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Liberty Worship Center

Author: Pastor Bert Mendelson

  • What a Day!

    frustrated girl in front of tablet

    What a Day!

    Hard Days

    Sometimes, life just seems too hard. Rent is due. Car needs work. Kids need new clothes. Having trouble with my spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend/fill-in-the-blank. On top of it all, some artificial intelligence (AI) is probably about to take my job and make me obsolete!
    In some ways, in seems like it would have been easier to live in a different time. In other ways, we can marvel at what we see and be thankful that we live in this time (can you say air conditioning?). The Bible tells us about people who also went through struggles – some of them far worse.

    Job

    Job 3:1-5 (NASB)

    1 Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
    2 And Job said,
    3 “Let the day perish on which I was to be born, And the night which said, A boy is conceived.
    4 “May that day be darkness; Let not God above care for it, Nor light shine on it.
    5 “Let darkness and black gloom claim it; Let a cloud settle on it; Let the blackness of the day terrify it.

    We can understand how Job felt. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was very wealthy, and everyone respected him. In one day, all of his cattle were either stolen or killed, and all of his children were killed. He lost all of his possessions. Later, he got some type of skin disease. He looked and felt horrible. He had nothing. He lost all of his children. All of his friends and neighbors considered him cursed of God, and even the children mocked him. His best friends came to comfort him, but they only made him feel worse.
    He no longer wanted to exist. Notice, though, that he never mentioned suicide, nor did he curse God. Instead, he praised God and confirmed his trust in Him.

    Job 19:25 (NASB)

    25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

    Restoration

    Job knew that God was loving and merciful, in spite of what was happening in his life at that time. He knew that God would eventually deliver him, and God did. After a very difficult period, God healed him, gave him seven more sons and three more daughters, restored twice as much wealth as he had before, and restored his position in his community.
    This only happened because he remained faithful.

    Jeremiah

    God called Jeremiah to prophesy against kings and other very powerful people. Of course, they did not like this, so they would often beat him, mock him, and steal his things. This had happened to Jeremiah again, and he was getting very depressed.

    Jeremiah 20:14-15 (NASB)

    14 Cursed be the day when I was born; Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me!
    15 Cursed be the man who brought the news To my father, saying, “A baby boy has been born to you!” And made him very happy.

    He was still trusting God, and he was giving Him praise, knowing that God would eventually deliver Him. Still, he wondered:

    Why Me?

    Jeremiah 20:18 (NASB)

    18 Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame?

    Do you ever wonder why it seems like everyone else is doing better than you are (hint: they’re not)? We all go through trials. How we handle them determines if we get closer to God or further away.

    Good Days

    Yes, good days do come. Probably not as many as we would like, but they do come.

    Psalms 34:3-4 (NASB)

    3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
    4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.

    Those who trust in God will be delivered.

    Looking Ahead

    1 Peter 1:10-12 (NASB)

    10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,
    11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
    12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look.

    The Old Testament prophets would prophesy about Jesus, the coming Messiah, the Savior of the world, but they could only see part of the picture. They could not see just how much Jesus was going to do for us, but they longed to see. Even the angels wanted to know what was going to happen.

    What a Day!

    Luke 2:6-7 (NASB)

    6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
    7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    The day that Jesus was born, our salvation was born. This day was going to affect everything that came before, everything that was, and everything that was going to come.
    Jesus came to live a perfect life, then teach us how to live an abundant life in Christ, then die for our sins, and be raised up from the dead to give us eternal life.

    Fullness of Time

    Galatians 4:4-5 (NASB)

    4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
    5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

    At the perfect time, Jesus came to earth as a man. He lived under the same constraints, hardships, pains, and difficulties that we all experience. Then, He paid the penalty for our sin. We all deserved death, but He took our place.

    Salvation

    John 3:16-18 (NASB)

    16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
    17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
    18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

    Jesus came so that we could live with Him forever. Left to ourselves, we had no chance, because no one else has ever lived a perfect, sin-free life. He wants us to trust Him and live for Him, so that we can have eternal life, rejoicing with Him forever.

    New Heaven and Earth

    Revelation 21:1-4 (NASB)

    1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
    2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
    3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
    4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

    God wants to be with us forever, just like a good father loves to spend time with his children. One day, everything that we know here will pass away, and it will all be new. God will create the perfect place for us to live together with Him for all of eternity.
    Oh, what a day! What a day that will be!

    Calling

    Jesus is calling to you today. Will you answer? Call to Him and speak with Him. He is waiting for you.

    If you would like someone to help you with your new life with Jesus, please contact us. We would love the opportunity to get to know you better and help you on this incredible journey.

    Contact Us

  • Saving for the Future

    Saving for the Future

    Savings

    Most people want to save up for something. Maybe it’s a new car, or a better house, or college education. Whatever it is, it’s worth sacrificing a little today, so they can have something nice in the future. We all dream of a better life, nicer clothes, living in a new neighborhood, etc.
    What are we willing to give up now to get our dream in the future?

    Delay of Gratification

    Saving for the future usually requires denying ourselves something now. If we want to buy a house, we might need to rent a less-expensive apartment, so we can save up for the down payment on a house. If we want to send our children to better schools, we probably can’t go out to eat every night.
    If we want to follow Jesus now, there are some things that we have to give up.

    Luke 9:23 (NASB)

    23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

    Self-denial sounds like a bad thing, but it’s not always bad. For example, I intentionally deny myself food I don’t like. I also deny myself the act of hitting my head against a wall (usually). Most importantly, I deny myself things that will come between me and my relationship with God. To me, not having that closeness with Jesus hurts more than wall-induced headaches.
    What are some of the things that come between us and God?

    Hindrances

    Idolatry is when we worship someone or something more than, or instead of God alone. It can also be considering something else more important than He is to us. Throughout the Bible, God uses the example of marriage to show our relationship with Him. He created us so that He could love us.

    Colossians 3:5 (NASB)

    5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

    Here, Paul is telling us some of the things that God views as idolatry – worshiping a different god. They are also things that harm our lives and the lives of those around us.
    Immorality: Just like Adam and Eve, we were created to marry someone of the opposite sex and live with them for the rest of our lives. Any other sex might seem like fun at the time, but it always causes heartache in the end, leaving ruined lives behind.
    Impurity: There are temptations all around us in movies, the Internet, social media, or just crude jokes with friends or coworkers. What we do starts with what we think.
    Passion: Passion within a marriage is good; anything else is not.
    Evil desire: wanting something that we know we should not have. A young child might dream of eating nothing but candy and sweets. That can keep them from actually eating good, nutritious food, though.
    Greed: It can be easy, at times, to see someone else with something that we want. We might think that we deserve it more than they do. A major part of living a life pleasing to God is accepting how he created us. I will never be the richest or poorest. I will never be the best-looking or the worst-looking. There are many things that we will never be, but we will always be created in the image of God, and worthy of living a godly life.

    Satisfaction

    Philippians 4:12-13 (NASB)

    12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
    13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

    Paul learned, through his life experiences, how to be content, whether he had a lot or a little. He knew that wherever he was in life, His heavenly Father would be there with him, helping him every step of the way.

    Easy Labor

    Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

    28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
    29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
    30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

    Yes, we do have to work in this life, but Jesus told us to take His yoke, to take His burden. When we are living for the devil, we carry a heavy burden of sin, guilt, and shame. Jesus wants to set us free from all of that.

    The Enemy

    1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)

    8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

    We do have an actual enemy called the devil or Satan. Long ago, he was jealous of God and wanted to be God. God, thankfully, did not allow that. He banished Satan from His presence. Since God created us (and not the angels) in His image, Satan hates us and delights in hurting us. This is why he tempts us with evil things. He knows that they will separate us from God. He knows that they will keep us in bondage to him, not set us free in Christ.

    Finding Your Life

    Luke 9:24-26 (NASB)

    24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
    25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
    26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

    In order to have a good life now, and for eternity, we need to be willing to give up the harmful things in our lives. Nothing in this world can compare to spending eternity with Jesus in heaven, and the best part is that we don’t have to wait. We can live that abundant life right now.

    Abundant Life

    John 10:10 (NASB)

    10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

    When Jesus said “abundantly”, He used a word that meant something that exceeded what was necessary – a super-abundance.

    Down Payment

    2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NASB)

    21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
    22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

    The same Holy Spirit Who was there in creation, the same Holy Spirit Who enabled Jesus to live a sin-free life, the same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, has been given to us, by Jesus, as a pledge, or down payment, with much more to come.

    Divine Helper

    John 14:16-17 (NASB)

    16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
    17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

    When Jesus was walking this earth with His disciples, He could only be one place at one time. In order to complete His work, He needed to be wherever His children were, whenever they needed Him. After He died for us on the cross, then was raised up again, He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to help us, and to give us a taste of what to expect in heaven.

    Building for the Future

    1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NASB)

    11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
    12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
    13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
    14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
    15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

    The things that we do determine what we have. If we build a shelter out of cardboard, it will protect us from the sun, but not from any rain. If we build a substantial house, with a strong foundation, strong walls, and a reinforced roof, even a hurricane won’t be able to blow it down.
    The trials of life will test what we are building today. After this life is over, there will be a judgment day that will test what we are building. If we build with gold and silver, they will only get stronger and more purified when tested by fire. We can settle for less, but the end result will ultimately be less, and might even be completely burned up.

    Crown of Righteousness

    2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NASB)

    7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
    8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

    At the end of our lives, may we all be able to say, as Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” If we do this, we will also have a “crown of righteousness” waiting for us. Truly, Jesus is the only one Who deserves this crown, but He wants to share this with everyone who has “loved His appearing.”

    Eternal Life

    Ever since the Garden of Eden, God has been calling to us to spend time with Him. Today can be the start of a new beginning for you. Call to Him today, and He will help you on a journey that we keep going up, all the way to eternity.

    If you would like to discuss this with someone or would like prayer, please send us a message by clicking here.

  • New Year New Life

    fireworks display from snow capped mountain during nighttime

    New Year New Life

    New Year

    We are about to start a new calendar year. Many people make resolutions – “this year I will get in shape”, or “this year I will study harder”, or “this year I will be nicer.” What if we went to the extreme and said, “this year, I will be a new person – the person that God created me to be?”

    New Mind

    Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

    1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
    2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

    God is calling us to offer ourselves, not as physical sacrifices, but as spiritual sacrifices. This is our spiritual, or rational, or logical service of worship to Him. This is one of the paradoxes in the Christian. A sacrifice in the Old Testament always died, but we are called on to be a “living and holy sacrifice.” Jesus told us that each one of us needs to “deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
    In our own strength, this is impossible, but if we focus on Jesus and make Him the most important Person in our lives, and serving Him the most important task in our lives, He will give us the strength to see it through. Verse 2 above is one of the keys. We need to not “go with the flow” (“do not be conformed to this world”). Going along to get along is easy. It’s like floating in the middle of a river – you just let it take you wherever it goes. God has called us to do the hard thing – swim against the current. The word “holy” means separate. We are called to be separate from the ungodly things in the world, and separated to and for God Himself.

    Sound Judgment

    Small boy with sumo wrestler

    Many times, our opinion of ourselves is not accurate. We might feel like we are better/more capable than we are (the young boy above). We might feel like we are less capable than we are. Knowing and accepting who we are and where we are is important. God has created each one of us with special gifts that should be used for His glory.

    Romans 12:3 (NASB)

    3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

    God has given each one of us “a measure of faith.” Your faith might be enough to move mountains (Matthew 21:21). Maybe you are asking God for faith to believe in Him. A humble heart is what He is looking for. We need to not be prideful; we should not think “more highly” of ourselves than we “ought to think.” Jesus showed us incredible humility. He left His place as creator of the universe and came to live with us, being born as a baby, completely dependent on His earthly parents, then offered Himself up as a sacrifice for our sins. Throughout His life, He walked humbly among us, never sinning, showing us the way to live.

    Ultimate Humility

    Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

    5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
    6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
    7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
    8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

    A humble person is next in line, but lets someone else go first.
    A humble person might tell the boss that their coworker deserves the promotion instead of them.
    A humble person sees someone else doing well and is happy for them, not jealous.
    A humble person thanks God for all of their blessings, even if they don’t have much.
    A humble person know that without Christ, they can do nothing.
    A humble person shares what they have, knowing that all good things come from God.
    A humble person recognizes that God created them, just as they are, because God loves them. A humble person will look for God’s will and purpose in their life, because they are grateful for the opportunity to be of service to the Creator of the Universe.

    Perfect Example

    Matthew 20:25-28 (NASB)

    25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
    26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
    27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
    28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

    Jesus didn’t just tell us how to serve each other; He showed us. He gave His life, so we could live. Don’t look to control other people. Look for ways to help them, to serve them.

    Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)

    1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
    2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

    New Birth

    Every new birth begins with a new life. A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions. Jesus told him that he needed a fresh start. He needed to be “born again.”

    John 3:3 (NASB)

    3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    Being born again is when a person decides to live the rest of their life for Jesus, and give Him control (make Him Lord) of their life. They understand their own sin, and that Jesus willingly paid the penalty for their sin.
    This is a new life, and a new way of living. It starts now and continues into eternity, with Jesus, in heaven.

    If you would like to discuss this with someone or would like prayer, please send us a message by clicking here.

  • Miracles

    Moses parting the Red Sea

    Miracles

    What is a Miracle?

    A miracle is an event where God intervenes in the natural world, to bring about an unlikely or impossible result. The Bible records many such events. We even hear stories of miracles today, possibly even witnessing or participating in them. The creation of the earth and the universe was miraculous.

    Genesis 1:1 (NASB)

    1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

    John 1:1-3 (NASB)

    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    2 He was in the beginning with God.
    3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

    Creation itself was a miracle. The gospel of John states that Jesus (the Word) was with the Father and the Holy Spirit, creating everything “that has come into being.”

    Egyptian Plagues

    Many years ago, the Jewish nation was in slavery in Egypt. God wanted His people to be set free, but the Pharaoh (king) did not want to let them go, so God sent ten “plagues” on the Egyptians.

    Egyptian Plagues (Exodus 7-10)

    1. Nile turned to blood
    2. Frogs everywhere
    3. Gnats/lice
    4. Swarms of insects
    5. Pestilence on livestock
    6. Boils on Egyptian people and animals
    7. Hail
    8. Locusts
    9. Darkness that could be “felt”
    10. Death of Egyptian firstborn

    Some of these could be explained away as “coincidence”, but not all of them. This was judgment on Egypt for enslaving the Jews. These plagues were leading up to the last plague, the death of the firstborn of all Egyptian people and animals. This is also known as Passover, because this is when the God’s judgment “passed over” His people, the Jews.
    By the way, notice how God passes judgment, not people.

    Red Sea

    The Egyptian army was probably the most powerful army at that time. The Jewish nation had nothing with which to fight, and they were not trained.

    Moses parting the Red Sea

    Exodus 14:21-22 (NASB)

    21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.
    22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

    God supernaturally protected them. Water does not normally just stand up “like a wall” (verse 22).

    Moses parting the Red Sea

    Exodus 14:27-29 (NASB)

    27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
    28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.
    29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

    Pharaoh’s army was destroyed, because they did not acknowledge what God was doing. Their pride blinded them to what was happening right in front of them.

    Virgin Birth

    Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)

    14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

    This prophecy was about 700 years before Jesus was born. It was obviously prophesying a miracle – this goes against nature itself. It was completely impossible.

