Paul exhorts us to be strong in the Lord and to take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

Eph 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

What are the devil’s schemes? It starts with deception because he is the father of lies.

Jn 8:44b
…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Next he entices people to indulge in sinful behaviors, straying from God's path and appealing to desires and weaknesses through temptation.

Jam 1:14
…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Then he stirs up fear and anxiety. By instilling fear, the devil can paralyze individuals, making them ineffective in their faith and service. Remember the acrostic F.E.A.R.—-False Expectations Appearing Real.

Rom 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

These are just a few of the devil’s schemes. Today, let’s put on the full armor of God to stand strong against them. Let’s make prayer and hiding God’s Word in our hearts a constant priority.

Let’s walk in the Spirit so we won’t fall for the devil’s schemes! Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (cf John 14:6), and we are safe and secure in Him.

As we study the seven churches and messages to each from Jesus there are lessons we must observe and apply to our lives, most importantly that trials are inevitable and by God’s grace we must be overcomers.

Rev 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

How do we overcome?

Rev 12:11
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb.

Col 2:13-15
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Jesus won the victory over sin by His blood. He was tempted in every way but did not succumb. He understands our weaknesses and provides a way out of sin. Let’s be overcomers because God died for us to win!

We also overcome by testifying about the love, grace, and mercy of God in our lives. What He’s done for us, He’ll do for others.

Additionally, let’s be willing to lose our lives for the Gospel so others may hear and believe. Let’s be overcomers!

Mt 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

I enjoy listening to testimonies of how Jesus turned believers’ lives around. You could say because of God’s great love for them, they now love their lives. They love loving Jesus and others.

1 Jn 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

So how do we square Jesus telling us:

Jn 12:25
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

One commentary rightly says, “To ‘hate his life’ means to be so committed to Christ that he has no self-centeredness, no concern for himself. On the other hand, the man who loves his life will lose it. Anything in life can become an idol, including goals, interests, and loves.”

Living a full life, a life of love, requires us to be led by the Holy Spirit, Who is love. So you could say, “I love my life because I lose it for Jesus and the Gospel.”

Mark 8:35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Let’s hate our lives so we can truly live a life of love! A life devoted to Jesus and the Gospel of Love!

As followers of Jesus, we love learning the Bible. We know the way of God is the only way. We believe that He has plans to prosper us.

Ps 86:11
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

The problem we encounter is after hearing and acknowledging the truth, we don’t walk in it. We don’t live it. Bad habits are sometimes hard to break. The enemy tells us that the sinful habit is not that bad.

Prov 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Jam 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Let’s be wise and when truth is spoken to a sinful habit, immediately repent and turn from the wicked way. Then let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us walk in the truth.

Let’s with childlike and reverential faith obey all the commands of Jesus. We must obey because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey!

When the church was born and while it was in its purest form after Pentecost, the believers emphasized fellowship.

Acts 2:41-42
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Fellowship was right up there with teaching the Word, meals together, Communion, and prayer.

Let’s give fellowship with each other the priority it was intended. Let’s share our time, talents, treasure, and togetherness (4-t’s).

Heb 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Jesus is coming soon! Let’s be about His business and fellowship. We are all part of His Body and every one of us is integral and necessary!

As we lean into what it means to have fellowship with each other, we learn to share our burdens with each other.

Gal 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

The "law of Christ" instructs us to love and support each other through good as well as challenging times. The law of Christ compels us to demonstrate compassion and selflessness and to rejoice when victories and good news is shared.

1 Jn 3:16-18
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Let’s prioritize fellowship (koinonia) at Oak City Fellowship. Let’s actively live out our faith and fix our eyes on Jesus and His Body, the church. Let’s fulfill the law of Christ!

What does it mean to fellowship together as mentioned in the Bible?

1 Jn 1:3-4
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for fellowship used in this verse is “koinonia.”

Koinonia refers to a body of believers who share everything in common. This encompasses both social and spiritual dimensions. Not only do we have a close relationship with each other but with God, too. We share our faith, experiences, and purpose in Christ.

When we proclaim the message of Christ we are inviting others into a shared relationship with us, which also leads to greater fellowship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

To live and follow Jesus authentically, we must love and share with each other because fellowship with God is impossible without love! Let’s share our victories and struggles together — as one!

As followers of Christ we long for the day for Jesus to come again. We don’t know the day or hour, but we can discern the season or the events that indicate His soon return.

Mt 25:37
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

What was it like during Noah’s time?

Gen 6:5
The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

It seems our world reflects the wickedness of the earth before the flood. As we read and witness the evil all around us, including lukewarmness and tolerance of sin in the church.

Rev 2:20
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

It seems sex outside of marriage and idolatry is seen as normal life in America. How many even in the church consider Jesus as their first love?

Rev 2:4-5
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Let’s be a people who make following Jesus our first priority. Let’s love like Jesus and make disciples by teaching them to wholeheartedly follow Him. Let’s be ready for His soon and glorious return!

Ever played the blame game? Adam and Eve were the first participants. When confronted by God for their sin, they refused responsibility. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.

Gen 3:11b-13
Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? ”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me–she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

God hates sin because He is holy. He wants us to be holy, too, because the consequences of sin always lead to heartache and pain.

Gen 2:17
But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.

With the Spirit’s help, let’s immediately take responsibility for our sins and not blame others. Instead, when we sin let’s take full responsibility and repent. We will have a new beginning to do what’s right and bless others!

Today as a nation, we remember and honor and the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. We are thankful for their courage, sacrifice and dedication to our country.

As we honor our veterans for their service, let’s keep first in our heart our love for Jesus. His Word directs us to be thankful, while keeping love as our utmost priority. Be encouraged!

Jn 15:13-14
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Ps 91:11-12
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Let’s honor and pray for country, our veterans and their families, thanking God for their sacrifices and asking for His protection and blessings over them.

Additionally, let’s seek out a veteran today and with the love of Jesus in our hearts, thank them for their service.

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” is an old hymn I am singing as I look forward to gathering this morning as a body of Christ to worship our Lord Jesus together.

Thank You, Lord, for filling us with joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Recently I read this unknown quote:

“Joy is the flag flying high above the castle of the heart, announcing that the King is in residence there.”

What a tremendous picture of our allegiance to our first love, King Jesus! Joyful, joyful we adore You, Lord of heaven and Lord of earth.

See y’all soon as we honor our Lord and King!

Phil. 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Good morning Saints!

I hope your weekend is going well. Let’s stay strong in the Lord, knowing there are scoffers seemingly around every corner.

Jude 1:18-19
In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

Scoffers disregard the warnings about not following Jesus wholeheartedly and live in a way that contradicts the faith. They are typically seen as people who dismiss the truth and encourage others to do the same.

We know that following Jesus wholeheartedly is anti-cultural. That’s why we must be led by the Spirit. He will drown out the noise so we will walk in the truth.

Jude 1:20-21
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Let’s bring truth to culture. Let’s love God and people!

Good morning Saints!

When we are led by the Spirit, God gives us the ability to endure trials and encourages us to stay in the good fight of faith.

Rom 15:5
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus…

As a church each one of us is an integral and necessary part of the body. When we are in step with the Spirit as one we are unified and make God look good to a world who does not understand His ways or why we follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

Rom 15:6
…so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As one, let’s make God look good by following Jesus wholeheartedly, living in purity, filled with the Spirit, living a life set apart for God’s purposes. Then we will have the endurance and encouragement to keep telling others by word and deeds about God’s great love evidenced by the Cross.

Let’s keep—as one—the goal in everything we do to hear, “Well done!”

Good morning Saints!

Living for Christ, especially in our culture, is no doubt challenging. There are many competing interests for our love. We can wrongly prioritize things of this world over Jesus.

1 Jn 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Most of the churches in Revelation 2-3 are rebuked for their lack of love for Jesus.

Rev 2:4
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

How do we overcome the constant competition of the world for our love? How do we love Jesus first?

Rev 12:11
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.

With the Spirit’s help let’s love God, love people, and make disciples! Let’s long to hear our Savior say, “Well done!”

Rev 2:7b
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Let’s be overcomers!