“In 2017 Take Hold of the ONE Who Took Hold of You”

“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.” 1st John 1:5

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD…”  Jeremiah 29:11    

Yesterday we traveled up to Boone, NC to take our son, David, back to school.  Yes, earlier than usual because of his work schedule.  West of Winston Salem on Hwy. 421 the clouds and fog were setting down on the mountains and the visibility was low.  We have traveled this road a lot over the past couple of decades and know it well.  That helps greatly when you cannot see very far ahead of you.

Any time I travel in fog my mind goes back to August of 1977.  I had moved to Four Oaks, NC and was stationed at POPE AFB adjacent to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC.  I was told there was a back way to POPE and Bragg that was shorter than going down I-95.  Traveling the back roads through Lillington and Manchester Road you can cut off 30 to 40 minutes.  That sounded great to me.

First week of traveling that way, the 4th trip to work, I left home as usual at 5 a.m.  It took me about 60 minutes to get to my Squadron Headquarters and I needed to be armed and ready for inspection at 6:30 a.m.  It was a little foggy when I left home, but by the time I reached Lillington, I could hardly see 10 feet in front of the car.  I turned onto Manchester Road, south of Lillington, hoping the fog would clear up, but it actually got worst.  I was driving too fast for the conditions because I was afraid of being late for work.  I didn’t know the roads very well because I had not traveled that way but 3 times before.  Add the fog to this, well, it was a recipe for disaster and that is exactly what happened.  

I remember looking down at the speedometer to see how fast I was going.  It read 50 miles/hour.  I looked up and could not see a foot in front of me.  It was then I felt the left tire run off the left side of the road.  Realizing I was on the left side I jerked the steering wheel to compensate and that was it.  My car began to flip and ended upside down on a bank on the right hand side of the road.  All the windows were busted out, top flatten, and the engine smoking.  I was not wearing seatbelt, but remember, it was 1977.  I crawled out the back window, cutting myself up a little, but I felt safe now that I was out of the car.  I walked around trying to get me bearings and realized I had kept straight on a right hand curve having driven off the left side and my correction caused me to flip and wreak.  What happened next is interesting also, but I’ll tell that another time.  

My point of telling the story is this, first, I did not know my way that morning, not being familiar with the roads, the path I was traveling became a liability for me.  Secondly, the conditions, in this case, the fog, hindered my ability to see what was ahead.  I was throwing caution to the wind trying to make work in time thus all the negative factors came into play.

Folks, we are about to begin a new year, 2017.  My best advice to you and me in this coming year is to be familiar with the ONE that can guide us.  Knowing the WAY is how we will stay on the road and not veer off, finding ourselves trying to correct ourselves instead of allowing HIM to lead, and cause a wreak of our lives.  HE knows the plans for us, the way for us, let Him guide our way.

We also need the Light.  Often in this world Satan is trying his best to darken our way, our path ahead, so we will be derailed.  Don’t let that happen.  Stay steady in 2017 allowing God to light our path so that we can see each step of the way.  God is Light and in Him there is NO darkness.  When we depend on Him it doesn’t mean there won’t be fog ahead, hard times, or even some valleys to go through, but it does mean He will be with us each mile, each step, each mountain peak and each valley.  That’s the God He is!

So, in 2017 take hold of the ONE that took hold of you and don’t let go,  Worship, Grow, and Serve and watch the journey that unfolds.  It’s going to be a good one!

Blessings,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow & Serve                      

“The ONE!”

