Knowing Your ABCs

Spring has come early with robins flittering about our yards amid grass turning green. I am sure most of you look forward to longer days and warmer temperatures, as well as all the outdoor activities that come along this time of year with the possible exception of cutting ones grass.

  An annual ritual takes place in Florida and Arizona as pro baseball teams get ready for the coming season with spring training. Players take to the field every day for hours to do drills over and over. Some to the players have done these drills {bunting, fielding, throwing, etc.] for many years, yet they know to perform at the highest level they must have the fundamentals of the game down. In a similar way, God’s people need to make sure they know the basics of the Christian life so they can best live as God has intended for His people to live.

  Over the next weeks I plan to go over the fundamentals of our Presbyterian beliefs. Just as the Westminster Confession of Faith opens with a chapter titled “Of the Holy Scripture”, so I am obligated to begin with our view of the Bible. If we do not get this right, nothing else will be correct. The Bible is our “only rule of faith and obedience.” These concise words for Larger Catechism Question 3 speak clearly. Only from the Bible do we determine what we are to believe and how we are to live.

  As with every fundamental of the faith, we will find this teaching rooted in Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” I cannot overstate the importance of basing everything that you believe on the Bible. To be blunt, if truth in not based on God’s inspired Word, by what authority do you think and live?

  Sadly the vast majority of people reject this fundamental of the faith. The reasons vary. Some says the Bible is too old. Others say it has many errors or inconsistencies. Yet when they hear that there is more evidence for the Bible than many much more recent works of literature their minds do not heed reason. When asked about possible errors, they usually point out things that can be easily answered. They succumb to Satan’s sly question, “Did God really say?”

  Just like a young child who learns his ABCs so he can then learn to read, so we must knows the basics of the faith, so we may live to the glory of God. Value the Bible. Know its incredible message. Then, by God’s grace, live out its eternal truth.

Delighting in His Word with you,

Pastor Gillikin

“Looking for Happiness”

  I watched so you did not have to. I am referring to an interview with perhaps the most influential “theologian” today. [This does not mean she is faithful to the Bible as RC Sproul says, “Everyone is a theologian.”] Oprah’s latest book hit the stores on September 12 and I strongly urge you to avoid it. I normally watch little or any TV in the morning. Yet I turned it on to catch up on the news and there she was talking about happiness.

  Oprah cited the poem “Invictus” as an underlying element of true happiness. She quoted its closing words that let us know there is nothing Biblical about her pursuit of happiness:

“I am the master of my fate,
 I am the captain of my soul.”

  So much for the comfort of knowing that God sovereignly rules over all things. Ironically knowing that I am not ‘the captain of my soul’ gives me great joy.

  When asked to define happiness, she said it is “a level of contentment, peace of mind and satisfaction coming from purpose and meaning I have.” I trust you can state what the Bible says about each of those three points. Quickly, “Godliness with contentment is great gain per 1 Timothy 6:11; true lasting peace comes from Jesus and not from within (Eph. 2:14); and, God created us for our ultimate purpose in life to be living in relationship with Him with all things done for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31).

  Her co-writer encouraged viewers to practice “Me-Search” instead of research. Somehow we must find meaning within ourselves. A life of looking within will only lead to despair for the heart is deceitfully wicked. Nor will seeking the meaning of life be found in someone else. I advocate “THEE-Search” – using a little King James English – to look to God alone for meaning, purpose, contentment, and yes, even happiness.

  Instead of reading her book, I encourage you to savor the words of 2 Peter 1:3 that teach us God “has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” Look nowhere else. Jesus alone has the words of life.

Looking upward with you,

Pastor Gillikin

“How is School Going?”

  Have you asked someone that question since the new school year began? This simple question can open up a good discussion about what is going on in the life of a young person. You might get to share a memory of your days in school.

  Now, imagine that someone asks you the question. Many in our church will respond that they have not been in a school classroom in over fifty years – and for some of you that number might approach seventy. So you respond with a story about your favorite teacher or subject.

  What you may not realize is that every day we live is time spent in God’s school of education. Before you think I am coming up with something new, I must point you to what the Bible says about this vital topic.

  Proverbs 1 invites us to attain wisdom, understand words, do what is right, and much more. Verse five calls the wise to “listen and add to their learning.” We can never have too much wisdom or understanding. Psalm 119:33 reflects what should be a normal part of the Christian life, “Teach me, O Lord, to follow Your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.” Consider praying this for yourself and others.

  The Bible stresses that knowledge involves more than our brain cells. James 1:22 calls God’s people to not just hear the Word of God, but to also do it. Biblically informed faith must be shown by works that show a life changed by the truth of the Bible. God’s Word teaches us to glorify God in all we do.

  If you watch WLOS news, occasionally you will see a segment called “Never Stop Learning.” While focused mostly on students in high school and younger who are expected to graduate and then contribute to society, we have the joy of growing (per 2 Peter 3:18) “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever!”

  What did you learn in God’s school of education today?

In His school with you,

Pastor Gillikin

Thursday, October 28, 2021

On Being a Sufferer

I have a confession to make. I think you share my view. I do not like being sad. I try to avoid pain as best I can. I rarely, if ever, welcome the disappointments that come my way. I will go out on the proverbial limb and guess that just about everyone would agree with me.

Since our church teaches that God calls His people to be good theologians, we can quickly point out that pain came into the world when Adam and Eve sinned. In Genesis 3 God cursed all humanity with pain in childbirth and in every other area of life. Paul tells us in Romans 8 that all creation shows the effects of the fall.

Paul describes the situation as so bad that creation groans to be made new. Knowing this gives perspective, but our hurt and disappointment remain. I once knew someone who suffered from severe pain in her foot. Walking became difficult. An x-ray revealed a cyst growing among the many bones. Surgery removed the cyst and the pain disappeared. The fairly quick fix worked for her. Let’s look at how we can suffer well – no matter how long it lasts.

First, admit you have a problem. “Houston, we have a problem,” remains one of the memorable lines in movie history. David shows how to do this in Psalm 6:6 “I am worn out from groaning…” Obviously this is a lament. God welcomes your words that tell Him life is hard. (Don’t forget, there is a book of inspired Scripture called ‘Lamentations’ for a good reason.) I read recently that it is okay to tell God you are sad, disappointed and/or confused.

Then, remember the character and person of God. Psalm 16 provides a comforting look at God’s traits. Note these snippets, “in You I take refuge…You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure…surely I have a delightful inheritance…the Lord is at my right hand…You will not abandon me…You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” I encourage you to read on meditate on the whole psalm. Your heart will be glad and your anxiety level will be lowered.

Then, be renewed though the process involves a four-letter word. In times of trouble the closing words of Isaiah 40 have been my “go to verses” since high school.” Verse 28 reminds us of the mighty character of God who “will not grow tired or weary. In fact, v29 goes on to state, “He gives strength to the weary.” So even when, per v30, we “stumble and fall,” God remains the One who watches over His people.

Thus, in v31, comes these words of instruction and promise, “Those who WAIT on the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, whey will walk and not faint.” I put the key word in bold letters, so you can clearly see what God often calls us to do in times of pain. Yes it might offend you. After all, who wants to “wait” when there must be something that we are supposed to do.

Earlier in Isaiah 8:17, the prophet said, “I will WAIT on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; and I will hope on Him.” Isaiah equates waiting on God with having a true hope in God. This is the assurance that God is great. God is good. God is sovereign over all things. God watches over His children with a father’s perfect love. God will be glorified in our times of trouble and pain.

We have the privilege of knowing this and believing it. It is our joy to wait on the Lord and to know that His is good. May we be still and know that He is God and that He is with us in our times of pain and suffering (Psalm 46:10-11).

Suffering with you,
Pastor Gillikin

Friday, June 4, 2021

“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  As we have slowly worked out way through the chapter on the sovereignty of God, you may have had the passing thought that it sounds great, but we live in a fallen world and at times it looks like evil is winning. I must agree it can look that way. We can contend, as we have seen in recent sections from Steve Lawson, that God is supreme, creator, executor and meticulous, yet still wonder if God triumphs in the end.

  Steve seems to anticipate our apprehension as he writes, “No matter what resistance is mounted against God, He is determined to execute His sovereign will. Regardless of how Satan or sinners may oppose God, He cannot be moved from accomplishing His original decree….God is determined with immutable resolution to bring His eternal plan to completion.” He goes on to quote Psalm 33:1-11, “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” Steve summarizes this by stating, “God is overruling.”

  Some familiar verses drive home the point that God “could not divert His purposes from advancing to their appointed end.” Proverbs 21:1 states, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Steve reasons, “To be sure, Satan is not a power equal to God. The forces of darkness are not in a position to conquer God – not in the least.” He then cites 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18 show this overruling power, “I will build My church and the gates of hell will not overpower it.” Lest we forget who God is, Steve points us to 1 Timothy 6:15 that glorifies “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

  We must also understand that God is completing what He has planned from time eternal. “Whether directly or indirectly, whether by direct intervention of by secondary causalities, God is bringing all things to their appointed end in fulfillment of His predetermined plan.” To my surprise Steve did not quote the classic text on this truth, so I will add it from Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

  He then adds that “God is ultimate.” By this he means, “In the end, all things will be subjected to God the Father. There will be no end to the eternal reign of God. Throughout endless ages to come, He will sit on His throne and perpetuate the free exercise of His supreme authority.”

  If ever asked if the sovereignty of God is applicable to life, please quote these words from Steve, “The sovereignty of God is like a soft pillow upon which the believer lays his head at night. There is no attribute more comforting to god’s children than the sovereignty of God. Under out most adverse circumstances, we believe that sovereignty has ordained our afflictions…All things – both good and bad, both prosperity and adversity – are being directed by God for a far better good. If it was not for the sovereignty of God, we would despair. But because He remains on His throne, ruling over every storm of life, we remain full of hope, knowing it is all under His guidance.” These are words to live by to His glory!    Pastor Gillikin

Thursday, May 27, 2021

“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

   Most leaders do not want to be called a micro-manager. An employee might say to a boss, “Don’t sweat the details.” Many strategies focus on the big picture. All of these statements have some validity and, at times, can help one’s sanity. However, if you order a hamburger with only ketchup and end up with one loaded with spicy mustard and lots of onions, the details matter.

  Steve Lawson comforts us with the fact that God is meticulous. I had never thought of God with that word, though I certainly agree with Steve as he writes, “God controls not only the big picture of world events, but also its most minute details. He orchestrates not only the macro, but the micro. God determines the day of everyone’s birth and sets the number of their days until their death…No one will live one hour, minutes, or second beyond the time God has appointed for them.” Job 14:5 teaches this truth, “Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; and his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.”

  We have seen in sermons from Romans 8 and 9 God remains sovereign in all things. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:9, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” and then in v33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Simply put, “The overarching control by God is settled and sure, down to the smallest details of life. Even the most seemingly miniscule occurrences are under His overruling control…Though man must make his preparation, the outcome inevitably belongs to God.” 

  What incredible comfort this gives to God’s people. Everything that happens in this world occurs with a purpose. R. C. Sproul said often, “There is no maverick molecule if God is sovereign. If he cannot control the tiniest bits of the universe, then we cannot trust Him to keep His word.” The choice become chaos in all things or comfort because God rules over all things – big and small.

  Steve closes this section by pointing to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 10:29-30, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Therefore, “The Lord asserts that even the smallest hair particles are under the control of God. The smallest occurrences in a person’s life are but small threads woven by God into the larger tapestry of His pre-determined plan…Nothing lies outside the control of God for the good of His people” per Romans 8:28.

  May we rejoice and takes comfort in our meticulous God!  Pastor Gillikin

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  Steve moves from God as Creator to God as Executor. God did not stop His sovereign work after creating all things. Instead, “God began executing His prewritten decree for human history. Every event occurs according to His eternal script.” These two sentences cause the blood pressure of many to rise dramatically. The seventeen words cause anger in more than a few as they revolt at the idea that God works all things according to a plan He devised before creation.

  Steve knows these reactions and many others will come. He responds with the clear teaching of the Bible as found in Isaiah 46:9-11. Read these words slowly with the sovereign character of God guiding your comprehension, “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning…’My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’:…Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Steve sums up God’s declaration through Isaiah simply, “God speaks at the beginning, and He declares all that will occur throughout time.”

  The God who has called us to be His holy people by faith in Jesus Christ is the God who is “director over the many events on the world stage. In the garden, God was presiding over the original sin of Adam and the fall of mankind into depravity. Though He is not the author of sin, the first rebellion was nevertheless a part of His divine plan.”

  All of history remains the story of God working to reveal His glory in the redemption of His people. “With supreme authority, God sent His Son Jesus Christ, into this world to be born of a virgin, under the law. Go delivered over to death on the cross to bear the sins of His people…To this present hour, God is governing over all the affairs of providence. Moment by moment, He is causing all things to work together for the good of His people (Rom. 8:28).”

  Steve ends the section on “God is Executor” with words of hope that we need to live with confidence and security. “God has not abdicated His throne. He is not on sabbatical. He is not a mere passive observer of world movements. To the contrary, God is reigning every moment of every day over the flow of human history – through every catastrophe to the greatest triumph.” Chew over these words and rejoice that God is executing His perfect plan to His glory and for the good of His people. Live with hope and joy! 
Pastor Gillikin

PS. Monday I had the joy of having breakfast with a man who works with a ministry that has a wonderful on-line resource that I highly endorse. You can find it at https://corechristianity.com/ Explore for a while. You will be challenged and will know our God better. Let me know what you think and I will pass your comments on to him.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  Many books with hundreds of pages per book have been written to show that God created all things. Steve Lawson in the wonderful book we have been exploring this year needs only four paragraphs to lay out a convincing argument for creation. I would love to just copy Steve’s words, but that would violate copyright laws, so let me summarize.

  As this section falls in a chapter titled “Supremely Reigning,” it comes as no surprise that it opens with the frank words, “As time began, God exercised His sovereign authority in the creation of the universe. In the free exercise of His will, God merely spoke, and everything came into existence out of nothing.” In two sentences Steve nails what we need about the big picture of creation. God as sovereign over all things spoke, as He was free to do, and out of nothing made all things. After quoting Job 38:4, “Where were you when I lad out the foundation of the earth?” we, like Job, “stand in awe of His completely sovereign wisdom.”

  Steve then cites Psalm 33:6-9 as an account of how “God effortlessly brought everything into existence by the mere breath of His mouth.” Other Psalms like 104:5, 24 and 148:5 teaches us, “Creation bears indisputable witness to the irresistibly sovereign will of God.” Truly God alone deserves our praise for His act of creation.

  The New Testament instructs us that Jesus, the Son, oversaw the forming of creation. Colossians 1:16 states, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and one earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.” The book of Hebrews in 1:2 teaches that Jesus “made the world.” Then in the great chapter of faith, 11:3 reminds us, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

  Science continues to claim the hand of evolution and a big bang somehow produced the glorious creation we observe. This certainly is not fact. Nor is it theory or even a hypothesis. It is nothing more than conjecture or wishful thinking. It really must be seen as a foolish attempt to deny the Creator and to justify worshipping created things. It seeks to make man and his folly supreme over the sovereign God. Rejoice! Your sovereign has created all things! Pastor Gillikin

Monday, May 3, 2021

“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  I promised in yesterday’s sermon to give you again an insightful quote by John Piper that came after he spent months studying one chapter of the Bible in depth. He states, “As I studied Romans 9 day after day, I began to see a God so majestic and so free and so absolutely sovereign that my analysis merged into worship and the Lord said, in effect, “I will not simply be analyzed, I will be adored. I will not simply be pondered, I will be proclaimed. My sovereignty is not simply to be scrutinized, it is to be heralded. It is not grist for the mill of controversy, it is gospel for sinners who know that their only hope is the sovereign triumph of God’s grace over their rebellious will.” 

  Piper gives wisdom that deserves to be read repeatedly. He focuses with laser-precision on the glory of God. Certainly, God calls His people to know Him, but they do not pursue knowledge for the sake of filling their brain cells with theological truth. God’s people strive to know God so he may be “adored…proclaimed…(and) heralded.” Therefore, all thoughts of God must direct us to worship Him.

  Without doubt, Steve Lawson would concur with Piper’s thoughts. He stated that God is sovereign over all things as he observes, “Before time began, God the Father was the sole architect of His eternal decree, which is His one master plan that encompasses everything that comes to pass.” Steve bases this on Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:11 that believers have been “predestined according to His purpose…all things after the counsel of His will.” He coined the term “Predeterminer” to capture this attribute of God. God’s “predetermined plan was so comprehensive that it included everything that would occur. Nothing lay outside this eternal purpose. It encompasses everything that will be.”

  While this attribute should bring glory to God and comfort to His people, sadly, many react with dismay. They wonder, “How can this be? Don’t I get to decide how things will go in my life?” Indeed, God predetermining all things goes against our desire for our own will and autonomy to be exercised creates a tension. We must remember this doctrine has Biblical roots and places the reception of all glory on God alone. Without “the perfect execution of His will” all of the universe would be in chaos.

  As we will see in weeks to come in Romans 9 “the eternal plan of God is the salvation of His elect. In eternity past, the Father make a distinguishing choice of those whom He would save” as Ephesians 1:4-4 and 1 Thess. 1:4 joyfully proclaim. “No one persuaded Him to make the choice He made. Not did He look down the proverbial tunnel of time to observe what people would do and then make His choice accordingly. For reasons known only to Himself, God made His sovereign choice of many sinners out of the fallen human race.”

  To repeat Piper, “it is gospel for sinners who know that their only hope is the sovereign triumph of God’s grace over their rebellious will.”  May we live in that hope to the glory of God today!

Pastor Gillikin

Monday, April 26, 2021

  “Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  Last week my copy of “Expositor” magazine (that just happens to have Steve Lawson as its Executive Editor) arrived. The issue focuses on “preaching and the sovereignty of God.” In the lead article Steve writes, “The truth of divine sovereignty is not taught in every verse in the Bible. Therefore, you should not preach on this weighty subject in every sermon.” Yet Derek Thomas adds in a later article, “Preaching the sovereignty of God will bring you and your congregation to doxology.” I will strive to follow Steve’s advice while hoping before the end of every sermon and during all our worship we joyfully proclaim the glory of God.

  Steve unpacks several “main headings” that help us understand God’s sovereignty. First, he highlights “the supremacy of God’s reign over all that exists.” In Psalm 103:19 David declared, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” Steve observes, “This announces that God is above or superior to all others. He is chief, greatest, and highest, supreme in power, rank, and authority…As the absolute Sovereign, God is governing every aspect of this terrestrial globe.” Without doubt I can add that God’s rule extends to the outer limits of all space. No stray atom anywhere is exempt from His sovereign rule.

  Psalm 93:1 proclaims God’s glory, “The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed with majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.” This psalm, along with 96:10; 97:1; and 99:1, use the phrase “The Lord Reigns” to drive home the point that “God is presently exercising His will every moment of every day…There are no boundaries on His jurisdictions. There is no statute of limitations on His reign. He was never put into office by the votes of creatures, and He will never be impeached. Heaven and earth are run not by a democracy but by a theocracy, not be a majority vote but by the choice of One.”

  Is this practical? Steve says there is only one “rightful response to the announcement of the sovereignty of God – the rejoicing of the entire earth. Otherwise, we would have untold reasons to weep, because human history would be in total disarray and chaos.” The supreme God is, per Psalm 135:6, “in heaven and does whatever He pleases.” That psalm had stated in v3 that God is good and in v5 that “our God is greater than all gods.” Certainly that gives comfort to His people. He is worthy of praise. Will you praise Him today?  Pastor Gillikin

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

  “Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  I like to give pop quizzes – though I did not always like to take them. I gave one yesterday to my Sunday School class. It led to a great discussion about what Biblical truths people need to know. Their answers – the Gospel, grace and Jesus – will guide our time together for weeks to come. They might get another pop quiz this coming Sunday. You can take it now. What three words can sum up Biblical theology? JEOPARDY gives contestants thirty seconds to answer Final Jeopardy, so you now have that length to respond.

  BUM-BUM. Time is up and your response does not have to be in the form of a question. I believe the correct answer is “God is sovereign!” Steve Lawson concurs was he writes, “The foundational truth of all Christian theology is the bedrock doctrine known as the sovereignty of God…The sovereignty of God is His undisputed right to govern all that He has created…From God’s lofty throne in the heavens, He actively presides over all the affairs of the universe. His universal government extends over all planets and peoples, over all events and outcomes. By the free exercise of His own will, God directs all the works of His hands with unrivaled majesty.”  

  Steve opens the chapter on this incredible doctrine with this quote from Jonathan Edwards:

“Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God.
God’s sovereignty has ever appeared to me a great part of His glory.
It has often been my delight to approach God and adore Him as a Sovereign God.”

  These words have great value for God’s people. As you pray, remember the God who hears and answers your words rules over all things. In the midst of life in a fallen world, you get to rest secure in His perfect plan for your life. When making an important decision, you have the privilege of asking Him to do His perfect will and you have peace as you submit to that will.

  Please never see God’s sovereignty as just another doctrine to tuck away in your head. Instead, let it find an eternal home in your heart as you take comfort in knowing that God “alone presides over all temporal affairs, over every life, and over each one’s eternal destiny. The Lord God Himself – the Creator of heaven and earth – is this ruling King.”  Live with peace as you stand firm in the eternal love of God. 

Pastor Gillikin

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

  “Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  The Bible clearly teaches that God created man in His own image. Sadly, due the fall into sin, humanity now tries to make God into its image. Many try to domesticate God, make Him user-friendly, or simply pick and choose what aspects of His character they will allow Him to actually possess and demonstrate. This shows the folly of man’s rebellion against God. What authority does the created one have to redefine the Creator? Clearly, he has none, but that does not mean he will not do so and even will believe the false narrative he has dreamed up.

  Steve Lawson shows us that making God into a human ideal conflicts with who God truly is. He states, “God is spirit, without any component parts. He is therefore indivisible. He cannot be divided into segments in any way. This is known as the simplicity of God. There is not one part of God that is holy, while another is love, and yet another part of God is wrath…All these attributes are indivisibly intertwined as the whole of one divine nature.”

  Chapter two of the Westminster Confession of Faith teaches, “In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity…” Lawson says it follows that “God exists as one unified whole without any divisions in His being. There is not a part of God that is isolated from the rest of Him. Each of His attributes encompasses the whole of His divine being.” It further must be seen that “no attribute is restricted to one member of the Godhead, but not found in the other two persons (of the Trinity). Each attribute is equally complete in each divine person…The Father, son, and Spirit are equally holy, equally omnipotent, equally loving, and coequal in each of Their divine attributes.”

  Steve quotes 1 John 1:5 “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.” He then makes a wonderful point to drive home the beauty of God’s simplicity. “There is not one part of God that is light, but another part that is dark. It is not as if His love is light, but His wrath is dark. Unlike the moon, God has no dark side. The entirety of God’s being is radiant light without any darkness.” The God of the Bible remains glorious.     Pastor Gillikin

Monday, April 5, 2021

  “Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  Let’s jump back in history two thousand years and try to guess what we would be doing if each of us were one of Jesus’ disciples on the evening of His resurrection. Actually, we have no need to speculate because John 20:19 tells us that evening on the “first day of the week the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.” Their Lord to whom they had devoted the previous three years had suffered a horrible death and they thought, with good reason, they would be soon arrested. During their time with Jesus they had known fear such as when a storm on the Sea of Galilee threatened to capsize their boat. On many occasions the words and actions of Jesus amazed them. In the locked room, the motley crew lacked their leader.

  John (who was present in that locked room) informs us their fear turned to peace as Jesus appears to them. His simple words, “Peace be with you,” caused that fright to vanish. John then adds, “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” A week later, Thomas who had not been in the locked room then, encountered the risen Jesus. Thomas has his famous doubt taken away and turns to worship His Lord and God.

  I write this on the day after our glorious celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. I intend for you to bask in another wonderful aspects of our Holy God. As the disciples knew (and yearned for) God is personal. Jesus had called each of them by name. So Jesus has called each of His sheep (those who trust in Him alone for salvation) by name. He also knows every one of them by name.

  This facet of His character exists because of His “omni” characteristics mentioned in the previous lesson. God can know intimately all of His chosen people since He remains all-present, all-knowing and all-powerful. Biblical theology has always maintained, as we saw in an earlier study, that God eternally exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian God enjoys relationships with His people.

  Steve Lawson teaches that God “is intensely personal. He is not an inanimate object or impersonal force. God is a personal being who knows, feels, and acts. He is not stoic. That is, He feels His affections to the maximum degree. He is fully alive, an infinite ocean of boundless being.” This is the God who has loved His people with an everlasting love. He showed in love in the entire redemptive work of Jesus – His incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension. Therefore, we have no reason to fear. Our God has conquered sin and death. As He raised Christ from the dead, so all in Christ will be raised. Enjoy that true hope!     Pastor Gillikin

Monday, March 29, 2021

  “Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  Since God is a Spirit, it follows that God is invisible. No one can see God. The benediction from 1 Timothy 1:17 that we used this past Lord’s Day makes this point as well as give praise for other attributes of God, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” God has displayed Himself as a human only when Jesus came to earth. Jesus told His disciples in the Upper Room per John 14:9, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” In Colossians 1:15 Paul described Jesus as “The image of the invisible God.” Steve notes, “Extraordinarily, the incarnation of Christ made the invisible God visible.”

  The Children’s Catechism answers the question, “Can you see God?” with “No, I cannot see God, but He always sees me.” This can be hard for children to understand and adults can struggle with it as well. Steve explains that since “God is without a physical body, He is immanent, meaning He is always nears…we understand that because God is a spirit without a body, He is everywhere present and thus is always near. He is always close at hand. No matter where we travel, the Lord is with us.”

  God is above and beyond His creation. Three “omnis” describe His vastness – Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscience (all-knowing) and Omnipresent (present everywhere). In contrast to God, humans have limited strength (and it seems to lessen with age), know just a little about some things, and can only be in one place at a time. Today people try to “multi-task” and later realize that they did none of those tasks (usually just two tasks) well. Yet God inhabits every square inch of the universe and does all things with excellence.

  Jesus came to earth with the name Immanuel that means “God with us.” He lived around 33 years on earth. By His Holy Spirit, God remains with His people continually. David enjoyed God’s presence and lived with confidence as He wrote in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me.” Isaiah 55:5 encouraged God’s people to, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” 

  By faith in Jesus we can live with the confidence and comfort that David so highly valued. Isaiah’s invitation rest in the immanence of God remains for His people. Enjoy it today.

Pastor Gillikin

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Happy Wednesday! Join Pastor Gillikin as he brings us a devotion on what it means to be on the right side of history, or better yet, the right side of His story. Join us! 

To watch the full video, click below. 

Monday, March 22, 2021

  “Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  The Westminster Shorter Catechism opens by stating, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” The next two questions establish that The Bible is our only rule of faith (what we believe) and practice (how we are to live). It then gives an incredibly short answer to the question, “What is God?” Chew over its 18 words, “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” A simpleton like me could write many pages on every word (while many just a few paragraphs on the “a”).

  Steve points us to John 4:24 where Jesus states, “God is a Spirit.” Therefore, “A fundamental tenet is that God is an incorporeal being without a physical body that can be touched or seen…He does not have flesh and bones like what a human being possesses. He does not have a physical substance that can be touched or seen.” However, the Bible has many “verses that describe God as possessing humanlike body parts.” Here is a list of a few: Exodus 24:10 – feet; Exodus 24:11 – hand; 2 Chron. 16:9 – eyes; and Isaiah 40:5 – mouth. Scripture uses “the figure of speech known as anthropomorphism. This literary device conveys God in an easy-to-understand way as God makes Himself known with humanlike features.”

  God brings Himself down to our human way of thinking without taking any glory away from Himself.” When the Bible speaks of the eyes of the Lord, it vividly communicates that God is all-seeing. It stresses that God can peer into every person and accurately grasp every situation. The arm of the Lord simply means that God is almighty, the mind of the Lord reveals that He is all-wise, and the mouth of the Lord means He speaks with authority. But these metaphors require understanding the same reality – He is a Spirit being without any body parts.”

  The fact that God is a Spirit reveals the wisdom the wisdom of the first of the Ten Commandments. We are to worship only the true and living God. To highly esteem Him we must resist all temptations to form any image of Him. The Heildelberg Catechism expands on this in Questions 97 and 98 when it states, “God can not and may not be visibly portrayed in any way…we shouldn’t try to be wiser than God. He wants His people instructed by the living preaching of His Word – not by idols that cannot even talk.”

  So, another fundamental truth we must know so we may know God and live to His glory is “God is a Spirit.” Pastor Gillikin 

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Join us for our Wednesday devotions with Pastor Gillikin. To watch the full video, click below. 

Monday, March 15, 2021

“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson

  Years ago a pastor friend of mine did extensive research on what he termed the ‘hobby horses’ of sermons. He concluded that most preachers have “a topic to which one constantly reverts” (definition from Miriam-Websters). He found that even when the passage on which the sermon was based had no mention of a subject the pastor would spend time on a subject. The preacher made true statements, some in every sermon, about subjects such as abortion, adultery and, for one who it turned out was preaching to himself, anger. Every preacher faces this danger.

  If I am ‘guilty’ of this practice, I hope it is because of what Steve Lawson discusses what I hope is my ‘hobby horse’ when I preach and hopefully in all my life. He observes, “the church suffers from shallow and superficial views of God. The inevitable result of such trivial thoughts about Him is people who are tossed about like spiritual lightweights with little personal stability. Never has the need been greater to recover lofty thinking about the character of God.. A right understanding of His character is vital to Christian living. A high view of God leads to transcendent worship and holy living.”

  He goes on with rich words worth chewing over. “How we perceive God defines how we view everything else. Our knowledge of God brings into sharp focus how we see the events around us…It determines how we see the family unit and gender roles. It dictates how we view our vocational work. Our understanding of God becomes the prism through which we most accurately see our trials and adversities. It dictates how we view life, death, and eternity. The knowledge of God is the ultimate paradigm through which we rightly understand everything else around us.” 

  Steve then invites us to “know Him as He truly is. Theology proper – the study of God is the most important of all studies. Known as ‘the queen of the sciences,’ this endeavor examines the most profound subject in the universe – the Creator, namely, God Himself…It is critical to have a right understanding of the divine nature because it determines how we see every other area of theology. Moreover, it defines how we see ourselves. The proper knowledge of God is the accurate lens through which we see the world around us.

  I trust you will take up Steve’s challenge and this high calling of knowing the glory of God more and more. As bonus you can click on the link below and learn about the biography of R. C. Sproul that I am currently reading. It tells the story of why he devoted his life to knowing who God is. It will be 25 minutes well spent.   Pastor Gillikin

https://renewingyourmind.org/2021/03/15/rc-sproul-a-life?mkt_tok=MTg5LUpMQS0yMTYAAAF71TCdP_1yj6JyyDoUMbqNmNTQpvbHSsM6e27hJ7HfQldVWczBPRagegiBUM5nIIyvsAX1PQNOO4y7X6t7LZFAXoHBjVvTV2eeLukobzna7hnZ

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Happy Wednesday! Join us for our mid-week devotions with Pastor Gillikin as we take a look at the "priceless" Word of God.

To watch the full video, click below.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Happy Wednesday! Join us for our mid-week devotions with Pastor Gillikin. 

To watch, click below.