Grasshopper Mentality

The Message today comes from Numbers Chapter 13 and deals with the 12 men who were sent into Canaan to search out the “Promised Land!” These men had wandered with Moses in the wilderness.  They had eaten of the Manna, the food sent down from heaven. They had drank from the Smitten Rock, fresh water. They had witnessed the correction of God, the bounty of God, the remarkable fire of God, the cloud that followed them, the fire by night … yet they were blinded from the glorious power of their God! Read this Chapter again this week, it will inspire you. These men entered into this “Promised Land” at the Word of their God, the Lord God Jehovah! Probably everyone reading this knows what they found at the brook of Eshcol.  Vs23 “They came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two of them upon a staff.” And they proclaimed Canaan flowed with milk and honey and is a fruitful place. And here begins a sorrowful moment of unbelief.  As the men reported the glorious place which the Lord had provided for them, they were weaken by the giants that dwelt in the land. Their response to the God of all, who had sent them there was: the cities are walled and very great – the People are huge and strong and “we be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” Caleb sought to still their fear by saying “We are well able to overcome…” As the Israelite’s heard the report they lifted up their voice in victory? Noooo, they cried, they wept and murmured against Moses. This was the mentality of 10 of them; Vs33 “…we saw the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers!” And in my Spirit I heard: “For we walk by Faith and not by sight!”  This is a Scripture we must write upon our heart and place in our mind for the day in which we live! Loving you and Praying for you, Pastor

Like a Shepherd

“Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”  ~ Isaiah 40:10-11

Like a Shepherd! What is a Shepherd like? We know that Jesus has been called the “Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the Shepherd who is the Bishop of our soul! Knowing this, it should fill us with “that Joy!” The Joy that is unspeakable! This Joy causes us to know “He is working for our good!” These are the messages that God has put on my heart for this moment in time – today “Like a Shepherd,” Jesus teaches us great truths with natural things that we then might discern the Spiritual concept. Various times in Scripture the Shepherd is referred to, as one who cares for us, and guides us.  There is also great instruction from the Shepherd, the one who God calls to lead His flock. It is humbling to think that a Shepherd in the flesh can in any way be a leader as Jesus, who gave His life for the Sheep. As the natural Shepherd cares for the flock, so we learn Spiritual truths. There is nothing new under the sun so Scripture declares, yet everyday we dig into the Word of God, we find great treasures and depth of truth if only we will search for it. When a member of our church gave me the explanation of “Thou Anointest my head with oil” from Ps. 23. The Shepherd anoints the head of the sheep with oil, this is to keep the snarly insects away from their head, their eyes, their nostrils, etc. For the insects get into their head and drive them crazy to put it in layman’s terms. What a Spiritual lesson there is in that information he gave me. Like a Shepherd Jesus the Anointed one covers us. I hear in Scripture: Phil. 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” The Word of God is so powerful as we reach into It’s depth! Oh how we need the Shepherd of our soul in this hour! I find myself quoting daily … “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee!”  He is with us as Ps. 23 so clearly declares, even in the midst of our enemies and we know who the enemy of our soul is: He is a defeated foe! And even in the shadow of death He walks with us! It is my Prayer that God will pour forth His Oil upon His Church and invigorate the Body of Christ with His Love and Strength!  Loving Him and loving you, Pastor   ‘Jude 1:2’

That Joy

“That Joy!” What Joy? I’m sure everyone who is a Born-Again Christian knows “Whose Joy” I am going to talk about. Perhaps “His Joy” is greatly needed in this day in which we live. The works of darkness excel, but there is no power greater than our God. I find myself being a bit more adamant today and opinionated, sometimes to a slow heat.  Difficult times call for Godly measures! But for the JOY that was set before Jesus, in the great stress of His earthly life, He was able to fulfill the Father’s desire. Our Father, who is our God has a great desire for us. He sent Jesus that we might have “Joy!”  Not an ordinary Joy, but “His Joy!” Our sins may be forgiven, Salvation is our portion, and His Love overflows toward us. We know this, but somehow we are tempted to doubt, worry, stress, and fear. This is the work of the enemy to detour our soul from Jesus’ Joy, His Peace, and the Hope that we have in Him. Jesus has removed our sins so far from us, we often forget to Thank Him for our Salvation. When we enter into a Thankful Spirit, remembering our Hope of Eternal Life, His Joy will overflow within us and His Joy is full! Perhaps we are often detoured from such thankfulness that the works of darkness cause us to lose hold of such a Powerful Joy! I love the Word of God in Jude 20-21 that reminds us: “Ye, Beloved, building up yourselves on your most Holy Faith, Praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep your-selves in the Love of God, looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life and of some have Compassion making a difference.” Scripture teaches us “His Joy” is unspeakable! When Jesus is first in our Life and Others second, something happens to Yourself!  Joy rushes in, revives the Goodness of Jesus’ Sacrifice, and hopefully we desire to be more like Him. Jesus is our greatest example of ‘caring for others’ – He was moved with Compassion on various occasions. This is because of His Father: We read in Micah 7:19 “God will turn again, He will have Compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”  God’s heart of Compassion for us caused Him to offer Jesus for our Salvation! Jesus Compassion covered us in His Cleansing Blood! Let us Rejoice in our Salvation, and be filled with His Great Joy sharing our Love with others! Loving you, Pastor

Awakened in the Storm

Fall is upon us, O glorious colors as the Lord lays to rest His creation for the winter season! Now Thanksgiving lies ahead of us and then the Glorious Advent of Jesus Birth. Begin now to prepare your heart for these glorious events and the wonderful opportunity to share Christ with your loved ones. It has been a stormy season and this has brought our Message today. The storms of life might rage, but we have a safe place in our God.  It is good for us to note the Works of God in our storm. The Psalmist encourages us that God does “wonders” in the deep. And in the Wisdom Literature of Proverbs we hear these Words: {8:28-29} “When God established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His Command-ment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth:” So much information God has given us in His Word that passes through our mind when we read, yet we need to stop and give glory to the Mighty Works of God’s Creation. Ps.95 We hear -- “In God’s Hands are the deep places of the earth: and He mentions the sea is His as He refers to the “deep places.” There are depths of His Everlasting Love that one day will be revealed to us. His Love toward humanity is overwhelming when you think of His Sacrifice, the giving of His Son. Such love walks with us through the storms of Life and the deep places of suffering. We’ll talk about “deep places” today and we will be reminded of His Word in Micah 7…. “Who is a God like untoThee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in Mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”  O Thank You Jesus!   Awaken our heart, still the storm and speak Peace to Your Children!  Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord;  Loving you pastor

I Will Build My Church

As we Celebrate 35 years together the Blessings of the Lord has surely overtaken us.  We remain a strong Church Family working together for the Glory of God. There are so many of you that labor with me in this work of the Lord! I sincerely want to thank each and every one of you for your faithfulness to the Lord, to our Church and to me. Having a hundred percent vote of confidence all these years means everything to me. God has truly been with us as we have married our youth, and laid our loved ones to rest in God’s Care. There is another Congregation of Commerce awaiting us in Eternal Life. I often envision our loved ones who have advanced to Glory as I come to the pulpit. I remember the place where they sat and their wonderful part in our Church Family. There is nothing so great as the Family of God! I truly believe that it was God’s plan for me to be your Pastor. I came to preach a couple of Sundays as you were looking for a Pastor. I thought I was just filling in on those two Sundays. There were other candidates for the Church. I was not a Pastor nor intended to be a Pastor, but I came.  After two weeks the board asked me to come again, so I came. At the end of the third week one of them asked if I was going home after church. I said yes I would be home. Before I got home, the Church had called me. I returned the call and they said “we would like you to be our Pastor.” I was overwhelmed and somewhat fearful. The rest is history, the vote took place and I have been here for 35 years! Through thick and thin we have worked together building the Lord’s House, and for His Glory! The first mention of Church in the Bible is in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus points out, He will Build the Church, it will be established on the Rock, His Son, Jesus Christ. It was on the Day of Pentecost that we hear of the Church once more. Acts 2:16-17 Peter rose up and quoted from the Book of Joel; the Old Testament Prophecy had come to pass …“It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh:” O the glorious beginning of the Spirit Filled Church! I quickly learned the Church Calendar and after three years of Pastoring we ventured into the Pentecost season with a drama, and as the ones who were portraying the Disciples came down into the congregation speaking in tongues the Holy Spirit fell upon our Church! It was awesome! Saints were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues. I will never forget that day! The glorious Words of Acts 2 rang out …   VS28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of Joy with Thy countenance. VS33 “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”  VS42 [being very new at Pastoring I received the Message that God would Build the Church according to His plan, and this would be how He would do it, if we would …. VS42 Continue steadfast in Doctrine [The Word] and fellowship, breaking Bread and in Prayer! VS46 walking daily in one accord …VS47 Praising God, having favor with all people [our Community] and it is the Lord that will add to the Church. If we do all that we know to do, He will Build the Church and the gates of hell will not prevail, for we are victorious in Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit of God!  This is My story over these 35 years, always allow the Holy Spirit freedom, give time for Praise; break Bread often and teach/preach the Holy Word of God. It has been my Joy to serve this Body of Christ at Commerce Community Church. You have blessed me in so many ways and I love You dearly. There is no other way I would have wanted to spend the last 35 years, but serving you and my Savour!  Giving Thanks to Jesus for you!  Pastor