Following Mary and Elizabeth’s encounter as recorded by Luke in 1:39-56, Luke goes on in the following verses to announce the birth of John who would later be called John the Baptist.  If you remember the earlier story in Luke where the angel of the Lord came to Zacharias to tell him Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would be the forerunner to the Messiah.  Zacharias questioned the angel and his mouth was shut.  He could no longer speak.  It was not until after John’s birth when he was named by Zacharias, on a tablet when asked what he shall be called, that his mouth was opened and he cold speak again.  And my, was he able to speak!  I want you to hear what Zacharias had to say as recorded in: 

Luke 1:67-79:   

“And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying; ‘Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from the old, and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him  all our days.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the LORD to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise form on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’”

I want you to notice that the Holy Spirit came upon Zacharias just as it had come upon Elizabeth before she spoke her blessed announcement to Mary.  Zacharias tells us that redemption has come, not in the person of his son, but in Jesus the Christ.  His son is prophet of the Most High who will prepare the people for His ways and guide them in the knowledge of salvation by forgiveness of their sins. 

What a blessed message from the father of John the Baptist.  He not only sets the stage for the ministry of his son, but the redemption through the promised ONE, Jesus Christ.  Jesus, the ONE, who brings Sunshine into darkness.  Jesus, the ONE, who guides us to eternal peace.  There is no other!

You see, all of the Journey to Bethlehem points to the ONE and only Jesus Christ, who came into the world that the world might be saved through Him.  There is no other way!  

On this Sunday, Christmas Day, let us again give thanks for the ONE, who was, who is, and is to come!!!  Hallelujah!!!

Merry Christmas to all of you,                                                                                                    Pastor Marty       

Worship, Grow & Serve

"Team Work for Christ"

“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  And He said to them, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.’  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.  Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.  Immediately they left the boat and their father, 

and followed Him.” 

Matthew 4:18-22

This is a very familiar text of Jesus calling His disciples.  We know that He went on from calling these four mentioned here to calling another eight for a total of twelve disciples.  And we know from scripture that though He called twelve for His “inner circle,” there were other followers that traveled with them from place to place during His ministry.

I could go many different directions with this text today, but want to focus on one concept that I believe very few think about when it comes to the paradigm Jesus set up in His ministry.  I was reminded of that on Saturday night.

This past Saturday night Emma Grace, my daughter, had basketball practice with her SCCS Middle School team.  They had their first game on Monday in Fayetteville.  As I watched the coach lead practice and as I listened to her teach these 12 to 14 year old young ladies, she kept emphasizing working together and playing as a team.

We have all heard the statement, “There is No ‘I” in Team!”  And yes that is true!  But often it appears many think that there is.  You have players on teams that certainly have more talent, are more capable of playing at a higher level than others on the team.  But it is still a team.  You don’t put your basketball team on the court with one player and leave the rest of the team on the bench.  The player could be Michael Jordan, but he would still lose.  No matter how great a player he is, playing against five on another team, he would lose!  We hear it all the time.  Team Work is a must!!!!

While we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in our salvation, that does not mean that we walk alone.  Jesus called individuals to Himself.  Jesus saves us individually, but over and over again we see Him, after gathering them as individuals, bringing them together as a team.  He teaches them as a team.  He sends them out as a team (Luke 10).  You fast forward to the church that formed, as accounted for in the early chapters of Acts, and we again see them meeting together for meals, worship, and prayer.  The Apostle Paul, one of the greatest evangelist for the gospel of Jesus Christ to ever live, took other men with him on his missionary journeys.

Yes, you need private time to study, pray, and mediate on God’s word and will for your life.  Jesus did the same.  But you cannot go it alone.  The paradigm Jesus put in place works perfectly.  We are to gather together with other BELIEVERS and worship, grow, and serve together for the cause of the Kingdom.  Sitting at home on Sunday mornings, staying away from Bible Studies, thinking, “I can do this myself,” is not the best plan.  Will that mindset take away your salvation?  Certainly not!  If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ and have surrendered your life to Him, your salvation is secure.  But, you will not grow as you should in Christ and serve His will for your life by only going it alone.  His plan is plurality!  Multiples! A Gathering of Believers!  And His plan works!!!

By the way, Emma Grace played their game this past Monday night and they won the very first ever basketball game for SCCS.  Their star player was a star, but she could not have done it without the other players like Emma supporting her on the team.  Team Work for Christ!!!  Let’s Go For It!

Blessings this Advent Season,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve