Pastor's Ponderings, October 24, 2016

Worried?  God Has Everything Under Control

The October 21, 2016 edition of the USA Today magazine indicated that “Dyn, a New Hampshire-based company that monitors and routes Internet traffic, was the victim of a massive attack that began at 7:10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, Friday morning.” The attack focused on major Internet outlets and it intensified our fears that other national institutions are also vulnerable to hacking attacks such on our nuclear launch codes, our utility systems, or our major communication systems.  A particular concern was expressed of the potential impact on our health systems or our military if data is manipulated.

Many of us have become very comfortable with our electronic gadgets and our international infrastructure of data flowing to the cloud, across cable, and from other unknown means.  Sometimes, we would rather not know how personally exposed we are to hacking or identity theft. Moreover, from a national perspective we may worry that the next attacks from those who would like to destroy the U.S. will not be as benign.

In these scary times, it is important to remember that God is in charge of the day and the night and everything else in between (Psalm 24:1, 2).  For those who love the Lord, it is important for us to remember that we are complete in Him who is the ruling authority over everything in heaven and in earth (Colossians 2:9-10).  He has authority over every hacker, every plotting monarch with world dominating ambitions, and every evil schemer who would terrorize us with a plethora of weapons and destructive devices.  We are not to be afraid or troubled by any evil tidings (John 14:1). We should not be worried about the hacking attack on Dyn or any other attacks because God even controls the heart of sovereign rulers (Proverbs 21:1).  Let us continue to worship God, obey Him, keep His commands and He will continue to keep, protect, and love us.  He will be a very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Psalm 24:1, 2

New International Version (NIV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

Colossians 2:9-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].
10 And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].

John 14:1
New International Version (NIV)

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Proverbs 21:1
New International Version (NIV)

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

Psalm 46:1
New International Version (NIV)
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Pastor's Ponderings, October 17, 2016

Need A Good Weapon? God Has The Best

The following is a quote from the 2005 movie, Lord of War, loosely based on a real life international arms dealer. “There are over 550 million firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is: How do we arm the other 11?”  There has been a great deal of attention to recent incidents of the use of force by police, discussions about the right to purchase, carry, and the usefulness of background checks on firearm purchase.  In addition to these considerations, the deadly use of firearms by our citizens has shot the subject of guns into the forefront of our concerns.

While some choose to have guns and others do not, the real war is not with weapons made by man, but our spiritual weapons. The Bible says that we Christians do not war after the flesh.  Our weapons are divinely strong to tear down demonic strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  We can use the name of Jesus to get rid of demons (Mark 16:17), and successfully fight against all spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12).  We can know that no weapon that is formed against us shall be able to accomplish its purpose without the Lord’s permission (Isaiah 54:17)

While others may put on bulletproof vests, we can put on our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:11, 13). When others refer to natural weapons to support their positions, let us remember that we have much more powerful weapons.  We can use our weapons against a much more powerful foe, the devil. This can be a teachable moment to share the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us all and then tell of His goodness and His deeds.  Let us strap on His divine weapons and defeat the devil and his demons, the real enemy of mankind. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
New International Version (NIV)

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Mark 16:17
New International Version (NIV)

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

Ephesians 6:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Isaiah 54:17
New International Version (NIV)

17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

Pastor's Ponderings, October 11, 2016

Want a Great Life, Try God

In the 1988 film They Live, the main character finds a pair of sunglasses that gives the wearer the ability to look past the glitz and glamor of modern society and see the subliminal messages.  In the movie, a predatory alien race has infiltrated modern society to put the citizens to sleep and to mindlessly follow their directives.  However, while wearing the sunglasses, one can see that magazine covers and billboards are actually commands such as, “OBEY“, "NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT", "CONSUME“, "CONFORM", "SUBMIT", "STAY ASLEEP", "BUY", "WATCH TV", "DO NOT QUESTION AUTHORITY”. When the main characters sacrifice their lives to destroy the system, mankind begins to see the controlling and exploitive system for what it actually is. 

The Bible says this system actually exists under the management of the devil (Ephesians 6:12). He attempts to blind us (2 Corinthians 4:4) to his underlying intentions of killing, stealing, and destroying us (John 10:10) through persuading us to make wrong choices such as drugs, promiscuity, anger, and other evil things.  Many have been persuaded by the glamorous lifestyle of ungodly behavior only to find out that it was a mirage leading only to heartbreak and disappointment.  Thank God that Jesus sacrificed His life in His mission to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).

Jesus does not want us blinded to this world’s temptations but to have faith in Him who wants the best life for us (John 10:10).  In fact He has provided everything that we need to live an overcoming, successful life in Him through His great sacrifice (2 Peter 1:3).  We have no need of the temporary pleasure of hedonism, revenge, or unrestrained behaviors that lead to permanent damage to one’s body and soul.

Today, when many are doing self-destructive things, let us remember that Jesus wants us to have His abundant life.  He wants us to have His love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, and kindness (Galatians 5:22, 23).  Because He loved us, He sacrificed His life for us. Let us turn away from the allure of the temporary worldly pleasures and seek our great life in Christ.

Ephesians 6:12
New International Version (NIV)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 4:4
New International Version (NIV)

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 10:10
New International Version (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

1 John 3:8
New International Version (NIV)

8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

2 Peter 1:3
New International Version (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control...

Pastor's Ponderings, October 3, 2016

Are You Feeling Guilty Today?

What are you feeling guilty about?  Dictionary.com says that it is the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability.  Also it is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.  It is sad to say that many are burdened with feelings of guilt that are imagined and that are a great hindrance in their lives. They would agree with the psalmist in the Bible that their guilt had overwhelmed their lives (Psalm 38:4).

What do we do when we are overwhelmed by guilt?  We may have offended someone who has passed on or is unavailable to forgive our transgressions.  We may not know how to make it right.  We must turn to God and ask His forgiveness (Psalm 32:5).  In the Bible when the prophet Isaiah had a vision of God, he recognized his sin and guilt before the Lord and the Lord used an angel to remove his sin and guilt (Isaiah 6:5-7).

Today, God does not want us to feel guilty for indiscretions.  He wants us to go to Him and He will direct us on what we should do.  We may have to admit our sins to those whom we have wronged, we may have to make restitution, but we will no longer have to labor under the heavy burden of guilt.  It is refreshing to know that we can sincerely approach our God who can cleanse us from our guilty conscience and forgive our sins.  Let us take advantage of His grace and cast all of our guilt upon Him.  

Psalm 38:4
New International Version (NIV)

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

Psalm 32:5
New International Version (NIV)

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”

And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Isaiah 6:5-7
New International Version (NIV)

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.

Hebrews 10:22
New International Version (NIV)

22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.