What Time Is It Anyway?

Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 53:1-12; Zechariah 9:9-10; Zechariah 12:10

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to have lived during the days of the prophets of old? Or maybe you have even wondered what it might be like to be an angel. No, I don't mean like a little princess. I mean the heavenly beings; the messengers of God that declare and promote God's will.
The truth is, both the prophets of old and Angels alike longed to catch a glimpse of, and fully understand, this salvation that has been made available to you and I in the days after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Peter tells us in his first letter that the prophets of old made careful searches and inquiries into the salvation that has been made available to us through the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:10-11) He goes on to say that these are things into which angels long to look. (v. 12) In Matthew 5:16-17 Jesus, speaking to Peter and the other apostles said But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Peter's point is that his readers are extremely blessed to be able to fully experience what the old testament prophets could merely prophesy concerning Christ, his sufferings, and the glories to follow. He was also offering much needed hope in their difficult time of persecution, assuring them of their eternal inheritance; imperishable, undefiled and unfading, reserved for them in heaven. (v. 4)

Peter then presents his readers with a call to action based on this tremendous message. His charge to them, and us, is to prepare our minds for action, having self-control and fixing our hope completely on His grace; rid ourselves of our former lusts; and to be holy in all our behavior. (vv. 13-15)

So let us strive for full obedience to this charge, taking into account the high cost of our salvation, knowing that (we) were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from (our) futile way of life inherited from (our) forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18–19) (NASB)

1 Peter 1:10–11 (NASB) As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

Pastor Mike Deese

David Strengthened Himself In The Lord

Psalm 119:28; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 22:19; Psalm 28:7-8; Psalm 118:14; Isaiah 40:29; Ephesians 6:10; Ephesians 3:16

A man after God's own heart. That's how 1 Samuel 13 portrays Israel's second and highly favored king as God rejects king Saul for his continued disobedience. For sure David had his own faults, but what kept him in God's favor was his penitent heart. 

In chapter 27 of 1 Samuel, David exhibits an unwise decision as he decides to escape to the land of the Philistines as the only way to elude Saul's grasp. Saul had begun a relentless pursuit of David out of jealousy. Previously, David had sought the Lord for such matters but this time he goes it on his own. He is taken in by a man named Achish (the son of the king of Gath) and winds up settling in Ziklag.

During his time there, the Philistines decide to go up against Israel in battle and David is told by Achish that he must join them. David agrees and he and his men bring up the rear. However, along the route, as the commanders of the Philistines discover the "Hebrews" among them, David and his men are sent packing. These commanders fear that David will defect to Israel once the battle begins. So David heads back to his "home away from home" in Ziklag. Upon their return they find that Ziklag had been raided and burned to the ground. Their wives and children had been taken captive by the Amalekites. The Word says they wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Then their grief turned to anger and they begin to blame David and even talked of stoning him.

That's when David finally does what David did best. Chapter 30, verse 6 says that he strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He then inquired of the Lord as to the next move, and with God's help, rescued all that were taken captive and retrieved all of the spoils they were robbed of and then some! He got a bonus check to boot! 

At times we may find ourselves living in a situation similar to that of David in this passage. And quite often it's no one's fault but our own. But thankfully, if we trust in the Lord as David did, we will find that as Psalm 145:8 says, The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. (NASB) God is patient toward us and His lovingkindness is everlasting. Like David, we can strengthen ourselves in Him, look to Him for guidance, and rest assured that Christ, our King, has secured our victory. He has bought back all of that which the enemy has robbed us of. He has paid the price for our salvation. The victory is ours for the asking. And the bonus check is out of this world!

1 Samuel 30:6 (NASB) Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Pastor Mike Deese

Keep The Faith

Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 40:8, 28; 2 Timothy 2:13

All men are created equal. So says our Declaration of Independence and so very true. What we do with this precious gift that God has so blessed us with is another story. We can choose to make the best of that which our abilities will afford or we can choose to lay our gifts aside and minimize our potential.

For sure, some are born with disadvantages such as disabilities or impairments. These truly deserve help through their difficulties. However, even some of these have accomplished huge gains in spite of the difficulties they have been handed. These stories of courage are simply amazing.

In similar fashion, God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Rom. 12:3b) Again, what we do with this precious gift makes all the difference. We can use this faith to acknowledge His precious gift of reconciliation through the blood of Christ, or we can reject this gift of grace.

In 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul says I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; The Greek word for kept used here holds the meaning of to keep watch over, to guard, or to protect. Paul had used his God given faith to spread the good news of the gospel of Christ, guarding and protecting it with his very life. In fact, he gave his life protecting it. He did not waiver to the right or to the left. He stayed the course to the very end.

God, and His Word, never change. As Psalm 102 says, “Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. “Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.“But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end. Psalm 102:25–27 (NASB) God is ever faithful, His promises are ever true, He cannot lie and He will never change His mind. So let us hold to these truths and fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep, protect, and guard closely - the faith.

Psalm 119:89–90 (NASB) Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.

Pastor Mike Deese

Finishing Well

2 Timothy 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Philipians 3:14; Hebrews 12:1


I have always been impressed with long distance runners. The required endurance just amazes me. I can't imagine going the distance in a half marathon, much less a full 26.2 miles. I try to run 3 miles, 3 days a week and I have just entered my first 5k, which takes place the day after I turn 55. But the thought of running nearly 8 1/2 times that is mind-boggling.

The other day as I set out for my morning jog, I felt really good. I thought I would push myself a little and made the mistake I have made too many times before; I started out way too fast. While I was able to beat my record for the first mile, as you can probably guess, I ran out of steam well before my 3 miles was up. I had to walk the last half mile.

The Apostle Paul writes on several occasions comparing the Christian walk to a race. Just as in a physical race, our walk with Christ is less about starting fast and more about endurance. It's about running a good race and finishing well. In 2 Timothy 4:6, Paul acknowledges that the time of his departure has come, and continues in verse 7 to say I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (NASB).

Paul wasn't making millions on book deals, packing out stadiums, and making his rounds on the TV talk shows. Far from it. He had spent most of his final days imprisoned for spreading the Good News of the Gospel. Yet under some of the worst conditions imaginable, Paul wrote some of the most encouraging and challenging teaching we have in the New Testament. He had not let his current situation get in the way of the mission that Jesus had called him to.  

So let us follow the example that Paul set before us and hold on to this eternal hope that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 (NASB) And as we close in on the finish line, hopefully we, like Paul, can say that we have fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith!

Acts 20:24 (NASB) “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Pastor Mike Deese