Walk In The Light

Psalm 56:13; Psalm 89:15; Isaiah 2:5; Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16; John 1:5; John 12:36-36; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 21:23

I for one am ready for daylight savings time to end. Don't get me wrong, I love the long summer evenings, but when the fall arrives my morning jogs are in the dark. The other day was the darkest yet. It was near a new moon and somewhat cloudy which didn't help matters either. In the first few minutes I had to run more toward the middle of the road because I couldn't see well enough to stay on the side. I thought of the many dangers of not being able to see where I was going. Fortunately, I was very familiar with the road, as I have traveled it on foot several times a week for a while now. But even familiar ground can be dangerous in the dark. An object could have been left in the road that would not be visible or an animal could possibly get in my way to trip me up. 

It is the same for us spiritually. Satan loves to try and trip us up, slow us down or stop us in our tracks. If we are not walking in the light, we are susceptible to his devices. But fortunately we are not left alone in the dark. God's Word is full of scriptures about walking in the light. Scriptures such as John 8:12 where Jesus said “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." And numerous Old Testament scriptures such as Psalm 119:105 which says Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path, and Psalm 27:1, The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

So let us hide His Word in our hearts, and continue to trust in the light of the world to keep us on His path and His plan. He will guide us safely home.

1 Peter 2:9 (NASB) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Pastor Mike Deese

Itching Ears Want To Hear

Jeremiah 23:13; Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1

King Ahab was a wicked King over Israel. Of course there never was a good king over the northern tribes. Only a handful of kings in the south (Judah) were good. Jehoshaphat was one such king. In 2 Chronicles 18 we see Jehoshaphat paying a visit to Ahab. Ahab prepares a feast for Jehoshaphat and then asks him to go to battle with him against Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat agrees under one condition: He wanted to hear from the Lord on it. Ahab agrees and sends for 400 false prophets to try to appease Jehoshaphat. They all give the king the green light and tell him the victory will be his. Jehoshaphat however sees right through the pretense and asks if there is not a prophet of the Lord that they may inquire of. Ahab gives a remarkably honest response: "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” (v. 7) It seems that Ahab couldn't take the truth. He would soon lose his life for his continued denial. 

As I think about how Ahab preferred the flattery of false affirmation over the troubling truth, I am reminded of the plethora of false teachers today that fill stadiums with those who prefer the tickling of the ears over the truth of the Gospel. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NASB) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

We must be mindful of misleading doctrine. We are to test the spirits as John says in 1 John 4:1. But how do we discern good doctrine from bad? The best way to recognize the truth is to study it for yourself. Paul tells Timothy to be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) So trust Him and Pray as David did in Psalm 25:5 (NASB) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; and again in Psalm 86:11 (NASB) Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth. If you will diligently study and sincerely ask for guidance, He will lead you into the truth.

John 8:31–32 (NASB) So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Pastor Mike Deese

Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear

Philippians 4:8; Psalm 101:2-4; 1 John 2:15-17; Proverbs 4:23-27


I like to listen to music through my earbuds when I jog. I have a few different playlists I use to help set the mood and pace. I'm not alone. Music apps like Spotify even offer playlists created specifically for running and for workouts. In fact, Spotify has entire categories of playlists not only for genres, but for various moods, sleep, study, or just about anything you can think of. 

But music not only has the ability to set a certain mood, it can actually have a lasting effect. Everything that we choose to listen to, as well as everything that we choose to look at, can define who we become. There is a saying in computer science and mathematics; garbage in, garbage out. Just as it sounds, it acknowledges that the quality of output is determined by the quality of input. It's no different with humans.

In Luke 6:45 (NASB) Jesus says “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. What we choose to fill our heart and mind with will eventually make its way out of our mouth. It establishes who we are.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. We obviously have the option of following in the footsteps of those whose treasures are of this world or we can set our focus on the treasures above. But where do we start? How do we set our sights on the things above? Again, it's all about what we take in. Spending time daily in His Word and in prayer is a great start. It feeds and builds our spirit, which aides in diminishing the will of the flesh. We should also choose wisely what we listen to, read, watch, or even who we hang out with. All of these things either build the spirit or satisfy the flesh. In the end these very things define who we are. 

Philippians 4:8 (NASB) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Pastor Mike Deese

He's Still Working On Me

Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:21; James 1:2-4; Isaiah 64:8

As I was studying in 1 Peter chapter 5 the other day, verse 10 reminded me of He's Still Working On Me, a song that we used to sing with our kids when they were little. As God's children, we are truly a work in progress. In this verse Peter declares that God Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. (NASB) A deeper study of the Greek gives a greater sense of what Peter is acknowledging here. These four words together show how much our father cares for us and what He will accomplish in and through us as we live to bring Him glory. 

• The first word, transliterated katartizó means to perfect or complete, to make adequate, to furnish completely. Home builders know that as a construction project nears completion there will be an inspection, followed by a punch list of all the things that need touching up or do not conform to the specifications of the contract.  When God is finished with us there will be nothing left undone. Absolutely nothing will be found on our punch list. We will be truly perfect and complete!
• The second word he uses is transliterated stērizō, and means to set up, establish, support, to make more firm. This is similar to planting a tree and making sure it has plenty of support until it can take root on its own. It needs to be able to withstand strong winds and heavy rains. At this point it is strengthened by the support surrounding it. 
• The third word is transliterated sthenoō and means to make strong or stronger. This would be the strengthening of the tree itself as it grows, establishing a secure root system and absorbing the nutrients supplied.
• The fourth word, transliterated themelioō means to lay the foundation, to establish.

So let us be encouraged in this, knowing that God establishes us, laying a firm foundation (Jesus); sets up the support around us (our Christian family); strengthens us as we grow (through reading and studying His Word and spending time with Him in prayer); and continues to perfect us until the day when we trade the perishable for imperishable, the corruptible for incorruptible,  when as 1 John 3:2 says we shall be like Him. 

1 Peter 5:10 (NASB) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Pastor Mike Deese

Missing A Dear Friend

Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; 1 Timothy 5:21; Proverbs 28:21

I lost a dear friend this past February. He was a very special person. Some would say he was special because of his disability, and perhaps much of it was, but for whatever reason, Stevie was indeed a special kind of friend. At his funeral, it was apparent that some in his family were blown away at the love shown him by so many in our congregation. That was more a testament to Stevie than to our church. He just had that impact on you. 

For starters, Stevie was no respecter of persons. He would greet everyone at church the same, whether you were in tattered hand me downs or dressed to the nines. Whether it was another person with a disability or someone with a doctorate degree, none of that mattered to Stevie. I'm not certain he could process the difference. I am certain of this though; we should all be more like him in that regard. 

When I think of Stevie's lack of partiality toward others I am reminded of James 2:1-4 which reads My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

James goes on to say in verse 8 that we should fulfill the royal law from Leviticus 19:18;  you shall love your neighbor as yourself,  and in verse 9 explains that showing partiality is a sin. 

I will never forget Stevie, and I hope I never forget the valuable lesson that can be learned from his life and his love towards others. May we all follow his example.

James 2:9 (NASB) But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Pastor Mike Deese