Pastor Bob

Jesus tells us in John 15:1 that He is the vine and we are the branches. He continues by telling us that we cannot do anything by ourselves. To bear fruit or be successful as a Christian, we have to remain in Him. That is hard sometimes because we try to leave our Christian lives without Christ. Sounds kind of dumb but  we do. I know I do.

Jesus tells us in verse 7 that if we remain in Him and His words remain in us, we can ask whatever we wish, and it will be given to us. The tricky part is remain in Him. That is a relationship. With that kind of relationship, we will ask for the right stuff. We will be in tune with Him and know what we need to ask for. Our prayers will get answered. I like my prayers to be answered, how about you? Remain in Him. Pastor Bob

Jesus commissioned 72 people to spread the gospel in Luke 10:1. He tells them that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Pray for  workers. But the part of the story I found to be the most interesting is that Jesus told them not to take a purse. Why would He do that? Does that mean God does not want His servants to be prepared? Should we not plan for the future? That is not the message at all. This is the message. When you live for God, when you serve God, the task will always be bigger than you; bigger than your talent, your money, your ability, and your wisdom. You must rely on God. There is no other way.

What does that mean to you today? Regardless of your situation, left God thrust you into the impossible. Let Him guide you into the unbelievable, the undoable, the incredible, so that you know when God does the work, He did, not you. Give Him glory. We are in the last days. Jesus is soon returning and we need to be used up for Jesus’ glory. I pray that you will want to be part of the harvest and a worker in the harvest. See ya. Pastor Bob

Someone recently told me that he had gone through some painful difficulties. Then he said to me, God doesn’t waste pain. Wow, what a statement, but is it true? If you are having pain, then that must mean that God is trying to get your attention and teach you something. What does the Bible tell us? Hebrews 5:8 sheds some light. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered…” Jesus learned through suffering.

Hebrews 12:11 says “No discipline seems pleasant at the time , but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  At the vary least, we should use pain to drive us to God. At least ask the question, “What are you trying to teach me, Lord.” Then open your heart to receive from the true and living God.  Pastor Bob

Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” The Apostle Paul writes this from prison. How is this possible for him to be in such a difficult situation and still rejoice? Paul has a life set on eternity. He realizes that this life is temporary. With his focus on eternity, difficulties in this life mean so much less. So let’s refocus our lives on the future in eternity. Rejoice!!!

We have been studying the 7 churches in Revelation.  From each church we learn something.  From the first church, Ephesus, we learn that we must look at our hearts and make sure we haven’t lost our first love.  The church of Smyrna is told to hang in there in the midst of tribulation.  It is only for a short time, Jesus says.  Also they are rich, if not in this life, in the one to come.  The church at Pergamum had allowed sin to remain in the church.  The church at Thyatira had compromised with the world.  It looked good on the outside but was not a healthy church.  We can’t compromise with the world.

Why do we study these churches?  Because it is the end times and Jesus is coming soon and these churches show us areas we need to change.  What a great day to serve the Lord!!!  See you soon.  Pastor Bob

In Matthew 11, Jesus looks at the generation of his day.  He said you couldn’t please them. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, ate bugs, and dressed in animal skins.  People said he had a demon.  Jesus, on the other hand mixed with people, ate and drank with them and they called him a glutton and a drunk.  They even referred to him as a “friend of sinners.”   Was he a” friend of sinners?”  If you mean, did he care for them, then the answer is yes.  If you mean did he condone their sin, the answer is no.  What is the point?  The point is that we as Christians need to mix with sinners.  We need to care for them.  Not condone their sin, but love them in spite of their sin.  You can only do this with God’s help.  Okay, “friend of sinners”, let get busy reaching the world.  Pastor Bob

As I talked about in the last blog,  what do you do when people ask difficult questions about God, and you don’t know the answer?  The best thing you can do is share your personal experience. People may say they don’t believe in God or believe the Bible is the word of God but what can they say to your personal experience. When you share what God has done in your life, it gives the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to touch their heart.  Even if they show no visible need and seem to handle everything okay, be assured that there is something missing in their life.  God has designed us to fellowship with him.

As far as the bad stuff that happens in this world, yes, there is a sin nature in man.  There is also a devil who wants to do harm to you.  Whether someone believes that or not does not change the truth.  God is not intimidated by peoples’ lack of faith in him and is not wringing his hands in heaven wondering what he is going to do next.  The fact that we don’t understand God’s reason for allowing certain things to happen in this world only shows that He is God.  What kind of a God would he be if we could understand everything about Him.  Our God is big and powerful and beyond our understanding with our finite minds.  That may not satisfy everyone’s questions but it is a start.  God bless.  Pastor Bob