"I've Got Your Back"

Our Youth from HOPE are going rock climbing this Sunday afternoon.  If you have never been rock climbing at one of these indoor places, you ought to stop in sometime and observe.  It is very interesting to watch.  

There are two ways to climb the rock walls.  One is a kind of free-style.  You are on your own.  You powder you hands so your grip won’t slip as easily.  And you can choose different walls to climb in accordance to the difficulty.  Here is the problem with this choice (in my opinion), while individually challenging, it is individually challenging.  In other words, there is no one to have your back.  If you miss a grip, well, you fall on the mats below.

The other way to rock climb walls in one of these venues is to belay.  Belay is a different way of climbing.  First, you have to have a partner.  You cannot belay alone.  Second, you have to be trained in the proper technique of belaying before you can even start.  If you have not been trained, you CANNOT climb one of the belay walls.  These walls are higher, steeper, more difficult and more dangerous.  Someone has to have your back.  Oh, by the way, belaying has to do with a rope being attached to you and your partner.  You are linked and dependent on him or her to guard or climb and protect your fall.  It is very interesting to watch.

I was reading in my devotion this week the call of Moses by God at the burning bush in Midian at Mount Horeb.  You all know the story of God’s call for Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.  As God comes calling, Moses rebukes, “I cannot do it!  I’m not a leader. I’m not a speaker. No one will listen to me!”  God says, “Hey Moses, I’ve got your back.  I AM! and tell them I Am has sent you?  Furthermore, I’ll give you a partner to help you and guard you, and even protect you as you go.  Aaron, your brother will be at  your side.”  Moses took on the mission and lived into it fully, for he had partners in God and Aaron.  They had his back.

So often, in our walk, we try to go it alone like the individual style of rock climbing.  We say, “I don’t need someone else to help me.  I’ve got this by myself.”  While an admirable challenge, in life we need a partner.  In our Christian life, even more so.  Satan and this world is going to throw every challenge and road block to make you fall.  Satan’s purpose in life is to cause your failure.  When you have someone who has your back, who is there for you to help in times of need, trouble, or to steer you back onto the right path, man, what a great asset in life.

I was talking to a close friend on Sunday and we were talking about this very thing.  He said he had told someone that he had two men in his life that he could call any time of any day and say, “I need you” and they would be there without question.  I’m one of those men in his life and I know that those two would do the same for me.  They have my back.  They challenge me to walk with Christ, holding me accountable to HIM who has called me.  These two men in my life live into 1st Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 

Do you have someone you have partnered with, belayed with (become attached to), to have your back?  Someone who holds you accountable in your walk with Christ?  Someone who steers you the right way when you seem to take a wrong turn?  Someone who challenges you and you know will be there for you at any cost?  I hope you have that person in your life.  But know this!  Our God is always with you and will not forsake you and HE too has your back.  As a true believer, your life is secure in Him and nothing will be able to separate you from Him!  As with Moses, if He calls you, He will equip you.  How awesome is this folks, to know that God has your back!

Blessings my friends, 

Pastor Marty 

Worship, Grow & Serve 

                     

"Tell The Story"

“That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.  And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into the boat and sat down, and the who crowd was standing on the beach.  And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying…” Matthew 13:1-3a

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying…” Matthew 22:1

Over and over again in the gospel, especially the Gospel of Matthew, we hear “Jesus spoke to them again in a parable.”  The definition of a Parable is: “a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.  A statement or comment that converts a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.” dictionary.com 

Jesus used these stories He told them to convey a truth, religious principle, or moral lesson that would cause one to think, gain wisdom, or in some cases be confused.  Often, after telling one of these simple stories, Jesus would have to go back and explain what the story meant to bring understanding.  Still, groups like the Pharisees did not understand what he was saying because they did not KNOW Him.

