We have been going through the book of Revelation on Sunday and this past week we ended the message by comparing the antichrist and Jesus Christ. The enemy is going to do all that he can to thwart God’s plan and get a foothold in our lives as believers. If he is going to tempt Jesus, then he will definitely try to tempt each one of us and try to throw us off course.
In Matthew 4:1-10 we find the temptation of Jesus. First, we will note that it looks like it was God’s idea for his Son to be tempted. It says, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” Matthew 4:1. This reminds us that God was not on the defense but on the offense. He was reminding the devil that His Son was more powerful because of the foundation of his heart and life. Jesus was the “second man” or “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47). We read about the first Adam in the garden found in Genesis 3. He gave in to Satan after his temptation and the end result was expulsion from the garden. It not only impacted him, but it included mankind. We were sentenced to a “wilderness” with no spiritual nourishment or relationship with God. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, went into the wilderness to defeat Satan in order to escort us back into the garden. The devil has been watching Jesus go without food, so he naturally begins to test Jesus with bread. As we see, he is no match for Jesus. It is interesting that the living Word used the written Word to deal with the enemy of the Word. That gives us a good tactic in resisting the tempter and being victorious on the other side. The fact that we are being tempted should not discourage you. Having the Word at our fingertips should encourage you to saturate. Tonight, we begin our Midweek Boost Sessions. There are many to choose from. I hope you come and be intentional at preparing for your next opportunity to put the devil in his place. Whether you are new to our church, have been here forever, are young or old – there is a place for you tonight from 6:45pm – 8:00pm. May the Lord help you to do whatever it takes to be victorious this week. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
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In 1949, one of the greatest revivals in the history of the United Kingdom took place in the Hebrides. Seven men and two women had decided to pray earnestly for revival. One night, at a prayer meeting held in a barn, a young man took his Bible and read from Psalm 24:
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.[b] Selah Psalm 24:3-6 He shut his Bible and said, “It seems to me just so much sentimental humbug to be praying as we are praying, to be waiting as we are waiting here, if we ourselves are not rightly related to God.” He asked God to reveal if his own hands were clean and his own heart was pure. That night God met with them in a powerful way. As they waited on God ‘his presence swept the barn.’ They came to understand that revival is always related to holiness falling fresh on them. When David asked the question in verse 3, the answer is only those who are totally pure: the one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol. It is to have a life that is clean on the inside and the out. Sounds like a choice. The choice is not to live perfect but to live through Jesus who is the only One who can make us holy and allow us to approach God with confidence. In October we have revival scheduled for October 22-25. It is going to be good as we come together to seek the Lord. I have to tell you though, revival will not happen unless we prepare ourselves. Would you begin to pray now that God will cleanse your heart and prepare you for revival. Starting on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30am, we will be praying at church for one hour each week. Won’t you join me to pray for our church family, the ministries this Fall, and for God to stir up revival in our hearts? God is in the midst of doing a fresh new work in our church and want to do all I can to usher in His anointing. I don’t know about you, but I am still excited from the picnic and believer’s baptism last Sunday night. We are in some great days! Thank you for those who signed up to be the Light of Jesus at our Hancock County Fair this year. It begins today and I can’t wait to see how God uses us for His glory. I am looking forward to continuing our series, A Fresh Look at the Last Book on Sunday. Revelation 13 will reveal to us some characteristics of the antichrist. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike Have you ever heard of Andy Rooney? He was an American radio and television writer who was best known for his weekly broadcast, “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney.” It was on the CBS News program called 60 minutes. Andy’s last broadcast was on October 2, 2011. He was 92 when he passed away.
He was able to say a lot in a few words. It would usually give you a new perspective or remind you that life was short and every moment counts. Let me give you an example of his words through, “I’ve Learned.” It’s fairly long but packed full of wisdom… I've learned...that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. I've learned...that when you're in love, it shows. I've learned...that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day. I've learned...that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. I've learned...that being kind is more important than being right. I've learned...that you should never say no to a gift from a child. I've learned...that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way. I've learned...that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with. I've learned...that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand. I've learned...that simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult. I've learned...that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. I've learned...that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for. I've learned...that money doesn't buy class. I've learned...that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. I've learned...that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. I've learned...that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can? I've learned...that to ignore the facts does not change the facts. I've learned...that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you. I've learned...that love, not time, heals all wounds. I've learned...that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am. I've learned...that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. I've learned...that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks. I've learned...that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. I've learned...that life is tough, but I'm tougher. I've learned...that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. I've learned...that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. I've learned...that I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away. I've learned...that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I've learned...that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. I've learned...that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it. I've learned...that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life. I've learned...that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it. I've learned...that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation. I've learned...that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done. Andy Rooney I have one more to add. It is found in Luke’s Gospel. It was directly from the mouth of the most wise – Jesus. 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 This is 1 of 3 statements Jesus makes when asking people to follow Him. I believe that our past can keep us from fully giving our all to Jesus. When someone crosses you, and they will. It may be intentional but many times it is unintentional. The question is, “What are you going to do with it?” Are you going to get bitter or better? I’ve seen it way too many times. Someone hurts someone and they carry it the rest of their life. This does not allow you to give yourself fully to God because you are divided. You are nursing or seeking revenge. I have a better idea of how to spend your time. 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:23-25 Jesus Simply, let go and don’t look back. I know you can do it. I hope to see everyone on Sunday during Worship and at the Picnic and Baptism at 4:30pm. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike What a beautiful day to serve the Lord. I was just sitting here and thinking about our church and the people the Lord is bringing to our fellowship. We have so many wonderful new people attending our church. As the shepherd of our congregation, I am always thinking about getting people connected because selfishly I want you all to experience the rich relationship that can happen in the body of Christ. There are several ways that our families can get connected with each other and with God. I want to share with you a few events that can make that happen.
Back to School Bash on Wednesday, August 23 (6-8pm) Inflatables, live animals, a NazKidz Gospel Presentation, and food will be just a few of the many things offered. Come and meet other parents and people from the church. Also invite your neighbors to enjoy some end of the Summer fun. Serving at the Hancock County Fair (August 30-September 4) This is our second year receiving people at the fairgrounds. We are going to be at the main gate this year. Our whole purpose is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community. You never know what conversations will come up. We are praying for divine encounters. T-shirts have been ordered and there is one for all who serve. Slots are filling up but there is plenty room for more to serve. Next week we will send out an informational sheet for those who are signed up. The best way to sign up is by texting the word, “fair” to 419-422-8660.Thank you in advance for signing up. Become a part of a Life Group (September) Our next Semester of Life Groups will happen in September. Be watching for more information if you are not connected to a group from the church. They will meet every other week during the Fall Semester. Information will be available in a few weeks for you to sign your family up. Picnic and Believer’s Baptism On Sunday, August 27 at 4:30pm we will be going to the Morse Pond off of 224 toward Ottawa, and enjoying food, faith, and fellowship. Each family can bring a couple of dishes to share and the meat, drinks, and place settings will be provided. Come and support those being baptized and get to know others who are from the church. I always say that we are at our best when we serve. I will have to add that the second best is intentionally meeting others who may become a part of God’s move in your life or the reverse. It’s good to be a part of the family of God. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Psalm 84:10-12 I am looking forward to being together on Sunday as we dive into Revelation: A Fresh Look at the Last Book. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike I never thought I would write a devotional on spam, but I need to address it in light of some activity with the church directory and email account. Spam sounds like something you eat. It actually originally stood for, “Special Produced American Meat.” Let me tell you, this spam I am going to address has nothing to do with food. This has all to do with deception and lies. A hacker stole my identity and sent out emails to the church asking for gift cards in my name for the purpose of ministering to some people. This was definitely a scam that could be considered spam. No one likes to be tricked into losing money or giving to a deceptive cause. Many of us might think that we are too good to fall for such a thing. This particular spammer was really good at what he attempted to do.
Can I remind you that there is a battle going on and the enemy is not going to ever let up or give up. He knows his time is short and he will do whatever he can to deceive you into believing a lie. Satan is the father of lies. Jesus warns us: “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10. It all starts with phishing emails in order to get sensitive information such as passwords or credit card information. When they get it then you have opened the door up for them to weasel their way in to get money or information to aid them in their deception. On Wednesday, I started getting texts and phone calls from many people in our church wanting to help. I was overwhelmed at the number of people that truly wanted to help. I am realizing again that our church is made up of good people that will do whatever it takes to minister to the needs of others. At that moment I began to thank the Lord for allowing me to pastor such a great church. There were even a few who purchased gift cards to help with this need they thought was real. That is the kind of people we have at our church. I will assure you that we are constantly seeing needs and meeting them. Always double check before you take any action on what may appear to be real. There is a life lesson that can be learned in all of this. “8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” 1 Peter 5:8-9. The enemy of our soul may be good at what he does, our God is much better. Spammers may change their methods in order to trap people into responding, but our God will help us to discern reality from lies. Don’t let your guard down. Always be ready to stand up for the things of God. I am looking forward to Sunday as we continue in our series in Revelation – A Fresh Look at the Last Book. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike I am writing from Inez, Kentucky this morning. Every morning we are greeted with a haze across the mountains or hills, according to where you are from. It soon warms up and disappears throughout the morning. We have much to be thankful for as we have accomplished a lot this week. This is our fourth full day of working. We are laying paver bricks at their historical courthouse in downtown Inez, painting, cleaning, sorting and working at their thrift shop, fixing and renovating several house trailers in the community, and we attended a Celebrate Recovery in the community last night. We have one more day to work and get much done. Pray as we work to glorify the name of Jesus.
I am reminded from God’s word and from working with others, that we all have different gifts to serve the Lord and glorify His name. We are all different but we accomplish much when we allow God to use us in the way that He created us. It is amazing how much we accomplish when we work as one. Romans 12:3-18 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. This passage pretty much sums up how to act, live, and treat others. It’s all about Jesus and what He wants to accomplish wherever we may find ourselves. Living according to the Spirit will enable us to live out Jesus everywhere we go. I pray the Lord helps you to see the value of others today and that you would go and be a part of what the Lord's doing in your midst. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike I was reading in Matthew the other day and I came across a section in chapter 20 dealing with the mother of Zebedee’s sons trying to get Jesus to show preferential treatment to her sons. What mother would not want to work behind the scenes to make sure her boys are successful? The problem was that her measurement of success was based on wrong values. She thought in terms of earthly success that says that it doesn’t matter what you have to do to be successful. If you have to step on people in order to be successful, then so be it. In the kingdom of God, you reach greatness by serving others in love.
Go read the story found in Matthew 20:20-28. You will see that the disciples were mad at the two brothers for this incident. Could it be that some of the disciples didn’t think of it first? No matter what the reason was, Jesus set them all straight by saying that it is all about serving others. He didn’t condemn the aspirations for success or greatness. Rather, he condemned the worldly method for achieving it. So dream big. Ask God to show you how to use your gifts and talents to make the biggest kingdom impact. Servanthood and not success are first and foremost what God wants us to be all about. How does Jesus achieve greatness? By serving others. As I say all the time, “We are at our best when we serve.” 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 On Saturday, we are sending a mission team to serve in Inez, Kentucky, for a week. Pray for us as we seek the Lord to work miracles in us and in the ones we come in contact with. Pray for Amy Arabucki, Lincoln Bash, Jim Cardwell, Don DeBouver, Carolyn Fruth, Tyler Klingler, JJ Markley, Rita Schmidt, Dick Stephens, and myself. Thank you for supplying us with many items for their thrift store. We have a trailer full. There are two more opportunities to serve in August/September. The Apostle Build with Habitat for Humanity will happen on Saturday, August 26. There are shifts in the morning and afternoon as well as food prep to be done. Sign up in the foyer this Sunday. The other serving time will be with the Hancock County Fair. We have the open door to greet everyone at the main gate as they enter the Fair. More on that in the next few weeks. I see it as an opportunity to spread the love of Jesus as people are flocking to the Fair. It will be fun to be available to be used of God the week of August 30 – September 4. Have I told you lately that I love serving along side of my church? Well, it is! God is moving in mighty ways and I am so glad to see Him change us in the process. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike What an amazing week we are having here at Vacation Bible Adventure. There has been a record number of kids here this week. One of the things I am seeing more than anything is how blessed we are to have a serving church. Our VBA team is hitting it out of the park. I am talking every person from the people serving root beer floats to the storytellers, the security team to the registration people (not sure of their title), the worship leaders to the cleanup crew, the crafts to the toddler room; it is an exciting place to be. I am seeing every generation serving with passion from all walks of life. It is exciting to see the teens in there loving on the children even though some of them are still sleep deprived from Nazarene Youth Conference. I take a step back and marvel at how we are blessed as a church.
Our theme for VBA has been Camp Naz: Getting S’more of Jesus. Let me tell you, the kids have been getting s’more of Jesus through the Word and through the servant leadership and example of our whole church. When you walk in the doors, you can just sense the Holy Spirit doing something. The main verse has been from John 8:12 that says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have thelight of life.’” We still have two more days including today. Come on out and join the excitement as we will be here from 6-8:30pm. Come and pray for the hearts of these children and their parents will be receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the main reason for having these big events. I know some of you are asking in your mind, “Pastor Mike, how can I help with what the Spirit is doing?” I am so glad you asked. On Saturday, a group of people are coming to help set up the chairs in the Worship Center at 10am. We need to put everything back including the papers in the back of the chairs. Contact the church office and let them know you are coming to help so we can prepare. It will be good to work together. On Sunday, our first service will be in the Worship Center and our second service will be in the Family Life Center. Following the second service, we will enjoy a picnic with different activities for the kids. It will be a great time of fellowship around the table. Bring two dishes to share and plan on staying for lunch whether you have children or not. It’s always good to be together. I am looking forward to a great time of worship and hearing what the Spirit is saying to us on Sunday. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike Tomorrow we will be hosting this Town Hall Meeting from Right to Life to inform people of the important election in August and November. Many times things will get slipped in during special elections and people are taken off guard. We are to always be watchful and do what we can to uphold Biblical truths. There is a difference between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and error.
Our Nation was founded on Biblical principles and there is an agenda out there to chip away at everything related to God or Biblical truth. We must do all we can to educate Christians to not be apathetic when it comes to our right to voice our faith by voting in elections. Not only should we vote but we must seek out the truth of what we are voting on. We must stand strong together and uphold life, liberty, and faith in love. Take this opportunity to come and be informed about the elections coming up. The special election on August 8 we are voting on, if passed, will require 60% of voter approval instead of a simple majority of 50% plus one to amend the Ohio Constitution. It will also require those wanting to get amendments on the ballot to collect signatures from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties instead of just 44 counties. This is a big deal. It should be difficult to change our Ohio Constitution. The vote in November is amending our law concerning abortions in Ohio. This vote is being watched across our Nation. It will give rights to people to an abortion in the state’s Constitution. There are several other things that will be passed along with this amendment. The rights of parents concerning their children, allowing late-term abortions, even after 15 weeks and right up to the moment of birth. This is crucial that we understand what we are voting on. It is our opportunity to Impact the world for our children and their children. I pray that we have a good turnout for this informative meeting. You will be glad you came. Our mission trip to Kentucky is just a few weeks away (July 29-August 4). Come on Sunday and learn how you can bring items to support the work of Appalachia Reach Out and know how to pray for us. This Sunday will also begin our Vacation Bible Adventure. There is still time to sign up your children or sign up to help. I look forward to worshipping with you this weekend. May God open new doors for you today as you seek Him with all your heart. When we stand strong together and ask the Holy Spirit to work through our lives, we can face whatever is before us and be victorious in the Name of Jesus! Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike Today is officially the longest day of the year due to it being summer solstice. I hope you are doing something you enjoy. Ok, maybe you won’t feel like it is any longer than yesterday, but have you ever done something that you wish would never end. For many of us the list is long. Let me tell you a few things I would like to happen on my longest day.
My priority is to put God first in all things. So, I think of the verse that describes the cry of our hearts. “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10 That is the first and most obvious as a follower of Jesus Christ. When I am in my right frame of mind then I realize that I work from my rest instead of rest from my work. I will let that sink into your mind for a second. As the Psalmist says when they want you to ponder – Selah. The other thing I like to do is spend time with the family of God. It is so good to be with people who share your love for Christ. Speaking of that, why not plan to join us for The Gathering tonight at St. Marys? Some families are going down and our teens will be going as well. The service begins at 7pm and there is something there for everyone. The address is 272 Jack Oak Point, St. Marys, Ohio. We have had services down there all week. We will also be attending the Ordination service for Pastor Jin on Thursday night at 7pm. If you have been at our church for a few years, then you will remember Pastor Ronglan’s Ordination service 6 years ago. It is good to be a part of the family of God. Another thing I love to share is about how good the Lord is. Sharing my faith with those who need a Savior or a boost is so encouraging to me and to others. God has done so much for me I just can’t keep it in. I pray that you will look at your life and spend time doing the things that bring you the most lasting joy in the Lord. Can I share one more thing that I love? I guess you can’t really stop me. Our new addition is really coming along. The walls are going up. It’s good to see a lot of progress. If you are ever on this side of town then drive by and see what’s happening. May God richly bless you today as you seek Him with all your heart. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike |
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Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
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