole bunch of cookies (Don’t judge me) and forget all that happened.” We can all relate to situations that make us feel like this.

Then, “Will you follow Me?” is the still, small voice rising in our hearts. How should we respond When God asks us to do something we don’t feel like doing? Should we react in our flesh? If so, we will likely miss the breakthrough or blessing God has for us. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” –1 Corinthians 2:14.

Listen to how Simon answers: “Simon then answers Jesus, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” –Luke 5:5. Simon answered in a natural voice, the voice of a man who was tired and looking for an excuse not to do what was being asked of him; yet he changes his mind and obeys Jesus.

Simon did not know who Jesus truly was. All he knew of Him was that a multitude of people listened to His every word. The scripture doesn’t say why Peter changed his mind, only that Simon dropped his net. “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” –Luke 5:6-7.

Simon acted out of faith and let down the net. And what happened next was something not even Simon could explain.

By following Jesus’ instructions, he was blessed with an abundance of fish. So many fish another boat was needed to haul them all in.

When we go out deep for the things of God, we can expect His blessings.

Yet even if you have little faith, it matters to God. When you cast your net of” little faith” out into deep waters, expect God to be faithful. “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief, for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” –Matthew 17:20-21.

As I end this teaching, I want us to head to John, Chapter 21.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He and Peter are walking together. And after restoring Peter, letting him know that he was forgiven and loved by Him (John 21:15-19), Jesus also shares insight with Peter concerning his future: specifically, how Peter would die. Just then, Peter turns around and sees John following them: “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” –John 21:20-21.

My dear brothers and sisters, remember that your walk is unique.

Not everyone’s walk with Christ will look the same. The fact that you’ve been called to walk with Him that’s what matters. Our Christian walk may share some similarities but know that you are who God created you to be; your calling is all your own. Specific to you. I love how Jesus answers Peter in the following verse:  Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you. You follow Me.” –John 21:22.

It does not matter what Jesus does in the lives of others. You are not their Master. God is. All Jesus is asking you is, “Will you follow Me?”

Do not worry about your friend who got promoted when you didn’t. Instead, rejoice for them. Do not be jealous of the friend about to walk into their calling. Celebrate with them. Do not slander those that walk with Christ—nor anyone. You are brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus. And if we are brothers and sisters, we are not each other’s enemy. There is only one enemy, the devil. And Christ has defeated him and has given you the power to stomp your heel on his neck. Walk victorious in Christ Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and Life.

“Will you follow Me into the deep things I must show you? Will you Follow Me when the waters look unsure and you feel tired and drained? With the little you have, I will bless you with abundance, and your nets will not break. “Will you follow Me?”   

And if you hear Jesus calling today. Will you follow Him? “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” –Revelation 3:20.

Be Loosed!

August 12, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” –John 11: 38-44.

I intended this week’s teaching to come out of the first chapter of Colossians and be titled “Doing your part.” But as you can see, that is not the case. Holy Spirit always has the final say here. When I picked up my Bible and read the account of Jesus’s resurrection of Lazarus within the margin, I read a long-ago notation I’d noted. It reads: “Jesus will handle the resurrection. You do your part.”

I don’t believe in coincidences. The fact was not lost on me that the exact words I’d intended to use to title this teaching were now staring back at me.

God was trying to get my attention. And He had it now.

“Doing your part” has been an ongoing theme of late. So It made me wonder if you’re also not hearing some rendition of these exact words in your Spirit.

I ask because my experience has been that the Word I receive from the Lord is first meant to minister to me, then flow outward to you. And so I pray that we submit our will, our wants, what may appear ‘right’—sound, to us, to the will and calling of Jesus—putting to death all internal chatter that clamors for answers to the why’s. Allowing God’s Word to mirror our true reflection back to us.

In so doing, may the exhale of our breath genuinely be, “Thy will be done.” Whether we understand God’s will—or not.

As I read today’s Scripture, several points stood out:

First was the opening sentence. It informs us that Jesus was deeply moved—but why? What had touched Him so that Scripture lets us know straightaway that Jesus was moved? I believe in answering this properly; we must go back a bit.

At the beginning of this same chapter, Jesus informs His disciples that Lazarus has died.

Yet, at first, His disciples don’t understand that Lazarus is physically dead because Jesus says Lazarus has fallen asleep.’ Naturally, their minds think of ordinary sleep–rest. This oxymoron is one of many instances found in Scripture. Knowing their confusion, Jesus spells it out for them. He emphatically states that Lazarus is dead. He tells them it’s good that He wasn’t there to intervene.

Jesus was about to perform a miracle in the lives of so many through this one act of obedience.

Yet Jesus commiserated with Mary and Martha’s friends and neighbors’ pain and outpouring of grief. Was this partly because, acting out of obedience to the Father, Jesus had to stay put and not go to Lazarus? Is this why in part, Jesus was so deeply moved? Because He could not intervene, not touch, and heal His friend as He had so many others? Jesus trusted His Father surely. And although Jesus is fully God, He was also fully human and felt the genuine pain we experience in such moments. “For we do not have a Great High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…” –Hebrews 4:14.

Yet all of this—His pain and theirs, did not stop Jesus from obeying the Father’s will.

There was a greater good that was about to come of this. Jesus knew obedience to the will of the Father was more important than His or their feelings—obedience is always paramount. “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” –John 15:10.

The second point that struck me was the barrier blocking Jesus’ entrance into the place He was sent to bring about the miracle He’d been sent to perform. Remember, Jesus tells us: “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” –John 5:30.

Scripture points out Jesus’s saying, “Take away the stone.” Why?

Could it be that in addition to its natural use, attention is brought to this stone to illustrate that we place proverbial stones across our hearts, denying God unfettered access? Denying Jesus access to give us the same healing and restoration of life and life to the full that we see Him give Lazarus?

Friends, if we belong to Jesus, we have been chosen to partner with God. Our part—my part, your part—is to choose to listen to Jesus’ voice and allow whatever stone impeding His entrance into our dead places to be rolled away—so that fullness of life might come forth.

Jesus tells those present to roll the stone out of His way. (notice the stone can be moved!)

Martha’s response? To tell Jesus no—don’t do that. What are you thinking? He’s been dead for days, and it stinks in there!

Sounds reasonable, right? After all, isn’t that what we do when we hide ‘our flesh’ in places we think no one can see? When we choose to keep our tomb, those—shameful or painful—even prideful parts of ourselves sealed off—safe from view.

After all, Jesus couldn’t possibly love us if He sees all that, right?

Wrong!

Jesus knows that to have True Life; we must let Him into our stinking—rotten fleshly places. We must agree to have any stone moved away that might deny Him full access—to every yucky—stinking part of us! Why? Because the Truth is this: whatever Jesus does to us—in us, through us, is not just for us.

“Lazarus, come out!” And He did. And we will, too—all those called by His name must leave our dead things behind.

We, still wrapped in our grave clothes—still carrying the scent of things long since dead within us—are just waiting, as Lazarus was, to be released into the Fullness of Life. “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Jesus will always have the final Word.

Though salvation is a free gift from God, one based not on our good works that any of us might foolishly think we could earn such a gift, we do have a part to play in working out our salvation. Paul clarifies this in Phil.2:12. “So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Plainly put: We must do our part, must agree—desire, want, our stone be rolled away.

Do you, friend? I pray you do. Won’t you ask Jesus to roll away everything blocking you from asking Him to come into your heart? To be your Lord and Savior, He’ll roll away anything standing between you and Him if you genuinely want it gone. Jesus says it this way: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” –Revelation 3:20

Are You A Crowd Pleaser?

July 15, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified” –Mark 15:15.

You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it. –Paul Coelho.

As I listened to another vessel sharing what God had laid on his heart, Holy Spirit grabbed hold the wheel when I read Mark 15:15. What you’ll read today is the result of where He led me. Thank you, Pastor Mike Padgett, for being the vessel Holy Spirit used to get my attention. I trust He’ll use the Word He’s pulled out of our bellies to accomplish His good purpose.

Now at Shechem, Joshua had assembled all the tribes of Israel, then, standing before them, he ran through the litany of how the Lord had delivered them. How God had blessed, provided for, and protected them. Then, Joshua presented the people with the inescapable choice God set before them. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.” –Joshua 24:14-15.

Those gathered before  Joshua had a choice to make. So do we.

We must choose between serving Jesus unashamedly, being so firmly planted in Christ that the fiercest winds of change may plummet us, but they’ll never uproot our faith in Him. Joshua made his choice. Pontus Pilot certainly made his. So did the high priests and their hastily assembled crowd who shouted, “Crucify Him!”

Give us Barabbas and put an end to this supposed king of the Jews!

A day is coming when no man will be allowed to play the “I didn’t know” card.

Scripture is clear: “When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. –Philippians 2:7-11.

Why wait until it’s too late, friend? Repent your sins and confess Jesus as Lord of your life today!

Now I understand how difficult that is to hear—and for some even to believe. But I love God and you too much not to obey Him and tell you the Truth—regardless.

For much of my adult life, I, too, wrestled with God—I knew of Him, that He was God. Still, I continued living life as usual despite that fact. I was a crowd pleaser—just like Pilot. But today, with a grateful heart surrendered to Jesus, I thank God, He pursued me until He won! God always wins, and I also thank Him for that. God’s plans for my life are so much bigger and better than mine could ever be.

But back to Pilot.

We’re focusing on him today because his choice, or lack thereof, is the mirror through which we might glimpse our own choice: choose Jesus or please the crowd. “So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” –Matthew 27:24.

God’s Word is clear: we can’t have it both ways. Our not choosing Jesus is, in fact, our choice. Just as it was for Pilot, no amount of hand washing will ever change this fact. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” –Matthew 6:24-26.

If left unguarded, friends, your ears will be accosted by the shouts of those clanging voices who would have you bow down to the gods of this world—as they did Pilot. He knew what these religious leaders and their motley mob were up to.

Scream loud enough to threaten a man’s livelihood, his position, pockets, or peace, and you might cause him to fall.

In Pilot’s case, this strategy worked. Pilot’s wife, even Jesus Himself, had told Pilot who it was that stood before him. His conscience bore witness to this man being different—and innocent.

So why did he cave? What made Pilot give in to the voices that bayed for Jesus’ Blood—denying His deity?

Likely for the same reason, many today cave and deny Jesus.

Most people don’t want to stand out—create a fuss, be ostracized, risk losing friends, family members or popularity—maybe even their jobs or business. They don’t want to be labeled a Jesus freak—one of those sold-out Bible believers. They’re afraid of going against the prevailing opinions of the world in which they live. Against a legion of voices telling them their children’s sex is not fixed, as God created it, but fluid.

A girl today, a boy tomorrow, and; if they don’t support these twisted lies, they are hateful, unsupportive, bigoted parents damaging their child’s self-esteem. These same voices will assail the ear of anyone who will listen. Falsely instructing them that a woman has the right to murder the unborn child in her womb—after all, it’s her body, they say, and that so-called child is nothing more than a blob of tissue. Don’t allow that to ruin the rest of your life.

Hear me, friend. These are lies from the pit of hell, bent on twisting and destroying what God Himself created. “So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.” –Genesis 1:27.

Some of these same twisted voices shouted for Lot to send out the Angels God had sent to carry out His judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah so they might have sex with them. There truly is nothing new under the sun. Satan has always tried to pervert God’s Word, causing man to question His Truth and laws. It started in the most perfect place on earth, Eden, and continues still. “Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.'” But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die!” –Genesis 3:1-4.

Governor Pilot fell sway of the legion of voices demanding He betray Jesus—go against what He knew to be little more than petty jealousy and manipulation—a power play, politics—not much different than today, is it?

So here’s my question to you, friend. “If Jesus were to stand before you as he did Pilot, whom would you choose? Jesus, or those who deny Him.”

I pray you choose Jesus. He loves you. God hates sin, all sin. Not just sin committed by the gay community or the woman who had the abortion. God hates adultery, lying, stealing, greed. He wants us all to love and choose Him, despite our sins. God can more than cleanse us of our sins if we choose Him.“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.” –Joshua 24:15-18.

Move, Now!

July 8, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”–Acts 8:29-30.

In “The Knowledge of The Holy,” A.W. Tozer said this concerning the Christian: “What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” So, let me ask you, beloved believer—when you think about God, does your being obedient to Him, His Word, Commandments, to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit—spring to the forefront of your mind?

Regarding obedience to God, would you agree that we, the modern-day Church, have lost our sense of urgency in obeying God? Some measure of reverent awe that accompanies the knowledge that a holy, righteous, perfect God deigns to speak to us at all?

Has the “yes, Lord” posture of our hearts been exchanged for, “Well, maybe, God didn’t really mean right now,” when we know He did?

Has our readiness to do whatever, whenever God says, “Move, now,” been usurped by the little g god of self? Have we forgotten the importance of obedience? And the possible danger to ourselves and others when we aren’t obedient?

Not in Philip’s case, certainly not in Father Abraham’s, nor with any of the twelve Apostles. In each instance, God called, and they obeyed.

Today, we’ll examine examples of their obedience—and its fruit.

We’ll look back for a moment, that we might use what we find there to propel us forward. My hope? What you’ll read will prompt you to ask this all-important question regarding obedience to God of yourself.

Let’s start with Father Abraham…

God called Abram, a pagan, to follow Him on an extraordinary, lifelong faith journey away from kin and everything familiar. “Joshua said to the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods. But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac.” –Joshua 24:2-3.

Father Abraham’s faith walk was so sincere and steadfast, so steeped in holy reverence to God, that today, many are still experiencing the overflow of his unswerving obedience. “And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.” –Galatians 3:29.

Thank you, Father Abraham, for leaving us a legacy of faithful, Godly obedience we might follow. A lasting, multigenerational model. “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” –Romans 4:1-3.

And in Jesus’ Apostles, we see this exact “leave-it-all-behind” obedience.

Peter and Andrew left what they knew and loved to follow Jesus. “Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers. They were Simon (his other name was Peter) and Andrew, his brother. They were putting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” At once they left their nets and followed Him.” –Matthew 4:18-20. So did James and John. “…They were sitting in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them. At once they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.” –Matthew 4:21-22.

Likewise, with Philip and Nathanael. You can read of their obedience in John 1:43-51. And of Matthew, the tax collector turned Apostle’s obedience. “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” –Matthew 9:9.

The Bible doesn’t give us much information on where the Lord found Thomas, Simon, and Jude, aka—Thaddues, James, son-of-Alphaeus, or the rest of His Apostles. According to Scripture, all we know for sure is they were obedient to the call of Jesus on their lives until they were martyred or, as with John, died. All of them, that is, except Judas, the son of perdition. He betrayed the Lord and then hung himself. “And our brothers defeated him by the blood of the Lamb’s death and by the truth they preached. They did not love their lives so much that they were afraid of death.” –Revelation 12:11.

And then there’s Philip. We find him in Samaria, where he’d been about the Lord’s work preaching the Gospel, healing the sick and casting out demons. “Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed.” –Acts 8:5-8.

Acts Eight tells us that an angel of the Lord told Philip to leave Samaria and head down a desert road. He obeyed immediately and met “the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia.” –Acts 8:27. The eunuch’s chariot had broken down. So, there he sat, reading aloud from a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

Again, the Holy Spirit told Philip what to do, and Philip obeyed. “The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.” –Acts 8: 29-31

I wonder what the eunuch may have missed out on had Philip not obeyed.

Verse thirty-five makes it clear he may have missed out on knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Maybe the eunuch would have missed out on being baptized as well. And, looking beyond this Divine dessert assignment, who might the eunuch have told of his extraordinary encounter with Philip and God? What seeds may never have been planted had Philip not obeyed the Holy Spirit and ran to the eunuch’s side—sharing the Good News of Jesus with Him?

Will you be obedient, beloved believer, knowing that God desires your obedience over anything you could ever offer Him? Sacrifice for Him?

In closing, beloved, let me ask you again—when you think about God, does your obedience to Him, His Word, Commandments, and the leading of God’s Holy Spirit spring to the forefront of your mind? Or has your obedience been exchanged for a little g god who desires comfort over character?

That same god who whispers, “Well, maybe, God didn’t really mean right now.” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” –John 14:23.

And you, new friend. Perhaps you’re saying, what about me? I want to be obedient, but I don’t Jesus or this Holy Spirit you mentioned earlier.

To you, I say this: Let today be the first in a life-long series of steps of obedience by saying yes to Jesus, asking Him into your life as Lord, repenting of your sins and acknowledging that you need Jesus. If you obey that tugging on your heart, Jesus promises you will be born again today!

As for what happens after that, remain obedient, get connected to a solid Bible-believing Church, read your Bible daily, and do your absolute best to love God and His people. Jesus will do the rest. Only He can! “I know, God, that mere mortals can’t run their own lives, That men and women don’t have what it takes to take charge of life.” –Jeremiah 10:23.

How To Respond to Adversity.

July 1, 2023 /

Kendra Santilli

““There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.” — Job 1:1,3b

Job, who takes up an entire book in the Old Testament, can teach us so much when it comes to maintaining steadfastness in the face of adversity. As I was reading his story, I couldn’t help but think of a question posed by so many: if God is so good and He is sovereign, why do bad things happen to good people?

I don’t know that I have the answer to that difficult question, but I know that I have gleaned some fundamental truths about the nature of who God is and what a healthy human response should be through Job’s wisdom.

Our first impressions about Job are that he was a man of remarkable character, who feared God, was successful, and was wealthy, all of which marked him as the greatest man of his day. If you read his story, you will not just learn that his world fell apart in one moment but also gain insight into what happens in the supernatural realm when devastation originates in the pits of hell.

Before we begin, you must understand that according to the infallible Word of God, Satan is real, there is indeed a heavenly realm, and Satan cannot operate outside of God’s all-knowing nature.

Truth: Satan roams the earth, searching for whom he may devour. The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?” “From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.” — Job 1:7. “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” —1 Peter 5:8.

Again, truth: God sets boundaries for what Satan can and cannot do. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.” Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.” “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. — Job 1:8-12.

God knew Job’s heart. He knew it was not in Job’s nature to curse Him. For whatever reason, God allowed Satan to take everything near and dear to Job, knowing that Job’s integrity was pure down to his core. He knew Job wouldn’t be swayed by circumstances, no matter how severe. I pray we can be a people whose nature is so pure that our natural response is that of Job.

As the story goes, Job lost his children, livestock, and servants in one day. One day was all it took for him to lose his beloved children and so much of what he worked for. But his response is remarkable: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything. — Job 1:21-22.

Job blessed the Lord during his deepest pain.

How often, when one thing doesn’t go our way, are we quick to fall apart and blame God? Imagine what would happen if our response to difficulties was blessing the Lord instead of glorifying the terrible works of our adversary, Satan. The attacks of hell are Satan’s glory. When we choose to focus on the attack rather than the goodness of God, we are choosing to shift our praise away from God in all His beautiful glory to Satan and all his terrible glory.

There is a difference between acknowledging that we are being afflicted and obsessing over the affliction.

For the nonbeliever, there is deliverance, once and for all, from the strongholds of hell: anger, bitterness, lust, addiction, anxiety, depression, malice, greed, and the like. But there is freedom once we begin to walk in who God created us to be and believe in Jesus Christ. Hardships still happen, but we can navigate them in the freedom of Christ. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. — John 8:36.

Too many people, believers, and nonbelievers alike, dwell on the affliction, surrendering to the lie that God is no longer good because their situation is bad.

Instead, I challenge you to humble your heart and declare that God is good even when life is not. An attack from Satan does not mean that God is not good or no longer with you. It simply means that Satan is still evil.

Don’t allow Satan to manipulate you into believing that your situation determines the character of God.

Instead of obsessing over the trial and magnifying the enemy’s works, I challenge you to train your heart and mind like Job’s, blessing the Lord amid your deepest trial and pain. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:4-7.

Today, choose to magnify the Lord.

 Let His goodness and mercy be a mountain compared to the temporary trials that are as grains of sand. While your circumstances will change continuously, one constant in life is that God will never stop being good. Let us learn from Job how to respond to our adversity, whether in hardship or an attack from the enemy. Let our response be that of praise to God rather than addressing Satan. Job never once spoke to the enemy. He simply turned his gaze toward his God, who is far greater than the enemy (1 John 4:4) and allowed Him to fight his battles.

Yes, Job acknowledged his suffering but never cursed the Lord.

If you don’t yet know Jesus in such a way that His peace can supersede your current suffering, humbly ask Him into your heart that He may deliver you, grant you salvation and give you perfect peace.

Down To The Last Detail.

June 10, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville…

“The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. It was a handbreadth in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held three thousand baths. He then made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing. He made ten gold lampstands according to the specifications for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.” –2 Chronicles 4: 4-7.

Why such lengthy Scripture verses today? Firstly, faith comes by hearing and receiving the good news.

My hope? Someone read today’s Scriptures and be inspired or made curious, left wanting more of God’s Word. And by this, be saved. Without one audible word having ever been exchanged! This, because only God’s Word, not my own, can ultimately—and with lasting effect, minister His Truth to any man’s heart—believe it or not. “But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” –Romans 10:16-17.

Secondly, these verses embody the crux of today’s teaching. We serve a God with a meticulous plan and purpose for everything He has created.

One look at nature confirms that everything God called “good” is patently interdependent and somehow inextricably linked. The tree to the soil, its roots to the much-needed moisture found within, and its leaves or tops mingle and mix with the air we breathe. It is a known fact: humans breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, while trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. –Criswell Davis.

Today’s teaching, however, will focus mainly on God’s attention to detail—his far-reaching plans and our connection to them, not on creation.

For most of 2 Chronicles 4, we witness Solomon adhering to the plans for furnishing God’s temple, just as he did in its construction: plans given him by his late father David, plans given to David by God Himself. “Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan for the porch of the temple, its buildings, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner rooms, and for the place for the [ark and its] mercy seat. All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the work and details [to be done] according to this plan.” –1 Chronicles 28: 11;19.

Our God is a God of precise order and detail. Such things matter to God. Why?

In part, God has a plan, and, He’s made a promise to His children. In speaking to the prophet Jeremiah concerning this Promise, God assured him: “Thus says the Lord, ‘If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne” –Jeremiah 33:25-26.

We know God’s promise was not broken because Solomon did build God’s temple. More, Messiah, King Jesus, would be born through King David’s earthly bloodline.

God’s plan for all things existed in Him long before He stood over the dark void and spoke things—our world, stars, sun, moon and galaxies, seas, land and every living creature, plant and seed, as it existed only in His will—until He called each out—into existence. And, just as surely, God’s plan for building and furnishing His Temple was part of His will—down to the last detail.

Being the wisest man who ever lived, I wonder if God allowed Solomon to understand why He’d chosen to use him to help bring the Temple, this shadowy image and likeness of Jesus, to life.

This foreshadowing of God’s only Son—foretold in its furnishings.

Did Solomon know his hand was being used to bring forth types and shadows of the very God who, when His temple was completed, would appear in such a real and powerful way that all worship of Him had to stop? “… They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.” –2 Chronicles 5:13-14.

Regardless, I thank my loving Father for having such a far-reaching plan whose every detail was conceived in Pure Love. A precise plan which included you and me if you belong to Christ. A plan conceived somewhere outside of time as we understand it, where Father, Son and Holy Spirit exist, and where God foreknew man would fall—also, knowing they’d need a way to be restored to a right relationship with Him due to their sinful nature. So, in His Sovereignty and perfect Holiness, God alone provided the acceptable, Sinless sacrifice needed to make such restoration possible.

Hence, God’s foretelling of Messiah, our Savior, God’s Perfect Lamb, is made plain in the shadowy images of the temple furnishings:

The Altar: With its four horns, one at each corner, used to hold the blood sacrifice in place, symbolically, these horns represent the need for sacrificial atonement to cover the sins of God’s people; they are a foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ, and the perfect sacrifice that would one day be offered upon it, once for all. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.” –Hebrews 10:4-6.

The Laver: According to the Law, priests must use this wash basin to cleanse themselves before offering their sacrifice to God. Purity is of the utmost importance to our God. This perfect washing away—this complete cleansing, is fulfilled only in Christ’s shed Blood, which thoroughly cleanses His children of their every sin once, for all. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” –2 Corinthians 5:21.

Table of Showbread: 12 fresh loaves of bread were placed here weekly; they signified God’s provision—that He alone provides for His children’s every need; these loaves, a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Bread of Life, who, after tasting, no man will hunger ever again. “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” –John 6:35.

Lampstand: Made of pure gold (remember, our God loves and desires purity from His children). The Lampstand was to be placed opposite the Table of Showbread. Thus, its pure light drew the eye to itself. In like fashion, it foreshadowed Jesus, True Light of the world. “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].” –1 John 1:5.

Altar of incense: Was placed in front of the curtain separating the outer Tabernacle from the Holy of Holies. The incense used here represented the prayers of God’s people being offered up to Him, an act of mediation made by the priest on behalf of the people. In this, we see Jesus foreshadowed. A Pure and Holy God who intercedes to the Father on our behalf. “Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?” –Romans 8:34.

Ark of the Covenant: Contained inside the Ark are three articles representing the heart of our loving Father; Ten Commandments—God’s laws-point us to His Holiness, His Holy standard. Aaron’s Staff, God made a dead stick, bud and come to life. Lastly, a jar of Manna, food God provided His people in the wilderness. Each of these foreshadows the character, power, and All-Sufficiency of Jesus.

The Ten Commandments: “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” –Matthew 5:17.

Aarons’ Staff: (Bringing life from death): “The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.” –John 10:17-18.

 Manna: “I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).” —John 6:51.

The Mercy Seat: The mercy seat of God was placed over the law. God’s mercy has always stood between God’s exacting standards. We first glimpse this truth in the garden when God sheds the blood of innocent animals (Jesus shed Blood, foreshadowed) to cover—make atonement for—the sin committed by Adam and Eve. “Yahweh God made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.” –Genesis 3:21. Again, we see Jesus here; His completed work of the Cross, Jesus’ single, Perfect Sacrifice made once for all men, that their sins might be forgiven. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” –1 John 2:2.

Dear friends, it has always been the heart of God—His perfect plan that no one perishes but has eternal life. And that now, while on earth, we enjoy the fruit of a righteous, loving relationship with Jesus—not a perfect life, but one submitted and surrendered to the will of God. Such a relationship can be yours starting now if you ask Jesus into your heart and life as Lord and Savior. “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” –Hebrews 2:10.

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