This morning I woke up early and sat outside on the point down in Key Colony Beach.  It’s a little bit breezy today but the morning sky is absolutely beautiful.  My view is facing the wrong direction for the sunrise but the sky is still amazing.  I looked around for a bit and saw a bird sitting on the pools edge enjoying the view as well.  I got to spend some time reflecting on the beauty of God’s creation and just how awesome and powerful God is.  It brought to mind Psalm 19.  Let’s look at it together today.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.  They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.  Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.  In the heavens God pitched a tent for the sun.  It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.  It rises on one end of the heavens and makes it’s circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of it’s warmth.  

The beauty of the world which God has made is all around when we take a moment to look for it and notice it.  In a world where we hear so much about war, division, crime, and injustice it is important to reflect upon the beauty that God has made as well.  We have a job to share God’s love in our beautiful world which has been marred by the stain of sin.  Take time today to notice, appreciate, and thank God for the beauty of creation.  Then reflect on that beauty and share the love of the one who made it with the world.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Sometime today I will head down to our annual men’s retreat.  For me, it is one of my yearly highlights as it includes some of my favorite activities.  I love digging in and studying God’s word.  I love fishing and boating.  I love getting to hang out and fellowship with other men.  I also think that it is one of the most important things we do in men’s ministry all year as we get to build each other up.  Let’s look at the wise words of Solomon today as he talks about the importance of having others pour into our lives. 

There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Solomon’s point is that we are better together.  We help each other in life and in our relationships with God.  As much fun as the men’s retreat is that is always my big takeaway every year.  Men, sitting around a table, encouraging each other and building each other up.  This is so important in our lives that we have this type of encouragement and accountability.  Our retreat officially starts Friday.  Please pray that God would do a great work in all of the men who can attend.  If you are not signed up we have a few slots left!  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I will always remember taking my first preaching class at Covenant.  Each student was asked to prepare and deliver a sermon which was our final exam.  I received an A for my preparation and felt good about how I delivered the sermon.  My professor started off very complementary and said many kind things and encouraged me going forward that He thought I had a future doing this.  He then gave me a grade of incomplete.  I was surprised and asked why, since as far as I knew I had completed the assignment.  I will never forget his response.  He said that we don’t know how good a sermon it was until we see how people go out and live as a result.  I began to argue that wasn’t that the Holy Spirit’s part of the job to which he agreed but I soon realized that this was just a teachable moment.  His point was that the most important part of any message happens after the sermon is over.  Jesus had the exact same point to the most famous sermon ever, the Sermon on the Mount.  Let’s look at His closing words to that sermon together today. 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

I truly love preparing and preaching sermons.  Often I feel like God teaches me as much or more than anyone else through the process.  It is humbling to grasp on to my professor, and Jesus’ truth that it is the hearer who has the most important job in the process.  Whenever I listen to a sermon I take the approach of asking what is the one thing God wants me to walk away with from this message?  The next question then is what do I need to do as a result of this truth?  Occasionally someone will come up to me and say Pastor Dave that sermon was just for me wasn’t it.  If we take this approach then every sermon is just for us.  I have found this approach incredibly helpful in my life.  I hope it helps you as well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Jesus concludes His great sermon on the mount with some warnings.  He warns against false prophets and false disciples.  It is interesting to me how He chooses to tell us to spot them.  We are told to spot them not based on their message but based on their lives.  We are told to look at the fruit that comes from their life.  True prophets and disciples lives should be evidenced by the fruit of the spirit.  False disciples and prophets will not have this evidence in their lives.  Let’s look at Jesus’ words together today. 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

This is an important message for us today in this age of massive information.  We all have access to nearly limitless resources in the palm of our hand.  How do we filter truth from fiction?  Good messages from those that are false.  Jesus’ answer to us is that we look at the fruit produced in the life of the sender of the message.  When we don’t have that clearly that is when we must rely upon the spirit within us.  The Holy Spirit’s still small voice speaks truth into our lives as well.  If we get a sense that something is off perhaps we should stay clear of it.  Finally our ultimate guide is the word of God.  Any message that is contrary to Scripture should be discredited.  Messages that are confirmed by Scripture should be embraced.  Thanks be to God for Jesus’ words so many years ago that help us today!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever persistently asked a loved one for something that you wanted?  Maybe it was a gift or a trip or even an activity you wanted to do. They might not give in to your request but they aren’t going to give you something awful instead.  Jesus gives this as an example of praying to the Father in Heaven.  Let’s look at what He has to say together today. 

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

When we ask God for things in prayer He hears us and answers us.  Jesus does not say that He will give us exactly what we ask for in prayer.  He tells us that God has good gifts for us.  Sometimes we must wait and others His answer is no.  As the great theologian Garth Brooks once said, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayer.”  I would argue that a bit because God always answers our prayers He just sometimes gives us something different than what we specifically asked for.  God’s promise to us is that He will ultimately use what He gives us for our good.  I have found that at times in my life I was disappointed with how God answered my prayers.  Then when I looked back at that I was able to see how He used that circumstance or situation for my ultimate good.  The important thing is that Jesus tells us to ask God when we have requests.  Go to Him boldly and consistently knowing that He has our good in store. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

The Sermon on the Mount is a wonderful sermon full of so much.  Jesus is speaking to some who are truly seeking to learn and follow Him, and others who are looking for Him to slip up in something He says or does so that they can discredit Him.  They are the religious leaders of the day who thought that they had it all together.  Jesus goes to great lengths to show them that, in fact, they do not.  They often would judge those around them for not being as righteous as they were.  We can all fall into that trap at times and Jesus reminds us of the danger of that in Matthew 7.  Let’s look at it together today.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

It is important for not just the Pharisees but all of us to realize the importance of looking at ourselves and our own hearts before judging others.  If I see a brother or sister struggling I have a responsibility to come alongside them and help them.  I first need to be sure that my heart is not one of judgement but one of love and restoration.  For the Pharisees this was never the case but for us it should always be.  The key for this is the character and nature of our hearts.  We all will struggle at times in life and I hope and pray that we have others that care enough to come along side us and help us.  No one needs to be condemned when they struggle however.  That is God’s job alone.  I pray that God might help all of us to become His agents of reconciliation and restoration here on earth. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Jesus gives us an interesting section in the sermon on the mount towards the end of chapter 6.  He talks about money and treasure.  Not pirates treasure but treasure being the things that we possess.  Jesus does not say that money or possessions are bad.  His focus is on what drives us and motivates us in life.  If we are driven by money and possessions then our priorities have become out of whack.  When God and building His kingdom are our priorities then we are in a good place.  Let’s look at His words together today. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

It is good and even godly to work hard and provide for your family.  This does not interfere with your ultimate priority to love God and our neighbors and to share His love with the world.  In fact it often takes money to help and accomplish that.  The problem is when our drive for money becomes the thing that is most important.  It is like Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler.  Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give to the poor and then come follow Jesus.  He says this not because money is bad but because for this man it has become what is most important.  Jesus knows our hearts and was showing this man where his heart truly was.  I pray that our hearts would keep God where He belongs, as our priority, our first love. I pray that not money or anything else would take the place of what should be first for all of us. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Most everyone has heard the Lord’s prayer before.  Many don’t realize that it comes from Jesus teaching us how to pray in the sermon on the mount.  He was giving us a direct contrast to the way the Pharisees would get up and pray publicly with big words to make a show of their prayers.  The Lord’s prayer is simple but covers what we are called to do in our prayers.  Let’s look at it together today.

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

First, Jesus acknowledges God and honors His name.  Then He starts by asking for God’s will and not His own.  He asks that God’s kingdom be built, in other words His work done.  He asks God for daily provision, for forgiveness and help forgiving others.  He asks God for guidance, for help against sin, and deliverance from Satan.  It’s simplicity and completeness is a stark contrast to the public prayers of the religious leaders of the day.  Jesus shows us how to pray and then goes on in the sermon on the mount to tell us to pray.  He reminds us to ask and we shall receive.  Take time today and reflect on this simple yet powerful prayer from Jesus and then pray boldly to your Father in Heaven who tells us to. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Do you know an Eddie Haskell in your life?  Some of you immediately will get the reference.  For others Eddie Haskell was a character on Leave it to Beaver, an old TV show.  He was Wally Cleaver’s best friend and was well mannered and well behaved when there was an audience.  In front of parents he was a model kid.  When he was on his own or just with Wally and Beaver he was prone to mischief and bad decisions.  Jesus addresses this type of behavior in Matthew 6.  Let’s look at it together today. 

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Our behavior or good deeds should be a thank you or an overflow of the great love that Jesus has poured out in our lives.  When we act good to be seen or to receive some type of reward we are not truly honoring God with our behavior.  We should live our lives Sola Deo Gloria, for the glory of God alone.  If we find ourselves performing good works for an audience instead of simply to honor and glorify God then we need to check our motives.  The Pharisees were guilty of wanting to be seen being good.  Their hearts were motivated by pride instead of love for God.  This is why Jesus was so hard on them.  I pray that we might all be people who live our lives for from and because of the great love that Jesus pours out on us. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave