PATRIOTISM OF THE PATRIARCHS

First I will say that I am proud to be an American. I would assume that most everyone who reads this article would echo the same line as I still believe that this is the greatest country in the world. Do we have a whole host of issues that are certainly in desperate need of addressing? Sure. Yet there is nowhere on earth that freedom is as celebrated as it is here, men and women have sacrificed for over 200 years for the protection of our liberties, some have even given their lives. I have no desire to demean or take away from that certain to be respected truth. However, as Christians, we are part of a far greater kingdom of which the government has no end. Again, I am proud to be an American but America is not my home nor does it have any hold on me. I want to take this opportunity to encourage you, dear believer, though things within our borders are questionable, indifferent to any particular party or person, we are in trying times.   In Genesis 17, as God entered into the covenant with Abraham, we read these words, “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” God made the promise that he would rule over his people regardless of the land that they were in, remember Abram was told to “go” leave your kindred and your land. He was now a sojourner, a resident alien, he was no longer of this world but set apart for a kingdom that is not here. God promises Moses to walk amongst them, ruling, “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…” Leviticus 26:12. It was not until the people, desiring the culture of the other nations surrounding them, cried out that they should have a king to rule over them. After the time of Judges, while Israel was repeating the cycle of enslavement, deliverance, peace, rebellion, and repeat, the cycle consisted of deliverance and then peace, the danger of peace is that man forgets who is in control. Sound familiar? Then we are given a warning through the Judges of what follows such independence from God. “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” There was no biblical worldview, commands of God obeyed, and the people would return to bondage. It is after this they cried out in the book of Samuel, the last judge, for God to “give us a king that will judge (rule)us.” 1 Samuel 8:6. God was the only King they ever needed, yet they trusted that an earthly king would be better. Brothers and sisters our King has never ceased to reign. Those who are in Christ Jesus have no need to worry nor be dismayed for Romans 8:31-37 is clear where our hope is to be. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I pray that this article brings you peace, as it is the word of God and therefore it is absolute truth, peace I extend to you. Love each of you, -Pastor Matt 

MORE ON THE WAY

Have you ever considered how much noise there is in the world? I often struggle to sift through all the noise in a room; I get tense, nervous, and in every way overwhelmed in a room of noisy busyness. Sounds strange, right? A person who enjoys gathering with the church, going to conferences, and all sorts of things like that gets nervous and anxious in crowds, to the point of what I call “shorting out.” I’ve come to realize that it is not the size of the group, as it were, but rather it is the focus of that assembly. If all are gathered with one focus, I do fine; when a host of pinballs (different conversations, kids, etc.) fly around the room in the chaos, my tension flares. I think it is because I attempt to process it all at once and struggle to focus on one thing for the distraction of the many. Oh, look, a squirrel. Can anyone else relate? As I think about that, it brings me back to the thought of this article. How much noise do you try to filter through to find answers to your questions? It is most productive when I can find one source that offers most of my needs. Primarily, of course, it is the word of God (I felt obliged to include that since many of you know that I am a pastor, so God’s word is the rule); second is a few trusted sources that I have studied along with for years and have settled that we are like-minded. These men have become lighthouses for me every season, from the mountaintop to the valley below. They have been challenged and endured. Do you have such resources? Would you like to have it? Your Pastor has the heart to provide that, but I feel Sunday mornings are not enough; Wednesday evenings certainly help, but attendance seems challenging. So, other means may be needed. Many of you are familiar with the term “podcast,” for those who aren’t, it is a digital platform you can watch or listen to. I am in the process, along with Randy Bush and Haze Hyche, of putting together this type of resource for you to access at your convenience. As many know, Randy has been a massive part of my spiritual development. We have numerous conversations that have real value that any believer would benefit from hearing, and that is the heart behind the upcoming product. We intend to address biblical questions, Christ-like worldview, and just ordinary conversation to aid the body of Christ. Sure, there are many offerings, but finding the one you can relate to may be more of a challenge than climbing Everest. Interested? Please let me know your thoughts. I have the info if you want to help launch our podcast. I am thankful for what God is doing in and through our ministries at New Home, in which every one of you plays a part, and I look forward to more opportunities to serve as the Lord sees fit.