Open Door Chapel

In reading through part of 1st Samuel this morning the thought that this is stranger than fiction came to mind. David got anointed king and if it was fiction it would have been that he lived happily ever after. But it was after he got anointed that the trouble really started for him. Because God's hand was on him, now the forces of darkness were concentrated in opposing him. A lesser man would hae been crushed by the pressure. That didn't mean it was easy for him. In muc...h of the Psalms we get a glimpse into his mind and heart as he swung from the euphoric to the desperate. However, in the midst of perplexities, unfairness and downright wrongness as to how he was being treated by authority, he was on the offensive for God. The NKJV states twice that, when the opportunity was there, that he 'struck' Israel's enemies 'with a mighty blow'. (ch 19.8 & 23.5) The lesson for me is to let nothing diminish my zeal for the Lord and to use every opportunity to strike a 'blow' for His Kingdom. Pastor Bill

FAITHFUL AND TRUE It is a rich study to consider all the different names and titles used in the Bible in attempting to describe the Person of the Lord Jesus. It quickens the heart beat to contemplate with the Bible authors what they saw and sensed of the One who is the author and center of all history. There have been at least 50 such expressions gleaned from all through the Bible. You get the impression that the writers were attempting to describe the indescribable.... Superlatives can seem trite when misused, but with our Lord, we can't say anything big enough. A recent meditation took me to Revelation 19 where He is described as Faithful and True, and then a little later as The Word of God. A little before that He is named The Lamb who overcomes all the forces of hell in a final showdown, because He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. And tucked in there is the declaration that there are those who are 'with' Him in the battle - those who have been called and chosen and faithful. The REvised Version Bible inserts there that 'they also overcome' who are called and chosen and faithful, meaning no doubt, victorious saints. The working out of the Gospel in our lives is that we are transformed into the likeness of the Master, so that we become faithful and true as well. I noted in the Epistles men who were singled out and declared to be 'faithful' men. Silvanus, who helped Peter write his first epistle was on. Others were Onesimus, Tychicus, Epaphras and Timothy. What a flavor there is to the life of the faithful. Luke 16 indicates that faithfulness starts with the little stuff. We won't be faithful on the big issues if we compromise on the little. .May we all be found growing in faithfulness. Pastor Bill

May 8, 2020 Dear Church Family, 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' is a well known phrase that FDR used in trying to calm the fears and panic of the Great Depression of nearly 90 years ago. Another phrase by a Greater One is 'Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in Me'. 'Fear not' was a major part of Jesus ministry. It is also a major theme of the rest of Scripture for God's people. 1 Thessalonians 4.13 speaks of believers not sorrowing ov...er the dead the way 'the rest' (unbelievers) do. The difference in the level of sorrow was in relation to the sense of hope in a believer vs non believer. I wonder if this couldn't also apply to the level of fear that people experience. Believers certainly have concerns and heed cautions and are careful - but a wild, uncontrollable fear is not part of their lot. PTL Mrs A and I were much edified by attending the Zoom meetings of the just completed Feast of Pentecost. Each of the speakers spoke clearly, with authority and ministered comfort and assurance, which is a ministry of the Spirit. I was also blessed in seeing the ceremony of honoring the National Day of Prayer at the White House. There were quite a few of different persuasions who came forward and offered heartfelt prayers for our nation and it's leaders, especially during this time of trial. It was quite a display of earnest epression of crying out to God and a sense of laying hold of the answers. A bit of Scripture was quoted, reminding of God's mighty movings in the past when people called on Him in their extremity. Afterwards I thought 'Only in America'. Thank God for the bold and public expressions of faith, in the Name of Jesus Christ, that were expressed. Blessings to all, Pastor Bill