Why Trees Teach Us About Righteous Living Have you ever felt like your best days of serving God are behind you? Many of us have. Yet for centuries, people have compared strong, lasting lives to trees: “steady as an oak” or “turning over a new leaf.” The Bible does the same thing, but with a beautiful promise. In Psalm 92:12 we read this, "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." The Palm Tree: Deep Roots and Living Water Palm trees are interesting. They grow straight and tall, reaching for the Heavens. God designed the palm tree to survive in harsh conditions, and in many ways, that is exactly how He calls us to live. They grow most often in desert climates but they prefer to be near water sources. Their deep roots reach underground water but they are also spread wide and shallow to catch the small amounts of rainfall that occur. They have many adaptations not just to survive, but to endure and continue producing fruit. Date palms have been grown in the Middle East for thousands of years and are prized for their delicious fruit. Do we see similarities to our life and a palm tree? Are we rooted deeply in God's word? Do we have access to water sources like church, Bible study, and godly friends who encourage us? Palm trees thrive near water sources because water is life. Water allows the tree to produce fruit. Are we near our source of living water—Jesus ? The Cedar of Lebanon: Strength, Shade, and Slow Growth We understand from Scripture that the Cedars of Lebanon were used to build Solomon's Temple to God. These trees can live up to three thousand years. They can be 70-120 feet tall (20-40 meters) with enormous trunks 12-25 feet (4-8 meters) in circumference. Their branches grow wide, providing much-needed shade. Their growth rate is slow and steady. Many different species of birds and mammals call these trees home. These are not just impressive traits, they are instructive ones. As a Christian how are we growing? Are we seeing a steady and measurable increase in holiness as we go through life? As Christians, our lives should be useful for others, like these trees. Do we give people rest when they are near us and shelter them, or do we cause stress and harm? If our lives are not producing that kind of fruit, then something at the root needs to change. The Psalmist continues and says, "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God." (Psalm 92:13) Planted in God’s House: Foundations That Last This verse reminds us that where we are originally planted will help us grow. If a tree is planted near water, with lots of sunlight, and good nourishment for its roots it will certainly flourish. This truth applies not only to our own lives, but to how we raise the next generation. Like a young tree planted in a good location, when our children are raised in a Christian home, with Christian values and are taught their faith through the word, then we can trust they will grow and "flourish" as time passes. They may experience spiritual drought or hardship that can cause them to lose their way for a time; but those roots will hold because they run deep. This does not mean the outcome is guaranteed, but it does mean those early roots are not easily removed. And the Psalmist encourages us that this won't stop when we get old. Bearing Fruit in Old Age: God’s Promise " They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, " (Psalm 92:14) The NIV translates it as " they will stay fresh and green. " So many of us feel useless in old age. We feel we have no more to offer, nothing of value left to give our Lord. But this verse tells us this is not true. Even in our old age we will bear fruit and what we do for the Lord will be as necessary and useful as what we did as young people, sometimes more so. Biblical Heroes Who Never Retired Think of the many people in the Bible who accomplished much for God into their old age. They didn't "retire." They didn't "slow down." David was still serving as king and offering spiritual guidance up until the time of his death. Samuel was a mighty prophet and judge of Israel far into old age. Caleb was 85 when he received his Promised Land inheritance. In the New Testament, Simeon and Anna were elderly temple prophets who recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah. Paul fought his good fight into older age, never giving up on wanting to be like Jesus. These are just a few examples. Maybe you know someone, a grandparent or an elderly relative, who continues to faithfully serve the Lord in any way they can. We can serve others as mentors, because with age comes wisdom . " Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding " (Job 12:12). We have seen much and through all of it we have seen the faithfulness of God. When the hard times come for the young we can be like those huge trees, we can offer shelter and rest. We can be an encouragement in this world of negativity. We can speak life where our culture too often speaks death. Practical Ways Older Christians Still Serve Psalm 92:15 tells us how "To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Where others may doubt that the Lord is upright, we know that is not true. Our fruitful lives as older Christians are living proof of God's faithfulness and His righteousness. He is a promise keeper and cares for each of us. As we grow old we can share these stories with others. Isaiah 46:4 reminds us that in our old age it is God who still carries and delivers us. They will see in our fruitfulness that we have not given up. We haven't succumbed to the temptation to just be lazy. We haven't listened to the lies that tell us old age means automatic loneliness. The choice of loneliness comes down to God-focus or self-focus. We may have lonely moments but they don't have to define us. Declaring God’s Righteousness Until the End We know from experience that God is our rock. We did not build our house on sand, no, we built it on the rock of ages who will never fail us. We have undergone trials and come out on the other side fresh and green. And if for some reason we haven't remained that way, we can always turn back to Him and seek His face to know His will for us. Lastly, we can speak of His righteousness. In the earlier part of this psalm the writer mentions the wicked will " spring up like grass " and " flourish " but we know this is temporary. They will end in destruction. The righteous however will go on to an eternal reward with Jesus. We know this because God is a righteous judge. Evil will not go unpunished. We find God's promise for the righteous in Psalm 1:3, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Our spiritual lives don't have to wither and die. The spiritual water of the Holy Spirit is there to refresh our souls, so that we can still bear good fruit for God’s glory. As older Christians with deep roots and a continuous fruitful life of " becoming like Christ " we can share our testimony with others. How has God blessed us? How have we seen Him work in our lives? What has He saved us from? Faithfulness in old age is not limited by strength, but shaped by willingness. We also have something quite precious—time. We have time to pray for others deeply. Even in a nursing home, we may be capable of organizing a prayer group. We can keep a record of how God has answered prayers and share it with others to lift them up. If we are physically able, we can still volunteer in church outreach to the community. At my church older Christians are the mainstay of these efforts because it is they who have the time. We can offer to be a child's substitute grandparent at school if they have "grandparent's day" and the child has no one. Those skilled, crafty elderly can knit hats for newborns or make caps for cancer patients. The list is endless. In some parts of the world, this calling becomes even more costly. For those of you who live in places in the world where you are facing severe persecution it is you who will show the young the courage it sometimes takes to be a witness. In Psalm 71 the psalmist prays, " Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. " We would do well to pray the same. These promises are not made to everyone. They are made to the righteous. Righteousness comes not by our own ability but by trusting in Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit work through us to do God's will. His will is for us to do good. We don't get to stop just because we're old. Righteousness doesn't mean perfection. It means that every day we choose faith. Every day we choose true repentance. The question is not whether we admire these trees, but whether we are becoming like them. Are we putting down deep roots in God’s Word, or are we content to live shallow lives? Time will pass whether we are growing or not. The only question is what kind of life we will have to show for it. Be Like the Palm and Cedar: A Final Call Let us be like a palm tree: reaching for Heaven, seeking the water of life, facing adversity, and producing much fruit. Let our lives also be like the mighty Cedar of Lebanon: slowly and steadily growing in holiness, being a shield for those in need and home for those who need it, and becoming wiser with age. Praise to God for His creation that always reminds us of His faithful promises.

When Jesus Calls: Will You Answer in Faith? When Jesus calls, do we answer? What blessings await us when we do answer? Following Jesus: trusting His plan for our lives begins with a willingness to hear His call and respond with faith. Can you hear Him even now calling you to more—more life, more love, more sacrifice, more of Him and less of you? In Luke chapter 5, Jesus is by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus sees a boat and steps into it to preach to the crowd from the water. The owner was no less than Simon Peter. Simon had fished all day. Weary from catching nothing, he had called it a day and begun to wash his nets. But Jesus calls to him. The Call of Simon Peter Jesus calls Peter to go out once more with his nets to catch some fish. Simon informs Jesus that they have caught nothing all day, but then Simon says to Jesus, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Thus begins the journey of faith for Simon Peter: Simon Peter does as Jesus commands and catches so many fish his boat almost sinks. In awe over this miracle, this was the moment of revelation for Simon. From this moment forward he will more often be called Peter. His life changed and to reflect that his name also changed. We see this name change often in Scripture where it symbolizes a change in a person's identity. Peter sees the great catch of fish and exclaims to Jesus, " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” When we see Jesus performing miracles in our lives how do we respond? Are we thankful? Do we have sort of an "of course God provided me a miracle because I love Him" attitude. Almost taking His miracles for granted, or are we reminded of our sinfulness before Him? Are we reminded of our unworthiness? Just as Jesus filled their nets beyond measure, He was preparing them for a spiritual harvest far greater. The Promise to “Catch Men” James and John, the sons of Zebedee and partners of Simon, are also astonished at the miracle. Then Jesus makes an unusual promise. He tells them that instead of fish they will now " catch men ". But first, Jesus tells them, "Do not be afraid." At this there was no more talking, only action; they didn't ask Jesus what He meant, they didn't ask why He told them to not be afraid, they didn't say, " But wait, Lord, we have other things to do first." This important moment shows the kind of total commitment that Jesus calls His disciples to live. Following Jesus: Trusting His Plan for Our Lives They dropped everything, left everything, forsook their own lives to immediately follow Jesus. These unlikely men stepped out into the unknown for Jesus. When Jesus calls us He also calls us to put Him first above all else. He calls us to trust Him . Whatever plans we may have had for our lives are now under His control. Did you want to get married? Did you want a certain job? Did you want to get a degree in a certain field? Following Jesus requires us to be willing to give up our plans and follow His; we must " take up our cross " (Matthew 10:34-39). If we aren't willing to do so, Jesus says we aren't worthy to be His disciple. Peter, James and John realize that from this moment on it is Jesus who will provide for their needs. They will work of course, but the most important thing for them will be to obey the will and the calling of God in their lives. Peter is referred to more in the gospels than any other disciple. Peter stood out in his courage and boldness for Jesus. Peter’s Journey of Faith, Boldness, and Transformation It is Peter who immediately asked Jesus to wash his entire body when Jesus said, unless he allowed his feet to be washed, he could not be His disciple. It was only Simon Peter who was bold enough to try to walk on water as Jesus did (Matthew 14:22-31), and only he who tried to defend Jesus in the garden when He was arrested by chopping off the ear of a soldier. It was he alone who immediately jumped into the water and swam to meet Jesus when he recognized Him on the shore. Peter was the first to recognize Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). But for all his boldness there was also inconsistency. Peter recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, but just a bit later Jesus tells him, " Get behind me, Satan " (Matthew 16:23). Peter denies Jesus three times but then tells Jesus he loves Him three times. Only in the book of Acts do we see the total transformation of Peter. Why does this happen? The presence of the Holy Spirit is the difference. Now Peter becomes the bold disciple he was always meant to be. No longer was Peter wavering in his faith. Now God was filling him with His Holy Spirit. Witnessing Jesus’ Ministry Peter, James and John were singled out to witness certain pivotal events in Jesus' ministry. They witnessed the raising of Jairus' daughter to life (Luke 8:50-55). They were with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2) and were with Him during His agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-39). All three would be leaders in the early church. Peter, the "Rock" as Jesus called him (Matthew 16:18) and James and John, nicknamed the "Sons of Thunder" for their boldness (Mark 3:17); all three fishermen would become true "fishers of men" (Luke 5:10). From Fishermen to Martyrs Peter will go on to be crucified as Jesus predicted (John 21:20). James died as a martyr at the hands of Herod Agrippa 1 (Acts 12:2) and John is exiled to the Isle of Patmos, where he will go on to write the book of Revelation—a book written as an encouragement to all Christians that the goodness of God will ultimately triumph over evil. The Transformative Power of Jesus Peter was a humble servant of Christ. He had no special talents except for his desire to serve Jesus with all that He had. Peter was willing to offer His life for Christ. It is Jesus who changed Peter. It is Jesus who transformed a humble fisherman into the leader of the young Christian movement. What Peter did was trust God . Are we willing to be changed? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone? Our Call to Be Lights in the World Jesus may not be calling us to be willing to sacrifice our life for Him, but He calls each of us for a purpose. We are each a light to the nations . Through us the world sees Him. When we fail to show His love to others He forgives us and asks us not to give up seeking to be more like Him. Through each of us, in big ways and small ways, we reach others for Christ. We all fail sometimes, just as Peter did when he denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus understands our failings because He lived as one of us, although without sin. Do Not Be Afraid—Trust in Him No matter what we are called to do, Jesus says the same things to us that He said to the disciples, "Do not be afraid." It is Jesus who gives us hope. No matter what we are going through He will always be with us. With Jesus we can overcome fear . He promises us a reward—to live forever with Him. 2 Timothy 1:7, tells us God has given us “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control”. Today, Jesus is telling us what He told Jairus long ago in Mark 5:46, "Do not fear, only believe." Through His resurrection our hope is living (1 Peter 1:3). The world we live in today is full of fear and anxiety. The headlines tell us to be afraid. But that is not what Jesus says. He tells us that when He calls us, as He did Peter and the other apostles, we have no need to fear because our trust is in Him, not the world. For us, the things that happen that seem evil, will instead be used for good (Romans 8:28). The world, those outside of Christ, have just cause to fear because they do not have a Savior. Just as Peter’s life was marked by moments of fear, failure, and faith, so too are we called to grow in our journey with Christ, trusting His power and purpose in our lives. So let us think about our call from Christ. How shall we serve Him? How shall we reflect His love to the world? What would He have each of us to do? Our strength, our abilities, come from the work of the Holy Spirit, not from ourselves. Following Jesus it is He who will give us what we need to do His will, whatever that will may be. He strengthens us through prayer, studying His Word, and seeking out relationships with fellow believers—those who can guide us into a deeper relationship with Christ. We are called to encourage one another in the faith. May we, like Peter, answer the call to follow Christ with courage, trusting in His promises and the hope He promises us. May we live a transformed life .

What Will Resurrection Really Be Like? Having just celebrated Easter and the resurrection of our Lord, it seems fitting that I have been thinking about what resurrection means for each of us. We often imagine living in Heaven with Jesus. Many times I have heard people ask, "What will we look like?" "Will we recognize each other?"  I don't believe we spend enough time trying to understand what the resurrection of the body looks like for us. Once I took my Sunday School class to a cemetery and told them to look around at the graves, close their eyes, and imagine a time when the dead will break out of those graves and rise to meet their Lord. It was a sobering thought that brought the reality of resurrection front and center to them. Scripture does not leave us guessing about this, and Paul addresses it directly. Correcting Our Thinking About Resurrection To answer these questions, Paul corrects our way of thinking about resurrection. The Corinthian Christians are asking questions as though they doubt the resurrection could even be possible. Paul explains that this manner of questioning is foolish. He is not saying we shouldn't be curious. Do our questions about resurrection reveal curiosity, or do they expose doubts about what God has clearly promised? He says, " But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body " (1 Corinthians 15:38). This is a real and true physical resurrection, not a ghost or an ethereal being (Luke 24:39). Just as God formed us in the womb, so He will form our resurrected bodies as He sees fit. These will be the bodies our Father always intended, the kind Adam and Eve knew before the fall, now perfected and glorified in the New Heaven and New Earth (Genesis 1:31; Romans 8:21). This will really be living. From Perishable to Glorious: The Body Transformed Paul describes the change that takes place as going from perishable, weak, and without honor to a body that is imperishable, spiritually powerful, and full of the glory of God (1 Corinthians 15:35-44). We often imagine our bodies in Heaven as if we were 20 years old again, or whenever our best years were, but this is a total transformation. As the plant that the seed grows into is different from the seed buried in the ground, so it will be changed. To further describe the differences, Paul discusses the different types of flesh in the world. There is the flesh of men, of animals, birds, and fish (1 Corinthians 15:39). All formed by God and all originally good. In the same way, just as God has already created different kinds of bodies suited for life on earth, so our resurrected bodies will be fitted to the plans God has for us in eternity. If God has already created such variety in this world, why would we struggle to believe He can prepare a body perfectly suited for eternity? What Jesus’ Resurrection Reveals About Ours We are not left with explanation alone, because we see this reality in the resurrection of Jesus Himself. He was not some ghostly presence but a living, breathing person in the flesh. After Jesus' resurrection He ate with the disciples. His body was real to the touch. People didn't always recognize Him immediately though. Think about Mary who thought He was the gardener at the tomb (John 20:14-16). Or the disciples on the road to Emmaus whom He taught, but they never recognized Him until He broke bread with them (Luke 24:13-31). If Jesus rose in a real, physical body, how can we doubt that our resurrection will be just as real? Jesus also speaks directly about what resurrection means for every person. In John 5:28-29 Jesus tells us this, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." This is not symbolic language. Jesus is describing a real moment every person will face. Two Resurrections, Two Destinies From this we understand that it is not just those who have faith in Jesus but everyone will be resurrected. If we have faith in Him and as a result do good as evidence of that faith, then we are resurrected to life eternal, but if we do not believe and have done evil, then our resurrection is only to be condemned. God's love and righteous judgment demand justice. This raises the question of when these resurrections take place. The resurrection of unbelievers will be at a different time, many Christians understand it will be at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. Revelation 20:12-13 says the wicked will be judged by God at the Great White Throne judgment. Most Christians believe that believers will never face this judgment. While Christians may differ on the timing, the certainty of judgment is what Scripture emphasizes. Jesus’ teaching of the “ resurrection of damnation ” (John 5:29) explains the eternal fate of non-believers in the lake of fire. Some Christians, however, do teach that all of us will appear before the Great White Throne judgment, but believers will be safe because their names are written in the Book of Life. While the reality of judgment and the resurrection of the condemned should sober us and stir us to share the gospel, Scripture does not leave believers there. For those who are in Christ, the resurrection is a glorious promise. Our names are already secure in the Book of Life, not because of our own goodness, but because of the perfect righteousness of Jesus credited to us. This is why Paul moves from death and judgment to triumphant hope: “ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). The same power that will raise our bodies up has already secured our home with God because we have victory in Jesus . Judgment for the believer has already fallen on Christ at the cross. Therefore, we do not dread the resurrection, but long for it. Resurrection of the Body Every person will be physically resurrected, but not all at the same time, and not all to the same destiny. Believers will be raised imperishable at the Lord’s return (John 6:40; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). We learn "that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep " (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Imagine how incredible this will be. All the saints who ever lived will rise on the last day. Think of it: Moses, Elijah, the apostle Paul, Peter, John and your beloved great-great-grandmother will rise together with new bodies to meet the Lord in the air on that great day. Our lives lived for Christ are intimately tied to each other across time in a way that is hard to imagine. Picture your own loved ones rising together with you. How does this truth make you feel connected to the whole body of Christ across history? Because this future is certain, it changes how we see our present life. Where today our life is just a vapor, as the Bible describes it, our resurrected life will be for eternity (James 4:14). It will be either an eternity of joy or an eternity of misery without God. It is very tempting to live life and shove away the thoughts of what happens after we die. Especially when we are young and feeling quite invincible, it may be difficult to realize that on the other side of death lies our everlasting fate. Because we live with eternity in sight, Paul shares how believers can endure present suffering. He tells us that in spite of the bad things that happen in this life, we don't have to just give up. We can have hope (2 Corinthians 4:8-12). Paul sees his natural body decaying, growing old, and wearing out, but he is also able to see beyond this present life to things that are not so obvious. These things he only sees by keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus and the reward He promises us (Hebrews 12:2). He knows this hurt he is experiencing in this life will produce a harvest of glory with God forever. This is the perspective that allows a believer to endure whatever trials may come. Why the Resurrection Changes Everything All of this rests on one essential truth. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul tells us that our faith is futile if Christ did not rise from the dead. His resurrection is required because through it death is defeated and a new life in Christ becomes possible. As we are told death entered through one man—Adam and death is defeated through one man—Jesus. Paul says plainly that we really have no hope if all we believe is that Christ only lived and died. When we as the body of Christ are raised from the dead, then Christ " will deliver the kingdom to God the Father " (1 Corinthians 15:24). Through this all of Christ's enemies will be defeated. And death will be the last. In fact, Paul says if the resurrection isn't true then we should just “ ... eat and drink, for tomorrow we die! ” (1 Corinthians 15:32) This is exactly where rejecting the resurrection leads. Isn't this the way the world lives? Don't they live as if life has no meaning or hope without a belief in the resurrection? Without hope what is there to live for except fulfilling their own wants and desires? But we have something far better. No other religion worships a founder who came back from the dead. No other religion believes in a promise of a transformed physical resurrection of the body. They are not all the same. Our hope, as believers, is in the New Heaven and the New Earth with our Lord for eternity (Revelation 21:1-4). Even Heaven and Earth itself will ultimately be renewed. From Eden's tree of life to the New Jerusalem , Scripture shows we are looking forward to a renewed creation. We will be changed by His design and no transformation could ever be more blessed. Christ Arose by Robert Lowry Up from the grave He arose; with a mighty triumph o'er His foes; he arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Living in Resurrection Victory Are you overwhelmed by life? Does it all seem too much sometimes? If you are a Christian you need to know that God is preparing us to rejoice in victory. As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, " the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality ", then the sting and victory of death will be gone. Death is handed its final defeat and God gives us the victory through Jesus Christ. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." 1 John 5:4 We Have Victory in Jesus Even in the midst of persecution, famine, peril, war and other tribulations, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. In Romans 8:37, Paul says, " Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. " We can conquer because of Christ's love for us and nothing can separate us from that love. Jesus is our Overcomer Christ is our overcomer. Through His strength and faith in Him we also can be overcomers of the world. Revelation 3:21 says that to those who overcome He will grant us to sit with Him on His throne because He also overcame. He is Worthy And in Revelation 5:5, John weeps in his vision, as he looks and sees no one worthy to open the scroll and its seals until one of the elders before the throne of God cries out, "... “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”" It is our overcomer, our Savior, who can open the scroll, the Lion from the tribe of Judah! Worthy is the Lamb ! With Jesus We Are Overcomers You and I will be victorious. As Christ is an overcomer so, through Him, are we also. How can we be victorious in times of trial? By remaining faithful and true to Him who died for us. By rejoicing in suffering that may lead others to Him. By living with Him, not just in Heaven after death, but living with Him daily. By dying daily to our flesh and becoming more like Him. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us that God goes with us; that he doesn't leave or forsake us. This verse reminds us to be strong and courageous because God shows Himself strong for us. We Can Live in Victory Victory is something we can live in today as well. Eugene Bartlett had a long career writing many hymns we are familiar with. In 1939, at the age of 53, he was struck down by a stroke which left him unable to walk or talk. At this time he wrote one of his most beloved hymns, Victory in Jesus . One of the lines goes like this, " I cried, Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit and somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory .’’ In Hard Times We Know Where Victory Lies It isn't hard to live in victory when everything is going our way and life is easy. When we face challenges and hardships, when we see our world crumbling around us, that is the time to remind ourselves where our true victory lies. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." In this verse, Paul is looking towards the end of his life. He knows his time is short, but he also knows that he has the victory because he has " fought the fight " and " kept the faith ". Hopefully we can all say this as we approach our end. In the midst of sorrow and suffering we have the victory. God is our refuge in sorrow. In the midst of trials and persecutions we can overcome. We know this because of faith. Not faith based on wishful thinking, but faith based on the things we have seen God do in our lives, and the lives of others. Why can we overcome? Because our God goes with us and before us, ever present in time of need. Overcomer of death and giver of abundant life we thank you, O God! Enjoy Shane and Shane's version of Victory in Jesus.

When God Says No and Satan Resists Spiritual growth does not stall by accident. When we set out to do God’s will, resistance often follows. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18, Paul says that he, Silvanus and Timothy wanted to come and visit the church at Thessalonica, but that " Satan hindered us ". In other passages (Acts 16:6), Paul says that he couldn't visit certain places he wanted to go in Asia because it was not God's will. Paul was able to discern the difference between his desires not being the will of God and his desires being hindered by Satan. How Was Paul Hindered? The Bible doesn't tell us exactly how Satan hindered Paul and his companions from going to Thessalonica. We just know that he did. What does Satan hinder us from doing? What happens that hinders our spiritual growth or the growth of our church? Many times people can be influenced by Satan for his purposes. Our goal should be that we will not allow Satan to use us in a way that hinders those around us or hinders ourselves from accomplishing God's will. Satan’s Influence in a Growing Church First, we have to be very aware of the limitations of Satan. He is in no way as powerful as God. However, the Bible makes it clear that he is a real being with great influence in this present world. The church at Thessalonica was just beginning; it was a growing church. This is the very kind of church that Satan targets. Why would he target a dying church or a church that is not operating in the will of God? No, Satan targets churches where the Holy Spirit is active and living. Pride and Words That Divide What would be an example of hindrances in a church? As always, one of the targets of Satan is pride (1 Timothy 3:6). The competition for influence, position, and power can quickly divide a growing church. The devil is subtle. We can become quite easily convinced that our need for these things comes from a true desire for what is best for our church. This competitive spirit often leaves those less powerful feeling as though they are not wanted or needed. When We Fail to Build Each Other Up Another way that Satan targets the church is through words that don't edify our brothers and sisters in Christ. To edify means to build up. Too often, we use words that tear down. Satan tempts us to share gossip, half truths, or things we "think" someone meant. Did you know the Bible tells us not to share gossip even if we know it's true (Ephesians 4:29)? The old adage, "If you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all" is absolutely true in the life of the church. Losing Focus On What Matters Most The church can also be hindered by Satan by causing us to lose focus on what's really important. We often focus on money and forget the truly important thing—loving others. How should the church use its money? On what? Will we have enough? These often, seem like extremely pressing questions when what's really important is: are we taking care of the poor, are we truly generous to all , and are we teaching God's word to our congregation. We can also lose focus when we seek our spiritual fulfillment in a religious book or an online sermon instead of gathering together with the people of God as we have been instructed to do. Discouragement and Distraction in the Church and Life Satan can and does often try to discourage us as a church. The early church endured persecution, rejection, and isolation but never gave up their hope that was in Christ. Today in American churches, we aren't seeing this type of persecution at the moment. But we see those saints in the church who shoulder so many burdens growing old and dying. We see faithful ones falling away. We see our young people abandoning their faith. It can seem overwhelming at times because we often think there are fewer and fewer who can carry the duties in the church. But this discouragement comes from the Devil, not God. God provides the strength to deal with the disappointments that come to us. But discouragement is not the only way Satan works to slow us down. Standing Firm While the Enemy Opposes In Nehemiah chapter 6, we read about Nehemiah's reaction to some people who were trying to keep him from building a wall around Jerusalem, as God had instructed him to do. These enemies were trying to use fear tactics to stop him, to hinder him from accomplishing God's will. What did Nehemiah do? He stood up to them. He didn't allow them to get the upper hand. In Nehemiah 6:9, he prays to God to make him strong. We must be strong in the Lord . Our enemy, Satan, wants to hinder us as well. He wants to hinder our growth as a church, and he also wants to hinder the spiritual growth of individuals. How Satan Hinders Us Personally Satan hinders us as believers, especially when we are trying to grow in holiness. Have you intended to read your Bible more, to pray more, to give more, or to visit the sick more? If you have, then you probably have experienced the hindrance of Satan. Just like he wants to distract the church, the Devil distracts us individually from our goal to grow to become more like Christ . Financial hardships suddenly come upon us. Interruptions come out of nowhere. Extreme sleepiness makes us forget to pray. The pressing needs of someone else distract us from our most important duties. The cares of the world hinder our growth in Christ. Wrestling against evil takes preparation, diligence, and a reliance on the Holy Spirit. Satan Wants To Stop Progress In Barnes Notes on the Bible, he says this, "The hindrances which we meet with in our efforts to do good, when the providence of God seems to favor us, and his word and Spirit seem to call us to a particular duty, often look very much like the work of Satan. They are just such obstructions as a very wicked being would be glad to throw in our way." The word "hindered" that Paul uses in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, in Greek literally means, " to cut a trench between one's self and an advancing foe, to prevent his progress ". The enemy doesn't want us to progress. He wants to cut a trench in which we can stumble. When we allow the Devil to have a foothold in our life , that trench grows wider and we lose sight of what is most important. We, however, have One who leads us if we will let Him. We are advancing the kingdom with the help of God, and Satan tries what he can to stop it, whether it be individually or in our church. So What Should We Do When We Sense Resistance? First, discern like Paul did: Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you whether this is Satan’s hindrance or God’s redirection (James 1:5). Test it against Scripture and wise counsel. Second, resist the devil (James 4:7). When pride, gossip, distraction, or discouragement creeps in, immediately replace it: speak words that build up instead of tear down, refocus on loving people over money worries, gather with the church even when you don’t feel like it. Third, stand firm like Nehemiah, pray for strength, “Lord, make me strong!”, and keep building. Don’t quit reading your Bible, praying, or serving just because interruptions come. This week, choose one area where you’ve felt hindered such as your personal devotional time, unity in the church, generosity, or something else and take one deliberate step to push through it in the power of the Holy Spirit. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." Jude 1:24-25 Satan hindered us, but He whom we serve and love, will keep us from stumbling!

How Do We Improve Our Selves? Have you read any self-help books lately? In 2019 over 40 million self-help books were sold in the United States. Apparently, a lot of people feel the need to improve their lives. The big question is how? In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus addresses the Pharisees, an important religious sect that strictly adhered to Jewish laws. To teach them, Jesus tells the parable of the unclean spirit in Matthew 12:43-45. He Finds It Empty “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45 For some reason, we aren't told why, the demon, the unclean spirit, leaves the person that it is inhabiting and goes away for some time. When the demon learns that, " my house " as the demon calls it, is empty, although quite tidy and neat, he returns with seven more demons. Jesus then tells us that the last state of the person is worse than the first. Whose House Is It? The demon is quite bold to call this person " my house ". Even though the unclean spirit had left, ownership had not changed. The house he returned to had been cleaned up but it was still " my house " according to the demon. So what happened? Had the person perhaps read some self-improvement books? The person apparently cleaned their house while the unclean spirit was gone. Maybe they realized they were on a dangerous path and decided to make some needed changes to their life. Perhaps they thought that being a kind and loving person would be beneficial to them? Empty Without God If these improvements were made, why did the demon still say they were his home? He finds it empty, because being nice, changing your life for the better without God, still leaves a person empty. That person from the outside may look like they are a Christian, they may sound like a Christian, they may even call themselves a Christian, but if they have relied solely on their own efforts to be better then, they are not. We have the Holy Spirit living within us because we realize that it is the grace of God that saves us and changes us and not our own efforts. Law Followers The Pharisees thought they were in the good graces of God because they followed the laws of Judaism absolutely. They thought being a law follower was what God wanted. There is some truth here. God does expect us to be obedient to Him. There are expectations for the way a Christian should behave, but before we worry about our behavior we should be concerned about our heart. Do we love God first and then others? Galatians 3:11 puts it this way, "Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” When people followed Jesus, their behavior was changed after they followed Him, not before. Before they followed Him, they were " empty houses ". Yes, it was possible to clean up and look righteous, but the real change that Jesus requires is a change of heart. He wants to make us a " new man " (Ephesians 4:24). Righteousness Like Filthy Rags The Pharisees of Jesus's time were examples of good behavior, a cleaned-up life, but they were empty. The Holy Spirit could not live in them because they rejected the need for a Savior. They, in essence, thought they could save themselves by being righteous. Righteousness without God is like " filthy rags " as Romans 3:19 tells us. The same is true for us today when we think all that God requires is for us to be good. Do we judge those around us based on how clean their houses, their lives, are? Some of the people around us may seem to be the nicest and kindest but inside they are empty. Their reasons for their behavior aren't based in loving others. Their reasons may be that they want to be more successful, have more friends, or looked to as someone who is a role model. The so-called bad people we see may actually be the ones who are truly seeking to follow Jesus. They may be the ones who the Holy Spirit is working on to change in a real and meaningful way. Walk In The Spirit Galatians 5:16 tells us to walk in the Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit guides our daily behavior. In Galatians 5:18 we are told to be led by the Spirit. When we let the Spirit lead will live a transformed life. In verses 22-23 we see the results, the fruits, of a spirit led life. If there is no fruit then, at best, a soul is empty and at worst it is filled with unclean spirits. If my house, my soul, is empty and the Holy Spirit does not live there, then I am opening myself up to unclean spirits, demons, to fill that void. This Wicked Generation Jesus concludes the parable by saying, " So shall it be with this wicked generation. " This would be the generation of Israel that would turn its back on the very Son of God. They might be a generation who appeared holy, but it would be only superficial. Most would not hear Jesus. Most would not follow Him. They had Him right before them, showing signs and miracles, preaching and teaching, and still rejected Him. Today, we also often don't listen, we don't respond, we reject Him even though we are given many opportunities to follow Him. Transformed By The Holy Spirit Will Jesus find your house empty? All those self-help books in the end, are useless without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He finds it empty without the Holy Spirit. We have to recognize that our house, our soul, needs to be filled up with the Holy Spirit. If it isn't, then all the cleaning up of our lives that we do is just for show. " There is none righteous, no not one ," says Romans 3:10. We don't follow Jesus because He is the ultimate self-help book, however, quite the opposite, to be a Christian means to deny self and "take up your cross daily" (Luke 9: 23-25). When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, we will want what God wants, not what our sinful nature wants. We will be able to endure the pains and sorrows of this life knowing that He is always faithful and true to us. It is He who is our joy.

Why Do We Really Regret Our Sins? Why do we regret our sins? Why do we look back with sorrow over the mistakes that we have made? Is it because we have offended God or is it because we had some unpleasant consequences that we had to deal with? Many times regrets have nothing to do with God. We often try to blame our poor decisions on others: parents, spouses, or friends. We have regret because we got caught. We have regret because we got sick. We regret because we lost other, better opportunities. How do we forget what lies behind us or should we? Salvation or Death God's word says there are two types of regret - one that leads to repentance and one that leads to death. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:9 that he isn't rejoicing because the Corinthians felt sorry, but that he rejoices because their sorrow led them to repent. It's easy to feel sorry for something we have done, but much more difficult to repent of it. Repentance means that we turn away from something. We change our behavior. A person can feel sorry that they got drunk and beat their wife, but that doesn't mean they won't do it again and again. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says this, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." Sorrowing For Yourself Sorrow without repentance really is a sorrow that is only concerned with self. What did that bad thing do to me ? What harm happened to me ? What did I miss out on? Godly sorrow however, recognizes that sin offends God. God hates sin. Sin separates us from God. Worldly sorrow puts us at the center of everything, while Godly sorrow places God first and foremost. Worldly sorrow and regret makes us feel better about ourselves because we believe that sorrow is repentance but it isn't. Regret and sorrow that leads to change; to true repentance, salvation and forgiveness for sin in Christ, is godly sorrow. Stories of Regret Matthew 27:3-5 shares a story of someone we are very familiar with who was filled with worldly sorrow and regret - Judas. Judas felt regret for what he did to Jesus. He was remorseful but he was not repentant. Because he did this terrible thing, he couldn't live with himself and chose suicide as a way to deal with the pain. He never turned his eyes off of himself. He never repented for offending God. Contrast this disciple with another disciple that betrayed Jesus - Peter. Peter and Judas both were disciples. They both walked with our Lord for three years seeing His miracles. The night of Jesus's arrest Peter denied even knowing Jesus, not once but three times. However, in John 21:15-19 we see a repentant Peter standing before the resurrected Christ sobbing and telling Jesus, " You know that I love you ". Peter spent the rest of His life serving Jesus and ultimately died for Him. What a different outcome from that of Judas. Condemnation Is Not From God According to Psychology Today , regret can lead to damaging mental and physical effects. Constantly dwelling on past sins can lead to depression. People who can't let go of the past live with a cloud over them. Feeling condemned is not of God. The Bible tells us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1). Romans 8:28 says that if we love God, if we are called according to His purpose, then all things work together for good. Maybe the good was your repentance, maybe the good was freedom from addiction, maybe the good was a closer walk with our Lord. This is never to say that sin is good, no certainly not, but that God can use our mistakes to teach us and to change us for the better. Forget What Lies Behind When we have repented of our sins but we seem to be unable to rid ourselves of the negative emotion of regret, try stopping and simply thanking Jesus for the forgiveness that He has given you for that sin. Rejoice in the fact that we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We must put on the new man as Paul tells us. In Paul's letter to the Philippians he tells them that he is, "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead," (Philippians 3:13). Paul had much to regret. He arrested and contributed to the deaths of Christians until his conversion. But Paul says he forgets the past and reaches forward to what lies ahead. And what is that? Verse 14 tells us, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Let's be like Paul . Let's press on and forget what lies behind, knowing that Jesus has forgiven us completely if we have repented with godly sorrow.

Should We Rely on Ourselves? Our culture teaches us that one of the most important virtues a person can have is self- reliance. A self-reliant person depends on no one and nothing for their happiness and success. They are viewed as strong people who face life head-on. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a famous essay called "Self Reliance". One of the well-known lines in it says, "Trust thyself". But should we? Trust implies confidence and faith in someone's character, while to rely means to depend on someone to do something. As Christians, we can trust that God will do what He says, and we can rely on God because He has promised to supply our needs. Don't Trust In Man What does the Bible have to say about trusting yourself? Jeremiah tells us what God says in Jeremiah 17: 5-9, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord." But God says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord." He warns that man's heart is sick and deceitful above all things. And in Psalm 118:8 David tells us, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." Contrast this to what Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." We can rely on God's promise to supply all of our needs. Those needs can be emotional, physical or spiritual. We can trust Him. Self-Reliance Stems From Pride Believing we can handle everything ourselves makes it more difficult for us to see our need for God. Ultimately, self-reliance stems from pride. We may boast, "I don't need anyone else." Maybe you feel that God has let you down somehow. This can make you doubt God's love and care for you. Because of this, we shove God aside and basically tell Him, "No thanks. I don't need your help. I will do it myself." These feelings are the lies of Satan. In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter tells us to give our worries to God because He cares for us. Trust God, seek His will, and don't depend on your own limited understanding. If we do this, He will show us the right paths to take (Proverbs 3: 5-6). Rely On God, Not Yourself In 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9, Paul explains that the trials that he and his fellow workers faced in Asia were so great that they "despaired of their life" . So why did this happen, Paul asks? So that they wouldn't rely on themselves, but on God! Sometimes we need to be reminded that we have to rely on God. Nothing Fruitful Can Happen Without God In John 15:5, Jesus tells us we can do nothing without God. To produce the kind of fruit in our lives that God wants us to, we are required to be attached to the proper vine - that vine is Jesus. Our fruit should be love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). If we only rely on ourselves we won't produce good fruit. Self-Reliance That Failed Look at the failed examples of self-reliance in the Bible. God promised Abraham to make a great nation out of him, but after waiting for years he and Sarah still had no children. Sarah, deciding to be self-reliant, presents Abraham with her handmaid. A child, Ishmael, is born that sews discord between Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 16:5). In God's time, Abraham and Sarah had Isaac that fulfilled God's promise of a son (Genesis 21). We see failed self-reliance in the New Testament as well. Matthew 26:31-35 says Peter boldly said that he would never leave or abandon Jesus. Within hours Peter and all the rest of the disciples have done the opposite - they denied or abandoned Him. After Jesus's death and resurrection the disciples cowered in fear. Relying on themselves, they could do nothing. It wasn't until the Holy Spirit came in Acts 2 that the disciples became bold to share their faith. How Do We Rely On God? So when we lose our home, spouse, child, health, job, or our money, do we pride ourselves on being self reliant and pulling ourselves together with no one's help. Or do we kneel before God in humility asking for the strength only He can give to us? But how do we rely on God? How do we "let go and let God" as the expression goes? God Wants What Is Best First, we trust that God will do what is best for us. Even when we don't understand why something has happened, we know that if we belong to Him, good, in some way, will come from it (Romans 8:28). We should seek His will in prayer and in His word. Admitting to the Lord every day in prayer that we truly do need Him to direct our paths helps us to keep our focus on Him. When our hearts are directed toward Him daily it is easier to rely on Him. Jesus says in John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Lack Of Prayer Says We Aren't Relying On God What is the greatest proof that we are relying on self instead of God? It is lack of prayer. Why pray if we have everything under control? Why pray if we have everything figured out? Prayer shows dependency on God. Prayer says, "God, I need you in every aspect of my life." What do you pray about? What do you not pray about? Think about it: those things we aren't praying about are most likely the things we think we have under control. We have become self-reliant in those things. Study The Word Studying God's words of life and getting to know Him helps us to fight against depression and anxiety. The Holy Spirit has promised to bring to mind the scriptures (John 14:25-26). How can we do this if we have never read them? By study, I don't just mean reading a verse for the day, although there can be good in that. Study means digging deeper into His word by joining a small group Bible study, taking notes during sermons, or reading online Bible studies like this one, for example. The Bible tells us that God's word is useful for teaching, rebuking or pointing out sin, correcting or offering a solution to sin, and training in righteousness, which means training in how to apply God's principles to our lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Timothy says we study so that we can be equipped to do " every good work ". God's word helps us understand our need to rely only on Him, not on ourselves to do good. Serving Others When we are overwhelmed with life, with the bad news of the day, think about serving someone else. We can rely on God and trust Him to give us opportunities to serve if we look for them. Serving others takes the focus off of us and places it on those who need God's love shown to them. We serve because He served. Just as Deborah describes how she " arose to be a mother to Israel "(Judges 5:7) and cared for her nation as a judge, so we can in, however small a way, show care and love to others by relying on the will of God. The Family Of God We are the family of God (I John 3: 1-2) and because of this we need to spend time with other Christians. We are to build each other up (I Thessalonians 5:11). We come to rely on God when we see Him in those we call our brothers and sisters. They are there for us in time of need just like our Father is. We are there for them because this is God's will. Even the non-Christian world knows that going it alone often leads to more depression and anxiety. When we help each other as Christian brothers and sisters, we begin to see how God intended us to live. There is no need for a self-reliance that excludes others or excludes God. We have no need to go it alone. We are a family and will continue to be one throughout eternity. We are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). We Need A Savior Ultimately, the idea of self-reliance leads to people believing they can save themselves. They can be good enough, kind enough, smart enough, to live with God eternally and this without ever repenting and believing in Jesus as their Savior. Rely on God, not yourself for salvation. In Andy Davis's sermon, "Sinful Self Reliance, Predicted, Exposed and Cured" , he says this, "Our culture sells us this line again and again: you can do anything you want to do, be anything you want to be, if you just believe in yourself. This is the message of self-esteem, of self-confidence, of self-assurance, of self-salvation. It’s part of the American myth, and it is a myth because the Bible is diametrically opposed to all of this. The message of the Bible is that we need a Savior."

We Need More of God Are you poor and needy? In Psalm 86 David, the great king of Israel, calls on his Lord and tells him of his poverty and need (Psalm 86:1). But how can David of all people be poor? What needs can he have? He has the same needs as all men; he is poor in spirit. His poverty is a spiritual poverty. His need is to have more of God and so is ours. He asks God to " preserve his life, for I am holy " (Psalm 86:2). He is not talking about spiritual perfection but about his steadfast trust and loyalty to God. David asks for mercy and for his soul to be made joyful because he knows the forgiveness, mercy, and goodness of God. He knows, as much as any of us can, the heart of God (Psalm 86:3-5). David continues his prayer, confident that God will answer when trouble comes. How does he know this? David, a man of prayer, doesn’t just ask God for his desires, but he actively seeks to know God more fully. Over the years, his relationship with God has become stronger, his trust deeper, and his love more certain. Praise God and Remember His Truth But David’s prayers are not only requests, they are also filled with praise grounded in the truth of who God is. He gives all praise to God his king for his power and his mighty deeds. He even hints at a time when all nations will worship Him (Psalm 86:8-10). He knows that all those foreign gods made of wood or metal, made by the hands of man, have no power. All honor and glory goes to his God for as he says, " You alone are God " (Psalm 86:10). Having declared the greatness of the one true God, David now opens his heart to learn from Him. Teach Me Your Ways He pleads with God to teach him His ways so that he can walk in truth. David has enough humility to realize that he still doesn't know all of God's ways. We are the same, therefore we cannot remain content with what we already know of God. There is always more we can learn and we do this through humbly acknowledging our need and spending time in Scripture. David asks God to unite his heart so that he will fear God's name. Who can stand before the holy Almighty  (Psalm 86:11-13) ? Awed by God’s holiness, David responds with fresh praise and renewed confidence in the mercy that has already rescued him. Delivered from Death David sends his praise and promises to glorify God forever. Why? Because in God's infinite mercy he has delivered David's soul from Sheol (Psalm 86:12-13). Sheol was the place of the dead. So many times before, God had saved David's life in the many dangerous circumstances he found himself in. This is why he trusts Him now. From the giant Goliath to running for his life from Saul, God was merciful. In a deeper sense, God saves all who call on Him from destruction through the mercy He has given us at the cross. And now David finds himself once more pursued by godless men who would kill him. These men have no fear of God. David contrasts the compassion, graciousness, long-suffering (patience), and mercy of God to these proud and violent men (Psalm 86:14-15). When we pray do we remind ourselves that our God is everything our enemies are not? We may not have a band of murderers chasing us like David, but our enemies are just as real and just as dangerous. We may have fear, anger, persecution, envy, and pride trying to overtake us. God is our power through His Holy Spirit to conquer our enemies. Therefore we must rely on His Spirit, not our own strength, to overcome them. Knowing the faithful character of God, David brings his present danger before the Lord with simple, trusting prayer. Because David recognizes his spiritual poverty, his response is not pride but dependence. So he begins to ask God for what he cannot provide for himself. Pray for God's Strength He asks for strength, not in himself, but in God's strength and God's mercy on him. David doesn't presume that God will give him these things. He asks. " Ask and it shall be given. Knock and it shall be opened unto you " (Matthew 7:7). Paul reminds us of this in Ephesians 6:10, " Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. " David asks God to send a sign, one that his pursuers will know is from God. This sign will cause his enemies to have shame because they will know that God has reached down from Heaven to console and help him. This would prove that God protects those who put their trust in Him. By this the evil people who wish to harm David will know that God is on his side and not theirs (Psalm 86:16-17) . Can you see in your own life times when God has consoled and helped you? Have you felt His protection over you? When we trust in God and His mercy towards us, we can have assurance that whatever happens, God means it for good because He watches over us like a shepherd cares for his flock (Romans 8:28). We may not see it immediately, but ultimately we will. God is Our Watchful Shepherd In Psalm 100:3 we are told, " Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. " Our great Shepherd watches over us with love and tender mercies. The Shepherd would never cause harm to His sheep. Yet in His wisdom and love, He may discipline us, or in His sovereignty, allow suffering. If the world harms us, it can still bring glory to Him. David had been a shepherd in his youth. He knew the Shepherd of his soul was trustworthy to watch over him and would protect him, just as He does for us today. We know that our Shepherd laid down His life for us and took it up again so that we could live eternally with Him. We should, like David, ask for God to strengthen us while we live in this world. As David did, let us humbly pray that God will be merciful to us, a sinner. Poor and Needy We are all poor and needy. We cannot ignore our need; instead we must seek Him and His truth daily. God will give strength for the weary , as He has promised. Let us persevere in doing good, trusting Him, and praising Him for all the miraculous blessings He has provided us. Pray that God will open our eyes to His wondrous provisions so we can have more of God. Lord, we are poor and needy—teach us Your ways, strengthen us by Your mercy, and help us walk in the fear of Your name today. Amen

Jesus Enters Jerusalem During this Easter season we read the story of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people are expecting their Messiah to come as a conquering hero but instead He rides a young donkey with cloaks as a saddle. He carries no weapon. He is the meek and humble suffering Savior soon to be crucified for our sins. How different it will be when He returns. When He comes again, we will see the God of Recompense. The God of Recompense Our God is holy in all that He does. He judges the world with righteousness. When He returns, He will bring recompense to the world. When He comes again it will be very different from that day in Jerusalem. In Jeremiah 51:56 Jeremiah tells us that God is the God of Recompense . Recompense is a reward or a punishment for a behavior. Isaiah 59:18 delivers a similar message. "According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay." In 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 Paul says when Jesus returns it will be with flaming fire to take vengeance on those who don't know God or obey His gospel. Their punishment Paul says will be everlasting destruction from the Lord's presence. Rewards or Punishment Paul writes in Romans 2:5-10 that eternal life is the reward for those who are patient in doing good and that they will have glory, honor and peace; but for evil doers their recompense will be indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish. John describes in Revelation what happens to the nations of the earth who have chosen evil over serving God. Jesus will return and bring recompense to His enemies. The Appearance of Jesus What will Jesus look like on His return? Beginning in Revelation 19:1 1 we learn that this time He will be riding a white horse. The white horse symbolizes purity. A white horse is a conquering warrior's horse. Verse eleven says the name of the rider is " Faithful and True " and that He makes war in righteous judgment. This is He who conquers sin and death! Revelation 19:12 describes our Lord having eyes like flames of fire. This could signify how fierce his anger is towards His sinful enemies. It also may remind us that He sees everything we do, even the secrets of our hearts. His eyes are blazing to cleanse the evil He sees. Nothing sinful can stand before the purity of those flames. In verse 13 of John's Revelation the robe our Lord wears is described as being dipped in blood. There is a dual meaning here. The blood comes from his sacrifice on the Cross but also it is from the winepress of the wrath of God on His enemies. Isaiah refers to this in Isaiah 63:2 when he asks why the One who is mighty to save has on " red apparel " that looks like someone who has worked in a winepress. A Sword of Judgment and a Rod of Iron John continues in Revelation 19:14 that Heaven's armies will ride with Him and then in verse 15 we read that a sharp sword comes from His mouth to strike the nations of the Earth. This reminds us of 2 Thessalonians 2: 8 which tells us that the lawless one will be consumed with the breath of His mouth and the splendor of His arrival. This is not the double edged sword of Hebrews 4:12 that refers to God's word. This sword is a sword of judgment and destruction on those who have rejected their true King - Jesus. Revelation 19:15 continues to say He will rule them with a rod of iron. Where God's children are comforted with a rod (Psalm 23:4) these people will be broken to pieces. Psalm 2:9 (which is quoted in Revelation 2:27) says that nations that oppose God will be ruled with a rod of iron as the Potter's vessels are broken to bits. The Winepress of Wrath The end of verse 15 concludes with the imagery of God treading the winepress in His wrath. The same imagery is used in Isaiah 63:3 and in Revelation 14:19. For some of us it may be difficult to imagine our loving, forgiving Savior in this verse. However, God's love and righteous judgment go hand in hand. God says vengeance is His and He is the one who will repay (Romans 12:19). We are told to love others and to love God. We can't doubt the preciousness of God's people . We wait on God who is the One who will bring justice to the world. King of Kings So during this time when we picture our Savior riding a donkey into Jerusalem to the shouts of Hosana from the people, remember that He will return some day as the judge of the world, a conquering King, with a name that stands above all thrones and dominions, a name above all powers and positions. He will wear a robe dipped in blood and He will come with a name written on his vesture, " King of King and Lord of Lords " (Revelation 19:16)! Facing the day of the Lord , we wait with hope. Enjoy the praise song, King of Kings, here. He Will Come as Judge and King

Encourage Towards Love and Good Deeds In a scary and uncertain world, the importance of building up our Christian brothers and sisters is essential. We often feel alone and think our work for Christ is so small that it is unnecessary. Maybe we feel that we are unnecessary. Sometimes, we feel like Christian failures. In moments like these, we are called not to withdraw, but to build up your neighbors and strengthen one another in faith. The Bible stresses the importance of encouraging one another "towards love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24-25). This is one reason we are called to meet together. These verses remind us that encouraging each other becomes even more crucial as we see the Day approaching—the Day of the Lord's return. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that the Lord didn't give us a spirit of fear but of love, power and self-control. We are called to share that spirit and encourage each other . More than ever, Christians today need this encouragement. Because God has given us this spirit, we are able to stand firm in hope even in difficult times. Hope In The Lord When we abound in hope in the Lord, we are called on to be strong and take heart (Psalm 31:24). Serving the Lord is no easy matter. Culturally, we won't fit in and we may seem like misfits out of step with the majority of the world. Because of this we will endure criticism and opposition. We need the Lord's strength to endure. Our hope is in Him. We can help each other endure by uplifting each other. We rejoice in hope ! Our Help Comes From The Lord Psalm 121:1-2 says that our help comes from the Lord. The literal maker of the Heavens and the Earth reaches down to us, individually, to help us. He is not a distant God who abandons us; He is our Father, and we are His family. He longs to comfort us if we allow Him. With God's help, the prayers of His people, and their love and support we can face our fears. Honor Others Above Yourself Romans 12:10 instructs us to " be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. " We should love each other first and then those in the world. What example do we set when we fail to love each other? Do we place others before ourselves, honor people only when it's convenient, or go the extra mile to show that we consider others more important than ourselves? Build Up Your Neighbors In Romans 15:2, Paul calls on us to please our neighbors for their good, to build up our neighbors. Have you ever had a down day and a kind friend, a good neighbor reached out, even in a very small way to make your day easier. Paul reminds us that we do this not to build ourselves up but to build them up. As Christians, it isn't supposed to be about us; it's supposed to be about others. The Church Should Encourage Each Other In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul commends the church for building up and encouraging each other. What kind of church family would it be that criticized each other or made someone feel like their contributions weren't of value? Doesn't the world do that to us on a daily basis? It takes encouragement to be a successful Christian. It can be depressing when we fail or sin, and we may feel alone in our failures. We need encouragement to do better. We need reminding that we can be forgiven. We need lifting up. Your Faith Story Encourages Others Romans 1:11-12 says that we should be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. Our faith stories can make us stronger. When we share our faith journey, we become closer, seeing the marvelous ways God has shown love, performed miracles, offered forgiveness, and extended grace in the lives of others. Our faith still speaks , often times even after we are gone. According to 1 Timothy 4:12, no matter our age, we can be an example to others. Even in our youth, when others see us acting like a Christian should, loving the unlovable, behaving purely, and growing in faith-it encourages others to follow Christ. It can encourage fellow believers in their efforts to be more Christ-like. Bear Each Other's Burdens Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:2 to bear each other's burdens. When we see our brother or sister suffering--whether it is financially, in sickness, or in circumstances out of their control--we are expected to step in and help carry the load. This is how the world sees us as different. We don't run from our brothers and sisters in Christ when they have problems; we help them bear the heavy load. Forgive and Love Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to show compassion, forgiveness and love to each other because God Himself forgave us in Christ. How can we be cold and unforgiving to others when we realize what God has given to us so undeservedly. Biblical compassion is the ability to empathize with others. We truly should be able to feel their pain. Show Hospitality Hospitality is often a lost art today. When people are hospitable, it is often to show what a kind person they are. It becomes about them. Biblical hospitality, however, is about contributing to each other's needs in love (Romans 12:13) and in 1 Peter 4:9 we are told to do so without complaining. We can't be hospitable while whining that it cost us time or money or that the person we are helping never helps us in return. Our hospitality should even be to strangers (Hebrews 13:2), not just to our good friends. Jesus and His disciples are repeatedly shown practicing hospitality. We see this in Luke 5:29 at Levi's house, in Luke 10:38 at Mary and Martha's home, in Luke 19:5-7 at Zacchaeus's house, and in Luke 24:29 on the road to Emmaus. In Matthew, we see it in 8:14-15 at Peter's mother-in-law's house and in Matthew 26:6-7 as Jesus is anointed in Bethany. In Luke 14, Jesus was invited to the home of an important Pharisee on a Sabbath. Several valuable lessons were taught that day, including the importance of the guests showing humility and not seeking honor, and the importance of not just inviting friends and important neighbors who can repay you. We should always serve the Lord with humility . "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13-14 These verses show how important hospitality was to Jesus. We benefit in many ways from sharing a meal together. You can build up your neighbors and share love with those who perhaps feel the most unloved by reaching out a friendly hand. Just as Jesus has invited us to His banquet table despite our spiritual poverty and blindness to His love, we can share our earthly table with those in need and perhaps share Jesus with them. Paul Is A Role Model One purpose of Paul's letters to the churches was to encourage and build up these young congregations. He reminds us to show love as it was shown to us and where our strength and hope come from. Paul is a role model for how we should treat others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us pray the prayer that Paul did in Romans 15:5-6, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When Conviction Becomes Real Charles Spurgeon wrote that at the age of 15, "... that trumpet of conviction, which aroused my soul to think of eternal things, sounded a resurrection note to all my sins; and, oh, how they rose up in multitudes more countless than the sands of the sea!" (C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography:1 The Early Years [Banner of Truth]). This great conviction that Spurgeon felt at such a young age led to his conversion and eventually to his becoming one of the greatest evangelists of his time. When we respond to being convicted by the Holy Spirit, change will come. Convicted By The Holy Spirit John 16:8 says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin. Conviction here does not mean just knowing what is right or wrong. Conviction doesn't mean feeling bad about what you have done. The Greek word for convict is 'elencho,' which means "to convince someone of the truth; to reprove; to accuse, refute, or cross-examine a witness." The Holy Spirit is like a lawyer who convinces a jury what is true. He quite literally accuses us, refutes our excuses, and reproves us, meaning He reprimands us and makes us question our actions by showing the truth to us. Absolute Truth What is the truth? Today, many say there are no absolute truths. They claim that tolerance replaces truth. Oddly, the only absolute truth they believe in is that we must all be tolerant of everything a person decides to do. They believe that no one's truth is more valid than someone else's. Supposedly, they believe that if I think rape or incest is okay, then it is truly okay for me. How absurd! Our very nature, inside our souls, lets us know when things are not right. Universally, people believe that starvation, pain, and evil are not good. We don't each have individual truths. We recognize real truth even if we don't admit it. Jesus our Savior Is The Truth In John 14:6, Jesus says quite plainly that He IS the truth, He IS the life, and He IS the way to the Father. He says that the path ONLY goes through Him. There is no other way, no other life, no other truth that leads to God but Him. The truth is that we need Jesus. We need a Savior. When we see and recognize our need for Him, we can be open to receive our Lord's grace. His unmerited forgiveness can become ours. Knowledge of sin is not the same as conviction of sin. Knowledge of sin doesn't change us; conviction does. Are We Selling Jesus? Too often in our modern churches, we are 'sold' Jesus—the gentle, loving Jesus who never talks about hell , who forgives without repentance and supposedly promises us a wealthier life in this world. When I asked Google to tell me the best way to sell a product, it was a little unsettling. Doesn't the following sound like many of our modern churches' 'pitch,' so to speak? Highlight the product's benefits Create a sense of urgency Use emotional appeals True conviction does not draw us to a version of Christ we want, but to the Christ we desperately need. Coming To Christ We don't, or shouldn't, come to Christ because we want an emotional crutch. We shouldn't come to Jesus because we want a better, easier life. We don't come to Him because those around us are coming to Him. We come to Him because the Holy Spirit stirs us and convicts us of our great need for a Savior. We sorrow for the sin that separates us from God. The Life We Should Be Living We need to be saved because we are slaves to sin. We are condemned except for God's love and mercy. As Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:4-5, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," Ephesians 2:5 I give thanks that God's mercy and love has made me alive with Christ. To live with Christ means to have eternal life with Him forever. We need to be saved to live the life we were always supposed to live—a life of love and service to others. Live Righteously Paul continues in verse 21 and says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." God wants us to live a righteous life, one that is pleasing to Him. The only way we can do this is through Christ. We have no righteousness. John 17:19 says we are justified by imputed righteousness. Imputed righteousness means we have been justified by the obedience and righteousness of Christ, who was put to death on a cross for us. We can't minimize our sin. We can't think of it as just some troubling misbehavior. Our sin is the cause of the death of the Son of God on the cross. With Jesus we can live a purposeful life. Live Abundantly Jesus says that He came so we could have an abundant life. Too often, you and I think abundant refers to money or things, but that is not what Jesus means. The word abundant in Greek is 'perisson,' which means more than you expect, beyond measure. A life lived for Christ is one that has meaning, purpose, joy, and is eternal. The abundance that we experience is a spiritual abundance, not an abundance of things. Sharing Jesus According to 2 Corinthians 5:18, " He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. " Our task on earth is to share the good news that has been given to us with others. We are to be a light to the nations. When we share this news, the Holy Spirit will convict those who hear of the truth of Christ. We don't just bring a message to them of a way to a happier life; no, we bring a message that Christ's grace freely pardons those who believe in Him from the eternal punishment for their sins. Responding To The Holy Spirit The response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit should be to see our need for a Savior and turn to Him. We come to Christ freely, of our own accord, sensing our unworthiness for such a great love that would send God's only Son to die for us. Thank you, God, for such a priceless gift.