Fitzhugh Baptist

Don't Stop Praying

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Prayer, it is something we take for granted so much of the time. Just because we think God isn't answering our prayer or has said no, don't stop praying because God sent an angel the moment you started praying. The delay is simply Satan trying to stop your angel!

Daniel was willing to persist in prayer until God answered his prayer. Daniel was taken into captivity into Babylon, along with many other Israelites. The Israelites return from exile did not happen for 70 years. Daniel prayed for 60 years before his prayers were answered. 60 years! Would you pray for something for that long?

Interestingly, at one point Daniel was praying for 21 days about a revelation God had given him concerning a great war. While he was praying out by the river, a man clothed in bright linen walked up to him and said in Daniel 10:11-13: “O Daniel, man greatly loved… stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. (But) The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-‐one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me…”

Isn't that awesome and confusing all at the same time? On the day that Daniel started to pray, his words were heard, and this guy clothes in linen was sent with the answer to his prayer. But along the way a demonic force engaged this angel and they had a cage match for 21 days! Have you ever looked up to Heaven and thought, “What’s going on up there?” If you and I had any idea of what is happening when we pray it would blow our minds.

While he was held up, Daniel kept praying, for 21 days. And then another angel, named Michael, who is kind of the Jack Bauer of angels, shows up around day 20 and helps this first angel. The scripture doesn’t say directly that the second angel came because Daniel kept praying, but you have to wonder about the connection. What if Daniel had quit praying on day 20? I don’t know.

There’s so much mystery here it would be unwise of me to speculate. But I know the uniform teaching in scripture is that some answers to prayer are only given in response to persistent prayer. You’ve prayed for 20 days, no answer, keep praying. You’ve prayed for 60 years, no answer, keep praying.
In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Devalued Blessings

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:24:08 +0000

Do you realize that prayer is the most undervalued resource in our lives, in our families, and in our churches? The Bible teaches us that all the blessings God wants to bestow on us, he does through prayer. In fact, prayer is the conduit through which power comes into your family; it's the way you claim the promises and blessings of God.

I don't know about you, but I have a brother. Since my brother is younger than me, I used to pick on him incessantly. But I guarantee if anyone else ever picked on him, then I would defend him to the death. So naturally one of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Jacob and Esau.

Jacob as you know cheated his older brother out of the brother's inheritance. In those days, the oldest son received what was called the birthright, which basically meant that he got two-thirds of the family inheritance, while the rest of the male siblings split one-thirds, and he got the special blessing from his father. Therefore, Esau was destined to have the best part of the inheritance, but as the story goes, Esau arrived home one day and he was hungry. So he went to Jacob, who was cooking some stew, and asked for a bowl. Jacob, being the deceiver that he was, asked Esau to sell his birthright for the bowl of stew. Since Esau thought he was starving to death and saw his birthright as worthless at that point, he made the trade.

A few years later, when Isaac was about to die, he called Esau in and told him to fix him a fine meal and then Esau would receive the special blessing from his father. But Jacob's and Esau's mother overheard that conversation, and because Jacob was her favorite, she helped Jacob to disguise himself as Esau by putting goatskins on his arms and neck and fixed up a special meal for Isaac while Esau was out hunting game. Then Isaac gave the special blessing to Jacob, and Esau was left with nothing. Jacob and his mother were afraid Esau would kill Jacob after Isaac's death, so Jacob fled to another country and built up his wealth there.

Several years later, Jacob decided to return home and on his journey to bring all of his wealth home with him, he received word that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 fighting men. I don't know about you, but if I'm going after somebody with 400 fighting men, I think I'm going to fight. So Jacob was afraid and that brings us to our passage in Genesis 32. The passage describes for us and encounter between Jacob and a mysterious stranger. Jacob later in scripture says this strange was actually God: God was wrestling with Jacob.

Many theologians believe that this wrestling is an example of how we should approach God in prayer. From Chapter 32, we see Jacob and God wrestled until morning when God touched Jacob on his hip socket to dislocate his hip and end the struggle. Jacob limped for the rest of his life from that encounter, and we can find some interesting things in this story about prayer.

First, the blessings of God are released into our lives through our prayer. Jacob wrestled with the stranger in order to received his blessing. Jacob even said, I'm not letting you go until you bless me. He was struggling to receive God's blessing. Do you realize that in scripture there more than 3000 promises that God has given us? God expects us to claim those promises. When we don't, it's like the more than $5.8 billion in gift cards that go unclaimed every year. The same thing happens to us when the promises of the scripture go unclaimed because we do not approach God in prayer to claim them.

Second, sometimes blessings are received through persistent prayer. That persistent prayer, our constantly struggling, shows our commitment to what we are asking of God. God wants us to demonstrate just how important he is in the way that we live our lives and in the way we pray. God wants us to press through with the prayer in life's lowest points. God uses this tactic of causing us to continue in persistent prayer because he wants us to demonstrate that we trust him to fulfill the prayer.

Third, we can see in the scripture that we don't obtain the best things in life by contriving on our own. Jacob was known as a deceiver and was always trying to manipulate things to get the blessings he could get. But to receive God's blessing sometimes means that we lose to God; we surrender. Jacob lost the ability to walk very well because he struggled with God. God teaches us throughout our lives that we must surrender to him before we receive the blessings that he has to give to us. James 4:2 says "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. " God wants us to ask; he wants us to come to him.

Finally, we see that blessing and prayer happen in a relationship. It's not the things that we are praying for that we need; that's not the blessings in our life that are the most important. The most important thing we receive is a relationship with God. We have to come to the point that in our relationship with God, we understand that he being with us in enough. That relationship rather than the thing we are praying for is really what we should be going after. We need to cling to that relationship. Jeremiah 29:13, "if you search for me with all your heart, you will find me." That is the greatest blessing, and we can only find that through persistent prayer
In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Acts Finale - What Now?

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:27:39 +0000

Looking back on the church's history, from Acts to present day, we see the church multiplying. God calls each of us into his mission, and sometimes that mission is difficult.
In Matthew 28, verse 18, the resurrected Jesus Christ says. "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"

This was said by a man who had overcome death, a man who had told a storm to stop and it listened, a man who drove out demons without argumentation. Jesus has the authority. "All of it belongs to me."

Look what he says next. "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples…'" Go here encapsulated that desire in us for our lives to matter, to be filled with adventure and excitement, to participate in something greater than ourselves. God is telling us he has a purpose for us. God has designed you for a specific purpose and placed in a specific situation to do what? to make disciples.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

And then Jesus tells us that he isn't sending us out to accomplish this on our own, but he is going with us through the Holy Spirit. As we go, as we live our lives, Jesus is telling us to make disciples. This means we need to invest in each other, to be hospitable, which means more than inviting people to lunch, it means loving people, whether strangers, fellow believers, or unbelievers, and treating them like family. It is an openness and willingness to share our lives with others. And as we bring people in, we tell them about Jesus. We give him credit for the peace and joy in our lives, and we let them see him lived out in us.

I heard a story about a new convert to Christ coming to Martin Luther, who was the father of the Great Reformation. The new convert said, "I have just become a Christian. How am I to faithfully serve the Lord?" Luther asked him, "Well, what do you do?" He said, "I'm a cobbler. I make shoes," to which Luther said, "Then make a great shoe and sell it at a fair price."

If you are a Christian, live now in your current profession as Christ would.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Final Episode - Acts 20

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:40:27 +0000

If you were to pass on today, how would people you know describe you? You might be surprised. Do you think you would be spoken of as a wonderful, loving, deep-thinking Christian or are people going to politely say “he was different?” While we shouldn't view ourselves from a worldly perspective, we do need to think about our life from a spiritual perspective. How would you summarize your life? You know it is never too late to start living your life in light of what the scripture says. Moses, the man of God, said it this way in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to learn wisdom.” Martin Luther translated that verse into German, “Lord, teach us to think about death so that we might learn how to live.”

In Acts 20 I believe Paul was able to articulate his life by writing his own final episode. He pointed out five ways he was faithful in serving the Lord. As Christians we too should be able to speak of our life much like Paul did.

1. He was faithful to his calling (vs. 24)
Paul says (vs. 24), “My single focus has been and is to do what God has told me to do." He points out that none of these threats of imprisonment, dangers of people wanting to do him hard, or even the possibility of his death, would stop him from being faithful to his calling. As he put it, “I just want to do what Jesus has told me.” At the end of the day, that is all that any of us are really responsible for. So my questions to you is “What has Jesus called you to do?” and “are you doing it?” What God requires of each of us is faithfulness in what he has assigned to us. Therefore, success in life is identifying what God has called you to and being completely faithful in it.

2. He told the truth
Twice Paul says: "[20] I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable… [27] I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." Paul saw himself as a herald of truth: He wasn’t responsible for the content of the message; or whether people liked it—he’s only responsible to deliver it. Theologian J.I. Packer wrote, “Paul in his own estimation was not a philosopher, not a moralist, not the world’s wisest man, but simply Christ’s herald. Paul’s royal master had given him a message to proclaim. His whole business therefore was to deliver that message with exact and studious faithfulness. He added nothing, altered nothing, omitted nothing.” Paul took that so seriously that he says, “I am innocent of the blood of all.” (26)

He loved God’s people so much that his attitude was on not of anger but of tears. In vs. 19 Paul states that “I was with you in tears.” And in vs. 31 he states that “I did not cease to admonish you night and day with tears.” Does your presentation of the truth flow with tears? Charles Spurgeon put it this way, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” What makes you cry? Do you weep over your lost friends and family? Do they know that? Do you weep over nations and villages that are lost without the good news of Jesus? Maybe you should.

3. He directed people’s attention toward Jesus, not toward himself (v. 19)
[19] I served the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials. Paul says, “I am a man of humility, trials, and tears.” In fact, that word, “humility” in vs. 19 (often translated weakness), was a common one in Greek, and it was almost always an insult. It meant low, defeated, weak. As JD Greear points out “the word is used 200 times in the Bible, and it’s almost always considered a virtue.” So, how can an insult become a virtue? Because Christian ministry is not about extraordinary men and women of great character worthy to be praised, but about a great Savior who can save the weakest, and most broken, and most guilty of sinners. Who does your life point to: you or the Lord?

4. He finished strong
Paul says in vs. 24, “…but none of these things move me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus.” Many people start well, but they don’t persevere on to finish. 1 Cor 15 Paul points out that we need to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because our labor is not in vain, and even when it doesn’t look like things are working, the God who brought resurrection out of Jesus’ work will bring resurrection out of ours. Paul pointed out that, “None of these things (fear of persecution and prison) move me. I just want to finish well and hear, ‘Well done though good and faithful servant.” How will you finish?

5. He gave more than he took
Did your momma ever tell you – Leave things better than you found them? Paul understood that concept. He said, “I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel… by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (20:33, 35). How are you doing in that category? Do you give more in your friendships, your family, your spouse, your church? How about in your marriage? Do you serve your spouse more than you expect them to serve you?

5 things we hope people see in our final episode:
He/She
was faithful to do all that Jesus told him / her to do
told the truth
directed people’s attention toward Jesus
finished strong
gave more than he/she took

Psalm 90:12 – Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to learn wisdom!

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Are We Plugged In?

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:52:29 +0000

Acts 19

Are we as a church plugged into our community? Are we plugged into the people of our community? Into people’s lives? Let me ask you this … if Fitzhugh Baptist Church (or your church if you don’t have the good fortune to worship with us) ceased to exist, how would the community be impacted? Would it have a negative impact or a positive one? I’ve heard the saying that all people bring joy … some by coming some by leaving. Would the community be better off if we weren’t around? I pray that is not the case.

So we must ask ourselves, “What are we going to do to make sure that we are positively impacting our community?" At Fitzhugh Baptist Church, my vision is to be:
A church that is aflame with life, that is engaging our community, and is seeing people come to know, serve, and love Jesus Christ!

Unfortunately, that is not the case for all churches. In fact, we see churches all around us that are struggling for life. Realistically, they bring it on themselves. I would call these churches "navel-gazers." Navel-gazers simply stand around picking lent out of their navels, sitting inside their ornate buildings, not reaching outside of their walls to their community, and they wonder why nobody is coming to their church.

We can no longer operate on the presumption that “if we build it they will come!” The church was never established to occupy buildings; it was established to “Go! and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!” You can’t do that from inside a building. These “navel-gazers” are built more around “morality” than they are mission. Since they act like sin is something you might catch if you aren’t careful, their mission is to erect walls to hide behind and to guard their “purity.” Life is a little less “messy” that way so they feel clean and safe in their fortress.

Jesus saw ministry a little differently than they do. He understood the way to reach people was to go to where they were! In fact, when he said, ”Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” he didn’t mean I will wait for you in the church house. Rather, much of His ministry was out amongst the sinners and tax collectors reaching His hand out to touch and change their lives. He got his hands dirty with ministry. In fact, in Matthew 12, Jesus is healing and preaching among the people when his mother and brothers came to speak to him. This was His reply in verses 48-50, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.””

We must engage people like the Lord did and work hard proclaiming and preaching the gospel to those in and around our community. I hate to tell you this but if you are used to “building walls of isolation” and protecting yourself from sin, you will find out quickly that being on mission for God and reaching out to your community will be a little messy. But when you see people come to know the Lord you will forget the difficulties and will rejoice to the heavens.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

The Unknown God - Really?

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 10:25:05 +0000

I’m sure you wouldn’t believe me if I told you that pastors can sometimes be very mischievous people. A pastor friend of mine is notorious for calling up his deacons, at a moment’s notice, to preach. In his mind, we are called to give an account of our faith so we better be ready, even in church, to do just that. In Acts 17, Paul finds himself in just such a situation. Would you know how to handle that situation? Paul gives us a clear model for engaging people who know very little about the Christian faith.

In Acts 17, Paul used the following steps:

Be brokenhearted by idolatry;Find points of agreement;Expose the insufficiency of their answers;Proclaim the greatness of God; andDrive toward the resurrection.

1. Be Brokenhearted by Idolatry

When Paul saw the impressive structures of Athens, he was impressed, but he was also brokenhearted. His first reaction was to find a way to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the people of Athens. They obviously were looking for something to fill their lives. But unfortunately, they missed the mark. When you see idolatrous structures in our society, what is your reaction? Tim Keller says, "Look at whatever buildings in your city are the biggest—those usually indicate the idols."

If you are not broken hearted by the idolatry then I am sorry to say, you are worldly. But getting angry and just walking away is not the answer either. As Paul, we need to run toward the people who are affected by this idolatry and find a way to bring them to the Lord. The only way we can make any changes is to get to know our culture. You didn’t hear me say we become part of the idolatrous culture. However, in order for us to connect, we must understand why they are the way they are. After all, missionaries spend months learning the mission field’s culture before they ever leave.

2. Find points of agreement

We are created to worship and know God. Thus we are all searching for the meaning of life. We even make movies about that theme. The good news is that we have the answer for the meaning of life: Jesus Christ. We simply need to find areas of agreement and work our way to the Lord.

3. Point out the inaccuracy of others arguments

Before someone will listen to you about the Lord, you may first need to tear down their idols. Whether they will admit it or not, anything short of the Lord won’t hold up under scrutiny and simply doesn’t work. Dr. Phil would ask them,” How’s that working for you?” For instance, Donald Trump’s security is his money. Well, I hate to say it but even with billions of dollars at his disposal, the man can’t even get a descent haircut. I rest my case ;) Francis Schaeffer called this blowing the roof off the current house so they’ll seek shelter elsewhere.

4. Proclaim God’s Greatness

“My dad’s bigger than your dad!” When you were a kid, did you ever say that to your friends? Well, in essence, that is what Paul is saying. And you know what, he is right! The real God is so large, and infinite, and wise, that he is often unexplainable. Since we only use 10 percent of our brains, I don’t think that we can possibly come close to understanding the depth of wisdom of our Lord. Since God is infinitely wise, there will obviously be things I just don’t understand. That is why we have faith! “If God were small enough to be understood, he would not be big enough to be worshipped.” Evelyn Underhill

5. Finally, point them toward the Lord’s resurrection

We should always strive to point them to the Lord’s resurrection. You may argue that your idol is better. Whether it’s money, prestige, power, or vanity your idol is finite. My God is infinite. After all, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, overcame death, and was victorious over Satan. I’m sorry, but beat that!

In him,
Pastor Boyd

The Interested, The Captive, and The Skeptic

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:54:26 +0000

We have been studying the book of Acts for the past several weeks and I am amazed at how fast the message of Christ spread across the early Christian world. Did you know that by 325 A.D. Christianity had spread like wildfire? In fact, scholars say that during that period over half of the Roman Empire had become Christian. That thought is unbelievable when you understand that the growth came because of the efforts of 12 guys who started on a hillside with no money, no marketing, and no celebrity endorsements. They and others were driven by an absolute conviction that Jesus had risen from the dead and were filled with a strange power called the Holy Spirit that completely filled their lives.

In Chapter 16 of Acts, Paul and Silas continue their mission activities in Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city in the district of Macedonia. Luke shares an interesting encounter between Paul, Silas, and three people who could not have been more different. This encounter was the catalyst in establishing an exciting new church.

Why did Luke only tell us about these three people? I believe the scripture shows that the Gospel is for everyone; whether you are wealthy, a slave, or a gentile. Luke introduces us to: Lydia, a wealthy “fashionista,” who can be described as “spiritually interested;” a slave girl who can be described as “physically and spiritually captive”; and the Roman jailor who can be described as the “skeptic.” As an interesting aside, did you know that using the ancient prayer book, the Siddur, each morning Jewish men would pray, “Lord, I thank God I am not a woman, a slave, or a Gentile.” Did you notice who Luke writes about … I’m just saying.)

Anyway, back to the story at hand. Luke is showing us what evangelism looks like through the eyes of the common people we come in contact with every day. Evangelism simply means sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, and in Luke’s account we see people who are spiritually at three different places: the spiritually interested, the physically and spiritually captive, and the skeptic.

Successful evangelism happens when we reach people where they are first. For instance, spiritually interested person can be reached through the word of God. Lydia already accepted the authority of scripture so we simply address her with the Word of God and spend time guiding her to a saving faith in Jesus. However, the other two are a little more difficult because they have no foundation in the Word and reject the authority of Jesus Christ. While the spiritually interested would be interested in attending a church service or special event, the physical and spiritual captive and the skeptic, would have no interest in showing up to our church. Even in the most desperate situations they wouldn't set foot in a church building. No matter how cool our worship service is, how funny and eloquent the pastor can be (and we know I am not ;), that we are covering an interesting topic, the physically and spiritually captive or the skeptic would ever be interested in attending any of our services.

How then do we reach those two groups of people? To reach the physical and spiritual captive we have to get involved in their lives. Interestingly, the captives will show signs of interest in the gospel. In fact, they are both attracted to the faith and antagonistic toward the faith. They see something about the gospel that draws them, but have just enough anger and mistrust in them that they rail against the church. Don’t be fooled; this can actually be a cry for help. Since they won’t come to us, we must take Jesus to them.

The skeptic, from outward appearances, is the least likely of the three to receive the Lord. In Luke’s example, the centurion is a battle hardened, decorated veteran who is very cynical to the word of God. He even treats Paul and Silas with disdain by throwing them in the inner prison and putting their feet in stocks. How do you touch someone like this? He probably won’t read the Bible with you. He isn’t the least bit interested in knowing more about the Lord. He will only be changed by witnessing the joy we have (like Paul and Silas) in the midst of our sorrow and through the gift of extravagant grace. Even the most hardened cynic has to wonder where someone could get the strength Paul and Silas demonstrated by not leaving when they had the chance. Nothing puts the gospel on display like grace in the midst of injustice.

So, what does this all mean? “The spiritually interested needs to be confronted with the Word of God. The spiritually captive needs to encounter someone willing to love them. And the spiritual skeptic needs to see grace before he will listen to it. The gospel shows no partiality: there’s only one Creator and Father: God; we all have one problem: sin; and there’s only one hope: Jesus’ death in our place. Because of that, the church is the place where people from every background—religious and irreligious: male and female; young and old; rich and poor; from good families and broken ones—find a unity in Christ they wouldn’t find anywhere else.” – JD Greear

Just because someone sees the world through different glasses than you do does not mean they cannot be reached for the Lord. Our job is to go out there and take the message of Jesus Christ to the streets!

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Grace Crashers

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 08:38:08 +0000

Have you ever stopped and wondered “Why do we do the things we do?” For example, why do we push the elevator button multiple times? Do we not believe it is coming? Will it actually come faster? When women put on mascara, why do they always have their mouth open? Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"? Why do Baptists do things the way they do? Do you realize that we love committees so much we have a committee set up just to set up committees!

The book of Acts tells the rather amazing story of how a group of ordinary people, laborers, tax collectors, and a few women started the largest religious movement in history. Never had a larger assignment been given to a less qualified group of people. After Jesus had risen, he gathered his ragtag group of disciples on the side of a mountain and said, “Your job is to spread this message and make disciples for me in every country in the world,” and then he ascents into heaven. You’ve got to think about what that was like. With this new movement spreading like wildfire across the world, something was bound to go wrong and they were bound to have some disagreements.

Acts 15 tells of such an occasion and we see leadership's desire to “fix” the problem. We see how this early community, filled with the Holy Spirit, spread the gospel message over the entire world and learned how to deal with difficulties that came up as a result. It’s not so much what they decided as how they decided it …

Acts 15
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Jesus hadn’t given them a manual; they couldn't google it to figure out the process of handling disagreements. But Jesus had given them the Holy Spirit to guide them. He gave them the zeal to start this new movement, the conviction to preserver even through adversity, and the love to carry each other’s burdens!
Most of the new Christians were Jews who adhered to Jewish customs.

[2] And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

This was a long trip for Paul and Barnabas… about 300 miles and its right in the middle of Paul’s missionary and writing career. In the midst of this, Paul walks back to Jerusalem, because whatever is being discussed is so important he’s willing to come all the way back to Jerusalem to discuss it.

[6] The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. [7] And after there had been much debate, (that means, a lot of yelling) Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. [8] And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, [9] and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. [10] Now, therefore, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Peter was a Jew, but with the more than 600 laws the Jews had added to the God-given law, Peter and his fellow Jews could not live up to the law. Peter is saying, if we could barely keep these laws, and we were born Jews, why would we project that burden onto the Gentiles?

[11] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
None of these things could save us anyway. Faith in the finished work of Christ saved us! Not what we did; but faith in what he had done.
[12] And all the assembly fell silent, and (then) they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. [13] After they finished speaking, James (the half‐brother of Jesus) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ 18 things known from long ago. 19
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Any obstacle we can eliminate, I think we should. Even preferences for things I really like; things I am comfortable with.

First we need to think about why we are here …what have we been called to do, be, undertake. Second we need to ask the question … are we accomplishing this mission God has called us to undertake? Are we doing anything to reach lost souls or are we hindering lost souls? Are we doing ANYTHING?

We need to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent! I will not hinder someone because of a simple tradition or preference! Are you going to reach out to people this week? Are you going to be a hindrance because of tradition or preference? I pray that God always reveals to us the areas where we are sliding into our own traditions and
away from the Gospel of Grace.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Institutionalized religion: epic fail

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:29:45 +0000

Have you ever gotten in a rut? I mean, every day you follow the same old routine, eat the same foods, watch the same shows, and never venture outside of your “world” because you are “comfortable.” We are often “comfortable” with so many parts of our lives because that is what we are used to and we become very reluctant to change.

Prison inmates, believe it or not, will do the same thing. Psychologists will often describe this reaction as institutionalization. In fact, some incarcerated offenders become so institutionalized that they choose to return to prison soon after release because they don't know how to function out in the real world. I even heard a story about an inmate, who after being released from prison, took a bus driver hostage just so he can go back to prison.

Christians are often guilty of the same thing and demonstrate a tendency toward institutionalization. Let me show you what I mean through a little quiz.

1. Do you have a worship style preference?

2. Are you disinterested in attending a worship service that is different from your preference?

If you answered “Yes” to both of those questions … you are institutionalized! Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a “preference.” Unfortunately, we cling to what we like and are comfortable with, focusing on our wants and needs, rejecting God’s changes. And we miss a great opportunity to serve Him. It ain’t about what we like; it is alllllll about what God is doing, whether we are comfortable or not.

The problem becomes when we get comfortable in the way we do things like the songs we sing, the way we conduct business, and the things we “like.” When it becomes more important to do what we want than it is to reach out to the people around us, then we have become institutionalized and God can’t use us!

I found this definition of institutionalized religion: it is a collected group of Christians who don’t want a relationship with Jesus Christ on his terms, but on their terms. Therefore, they create and serve a false Christ which leads to bondage, a lack of power, and a delusional mindset that leads the group to believe they will inherit eternal life when in fact they will be damned to hell if there’s no repentance.

Paul's first missionary journey, detailed in Acts 13-14, describes the extension of the gospel message of Christ to the Roman Empire. This journey marks the big change in the ministry of the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Previously, the church’s activity centered on the Jews in Jerusalem; but in Acts 13 and 14 everything moves to the Gentiles beginning with the churches of Galatia and centered on Antioch. This passage shows the tremendous turns in purposes and elective plans of God.

Acts 13:2 "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

“Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” “For the work to which I have called them.” This is something God had in His mind and purpose in His elective plan for the world before its foundation. This event is the first missionary journey, the sending forth of Barnabas and Saul on that journey in about 45 AD. Having been sent by the Holy Spirit, and with the prayers and the laying on of hands, they went down to Seleucia, the port city of Antioch, about sixteen miles away. Then they set sail for Cyprus and began their ministry there in Cyprus.

The Holy Spirit is the initiator of the new step, just as the Spirit had led Philip to the Ethiopian and Peter to Cornelius, now Paul is led to the Gentiles. This radical shift of the Christian outreach is from a Jewish to a Gentile frame of reference.

The shift becomes reality because the Jews rejected the proclamation of God's fulfillment of the old covenant in the new covenant. The Jews had become institutionalized. They didn’t want things to be any different than they had been for centuries: even though Messiah had personally shared His Message with them and demonstrated His authority through signs and wonders. They refused to see! Consequently, God moved His hand of acceptance to include the Gentiles. I have all too often witnessed God leaving behind a community of “faithful” who have become closed to the possibility that He might do something new.

When a community of faith takes refuge in its own power structure to maintain the status quo and ignores God’s movement, often the fallout is seen in God leaving behind the community. Second Timothy 3:1-5 warns us about the result of institutionalization of religion,"1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Having a “form of godliness” is saying all the right religious talk and outward appearances, but no power. The institutional church is powerless over sin, powerless over demons, powerless to heal the sick, powerless to do all the things Jesus said believers in him would do. And why, because they denied the source of the power which is Jesus Christ.

Man’s natural inclination is to serve something — for we were created to worship. As a result, when the true God comes to the human race and says this is the criteria for eternal life, these people rebel and say, “No, that doesn’t quite fit the way I want to live, Jesus, so I’ll do it my way.” Then they set up a false god in their minds and worship that instead of the real one.

God has a response for the institutional church in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 "10 … because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

The institutional church can be a group of people, an external ministry, a house church, or an assembly of people in a building. Whether a small group of people or a metropolitan mega church, the institutionalized church embraces legalism and lives by a set of doctrines that teach a person must work their way into Heaven; it’s all about what you do for God. These delusional "Christians" think God allows them into Heaven based on the works in their own life. Instead, Jesus says repent from sin, trust and obey me, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and conform you to my image; don't follow a set of rules made by men. If a person stays in the institutional church, it’s evident that they love the world and its iniquity rather than the righteousness and holiness of the true Jesus Christ. If you are a part of the institutional church, get out before it’s too late.

We may have been deceived, but like a good shepherd, God will guide us back into all truth.

In Him,

Pastor Boyd

True Prayer - True Power

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:04:26 +0000

Casting Crowns has a song that asks the question “What if His people prayed?”

Yes, we pray, but do we REALLY pray? DA Carson says that “if you really want to embarrass the average Christian (or pastor), just ask them to tell you about his or her private prayer life.”

Carson cites a survey taken in a prominent evangelical seminary among students training to be missionaries. Only six percent could testify to regular quiet times, times of reading the Scriptures and of devoting themselves to prayer. And those training to be missionaries are considered to be the ministry elites! What does that say about us?

I read a sermon from C.H. Spurgeon on this topic of prayer that really moved me. I want to share some excerpts from it:

“With definite objects (praying specifically for something or someone) and with fervent desires (not cold hearts) mixed together, there is the dawning of hope that ye shall prevail with God.

But again: these two things would not avail if they were not mixed with a still more essential and divine quality, namely, a firm faith in God. Brethren, do you believe in prayer? I know you pray because you are God's people; but do you believe in the power of prayer? There are a great many Christians that do not, they think it is a good thing, and they believe that sometimes it does wonders; but they do not think that prayer, real prayer, is always successful. They think that its effect depends upon many other things, but that it has not any essential quality or power in itself.
Now, my own soul's conviction is, that prayer is the grandest power in the entire universe; that it has a more omnipotent force than electricity, attraction, gravitation, or any other of those secret forces which men have called by names, but which they do not understand. Prayer hath as palpable, as true, as sure, as invariable and influence over the entire universe as any of the laws of matter. When a man really prays, it is not a question whether God will hear him or not, he must hear him; not because there is any compulsion in the prayer, but there is a sweet and blessed compulsion in the promise. God has promised to hear prayer, and he will perform his promise. As he is the most high and true God, he cannot deny himself. Oh! to think of this; that you a puny man may stand here and speak to God, and through God may move all the worlds. Yet when your prayer is heard, creation will not be disturbed; though the grandest ends be answered, providence will not be disarranged for a single moment.
“There is nothing, I repeat it, there is no force so tremendous, no energy so marvelous, as the energy with which God has endowed every man, who like Jacob can wrestle, like Israel can prevail with him in prayer. But we must have faith in this; we must believe prayer to be what it is, or else it is not what it: should be. Unless I believe my prayer to be effectual it will not be, for on my faith will it to a great extent depend. God may give me the mercy even when I have not faith; that will be his own sovereign grace, but he has not promised to do it. But when I have faith and can plead the promise with earnest desire, it is no longer a probability as to whether I shall get the blessing, or whether my will shall be done. Unless the Eternal will swerve from his Word, unless the oath which he has given shall be revoked, and he himself shall cease to be what he is, "We know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
Prayer is not a fancy of fiction; it is a real actual thing, coercing the universe, binding the laws of God themselves in fetters, and constraining the High and Holy One to listen to the will of his poor hut, favored creature-man. But we want always to believe this. We need a realizing assurance in prayer. To count over the mercies before they are come! To be sure that they are coming! To act as if we had got them! When you have asked for your daily bread, no more to be disturbed with care, but to believe that God has heard you, and will give it to you. When you have taken the case of your sick child before God to believe that the child will recover, or if it should not, that it will be a greater blessing to you and more glory to God, and so to leave it to him. To be able to say, "I know he has heard me now; I will stand on my watch-tower; I will look for my God and hear what he will say to my soul." Were you ever disappointed yet, Christian, when you prayed in faith and expected the answer? I bear my own testimony here this morning, that I have never yet trusted him and found him fail me. I have trusted man and have been deceived, but my God has never once denied the request I have made to him, when I have backed up the request with belief in his willingness to hear, and in the assurance of his promise.”

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, August 12th, 1860, by the REV. C. H. Spurgeon at Exeter Hall, Strand. The entire transcript can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0328.htm

What do you think about your prayer life in light of Spurgeon's words?

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Broken I May Be

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 13:01:44 +0000

My daughter is going to kill me for this but I just have to comment … Tanisha has a boyfriend. The boy (notice I said boy, we dads will always consider any suitors “boys” until they prove their manhood … just say’n) is a Christian and seems to have a good character, so, I guess I am good with it. As a father, I am very protective of my little girl (notice I said little girl, she will never outgrow that place in Danae’ and my life, sorry ;). May God help any boy who breaks her heart! You know, I really don’t want my little girl to hurt. Unfortunately, that is not a practical view to have because with heartache also comes growth. In fact, we cannot experience true growth without a little adversity in our lives.

In the Bible we read of many who were “broken” by God. A prime example is the Apostle Paul. In Acts 9 we read about Paul’s life changing moment of brokenness and how it forever redirected his life.

Acts 9:1–6
[1] But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [2] and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. [3] Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. [4] And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [5] And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [6] But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

When Paul recounted this moment in Acts 26:12–18, he added something else Jesus said in between those two phrases: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14).

A goad is a sharpened stick that is jabbed into the back of an ox’s leg, and naturally the ox often kicks against it. What this scripture is trying to say is that there was something going on in Saul’s life, something that Jesus was doing to get his attention, which Saul was fighting against, and so much so that Paul became overzealous about persecuting people of the “Way.” What had been prodding against Saul? Perhaps it was the death of Stephen or unanswered questions about Jesus that didn't make sense to him. These “goads” were bothering Saul, wounding him, so he was kicking against them. As we see from the scripture, Jesus did more than just goad him, Jesus “broke” Saul.

Many times the only way that our Lord can get our attention is to “break” us. We often have a life so full of “stuff” like our jobs, our social lives, and even our families that we lose sight of God. Thus, God has to get our attention by stopping us in our tracks and “breaking” us.
C. S. Lewis was an atheist literature professor at Oxford when he became a Christian. One of the things he wrote about after his conversion was how he could see that God had been pursuing him the whole time. And sometimes those times were really painful. He called himself “the most dejected, reluctant convert in all of England… drug into the kingdom kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape.”

In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, from the Chronicles of Narnia series, Lewis tells a story about Eustace, a young boy who has developed an evil heart and became a dragon. He wanted to escape his life as a dragon, so Aslan, the Lion who represents Jesus, leads him to a fountain of pure water in which Eustace can bathe. Lewis wrote the scene in the book in Eustace’s voice, but literary scholars say this is Lewis talking about his own experience.

"The water was as clear as anything and I thought if I could get in there and bathe it would ease the pain. But the lion [Aslan] told me I must undress first. So I started scratching myself and my scales began coming off all over the place. And then I scratched a little deeper and, instead of just scales coming off here and there, my whole skin started peeling off beautifully In a minute or two I just stepped out of it. I could see it lying there beside me, looking rather nasty. It was a most lovely feeling. So I started to go down into the well for my bathe. But just as I was going to put my feet into the water I looked down and saw that (the skin on my feet was) all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as it had been before."

Eustace repeats t the process a second and third time, growing increasingly in despairing.

"Then the lion said, ‘You will have to let me undress you.’ I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off – just as I thought I’d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn’t hurt – and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly--‐looking than the others had been. Then he caught hold of me – I didn’t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I’d no skin on – and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone. And then I saw why. I’d turned into a boy again.”

In order to strip us of the “things” that are holding us back from doing God’s will, the Lord must “break” us. In fact, Jesus is ripping away skin from you and prodding you to make changes in your life. Yes, it’s painful, but it’s not punishment! God doesn't hate you; he loves you. J.D. Greear puts it this way, "It’s not retribution; it’s restoration." Are you feeling these goads? Is God blinding you and breaking you? Are you listening? Don’t lose sight of God’s plan for your life!

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

God Sends Ordinary People

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:20:40 +0000

Acts 8:1-25
And Saul approved of their killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

You know, it is very interesting to watch God at work. He seems to always turn a tragic event into a catalyst to further reach people for Christ. In Acts 8, Luke tell us that Stephens's martyrdom sparked an outbreak of violence against Christians. Consequently, the “church,” except for the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Stephen's execution also got to Saul and he responded with frenetic violence. Unfortunately, that is exactly the way some people respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit; they lash out against the church and you. Interestingly, the Lord used Philip, who was another one of the first deacons of the Jerusalem church and just an ordinary guy, to spread the Gospel.

I believe that this passage gives us a pattern for us to reach our community for the Lord. J.D. Greear has a good definition of evangelism: a group of ‘ordinary’ Christians living intentionally in a city to bring joy to it through word and deed. Luke points out that the first time the gospel left Jerusalem wasn't through the Apostles. Verse 1 states that all "except the Apostles" were scattered and then the passage goes on to say that those scattered preached the word wherever they went. The first time the gospel expanded beyond Jerusalem, it was carried in the mouths of normal people. The Great Commission to which all Christians are called is not accomplished by the preaching of a few anointed messengers, but when every believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and testifies about Christ in the streets. Let me ask you, are you letting the Spirit guide you to testify about Christ in the Streets?

As believers we are all called to be “sent out,” to be Christ’s witnesses in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and in the uttermost parts of the world. And God can be very creative in the way he sends us out. Sometimes God takes you into these “places” through a divine call and sometimes he just moves you there through normal life circumstances. Just remember in those times you are sent out, you already have within you the Holy Spirit, who will give you the message. Jesus promised he’d put words in your mouth when you needed them. This passage tells us Philip’s ministry was one of word and deed. They “heard him” and “saw the signs he did.” A true witness always involves both.

In verse 7 we see a phrase that really convicts many churches: "there was great joy in the city." Is there “much joy” in the community in which we live and work because of our presence? Would anyone “weep” over our death if we were gone? How about our church? Are we, as a body of believers, bringing “much joy?”

I want to encourage each of you to look for ways to serve and be committed to bringing joy to those around you. The gospel creates a unity that overcomes years of hurt and mistrust: a unity we long for but seem powerless to accomplish. Are you involved with people in your neighborhood, where you work? Ask God to show you needs you can meet.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

It's Not About You - the Stoning of Stephen

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 11:34:42 +0000

Acts 6 and 7 describes the powerful story of Stephen, his life of service and martyrdom, and his love even in his death. From start to finish Stephen’s life screams, “It’s not about me.” Stephen was not concerned about getting respect; he was all about serving, about waiting tables and doing what was needed. He was one of the first deacons appointed to serve the members of the church in Jerusalem. He knew that life was not about him obtaining blessing and prosperity, but about pointing people to Jesus.

Stephen, full of God's grace and power, performed wonders and signs among the people. Members of the Synagogue began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. So they stirred up the people and Stephen was seized and brought before the Sanhedrin. Stephen boldly addressed the religious leaders, giving them a history lesson and vividly highlighting the Israelites lack of faith and rebellion against God.

He concludes the speech In Acts 6 by saying 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Where did Stephen get this kind of courage and selflessness?

Acts 6 goes on "54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

When Stephen looked up into heaven, he saw Jesus stretching out nail pierced hands to receive him. Jesus, the Lord of the Universe, who had given up his life for Stephen and washed the feet of sinners - was standing to receive Stephen. Every other scripture in the New Testament that talks about Jesus being at the right hand of God and at God's throne, Jesus is sitting. But here, Christ stands in affirmation. All the religious leaders are calling Stephen a heretic, but Jesus says, "He's mine!." Earth was condemning and rejecting him, but heaven was commending and receiving him.

Then Stephen prayed, “Father, forgive them…” Where have you heard that? Stephen is becoming to others what Jesus had been to him. Those who believe the gospel and behold the gospel become like the gospel.

And while from an earthly perspective it may have looked like Stephen's life was in the hands of the devil, he was actually in the hands of God, who was overruling all of these events for good. Stephen didn’t know it, but watching him die was the one who would become the greatest evangelist the world would ever know, and God was using Stephen's death to bring this young man, Saul, to faith.

You who are suffering or are in places that are difficult to obey, you need to see Jesus in those places. Understand that he is in control. Just like he used the evil plans of Joseph’s brothers for good, just like he took Stephen’s martyrdom and used it to produce the greatest Christian missionary, Paul, God is using your suffering ultimately to achieve his purpose.

You need to see Jesus standing in love and victory at the right hand of God.

Stephen overcame the world not by receiving “blessing,” but by dying faithfully with his eyes fixed on the risen Christ. And God used Stephen's death for more than he’d ever dreamed, for from his death came the greatest evangelist who would ever live. God saves the world through your suffering well in the midst of death. You want to be overcome the world? Serve. Confess that it’s not about you, and submit to obedience whatever the cost!

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Why is the church today in decline?

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 12:57:51 +0000

Why is the church today in decline in this country? I believe at least part of the root cause is that believers are no longer dependent on the Holy Spirit. I was reading an article last week discussing a recent seminary graduate who had more than $100,000 of debt but could not find a full-time ministry position. Instead, he was working a couple of part-time jobs and a volunteer job to fulfill his calling. Consequently, he is unable to pay off his seminary debt. According to the article, this graduate is not alone in his difficulties. Church attendance and giving over the last several years are in decline. In fact, the giving decline is outpacing the attendance decline and forcing many congregations to reduce spending and staffing.

Research conducted by the Barna Group in 2007 and 2008 indicates that young people are leaving the church in masses because they do not sense a genuine belief in many of the church members. These young people love Jesus; they just don’t like the church. Churches have become so focused on the presentation, music, and production of their “worship” services that they have programmed the Holy Spirit out of the service. The young people want to be connected to something that is more than just a show; they want to be connected to Jesus and through that connection to make a difference in other people’s lives.

In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Peter and he boldly proclaimed Jesus to the Jewish people. He concluded his message by saying in Acts 2:36, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2: 37-41 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Wow. The people were cut to their hearts and asked, “What should be do?” Peter told them to first repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. After recognizing their need for a savior and confessing that need, they were to repent and be baptized in Jesus name for forgiveness of sins. Then Peter promised them that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling power of God that would give them the power to teach boldly, to walk faithfully, and to live abundantly and joyfully even in adversity. Peter added that the promise was for them and their children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord will call. They could receive salvation from Jesus and by living an example of faith in Jesus, their children would come to know the power of the savior and turn to him for healing. “And for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord will call” – that’s us. We are the recipients of that precious promise.

My prayer for this church, this body of believers, is that we listen to the Holy Spirit, we walk with the Spirit, we live life through the spirit and in doing so we will be empowered to be witnesses to the world of the love and grace given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. We will boldly proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world and will extend his love and grace as we go.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Why Are You Surprised? Acts 3

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:33:55 +0000

How does the world perceive the church? Do people have preconceived notions about the church?

I read an article the other day that explained how the church has been “typecast”. For many people, the role we play in society seems to be against any progress. I am going to show you through the first miracle in Acts that is not how the church should be perceived or how we should be achieving God's purpose in our lives.

The first miraculous healing after Jesus' ascension is found in Acts 3, and some scholars say that if you understand this miracle, in a way you will understand all the miracles that are described in Acts. This miracle shows you God's compassion toward suffering people, his work to relieve that suffering, his message to us in that suffering, and the mission of the church in the world.

Peter and John were going to the temple to pray and worship at the time of the evening sacrifice. As they arrived, a man with no use of his legs because of a congenital condition was being carried to his accustomed begging place. Peter fixed his eyes on the man, and asked for the same attention in return. At first Peter disappointed the beggar by declaring his lack of money, but this served only to heighten the value of the great gift he offered: complete health, which had to be given in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Peter commanded the man to walk and grabbed him by the right hand to raise him up. Instantly the man's feet and ankle bones received strength. Jumping up, he stood for the first time in his life. Then, in response as one who in faith realizes that he has been touched by God's power, he moved into the temple court, walking and jumping, and praising God. He became the living embodiment of the messianic age as predicted in Isaiah 35:6, "Then will the lame leap like a deer."

Should we expect such miracles today? The apostles are no longer with us, and miracles seemed to cluster around them; even in the first century, miraculous signs were not everyday occurrences. Yet, Jesus is still present by his Holy Spirit in the church. A healing miracle in the New Testament sense must have the following marks: it must be an instantaneous and complete deliverance from a grave organic condition; it must occur in response to a direct command in the name of Jesus, and it must be publicly acknowledged as indisputable.

After the miracle, word spread and people rushed to the area to see what was happening. Peter stood up and said, "Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus."

Peter seized the moment and asked the people about their amazement. Peter prepared the way for his Old Testament quotes by declaring that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had in this healing glorified his servant Jesus. Boldly, Peter stated that the people had handed Jesus over to be killed and disowned him by rejecting Pilate's judgment that he was innocent.

Peter's transition from indictment to a call to repentance is the evident in his assertion that they killed the Messiah in ignorance. They failed to recognize Jesus' true identity, although it should have been evident from his words and actions. Yet not even this ghastly mistake was outside God's plan.

Peter commanded the crowd to repent, renounce the sinful lives that led to Jesus' death, and turn so that their sins could be wiped out and times of refreshing could come from the presence of the Lord—that is, God the Father. They were offered immediate relief since salvation had already been accomplished through Jesus. But there was more. God would send to them the Christ, who has been appointed for them, at the end, when he restores all things.
Our slate has been wiped clean. Our parched lives are refreshed in the present by seasons of the Spirit's outpouring. Our future perfection is beyond imagination.

Have you ever noticed that every miracle Jesus and the apostles did was an alleviation of suffering? Peter said in verse 21 that this healing was a sign of the coming restoration of all things that God had promised. So, does that mean that from now on anyone who believes in Jesus will be healed? No, this healing was a “sign.” There were lots of sick, lame people in Jerusalem that day; Peter healed only that one. It is a sign of the full restoration coming to the future.

Not only did the apostles’ miracles point upward, showing God’s authentication of their message, they pointed forward, to the kind of restoration that Jesus was going to bring to the whole world. These miracles point us to the world as God created it to be, and as he wants it to be again.

To those of you in pain, that is your great hope and your sustaining joy. It’s temporary. Joni Eareckson Tada, who was paralyzed in a diving accident as a teenager, said, "At that great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the first thing I think I’ll do on resurrected legs is fall to my glorified knees and praise the God of Resurrection and healing, and then I’ll stand and dance before him with all my might.”

Do you want that future healing? Don’t you know deep down you are made for it—to be in a world without brokenness and pain? You must repent toward Jesus, for only in him is that healing found and the only ones who will go into that world are those who have surrendered to him.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Who is Jesus to YOU?

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:52:54 +0000

Matthew 16:13-20 says "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

If you have ever been a teacher or at least tried to teach someone anything, you will understand what Jesus is feeling right now. You teach, you work, you show, and you lead, and over and over again it seems like they just don’t get it! Then all of a sudden Bam! They get it; they understand! How many times have you seen Jesus with His disciples, and they just don’t seem to get it.

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church."

Jesus is saying my ekklesia, not my building but my gathering, my movement and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. No matter what, this church, this ekklesia, this body of believers, will continue on forever! On that confession that Jesus is Lord offering forgiveness for our sins, people are saved.

Then Jesus goes on to tell about His impending death in Matthew 16:21-23. "21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

But look at what Peter did in verse 22. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Isn’t this just like we are. I guess that is why I can relate to Peter. He had just gotten a gold star from Jesus and was feeling pretty full of himself and then BOOM! He pulls a dufus stunt again. He proceeds to correct the Lord! How many times do we turn the scriptures around for our own selfish needs?

Fast forward to Acts 1 when Jesus tells his disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the gift God the Father had promised. And while they waited, what did they do? They prayed.

The Fulton Street prayer meeting that sparked a revival in America in 1858 began with six people. Within six months there were ten thousand businessmen gathering daily for prayer in New York City, and within two years one million converts were added to the American church. A. T. Pierson said, "There has never been a revival in any country that has not begun in united prayer, and no revival has ever continued beyond the duration of those prayer meetings". We must prepare for any fresh outpouring of the Spirit by united, persistent prayer.

With the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was available to everyone who would embrace the message of Jesus! You are the temple of God and that God dwells in you! And when we gather in Jesus name, we are a part of this thing we call the church! That confession still has the momentum that was fueled on the Day of Pentecost over 2000 years ago and is still as powerful today as it was then!

In Him,

Pastor Boyd

Movements Move

Mon, 07 Jul 2014 17:52:24 +0000

I’m not sure what images come to mind when you hear the word “church,” but it’s probably very different from the way first century Christians understood the term.

In the Greek NT, the word translated “church” is “ekklesia” and literally means “an assembly,” or “a gathering” of people around an idea. In fact, breaking down ek-klessia, the word is derived from “ek” means “out of” and “kaleo” means called out.” Think of an ekklesia as an assembly of people called out around an idea.

In Acts 1, on the day of Pentecost the church became a movement built around the conviction that Jesus Christ died as the only Savior for sinners and that he had risen from the dead. This movement began more than 2000 years ago with a ragtag group of 12 men whose hearts and minds were captured by the message of the Savior and who were moved to follow the Lord.

The Apostles understood that God’s dying for His rebellious children was the greatest act of grace ever imagined. Peter would summarize the Apostles’ message in Acts 4:12 by saying, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” They saw a God so beautiful and glorious that he was worth giving away their entire lives — a God whose glory deserved to be spread among all peoples of the earth. And they would take that message all over the world.

Unfortunately, as time progressed, people began to think of church as a place to go for religious services. In fact, our English word “church” does not come from the Greek ekklesia but from the German word kirche, meaning “a sacred place where you gather for religious purposes.” That shift in thinking changed the fundamental way people related to the church, and it became a place attended or an event endured rather than a movement people became part of. Consequently, the church became an institution that essentially provided services for people and was controlled by powerful people who used it to serve their own interests.

The danger of the church in every age is to cease being a movement and instead become a place people simply attend. How do we overcome that urge? Spurgeon put it this way, “If Jesus is precious to you, you will not be able to keep your good news to yourself; you will be whispering it into your child’s ear; you will be telling it to your husband; you will be earnestly imparting it to your friend; without the charms of eloquence you will be more than eloquent; your heart will speak, and your eyes will flash as you talk of his sweet love.”

Here’s my question: Has the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and provided you the only means of salvation captured you to the point that you cannot shut up about it? Are willing to go anywhere with it and to give up anything for it? If not, you’re not part of the movement. If you have, then are you moving with the message? Because, Movements Move so let’s move!!

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Why do we Love Stories?

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 18:39:41 +0000

Why do we love stories so much? George Barna tells us that the emerging generation has no basic understanding of the Bible or even many of the stories of the Bible because their parents failed to teach them about the Lord and His Word. Basically, parents have failed to tell their kids even the simple little stories of the Bible. The kids can tell you every nuance of the Harry Potter books, but knowing the story of how Jesus calmed the winds and the waves doesn’t seem to be important enough. Unfortunately it seems that Christians have lost the art of telling a story.

I ask again, why do we need stories? Because through stories, we make sense out of life! Saints such as Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, and Paul have inspired believers throughout the ages because these people come alive in their stories. Each of them, although imperfect, is an amazing example of what the Lord can do through hearts that are truly committed to Him.

But it is not just the stories that draw us to these characters. What is your favorite Bible story? Chances are part of the reason the story that came to mind as your favorite is because of “who” told you the story.

For example, as a kid growing up my brother and I would spend time during the summer with my grandparents. One summer in particular a group of folks from Kansas came to the little town of Vinita, Oklahoma, to conduct a Vacation Bible School for my grandparents’ little church. The week long Bible school was transformed into a week of exciting Bible stories and activities. It seemed like every kid in town was at my grandparents little church. One of our challenges was a little competition at the end of the week reviewing the things we learning at VBS. We were studying the apostles and the books of the Bible. Now, I will admit, I am terrible at memorization and was not looking forward to the competition. In fact, I wish I remembered the names of the couple who were leading our group because they were rock stars! All week long they told us stories: stories about the apostles, stories about the books of the Bible, and stories from their childhood about learning from their Bible teachers. I was captivated! I don’t think I watched TV at all that week because the couple that was teaching our VBS class was also staying at my grandparents’ house. So, I listened to stories about the Bible all day long and I came home and listened to stories about life all night long. Every night we would go out to the screened-in front porch and my brother and I would lose ourselves in the conversations of the adults. Every night grandmother would have to wake my brother and me so we could go to bed. To this day I can sing the little song we learned about the apostles. It goes something like this:

(To the tune of Jesus Loves Me)
Jesus called them one by one
Peter, Andrew, James and John
Next came Philip, Thomas too
Matthew and Bartholomew
James the one they called the less
Simon, also Thaddeus
The twelfth apostle Judas made
Jesus was by him betrayed

Yes, Jesus called them
Yes, Jesus called them
Yes, Jesus called them
And they all followed him

Jesus has called all of us to tell the stories of the Bible, the story of Christ’s love, and the stories of how God has changed our lives. What’s your story?

Oh, by the way, I received a ribbon for memorizing ALL the books of the Bible … Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus … you know the story!

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Abba Father

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:05:54 +0000

Romans 8:15. "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs––heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

What an amazing truth: God has adopted us as his sons and daughters. If you are justified through the blood of Jesus, he is your Father. If you are not a Christian, God is your Creator, but he is not your Father. God is not the Father of all mankind. He is the Creator of all, but he is the Father of only those who have been justified, those he has adopted. There are a lot of kids in my life, but I only have one daughter.

"What does it mean for God to adopt us?" The first thing Paul says in Romans is that we no longer have a spirit of slavery where we fall back into fear, but rather we've received the spirit of adoption by which we call, "Abba, Father!" Because we have been adopted, we have been given new hearts, and those hearts are no longer locked into the enslavement of self, others, world, and religion. When God adopts you, the spirit of slavery is taken from you so you don't fall back into fear, because you've been given a new spirit, a spirit by which we call out, "Abba, Father!"

At times, I may be tempted to try to find the solution inside of myself, and because I have been granted a new spirit and a new heart by God by the Word of God and serious about a pursuit of the Lord, I am able to spot what I am doing, repent of it, and throw myself on the mercies of God. A lost person can't do that.

Verse 16 says "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…" The first way the Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are children of God is there is an acknowledgement in the lordship of Christ. You allow Christ to dictate the course of your life. The Spirit testifies to your spirit that you are a child of God because we have a desire for obedience, even though we aren’t perfect at it, and a desire to pursue the things of God.
Some of you are crawling, some of you are running, but it's there. Some of you have a busted leg and are hobbling, others of you are running full speed, but without pursuit, the Spirit is not testifying to your spirit that you're children of God.

The Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we're children of God. "…and if children, then heirs––heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…"The Bible says the sons and daughters of God, you and me, coheirs with Christ, will reign and rule in the new heavens and new earth alongside of him. As part of our inheritance, we get unfettered, unbroken, complete access to our Creator and what our souls were designed to experience. In my ministry, I have discovered that people sometimes don't want God, they want what God brings. I want a good marriage. I want my business to be successful. I'd like to be blessed. What you're trying to do in that moment is use God to get what you really want.

In verse 16 "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs––heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." You're going to be an heir with unrestricted access to the King of glory, an imperishable body, ruling and reigning with God forever in his presence on a remade, recreated new heaven and new earth, provided that you suffer with him so you might also be glorified with him.

The call to follow Jesus Christ is also a call to suffering. It is not a ticket away from it, but actually a doorway into it. Don't despise difficult days. God is at work in the mess. That's the message of the Bible and why some passages in the Bible are not pretty. God is working in the tears. You have a loving Father and a rich inheritance, and he will never lay on you what he will not bear up with you. It is in the sorrow that God does his best work in us. He is not the author of evil and suffering, but he is the sovereign King who will use the dark nights to tie our souls to him more and more.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Don't Be Afraid, Just Believe

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 08:54:46 +0000

Throughout my life I have at times struggled with faith… I know I am a pastor, and I’m not supposed to admit that, but I have… usually it centers around the question: if Jesus loves us so much, why is the world the way that it is?

In Mark 5:22-42 we see one of the most bizarre encounters in Jesus’ life. We meet Jairus, a religious leader in Capernaum whose daughter was dying. Since he was a leader of the community and rich, he likely had hired the best doctors money could buy; but to no avail. As a general rule, the religious leaders of that day were not excited about Jesus. In fact, at every turn, they were plotting to end the Lord’s life so it is interesting to see Jairus “falling at Jesus’ feet and imploring him earnestly” to save his daughter’s life.

In this passage we are also introduced to a woman who has had a discharge of blood for 12 years. She had a disease that gave her menstrual irregularity. Under Jewish law she was considered unclean, which meant that she couldn’t go into the Temple and other people wouldn’t touch her. Here was a woman who for 12 years has not been able to go before God or even be touched by anyone, and she thought if she could just grab a portion of Jesus’ robe, he could heal her, and she crawled her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Lord’s garment.

Both people in this story came to Jesus for one thing and ended up receiving so much more. But Jesus required a lot more of both of them than they were expecting. Jairus came to Jesus in need of a healing; what he got was a resurrection (a miracle upgrade). But Jesus required Jairus to trust him in the midst of completely bewildering circumstances. The woman wanted a hit and run with Jesus (to get her healing and get home). She not only received healing, but was also called “precious daughter” by the Son of God. But the COST was that she had to expose herself to Jesus and publicly profess him before the crowd.

Coming to Jesus always offers more, and also costs more, than you realize. Many of us have been drawn to Jesus because of a need… for forgiveness, help with a family that is falling apart, help putting back together a life that is broken, help finding purpose and meaning in life, and maybe even deliverance from an addiction. What Jesus offers is far more than we could have imagined; he not only wants to help with your problem, he wants to make us his child. He wants to give us something so much greater even than the solution to the problem, union with him forever.
But he also requires far more from you than you have dreamed. He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him take up your cross and follow me.” Total denial. Total surrender. Total trust.

There’s only one “trade” Jesus is willing to make. He’ll give you himself for all of eternity, the promise that he will heal your brokenness and goodness and mercy to follow you all the days of your life. In return he requires your complete surrender. All of you for all of him. Lord of all, or not Lord at all. Are you ready to make that trade?

In Him
Pastor Boyd

Out on a Limb

Mon, 19 May 2014 08:48:43 +0000

Luke 19:1-10.
"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

This story is more than just a children's story; it is one of the most powerful and provocative stories in all of scripture. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector for the Roman empire in the prospering city of Jericho. He worked for the occupying forces and was regarded as a traitor to his own people. But his life was missing something, and he went searching for Jesus. In his desperate search for that something that was lacking in his life, which money obviously did not satisfy, he was willing to go out on a limb to find it.

Once he was out on that limb, the most amazing thing happened, Jesus stopped, looked up at Zacchaeus, and called him by name. In Isaiah 43:1, God says, “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” You may think you are all alone in this world and nobody knows you and nobody cares. But there is a loving God who created the universe who knows you and calls you by name.

Jesus wanted to spend time with Zacchaeus. That reality shook Zacchaeus to the core, and he was instantly broken because of the grace and compassion shown towards him. Something in that encounter with Jesus changed the way Zacchaeus saw the world. He could now see people in need, whereas before he only saw people he needed to fleece. Zacchaeus immediately made a two-pronged pledge. First, he pledged to give half his yearly income to the poor, and secondly, he pledged to return any stolen funds four times over. Jewish law only required restitution of the money plus 20 percent, but Zacchaeus thought 400 percent interest was more appropriate.

Jesus changes how we see other people. Jesus comes looking for us and invites us to a changed life, a life that is continually transformed into the image of Jesus. Has your life been transformed? If not, why not?

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Lord, Help Me!

Mon, 12 May 2014 08:08:17 +0000

Matthew 15:21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs."
27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table."
28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Have you ever known a person whose character could be summed up in four words? Jesus said of this Gentile mother, "You have great faith." She was a Canaanite woman, who came from the country north of Palestine and she was a mother, but that is all we know about her. We don't even know her name. All we know is that in her single encounter with Jesus, He said to her, “You have great faith.”

The Canaanite woman humbrly cried out to Jesus. She called Jesus Lord and the Son of David to admit to him that she knew he was the Christ and that he had the power to save her daughter. Her cry was not for herself, but she sought out Jesus to beg him to help her.

Three times Jesus seemed to turn her away, and he remained silent after her initial plea. "Jesus did not answer a word." It wasn't that Jesus didn't hear her or wasn't moved by her. Jesus was testing her faith, and he does that with us today. She keeps following Jesus, pestering the disciples, and the disciples finally asked Jesus, not to help her, but to send her away. Then Jesus answers, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

She was a Canaanite woman, but she came, knelt before him and said, "Lord, help me!" In all humility, this woman came across generations, cultural barriers, and through a crowd to get to Jesus and then called him Lord. How long has it been since you have gotten on your knees and called him Lord? When we forget to fall on our knees before our God, we are living for our own fulfillment and in essence as our own gods. This woman is demonstrating to us that we need to humble ourselves, fall to our knees, and say, "Lord, help me."

Jesus' reply seems harsh, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs." But Jesus wanted to get to the heart of who she was and why she was there.

Her response has gone down in history because she got it - she understood. There is a reason why we are going through what we are going through, and if nothing else Jesus is preparing us for the next step. But Jesus allows us to be where we are so that we can knell before him and say, "Lord, help me!" Her pride was out the window. Jesus shows us every day the way he blesses us, but we focus on what we don't have. Her reply was, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table."

That will kick you in the gut if you will let it. What she is saying is, "I understand Lord, you are calling me a dog. Guilty as charged. My nation has been at war with your people. Guilty as charged. But I also understand that you are the God of the universe because I believe that all it takes is the blessing of a meager crumb to take care of the needs of my life. Many times we give Jesus a Christmas wish list of the things we want, and all this woman wanted was a crumb from the Master's table. She understood true blessing and the reality of who Jesus is. And in response, Jesus said, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted!"
From that very hour, her daughter was healed.

May we trust Jesus as Lord in our adversities and may it be said of us, "you have great faith." All it takes is a scrap from the Master's table and we are blessed.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Great Balls of Fire

Tue, 06 May 2014 08:20:52 +0000

I love the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found in Daniel Chapter 3. These guys had faith. King Nebuchadnezzar called them to appear before him. The king was furious that they hadn't bowed down to the false gods he had set up. And he told the three that they would be thrown in the blazing furnace if they refused to worship the image of gold and serve the king's gods .

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied in verse 16, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter." In this matter. They were still showing respect to the king, working within the structure within which God had placed them, but they drew the line at worshipping other gods. We need to learn that lesson: to work within the community and culture changing it from the inside, not from the outside as observers.
In verse 17 they added, " If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Notice what they said, God is able. They know God is capable of rescuing them but knew the decision on whether to rescue was God's. They knew that God Almighty was able to rescue them. They had resolve and conviction of their beliefs. How many times do we compromise? They followed God.

Too many times we limit God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego likely thought when they were thrown into the fire, this is it; our life here on earth is over. The furnace was heated seven times hotter than normal, so hot that the soldiers who threw them in were consumed. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, even though bound when thrown in, were walking around and someone else was with them - someone described by the advisers as looking "like a son of the gods."

That blows me away, what God is willing to do. It is a miracle in our lives every day what God does for us and through us. The real story here is that God never promised us we wouldn't walk through fire, but when we walk through fire he is with us.

The best lesson we can teach our kids and those around us is that God is faithful. Let them see the fires you are walking through and help them understand that God is there with you.

Where is your faith?

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Choose Today Whom You Will Serve

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:48:00 +0000

Life is full of decisions, but the most important decision we make is this: what god will you serve? And not making a decision about that question is in itself making a decision. We all worship something: money, fame, beauty, success, power, family, food, or God. When we put anything we are doing in front of what God is doing, it becomes an idol. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah presents Israel with a question, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” Elijah proposes a challenge in which the 450 prophets of Baal would offer a sacrifice to Baal and then Elijah would offer a sacrifice to Jehovah. Then Elijah said, "Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Sometimes, it is difficult to see God at work in our lives and circumstances. Beth Moore tells a story about a time she was in a crowded airport and an elderly gentleman with really long grey, matted hair and long fingernails was seated in a wheelchair near her. She said she felt in her heart that God was telling her of all thing to brush the man's hair. It is not something she wanted to do, but after arguing silently with God about not even having a hair brush, she got up and went to the man and said, "Sir, could I have the honor of brushing your hair?" Because he was deaf, she had to repeat the question loudly a couple of times, which got everyone's attention. He indicated that would be fine and told her he had a brush in his bag. She pulled out the brush and she said the love of the Lord just filled her and she thought, "I can brush hair. I had two daughters." Gently and slowly, she begins to brush the tangled hair, working through the matts until his hair was smooth and shiny. After she finished, the gentleman said, "Thank you. I was worried what my bride would think, but now it will be ok." He had been in the hospital for months and hadn't seen his wife for a long time. He didn't want to return home looking a mess.

After hearing this story, God impressed on me that not only does he love us enough to know the number of hairs on our head, he cares whether they are brushed. And he can use us to do the brushing for others when we are obedient.

The prophets of Baal spent hours imploring, pleading with their god to answer by fire. They danced and cut themselves but to no available. Then Elijah prayed and God answered by fire, immediately consuming the sacrifice, even though it had been drenched with water. And not only did the fire consume the sacrifice, it consumed the alter, the stones, the water, and even the dust around the alter.

Do the choices we make demonstrate our commitment to God? Have we chosen Him above all others? Or have we made gods of money, fame, popularity, beauty? Choose today whom you will serve, and then serve with all your might.

In Him,
Pastor Boyd

Almost

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 07:56:17 +0000

    American poet John Greenleaf Whittier once wrote, "Of all the words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, `It might have been.’" One of the most tragic words in human language is the word "almost." "Almost" speaks of missed opportunities. A life filled of almost is a life filled with regret; it is a life that speaks of disappointment.
    The most infamous "almost" in history would have to be when Pilate almost released Jesus. Luke 23: 23 says, "But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that He be crucified, & their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand." Pilate had the authority to release Jesus. He knew Jesus was innocent, and his wife even warned him not to have anything to do with Jesus. Pilate almost listened, but he didn't. He surrendered Jesus to their will.
   The soldiers then took Jesus, beat him, placed a crown of thorns on him, placed the cross on his back, and led him out to be crucified. Satan and his demons thought they were won; they were celebrating. The hopes and dreams of Satan were almost realized, but Sunday was coming.
    On that cross , Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US!” It was on that cross that Jesus Christ offered his perfect, sinless life on behalf of each one of us. When Jesus Christ breathed his last, he cried out; “It is finished.” The penalty was paid. Before that fateful Friday, God could open the books and look up each name, and written in black were the words, “guilty of sin.” On that resurrection Sunday, across the name of every believer God wrote in Jesus blood, “forgiven.”
   A father and son were traveling down a country road on afternoon in the spring time when suddenly a bee flew in the window. Being deathly allergic to bee stings, the boy began to panic as the bee buzzed all around inside the car. Seeing the horror on his child’s face, the father reached out and caught the bee in his hand. Soon, he opened his hand and the bee began to buzz around once again. Again, the boy began to panic. The father reached over to his son, and opened his hand showing him the stinger still in his palm. “Relax, son,” the father said, “I took the sting; the bee can’t hurt you anymore.”
   The empty tomb is God’s way of saying to us, “Relax, my child, I took the sting; death can’t hurt you anymore.”
    Don't live your life in the almosts. Live it with the confidence of knowing you are a child of God who can rest in saving grace of Christ's blood and walk the path laid before you with confidence in the God who loved you enough to give his only Son for you.
In Him,
Pastor Boyd