Message from Pastor Tom:
Our 4th of July marks an extremely
important holiday, as it is the day the United States declared independence
from the British. We, as Americans associate this day with the beginning of the
nation's true freedom. Freedom is also an important theme in the Bible. For
many Christians the 4th of July and the Bible go hand in hand.
What I mean by this is the Freedom you will experience
after God has acted to remove all obstacles once you accept Jesus Christ as your
Lord and Savior. He will open your eyes, whether social, spiritual (sin and
death), economic, as well recognizing what is blocking your creational purpose.
A Christian’s purpose is to know, love, worship, and enjoy God forever. This freedom
has been won for us by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christian’s seek to live this freedom
and to join with God in freeing others through proclaiming the Truth with His
Good Word, while we await freedom’s full realization at Christ’s second coming,
as found in Romans 8:1–39.
Let us look at Job, he knew the truth but that did not
stop his own family and friends telling him falsehoods and trying to have him
act out against God. This world tries to lead us astray every minute of the day.
Add the devil into the mix and we are bound to struggle for the truth, let
alone hear the truth of God when spoken. The Bible makes it clear we do not
determine truth, but rather we discover truth. We have the free will to ignore
truth if we wish, but when we do, we risk our own eternal salvation and our
walk with God.
The Bible is truth that is absolute and constant
despite some people’s feelings and beliefs. You must accept the Bible by faith
on your knees, and not question the truth. I could read you Scripture all day,
tell you truths of the Bible as Apostle Paul has done. Yet if you do not pick
up that Bible yourself and read the words, let God and the Holy Spirit speak to
you personally, you will never know the absolute truth or have the Salvation
God so desperately wants for you. I know we are all imperfect people. God is
our perfect and loving heavenly Father, who only wants the absolute best for
His children. He desires for us to grow spiritually mature, becoming more and
more like Jesus Christ who is the definition of perfection. Are you ready for
the Truth? God is waiting.
Heidi and I ask you to join us in praying for peace
for our country, our leaders and those racially and spiritually persecuted
worldwide. Until next month, may God richly bless you and keep you, may His
face shine upon you. Please be safe and have a wonderful 4th of July
holiday.
Remember our Lord and Savior’s Saving Grace frees us
from our sins and gives us eternal life. You only need to accept His gift of Grace.
Blessings from a pastor and his wife.
I
keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be
shaken. Psalm 16:8
