Category: Struggle

Victory of Faith

6/15/2025

Hebrews 11:32-35
Hockey is one of the most demanding sports. The game is played for 60 minutes with the opposing team having one goal, your defeat. The opponent will constantly chase and harass you. They will try to knock you off your game, knock you off your feet, knock you into the boards, and knock the puck into your goal. The game is a constant battle. In the end there is only one winner. All the skirmishes and battles for the puck lead the strongest team to victory. This constant battle describes the life of faith for the believer in Jesus Christ. But what if you knew that that you were on the winning team? Hebrews 11 builds on the theme that belief in Christ is supreme. After previously covering a number of hero’s of the faith the author mentions six specific individuals plus the general group of prophets (32). These are ones who have lived a life of victorious faith in God in the battles of life when the opposition is fierce (33-35). However, unlike a hockey player, their faith views the impossible as possible because they are on God’s team. We struggle with this because we live life with earthly eyes that do not have an eternal perspective. The faith chapter of Hebrews 11 is recorded so we can see that victory is possible when everything points to certain defeat. This chapter and the examples of people who lived by faith are given to encourage us in living a life of faith that is based securely on Christ. You see, Jesus has already secured the eternal outcome on the cross. Through the example of these people we are encouraged to live by faith in our daily spiritual battles. 1 John 5:4-5 tells us that victorious people of faith are children of God who have complete confidence in God through their belief in only Jesus as their savior. Are you on His team? Are you relying on His strength for His outcome?

For More See HEBREWS

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Guarantee of One

4/20/2025

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Luke 24
From my childhood, many years ago, I recall playing with the canned goods in my mother’s kitchen. The metal cans were perfect for hauling in trucks, stacking in pyramids or rolling across the floor. For Mom, the cans filled with food were a good way to keep track of mischievous boys. To this day I clearly remember the dented cans and the fun that was had in that kitchen. The problem was that after several uses the labels on the cans were no longer attached, either intentionally or unintentionally. My brothers and I did not care, but for Mom that made meal preparation interesting. I can still remember Mom shaking the cans to try and guess the contents. Wanting canned corn Mom would open a can to find peaches, or finding baked beans instead of green beans. The menu would then instantly change and the conversation at the dinner table became very interesting. On Easter morning, approximately two thousand years ago, a tomb was opened. In Luke 24 the reality regarding the contents of Jesus empty tomb challenged the disciples, because dead people do not move (1-12). However, in searching the scriptures (13-27), their eyes were opened (28-32). The disciples now faced the reality that God’s work of salvation that had just been completed. They could not keep silent regarding their encounter with Jesus (33-36). My mother did not know the contents of the cans, but her experience upon opening them changed her conversation around the table. The same was true for the disciples of Jesus. But what about us? We live in a world that is governed by human expectation and measure. Like the disciples we struggle with beliefs when God changes the reality. The resurrection of Jesus should challenge our reality, change our beliefs and clarify our conversations. The open tomb and the resurrection point to the guarantee that we can have new life through belief in Jesus.

For More See LUKE

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Temptation

4/16/2023

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Matthew 4:1-11
Temptation, how can we overcome it and how can we prepare for it? It was a very hot day and I was thirsty. In the middle of that day I faced a huge temptation to take a case of juice that was in a shopping cart in the middle of a store parking lot. Someone forgot to put it in their vehicle. No one was around so I picked it up… and then returned it to the customer service desk. I really could have used it, but I chose not to take it because taking it would not have pleased God. In Matthew 4:1-11 Satan tempts Jesus to do his bidding and submit to him, but Jesus rejected each temptation. After each temptation He quotes Scripture to combat the specific temptation placed before him. There are four ways that we can address the temptations that come into our lives. First, we need to be aware of Satan’s temptations by being watchful for our own pride and human weaknesses. Second, we need to prepare for temptations by spending time with God and His Word. Third, we will declare that God alone is worthy of our worship. In contrast, Satan’s desire is for us to submit and follow him rather than God. Finally, we need to care for others who are tempted, and point them to Jesus, our savior, who will help them and give them hope. Finally, our view of God will affect our attitude toward others who are struggling with temptations. When we are under the pressures of temptation we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow His solutions for life. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God will give the strength to stand up under the temptations that we face. Do we believe that God is greater than Satan and our temptations? What we believe will affect the way we live.

For more see MATTHEW or TEMPTATION

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Hope - Encouragement to Live by Faith

1/30/2022

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Revelation 1:1-8
Do you remember the Merry Go Round from a school playground in your child hood. I remember one where several of us boys would get on while the others remained off. The task was very simple. If you were on the Merry Go Round you tried with all your might to stay on. If you were off the Merry Go Round your job was to spin it as fast as possible to make those that were on the Merry Go Round fall off. I remember being on the Merry Go Round and spinning so fast and so long that I thought it would never stop while my brothers and friends were just laughing at me. Have you ever wanted something to end, but had no power to stop it? The spinning problem just seemed to go on and on without an end in sight. Perhaps you feel like that now. Perhaps you see this year is a repeat of the previous year, or you feel like this month will never end. Your thoughts are sort of like being on the Merry Go Round as you scream, “Stop the world and let me off!” The book of Revelation is a reminder to remain faithful even when the world and our life seems to be spinning out of control. Revelation reminds us that in the end Jesus wins and controls everything. That was an encouragement to the churches and individuals John was writing to who were struggling to hang on amid pressures and persecution of their faith. Today we may read the book of Revelation looking for answers about the future. However, the emphasis throughout this book is to remain faithful to Jesus by obeying what is written (Rev. 1:3) and hang on to our faith. Make Jesus your focus and not the problem that is spinning out of control.

For more see REVELATION

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Victory of Faith

Guarantee of One

Temptation

Hope - Encouragement to Live by Faith

Pastor Ken

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