Prepare The Way Of The Lord

Prepare the Way of the Lord
Luke 3:3-6

John was in the wilderness and the Word of God came to him and he went to all the country around Jordan preaching baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.   He was, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”   Spiritually speaking, the nation was in a wilderness; lost and they had no vision.  Sinfulness had bound their lives; no fruit, cheerless and hopeless.  In order for them to come to the Lord they had to make a moral change.

John called the nation of Israel to repent of its sins in order to receive forgiveness, and thus prepare the way of the Lord, the coming Messiah.  John was a true prophet crying out against sin and calling for spiritual renewal through repentance and baptism for the remission of sin.  When a king was going to make a visit in those days he would send workers to make a straight road and make it as smooth as possible as he traveled upon it.  This is what John called upon the people to do; only it was not a matter of repairing literal roads but preparing their own hearts to receive Him as King and Savior.

The effects of Jesus coming into our hearts, is as follows:
- Every valley shall be filled - those who are truly repentant and humbled would be saved and satisfied. 
- Every mountain and hill shall be brought low - people like the Scribes and Pharisees, who where haughty and
   arrogant, would be humbled.
- The crooked places shall be made straight - those who are dishonest, like the tax collectors, would have there
   characters straightened out. 
- The rough ways shall be made smooth - solders and others with rough, crude temperaments would be tamed
   and refined.

The results would be that all flesh both Jew and Gentiles would see the Salvation of the Lord. His reign will bring blessings, glory, power, justice, truth, prosperity, mercy, and grace to all who receive Him now and forever, Amen.

Like John, we need to cry out:  To those in a desert, that are dry and thirsty for the Living Water of spiritual salvation.  To those in the valley; defeated and broken because of sin…there is redemption and forgiveness.  Every mountain shall be brought low.  Those who struggle with bondage's and habits can find a smooth path they can walk on and find a life filled with hope and praise.  Those who wander on the crooked roads that are filled with lies and deception can live out the truth and over come the lies and the dishonesty that once bound their lives and become honest, transparent, open and never fear the truth again.  Those on a rough road; who have a harden heart closed round with walls that, shut them in and others out, with bitterness and anger who causes them pain of  rejection all their lives. To those, God heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.   Freedom from the past, joy for the present and hope for the future.  The results are all flesh both Jew and gentile will see the salvation of the Lord.

When we live our lives to glorify God we bring Him praise and honor.  To be like John the Baptist we must do three things:
1. Share with others about God’s amazing love.  Start with friends and family; win as many people to Jesus as you can.
2. Have spiritual goals, such as: my time, my talents, my serving, my giving, and to be more loving, more prayerful, more passionate a life lived out in holy fervor for the Lord.
3. Have Godly priorities like: (1)What would Jesus do  (2)Seek the Kingdom of God  (3)Not forsaking His House of Worship, and  (4) Be a blessing to others.

May you, prepare the way of the Lord in your heart this season to share Jesus with everyone you meet.  May the joy of His love be with you and your family throughout, the New Year!


God bless you all,
Pastors Russell and Yolanda Duley

Thankful at Thanksgiving and throughout the Year!

 Jesus Presented in the temple


LUKE 2:22-33

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon.  Tradition says Simeon was one hundred and thirteen years old, he was righteous (just) and devout.  The word “just” means; dependable; The word “devout” means devotional.  What a combination!  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it could be said of us that we are dependable with people and devotional towards God?

He took the Savior into His arms and he embraced Him and he loved Him.  However, it’s not enough to just embrace the Savior we have to receive Him into our hearts as Lord and Christ.  Jesus was the fulfillment of a promise that God had given to him. It’s not enough to look at the promise and admire it…Simeon had to receive God’s promise into his heart.  The promise is Jesus Christ as Lord.  Adding to that, he would not see death until he saw the Messiah, the Christ; and that’s the power of the Gospel is Jesus said I've come that you may have life more abundantly life now and life for ever!

Because God is not willing that any man should perish but that everyone should have everlasting life,   He wants us to receive and know Christ in our hearts and lives right now.  And that everlasting life begins when you receive Jesus Christ.  Death is eminent for us all…but Simeon wouldn’t die until he had seen his Savior.  That’s what God wants for each of us….that we can accept Christ as Savior so that we can live.  Death has been conquered, Christ has freed us.  That’s the message that Jesus is telling us.

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ  and he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the customs of the law he took him in his arms and blessed God and said, “ Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to your people Israel"  and Joseph and Mary  marveled at what was said about Him.

Luke 2:26 - 33

”Simeon came in the Spirit into the temple”…The Spirit of God led him into the temple, into the presence of Jesus Christ.

1. The Holy Spirit has to reveal Jesus to our hearts and we need to receive him both as Lord and Christ.

2. As, Lord and Savior, will I submit my life to him and surrender my will to him?   It seems that the Holy Spirit is always calling me back to a relationship with the Lord Christ in my life, to my first love, and to a compassionate heart overflowing with love.  A love that is sacrificial in giving Him my all, in love, and in total commitment to Him and Him alone!

3. The Holy Spirit led him into the presence of His Savior.  And that’s where God wants to bring every believer…into the presence of our Savior.   God enthroned in glory wants to be taken up in our arms and hearts to be worshipped, to be blessed and to be served.  He wants you to look at Jesus as the promise of God in your life.  Not just to admire and look upon in amazement but to receive all that He is and all that He has done for each one of us.  The fullness of God for the emptiness of our lives!

4. Peace and joy to fill our lives, with hope and anticipation as we behold the Salvation of the Lord, a gift of Love that God gives to each one of us throughout the year…in praise, in worship, in gratitude and be thankful in heart for who Jesus Christ is, both Lord and Christ!

5. God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen his Salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Salvation is a promise to all that would believe and receive him that is the gospel to every one that is lost and needs a savior

This Thanksgiving and throughout the year let’s look for someone that is needing a Savior and tell them the good news.  I'm so thankful and filled with gratitude for all God's blessings, how about you!

This is what worship is all about, being led by the Spirit into the presence of God.  Being caught up with His greatness!  This Thanksgiving my deepest desire is for you to be in the presence of God.  I know you have family members and friends but how important it is for us to be in His glorious presence to know our sins are freed from our hearts and lives, to be unfettered and unchained so that true love and joy flows from His gracious hand into each and every heart.

God bless you this Thanksgiving and may you always rejoice for His gracious gift! And remember, it’s not what you’re giving thanks for; it’s who you’re giving thanks to!

Blessings,

Pastor Russell A. Duley

Your Disappointment is Gods Appointments

Disappointment is an appointment with God.

 

Job 23:14 amp., says, For He performs that which He has planned for me, and many such matters He is mindful.

 

Also, in Genesis 50:20, As for you, you thought evil against me, But God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as this day.

 

When we are lonely, distressed, troubled and disappointed it's natural to cry out to God for help.  Abraham lost all hope of having a child at the age of one hundred and Sarah in her nineties. And the Lord appeared to him in Gen. 18 and God changed his mourning into dancing and his disappointment into a favorable appointment!

 

Going further, we see Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth, in Luke 1:13, advanced in years praying for a child.  They didn't give up!  They were still in the house of God, and an angel appeared to Zachariah and said, don't be afraid God has heard your prayers and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son. Disappointment leads to God's appointment - they knocked at heaven’s door with faith and trust to ask for more.

 

Luke 19:2 shows Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector, had a poor self image, lonely and in pain.  It led him to seek appointment with God.  As he took the first step, God took the next step.  Zacchaeus climbed a tree, with his limitations, to look at Jesus passing by, only to find God was looking for him.

 

If God be for us who can stand against US!  Rom.8:31.

 

Take heart dear one, God is looking for you, to bless you, help you and to turn those disappointments into His appointments.

Be Encouraged,

Pastor Russell Duley

A Word on Promises

The word, promise, is amazing. 

It is a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do or not to do something in the present or future.  A promise is to undertake, give or tell in advance; make a prediction or call out the outcome.  It gives grounds of expectations, gives new results, the results would be fame and glory"

The Bible says in Romans 4:20 that Abraham did not waver in unbelief about the promises of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. In verse 21, he was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.  Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 89 when God gave them their promise. Genesis 17:1-22

Let me ask you something, are you expecting something from God? A promise, a need, an outcome, a future, a situation.  Instead  of Abraham being overwhelm with the problems of life, he was overwhelmed with the promise of life.

In Gen 18:10-12 , God says, “I will surely return to you when the season comes around and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah had long passed menopause. Sarah laughed within herself saying, “I'm worn out, my husband is old too.”

In verse 13, God asked, “Why did Sarah laugh is anything impossible for the Lord?” 

Picture this:

2 old folks sitting in a rest home.  Someone has to feed them, help them dress, and take care of them. They have a rest home mentality;

Here comes God and gives them a promise.  He tells them they’re about to have a family!

At what should be the end of life, they’re about to begin their family!

Everyone else in the rest home has given up, life is over, they are at the end of their lives, but God’s covenant people are at the season of their lives where life just begins!

Abraham was overwhelmed with that promise. In Gen 18:10-12 , God says, “I will surely return to you when the season comes around and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah had long passed menopause. Sarah laughed within herself saying, “I'm worn out, my husband is old too.”

Abraham, against hope believed in hope,  grew stronger in faith giving glory to God!  That means he praised God right where he was and told every body what God was going to do for him.

Tell the world, tell the devil, tell your doubts, tell your fears. “God is on the move in my life!  Needs are being met!  Promises are fulfilled!  Victories are being won!

Here God came and gave new hope and a future. God has promised to renew life to them sitting and ready to die, who may feel that their life is over. Is it impossible for the Lord to bless you and to meet your needs?

In Jude 20, the Bible says to build yourself up on your most holy faith.  At the Wednesday night service, I will be speaking on 7 Declarations of David. David was a warrior.  Declaring the Word of the Lord is how he won victories, got promises, accomplished God's purpose in his life, obtained God's covenant. 

Be willing to build yourself up on your most holy faith. Come out Wednesday night and receive what God has in store for you.

Blessings,

Pastor

Devotional-Pastor Duley

Dear Friend,
We live in a world of unhappiness and discontent. It is hard at times not to be caught up in it all.  The economy, lack of jobs, protests, and personal problems abound everywhere you look, including our family, friends.  What do you do?

1. LOOK TO THE UNSHAKEABLE GOD!
    David said, "I look to the hills from whence cometh my help it comes from the Lord!"   Psalm 121:1-2a
-   Lift up your eyes in hope, in expectancy, desire, and conference to the Lord. ( Help is on the way)

2. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD.
   Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.  Psalm 37: 4 
-  Delight in His grace, His love, and His power.  Rejoice because you are redeemed & forgiven!

3. COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD  -   Commit your way to the Lord, rest and give each care of your load on Him.  Trust, lean on, rely on, and be confident also in Him, and He will bring it to pass!  Psalm 37:5

I don't know about you !!   I already feel  the presence of God in this.  Now put your praise on! Stay faithful to God and he will remain faithful to you. 


Be blessed!
Pastor Duley

Steadfast in Prayer: By Yolanda Duley

 Some time ago in  prayer, I was reminding the Lord concerning some overdue prayer requests, not yet answered. I began to feel a little frustrated and found myself talking to God in my natural thinking instead of a spiritual way. I asked; "why God, do you wait so long to answer this prayer"? In thought, I questioned; "What is the slow up in heaven and have you been that busy all these months or am I on the back burner"? I feel like I'm waiting, to the rear of a line and all I can see, is everybody else around me being blessed. I then decided, to go to the Lord for my answer and this is what I found. The Higher answer in scripture- .

1 Cor. 10:3-4 says; 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds-

  I have been thinking, a bit, fleshy. I have bought into a satanic fear. That God, will never help me with this one. The truth is God in me respects my weapons of prayer, and he thinks my requests according to his word is strong to dismay principalities and impediments. You see, Satan uses fear tactics and rejection against us and brings us to a doubting place. So, how do we succeed? I continue in the word and find another answer.

Ephesians 6:12 says; 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

  Wow, the word in verse 1 says; I am to engage in a wrestling match. My opponent is a ruler of cosmic power. How is that for a scary match? I realize it is a blood battle against the evil forces, and my simple request, will not cause God  instantly to come on the seen and magically make all things better. Sometimes, in the war, there is no answer and at times casualties, and it affects every area of our lives. I also know. It is a spiritual battle, and it can only be won with much intercession and the power of the blood of Jesus my source of victory, is in what Jesus has already done through his death and  resurrection and the shedding of his blood.  Ephesians  describes it well.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Yes, we are victorious! In 

Psalms 91:3-4 says; ³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the Fowler and from the perilous pestilence.⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,And under His wings you shall take refuge;His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 

Isaiah 54:17 it says;¹⁷No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.        

  No one can keep us from the love of God. Therefore, all the principalities and powers have limited tactics that do not work and can never match the power of God and his word. He is the head  of all principalities and powers of darkness. God has a perfect purpose over all my delays because he sees my tomorrows. I have to trust him and apply his victory by faith believing my prayers have been answered. So, I am now refreshed, with a new insight and hope as God continues to encourage me in his word,  I continue to encourage you.

A. Pray in Faith
B. Believe in Faith
C. Ask in Faith
D. Rejoice in Faith
E. In all prayer and supplications I stand firm.

This will bring you a sure victory and answer in his word:

Isaiah 60:1-2 says;"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

    May you be blessed in your time of prayer,

    Yolanda Duley



    

A Word Of Encouragement

 A friend of mine made a statement once; " I don't understand this walk, I've been struggling for years, I find myself in difficult situations and I feel to give it all up".  My response in this question in Mathew 18:1¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”




Jesus must have looked at them thinking; are you serious really, he must have  thought, I am the greatest in the Kingdom, But instead he gave them an illustrated sermon. He proceeded to place a child in their midst and said;  In Mathew 18:2-5  ² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
 
I imagine that it had  taken all the wind out of their lungs. You see in those days youngsters were thought of more as a possession rather than individual. These men walked with Jesus, saw miracles and listened to his words. They must have thought we even tried to imitate you-Jesus of Nazareth. We want to know how to be more productive  in what we call superlative in your Kingdom. We don't  want to fail or risk not being special to you. The disciples might have said this does not make sense. Jesus spoken words must have been painful and the hard example he displayed before them. Jesus was saying just humble yourselves, change your ways and have a child character. Let your heart and thinking be converted so, that you can attempt to walk in faith as a child and believe in me to meet your needs. We too ask, every time we fail in our Christian walk or face a devastating situation in all out disappointments and failure when coming knocking at our hearts. Most of the time, we just want to give up and settle back into our old ways. This is when we feel we have lost the place of greatness and a chance to be Jesus "favored" person. We don't hear the words of Jesus. Just, humble yourself like a child.



A child, starts to walk. He or she doesn't grasp why they must walk. They just want to be like their parents. The parents walk, so by faith. The child stands up, and even though they fail and fall, they don't ask questions or threaten to quit walking or get discouraged over the obstacles. They don't cry out and ask why or question the failing and struggling in the walk. As you continue in your Christian walk, there are times when you ask Jesus why do I keep failing. I don't understand this walk. Why am I struggling? How can you just continue when you are so discouraged and tired? The answer to those questions lies in Eph. 6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.


Keep trying, keep walking, keep coming to Jesus, humble yourself and stand in faith and put on the armor of God your defense. Paul encourages us in Hebrew 12:12.  It says; "Therefore, strengthen the hands who are weak and the shaky legs, make a level path for your feet so that you may not be disabled in your Christian walk". 

Encourage yourself in the word to know the grace of god the power of the holy spirit to change the circumstances around you. Jesus gave no excuses to the disciples. When they asked who will be the greatest among us, His answer is simple, humble yourself and  become trusting as a little child, and you will be great in the Kingdom.


Thank you for reading our blog, my prayer is that you will acquire, more confidence with more strength through the power of Gods spoken Word.



Blessings  in Christ Jesus,
Yolanda Duley