Each year, one day is set aside to celebrate motherhood. On that day, we express all kinds of variations of the same sentiment: “We see you, Moms.” We pause the flow of life for a moment to stop and recognize the incredible impact of the woman who gave us birth - and then so much of herself after that. We celebrate the uniqueness of her uncanny intuition, her unmatched capacity to comfort, and the superiority of her chocolate chip cookies.

But part of what makes Mother’s Day special is the unspoken acknowledgement of what we don’t - and couldn’t possibly - see. We could never measure or applaud the number of deep breaths she took in labor, the number of bottles she washed, diapers she changed, toys she picked up, or tears she brushed away. We could never quantify the outfits she picked out, snacks she distributed, spills she cleaned up, arguments she pacified, or questions she answered. She was and, for a number of us, still is, the safe harbor to confide in, the one who always understands when no one else can. She disciplined us. She taught us not to put tinfoil in the microwave and applied sunscreen despite our protests. Cleverly disguised in pastels, she battled relentlessly on her knees in prayer - for us. From the thankless, mundane tasks to the formational moments with her that shaped us, we can’t summarize all she’s done.

Author and professor Dorthy Patterson says it well:

“A mother builds something far more magnificent than any cathedral – the dwelling place for an immortal soul (both her child’s fleshly tabernacle and his earthly abode). No professional pursuit so uniquely combines the most menial tasks with the most meaningful opportunities.”

And so, Moms, there are so many things we want to say to you this Sunday. Here are just two:

1. We can only hope to appreciate a fraction of the selfless love you display. In a moment of piercing desperation in the middle of a desert, one mother spoke one of God’s names as a banner over every mother to follow. Genesis 16:13 tells us that Hagar knew the Lord to be “El-Roi, The God who sees me.” The honor we extend to you on Mother’s Day pales in comparison to that of our Heavenly Father, who alone sees the ultimate depth of your devotion.
   

2. We want to honor you, not only for what you do, but for who you are. It’s a treasure that Hagar, in that miserable and life-defining moment in the desert, didn’t call God “the God who sees the condition I’m in”, (even though He did). Or “the God who sees the future of this unborn child”, (even though He could). She called him “the God who sees….me.” This Mother’s Day, we want to take our cues from the Lord, and truly see YOU. Not just all the things you do for us. We love the person God gave to us in you. Happy Mother’s Day, Moms.

Today we’re sharing a worship playlist we’ve designed especially to complement this year’s Good Friday & Easter theme at FBC: “No Greater Love”. The songs in this playlist were selected because they beckon us back to the depth of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, the soaring heights of His resurrection victory, and unrivaled love that motivated it all. Before you explore the playlist, here are a few bonus thoughts for reflection:

How can a worship PLAYLIST prime my heart for Easter?

This kind of question begs a deeper question that’s really healthy for us to mull over: “How does worship music affect my heart?” (Really…when you strip away the “Christianese” answer, What does it actually do?) Here are a few thoughts from other worshipers that can inform us:

1. WORSHIP PREPARES US TO WORSHIP.

We talk often about how worship is designed to be an overflow that springs from personal solitude with the Lord. Scottish Minister Alexander Maclaren wrote, “Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins.” Much more recently, Worship Leader Andi Rozier said it this way: “The secret to worship is to worship in secret.”

The idea is that worship isn’t reserved only for corporate gatherings. Rather, it’s a lifestyle that continuously fuels and refuels the worshiper - each moment with the Lord priming and exciting the heart for the next.

2. WORSHIP IS COGNITIVE.

Pastor J.D. Greear tells us something we can ALL relate to: “Music gets lodged in your mind. It bounces around your head when you aren’t even thinking about it. In short, it sticks.” Sometimes we wish this reality had an “on/off” switch, right?!

It turns out that this pattern has biological backing. Author and Speaker Jen Wilkin explains:

“…Neuroscience backs this up. Pairing information with music helps our hippocampus retrieve that information with ease. Music is a powerful teaching tool, and before the discipline of neuroscience existed, the followers of Yahweh employed that tool.

Miriam’s Song of the Sea in Exodus 15 was composed to stamp the memory of God’s transcendence onto his people’s consciousness. The 150 psalms, whose words by themselves are perfectly potent, were written to be sung. The children of God understood their need to be reminded by sacred words set to melodies. After all, ours is a long history of forgetting and being summoned back to remembrance. Music plus words equals recall.”

3. WORSHIP IS EMOTIONAL.

Author and Pastor Bob Kauflin adds another layer:

“Music is capable of moving us in subtle and profound ways — in anticipated and unexpected ways — with or without words…Whatever the reasons, music can come alongside words and heighten their emotional impact in a way we may not have perceived with words alone. That has a number of advantages. First, singing can help us take more time to reflect on the meaning of words. It can stretch out words and phrases. It can allow us to repeat them or put space in between words. All these qualities can help us engage emotionally with the words we’re singing.”

While worship is far more encompassing than emotions, worship does include emotions. Listening to and singing worship music as part of the rhythms of our daily life helps us to bring our emotions into alignment with the truth.

4. WORSHIP IS SPIRITUAL.

Author Mike Harland combines the cognitive and emotional effects of worship on our souls and very lives:

“The correlation between how people think and what they sing is astounding to examine. In medical and scientific communities, much has been learned about the links between music, memory, attitude, and emotion. Unique in God’s creation, people are wired to create melody and rhythm and link them to thought and reason. And when those come together, something amazing happens to the soul of mankind. We are moved to action and stirred to response…

…The songs our people sing become the prayers our people will pray in their moments of deepest crisis. The expression of worship from the heart of God’s people turns into songs of worship sung in the congregation, in the waiting room of a hospital, and yes, even at the bedside of a soldier going home to be with the Lord…God gave us the gift of music. And with it, we can inform and inspire. We can take truths about God that transform hearts and lock those truths into our souls by singing them back and forth over each other.”

IN SUMMARY

Singing songs that echo God’s Word stirs our souls. The lyrics follow us into the furthest corners of our lives. One final thought from Charles Spurgeon articulates this beautifully:

“It is marvellous, brethren, how one sweet word of God will make many songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the gold-beater, and he can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. I can say myself, I have lived on one promise for weeks, and wanted no other. I had just simply to hammer the promise out into gold-leaf, and plate my whole existence with joy from it. The Christian gets his songs from God; God gives him inspiration, and teaches him how to sing: ‘God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night.’”

“Keep your mouth full of songs, and you will often keep your heart full of praises…”

— Charles Spurgeon

If you’ve done a significant amount of painting in your home, you know the value of a good coat of primer. While it can seem tedious, it’s a step that maximizes and enhances the final coat. It’s a foundation for the intended color that defines a space.

In our frenetic western culture, approaching a significant day on the church calendar can feel a lot like a hurried paint job. Our lives are buzzing with endless activity, and by the time we’re gathered together to observe it, we feel a disintegration between our lives and what we’re gathered to celebrate. Have you sensed this before? An awareness as you sit in the pew that there’s been no time to truly reflect on what this event means until this moment? A sense of urgency to remember how it’s supposed to make a difference in your life somehow? We can all relate.

We’re distracted, with “lots of irons in the fire”, and we’re spread thin. Sometimes, we’re spread too thin to experience the fullness of what is available to us if we could slow down and spend a few intentional moments focusing on these monuments of our faith.

As we approach Good Friday and Easter this year, we’re excited to share a few resources that are designed to act as a “primer” for our hearts as we prepare to meditate on the depths of God’s love demonstrated for us in the events of Good Friday and Easter. You can reclaim a few moments here or there to lay a foundation so that, later this month, you can sense the vibrancy of all that God has invited us to celebrate. Let’s not just fly by Easter as another Sunday in April. May it redefine the space of our hearts once again.

PRIME YOUR HEART FOR EASTER: AGAPE LOVE

This year’s Good Friday and Easter services at FBC will focus in on the scriptural idea of “No Greater Love”. The Greek word for the love that motivated God to extend salvation to us is “agape”. In order to see what’s unique about this specific meaning of “love”, we found this video by the team at The Bible Project super helpful:

John MacArthur defines agape love this way:

”Agape is the love that gives. There’s no taking involved. It is completely unselfish. It seeks the highest good for another no matter what the cost, demonstrated supremely by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.”

Similarly, author Sam Storms offers this description:

“The preeminent expression of love is when the lover, at great personal cost, gives or imparts to the beloved the most enthralling, beautiful, and eternally satisfying experience possible. The latter, of course, would be the knowledge and enjoyment of God himself.”

This is the love of God. As His children, we find ourselves on the receiving end of a love that knows no bounds. The word “love” is such a casual term in our everyday experience; it’s good for us to be drawn back to the depth and unique richness of God’s agape love.

John Piper clarifies our concept of agape love by describing it as “love of benevolence”:

“…What I have found most helpful is to divide love into two categories. I got this first from Jonathan Edwards, but it goes way back before him. He divides love into “love of complacency” and “love of benevolence”.

Complacency would be, “I love pizza.” In other words, “I find myself pleased by the qualities I find in pizza — namely, its taste.” That would be love of complacency. Or you might love a place or a country or lots of things. You could say you love them because they are lovely. They are pleasing to you.

Whereas, the love of benevolence is not based on the loveliness of the object of the love, but rather your good will — benevolence — your good will toward the person or the thing that you are loving. Your aim in that kind of love is to do good, to bring about something beautiful, not respond to beauty.”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

With this understanding of agape love as a backdrop, let the following passages sink into your mind and heart. We’ve indicated where each passage uses the English translation of the Greek word “agape”. As you read, remind your own heart that you have been shown love in a way that’s wildly foreign to our culture. You have been shown a love that’s pure from even a hint of manipulation. A love that isn’t stained with sinful selfishness. A love that wasn’t caused by anything you did to secure it. A love that is genuinely “for you” more deeply than you can fathom, yet isn’t about you. A love that transforms you from the inside out. A love that doesn’t start with you, but that doesn’t stop with you either - flowing abundantly from the heart of God and cascading through you onto others. (Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:7-8)

John 3:16 (NIV)

“For God so loved (agapaō) the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love (agapē) for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)

This is how God showed his love (agapē) among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved (agapaō) us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved (agapaō) me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

But because of his great love (agapē) for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved (agapaō) us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

How do we respond to a love like this? Charles Wesley put it so well:

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

“How can it be?”…is right. As we set our hearts to reflect on this love that has no rival, may we rest in the wonder that we are the recipients of boundless grace, and that we have been invited to freely share it with everyone we encounter today.

It can seem difficult to find peace in our current cultural landscape (let alone our global one). Maybe you can relate. Our hearts break as we read headlines and scroll through social media feeds – and even these glimpses convey only a fraction of the turmoil present in human experience. The following meditation is shared with us by FBC’s Production Director, Josh Roberts. It’s a collection of his thoughts shaped by a recent experience in prayer while gathered with other believers. Our prayer is that you’re able to slow down and let this reality profoundly comfort you: “There’s Peace in the Throne Room.”

Revelation 4: The King of the Throne Room

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures… And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
 who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”

Hebrews 4: Access to the Throne Room

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Philippians 4: Peace in the Throne Room

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

---

“Throne Room.”
Merriam-Webster says it’s “a formal audience room containing the throne of a sovereign”.
For us, it’s the presence of God.
It’s a place of honor.
In the Old Testament, it was the Holy of Holies.
Only the High Priest could enter in, once a year.
In the New Testament, Christ became our perfect High Priest,
tearing the veil so that we could enter in -
so that we could confidently
“draw near to the throne of grace”,
and “find grace to help in time of need”.

Because of Christ,
There’s not only reverance in the throne room;
there’s peace in the throne room.

There’s peace because, in Christ,
you’re not an intruder.
You’ve been welcomed in.
You have an audience with the King.
You’re not just venting to someone over coffee;
you’re speaking with the King of the Universe,
the One who alone is in control,
the One who can affect change.
(John 10:9, John 14:6, Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 2:18, Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 6:19-20)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
the King is also your Father.
There’s peace because, even though storms rage outside,
Dad’s at home. He knows what to do.
You are safe with Him.
(Isaiah 43:1-2, Mark 4:39, Psalm 62:7-8, Isaiah 41:10)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
peace is not dependent on the outcome.
Even when the answer is “no”,
He is looking out for you.
He knows what’s best.
He’s going to do what brings Him glory.
He’s going to work in your best interest.
(Philippians 4:11-13, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-8, Isaiah 55:8-9, Psalm 145:17)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
whether or not your circumstances are shifted,
your perspective is.
Your eyes are fixed on the One in the seat of honor and holiness.
Your problems shrink smaller in comparison to Him.
(Psalm 27:4-5, Psalm 46:1-3)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
the throne room becomes a place where your worries can go to die.
It’s a place where you concentrate the same energies
that you did in anxiety or fear,
on making your requests known to God.
It’s dwelling there.
It’s lingering there.
And somewhere in that communion,
peace comes to life in the space where worry had been before.
(Philippians 4:4-7, Isaiah 26:3)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
you’ve been invited to cast your cares upon Another.
You’ve been invited to trade a heavy burden for an easy yoke.
You’ve been invited to let your Shepherd share your load.
You’re not carrying it alone.
(Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28-29)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
the throne room is always available to you.
And entering isn’t limited to spoken prayer.
Communion is a frame of mind.
(John 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:31)

There’s peace because, in Christ,
we have been invited into relationship with the Sovereign King
who alone is in control, and who works all things out for the good of those who love Him.
(Romans 5:2, Romans 8:28-29)

JOSH ROBERTS | PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Josh Roberts is FBC’s Production Director. His passion at FBC is to lead his team in developing dynamic, creative environments where God is magnified, where people meet with Him, and where The Gospel is communicated without distraction. He would tell you that although he loves the technical world, at the end of the day, Production ministry is all about loving people by helping them encounter our truly glorious God.  

When he’s not in the booth mixing audio, you can find him scouting out the best barbeque around, hiking, disc golfing, or drinking coffee with his wife.

Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Pastor Matt Cox, who leads our worship ministry at FBC. Our conversation centered on the topic of Biblical Expressions of Praise and Worship. “Does it really matter if we raise our hands or dance in church?” “If I mean it in my heart, isn’t that enough?” There are so many opinions on this subject, so we decided to get back to the basics and see how God’s Word informs us. We know this conversation is bound to both bless and stretch you in your own personal worship. Here’s our conversation!

Q. Are the expressions of praise and worship described in Scripture prescriptive for us?

For instance…

“Sing to the LORD; bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day…Sing to Him a new song; play an instrument skillfully with a joyful shout…Clap your hands, all you people! Shout to God with a joyful voice…Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD…Let them praise His name with dancing…O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker.” (Psalms 96:2, 33:3, 47:1, 134:2, 149:3a, 95:6)

Are these directives scriptural commands that we are called to obey, or just suggestions for us to follow?

A. Well, in Scripture, we find language that tells us these expressions are what God enjoys. And He also has given language that does give these expressions as commands. He doesn’t tell us, “If you’re feeling good, then go ahead and express it...if your life circumstances dictate it, then use these postures.” This kind of conditional praise underestimates our God. It tries to control Him and put Him in a box, rather than viewing Him for who He is: namely, the God of the Universe, the Creator of all things, who still has time to love and give me grace and mercy in the middle of my circumstance. It’s out of thanksgiving and joy that we should clap our hands, that we should shout, and give praises. And you have to ask the question, “Why is that? Why would He command those things?” But in my view, based on what I read in Scripture, the answer is “Yes”, it is prescriptive. It is a command. It’s not a mere suggestion based on how we’re feeling at the time.

Q: Let’s dig into the “why” question you mentioned a moment ago. Why has He commanded these things? In worship, why is it important that we express physically what is true of our hearts internally?  

A: Many of us have been to a concert – secular or Christian – where there is exuberant praise that takes place. There’s shouting, clapping, waving hands, jumping up and down, singing, and a host of expressions based on what you’re participating in. A lot of that comes from a central heart expression of joy…happiness…even tears, based on how it moves you. Go to any sporting event, and you’ll witness crazy shouts and exuberant praise toward simple things that make us emotionally moved. In our worship, we should find expressions of praise to the Lord based on who He is and what He’s done.

If you’ve been a Christ follower for any amount of time, you have seen God move in your life. You have seen the miracles of life. And you’ve experienced a love, grace, and mercy, that you didn’t deserve. Out of that revelation, we respond. And how we respond is important to God, because it expresses what is in our hearts.

I love this quote by Zach Neese:

“How could I refuse to demonstrate the posture of my heart toward Him when He so thoroughly and passionately demonstrated the posture of His heart toward me?”

How can I withhold my expression of praise? (Even as I’m talking about this, my hands are gesturing!) How can we withhold that from the Lord? These physical responses, these expressions, are simply the physical manifestation of what is happening in our heart. And it shows the world a true following of Christ. It expresses to the world our love, gratitude, and thankfulness to Him. But more importantly, it shows it to God Himself, instead of hiding it. Nothing in Scripture tells us to “hide” our love for the Lord; it’s quite the opposite. These expressions of praise that you find in Scripture allow us to do that.

Q. Ok. We’re pretty good at singing and clapping. But what about the expressions that take us out of our comfort zones? Shouting? Dancing?  

A. Hebrews 13: 15 says, “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” So, a “sacrifice of praise” would be something that costs us something. It’s the “fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” even in the worst of circumstances – even when things and situations in my life are not ideal, or they are stricken by what life brings. Whether a joyous occasion or a tremendous tragedy – I should continually offer up that sacrifice of praise. It’s a surrender. And that’s the currency of worship – surrender. It should cost me something. This is the point: If it’s going to cost me something and there’s a sacrifice involved, then it’s not my feelings or comfort level, that dictate my worship.

Many that were raised in a very conservative culture were conditioned not to show expression, out of a fear that it would bring attention to self. True – worship must draw attention to God, not to ourselves. But, listen to this quote by Christopher Asmus:

“When we see people in the presence of God bowing down or raising hands in authentic spiritual worship, we are not to look to them, but through them, and see a ruling and reigning Christ who sits supreme over the worshiper’s body, life, and world…The point is that as we observe humble, physical expressions of true worship, we are not being distracted from God, but pointed to Him. The authentic raised hand, the genuine bowed knee declares, ‘See His sovereignty! See His supremacy! See His lordship overall!’”

To be physically expressive in worship with the right heart posture doesn’t detract from God; it actually magnifies Him.

And stepping into physical expression causes us to step outside our “norm”. If someone says, “I just don’t sing”, it may be a sacrifice of praise for them to enter into what they don’t normally do. If they don’t know how to sing, or don’t like the way they sing, and they sing anyway because God deserves it, that’s a sacrifice of praise. They may not be called to lead. That’s ok. Our worship isn’t dictated by how we sound. We are each accountable for our own worship to God – and no one else. For me, dancing is always a struggle because…I don’t dance. But internally, my heart leaps for joy at what God’s done, and out of obedience, I want to express that even though it’s uncomfortable. That’s a sacrifice of praise for me. I want to be “uncomfortable” because it’s about Him and not me.

Q. So how can we take ONE “baby step” to become more physically expressive in our worship?  

A. A lot of it is doing that on your own, when you are alone with the Lord. If I’m uncomfortable praising God in the closet when no one else is watching, there’s no way I’ll do that in front of other people. But God deserves that from me. So one baby step is to sing to Him, just you and Him alone. Raise your hands to Him when you’re praying, when you’re reading scripture, or when you’re just crying out. When you’re exuberantly overjoyed by His salvation, or the grace and mercy you’ve been given morning after morning, get up and dance. These are baby steps that lead you to that place.

The problem that we have in our culture is that many of us don’t spend time with the Lord between Monday and Saturday. When we come to church on Sunday, that’s the only time we ever spend with Him. We’re coming in empty, afraid, and totally closed off to any expression to the Lord. We spend more time preparing for a big game during the week than we do spending time with the God of the Universe. It’s important that we spend time alone with Him, expressing our worship to Him. That’s a baby step. And then, after we’ve spent time in that space, there’s no hesitation to sing when gathered with other believers, no hesitation to raise a hand. Why? Because we understand our God in a fresh way and want to express our thanks to Him based on our personal testimony of faith. Andi Rozier puts it this way, “The secret to worship is to worship in secret.”

Q. So what is it about a raised hand or a clap, dance, or shout, that communicates praise or worship to God?  

A. You can look at the Old Testament where God prepared the Levites to lead in worship and war with power and intention. They would sing, play instruments, and shout praises to God, which inspired the warriors with the truth that God was on their side. Those expressions are central to God’s design. The falling of the walls of Jericho? Same thing. They went into battle against all odds. The musicians led the way, and God’s people were victorious, of course. Listen to another powerful quote by Zach Neese:

“Shouting warns the world that we have a King in our camp. It is the roar of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the victory call, and the call to war…[It’s] time to take back the shout of victory, bring it in the camp of God, and watch hell tremble.”

Exalting God this way recognizes His position of authority and power, and it prompts us to look to Him totally for inspiration, strength, courage, and endurance for the task at hand.

We have instruments that God has given us – our voices, and hands to clap. All of creation gives God praise through their ability and workmanship. I love going to the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico, where you can see the glory of the golden aspens that display a brilliant color. But if you walk among them, you can hear the “shimmer” of the leaves when the wind blows, as if they’re praising the Lord. It’s a different sound than mere leaves rustling.

I could also use the expression of raising of hands as an example. When my children were young and needed something, they raised their hands for me to give it to them or for me to pick them up. They would fall down and reach up their hands to me. It reminds me of how God reached way down and picked me out of the pit that I found myself in.

Dancing is an expression throughout my entire being that gives praise to God, and I see this in multiple cultures throughout history and throughout my experience overseas on the mission field.

But to me, nothing shows more of the posture of humility to the Lord than bowing, kneeling, or laying prostrate before God. Nothing expresses that more. Those expressions show dependence and surrender to God as the rightful King on the throne of your heart and life.

God has given us a multitude of expressions so that we might use every outlet, every faculty that we have, to express our praise to Him. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

Q. We are told that if we keep silent, “the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). It’s thE idea that all of creation is intended to cry out with praise. This verse obviously lies at the heart of Rock Cry Ministries. Tell us a little about how you have seen the Tonga people in Zimbabwe express their worship to God.

A. Well, in Luke, the Pharisees were rebuking the disciples for making such a ruckus about Christ, making Him famous. Making much about Him. Exalting and praising His name. Christ said that if the disciples were to be silent, then creation would do their job. But it’s for us to do it. And in order for us to do it, we need to know who He is, and we’ve got to share the gospel with those that don’t know. That’s the heartbeat of the ministry of Rock Cry – to bring that life-saving knowledge to a people that doesn’t have the opportunity to hear it.

Having been in Zimbabwe, I’ve seen a people come alive with the knowledge of Christ and a life that has been saved by grace. And I’ve seen them worship – it’s different than our worship here. In their culture, you can’t worship unless you are using almost all of these expressions at one time: singing, dancing, clapping, playing instruments with rhythm, shouting, jumping up and down, raising hands. It’s all part of it. I’ve seen their humility of bowing down and kneeling, almost laying prostrate, and even rolling in the dirt – abandoning their dignity – because of their brokenness over their sin. Physical expression of what the heart feels is part of their culture. It’s part of what God has designed and revealed in Scripture. It’s a humbling thing because it convicts me with questions like, “Matt, why aren’t you expressive in your worship to God? Why are you holding it in? Because it’s not part of your culture? Are you using your culture as an excuse?”

Q. If it’s normal for the Tonga people to physically express what they internally believe, why does it feel so abnormal for us to use physical expressions of worship? Is this tendency a struggle for our American culture in general, or more specifically a struggle for the American church?

A. If you look at secular things, you see no hesitation to dance, shout, or lift hands. For what? A ball going through a hoop? Or take the example of dance, which, in a secular sense has focused on sensual emotions rather than spiritual ones. I think it’s stemmed from a culture in religion that tried to do things differently from the world, but ended up surrendering what was God’s to the world. In my opinion, it’s time that we take it back. It belongs to the Lord. It came from Him. He designed it, and it should be part of our church culture, the right way.

We’ve been called to let our physical bodies mirror the content of our souls when it comes to worship. Wherever we find ourselves on the scale of “comfortability” with physical expressions of praise, the invitation for each of us is to take one more step beyond our “norm” and into the joy of communicating our worship to the One who alone is worthy of it all.

MATT COX | WORSHIP PASTOR

Matt Cox serves as the Worship Pastor at FBC. He is deeply passionate about elevating the greatness of God and worshipping in a manner that would please Him.

When he’s not leading worship, you’d likely find Matt hanging out with his wife, Shari, and their three kids, watching a Duke basketball game, or grilling some top-notch meats. And if you still can’t find him, that probably means he’s in Africa telling people about the name of Jesus.

Hey Family,

Part of our study on current events and biblical prophecy involves unpacking the pre-tribulational view that FBC embraces (and that I personally hold), regarding Christ’s rapture of the church. It’s important for you to understand as we continue in our journey of exploring how Biblical prophecy and world events converge. But can I also whisper something hopeful to you? It’s important for you to understand because I believe the Bible’s teaching about the rapture of the church is meant to deliver a fresh wind of comfort and courage to the core of your being.

In this post, I’m putting a resource in your hand that sets up a framework and a context for understanding the timing of the rapture of the church from a pre-tribulation perspective.

Below, I’ve included a basic timeline as well as the key scriptures that describe each end-time event. These are definitely not exhaustive; my greatest hope is that this will be a springboard for you to dive into God’s Word on your own and continue your personal study.

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THE RAPTURE

KEY TEXTS: John 14:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

DESCRIPTION: A signless, imminent event when all believers will be transformed and taken instantly to meet Jesus in the air.

• PRE-TRIBULATION VIEW
  Those who hold to a pre-tribulation rapture believe that Christ will return to rescue His church before the 7-year tribulation period begins, sparing the church fully from its judgments and persecution.

• MID-TRIBULATION VIEW
  The mid-tribulation view places the Rapture at the half-way point of the 7-year tribulation. In this view, Christians would be subject to the first half of the tribulation turmoil, but spared from the escalated suffering of the “Great Tribulation” in the second half.

• POST-TRIBULATION VIEW
  Those who take a post-tribulation approach believe that Christ will rescue His church at the end of the 7-year tribulation period, and that the church would remain present during the full extent of persecution on earth. This view pairs the rapture of the church with Christ’s second coming.

THE GAP PERIOD & EZEKIEL 38 WAR

KEY TEXT: Ezekiel 38-39

DESCRIPTION: A period between the rapture of the church and the Antichrist’s signing of a peace treaty with Israel. Some theologians believe that the Ezekiel 38 War reasonably fits in this gap.

THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION

KEY TEXT: Daniel 9:27

DESCRIPTION: A world leader (The Antichrist) will rise to power and broker a deal between Israel and “many” which will officially begin the 7 years of Tribulation.

THE MIDPOINT OF THE TRIBULATION

KEY TEXTS: Daniel 9:27, Daniel 12:1-2, Revelation 13:11-18

DESCRIPTION: The Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel, defile the temple by putting up an image (many believe, an image of himself), and force everyone to worship the image. He will also initiate a world-wide globalism and require every man, woman, and child to take the mark of the Beast.

THE RETURN OF CHRIST

KEY TEXT: Revelation 19:11-21

DESCRIPTION: Christ will physically return to earth followed by the raptured church-age believers and the angels.

The Millennial Kingdom

KEY TEXT: Revelation 20:1-6

DESCRIPTION: Christ will reign from His throne in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Satan will be bound for the 1,000 years and then be released for one final battle against Christ, where he will be quickly defeated and thrown permanently into the lake of fire…Then comes…

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT

KEY TEXT: Revelation 20:11-15

DESCRIPTION: An event when all nonbelievers throughout all of human history will stand before God to be judged and, sadly, thrown into the lake of fire. Believers will not stand before God at this judgement because we have been covered by the atonement of Jesus - that is, Christ has paid the entire penalty of our sin with His blood and clothed us in His spotless robes of righteousness. When God looks at us, He sees the perfection of His Son.

The New Heaven and New Earth

KEY TEXT: Revelation 21

DESCRIPTION: The place where we will spend eternity with the Lord. This is the realm where we will enjoy the fullness of Christ’s promise, “I make all things new!”

In Him,
Pastor Phil

There’s someone out there that needs to hear this word today - that despite the pressures pushing against you, despite the temptations you face, and despite the tides of “do what feels good” culture, it is possible for you to choose a path of righteousness.

Here’s a teaching clip from Pastor Phil to lend some context:

“It is possible to live a righteous, Godly life in the middle of horrible wickedness.” - Phil Byars

We live in a culture steeped with the influence of the enemy. In a post-truth atmosphere, the “norm” is to live according to self-constructed ethics under the banners of, “Do what’s right for you”, or “Live your truth”. Being daily immersed in this societal trajectory can (and should) make believers feel alienated in the midst of a people who do not call Jesus Lord. We feel like fish swimming upstream; everyone is going one way, and we’re going in the complete opposite. In these moments, it’s easy to make bad trades. It’s easy to compromise and assimilate to the world’s moral barometer. It’s easy to succumb to the pressure we feel.

Believer, the message for you is this: You have been freed from slavery to sin (Romans 8:1-2). You have been liberated from the oppressive cycle of choosing to please self rather than pleasing God. Because you are “in Christ”, God has perpetually provided a path of righteousness for you to choose in every critical moment of temptation. God has given you the dignity and enabling grace to choose what is right. That should breathe hope into our tired souls.

Noah’s life, as Pastor Phil disclosed, proves that it is possible to live a life characterized by righteousness even when the world is charging headlong in another direction. Even without the indwelling Holy Spirit, Noah’s testimony tumbles down through generations to speak this truth into our very souls: “Choosing righteousness is always possible.” There’s no doubt, we are broken and sinful people. So was Noah. Even his obedience was imperfect, as is ours. But because we are redeemed, we have confidence that God is gradually changing our affections and desires to choose Him more than we choose ourselves.

So, in the moments when the pressures swell and the temptations rage, here are 4 provisions from Scripture to strengthen your resolve:

GOD PROVIDES A PATH

1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)
“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”

Next time you are faced with temptation to sin, look for the path of righteousness. This passage promises that it is available to you. There may be an earthly cost to taking it, but it is there, and it leads to greater joy than sin can offer.

Genesis 4:6-7 (AMP)
“And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”

God, in His grace, reminded Cain (and reminds us) that we have a standing invitation to choose righteousness - even while standing on sin’s doorstep. He has given us gracious dignity to choose humility and step on to the path of righteousness, wherever we find ourselves. You are not a victim to your temptation.

GOD PROVIDED HIS SON

1 Peter 2:24 (AMP)
“He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.”

Jesus’ atoning death on the cross not only paid for our sins (past, present, and future), but also opened the possibility for us to put our sin to death and choose righteousness instead. May we walk in it.

Jude 24-25 (AMP)
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Jesus can keep us from falling into sin if we rely on Him. One day, He will present us, His bride, faultless and purified before The Father. He has been, is, and forever will be our hope of choosing righteousness.

GOD PROVIDES HIS SPIRIT

Philippians 2:13 (AMP)
“For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”

Romans 8:13
“…for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever.”

Jesus has given us His Spirit to practically work in us, prompting and enabling us to choose righteousness.

GOD PROVIDES A PLATFORM

John 17:11, 14-15 (AMP)
“I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are…I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one.”

Philippians 2:14-16 (AMP)
“Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], holding out and offering to everyone the word of life...”

God’s design is for us to live in the middle of a broken world as exiles - those that don’t fit in - while we invite others to one day enjoy the infinitely better country God has prepared for those that love Him. Each choice we make to take the path of righteousness serves as a lighthouse, illuminating a better way to navigate a fallen world. The way we live matters for those outside ourselves.

In Jeremiah 6, God reveals His desire for His people:

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’”

Tired Christian, it’s hard to walk differently. It’s hard to go against the grain. But take courage, because the path of righteousness is available to you. And it’s tried and true. It’s been trodden by millions of saints before you. It is good. It leads to rest. Choose it today.

Over the last few Sunday mornings, we’ve touched on just how important it is to be a people that actively remembers. The break-neck speed of western culture, our growing instinct to “scroll” or “swipe” through new content as the old slips into the archives of the digital cloud, and even some political influences, are collectively lulling our memories to sleep. We’re not a culture that “calls things to mind” often. We’d rather race forward toward the next innovation, trend, life stage, etc. All the while, our diligence to do the sometimes mundane work of “remembering” starts to atrophy.

What is so important, then, for us to remember? It’s the soul-memory of what God has done that we’re getting at in this post. Scripture is drenched with the importance of this kind of remembering. Whether it seems like a game-changer or not, incorporating this discipline into your life can tether your heart to the Lord in ways that are proven over and over in His Word.

REMEMBER GOD’S PAST FAITHFULNESS

Scripture abounds with language like this:

Psalm 77:11-15
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah”

and…

Psalm 111:2-4
”Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.”

God’s desire is for us to remember His works - what He has done. But it’s so much more than a textbook-style acknowledgement of these acts. When we “ponder”, “meditate”, and “study” what God has done, we trace the works of His hand back to the nature of His heart, where we find endless holiness, power, majesty, grace, and mercy. And once there, what else can we do but worship? This kind of remembering renews our intimacy with God.

Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children…”

Jewish culture in Biblical days placed a huge value on verbally teaching history and customs in the context of the family unit. The generation of grandparents and parents diligently reclaimed moments within the routines of daily life to tell stories and testimonies of what they had seen God do, and what their ancestors had seen God do. They set up altars and celebrated feasts and festivals and observed traditions where tangible object lessons and rituals engaged all of their senses in this sacred work of remembering.

The younger generation also had a responsibility in this; from early childhood, they received the teaching and learned about the God who had been faithful to their ancestors, metaphorically taking the baton to carry on to the next generation:

Deuteronomy 32:7
”Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.”

PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES

Although we don’t share the same culture and customs in our context, we are still called to practice the Biblical mandate to “remember”. Here are a few possibilities for what this could look like in your family:

• Tell and hear the stories. Grandparents and parents, tell your stories of God’s faithfulness to your children. Children, ask your parents and grandparents to tell them. Some of our grandparents, aunts, and uncles lived through wars, national crises, and family tragedies. Next time you find yourself at a family gathering, ask them about the ways they saw God’s faithfulness carry them through.

• Document God’s faithfulness in your home. Keep a jar and add slips of paper as tangible evidences of God’s faithfulness as you observe it, and then read them on New Year’s Eve. Carve out a couple of minutes at the dinner table to talk about the great things God did that day. Whatever it looks like, embrace the discipline of remembering.

• Read missionary biographies & autobiographies. This is an incredible opportunity to see God’s hand at work in prior eras in history and in foreign contexts.

• Study the history of the early church. God has preserved and delivered His people and His Word through seasons of intense persecution and trial.

Remember what He’s delivered you from

Old Testament saints were quick to remember God’s deliverance from bondage to slavery in Egypt:

Deuteronomy 5:15
You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

Each of us have stories of deliverance. Every believer has been delivered from the bondage of slavery to sin.

Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

We could fill books with stories of God’s deliverance from depression, disease, anxiety, tragedy, addiction, abuse, mental illness, deep disappointments, and even complacency.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). He drew us up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set our feet upon a rock, making our steps secure (Psalm 40:2). He made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 5:5-6). He forgives our iniquity, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies us with good, so that our youth is renewed (Psalm 103:3-5).

He has and still is delivering us from even that which we don’t know! The psalms tell us that He is our hiding place, preserving us from trouble, surrounding us with shouts of deliverance, keeping our soul among the living, and not letting our feet slip (Psalm 32:7, 66:9). Knowing our own weaknesses, temptations, and the proclivities deep in our hearts, where would we be apart from the mercy of God?

PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES

• Journal it out. Find 10 minutes today, and intentionally remember what He has delivered you from. If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, start with remembering how He delivered you from living for yourself (2 Corinthians 5:15). Explore the other bonds He has broken in your life since then.

• Tell someone. A personal testimony is simply telling what God has done for you.
  

REMEMBER HOW HE SATISFIES YOUR SOUL

Every instance of sin in our lives reveals that we’ve forgotten God. Our hearts have lapsed, and for a moment, we’ve suppressed the knowledge that God is more satisfying than any hollow offering of sin. Author Jackie Hill Perry describes that first instance in the Garden of Eden: “…Eve bypassed her Creator’s sufficiency and wanted to be satisfied apart from him.” When we bypass the knowledge of God’s sufficiency for our souls, we seek satisfaction apart from Him, which always leads to sin. If we reverse the logic, we realize that the work of remembering God’s sufficiency to satisfy our souls circumvents us from searching elsewhere, and sinning. This work of remembering is more important than we may realize.

Biblical authors cry out with testimonies of God’s ability to satisfy the soul completely:

• “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

• “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

• “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

Our hearts need continual reminding that the best times, are the times we spend in God’s presence. May we say with the Psalmist, “But for me it is good to be near God” (Psalm 73:28a).

PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES

• Make a list. Call to mind the specific moments where God has filled your soul to the brim and overflowing. Whether it was a worship experience, a moment outside as you drank in His creation, an instance where He made a passage of the Bible come alive in a new way, a time spent with Him in prayer, or a breakthrough moment He gave you. Remember how good it is to be near Him.

• Make small trades. In the moments you are tempted to fill your soul with entertainment, social media, or distractions, make a trade and choose something that will center your heart on God. Turn on a podcast, listen to scripture, read a book, talk with Him, or take a walk. Do the thing that brings you closer to His heart. You’ll be reminded all over again that He alone can satisfy your soul.

According to Miriam Webster, to be “weary” is to be “exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor, or freshness.” Where the subject matter of sickness is concerned, it would be easy to find our place somewhere in that description these days. It seems safe to say that we’re collectively “over it” with the coronavirus, even though so many are not “over it” biologically. Although 2 years of pandemic-style living is certainly no eternity, it seems we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for each new measure of endurance required. And when the garden variety of colds, flus, stomach bugs, and viruses make their typical appearances, it feels like adding insult to injury – more unwelcome than ever. We’re tired. We’re thirsty for something “fresh” – something that revitalizes the monotony of discouraging reports. We’re emotionally exhausted from grief – either our own, or grief shared with loved ones and acquaintances who have lost family members.

If you’re there – weary – in every sense of the word, this post is for you. We believe there is value in being honest before the Lord – laying the raw condition of our hearts before Him in the pattern of David’s outpouring in the Psalms.

But we also believe there is value in exploring how to redeem that weariness. What would God have us do with the way that we feel? How can we transform our (very warranted) weariness, into worship?

In the most sensitive way possible, and with every intention not to “slap a band-aid over an open wound”, we want to offer 5 biblical and practical invitations to the hearts that are “soul-tired” of sickness:

FIND REST

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

Every generation and culture has borne heavy burdens. Based on the context of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11, the burdens of an oppressive political climate, a merciless religious system built on legalism, and unmet expectations of what the Messiah’s earthly ministry would look like, collectively grew heavy for the Jewish people during the time of Christ.

The illustration Jesus chose – a plowing yoke, shows us that there is something about being connected and joined with Him, that alleviates the weight of the burden and grants rest in the face of our trials.

Life in connection to Christ is characterized by rest and resilience, despite the strain of living in a world laden with sin and sickness.    

Have we “come to Jesus” in our weariness? Or have we, unknowingly, tried to bear it on our own? Even if it takes another whispered prayer each time we hear another diagnosis given, may we be people that are known for running to Christ when burdened by matters too heavy for us to carry.

ADOPT AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

Romans 8:18-23
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us.”

Our world bears a curse because of sin. The “death and decay” mentioned in this passage are commonplace to us, although we know in the core of our being they shouldn’t be. Sickness is a fact of life, but not original to life. Instead, it is a lingering reminder that sin has broken the aspects of our existence down to a molecular level.

In his book, “Coronavirus and Christ”, John Piper explains:

“Physical evil is a parable, a drama, a signpost pointing to the moral outrage of rebellion against God. . . . Physical pain is God’s trumpet blast to tell us that something is dreadfully wrong in the world. Disease and deformity are God’s pictures in the physical realm of what sin is like in the spiritual realm.”

Romans 8 affirms that this inner “groaning” is an appropriate response to the pain we see around us. We know things shouldn’t be this way. It reassures us that even though we have been rescued in the only way that eternally matters, it is right for us to acknowledge the weight of sin and suffering. Further, it lifts us from that reality and fuels in us a more passionate anticipation for the kind of existence we were made for – the kind of existence we are promised to be ushered into with the Lord forever.

Sickness reminds us that we don’t belong to a sin-scarred world. Our true citizenship is in Heaven. 

GROW IN COMPASSION

Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, was not immune to the pain of seeing loved ones and friends beset with sickness and death. He wept over the death of Lazarus (John 11:35). Scripture often speaks of His compassion for the sick (Matthew 14:14, Matthew 20:34, Mark 1:41).

Following His example, believers who lived through pandemics previous to ours, saw an opportunity to engage the hurting with love and practical care. Author Glen Scrivener reflects on the relational and spiritual impact our response to sickness can produce:

“Plagues intensify the natural course of life. They intensify our own sense of mortality and frailty. They also intensify opportunities to display counter-cultural, counter-conditional love… The plagues “search” us. They discover in us either the way of the flesh (self-preservation) or the way of the Spirit (self-giving sacrifice).”

How can we respond to the reality of widespread sickness in a way that commends the gospel? We can grow in our compassion through reaching out to those battling sickness, empathizing with their struggle, meeting practical needs, checking in on caretakers, and interceding in prayer.

SHARE HOPE

Theologian J.C. Ryle once stated,

“Health is a good thing; but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God.”

That’s a hard truth to grapple with. Nevertheless, sickness, pain, and weakness have a way of proving the hollow nature of human sufficiency. It’s humbling. Sickness can stir up the hardened soil of a calloused heart and cause it to cry out for help. Sickness can break the cycle of physical busyness just long enough that someone has time to realize a spiritual breakthrough. Serious illness is a sober reminder of the fragility of life and the reality of what’s most important.

God, in His kindness, can redeem physical brokenness by using it to soften or realign human hearts.

In our efforts to extend comfort to those hurting physically, we have an opportunity to look for what God may be doing spiritually. With those who are desperate to make sense of a world-wide pandemic, we can share a hope that’s better than restored health. David Platt writes:

“The Good News of Christ is not primarily that Jesus will heal you of all your sicknesses right now, but ultimately that Jesus will forgive you of all your sins forever. The Good News of Christ is not that if you muster enough faith in Jesus, you can have physical and material reward on this earth. The Good News of Christ is that when you have childlike faith in Jesus, you will be reconciled to God for eternity.”

SPEAK THROUGH YOUR SICKNESS

The reality of sickness reveals where our hope truly lies. While it can immobilize us and make us feel helpless at times, sickness becomes an instrument in the hand of an eternally-minded believer. It becomes one more means, among a thousand others, to communicate God’s glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.”

What does that look like practically? J.C. Ryle explains,

“Meekness, gentleness, longsuffering, faith, patience, are all mentioned in the Word of God as fruits of the Spirit… Never do these graces shine so brightly as they do in the sick room. They enable many a sick person to preach a silent sermon, which those around him never forget. Would you adorn the doctrine you profess? Would you make your Christianity beautiful in the eyes of others?”

While we don’t rejoice in diagnoses, we can joyfully receive what accompanies them – the opportunities to glorify Christ in a new context, to experience His help and healing, and to show an onlooking world where true peace is found.   

Our hope in seasons of sickness isn’t solely the prospect of physical healing, but the platform illness has given us to demonstrate dependence on our faithful God, who gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29).   

We’re bringing you “Part 2” of Sunday, January 16th’s teaching! There were 2 points that we didn’t make it to that Sunday morning, and Pastor Phil would like to unpack those with some teaching below. (Serious note-takers, you can breathe a sigh of relief!!) First, we’ll give a quick recap of points 1-4.

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HAVEN’T LISTENED TO PART 1 YET…or NEED A REFRESHER?

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Luke 21:28, 31

“So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!…When you see all these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near!”

1. The Super Sign (Ezekiel 36:24, 37:21-22)

   The “Super Sign” refers to Israel’s becoming a nation again. It has been prophesied (and Jesus foretold) the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersement of the Jewish people all over the world, which happened in 70 AD. Nevertheless, God had promised His people hundreds of years before, “I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.” (Ezekiel 36:24) A fulfillment of this happened on May 14, 1948! All major “end-times” scriptures require of Israel:

   1. To become a literal nation again (This took place in 1948.)

   2. To be in control of Jerusalem (This took place during the 6-day war of 1967.)

   3. To rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (This will occur between now and the midpoint of the Tribulation.)

   For over 1800 years, there were almost no Jewish people living in Israel, a drought having turned Israel into a virtual wasteland. But, soon after Israel’s rebirth, weather patterns “miraculously” changed, technology was developed, and Israel is now a lush and fruitful land again.

In Summary: All the end-times signs hinge on this “Super Sign”, which indicates that we are living near the end of the Church Age!

2. The GEOPOLITICAL SIGNS (EZEKIEL 38)

Ezekiel 38 prophesies a great war against Israel after her rebirth. It describes in great detail the alignment of nations, like Russia, Turkey, and Iran, who will lead a coalition of other nations in a war against Israel. Now, more than ever, the stage for this event is fully set. Many people believe this attack on Israel will take place in a gap period between the Rapture of the Church and the start of the Tribulation Period. Other geopolitical signs can be seen in:

• The growth of The United Nations, World Economic Forum, World Health Organization, and European Union

• The growing strength of superpowers like China

• The decline of American strength and influence

3. The Natural Signs (Matthew 24:7-8, Luke 21:11)

Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of the end-times include prophecies of “earthquakes, plagues, terrifying things, and great miraculous signs from heaven.” We are seeing this all around us in the form of wildfires, locust invasions, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Extreme weather and seismic activity are the natural results of a sin-cursed planet, not carbon emissions! Scripture calls them the “groanings” of a planet longing to be set free from sin’s curse (Romans 8:20-22). These will increase as we come near to the end. Those who warn about a planet with a short life-expectancy may be speaking in direct alignment with Scripture!

4. The Cultural Signs (Matthew 24:37-39, Luke 17:28-30)

Jesus said that the time period before His return would be just like the days of Noah and Lot. In other words, the end-times are characterized in Scripture by increased violence and extreme immorality. Sexual immorality and violence have always been a part of our culture, but not at the levels we see today. From the late sixties until today, we’ve watched the world plunge into the depths of sexual depravity described in Romans 1.

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HERE’S THE REST OF THE SERMON!

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5. The TECHNOLOGICAL SIGNS (DANIEL 12:4, REVELATION 13:16-17)

Daniel 12:4
”But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

Daniel had no idea what he was writing about! How could he? Today, every technology needed to fulfill end-times prophecy exists…and all of it has come within the past 100 years! We’ve gone from riding horses to traveling in space…from knowing little about biological design to mapping our DNA!

One of the specific technological systems required for end-times prophecy to be fulfilled is “Mark of the Beast” technology.

Revelation 13:16-17
”He (the beast) required everyone - small and great, rich and poor, free and slave - to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.”

For this to happen, technology must be able to merge biometrics, a biological tracking system, a cashless/digital currency system, and a global database with a super-processing system to manage it all. Guess what…all of these technologies exist today!

6. The SPIRITUAL SIGNS (MATTHEW 24:14)

Matthew 24:14
"The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”

With the internet now reaching almost every area of the globe (even the middle of the bush in Africa!), The Gospel is literally being preached throughout the whole world. Revival is EXPLODING in some of the darkest places and most oppressive countries on Earth! Thousands are coming to Christ in Iran and China. At the same time, and in typical satanic fashion, we see a rise, and will continue to see an increase of, false Christs, apostasy, the occult, wide-spread deception, and persecution.

All of this is happening, and will continue to happen, because it’s been prophesied that it would! The fact that every single end-times sign is in active play in our day should get our attention. They mean we are very close to the Rapture of the Church and the Return of Christ!

Again, let’s turn our attention to 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-14.

“I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own evil desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”…But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, He will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”

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I don’t know about you, but it’s both riveting and so exciting to be immersed in what God is unfolding right before our eyes. Remember, these prophecies weren’t recorded to produce fear in our hearts, but rather, a confidence that God has secured the final victory (that also belongs to us as His children)! The task (and really, the honor and privilege) before us, is to tell those who don’t know Him, about the urgent and good news of the Gospel of Jesus while there is still time! We carry the BEST news on the planet!

See you Sunday,

Pastor Phil

In January 2022, we jumped into a brand new series: “What In The World!?” The Convergence of Biblical Prophecy & World Events”. As a supplemental resource, Pastor Phil wanted to provide a “starter pack” of helpful information from our series introduction, as well as a list of the resources he has personally found beneficial while leading us through this critical - and complex - topic.

SOME FACTS & FIGURES ON BIBLICAL PROPHECY:

• There are 8,000 prophetic verses in the Bible.

• One out of every 30 verses in the N.T. contains prophecy.

• 23 out of 27 N.T. books mention the second coming of Jesus.

• For every time the first coming of Jesus is mentioned, the second coming is mentioned 8 times!

• The first prophecy concerning Jesus is in Genesis 3:15 (thousands of years before His arrival)!

• There are 333 prophecies about Jesus…Only 109 have been fulfilled through His first coming…There are still 224 prophecies yet to be fulfilled!

“Every single prophecy will be fulfilled;
the Bible is batting 1000.”

BIBLICAL PROPHECY & ISRAEL

• The dispersement of the Jewish people in AD 70

• Their mistreatment and preservation

• The desolation of their homeland

• The return of the Jewish people

• The rebirth of Israel as a literal nation

• The ensuing attacks from border nations

• The growing financial and military strength of Modern Israel

• The global obsession with this tiny nation

• The exact geographical configuration of the Middle East today

• Over the past 120 years, more than 3.5 million Jews have changed their citizenship and have immigrated back to Israel.

…All of these are foretold in great detail through various prophecies that were written thousands of years ago!

PASTOR PHIL’S RESOURCES

The path that Pastor Phil chose to walk on through this study comes from Dr. David Jeremiah’s book, “Where Do We Go From Here?”. This resource is referenced often throughout this sermon series. If you would like to dive into deeper study on your own, Pastor Phil invites you to use this resource, as well as 3 more he has selected:

“Where Do We Go From Here?”
Dr. David Jeremiah

Description:
Today’s headlines shout of modern plagues, social tensions, economic crises, and rampant depression. Many are asking, what day is it on God’s prophetic calendar? Trusted Bible teacher and Pastor, Dr. David Jeremiah opens up the Word of God to reveal what it has to say about the days we are living in.

“The Prophecy Pros’ Illustrated Guide to tough questions about the end times”
Jeff Kinley & Todd Hampson

Description:
In a field often clouded by confusion and sensationalism, keeping track of what the Bible says about the end times can be challenging even for seasoned believers. That’s why the bestselling authors behind the Prophecy Pros Podcast are here to bring you a comprehensive and user-friendly guide to the most need-to-know facts about what is to come.

“Fault lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe”
Voddie T.Baucham Jr.

Description:
In this powerful book, Voddie Baucham, a preacher, professor, and cultural apologist, explains the sinister worldview behind the social justice movement and Critical Race Theory—revealing how it already has infiltrated some seminaries, leading to internal denominational conflict, canceled careers, and lost livelihoods. Like a fault line, it threatens American culture in general—and the evangelical church in particular.

“Understanding the times: The collision of Today’s Competing Worldviews”
David A. Noebel

Description:
This book is a landmark guide to understanding the ideas and forces that are shaping our times. From Christianity to Islam to Humanism to Marxism to the New Age to Postmodernism, Understanding the Times provides Christians with a readable, comprehensive treatment of the most significant religious worldviews operating in Western Civilization.

REMEMBER THIS…

“God knew all of this would happen…
God told us all of this would happen…
God has a plan for you and me in the fulfillment of it all!”

Here are a few lock screens to download to your phone and use as a reminder this week!

We asked our pastoral team which books they not only enjoyed reading in 2021, but which ones especially stirred their affections for Christ. (We asked them for one or two titles each, but this team LOVES to read, and you got some bonus recommendations!) To learn more or find a copy for yourself, click on the cover images.

ERIC SHELNER | TOP READS

LEAD

DARK CLOUDS, DEEP MERCY

THE GOSPEL FOR REAL LIFE

A GOSPEL PRIMER

PHIL BYARS | TOP READS

THROUGH THE EYES OF A LION

KINGDOM MAN

PROPHECY PROS' ILLUSTRATED GUIDE

MATT COX | TOP READS

HOW TO WORSHIP A KING

FRESH WIND, FRESH FIRE

THE BLESSED LIFE

AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

SEAN FOX | TOP READS

GENTLE AND LOWLY

THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG MEN

JEFF ZIMONT | TOP READS

THE TRAVELER'S GIFT

SIMPLE CHURCH

THE LAST MAN AT THE INN

THE VISION DRIVEN LEADER

We pray these written resources nudge your mind and heart even closer to the Savior, as they have for our team!

“Fresh Starts” are a gift straight from Heaven. The advent of a new year feels like a welcome “clean slate”, a springboard for cleaner eating, more consistent disciplines, or even reining in some areas of excess, whether it be entertainment, spending, or sugar indulgence. There’s a reason why you see myriads of new faces at the gym, seemingly overnight. New Year’s Resolutions are a kind echo of God’s perpetual invitation to choose wisdom in our daily living.

Jonathan Edwards, a pastor, writer, and deep lover of God who lived in the 1700’s, applied the discipline of resolution making to his spiritual life. Three, five, or even ten intentional objectives would have been thorough; Jonathan penned seventy - at the age of eighteen years old. You can explore his entire collection if you’d like, but here are a few selections:

• “Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.” (Resolution 25)

• “Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Proverbs 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.” (Resolution 32)

• “Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.” (Resolution 67)

• “Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking.” (Resolution 40)

• “Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.” (Resolution 7)

Carrying out even one of these aims would radically transform one’s life. At best, our new year’s resolutions will do just that - aid in the life-long journey of being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) so that we become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, one degree at a time (2 Corinthians 3:18).

And at worst? Can there be a shadow-side to well-intentioned goal setting? Our enemy will certainly try to insert himself. He knows that human pride can poison our resolutions with a book-end approach. At the outset, pride will seduce us to attack our resolutions in our own strength, independent of the Lord’s enabling grace. And after we have fallen short in one area or another, pride will paralyze us with the accusing sting of defeat, convincing us it’s no use to continue the endeavor. Both of the enemy’s methods to use our resolutions against us remove God from the equation. At some point, most of us have probably experienced one or both of these outcomes…likely before February rolls around.

How, then, can we make resolutions resistant to the influence of pride? How can we stand in a posture of humility mingled with lion-hearted courage? How can we foster a hopeful and earnest spirit of dedication instead of a resolve laced with cynicism?

…BY Remembering the Lord.

Often in Scripture, when God’s people stand at the precipice of a challenging (or downright seemingly impossible) situation, He invites them to hit rewind. He reminds them of all the scenarios where He’s shown up on their behalf in the past - the scenarios where they didn’t stand a chance without His gracious intervention. Just as a bellows delivers invigorating oxygen to a struggling fire, God breathes a strong blast of courage into the hearts of His struggling people, not by reminding them of their own capability, but by reassuring them of His own.

In Deuteronomy, we find Moses pleading with the people under his care to do this humble work of remembering. The Israelites were getting ready to walk out of their wilderness and into the new challenges of receiving the land God had promised to them. Moses, with a tear-jerking appeal, framed their future and past with this perspective:  

Deuteronomy 1:30-31
“The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.”

Images of strong protective arms, a compassionate heart, enduring strength, and sovereign foresight that could only describe a Father, reminded the Israelite people that they had been carried for the last 40 years. They couldn’t afford to forget that God was the source of their deliverance and flourishing.

We can’t afford to forget it either. We can’t afford to forget that we aren’t responsible for our own successes. We aren’t even sufficient for our own faithfulness. Even the simplest resolution we carry out is enabled by the grace of a generous Father.

The Work Of Remembering
protects our resolving
from becoming self-relying.

As we set our hearts to new resolutions, may we be a people who also, and often, set our hearts to remembering. Practically, this could look like marrying each of our resolutions to an evidence of God’s faithfulness or His character.

“This year, I’m going to workout twice a week,”

could become,

“God has given me a physical frame and sent His Spirit to live within me. Because His Spirit enables me to bear the fruit of self-control, I will depend on His grace to help me care for this bodily temple by exercising twice a week.”

or,

“This year, I want to stop giving in to anxiety,”

could become,

“God has always provided for my needs in the past. His presence with me is the foundation for my peace. This year, I resolve to take each anxious moment I encounter to Him, letting Him speak truth to me and fill me with His peace.”

If you’re a list-maker, you could simply pair each of your resolutions with a verse about a facet of God’s character or one of His promises that will remind you of His enabling grace for that goal.

At the very beginning of Jonathan Edwards’ list of resolutions, before he recorded even one objective, we find a really important prerequisite that defines each of the 70 to come:

“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will for Christ’s sake.”

As we step into renewed resolve for God’s glory and our good, let us steep all of our resolutions and goals in the rich truth that apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, we can do all the things He leads us to (Philippians 4:13). Let us never do the work of resolving apart from abiding.

Luke 2:25-32 (ESV)

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’”

Luke didn’t tell us if Simeon’s hands were recognizably worn, contoured by the evidence of a long-practiced skill or trade. We don’t know if his ascent into the temple was a little slow and labored. We don’t know if he understood the significance of his trip that day. We just know that he carried with him a promise that God made to him personally: he would see the Messiah in his lifetime.

Did he marvel with each passing day, month, year – that his eyes would see God’s salvation? His eyes. His parents lived in anticipation, as had their parents, and their parents. Each passing generation added another layer of longing for the promise foretold by prophets and more recently revealed…to him.

Did the wonder in his eyes match the astonishment in Mary and Joseph’s as he cradled their son? Did these new parents shed joyful tears as they watched Simeon bless God the Father for sending Him? And did some of those tears spring from the relief of yet another confirmation that the angels’ messages were true?

God was validating His plan as it unfolded before the eyes of a waiting world.

It’s easy to rush past this small interaction in the Christmas narrative, but slowly savored, it offers a breathtaking image of the Trinity. God the Spirit reveals to Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he dies. Jesus is born – the Word made flesh. God the Spirit leads Simeon in a divine appointment to the new family of three. Simeon cradles God the Son in his hands and then engages God the Father, blessing Him for keeping His promise and sending the long-awaited “consolation of Israel” in human form, now nestled in his arms. God the Spirit, the Son, and the Father, in perfect union, orchestrate a single moment in the temple to introduce salvation to a darkened and pain-laden world.

God is still validating His plan as it unfolds before our eyes. We find ourselves in another “waiting” season of redemptive history, as we collectively anticipate the return of Jesus, not as a baby, but as a bridegroom. And as we wait, the Holy Spirit keeps confirming that, amidst a world crippled by confusion and crisis, God’s plan is actually unfolding just like He promised it would. He’s whispering reminders of the promise. He’s validating the Messiah, in a thousand ways.

Every time a heart is stirred and softened to the presence of Christ…
Every time a relationship is reconciled by the peace of Christ…
Every instance where the church is built on the foundation of Christ…
Every time the gospel is presented with the love of Christ…
Every time a sickness is reversed by the healing power of Christ…
Every time depression and despair are overpowered by the goodness of Christ…
Every time a prayer is answered in the name of Christ…
Every time eyes are opened in true understanding of the mercy of Christ…
Every time a believer is baptized to declare the joy of new life in Christ…

…the Holy Spirit reaffirms the promised unfolding work of the risen Messiah until He comes again.

Jesus is building His church today. He is reconciling men, women, and children to Himself, today. He is spreading the joy of the knowledge of God everywhere, today. And He’s doing it through those who are led by His Spirit. It’s unthinkably amazing that God chooses to use people like Simeon, and like us, to carry out His redemptive plan.

The invitation for us is to marvel at our God, Three In One, who never stops working, even in our waiting. May it be said of us, as it was said of Mary:

Luke 1:45
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

“I will be with you.” Depending on who’s speaking, it’s difficult to find a phrase more laden with comfort. When spoken by a parent, it’s powerful enough to embolden a thousand “firsts”. When whispered by your closest friend in the middle of a waiting room, it’s pure borrowed courage. It’s the quiet presence of a faithful brother or sister who can’t fix the situation but is committed to sitting with you in your pain. It’s the unquestioning resolve of your spouse to fight your sin with you instead of walking away. It may be the most native need of the human soul: the promise of presence. Beginning with the Garden of Eden, God has instilled in His children an innate desperation to hear these words from Him…

…And He’s been speaking them over us ever since. 

The following passages form a collective glimpse of this promise, echoing across the pages of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Oh friend, read and relish His words with an ear inclined to hear His heartbeat:

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Genesis 26:3
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.

Genesis 28:15
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Exodus 3:12, 14
He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” …And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Numbers 14:9
Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.

Deuteronomy 20:2-4
“Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

Deuteronomy 23:16a
He shall dwell with you, in your midst, in the place that he shall choose within one of your towns, wherever it suits him.

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Joshua 1:5
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Judges 6:16
And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

1 Kings 11:38
And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

1 Chronicles 17:8
”…and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.”

2 Chronicles 20:17
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:1-2
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:23
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 John 4:16 
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

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God has always dwelt with His people. Stretching from Genesis to Malachi, God dwelt with His children, in clouds by day and pillars by night, in burning bushes and on mountaintops, in a moving tent, and in the Temple’s holy of holies. But it seems the greatest and most profound iteration of “I will be with you" was showcased over 2,000 years ago in a humble manger scene. What could have communicated His nearness more powerfully than God being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7)? 

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).

In the most demonstrable way possible, God pledged “I will be with you” to us in Christ. And ever since Christ returned to the Father’s side, He has dwelt with us in Spirit. Jesus Christ’s redemptive work guarantees we will dwell with God forever. He is with us, and He will always be.

“Immanuel, God with us.”
It is hell’s terror.
Satan trembles at the sound of it…
Let him come to you suddenly,
And do you but whisper that word,
“God with us,”
Back he falls, confounded and confused…
“God with us” is the laborer’s strength.
How could he preach the gospel,
How could he bend his knees in prayer,
How could the missionary go into foreign lands,
How could the martyr stand at the stake,
How could the confessor own his Master,
How could men labor
If that one word were taken away?…

“God with us” is eternity’s sonnet,
Heaven’s hallelujah,
The shout of the glorified,
The song of the redeemed,
The chorus of the angels,
The everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.

– Charles Spurgeon

“Personal ministry is not about always knowing what to say. It is not about fixing everything in sight that is broken. Personal ministry is about connecting people with Christ so that they are able to think as he would have them think, desire what he says is best, and do what he calls them to do even if their circumstances never get ‘fixed’. It involves exposing hurt, lost, and confused people to God's glory, so that they give up their pursuit of their own glory and live for his.” – Paul David Tripp

The team at Michiana Biblical Counseling Center (MBCC) is passionate about this work of “connecting” people with Christ, and equipping believers to do the same. True hope, transformation, and healing is found in Christ alone, and because of that, the counselors at MBCC witness entire family trajectories changed by encountering and following Him in the midst of a broken world.

Deanna Doctor has enjoyed a front-row seat to this amazing work over her last six years serving as MBCC’s Counseling Director. “Sitting down with ‘my people’ (my counselees) and hearing what they have learned about God as they have studied His word that week is precious,” Deanna shared. “Praying with them and problem-solving with them, based upon the sufficient character of God, is life-giving to me! (And the fact that I get to do this alongside our fantastic team of men and women who love people passionately is icing on the cake!)”

Proverbs 20:5 tells us that ,

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”

We’ve “met” some ministries over the past several weeks that meet needs through a coordinated effort to pool and distribute physical resources. Others are uniquely qualified to partner with individuals navigating unplanned pregnancy, addiction, or cancer. MBCC’s ministry is invested in diving deep into the “deep waters” of the heart, the kind of needs that people don’t typically wear on their sleeves. This is patient work, trust-building work, uncomfortable work, hard work, Spirit-enabled work, and 100% “worth-it” work.

Deanna told us about the joy she’s experiencing in this season as she counsels: “Several of my people, this week, confessed sin to God right in the session as soon as God convicted them! I love it when they are moved to action immediately upon being convicted! That sensitivity to the Spirit is something I want to pattern!”

We would probably all agree that it’s nearly impossible to be involved in ministry without being changed ourselves. This has been Deanna’s experience: “I have grown spiritually, relationally, and emotionally over my 23 years of counseling and I don’t have words to express how grateful I am to God for doing that work in my life! God’s faithfulness to use the specific women, families, couples, and teens I meet with to sharpen my faith, and really every aspect of who I am, will never get old to me! I am truly living the dream and am so grateful!”

This is the design of our Father: people indwelt by His Spirit, helping other people to become more like Him, one degree at a time. Paul David Tripp reminds us:

“Embedded in the larger story of redemption is a principle we must not miss: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others.”

The ministry here is boundless: One truth shared in a counseling session might lead to one decision in someone’s life that might break off generational patterns of sin and change a family’s legacy for ages to come. Testimonies of crumbling marriages that are restored speak to other relationships in crisis that healing is possible. Freedom from the grip of a lifetime of anxiety declares that peace is not only a possibility but promised in Jesus’ name. Transformation and renewal are sparked horizontally over an endless network of influence and vertically down the generations to come, and it all started in the counseling room.

Ripple-effects don’t get better than this.  

“Pray that God continues to provide passionate counselors to meet the needs of those requesting counseling,” Deanna asked. “Pray that our team stays stirred up in our affection for Jesus and passionate about helping hurting people. Pray that each of us counselors would be humble and teachable to the Spirit in our own lives.”

Not all have been called to walk alongside men and women in trauma every day. But some have been, and their perspectives and insights are usually well worth listening to. There’s something about the stories of first responders, emergency personnel, and crisis counselors that draws us in. Maybe it’s because life and death moments awaken us to what’s truly most important in life. They uncover spiritual realities that are otherwise numbed by life’s distractions.  

These are the moments where Loretta Salchert lives every day. She’s been serving as the Executive Director at Ribbon of Hope for 15 ½ years, where she leads her team in bringing help and hope to cancer patients, families, and caregivers. What does that actually look like on a day-to-day basis? It’s so much more than crisis counseling; along with their team of volunteers, Ribbon of Hope provides:

·      Personal attention

·      Monthly encouragement notes

·      Phone calls

·      Hospital visits

·      Occasional household assistance

·      Transportation to medical appointments

·      Faithful prayers and spiritual encouragement

·      Bereavement care

·      Cancer resource information

·      Child/youth support (parental coaching)*

*List source: https://ribbonofhope.org/patients/

Here’s the best part: God has given Ribbon of Hope a position of influence at Elkhart General Hospital to not only partner with patients, meet practical needs, and provide encouragement, but also to share the message of a Savior who brings hope. “I could tell you so many stories,” Loretta shared. “The unsaved almost always come back with a ‘Why would you do this for me?’ statement. And we get to tell them how much God loves them and wants a personal relationship with them.”

C.S. Lewis wisely wrote,

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

The pain and heartbreak of a cancer diagnosis, in the hands of a loving God, can awaken a hurting heart to the goodness of relationship with Jesus Christ. Ribbon of Hope has seen it happen over and over. Loretta gets to watch Christ breathe life into the hurting and restore hope to the hopeless, and that never, ever gets old.

Trauma care isn’t easy. Loretta told us, “I had a professor who warned me many years ago while in class that those who are called into trauma/crisis care are being asked to work in the catacombs of the tombs. This work is dirty, depressing, dark, hopeless, and can be lonely. She charged us with learning to work in the tombs and not live in the tombs.” And while Loretta and her team help individuals and families wrestle with some of the most difficult realities of life in a fallen world, she wants the church to know, “Your support is a great reminder that we are not physically in this alone. Your prayer support is PURE GOLD!”

Local churches like FBC provide many of the volunteers that fuel the ministry at Ribbon of Hope. In fact, one of the things that impacts Loretta and her team most deeply is “watching churches roll up their sleeves through prayer and practical involvement in ways that ‘lift up our arms’ as we serve every day in cancer care.” First time volunteers often respond with comments like,

“I was a little scared when I signed up, but now that I’m trained, I’m ready!”

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“I had no idea it could feel this good to serve strangers.”

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“Serving others for Christ is challenging me to draw closer to Him.”

Loretta shared with us that Ribbon of Hope is preparing to open a second office on County Road 17 near FBC in early 2022! “We need more volunteers who love Jesus to help us bring hope to our community through practical acts of kindness,” said Loretta. “God is letting us ‘meet people at the well’, and we don’t want to miss the chance to do that.”

It’s been said that pain is humanity’s “lowest common denominator”. Whether touched by cancer or another trial, everyone needs the hope that is freely offered in Christ. Loretta reminded us, “Our community is hurting. So much is uncertain: politics, economy, jobs, family, etc. The one absolute we have is Jesus.”

FAITH MISSION

Every day, Vera Swihart looks forward to working with volunteers who, in her words, “feel like they are being just as blessed by serving others as they are a blessing to those they serve.” The outpouring is reciprocal, and Vera has witnessed it firsthand. She’s worn many hats at Faith Mission over the years, including secretarial work in the 70’s and administrative assistant duties in the 80’s and 90’s, before she became Faith Mission’s volunteer coordinator in 2008.

Faith Mission was born out of a shared dream of two pastors in 1956 to serve the homeless community in Elkhart. The space they rented downtown became a haven for those without lodging or food, and the streets of our city became their well-worn routes for carrying the message of hope in Christ.

Today, Faith Mission still operates with the same heartbeat: providing shelter, meals, clothing, programs, and faith-based hope to our community in need. They’ve added long-term residential and life skill programs that help individuals and families build strong foundations for longevity and stability, pursue employment, and experience lasting change. Over the last few years, they’ve partnered with The Crossing School, local businesses, churches (including FBC), and community volunteers to build “Tiny Homes” that provide emergency shelter to individuals and families.

FBC VOLUNTEERS CONSTRUCT TINY HOMES

God has flooded blessing and favor on what began as a nudge from the Holy Spirit on two pastors in a Bible class together. It has grown to truly demonstrate the passage written above the serving counter in their dining room in scripted brushstrokes:

“Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day.” – Isaiah 58:10 (The Living Bible)

“Generally speaking,” Vera shared, “when an individual is at his/her lowest point, even the basic things we provide at Faith Mission are really appreciated.” By helping Faith Mission meet even basic physical needs, volunteers make a profound impact on lives. What blesses her the most, is her volunteers’ willingness to perform their best as “unto the Lord”.

Matthew 25:35-40

(Holman Christian Standard Bible)

“‘For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”

FEED THE CHILDREN

Across town, Darlene Anderson Wilson spends the best hours of her days at Feed The Children. This location that God has placed “in our backyard” is one of 5 distribution centers where Feed the Children funnels food resources and other essential supplies to families in poverty and affected by natural disasters.

Darlene’s role at Feed the Children as Volunteer Engagement Supervisor has her constantly sharing life with the people that make this enormous operation work, and she LOVES it: 

“I am always touched by the generosity of volunteers’ time to come in. I know how busy my life is and I know many of them have just worked an 8 to 10-hour day and still come in to pack boxes to help others as busy as they are.” – Darlene Anderson Wilson

In addition to guiding Volunteers, Darlene oversees the Teacher Store, which invites teachers to “shop” for classroom supplies at no personal expense. Darlene has seen the way this impacts the hearts of local teachers: “I’ve seen it in something as simple as providing a teacher with a new chair for their desk or having books that are “perfect” for their students,” Darlene said. “The teachers leave here knowing we care about the work they are doing, and some have cried from the generosity they are shown.”

FBC VOLUNTEERS AT FEED THE CHILDREN

The overwhelming pattern in what Darlene shared with us is how God shows up in the moment-by-moment interactions that happen at the Distribution Center.

She treasures her interactions with the at-risk students who come and volunteer, describing the moments when they share with her the things that are important to them, their smiles in response to a “job well done”, and their laughter and camaraderie as they tell stories and even sing while packing boxes. “They come in and help complete whatever task we have for the day with enthusiasm and an eagerness to help out. When they are here, it seems like they forget about their circumstances for a while and are just kids volunteering,” Darlene shared.

Whether she’s helping a driver who can’t find an address or even helping a parent line up community service work for their son or daughter, Darlene understands that each of her scenarios at Feed The Children is an opportunity to spread kindness and grace to others.

As God uses Feed the Children to intervene in the cycle of poverty both domestically and abroad, He is also orchestrating encounters and conversations in a volunteer context to intervene in lives with His love. And that’s pretty incredible.

BRISTOL COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

“We get the chance to be in the gaps for people. We have seen where food gives us a chance to listen to people who need a chance to talk and unload from some of life’s hurts and heavy things. That happens quite often as we listen; it’s not unusual for people to cry and release pressures of life as we listen and pray.”

– Chris Garner, Executive Director, Bristol Community Food Pantry

Adopting this role in 2019 enabled Chris to step right into the lives of others, where he has witnessed firsthand the overlap between meeting physical and spiritual needs. If you’ve volunteered at Bristol Community Food Pantry before, you may have been surprised that your main role in helping families was to “listen”, even above providing logistical help. It’s all because this ministry’s passion for meeting relevant physical needs is built upon the desire to meet spiritual ones. Every facet of the experience at Bristol Food Pantry has been intentionally designed to demonstrate the love of Christ, providing nourishment to both the human body and soul.

A bag of groceries may last for a week, but a heart that has been touched is impacted eternally.

This kind of ministry functions on lots of moving pieces, so when volunteers show up with a posture of willingness to do whatever is needed, from handling small to large items, it especially blesses Chris and his team. “Not everything is glamorous and visibly impactful, but it is all part of the wheels that help the ministry run well,” Chris shared.

The Bristol Food Pantry is funded mainly by personal donors. In fact, community food drives hosted by organizations and churches like FBC help to keep shelves stocked, especially during busy times of the year. Chris and his team are also looking for people to help them expand into home delivery, pre-packing, and helping with shopping and food pick up at local stores.

For Chris, it all comes back to this: “When you tangibly see that what you do impacts a life in that moment, it helps you understand how critical it is that we are available to people – how God designed for each of us to be serving, living, and seeing the people around us.”

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RETA

Food isn’t the only drive we’re hosting during this year’s Season of Generosity! Those of you who are kids at heart have our full permission to revisit the toy aisle and bless another local ministry we’re partnering with: Reason Enough To Act (RETA).

RETA is located downtown Elkhart and comes alongside women and men in our community who are facing unplanned pregnancy or navigating parenting for the first time. Their annual Christmas Toy Drive allows client families to select and provide age-specific gifts for their kids. It’s an intentional extension of the relationship RETA has been building with each of these families. Joni Bradberry, who has served as RETA’s Client Services Manager for the last 15 years, shared with us her desire to see families blessed physically and spiritually this Christmas season. She would love for our FBC Family to partner in prayer that, “clients would have open hearts and minds to hear the message of Jesus through our Christmas packet and programming.”

Much like the Bristol Food Pantry, RETA’s toy drive brings physical blessing built upon spiritual care. “Several moms going through hard times have appreciated a listening ear and the prayer support we offer,” Joni remarked.

God is undeniably at work in and through RETA. One of our favorite things that Joni shared was the consensus of typical comments or reactions from first-time volunteers that serve at RETA: they feel the presence of Jesus as they serve. It’s easy to see why. After all, the heart of Christ spilled over with love for the little ones He encountered in His earthly ministry:

Mark 10:13-16 (New Living Translation)

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then He took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”

The desire of Christ was for parents to engage Him with their children. Helping individuals and families to do this is deeply planted at the heart of RETA’s ministry, and the difficult moments of pregnancy and parenting become a ready atmosphere for encounters with Him.

“I am an atheist.” “I have a felony charge.” “I don’t have money. Can I be a part of your ministry?”  

These are just a few of the questions that Carrie Zickefoose, Executive Director of SPA Women's Ministry Homes, is asked from time to time. Her answer is always the same: “Yes, yes, and yes! I want women to know,” Carrie explains, “that regardless of what it looks like, we, the body of Christ, are here to walk alongside them in truth and love. Come, and let me tell you about my Jesus!”  

SPA (Spiritual & Personal Adjustments) Women’s Ministry Homes is a Christ-centered, residential treatment program that empowers women to address the root causes of life-controlling issues and addictions in order to live productive lives of recovery. SPA has been walking alongside women and helping them to find freedom in Christ through a life-on-life ministry context since 1998.  

“I wish more people realized that addiction does not discriminate,” Carrie remarked. “Your friend, neighbor, Sunday school teacher, coworker, etc. May be struggling and may need a safe, non-judgmental, loving environment to share.” Participating in the way that God is transforming women’s lives through His healing and freedom compels her to pour her heart and life into daily ministry at SPA.  

Carrie looks forward to moments like these at the beginning of the day: “I love walking through the door to laughter – undeniable – from the belly – fall on the floor – tears of joy – kind of laughter!” Those who walk onto the campus find a warm, vibrant atmosphere and an unmistakable sense of family and solidarity. Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place.  

SPA works intimately with local churches in the Elkhart area, and its leadership looks for opportunities to foster that partnership even outside of Sunday morning services. Carrie told us the following story as an example:  

“We recently hosted a pastor's appreciation dinner in our home here at SPA Women's Ministry. While pastors enjoyed a meal that was prepared for them, our ladies shared with them through song, poetry, storytelling, comedy, and art. In that moment, I saw our ladies’ hearts soften as they served our pastors, and our pastors responded with love and appreciation! For some of our ladies, it had been a long time since anyone applauded them and said, ‘well done.’ And the next day, our ladies expressed over, and over again, how much joy it brought them to do something nice for those who pour Jesus into their lives day in and day out!”  

As a church, our FBC Family treasures the opportunity to partner with all that God is doing through SPA Women’s Ministry Homes. We have watched Him pour favor over this local ministry for years, providing resources to serve more women, transforming lives and entire family trajectories, inspiring creative and innovative new endeavors for the ladies in residence, and moving His church to be a part.  

How to Pray Specifically for SPA Women’s Ministry Homes:  

“Please pray for our ladies that they grow closer to Jesus. Pray for wisdom and discernment for our staff, mentors, and volunteers as they speak into our ladies' lives. Pray for our capacity to reach deep into our community to connect with those who are hurting and who could benefit from this ministry. Pray for our benefit service in February, that God's protection and favor is with us. And most importantly, say ‘thanks’ for who He is and His love and grace for us!” - Carrie Zickefoose  

How to Bless & Serve SPA Women’s Ministry Homes: