Weekly Encouragement
Good Wednesday Everyone,
So far so good this week. Last week seemed a blur with only four working days. BUT it’s so nice to be off on any Monday. I hope your week has gone well so far. Don’t forget Bethel’s Wednesday Night Fellowship is tonight. If you didn’t sign-up via the bulletin invite, nor worries come one, come all. There is something for everyone as we finish the week strong. We approach our “Trunk-or-Treat” on Sunday, October 30th from 3:00-6:00pm. Hayride for the kids and lots of fun. Adults – Two things for the “Trunk-or-Treat”. Begin thinking about your “trunk” activity for the kids and bring your favorite candy. I’m sure your favorite will be there favorite. It’s candy!! Christmas Shoebox collection is underway with everything you need at the church. Please help as you always do with gathering the necessary supplies for filling them in November.
Our sermon series continues in the life of King Asa of Judah. The Bible is packed full of imperfect people who loved and lived for God, who like King Asa, “Did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” Today, we must learn from their failures and their victories. God does not expect you be another Abraham, Moses, King David, King Solomon, Elishia, Isaiah, John, Paul, Ruth, Ester, or Mary. These are some big names, but all these and more were men and women just like us – Men and women of God living out what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord our God.
Remember this thought: God never expects you to be someone else. Now, consider how the fallen culture and the world teach the opposite. “Be like me!” “Dress like me!” “Talk like me!” “Copy me!!!!!” God never expects us to copy the world. God expects us to do, “what is good and right” in His eyes. We have so much to learn from the saints of the Bible and the saints in our time. Then in comes down to each of us doing what is good and right, living out what is good and right, and most importantly teaching what is good and right to those around us. All this is what King Asa lived for, and this life Jesus Christ lived out perfectly on the earth.
This Lords’ Day we saw Judah return to their old ways of idolatry. So much so, they required a national revival. They returned to being like everyone else. Two things are required for the revival of anything in this life. The first is a WORD from God. King Asa received a word from God through His prophet Azariah. Today, we have the Bible – God’s Word to all mankind. But more is needed than knowing, reading, and studying the Bible to complete the intended revival – King Asa needed a WAY from God.
What we will see this coming Lord’s Day is this – God’s WORD and His WAY never change. What King Asa did to experience spiritual revival was follow God’s WAY. Golly gee Bethel – I wonder if anyone else ever said anything about the WAY in life. What is the WAY? Where is the WAY? The right question is: Who is the WAY? The WAY to living good and right in the eyes of God is not accomplished through your efforts. The way is found and walked when revealed through the person of Jesus Christ. See, Christ’s life was the WAY we are to live out “what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord His God.” We will fail and we will fall short. God’s word and His way will not.
This is the beautiful consistency of Christianity. There is only ONE WAY. It is never our way, another’s way, or an unknown way. God created one WAY through Jesus Christ. This is God’s WAY in life. Because it’s God’s Way, we can’t break it, we can’t mess it up, we can’t miss the mark, and we can’t lose it. We are called to follow Jesus Christ – He is the way.
Bethel this truth removes all arguments, confusion, and debate over how we get to Heaven or how we get to God. We follow the only way there is. King Asa and Judah lost their way, they heard God’s word, now they will follow God’s way once again. Bring someone with you so they can have complete spiritual revival by hearing God’s word and obeying God’s way. Bethel, we have what others are desperately seeking in this world. Don’t be ashamed or silent because, “People really want what you have – They just don’t know it yet.”
Blessings in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Michael
