tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44958522520458702952024-03-08T02:49:53.622-08:00Pastor's DevotionalGrace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-38419717780357897652020-02-08T07:47:00.003-08:002020-02-08T07:47:30.294-08:00Beware The Leaven~Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." Matthew 16:6<br />
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Dear Congregation,<br />
I must confess that I find myself increasingly less interested in the sectarianism that seems to rule our contemporary society. Not just secular partisanship, but sectarianism in the church as well. All my life I have been a person who has never been one to get excited about movements or social pressures. Each time I have dabbled with a movement or been enticed by something that appears interesting and hopeful, I have been disappointed at the contrast between the ideals and the reality. All this to say that I am something of an outsider and my initial response to that is guilt. However, when I consider the Scriptures and especially the depth of the above verse, I am pulled from guilt and encouraged to find that my Lord and His disciples were much the same. The Lord Jesus is essentially saying to beware of the infectious influence of movements and ideals with agendas that draw you away from Christ, His Word, and His Kingdom.<br />
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Beware the influence of the Pharisees. No short paragraph can capture the Pharisees accurately, but suffice to say their focus was on an external obedience, not only to the Scriptures, but also to what human authorities had added to God's Word. Their moralism was an infection that displayed the symptoms of self righteousness, pride, arrogance, and fear of the loss of power and status. Their thoughts and actions were consumed with the physical external state of their nation and its outward practices. When presented with God manifest in the flesh, their true prophesied Messiah, he was unrecognizable, unwanted, and had to be stopped. Our church should never be so afraid of loss and so consumed with appearance that we neglect the heart. Nor should we be so obsessed with getting things right out of our own pride that we forget our total inability and need for a savior. If certain man made traditions and laws in our culture have a higher place in our estimation than the Gospel that we would compromise that Gospel and God's Law, we have veered and been influenced by the leaven of the Pharisees.<br />
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Beware the influence of the Sadducees. The Sadducees likewise were a group focused on externals. The political and social progress of their nation state was their religion. While the Pharisees ultimately thought they were pleasing God and earning his favor in a spiritual afterlife with a concept of future resurrection, the Sadducees were even more obtuse. Theirs was a narrow view on the here and now, not the hereafter. Whatever it took to keep material status and success is the meaning of life. It was fine to embrace Herod and work with the Romans as long as materialism was gained. God's Word was a fine guideline but much of it was doubtful and irrelevant to them. A humble non political savior who spoke of another world, of dying to self, keeping Caesar and God separate, and putting others good first was problematic and counterproductive. He had to be stopped. Our church should never care more about action and influence than about eternal life. If social progress, quality of life, and government strength are more important than faithfulness and obedience to an invisible kingdom and God's Word, we are influenced by the leaven of the Sadducees.<br />
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Ultimately these two opposing factions were not as different as they claimed. They had different methods, but were both man made man centered power hungry factions. God's people are not to be sucked up into these ways of life. We are to come out from among them and remain separate. to keep in the middle of the straight and narrow path that leads unto life. Pharisees and Saducees hated each other, but they unified against the Lord Jesus and against His apostles and disciples. Their world was not to be messed with. Are you messing with the world of Pharisees and Sadducees or are you sympathetic to one over the other? Both sides will reject you Christian, but both sides are of no eternal consequence. Your master and Savior has given you a better way. Its not popular and its unceremonious with no material reward but it is the way, the truth, and the life. Beware the leaven, eat the bread of life, lean wholly on Christ alone. Look to Him and live for His eternal transcendent Kingdom.Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-49444141268248083842019-11-01T09:42:00.002-07:002019-11-01T09:42:11.837-07:00The God Of All Comfort<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, II
Corinthians 1:3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Apostle opens his second letter to
the Corinthian church with words of greeting and benediction followed by an
encouragement to bless and praise God because of who He is. It is always
helpful for us to remember that any person or church that Scripture addresses
as an original audience knows the hardship, fears, and frustrations of life on
this planet. The Bible is not a fantasy or a proposal of idealism. It deals
with real issues and offers real solutions. The church is encouraged to bless
God the Father. That is to ascribe all goodness, praise, service, and life to
the Lord. Why? Because He is the father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
Mercy has its origin with God. It is an attribute that the creation can grasp
and demonstrate in its own fallen way but as a concept, God is the originator.
Bless Him because He shows mercy. Your life, your joys, your eternity, all that
you have that is good is because of your merciful God who gave it to you. One
of the many blessings that the Father mercifully provides is comfort. He is the
God, lord, master, source of all comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When a person is asked if he or she is comfortable, the
initial analysis is physical comfort; warm clothing, soft pillows, a good
mattress, a clean environment etc. While God is the provider of physical
comfort, this verse is speaking of something much more profound and lasting.
Your God is the only source of spiritual comfort. Because we know Him we know
that our souls are safe and secure as Christ’s victory over death and hell is
total and absolute. When this life and this world would tear us to bits with
fear, doubt, unknowns, loss, and disappointment, our God has granted us
comfort. We know where our home is and no matter what happens we have a mansion
in our father’s house that is everlasting comfort. He is the God of emotional
comfort. When torn apart by the sadness and woe of this world our God has
promised that He is with us through the deep waters and will never leave us or
forsake us. The non Christian may sink into emptiness and loneliness but we can
bless our God as His Spirit remains with us. He comforts our sorrows and quiets
our fears. He is the God of mental comfort. If we do not know something, we can
be assured He does. If we feel inadequate to a task, He is not. If our mind is
troubled the almighty needs to be its resting thought and mental focus. He will
accomplish His will in our lives and our psyche needs to be comforted by that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Grace Church, behold your God! He is the solution that the
Scripture provides to all your struggles and difficulties. Let His comfort
overwhelm your pain. Know him as the source of spiritual, physical, emotional,
and mental comfort. Bless and love him with heart, soul, mind, and strength. Do
not despair, He knows your end as he knew your beginning. Walk with Him, trust
Him, and delight in Him, your Lord and Savior, the God of all comfort!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-48512942642415631642019-08-02T05:56:00.003-07:002019-08-02T05:56:42.079-07:00Raging and Plotting<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Why do the nations rage, and
the people plot a vain thing? The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the
rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His anointed,… Psalm
2:1-2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The questions of the Psalmist are perpetually
relevant to every human in every age in every culture. As a Christian and a
pastor I ask myself the same questions as I am confronted with the twenty four
hour news cycle. Why is everyone so angry? Why do people spend short lives
focused on vanity? Why does everyone seem to live contrary to God’s good way
and law? I believe the Bible gives us the answers to these questions. We have
an explanation, but the reality still hurts and stings. The anger of the earth
is essentially rebellion against its creator. We know who made us and why there
is evil and where we can find good, salvation, and redemption. However, we do
not want salvation as a gift we want to achieve it for ourselves. Every day our
inconsistencies and imperfections remind us that that is impossible and it
causes anger. Things are not the way they should be. The world knows it and
hates it and wants to blame outward and upward instead of inward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To distract us, or to vent our anger, humans plot vain
things. We obsess over the temporary. Even Christians are not immune to this
obsession. The state of the American church shows us that. Churches are more
interested in meeting temporary appetites than eternal needs because the
temporary appetites motivate more people and attract money. Feeding people’s
pride makes them comfortable whereas God wants them comfortable only in Him.
The nations plot business deals, wars, parties, political movements yet people
still starve, get sick, and succumb to addiction, loneliness, and death. We ask
with the Psalmist, “Why?”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Among the discord and anger of the world there appears to
be unity against the Bible and its commands. People who have nothing in common
are agreed that Christ, as the Bible presents Him, needs to be stifled.
Scripture should not be taught, preached, loved, known, or understood. This is
an emptiness that is aggressive and destructive. What is a 21<sup>st</sup>
century Bible church to do? So much seems against us, apathy and disinterest
are the rule of our day. How do we deal, and what is our strategy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I would venture to say we deal, do, and think the same way
the Psalmist did. The issues and problems are not new and neither is the
solution. Verse eleven and twelve say to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice
with trembling. Kiss or embrace the Son! There is blessing with total trust and
reliance on the Lord. The anger, vanity, and evil of the nations will be dealt
with by a righteous and just eternal king. It has an end that is outside of our
hands and we need to be satisfied with that. The Christian needs to keep his or
her focus on serving and rejoicing knowing the awe and might of God and
reverencing Him! Don’t look for human recognition. The Psalmist when distracted
by his news cycle returns to the unchanging, unshakable, indestructible rock
that is God and Savior. Cling to that rock and His Word. Serve Him and dispose
of your pride and vanity. Our strategies are flawed and must be repented of.
Our worries and fears must be handed over to God every day. Our future and His
kingdom’s future is safely in his hand and providential care. Embrace the Son!
Live in Him walk in Him, fear Him, delight in Him! Why would you rage, plot, or
rebel when you are justified, being sanctified, and will be glorified? May
Christ be all and in you all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-11356965474429034592019-05-28T12:30:00.002-07:002019-05-28T12:30:18.240-07:00Encouragement<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But immediately Jesus spoke
to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to encourage you with the words
and impact of the above verse. The disciples are in a boat in the middle of the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Gallilee</st1:placename></st1:place> at night in the dark. The
circumstances naturally lead to a disposition of trepidation. When The Lord
Jesus comes walking on the water to meet them they are naturally even more
disturbed and think even worse of their situation. But the Lord’s words are to
be of good cheer, for He is with them and they have no reason to be afraid. He
identifies Himself, He draws near, and all will be well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is so much in life to cause us to
be afraid. Life sometimes feels like a boat in the middle of a sea in the dark.
We do not know what is around us very well and all seems so fragile that any
moment we could be tossed overboard. For calm we distract ourselves, but all
distractions come to an end. We take comfort in the familiar and hope it will
not change. But the familiar always changes and often that unsettles us. We
hope the future will be like the past, because the past is what we know. Yet
the future never ceases to surprise us and shake us. We turn to our fellow
shipmates for strength, community, and friendship. But ultimately we are all in
the same boat and cannot solve one another’s problems. Then comes the Lord. He
is not in the boat, He is not in the water, He is above it and has power over
it. He tells us to be of good cheer. Not because the circumstances have
changed. The sea is still wet and the night is still dark. Be of good cheer
because He is here! He is with us! We have no need to be afraid for the Lord is
powerful to save us and keep us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Through your daily struggles, think on this reality. Christ
Jesus is with you. He has come, died for you, is risen, and has sent the
comforter to be with you. He is ruling and reigning and all is in His hands.
Though all else fall away and be lost, you still have Him! As a church may we
know the good success of Joshua 1:8 through our meditating on, speaking, and
obeying the Word of God. The Word, which tells us of Christ and to be of Good
cheer no matter the temporary outward appearance of things. If we have His Word
and His presence there is no need to fear though all the world be against us, for
greater is the One who is with us than he that is in the world. Be encouraged
Christian! You have eternal security, a lasting mission, a powerful comforting
Lord, one who will never leave you or forsake you or His church!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-39717576367053724232019-03-14T12:48:00.002-07:002019-03-14T12:48:25.221-07:00Real Peace<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My peace I give to you; not
as the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great study may be done on this verse
in its entirety, but my devotional thoughts for you this week are quite simple.
Christ has given us His peace, and His peace is nothing like the peace the
world can give. It strikes me that the world’s peace is only an absence of
something. There is peace when there is no war, noise, strife, worry, toil,
etc. The best peace the world can provide is merely an absence of some negative
element that may be registered by the senses. Not only is the world’s peace one
dimensional this way, but it is always temporary. Anything that may cease may
just as easily be able to start up again the next day. Your sleep may be
peaceful, but your alarm in the morning ends it and your annoying <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:place></st1:state> commute is
only a few minutes away again. The world’s peace is hollow and temporary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Christ provides those who trust in Him with His own peace.
We may understand that this same peace is one that passes all understanding as
Philippians tells us. However, since it is a given peace from God it has an
active nature. It is not merely an absence of something negative; it has the
power to effect change. Think of Christ’s peace given to you as the same peace
that calmed the raging storm on the <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord Jesus actively did that. I suggest
that he does that with all of us who are His. Peace, be still! Be still and
know that He is God! I am thankful for the given peace that comes with my
salvation. It certainly takes the worry and insecurity of my soul and eternal
state away, but it also gives me an active assurance and mission for my life.
We proclaim His Gospel of peace and we can also rest in His activity to bring
it to effect. This is a wonderful peaceful truth. Additionally the peace that
our savior gives actively calms the burdens and stresses of this earthly life.
I do not have to work to create peace, Christ has given it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If this peace seems too far out of reach and does not seem
present in your life right now, I suggest you pray for it and also consider how
powerful and capable your Lord is to handle everything. As He becomes your
greatest reality, the trials and tribulations diminish in stature and lose
their teeth. He has given you an everlasting peace! You may not understand it
here but it is real and it is active. Do not look for peace in a vacation or a
good meal or a long nap or a medical cure. Look for peace in your Savior, His
Word, His promises, and His action!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-6544488406373531322019-03-06T12:04:00.003-08:002019-03-06T12:04:18.634-08:00Finding Life<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">He who finds his life will
lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As is typical of these devotionals the
verse above is familiar. Yet though familiar it is a verse in which we too
often avoid the application and its reaches. First it is important to remember
that the Lord is not talking about the physical body here The Lord is not
telling his audience to kill themselves for His sake. Preservation of life is
precious. He is speaking about the purpose, meaning, goals, actions,
affections, and soul of life. The essence of a life summed up if you will. With
that in mind consider the ramifications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He who finds His life will lose it. We live in a day where
much is made of personal identity. Do not be deceived into thinking that this
is a new movement or concept. Identity without God was presented in the garden,
it existed at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Babel</st1:place></st1:city>
when the tower was being constructed. To be Greek, Roman, French, English,
American or anything else has always been an option. Likewise ability to
identify with family, gender, trade, vocation, occupation, ethnicity, religion,
politics, music style, movie fandom, school, or philosophy and more has always
been available. The Lord Jesus boldly teaches that anyone who makes any of
these things or anything else in creation the purpose and essence of their life
will lose that life. None of these things are eternal. None of these things are
alive. None of these things have living power. None of these things can atone
for sin. None of these things can save a soul. Your life in people, places,
things, and ideas will not only come to an end, but that life will be found
without any real merit before a righteous God on the day of judgment. Even the
Christian must be careful that she does not identify more with the pride of her
gifts, service, and ministry than with her Lord Himself. If you have found your
life in and are satisfied with something on earth, heed the warning of Christ
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He who loses his life for My sake will find it. The person
who dismisses all earthly identity to identify with Christ first and foremost
will find all the things in creation and more, in eternity in abundance. Christ
does not dismiss all the identities of the world, He redeems and fulfills them.
They are nothing without Him they are everything in Him. Seek first the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> and His righteousness and all these
things will be added unto you! Make the Lord Jesus your way your truth and your
life and you will be able to explore the deep riches of all creation’s
varieties with safety, direction, and confidence. Give up temporary earthly
identity and you will find light ant life in the one who designed all. In
Christ all things become new because we have died to ourselves and have sought
His glory. Do not worry about where you fit and what your future holds, give
all of that into the hands of the savior and commit your ways to Him. His Word
will guide you and direct you. You will know that your life cannot be lost or
wasted because He owns it and none can pluck you from His hand. Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, trust Him for all, Live your life for Him, seek Him daily,
walk closely with Him and find life in who He is and what He provides.
Everything else passes away, but He has promised He will never leave you or
forsake you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-63005673590432560842019-02-22T10:57:00.002-08:002019-02-22T10:57:45.204-08:00Hold Fast<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But that which ye have
already hold fast till I come. Revelation 2:25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The visible church on earth has for many
centuries been titled the Church Militant. The term carries with it a sense of
action, a movement for a cause, a passion for something that must be done. This
is a helpful thought for us as the Scripture often puts the Christian life in
militaristic terms. We are told to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, to fight
the good fight of faith, and to make sure we have our spiritual armor on. Our
faith is one that requires us to go on the offensive. We all value evangelism
and mission. We all should want to be part of that work and should daily seek
out how we as members of the Body of Christ can participate in that calling.
And yet, it is worthy to remember that unless what we are fighting for is kept
true and pure, there is no point to offensive mission at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The above verse is spoken by our Lord to His church in
Thyatira. It is a congregation that has love, service, faith, and patience, but
has been led astray by false teaching. God’s message has been twisted. Because
of this the faithful among them are burdened and have a fight on their hands
that seems too much to handle. To them the Lord says hold fast what you have.
How encouraging these words still are to a church in our own century. It is
easy for a faithful Christian to despair at the work that must be done. The
unbelief, apathy, cruelty, ignorance, and falsehood often seem more than any
congregation can handle. Yet, when truth and righteousness are held up,
kindled, and cherished, this may have an effect on the strength of a church greater
than all the offensive campaigns that can be devised. In holding fast we are
exercising faith and reliance on our great commander. In holding fast we are
displaying an obedience to the One who uses us in His plans of action. In
holding fast we are recognizing the peace that passes all understanding keeping
our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Holding fast does not negate evangelism or
mission, in fact it deepens its quality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you feel overwhelmed by the problems in the news,
distresses in your family, uncertainty with your health, or lack of faith
amongst your loved ones, hold fast. The verse above also reminds us that He is
coming and the mission He has given us will be completed. The verse twenty six tells
the church that the faithful will have power over the nations. Your allegiance
to Christ is right. Your actions for His kingdom are not in vain. Your zeal for
orthodoxy brings great reward. Occupy till He comes. Redeem the time, for the
days are evil. Hold fast in your love for Christ, His Gospel, His church, His
coming. He eternally holds fast for us. He has won and will see you through in
that victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Hold Fast In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-75671762986747693682019-02-14T05:48:00.002-08:002019-02-14T05:48:47.399-08:00His Divine Power<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Grace and peace be multiplied
to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has
given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. II Peter 1:2-3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These words of the apostle are precious
and encouraging. You can never go wrong praying for, relying upon, meditating
on, humbling your self with, studying, seeking, or remembering the divine power
of God. In fact we are told that all things that pertain unto life and
godliness are given to us by divine power. Superheroes, fictional characters
with magic powers like Harry Potter, Gandalf, and the Jedi, are all very
popular in our culture. The non Christian craves a godlike power of some sort
because the non Christian is empty and alone. She goes through the day with all
of life’s problems being her sole responsibility to fix and deal with. She
imagines a better world where a spell or the movement of her hands can fix
things and make things better. The fantasy is of coarse only that. However,
you, Christian have been gifted by the divine power of God almighty. Consider
your gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All things that pertain to life and godliness. You have
eternal life because of the divine power of God; you will never die, will never
know judgment or hell, and can never be harmed by failure. God gave you that.
In addition, you have been equipped to live a life outside of yourself and your
needs, to keep your affections on Christ and His kingdom. Every scrap of Christ
like virtue and character that you display and grow into is also gifted to you
by His hand so that you can have a life of Biblical success and peace. How
marvelous that we do not have to be powerful because our Lord’s power is all
sufficient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps this just seems too optimistic, too unrealistic?
You believe, but you are not harnessing this divine power enough to delight in
the above paragraph. Take note that the passage uses the word knowledge twice.
The divine power is harnessed by our knowledge of God. That is, both our mental
understanding and our relational bond. We will not appreciate the divine power
unless we know the One who gives it. Knowing God is all important! Reformed
Presbyterians value preaching, instruction, theology, and proper attention to
detail because God’s Word tells us to do so. Without a study of Him there can
be no relational passion. How can you truly delight in someone you only
casually know? We need to be reading, studying, and meditating on the Word as
the Psalmist commends in 1:1-2. Without that knowledge, the divine power that
gives us everything else will appear weak and anemic. Take time to learn, read,
talk, study, apply, and then His power will give you the love and passion to
rejoice, share, serve, love, and delight in one another as you delight in Him.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our
Lord. The power behind all the Universe is intimately acquainted with you and your
struggles. Learn of Him, walk with Him, and you will know His rest, peace, and
power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-88612623791043822052019-02-06T13:13:00.002-08:002019-02-06T13:13:37.768-08:00Faith In The Least<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">He who is faithful in what is
least is faithful also in much. Luke 16:10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As much as we speak of God’s grace, and praise Him for it,
it strikes me how often we let it slip from our concentration and absorption.
In the above passage, our Lord tells a parable that often confuses the reader.
Among its varied applications is one which reminds us that faith and grace are
so elementary to our salvation that their effects cannot be falsely
manufactured. Christ has called us to Himself and has justified us, is
sanctifying us, and will glorify us. Through all this He has given us our
station, talents, personality, etc. He has also called us to a particular
ministry. In concrete terms the above verse teaches that when faithful in small
tasks, we will likewise show faithfulness in larger ones. However, I wish to
direct your thinking to an additional aspect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that is of great eternal value is
given to us by faith and grace. Because I believe the Gospel, I therefore
inherit a kingdom and life eternal that is beyond my earthly comprehension. The
least amount of faith brings with it so much reward. In this world we are
constantly bombarded by pressures and fears. The “what ifs?” of life easily
haunt us. But in Christianity the “what ifs?” are not to worry us or crush us.
My Lord has it all in hand. I often share as part of my testimony that I was
convicted of a call to gospel ministry at the age of sixteen. What I do not
often share is that during a period of time in college, before grace was an element
I understood more fully, I wondered whether the pastorate was for me. My doubts
came as a result of the position being held up as one for super men who could
not fail, could not be ignorant, could not sin, and always had to be marble men
in a fish bowl. In that light, I would make a better history teacher. With
grace I came to understand that all I really needed to do was trust and depend
upon the Lord. To have faith, and then God would sort out and give the
increase. What a burden lifted!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps you are going through a rough week, month, year, or
decade? Perhaps you feel inadequate, that your life does not mount up to
enough? That you need to prove more before you die? I suggest you remember grace
and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>still relatively young, I have adopted a
contentment in the realization that my life could be over tomorrow. I refuse to
live a life where I am afraid of not meeting an earthly goal. May I simply be
faithful to my Lord even in the least of things. Be faithful! Your Lord has plans
and purpose to use you for His glory in ways that may seem small to you, but
not to Him. Be humble! You are of Him and through Him and to Him! Rejoice! For
He has saved you and loves you. He has given you much by grace through faith
and will continue to do so through all eternity. Your faithfulness in even the
smallest of things counts for much in the only court that really matters. Rest
in your Savior!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-24189942031085328302018-12-14T07:59:00.003-08:002018-12-14T07:59:22.625-08:00Fear The Lord!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Come, you children, listen to
me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Psalm 34:11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are you saved? If you know what that means, and can answer yes,
then you know the fear of the Lord. For you, the fear of the Lord is a reverent
loving fear. One is which there is no terror or angst, but a tremendous
respect, devotion, worth, and desire to please. If you’re saved, you fear the
Lord because you know who He is and what He has done for you. You know what you
deserved before you were saved and you know what you truly deserve now. You
fear the Lord because you know that there are no expectations in this world and
all goodness comes from Him alone by grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You fear the Lord because there is no one and nothing else to fear in
all of existence. To live in the fear of the Lord causes us to live rightly,
joyfully, peacefully, safely, and eternally. Fear the Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you are not saved and that concept has no meaning for
you, then the fear of the Lord is something that you also know all too well.
You know the fear of the Lord with every worry, with every stress, with every
care, with every loss. You know the fear of the Lord with every hardship and
illness, with every reminder of death and mortality. Every time you make a
mistake or do something wrong you are reminded of the fear of the Lord. That
sickening oppressive feeling in your gut that you try to escape with
entertainment, chemicals, people, work, celebration yet always seems to return,
is a reminder of the fear of the Lord. You may deny the Lord God and pretend He
does not exist but the pressures of life that cause you to be afraid are only
hints at the fear that is to come. If you are not saved, the fear of the Lord
is not a reverence, but a terror, one that you do well to heed and work out.
That fear has only one antidote and that antidote is Good News! God graciously
gave you an escape from terror in sending His Son to earth to die for your sins
and make you His child. Christ died to save sinners. In sin you are right to be
terrified. In salvation you are right to lovingly fear. Learn the fear of the
Lord and know Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am convinced that when the fear of God is taught in
society the positives outweigh the negatives. Theology can be abused and
misapplied to be sure. However, everyone needs to know the fear of the Lord. I
would never have become a Christian if I did not know a fear of judgment. Churches
need to teach the fear of the Lord to their member so that His honor and glory
is first in their lives. Churches need to teach the terror fear of the Lord to
the world so that they have no choice but to repent as a result of that fear. A
society that is accountable to a higher power is more prone to do right. Even
when a non believer acts out of sheer fear of judgment, if he acts rightly it
is better than the alternative. Churches that want to see revival and want to
please Christ must teach the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge and wisdom. The fear of the Lord leads to repentance and
right living. The fear of the Lord leads to the necessity of Christ and His
free gift of eternal life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-82266333017112383712018-11-21T10:33:00.001-08:002018-11-21T10:33:16.509-08:00Give Thanks!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sing unto the Lord O ye
saints of His and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. Psalm 30:4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you observe secular attempts at
Thanksgiving the word thankful is used and is most often applied to visible and
physical things. The more heart felt secularist may express a gratitude for the
relations in his or her life. My question is, who or what are they thankful to?
The expression of thanksgiving comes from a theistic world view and really
cannot exist outside it. The Christian can marvel and thank God for the
blessings and comforts he or she has been given, but even then a sense of merit
may be lurking beneath the expression. The Scripture most often calls the
Christian to give thanksgiving for God and His works. Thanksgiving for Grace is
true gratitude. Psalm 30 redirects us towards this foundational exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When times are good and comfortable, Sing unto the Lord and
give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. When life is miserable,
physical pain is overwhelming; family has abandoned you, and tomorrow could be
worse, sing unto the Lord and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
The wonder of being an eternal saint is that when your life fluctuates, God
does not and His holiness is still worth singing about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Because He is holy, He sent His son to live a perfect and
holy life and accomplish salvation where we cannot because we can never achieve
holiness. Because He is holy, He has brought us up from the eternal pit of hell
and given us the status of son or daughter with everlasting life, joy, and
peace! Because He is holy, we know that whatever hardship we are facing will
eventually pass away and be remembered not more. Because He is holy we have
more than temporary comfort to find security in. Because He is holy, you o saint
can always sing His praise. A secularist may pretend at a brief shallow
thanksgiving but you Christian can give thanks beyond any for Christ died for
you. No matter what happens in this life, we can give thanks to Him forever!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-55630338866931426052018-11-07T09:58:00.003-08:002018-11-07T09:58:49.369-08:00He Does What He Will<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">All
the inhabitants of the earth <i>are</i> reputed as nothing;</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white;">He does according to
His will in the army of heaven</span></span><br />
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white;">And <i>among</i> the
inhabitants of the earth.</span></span><br />
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white;">No one can restrain His
hand</span></span><br />
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white;">Or say to
Him, “What have You done?” Daniel 4:35<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
words were spoken by King Nebuchadnezzar after he been restored to sanity by
the Lord and recognized that though He was the most powerful ruler in his known
world, he still was not anywhere close to being God. Personally, I love this
verse as it is a reminder to me that there is no event or circumstance that is
worth panic, frustration, or anxiety. When we do panic, we are forgetting the
purpose and force behind our reality. When I was in younger elementary school I
was part of a little league baseball team. I think I mentioned before how I
contributed little or nothing to the sport. However, in fourth grade, an event
burned into my memory and stayed with me through life circumstances. I remember
our team in the middle of a game losing badly. I remember sitting in the dugout
watching the coach react to a particularly bad strike out. He began to bang his
head against the cinderblock wall of the dugout in frustration. Even as a kid I
recognized that this was not worth that type of reaction. Our understanding of
God helps us to see our negative reactions in much this same light even when
they appear to us as important.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is necessary to remember that Christian rest is not fatalism. The outsider may
interpret it as such as we rest in whatever God sends as right. But in
fatalism, humanity is trapped in a string of events without purpose or hope.
The Christian not only knows there is purpose behind events but also
personality. That personality is what gives us the satisfaction with God’s
will. He has told us who He is, what He has done for us and where we will be
going. He has told us that he loves us. He has sent His Son to live like us and
die for us so that we have become His Sons and daughters undeservingly. This
can never be said about cold empty fate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
the question for our hearts is still why does life frustrate and scare us so
much. The Gospel teaches us to love Christ more than wealth, parents, children,
siblings, health, safety, food, or any earthly provision. When we come to a
place of knowing God and loving God so well that none of these things matter,
then we find our true rest because our only satisfaction is in Him. We can love
our family without fearing their loss because we love God more. We don’t have
to worry about loved one’s salvation even though we pray for it. He does what
He plans on doing and no one can stop Him or even dare challenge Him by asking
what He thinks He is doing. We bow the knee, we trust, we obey, and we find our
satisfaction totally in Him and His instruction. We have peace even when we do
not get the results we would like in life. Enjoy Him alone, Glorify Him alone,
rest in what He ordains, for Hi alone is right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textdan-4-35"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-13434936819464875732018-10-18T05:21:00.001-07:002018-10-18T05:21:13.189-07:00Call Upon The Lord<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“And it shall come to pass
that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Zion</st1:placename>
and in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>
there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the
Lord calls.” Joel 2:32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is one of those verses that comes at the end of an
unsettling passage and offers its own clarity and a respite. In Joel chapter
two we read about the great and terrible day of the Lord. The description of
that day is one we consider with some trepidation. The Scriptures make it clear
that the enemies of God and those who have refused to believe in Him will not
fare well. While we intellectually recognize they get what they have earned, it
still does not comfort us to hear it. So the above verse is one that soothes and
redirects our attention to where it needs to be. The day may be terrible but
the Lord will save those who call upon Him and trust in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It always amazes me when I read through the Old Testament
and particularly the prophets, to see that the attitudes of their day parallel
our own society. When times are good and the harvest is plentiful, God’s
commands are forgotten and new religion is explored. Amazingly, when the times
are bad and people are suffering, God is cursed and still disbelieved. Humanity
has the same pattern through the millennia. Yet, we can be thankful that the
Lord God also has consistency through the ages. The remnant in any century that
believes in and calls upon the Lord will be saved! His mercy is everlasting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As a twenty first century church we are naturally unsettled
when we encounter so much unbelief. We want to see people come to faith and yet
so much seems to act as a barrier to that. Our struggles are no different than
what the true remnant church has dealt with in biblical times or in all of
history. When the Holy Spirit convicts a person, he or she recognizes they are
without hope and calls upon the name of the Lord. If that person has hope in
something material they will not call upon the Lord. We can thank God that we
see our brokenness and that He alone can fix it. We pray for revival, perhaps
we should also pray for desperation. Pray for people to know the need of God. In
the great and terrible Day of the Lord He will be the needed lifeline. Calling
upon him will be so soothing and overwhelmingly satisfying. May it be so now!
Praise Him that He has made belief in the Gospel so simple, that it has not
changed and we can call upon Him any time any where and know His salvation, His
presence, and His peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-77730802708134456572018-10-04T09:53:00.003-07:002018-10-04T09:53:47.033-07:00God Sees and Works<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then
He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> do in
the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The <span class="small-capsdivine-name"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span> does
not see us, the <span class="small-capsdivine-name"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span> has forsaken the land.’ ” Ezekiel 8:12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear
Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This passage gives us another glimpse into
the actions and attitude of backslidden <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the days near the
captivity and exile. Ezekiel is shown abominable acts committed by leaders on
temple property. The verse highlights that they ceased to fear the Lord and
feared only the criticism or judgment of other people. Not only that, but they
created their own new theology concerning God. Since God was largely speaking
through a minority of prophets at this point in history they could dismiss God
as having abandoned the land or earth. God did not see them because they had
declared it so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First lets remember that we do not get
to dictate or decide what God can and cannot do. We also cannot make
assumptions about God based on our own experiences. All of our understanding of
the Lord must come from His revealed Word. Therefore God always sees all
things, God is always with His true people despite appearances, and God will
always have final justice and victory no matter how it may appear to the
contrary. I have often noted in Sunday sermons how people do not change through
history, and their actions are cyclical. We can say much of our own culture, indeed,
even of “Christians” today to match the above verse. People as a whole can
recognize evil generally yet they still practice it because in secret there is
the pretense of privacy. Society has dismissed God from the largest public
forums because as they judge it, He has abandoned the Earth or never existed. Therefore
we have become the law makers and the law breakers. What we know from Ezekiel’s
prophecy as a whole is that these elders were terribly mistaken. So the modern
idolaters and leaders who dismiss God’s word are as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We as the Bible believing church in
the 21<sup>st</sup> century can take warning from this passage and also be
encouraged by it. God has not forsaken the earth or His church and His Word is
still powerful and effective despite what our news and entertainment sources
would like us to believe. When society walks away from the path of Christ we
know that God is neither ignorant of nor powerless to deal with its actions. We
can find our strength and solace in the firm unchanging truth of the Gospel and
we can know that He is God and does rule and will rule. Justice will be done,
the saints will be vindicated, the Church will be triumphant, and all will be
put right because of the real, objective, revealed Lord Jesus Christ! Let us
call out sin for what it is and not cover it up. Let us proclaim the Gospel as
the only solution, and be about the Father’s business till He come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor
Basile</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-39235111952573604482018-09-20T09:58:00.001-07:002018-09-20T09:58:19.730-07:00Wait On The Lord<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wait on the Lord; be of good
courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm
27:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to read a fair amount of
contemporary articles that deal with the state of the church, evangelism, the
culture, ministry, and all the challenges Christians face in the world today.
It is impossible to escape the pessimistic tone of so much literature that is
out there. It is always interesting to note that the most pessimistic of
writers often neglect to consider the working and power of God as a force
behind any real change. What good is the Christian faith if its success and
prosperity depend entirely on you? What are we without God’s moving? We get
enough pressure from the news and from work and or family. Stress and pressure
come from the merit system of this world. With Christianity we have exchanged
our effort for Christ’s and His success is something that is assured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The psalms are great teaching tools to
remind us that problems and challenges are not unique to contemporary society.
In Psalm 27 David is very concerned about the reality of his enemies. Physical and
tangible threats are very close to him. He pleads with the Lord in this psalm
and his conclusion is advice based on truth to wait on the Lord. I think that
is the best advice we could ever receive. To wait, trust, believe, hope, rest,
seek, and glory in and on our Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe that He is in control of
all circumstances and we believe that we cannot act for His advancement without
His moving. I therefore encourage you Christian to meditate on this psalm, and
wait on the Lord. He will strengthen your heart, He will equip you for the task
ahead, He will build His church and save souls, He will deal with His enemies.
May we as a church desire to and pray to see Him work in us and our community,
may we plead as David did, but through it may our patience be long and our wait
for His direction, guidance and power be rich, sweet, and rewarding. Wait, I
say, on the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-58251585210395376282018-09-11T09:52:00.003-07:002018-09-11T09:52:51.498-07:00True Salvation<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Truly in vain is salvation
hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of the mountains; truly, in
the Lord our God is the salvation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.” Jeremiah 3:23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This verse caught my attention recently
in my devotions. There is nothing said that shocks us or gives us new
information that we never heard before, yet it remains great fuel for
meditation. The historical context is the common culture that captivated the
minds and hearts of God’s people that caused them to seek worship of other
deities or to worship God in ways He did not prescribe. Much of this foreign
worship happened on hills and mountains. Thorough reform in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region> would
have been accompanied by the dismantling of groves on the hilltops where these
practices took place. Imagine how ingrained these cultural practices were that
salvation and protection itself was sought for on the mountains instead in the
way, truth, and live that was given to them by God. It has occurred to me that
while often more subtle, we too seek a salvation from our own cultural hills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Humanity has always been captivated more with physical well
being than spiritual. Often we can seek a salvation from the mountains and
hills of our society. Salvation in health, salvation in finance, salvation in
education, salvation in social popularity, salvation in entertainment. As
Christians we would deny that any of these things can grant eternal life yet we
still bow down to them on their own mountains. Jeremiah had to remind his
audience that these hilltops could not save, Paul had to remind his audience
that empty obedience could not save, the reformers had to remind their people
that saints and indulgences could not save and we have to be reminded much the
same, that our own 21<sup>st</sup> century Gods cannot save.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. We are
saved by grace, through faith, in Christ alone. We know our God through His
Word alone. It is in him that we can find any stability through the craziness
and confusion. Our godly actions come as a result of our salvation, not as a
means to an end. In our spiritual practice we must seek Christ, we must embrace
His salvation and His promises, we must worship him in spirit and in truth. We
must remember that our only hope is in trusting him through challenges. Our
Lord will never leave us or forsake us. May we not be enticed by the immediate
gratification of hills and mountains where there is no eternal salvation. The
true way and the good way is the rest of the Gospel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-58824087594110707732018-07-26T07:36:00.003-07:002018-07-26T07:36:44.189-07:00They Shall Share Alike<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">~But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so
shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike. I Samuel
30: 24<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we have the words of David after a
battle with the Amalekites. The situation is that of six hundred men who went
with him to battle, two hundred could not make it all the way and stayed behind
to guard the supplies. In natural human meritorial thinking, the soldiers who
fought made the statement that the others left behind should not take part in
the dividing of the spoils. David, as the verse above states, stops that
selfish thinking on the spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How characteristic of God’s grace this episode is. In other
cultures, the soldiers would have gotten their way, but because David was a man
after God’s own heart, favor was shown to those whose faithfulness was not
necessarily the most visible. The Lord makes it very clear that He chose <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> not
because of any characteristic that they had. In fact the Bible says they were
one of the least of the nations and very stubborn. God displayed his love in
covenant with them and desires faith not works. I like to think that David had
all that in mind even in an event such as this. We need to keep this in mind
when we consider how we view ministries as well. The attitude of the solders
was of the Devil’s kingdom, not God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another principle worthy of consideration here is that not
everyone is called, equipped, or qualified to be a soldier. But soldiers need
their supply chain and that work is just as vital to the larger victory as
skill with a sword. Likewise in the church today, not everyone is called to be
a preacher, evangelist, missionary, or teacher. Some are butchers, bakers, and
candlestick makers and if that is their calling then they are completely in the
will of God in their faithfulness. Some churches are placed on the front lines
for works of mercy and evangelism in busy cosmopolitan centers. Some churches
hold up the rear, defend the faith and see little activity. God looks at the
heart and desires faithfulness. Mercy and not sacrifice. Do not be discouraged
in your context or calling. Know that by God’s grace we all share alike, true
Christians are the children of God by grace through faith in Christ and are
good and faithful servants by looking to and trusting in Him alone. Do not
judge by the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Rest in the Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-80834437116792888552018-07-19T07:09:00.003-07:002018-07-19T07:09:36.247-07:00Watch For The Morning<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">I wait for
the </span></b></span><span class="small-capsdivine-name"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="textps-130-5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">, my soul waits,</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
<span class="textps-130-5"><span style="background: white;">And in His word I
do hope.</span></span> <span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white;">My
soul <i>waits</i> for the Lord</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white;">More than those who
watch for the morning—</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-130-6"><i><span style="background: white;">Yes, more than</span></i><span style="background: white;"> those who watch for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you ever feel that God is distant and does not understand humanity or that the
faith of the Old Testament was only one of ceremony and obedience. Then I hope
you will take the time to reread the Psalms and meditate on the humanity that
drips from so many of its verses. The inspired songs often display the human
condition in the light of this fallen and sinful world. I remember when I first
read them how struck I was with so many of their sentiments as if they were
written directly to me. Their ongoing relevance is once again a testimony to
their divine authorship and God’s perfect understanding of His creation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
Psalm 130 the struggle of the believer is on display. He understands God’s Word
and God’s promises. In his understanding he longs for them to come to pass.
There is both a comfort and a challenge in this passage. The challenge is for
us to have this same kind of longing and hope in the Lord’s Word. In our
business and our near sightedness we often long for things that are so trivial
that we cannot remember them a year later. Perhaps a weekend event, perhaps a
date, perhaps a vacation or a Christmas present. Is our greatest longing for
the fulfillment of God’s promises? For His Gospel to be effective, for evil to
be destroyed, for Salvation to come to the stranger and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the loved one? The Psalmist waits for the
Lord’s deliverance more than the daily, more than the trivial. Night time is
still intimidating today. We are often afraid to go out to certain areas or
places when it is dark. In ancient times this was all the more intimidating. Imagine
how dark the earth was at night. Only the moon and stars and a flickering oil
lamp or candle for light. Very little could be done at night and an enemy
seemingly had the advantage. In addition, without modern clocks it was harder
to tell just how far away daylight was. There was longing for daylight and
morning to a degree we cannot easily understand. Yet the longing for God’s
working was greater.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
remains great comfort in the truth that morning does come. We wait and hope and
trust, but like the dawn, God always delivers according to His will. He is
always faithful to His promises. If you are in darkness right now and are
waiting and wondering if there will be a dawn, be assured that God’s
deliverance is certain. Verses seven and eight talk about God’s abundant
redemption and the certainty of it. If you are a Christian, you have that
abundant redemption. You have an eternity in the heavens and your morning will
come in the form of heaven as a certainty even if your earthly trial does not pass
now. We look to the eternal morning for rest and peace. We look to God’s Word
for direction, strength, and certainty. We hope, and are not disappointed, for
Christ is the all sufficient savior who delivered us and has given us more than
we know or deserve. If you wait on the Lord you will not be disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textps-130-6"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-86483300490010199862018-07-11T07:17:00.001-07:002018-07-11T07:17:18.383-07:00Almighty God<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or
loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Or
canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38: 31-32<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have said before that if I were to
simplify the Book of Job into a single thought it would be that the Lord’s
message for Job was “I am God and you are not”. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
gives us eternal life and assurance of citizenship in heaven. By grace we are
made sons and daughters of the Almighty and enjoy a fellowship with Him that is
unparalleled. However, through the intimacy of the New Covenant, the teaching
to Job remains still. He is God and we are not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the above verses the Lord asks Job about his power over
the stars and constellations. How marvelous a thought, that the stars remain
almost as mysterious to us today as they were to Job. We may know what they are
probably composed of, we think we know how far away some of them are, we have
theories about their life cycle. But the truth is that the vastness of space is
still beyond our scope and reality. The atheist echoes Carl Sagan and cries
that we are the pale blue dot in the vastness of the cosmos. But then the
Atheist values his limited life more than logic should allow. Humanity wonders
what lies beyond the solar system and thousands of Science fiction books,
shows, and movies have attempted to answer according to varied imaginations.
God in His revelation to mankind is very brief when it comes to this great
expanse, “He made the stars also”. We know they are there but they are not in
our grasp or under our control. As with Job, so with us. We have no real
knowledge or power in such a vast and mysterious space. But God does!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God Created these stars and planets and nebula. God tells
us they declare His glory. Who among us can consider the heavens and not feel
small? Can you loose the bands of Orion, can you bind the Pleiades? Can you
make the hair on your head change color? Can you add an inch to your height?
Despite the technology God has allowed us to discover, He is still God and we
still are not. However, His power is something that the believer relies on for
peace and comfort. If he can bind and loose the stars in their courses, then He
can get you through a medical struggle. He can deliver you from a wicked boss
of coworker. He can give you the strength to endure loss. He can give you a
peace that passes all understanding as your heart and mind is kept in Christ
Jesus. If you know Him and live in Him and walk with Him, you have the greatest
master, ally, and friend in existence. Do not live your life as if you are God.
The weight of the cosmos is not on your shoulders. Give it over to Christ and
delight in His Gospel. He can do all things, He has saved you, and He will
deliver you. Delight in His will and rest in His eternal providential plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-18719674672121539902018-06-27T06:58:00.005-07:002018-06-27T06:58:53.297-07:00The Triumph Of The Wicked is Short<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>“Do you not know this of old,
Since man was placed on earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and
the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? Though his haughtiness mounts up
to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds, yet he will perish forever
like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’” ~Job 20:
4-7</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is good for us to reflect on serious
and sobering passages like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
a statement made by Job’s “comforter” Zophar. While we remember that the
presuppositions of the comforters were largely wrong, many of their individual
statements were dead accurate. Such is the above passage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Since sin, rebellion, and wickedness entered into God’s
creation by the act of man, death as the curse and consequence has reigned.
Because of this consequence, evil never has immortality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cry of the world is, “ How can such a God
exist who allows evil?” The Biblical answer is that He does not allow such evil
to prosper. The God who sees declares that everyone’s sins shall find them out
and His justice is the only justice that is complete and is guaranteed.
Everything that is done on the earth is noted by Almighty God. The wicked have
only a short time to prosper until the hard factual reality of death eventually
takes them. The above passage tells of the shortness of life and the Scripture in
James alludes to it being like a vapor of hot breath in the cold that is there
for a moment and vanishes. Verse seven says that a wicked life is the same as
human waste and decomposes with the same value. Death and eternal judgment are
sure for those who would live as an enemy of God and His holy righteous law.
There is no scientific escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Christian is not subject to this death or judgment, for
while those living under the covenant of works are judged by their works and
have no hope, those under the covenant of Grace are made alive in Christ. The
Christian looks at the world and understands the plan of God’s salvation. That
He does deal with wickedness and that at the last day nothing will be hidden or
overlooked. The Christian does not live a life in vain for himself alone nor
does he feel the weight of responsibility to correct all of the evils of
society. The Christian proclaims the way out of death, judgment, and
condemnation. The Christian proclaims Christ crucified and that there is no
other name given by which we must be saved. We shall not die but live! Not
because of any good in us but by free grace through faith in Christ alone. Let us
not worry and fret jealously or anxiously over the lives and actions of the
wicked. Let us not lose heart over the things we see in the news every day. They
will have their reward! Let us rejoice in the salvation given to us and raise
up the banner of Christ ever higher. All are invited to trust in Him now while
it is called today. Do not wait till tomorrow when you may be nothing but
refuse. Make your life about Christ. Believe in Him as Lord and Savior and live
in peace and assurance for all eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-36023711149926748212018-06-20T09:51:00.003-07:002018-06-20T09:51:35.627-07:00Pride, Prosperity, and Idleness<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been some time since I wrote my
last weekly devotional. I am going to try to start it up again. I hope they
will cause you to think, pray, and grow closer to the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Look, this was the iniquity
of your sister <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>:
She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness;
neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here the Lord through the prophet speaks to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the
blessed nation that was chosen of God to be the city set upon a hill. He says
they are more wicked than apostate <st1:city w:st="on">Samaria</st1:city> and
vile <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>. In
articulating reasons for ancient <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>’s
destruction, God specifies the sin of pride, the numbness of prosperity, and
indulgence in idleness. As a result, that wicked city was so self absorbed they
could not care for the legitimate needs of others around them. This verse
recently struck me as an extremely relevant warning and rebuke to our present
day circumstances. It would be very easy for any preacher to apply it to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
or global westernized culture as a whole. However, the original context is
addressed to God’s people and I think we should consider this verse in light of
the Church in our present society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pride is not a good thing. I am not sure where or when we
began to be taught that it was. Pride is deceptive, selfish, unattractive,
phony, pompous, and very fragile. There are over one hundred verses in the
Bible that deal with pride and it is always a negative attribute. Pride causes
us to take our gaze off the savior and place it so intensely on ourselves that
we become a god in our own eyes. Thinking ourselves wise, we become the most
pathetic of fools. In pride we loose track of the very meaning for our
existence and when our pride and self esteem are damaged we are at a loss for
how to go on. May the Church never be lifted up above its prescribed dependence
and may its people never forget that all they are is as a result of grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Prosperity is another attribute that we have been taught to
value that this passage warns of. When we have all that we need, mixed with
pride, we again break the first commandment. We have ourselves as god before
the Lord God. Having too much food, we do not pray to the source for our daily
bread and become content with the illusion that we manufacture food. Have you
ever noticed that religion of any kind is often stronger in agrarian culture?
That is not because of lack of education or refinement; it is because there is
a more direct understanding of dependence for good weather to grow crops.
Industrial societies have lost sight of the source in all the technology and
are often more secular. Be thankful for blessing but never take your comfort
and provision for granted. Prosperity is often accompanied by idleness as it
was with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>.
With nothing demanded of us to do we find ways to gratify ourselves that are
outside God’s glory. Again, the key here is self obsession. In boredom we need
to always be finding more stimulation. How true this is in the 21<sup>st</sup>
century! Technology has enabled so many necessary tasks of old to be done in
seconds or minutes instead of hours or days. We have an abundance of time as a
culture and what is done with it? Either it is wasted or it is channeled into
more stressful circumstances than are needed. May the church be about the
Father’s business and do what is commanded in its worship and organization not
looking to innovate out of boredom or compete with unbelievers. Instead of
boredom may we find people to engage with and help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The last phrase in the above verse states that <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> and then <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region> ignored the poor and needy.
As a culture they forgot their own real poverty and need and thought themselves
better than those who were not like them at the present moment. I fear the Church
in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>
falls in to this far too easily as well. May we remember the Gospel of grace in
every aspect. May we remember that as God’s people we are poor and needy and
have nothing without Him. As we have received, so may we give. May our gaze be
upward as well as outward. May be known as the most selfless, compassionate,
secure, humble, and active people in our respective communities. May the Lord
protect us and His true church from pride, prosperity, and idleness. May we
live for our savior and not ourselves and may we live in his restful amazing
grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Pastor Basile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-38897700912080920232017-09-13T08:36:00.000-07:002017-09-13T08:36:16.849-07:00Persevere<div class="MsoNormal">
“…for you have a little strength, have kept My Word, and
have not denied my Name.” Revelation 3:8 (b)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Congregation,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just this
morning my attention was brought once again to the seven churches of the Book
of the Revelation. These churches often serve as a warning to us as believers
and a guide to us as a church. Some background study is required to grasp the
entirety of what is being said by the Lord to these churches but it is clear
that of the seven only two are commended. Both of those commended churches are
small, poor, and oppressed. <st1:city w:st="on">Smyrna</st1:city>
was a heavily persecuted church and it was commended for being rich in its
faith and truth. <st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city>
was also persecuted. It faced temptation on every side and yet it is commended
for the three things you see above.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city> had a little
strength. Not much money, not too many people, not many things of which to
boast in this world. When one does not have much strength it is natural to
covet it and pursue it. No one really wants to be left behind or find
themselves an outsider. Yet both the Scripture and history teach that this is
exactly where <st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city>
found itself. They had nothing to attract Greco-Roman culture in themselves;
yet their little strength is what kept them great in Christ as II Corinthians
12 also reminds us. Though <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grace</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Community</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
sometimes seems to have little strength, lets not allow that to dampen us for
that is not something God condemns or avoids.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city> kept God’s
Word. It was preached, it was taught, it was sung, it was memorized, it was
discussed, it was loved, and it was obeyed. Say what you will about <st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city>, it may not have been an <st1:city w:st="on">Ephesus</st1:city>
or a <st1:city w:st="on">Laodicea</st1:city>
in appearance, but it centered completely on the Word of God. That is what the
church is there for. For social networking, for fun and games, for charity work,
you may want to look elsewhere, but for learning God’s Word, applying it to
your life and growing in sanctification and holiness, <st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city> was your church. Can this be
said about <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grace</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Community</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>?
May it be said all the more!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city> did not deny
the name of Christ. When the world worships itself and all that is in it, the
true church proclaims Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and
glorification. There is no other name, there is no other way. This will not be
a welcome message nor will it be appreciated, but it is the message. There was
no compromise in <st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place>,
no sweetening, no soft peddling. The Gospel was its banner and its purpose.
They persevered. Is salvation by grace
through faith in Christ alone the central point of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grace</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Community</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>? May it increase
and continue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is
great joy and excitement in a Church where God is big and people are small. I
see that at Grace and I believe we need to continue to look to God’s Word for
direction and encouragement with our ministry. If <st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place> was commended for these three
things lets continue to pursue them ourselves. That we may please God and not
people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Christ,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Basile </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-63911346718413312882017-07-13T09:12:00.003-07:002017-07-13T09:12:21.593-07:00Know the Scriptures<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Congregation,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to
apologize for not writing in this fashion the last couple of months. When I
write the devotionals I want to write them with the conviction that they need
to be done. I did not feel that conviction for many weeks. I will endeavor to
be more faithful in keeping them up, but they may not be every week as they
were. Thank you for your patience with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not
knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The context
of this verse is the Lord’s Jesus’ answer to the wiles of the Sadducees. You
remember that the Sadducees denied the authority of Scripture except for the
five books of Moses. Likewise they denied a future resurrection. They were the
theological liberals of Jesus’ context, the rationalists if you will. In
mockery they ask about a hypothetical scenario that would make the resurrection
seem all the more ridiculous. However, Jesus’ first responsive statement above
exposes their incorrect presupposition. They do not even know what they are
talking about! The Master then goes on to correct their error. How many
intellectual challenges to Christianity may be answered with the same statement
above? So many make claims or dismiss God out of ignorance of who He truly is
and what He has actually done and said. We should remember this when dealing
with people on an apologetic level. What does the Bible actually say, and are
we dealing with an Almighty God in the argument? I believe half if not more of
the lame oppositions to the faith may be settled with the schooling of the
statement above.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In
addition, the Church may also benefit from such a statement. The church is
always tempted to stray to the right hand or the left. Many times it is because
of what she sees around her as apparent success. May worship always be
regulated by a call back to the Scriptures and the power of God. May theology,
leadership, teaching, evangelism, discipleship, all fall under the authority of
both. It is so easy to forget the Scriptures and God’s power. So easy to feel
the weight to perform and put our own stamp of effort on ministry. In doing so,
we do as the Sadducees did and rationalize God’s instruction to meet our own
finite comfort zone. May it never be. May we know our Bibles and God’s power.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
individual is tempted in the same manner. How many times is faith tested
because we do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? Illness may cause us
to think that God has abandoned us or is not aware of what we are going through.
What does your Bible say about illness? Loneliness may cause us to look for
companionship outside the family of God out of desperation? What does your
Bible say about that? Is God powerless? Peer pressure may cause us to pursue a
lifestyle or a gain that God does not condone. What say the Scriptures? Our own
self glorification may cause us to sleep in or do something entertaining rather
than Worship the Lord with His people and keep the Sabbath day holy. What does
your Bible say? The words of our Lord in rebuke of the Sadducees are a sobering
call to us as well. May our study of God’s word never cease and may we rest in
the power of God through every temptation and challenge!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Christ,</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Basile </div>
Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-92073399147501167152017-04-27T09:51:00.001-07:002017-04-27T09:51:11.066-07:00Gospel Better Than Life<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips
shall praise thee.” Psalm 63:3</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Congregation,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is very
difficult for anyone to measure the value something compared to life itself.
Many who speak on such matters do so without serious thought or without ever
having faced the challenge. Realistically, a parent may value their child’s
life above their own, a soldier may give his life to save his comrades, yet
even there the choice is not without inconceivable weight. Even still it is not
a constant value for every parent or soldier. We value self and life so much
that for the vast majority of people nothing can take precedence. And yet, the
Scripture repeatedly challenges our selfishness and directs us to that which is
definitively of more value than our lives; the love of God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Lord
Jesus tells us to give up our lives for Him, to die to our self, to give up
parents and children for His sake. He does not say this to teach that life is
worthless or meaningless, on the contrary, he says it to show the value of the
everlasting life that comes through Him. If you are clinging to something that
is temporary, even your own existence, then you miss the power and gift of the
Gospel. The Psalmist, quoted above, says that God’s lovingkindness is better
than life itself. If anything is worth more than life its God’s love. If
anything provides purpose, understanding, knowledge, and fulfillment, its God’s
love. How can we pursue our own glory when we know that it will never last? How
shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? The beauty of God’s love is
that it is better than life because it is eternal life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where is
God’s love ever made more clear than on the cross? The Son of God, the Lord
Jesus Christ gave up His life and suffered the curse of sin, death, and hell in
your place because of His lovingkindness. That lovingkindess on his part was of
more value than His own life. When the Christian dies to self, is born again,
and gives up all to follow Christ, he or she gains all the riches of heaven and
eternity. Certainly of more value than 100 years on earth. The Psalmist declares
that he will praise the Lord for this love, for the Gospel. May we be of that
mind as well. May we say with Job, that we will trust in Him even if he slays
us, because there is no other. Eternal life is more precious than anything. Christ
has given us that and all that comes with it because of His lovingkindness. May
we always remember that this is better and more precious than earthly life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Christ,</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pastor Basile</div>
Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495852252045870295.post-9856149428023259812017-04-12T07:17:00.002-07:002017-04-12T07:17:49.469-07:00For Such A Time As THis<div class="MsoNormal">
4/12/17</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><sup><span style="background: white;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white;">For if you remain completely silent at
this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place,
but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have
come to the kingdom for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>such</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a time as this?” Esther 4:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Dear Congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"> I will admit that when I come to the
Book of Esther in my regular Bible reading, I am always tempted to skim through
it really fast or perhaps even skip portions of it. Not because it is boring or
because it is irrelevant, but because it is a story that I remember well. Being
an account in history and not one that ever mentions the name of God, I
foolishly deceive myself into disinterest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"> However, this week I took my time
with it and absorbed it in a way I have not done for some years. I was struck
once again with the truth of God’s sovereignty over all events and actions for
His own glory. God is never mentioned as I have already stated, but everything
happens at just the right time. Vashti refuses the king at just the right time.
Mordecai aids the king at just the right time. Mordecai’s reward is overlooked
by the king until just the right time. The king cannot sleep at just the right
time. Haman is discovered at just the right time. Esther acts at just the right
time. There is no coincidence here. This account does not have to mention God
for him to be seen. Secular history does not have to mention God for his hand
to be seen and His actions noted. The non believer even recognizes the eerie
way that events very often come together for good or evil. In suppression of
the truth, a non believer may make up something like karma, or luck, or the
stars, or the universe. But Esther shows that all through History God’s
covenant is unbreakable and His plan for all history will not be thwarted by
mere humanity. If Esther did not fulfill God’s will, deliverance would come
from someplace else. God wins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"> As we head into Resurrection Sunday,
lets remember all the events that led up to that point. It started in the
Garden of Eden and was foretold through millennia until the Lord Jesus was born
at just the right time and died and rose again at just the right time. You have
been saved at just the right time, live in just the right time in history for
God to use you best. May we continue to live with assurance that God will move
history to bring all His future promises to fulfillment. Christ in you for such
a time as this and your salvation for such a time as this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Pastor Basile <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Grace Community Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712350907215931496noreply@blogger.com