Pastor's Comments

"As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumblingstone and a Rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." Romans 9:33

In this Holy Lenten Season let us walk with Jesus as He obeys the Father and enters into God's Divine plan for humanity. Jesus walked among God's creation to reveal the plan of Salvation. Scripture tells us Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness. It was a time of preparation. Perhaps you have experienced a period of time that seemed like you were dwelling in the wilderness and probably something tried to influence you to "give up." But the wilderness experience was a time of developing the power of God in Christ's earthly life. He was driven there, seemingly that would mean He was forced to go into a lone place and there the devil tempted Him. I love the ending of His wilderness experience, did it break Him, did He give up? Luke 4:14 tells us: "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee;" [Galilee was His hometown.] The wilderness time strengthened Jesus! Jesus returned to His home, went to the Synagogue as was His custom. They knew Him, He came regularly to the Synagogue, this was His custom. They handed Him the Holy Scrolls and He turned to Isaiah and began to read. But it was not as usual, something had transpired, there was "power" and authority for the Spirit of God had anointed Him and filled Him on the day of His baptism. He had battled with the tempter. He had overcome the flesh and now the Spirit of God poured through Him. O Holy Spirit of God, pour through your Church, empower your people to overcome the temptations of the day. Endue your Church with the Power of your Spirit! Teach us to face our wildernesses that we might gain spiritual strength, strength to stand in the face of those who oppose your Truths; that we might triumph as our Lord, rising up in the Power and the Anointing of Your Holy Spirit, endued with overcoming strength to say to the enemy, "It is Written, Thou shalt worship the Lord Thy God and Him only shall thou serve."

Loving you and Loving Jesus, Pastor

Pastor's Comments

"Now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1 Cor. 12:18

Today we celebrate Membership Sunday in the midst of the Commerce Family! There are those at large that feel uncomfortable joining or partaking of Church Membership, but here at Commerce, it is a joyous occassion--just one more opportunity to greet the saints and share the Christian embrace. The Word of God has a lot to say about "members" in the Body of Christ. Often the Word speaks of physical things, and then gives a spiritual apllication. "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." 1 Corinthians 15:46. By this I believe that God is saying we must understand one another and work together in the natural so that we can partake of the Spiritual things that God has prepared for us. The Word of God teaches that we are "many members, yet we are one body!"  And we are this Body that we might glorify God! A passage of Scripture that I love is when it says, "By one spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been made to drink into one spirit." Moses gave the Israelites water out of the Rock. That was a physical happening, and now in the New Testament we note the spiritual explanantion. "They all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." What makes us one? As the Church, the body of believers, partakes of the Spirit of Christ, we become one body. It is when Jesus, our Lord & Savior is lifted up, sweet communion is felt. Membership in true Christian society is a wonderful uniting into the the Body of Christ! "So being many, we are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another." If we received Christ, we are already members in Him, and as we join the Church we are activating the servant in us, we clasp hands to work together in the Vineyard where He has placed us! We welcome new members today!

Loving you, Pastor

Pastor's Comments

"We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His Glorious Body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself."  Philippians 3:20-21

What a glorious thought, we shall be changed! There's alot of speculation regarding the end-time and the changes that occur. It is my thought that the Lord does not do anything without first revealing Himself to His people. As we embrace a supernatural change that is promised, we see the revelation of such change on the day of Transfiguration as Jesus, Himself, experienced a glorious manifestation of change,-- transfiguration! It is witnessed by Peter, James, and John. The definition of "transfiguration" is: "An exalting, glorifying spiritual change; a change in form or appearance; a change in character; transformed; an abrupt or startling change induced by a supernatural power!; convert which implies a change fitting something for a new or different use or function." That being said, in light of our salvation, we are destined to change, change from an old creature to a new creature and then to expect the final change. This change is talked about by the Apostle Paul: "Behold I show you a mystery...we shall be changed! In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptable, and we shall be changed!" Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of such an awesome change as Jesus was "transfigured" right before their eyes. It was a glorious occasion and one that is to come for us! He is even changing us as we speak, as we grow in His grace from glory to glory! As spring comes once again, so we see change all around us. His change is glorious!

Loving you and praying for you, Pastor



Pastor's Thoughts on Love

"Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."  Colossians 3:14

Let's recap our messages on Love: We began this series of Love Messages as we approached Valentine's Day. These messages were to increase our love for God and for one another. We began with "Keeping Ourselves in the God Kind of Love." We learned from 1 John 2:5-6: If we keep ourselves in the Word of God, our Love is perfected and if we say we abide in Him, we need to walk as He walked. The question for that message was: "What are we Spiritually Passionate About?" Message Two was about our "Witness of His Love." Here we were reminded that where our treasure is, there is where our hearts will be. And we were reminded of Acts 1:8; Jesus encouraged and exhorted His followers that they would receive power once the Holy Ghost had descended upon them. This precious Power of the Holy Ghost would give them strength to be a witness of Jesus at home, at work, to the Ghettos and then to the nations of the world. The question presented was: "What kind of Witness are we of God's Love?" Message three was: "Jesus' Love." John chapters 13-14 was the emphasis of this study. In John 13, we learned that even as Jesus' hour of persecution & crucifixion was at hand, He reminded them as the Feast of Passover drew nigh that He loved all that were in the world. He loved them to the end. Jesus loves us as the Father loved Him. The question we were left with was: "How does the world know we are a Christian?" What is our witness? Today as we come to the final message in our series of Love, we learn about the "Bond of Perfectness." Scripture reveals there is such a bond of perfection. It comes above all other things--it is Charity/Love. Question for today: "Is the Love of God first in my life?"

Loving you, Pastor