Have you ever found yourself feeling judgmental about others.  I think that we probably all have felt that at some time or another.  It is interesting how much the Bible and particularly Jesus speak about this.  I think that Jesus wanted us all to be aware of our need for Him and that we are all equal in that need.  As we walk through the book of Romans, Paul certainly pieces up on this theme.  Let’s look at a section of Romans 2 together today.  

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Paul reminds us that Jesus calls us not to judge others.  He wants us to simply know and appreciate God’s great love and grace given to us and when we see others to point them to that grace instead of judging them.  When we walk with Jesus in life He works to change us from the inside out from the work of the Holy Spirit in each and every one of our lives.  We all have a tendency to spot the very things in others lives that we struggle with as well.  The next time you find yourself in that situation be reminded of God’s great love, grace, and patience in your own life and take a moment to thank Him.  I know in my own life that helps me to be even more motivated to tell others about Jesus.  If He can use a wretch like me He can use any and all of us!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Do you have someone in your life who encourages you simply by how they live?  A person who follows Jesus in such a way that by simply watching them you want to follow Jesus better yourself.  This is one of the beautiful things about the church.  We can encourage one another by our own faith.  Let’s look at Paul’s words about this from Romans 1 together today.  

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Maybe there is someone who encourages you by the way that they worship.  Perhaps someone encourages you by the way that they serve others.  Maybe someone just greets others and has a way to make everyone feel special.  Maybe you are built up by watching the way someone else studies Scripture.  Perhaps you know a prayer warrior who faithfully prays for others.  The thing is that we all have different areas where our faith excels and others where we might struggle at times.  The beautiful thing is that in the church we can be encouraged by each other’s faith in areas where we might not be as strong.  Make it a point to notice the strong areas of others faith in your community and thank them for helping you in your own faith journey. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Today concludes our spirit week here at Advent EMS.  It has been a great week and the students have learned and had a lot of fun.  One of the main focuses has been on the power of Jesus to work in our lives when we need Him the most.  We all go through things in life that are challenging and Jesus is always there right beside us and sometimes even carrying us through.  Let’s look at another story of this found in Luke 7 together today.

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

I can’t read the mind of Jesus but my guess is that this healing was less about the boy or even the large crowds that were around Him or in the funeral march.  I would guess that this miracle was simple about easing a woman’s pain and suffering.  Here is a widow, who has already lost her husband and now she faces the loss of her son as well.  Jesus’ first words to her are don’t cry, which to me shows that he is focused on her and her pain.  He then goes and touches the bier which is holding the son and tells him to get up.  That’s the thing about Jesus He loves us and cares about our pain.  When you are walking through a hard time and feeling hurt or alone, Jesus is with you.  He wants to tell you not to cry and wipe away your tears.  He doesn’t always take the pain right away but He is with us every step of the way through it.  Next time you feel alone in your hurt remember this story and thank Jesus that you are never alone.  He is right there with you.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

During Jesus’ time on earth He did lots of amazing things.  One thing He did quite a few times was to drive demons out of people.  He did it simply by speaking and telling them to leave.  This is a huge contrast to the Hollywood “exorcism” process that some people may think of when it comes to this.  I remember being afraid as I thought about this as a teenager.  Spiritual forces are real and can be frightening. I was watching the Chosen last night and one such occasion occurred.  Jesus simple said, “Leave him”.  Let’s look at one of these encounters in Luke 11 together today. 

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

There are lots of things in this life that we can find that might bring us fear.  Certainly spiritual forces are real and should be taken seriously.  We can rest comfortably however knowing how much more powerful Jesus is.  He simply overcomes these forces with a single word.  To me that is extremely comforting.  No matter what scary things we face in this life, spiritual forces or emotional stress or even anything physical, Jesus is with us and is far more powerful.  He can overcome any obstacles in front of us.  Rest in His loving and protecting arms today.  Knowing that He can take care of any problem with a single word.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Who do you have in your life that you know would do just about anything for you?  Do you have people that would make significant sacrifices simply for your own good?  My guess is that most of you have even more people than you realize that love you enough to do this. Jesus encountered a crippled man once who had some really good friends like that.  Let’s look at the account today found in Luke 5. 

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

While the healing of this man is incredible and the interaction with the Pharisees is significant and important as Jesus reveals that He can forgive sins.  The thing that I’d like to focus on today is this man’s friends.  First of all in that time and culture.  Those that were sick or crippled were often looked down upon.  There was a belief that this person’s sins had caused their affliction.  Yet these men take their friend to Jesus.  When they see the large crowds and realize that they can’t make their way to Him they come up with a bold plan.  They climb onto the roof of the house Jesus is in and open up the roof and lower their friend down to where Jesus is.  They have now made a huge statement.  They have carried this sinner and obviously touched him.  They have broken someone’s roof and have gone through a tremendous amount of work simple to get their friend to Jesus.  Two questions come to my mind.  How important is it to have friends like that in our life that bring us to Jesus?  The second question is what lengths do we go to to bring others to Jesus?  I hope that we all can say that we might not give up when things get challenging but that we would do whatever it takes to bring others to Jesus.  These friends certainly did!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

This week is Spirit week here at Advent.  Each day we begin with Chapel and I will be sharing the texts that we are using with the students in chapel each day.  Each day has a theme and the students have all kinds of special activities.  Please be in prayer this week for God to do a special work in the lives of our students.  This morning we will look at Mark 4 when Jesus calms the storm.  Let’s look at it together today. 

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Does it ever feel like Jesus is asleep as the storms of life come at you?  I know I have felt that way before.  The disciples did not understand and sometimes we fail to as well that as the storms of life are battering our “boats” Jesus is there with us and, as always, He is in control.  Whatever storm you are facing today know that Jesus is right there in the boat with you and when it is the right time according to His timing He will spring into action.  Remember this truth today and when you are staring the storms of life in the face.  He never leaves us even if it feels like He is sleeping on the job. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever been really hungry?  I mean hungry to the point where you can’t think straight and you are actually experiencing real stomach pain.  During Jesus ministry there was a time when He was ministering to people and they had not eaten for quite some time.  It was a large crowd and Jesus wanted to feed them.  The disciples were tired and cranky and probably hungry as well but they wanted to send the people away because they didn’t have nearly enough food for such a large crowd.  Let’s look at the story together today from Matthew 14. 

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

I love how this passage starts Jesus is going through a hard time.  He has just heard about John the Baptist’s death and He withdraws to be alone.  People follow Him and He has compassion on them.  Often when we are in the midst of our own struggles and pain we only think about ourselves.  Jesus does the opposite He heals and teaches and feeds the masses because His heart goes out to them.  This is such a great model for us all of how to love others.  Even when Jesus had a lot going on and was going through His own struggles He was focused on others.  I pray that God might grant all of us an others focused heart as well.  That we might share His love with the world no matter what struggles we are walking through ourselves.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Our journey through Acts concludes today.  Once again I ask that you might read the entire chapter of Acts 28.  As Paul lands from his shipwreck, he is bitten by a viper and everyone thinks he will die.  Instead he is fine and goes on to heal the sick on the island.  Eventually they make the journey to Rome on another ship and when he arrives he is eager to share the message of the Gospel.  The following verses are Paul’s word to his fellow Jews when he arrives in Rome.  Let’s look at it together today.  

After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier  17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” 21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.” 23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. ”For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29]  30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

After all that Paul has been through, when he finally arrives in Rome he is able to preach freely for two years the message of Jesus.  This is incredible and some of his most productive ministry occurs as he reaches the end of his journey.  It makes me think about being productive in our own personal ministries no matter where we might be in life.  Perhaps we are near the end like Paul.  Maybe we are in the middle or even just getting started.  No matter the case God wants to use each and every one of us to share his message of love, grace, and hope to the world.  No matter what you are walking through in life take encouragement from the life of Paul.  Prison, shipwrecks, persecution, snake bites, opposition from other Christians and Jews, hunger, pain, a thorn in the flesh.  Everything that he walked through he took as another opportunity for the Gospel.  I pray that we might all do the same.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Today I want to encourage you all to go to your Bibles and read the entirety of Acts 27.  It is the story of Paul’s journey to Rome.  It is quite the Adventureland, it is ultimately what leads to Paul bringing the gospel to Rome and his ultimate martyrdom.  The thing that strikes me today about the story is that with 276 soldiers on board a ship, many of them commanding officers, the Centurion and all of the soldiers look to Paul for guidance.  I’ve included a small sampling here but again I encourage you to read the entirety of Acts 27 today.  

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. 39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

The thing is when someone is truly seeking God and his guidance their wisdom, which is God’s wisdom, comes through.  Everyone is looking to Paul in the midst of the storm and shipwreck because Paul is looking to God.  The first step of Godly leadership is not working on your leadership skills or honing your motivational abilities.  The first step in Godly leadership is to seek God.  The more we are in tune with Him the more people will look to us to lead and guide them.  In 1 Corinthians Paul even verbalizes this concept when he says, “follow me as I follow Christ”.  That is the essence of Godly leadership when someone follows Jesus so well that others learn more about Jesus by simply watching them.  I pray that we might all share the love of Christ each day simply by the way we live (and with our words too).  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

As Paul continues his series of trials which are leading him to Caesar and Rome, he continues to use every opportunity to share the message of Jesus whenever he can.  He is prepared to die for his faith but also seems convinced that there are more people to reach first.  Let’s look at this account of his trial before Agrippa.  

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” 24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

One of the things that really strikes me about this long series of trials which Paul faces is how each and every person is fascinated by Paul and really wants to speak to him.  Paul has something about him which people are drawn toward.  Several of them even meet with Paul over and over again.  That’s the thing about the Holy Spirit within us.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us others are drawn in.  People wanted to see Paul and hear him and spend time with him.  Even people who didn’t care for him much were drawn to him.  That is the power of Jesus working in us.  When we let Jesus’ love and light shine through our life others are drawn to it and to Jesus.  I pray that we all might let Jesus shine through us and point people to Him.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave