Have you ever known or experienced someone who was all talk?  Maybe they made big promises or claims but never backed them up? We have all probably fallen short of what we said we will or can do before but for some it becomes a regular occurrence.  John warns us against doing this when it comes to loving others.  It’s one thing to say we love our neighbor but it is another thing to live it out.  Let’s look at his words together today.

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

There is an older country song called A little less talk and a lot more action.  This is exactly what John is calling us to when it comes to loving others.  It’s amazing the impact small little actions make to a world that has come to expect very little love in their lives.  Letting someone cut you in the grocery line.  Paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line.  Complimenting someone genuinely.  Or bigger actions of serving others that really make a difference.  May we be people of action who follow the example of Jesus and show others our love by how we live.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever tried to walk around somewhere when there was no light at all?  Maybe you were camping and it was the middle of the night and you didn’t have a flashlight.  Maybe you got up in the middle of the night and the power was out and you had to stumble around.  Or perhaps you have, like me, been caving and your headlamp went out while you were far away from your caving partner.  I can tell you first hand it is quite unsettling and disorienting.  You can try and feel your way around but you really won’t make much progress until you have light.  John compares this idea of stumbling around in the darkness to what is like when we have hate inside of us.  Let’s look at his words together today.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

We were created in the image of God.  The Bible tells us that God, in His very nature, is love.  That means that we are designed and created to be against of love.  When we harbor hate toward another person it is like going through life in the darkness.  We are blinded.  I literally was stuck in the cave without my light until I remembered that in my backpack I had a backup hand held light.  I turned that on and then I could move again.  I could make my way through.  When we find we are blind because we have hate we need to use our backup light.  God Is always with us to forgive us.  To remind us of His great love for us and to fill us again with love even for those we don’t particularly like much.  Do not allow hate to blind you in life but seek God’s great love and walk through life in the light of that love for Him and others. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you seen or experienced something so amazing that you just had to tell others about it?  That was what was going on in the early church.  People were so amazed at the work of Jesus in their lives that they couldn’t help but share with others in the hope that they might experience it as well.  I think that the church today has lost a bit of that.  We need to remember just how amazing the work of Jesus is in our lives and share that with others.  Let’s look at I John 1 for some encouragement today. 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

John is saying, “We have seen Jesus!  We have seen His work!  You need to experience it as well.”  It’s called the gospel because it truly is good news and good news deserves to be shared.  We share it not only because it is amazing but also because Jesus commands us to.  It is His parting message to us.  He leaves us with a job to be His ambassadors here on earth.  While we are here may we do that well and do it boldly.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Have you ever had an enemy in your life?  Someone who intentionally and persistently was seeking out your downfall.  Playing sports my whole life you have rivalries where you try to defeat each other on the field but then you shake hands afterwards and even respect each other.  I’m talking about a true enemy.  The Bible tells us that we do have an enemy.  One who is actively seeking our undoing.  Let’s look together at Peter’s words about this today.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Our enemy prowls around like a lion looking to devour us.  This image is one that should put us on alert.  Too often I think we walk through life without thinking this way.  This is why hearing about people falling into temptation is so common.  They were not on alert.  You would never walk into a field casually if you knew there was a hungry lion prowling around there.  We need to remain alert and resist the temptations that the devil sends our way.  One of his biggest schemes is to get us to not think about him at all.  To live lives as followers of Jesus that are casual and passive.  We are called as Jesus’ followers to love God and love others with everything we have got.  We are called to share Jesus’ message with the world.  We are called to be the church, to be Jesus’ representatives for the world.  The more we live this kind of life the more our enemy will try and attack.  So be aware, be bold, be those Jesus has called us to be.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Throughout history people have always thought the end was near.  Even in the early church they often thought this.  The more important thing is that they lived as if the end was near.  When we live that way we tend to prioritize that which is most important and live lives aimed toward eternity not toward our temporary time on earth.  Peter taught that the end was near and gave instructions on how to live as a result.  Let’s take a look at his words today.

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This kind of living sounds pretty good to me.  Be ready, love well, use your gifts, speak boldly as if you have the words of God, serve with His strength.  I pray that we would live such lives.  Who knows when the end will come, but we all should live as though it is any day.  Carpe Diem, seize the day and seize it for God. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

What gives you hope? Hope comes from an expectation that comes from something that has already been done or that we know to be true.  I hope my team can win because they have won before or because I know they have been training and working hard.  I hope that a new restaurant is delicious because I have heard good things about it.  What about hope in God?  Where does it come from and what does that mean for us?  Let’s look together at Peter’s words about hope and what our responsibility is to do with hope.

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Peter says that we need to always be ready to talk about the hope we have in Jesus.  He goes on to say we should do this in a gentle and respectful way.  To do it in a way that in fact points people to Jesus and attracts them to Him as well.  We have hope in Jesus because of the work He did on the cross and because of the work He continues to do in our lives.  We have this great hope and are told to share it with others.  May we do that and do it well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Have you ever rid yourselves of something?  Maybe you completely cut sugar or caffeine out of your diet.  It takes hard work and a very specific and intentional effort to successfully accomplish this.  What about a craving have you had one of those before? Cravings can be very powerful. I had a craving for some nachos last night and threw on some clothes and ran to the store right before it closed to get some chips and cheese. It was the last thing I wanted to do but I had a craving for the nachos so I did it.  Peter talks about both riding ourselves and craving let’s look at his words in I Peter 2.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Peter wants us to rid ourselves of areas of sin that will detract our relationship with God and crave spiritual milk, or that which will build up our relationship with Him.  That is the simple but not so easy key to growing our relationship with God.  Rid ourselves of that which detracts and crave that which builds us up.  The problem is too often we crave the “nachos” of life and don’t seek out the “milk” which builds us up.  Today have some
“milk” the more you do the more you will begin to crave it and rid yourself of those things in life that distract and keep us from growing in our relationship with God.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I had a friend who recently received word that he was inheriting a vacation home on a lake from a distant relative.  He was excited and drove up to check it out.  When he got there he was gravely disappointed as the place was a dump.  No one had cared for the property in years and as a result it had deteriorated rapidly.  It had potential but needed hundreds of thousands of dollars of work which he didn’t have.  He ended up having to sell it for very little.  This is not the inheritance that Peter tells us about as children of the king.  We have a great inheritance in store.  Let’s look at I Peter 1 and see what he has to say about that.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter reminds us of the great inheritance we have from God and ultimately the gift of our salvation.  While my buddy’s inheritance certainly spoiled and faded Peter reminds us that our is being watched over and cared for by our Father, God, in Heaven.  We may struggle and suffer now but we have a glorious “retirement” home waiting for us in eternity.  Thanks be to our Father for our great inheritance waiting for us.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever thought about how you have privilege and power because of Jesus.  We all do who are followers of Him.  His work has given us the privilege of access to God in prayer whenever we want.  We also have power because the Bible tells us over and over just how powerful prayer really is.  I’m not sure we fully understand that power or I think we might pray more often and more fervently.  Let’s look at what James tells us about prayer in James 5. 

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

I pray that we would be people of prayer.  I truly believe that often God wants to bless us in ways beyond our imagination He is simply waiting for us to ask.  Let’s use our privilege and tap into our power and cry out to God in prayer. Today and tomorrow we will be having a Pastor’s retreat.  I ask that you might pray for God to lead and guide our time and we might come back with new strength and vigor and plans for the great things God wants to do. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had conflicting desires?  This time of year it is fairly common.  You make a goal to lose weight but you also really want to sleep a little longer and skip the gym.  You are trying to diet but you also really want that chocolate chip cookie.  This battle also goes on daily in our spiritual lives.  Are we going to live by the desires of our flesh or are we going to have our lives controlled by the Holy Spirit within us?  Let’s look together any James’ words on this in James 4.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James gives us some steps to help in this daily battle.  Resist, Flee, Submit.  Simple but not always easy.  We all tend to know our typical temptations or distractions from God.  We need to resist and flee those and cling to God.  The more we cling to Him the easier it will be to stand up to those things that we sometimes run to instead of God.  James talks about us being truly broken over our sin.  When we have that perspective on our sin it also helps in our battle against it.  If we simply have a whoops I did it again attitude we will struggle over and over.  When we weep mourn and wail over our sin it becomes easier to overcome it more often in our lives.  I pray that God gives us all strength in this battle of competing desires. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave