The Remnant - Micah 5

Note that the “child” was born in Bethlehem, but the “Son” was “from everlasting.” Christ was pre-existent, else He could not have by His atonement made propitiation for the sin of the world. Despite the rejection of the messiah God still has a remnant. Today, even now the Christ is rejected by this world. But, you can do your happy dance if you are a disciple of Jesus because he has a remnant on this earth right now. That could be you! 

Pastor Patrick

The Rejected Kingdom - Micah 4

A kingdom like nothing this world has ever experienced is what Micah is sharing here. A kingdom where Christ is the King over all, peace and prosperity truly has arrived, not a financial prosperity but one of peace and tranquility. A mountain in scripture refers to a great earthly kingdom. We are unable to even imagine what this will be like, but we can try. Israel's rejection of Christ blows my mind. This was what they had been waiting for but because they were looking for the kingdom to come in a way that was skewed by the day's political and social environment, they rejected it. God must really love this people because despit their rejection he is going to once and for all restore them to Himself. I look forward to this day, do you?

Pastor Patrick

Hypocrites - Micah 3

Just because you are recognized as religious does not mean you can expect God's favor on your life. Here in chapter 3 the prophet is rebuking these religious leaders for their pious attitude. I see it, it happens all the time. A person that has been walking with God for awhile and is more mature then those that are seeking or has just come to know God, will become critical and lay down burdens on these fragile young Christians. Most of the time it's some superficial, christianeze type of judgement that is impossible for the new believer to carry and overcome yet in thier walk. 

These pious leaders are guilty of politicizing the body of Christ and deceiving even our Pastors and leaders to fall away from the true mission of God. They are like a wolf pack that run around the outside edges of the body of Christ until a weak brother or sister gets to close to the edge and then they come in for the attack and devour the spiritually young Christian. 

You who are critical, you who eat the young, are without excuse. Jesus came and showed us the way to disciple people the right way. Jesus walked with his disciples. Are you walking with those you are being critical of?

Pastor Patrick

No Rest for the Wicked - Micah 2

No rest for the wicked. Some of us remember this song from Ozzy. 

There'll be no rest for the wicked

There's no song for the choir

There's no hope for the weary

If you let them win without a fight

I let my good one down

I let my true love die

I had his heart but I broke it every time

Sinners can not expect to rest in a land they have polluted with their sins. We can't expect to have a life of blessing when our lust for worldly pleasure has corrupted our hearts. This is what Micah was preaching against to Israel. Even Ozzy, the self proclaimed sinner of sinners, gets it with his words "I had his heart but I broke it every time". Our sin breaks Gods heart and forces his hand to discipline us. 

Pastor Patrick

The High Place in my Heart - Micah 1

Micah 1

Today will be in the book of Micah. I'm amazed at how familiar the sound of the study the background on the book of Micah is. I'm not saying that it is speaking of America but is it a coincidence? Have to remember that idol worship which is what is being addressed in this first chapter is not just dealing with the image carved of wood or stone but it is the condition of the heart and worshiping the actual spirit of the image which is a demon spirit. 

God has always desired our hearts. So let's examine ourselves this morning after reading the text to see if we have anything in our lives and our heart that may be getting in the way of Jesus truly being the king. Also take the time to study the meaning of each city Micah is prophesying against. Each one has a meaning that is extremely personal to you and addresses areas of compromise and sin. Who holds the high place in your heart?

Pastor Patrick

Critical Acclaim

Galations 6

If you have watched the news at all lately then you are aware that a small faction of Islam named ISIS is wreaking havoc in the Middle East. These people are evil and there is no question about that; however, the Muslim community refuses to stand against their evil actions and it brings shame upon their religion and all that have fought and died for what they believe in the past. This type of faction exists because they support ISIS by their silence. 

There is a time to be silent and a time to speak up. Those silent conversations are what I want to address real quick. Are you quick to look at someone's weaknesses? Or do you first see thier gifts and strength they have. This is usually the conversation we have with ourselves or in a gossiping situation. This spirit of criticism. We are called to build up and encourage fellow believers and it starts in the heart. If you are giving lip service but in your heart saying this person dosnt belong or deserve this, then you are walking in the fruit of selfishness and jealousy. BAM. 

Let us build each other up in love. That might mean a rebuke or making a stand against anything the body has strayed into, like this ISIS group with the Muslims. The difference is that we have the truth of the risen Christ that separates us and removes the blinders to allow us to walk in true love.

Pastor Patrick

How Sweet it Is

Galations 5:16-26

19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20  trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21  the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom

Do you notice any of these issues in your own lives? You don't have a choice here, one way or another you are producing fruit, be it rotten fruit or sweet fruit. 

Pastor Patrick

Rockstars

Galations 5:1-15

Way back in the day Paul was addressing the issue of law or grace for ones salvation. That's great, but how does that make a difference today? What does that legalism look like today and how is it arresting the believers in Christ today? Legalism tells me that in order for me to earn Gods favor I must keep this set of rules and regulations, right? Grace on the other hand tells me that by trusting in Gods gift of His Son Jesus I have been given the gift of Gods favor and there is no more need for me to try and earn it. 

So, do I need to care what you think of me if I cuss, drink and smoke? Nope, keep your legalistic curse and put it on yourself. Pull the log out of your own eye. Haha, kinda like saying that. I will not diminish the fact that through Gods grace our shortcomings and desires for sin and selfishness weaken as we are transformed into the image of the risen Christ, our Lord Jesus. We are rockstars in Gods eyes! 

Pastor Patrick

Slave or Free

Galations 4:21-31

Are you the son of a slave or the son of the free woman. More than likely you're the son of a slave but through Jesus and the adoption into his family we have been set free and that is what Paul is trying to point out here to the Galatians. He is telling the sweet folks that though they were slaves to the world now they've been set free so why are they wanting to go back to the world. 

Going back to the world and it's slavery will straight up disqualify you from the inheritance you already possess through faith in Christ Jesus so why would you want to go back to that?

Pastor Patrick

The Knowledge of Peace

Galations 4:8-20

The last thing we want to see happen is a person, once they have been given the truth of the gospel, is to go backwards, back to the world and its cultish ideals. This is Paul's concern here with the Galations. Do you ever find yourself going back to the worlds gods? You might ask "what are the worlds gods"? Money, American Dream, credit, selfish pleasure, live to party, and the philosophy of self. Everything in the world centers around how to make yourself happy. There is nothing wrong with being happy, but there is a difference between happiness and peace. 

Pastor Patrick

Religion of The World

Galations 4:1-7

Paul in combating the heretics that were trying to enslave the Galatian believers brings up an important fact. The Gentile believers were adopted into the family of God, and the proof is the Holy Spirit that was given to them as the seal of that inheritance. 

You were living in the world and following the wisdom of the worlds views and culture. God in His loving way opened a door for you to walk through that leads you to His presence. Now that you have His Holy Spirit living in you the philosophy of this generation isn't as attractive as it once was. The accepted practices of our culture, homosexuality, abortion, same sex marriage, just plain self centered living for what pleasures you is no longer the desire of your heart, but being in the Fathers presence. 

Some people have a hard time with accepting the truths established for us in Gods Word because it is in direct conflict with the accepted self centered practices and philosophical views of our culture. This division for a Christian is a spiritual battle that takes place when God reveals His truth to you. It's hard to shake off these worldly ideals that have been breeded into you since the day you were born. But, if you really are saved and have the Holy Spirit living in you then these practices and ideals of this world become repulsive to you. We acknowledge that His word, not ours, is what's most important. 

Pastor Patrick

Breaking the Law

Galations 3:15-29

If you think keeping a bunch of rules makes you holy and righteous with God, you have been deceived just as our Jewish brothers and sisters have been. This rule keeping theology is addressed here in this passage. Is there anything wrong with the rules? No, not when applied in the correct context. The rules are not to become an added burden in life but designed to wake us up to our sin. If you then recognize your sinfull actions before God and trust in His way of cleansing you, through His Son Jesus, then the rule has worked as the tool it was designed for. The rule was given to make us aware of our sin and keep us in the way of salvation until Christ came which fulfilled the promise given 400 years earlier. 

Pastor Patrick

Rule Keepers

Galations 3:1-14

Does keeping the rules of religious duty draw us closer to God, or make us perfect like God? The false teachers were putting a heavy burden on the Galations by teaching that they could not be saved without also observing the laws of Moses. Both Non Jew and Jew alike. Do you notice this kind of false religious expectation in the church you go to? Is there a obligation put upon you to raise your hands during worship or kneel when you pray. While these things are good and can, when led by the Holy Spirit, draw you into a place of intimacy with God, they are not in any way going to make a difference in the scope of your salvation or right standing with God. That has been taken care of by Jesus. 

Your efforts to draw closer to God is foolishness. Do you think that through your own efforts God will work more miracles or heal more people? No! Does He do these things because of your amazing moral character? No! Your goodness is like going to the trash dump and digging through the rotten fruit for breakfast. Your moral character is like a dog infested with flees, it is worthless and selfish by nature. 

Doing things for God is different then embracing what God does for you and through you. Your life will change the path it has taken when you simply believe God. Purity and holiness flows from God above down to us. 

Pastor Patrick

Faith Alone

Galations 2:15-21

Well, here we go. What makes you and I good enough to stand before the uncreated creator of the universe? FAITH! It's called justification. You are justified by your faith in Christ. This is Gods plan and there is no other. No plan B people. This is a simple plan and concept based on belief. Do you believe God? Abraham was considered righteous because he believed God. 

An issue also addressed here is the added burden we put on ourselves and others once we are justified by our faith. We can never be justified by what we say or do because our justification was completed by Christ. Christ performed the justification process for you. You are unable to do it. If anyone was able to be made righteous with God it would have been the Jews. The Jews had the best system of rules the world has ever seen. Yet, no dice. 

Therefore, you don't have to impress me or your spiritual leader with your good works. When the good works flow from a faith in Christ we don't concern ourselves with the opinions of others. I don't need any mans approval nor do I seek it, but I seek Gods thumbs up. 

Pastor Patrick