The true church of Jesus Christ calls the world, “A lost world” because the world does not know Him.  How can you understand who someone is unless you know them?  To know Christ is to have a relationship with Him.  To know Christ is to study His Word?  To know Christ is to communicate with Him in prayer.  Otherwise, He is nothing more than a religious figure.  It is important to know the stories of Christ so you get to know Him.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with one of my congregational members who lost her mom this week.  During those few hours I got to know her and her mom because of the stories that were shared.  They were precious stories from the heart and such a blessing for me to hear.  Stories that shaped her, carried her, and now sustain her.  But here is the thing, because she is a follower of Jesus Christ and her mom was a follower of Jesus Christ, the stories Jesus told remind her that this is not the end.  There is more!  In fact, a reuniting one day!  Stories are important.  

Our own stories shape us into who we are.  Our understanding of HIS story and how His story impacts our lives saves us and brings us into His eternal story.  How precious!  How fantastic is that!!!

I would invite you to begin to share your story of Christ with others.  You will be surprised how many people will listen.  People love stories.  When you share your authentic story of Christ, the Holy Spirit will draw those He is working on to Him.  His desire is for us to tell the STORY and what better example do we have?

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow & Serve                      

“20/20 A Focus on Holiness”

HOPE EPC Raleigh celebrated their 8th Anniversary on January 1, 2017.  God has been gracious to HOPE and has lead us through some curves and crannies that were unexpected.  He has even taken us down some paths unknown.  But in the end, the Leadership and the church has united around His direction for HOPE even if it meant abandoning our own.

This past Sunday during our brunch together I asked if anyone would like to share a word about HOPE, maybe a memory or what HOPE means to them.  Many uplifted up testimonies to the work of the LORD in and through HOPE in their lives.  One of the most special testimonies was when one shared how they had come to Christ through work of the Holy Spirit and HOPE.  If HOPE was started just for this one soul, everything minute was worth it.

One of the things I noticed as I listened to individuals share was how often I heard, “We are a church who preaches and teaches the Word of God and I have grown so much.”  There were those who lifted up our Children and Youth ministries and how our children and youth are getting a strong foundation in Christ.  One grandmother shared that her 5 year old granddaughter, at the local playground, went around to each child there and asked if they knew Jesus.  Come on folks, how precious is that?

One of the focuses early on at HOPE was to preach the Word, to give context, history, and relationship of the text to that period of time and to us today.  I believe we have maintained that focus.  So many churches today are topical in nature and still, God is using that approach to further His kingdom.  Many of those churches are filled and have multi-services to meet the crowds.  I still feel God calling HOPE church to be Word driven in its preaching and teaching.  We are an Evangelical congregation who loves the LORD and loves to learn more about Him who has saved us.

We have been preaching through 1st Corinthians at HOPE.  We started the sermon series on September 13, 2015.  Yes that is right 2015.  Except for the seasons of Advent and Lent, 1st Corinthians has been our focus.  The sermon series is titled, “20/20 A Focus on Holiness.”  I have shared with our congregation that the Apostle Paul’s intent of the letter is for the believers of Corinth, (and forward) to have a clear vision (20/20) of who Christ is, what He has done, and how we are to live with Him as our Savior and LORD (living a Holy life).  We will finish the series the last Sunday in February before heading into Lent 2017.

Because we have focused on a life of “Holiness” over this past year and half, I have had many of the HOPE congregants tell me how they have grown in the knowledge and understanding of how to live a holy life for Christ.  How they have gained understanding of the context of the time Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth.  

Many people claim to know God today, about 80% say they believe in a higher being.  When you start to add, do you believe in Jesus Christ and have been born again, it drops to about 33%.  When you add the question, do you attend church regularly, pray and read the Bible, the percentage drops to 8%.  Listen to this, if you add “Do you have the inward character to live a holy life for Christ?” the percentages drop to about 2%. 

Folks, while our belief in Christ is central to our salvation, (and salvation is secure), God’s desire is for us to know Him more, Worship Him more, Grow in Him more, Serve Him more, and share His love and story more.  He calls us to holy living for Him.  I want to challenge everyone reading this article to a focus on Holiness in HIM during 2017 giving HIM the glory for it all!

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow & Serve