Read through the blog and hear from different members of our pastoral team.
GOD’s Word has much to say about “thanksgiving.” For example, the psalmist wrote these words in Psalm 95:2: “Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.” Psalm 116:17 declares, “I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and will worship the LORD.”
One of the most meaningful verses to me for the past 22 years is the words of the apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in everything, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS.”
This Sunday I conclude my 22 year ministry at our church. As I reflect back on these years, I am truly thankful.
I am thankful for the wonderful church family GOD gave me to serve.
I am thankful for the way our church family has loved and supported my wife and my 3 daughters and my 3 sons-in-law and 8 grandkids.
I am thankful for GOD’s faithfulness to sustain our church family through difficult and challenging seasons.
I am thankful GOD used adversity in my life to humble me and transform my character.
I am thankful for the many times when our church family has forgiven me for the times I have sinned as a result of my anger, an unforgiving spirit, harsh words, an arrogant attitude, or a poorly executed leadership decision.
I am thankful for the faithfulness and support of our church family through many difficult periods of change and transition.
I am thankful for the kind hospitality shown to me whenever I have visited members of our church.
I am thankful for the privilege and joy of serving alongside of servant-hearted staff members through the years.
I am thankful for the the kind words and messages I have received from our members of our church family through the years.
I am thankful for the way the church has taken care of our family financially through the years, being used of GOD to provide for our financial needs.
I am thankful for the way the church honored me and my family on our 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th anniversary observances.
I could add another “volume” to this list. So, as I reflect on my 22 years of ministry at Circle Drive/Redemption Hill Church, I leave you with this message from Kathy and me to you: “I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3).
Dr. Mike
I am so thankful for the times GOD has given me a divine appointment – an opportunity to share the gospel and lead a person to repentance and faith in JESUS. I thought of Lynn Prichard this morning.
Years ago, his son and daughter-in-law told me about Lynn. He was not a Christian and he was in very poor health. I asked if I could visit him. They both were thrilled.
I remember the day I went to see Lynn. He lived alone and was in his 80’s. Although he had experienced a lifetime of alcohol addiction, he had finally quit.
He had recently suffered a stroke, and he was in poor health.
I talked with him about his family. He told me his wife had died 6 months earlier. He was struggling with depression and loneliness.
I then transitioned our conversation to the Bible. He acknowledged he was not a Christian, but he wanted me to share with him the good news of the gospel.
After I presented the gospel to him, I asked if he wanted to repent of his sin and believe on JESUS. Without any hesitation, he said, “I want to.” “I am ready.” So, in spite of his poor health, Lynn knelt down on his living room floor and prayed to receive JESUS as His personal Savior.
Several weeks later, two of the men in the church assisted Lynn to the church’s baptismal dressing room. Because of his stroke, he took one step at a time coming up the stairs. Then he took one step at a time to get into the baptistry.
He was out of breath as he approached me. It was such a privilege and joy to baptize Lynn that day! JESUS had truly changed his life!
Two months later, Lynn experienced a gall bladder attack and he was hospitalized. Suddenly, his health began to decline rapidly. I visited him daily. Then one day, GOD took him to heaven.
For many years, Lynn Prichard was spiritually lost and spiritually blind. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 tell us so: “But if, in fact, our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. Regarding them: the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, who is the image of GOD.”
But when the good news of the gospel is shared, that is, “the light of the gospel” (vs.4), the light exposes that person’s sin and reveals his/her need of JESUS. That is what happened the day Lynn Prichard became a Christian. The light of the gospel revealed his darkened heart – his spiritual lostness – and his need for the Savior.
But, in order for you and me to share the gospel effectively, we must be empowered by GOD’s SPIRIT. Acts 1:8 declares, “But you will receive power when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
There are people just like Lynn Prichard in the world – people who are waiting for someone to share the gospel with them. Let’s pray for GOD to give us divine appointments!
GOD bless!
Co-Pastor Ross Jagers shared a very important update this past week concerning our new church building. We have the funds available from our loan with WatersEdge to complete the interior of the facility. But we are lacking $1+ million to complete the exterior work: landscaping, curb and guttering, and a paved entrance/parking lot. We need to sell our current building to complete the project.
In the meantime, Co-Pastor Ross announced a new phase of our REACH campaign. We are asking members, attenders, and friends to give toward a new goal of $200,000. These funds will be used to provide furnishings for the buildings: chairs for the worship center, furniture for the lobby, tables and chairs for classrooms, audio needs, etc.
Let’s all join together these next few months to make a difference through giving to this new REACH goal of $200,000. GOD can truly accomplish the miraculous through His people. He has done it before, and He can do it again.
I make reference to 1 Chronicles 29. GOD told David that he could not build the Temple because of his reputation as a warrior and because of His extraordinarily successful military career.
David was a consummate leader. In 2 Chronicles 29:1, he announced “to all the congregation,” “My son Solomon, whom alone GOD has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the Temple is not for man but for GOD.” So, King David was going to set the stage for the future.
He extended a challenge to the people of GOD to give toward the construction of the Temple. Did you notice what he did first? It’s called leading by example. David gave generously and sacrificially to this offering to build the Temple.
In verses 2-5, David describes the extravagance of his giving. He declared, “I have given to the house of my GOD, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver.”
Then, in verse 5, he issues a challenge to the people of GOD: “Who then is willing to consecrate Himself this day to the LORD?” That is, who is willing to join his lead by giving sacrificially to this project.
In verse 6, the leaders responded to King David’s challenge. “Then the leaders of the fathers’ houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king’s work, offered willingly.” Verses 6-8 describes their gifts.
Verse 9 tells us that the people also accepted the challenge to give to the fund to build the Temple. “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.”
The response to this special offering for the construction of the Temple was simply extraordinary. As a result of the joy and praise of his heart, King David launched into one of the greatest prayers ever recorded in human history. Be sure to go and read 2 Chronicles 29:10-15.
The leader, the leaders and the all the people responded by giving generously and sacrificially. King David stood amazed over the donations. In verse 16, he said, “O LORD our GOD, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and all is Your own.” He then described the overwhelming joy in his heart over the extraordinary generosity of GOD’s people. He said in verse 17b: “And now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.”
Let’s follow the example set by King David, the leaders, and the people of GOD. With great joy, let’s give toward this special REACH offering goal of $200,000.
Let’s give generously and sacrificially, so when it is all said and done, we can also rejoice over the miraculous work of GOD in our midst!
On Sunday night, we had the chance to gather as a church family and dream about the future. We fellowshipped, prayed, worshipped and we committed that as a Team, we would move forward into an unknown future for the sake of the Kingdom. This idea of “Teams” is not new to us here at Redemption Hill; we have been using that term for a long time now. The application of it is where I want to camp for a just a few minutes.
At Redemption Hill, we have a strong vision for Teams and Teamwork as we move forward into our new phase of ministry life. The vision is simple:
“To expand the serving capacity of Staff and Volunteers through creative, team-based partnership within Redemption Hill Church and beyond.”
Teamwork is about unified partnership for a purpose. Let me describe it in this way: think of your favorite sport. I love watching baseball. A pitcher takes the mound and throws a fantastic game, hitting the strike zone over and over; in fact, the pitcher throws such a great game that the opposing team only hit the ball 10 times over nine innings! That team is going to win, isn’t it? Uh-Oh!! The rest of the team, thinking that pitcher was so good, decided to take the game off and go bowling. The team lost 10-0! Even as great as that pitcher had played, his amazing performance could not win the game without other teammates taking the field and performing to the best of their individual abilities. His capacity to win was limited by his role on the Team; he needed the rest of the team to show up.
In regard to serving within the church, Paul talked about this idea in 1 Corinthians 12 in this way:
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose…As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”
Paul understood the fact that just as the human body needs all of its parts to function correctly, so does the church. If everyone volunteers for the Greeting Team, who will help in other ways? Who will volunteer as an Usher? A Section Leader? A Nursery Attendant? The church needs the whole Team to discover where each person is gifted, develop that gift through serving, and to act in that gifting as a deployed member of the Team.
So, Church Family, together let’s remember that we really need each other. In dependence upon the Lord, let us move forward into this next chapter of ministry as those called to serve for a purpose. Your Pastoral Team will be right there with you, because we know that we need you just as you need us. That is the power of Teamwork. And it is just the way God designed it.
From January 1995 to January 2002, I served as pastor of Rose Hill Church in Ashland, Kentucky. I have quite a few memories of my ministry there, including opportunities to share the Gospel. One such event took place on May 12, 1998 at 11pm at King’s Daughters Medical Center.
We had 4 sisters who faithfully attended our church: Janet, Lou, Wanda, and Gloria. They were all successful businesswomen. They operated a local motel, a Shell gas station, a florist, and much more.
Late the night of May 12, their mother, Nannie, who was 85 years old, was seriously ill in the hospital. For one solid hour, she would lift up her hands to GOD, pray for forgiveness, lay her hands down and declare, “I guess GOD must not be hearing me.” Obviously, they were both upset and concerned, so they called and asked if I could come to the hospital as soon as possible.
So, I drove from my house to King’s Daughters Medical Center. I went into the room to talk with Nannie. She said to me, “I’ve spent all my life trying to make money. I’ve never slowed down to reflect on the priorities of life.” And she was right. She had made a lot of money in her lifetime. But now, facing the reality of death, she realized she couldn’t take it with her.
So, that night, I had the privilege and joy of sharing the gospel with her. She made the decision to pray to receive JESUS as her personal Savior. It was a remarkable moment in that hospital room as Nannie repented of her sin and placed her trust and faith in JESUS. Her four daughters were so elated – and so relieved.
How wonderful is the truth of Romans 10:9-10:
“That if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made to salvation.”
Then Romans 10:13 declares:
“For whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Then Romans 10:14 reminds us of the significance of one to share the story of JESUS with a non-Christian:
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a witness?”
Let’s make the commitment of the apostle Paul our commitment in sharing the good news of the Gospel:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of CHRIST, for it is the power of GOD to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” - Romans 1:16
On behalf of our church family, I extend my love, sympathy, and prayer support to the family of Jim Paterson, who went home to be with JESUS on June 28, 2024. His celebration of life service will be held at Redemption Hill Church this Saturday, July 13 at 10am.
Jim was born on January 29, 1931. He was 93 years old when he went to heaven.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Betty. Her celebration of life service was held at our old 801 N. Circle Drive campus on October 16, 2015. Jim and Betty were married for 37 years.
Jim and Betty joined our church family on June 25, 1978. They moved their membership from Ward Road Church in Arvada. That’s right, Jim was a member here for 47 years. Betty and Jim attended worship services faithfully through the years. They also served in various capacities in our church’s ministry. They loved serving at our church’s annual Thanksgiving Feast.
When I first came to the church in February 2002, Jim was the church’s printer. He had a print shop below the chapel – and he did a great job! At the time, the church sent out a weekly newsletter. Jim also serviced all of our church’s printing needs. He served in this capacity until the Finance Team decided to phase out the position.
After Betty’s passing away to heaven, Jim faithfully continued to attend until COVID hit in March 2020. He had several bouts with COVID himself. He was hospitalized. As a result, he was not able to come back to church.
During these last years, Jim has been a resident of Winslow Court. Although he could not physically attend our worship services, he told me he watched our church’s livestream faithfully every Sunday.
In the past year, Jim has shared on occasions his desire to go to heaven to be with His Savior and to be reunited with Betty. Our church staff visited Jim around Christmas to sing some Christian Christmas songs and have prayer with him. He so appreciated the visit, and he shared of his desire “to be home with the LORD.”
Jim Paterson is now in heaven. He is experiencing the promise JESUS gave to him and to all believers in John 14:2b-3.
“I go to prepare a place for you, and when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
I praise GOD for the testimony of Jim’s life. He loved JESUS, he loved his family, and he loved his church family. He was faithful to JESUS to the end of his life. JESUS said in Revelation 2:10b, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Jim Paterson has now experienced this wonderful promise from JESUS.
On Sunday night, July 21, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, I will present a teaching practicum at Redemption Hill on the understanding of modern culture and our Christian response. I will use The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman as the primary textbook. One person has said, “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self is perhaps the most significant analysis and evaluation of Western culture written by a Protestant during the past 50 years.”
I will also use as sources “Why You Think the Way You Do” by Glenn S. Sunshine, “Restoring All Things” by Warren Smith and John Stonestreet, “Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth” by Thaddeus J. Williams, “How Now Shall We Live” by Charles Colson, and a variety of articles gathered from “Breakpoint Commentary,” as well as other news sources.
1 Chronicles 12:32 provides the foundation for this 2 hour study:
“Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were 200; and all their brethren were at their command.”
As this verse indicates, in order to know what we as Christians must do, we must have an “understanding of the times.”
In this study, we will discover that seemingly isolated groups or issues in our culture are in reality all interconnected: Black Lives Matter, Love is Love, the gay rights movement, the women’s rights movement, the anti-police movement, mob stealing in retail stores, gay marriage, transgenderism, victimization, anti-culture, anti-history, anti-free speech, and open borders.
This study proposes a three-fold goal:
1. The material will help you understand why society thinks and behaves the way it does. It will help you to connect the dots. As a result, you will know what is going on out there.
2. The material will equip and allow you to have healthy conversations with persons who embrace the secular/postmodern worldview.
3. The material will conclude with ways in which you can respond to what you have learned – in other words, how to live the Christian life in the midst of this secular world and how to be an effective witness for JESUS.
The two hour discussion will include the following major subjects:
I. AN ANALYSIS OF WORLDVIEWS – Postmodern and Christian
II. REIMAGING THE SELF
III. ORIGINS OF MODERN SELF
IV. CRITICAL THEORY
V. THE CURRENT IMPACT OF “EXPRESSIVE INDIVIDUALISM”
VI. THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
I am so excited to lead this study. You are welcome to attend. My prayer is for GOD to use this 2 hour teaching practicum to equip people to understand the culture and therefore impact the culture with our Christian faith.
Vacation Bible School will be here in just a couple short weeks. This year’s theme is Breaker Rock Beach and kids will be learning all about God’s rock-solid truth! (Romans 12:2) VBS is extra important to me as a child who came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior at a VBS in 5th grade. God uses all kinds of things to draw people to himself, but VBS is one that I have seen impact lives again and again. This is not because of programing or really cool decorations (although we love those things), it is because God’s Spirit is at work, the Gospel is proclaimed, and the church is praying! Church, will you commit to praying for VBS and specifically the salvation and discipleship of the kids and families participating?
Throughout Scripture we see the power of praying and interceding for the salvation of others. Intercession is a big religious word that just means praying on the behalf of others. One of the earliest examples of this is found in Genesis 19:29, “So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.” Prior to Genesis 19 in Genesis 18, God shares with Abraham what he is about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah. This prompts Abraham to plead with God to avert his wrath if there are as few as 10 righteous people in the city. In chapter 19 we find that there were no righteous ones in the city, but as we read in verse 29, God still recues Lot because he remembers Abraham’s appeal on behalf of his nephew Lot’s salvation. While there is much more to this story and it was a physical rescue rather than a spiritual rescue, it shows us that God listens and uses prayer and intercessions of his people to rescue and save. If this is true physically it is even more true spiritually.
This idea of intercession or praying on behalf of for the salvation of others can be seen throughout Scripture. From Moses on behalf of the people of Israel in their sin in Exodus 32. We see this happen in Amos as he prays on behalf of God’s people in Amos 7:4-6:
“This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. Then I cried out, ‘Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!’ So the LORD relented. ‘This will not happen either,’ the Sovereign LORD said.”
Jesus himself even models this type of prayer in John 17 as he prays for his disciples and those who would believe throughout history, which includes you and me! Paul’s letters are laced with prayers for the gospel to save those he is preaching to and requests for prayer from other Christians. In fact, in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul commands Christ followers to pray like this!
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Scripture is clear, God uses prayer to accomplish his will and especially intercessory prayer, or prayer on the behalf of others, to seek and save his people. This is why are to remember our brothers and sisters in prayers, to bathe our lives, services, ministries, and missions in prayer. So, will you commit to praying for Vacation Bible School July 7-11th? Pray for kids to come to know Jesus, for entire families to be saved by the good news of the gospel. Pray for your brothers and sisters leading these kids to have high-energy, well-behaved classrooms, and perseverance during this crazy week. Church, whether you are serving or not, please pray! Intercede for these precious kids to be changed forever by Jesus and his word through Vacation Bible School. If you are up for it, we’d take those prayers every week as we seek to reach and disciple families for Christ!
Fasting is a spiritual discipline of denying oneself food in order to focus on one’s relationship with GOD. In the Bible, fasting is accompanied by prayer. In multiple verses, you can see this quote: “This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.” For example, check out Mark 9:29 and Matthew 17:20-21. The word “fast” or “fasting” is tsom in the Hebrew language and nesteia in the Greek language. The literal Hebrew translation is “not to eat.” The literal Greek means “no food.”
In Acts 13:2 and 14:23, believers prayed and fasted before they made important decisions. They sought GOD earnestly and sincerely. Authentic fasting does not draw attention to oneself. As a matter of fact, JESUS warned against boasting about fasting. In Matthew 6:16-18, He said, “When you give up eating, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypcrites already have their full reward. So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and He will reward you.”
One person wrote, “A fast is about humbling our hearts before GOD. Fasting and praying are about giving up the thing you seek for satisfaction in order to draw near to GOD… allowing GOD to satisfy you.” And, as you read Acts 13:2 and Acts 14:3, you learn the importance of seeking GOD for the future.
This past Sunday I called our church to a season of prayer and fasting. We are reaching a critical time in the construction of our new facility. We have funds to complete the building. We do not have the funds for landscaping, curb and guttering, and the paved parking lot. These projects will cost approximately $1 million.
As you know, we have our current building for sale – on the market. The asking price is now $2.25 million. We need to sell this building to have the cash to finish the project. In order to continue and complete the project, we must sell the building.
So, I am calling our church to a season of prayer and fasting. Please pray earnestly and fervently for our current building to sell.
How can you fast? You can miss one meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) and spend time praying. You can fast for one day – or more. The early church experienced miracles and rapid growth through prayer and fasting. As the people of GOD called Redemption Hill Church, let’s trust and believe GOD for a miracle through prayer and fasting.
I read a story recently about the Fulton Street Revival and the Third Great Awakening of the late 1850’s. Here it is:
Jeremiah C. Lanphier, a church layman, accepted the call of the North Reformed Dutch Church in New York City to begin a full-time program of evangelism. He visited door-to-door, placed posters in boarding houses, and prayed. But the ministry languished and Lanphier grew discouraged.
As autumn fell over the city, Lanphier decided to try noontime prayer meetings, thinking that businessmen might attend during their lunch hours. He announced the first one for September 23, 1857, at the Old Dutch Church on Fulton Street. When the hour came, Lanphier found himself alone. He sat and waited. Finally, one man showed up, then a few others.
But the next week, twenty came. The third week, forty. Someone suggested the meetings occur daily, and within months the building was overflowing. Other churches opened their doors. The revival spread to other cities. Offices and stores closed for prayer at noon. Newspapers spread the story, even telegraph companies set aside certain hours during which businessmen could wire one another with news of the revival.
The revival – sometimes called “The Third Great Awakening” – lasted nearly 2 years, and between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people were said to have been converted. Out of it came the largest outlay of money for philanthropic and Christian causes America had yet experienced.
A remarkable story!! Regardless of the century, GOD desires for His people to experience spiritual renewal. How does a person or how does a church experience revival? Obeying the directive of Revelation 2:5: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” Revival is simply falling in love with JESUS all over again.
Psalm 85:6 records this prayer: “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?”
As the date for the entrance into our new campus facility nears, I am reminded of the people of GOD’s experience as recounted in the book of Joshua. The wilderness years were now behind them. They experienced the joy and excitement of the approaching promised land, a place described as flowing with milk and honey.
GOD gave words of encouragement and exhortation to Joshua before they entered the Promised Land. GOD told Joshua in verses 6-7: “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an intheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper.” Then, GOD gave Joshua this epic message in verse 8: “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Then the big day arrived. The people of GOD camped at the Jordan River. According to verse 15, “for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest.”
After 40 years of wandering, the people of GOD had reached their destination. Joshua declared in verse 5: “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Then the miraculous took place. GOD parted the Jordan River, and the people of GOD crossed into the Promised Land. Imagine the excitement, the exhilaration, the joy, the ecstasy-- and the relief!! The wilderness years were in the rear-view mirror, and a remarkable future lay ahead.
Verse 5 resonates with me as I contemplate the entrance to our new facility. It truly is a miracle we are standing here. GOD has been faithful to us, His people, all of these years. Now He is preparing to do sometime that “is exceedingly abundantly above all that we should ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
Our faith in GOD’s plan has led us to this moment. We are about to cross over. Yet, like the Israelites, when we cross over, our work is just beginning. For the Israelites, it meant conquering the land GOD had given them. For us, it means reaching our community and our region with the gospel of JESUS.
Again, that promise resonates with me: “For tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” As we soon cross over, HE certainly will!! As famed missionary William Carey once said, “The future is as bright as the promises of GOD.”
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
John 15:5-8
Reflect:
Over the last four blogs we have examined several Scriptures and different trees. While they all illustrate how we can be rooted in Christ and what that looks like in our lives, they fall short because none of them bear real edible fruit. Jesus does not call us to only be rooted in him for personal benefit, but also that we might benefit others. We are called to bear fruit.
One of the most fruitful and productive trees in the world is the Apple Tree. Who doesn’t love apples? Apples are a great healthy snack that can give nutrients and life to all who eat them. Like an Apple Tree, we should be living a life that benefits and gives life to those around us. Our deep love and roots that connect to Jesus and other believers should be producing things in us that allow us to reach and love those around us for their benefit!
John 15:1-8 can be a little intimidating, but it is true. You cannot claim to be connected to Jesus if you are not producing things in your life that point to him. Now, this is not saying that you must produce things in your life to earn God’s love or salvation, but it is saying that if you truly know Jesus your life will reflect it. In other words, you will bear fruit. How do we ensure that we know Jesus and are bearing fruit? We apply the principles we have studied all week: We make sure we know him as our Lord and savior, we grow in a relationship with him, we join in community with other believers, and we constantly return and root our identity in him. This is exactly what he says in John 15:5 as we have referred to many times this week, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”
Fruit? What is Jesus talking about exactly? I don’t know about you, but I cannot grow apples from my body. Obviously, Jesus is not referring to literal fruit, but he is referring to good things that happen in us and through us because of him. Galatians 5:22-25 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
These are what we should be seeing and striving for in our lives as we seek to grow closer to and more rooted in Jesus. Again, let me make it clear, these don’t save us, but they demonstrate that we are saved. It is good and healthy to regularly make sure you are bearing fruit. We seek to produce these fruits because they are good, but they also allow us to point others to Jesus. The goal of producing fruit as a believer is that we can show a lost and broken world the love and goodness of Jesus. Make sure that not only are you rooted in Jesus, but that you are bearing the fruits of his life and love in your own life to those around you!
Consider these questions:
· Can a person be truly rooted in Jesus without bearing fruit?
· What fruits do you bear? Which are easier or harder for you?
· How can the fruit you bear point other people to Jesus?
Commit:
Commit to regularly examining your life to make sure you are producing fruit in your life. Commit to pursuing the fruit of the Spirit in your life and allowing them to point those around you to Jesus.
Pray:
Thank God for giving us markers that demonstrate our connection to Christ. Ask him to help your life be more fruitful and for that fruit to point others to him. Ask God to help you live the life he has called you to live.
Dr. Adrian Rogers, one of the most respected pastors and one of the greatest preachers in the history of our denomination, once said, “Ephesians 5:18b is the most important verse in the Bible for followers of JESUS.” Obedience to the command of this verse guarantees the believer will live victoriously.
Ephesians 5:18b literally interpreted says, “Keep on being continuously filled with the SPIRIT.” Let’s take a grammatical study of the verb “be filled.”
First, the verb “be filled” is durative present tense. That truth indicates continuous action in the present tense. GOD’s desire for every Christian is given right here – continuously filled with GOD’s SPIRIT – a daily lifestyle of being filled. Being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT gives the believer immediate access to GOD’s supernatural power. The power of GOD’s SPIRIT enables the believer to live the Christian life in victory. Ephesians 3:20 emphasizes this truth: “Now to Him (GOD) who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
Second, the verb “be filled” is imperative mood. In other words, it is a command. GOD commands in His word for every believer to be filled with the SPIRIT. So, according to Ephesian5:18b, it is absolutely imperative for the follower of JESUS to be filled with the SPIRIT. On the “flip side,” is a believer is not filled with the SPIRIT, then he/she is living in disobedience to GOD. So, each Christian chooses whether or not to obey this command. When he/she does, then he/she is controlled and empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT.
Just how important is this truth? John MacArthur, in his commentary on Ephesians, said, “Outside the command for believers to trust CHRIST for salvation, there is no more practical and necessary command in Scripture than the one for believers to be “filled with the SPIRIT.”
Third, the verb “be filled” is passive voice. In grammar, each verb is designated active or passive. In other words, it either creates the action or is the recipient of the action. The active voice creates the action, while the passive voice is the recipient of the action. So, one must ask the question, is “be filled” active or passive voice? The answer is obvious – the verb “be filled” is this verse is passive voice. In other words, the believer is the recipient of the filling. GOD’s SPIRIT is the One who creates the action – He fills you. In other words, you and I must pray, “LORD, fill me with your SPIRIT.
This prayer is not a one-time event. Rather, “fill me with your SPIRIT” must be an ongoing practice in our daily lives. Jim Cymbala, in his book Fresh Power, wrote:
“We can’t live off what GOD did in our lives last week, last month, or last year. We need continual fillings of the SPIRIT to meet the strong, ungodly tendencies of the age. There must be deeper enduements of power to meet deeper challenges.” Another writer declared, “GOD has provided no other way for you to successfully live the Christian life apart from His SPIRIT filling you every moment of every day. The good news is: He promises unlimited refills.”
How can a believer be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT right now?
First, you must repent of all known sin in your life.
Second, you must in prayer ask GOD to fill you with His HOLY SPIRIT.
Third, you must claim by faith that GOD has heard your prayer and has filled you with His SPIRIT.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 talks about the events of life: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted…” And, for a pastor, a time to be called to a church and a time to be called away.
GOD in His wonderful providence called my wife and I to serve JESUS and our church in February 2002. Now, GOD in His providence is calling us away. He has clearly given us His plan for the next phase of our lives. In obedience to Him, Kathy and I submit to that plan.
Sunday morning was an incredibly difficult and emotional time for me as I shared GOD’s message to Kathy and me: Mission accomplished. GOD has let us clearly know that the mission to which He called us here 22 years ago is being completed. With this realization, yesterday I informed our church family that I am beginning a 3 month process of transitioning out as co-pastor of our wonderful church.
As I approach the age of 67, GOD has revealed His plan for a new and different season of ministry for me. In the days ahead, my ministry will include supply preaching, serving as an intentional interim pastor for pastor-less churches, and functioning as a “coach/mentor” to younger pastors.
Kathy and I will also have more time to be with and also minister to our 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, and our 8 grandchildren. We pray GOD uses us to make a greater spiritual impact in their lives in these upcoming years in our lives.
Kathy and I are currently having built a home in Willis, Texas, which is approximately 30 minutes from our daughter Holly, son-in-law, Scott, and their 3 boys, Daniel, Z, and Sammy. We also will have access to George Bush International Airport to fly to Raleigh, North Carolina, and Fresno, California to visit Rachel and LeeAnn and their families.
Our home here in Colorado Springs went on the market on May 2. On the first day, we had 5 showings and 2 full-price offers. Our home is currently under contract. We will close on both homes in June. So, in the months of July and August, Kathy and I will live in an Extended Stay or a VRBO.
As I shared this past Sunday, Kathy and I deeply love our church family! While we look forward to what GOD has in store for our future, our hearts are grieving because we are leaving such a wonderful and amazing church family that we have known and loved and served for 22 years. We have been blessed immeasurably by our church family all of these years. You have loved us AND our 3 daughters and family so well. We have so enjoyed serving JESUS and others together! Circle Drive/Redemption Hill has been our family for 22 years. We will love our church family forever!
We look forward to what GOD has in store for Redemption Hill in the next 3 months. We are excited about entering the new church campus together with you! And Kathy and I know that GOD is going to use this church in an incredible way in the years ahead with a wonderful leadership team in place and a loving, caring, gospel-centered, mission-focused church family.
When Kathy and I think of you, our church family, we think of the words of Paul in Philippians 1: 3-6: “I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of JESUS CHRIST.”