Selah - A Podcast by Koinonia Fellowship

James writes to saints who were dealing with conflicts and envy, But He (God) giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6). In Mary's prayer, she said, God hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree (Luke 1:52).Problems and conflicts amongst the people of God are to be expected. They are inevitable. What The Spirit of God wants the people of God to understand is that God's way of dealing with conflict is far different than man's way. What you and I call a misunderstanding, James calls wars and fightings because the way they were handling issues was in the flesh and filled with pride, instead of in The Spirit and grounded in Christ-like humility.Remember how James taught us about the wisdom from below and the wisdom from above in James 3:13-18? Listen to Proverbs 13:10, Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Self centered praying (James 4:3) and worldly behavior (James 4:4) in their private lives was the cause of proud, devilish (James 4:6,7) attitudes between the people of God.What is the counsel of God? Submit to God. Resist the devil. Draw near to God. Purify your heart and double minded thinking. Mourn. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:10). The Spirit of God flows so beautifully when brethren dwell together in unity. But The Spirit of God is grieved and quenched when we give place to the flesh.Beloved, may the counsel of The Spirit of God, and the grace of humility be the basis of how we settle all of our conflicts and disputes, not only in this church but in our homes, for that is the place where the presence of God chooses to dwell. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones (Isa 57:15) SELAHKoinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

Isaiah's prophecy speaks across the ages—a word as relevant to us today as it was to Judah in his day. The prophet looked upon a nation full of injustice, corruption, and pride, where widows and the poor were oppressed and leaders had turned from God's ways. Yet even in judgment, the mercy of God was shining through. His hand was “stretched out still” (Isa. 10:4–5).That truth reminds us of something essential: God's correction is not His rejection. When His people drift, He disciplines them not to destroy, but to draw them back. Hebrews 12 tells us His chastening proves His love. If you belong to Him, you cannot get away with the things you used to do—His Spirit will convict you and call you home.Isaiah also saw the sovereignty of God at work through the chaos of history. God used Assyria—an ungodly, brutal nation—as the rod of His anger to awaken His people. Even pagan rulers are instruments in His hand. Yet when Assyria grew proud, boasting in its power, God reminded them they were only an axe in the hands of the Master. The tool has no right to boast over the one who wields it.That's a lesson for every servant of God. We are instruments, not architects. Whatever fruit comes from our lives is because His hand is upon us. Apart from Him we can do nothing. But in His hand, the weakest vessel becomes mighty.Then comes the promise that has echoed through centuries: “The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Isa. 10:27). What beautiful hope! The same Spirit that rested upon Christ now dwells within every believer. It is the anointing—the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit—that breaks the bondage of sin, fear, and oppression. Jesus stood in the synagogue, unrolled the scroll of Isaiah, and declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…” (Luke 4:18). That anointing still sets captives free today.No power of Assyria, no force of darkness, no habit or history can stand against the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He breaks every chain, restores every heart, and calls His people to stand as witnesses in a fallen world.Finally, Isaiah lifts our eyes to the future: “A rod shall come forth from the stem of Jesse.” (Isa. 11:1). Out of the stump of judgment, life will spring forth—the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our righteous Branch. He will reign with justice and fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.So take courage, believer. God still rules. His hand is stretched out still. Whatever yoke has burdened you—fear, addiction, weariness—He is able to break it. Draw near to Him, for the Spirit of the Lord still anoints His people to shine as light in the darkness until the day our King reigns over all the earth.Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

There are two sources of wisdom. One is heavenly and the other is earthly and devilish. Guess which source is the most popular? If you said earthly and devilish, you are correct. But you may say that I am incorrect for saying that the wisdom of the world is devilish. That all depends on how you define wisdom, or let me put it this way. According to The Lord Jesus Christ, who is a wise individual, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. (Matt 7:24,25) Jesus defines the wise individual as someone who hears His Word and seeks to obey it.Let's connect a couple of dots here. We could say that Jesus considers an individual a wise person if they believe that the Bible is not only the Word of God, but the wisdom of God as well. In other words, the wise person believes that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim 3:16,17). For the biblically wise person, God's Word is the ultimate authority for every subject mentioned from Genesis to Revelation. "What saith Scripture?, " would be the wise person's reply to any question that begins with, "So what about__________?" (fill in the blank).As sure as the sun rises in the morning and sets at night, I can tell you that the vast majority of mankind has a different opinion or view on the very same topics. “They say” or “AI says" either this or that. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent caused mankind to not only lose their soul but forsake the wisdom of God by asking them the question; "Did God really mean what He said?" And that lie is the cause of the two sources of wisdom.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.(1 Cor 2:14). To unregenerate man, the Holy Bible is foolishness. 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Hence, we have a tension on earth that is undeniable.When the devil sought to persuade Jesus to avoid going to the cross for the sins of mankind, Jesus Christ quoted Scripture. Jesus Christ IS The Ultimate Wise Man Who built His life upon the truth of God, and in Him dwells all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3).Are you living your life according to the wisdom of God, or the wisdom of this fallen world system? Who or what is the final authority in your life? Your eternal destiny hinges on you believing that that Bible declares that Jesus Christ is God, Lord, Saviour, Creator and Redeemer to all that repent and call upon HIs Name. SELAHKoinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

James 3:1-12 hits the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to the hellish usage of the human tongue. As painful as it is to face, James is teaching us here that our words provide a barometer of our spiritual condition, for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.In James 1:26, we were told that any individual who claims to be religious but has no control over his words is deceived and their professed faith is vain. Worthless. Of no value. Contrary to the worldly saying that words can never hurt me, in James 3:6, the uncontrolled human tongue is described as “a fire,” and as “a world of evil”. In verse 8, we learn that the tongue is “a restless evil,” and is “full of deadly poison.” The fact that we can poison others with our words is staggering. The fact that the tongue is a restless evil is staggering. The very source, or igniting influence of the untamed tongue is hell itself.James 3 can be called “Tongues from hell.” The fact that we can use our tongues to advance the kingdom of darkness is staggering. What brother James is telling us here is that the uncontrolled and hellish use of the tongue is counter to how God designed it to be used by those who are new creatures in Christ (James 1:18).Talkative in Pilgrim's Progress is described as “a saint abroad, and a devil at home”. Some people are worshipper of God in the sanctuary, but a gossiper or slanderer of image bearers of God like a devil on Monday. That's the glaring inconsistency that James is talking about. There is good news for those of us with tongue problems. I may not be able to bridle my tongue, but God's Spirit can and will, when I yield my mouth unto Him.Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. David declared in Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psa 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.Saints, we can and do choose the words that come out of our mouth. Acts 2 speaks of tongues set on fire from heaven above. James 3 speaks of tongues set on fire by hell. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. SELAHMatthew 12:36-37 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

In this passage of James we learn that a genuine believer in Jesus Christ will be a person who brings forth the fruit of good works. Yes, we are saved by grace, through faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, but we also read in Ephesians 2:10 that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." God has ordained good works for every believer to walk in.Titus 2:14 tells us that all saints are to be zealous of good works. Hebrews 10:24 says that we are called to provoke one another unto love and good works. Brother James is showing what grace does. True faith in Christ always leaves a trail of love, mercy, and obedience behind it. When God changes the heart, the hands follow. When the Spirit indwells, the fruit of that Spirit begins to grow—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness (Gal. 5:22–23).James uses two vivid examples. Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to offer Isaac. Abraham's obedience didn't make him righteous—it proved that his trust in God was real. “Faith was made perfect” when it moved from belief to costly obedience (James 2:22). Rahab, the prostitute, showed her faith by risking her life to protect God's messengers. Her belief wasn't a statement; it was a surrender. Both Abraham and Rahab remind us that true faith acts, even when it costs something.The same Spirit who stirred them lives in us. That means faith is more than reciting creeds or nodding in agreement to sermons. It's feeding the hungry neighbor (James 2:15–16), forgiving the one who wronged us, praying for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44), and offering our time and gifts for the sake of others. Love becomes the proof that we have been born of God (1 John 4:7).James also warns that belief alone—even correct belief—is not enough. “You believe that there is one God; you do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19). The demons have theology; what they lack is surrender. Saving faith isn't intellectual agreement—it's relational trust. It says, “Lord, my life is Yours.”There's a beautiful honesty in how James speaks. He isn't calling us to perfection but to reality. Real faith confesses sin, repents, and keeps moving toward Christ. It loves not just in word, but “in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). It doesn't need applause because it serves for God's glory, not man's. As Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).The Christian life, then, is not about earning favor but living out the favor already given. Christ's death purchased our forgiveness; His resurrection empowers our obedience. When we abide in Him, the life of Christ flows through us—quietly, persistently, fruitfully.So let's ask ourselves today: Is my faith alive? Does it breathe love into others? Faith that is alive doesn't merely talk about Jesus—it walks with Him. And that kind of faith, radiant with grace and rich in mercy, will never be dead. It will shine until we see the One who first believed in us.

Brother James writes in chapter 2 verse 8, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well." The word royal means something that belongs to a king. For those who have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord, this royal law is something that not only belongs to a king, it is something that that should belong to every one of His children.Paul in writing to the church at Rome said in Romans 13.8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law." This law of love is the law of the kingdom of God. Paul writes to the church in Galatia that faith worketh by love (Gal 5.6). 1 Thessalonians 4.9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. This royal law is what blesses the heart of The Father.Consider this beloved: who or what you love is going to determine how you live. Who or what you love is going to impact how you relate and interact with others, both inside and outside of the body of Christ. Who or what you love is going to impact how you steward your God given gifts and finances. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5.14 that the love of Christ constrained him to live he way that he lived. This royal law of love towards one another is the overflow of the love that Jesus Christ has for us.In this “rubber meets the road” letter that we are studying, let us keep in mind that The Father is saying to each one of us is that the very key of what makes us a Christ centered, Spirit driven, disciple making, soul winning church is this royal law of loving one another as He loves us. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13.34,35. SELAH

Isaiah 8 is a chapter about faith in a fearful time. The world around Judah was collapsing—nations rising and falling, rumors of war everywhere. Yet in the middle of chaos, God calls His people to one simple posture: trust.Isaiah's name itself means “The Lord is salvation,” and the message of this chapter carries that theme from beginning to end. God tells Isaiah to give his son a prophetic name—Maher-shalal-hash-baz—meaning “swift to the plunder, quick to the spoil.” It was a warning that judgment was coming quickly upon the enemies of Judah. But it was also a reminder that God was still in charge of history. He declares the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10), and everything He speaks will come to pass. Even when the nations rage, God's purposes stand firm.Isaiah contrasts two kinds of waters—the gentle stream of Shiloah and the mighty flood of the Euphrates (Isa. 8:6–7). The peaceful stream symbolized God's quiet protection; the raging river represented the Assyrian army that would soon overflow the land. The people had rejected the gentle waters of God's peace and instead trusted in foreign power. It's a striking image for us as well. How often do we refuse the still, sustaining presence of God for the floodwaters of human solutions? The Lord says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isa. 30:15).When fear spreads, conspiracy abounds. In Isaiah's day, people whispered of secret plots and alliances; God told Isaiah, “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy… do not fear what they fear” (Isa. 8:12). What wise counsel for our age! We are flooded with voices that stir anxiety and division. But the Lord says, “Sanctify the Lord of hosts… let Him be your fear” (v. 13). When we revere God above all else, lesser fears lose their grip. He alone is our sanctuary, “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (v. 14)—a picture later fulfilled in Christ (1 Pet. 2:6–8). The same Jesus who offends human pride becomes a refuge for every heart that trusts Him.Isaiah then declares, “I will wait on the Lord… and I will hope in Him” (v. 17). Waiting on God doesn't mean passivity; it means faith in motion—holding fast when the world rushes ahead. The Lord renews the strength of those who wait (Isa. 40:31). Like Job, we can say, “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).The chapter closes with a sobering warning: those who turn to the occult or human wisdom instead of God will “see only distress and darkness” (Isa. 8:22). Yet for those who look to the Lord, there is light ahead—the dawn of redemption that Isaiah will proclaim in chapter 9: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”Our world, like Isaiah's, is full of noise and fear. But God calls His people to something higher—to trust His Word, to walk in His peace, and to remember that Emmanuel, God with us, still reigns. When we build our lives upon that Rock, no flood can sweep us away.Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

James writes this truth about God that every follower of Jesus should read every day. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Beloved, read that verse again prayerfully and slowly. Our Heavenly Father is The One Who blesses us with everything that is good and perfect. Brother James told us in verse 16 to not be deceived about that, because it is very easy to slip into the depths of despondency and despair whenever we get our eyes off of God and onto other things.Beloved, do not allow social media, news agencies, current events or negative, fault finding people dictate to you what the true character of God is like. David, the man after God's own heart was a man that suffered many trials and hardships in life, some being the result of his own doing, but through it all he wrote in Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.Maybe you are struggling today with health or relational issues. Perhaps your finances have taken a turn for the worse. Satan capitalizes on fear and will not waste any “opportunity” that we give him to speak ill of God. Do not listen to his lies. He is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10.10). He is the one who depresses and oppresses people (Acts 10.38). Trust in God and know that He is good.Yes, our circumstances may be difficult and indeed be gloomy, but it is when we are feeling low that we need to look up to heaven and look to The One from where our help comes from (Psalm 121). Psalm 118.1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. The very heaven are opened when the people of God lift up their hearts and voices to Him with praises (Psalm 22.3) and thanksgiving (Luke 17.15-19).If you are a child of God, all of your sins have been forgiven! Your eternal soul is destined to be your Lord Jesus forever. That alone is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. All that awaits us in glory stems from the loving heart of our Father Who sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us and deliver us from this present evil world according to His will (Gal 1.4). May the love of God for you give you cause to worship The One Who declares in Mal 3.6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Heb 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Just like the physical world is governed by laws of nature, the spiritual world is also governed by laws of the spirit. In our study today, James tells us that the law of sin and death begins with the bait of temptation.Before we engage in this study of temptation, James reminds us of this very important point in verse 13, Let no man say when he is tempted (to commit sin), I am tempted of God (to commit sin): for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. Believe it or not, there are 3 things that God cannot do. (1) God cannot lie (2) God cannot be tempted with evil (3) God cannot fail to keep His promises. And one of those precious promises is given to us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. "Sin would be helpless if there was nothing in man to which it could appeal. This means that Adam was created innocent, not perfect. You and I are not born innocent. Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." All mankind after Adam is born with a flesh nature that is prone to evil desires, whether you are a Christian or not.Beloved, listen carefully…temptation in itself is not sin. We do not sin until we conceive the bait into our minds and carry the temptation out. If you follow the context of Hebrews 4:14–16, God's way out of temptation is found in fleeing to our great high priest, The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who will give us grace to help in time of need. Praise God for that!When, not if, we are being tempted, we need to remember that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. We also need to remember that 1 Cor 10:13 tells us that there is a way out. Thus, whenever you are being tempted today (to lie, to gossip, to lust, to brag), agree with God's Word and look for God's exit sign!James is writing to believers like you and me about the reality of the source and root cause of all temptation and sin. This evil desire that resides in each and every one of us here today is something that will either be nourished or resisted. In Romans 6, God tells us that our bodily members are to be reckoned dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God. The Spirit of God is telling us this evening that when we understand the source of temptation and the enemy's objective in baiting us with it, we can walk in victory as we yield ourselves to God and resist the temptation.May we hear what God says to us today, and may we see how we can walk in victory, not sinless perfection, by grace, through faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. SELAH

Today we begin a study in the epistle of James. James and Jude were half brothers of The Lord Jesus Christ. All three had the same mother, but the Father of Jesus was God. James did not come to saving faith in Jesus until after Jesus rose again from the dead. We know that Jesus appeared personally to James after He rose from the dead.James reveals the practical aspect of the saving grace of God. It has been called by some the New Testament equivalent to the book of Proverbs from the Old Testament. There are early church records that tell us that James was called “Old Camel Knees” because of the amount of time that he spent on his knees praying. I wonder if James learned that from observing his half brother Jesus, who Himself was a man of prayer.As we journey through this epistle, James is going to teach us about trials and temptations that every child of God will experience. He is going to teach about the beautiful equality that we have in Jesus Christ. It's an equality that does not depend upon race or riches, an equality that is based upon our oneness with God through the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ.James will teach us about the good and bad that can stem from the human tongue. He will teach us the difference between human and heavenly wisdom. He will exhort us to live our lives with patience as we anticipate Jesus' soon return. He will exhort us to pray rightly according to God's will, and not after the flesh, or amiss. I cannot help but think of what was going through James' mind when The Holy Ghost was inspiring him to write this book, and how he must have reflected back of the time when he and Jesus were little boys in Nazareth.James identifies himself as a bond slave of Jesus Christ, which is simply beautiful! So from one bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ to another, let us grow together in our faith in Jesus and in our church community as we determine to be doers, and not just hearers of The Word. SELAH

What would you do if you knew Jesus would return later this week? Would you go to work tomorrow? Would you start calling people? Would you change your life? Would you pray all day? Would you isolate yourself? If you knew that Jesus was coming this week, why aren't you living as urgently as that?The Word of God will never leave people neutral. Some will receive it with joy, others will resist it, and still others will oppose it. That opposition is not about you—it is about Christ shining His light through you. Never let the devil and fear set the agenda for your life. The Lord is faithful; He will establish you and keep you from evil.Much of Paul's instruction in this chapter centers on work. Some believers in Thessalonica had stopped working because they thought the Lord's return meant their earthly responsibilities no longer mattered. But from the beginning—back in Genesis—work has been part of God's good design. Adam and Eve were given meaningful labor before sin ever entered the world. Work is not a curse; it is a calling.How many of you realize that the people you work with at your present vocation are your prayer list and your mission field? The coworkers, employees, or customers you see each day are people God has entrusted to your influence. Studies show that most people who come to Christ do so outside the walls of a church. That means your daily faithfulness may be the very witness God uses to draw someone to Himself.So how do we live this out? Be diligent—work hard, be punctual, give thanks. Reflect Christlike character—let integrity mark your words and actions. Meet people where they are—take a genuine interest in their lives. Be a good listener—show them you care. And when the opportunity comes, share the gospel simply and compassionately.Today, when you walk into your workplace, imagine a sign over the door: “You are entering your mission field.” May that perspective shape the way you live, labor, and love—until the day Christ returns.

Isaiah 7 brings us into one of the most remarkable moments in Scripture—the birth of the promise that a virgin would bear a Son and call His name Immanuel, which means God with us (Isa. 7:14). But before this prophecy of hope, the scene opens with fear. King Ahaz of Judah faces a powerful alliance—Syria and Israel have joined forces against him. The nation trembles like trees shaken by the wind (Isa. 7:2). Instead of faith, fear grips the people of God.It is here that the Lord sends Isaiah to meet Ahaz with words of comfort: “Take heed, and be quiet; fear not” (v. 4). God's message to a frightened king is the same one He gives to our anxious hearts today—be still and trust that I am in control (Ps. 46:10). The Lord reminds Ahaz that the plans of his enemies will not stand, for He Himself has decreed it. Yet, He adds a searching warning: “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established” (v. 9). Faith, not strategy, is what secures the people of God.Ahaz, sadly, refuses to trust. Though the Lord invites him to ask for a sign—any sign—he hides his unbelief behind religious-sounding words: “I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord” (v. 12). How easy it is to sound pious while our hearts cling to self-reliance. Ahaz had already decided to seek help from Assyria instead of God. When we choose our own solutions instead of waiting on the Lord, we trade His peace for our anxiety.Still, God gives a sign—not because Ahaz deserves it, but because His mercy will not be silenced. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (v. 14). This prophecy would first have a near fulfillment in Isaiah's time, reminding Judah that God was still with them. But its ultimate fulfillment came centuries later, when the angel told Joseph that Mary's child was that promised Son: “They shall call His name Immanuel… God with us” (Matt. 1:23).In that single name lies the heart of the gospel. The holy God who could have abandoned a rebellious people instead drew near in love. Through Jesus, He entered our weakness, walked among our fears, and bore our sin on the cross. The sign given to Ahaz—the virgin birth—is more than a miracle; it is the declaration that God Himself would come to save us when we could not save ourselves.Isaiah's message still speaks: when fear rises and enemies seem close, our security is not in alliances, wealth, or control—it is in the presence of Immanuel. The Lord says to us, as He said to Ahaz, “Be quiet, do not fear.” His perfect love still casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Faith steadies the heart that leans on Him.Whatever storm surrounds you, remember this: God is not distant. He is with you, in the struggle, in the waiting, in the unknown. The same Lord who promised Immanuel has fulfilled that promise in Christ—and He has not changed. Trust Him, and you will find that His presence is more than enough.Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

Today we will be looking at some fascinating end times prophecies and how we are called to live out the reality of those prophecies practically. Gospel centered living is the goal of all last days or end times teaching, regardless of what one's particular position is on the timing of the Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus Christ.Let me be very clear that the timing of the Rapture is not a matter of one's salvation. However, while the goal of all end times teaching should be on gospel centered living and biblical stewardship of the gifts and talents that God has entrusted unto us, that does not mean that specific last days details of events as taught by Jesus in Matthew 24 and laid out before us this morning by the apostle Paul are unimportant or insignificant.My devotional today will be directed towards how belief in those prophetic realities are meant to be lived out practically. Paul, under the inspiration The Holy Spirit writes, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." ( 2 Thess 2:16,17).The practical application of this chapter on prophecy is found in Paul's prayer for them. And what did he pray for them? That their hearts would be comforted, and that they would be established or fixed in every good word and work. God's love and grace for us through faith in Jesus Christ is the basis of our comfort and hope.Note once again that our comfort is an everlasting one, and our hope in Christ is good and is through the grace of God. As we throughout Scripture, every aspect of our salvation comes from the grace of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is Himself the Author and Finisher of our faith.Our loving heavenly Father, in His grace, gives us through Christ what we do not deserve; likewise, God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve! This grace and mercy of God is meant to encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good action and word. Do you see what God is telling us?The “correct interpretation” of end time prophetic teaching will be gospel centered, fruit bearing living for the glory of God. If our walk contradicts what the Scriptures teach about how we are called to live lives of holiness and purity in light of Christ imminent return, then it simply means that we have not understood the point to begin with!One way that we contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints is by putting it into practice. We are called to be both defenders and demonstrators of the faith. One commentator put it this way: Lazarus did not have to give lectures on the reality of the resurrection, his life proved that to be true.May both our words and our works be gospel centered manifestations of the reality of The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and fellowship. SELAH

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…” (Isa. 6:1). Isaiah walked into the temple grieving the fall of a long–reigning king and discovered the greater reality: the Lord still seated, high and lifted up. Beloved, when thrones on earth wobble, heaven's throne does not (Ps. 11:4). The seraphim's cry—“Holy, holy, holy”—reminds us that God's holiness is not merely moral purity; it is His blazing otherness, His absolute supremacy over all (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). Start here: look up. Let worship steady your heart when the news won't (Rom. 8:28).Then, like Isaiah, look in. A fresh vision of the Holy One humbles the soul: “Woe is me… I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). Scripture says our words reveal our hearts (Matt. 12:34), and James warns that the tongue can scorch like fire (Jas. 3:6). Bring your lips, your feed, your posts to the altar of God. Pray David's prayer before you speak: “Let the words of my mouth… be acceptable in Your sight” (Ps. 19:14). This is poverty of spirit—the doorway to the kingdom (Matt. 5:3). The proud compare themselves with others; the contrite compare themselves with God and bow low.Now look to the altar. A burning coal touches Isaiah's lips, and God declares what every weary sinner longs to hear: “Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged” (Isa. 6:7). Cleansing is God's work, not ours. It flows from Christ's sacrifice, foreshadowed by the altar and fulfilled at the cross (Isa. 53:5). Confess, and trust His promise: “He is faithful and just to forgive… and to cleanse” (1 Jn. 1:9). Let grace move from doctrine to delight—receive it afresh today.Finally, look out. Cleansed lips become commissioned lips: “Whom shall I send…? Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8). The order matters—worship, cleansing, then witness. God sends imperfect people to proclaim a perfect Savior. Some will hear and not understand (Isa. 6:9–10; Matt. 13:14–15). Don't measure faithfulness by visible results. Sow, water, weep, and keep going; God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6–7). Even in hard seasons, the Lord keeps a remnant and a holy seed (Isa. 6:13). Your quiet “yes” today may be part of that hidden long work of God.How, then, shall we walk? Begin each morning with the “up-look”—read a few verses and adore the King (Ps. 5:3). Practice the “in-look”—ask the Spirit to search your words before they leave your lips (Ps. 139:23–24; Jas. 1:19). Embrace the “altar-look”—return to Christ's cleansing whenever sin stings your conscience (Heb. 9:14). And live the “out-look”—offer your ordinary places to Jesus: your table, your text threads, your Tuesday commute. Pray simply, “Lord, here I am. Send me to the next person in front of me.”Take heart, dear ones. Earthly kings rise and fall, but Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Fix your eyes on Him, receive His grace, and step into the day with cleansed lips and willing feet. “The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3)—and He delights to shine that glory through you. Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

The Apostle Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians begins with a vision “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” He calls us to worship, endurance, and a life aimed toward the glorious return of Jesus.When we become preoccupied with the dates, symbols, and signs of Jesus' return, we risk missing the main thing, the righteous judgment of God. In a world easily distracted by symbolic puzzles of the end times—markings, beasts, lawless figures—Paul reorients the church toward the heart of our hope: the character and justice of Christ Himself. Paul anchors the Thessalonians with seven indispensable truths about the judgment at Christ's return. These are not optional details to debate, but pillars of Christian belief:It is MomentaryJudgment will occur in an instant. As in Matthew 16 and 1 Corinthians 15, the trumpet will sound, and justice will fall like lightning. This is not a gradual evolution of human morality, but a sudden divine intervention. We do not work toward justice; we wait for it.It is ImminentChrist is already enthroned, surrounded by angels, ready to come. As Deuteronomy and Jonathan Edwards remind us, every human walks a slippery path, liable to fall at any moment. Death or the return of Christ is always near. This reality should stir urgency, not complacency.It is JustGod's judgment is righteous. He will repay affliction to those who afflict and grant relief to the afflicted. The criteria? Knowing God and obeying the gospel—not works, not lineage, but trust in the crucified and risen Lord. As Paul says, the standard is not moral performance but belief.It is ComprehensiveEvery deed and every motive will be exposed (Ecclesiastes 12, 1 Corinthians 4). Nothing is hidden. This calls for radical honesty—with God and with one another. The Psalms model a kind of brutal spiritual honesty that few of us know. But to be known by God, we must let ourselves be truly seen.It is Eternal The results of this judgment are not reversible. Hell is not annihilation, but conscious eternal separation from God (Luke 16). Heaven is not a temporary reward, but a forever joy. No purgatory, no do-overs. Our life's trajectory—toward or away from Christ—is sealed at judgment.It is Extreme The division between the saved and unsaved is not subtle. There is no mixture of heaven and hell. The contrast is stark—life or death, blessing or curse (Deuteronomy 30). This intensifies the need for decision: there is no middle ground.It is Marvelous Those who have believed will marvel when Christ returns. Why? Because we will see, with perfect clarity, the beauty and justice of God's plan. What now seems delayed or confusing will become astonishingly righteous and glorious in hindsight.After laying out these truths, Paul turns to a very practical application. He prays that God would “make you worthy of His calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power” (2 Thess 1:11). In other words, he's saying: here's how you live now, in light of then.What does that look like?It means becoming the kind of person who instinctively wants what God wants. Paul says Jesus will be “glorified in you and you in Him.” Often, we emphasize the second part—we will be glorified. But Paul's order is intentional. The real miracle is that Christ is glorified in us. We become vessels of His praise, examples of His mercy, images of His love.For those who believe—who wait, worship, and work for His glory—it is not a day to dread, but a day to behold.Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Oh, how important it is for every child of God to have a biblical understanding of the attributes or character of our God. In our final study of first Thessalonians, we find that He is the God of peace, grace, and that He is faithful. Volumes could be written of any of these attributes and still fall short of coming close to describing how glorious and wonderful He is. But one attribute that I want to share with you this morning is the faithfulness of God.Beloved, our God is faithful. The Greek word used for faithful means that our God is reliable, sure, and trustworthy. Paul encourages these saints in Thessalonica with the words, Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (vs. 24). That is a word of knowledge for of you who are reading this devotional this morning. Read it again. Read it prayerfully. Read it as if The Lord Jesus Himself is speaking to you, because He is! Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that God will be faithful to finish what He began in you.Paul essentially said the same thing to the church at Philippi when he wrote, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). Remember beloved that The Lord Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith.  The God who calls us to saving faith by the preaching of the gospel is also The God Who brings those whom He calls to glory and none will be lost. That is what is known as eternal security.Listen to Jesus Himself talk about this blessed assurance that we have in Him. John 6:37-44 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.  And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded that our God is faithful...listen: 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. He is faithful to provide a way of escape whenever we are tempted. 2 Thess 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. He is faithful to establish us in the faith and keep us from the evil one. Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.Jesus Himself is our Faithful High Priest Who has provided reconciliation for our sins. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our God is faithful and just to forgive us when we sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Last but not least, when The Lord Jesus returns at His Second Coming, John tells us that Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.Oh doubting and troubled saint, our Faithful God is unchanging. Doubt your doubts. Doubt your feelings. Look afresh to Jesus right now and never forget that He is faithful and true. SELAH

The return of Jesus Christ is certain, but its timing is unknown. Scripture makes clear that “the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). For unbelievers, it will come suddenly and unexpectedly, bringing destruction when they are saying, “Peace and safety!” (v.3). But for those who belong to Christ, this day should not come as a surprise. Believers are “not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (v.4).The people of God are described as “children of light and children of the day” (v.5). This identity calls for a lifestyle consistent with the light—awake, alert, and sober. Just as natural day and night create different behaviors, so also those who belong to Christ must not live like those in spiritual darkness. The world sleeps and dulls itself with intoxication, but believers are called to stay awake, clothed with faith, love, and the hope of salvation (v.6–8).Paul describes the Christian's defense against spiritual lethargy in terms of armor: “putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (v.8). Faith anchors us in God's promises, love guides us in our relationships, and hope protects our minds with the assurance of Christ's ultimate victory. These are not optional virtues, but essential armor for those awaiting the Lord's return.The heart of this passage is the reassurance of God's purpose: “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.9). Believers can face the future with confidence, not fear. Christ died so that, whether we are alive or asleep (living or dead), “we should live together with Him” (v.10). Our destiny is not judgment but eternal fellowship with Christ.Because of this hope, believers are called to mutual encouragement: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (v.11). The reality of Christ's return is not meant to stir fear but to inspire encouragement, holy living, and perseverance. The church must continually remind one another of the hope of salvation and the security we have in Christ.The call of this text is clear: live with readiness. Stay awake, be sober, put on the armor of faith, love, and hope, and encourage one another in light of Christ's coming. While the timing of the day of the Lord is unknown, the outcome is certain: those in Christ will be saved and live with Him forever.

Isaiah 3 paints a sobering picture of a nation under judgment—but also of a God who still longs to restore. The Lord tells Judah that He will “take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff… the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water” (Isa. 3:1). In other words, God will remove everything they've been leaning on—food, water, wise leaders, and skilled workers—because His people have leaned on those things instead of Him.Sometimes, in His mercy, God removes the props in our lives. When the things we trust more than Him are shaken or stripped away, it's not because He delights in our loss—it's because He desires our hearts. He knows that false supports keep us from standing on the Rock that cannot move (Ps. 18:2).The chapter describes a society that's unraveled. Children rule over the people; the young mock the old; everyone is oppressed and confused (Isa. 3:4–5). When God is no longer honored, disorder follows. We see echoes of this in our world today—authority mocked, morality reversed, confusion spreading. The same spiritual law still applies: when people forsake the fear of the Lord, they lose wisdom and peace (Prov. 9:10).Isaiah doesn't stop with social collapse; he shows how it begins in the heart. The people's “tongue and their doings are against the Lord” (Isa. 3:8). Their speech and behavior grieve Him. They parade sin openly, “declaring their sin like Sodom” (v. 9). It's not that they've stumbled in weakness—they've grown proud in rebellion. Yet even here, God's justice is mingled with mercy: “Say to the righteous that it shall be well with him” (v. 10). When judgment falls, the righteous need not fear. God sees, protects, and rewards those who walk with Him.The prophet also confronts the leaders of the people for devouring God's vineyard—taking advantage of the poor while claiming to represent Him (vv. 14–15). It reminds us how much the Lord cares for justice and humility. He never overlooks oppression. Whenever power is used to exploit rather than to serve, He promises to bring it low.Isaiah then turns to the proud daughters of Zion, whose outward beauty masks spiritual decay (vv. 16–24). Their jewelry and fine clothes will be stripped away; their vanity will become shame. God isn't condemning adornment—He's exposing pride. Peter would later echo this: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… but from the inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Pet. 3:3–4). The Lord treasures the kind of beauty that doesn't fade with time—the radiance of holiness and love.By the end of the chapter, the proud have fallen, the idols are gone, and only the Lord remains exalted. This is what God's refining work always aims for—to bring us to the place where He alone is our strength and glory.When we see instability in the world, or when personal trials strip away what we've depended on, Isaiah 3 invites us to look up, not around. The Lord is still on His throne. His purpose in every shaking is to call His people back to Himself.May we be among the remnant who humble ourselves before Him, who walk in quiet faith and courage, and who find in Christ our true security. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer… in Him will I trust” (Ps. 18:2).Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. Please note this exhortation from the apostle Paul, beloved. It was not only applicable to the saints back then in Thessalonica, but it is applicable to the saints today right here in East Rochester.And what is the exhortation? That we would choose to walk and please God more and more. Pleasing God should be the very core purpose of every single follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote to pastor Timothy, he said to him, “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim 2:4). We all are aware of the reality of the constant pull of the world system and it's subtle, and not so subtle, “mission” of seeking to conform us to its image and likeness.The Christian life is a battle that necessitates that we maintain, biblical standards of moral purity instead of living after the carnal appetites and desires of the flesh. Having a soldier's mentality means that we are going to put on our helmet of salvation and renew our minds with God's word that exhorts us to walk in holiness and moral purity.Again, listen to what Paul writes to pastor Titus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).Who are you living to please, my friend? Your flesh? Your friends? Or, the One Who shed His blood to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? SELAH

Isaiah 2 gives us a breathtaking vision of the future—a time when “the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established… and all nations shall flow to it” (Isa. 2:2). It's a picture of peace, when people will say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths” (v. 3). What a glorious promise! One day, Jesus Himself will reign from Jerusalem, and His truth will fill the earth like sunlight after a long night.But Isaiah doesn't give this vision only to lift our eyes to heaven—he gives it to change how we live on earth. After describing the beauty of that coming kingdom, the prophet turns and pleads, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (v. 5). The light of that future kingdom is meant to guide our steps today. We are not called to sit passively waiting for Christ's return; we are called to walk now as citizens of His kingdom.Isaiah's audience, like us, needed that reminder. Though they knew God's promises, their lives were filled with idols and distractions. Wealth had become their confidence, alliances with unbelieving nations their strategy, and superstition their counsel. They were going through the motions of worship, but their hearts had grown divided. The prophet paints a sobering picture of a people who still visit the temple, yet look elsewhere for wisdom and blessing.It's not hard to see ourselves there. Our idols may not be carved from wood or stone, but we still bow to things that capture our affection more than God—success, security, image, comfort. The Lord gently exposes these rival loves, not to condemn us, but to free us. Every time we look to something else to save or satisfy, He calls us back with the same words: “Walk in the light of the Lord.”To walk in His light means to live in truth—to let His Word expose what's false and to let His Spirit guide our steps. John echoes this in the New Testament: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It's not perfection God asks for, but honesty. When we bring our hearts into the light, we find cleansing, not condemnation.Isaiah also warns that pride—whether personal or national—cannot stand before God. The lofty will be humbled, and “the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa. 2:11). How wise, then, to humble ourselves now! Every blessing we enjoy—our talents, our strength, our resources—is a gift from His hand. When we acknowledge that, pride gives way to praise, and anxiety gives way to trust.The chapter closes with a simple command: “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils” (v. 22 NIV). It's as if God is saying, “Don't build your hopes on what can't last. Look to Me.” In a world that feels uncertain, that's good news. Kingdoms rise and fall, economies shake, leaders change—but the Lord's reign is steady and sure.One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10–11). Until that day, we walk in His light—turning from idols, trusting His Word, humbling our hearts, and shining with His peace. The same God who will rule the nations longs to reign in our hearts today. May we, too, say with Isaiah's generation: “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

1 Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. Please note this exhortation from the apostle Paul, beloved. It was not only applicable to the saints back then in Thessalonica, but it is applicable to the saints today right here in East Rochester.And what is the exhortation? That we would choose to walk and please God more and more. Pleasing God should be the very core purpose of every single follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote to pastor Timothy, he said to him, “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim 2:4). We all are aware of the reality of the constant pull of the world system and it's subtle, and not so subtle, “mission” of seeking to conform us to its image and likeness.The Christian life is a battle that necessitates that we maintain, biblical standards of moral purity instead of living after the carnal appetites and desires of the flesh. Having a soldier's mentality means that we are going to put on our helmet of salvation and renew our minds with God's word that exhorts us to walk in holiness and moral purity.Again, listen to what Paul writes to pastor Titus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).Who are you living to please, my friend? Your flesh? Your friends? Or, the One Who shed His blood to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? SELAH

Isaiah opens with a shocking picture of a Father's grief. God says, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me” (Isa 1:2). He's not distant or angry for anger's sake—He's heartbroken. His people have wandered, yet they still bring offerings and say their prayers. They keep the rituals but have lost the relationship. The Lord looks at their worship and says, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings” (v. 13). Their lips honor Him, but their hearts are far away.This isn't just Israel's story—it's ours. We can attend church, sing the songs, and still miss the heart of it all. The Lord doesn't seek our performance; He seeks our presence. He wants hearts that love what He loves, that show mercy, justice, and humility (Mic 6:8). When our worship flows out of a life aligned with God's truth, it becomes pleasing again. When it doesn't, He calls us not to hide but to return.God's words through Isaiah are both diagnosis and invitation. He describes sin like an infection that has spread through the whole body: “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint” (v. 5). The nation's condition mirrors our own apart from grace—wounded and weary, yet pretending to be well. But even here, the Lord offers hope. He does not abandon His people; He calls to them with compassion: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds… learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression” (vv. 16–17). His call is always to cleansing, never to condemnation.Then comes one of the most beautiful verses in all of Scripture: “Come now, and let us reason together… Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (v. 18). The Judge becomes our Redeemer. He invites us to step into His presence, not to be destroyed but to be made new. The Hebrew word “reason” suggests a conversation—a merciful negotiation in which God Himself provides the terms of peace. Through Christ, that invitation reaches us today. His blood washes away the stain that no human effort can remove (1 John 1:7).The message is simple but searching: God wants more than our ceremonies; He wants our hearts. He wants faith that shows itself in love, prayer that flows from sincerity, and worship that leads to justice. When He convicts us, it is not to crush us but to cleanse us. His refining fire burns only to purify. The same hand that disciplines is the hand that heals.Isaiah ends this chapter with hope for renewal: “Afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness” (v. 26). God's purpose for His people has never changed. He still intends to make us reflect His character—a people who live with clean hands and compassionate hearts. When He washes us, He doesn't just remove guilt; He restores purpose.Wherever you are today—whether your faith feels strong or hollow—hear the Father's voice calling: “Come now.” He longs to reason with you, to wash you, to make you new. No sin is too deep, no stain too dark. The blood of Jesus still makes the scarlet white as snow.Let's draw near to Him again with honest hearts, not hiding behind ritual or busyness, but coming as children to their Father. True worship begins not with perfection but with surrender. The One who invites us to come is the same One who makes us clean.Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

In today's passage Pontus Pilate asks Jesus the age-old question “What is truth?” With the proliferation of AI-generated media, endless online debates, and widespread disinformation, our contemporary society is experiencing “epistemic fatigue”, we are exhausted from constantly having to discern what's real. Many of us are tempted to throw up our hands like Pilate, dismissing the pursuit of truth as hopeless or irrelevant. But Jesus's response shows that truth is not just an idea to be debated; it is something deeper and more personal.In Scripture, truth is not defined merely in terms of fact versus fiction. While the Bible affirms objective truth (e.g., orange cones are orange), it speaks primarily of truth as an ultimate, personal reality: the eternal life of God. Truth is not just propositional—it is incarnational. Jesus says, “For this purpose I was born… to bear witness to the truth,” revealing that truth is something embodied in His life, words, and personhood. The biblical concept of truth is therefore not merely cognitive, but relational and existential.Every worldview is built upon an assumption of some ultimate reality. For materialists or rationalists, the material universe is that ultimate foundation. But such views are insufficient to answer the most important human questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my destiny? These existential questions demand a bigger framework—one that science or subjective feeling cannot satisfy. The Christian faith asserts that ultimate reality is God's eternal life, and Jesus came not only to reveal this truth, but to make it accessible to us.The teaching distinguishes three approaches to knowing truth: rationalism (knowing through logic and nature), mysticism (knowing through feeling and intuition), and revelation (God making truth known). Rationalism and mysticism both have their place, but neither can access the transcendent truth of God on their own. Only divine revelation—God speaking through His Word and through Christ—can lead us to real knowledge of ultimate reality. Revelation is not something we can earn or discover through intellect or experience alone; it is received by faith.Faith is the “organ” through which we receive revelation. Just as our eyes are the organ for light, faith is what allows us to see and embrace the truth that God reveals in Jesus. This truth is not abstract or detached—it is embodied in Christ and offered to us not just for mental agreement but for spiritual belonging. The goal of Christianity is not merely to know the truth intellectually, but to become people who are “of the truth”—who live in alignment with the eternal reality of God.Ultimately, we are called to reject the shallow, pragmatic view of truth that says, “It's true if it works,” and instead embrace the deeper, biblical view: that truth is what aligns with God's eternal life, made manifest in Christ. Jesus stood before Pilate as the Truth in human form, and Pilate missed it. The challenge for us is not to repeat that mistake—to not just ask “What is truth?” but to listen to the voice of the one who says, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Through faith, we are invited not only to know the truth, but to belong to it.

The Lord Jesus declared in Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. "Before He ascends into heaven, The Lord Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And we see that this spreading of the gospel would go from Jerusalem (Acts 1-7), and in all Judea, and in Samaria (Acts 8-12), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 13-28 to the present hour).The question that begs to be asked and answered is exactly what is the church called to be a witness of? Let's look at a few passages of Scripture that will shed some light on what we are to be witness of. Acts 2:32 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." Acts 3:14-15 "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." Acts 5:30-32 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."These, and many other passages indicate that these Spirit filled witnesses testified of the fact that Jesus Christ had accomplished the Father's plan of redemption on the cross, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day. The Lord Jesus declared in John 5:36 "The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."You and I as disciples of Jesus Christ have been called to bear testimony or witness to the works that Jesus has finished. 1 John 5:10-11 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."The record or witness of God is that Jesus Christ is the risen, exalted Son of God and that He gives eternal life unto all those who believe on Him. Hallelujah! 1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. "Acts 26:22 -23 "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." SELAH

The Christian life is a relational journey of fellowship with the Everlasting God that is entered into by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the regenerating power of God the Holy Ghost. Two of the most important aspects of every believers walk are knowing the character of God and the promises of God. The Lord Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:24-27 at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it".Right here we hear our Precious Savior tell us that we can expect difficulties and trials in our walks, typified by the rain falling, floods coming and winds blowing. Every person reading this devotional (and the person writing it) know how true these words of Jesus are. He is speaking about the reality of life here on planet earth before we die and enter into glory with Him forever. Job 5:11 writes, "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy".Here we see that the character of our Lord is that He is very pitiful and of tender mercy towards us. Oh how merciful and tender hearted our Lord is towards us in addition to His unconditional love and grace. But we also read in Scripture exceeding great and precious promises, like Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".Beloved, whenever the storms or trials of life come in your life, particularly those things that you cannot seem to understand, what we need to fall back on are what we do understand. Our God is Good. He is working out all of this things that we do not understand for His glory. How did Job stand when he did not understand what was goin on in His life? He worshipped. He surrendered himself afresh to His God. He knew that at the end of the day, God is sovereign and in control of everything. And he was able to understand because he knew the character of God, and whatever promises of God he knew at that time. Such is true for you and me. SELAH

Song of Solomon 7–8 paints a picture of covenant love in its maturity—passionate, secure, and unyielding. The beloved's praise of his bride (Song 7:1–9) is lavish and tender, showing that verbal affirmation remains essential in marriage. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The imagery—feet, hips, waist, eyes, nose, head—celebrates her beauty with honor, not objectification, modeling how spouses can affirm one another with dignity and delight.In Song 7:10, the bride declares, “I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.” This mutual belonging echoes earlier affirmations (Song 2:16; 6:3) and points to the believer's security in Christ: “You are not your own…you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19–20). Desire within marriage reflects the unchanging love of God for His people (Jer. 31:3).The couple's desire to go into the fields and vineyards (Song 7:11–13) illustrates love's fruitfulness. Healthy love grows, overflows, and seeks to bless others (John 15:5, 8). Love is not stagnant; it is active, seeking new expressions of joy and union.In Song 8:1–4, the bride wishes for the freedom to express love publicly without restraint. In the ancient world, only family members could show affection openly; her wish signifies that her husband is as dear as family. Spiritually, it reflects longing for unashamed devotion to Christ (Rom. 1:16). The repeated charge not to “awaken love until it pleases” (8:4) again affirms God's design for intimacy within marriage (Heb. 13:4).Verses 5–7 shift to love's enduring power. “Love is as strong as death…its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame” (8:6). This points to love's covenant nature—unyielding, unquenchable, and priceless. Just as “many waters cannot quench love” (8:7), nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:38–39). The seal imagery speaks of ownership and permanence (Eph. 1:13–14).In verses 8–9, the imagery of a younger sister not yet mature portrays the role of community and family in preparing the next generation for purity and covenant love (Titus 2:3–5). Believers are called to guard and guide others toward holiness (Heb. 10:24).The bride reflects on her own maturity: “I am a wall, and my breasts like towers” (8:10), affirming her chastity before marriage and peace afterward. Purity before covenant leads to security within it (1 Thess. 4:3–4).The closing verses (8:11–14) contrast Solomon's vast vineyard with the bride's personal vineyard—her own life and love—which she offers freely to her beloved. This mirrors the believer's surrender to Christ, giving Him the best of our lives (Rom. 12:1).In Christ, believers know a love that is eternal, unshakable, and worth guarding with all diligence (Prov. 4:23).

For the next four teachings we are going to be talking about issues in the world that affect every single person on the planet, regardless of what country you live, the color of your skin or ethnicity. Regardless of whether you are rich or poor, educated or not educated. I am going to kick off this series of studies this morning about a problem that everybody has, but nobody wants to talk about it and some people are completely unaware that they have it. But it's a problem that rests in each and every human being on the planet. The Bible calls it sin.Sin is insidious. It steals. It kills. it destroys. The root problem with all of the ills that take place on the planet earth are caused by sin. Sickness. Disease. Death. Wars. Pestilences. Divorce. Abortion. Child abuse. Sex trafficking. Drug addiction. Alcohol addition. Pornography. Racism. Injustice.Have you ever heard anybody say something like this….”If there is a God Who is all powerful and loving, why is there so much suffering on the earth?” And the thought behind the question is either that (1) God is not all powerful or that (2) He is The One Who is that the cause of all of the evils on earth. Neither answer is true. The reason for the evils on earth are caused by man, and the root cause of the evils on the planet is sin. In the first 2 chapters of Genesis and the last 2 chapters of Revelation there is no such thing as sin, sickness, or death. It is what that happened in the Garden of Eden between those 4 chapters of Scripture that is the cause of all of these issues, and it is called in Scripture “the fall of man.” In fact, the very fact that people question why there's evil, why there's war, why there's pain, why they're suffering, and why there's disease and drug addiction is an indication that deep within them, they know that this is not the way God intended things to be.Sin in the heart of man is the problem that is the root cause of every other problem that we are going to be talking about all this month. The Lord Jesus said: Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. These sins in the heart are manifested by sinful acts of various degrees, and sin separates man from God. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. And there is only one answer to that problem, which is the root cause for every other problem and that's the gospel of Jesus Christ. Life is short. Death is sure. Sin the cause. Christ the cure. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. SELAH

Song of Solomon 5–6 reveals how covenant love endures through moments of distance, misunderstanding, and testing, ultimately emerging stronger and more secure.The bride recounts a moment when her beloved came to her door (Song 5:2). She hesitated to respond, and when she finally opened, he was gone. Her search through the city—met with misunderstanding and even mistreatment—reflects seasons when God's presence feels withdrawn (Isa. 54:7–8) or when we hesitate in responding to His call (Rev. 3:20). Love is sometimes tested by delay, disappointment, and adversity, but true devotion presses on until the beloved is found (Jer. 29:13).When questioned about her beloved (Song 5:9), she responds with vivid praise, describing him as “chief among ten thousand” and “altogether lovely” (vv. 10, 16). This mirrors the believer's testimony about Christ—matchless in beauty, strength, and love (Ps. 45:2; Rev. 1:13–16). The power of remembering and declaring the beloved's virtues rekindles love and strengthens resolve during trials.In Song 6:1–3, the bride affirms her secure identity: “I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.” This covenant assurance reflects the believer's security in Christ (John 10:28–29; Rom. 8:38–39). True love is mutual, exclusive, and confident in belonging.The groom's praise in 6:4–10 reaffirms the bride's beauty and uniqueness: “My dove, my perfect one, is the only one.” Such affirmation demonstrates love's role in restoring intimacy after conflict. Words of encouragement, rooted in truth, heal wounds and rebuild trust (Prov. 25:11; Eph. 4:29).The chapter also shows love's fruitfulness. The bride is pictured in a garden blooming with beauty and life (Song 6:11–12). Spiritually, the believer who abides in Christ bears much fruit (John 15:4–5). Love not only survives trials but grows deeper, producing joy and life for others.Ultimately, this passage points to Christ, the perfect Bridegroom, whose love pursues, forgives, restores, and delights in His people. He is “altogether lovely” (Song 5:16), the one to whom the church can say with confidence, “I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine” (Song 6:3).

I want to draw your attention to the last verse of our Bible study today, 1 Thessalonians 3:13. "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."Me? Unblamable? Jude 24 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."Before you begin pounding your chest with pride like Tarzan, we must never forget that we are only "unblamable" because of the imputed righteousness of God by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God Who took all of our sin and nailed it to His cross.But I want you to see the phrase in holiness that is mentioned in connection with the coming of The Lord. The Lord Jesus is coming back just like He promised us in John 14: 2,3. And when He returns, He is coming for a holy bride, not a bride that looks, acts, and thinks like this fallen world system. Leviticus 19:2 "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy."God is entirely holy in His nature, His motives, His thoughts, His words, and His deeds so that He alone is exclusively called Qadosh, “the Holy One” or Qedosh Yisrael, “the Holy One of Israel,” but He calls the children of Israel to be holy as well.  1 Peter 1:14-16 "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."The word holy in Hebrew. qadosh: Greek hagios; Set apart, dedicated to sacred purposes; holy, sacred, clean, morally or ceremonially pure. The verb form of the word means “to set apart something or someone for holy purposes; different.”People or even objects, such as anointing oil or vessels, were be considered holy to the Lord (Ex. 30:25; Jer. 2:3; Zech. 14:20, 21). Set apart from ordinary use; different.  Holiness thus speaks of a separation (not separatism) from everything profane and defiling; and at the same time, it is dedication to everything holy and pure. Beloved, holy calling of separation coincides with our calling to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. You cannot be salt or light in a monastery or in a cave.  1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen (one picked out; recipients of God's grace) generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; WHY? that ye should show forth (demonstrate; put on display) the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."Paul would put it this way when he writes to the church at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness (holiness is an ongoing progressive process) in the fear of God."Beloved, holy living is a vital part of being a witness for Jesus Christ in this fallen world that we live in. Ephesisns 4.24 tells us, "And that ye put on (moment by moment) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."1 Thessalonians 4.7 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."Dear ones, what makes a child of God different, (not better than) the unsaved is that we are walking in the way of holiness (Isa 35:8). The saving grace of God does not diminish the need for us to be holy, it commands it. SELAH

The apostle Paul wrote these words to the saints in Rome who were going through an intense time of persecution because of their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing in prayer.  That passage of Scripture is a fitting description of the church in Thessalonica who was likewise going through an intense time of persecution.We are not promised a life without struggle here on earth. In fact, the Bible makes clear that the world will hate us for our love of The Lord Jesus. Jesus said told the disciples in the upper room what was in store for them when they would begin to go out and share the gospel. John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. The Lord Jesus also would go on and tell them in John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.We tend to emphasize in the world you shall have tribulation, but forget the promise, be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Yes, there will be tribulation. Yes, there will be persecution. But be of good cheer! Rejoice! I have overcome the world. Beloved, it is by rejoicing in the hope of the gospel that enables us to endure the trials and tribulations and persecution that we face here on earth.The Scriptures speak of the heavenly, eternal perspective that we as believers are to have in spite of the temporal persecutions and hardships that we will face in this world as followers of The Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Again we read that what enables us to bear the reproach of living for Jesus Christ by rejoicing in the fact that this world is not our home.The Bible doesn't tell us to rejoice in trials, persecution, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or in financial struggles, but it does tell us that the trials you suffer here will one day end. Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.May the blessed hope of the gospel inspire you rejoice today and live boldly for Jesus Christ in this fallen world. SELAH

There is only one perfect Father, and that is God Himself, the Everlasting Father. But because God is our perfect Father figure, human fatherhood should seek to reflect the fatherhood of God as best as they can. Biblical, Spirit-filled fatherhood is an “endangered species” in our society. But one of the most vital ingredients to a strong family, church and society is the need for biblical, Spirit-filled fathers. Biblical, Spirit-filled fatherhood is regarded as archaic and irrelevant in “today's culture” (whatever that means!). Sadly, even within the church, biblical, Spirit-filled fatherhood has been replaced by extremes of legalistic authoritarianism or flat out, no involvement and absenteeism leaving wives and mothers to “fulfill” a role that God never intended them to fulfill. Today's message is a call for the fathers and grandfathers of Koinonia to step up and accept our God given roles of fatherhood, in spite of how we feel or what society says. Men, our families need us to be Spirit filled men of God. Listen to this griping story: In 2003, Hurricane Isabel slammed into the East Coast of the United States, leaving 16 dead and cutting power to six million homes. The edges of the hurricane passed through Washington, D.C., prompting the president and members of Congress to find safer quarters. That was not the case at Arlington National Cemetery, where guards stood vigil at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the time, just as they had done every hour of every day since July 1, 1937. When the hurricane hit, the soldiers remained at their posts even though they were given permission to seek shelter. That's what a soldier does. He acknowledges the storm, but he doesn't give in to it. He stands firm. Biblical manhood and fatherhood is under attack by today's society and the liberal church.Like these soldiers, Christian men, young or old, are called to stand and do our duty while staring down the very storms of a God forsaken culture that is pressuring us to neglect abandon our biblical posts as heads of our families. When men abandon this pursuit of Christ like, Spirit filled headship or when this responsibility of leadership is usurped by their wives or simply taken away from them... CHAOS ENSUES in the home, in society and in the church. For the glory of God, I pray that Almighty God pour out His Spirit upon each and every father here today. SELAH

The Song of Solomon, revered in Jewish tradition as the “Holy of Holies” (Song 1:1), celebrates marriage as God designed it—marked by covenant, intimacy, joy, and mutual delight. It is not merely poetic romance but divine wisdom, revealing both the beauty of human marriage and the deeper reality of Christ's love for His bride, the church (Eph. 5:31–32).Marriage frames the biblical story, beginning in Genesis 2:24—“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”—and culminating in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7–9). The love between husband and wife is to be exclusive, enduring, and holy, reflecting the covenant love of Christ (John 13:34).The Song's imagery portrays deep affection: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is better than wine” (Song 1:2), “His banner over me was love” (Song 2:4), and “I sat down under his shadow with great delight” (Song 2:3). These expressions model the power of verbal affirmation, tender touch, and intentional refreshment within marriage.Warnings are clear. The repeated refrain, “Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases” (Song 2:7; 3:5; 8:4), affirms God's design for sexual intimacy within marriage (Heb. 13:4). The “little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song 2:15) picture small irritations or hidden sins that can harm a relationship if ignored. These must be named, prayed over, and resolved (Col. 3:13).Purity is essential. God forgives the past (1 John 1:9) but calls His people to holiness in the present (1 Thess. 4:3–5). Love in marriage is not “only a piece of paper” but a sacred covenant made before God (Mal. 2:14–16), deserving of public commitment and lifelong faithfulness.Seasonal imagery—“For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone” (Song 2:11)—speaks of renewal and hope. In Christ, the seasons of sorrow will end: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4). Until then, believers rest under His banner of love, finding in Him true security and refreshment (Ps. 91:1).Communication is central. Words of love and appreciation strengthen bonds (Prov. 18:21). Just as the lovers in the Song delight in each other's voice (Song 2:14), so believers should know and respond to the voice of their Shepherd: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).Marriage at its best is a partnership rooted in God's presence—two joined together with Christ as the third cord, “not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:12). It is a place of mutual refreshment, exclusive devotion, and holy joy.For both married and single believers, the Song calls us to covenant love. Christ's love is protective, passionate, and unfailing (Rom. 8:38–39). It brings rest (Matt. 11:28–29), joy unspeakable (1 Pet. 1:8), and a future where the Bridegroom will say, “Rise up, my love… and come away” (Song 2:10).

Song of Solomon 3–4 offers a rich portrait of covenant love in marriage, blending the beauty of marital intimacy with a picture of Christ's love for His bride, the church (Eph. 5:31–32).The Shulammite woman's longing for her beloved (Song 3:1–4) reflects a pure desire restrained until the proper time (Song 3:5). This aligns with God's design: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Desire within marriage is celebrated, while intimacy before marriage is warned against.Her search for “him whom my soul loves” models earnest seeking. Just as Jeremiah 29:13 promises, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart,” so spiritual pursuit is wholehearted. Even in times when God's presence seems hidden (Job 23:8–10), He is present and working.The royal wedding procession (Song 3:6–11) shows the groom providing protection and provision—qualities every husband should embody. The sixty valiant men guarding the bride recall God's spiritual protection for believers (Eph. 1:13; Eph. 6:17). The chariot's materials—silver (redemption), gold (deity), and purple (royalty)—point to Christ's redeeming, divine, and kingly nature.In chapter 4, the groom lavishes praise on his bride's beauty (Song 4:1–7), using the love language of the day. Physical beauty, character, and purity are affirmed. Her “garden enclosed…fountain sealed” (v. 12) symbolizes modesty, chastity, and the sacredness of sexuality, reserved for her husband. This mirrors 1 Corinthians 7:3–4, where mutual respect and exclusivity are central to marital intimacy.Affectionate words are central. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The Song's dialogue models the importance of verbal affirmation in strengthening love.The bride's guarded purity gives way, after marriage, to joyful giving of herself: “Let my beloved come into his garden” (Song 4:16). The two become one flesh (Gen. 2:24), a mystery that Paul says pictures Christ and the church (Eph. 5:32).In Christ, the believer is viewed as “all fair…there is no spot in you” (Song 4:7). Through the cross, He removes every stain (Ps. 103:12; Rom. 8:1) and calls us to walk in covenant love with Him. The intimacy, protection, and delight in these chapters are not only the pattern for marriage but a foretaste of the eternal union between Christ and His bride.

Last year I got a plant for my office. It was a nice bamboo plant, exotic looking, with lots of life. It sat front and center on my desk. I sympathize with Jonah because I was “exceedingly glad because of the plant” (okay, maybe that's a bit overstated. But you get the idea). After a couple weeks, one of the shoots started to turn brown, so I trimmed it. Well done, Dylan. Except the next week another bamboo shoot turned brown. Trimmed again. Well, suffice to say, that plant is now the property of Waste Management. If that plant was to grow and remain healthy, it was going to require constant nurturing. Watering, sunlight, attention, pruning, etc. were required. Life is fragile. And if we are to nurture real growth, it must be done through intimate care.Paul tells us about how the gospel grew through his ministry. He did not preach with “error or impurity or any attempt to deceive”. He did not come with “words of flattery” or with “pretext for greed”. In fact, he did not even exercise the authority of an apostle (which he had the right to exercise). The gospel did not come through Paul with domination, but with self-donation. “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.” A nursing mother is more than simply saying “a mother”. A nursing mother actively gives of herself for the growth and health of her children.If we want to see the gospel grow and develop in the souls of the people near us, then we must do more than simply proclaim the gospel with our lips. We must present it with our lives. But that does not mean that we are simply good people everywhere we go, smiling at the cashier, telling someone they look nice, and letting that red pickup truck change lanes in front of us. It means that we take active measures to donate ourselves to those who are closest to us. Yes, that is a tall order, but it is how the gospel came to us. More than that, it is the gospel itself - Jesus donating himself on the cross. If we want the gospel to pour out of us and into the lives of those near us, then it must be poured out through self-donation, as we depict the ultimate self-donation of Christ on the cross.

The greatest example of an evangelist or soul winner to ever set foot on planet earth was none other than the Lord, Jesus Christ. Whether it was the woman at the well or a great multitude, the Lord Jesus shared the truth with those that the Father sent Him.In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 9, verses 36-38, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest”. In the gospel of John, verses 5-7, “Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink”.Whether it was a single individual or a great multitude, the Lord Jesus ministered to them with all of His heart, for He knew that the Father sent Him “to seek and to save those who was lost”. We tend to forget that whenever we read the accounts of the Lord Jesus ministering to people, we are seeing the heart of the Father at work, for Jesus Himself said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father”.  At the end of each gospel and in the first chapter of the book of Acts we read what has come to be known as The Great Commission that has been passed down to every generation of saints throughout the history of the church. Jesus said to the disciples in the upper room, “as the Father has sent Me, so send I you”. And we learn from John 20 and Acts 1:8 that He sent them (and likewise God is sending us out) He breathed on them the Holy Ghost and sent them out. Please pray that the Lord will give you a renewed vision for reaching the lost to Jesus Christ and recovering the straying back into fellowship. We join you in prayer as we seek to invite people to come and hear and believe the everlasting gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. SELAH

The epistles that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians are thought by many to be some of his earliest epistles. One thing that will be clear to us as we work our way through these letters is that they reveal Paul's theology, and also give us glimpses of the transformed lives of those who came to salvation in Jesus Christ during these early stages of the spreading of the gospel. Bear in mind that this epistle and the remarkable “gospel-centered lifestyle” of the Thessalonians was written to a church that was largely Gentile in nature; who had recently heard and come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ out of a life of pagan worship and idolatry.He talked to them about the doctrine of divine election. He talked to them about the necessity of walking in holiness in the Christian life. He mentions the hope of the imminent return of Jesus Christ in every chapter in 1 Thessalonians. In chapter 4, we learn that one of the reasons why Paul wrote this book was to comfort saints who had questions about where their loved ones who had died were. He told them to comfort one another with the fact that that they were with Jesus.Beloved, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a comforting hope in this insane world that we are living in. But what I'd like to leave you with this morning as a personal application “takeaway” can be wrapped up in 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10. It says, "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come".Note beloved, in verse nine, that when these saints heard and believed the gospel, they turned to God from idols. That's repentance. They turned around. The Lord Jesus said, "repent, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). 59 times we find the word repent or repentance in the New Testament. Repentance is a vital part of the Christian life.Secondly, they began to serve the Living and True God. A truly repentant heart will devote itself to serving the Living God.Thirdly, they waited (like a waiter or waitress serving tables) for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the good and faithful servant that Jesus taught us about in Matthew 24:42-47, these saints were serving the Lord in the anticipation of Jesus' soon return. These transformed lives were telling others about the gospel of the soon returning Lord Jesus Christ to such an extent that every place that Paul went to share the gospel, they had already heard about it from them!What would Paul write about our zeal for spreading the gospel? What would he say about the spiritual climate and culture of our church family at Koinonia?“Blessed Father, we ask You this morning in the Name of Jesus to stir us up by Your Holy Spirit, in order that we might as a church family be about the business of serving You in such a way that souls are saved, disciples are made, and You are glorified.” SELAH

Our passage today is about encouragement, what that really means and how we can have biblically empowered encouragement.Life is good, but life is hard, and we need encouragement. We need to be stirred up. We need our souls knit together. Paul talks about this idea of being knit together throughout his letter to the Colossians.Paul prayer in Colossians 2:19 is that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding, and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The thrust of his message is this: if you want to resist false teaching, if you want to resist heresy, destructive, deceitful ideas coming into the church, knit yourselves together, encourage one another.Paul then gives some practical ways that we can encourage each other. Number one, companionship. Number two, specificity. And number three, personal touch. He doesn't just offer words of encouragement to the Colossians, he sends his companion Tychicus, so "that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts." Sometimes when we think of encouragement, we think of a nice pat on the back. But that that's not the type of encouragement that knits our hearts together. The Greek word translated encourage here is parakaleō, which can be illustrated by a father teaching his son how to walk. The father encourages the son, comes alongside him, stands by him, then steps back and pleads for the son to come forward. If you want to really encourage someone where your hearts are knit together, consider the situation they're in, then tell them how you are doing in the same fight that they are engaged in. Secondly, Paul encourages us to get specific. In verse 17 he directly addresses Archippus with a specific encouragement: "see that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord."Thirdly, we need personal touch. Notice what Paul says in the last verse. "I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." The people reading the letter would see that it's Paul's handwriting, but maybe it was a little more jagged than usual. And then they read that phrase, remember my chains, and think, oh, he's got chains on his wrist.Every Thursday morning, a brother in the Lord named Jack and I would get together and he'd teach me about hermeneutics, about how to study the Bible techniques.At the end of that time he got me this thick systematic theology textbook. I still use it every single week, and every time I do, I think about Jack, because when I open the front cover I see a handwritten note written just to me. A year and a half ago, Jack passed away. But every time I open that book it feels as if all the angels and all the saints of old are cheering me on. Exhorting me to read, encouraging me to pray. Calling me forth into truth.All the right information in the world can't do that. But the personal touch brings to life. When Paul talks about knitting of our souls together through encouragement, he's saying that as we encourage one another and as our souls are knit together in Christ, we inch closer and closer to glory. Father God of all comfort. Comfort us. Knit our souls together. Oh, Lord, we thank you that you reached out to us with personal touch to knit our souls back to you. God, what a marvelous mystery.God, you're with us now. You're in us by the spirit. You're in us by faith. You encourage us. You strengthen us. Help us to do that with our brothers and sisters.

As I've been studying Ecclesiastes 12 this week, I can hear Solomon's voice—aged, reflective, and full of hard-earned wisdom. He urges me: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Not someday. Now. Before the noise of life and the wear of age dull my hunger for God. We sometimes think we will finally have time to get serious about faith later in life, when things slow down. But Solomon corrects us—life doesn't get easier, only different. If I won't follow God when I'm young and strong, I likely won't when I'm old and distracted.He's honest about the effects of age: the trembling hands, fading eyesight, shallow sleep, and quieter passions. He's not complaining—he's reminding us that time is short and precious. Life isn't about preserving youth but preparing for eternity. This body is a house that's wearing out, and the soul inside it is meant for something greater. I'm sowing the seeds of my future now—what kind of harvest do I expect?Solomon then points us to what lasts: God's Word. Wise words are like goads—they prod us, sometimes painfully, always helpfully. They're like nails fastened by the Shepherd—secure, reliable, worth hanging our life on. There's one Book, from one Shepherd, and it holds all the truth I need. Every time I've let Scripture shape me, it has steadied me.The conclusion of the book is clear: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Not part of it—all of it. This is what I was made for. Not to accumulate, impress, or indulge—but to love God with all I am. Solomon, who had everything the world offers, says it all left him empty. But fearing God—that's fullness.And there's a final reminder: God will bring every deed into judgment, even the hidden ones. For the believer, it's not judgment unto condemnation, but examination for reward. Even so, I'm called to live with purity of motive—serving for His glory, not mine. That makes today sacred. It matters how I live, and even more, why.So ask yourself today, is the gospel a question mark or an exclamation point? You've been redeemed. You belong to Christ. And this is your whole duty: to fear God, to keep His Word, and to enjoy Him forever.

Over one hundred years ago, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. He established it as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” Much has changed since then; listen to this quote from Rachel Jankovic from Desiring God: “Modern women are starving for power. They are marching, demanding, and fighting — doing everything they can do — to try to obtain a sense of power because they are painfully aware of a feminine power shortage. The horrible irony is that they trample on the bodies of infants — demanding abortion rights as essential to feminine strength. But it is all a perverting of the truly shocking feminine power — that of childbearing, that which they are discarding. We have been slowly brought to believe that empowered women are those who have detached themselves from fertility. We stand by feeling embarrassed of our bellies, while intentionally infertile shells of women despise our childbearing, as though it was a hobby for the low-achieving and undereducated. They take the glory and the awe out of sex, both the act itself and the incredible archetypes God wrote into human sexuality. Love that is creational. mankind and womankind, constantly creating new men and new women. They have persuaded us that there is no fight in motherhood, no value to children in marriage. It's certainly true that no nation is ever greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of the next generation.”Every person reading this was brought into this world by a biological female who is identified by God as mother. A mother has the potential to touch a whole generation by simply loving her own child well with the love of Jesus. Actually, she can affect the next 2000 years. All of us are affected today to some degree because of the godly mother and grandmother who raised a young boy by the name of Timothy in the Holy Scriptures. 2 Timothy 1:5 says, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also".One popular poem, written almost 150 years ago, contains this line, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”  And a young mom added, the hand that rocks the cradle is usually attached to a mother who isn't getting enough sleep! One Jewish proverb says, “One mother achieves more than a hundred teachers.”Four scholars were arguing over Bible translations. One said he preferred the King James because of its eloquent English. Another said he liked the ESV for its literalism. The third scholar was sold on the New Living Translation for its use of contemporary phrases and idioms. After being quiet for a moment, the fourth scholar admitted: “I have personally preferred my mother's translation.” When the other scholars started laughing, he said, “My mom translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I have ever read.”Children of all ages, honor your mother today. She is not perfect, no one is, but there is only one person on earth who you can call mother, and it the woman who poured into you, loved you, and raised you. Pray for your mother, saved or unsaved. Extend to her the grace and mercy that you expect from God yourself. Remember, heaven is populated with imperfect mothers who trusted Jesus Christ for the salvation of their eternal souls, and purposed to live their lives for His glory and honor. SELAH

In the book of Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, God speaks of a rest that remains for those who place their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:9 says, There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. The Lord Jesus said to the multitudes in Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.The key to entering into this glorious rest, spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, is faith in God (Isa 11:10). In reading Hebrews 3 & 4, we learn that the Israelites failed to enter into the promised land because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:18,19 says, And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. The Holy Spirit goes on to say in Hebrews 4:10,11 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.So, dearly beloved, let me ask you a question: Are you resting in your faith or wrestling in your faith? Are you resting from your own works and finding rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ? Having begun in The Spirit, are you now being made perfect by your own works? Oh yes, we do work now, but the work that we do is motivated by our love for God and because He first loved us. It is only by faith in Jesus that we can have rest. It is this rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ that gives us the peace of God that passes all understanding. The perfect peace that stems from our mind being stayed on Him (Isa 26:3,4).It wasn't the giants that kept the Israelites out of the promised land, it was unbelief in the promise of God. Never allow unbelief to rob you of the rest that is yours as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is finished! SELAH 

As we move on in the book of Colossians the Apostle Paul begins to apply the word to the various areas of Christian living in society. One thing stands out bright and clear: Gospel believing people are called upon to live gospel centered lives that bring glory to God in this world.Paul is going to address the roles of the husband and wife in marriage. He is going to address the importance of children obeying their parents. He is going to warn fathers about provoking their children to the point of discouraging them. He is going to address the topic of slaves and masters, which would be like addressing employers and employees today. But in each and every area, the key component is that they are to carry out those roles as unto The Lord. In other words, obedience to The Lord Jesus Christ is the very key to carrying out those roles.Husbands should love their wives like Christ loves the church. Wives should submit themselves to their husbands as it is fit in The Lord. Children should obey their parents because it is pleasing unto The Lord. Servants or employees should obey their masters or employers with singleness of heart, fearing God. Masters or employers should be just and fair to their servants or employees, knowing that they have a Master in heaven to Whom you they accountable.The verses before and after these exhortations tell us the demeanor that we are to have as we live out these roles in society. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.  Everything should be lived out with thankful, wholehearted obedience as unto The Lord! In other words, allowing The Living Lord Jesus to love, submit, obey and serve others through my life.Heaven bound saints will seek to live gospel centered lives here on earth with Jesus Christ being the blazing center of everything that we say and do for His glory and honor. SELAH

Today we are celebrating the bodily resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus said that just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so His body would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. As Jesus was drawing closer to Jerusalem, He said that He would suffer many things of the elders and chief priests, and be killed, just as it was foretold in Isaiah 53; but He then said that He would rise again on the third day. Even his fiercest opponents said, we remember that deceiver said He would rise again the third day. Neither did His disciple nor His enemies believe that Jesus would rise again, but He did.Numerous accounts are recorded of Jesus appearing to His disciples. One account mentions Him appearing to above five hundred brethren at once. Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is necessary for a person to be saved. If Jesus did not rise again from the dead, there is no gospel (1 Cor 15:4). If Jesus did not rise again from the dead, we could not be justified from our sins. If Christ was not raised from the dead, our faith is vain, and we are still dead in our sins.Millions of people believe in the Jesus of history. Some espouse Him as a great Teacher. Others see Him as one of the many avatars of God. But the record of Scripture is the Jesus Christ rose again from the grave, and is a Living Savior. Jesus is our great God and Savior (Titus 2:13). Today is a celebration of the fact that Jesus is alive and that as He ascended up into heaven, and so shall He return (Acts 1:9-11). Because He is risen, He gives to all who call upon His Name eternal life (Rom 10:13).Trust the Living Savior, and He will give you life (John 1:12)! SELAH

Steve Jobs is famous for his black turtleneck, blue jeans, and new balance sneakers. He wore them everywhere he went. And his reasoning for wearing this every day seemed a bit esoteric - he felt that he had to make so many important decisions throughout the day that he needed to eliminate as many decisions as he could. One of the decisions he wanted to eliminate was what to wear. So, he decided to wear the same thing every day. I'm sure we can all relate… facing our closet every morning and trying to figure out what to put on for the day. Our clothes carry meaning and send a message to everyone we meet. What we put on matters. But what we “put on” spiritually matters far more. Just as we scan our closet and select certain garments to clothe ourselves with, there are certain qualities that Scripture commands us to put on. This is a highly intentional process. There are no accidents here. No one stumbles onto the street, looks down at their lower half and says, “How in the world did these jeans get on me?” Whatever we “put on” ourselves, we do intentionally. Such is the command we have from Scripture. We are to make efforts to “put on” Christ. Is this to earn Him in some way? By no means! It is because we are already “God's chosen ones” and because we are already made “Holy” in Christ, and because we are already “beloved” in Christ (all realities from Colossians 3:12 that precede what we are to put on) that God commands us then to “put on”. 

No matter how wise you might think you are, you'll never have all the answers for why things take place the way they do.Solomon was a wise man who believed in God, but he was perplexed with doubt and uncertainty. The problem was he only saw things through the lens of his human limitations and understandings, and he mostly was observing the ways of the world, the fallen world.He's not able to connect the dots with the character of God and with the truths of God. We've probably had those moments ourselves. And so he jumps right in and asks, who is a wise man and who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.True wisdom, a true encounter with the wisdom of God and the God of wisdom, lights up our faces. There's a glow that we have when we draw near to the Lord. Fear God. That's the beginning of wisdom. It's the beginning of knowledge. Fearing God is what keeps our hearts and our consciences clean and clear. The beggar who fears God is a prince, while the rich man who does not fear God is living in perpetual pain and suffering, in hell forever and ever.Rather than trying to use our finite minds to comprehend the infinite nature of God, we need to turn from those vain imaginations, those dark ways of seeing things to the truth of God.

In the final two chapters of Colossians, Paul moves from doctrine to duty, principle to practice. From this we learn that the purpose of all Christian behavior is to be rooted and grounded on the basis of solid biblical theology and doctrine. But as important as doctrine is, we must never divorce doctrine from practice, because the very purpose of solid biblical theology, doctrine and teaching must be applied in our lives if we are to bear fruit for His Name sake and glory.2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”. Contrary to common opinion, being heavenly minded does make huge difference in a person's life here on earth. The practical call of every follower of Jesus is to be a witness, salt and light in an “unsalty” and world that is lost in darkness. To “set your affection on things above” speaks of a settled bent of mind or disposition towards the things of the Lord.The apostle John would put it this way: “love neither the world system nor the things of this world”. This saying, “setting of our affections” refers to thinking, or having this inner disposition. To “set your affection on things above” means to look at life from God's perspective and to seek what he desires. As a compass points north, the believer's entire disposition in life should point itself toward the things of heaven.As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other and both cannot be followed together at the same time for the simple reason that the affection to the one will weaken and abate the affection to the other. Whatever you feed the most will get stronger, thus Paul writes in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”. Thus setting our affections on things above requires mortifying or putting to death the things that are of the world. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13). SELAH

Solomon, the human author of Ecclesiastes, did not always see things from a purely biblical perspective. When he “considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the oppressed", he felt "they had no comforter.” Though the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture, what Solomon is writing here is coming from a man who only sees the negativity, and there was a lot of bad things going on in his day, just like there is today. The gospel doesn't promise us that we would never have pain, that we would never have sorrow. It doesn't even tell us that we won't go through times of oppression. But we do have comfort, don't we?There is comfort for you and for me. Psalm 9:9 says, “the Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.“I'm so thankful for our God. I'm thankful that we can know that we do have a comforter. Jesus said to the men in the upper room, "it's necessary for me to go, because if I do not go, the comforter will not come." The Spirit of God has been given to us. Praise God for the Spirit of God!He's the one who comes alongside of us to encourage us, to comfort us, to guide us and to direct us. Even in our darkest, deepest moments, we have one who loves us and comforts us as believers.

Colossians 2:10 says, And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power. When God says that those who repent of their sin and embrace Jesus Christ as Lord are complete, He means complete. Jesus Christ is called The Author and Finisher of our faith. Because Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form, that means that those who are born again are complete in Christ because of the composite work of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Spirit, in the life of every single believer.We will see in our study today that every false religious system or teacher insists that there is something else that needs to be done in addition to faith is Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Let me put it this way, whatever that something else is, let's call it an “ism”: Legalism, Ceremonialism, Ritualism, Mysticism, or Asceticism. When any “ism” is insisted upon in order to be made complete in Jesus Christ, whatever that “ism” is, is saying that Jesus Christ is not enough.Not all “isms” are bad in and of themselves, and there are many Christian “isms” that are used to define a certain theology or belief system. It can be Calvinism, Arminianism, Pentecostalism, Dispensationalism, or Cessationalism. In many cases, the “ism” can become our identity and necessary in order to understand the gospel clearly.Beloved, let us never forget that whatever “ism” you and I may choose to embrace as a follower of Jesus Christ, the believers identity is found in who they are in Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself IS The Gospel. Remember beloved, you are complete in Him, and no “ism” was ever meant to “fill the void” and that only Jesus can pay the debt of our sin and fill the spiritual void within the sinners soul. No “ism” is sitting on the throne of glory. No “ism” is the Head of The church. No “ism” created and maintains the universe. No “ism” can save your soul.Rev 5:12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Amen. SELAH

One of the keys to walking in victory and over the fiery darts of the enemy is found in Colossians 2:7 - "Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." The key is found in the words, "abounding therein with thanksgiving."Why do the Scriptures speak so loudly against grumbling? murmuring? complaining? Prayerfully read Exodus 16:7,8. Numbers 14:27,28. 1 Corinthians 10;10. Philippians 2:14. Being thankful to God is huge in heaven's courts, beloved. Not only is it huge in heaven's courts, it is also one of the most effective weapons in the realm of spiritual warfare.Did you know that one of the things that “fuels" the fiery darts of the enemy (like when bees are drawn not honey) is when he hears a blood bought child of God murmuring and complaining. Listen to Abba speak to you and me this morning, my precious brothers and sisters, of how He values the attitude of thanksgiving.Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.Eph. 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.Beloved, thanksgiving unto God is a key to wholeness of life in the midst of a fallen world that thrives on negativity and discontent. Read Luke 17:15-19. Thanksgiving is the not just the language of heaven, dear ones, it is like kryptonite to the devil and his angels. And to that I say, Praise be unto God from Whom all blessings flow. SELAH

Excerpt from “To My Favorite 17-Year-Old High School Girl” by Billy Collins “Did you know that at your age Judy Garlandwas pulling down $150,000 a picture,Joan of Arc was leading the French army to victory,and Blaise Pascal had cleaned up his room?No wait, I mean he had invented the calculator.Of course, there will be time for all that later in your life,after you come out of your roomand begin to blossom, or at least pick up all your socks.” As technology advances and productivity increases, maturity seems to move in the opposite direction. It is not necessarily maturity itself that is changing, but our expectations to live up to those standards are changing. Responsibility, interdependence, resilience, discipline - these are qualities that we find in someone we consider to be mature. Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary defines “maturity” as - “ripe… applied to a young man who has arrived at the age when he is supposed to be competent to manage his own concerns”. Nearly 200 years later, we would not disagree with this definition at all. But our interaction with this definition is what has shifted over time. But whatever the world may think about maturity, as Christians, we are primarily concerned with Christian maturity (and the rest of us are just concerned with whether “maturity” is pronounced with a strong “T” or a “ch” sound). And we are also concerned with using the word of God to measure our maturity, not the mores of culture, even if it be Christian culture. The entire first chapter of Colossians provides us with a powerful dissection of Christian maturity. Christian maturity is marked by knowledge of God's will, fruitfulness, joy in God, a fixation on Christ above all other things, and a strong grip on the mystery of the Gospel. This is the blossoming of a mature Christian. But what is the sunshine that matures the flower? What ripens the bud? In other words, how does a Christian mature? We know what one may look like, but how do we grow up into that? The answer to that question can be summed up in two short phrases from the first chapter of Colossians: “He is…” and “Him we proclaim.”

In this chapter, Solomon writes about the tears of victims of oppression, with no one to comfort them. No one to afford relief to their souls or bodies. How grateful we can be for the Comforter, God The Holy Ghost, Who has been sent to come alongside of those who mourn or are oppressed. The older that we get, we become increasingly aware of the fact that life is not always a straight line from home plate to first base. It is woven with multiple mysteries. The people of God hurting, while the children of the world live in prosperity and health. I call this the Psalm 73 syndrome.Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.He would be brought to a place of despair, until he got alone with God, and saw things from the heavenly perspective.Psalm 73:6 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.The only thing that makes sense in this senseless world is the truth and the hope in the gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. Though we see not the complete beauty of Providence, yet we shall see it, and a glorious sight it will be, when the mystery of God shall be finished. May we live our live by faith, and not by sight. Trusting in The Lord with all of our heart, and leaning not unto our own understanding. May our contentment and completeness be in Christ. 

Today, we begin our study on the prison epistle of Colossians. Colossians is located about 100 miles east of Ephesus. The church here was primarily composed of Gentiles. This epistle to the Colossians is one of four “Prison Epistles” along with Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon. According to Colossians 4:16, this epistle was to be read to the neighboring church of Laodicea, and a letter that was written to the Laodicea's (not included in the canon of Scripture) was to be read to the saints at Colosse.Paul wrote all of these epistles during his first imprisonment while he was in Rome awaiting trial before Ceasar. Internal evidence suggests that though Paul had not visited Colosse (2:1), Timothy and Epaphras (1:7) had evangelized the city and founded the church during Paul's 3 year stay in Ephesus while on his third missionary journey. The epistle was written to combat certain heretical teachings that had crept into the church and have never gone away! We will address these heresies as we go through this powerful epistle. These false teachings were Gnosticism; Legalism, Mysticism and secular philosophy. False teachers also denied the deity of Jesus Christ. They taught that He was a created being and not the Creator Himself. They taught a false gospel of salvation via works or rituals or sacramentalism as opposed to the true gospel of His all-sufficient atonement for sin that grants salvation to sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, not of works or ritual lest any man should boast.What is said about Jesus Christ in chapter 1 reveals His preeminence over all creation and every created being and not only exposes as heresy, but renders useless all worldly, secular philosophies. It puts the nail in the coffin of legalism and every any any religious “ism”. Mysticism. Asceticism. Protestantism. Catholicism. Hinduism. Buddhism. Islam. Mormonism. Glory to God for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.It is only because of the redemption that is in His blood, that we have forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God. See what the saints in heaven declare in Revelation 5:9. In and through Christ alone, we are delivered from the power of darkness. In and through Christ alone, we have peace with God. In and through Christ alone, we are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son!! In this letter, we also learn that among the glorious mysteries of our faith in Scripture is the mystery of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, dwelling in the midst of those who belong to Him.Come join us as we journey through this letter of Paul, and discover how the preeminence of Jesus Christ is meant to affect our marriages. Our earthly vocations. Our child rearing. Our prayer lives. Our stewardship of time, finances and spiritual. And last, but not least, our relationship with one another in the body of Christ. SELAH