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1 days ago

Planted in God’s House!


This past weekend we recognized the folks in our congregation who recently participated in our Living Stones class and expressed their desire to be a part of our church family.  We capped the weekend with a wonderful banquet on Sunday night.  It was a great time of fun and fellowship.  Approximately 240 people expressed their commitment to the life of our church body, both from our Gaithersburg and Frederick campuses.

My wife and I were so blessed to have an opportunity to interact with many at the banquet.  It was wonderful to hear stories of how people came to know Jesus and how they ended up at Church of the Redeemer.  My heart was encouraged by the incredible testimonies that were shared with us.

Being planted in a church home is a key part of spiritual growth and stability.  Listen to the psalmist’s words:

“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”  – Psalm 92:13 (NKJV)

Being planted means that we have established roots and are bearing fruit.  This is God’s desire for every believer — to plant them in a spiritual house!

Are you planted in God’s House?

Pastor Dale

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Guarding Against Jealousy

“Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but who can survive the destructiveness of jealousy?”  – Proverbs 27:4 (NLT)

One of the most destructive forces in people’s lives is jealousy.  Think about some of the folks in the Bible who were damaged or destroyed by it.  Here are a few examples:

  • Cain killed Abel partly because of jealousy.  (Genesis 4:3-8)
  • Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because of jealousy.  (Genesis 37:11)
  • Korah, Dathan and Abiram were put to death because of their jealously toward Moses and the impact this spiritual poison had on God’s people.  (Numbers 16)

Think about all the emotional energy that is expended, all the hatred that is spawned and all the relationships that are ripped apart because of the demonic spirit of jealousy.  Think about the sibling rivalries, the office politics, the hidden envy that breeds distance between people, and the inner turmoil and pain jealousy causes us.  It is a high price to pay for something that brings nothing but negativity and destruction into our lives.

The Apostle James got it right when he wrote:

“For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom.  Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil.  For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.”  – James 3:15, 16 (NLT)

Over the years I have watched jealousy ruin some potentially great people by turning them into small-minded, unproductive, bitter people.  I have watched disorder and evil spring up in families, businesses, friendships, and even churches, all because someone gave a place in their heart to the demonic spirit of jealousy.

The bad news is: All of us are vulnerable to this spirit.

The good news is: God can help us avoid and overcome it.

Here are some things that will help us steer clear of jealousy, or clean it out if we have already been infected by it:

  • Own up to it and confess it to God as sin.  Don’t justify it.
  • Stop comparing yourself and your circumstances with others.  Comparisons always deceive us.  Things most  always look better, fairer, greater for others than for us.  When we are in a comparison mode, we, more often than not, end up feeling sorry for ourselves.  Remember, “the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence!”
  • Begin practicing gratitude.  One of the greatest antidotes for the poison of jealousy is to purposefully count our blessings and openly express our gratitude to God and others for them.
  • Do good to those you are feeling jealous toward.  Force yourself to do and say nice things to them.  You will be amazed at how these actions will counter-attack jealousy in your heart.
  • Stay alert to signs of jealousy in your heart.  Jealousy is very subtle.  When we observe distance in our relationships, disorder in our interactions and anger in our hearts it is a good reminder to find out what’s behind these reactions.  One possibility is jealousy.

Let’s ask God to help us live a jealous-free life!

Pastor Dale

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Taking Control of Your Thoughts

The single most powerful part of our bodies is our mind.  Our thinking affects everything we do.  How a person thinks determines their character, attitudes and actions.

It should not surprise us that the devil targets our minds.  This is his preferred place to attack.  If our spiritual adversary can gain access to our thinking process, he can deceive us, distract us and potentially destroy us.

There are many Scriptures that remind us of the importance of protecting and proactively controlling our thinking.  Here are a few:

  • “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” — Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)
  • “… if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
  •  ”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” — Romans 12:2 (NLT)
  • “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ …” — 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV)

Not all thoughts originate inside our own heads.  Thoughts come to us from outside our own minds as well — through the things we watch and listen to, the conversations we have, and through the suggestions and lies of our invisible but very real spiritual adversary.

Here is an important truth to remember:

 Until we learn to set up a defense system around our minds, the devil will consistently and persistently ransack and ravage us with deceptive, distracting and destructive thoughts.

How do we put up a defense system around our minds?

When we “hear” a thought knocking at the door of our mind, we need to inspect it before we let it in.  If it is an unworthy thought, we need to reject it as an adversarial force trying to invade us.  We must refuse to let it into our minds, much like we would refuse a suspicious stranger from stepping into our house.

Join me in this prayer:

“Dear Lord, help us to discern ungodly and negative thoughts and establish a spiritual defense system against them.  May all deceptive, distracting and destructive thoughts we have allowed into our minds be driven from us now.  Help us to reject every thought that draws us away from your Word and will.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Pastor Dale

 

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Conquering Fear

In the midst of testing or difficult times we are all tempted to give into fear.  Fear looks into the future with anxiety and gloom, questioning our personal security and provision.  If left unaddressed, fear turns to a tormenting, paralyzing spirit.

The Apostle Paul recognized the horrible impact of fear in our lives.  In his words to Timothy, he reminded him that he needed to be on guard against fear:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

If fear has found a place in your heart recently, let me encourage you to fight fear with faith in God.  He cares about you!

Pastor Dale

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Bible Challenge

This past weekend I issued a pastoral challenge to our congregation.  I encouraged all of us to up our intake of God’s Word.  My specific challenge was to increase the amount of time we spend in Scripture each day.  If we are currently reading our Bible 5 minutes a day, take it to 10 minutes.  If we are reading 15 minutes a day, take it to 30.  If we are reading only in the morning, add a night reading, etc.

There are many wonderful benefits that come our way when we get God’s Word into our our minds and hearts.  One of the things it does for us is sensitive our hearts to God.

Jesus said it this way:

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” — John 17:17 (NIV)

To “sanctify” is to make holy or clean on the inside.  It is to change our minds so that we begin to think like God thinks.  This process happens through the intake and application of God’s Word.

So, take the challenge.  For the next 30 days increase your intake of God’s Word.  You will be impressed with the difference it will make in your life.

Pastor Dale

BTW, I fully expect some wonderful testimonies from people who take up this challenge, so as God works in your life through His Word, make sure and share your testimonies with me!

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