    Luke 1:34-35 (KJV21)

    34 Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
    35 And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Being who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

    “Know not a man” means that she was a true virgin, as most translations say. By this miracle, God married the human race, through Mary. God gave us Jesus as a gift, in a truly miraculous way, so He could perform the miracle of reconciling us to Himself.

    Reconciliation

    Colossians 1:21-22 (NASB)

    21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
    22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach

    Jesus gave of Himself, sacrificing Himself on the cross, so that we could be reconciled with Him. God is holy, so holy that anyone with sin would instantly die in His presence. We were sinful, without any hope of heaven. Jesus paid the debt that we owed, so that we could be with Him forever.
    Even after His resurrection and returning to heaven, He continued to perform miracles through His followers, by the Holy Spirit.

    New Testament Miracles

    Acts 8:6-7 (NASB)

    6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
    7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

    This Philip was not a trained minister. He had not studied the scriptures. He was chosen to help lead the feeding of the poor widows in the church. Because he loved the Lord and trusted in Him, God was using him in mighty ways.

    Today

    Mark 16:17-18 (NASB)

    17 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
    18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

    Jesus told His disciples that these signs would follow them. This does not mean that we should go around drinking poison and playing with cobras. It does mean that we should live supernatural lives. We should not settle for natural lives. God has created us for more.
    Creation started with a miracle. Our lives should be miracles – every day.

  • Dip Your Toes or Jump Right In

    Dip Your Toes or Jump Right In

    Test the Waters

    When we want to go swimming, but don’t know how cold the water is, we will usually dip our toes and test it. If the water is to our liking, we might dive in. If we’re not sure, we might go slowly and get used to it, first. It seems these days there are more and more people trying to scam us.

    • Email – “You have been chosen to help a prince who was unfairly cheated out of his money, and he will gladly give you part of it.” (just give us your bank account info, etc.)
    • Web sites – “Click here, or you will miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
    • Social media – This incredibly good-looking, perfect person wants to get to know you better (they have a great “investment” opportunity for you, also).
    • Radio/TV – “If you don’t buy our product, you’ll be sorry.”

    How do we know who or what to trust? Sometimes, we need to “test the waters.” Other times, we see the waters are good, so it’s time to go!

    Ezekiel was a prophet to the people of Judah who had been taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. The temple had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. God gave Ezekiel a very detailed vision of a new temple.
    Earlier in this vision, Ezekiel saw the Spirit of God entering the temple. Now, he sees a trickle of water coming out from under the south side of the temple, heading east. At first, the water was just a trickle.

    Ezekiel 47:1-5 (NASB)

    1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
    2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.
    3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles.
    4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins.
    5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded.

    Deeper and Deeper Water

    The further they go, the deeper the water gets. The angel with Ezekiel shows him trees on the river bank that are being watered by this river.

    Ezekiel 47:8-9 (NASB)

    8 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh.
    9 “It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

    Purifying Water

    This water brings life to everyone and everything it touches. In the Bible, water usually symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The further we are willing to go with God, the deeper the water gets. This water purifies us and fills us; it brings new life. Without the water, we will die of spiritual thirst.
    Ps.42:1 – “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.”

    Malachi 3:10 (NASB)

    10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

    The Test of Tithing

    Tithing is a big step for most people. God instructed His people in the Old Testament to give to Him (through the priests) the first 10% of their increase – possessions, income, etc. Most of us work hard for our money, and there never seems to be enough to do everything we want. Malachi 3:10 is the only place in the Bible where God says specifically to test Him. It’s interesting that it involves trusting Him with our money.
    This is another step getting us deeper.

    2 Corinthians 3:18 (NASB)

    18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

    From Glory to Glory

    As we walk with Christ – in Christ – we are being changed.
    The further we go, the more we are cleansed.
    The further we go, the deeper we go.
    The further we go, the more like Jesus we become.
    Change is hard; sometimes, it hurts. Sometimes, it’s hard to trust God “one more time.” That was the case with a man who came to Jesus. His son was possessed by a demon. It was torturing his son, causing him to have fits.

    Mark 9:21-24 (NASB)

    21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
    22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
    23 And Jesus said to him, ” If You can? All things are possible to him who believes.”
    24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

    Believing One More Time

    Since the boy was a young child, this father had been trying everything. Nothing worked, no matter how hard he tried or how much he “believed.” This father heard about Jesus healing others. He was afraid to get his hopes up. He asked for Jesus to help his unbelief.
    He asked Jesus to help him take one step deeper.
    Jesus did help, and He healed his son.

    Luke 13:18-19 (NASB)

    18 So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?
    19 “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

    A Mustard Seed

    A mustard seed is very small. When it is planted and watered and gets enough sun, it grows into a full tree – many times larger than the small seed that was planted.

    John 12:24-25 (NASB)

    24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
    25 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

    Spiritual Death and Resurrection

    We have to die to ourselves, so we can live in Christ. We have to be willing to keep going deeper with Christ. If we do, we will grow and flourish. We will also see others around us benefit, and the kingdom of God will grow – eternally.

    Dip Your Toes or Jump Right In

  • A Perfect Heart

    A Perfect Heart

    Perfection

    We all have a desire to be really good at something – whether for ourselves or someone else. We like to have people look up to us. God calls us to be perfect, as well.

    Matthew 5:48 (NASB)

    Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

    God is Perfect

    There is no sin in God. He never makes mistakes. He never needs a “do-over.” He always does the right thing. He never says the wrong thing. He is perfect. We all know ourselves. We know that we have never been perfect. We also know that no one else around us is perfect. How can we be perfect, then?

    What Is God Looking For?

    1 Samuel 13:14b (NASB)

    The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people”

    Acts 13:22 (NASB)

    After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.

    God knows our hearts. He knows if we truly desire to love Him and serve Him. He also knows if we don’t really want to serve Him, but would rather go after our own desires, forgetting about Him.

    2 Chronicles 16:9a (NASB)

    “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

    Psalm 42:1 (NASB)

    As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.

    God is looking for people who long to spend time with Him, people who enjoy spending time with Him, the way we might love to hang out with our best friend. God created us in His own image, so it makes sense that He would have some of the same desires for companionship that we have.

    Before my children were born, I knew that I would love them, and I did (still do). Before God created us, He knew He would love us, and He did (and still does). I love spending time with my children and grandchildren. God loves spending time with us. Do we act like the son or daughter who never calls their parents?

    He Makes Us Holy

    I have heard some people say that they have done too much for God to forgive, that they are just too evil. Similarly, some people think that they are good enough, that they do more good than bad, so of course they will go to heaven.

    Romans 3:23 (NASB)

    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

    We all fall into this category: all. We can’t do this on our own, but we can do it by the grace of God.

    Matthew 19:24-26 (NASB)

    24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
    25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”
    26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

    God is able to do what we could never do. He not only is able, He wants to purify us, so we can fellowship with Him.

    Hebrews 10:19-20 (NASB)

    19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
    20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,

    Jesus left His place in heaven so that we could be forgiven of our sins. The reason He did this was so that we could go to Him with a pure heart and spend time with Him.

    Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB)

    14 Therefore, since 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
    16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

    Our Part

    Yes, we do have a part that we need to do. We have to be willing to offer up our lives in this world, so that Jesus can save us from this world.

    Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

    1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
    2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

    This might seem like a difficult thing, until we think about the pain, guilt, and loneliness that we all have. God is offering each one of us the opportunity – every day – to be free from conformity to this world, with all of its misery, so that He can transform our minds back to the way that He created us. I have found that we all need to get to this point ourselves, when we realize that this world has nothing truly good to offer us, outside of God. When we submit ourselves to His will, then we find true freedom – freedom from sin and all of its consequences.

    Are We Ready?

    God is ready, and He is waiting for us. He longs to spend time with you. Do you long to spend time with Him? I invite you to try it. Find a place of prayer, all by yourself, and start talking with Him.

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