Month: February 2020

February 10, 2020 Pastor Justin Thomson - Duluth

One of the distinct features of the Holy Spirit is the consolation He brings to His own people. Specifically referred to as our “Comforter”, the Spirit of Christ reserves some of His greatest work for those who grieve. And we praise Him for that. Nobody has a big problem being comforted. The real challenge on the other hand, is allowing ourselves to qualify for it. If comfort is to be offered, there must be a reason for it, a legitimate need. To know & experience the Holy Spirit as our Comforter therefore, will demand our misery, anxiety, and/or despair…all the things we hope and pray to avoid. But He cannot become a comfort to us until we desperately need it.   

Stay Put…

The last command that Jesus gave to men on this planet was to “wait”, and it was made in reference to the Holy Spirit. If His disciples wanted what the Holy Spirit had to offer, they’d be expected to remain patient. The Holy Spirit operates on a different timetable than we do, and we cannot rush (nor delay) His perfect work. Especially in regard to comforting us in difficult times. He cannot and will not become a comfort to us unless we diligently wait for Him.

When you run away from a difficult situation you’re only running away from where the Holy Spirit was scheduled to meet you

Exactly how hard it was for Christ’s men to obey that final command is impossible for us to know. Until, of course, Jesus requires the same thing of you.

Don’t Go…

In times of crisis, the last thing we want to do is “wait” for help. But unlike some over-the-counter pain medicines, the Holy Spirit doesn’t promise “immediate relief”. Pain and suffering have too much intrinsic value for God to purge your life of them too quickly. Your job isn’t to avoid pain at all costs. And it’s not your responsibility to rush the work of the Spirit. All God expects you to do is resist the temptation to walk away before He gets there to help. One of the greatest personal disciplines of any hurting Christian is to wait for the promise of Comfort.  

If you ever hope to experience the consolations of the Holy Spirit in times of crisis, you’ll need to reject the cheap substitutes offered by the world. And there are many. You already know what they are, and you know which ones you’re most liable to indulge in. Whether it be alcohol or naps, TV and ice cream, hot showers and comfort food, we have countless methods to cope with our gloom, none of which involve the Holy Spirit. If we won’t wait upon Christ for comfort in times of distress, we may never experience the richness of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

Some hapless Christians have already missed out on the greatest comfort they could ever have known because they left the place they were commanded to stay at. When you run away from a difficult situation you’re only running away from where the Holy Spirit was scheduled to meet you.  

Just Wait…

Sometimes we’re in such a hurry for the wretchedness to end, we grab ahold of the first and easiest thing that promises relief. Unfortunately (for those with impulsive tendencies), the world is usually quicker to offer you reprieve than God is willing to come to your rescue. Rest assured, the Lord desires to comfort you. But He also wants your suffering to run its full course and have its full effect. The world, however, does not. The world has no interest in you becoming a better Christian. It only wants you to be comfy. Satan only wants you to be comfy. Your flesh only wants to be comfy, but God wants better things for His children. Far better things. That’s why He’s given us His Holy Spirit.  

Our Father allows suffering, not to push us away from Him, but to bring us closer. Never forget that.

Are you in a particularly challenging situation lately? Count yourself blessed when you fall into various trials like yours. That’s God preparing you to experience His Holy Spirit in a way that’s off-limits to those who live a trouble-free life. Wait for the Holy Spirit to come and fulfill His ministry. He will comfort you in due time. It’s what He does.    

“From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord” Psalm 121

February 7, 2020 JFB Books and Media

Have you wondered what God has to say about certain subjects in the Bible?

As a Jesus follower it is important that you search the Scriptures like the New Testament Bereans did (Acts 17) to solidly know God’s truth. If you don’t know what the Bible says and renew your mind daily in it’s truth, you will follow the customs, patterns, and teachings of the world.

To help you know the truth of the Bible, search for topics on the Berean Call website and read answers to certain topics listed such as: The Bible, The end times, science, atheism, psychology and many more.

The Berean Call resources…

Alert believers in Christ to unbiblical teachings and practices impacting the church.

Exhort believers to give greater heed to Biblical discernment and truth regarding teachings and practices being currently promoted in the church.

Supply believers with teaching, information, and materials which will encourage the love of God’s truth, and assist in the development of Biblical discernment.

Mobilize believers in Christ to action in obedience to the Scriptural command to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3).

Impact the church of Jesus Christ with the necessity of trusting the Scriptures as the only rule of faith, practice, and a life pleasing to God.

Sample Article:

There is a simple shortcut to truth: start with the Bible first and investigate it thoroughly. Why start there? Not just because the Bible claims to be the only inspired Word of the one true God who created us. It also claims that all of the world’s religions and their scriptures are false and actually in the service of Satan. The Bible calls Satan “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and thus the author of its religions. So if the Bible is true, we have saved ourselves a lifetime of vain searching through false systems. 

In fact, we can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that every word in the Bible is true. The Bible has several unique features not found in the scriptures of the world’s religions, making it possible to substantiate its claims. Christianity is not a philosophy, mystical experience, or esoteric practice [but] is based upon undeniable and historical facts. The Bible stands on a four-fold foundation, every part of which can be examined and verified: 1) prophecy foretelling events and doctrines in advance, 2) fulfillment of those prophecies in detail, 3) secular history testifying to the fulfillment of prophecies and events, and 4) factual data corroborated by archaelology and science. None of this is the case with the teachings or scriptures of any of the world’s religions. —Dave Hunt [Excerpt taken from Seeking and Finding God (Bend, OR: TBC, 2007), pp 66-67)

Click on the link above to go to the website

February 4, 2020 Believers Church

Do you know how important forgiveness is?

Recommended Media | February 4th, 2020
In Mark 2, Jesus reveals that every person’s greatest problem is our need for forgiveness. In this message, Tim Keller conveys the great grace and tenderness of Jesus, who is completely worthy of all our trust. Pastors must tell their hearers of their need for forgiveness and point them to Jesus, the only one who can remove the stain of sin from our lives.

“Look… anyone who can get the stain out is your true love… trust that man!”
-Timothy Keller

February 1, 2020 Believers Church

Grow up

These days, at least with the older generation, it is culturally imperative that one becomes self-sufficient. I think most of us would agree that a capable and able person should have the capacity to stand on their own two feet. One should be able to take care of herself vocationally and pay her bills. One should be able to hold a job, keep a home-life, feed and clean himself. While this is all good and beneficial for everyone involved, I wonder if any of that affects our great need for God.

That said, we have such odd dichotomies in our society. Young people remain under their parent’s roof and protection much longer than they used to. They rely on parental-bailouts much longer than before. They’re still found under their parent’s insurance and cell phone plans into their early 30’s. And yet, they are so quick to claim in adulthood over their sexual practices, vocations, and life choices. Something’s wrong here. Time to get real.

The Missing Factor

One missing aspect of my pre-adult years was a tangible understanding of God’s presence. Though I went to church as a kid, this was never shown me on paper or in practice. I did learn about responsibility, morality, stability, and consequences. However, when these qualities remain untethered to righteousness and the cross, they develop some pretty distasteful pride and self-assurance. When you grow into adulthood with a strong foundation of responsibility, but miss out on learning our need for God, you naturally doubt God. “What do I need him for? I’ve made it this far without him.” I have come to believe that children must be trained to know God and shown how to rely on God so that when they depart the oversight of their parents, they’re prepared to walk dependent on God. Sadly, this is not usually the case.

Feeding at the Trough of the Culture

One of the popular axioms of our day is, “You Got This!” It’s like giving candy to a little kid, isn’t it? When someone says, “you got this”, it makes us feel strong and capable, but whoever stops to ask whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing? We have different personalities in our culture: those who plow ahead thinking they can do anything and those who do little because they are incapacitated by fear. One is admired/ridiculed for their fearlessness/recklessness, and the other for their overt caution/lack of gusto/laziness. Whether you are an extreme risk-taker or the bastion of life-safety, you arrive at both of those places on your own. It requires no other influence but your own power. Given enough time however, we all discover none of us have ultimate control over either of these lifestyles. The risk-taker will someday go too far and the fearful one will atrophy. Which will we be? At this point, it really doesn’t matter because they are both flawed.

The Wake of Disaster Without God

How many disturbing life-events or habits will it take before we realize that Jesus meant what he said in John 15? Wrong turns. Terrifying crashes. Ruined marriages. Lost jobs. Premature declining health. Virtual bankruptcy. Heartbreak. Sexually transmitted diseases. Perversion. Unwanted pregnancy. Hellacious godless children leaving the house. Credit card boat anchors. Extravagance. Fashion trend pressures. The need to be liked by everyone. Drunkenness. Substance abuse. Tobacco addiction. Uncontrolled temper. Depression. Hopelessness. Untamed selfishness.

John 15:4 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

The point Jesus makes here is that we’re to be “continually” dependent on God. He clearly explains that life apart from Him is no life at all; it’s worthless! It makes no difference whether you are the risk-taker or fearful. Apart from Him, we can do nothing! In fact, unattached branches are meant to be picked up and burned because they are withered and lifeless (risk-taker or fearful). Do you want life? –remain in Him… continually.

The Prize at the Bottom of the Box

Stop thinking about dependence on God as something that is situational and contingent upon the difficulty of an issue. It’s our tendency to only seek him for “big” things. We reach for God like he’s in the medicine cabinet next to the Advil. “When that pain sets in, reach for Christ-afed.” [insert cheesy radio voice]. Instead, think about it in terms of relationship. It’s eye-opening when we come to realize that Christianity is not about knowing what God can do for us so much as it is to know God; the real prize. When we know him well, we see the world for what it really is. Because of that, we take his hand and begin to step through this life with his guidance, experiencing what he wants for us. Without him, we may do many things that seem exciting, fun or safe but they have no meaning; no purpose. Sure, you’re independent… Good for you! But is it worth anything in the Kingdom?

Galatians 6:8 “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”