I truly enjoy fishing.  Catching fish makes it even better but just being out on a boat in the water in the middle of the ocean is special to me.  I don’t do it that often and I wonder what it would be like if I had to do it every day as a profession.  Peter, Andrew, James, and John were in the everyday category.  Their livelihood depended on catching fish.  After an unsuccessful night Jesus tells them to give it one more try and gets onto Peter’s boat.  Let’s read the rest of the story together today.  

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Jesus helps them one time to do what they had been unable to do all night.  They catch so many fish the boats almost sink.  Perhaps this is enough to take care of their families for a bit.  There is no hesitation at all however when they leave everything and follow Jesus.  Perhaps they recognize that Jesus will care for them.  Maybe they are tired of not catching fish.  Whatever the reason they become Jesus’ first and closest followers.  Jesus stays closer with Peter, James, and John than any of His other followers.  Maybe it is their willingness to follow.  They were not theologically trained.  Peter, in particular is impulsive and prone to bad choices.  They immediately followed Jesus though.  That is the key when it comes to us following Jesus today.  How do we follow?  Do we hesitate?  Do we hold on to some of our own ways of living?  Do we live our way and simply follow Jesus with our minds and not our lives?  Jesus asks us all to follow like these fishermen.  He wants us to embrace this Jesus life, this kingdom life and become fishers of people, inviting others to live life Jesus’ way as well. Let’s go fishing!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

It is almost uncomfortable to think about Jesus facing temptation like we do.  It also helps to know that He truly understands the things that we go through in life.  We have an example of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert from Luke 4.  Let’s look at it together today.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

I think we can learn a lot from this interaction both about the nature of temptation and how to stand up to it.  First Satan tempts Jesus in three specific ways.  First he attacks an area of weakness.  While Jesus didn’t have any areas of sin that He struggled with, He certainly must have been hungry after not eating for 40 days.  Temptation often comes at our areas of weakness.  Next He tries to appeal to Jesus having power.  Since Jesus had come from Heaven where He was ruler over all creation and now is a lowly unimportant human this would have been another temptation – wanting things that we don’t have.  Finally Satan actually tries to use the Bible against Jesus to get Him to stumble.  I often have seen people fall into temptation when they try and justify sin by using scripture.  Jesus doesn’t fall for any of these tricks and one of the reasons is that He knows the word of God so well that He is easily able to use it to stand up to temptation.  When God’s word is in our hearts and minds then we have the ability to do the same thing to stand up to temptation.  Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Another season of Christmas is behind us now.  I hope and pray that it was a special one for all of you.  When Luke writes his account of Jesus’ birth.  He includes Simeon and Anna meeting Jesus as a baby and then the very next thing he records is Jesus at age 12.  It is really the only thing we have recorded of the boyhood of Jesus and I think it is significant.  Let’s look it this passage found in Luke 2 together today.

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Have you ever wondered why God chose the shepherds to be the first witnesses to the coming of the Messiah?  We have no evidence that they were particularly devote or that they would be the best messengers to spread the word.  I might have chosen the innkeeper or the local restaurant or tavern owner.  They probably knew more people to share the message with. Perhaps the shepherds were chosen because they were nearby and awake watching the sheep.  Let’s look at Luke’s account in Luke 2.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The shepherds were ordinary and not exceptional but were given an exceptional task.  They were to share the news about the Messiah to the world.  This Christmas season is a good reminder for us all that we, too, may be ordinary but we also have been given an exceptional task to share God’s love and message with the world.  We did not receive this task from Angels singing but from Jesus, Himself.  His very last words on earth before He left were – “You will be my witnesses… and I will be with you always.” This Christmas may we all be faithful in carrying out the task He left for us.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had a situation where your opinion or perspective changed quickly.  Perhaps you got more information or maybe your thoughts changed about the situation.  I love how we see this with Mary in Luke 1 when the angel Gabriel visits her.  Let’s look at the encounter together today.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary starts by being greatly troubled and confused about the angel’s greeting.  Gabriel begins to explain and Mary goes from troubled to skeptical.  I’m sure we all would be as she says how can this be when I am a virgin.  She probably doubted but just in case wanted a good story or explanation to give to others who would have even more doubts.  Then when Gabriel explains some more her last line is beautiful when she says may it be so I am the Lord’s servant.  My prayer is that might be our response to the things that God calls us to as well.  Loving God and our neighbors as ourselves, sharing God’s love with the world, reaching out to the least and the lost, and all of Jesus’ teachings for us during His time on earth.  May our response be like Mary’s, may it be so I am the servant of the Lord!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Do you ever find yourself struggling to trust in God’s promises?  If so you are in good company.  Many of the heroes of our faith have had moments of doubt.  Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Elijah, the list could go on   There is an interesting story about a priest who would have taught others about God always coming through despite our doubts and he struggled as well.  Let’s look at the story of Zechariah found in Luke 1 together today.

 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Zechariah would have taught others about God providing a child for Abraham and Sarah in their old age yet when it came to his own hopes and dreams and prayers being answered he had his doubts.  God doesn’t always give us everything that we want but He does give us what we need and He always comes through on His promises to us.  Today pray for the thing that you are struggling to trust God for.  Watch and see how He comes through.  It will always be for your ultimate best.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever been a part of a team?  You wear a uniform with the name of that team on you.  Whatever you are doing with that uniform on you represent that team.  There have been great athletes over the years who were really good at their particular sport but because of their behavior the team parted ways with that player because they didn’t want to be represented by that person.  As followers of Jesus we are part of a team.  We may not wear a uniform but we represent Jesus as we go throughout life.  People will form an opinion about Jesus based on what they see in us.  Paul reminds us that everything we do should be and is done in the name of Jesus.  Let’s look at his words in Colossians 3 together today.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul reminds us to live at peace with one another and continue to build each other up with the message of Jesus.  This is important because the world is watching.  If they see Christians fighting and arguing why would they want to be a part of that?  When they see us loving each other and building each other up it is attractive and inviting.  Everything we do is for Jesus and is done in His name.  So put on your team Jesus uniform today and represent Him well!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had your mind or heart really set on something?  Set to the point where you have trouble even focusing on other things.  What happens when we set our hearts and minds on Jesus?  Paul talks about this in Colossians 3.  Let’s look at it together today. 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

When your mind is fixed on something it becomes easier to throw off things that lead in a contrary direction.  This is true in big and little things.  When I get hungry I tend to not do things that will delay me getting to eat.  When we fix our minds and hearts on Jesus we don’t do the things that lead us in directions other than Him.  We become focused on Christ alone.  We find our satisfaction and joy in Him not in the pursuit of worldly pleasures.  I pray that we might all find ourselves with minds and hearts fixed on Jesus. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever tried to remove a tree?  Not cut it down but to completely remove it roots and all.  It’s a much tougher process than you might think.  Even small trees often have a deep and wide root system that doesn’t want to move.  I remember once breaking a metal chain trying to pull out a 6 ft tree and its roots with a 4X4 truck.  We had to dig the roots out a tremendous amount before we could even get it to budge.  Paul writes to the Colossians about the importance of being rooted in our faith.  Let’s look at his words found in Colossians 2 together today.

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self-ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Many of Paul’s letters address a similar concept of not abandoning the faith they were taught and embracing other ideas.  This was a problem in the early church just as it is today.  People seem to love to add to or take away from the message of Jesus.  That’s why being rooted is so important.  When we are rooted in Christ we don’t budge when life throws others messages and ideologies at us.  We continue to grow and be fed by what we are rooted to – Christ.  The deeper we are rooted in Him the stronger we are. Ideologies and the storms of life don’t move us much at all because of our strong roots.  I pray that we all might be rooted well in Jesus. 

Rooted Deep in His Grip,
Pastor Dave