“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your Word.”
Psalm 119:9 - 16
I believe too many take the Word of the LORD for granted. Too many having become complacent in reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. I believe that too many Christians today think, “My Bible is right where I always keep it. If I need it, it will always be right there.” For the most part, I too think, “My Bible will always be there.” I had a dream this week that I opened my Bible and the pages were blank. God’s Word was gone. Later I thought, what if that were true?
What if:
- What if you were unable to see any longer?
- What if you were unable to hold your Bible to read it?
- What if your Bibles were confiscated?
- What if the Government forbid the sale or possession of God’s Word?
- What if there were dyer consequences for possessing the Word of God?
Oh, Pastor Marty, here you go again thinking the sky is falling. You are nothing more than “Chicken Little.” You maybe saying to yourself, the first two “What ifs” could happen to somebody (not me though), but the last three, well, that is never going to happen here. Not in the United States of America. And to be honest with you, you may be right. BUT, all I am doing is asking the question, “What if?” If the pages were blank, is the Word of God gone?
Do we treasure God’s holy Word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him? To treasure God’s Word, we have to read it, we have to know it, we have to be exposed to the preaching and teaching of it. Otherwise, the Word of God becomes just a collection of words in a book on the shelf or laying on the table.
What if we didn’t have access to our Bibles? What if the pages become blank, and we no longer can see them? Have we read enough, memorized enough, that God’s Word would remain in our hearts, in our thoughts? Would it fade quickly in its absence because we never really found it important enough to read and meditate on? This is my fear, that many today, if their Bibles were taken away, would loose any memory of God’s Word and life would become only about survival and not about Him and life with Him.
None of us know what the future will bring. The world I live in today is much different than that of my childhood. Yes, some things are better, but from a Biblical World View, so much is worse. Frankly, it seems to deteriorate more and more every year. So what do we do to combat the “What ifs” in our Christian walk?
We do what the Psalmist says he would do. We: seek after the LORD; we treasure His Word; we ask the LORD to teach us His ways, His statutes, His commandments. When we mediate on His Word it becomes part of the very fiber of our being. Then you will be able to answer the question. What if ... and your answer will be, “I never want that to happen in my country or to me, but, if so, I know Him and have studied His Word and I shall not forget His Word.” (verse 16)
I will tell you as you do what the Psalmist calls us to do, you then will rejoice in the ways of His testimony and know that whatever this world throws your way is nothing compared to the riches in glory the LORD has in store for you. Thanks be to God for His Word!
Just a few “What ifs” for you to ponder today!
Blessings my friends,
Pastor Marty.
Worship, Grow, Serve.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
At The Cross
“...who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8
I usually begin thinking about my next Connection/Blog (pastormarty.blogspot.com) article the day after writing the current one. I look for experiences that week, events, writing on the church seasons, etc. This week was no different. I asked my wife on Monday night if she had a suggestion for this week’s article. She had none. So, when I went to bed I said, “Ok, Lord, I’d like some help with this one,” and the Lord did not disappoint. I just love how He works. Here’s what happened.
I woke up during the night, wide awake. I looked over at the clock and it read, “3:33.” Immediately this popped into my head, 3 crosses, 3 crucified, 3 days. It’s about the cross! I got it Lord. Thank you.
I handed out crosses on Sunday to my congregation and told them to put them somewhere they could see them daily. I challenged the men to make sure they did what I asked. Men tend to have the human nature not to follow through with those types of requests. I’m including myself in that statement.
Why point to the cross this Lenten Season? At HOPE Church we are preaching through the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross. We are singing songs about the cross. Why? Because I believe many have forgotten the cross. Without the cross of Jesus Christ, there would be NO forgiveness of sin. He was the perfect Lamb of sacrifice for the sin of the world. In the Philippians passage above, Paul reminds us that Jesus was obedient to God’s plan of salvation, that being, death on a cross. Without blood sacrifice, there is no forgiveness of sin. Jesus Christ became that, by pouring out His blood upon the cross.
There were 3 crosses and 3 crucified that day. Luke 23:32 tells us that two criminals were sentenced and crucified with Jesus on the hill called the Skull. One of the criminals on His left, the other on His right. Here we see again the perfect plan of salvation offered from the cross. I will be preaching on this 2nd Word from the cross this Sunday (2/21/16). If you can join us for worship, please come, but if not, go to our YouTube page and view the sermon on Salvation from the cross. (go to: www.YouTube.com and type HopeEPC in the search box).
So the 3:33 on the clock gave me 3 crosses, 3 crucifixions, and 3 days. I’ve reminded us of Christ sacrifice on the cross. His obedience even to the point of death for our sin. Forgiveness and Salvation was rendered for those who would believe. But what about 3 days?
Yes, 3 days later Christ was resurrected and conquered death giving new life to all who would believe. Love it! That is fantastic! I’m so glad I will not experience the second death, that is, eternal separation from God. But that did not seem to be what God was saying to me. Then it hit me. Listen to the words of our Savior.
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory...” Luke 9:23-26
And there you have it. Oh, maybe you didn’t get the 3 days? The story of the cross begins on Good Friday with 3 crosses and 3 crucifixions. That story carries through 3 days later to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the story of the cross and for those who believe, they are to carry their cross daily and follow Him. It won’t be easy. In fact, because of the world, because of Satan, because of our fallen nature, it won’t be easy at all. But we must not forsake the story of the cross to gain the world. We must never be ashamed of the gospel, the story of the cross and ever have Jesus look at us and say, “I’m ashamed of you.”
I told my congregation they could put their cross in a place where others might see it during this Lenten Season. By doing so, it might spark a conversation. It might open a door to talk about the cross of Christ and what it means to you.
At the Cross, yes at the cross, salvation was poured out! Maybe, just maybe with you and I telling the 3:33 story, God will use us in leading someone to His cross.
Blessings my friends,
Pastor Marty.
Worship, Grow, Serve.
I usually begin thinking about my next Connection/Blog (pastormarty.blogspot.com) article the day after writing the current one. I look for experiences that week, events, writing on the church seasons, etc. This week was no different. I asked my wife on Monday night if she had a suggestion for this week’s article. She had none. So, when I went to bed I said, “Ok, Lord, I’d like some help with this one,” and the Lord did not disappoint. I just love how He works. Here’s what happened.
I woke up during the night, wide awake. I looked over at the clock and it read, “3:33.” Immediately this popped into my head, 3 crosses, 3 crucified, 3 days. It’s about the cross! I got it Lord. Thank you.
I handed out crosses on Sunday to my congregation and told them to put them somewhere they could see them daily. I challenged the men to make sure they did what I asked. Men tend to have the human nature not to follow through with those types of requests. I’m including myself in that statement.
Why point to the cross this Lenten Season? At HOPE Church we are preaching through the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross. We are singing songs about the cross. Why? Because I believe many have forgotten the cross. Without the cross of Jesus Christ, there would be NO forgiveness of sin. He was the perfect Lamb of sacrifice for the sin of the world. In the Philippians passage above, Paul reminds us that Jesus was obedient to God’s plan of salvation, that being, death on a cross. Without blood sacrifice, there is no forgiveness of sin. Jesus Christ became that, by pouring out His blood upon the cross.
There were 3 crosses and 3 crucified that day. Luke 23:32 tells us that two criminals were sentenced and crucified with Jesus on the hill called the Skull. One of the criminals on His left, the other on His right. Here we see again the perfect plan of salvation offered from the cross. I will be preaching on this 2nd Word from the cross this Sunday (2/21/16). If you can join us for worship, please come, but if not, go to our YouTube page and view the sermon on Salvation from the cross. (go to: www.YouTube.com and type HopeEPC in the search box).
So the 3:33 on the clock gave me 3 crosses, 3 crucifixions, and 3 days. I’ve reminded us of Christ sacrifice on the cross. His obedience even to the point of death for our sin. Forgiveness and Salvation was rendered for those who would believe. But what about 3 days?
Yes, 3 days later Christ was resurrected and conquered death giving new life to all who would believe. Love it! That is fantastic! I’m so glad I will not experience the second death, that is, eternal separation from God. But that did not seem to be what God was saying to me. Then it hit me. Listen to the words of our Savior.
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory...” Luke 9:23-26
And there you have it. Oh, maybe you didn’t get the 3 days? The story of the cross begins on Good Friday with 3 crosses and 3 crucifixions. That story carries through 3 days later to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the story of the cross and for those who believe, they are to carry their cross daily and follow Him. It won’t be easy. In fact, because of the world, because of Satan, because of our fallen nature, it won’t be easy at all. But we must not forsake the story of the cross to gain the world. We must never be ashamed of the gospel, the story of the cross and ever have Jesus look at us and say, “I’m ashamed of you.”
I told my congregation they could put their cross in a place where others might see it during this Lenten Season. By doing so, it might spark a conversation. It might open a door to talk about the cross of Christ and what it means to you.
At the Cross, yes at the cross, salvation was poured out! Maybe, just maybe with you and I telling the 3:33 story, God will use us in leading someone to His cross.
Blessings my friends,
Pastor Marty.
Worship, Grow, Serve.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Lent 2016 Begins
Today’s the first day of Lent which begins with Ash
Wednesday. First, what is Ash Wednesday and why celebrate
it? Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and is the first day of
Lent which is a 46 day period leading up to Easter. I’ll talk
more about Lent shortly. What is the scriptural basis for Ash
Wednesday? Many Old Testament scriptures are used to
support the use of ashes in correlation with repentance.
Ashes were used in ancient times to express grief. When Tamar was raped by her half-brother, "she sprinkled ashes on her head, tore her robe, and with her face buried in her hands went away crying" (2 Samuel 13:19). The gesture was also used to express sorrow for sins and faults. In Job 42:3–6, Job says to God: "I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eyes see you. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." The prophet Jeremiah calls for repentance by saying: "O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes" (Jer 6:26). The prophet Daniel recounted pleading to God: "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). Just prior to the New Testament period, the rebels fighting for Jewish independence, the Maccabees, prepared for battle using ashes: "That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes" (1 Maccabees 3:47).
Examples of the practice among Jews are found in several other books of the Bible, including Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Book of Esther 4:1, and Hebrews 9:13. Jesus is quoted as speaking of the practice in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13: "If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago (sitting) in sackcloth and ashes.”
So, ashes use on Ash Wednesday to begin the Lenten Season is for us to remember our mortality and need of repentance. Ashes are placed on the heads of believers in the form of a cross and the words of Genesis 3:19 when God says: “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This passage is also found in Ecclesiastes 3:20.
Lent, as I mentioned above, is a 46 day period leading us to Easter Sunday. The 46 days are broken down this way. 40 days of Lent and 6 Sundays in Lent. In other words, the 6 Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday are NOT days of Lent. They are called Feast Days, days you celebrate the risen Savior. The other 40 days are fast days. The 40 days originated from the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan as recorded in gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These 40 days of fasting and prayer are to be used to reflect on your walk with Christ. We are to examine ourself and see where there is need of repentance, where our way of life can be changed for a stronger, more committed walk with Christ. This time has also supported the instruction of those who desire baptism and membership into the church family.
Ashes were used in ancient times to express grief. When Tamar was raped by her half-brother, "she sprinkled ashes on her head, tore her robe, and with her face buried in her hands went away crying" (2 Samuel 13:19). The gesture was also used to express sorrow for sins and faults. In Job 42:3–6, Job says to God: "I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eyes see you. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." The prophet Jeremiah calls for repentance by saying: "O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes" (Jer 6:26). The prophet Daniel recounted pleading to God: "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). Just prior to the New Testament period, the rebels fighting for Jewish independence, the Maccabees, prepared for battle using ashes: "That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes" (1 Maccabees 3:47).
Examples of the practice among Jews are found in several other books of the Bible, including Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Book of Esther 4:1, and Hebrews 9:13. Jesus is quoted as speaking of the practice in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13: "If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago (sitting) in sackcloth and ashes.”
So, ashes use on Ash Wednesday to begin the Lenten Season is for us to remember our mortality and need of repentance. Ashes are placed on the heads of believers in the form of a cross and the words of Genesis 3:19 when God says: “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This passage is also found in Ecclesiastes 3:20.
Lent, as I mentioned above, is a 46 day period leading us to Easter Sunday. The 46 days are broken down this way. 40 days of Lent and 6 Sundays in Lent. In other words, the 6 Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday are NOT days of Lent. They are called Feast Days, days you celebrate the risen Savior. The other 40 days are fast days. The 40 days originated from the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan as recorded in gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These 40 days of fasting and prayer are to be used to reflect on your walk with Christ. We are to examine ourself and see where there is need of repentance, where our way of life can be changed for a stronger, more committed walk with Christ. This time has also supported the instruction of those who desire baptism and membership into the church family.
Some have asked me, “Is that a Catholic thing?” “Yes and
No,” I say. Yes it came out of the early church, but no, it is
not only a Catholic thing. Following the Reformation of the
16th Century, the reformers did not abandon ritual or feast
day the Catholic church celebrated in Lent. If so, the
Protestant church would have done way with Holy
Communion and Baptism along with the other 5 Catholic
sacraments. But instead, the reformers saw this 40 days of
Lent as a significant time of preparation for our journey with
Christ and felt it should be included in the Book of Common
Prayer. Many churches since have embraced Lent.
I believe Lent can be a very significant period for all of us each year. Through days of fasting (you decide on that) and emphasis on prayers of repentance, we all grow closer in our walk with Him, our Savior and LORD!
This year at HOPE Church on the Feast Day of Sunday, we will be preaching on the 7 Last Words of Christ from the cross. Those words are: “Forgive, Salvation, Family, Forsaken, Thirsty, Finished, and Father...” Each Sunday we will focus on one of these words, study what it meant then and how it applies to us today.
Lent 2016 begins today, Wednesday, February 10th and ends on Saturday, March 26th. How will you spend these days of preparation? Will Lent 2016 look any different in your life than in years before? Will you examine yourself for ways to follow your Savior more completely? My answer to these last two questions is “YES.” I will be praying for you all that you too will say Yes!
I believe Lent can be a very significant period for all of us each year. Through days of fasting (you decide on that) and emphasis on prayers of repentance, we all grow closer in our walk with Him, our Savior and LORD!
This year at HOPE Church on the Feast Day of Sunday, we will be preaching on the 7 Last Words of Christ from the cross. Those words are: “Forgive, Salvation, Family, Forsaken, Thirsty, Finished, and Father...” Each Sunday we will focus on one of these words, study what it meant then and how it applies to us today.
Lent 2016 begins today, Wednesday, February 10th and ends on Saturday, March 26th. How will you spend these days of preparation? Will Lent 2016 look any different in your life than in years before? Will you examine yourself for ways to follow your Savior more completely? My answer to these last two questions is “YES.” I will be praying for you all that you too will say Yes!
Blessings my friends,
Pastor Marty.
Pastor Marty.
Worship, Grow, Serve.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The Light
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5 - 7
Yesterday was Groundhog Day. It comes around each year on February 2nd. The most famous of groundhogs is Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania. And, yesterday just before 7:30 a.m. Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his home and did not see his shadow in the daylight. So by his prediction, Spring will come early. As you know, if he had seen his shadow, he would have returned into his home and the prediction would have been 6 more weeks of Winter. Now, here are some useless statistics. In the last 101 years that this February 2nd tradition has been taking place and since they began to record the predictions, only 18 times (before this year) has Punxsutawney predicted an early Spring. But no one really keeps the count of whether his predictions come true. All this to say, a lot of media attention and newsprint for nothing. Good old Punxsutawney Phil or any other groundhog has nothing to do with Spring coming early or late.
I have always been intrigue though, by this statement of the light casting the shadow causing fear in the groundhog which makes him retreat into the darkness of his home. It reminds me of the verses I have shared above.
God is Light. That is who God is. He illuminates our sin and causes us to see it and have to deal with it. When we walk in the darkness of this world and ignore the Light, we will always retreat back into the darkness. The fear of exposure causes us to hide, hide our ways, hide the darkness in our lives. Our hope is, that no one else is able to see them. It becomes a game for those living in sin, even a believer. Everyday the Light of the Holy Spirit is saying, “I see (I have brought to Light) all you are doing. Confess, repent, and return to Me and be reconciled.” Satan and the world on the other hand says, “It’s OK. No one can see in the darkness. Just stay there and you will be fine.”
Folks, the darkness is no place to be. It can bring about depression, thoughts that are unhealthy, and sickness of the body. Our very souls / bodies need light. Light is healthy for us physically and mentally. AND even more importantly, we need to realize that though Satan wants us to hide in the darkness, the darkness never stops God from seeing our sin. HE IS ALWAYS the LIGHT!!!
And, the Light will set you free.
This passage from First John chapter one reminds us that when we walk in the Light, or in other words, when we walk with Jesus Christ daily, we have a real fellowship with one another. It is not superficial and we are not trying to hide anything. True fellowship is a blessing. Secondly, when we walk in the Light, we acknowledge that the blood of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the Savior of the world, has washed me, cleansed me of my sin. We proclaim by our life, our walk, our speech, our actions, that we are His and there is nothing to hide. We say, “I will walk in the Light.”
If you are reading this article today and find yourself retreating away from the Light because you have the fear that someone will see the life you are leading, I would ask you to confess, repent, and return to the One who will receive you and bring a sincere love and fellowship back into your life. For those walking in the Light, keep up the practice and pray that God will use you to help bring His Light to others around you. Let us be winsome people who walk daily in “The Light.”
Blessing my friends,
Pastor Marty.
Worship, Grow, Serve
1 John 1:5 - 7
Yesterday was Groundhog Day. It comes around each year on February 2nd. The most famous of groundhogs is Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania. And, yesterday just before 7:30 a.m. Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his home and did not see his shadow in the daylight. So by his prediction, Spring will come early. As you know, if he had seen his shadow, he would have returned into his home and the prediction would have been 6 more weeks of Winter. Now, here are some useless statistics. In the last 101 years that this February 2nd tradition has been taking place and since they began to record the predictions, only 18 times (before this year) has Punxsutawney predicted an early Spring. But no one really keeps the count of whether his predictions come true. All this to say, a lot of media attention and newsprint for nothing. Good old Punxsutawney Phil or any other groundhog has nothing to do with Spring coming early or late.
I have always been intrigue though, by this statement of the light casting the shadow causing fear in the groundhog which makes him retreat into the darkness of his home. It reminds me of the verses I have shared above.
God is Light. That is who God is. He illuminates our sin and causes us to see it and have to deal with it. When we walk in the darkness of this world and ignore the Light, we will always retreat back into the darkness. The fear of exposure causes us to hide, hide our ways, hide the darkness in our lives. Our hope is, that no one else is able to see them. It becomes a game for those living in sin, even a believer. Everyday the Light of the Holy Spirit is saying, “I see (I have brought to Light) all you are doing. Confess, repent, and return to Me and be reconciled.” Satan and the world on the other hand says, “It’s OK. No one can see in the darkness. Just stay there and you will be fine.”
Folks, the darkness is no place to be. It can bring about depression, thoughts that are unhealthy, and sickness of the body. Our very souls / bodies need light. Light is healthy for us physically and mentally. AND even more importantly, we need to realize that though Satan wants us to hide in the darkness, the darkness never stops God from seeing our sin. HE IS ALWAYS the LIGHT!!!
And, the Light will set you free.
This passage from First John chapter one reminds us that when we walk in the Light, or in other words, when we walk with Jesus Christ daily, we have a real fellowship with one another. It is not superficial and we are not trying to hide anything. True fellowship is a blessing. Secondly, when we walk in the Light, we acknowledge that the blood of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the Savior of the world, has washed me, cleansed me of my sin. We proclaim by our life, our walk, our speech, our actions, that we are His and there is nothing to hide. We say, “I will walk in the Light.”
If you are reading this article today and find yourself retreating away from the Light because you have the fear that someone will see the life you are leading, I would ask you to confess, repent, and return to the One who will receive you and bring a sincere love and fellowship back into your life. For those walking in the Light, keep up the practice and pray that God will use you to help bring His Light to others around you. Let us be winsome people who walk daily in “The Light.”
Blessing my friends,
Pastor Marty.
Worship, Grow, Serve
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