Overcomers

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”  

John 16:33

As many of you know, Terry and I were in Roanoke Virginia this past weekend for the Presbytery Meeting of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic.  It was the first time for Terry visiting Roanoke and I had not been in Roanoke since the 1960’s.  So we tried to do a little exploring in between my obligations to the Presbytery.

We were told by many that we should go up onto Mill Mountain and see “The Roanoke Star.”  The Roanoke Star is the worlds largest man-made star and was erected in 1949.  Because of the star, Roanoke has become known as the Star City of the South.  The steel structure is 100 feet tall.  The star is 88 1/2 feet tall and just the star weighs 10,000 pounds.  It has 2000 feet of neon tubing and can be seen across the entire valley and from the air for over 60 miles.  It is an awesome sight.  If you are ever in Roanoke, it is worth your time to go up on Mill Mountain and see it.

When we arrived on the mountain, we had to park in the lower parking lot and walk up the path to the Star.  At the beginning of the path up was an overhang where you can go out over the side of the mountain and view the valley and city below.  We noticed as we were making our way to the overhang that a wedding had just finished and pictures of the bride and groom were being taken.  The pastor who performed the wedding was making his way off the overhang and started up the path towards the Star.  He had parked in the upper parking lot (top of the mountain) near the Star.  Terry and I, once the pictures were finished, walked out onto the overhang and took in the view.  After a few minutes started our way up the mountain to the Star.

About half way up the path to the top was a bench and the wedding pastor was sitting down and rubbing his knees.  The wedding party was in front of us and the groom asked is he was okay.  The pastor said, “This hill has taken a toll on my knees, but this bench along this path has been my salvation.”

Hearing that statement, of course, sent me to God’s Word, “… in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” 

So often, I believe Believers forget God’s promise.  Oh, for a while, we may be fully aware of God’s concern for us.  But then, when God begins to use us in His work, call on us to walk that steep path up the hill, places we don’t really want to or desire to go, we begin to talk only of our trials and difficulties, our tribulations of this world and forget about the bench.  Yes, the bench!

Jesus has provided “benches” along the way of this journey.  No, not for us to stay there or give up, but to refuel, refresh, re-nourish ourselves to continue the journey in this world.  He knows the trials and has overcome them.  We too, are overcomers.  His Word, worship, prayer, and fellowship with other Believers fuel us for the journey.  His indwelling Holy Spirit gives us strength for the difficult journey in this world.  And yes, even in the midst of the trials, we CAN have peace, knowing that Jesus provides the benches for us to rest.  Oswald Chambers states, “We are to do it with an infinitely greater power to withstand the struggle because we have been born from above.”

As we were making our way back down the mountain from seeing the Roanoke Star, the bench where the pastor had been sitting was empty.  The bench had done its job.  It had provided a resting place along that difficult climb.  And after rest, now refueled, the journey could be continued to completion.

Oh family of God, our Lord is good.  We focus too many times on the trials and not on Him.  Lean on Him in ALL things on this journey of life.  For in Him we can OVERCOME!

Blessings,

Pastor Marty Duffell, HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship . Grow . Serve

"Live By the Spirit"

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” First Thessalonians 4:7

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 

I was listening to the news yesterday and someone accused of breaking the law stated, "But my manager told me to do it.”  Is that a valid excuse to break the law?  I don’t think so!

While in was in the Air Force in the 70s, my partner and I took one of our drug K-9's and went over to the Officers Quarters to do a sweep by orders of the Base Commander.  As we were walking down one of the halls our K-9 dog, Hito, alerted at one of the resident doors.  We knocked on the door and asked for entry.  The officer inside said, "No!"  We ordered him to open the door or we would be forced to break it down. Upon opening the door a 2nd Lieutenant was standing there and his room had the distinct smell of marijuana. Since we were enlisted personnel and he was an officer, he began to order us to leave saying, "I am an Officer and you cannot search my room, so leave at once!"  We informed him that we work for the Base Commander and we had full authority to search his room.  He persisted and he found himself in handcuffs and laying on the floor.  Hito had no problems finding the drugs and the 2nd Lieutenant though saying, “I have authority over you!” was arrested.

As a Christian, I often think we forget whose we are. We forget where the authority lies over our lives.  This 2nd Lieutenant was trying to force his authority on us because of his rank and status.  In our world today, many times, we as Christians do not do the right thing because of someone in authority over us, peer pressure, or we say, “Everyone else does it, why can’t I?” Other times we are told by someone over us, "It's OK to do this.  No will know! Besides this is the way we do things here!" With fear of losing our job or being looked down on because of our standards, we bow to the pressures and give in.  

My own children, when caught doing wrong, have said, “But Dad, my friend does it all the time and it’s OK with his parents.”  Or, I love this one, “But I won’t get caught!”  My response is that we do not live by someone else’s standards, but by God’s!!!  

We must remember, doing the right thing is always the right thing to do!  As a Believer your authority (standards) in the world is not of the world, but of God.  The Bible teaches us to respect those in authority over us, but that does not supplant the truth that we are to live our lives each day to God's standards and know that when we do the Holy Spirit will stand with us, guide us in them. 

Sure, there are times this is tough, but God does not want us to compromise our morals and standards in any situation.  When you compromise your Godly standards for worldly standards you have jeopardized any possible valid witness for His Gospel.  How can we say we live by God’s Word and by His Truth and yet succumb to an unrighteous walk?  The world sees through that and calls us hypocrites and rightfully so!

This applies in every situation and with every Believer.  It is no different for the preacher.  Paul states in: Galatians 1:9 “As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Paul is talking about the preaching of the gospel from him)

You see, I cannot preach a gospel contrary to God’s Word.  As a preacher, it is not my call to entertain, but to preach His Truth.  Anything less is a compromise to the world’s standards and not His.

While difficult at times, all Believers have to, in all situations, at all times, stand tall in your faith and know His Holy Spirit will be with us!  Live by the Spirit and you will not go wrong!

Blessings,

Pastor Marty Duffell, HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship. Grow. Serve.

“Keep Your Eyes on Him”

A church member shared this Psalm with me saying how much it has meant to her.

Psalm 121 (ESV)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

     From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

     who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

     he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

     will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;

     the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

     nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

     he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep your going out and your                                                                                           coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

After reading this Psalm over again, I was reminded of an event where this Psalm carried a pastor friend of mine through a life changing time.

I was awakened by the parsonage phone ringing at 2 a.m. and reached over to the bedside table and answered.  It was the voice of my co-pastor from the church on the other end of the line.  His voice was shaking when he said, “Marty, can you come to the hospital?  My Mandy has been involved in a fire at her house and I need you.”  I still remember those haunting words.

I jumped out of bed and was literally standing in the hospital within 15 minutes.  My brother in Christ and his wife and other daughter were in shock.

Mandy was living with 3 others in a house in town and her roommates were downstairs and Mandy was in her room upstairs.  She had some candles burning in her room and fell asleep.  The 3 roommates downstairs also went to sleep on the couches in the living room.  They woke to smoke in the house and when they tried to go up the stairs to get Mandy, the flames from the fire had already engulfed the upstairs.  They could not reach her.

I stood with my friend that night mourning the loss of his oldest daughter and no words seemed to fit.  So I just held him in an embrace, shedding tears along with him.

The next day and as that week unfolded, my friend, even in the midst of his awful, terrible, horrible loss, began to lean on God and His Word to see himself through.  One of those precious passages was Psalm 121, “I lift my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord…”   Where else could my believing friend turn?  Where else could he find any comfort in this situation, but the Lord?  Were there questions in his mind?  Yes!  Was he hurting?  Yes!  All the whys, like any of us would ask, flooded his mind, but he told me, “Marty, I have to lean on the Lord or I’ll go crazy.  This will take me down.”  And that is where he took refuge in the midst of the crisis.  IN THE LORD!

Where do your “eyes” turn in crisis?  Where do your “eyes” turn in the valleys of life?  To the Lord?  OR To self or something else?  Some turn to drugs and alcohol.  Some choose to turn inward and shut down.  Some run away.  But the answer in crisis is to turn to the LORD!!!

Claim this folks in all situations.  “…He will keep your life.  The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (vs.7a - 8)

All else will fail you, but the Lord.  The Lord has promised to never leave or forsake those who believe.  You can count on Him in all things, always, “…from this time forth and forevermore.”

Blessings,

Pastor Marty Duffell, Pastor - HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship  Grow  Serve   

"I Am Not Ashamed"

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:38

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16

Over 20 years ago I attended a music conference that was being held in Spartanburg South Carolina.  I felt that it would help me as a pastor to learn how to intertwine music with the message and it did.  During the conference we had great worship.  One night Jim Cymbala from Brooklyn Tabernacle Church preached.  He brought with him the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers and his wife Carol who led them.  It was a wonderful night of worship through music and message.  One of the songs the singers sang that night was introduced by one of the members of the group.  He told his story of what this song meant to him.  His life was such that drugs and street life had ruled him, but through the ministry of Brooklyn Tabernacle he had come to faith in Jesus Christ.  He said the difficult thing after that was to walk the same streets again a changed man among those unchanged, old friends, dealers, etc.  But he said, a verse in Romans changed that.  He read Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”  He claimed the verse and began to live into the power God gave him.  The title of the song they sang was: “I Am Not Ashamed.”  If you would like to listen to the song, copy this link of the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/Lmm6EQWHS0o) and paste it in your browser.  Below are the lyrics to this song.

I Am Not Ashamed

Verse 1

We're an anchor for those who are hurting

We're a harbor for those who are lost

Sometimes it's not always easy

Bearing Calvary's cross

We've been ridiculed by those who don't know Him

And mocked by those who don't believe

Still I love standing up for my Jesus

'Cause of all that He's done for me

Chorus 

That's why I am not ashamed of the Gospel

The gospel of Jesus Christ

I am not afraid to be counted

But I'm willing to give my life

Now I'm ready to be all He wants me to be

Give up the wrong for the right oh no

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Verse 2

For every moment His hand has held mercy

For all the love He's shown all my life

A simple thanks doesn't say how I'm feelin'

I get tears in my eyes

So as for me I'm gonna keep on believin'

In the One who's been so faithful to me

I'm not out to please this whole world around me

I've got my mind on eternity

Bridge

I've got too much behind me

To let this world blind me

To some He's a name

But to me He's my everything                          CCLI Song # 490640

I think of this song every time I read either of these verses from Mark 8 and Romans 1.  I decided years ago that I will never be ashamed of the gospel because of what He has done for me.  I will never be ashamed of the gospel because of His faithfulness to me.  I will never be ashamed of the gospel because He is my everything.  I will stand up for my Jesus!

For we who believe, the return of Christ is our blessed hope, a comforting promise that we eagerly wait to see fulfilled (Titus 2:11– 14; Rev. 22:20). In the meantime, we cannot be ashamed of Christ or His Word (Rom. 1:16; Phil. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Peter 4:16).  Having abandoned sin and denying self, taking up our cross and wholly following the Lord Jesus in faith, we are confident in the knowledge that we are forgiven and redeemed. The fantastic reality is that our Savior is not ashamed of us either.  As a true believer we will hear one day, “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).  As the Lord Himself promised, “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son” (Rev. 21:7).  Never be ashamed of the Gospel!!!

Blessings,

Pastor Marty Duffell, Pastor - HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship  Grow  Serve 

"Broken That Resolution Yet?"

It was late in the afternoon, Thursday, September 9, 1976  that I walked onto an airplane at RDU Airport in Raleigh heading for San Antonio TX.  I was eighteen years old and had never been on an airplane, much less traveled away from my family across the country to an unknown city.  We flew from RDU to Atlanta and had a layover.  I found out what that meant once we landed in Atlanta.  From Atlanta we flew to the San Antonio Airport and landed shortly after mid-night.  As we came out of the baggage area of the terminal there was a TI (USAF Training Instructor) gathering up all those flying for the next BMT Class (Basic Military Training Class).  He seemed very nice.  He was joking around some as we waited for other flights to land from other areas of the country.  Finally we headed out of the terminal and boarded buses to take us to Lackland AFB.

Once on the base we stopped at a building where all of us were told to take our bag (could only have one bag) and go inside and sit down.  Once inside a TI began to call out names and divide the recruits into two (2) groups.  One group, my group, became the 3766 BMTS (Basic Military Training Squadron).  The other group became the 3767 BMTS.  Our Squadron Training Instructors (TI’s) took us outside into a alley, lined us up, and then everything changed and I do mean everything.  I could use here the sentence, “All _ _ _ _ broke loose.” but I spare you the language.  For the next hour we ran in place, were told to pick up your bags, put our bags down, pick up your bag, put your bag down in repeated repetition over and over again.  Those that began to complain, well, let’s just say, they received a stern talking to nose to nose with our TI.  To make a long story short, the next 6 weeks were interesting, but in the end, very beneficial.

I became one of the Squad Leaders and that gave me a inside tract with the TI.  By the end of our training I was in his office and talking about the process of the BMTS program for recruits.  He said, “Our main purpose is to break you down and build you back up SO THAT, you become disciplined, obedient and loyal to who you need to be and what you need do.”

I thought about this last night as I watched the College Football National Championship Game.  No, it was not the game that prompted this memory, it was a commercial, in fact, an Allstate commercial.  If you watch TV any at all you have seen the Allstate commercials with “Mayhem.”  Their tag line, “Don’t get caught with me, Mayhem.  Be protected with Allstate.”

But since January 1st, Allstate “Mayhem” commercials changed.  Mayhem was not allowing mayhem any longer, but doing good things, disciplined, helping out, for example being a lightening rod on a roof protecting the house.  Being a tennis ball on a string protecting your car from damage in the garage.  A flair on a dark road protecting your broken down RV.  Mayhem said he had made a “New Years Resolution” to protect instead of cause mayhem.  

Last night that changed during the CFP game.  Mayhem, while being a “obedient/good” flair protecting the broken down RV found out you had already broken your New Year’s Resolution, so he said, “Well, if you cannot keep your New Year’s resolution even two weeks, then I certainly am not.”  So Mayhem put out his flair protecting the RV and of course, mayhem happened.

Many of you can attest to Mayhem’s statement.  You have already broken your New Year’s Resolution.  If you haven’t yet, it is most likely coming.  It is hard to stay the course.  It is hard to maintain the discipline and obedience needed to keep that vow, that commitment to succeed.  Unfortunately, the same thing happens with our commitments to the LORD.  We have the best intentions to stay the course.  I’m going to read the Bible more.  I am going to be faithful in my worship attendance.  I’m going to be involved in the ministry of my church, serving others more, etc.  But then a friend says, “Hey, I’m going to the beach Sunday morning, want to come along?”  Oh, it’s just one Sunday, you think.  But once breaks the discipline, the obedience you committed to and once broken it is hard to put back into place.

Our LORD has commanded us to be disciplined/obedient to HIM.  “…if you obey My voice and keep My covenant…” Ex 19:5; “…obey the Lord your God…” Deut. 27:10; “…obey His Word…” Ps.103:20; “…obey God rather then men.” Acts 5:29; “…to obey Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:2; “…you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.” Rm. 6:17 (There are so many more I could use.)

And there is the ultimate verse: “from the heart; committed to HIS teaching.”  Today is the 10th day of January 2018.  Let us ALL consider our discipline/obedience in our relationship to our LORD and ALL make the commitment to WORSHIP - GROW and SERVE Him in ALL we do from this day forward “SO THAT, you become disciplined, obedient, and loyal to who you need to be and what you need do” as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty - Pastor of HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship   Grow   Serve

"Sixty-One"

Sixty-One has become a great number for me this Christmas Season.  Sixty-One has significance, in fact, great significance because of its impact on others.  But let me digress some before springing the sixty-one on you.

In the summer of 2010, the EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) had service projects in place for groups in the eastern mountains of Kentucky.  Our youth group from HOPE went on a mission trip for a week to help with projects on homes for those in need.  While there in Menifee County Kentucky, we developed a relationship with a local organization called Project Worth.

After the summer 0f 2011 the EPC moved on from that area and offering service projects for groups, but HOPE continued our relationship with Project Worth.  We had grown to love the people there and had developed long lasting relationships.  We also had seen first hand much of the poverty in that area of Kentucky.  Over the next few years a group from HOPE traveled up to Project Worth to lead a summer VBS for the children in the area.  As with most service projects/mission trips, I think we were blessed more than we blessed them.

We have also continued over the years to provided school supplies and backpacks in August for the children of Project Worth families and in December to provide Shoebox gift packages for the children.  We have been told many times that for most of these children who come to the Project Worth Christmas Party and receive these shoeboxes, this is the only present they will receive.  I remember our first Christmas sending shoeboxes, it broke our heart to hear that this might be the case.  Our first year we collected 18 shoeboxes and sent them to Project Worth.  The number has gone up some over the past few years.  Last year, in 2016, we sent 36 shoeboxes for their Christmas Party.  That was the most we had ever sent.  The HOPE Congregation stepped up.

So back to “Sixty-One”.   Our Children’s Director at HOPE Church Raleigh contacted the Director of Project Worth the first of November of this year to find out when the Project Worth Christmas Party was going to be held and what the need was for this year.  The Director told her that she would send a list of ages broken down by gender the next day.  Our Children’s Director received that email and here is the breakdown of need.  Boys, age 2 to 12, twenty-seven.  Girls, age 2 to 12, thirty-four and that folks totals “Sixty-One.”  Sixty-One!  Our Director at HOPE asked me, can we do that?  That is a big leap from 36 to 61!  Can we?  I said, “YES, we can!”

HOPE Church Raleigh stepped up and sixty-one children on December 15th will receive a shoeboxes full of goodies and in many cases, will be their only gift of the Christmas Season.  

I am so grateful and blessed to serve a congregation that continually looks to bless others as need arises.

As the boxes have been coming in this past week to be wrapped and shipped to Project Worth, I thought of that first Christmas morning.  We often demonize the Innkeeper of Bethlehem.  Why didn’t he provide better accommodations for the pregnant mother of Jesus?  Couldn’t he have done something better than give her a manger and a stall?  But think about it.  Other places that were full had turned them away, but not this Innkeeper.  He provided the very place for the birth of the Savior of the world.  “And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7  The innkeeper stepped up.  He saw a need and fulfilled it in the best manner he could.

I pray that as we continue to move towards Christmas Day this year, that our eyes will be open and our hearts prepared to bless others as God presents these opportunities.  He will present them, maybe not sixty-one of them, but if only one, that is your one to take on!

Blessings to you all,                                                                                    

Pastor Marty Duffell-Pastor, HOPE Church Raleigh       

Worship  Grow  Serve

"Behold!"

The word “Behold” is an intriguing word to me.  The Webster definition of the word, in my opinion, does not do it justice.  Webster states: “Behold: to observe; look at; or see.”  Come on Webster, can’t we add something more than that?

My family has had the wonderful gift of two different sets of friends over the past several years that have allowed us to stay in their condo at the beach a week during the summer.  Sitting on the balcony and watching the sunset at the beach is amazing.  The colors are so vivid.  The orange and the shimmering water absolutely puts you in a state of awe.  As one of the owners posted on Facebook about a month ago, “How can you look at this sunset and believe there is no God.”  Yes, he used the word “look at” which means “Behold.”  But when you really “Behold” something special, it’s more than a glance, a look.  When you “Behold” something that is truly special, it effects you inside.  In fact, effects your entire being.  Your very senses are heightened.  There are times your heart races.  You can even get goosebumps when you “Behold.”

I remember the first time I saw my son Chris as a baby I was about to adopt.  To “Behold” the little baby in my hands flooded my soul with tears, joy, and awe.  And to “Behold” Emma Grace as she was born, just 2lbs, 50z., could hold her in the palm of my hand, was absolutely amazing. I was on cloud nine.  What a great word “Behold” is!  It is more than just a look and see or just observe.

For me, maybe not everyone, but for me, when I hear this word “Behold” my mind runs to two short verses of scripture.  And while these verses are often only heard/read at this time of the year, every time I hear “Behold” my mind races to these two verses.

God used this word, not “observe,” not “look at,” or “see,” but “Behold.”  Behold, because there is nothing else more precious.  Behold, because there is no one ever greater to behold!  Yes, to the verses!

Luke 2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

You see, I hear that word “behold” and my mind races to Jesus, my Savior.  I can behold in my mind the Christ child, the Messiah, the one promised, now fulfilled.  I can even behold in my mind’s eye the Shepherds hearing the “Good News” and goosebumps covering them.  Can you imagine what they felt, not just as a choir of angels sang before them about the birth of Jesus, but when they actually were able to behold this child in person?  They were effected in such a way that they could not keep it to themselves.  Luke tells us they went telling about this child and all who heard were in wonder.  This is what it means to “behold” Him!

We begin the Advent Season on Sunday which is a time of remembering “His first coming” and “anticipation of His Second,” but never forgetting the impact, the gift, this special gift from God.  Maybe those of you who have read this article, when hearing the word “behold,” will now think of Jesus, the Savior of the world.  What a gift to behold. 

Blessings to you all,                                                                                    

Pastor Marty Duffell-Pastor, HOPE Church Raleigh                  

Worship  Grow  Serve

"The Connector"

You would probably never think that the construction of a log cabin/barn could ever relate to the redemptive plan of God. But it does.  1971 (I was 13 years old) has proven to be one of the most interesting summers as a Boy Scout.  One of the farmers in our community was going to tear down one of his log tobacco barns and wanted to know if we would like to help tear it down and have the logs.  We said, “YES!”

Our plan was to tear down the barn, move the logs into a secluded area of the woods on the farm where I grew up and build a cabin for troop campouts.  Very ambitious for 12 and 13 year old boys (well, my dad helped).  We made our plans and started the work.

First, we cleared an area about a mile in the woods behind my house and cleared an old logging road to get back to the campsite.  Next we began to tear down the barn using ropes and tractors.  

Terry and I love to watch “Barnwood Builders” and their process of tagging logs is exactly what we used in 1971.  When tearing down a log barn, you have to know where EVERY single log is placed to rebuild it accurately.  So before removing the first log, we took a white marker and marked the position of every log and the seal (foundation) logs were first.  We marked the seal log front, left side, right side, rear and then moved up to the next row of logs to repeat the procedure.  Once everything was tagged, we could then start to remove the logs.  It took days for us to tear the old barn down, and while hard work, we had a lot of fun.  Our goal was to have the cabin in place by the winter camping season.

After tearing down the log barn, we moved the logs to the campsite and began the rebuild.  Because we were not going to build up as high as the old barn, we decided to build the cabin wider.  So the question was, HOW?  With the logs being like a jigsaw puzzle, we realized was there had to be some type of connection in the back wall for the logs to sit properly.  The seal logs (foundation logs) went into place.  Everything was going fine until we got to the second row of logs on the rear wall which was now double the width of the original barn.  We now had to insert the connector piece.  We took one of the logs we knew we would not use and stood it upright, took a chainsaw and notched each side where the rows of new logs would join, and the connector log worked perfectly.  We finished our cabin, added a tin roof, cut a large opening in the front and we were ready for the winter camping season of 1971.

I know you are thinking, “Why is Pastor Marty telling me this story?”  Good question.  Ted Dougherty (HOPE’S Worship Leader) and I were discussing the Christmas Eve Service this past Monday and I was reviewing the movement of the service through scripture.  God lays the foundation through the “Foreshadowing” in Genesis 3:8-19, Genesis 22:15-18, Isaiah 9:2-7, and Isaiah 11:1-10.  Next God builds, in His Word, the “Annunciation” in John 1:1-14, Luke 1:26-28, and Matthew 1:18-25.  God announces His Son’s entry into the world to begin His redemptive plan.  And then we have the “Fulfillment” in the coming Messiah in Luke 2:1-7 and Luke 2:8-14.  

God’s plan of salvation began in the garden.  This was the “seal log.”  Man had torn down the perfection of God’s creation through sin.  God marked each step needed to rebuild this relationship and in the rebuilding of this relationship it would take a “Connector” piece.  For God to view us in connection with Him again, there had to be a connector, one that would graph us back into Him.  And that person was His Son, Jesus Christ.

You see, God the Father sees the believer through His Son.  Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, God the Father sees us as cleansed, whole, re-connected to Him.  When Jesus said, “It is finished!” on the cross, folks, it was finished.  Nothing else needed, but Him!  He gave ALL the ability to be re-connected to our creator, our Heavenly Father.  Oswald Chambers states that there are no greater words ever spoken in all history, for all time, than “It is Finished.”

In the 1971 rebuild of our Scouting Cabin, we realized it would never come together without a connector log, anything else would fail.  As you begin this 2017 Advent Season, as you prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of your Savior, remember, HE is the reason, the only reason, our relationship has been reconnected to our Father.  Thank you God for your perfectly laid out plan of redemption!

Blessings,                                                                                    

Pastor Marty Duffell - Pastor, HOPE Church Raleigh                   

Worship  Grow  Serve

“Trust In The Lord”

I believe most were sadden and even somewhat horrified as the news began to break on Sunday afternoon about the church shooting in Sutherland Springs Texas.  Questions of course began to fly.  Why? How can this happen? How can this happen in a place of worship?  And the most often question asked of me and other pastors, “How can a loving God allow this to happen?”  While questions fly, I do believe God’s Word has answers.  They sometimes are not what we want to hear, but they are answers to life.

The first thing we need to realize and never forget is, we live in a fallen world, a sinful, evil world.  God’s Word tells us that Satan is the “Prince of this World” meaning he is causing havoc, leading those who do not know the Lord.  We don’t like to think of it, talk about it, but this is scripturally true and a fact of life (at least until Christ returns).  Evil is in the world.

Second, believers need to trust God.  When things don’t make sense in this world, and there will be many times they don’t, you have to trust in God.  Pastor Frank Pomeroy (Pastor of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs TX) and wife Sherri lost their 14 year-old daughter in the shooting this past Sunday and his message is I have to trust in the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

This message can be tough.  We want to make sense of all things.  Our very human nature is to question and find answers.  But as a Christian, we must realize that there are some things beyond our understanding.  Is God in control of all things?  Yes!  Are there horrific evil things that happen?  Yes!  Could God change that?  Yes!  Then why not?  The answer to that question is in His Word too.

God states: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8  We will not understand clearly all that God allows.  Paul states in 1st Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully…” This concept of God’s very nature is hard to grasp, but never less, is truth.

So what is next?  I have to go to Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  I think we often forget to read all this verse.  We cannot leave out, “to those who love God” and “who are called according to His purpose.”  Those who love the Lord are not immune to the evil, sickness, circumstances of this world, but neither do we have to go through it alone.  God is with us!  His very spirit comforts and leads us and ultimately HE can bring good out of all things.

I lost my mother when I was 15 years-old on February 9, 1973 and I was angry with God.  I knew God, but had not surrendered my life to God yet.  I grew up in church, went every Sunday, was in Sunday School and Youth Group, knew who God was, but had not given my life over to Him. (Oh, so many are living that life today.)  After mom’s death, from February to April I struggled to try to make sense of it.  My pastor helped me with that.  I yelled at God and He let me.  But on Tuesday, April 24th I walked down the aisle of my church at a Revival and surrendered.  I know God had used the death of my mom for his purposes and one of those was to break me.  Unbroken, I would not respond.  Broken, I could turn nowhere else but to Him.  On Sunday, April 29, 1973, I was baptized and received my call to preach from God as the water was poured over my head.

And what I’ve grown to learn in the circumstances I’ve had to face since is this: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts know what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercede for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27  (These are the verses just prior to “…all things work together…” You see, I don’t have to understand all things for I have an intercessor that intercedes on my behalf.  The Holy Spirit given to the believer helps us in our weakness, comforts us in our loss, lifts us up in time of despair.  This is the wonderful and mighty God we serve.  He does not abandon us in difficult times.  Just the opposite.  He says lean on Me.  You might not understand now, but I’m the One you need to TRUST.  There is that word again, TRUST!

I am not in any way making light of the hurt and the heartache of those who lost loved ones in this attack.  I cannot imagine losing one of my children in an evil shooting like this.  But I do know for sure, God is at work in all of this.  The aftermath of this evil is not final.  We will hear stories of wonder as the LORD intercedes on behalf of those who love Him.  You can trust the LORD to do this.  He is forever and always faithful!

Blessings friends,

Pastor Marty Duffell - Pastor of HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

"Am I Willing?"

The Session of HOPE Church Raleigh was away for our Annual Retreat last weekend.  I used a devotion from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers as my opening devotion.  I want to share it with you and then make a few comments.

Is God’s Will My Will?  By Oswald Chambers

"This is the will of God, your sanctification…"     1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (1 Corinthians 1:30 “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption…”). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.

All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”)  He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing “…shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39).

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.                                        End of devotion by Chambers.

That question asked by Chambers, “Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ?” has been on my mind since the first time I read it.  Am I?  Am I willing to let God do everything?  Jesus Christ His Son has already made it possible.  His work on the cross, my atonement, redemption, salvation, sanctification was made possible by Him.  Why wouldn’t I be willing?  There in lies the answer.  God is the one that has called me and saved me, but my relationship with Him is effected by me saying either “Lord, I’ve got this” or “Lord, You’ve got this.”  

When I let go of my will and let God have His way in my life in ALL things, in HIS way, what a difference that would make.  Oh, it’s all possible.  He can do ALL He says He can do.  No question.  So why wouldn’t I?  Well, that means changes, transformations in me have to happen.  The question remains, “Am I willing?”  

What we have to realize as believers/followers of Jesus Christ is that it doesn’t work well to try to keep a foot in both camps.  Keeping a foot in the Kingdom of Darkness  (1 John 1) and one in the Kingdom of Light (1 John 1) just doesn’t work.  When we firmly plant both feet in the Kingdom of Light we will find that the power of God already in us (His Holy Spirit) will begin to purify us for His purpose by His will.  He wants to sanctify us.  He is certainly able, no question there.  The question remains, “Am I willing?”

Blessings friends,

Pastor Marty Duffell - Pastor of HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

"The Narrow Road!"

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13 -14

If you have driven a car for any length of time, you all have experienced it.  You are driving down the road and all of sudden there is a man or woman standing there holding a pole with a sign attached to the top of it.  One side reads “Slow” and the other side reads “Stop.”  You know, seeing that sign, that one side of the road is closed for construction work and one side is open for traffic.  And you also know that when you are allowed to go “Slow” that much of the road is taken up by the workers and equipment and only a small narrow portion of the road is open for traffic.  If you are going to get through you have to watch out, be careful, travel slowly, and stay on the narrow part of the road to be safe or things will not go well.

Terry, Emma and I were traveling to Sunset Beach on Monday morning to visit a few days with some friends that have rented a place for the month of October.  Traveling through Scotland County we drove up on a man holding a sign that read “Slow.”  There were a few cars and trucks ahead of us driving very slowly and we followed.  You could see the huge dump trucks on the other side of the road waiting their turn to dump their load into the machine used to resurface the road.  This was on a back road, not one of the major highways, so the road was narrow already, but these huge trucks made it feel even more narrow.

As we passed by the workers and got to the other end of the work site Terry said, “Oh My!”  I said, “What?”  And I looked over to see a Nissan Maxima on its side down in a deep ditch.  The lights were still on and emergency flashers going.  The accident had certainly just happened.  

What appeared to be the cause of the accident was the person driving the Nissan, coming from the other direction, never saw the man holding the sign to “STOP”  until it was too late and drove off onto the side of the road to keep from hitting the man and road construction equipment.  But in doing so, ran into the ditch and the car went up onto its side.  Thank goodness it appeared no one was hurt.  

As we continued our trip down to Sunset Beach, I thought about the accident we had just seen.  I thought, this mirrors our lives in so many ways as we live in this lost world.  There is a safe, narrow way that leads to life (life eternal) and there is a broad way that leads to destruction  (Matt. 7:13 -14).  When we follow the instructions and stay on the narrow path, the narrow way, doing what is right in the eyes of God, not veering from side to side, the way is safe and secure.  Life is secure.  But when we veer off the narrow road, we aren’t looking ahead of us for the obstacles around us and think that the way we travel is broad and big, no problems to deal with, we often find a ditch.  We find that destruction lies ahead and if we don’t get back on the straight and narrow, well, lets just say the future does not look good at all!

Jesus is teaching His disciples and the crowd that has gathered around.  This passage from Matthew is part of the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus is giving a foundation for living, a guide to eternal life, life with Him.  And He states the way is narrow and few will find it.  

Are you on the narrow road?  Are you aware of the things around you that are destructive and are you staying away from them?  Like the person we saw on Monday, if you take your eye off the narrow way, destruction can jump up and bite you in moment.  You can end up in the ditch!

It’s a jungle out there!  Be safe! (as one TV show used to say as cops went out for a shift).  Folks please, lets be aware of our surroundings.  Stay on the straight and narrow road.  The alternative is not good!

Blessings, Pastor Marty Duffell                                                                                                        Pastor, HOPE Church Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve