Archive for the ‘God’s Word’ Category

30 Dec

One Way

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Eternal Life, God's Word, Salvation, Work, Worship.

Happy New Year!

Christmas has been celebrated, the gifts opened, and families are back to “normal”. Now we can look ahead to 2014. I pray it is a good year for everyone. We will be heading up to Lake George for a few days this week.

 Once again, I have heard this comment: “There are many ways to God”.

 Why is it so hard to understand Jesus’ statement, when he says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me?”

May I submit this thought to you? Every “religion” or “pathway to God” that people propose in the place of following Jesus, is nothing more than man trying to get to heaven by being “good enough” to please God.

The only way to be saved from our sin and receive eternal life, is when we stop trying to please God by being “good’, and turn to Him in brokenness, confessing our sin and turning from it. He will certainly hear and forgive us. The next step then, is to begin to live for him out of love and gratitude for what he has done. We must get to the place of the hymn writer: “In my hand no price I bring. Only to Thy cross I cling.”*

“For it is by grace you are saved, not by works, so that no man can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

If you should die tomorrow without having placed your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you will not go to heaven, no matter how good you have been. That is the word of God, not something Pastor Jerry just made up. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).

I’m saddened when I hear those “many paths” statements, because there are so many people who believe them. The sad fact is, they are believing a lie.

Will you come to Him today? You can start the new year with the sure knowledge of an eternity in heaven with the Lord Jesus when your earthly life is over.

In His love,

Pastor Jerry

* [Rock of Ages (August M. Toplady)]

16 Dec

Going Home

Posted by sandhillspastor in Advent, Christmas, Eternal Life, Faith, God's Word, Heaven, Salvation, The Good News.

It is the Christmas season, a time when people everywhere make plans to go home for the holiday, and reunite with family members. For the past week I have ministered to families who have experienced a loved one take the ultimate journey home. Their departed ones have gone to be with their Lord at Christmas time.

As hard as it sounds, I believe Christians have reason to celebrate Christmas, even in the midst of mourning the loss of a loved one. I will explain why I believe this is so.

First, scripture tells us that as believers in Jesus Christ, as we live here on earth, we are strangers in a foreign land (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11). The word used for strangers can be understood as “aliens, or temporary residents”, meaning that this world is not our home. Philippians 3:20 states, “our citizenship is in heaven.”

And, Jesus came to earth as a baby; God taking on human flesh, come to save His people from sin. The truth of this is what we celebrate at Christmas. However, He did not come to remain a precious infant in a manger. He came to die on a cross for our sins, and to be raised from the dead, in order to make a way for our salvation and to give us eternal life. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life.”
So, at this joyous season of the year, we can celebrate in the midst of sorrow, knowing that our loved ones are finally home. We will miss them, but we rest secure in the knowledge that they will be spending Christmas in the presence of their Savior and Lord, and we who know Him as Savior will be reunited with them, when we, also, are “finally home.”

Believing Heaven’s Promise,

Pastor Jerry

2 Dec

Immanuel, God With Us

Posted by sandhillspastor in Advent, Christmas, God's Word, Incarnation, Salvation.

It may come as a surprise to some, but Christmas is not grounded in Santa Claus, evergreen trees, winter scenery or the spending of huge amounts of money on gifts. It is first of all centered on the Incarnation, God’s miraculous gift of a Savior, born to a virgin, to be the sinless sacrifice for our sins.

” … the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph…The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, ‘Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you….Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus… The Holy Spirit will come upon you…Therefore the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:26-35).

I wonder how many of us really understand the importance of the Incarnation and the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ? What does it matter that Jesus is “God with us?” It means that we do not have to pay for our own sin. Jesus, sinless from conception, came to be the sacrifice that would once for all cover the sin debt of all humanity. Without the virgin birth, there would be no salvation for sin, no way to restore our broken relationship with God. Without the virgin birth, our faith would be futile.

Now, when we see all the trappings of the season, and the excesses it brings, let us first know and understand why and how Jesus came. As we meditate on these truths, may we slow down and take the time to acknowledge the real “Reason for the Season.”

Thankful for His birth,
Pastor Jerry

4 Nov

Obey God

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Service.

From time to time, a verse or phrase from Scripture will prompt me to share the lesson I learn with all of you. One of those showed up in this week’s sermon, and I pass it on to you now.

Exodus 32:33…”The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. After further study, I saw a pattern develop. In John’s gospel, the man who Jesus healed of his blindness, said to the religious leaders, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does His will.”

Who is the godly person? The person who God has declared righteous, by his or her belief in the shed blood of Jesus Christ to provide salvation and the forgiveness of sin. And, following this, to commit to following God’s commands. How do we think God is with us, when we refuse to obey Him? Scripture tells us he hears those he knows, and we are told that there is no fellowship with the Father apart from faith in Christ alone.

The problem, as I see it, is that we expect God to bless us, when we only give Him lip service. He desires to have unhindered fellowship with us, and we in turn, call on Him only when we need something. We hide sin in our hearts, and expect blessing from Him. The Psalmist had it right; we need to take a lesson. “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 119:1-2).

Will you join me in renewing our commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly, without reservation? After all, that is his desire for us. Can we not obey?

In His Love,
Pastor Jerry

27 Oct

Are You Ready?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Eternal Life, Faith, God's Word, Salvation, Second Coming, The Good News.

Can you beat this fall weather? This is one of my favorite seasons. The down-side to this time of year is that winter is just around the corner, in fact, it may come this week. This leads to the realization that preparations need to be made for freezing temperatures. In light of this fact, I spent some time Monday at Lake George winterizing the lawn sprinklers. And, here at home, the camper has been made ready for storage.

The Bible has something to say about being prepared for winter: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6). Preparing for winter is a good idea for all of us, and it involves storing up provisions for a long winter.

Perhaps the most important preparation is the one we make for our eternal destination. Jesus had this to say concerning his someday return: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44). “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).

If your preparation for eternity consists of doing good works, let me give you a tip. No one gains access to the throne of God by doing good works. Why? Because no one can earn their salvation; it is a free gift of God, made available to all who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This should be a familiar verse: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8). Referring to the Old Testament, the apostle Paul asked, “What does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). You see, even in the Old Testament, people were not saved by following the law, but by faith in the promised Messiah, just as people are today.

How are you preparing for your eternity? Are you storing up treasures on earth, or are you counting on the riches of heaven, made available through the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross?

“Jesus is coming back one day, ready or not.” (Passion Network)

Prepared,
Pastor Jerry

14 Oct

Working For the Lord

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Work.

I like to read. I blame it on being nearsighted at an early age. Outdoor activities didn’t appeal to me because I couldn’t see well, but I could see to read books. Today, I read, not only to study to prepare my sermons, but also to get ideas and inspiration for these weekly articles. I recently read the following in an article from a men’s ministry, concerning our God-given ability to work at a job or a vocation.

“And then he said something amazing, “I am an ordained math teacher.” Isn’t that great? Every vocation is important to God. If you’re a salesman, you’re an ordained salesman. Are you a truck driver? You are an ordained truck driver. A farmer (or rancher)? You’re ordained.”

Think about this. Every job, every career, every occupation is given to you by God. If we understand that truth, I believe it will change the way we think about our work, and our station in life. How much less complaining about our jobs would we do, if we understood that they are gifts from God? Would we see our work from a different perspective, if we really believed it?

The word ordain means to “appoint, consecrate, or commission persons for special service to the Lord and His people”. To view our work as ordained, then, would be seen as doing special service, first to the Lord, then to His people.

Solomon spoke of this in Ecclesiastes: “A man can do nothing better than to…find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.” (Eccl. 2:24). The apostle Paul puts it this way: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Can you praise God for your job? Even if it is sometimes difficult?

Something to think about,
Pastor Jerry

30 Sep

What’s the Big Deal?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Forgiveness, God's Word, Marriage, Sin, Truth.

I don’t know what kind of response to expect from this next commentary, but I’ll take my chances: Milrae and I went to the hair salon recently to get our hair cut, and group of young women were discussing some pastors who had refused to marry couples that were living together. At the end of the discussion, one young lady wondered aloud, “What’s the big deal?”

I couldn’t keep silent, so I said this: As a pastor, I would have to take the side of those other men, and I believe that a couple should live apart until marriage. Needless to say, the conversation came to a rather abrupt end. I would like to take this opportunity to expand on my statement.

First of all, God’s word says couples living together outside of marriage are living in sin. This is not news, and this sin is no more or less a sin than any other. As with any other sin, it is forgivable. Also, statistics have proven that living together before marriage leads to a greater possibility that the marriage will fail. Most pastors I know who choose not to bless that kind of relationship, would be glad to conduct the ceremony if the concerned parties would confess the sin, repent of it, and live apart for a time as evidence of that repentance. You see, in God’s eyes, and in his plan for marriage, it is a “big deal”, even if the culture we live in tells us it doesn’t matter.

Speaking the Truth in love,
Pastor Jerry

23 Sep

The Least of These

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Hypocrisy, Sin, Temptation.

Occasionally, I will hear someone make a comment something like this: “I just don’t think I could stay in the same room with a “certain person.” Even worse, they might be talking about someone who might join them in church, or Bible study. However, that person might overlook their feelings for a certain other person for what they might gain because of that one’s high position in society or their perceived wealth. In the letter of James, we read, “as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism…if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (James 2:1-8.)

Where do we get off deciding what church related event we will attend, or any other activity we will be involved in, based on whether we can be in the same room with a person or persons? Do we not remember the Lord’s teaching concerning treatment of the “least of these?”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). I believe this applies first to our Christian brothers and sisters, but also to our fellow-man in general. Or what about this admonition?….”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

This not to say we should accept everyone at face value, but that we are concerned enough about their eternal destiny to welcome them in the name of Jesus, sharing the good news of salvation through faith in him.

By the way, I’m not pointing fingers. These scriptures convict me of my own sinful attitudes every time I read them. It is as the old saying goes: “if the shoe fits….”

Is this easy? No. Can we do it in our own strength? No, but the Bible says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). And, Jesus says to us, “Apart from me you can do nothing!” (John 15:5).
In His power,

Pastor Jerry

16 Sep

It’s Not About the Building

Posted by sandhillspastor in Change, Faith, God's Word, Great Commission, The Good News.

Dear Friends,
We spent Saturday and Sunday at Lake George. We had planned to stay through Monday, but as someone once said, “the best laid plans”… I’m sure we’ll get another opportunity. I was asked recently, “just where is Lake George?” The short answer is: 9 miles north of Rose, Nebraska on highway 183. Now everyone knows.

There are some who believe I can’t be separated from my pulpit on Sunday morning. It is not true. Thanks, Tom Huffman, for filling in for me. I did enjoy the day off.

While in the neighborhood, Milrae and I spent a couple of hours in the basement of the Historic Rose Church. We were installing a new light in the basement, in preparation for insulating and drywalling the ceiling. It is hoped that this project can be completed sometime soon.

I wonder at times, as we endeavor to preserve and maintain the old centers of worship, if we have left out something very important. When the population base is reduced to very small numbers, and the people show no interest in spiritual matters, are we making a building an idol? The psalmist says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Maybe this applies to his “house”, as well? Have we forgotten to include the Lord?

On the other hand, God spoke to the prophet Haggai, chastising the people of Israel for neglecting His house. “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains in ruins” (Haggai 1:4)? It is true, I believe, that we need to maintain a presence for the Lord in a community. I also believe we need to include the Lord, by being in constant prayer for his guidance and his provision in the effort.

Lastly, we press on, because in any area, no matter how thickly or thinly populated, there are people who need the Lord. We are called to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Even to the scattered residents of the Nebraska Sandhills. Would you pray for the unreached people in the lesser populated areas of our state, and for those who are willing to invest in them?

Just thinking,
Pastor Jerry

9 Sep

No One Else

Posted by sandhillspastor in Baptism, Bible, Christian Living, Eternal Life, Faith, God's Word, Salvation, The Good News, Truth.

It was a very good week for me. Thursday, I drove to Topeka, Kansas for a meeting, with my traveling partner of the last 49 plus years by my side. We spent the night in a nice motel, went to the meeting, and drove six hours home. It was a rare opportunity for some quality time together. It was great to see old friends and make some new ones.

Yesterday (Sunday), I was privileged to baptize a young lady from our church. She invited Jesus into her life a couple of years ago, and recently felt led to publicly express her faith by way of water baptism. Congratulations, Autum!!

The following has some bearing on the meaning and significance of baptism to the the Christian.

Along the highway Friday afternoon, there was a sign that said, “Jesus saves as no one else can”. I would rephrase that to read, “Jesus saves. No one else can.” I might even go so far as to have it read, “Jesus saves. No one, or nothing else can.”

Some folks believe salvation comes from doing good works, or joining a church. Or, they might have the idea that holding to some tradition is important to gain eternal life. And, I know of some who have the belief that baptism saves.

Here is the truth from the scriptures. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone. In the book of Acts, we are told “there is no other name by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). When Peter preached the message of salvation through faith in Christ, it says “those who believed his message were baptized” (Acts 2:41). Belief in the message of the gospel comes first, baptism follows, and is a public testimony to that faith.

Please don’t depend on anything for your salvation except faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. He died for our sins, once for all. There is no other who can save us. Praise God, who raised Him from death to eternal life!
Once again, I welcome your comments and questions. Send them to me at lakecitynews@gmail.com.

In His Love,
Pastor Jerry

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