Law and Order

Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward..."
Matt 26:59-60

The law is a funny thing.  It surrounds us, it constrains us, it protects us.  But at the same time it condemns us.  Laws are enacted by governments, yet they themselves selectively enforce only the laws they agree with. One recent political pundit commented that our own government has become “lawless.”  It gives new meaning to Jesus words in Matthew 24:

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold ...  Matt 24:12
This scripture also helps me to better understand the error of the Jewish religious leaders on that night, two thousand years ago, when they broke many of their own laws in order to condemn Jesus Christ to death.  Like our own government, the Jewish leaders had written a set of laws, based on God’s law.  Those laws were supposed to guide the process of administering justice when a person was accused of wrongdoing.  But on that night those laws got in the way of their personal agenda to get rid of this man, Jesus, so they simply broke them.

But before we judge them too harshly, we must ask ourselves:  What is my response when Gods law interferes with my agenda?  What happens when there is something that I want, some agenda that I have, and in order to get what I want I must break one of Gods laws. What choice do I make in that situation? Good question. I’ll leave you to determine your own answer.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Ps 1:1-3Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

Walking in Freedom

Word for the day…

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.  
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.
May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them.
I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.
Ps 119:33-48

What an awesome proclamation of God's word!  The statement that jumps out at me is:  “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” In other words, aligning our lives with God’s word brings freedom!

Often people think that following God means that we are “constrained”, that we are kept from doing things we want to do.  In fact, just the opposite is true.  When a person lives according to the desires of their own heart and mind, that person ends up being enslaved to his desires.  Our hearts are never satisfied, and so we always need more of whatever it is we think will make us happy.  It is a never-ending pursuit, fueled by the worlds system of marketing pleasure.

However when we align our lives with God, we find peace, joy, and yes, even happiness.

Ps 119:165
Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

John 15:9-11
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Prov 29:18
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.

Still Sleeping?

"Are you still sleeping and resting?”
Matt 26:45

Have you ever tried to pray, and found yourself sleepy?  You move around a but to wake up and start praying again, and then “man...my eyes are so heavy ... so sleepy.”

Don’t think it to be a coincidence that the disciples got sleepy, either.  I believe there were dark forces at work that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, working hard to distract the mission that was at hand. Christian, that same power wants to distract us today.  The cross is a done deal, the victory won.  We now stand in the power of the risen Christ, amen!  But if Satan can keep us from walking in the power of God by lulling us to sleep, make no mistake he will! 

If we allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep by the hum of the world, our senses dulled by the sensual pleasures of the flesh, our eyes blinded by the lies of the devil, we may completely miss the work God wants to do in and through us.  Wake up church, the day is at hand!

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 1 Thess 5:6-10

Join us Sunday for a deeper look at Jesus time in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

Stepping out this Saturday!

This week CCW is going to step out and be a witness for the Lord in Wilmington!

 

In case you haven't heard, we are hosting some good friends and fellow workers in Christ "Agents for Christ."

 

AFC consists of a team of two family's:  The James family (Bill, Dani, Natalie and Nic), and the Chaffee family (Dave, Deanna, Logan and Liam).  They hail from Calvary Chapel Portland OR, and travel the country in RV"s spreading the good news of the gospel.

 

We'll be joining forces with them this Saturday at Greenfield Park for a "park outreach."  We'll have free food, live music, and an opportunity to reach out to people at the park with the love of Christ.

 

Whether you are comfortable sharing your faith or not, I hope you will join us!  Even if you just help us hand out food, hand out flyers, or just hang out and enjoy the fellowship, I believe you will be blessed to be a part of what God is going to do!

 

Also, we'll be having a 'cookout fellowship' on Friday night at Holy Grounds, and everyone is invited!  Scroll down for more information, but I hope to see you there!

 

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

 

Pastor Clay