In recent weeks, I have shared a series of messages to remind you: We have giants we need to face and battles we need to fight. Over the next few weeks, I am sharing with you how to fight. Our inspiration comes from Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Many Christians are taking a beating in the battles of life. There is a reason for it. It is called spiritual warfare. We learned last week that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. There is a battle to be fought and we are warned in this passage to stand our ground:

> Take your stand (v.11)
> Be able to stand (v.13)
> Stand firm (v.14)
 
Against evil in this world, God expects us to stand firm. No running, no retreating, no surrendering! You are in a Battle! So the Key thought: Prepare to do battle.

But how? The verses explain how—The key is to wear the full armor of God. Paul says you are under attack so “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” (v. 11). Paul says, “There’s an armor to be worn” and the emphasis is on the full armor that is to be worn… Paul says it in verse 11 and once again in verse 13. So this is important—
 
Here’s why…it only takes a small crack in the dam to bring it down…a tiny leak in a boat to send it to the bottom. That is all Satan needs to do the same to you. So you must be fully dressed for battle—no cutting corners! What are the pieces of armor required for battle? We begin today with the first one—
 
Belt of Truth (v. 14)  
 
This was a wide belt worn by the Roman soldiers for support, and to secure the other pieces of the armor. A soldier would put on first a tunic, a square piece of cloth with holes for his head and arms, covering front and back and tucked underneath the belt. The belt held together the other pieces of the armor (the breastplate and sword were attached to the belt) and thus the belt was essential, fundamental, and foundational.
 
He is saying: The thing that holds things together in our life is truth. Truth, as such, is the word of God. The idea here is of embracing the truth with our life. It means to live the things we embrace as truth. It is the idea of sincerity in embracing the truth of God’s word. It is an absolute refusal to allow a gap between the truth I believe and what I actually live. A life of sincerity is the opposite from a life of hypocrisy. None of us live perfectly the life we believe in fervently. But the idea is to close the gap between what we know is true and what we actually do.

In your life, are you trying to root out inconsistencies? Are you sincere in accepting personal responsibility? Are you expecting of yourself personal morality and accepting the idea before God of eventual accountability?

When we embrace the truth of God’s word, it enables us to hold things together in our life and protects us from the wrong thinking that would war against our soul. We begin our battle against evil by embracing the truth of God’s word in our lives.
 
Next week we continue with a look at the breastplate of righteousness (v. 14). In the meantime, put into practice what you have learned thus far from the teachings of Paul. Dress for battle!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

This past Sunday, our scripture passage reminded us: We have giants we need to face and battles we need to fight. Over the next few weeks, I am going to share with you how to fight…We will look at Ephesians 6:10-18 to see what Paul says about spiritual warfare. First, look at Ephesians 6:10—

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power…” (v. 10).

Paul begins with the word “Finally” (v.10). It indicates not so much that Paul is running out of things to say but that he has something important to say. It is this: The Christian life is a life of war—spiritual warfare. The Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. There is a battle to be fought. Paul is saying here: You need to be aware that you are at war!

Since we are at war, he says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes…” (v. 11). In v. 11 & 12, six times Paul uses the word “against” which emphasizes there is something we need to be against. There is no neutrality in Christianity. Paul adds to that the word “struggle” in v. 12 that literally means “hand-to-hand conflict.” This pictures bare-knuckle hand-to-hand action. Paul is saying that the Christian life requires toughness! Dear Christian, we had better learn to fight! But where and with whom?

Paul says, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…but against the rulers… of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (v. 12).

So since we have such an enemy, what are we supposed to do? Paul says, “Take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (v.11). The word “schemes” is the Greek “methodia” which means “cunning methods.” The devil is like an animal stalking its prey. Learn this: the devil is scheming to take us down and he knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

So we must be alert to the devil’s schemes (v. 11). Satan’s strategy is to cause you to feel defeated and hopeless. He will use deception, doubt and discouragement to defeat you. And more… The devil has available several weapons in his arsenal. But take heart for “Greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Ultimately, the victory is ours for we have on our side a triumphant Lord and the battle we wage is against a defeated foe. So we must learn to look to our Lord and trust in Him!

However, we must be willing to do battle daily! Next week I will teach you how… In the meantime, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you” (James 4:7-8).

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

In recent weeks, it has been my privilege to share with you a short summer series called GIANTS.  We have looked at some of the great stories of faith in the Old Testament. This past Sunday we looked at the real life hero Gideon who faced a challenging situation. In it, Gideon discovered God’s strength. Before he fought his enemy, he had to fight his feelings of inadequacy. He had to overcome fear and doubts. Once he did, he discovered a strength he had never known before.

The more difficult your circumstances, the deeper your faith needs to be. The greater your obstacles, the bigger your faith needs to be. When you find yourself in a situation where you need God’s help, then you must learn to put your faith into action. This is when you fully realize, “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). It is then we understand that faith and prayer go hand in hand. Our faith pushes us to cry out to the Heavenly Father who is the One who can give us the help we need.

There was once a young man named Joseph Scriven. He fell deeply in love with a beautiful girl. All he could think of was her. But the day before their wedding, the girl drowned in a boating accident. Joseph was overwhelmed with emotional despair and bitterness. For several months, he questioned God regarding this. He doubted the wisdom and purposes of God.

After a lengthy season of agony and grief, Joseph finally came to realize that he had no one to turn to but God to find comfort and regain his peace. So this he did.

Sometime later, Joseph sat down and wrote these words—

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear,                                      
What a privilege to carry,                                                
Everything to God in prayer.    
                                                 
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,                                                  
Oh, what needless pain we bear,                                              
All because we do not carry,                                              
Everything to God in prayer.

No matter what Giant you may face, remember that God is your help. Turn first to Him! Find comfort and strength in Him! Then fight your Giants!
 
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

One of my favorite cartoons when I was young was The Flintstones. Remember them? In one scene, Fred said to his sidekick, “Barney, do you have any trouble sleeping?” Barney replied, “No, I don’t have any trouble sleeping. My trouble starts as soon as I get up.”

That’s the way life is. We are seldom free of trouble for very long in our days. Make no mistake about it; there is no escape from difficulties in life. Even the Apostle Paul confessed having thorns in his flesh and we feel thorns in our lives as well. Here is the reality: God allows adversity. It is true from the best of us to the worst of us. No one is immune to the problems of life and none is exempt from tragedy in life.

We all have, in fact, designer sets of troubles all along the way. But our Lord has promised to help us with these troubles. He does not always help us out of our problems but He does help us within our problems. It is because this is true that we are able to say, “My God will meet your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Moreover, we can say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Further still, we should do as Simon says, “Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

When the possibility of adversity gives way to its inevitability, we should respond to it with a humble teachability. The Apostle Paul learned with his thorn, once humbled, that despite his weakness, God’s grace is sufficient and that His strength would be made evident. This knowledge became for him a source of great comfort even as God proved to be a resource of abundant power. What valuable lesson can you learn though your own thorns in life? What strength is yours straight from the throne of God?

Whatever the answers may be, you can rest assured that God knows how to produce awesome blessings in our lives through adverse circumstances. As C.H. Spurgeon wrote, “Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to adversity.” Amen!

Devotedly Yours,
Pastor Ron

I begin on a personal note—

This past Sunday our 250th Anniversary/Independence Day Celebration Event and Worship Experience turned out to be a Great Day in the life of our church. Though many of our people were out of town, understandably w/ family for the July 4th Holiday, still there was a really large crowd of enthusiastic worshipers and excited participants, along with many family members and viable prospects for our church. I am so thankful for our talented Leadership Team and for so many who made such a solid contribution to this activity. This was a fun day & a meaningful time for all ages…and it gave me the opportunity to remind us of some important things. Such as—

The Strength of a Nation is derived from its devotion to God. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33:12).
 
Our Founding Fathers possessed an understanding of this and it influenced so much of their words and actions. You see this in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” They believed God had given humankind certain rights. The government does not grant rights. The government does not have rights to give. God gives the rights. The government protects these rights. But, make no mistake about it, they are God-given rights.
 
Of first importance among these rights was that of Religious Liberty. Thus, the First Amendment to our United States Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, was Freedom of Religion. As I mentioned Sunday, John Leland, a Virginia Baptist pastor, fought successfully for the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, “Congress shall make no laws respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
 
Our Forefathers understood that the expression of Religious Faith is to be supremely regarded and highly protected. So this came first in their list of protected rights because of its utmost importance.
 
George Washington, at the Continental Congress, sat in the balcony and someone famously asked which one was he and the person answered, “When Congress goes to pray he will be the tall one who gets on his knees.” Our nation was born with such reverence to Almighty God and the continuance of our blessings are dependent on our devotion to God. The exercise and expression of such must be vigilantly protected.
 
Our Founding Fathers also understood another important truth—
 
The Strength of a Nation is dependent on the character of its people. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:35).
 
As I reminded us on Sunday, scripture teaches the indispensable importance of character, integrity, and virtue in our lives. The strength of our nation does not begin in the White House but in your house. It begins where you live. It begins with the kind of character you possess in your life and that you instill in your children. On this 250th Anniversary of our nation, we remind ourselves that it is righteousness that exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
 
Remember these things!
 
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Happy 4th of July & 250th Anniversary of the USA! Today is a great day for celebration! Enjoy it! But I would like you to pause first and give consideration to the price that was paid and the foundation that was laid for our liberty as a nation…

Paul Harvey, noted radio commentator, wrote the article years ago, “What Price Freedom?” In it, he answered the question: “What happened to those men who signed the Declaration of Independence?” Here is the answer:

“Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. One of the signers had two sons captured.  Nine of the fifty-six fought and died of wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War.

But what kind of men were they, these men who boldly wrote their names to the Declaration that lit the fires of liberty in souls of men throughout the world?  

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated.

Their security, their incomes, and their worldly possessions made them substantially well off. But they signed the Declaration of Independence even though they knew the penalty would be death on the gallows, if they were captured.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes…and their sacred honor. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and his properties to pay his debts and died in rags. Thomas McKean was so hounded by the enemy that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers or both looted the properties of Ellery Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge and Middleton. At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire, which was done. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. His grave is unmarked and unknown.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives.  His fields and his grist mill were laid waste. For more than a year he lived in the forests and caves, returning home after the war to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Morris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. These were soft-spoken men of means, wealth and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight and unwavering, they pledged: ‘For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.’”

So today let us not forget the sacrifice of so many for the freedom we enjoy and the country we so love.

God Bless America,
Pastor Ron

The devotional today is about personal failure. If you have never failed, then this writing is not for you. But, of course, failure is a part of life—everyone’s life—including yours! That we all fail does not make it any easier. Nor does it mean we are okay with it. None of us wants to fail…but we all do. Moreover, we are in good company when we do…

On the threshold of our 250th Anniversary as a nation, you would be interested to know that our first president, and the general who led our troops in the Colonial War, George Washington, earlier surrendered at Fort Necessity during the French and Indian War, pretty much ending his military career…or so it was thought.

This reminds us that failure is not the measure of the person. Even further, failure need not be final! When you fail, what then? This is where Peter comes in…

You will recall that Simon Peter bragged in the Upper Room that he would never fail the Lord. Then they left the Upper Room and walked to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed while Peter slept. When Jesus was arrested, Peter followed the group at a distance, out of fear, to the house of the high priest Caiaphas. While Peter awaited what would happen to Jesus, in the courtyard a servant girl of Caiaphas accused Peter of being associated with Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, Peter denied three times vociferously that he knew Jesus (before the rooster crowed twice, as Jesus had prophesied). Mark tells us, upon recognition of his failure, Peter “broke down and wept” (Mark 14:66-72).

Jesus had known Peter would eventually fail. But He said, “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Jesus did not say, “If you fail me, you’re finished.” Jesus knew: Failure does not consist in falling down, but in staying down. Moreover, no one reaches their highest potential without their share of failures. So when you make a mistake, admit it with a view to correct it. Have a change of heart concerning it. Peter did and it would be wise if we all would.

In addition, we must learn that God never wastes experiences, nor time. God will use everything that comes into your life as a child of God to bring about His plan, including your failures. So make your failures a learning experience. Peter learned a valuable lesson in humility…we too can learn this, and much more, from failure.

 Simon Peter knew Jesus loved him. He renamed him “Rock.” He chose him to be His disciple. However, he never understood the depths of His love until after he denied Jesus. Then he discovered Christ still loved him and still had a job for him, to feed His lambs. Failure is a good place for us to learn of God’s unconditional love for us and the unconditional love we should have for those around us.

Finally, it is interesting to contrast Peter and Judas. Both failed Jesus the same night, but the end was different. One made failure the end of his life; the other made it the beginning of a new life. Peter went on to be the preacher of Pentecost and one of the great leaders in the early church. Peter moved beyond his failure and it is his later success and whole life by which he is measured. We too must move beyond failure! This we can do with God’s help and by His grace!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

 I have always loved this verse for it tells us: God never will let us down, because He is ever-present in times of trouble. We need to know this since there will always be troubles. Jesus said as much…

 Remember, the night before the crucifixion in the Upper Room, Jesus told His disciples three things about facing troubles in the future.

 # 1 – There will always be trouble.
“In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).

# 2 – You will never be alone.
“I will never leave you...” (John 14:18).

# 3 – You could ever be at peace.
“My peace I leave with you” (John 14:27).

 This serves to remind us that God will not keep us from the troubles, but He will keep us in the troubles and walk beside us through the troubles. This He promises!

 So, if you are:

Troubled – rest assured He is “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
Burdened – find comfort when He says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Depleted – embrace hope with the words, “And my God will meet all your needs...” (Philippians 4:19).
Feeling unloved – seek assurance here “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Lacking answers – relax in the words, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God… (James 1:5).
Grief-stricken – receive solace in the shepherd’s words, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
 
The bottom line is this: whatever comes your way today, you are going to be okay. The reason? It is because your God is an ever-present help in your moment of trouble and He will never let you down!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Today I want to remind you of the power of temptation. I think we all understand this, though we may not always be inclined to admit it. However, as the compass needle is affected by magnetic pull, even so every person feels the pull of sin. Temptation can be a powerful force. Consider what Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in his book Temptation:

“In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. With irresistible power desire seizes mastery over the flesh. All at once a secret, smoldering fire is kindled. The flesh burns and is in flames. It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire or ambition or vanity or desire for revenge or love of fame and power or greed for money…At this moment God is quite unreal to us. He loses all reality, and only the desire of the creature is real…The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us.”

Indeed, this is true! We should, therefore, humbly acknowledge that temptation can be a powerful thing. This strong force in human experience should not be taken lightly. But scripture has good news to encourage us in this battle with our desires that we should remember: “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God gives us the grace to stand strong against the winds of temptation as we walk close by His side and trust in Him. It’s pretty simple really as you practice this daily: Overcoming sin is learning to have faith in God in times of temptation.

What happens when we do stay strong and make the right decisions in the face of temptation? Here is what Billy Graham wrote:

“There is a sense of achievement that results from victory over temptation that cannot come to us otherwise. Overcoming temptation makes the Christian stronger and causes him to discover power. In times of temptation Christ can become more real to you than ever.”

This achievement is worth our finest efforts and greatest trust. This we can do because faith is stronger than temptation! We can rest assured that in our battle with temptation, trust in God will enable us to be victorious! We can count on this!

Join me in this prayer: Dear Lord, this we pray: Lead us this day away from temptation and deliver us from evil! This we pray to your glory and honor!  

Devotedly yours,

Pastor Ron

I was listening to the oldies channel on Sirius radio the other day and they played a once popular song by The Bee Gee’s. Remember them?  I sang along with them in my best falsetto voice “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” (I am so glad you did not hear me—I bet you are, too!). Anyway, the song does raise an interesting question: Can you mend a broken heart? Well, the answer is: You can’t! But God can! There are some things only God can fix—and this is one of them!

In fact, the Lord promises to do so—if we look to Him. Jesus said, “He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted…” (Luke 4:18). The psalmist David claimed positively, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). So if you are there and you have been hurt, He is the One who can heal your broken heart.

We need to understand that sometimes our hearts are broken because of circumstances out of our control. In addition, at times, they occur for no apparent reason. Good folks suffer illness, accidents, death, children who break their hearts, loss of a marriage or a child, the sting of rejection, business failures...Things happen! Do not be surprised if it happens to you… Jesus said, “In this life you will have troubles…” (John 16:33).

Other times, we become careless in life and suffer a broken heart because of our own mistakes. The psalmist David, who wrote Psalm 34 about the broken hearted, became careless with his own life and experienced the suffering that comes from a broken heart because of his own misdeeds.

Regardless of the reason for our broken hearts, as God’s children, we can call upon Him and the Lord hears. The promise of scripture is “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them” (Psalm 34:17). That is not all—He also helps. David says, “He delivers them (in) all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17b). But He doesn’t stop there—He also heals. David concluded, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

So if you are brokenhearted, the ball is in your court. What are you going to do? Remember: the Lord promises to draw close to those who are brokenhearted. You and I must choose to confess the hurt and call upon the One who can heal our broken heart. Maybe it’s time to do so!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

This past Memorial Sunday, I reminded us that the freedom we enjoy as Americans came at a price. Someone took a bullet for us. Someone paid the ultimate price for us. That is why Memorial Day is important. It is a day of remembering the ones who died for us. However, in the Sunday sermon, I chose to remind us of the One who died for us. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity; He paid the price for you and me. On Sunday, we remembered Calvary.

Scripture makes a big deal of this—what Jesus did for us. For example—

• “Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3).
• “Jesus gave himself for our sins (Galatians 1:4).
• “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
• “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
• “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
• “This is my body given for you…This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22: 19-20).

Jesus took our place in judgment! He died for us all! Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us! “The LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

The story is told of a Chinese Christian who understood this point. Before her baptism, a pastor asked a question to ensure she understood the meaning of the cross and about the sinless Son of God who died upon the cross for us. The pastor asked, “Did Jesus have any sin?” She replied, “Yes.” The pastor was troubled by her response so he asked again. She answered the same way again, “He had sin.” The pastor was about to correct her once again when she explained, “He had sin—He had mine.”

Indeed, she was correct! The Bible says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus took on our sin that we might receive His righteousness and thus find forgiveness.

This was Jesus’ life of sacrifice. Jesus died for us that we might now live for Him. So for each of us, this calls for a life of love, devotion and sacrifice to the One who gave His all for us! As Oswald Chambers said, Our Utmost to His Highest!

This we should daily consider and always remember!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

In Luke 12, Jesus shares a parable and then gives this vital principle:
 
“To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48).
 
Note the use of the word much. This verse says much about how much is required of us who are the recipients of much. We are all the recipients of much! The life we enjoy, the abilities we possess, and even the opportunities we have to give are gracious gifts from heaven. These point to the truth that we are to be faithful stewards of the life we have been given.
 
The Word of God gives us instruction on how we are to practice faithful stewardship. It involves at least three areas of life—
 
The first is our use of Time. Time is an irretrievable value in life that you can only spend once and never capture again. Life is a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Therefore, we are urged to “make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16). This is true because the use of your time today makes a difference in eternity.
 
Secondly, is our use of Talents—God has given each of us talents by which to bless others and through which we find fulfillment in ourselves. Paul said, “Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source for them all. There are different kinds of service, but it is the same Lord we are serving….” (1 Corinthians 12:4, 5). When we find the special things God has enabled us to do, then we can find ways to contribute to others not only for today but also for all eternity.
 
Thirdly, is our use of Treasures—Jesus spoke of the investment of our financial resources in eternal things: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
 
Indeed, Jesus talked about money. One-sixth of the Gospels and one-third of the parables address the subject of stewardship. Jesus had much to say on this subject. Jesus dealt with money matters because money matters! It may be a surprise to see how much the Bible says about this subject. However, it is evidently because the investment of your money, along with your talents and time, is of eternal consequence. So invest wisely—there is a lot at stake!
 
Let us resolve to practice faithful stewardship in our lives, knowing that—
“To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48).
 
Devotedly yours,
 Pastor Ron

It is likely that there will come a time in our lives when we will question why certain adverse things have happened to us. This occurs even to the most devout among us. We may or may not ever receive an answer for some dreadful trial that comes our way. However, God may very well remind us “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). But what is His purpose in this? Paul tells us in the next verse, “…to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” (8:29).
 
Peter writes about the likelihood of going through seasons of adversity for the sake of God’s purpose when he says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
 
As difficult as it may be to embrace, the truth remains: God uses the smelting fires of adversity to burn away the dross of moral impurity. His aim is to leave in us the gold of spiritual conformity to the likeness of Christ.
 
It may be our natural tendency is to retreat from adversity. Nevertheless, God has chosen to use our problems to bring about His purposes. If we comprehend this, it helps us know better how to respond to those things that confront us. We can then ask ourselves questions such as:
 
*What is God teaching me in this?
*How is God changing me through this?
*How will I benefit from this?
 
In our lives, the real enemy is not adversity, but our sinful tendency. Moreover, that proclivity is everything within us which stubbornly resists God’s purpose to be more like Christ. Yet, this should be our focus when problems pounce upon us.
 
There is an old story I like—A young girl was sent to a neighbor’s house along a mountain countryside to bring home two geese that had been purchased. She had to drive them through a dark wooded area in the evening twilight. She did not fear the shadows, but along the way was a fierce dog in front of a house. As she walked along nervously, she heard the rattle of leaves and suddenly a wildcat sprang out to attack her. Just before he pounced upon her, the fierce dog rushed to the girl’s defense, and seized the wildcat by the throat with his sharp teeth and killed the wildcat.
 
What the little girl dreaded was what she needed. We dread the dogs of adversity more than the wildcats of our own sinfulness. However, these dogs with sharp teeth serve us as they destroy the things about us that would destroy us.
 
May we learn this lesson well so that we are prepared when the tests of life come our way.
 
Devotedly yours,
 Pastor Ron

“But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope” (Galatians 5:5).

You know how important the spiritual quality of hope is in human life but, at times, you will find yourself in the position of even having to wait for hope to come. It’s true! Life can drive us to a place of such desperation that we cannot even muster up hope for our situation. We have to look to God and wait for hope.

George Matheson, the great devotional writer, once shared better than I could ever on a subject that we all need to grasp sooner or later. Here are the thoughts of Matheson on this subject—

There are times when everything looks dark to me—so dark that I have to wait before I have hope. Waiting with hope is very difficult, but true patience is expressed when we must even wait for hope. When we see nothing but the darkness of night through our window yet keep the shutters open because stars may appear in the sky, and when we have an empty place in our heart yet will not allow it to be filled with anything less than God’s best—that is the greatest kind of patience… It is the story of Job in the midst of the storm, Abraham on the road to Moriah, Moses in the desert of Midian, and the Son of Man in the Garden of Gethsemane. And there is no patience as strong as that which endures because we see “Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). It is the kind of patience that waits for hope.

Father…give me the strength to wait for hope—to look through the window when there are no stars. Even when my joy is gone, give me the strength to stand victoriously in the darkest night and say, “To my Heavenly Father, the sun still shines.”

I will have reached the point of greatest strength once I have learned to wait for hope.

May God help us to wait patiently for hope!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Awhile back, I counseled with a woman in my office, and as she left the church pastoral office area, she seemed confused as to which way to go. I asked if she knew how to get out. She said, “I think I know—but last week I was here and I got so embarrassed because I couldn’t figure out how to get out of the church.”

It occurred to me that many people have not figured out how to get out of the church. You see, Jesus has called us into the world to be His witnesses and there is no church activity (as worthwhile as it may be) that replaces the call to mission. In too many incidences, the salt has refused to leave the shaker. The light has declined to shine in the darkness.

The words of Jesus should reverberate in our minds, “Do you not say, ‘There are four months, and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

The challenge of Christ’s words are not lessened by His example. Jesus did not sit around! He was “moved with compassion” when He saw the multitudes, but He also moved with compassion among them. You could find Jesus in the market place, along a major roadway, at a social event, in the synagogue, by the seashore, at a public festival, and in a private home. He told the Good News everywhere He went. He shared the life-changing message of the Kingdom of God with a tax collector at a tax booth, a woman at the well, children and families gathered around Him, a man sitting in a tree, fishermen in a boat, and a thief on a cross.

Jesus touched the lives of every sort of person: rulers, servants, lepers, prostitutes, soldiers, teachers, revolutionaries, government workers, wise men, farmers, shepherds, the poor and the wealthy. Jesus truly loved people and shared with all.

Jesus told His disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men (people)” (Matthew 4:19). The early followers of Jesus followed His example of witness and impacted their world in powerful ways. The early disciples stood and spoke boldly (Acts 2:14), confessed publicly (Acts 2:41), took missionary journeys (Acts 13:1-3), preached the gospel (Acts 13:5), witnessed in the market place (Acts 17:16-17), held personal conferences (Acts 18:26), shared house-to-house (Acts 20:20), and shared their testimonies (Acts 26:12-18).

Like the early followers of Jesus, we should follow our Lord’s example and obey His instructions, “You shall be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8). Indeed, as I spoke about this past Sunday, let’s be smart about it—but let’s get to it! Share Jesus!

(On Sunday, I will share about fulfilling our mission together!)

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

In the course of our Sunday morning Colossians series, we have come to a verse that shares with us an admonition regarding work. It is this:

“Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

This begs the question: How much time do you spend at work in a day, week, or month? How much time will you spend at work over a lifetime? If so much of your time over a lifetime will be spent at work, doesn’t it make sense that the Bible would have something to say about it? Indeed it does!

What does the word say about work?

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
“There is a time and a purpose for every work” (Ecclesiastes 3:17).
“All hard work brings a profit” (Proverbs 14:23).
“You will eat the fruit of your labor” (Psalm 128:2).
“If any would not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
“Let him that stole, steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good” (Ephesians 4:28).
“Moreover, when God gives any (one) wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift from God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
“Six days you shall labor…” (Exodus 20:9).
 
With so much emphasis given to work from these verses (and many more), it calls for a self-evaluation of our work efforts.

Performance – Are we trying our best to do our work at a high level of performance? “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Attitude—Is our work done enthusiastically and positively? “Whatever you do, do it heartedly as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).
Relationships—Do our relationships at work reflect favorably on the cause of Christ? “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5).
 
It is apparent from biblical instruction that God intends for us to work and to do so diligently. May we approach our work as an opportunity to give God glory and to be a witness at work for our Lord positively. Let’s work on this…

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

“In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
I suppose the most challenging part of this verse from the apostle Paul is found in the words, “In everything.”  This suggests even in the worst of things there are some things for which we should be thankful. This means, even in bad things, we are to look for a “Silver Lining” – some evidence of God’s blessings.

We may be tempted to protest these words…Did Paul know what he was asking us to do? If he only knew what I am going through? You may even be thinking: Yeah, maybe easy for Paul to say. Really? Keep in mind Paul was writing to Thessalonica, and in the book of Acts we learn on Paul’s missionary journey to this city he was run out of town for his preaching, actually had to sneak out of town at night. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 we read that Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, stoned, flogged, and in danger repeatedly. Yet, he said, “Give thanks in everything…” (v.18). Also, remember in Acts 16, he is singing songs in jail at midnight.

Furthermore, Paul is not the only biblical writer who practiced this type of radical thanksgiving. Job lost everything and yet he still found reasons for which to praise God. Contrastingly, the ten lepers in the New Testament gained everything but still did not find reasons to praise the Lord (except one). As for us, we are challenged to look for reasons to praise God not only in the best of times but also in bad times.

Paul adds these words, “…For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is to say: we are not in God’s will if we do not have a heart that wills to give thanks to God.

Therefore, we must learn to give thanks in all circumstances of life—not only in the best of times but in bad times. When we do, not only will God be honored by it but also He will draw near to us in it. Moreover, it will help to lift us up above it. The Bible teaches that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) and it is in His presence we find strength to overcome. When we raise our praise to Him, our praise will raise us up through Him. It’s true! Thanksgiving and praise has its ways of lifting us above our problems and enabling us to find solutions. So expect good things in everything, and for that, we can give thanks!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

This past Easter Sunday, it was my privilege to preach the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection in three worship services. That was a lot of fun! And why not? It is a sheer blessing to share a message of hope and life! No wonder it gave me joy! Moreover, it also provided me an opportunity to remind you that the Easter message is about not only the hope He gives us of our future in Heaven, but also about the strength He supplies us today in our present situation. He empowers us to live differently and more positively!

The New Testament teaches us the same power that raised Jesus from the grave can lift us up in life. Admit it: We all have personal frailties, but God gives us strength to overcome our shortcomings. Acknowledge it: Life has many problems, but we have power to face those problems. Paul said about this power, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

What does this mean practically? Whenever you feel weak, draw close to Christ and He will give you strength. As you walk more closely with Christ, you will draw more fully on His power.

In your doubts, He brings certainty.
In your troubles, He brings peace.
In your guilt, He brings grace.
In your temptations, He brings will power.
In your fears, He brings courage.
In your discouragement, He brings hope.
In your depression, He brings joy.
In your valleys, He brings companionship.
 
The Resurrection of Christ not only offers you real hope for tomorrow, but real help for today! That makes me want to shout a Happy, Holy Hallelujah!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

This Sunday is Easter Sunday! It is the most victorious day on the Christian calendar. We feel a sense of excitement as we gather and sing songs of faith and confess together: Jesus is alive! On this day, we join hundreds of millions around the world in the celebration of Christ’s resurrection!

In a way, it is on this day as it was on the first resurrection day. When the good news of the empty tomb and Risen Christ was heralded in the streets of Jerusalem, it spread like wildfire throughout the countryside of Judea and Galilee. Then it went quickly to the market places of Corinth and Antioch and beyond to major cities throughout the Roman Empire. It was amazing news and it awakened devoutly religious people around the world to the truth that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and Savior of the world.

Within fifty days of the apparent collapse of Christ’s cause at Calvary, the city of Jerusalem rang out with bold declarations that God had raised Jesus from the dead and we are all witnesses of it. Several hundred had seen Him after His resurrection! They had a story to tell and they told it! You talk about social media…

Those who heard their message were moved by it and forced to admit that this resurrection event had transformed the lives of believers. When questioned by religious and civil authorities, the early witnesses were not shy with their reply. Their excitement in sharing this good news was due to the fact of the Risen Savior.

On the Day of Pentecost, the resurrection was the theme of Peter’s sermon as he preached, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32) and this bold declaration inspired three thousand people to confess Christ as Lord. The game-changing fact of the resurrection and its heart-moving proclamation drove the early church’s witness to all corners of the world. Millions were converted! When faced with opposition and even persecution, they did not let up, give up, or shut up! They continued to proclaim boldly the message! Truly, that demonstrates and illustrates how important is the message of the Risen Lord!

The truth of the Risen Lord is just as vital and life changing today as it was on Resurrection Day. That is why we will gather on Sunday and declare He is Risen!

Devotedly yours,
 Pastor Ron

In recent days, we have seen some troublesome things around the world that may tempt us to be a little nervous. For you, it may be some things closer to home, that feel out of your control, which are causing you anxious moments. If so, then I understand. Frankly, this could happen to any of us, and does happen to most of us. However, I have good news for all of us: God does indeed hear the prayers of His nervous children!

In fact, many of the great prayers of scripture come from the hearts of nervous, anxious saints. Psalm 27 is an example. David reveals a troubled heart and a stout faith all at the same time. He begins, “The LORD is my light and salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1-2). Then he ends by encouraging his own troubled heart to have confidence in God with these words: “Wait on the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

Sometimes we find ourselves in threatening circumstances for which we too must remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. As the people of Israel were about to set foot in the Promised Land where they would face new adversaries and frightening experiences, Joshua urged the people of God: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). No doubt, these words gave them comfort and helped them persevere as they faced the greatest challenge of their lives.

We must exercise this faith as well—which may not always come naturally. Indeed, it may be easier to trust the Lord when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging. Yet we will never really know the depth of our faith until it is tested by a powerful storm. Only then will we be fully certain how awesome is our God and worthy of our trust. But then we will join with the psalmist and say— “I am still confident of this (despite everything): I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).

So whatever challenging circumstance you find yourself in today, remind yourself: Do not fear; instead, trust the Lord and draw near.

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

I have a question for you: Do you worry? The reason I ask is because worry is a real problem for many people—maybe you. If so, then don’t worry about it! Jesus has a solution for it. He said, “Do not worry” (Matthew 6:25). Simple, but direct! Here, Jesus gives this command but then the message actually expands. It becomes the following commands:

> Do not worry about your life (Matthew 6:25)
> Do not worry about your needs (Matthew 6: 31)
> Do not worry about your future (Matthew 6:34).

That pretty well covers it all! But the bottom line is “Do not worry!” The word for worry in the Greek is “merimnao” and it means, “to divide” or “to tear apart” (like to come apart at the seams of a garment). So it literally reads “Do not be divided (torn) in your mind.” This thought is present in James 1:8 where we are warned that a person who is (divided in mind) is unstable in all he does. It’s true! One moment you are putting your faith in God and the next you are doubting Him. You have faith and then fear, fear and then faith—a divided mind. That’s not healthy. The scripture here is clear:“Worry about nothing.”

So what do we do instead of worry? You trust God to take care of you today! In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives examples: He refers to the birds of the air (v. 26). They don’t sow or reap or store away in barns. God takes care of them and you are more valuable than are they to the Creator. Also, the lilies of the field (v. 28). They do not worry over what they wear. God takes care of them and He will do the same for you… to you who are so much more valuable to the Creator. He who cares most for you will take care of you. You can trust your concerns to the One who cares for you. “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

The idea is that on any given day, you choose to trust rather than worry. You say to yourself: I will put off worry to another day, and choose to trust the Lord today.

Rhonda and I travelled to New York City years ago. On 5th Ave., there were two interesting statues to see and compare. One was at the RCA building with the statue of Atlas, the strong man, straining to hold the world upon his back. The other statue was down the street at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with its representation of Jesus holding the world in His hand effortlessly. It reminded me that we all have a choice: We can carry the world on our shoulders or we can place our world into the hands of our Lord. Jesus says here that we can trust our worries, problems and lives into the hands of Him who loves us so. Jesus assure us: God will take care of us today…Think about it!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

It is my joy and privilege to share with you occasionally some thoughts from devotional writers I have enjoyed over the years. Today, I bring you the words of George Matheson, an insightful writer from a previous generation, on the subject of worship:

“Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD…May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion” (Psalm 134:1, 3).

You may see this as a strange time to worship—“ministering by night in the house of the LORD.” Indeed, worshiping at night, during the depths of sorrows, is a difficult thing. Yet therein lies the blessing, for it is the test of perfect faith…

It is easy for me to worship in the summer sunshine, when the beautiful melodies of life seem to fill the air, and the lush fruit of life is still on the trees. But when the songbirds cease and the fruit falls from the trees, will my heart continue to sing? Will I remain in God’s House in (this) night? Will I love Him simply for who He is? Am I able to “keep watch for one hour” (Mark 14:37) with Him in His Gethsemane? Will I help Him carry His cross up the road of suffering to Calvary? Will I stand beside Him in His dying moments, with Mary, His mother, and John the beloved disciple? Would I be able, with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, to take the dead Christ from His cross?

If I can do these things, then my worship is complete and my blessings glorious. Then I have indeed shown Him love during the time of His humiliation. My faith has seen Him in His lowest state, and yet my heart has recognized His majesty through His humble disguise. And at last I truly know that I desire not the gift but the Giver. Yes, when I can remain in His house through the darkness of night and worship Him, I have accepted Him for Himself alone.

Well said! Let us make it our aim to worship God Himself—who He is and not for how He can bless us. He is worthy of our Highest worship! Amen and Amen!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

In our Bible passage this past Sunday, you will recall, that the Apostle Paul urged the Colossians believers to be “strengthened in the faith” and “overflowing with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7). Paul used the metaphor of an overflowing fountain to describe a grateful heart in the life of a growing Christian.

When I go to a park, I have always found an overflowing fountain to be pleasing to the eyes and the sound of the running water to be pleasing to the ears. There is something about it that is relaxing. Even so, a Christian who is filled with Jesus and overflowing in thanksgiving and positive living is refreshing and inviting to others. Indeed, when you are full of Jesus, you find He gives more than you can ever contain, and you cannot help but overflow to others. This is grace flowing with joyful thanksgiving and pouring blessing into the lives of those around you.

Paul is saying that a healthy and growing Christian should be overflowing with thanksgiving. So we have to ask ourselves, at this point, how are we doing with our outpouring of thanksgiving? Do we have a thankful spirit and contagious disposition? Are we humbly grateful, or grumbly and hateful? Paul said in another passage that we should “Give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

I would like to think that this simple devotional thought today would serve to remind each of us to do a checkup from the neck up! Let us take the opportunity today to do an inventory of ourselves to see if we indeed live with an attitude of gratitude. Are we overflowing in our praise and thanksgiving to our gracious Lord? The psalmist declared, “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). So let’s begin to—

Count our blessings
Collect memories of His mercies
Catalog His kindnesses to us

Let’s do this—and start today!

Gratefully yours,
Pastor Ron

I love worship! I admit it—not ashamed of it! I look forward every week to begin my week with it! For me, the worship of the Lord is a top priority! God has been good to me, so with the psalmist, I agree: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 48:1). We should all respond positively to the psalmist’s invitation: “Come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker for He is our God” (Psalm 95:6).

It is a source of great joy to me, and a humbling thing, to know (according to Scripture) that I bring pleasure to the heart of God by my pure praise of Him. He “inhabits the praises of His people” (Psalm 22:3). I, even as a lowly creature, can touch the heart of God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, by my true adoration and worship of Him. Think about it: As the recipients of God’s grace, we can in turn, by His grace, bless the One who bestowed upon us His grace. We can lavish upon Him our love and know that He takes pleasure in this. Why would I ever desire to miss an opportunity to gather with the Lord’s family and bless my Lord and Savior?

Besides this, worship truly makes a difference in my life. I am a different person having been in the presence of the King! Worship changes me—and for the better! William Temple wrote in his book The Hope of a New World the following:

Worship is—
to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God,
to feed the mind the truth of God,
to purge the imagination with the beauty of God,
to open the heart to the love of God,
and to devote the will to the purpose of God.

Indeed, I am a changed person having experienced a true encounter with the living God in worship! Just the thought makes me look forward to Sunday as we gather as a Family before our Lord…Amen!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

I read about a pastor walking outside a hospital when a man came near him and said, “Her temperature is gone!” The pastor wrote that he had no idea who the man meant by “her” but he thought it must have been someone the man loved dearly. The pastor said he had never met the man before and would probably never see him again. However, he said, “I will never forget the sight of this man so overcome with emotion that he had to share the good news with the first person he saw.”

In recent months, I have been sharing with you a couple of series, MEET JESUS and Christ Is Lord. This is my way of grabbing hold of you and sharing with you the Good News: Your Savior is Awesome! It’s true: Jesus is Bigger than you Think and Greater than you can Imagine. I want you to know that and never forget that!

Admit it: Life can be hard at times and unforgiving. Troubles can come in waves and be unrelenting. In those inevitably challenging experiences of life, when you need courage and resolve, and your situation calls for strength of character and determination, it helps to remember that God is stronger than your adversity and mightier than your adversary. Therefore, we must learn to place our focus not on our problems but on Jesus who is Lord over them.

No matter what you face in life, I want you to know (and we will talk about it Sunday) that Christ in you (is) your hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). This means, putting it simply, He is our victory! Jesus is our hope, so in Him let’s place our trust!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron