27 May

Remembering

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Eternal Life, Faith, Salvation, The Good News.

Today is Memorial Day here in the U.S. It is a day set aside to stop and pay our respects to those who have served in our country’s armed forces. As we pause today to remember those who have given their lives to defend our freedom, let us remember also, the One who died to free us from the bondage of sin.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He said these words just hours before he was to die on the cross. I believe this kind of love can also apply to love of country and of one’s fellow man, as evidenced by the willingness of many in uniform to give their lives for their country and for their comrades in arms.

Jesus took this to the extreme when he chose to die, not only for his friends, but for his enemies. In Romans we read: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Reading on, we find that when Christ died for us, we were God’s enemies (verse 10). But his death reconciled us to God. By placing our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we become children of God (John 1:12).

We thank God for all those who have served our country, and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. And even more, we give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, who died so that we might live.

Remembering,
Pastor Jerry

20 May

Wait Upon The Lord

Posted by sandhillspastor in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

We are at our “cabin” in Rock county this morning. I guess we will call it a mini-vacation. School is out for the summer, so we took a few days away from church duties. We are still going to be working around here, but it is with a different view. I need to include a short fishing report. We haven’t spent much time at it, but Alex and I have managed to catch a couple of fish. Nothing big, but at least we’ve had some action.

I know the next report may tempt some to the sin of envy, but we have recorded just over three and a half inches of rain since our arrival Saturday afternoon. I can’t remember the last time that happened! Maybe I should have taken time off sooner…

Rain reports indicate a wide discrepancy in amounts received in a given area. This might prompt someone to ask why did some people get inches of rain, and others only a few hundredths? I can’t answer that, except to say I believe God answers prayers, but in his way and in his time. Part of prayer is waiting for answers. The Psalmist wrote: “I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God.” Isaiah said, “Blessed are all who wait for Him.” Jeremiah, also wrote in Lamentations: “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

So, if your part of the world hasn’t received as much rain as is needed, keep praying and waiting. As someone once said, we can’t control the weather, but we know the One who does. A verse of scripture I committed to memory many years ago, says this: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3).

Blessings to all,

Pastor Jerry

13 May

The Cure

Posted by sandhillspastor in Uncategorized.

Hello all,
 It was beautiful for Mother’s Day here where we live. This was another of those little blessings for which we are thankful. If the weather guessers are right, it looks like we’ll go directly from winter to summer. Our forecast for the next few days looks for very warm temperatures at this time of the year.

As we in this part of the world seem to be focusing on whether or not we will receive necessary rainfall and the resulting growth of crops and pasture, we need also to look beyond our corner of the world. There are a number of issues in our larger culture that are going to affect us more and more as time passes. We are being told over and over that things we believe about morality and right living do not apply to “modern” thinking and that we need to embrace all the “new” ideas that the world is putting forth.

Years ago, I remember the thought being promoted was of a “new morality.” I believe I would be accurate in saying there is no “new morality”, it is still the old immorality. The very kind of thing the Bible calls SIN. Contrary to “new thinking”, nothing has changed in the years since the Garden of Eden, God will  judge those those who refuse to be obedient to his moral law.

I believe the time is near, although I would not venture to guess how near, when the Lord will return and judge the world. I also believe that the way things are headed, we may be picking up speed in that direction. There is a remedy. Here is how it works: Admit you are a sinner; Believe Jesus Christ died for your sin; Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness.

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” Romans 10:9-10.

Your life and your way of thinking will be changed forever, and you will be assured of an eternity in the presence of the Lord.

Praying for all who will believe,

Pastor Jerry

6 May

Famine In The Land

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

In preparing for Sunday’s message, I was reminded that as a society, we in America have neglected our spiritual heritage so long, that we are now in what the Bible defines as a “famine of hearing the words of the LORD.”

“The days are coming,” declares the sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land–not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst” (Amos 8:11-13).

I believe in many of our churches today, there is a famine of hearing the words of God. I also believe there are millions of people searching for the Word of the Lord and they are not finding it.

In truth, God gave parents the responsibility of seeing that children are brought up with a real knowledge of the Lord and of his Word. I fear that unless we begin to take charge of our families and their spiritual health, we are headed for disaster.
From the apostle Paul we read, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The word “exasperate” can mean to “provoke to anger.” Could it be that the reason for so much anger in our society is the famine of the Word of God?

Although the command is directed at fathers, in today’s family the mother can be seen as equally responsible for bringing up the children in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Finally, although this famine, or lack of knowledge of the Word of God is real, I believe it is not to late to turn it around. If we parents (and grandparents) will take back our God-given authority in the family, and return to the reading and study of the Bible, we can make a difference. And maybe, just maybe, we will again become people of the Word, and followers of the Lord.

Love in Christ,
Pastor Jerry

29 Apr

The New Man

Posted by sandhillspastor in Change, Christian Living, Faith, The Good News.

In my sermon this week, I spoke on the topic of spiritual rebirth, and pointed out that when we are born again spiritually, we become a new creation. As I studied this past week, the following illustration came to mind.

A short time back, I purchased a tablet computer for my dear wife. She’s not totally into technology, but is learning. Everything has to work about right, or she’s done. Wouldn’t you know the new tablet was defective right out of the box? The company offered to repair the old one, or send me a refurbished one as a replacement. Well, I didn’t want the old one repaired, and I didn’t want a refurbished one. What was needed was a completely new device.

When we come to the teaching in the Bible that says as believers, we are new creations, I really don’t think this means God merely restores us to our original condition, nor are we just updated. It is more like a complete rebuild. In our world of computers, it would be removing everything, including the hard drive, and installing a new operating system, using only the original case.

People are born with a sin nature. Being restored to original condition would mean nothing had changed. Even an update would only give us a newer version of the old man. We are talking about a complete reprogramming, including a new way of processing information, a new way of life, and a new hope for the future.

God says when we trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are a new creation: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22).

In summary, becoming a new creation means a transformed life. It is not possible for a genuine follower of Jesus Christ to continue in a life of sin, as if nothing happened.

By the way, we did get a new replacement for the old tablet, and it works just as its maker intended.
In His Love,
Pastor Jerry

22 Apr

Are You Ready?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Eternal Life, Evil deeds, Faith, Salvation.

Tragedy struck our nation again last week. From the atrocity of the bombing in Boston, to the tragic explosion in Texas, many people have questions; from why do these things happen, to does God care? And some may even be questioning God’s existence.

If anything, the events of the past week remind us of the need to be ready to meet the Lord. Rather than try to fix blame or to ask why, let us be reminded that life is fleeting and that man knows not his time. Instead of asking why the Lord would allow these things, perhaps our first thought should be, “If I was taken suddenly from this life, where would I spend eternity?

In Luke’s gospel, we find some people questioning Jesus about some folks from Galilee who had been killed by the Roman ruler Pilate. Here is the conversation: “Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:1-5).

In other words, he says our concern should not be whether there was some underlying reason for the tragedy, but to consider whether the questioners were ready, should their lives suddenly end.

I believe Jesus’ message is clear. The priority established is not to determine guilt or innocence, but to first make sure of our eternal destination. When death comes, whether through tragedy or natural causes, are we ready to face our Creator at the judgment day? That is the question.

Again, we are reminded, “Now is the day of salvation!, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” There may be no tomorrow..

Just Thinking,
Pastor Jerry

15 Apr

Saved!

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Eternal Life, Salvation, The Good News.

When I began this weekly devotional, I would write it in Word, then paste it into my e-mail client. These days I just compose it in Gmail. In an earlier version, if I left without saving my work, the work would be lost, and I would have to try to remember what I had written and do it over. I constantly worried about whether it was saved. I now have the updated version, and it is continually saving the copy as I’m writing. If leave the program to do something else, when I return it is still there. It is comforting to know my document is saved without any extra effort from me..

I could compare this to our salvation as believers in the Lord Jesus. When we come to Him, confessing our sin, and place our faith in Him, He says “Saved”. When we wander off the path, he says “Saved”. When we return to him, still he says, “Saved.” Nothing further is required of us. In other words, the person who has genuinely taken Jesus Christ as his Savior cannot lose his or her salvation.

I am convinced of this because of what I read in the teaching of the New Testament. Jesus, speaking of those who believe in Him, says this: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

Also, the apostle John, in his first letter, wrote this: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
 
I believe also, that the true Christian will not use this knowledge as a license to sin. Our belief in eternal security allows us to persevere as we run the race, that is, to live the Christian life in every situation, whether it be easy or hard. As the song says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”
Saved!
Pastor Jerry
 

8 Apr

Faith Alone

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

Now and then, I will hear a person say something like this: “I believe in God. I try to be a good person, and live a moral life. I go to church, and I would hope God will let me in.”

I want to say, “You say you believe in God. You try to be a good person, you live a moral life, and you hope it’s enough to get you into heaven? Do you know that this is wasted effort? God says you cannot earn your way to heaven by being good.

Hear his word in Isaiah 64:6… “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts (good works) are like filthy rags.” We cannot claim righteousness by our good works. We are made righteous only by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and his righteousness.

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”: (Romans 3:23); “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”: (Romans 6:23); “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

I feel as if I must shout it out. PLEASE UNDERSTAND! YOU CANNOT BE SAVED BY BEING GOOD, or by joining a church. Not by giving a certain amount of money, not by your abilities, or even by your good looks! God, speaking through the apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus, says this: “You are saved by faith not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus’ own words are, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In Acts 4:12, Peter, speaking in the power of the Holy Spirit says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Someone once said, “Do what you like, you will never save yourself.” It is a mystery to me why we have to make it so hard. Jesus Christ died once for all. There is no other way.

In His Truth,
Pastor Jerry

1 Apr

Redefining Sin?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Uncategorized.

It is hard sometimes to decide on a topic for the newsletter, but with so much of what I would describe as total ignorance of Biblical truth, there is plenty of material. Last week, I received via email a link to an article in the Tuscaloosa Alabama News. In the article, the author interviewed several people as to whether they viewed homosexuality as a sin. One person answered this way: “I think the Bible is pretty clear that traditionally homosexuality has been a sin, but I think there are other things in the Bible that have traditionally been declared a sin that God’s people have determined are no longer sinful.”

 
What I would like to know, is when did “God’s people” acquire the right to overrule God in defining what is sin and what is not? And, what does God think about that?

Let’s look in His book and see how he would answer that question: “The word of the Lord is right and true” (Psalm 33:4), “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31).

Today is April Fool’s Day. The Bible calls those who reject God fools. Intelligent, and presumed wise men, have rejected the word of God as irrelevant to our time. Jeremiah 8:9 says, “The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and  trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?”
 
Jesus died for all our sins. If we confess our sins, he will forgive. Everything the Bible calls sin can be forgiven, except the sin of rejecting his offer of salvation. There are consequences to rejecting the word of God, and they are eternal. Please don’t be so arrogant as to proclaim that we humans can decide what is sin and what is not.

In Truth,
Pastor Jerry

25 Mar

Seeking the Lost

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Easter, Faith, The Good News.

Spring is officially here, but someone forgot to turn up the thermostat. We just don’t seem to be able to get any warm days, but with April coming, we have hope. I saw a photo taken by one of our friends this week that reminded me of other March days when we would be out feeding and checking the cattle. It made me think of the following:

I was reading Luke 15 where Jesus was talking about the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), and I had a flashback to my days of calving out cows. I remembered some times when I spent hours looking for a missing baby calf. Some were at night, when it was almost totally dark, some in the pouring rain, other times it would be snowing and blowing. There might have been a time or two it was doing all the above.

It was what we did, and what some of you are still doing. When a calf was missing, we searched until we found it. The missing one might have crawled through the fence into a shelter belt, and we would find it asleep under a cedar tree. Others would wander off behind a hill, and the cow would be searching with us. Once, with the help of my horse, who stopped to sniff at a snowbank, I found the missing one under the snow. It is all about seeking and saving the lost, and we celebrated when we reunited the calf with its mother.

In Ezekiel 34:16, we read these words of the Lord, “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.” It’s a picture of why Jesus came. In Luke 15:4, Jesus said “if a shepherd loses a sheep, does he not look for it until he finds it? And after he finds it he calls his neighbors to rejoice with him? He then went on to say, “in the same way there will be rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner.” He is describing someone who has been lost in sin, but who has turned to the Lord to be rescued from his sin. Then, in Luke 19:10, we read these words of Jesus, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
.
Jesus Christ came to rescue the lost. Heaven celebrates each one who is found and brought into the safety of the Lord’s care. Not only did he come to seek and to save the lost, he paid the penalty for our sin, and was raised from the dead so that we might live.

Something to remember this Holy Week, as we contemplate the reason Jesus came, and as we look toward Resurrection Day.

Because He Lives,
Pastor Jerry

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »