by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
11/16/2023

Song of Solomon 2:4 - “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph captured during the Battle of Iwo Jima as the Pacific War drew to a close. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, six United States Marines are shown hoisting the American flag over top of the litter-covered battlefield atop Mount Suribachi. The picture captures the struggle, the companionship, and the triumph of that battle perhaps more than any other wartime photo has.

The history behind this dramatic scene is that Iwo Jima was a very strategic and fortified island possessed by Japan. Any enemy that would attempt to capture it would sustain severe casualties in doing so. Underground bunkers had been prepared to stave off any advances and an endless maze of sub-terranean tunnels kept the Americans guessing where the enemies were. When American forces flew this flag over the Island’s peak, it truly spoke volumes as to the accomplishment that had been achieved.

Long ago, God determined His battle strategy against sin. It would not be through earthly weapons or angelic forces. He would overcome evil with good. He chose to love the sinners who were undeserving of it.

Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

For every heart where God’s love has conquered sin, God has lifted high His banner over that sinner, and that banner displays the love of God upon a broken soul. But what makes God’s love even more remarkable is that He didn’t just go into enemy territory and deliver prisoners of war. He lifted His banner over men and women who were the enemy.

Romans 5:10 - “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

When we sing our national anthem we say, “Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” But similar statements could be said about God’s banner of love over us, for it is always and forever erected over us to assure us and declare to others that God has set His affection upon each of His people.

by Bro. Craig Amenell
11/15/2023

Exodus 3:2-4 - “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”

In early 2021, I had a turning point in my life. A new president had entered the White House, and I was still shocked and confused by the events that led up to it. Why? The way I describe the state that I was in is being “Trump Drunk!” I had allowed my heart to get carried away by a politician seemingly unbeknownst to myself. While my mind was clouded by the intoxicant of politics, the Lord had been removed from His rightful preeminent seat in my life. This had happened while I was living through the fog of COVID. In the busyness and uncertainty of my surroundings, I allowed myself to become disoriented. I had deserted into a desert and didn’t even know that I was there.

One evening at church, I saw someone who had been inactive in their attendance for years, so I turned aside to go and see what they had been up to. I intended to let them know how good it was to see them and try to encourage them with the hope that they might start to regularly attend again.

As we were speaking they told me how encouraged they were that I was still teaching Sunday School and going through discipleship with others. They explained that over the last few years, they had been having a rough go at life but were happy to see that others were managing to hang in there and keep, keeping on while they had been absent.

For whatever reason, in the midst of being complimented, I was cut to the heart. I thought I had gone over to speak to a long lost friend but instead, I found myself speaking with one whom God would use to get my attention. Whether or not God had made other attempts to turn me aside before this I do not know as I had obviously not been paying attention.

I went home that night and kneeled in my closet not knowing what God needed to show me but certain that I was ready to listen. I asked God to reveal to me why I had been cut to the heart. The question came to mind, where I had prioritized Him in my life? In reflection, I ashamedly had to answer less than first place. I knew this was not okay and was reminded that I alone controlled whether or not He had the preeminence in my life.

I am not suggesting that God audibly spoke to me but I assure you that He did not need to as His spirit within me took care of that. I got right with the Lord that evening and made a commitment to daily fellowship with Him and strive to keep Him at the forefront of my mind.

Has God ever tried to get your attention? I doubt He used a burning bush that was not consumed. Usually, God does not need to use such grand measures to try and attract one of His children’s attention. Sometimes He uses His Word spoken through someone whom He already has the attention of such as your Pastor.

Other times, God providentially uses people who may not even know the Lord and who are unaware of the significance of their words spoken at just the right time. Regardless of the method, when God tried to get your attention how did you respond? Did He get your attention, or did you just brush off the prompting as a happenstance? God is just waiting for you to “turn aside, and see” and when you do, He will call out to you. How will you respond?

by Dr. J.C. House
11/14/2023

John 3:30 - “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John had been a very popular person in his early ministry, had earned a wonderful reputation, and was constantly in the limelight… But now Jesus had come on the scene and John introduced him thusly:
John 1:29 - “...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

When the disciples questioned John concerning Jesus he replied without text, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

What a challenge to we Christians who think far too highly of ourselves. We must decrease; that is not a natural desire, yet it is the desire of the Spirit-filled Christian. We must die to ourselves and live for Christ.

1. WHAT DOES THE LESSON TEACH US?
There are two kinds of Christians. There are the carnal and the spiritual.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 - “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (The Carnal)

Colossians 1:10 - “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (The Spiritual)

The question is this, how do I decrease so that Christ can increase? I think we understand that Christ can only increase as self decreases. Only one can sit on the throne of our life, Christ, or self. So how do we decrease?

As William Carey was dying, he said to a friend, “When I am gone, do not talk about William Carey. Talk about William Carey’s Saviour. I desire alone that Christ might be magnified.” How do we decrease?

2. THE DECREASE TAKES PLACE NOT AS WE STRUGGLE AND STRIVE BY OUR SELF-WILL BUT AS:
We die to ourselves. Galatians 2:20 - “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We must depend on the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 - “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” This walk is a moment-by-moment experience of dependence on the Lord.

We must delight in the Lord. We can no longer be self-centered; we must now be God-centered and wonderful things happen in our life as Christ increases. Psalm 37:4 - “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/31/2023

Revelation 1:12-13 - “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

Do you know the difference between a mist and a fog? There is virtually nothing at all different about them except for density. Both are atmospheric conditions that involve small water droplets that obscure our visibility, but a fog is denser and therefore makes conditions less visible.

I have heard people living through difficult or uncertain times describe it as “being in a fog”. Most people know what it is to drive in a fog, even fewer know what it is to fly an aircraft through a fog, but all of us are familiar with the feelings of living through a foggy period.

If you will allow me a slight play on words, I want you to consider the many times where we see Jesus “in the midst”. There are many more, but these are just a few.

Exodus 3:4 - “And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”

Exodus 24:16 - “And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.”

Deuteronomy 5:24 - “And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.”

Deuteronomy 23:14 - “For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.”

Isaiah 12:6 - “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

Jeremiah 14:9 - “Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.”

One of my personal favorites:
Daniel 3:25 - “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

It is clear that our God is not some distant deity that has no interactions with His creatures. Instead, He is very personal and directly involved with us. So, if you find yourself living in a fog today, may I encourage you to set your heart to see God? I think that you’ll find that as the clouds begin to fade and the water droplets begin to cease, your God has always been “in the midst”.

Psalm 138:7 - “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me:”

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/30/2023

Acts 17:27 - “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” When children travel long distances, the relationship between time traveled and time remaining doesn’t resonate with them. All they know is that they are excited to get to their destination and they can barely contain it. This has led to the infamous question that every parent loathes, “Are we there yet?”. If you still had hours remaining in the journey, no parent in their right mind understanding their child’s excitement would tease them and say, “We’re not very far away.” That would lead to an unbearable experience for both the children and the parents.

When speaking to a group of very religious and superstitious men, Paul preached on what had compelled them to seek so many gods in their worship. They had crafted an altar to an unknown God, and they worshipped Him, not having any more detail than that.

I have read in some non-Biblical sources that this altar was built years earlier when a grievous famine had come upon the land. The people felt that they had offended a god, but since they had already gone through and offered gifts to each of their known gods and the famine had not ended, then there must be another.

It was the idea of a man who was famous for his wisdom (especially in things pertaining to the worship of the gods) to construct an altar to this specific “unknown God” and perform sacrifice. History tells us that having done this, the famine ended, and the people worshipped this “UNKNOWN GOD” for a time until they returned to their pagan tendencies.

Paul’s proclamation in this important sermon is that this deep desire to worship has been placed within each of us so that it might serve as a mechanism to lead us to Him. More wonderful than that we are designed to seek Him, is that when we do, we will find that He has never been far away from us.

This powerful truth applies to the convict, the drug addict, the adulterer, the liar, the fraud, the backslider, the Sunday school teacher, the Pastor, the choir member, and the little children in the nursery. God made us so that our spiritual compass points to Him. Furthermore, God’s nature is that if we will begin to set our heart to find Him, we will discover that the distance between us and Him has been spanned by the Lord Jesus Christ so that He is very near.

If you are reading this today, the inspired words of the Apostle Paul are true for you. God is not far from you. You may say, “You don’t know what I’ve done” but you must understand that this is not a qualified promise but rather a universal one. According to the Scriptures, He is not far from “every one of us”.

This promise should ring true to us during our revival. If we would only begin to seek God, we will see for ourselves that He will be found of us.

Years earlier, David conveyed this powerful truth to his son, Solomon.
1 Chronicles 28:9 - “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/29/2023

1 Kings 19:8 - “And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

Elijah is coming off of one of the true mountain-top experiences recorded in the Scriptures. You may recall Mount Carmel when Elijah called down fire from Heaven and defeated the prophets of Baal. One would think that the thrill of that moment would have lasted Elijah for a lifetime. As we read the Scriptures, it appears it lasted for only a very short time. Now we find him sleeping under a Juniper tree, defeated, hopeless, and wishing to die. How did we get here?

1. A Looming Threat (v. 2)
“So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.”
The evil queen Jezebel has threatened the life of the prophet because he had executed her precious prophets.

2. A Lonely Retreat (v. 3-4)
“and left his servant there”
We learn that Elijah has a servant who travels with him, but because of his peril, he abandons him and seeks to isolate himself.

3. A Lost Motivation (v. 4)
“It is enough”
Elijah is at wit's end. He doesn’t feel that he can go on. He’s one day past giving up and he now tells God that he can’t move forward.

Maybe you have been in a similar situation. Not that you have had an evil queen seeking to take your life, but you felt like you couldn’t go on another day. Perhaps you felt that you were all alone or that you were waiting for the next bit of bad news to drop. In these moments, what do you do to carry on?

In Elijah’s case, God sent a minister to him. The Lord wasn’t angry or upset with His servant. He heard his depression and recognized this was no time to chasten him. This was a time to be merciful and gentle. So, God sent an Angel to touch, feed, and give him water.

Whereas Elijah thought he was alone, God had been with him all along. This encounter strengthened Elijah more than his victory on Mount Carmel ever could have. The Bible says it strengthened him for forty days and forty nights.

During our revival, we do not need mere victories that can encourage us for another day. We don’t just need a good sermon that impresses us or an illustration that moves us. What we need is the work of God that will empower us for many days.

God is keenly aware of what our spirit is going through. If we are satisfied with our spiritual condition today, God cannot fill us. But, if we come hungry, God says, “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” (Psalm 107:9). The work that God does is able to last long after our revival services have concluded.

by Bro. Duane Marshall
10/28/2023

Hebrews 12:2 - “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;”

In the 1950s when I was five years old, there weren’t many superheroes like there are today. Today there are an astounding 8,000 according to Marvel Comics.

The most prominent superhero I remember was Superman. He had his own TV show and was faster than a speeding bullet, able to stop a speeding locomotive and leap onto tall buildings. I decided if he could do all that, surely I could harness some of that power myself.

One bright spring morning I retrieved a bath towel out of the bathroom, tied it around my neck, and climbed to the top of the roof of our house. I then took a running start and jumped off the roof with my arms stretched forward wondering how far I might fly. When suddenly I dropped straight down to the ground crashing like a pig without wings.

What was the problem? I had my faith in the wrong object. The cape I used was powerless, my belief was shattered, and my body was bruised along with my ego.

Jesus said He is the author and finisher of our faith. Let’s examine what He did and by what means He was successful. The rest of that verse states, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The reason He looked forward with joy to an excruciating, torturous death is because He had faith in the final results. He accomplished our eternal redemption and His glorification by fulfilling the Father’s will. He knew what the final results would be, not necessarily because He was God who knew the future, but because He trusted in the power of His Father.

What is the object of your faith? Does it depend on circumstances that are not absolute? Our faith can only succeed if we believe in the power of our Heavenly Father which is absolute. He knows what’s best for His own so focus on Him and let your faith grow in the belief that God knows what He is doing with our lives.

My superhero from the 1950s let me down. In the end, the actor George Reeves committed suicide at the age of 45. Jesus on the other hand gave His life for eternal reasons when God raised Him from the dead. That’s just one example of the faithfulness and power of the real superhero named Jehovah.

Find your faith being strengthened in the pages of the majestic Holy Bible.

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/27/2023

Romans 13:5-6 - “A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.”

The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom. It is like a jewelry store. There is treasure upon treasure. It really depends on how much you're willing to pay for it. Many think wisdom comes at no price, but the Bible says it does cost.
Proverbs 23:23 - “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

The Bible also says that it's worth every penny you'll pay for it.
Proverbs 8:11 - “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”

So, with that as the foundation, when we read a simple verse like our key verses today, how do we interpret and apply this golden nugget of wisdom?

Verse 5 - "A righteous man hateth lying"
A man does not become righteous by not lying. He becomes righteous by faith in Jesus Christ, and then his faith produces right deeds. The righteous man hates lying both when he is the perpetrator and the victim because both have terrible consequences. Lies are the byproduct of the Devil's influence upon us. He is the father of all lies. Sometimes I ask my children when they treat their siblings cruelly, "Do you see Daddy treat mommy that way?". I'm essentially saying, "I don't know where you learned that behavior, but it certainly wasn't produced by following my example." When we lie, it is not a behavior we learned from our Heavenly Father. He cannot lie, and His Word is truth. We identify with the evil influences within us and around us. So, a righteous man hates lying because it is not a righteous behavior.

Verse 6 - "Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way"
Not all verses in Proverbs connect. The author does not attempt to make one continual cohesive thought in his chapters. Rather, there are many thoughts compiled into one book. These verses do seem to connect, though. Because one of the benefits of rejecting any desire we have to tell a lie is that by telling the truth, our story will be easily remembered. You will never have to remember how much you exaggerated or embellished the last time you told that story. The truth has a preserving quality to it because it ensures perpetual honesty.

Now, remember I said wisdom costs? That is most certainly the case when it comes to telling the truth. When you decide to tell the truth in all situations, you will undoubtedly encounter a time when it would be advantageous to lie. For example, if the police officer stops you and says, "Do you know how fast you were going?" or "Were you wearing a seat belt when I passed you?". You can see how little white lies may be cheaper, but God says otherwise. Wisdom is knowing how to apply God's Word into everyday life.

Therefore, the next situation you are put into that a lie would be beneficial for you, decide now, and ask for God's grace so that you may pay the price for wisdom, knowing it will be a better long-term investment for you.

by Dr. J.C. House
10/26/2023

Proverbs 14:14 - “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways;”

Some statements in the Bible cause a Christian to pause in their reading and think about what is being said. Some words have the same effect on a Christian and our subject is one of those words. “BACKSLIDER”.

What does the word mean? Simply put, a backslider is a Christian who is out of touch with God. A careless, disobedient, and ineffective Child of God. Note some signs of backsliding:
• Proverbs 14:14 - “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: “
A terrible thing, filled with fleshly desires and deeds. Note the contrast, rather than being flesh driven, we walk after the Spirit.
• Romans 8:1 - “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Because the backslider is filled with his own ways, the outward signs are always the same.

1. HIS STATE IS INSECURE
Remember now, our state as a Christian and our standing are different. Our standing is that we are “in Christ” before God and that can never be changed. Our state is what we are down here, in the flesh, day by day what others see in us as we go about filled with our own ways, filled with apprehension and uncertainty, doubting God’s love, and questioning His wisdom. The backslider’s state is insecure.

2. HIS PROFESSION IS INSINCERE
Our profession is what we say to the world and as a backslider, one goes on professing to be a Christian, but because the inward condition is wrong, the outward profession is insincere, and the backslider is just putting up a front. Note Matthew 15:8 - “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” So, the backslider goes on, holding an office in the Church, still preaching, still a teacher, still on the mission field, still a pastor, still an evangelist, still a Christian worker with an empty profession.

3. HIS LIFE IS INCONSISTENT
It must be so because he is not behaving according to his beliefs. His creed is not being worked out in his conduct and he is miserable and usually causes problems.

4. HIS SERVICE IS INEFFECTIVE
If self is on the throne, “filled with his own ways” instead of Christ, a person’s service is always ineffective. God cannot use us when we are filled with our own self and as a result, there is very little fruit, if any, that comes from our so-called service. The service is carnal, of the flesh.

THE WAY BACK FOR THE BACKSLIDER
1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Isaiah 55: 6 - “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

God waits with open arms for the repentant backslider to return to Him. Why not now?

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/25/2023

Recommended Reading: 1 Chronicles 21:1-13

2 Samuel 24:10 – “And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.”

Sin always has consequences. Take the Seattle man, for example, who tried to steal gasoline from a motor home. Attaching a siphoning hose to the vehicle, he started to work; but police found him shortly afterward writhing in agony in the street. Seems he had attached the hose, not to the gasoline tank, but to the motor home’s sewage tank! The owner declined to press charges; he was too busy laughing.

David was far from a perfect man. In fact, his greatest mistakes are recorded for the world to read. What made him a man after God’s heart was not his lack of failure, but his decisions after his failures. Unlike his predecessor (King Saul), David always repented before God and received mercy. That doesn’t mean, however, that he never had to endure the consequences of his sin. The day that he numbered the people of Israel, God viewed this action as sinful and his advisors considered it abominable. Because of this, God imposed consequences even after his repentance. The choices that God gave him were 1) seven years of famine, 2) three months of defeat at the hands of his enemies, or 3) three days of pestilence. David’s response shows his understanding of God’s nature.

2 Samuel 24:14 - "And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man."

David didn’t know what discipline God would impose, but he understood that even in judgment, God’s mercy is great. As God smites the nation with pestilence, He becomes grieved at the destruction caused by David’s sin. So, God leaves off smiting the nation at the great city of Jerusalem (the city of David), until David is able to offer sacrifice and have his sins pardoned by means of atonement.

Notice the direct consequences of David’s sin:
1. David’s Sin Affected Him
2 Samuel 24:10 - “And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.”

2. David’s Sin Affected Others
2 Samuel 24:15 - “So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.”

3. David’s Sin Affected Future Generations
1 Chronicles 22:1 - “Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.”

This particular point is both a blessing and a curse and it is the harsh reality of sin’s consequences. David purchased this land with the intent of one day constructing a permanent altar in this place. This would eventually become the place of the Temple and the brazen altar upon which every Jewish sacrifice for generations would be offered. The fact that David responded in repentance and surrender to the mercy of God means that God made a positive out of David’s negative so that countless other Jewish men could follow his pattern in future generations. Unfortunately, every single person who would visit this place would remember that this all began because of David’s great sin.

by Bro. Craig Amenell
10/24/2023

Hebrews 11:6 - “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Have you ever met anyone who is impossible to please? Perhaps you work with one, are friends with one, or maybe even live with one. No matter what you do and no matter how hard you try they just cannot be pleased. There is always something lacking and oftentimes they cannot even tell you what it is, that is how impossible they are.

This week I spoke with a man who is a geophysicist. He told me that it is impossible to believe that there is a God. During the duration of our conversation, he laid out for me what he believed to be wise defenses for his lack of belief in God. I would call it his lack of faith but the word seemed as bitterness on his tongue when he felt required to use it.

Many proud and blasphemous things spewed from his mouth as he suggested the uselessness of prayer, the absurd supernatural claims of the Bible, and the foolishness of eternal hope just to name a few.  He boasted that he once attended a seminary for fun and never received a satisfactory answer to any of the theological questions that he posed to the professors. I would imagine that no amount of sound Bible doctrine is capable of pleasing this man.

He went on to brag about his strong understanding of how the universe functions and its ability to sustain itself, which most are unable to grasp. He made sure to explain that he did not hold it against unlearned individuals who were so ignorant as to believe in an eternal God whom they falsely gave credit for keeping everything together. He believed that doing so would portray oneself as having an unkind character and unnecessarily cause them to be ill-thought of by others.

All this he said while forgetting that I started the conversation, and out of concern for his eternal soul asked if he knew whether or not he would go to heaven when he died. To which he answered, “There is no heaven,” with a smile on his face. Which segued through his unofficial doctoral dissertation against the faith from which I have touched upon.

The one thing that it would take for this man to please God is the very thing he is unwilling to exercise, faith. Pleasing God, however, is the furthest thing from this man’s mind. His life has been spent in pursuit of making himself wise and in so doing he has become a fool. For, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1). He could stand to learn one final lesson, that “the foolishness of God [whom he claims to deny the existence of] is wiser than men [which most assuredly includes him]” (I Cor. 1:25).

For this man to ever please God seems to be an impossibility. Although it almost seems unfair to compare, anytime that a Christian chooses a response other than faith they too are failing to please God.

God is not impossible to please! What does it take to please Him? Faith, for it is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). What satisfies an eternal God and makes you right before Him? Specifically, faith in Him. He is and He will. “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom 4:3).

Something so simple that costs us nothing and gives God everything He desires from us. The simplicity of faith has never ceased to confound the wise of this world. Oh, Christian may we be rich in faith for that is the substance that pleases God.

by Bro. Duane Marshall
10/23/2023

John 15:16 - “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

In 1981 Chariots of Fire won an Oscar. It told the story of Eric Liddell’s Olympic victory. In one scene it captured Eric’s quickness when he tripped, falling behind the other runners by 20-30 meters. In a short race, it’s impossible to recover but Eric gave chase overtaking each runner one by one.

His convictions would not allow him to compete on Sundays. He had known for months the schedule for the 100-meter race, an event he was best suited for, yet he refused to run the event. He faced intense pressure to compromise his principles. Instead, he entered a 400-meter race which he had never competed in before.

A conviction is not merely a truth that you believe in but a principle that dictates your actions. Romasn 4:21 speaks of Abraham “being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” When we read a promise of God is our belief strong enough to dictate our actions?

In 1925 Eric went to Tientsin China to work as a missionary teacher. His family went with him and they ministered at a time of drought, locust plague, famine, and war. Traveling by bicycle or on foot he served as an itinerant preacher. They were constantly in danger during the Japanese occupation but it did not deter him from continuing his work.

In 1941 life in China was becoming so dangerous the British government advised all nationals to leave. Eric’s wife and children left for Canada. Eric however sensed that God was calling him to stay. I’m reminded of what Jesus said in John 15:16 - “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Put yourself in Eric’s place. Imagine the pain of such a heart-wrenching choice. This extraordinary sacrifice distinguishes Eric as a man of utmost obedience.

In March of 1943, all foreigners were taken to a concentration camp with no toilets, and no running water. The camp was crowded with missionaries, merchants, civil servants, and their families. Eric Liddell became a leader in the camp helping the elderly, teaching children, and organizing games. He assumed more responsibilities than anyone else fetching water, and coal, emptying garbage, and cleaning rooms. Over time the camp’s morale deteriorated with vicious fights breaking out over meals, sleeping spaces, or lack of basic utilities.  Eric humbled himself by becoming a servant leader to everyone.

Could God use you or me as a servant-counselor? When a need arises in His church are we quick to volunteer our service for Him? Romans 8:38-39 - “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How could we say no to Him?

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/22/2023

2 Timothy 2:16-18 - "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."

I recall one famous Western that my father used to watch where a man had a wound to his leg that went untreated for an extended amount of time and gangrene set in. This was the first I had ever heard of this sickness. What gangrene is in medical terms is “localized death and decomposition of body tissue resulting from either obstructed circulation or bacterial infection.” If left untreated, the infection will spread and eventually claim the life of the infected person.

Interestingly, the word translated as “canker” in our Bible is the Greek word gangraina which happens to be the very same disease we know as gangrene. Paul compared the teachings and lifestyle of Hymenaeus to this deadly disease that would spread if not immediately cut out and removed.

This is not the only time Paul mentions this man. In 1 Timothy 1:19-20, he says, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” These are the only two references to this man in Scripture but they develop for us pretty clear picture.

1. His Lifestyle Fell Short
Paul instructs Timothy to hold the faith and to keep a good conscience (a pure moral standing) and then implicates this man by saying his faith had become a shipwreck. One may assume that Hymenaeus had started well as a Christian, but somewhere along the way, his faith crashed upon the rocks of wickedness. Perhaps he embraced a licentious lifestyle believing that he was free in Christ to do so, we cannot be sure. But one principle this teaches us is that the teachers that we entertain must be above reproach in their own personal conduct. A compelling message is no substitute for a consecrated messenger.

2. His Doctrine Fell Short
Secondly, Hymenaeus wasn’t merely a well-meaning man who had not been exposed to right teaching as was the case with Apollos (Acts 18:24). Hymenaeus had defected from right doctrine and solid teaching and now taught that the resurrection had already come and gone. We do not know what led to this doctrinal erosion in his life, but it is not coincidental that wrong doctrine produced wrong living. This man had become unteachable and unaffected by his own teachings so that they could not compel any sort of righteous lifestyle.

3. His Influence Fell Short
Paul says that Hymenaeus had “overthrown the faith of some”. This suggests that his influence had caused the defection of others from true Biblical doctrine and sound Christian living. On the other hand, Paul is encouraging Timothy to “be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Hymenaeus serves as an example of the sort of teachers that we must reject. Just because someone carries a Bible and says they speak in the name of the Lord does not mean that they are of God.  Paul says in 2 Cor. 11:14, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”.

If a man’s personal lifestyle, the doctrine that he embraces, and the conduct of his adherents do not measure up to the standards of a follower of God, we should mark them as a false teacher and shut our ears from their message. Otherwise, their message will spread in our hearts like an infection that will cause certain death in our spiritual life.

by Dr. J.C. House
10/21/2023

Isaiah 43:1-10 - “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:”

These are familiar verses to many Christians, especially if they have made a study of the promises of God. This is primarily a promise to the Jewish nation, a peculiar nation. But it is also a promise to the Children of God today.
2 Corinthians 1:20 - “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
2 Peter 1:4 - “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises,”

WHO IS GOD SPEAKING TO IN THESE VERSES?
The last three words of verse 1 - “thou art mine.” God is addressing those who belong to Him. Every Christian belongs to God in a threefold sense.
1. By Creation
Verse 1 - “The Lord that created thee…”
We need to note here that men often do not go far enough back to authentically prove their point when dealing with the providence of God. But God casts a wide loop when He reviews it and goes back to creation. Thus, I learn that I am the Lord’s property because He made me.
Colossians 1:16 - “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

2. By Redemption
Verse 1 - “I have redeemed thee,…”
1 Peter 1:18 - “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”

3. By Choice
John 15:16 - “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,”. Got it, He made me, He redeemed me and He chose me. The promises of God to His children include me.

THE PROMISES GOD MADE TO HIS OWN
1. He Promises The Security Of His Property
Are you going through the waters or the fires, are you nearly overcome? God says, “Fear not for thou are mine.”

2. He Promises Completeness Of His Protection
Listen now, the waters won’t overflow you, and the fire won’t burn you. Even if the situation is desperate, God will not let it overwhelm us. Read Verse 2.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Study Isaiah 43:1-3, make the promises real in your life, and enjoy your earthly journey.

by Bro. Craig Amenell
10/20/2023

Mark 16:15 - “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

I have found that no one likes being told what to do, myself included. Most often people prefer coming to their own conclusion when trying to determine the best course of action in a matter. It is important to note that for many this is the only method for accomplishing an aim. Stubbornness runs in the family, the human family. There are exceptions to this rule, however. There are people that we find ourselves doing things for even when it is something that we don’t enjoy doing or naturally would not do.

For starters, anyone who is a halfway decent spouse will find themselves doing things for their better half. For men this would be the honey-do list, no man would be doing these things if they were not married. These are things done out of love and gratitude for the wife as we try and demonstrate our devotion.

Another person most anyone would do anything for is their best friend. Who wouldn’t do anything for the one that has been there for you through thick and thin? For many this individual has been more of a brother or a sister than their own sibling. When there is no one else to turn to you can always turn to them.

Then there is always the person that we owe a favor to. You know the kind. When you needed something that no one else could do for you they were able to make it happen. They told you not to worry about it. However, you got the feeling that the time might come when you would uniquely be able to do something for them. We all secretly hope the thing we can do for them is nowhere as elaborate, complex, or impossible as what they did for us.

Of course, you can’t forget your boss. Everyone has one. When they ask you to do anything within reason or mostly legal you have to say yes, they’re the boss. Man is supposed to work and if the boss isn’t happy you won’t have to worry about all the work you have to do, he will help you find yourself out of work.

Share the gospel the Bridegroom commands. Will the bride not do it for their bridegroom? Our response to this often conveys that He is the spouse that we stopped loving a long time ago.

Share the gospel our friend insists. Jesus “is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). He who “will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb.13:5). Why do we act like His words are the instructions of a stranger?

Share the gospel is the plea of the One who died for me. We don’t share the gospel to do God a favor, “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8), for this infinite favor could not be repaid. When the impossible was at hand, “in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). We cannot repay but should in love obey.

Share the gospel is the Master's call. He asks, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Jesus is the boss that we don’t deserve; any earthly boss would have fired us long ago. He does not because we are His only plan; there is no other way. We must get busy and start to share the gospel today.

WWJD? was so popular but didn’t address the question, what will you do? He didn’t ask us if we would share the gospel. He told us to share the gospel! Will you do it for Jesus? Money cannot buy the peace you get when you listen to the still, small voice and share the gospel. If it could be bottled up and experienced by others, they would run straight to the source. Nothing compares to doing it for Jesus.

by Bro. Duane Marshall
10/19/2023

Romans 6:13 - “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

John Marshal, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and his wife Mary Marshall had a son named John. John had received a poor education but during the Revolutionary War kept Baptist churches open. He also started thirteen churches in Georgia.

This family became fairly well known however, let me ask you about some other men and women. Who taught Martin Luther his theology and enabled him to translate the New Testament into German? Who was the shoe salesman who witnessed to D.L. Moody? Who was the woman who prayed for twenty years for Billy Graham? Before you dismiss these as trivial, a large part of church history would have been left out if it had not been for these nobodies.

So, when does success happen for the average Christian? It begins when we die to ourselves.  Romans 6:13 - “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

There’s a battle going on for the control of our bodies. So how do we experience success? By giving Him our bodies as tools He can use for righteousness. We shouldn’t let sin use our body parts as tools to make us more sinful. Romans 12:1-2 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Our success continues when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit.  Philippians 3:10 states, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”. Right now, the Holy Spirit is the deity who continues to apply the power of the resurrection to our lives because we’ve been raised to walk in the newness of life. The Spirit can work the very nature of Jesus into us if only we obey Him.  Success continues when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit.

How is success measured? On January 6, 1850, there was a hard-biting blizzard in Colchester England that kept most worshippers at home. At the primitive Methodist church, only about twelve showed up. Even the Pastor couldn’t make it, so a simple man arose and spoke hesitantly from Isaiah 45:22 - “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” The crowd dispersed thinking the day's service was a loss not realizing that a fifteen-year-old boy had ducked into the room to escape the snowstorm and hearing the sermon had been converted. His name was Charles Hadden Spurgeon, a nobody who became somebody in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/18/2023

Genesis 17:17-‬18 - “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!”

My father is one of the funniest and sharpest people I've ever known. Throughout my childhood, I can recall times when my dad would find things particularly humorous, and I can see him now, wiping his eyes of tears caused by his laughter. Stories like Bro. Thorpe falling out of his deer stand because someone put a dead snake in there as a prank, or when one of his buddies missed the same deer five times in a row after announcing how good of a shot he was. Unfortunately, sometimes I was the target of his entertainment. If I stumped my toe or smashed my finger with a hammer, my dad always found it hilarious. He was very much a fan of slapstick comedy. But of all the things my dad found funny, I don't know that He would ever laugh at the voice of God. This event seems difficult to believe that Abraham would be on his face laughing at God's promise to do a work that seemed impossible. Yet, the Scriptures are clear that not only did Abraham laugh, but Sarah would laugh at a different time when the very same promise is given. I suppose having followed God's leadership for over 15 years without being a single step closer to the Son of promise would have been disappointing and maybe frustrating too. I imagine they thought that their physical experience was somehow exerting its will on their spiritual experience. In other words, they assumed their age was a bigger problem than their God had solutions. Yet, God makes it clear that their limitations were no hindrance to His mighty power at all.

Many times, I believe we are captive to our experience. We evaluate our talent and think that God may only use us in small roles. We look at our resources, and we say, "I could never be a real blessing to anyone"; but God is bigger than our perceived limitations. With God's power, shepherd boys become kings, harlots become part of the royal family, fishermen become Apostles, and in this case, childless couples become parents of nations. When we limit how God may use us, we are really just expressing how little our faith in God is.

1 Corinthians 1:27 - “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
God delights in working in almost ludicrous ways. The word "confound" suggests putting one to shame or causing them to blush for disgrace. This indicates that God's preferred method is to do marvelous works using items so meager that the work of truly qualified individuals is left humiliated by comparison. That ensures He alone gets the glory.

Isaiah 42:8 - “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,”
So, the next time you imagine you are too insignificant, too weak, too old, too novice, too poor, or whatever pitiful excuse you may have; just know that your plight is the very reason God may choose to use you. Whenever He does, just make sure you hide your laughter as well as you can.

by Dr. J.C. House
10/17/2023

John 15:11 - ‘‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’’ I have found the joy no tongue can tell, How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’er flowing well, springing up within my soul.
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory.
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, Oh, the half has never been told.

This is simple enough, it is the Lord’s provision and purpose for every one of His children, that His joy be their joy. What a wonderful promise and one that goes unclaimed by many Christians today.

JOY SHOULD BE A MAJOR MARK OF A PERSON'S CHRISTIANITY
Yet you look out over the Christians gathered for preaching and you see the saddest looking crowd in town in many cases. Our Bible teaches us that we should be joyful in everything.
Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 - “Rejoice evermore.” We are to rejoice always and evermore.

As Christians, we should find joy all around us, for instance:
1. In reading the Word
Jeremiah 15:16 - “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:”

2. In times of prayer
John 16:24 - “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

3. Even to journeys end
Acts 20:24 - “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,”

A BIBLE DESCRIPTION OF THIS JOY
It is not man-made, notice:
1. It is Christ’s joy - “That my joy might remain in you”
The true Christian life is simple the life of the Lord Jesus Christ being lived out in a man or woman. Christ’s joy is not dependent on feelings. It is found In Him alone.

2. It is fullness of joy - “that your joy might be full.”
Psalm 16:11 - “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
1 Peter 1:8 - “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
This joy that Christ gives is unaffected by circumstances and is promoted by trials and testings.

HOW DO WE OBTAIN THIS JOY?
1. You must have Christ as your Saviour. “Except a man be born again…”

2. There must be complete submission to Christ.
Luke 10:21 - “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” Jesus rejoiced and was submissive to His will.

Many Christians want joy but not the terms set forth by God. He must be number one in our lives if we are to receive the gift of joy unspeakable and full of glory. I Pet. 1:8

by Bro. James Scott
10/16/2023

Suggested Reading Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:27 - “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”

A man was constantly worrying that somebody was under his bed. He went to a counselor for months who was willing to help him and paid the counselor a lot of money.

Eventually, the man did not return for a visit. A few weeks later, the counselor met the man on the street and asked him why he had not returned. The man replied, “I met a friend who gave me some great advice for free. It worked perfectly”. The counselor, shocked at the news, asked what advice he had been given. The man replied, “He asked me to cut the legs of the bed down to the ground.”

As silly as the illustration might be, many people have a similar problem when it comes to worry. We worry a lot, and often, the worry is unfounded.

One summer while my family was on deputation, I had a very unusual schedule. I had a church booked for almost every Sunday and Wednesday. A lot of missionaries, due to Youth Camps, Jr. Camps, Family Camps, etc., don’t often have any meetings during that time. Therefore, I was excited! However, as those meetings got closer, one by one those churches contacted and had to cancel. Every meeting that I had booked for July and August was canceled!

Needless to say, I was stressed and worried that I was never going to make it to Japan.  However, there was no need to worry. As we took off for our first meeting in September, I got a phone call from a military church in South Korea. They said they found our information online and, based upon what they saw, they decided as a church to take us on for support! Praise the Lord! About a week or so later, I got a call from a church in the West Indies that found us online and took us on for support! I had nothing to worry about, my Father had everything in control.

When we feel like we are starting to worry, let’s consider these 4 things.
Understand That Worry Won’t Change Anything
Matthew 6:27 - “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”
Jesus used two examples to show that worrying about a situation is not worth it. He mentioned that we cannot either add one cubit to our height or one hour to our life by worrying. Worrying will not change a thing.

Take One Day At A Time
A quote I read says “Planning for tomorrow is time well spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.” Sadly, most people either live with regret over the past or worry over the future. Can we learn to trust God a day at a time? The scripture says that He is a God who ‘DAILY’ bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19).

Believe That God Will Take Care Of You
Matthew 6:32b - “…for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
God not only knows our needs, He is more than able to take care of them! We are much more valuable to Him than birds or flowers! (verses 26-30).

Seek God First
Matthew 6:33a - “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…”
This attitude helps us place our hearts on a loving God more than having our material needs met.  Let’s strive to trust Him more and worry less!

by Bro. Craig Amenell
10/15/2023

Proverbs 2:1-5 - “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”

I’m unsure if anyone else can relate, but when I was a child, I would find myself going on treasure hunts. I grew up in Alaska and was convinced I could find gold in my backyard. Most likely because I watched “North to Alaska”, starring John Wayne, one too many times. I doubt I am alone in this as several popular programs on prime-time television feature professional adult treasure hunters.

What would you think if I told you I had the inside scoop on the location of a buried treasure? Would you believe me? What if I told you, it is actually on your property? Furthermore, it is in your own home and no you do not have to tear up the foundation of your house to retrieve it. In fact, its source can easily be held in the hand of a child and its value is greater than the wealth of king Solomon.

Are you interested yet? Perhaps none of this would move you. After all, the source of the information is very important when it comes to motivating someone. What if it were God Almighty Himself who presented this to you? Have your attention now? Well, He did, and He has. If you possess a Bible, then you have access to the source of all the riches God would have man to receive.

Have your Bible? What now? Prepare yourself to receive it, make yourself subject to it, and commit now to retrieve and hide what you find deep within yourself as if it were worth protecting. When you come to the source you must condition yourself to give your full attention to it so that hunting, seeking, and retrieving becomes natural.

Before you begin every hunt, you must go to the Giver of all things and make your petition for the illumination of the treasure that is before you. Let the treasure hunt begin.

Now, men, I must warn you that if you approach this exercise with the level of commitment you show when your wife asks you to get a pillowcase out of the linen closet, you will fail miserably. You may say, I have read this before; I won’t find anything there. The remedy is not a new source, it is about one’s level of commitment to pursuing a known source.

When you come to God's Word with an expectant spirit you can turn over the pages you have already sifted in times past and find treasure. How is that? Did you want treasure before? Do you want treasure now? It is there! How much time will you spend? How closely will you look?

Have you ever misplaced something in your home and, being convinced that it was there, looked again and found it? We all overlook gold everywhere we read in God's Word, even the most faithful and persistent Bible student would admit this to be true. Don’t worry it is not going anywhere. Just as His Word shall always remain so will the Christians' ability to find treasure, a reverential fear of the Lord, which is the knowledge we should diligently seek.

by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/14/2023

Jude 21 – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

In the great Christian classic “Pilgrim’s Progress”, the book opens by describing a man named Graceless. He is clothed in rags, holding a book in his hand, and he is depicted carrying a heavy burden upon his back which only he can see but others cannot.

He crosses paths with a man named Evangelist who was well acquainted with burdens of this sort. His message to Graceless is to set out for the Celestial City (which is a picture of Heaven). Evangelist points over the distant blue hills to a shining light. He instructs Graceless, “Keep that light always in view. Go straight towards it and by and by you shall see the wicked gate.”

If you have never read the book, I want to help you understand some of the allegory. Graceless is an unsaved man whose sin has been revealed unto him by the Word of God. It is the burden that only he can see. He knows not how to rid himself of the burden until a witness comes to tell him how he may and that is by entering in at the wicked gate. This is a description of the fact that every man must realize that they are a sinner and confess their sin before God. When Graceless arrives at the Wicked Gate, he is invited in by one named Good Will. Upon his entry into the gate, his name is changed to Christian. It is there he is saved by the grace of God and his journey toward Heaven begins.

I want to point out that Evangelist calls upon Graceless to keep his gaze forward to the distant glow of the Celestial City. We must always keep our focus on Heavenly things.
Colossians 3:2 - “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Hebrews 12:2 - “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;”

Jude instructs the very same thing. He says, “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” What he means is that we are to continue looking, with expectation, for the return of Jesus. I believe this means that we are to look with anticipation to the rapture of the church and the Lord’s second coming. Just as sure as Christ came to Bethlehem’s manger, so is His return certain. But we are taught in the Scriptures that we will be tempted by the world around us to cease looking for His return.

2 Peter 3:1-4 - “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

Jesus is concerned with our resolve in this particular area because He said, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). The Lord is looking for you to look for Him today.

by Dr. J.C. House
10/12/2023

Suggested Reading: Psalm 5:1-12

Psalm 5:3 - “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

Have you ever wondered about the daily devotions in your life? Are they beneficial and just what is involved in daily devotions? In other words, HOW, WHY AND WHEN? Every Christian knows the necessity of daily devotions if they are to live a victorious Christian life.

David speaks here of his daily devotions, what they include, and his schedule. Please set aside time to carefully study the progression.
I. Psalm 5:3 - “in the morning”
This simple statement settles all discussion about WHEN and it indicates three things.
1. A set time for devotions.
2. The best time is morning.
3. David planned for regularity in devotions, daily.

II. His Devotions Included
1. MEDITATION verse 1 - “my meditation” (It must be a quiet time.)
2. ADORATION verse 3 - “will look up”
3. SUPPLICATION verse 2 - “Hearken unto the voice of my cry,”
4. COMMUNION verse 1 - “my words”
5. REVERENCE verse 7 - “in thy fear will I worship”

III. The Benefits Received Are Many
1. MERCY verse 7 - “in the multitude of thy mercy:”
2. DIRECTION verse 8 - “Lead me, O LORD,”
3. FAITH verse 11 - “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:”
4. JOY verse 11 - “let them ever shout for joy,”
5. PROTECTION verse 11 - “because thou defendest them:”
6. BLESSINGS verse 12 - “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous;”
7. FAVOUR verse 12 - “with favour wilt thou compass him”

You should read the entire 5th Psalm very deliberately and spend quality time comparing what you do in your devotional time to what David did in his devotions. Sometimes, well-meaning Christians have no idea concerning the Biblical concept of a morning devotional, and David spells it out for us in this chapter. Your careful study of Psalm 5 could be a life-changing event. Why not start now?

You may have to leave for work early in the morning. You could get up 15 minutes earlier and just use those moments to meet with God and establish a regular habit of morning devotionals. You might only do 10 minutes; the idea is to establish the habit and it will grow. Do not deny yourself the blessings of the daily devotional. Determine the time and the place and have your Bible and writing pad waiting on you each morning. Make it the most important thing you do in your Spiritual walk each day.

by Bro. Charlie Heath
10/11/2023

Exodus 4:21 - “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”

In this verse, we encounter a difficult truth when seen at a glance, but it is a beautiful and encouraging truth when we understand it properly. That truth is that God hardened Pharoah’s heart so that he would not let the people of Israel go.

When I was in Bible college, one of the classes proposed the question, “Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?”. This is one of the great questions of the Old Testament, but I believe it is the wrong question. You see, if you read the account of Exodus, there is no doubt who hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

Twelve times from Exodus 4-14, we encounter the idea that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Out of those twelve instances, it says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart nine times, and the other three cases state that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

I believe the question that we should ask is not “Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?” but rather “Why did God allow Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened?”. If God can control the hearts of men (which He can), then why wouldn’t God simply let the nation of Israel go the first time Moses approached Pharaoh? Why the necessity of the ten plagues? Why put Moses and Aaron through all of the “back and forth” with Pharaoh? Why would God allow the people of Isreal to continue in bitter and cruel enslavement?

The answer to these questions is found in Exodus 7:5, which states, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Throughout Exodus, God demonstrates His sovereignty over all of creation to make Himself known throughout all of the land of Egypt. Eight times between chapters six and eleven, God states that the sole reason for the plagues, for the hardening of the heart of Pharaoh, and the continued enslavement of His people is so that He can make Himself known.

The answer we find in Exodus 7:5 is the same answer to the questions of your own life. Why does God allow certain situations and difficulties in your life? It could be that God is allowing you to go through a difficult situation for the salvation of another. Furthermore, it could be that you will never know on this side of eternity who your testimony is affecting.

Stay faithful believer. Endure through Jesus Christ and find rest in Him. Allow Him to work His perfect work through you and to use you as an instrument of salvation to those you come in contact with. Trust and be encouraged that God is performing His perfect work and that He is making His name known through the midst of your difficulty.