Moment of Truth

Daily messages and recordings by Brent Newton sent to our brethren during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period,
distributed Monday through Saturday only.


April 28, 2020

Anyone who has come into Christ can lose their relationship with the Lord and end up lost. Peter speaks directly to that (II Pet. 2:20-21). The teaching accepted by many; “Once saved always saved” is an error of the truth. Eternal security no matter what is wrong. But on the other hand, to live in fear of being lost because of guilt is also wrong. God doesn’t call us to live in guilt but in His grace. When are we going to believe we stand in the middle of His grace? (Rom. 5:1-2) Is living in uncertainty better than certainty? Can you tell those baptized into Christ they are saved? 100% saved? Absolutely! John wrote his inspired letter to assure those in Christ they are saved (I John 5:13). How can we say that? Because of God’s word! How can you tell someone they are lost, separated from the Lord? Because of God’s word.

Remember the day you were baptized into Christ? Upon your union with Jesus, were you saved? Just for the next ten minutes? Just an hour? If your baptism into Christ saved you, (and it did), can His blood keep you cleansed for ten years? Fifty years? Why is it after years in our walk with Jesus we find guilt and the pressures of our failures to make us uncertain? The only way that should happen is if we aren’t being honest with the Lord. “But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:7) Are you walking/living in the Light? That’s a call for concern if we aren’t. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all sin.” (I John 1:9) Why do we have a difficult time believing this? Start your day and reflect on Jesus and Him crucified. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Feelings vs. Faith [MP3]

 


April 27, 2020

This isn’t just preacher talk. This is God! God came into our world in Jesus. Sin took hold of Him and sought to exterminate Him! Sin isn’t just taking advantage of society or hurting them; sin is open rebellion, shaking its fist in the face of God reaching into heaven laying its hand on God Himself. Sin set man up as his own authority, making our own way, inventing our answers to live and overcome while obedience wasn’t anything big. Sin is a conflict waged at God’s right to reign over us.

We look at those who fought with Jesus and ultimately killed Him. They must have been the worst of sinners don’t you think? We sometimes think they were some of the most horrible. But look closely. Envy delivered Jesus up. It was the ordinary kind of envy. Political power brought Pilate to wash his hands and let injustice have its way with Him. Religious leaders with their expert insight to God were moved by hate in the name of God. Those who lied, slapped the Lord, mocked Him were just ordinary, everyday common sinners. What does all this mean? We were there! Sin struck those created in the image of God in Christ Jesus (Heb. 1:3). In all this we see the horrific acts of sin, our acts and God did not spare His own Son. God took sin seriously and still does. Do we? “For He rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.” (Col. 1:13-14) Rejoice, God defeated your sins in Jesus. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Can Unity Be Achieved? [MP3]

 


April 25, 2020

Too many times, when our weakness reveals itself in our failures, we immediately look at us. We fail, try and fail again. Our minds begin to doubt speaking, “God is tired of me!” Have you ever examined how God views our weaknesses? I know how we view our weaknesses. When weaknesses continually set in, we doubt us and our focus becomes that weakness. God knows you fail. The cross proves that. Doubt your doubts but never, ever doubt God! God loves…PERIOD!!

Let’s string together some words from the lips of the One we know as Jesus of Nazareth: “My Father has so loved the world that He sent Me to deliver you from perishing in your sins! I have not come to condemn but that the world through Me might have life. I am come that you might have life and have it abundantly. You don’t need to perish. I am like a hen who wishes to gather her chicks under her wings. Allow Me!” The day God tires of our weaknesses is the day He tires of Jesus! Love the Lord, your God with all your heart. Give glory to Him. Set the eyes of your heart on Him, especially when weakness crops up its head in your life. May God show you His love in a deeper way. Take care!

Moment of Truth - The Power of Christianity [MP3]


April 24, 2020

What does it mean to live a holy life? Some think perfection. Holiness is not perfection. It is a life dedicated to the Lord according to His ways. For instance, holiness calls the wife to live in subjection to her husband (I Pet. 3:1-6). This is directly linked to the Lord as the head of the body (Eph. 5:23) Holiness calls the husband to love their wife as that is directly linked to Christ loving the church (Eph. 5:25) Holiness calls us to always be forgiving no matter what as it is linked directly to “as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:32) Holiness is being called to accept one another is linked to “just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (Rom. 15:7) Holiness calls servants to be submissive to their masters, even when they are unreasonable because it is linked to the sufferings of Jesus Christ. (I Pet. 2:21-25) Holiness calls us to think more highly of others than ourselves as that is linked directly to the attitude of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 2:3-5) Holiness calls us to live lives of reverence and purity because it is linked directly to being bought with the precious blood of Jesus, unblemished and spotless. (I Pet. 1:17-19) Holiness is to remove sin, all sin from our lives as it is linked directly the being united with Jesus who died to destroy sin in our lives. (Rom. 6:3-7) Holiness calls us to love one another as that is directly linked to Jesus as He loved us (I John3:16)

A holy lived life is lived in the light of Jesus Himself. It should concern us when sin crops up in our lives. It should make us flee to the side of the Lord, taking His attitudes as ours while removing the things that once enslaved us. Holiness, simply put, is living in moral excellence because we have been redeemed by being linked to the divine nature of God and His Son Jesus Christ. (II Pet. 1:3-4) How concerned are you about living a holy life? Start your day by dwelling on these things. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Bridle the Tongue [MP3]


April 23, 2020

Who is your model? Who is the one you would love to be like? I realize what we need to say but who we desire might be someone else such as someone famous in our society but has no power to help. Jesus is the greatest model we could ever pattern our lives after. Some two thousand years have passed and we are still speaking of His life.

Listen to Him carefully: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29) The Father said this of Jesus: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him.” (Matt. 17:5) This One we should model speaks: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25)

As a disciple we are not to model our lives after another disciple. We see qualities in others that are attractive but the real, attractive life and attitudes should be Jesus (Phil. 2:5). Paul made it abundantly clear when he said: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (I Cor. 11:1) Paul’s model in his life was Jesus Christ. We should all be desiring and patterning our lives after Jesus. As Jesus becomes our model, it takes us away from following any man especially those who are nice. It keeps us from making others our ‘lord’ and being dedicated to sinful man. If Christ is our model, our desire, listening to Him, you can live radiantly no matter what man around us does or says. How many have left the church because they are upset at someone as if they were Lord? Who is your model? Do an honest soul-search. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Preach the Gospel [MP3]


April 22, 2020

God cannot and will not live in peaceful co-existence with sin! Some way God has tried to show us that sin is a horror to Him. Sin is detestable in the eyes of God. It might not strike us horrid but God does not fellowship any sin or anyone living in sin! That goes against who He is, His nature. God has tried to show us this from the beginning.

Adam & Eve were expelled from the presence of God, sending them into the world of sin and death they created. Sin enters and so does disfellowship. Sin came in and along with it came ugliness, inventors of evil, lies and deceit, the lust for power, broken marriages, hate for others, pain and suffering and man coming up with their own wisdom. The mark of Cain (Gen. 4) speaks of God’s intolerance of sin. The flood showed God’s despising of sin. The cities of Sodom, Gomorrah and the surrounding plains where sent fire from heaven expressing God’s hatred of sin. The sacrificial system showed God’s holy recoil toward sin. That place called the Holy of Holies speaks volumes of God’s holiness an attitude toward sin. If we could grasp the enormity of sin it would open our eyes to the enormity of His love. Sin leads people to hurt their own children. Sin is seen in each of us yet God could not allow sin to be the force over the lives of His own. You see, we were created in the image of God. Created for His fellowship. Sin ruined us. God reached beyond all His creation to show how far He would go to save us. It was His Son, a pure and holy, sinless Son that dies our death. Take time today and reflect, on your in relationship with God because of Christ Jesus. Jesus is our direct tie into the presence of a holy God. Thank God for Jesus! Thank Jesus laying down His life. What love. We owe Him our all. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Salvation is Your Choice [MP3]


April 21, 2020

Romans 5:6-10 paints one of the most vivid pictures of where the love of God is commended. Get your Bible out and read it with this writing. God’s love is toward the ‘helpless.’ (v.6) It literally means ‘sick.’ It is used in the sense of powerless, unimpressive or lacking influence. The love of Christ is for these. But there is another word used: ‘ungodly.’ This term is worse than atheism! A professed atheist denies God exists and doesn’t obey. The ‘ungodly’ knows God exists but lives in complete disregard of Him and His teachings. This is complete ‘godlessness!’

God describes His love toward ‘sinners.’ (v.8) This term speaks of one ‘missing the mark’ or ‘failure.’ Rom.3:23 speaks plainly that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” People who are failures, missing the mark and dejected because they are rejected! You see, God’s love is aimed at us and all the godlessness we lived in. We are failures in regard to God and ‘missed His mark’ many a time. Don’t you feel ashamed (and we should) when we fail? Our failure, our coming up short should humble us to flee to the side of God where our failure becomes His love toward us. People that live in guilt are not rejected because of God, they simple reject God’s love. Don’t we realize God died for us, the rejects?

But there is another word where God demonstrates His love toward: “enemies” (v.10) This word stresses hatred and hostilities. It’s the same thought used in Jam. 4:4. This is the same Lord calling us to love our enemies which makes us “sons of the Most High.” (Luke 6:35) Yes, God’s love was demonstrated toward ‘enemies’ but because of His holiness, He is judicially hostile toward the impenitent. It’s always our choosing. Start you day thinking about the love of God toward you that was demonstrated, even when we were clearly in direct conflict with Him. Thank Him! Take care!

Moment of Truth - Dwell on These Things [MP3]


April 20, 2020

It is a free, painful gift. That day, in front of mankind, God the Father was dealing with sin. My sin, your sin, the sins of every man & woman that has ever lived or will ever live. God felt every single act of treachery against Him as His dear, beloved Son died. God laid out the painful consequences, the inexpressible painful consequences of our sins and took them on Himself, a great burden, and dealt with those sins in His Son. It was God Himself who personally bore our sins. We didn’t bear anything! You & I paid nothing, not one single ounce. Jesus didn’t drink a little of our judgment or most of it. He drank the whole, complete judgment for us which means there is nothing left for you to drink! Complete 100% atonement has been made.

What are we to do realizing the impact of the dying of Jesus for the Father? Take hold of it! Put your faith in Him. You can’t steal it or reason your way to it. It was all paid in the name of the Father. All that is needed is a grateful heart and take your stand with Him. The next time you want to feel sorry for yourself, speaking that no one loves you or you’re lonely, your heart needs to get back to that painful, dark and gloomy day God dealt with the sinfulness of man. Don’t tell anyone that you aren’t loved! I admit I don’t understand all that happened on that day but this I know, all that took place was for you and all mankind. How badly does God want us saved by His free gift? The real question is how badly and moved in heart are you to receive His gift? May the eyes of our heart be enlightened. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Love Never Fails [MP3]


April 18, 2020

God is heavily involved in all the affairs of mankind to show His might and strength that heaven rules. We can clearly see this in the life of David. The Philistines had seized him when he was fleeing the wrath of King Saul. David lied, used deceit and tricky to avoid being caught. To no avail, he ended up in a Philistine dungeon in Gath. David was aware they were planning on putting him to death. What was he to do? He called on the Lord believing in all his heart. The Lord heard and responded. David spoke: “You have taken into account of my wanderings; Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day I call; This I know, that God is for me.” (Psa. 56:8-9) Did you hear his confidence in God while doom was hanging over him? But I want you to note one little word: “bottle.” The Hebrew word is ‘nod’. This ‘bottle’ was a specific bottle used at the end of summer to store the juice from grapes. Late grapes are the sweetest grapes with the highest sugar content. These grapes made the best sweet wine. In other words, David prayed to God to take all his tears and put them in His sweet wine bottle! In other words, God would turn David’s tears into the sweetest of drink. Bitter circumstances put into the Lord’s special bottle.

Life can create bitter times. But God, the controlling force over all mankind, takes what has been crushed, trampled by others and turns it into something good. David said: “This I know, that God is for me.” He didn’t speak this after the difficulty was over but during. Do we not have that confidence because of Christ? “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) Are we believing the rule of God? “God causes all things”. The God who is for us but the condition is love and purpose. God takes our hurts; miseries of life and He turns them into something that will work for our good. May God open our eyes to see Him clearer. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Sowing and Reaping [MP3]


April 17, 2020

We hear often how exercise & a good diet will add longevity to your life. It is true that these things will give you an improved health as you age but it won’t add years to your life. In fact, God’s word teaches: “bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and the life to come.” (I Tim. 4:8) What would godliness look like? How would godliness benefit us in this life?

Solomon was teaching his son about keeping the commandments he spoke from God. Then came these words: “For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.” (Prov. 3:2) There are things that can lengthen your life and it is nothing physical. Keeping God’s word will add years according to Solomon. Here’s the secret revealed: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Prov. 2:3) Kindness and truth are two major elements of godliness. Speak in kindness when things get tense. Seek the truth in all things, never accepting anything less. Use kindness in your family. Use kindness in teaching. Always point to the truth. Always stand in the truth. In these two spiritual elements alone, they will add length of days, years of life and peace to your well-being. May God grant you His riches in your pursuit of kindness and truth. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Seek First His Kingdom [MP3]


April 16, 2020

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” (Eph. 2:4-5) What great riches are found in these verses. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8) Grace is God’s action against our sins. Faith is the acceptance of God’s action. Yet how many have we heard say they are undeserving and unworthy of God’s love/grace? That’s the point. We aren’t deserving. Our pride wells up within us and many simply will not accept God’s graciousness toward them. If God’s grace had not acted, man could not be saved. If man’s trust in God’s grace by faith is not acted upon man cannot be saved. God does not coerce us into heaven. God justifies! Man simply responds by placing their faith in what He says. No merit.

Reach out in faith, a true accepting faith with all your being of what the Lord offers. The death of Jesus says trust. The resurrected Christ speaks grace. We don’t make ourselves alive much less make ourselves right with Him. It is all His work in Christ Jesus. Grace can only be received not worked for. On that day of Pentecost, the grace of God was spoken to man. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day were added about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41) Baptism merits nothing. Baptism is faith reaching for His salvation found in Christ Jesus. Salvation is not performance on our part. It’s all in the trusting and in the working of God. “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1:17) Believe God. Take care!

Moment of Truth - A Date with Eternity [MP3]

April 15, 2020

“But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices.” (Col. 3:8-9) We seem to have difficulties in these areas of our lives because the Lord often calls us to completely remove them. These human responses should no longer be part of our personal lives because Jesus should make a difference.

In the above verse, we are called to ‘put them all aside.’ These words together come from a Greek word which is an action word. It is used of someone hurriedly and frantically stripping off filthy, contaminated clothing and needs to be destroyed. Many years back we were visiting our cousins and as kids we came upon a skunk. My cousin took a rock and threw at it to which the skunk turned around backing up to us. I think you all could guess what was coming. He threw a second rock while the rest of us moved away. It sprayed! That skunk completely covered my cousin. We ran back to the house and he frantically stripped off his clothing to be rid of the smell. That’s what we are called to do in our old lives to put all destructive parts of us away. How helpful are we to the Lord when we are angry? How helpful are we in promoting the greatness of God when we use abusive speech? How do we advance the cause of Christ in any of these? These responses are evil and are associated with our old self. They need to be hurriedly and frantically removed from our lives. Our old self was crucified and buried with Jesus (Rom. 6:6) Keep the old self buried! May the Lord grant you grace and peace in abundance. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Who Leads Our Minds [MP3]


April 14, 2020

To not understand who you are in Christ Jesus is to cheat yourself. To not have Jesus as our focus, our life is to live with bondage within. There is no sense of worth, no sense of honor in life, there is no dignity because of the lack of believing Christ Jesus for who He is. Somehow, we need to settle and see the value of Jesus for us so we can see our value to God.

How does God see Jesus? Have you thought about it? Jesus is everything to God. He is God’s only Son. Jesus stands for everything perfect and all purity before God. Jesus has been given all authority, all power while presently sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus is life, God’s life. What does all this mean? When you came to Jesus to be washed in His blood, you saw Him as He is to God and you. That means as you were clothed with Him, God now sees you as He sees Jesus because you see Jesus. God sees your value because you value Jesus. Our standing before God is “holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Col. 1:22) Jesus made us that! Because of Jesus, we “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…” (I Pet. 2:9) You are chosen! You are royalty! You are holy! You belong to God! Of all the things in this vast world, God values you because you value Jesus. Because of Jesus, you are God’s most treasured possession. Without Jesus, we are nothing! Rejoice in the Lord! Have confidence in Christ Jesus! To Him be the glory both in our lives and the church! May God supply your needs as His child. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Careless Words [MP3]


April 13, 2020

What does a spiritual life look like? We have seen people who for years are the same as they were when they were united with Christ. They may have naturally matured and calmed but that’s not spiritual. Just look at AA and you can see man’s efforts to overcome. Spiritual people, those born again from above, make drastic changes in their lives. They aren’t rule keeping but changing in heart. They have contact with the life of God.

When we were united with Christ in baptism, this was to bring dramatic changes both in thinking and action. The mind of a spiritual person seeks and is set on the things from God. That allows them to be changed into the likeness of Jesus. Speaking as He speaks. Seeking what He sought. Acting as He would act. In fact, a spiritual person gives themselves, their whole being, into the hands of God to allow Him to work on them from within. Dwelling on God’s word, keeping His thoughts as ours, is what allows God to transform us into a completely new person. You cannot transform yourself into a spiritual person. You may call yourself spiritual but what you think about, what you talk about, how you act and react in situations are where the proving ground speaks. You see, a spiritual minded person is one that “you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (II Pet. 1:4) Do you see yourself as spiritual? What does your life show? I pray your mind dwells on the things above and not on the earth (Col. 3:1-4) Glorify the Lord. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Seek the Truth [MP3]


April 11, 2020

When we look at creation reading the Genesis account, it strikes us with awe or it should how this eternal, all powerful God spoke things into existence and it happened with each and every word. God’s Spirit awaited each word spoken to bring order and life. Creation declares the existence of God and shows His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature. (Rom. 1:20) While people did their own thing, ignoring the God who rules over mankind, “And yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 20:17) The rain and prosperous seasons are here as a witness from God.

With all we see, the power demonstrated, creation was not the most powerful demonstration of the God of heaven and earth. Even in the flood, despite this powerful judgment on the earth as well as mercy that was seen, the single most powerful demonstration was seen in the resurrected Christ who still lives to this day. We don’t preach creation or find fellowship with God in creation. We preach Jesus Christ raised from the dead because that is where we find life from our death caused by our sin. Teach/preach Jesus. Show your family Jesus so they can see the power of God toward us. May God’s blessings continue upon you. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Seek God's Wisdom [MP3]


April 10, 2020

Salvation is atonement, not attainment! Too many are treating their salvation as a business transaction. Salvation is by faith not by achieving. People come to the Lord wanting to trade off. If they do good things, the Lord will save them. That what is meant by a business transaction. We completely, 100% spiritually bankrupt and doomed. We could never pay back the indebtedness we owe, not even the interest. We are nothing. We are not a “pull yourself up by your own boot-strap” people. Our salvation is not “do it yourself.” People that are trying to balance their spiritual lives by their efforts simply have missed the love of God and His grace.

Eternal life is the free gift of God (Rom. 6:23). It’s not earned or cannot be bartered. God did what we could not do: He paid for our sins through Jesus Christ. We know well the wages of sin is death. That’s me! That’s you! “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds you were healed.” (I Pet. 2:24) We need to realize the seriousness of sun and grasp hold of God’s loving grace committed to never let go, no matter the cost. We can sing, sing it out: “His grace reaches me!” May God’s peace be your peace. Take care!

Moment of Truth - What God's Word Teaches [MP3]


April 9, 2020

The Greek word for grace is ‘charis.’ In the classical Greek it means beautiful, lovely, attractive, charming – that which is delightful. The result of grace in the lives of people is: TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT according to the Lord. Our lives in Christ Jesus should be gracious lives. People under the grace of God are very merciful. When people argue, act unforgiving, angry and stew on things have a grace problem. God’s grace produces generosity. Read II Cor. 8 and see the grace of God working in the lives of the Macedonians despite their circumstances. Grace, ‘charis,’ is one of the loveliest words we could ever live in and use.

The height of this word ‘charis’ is most clearly seen in the death and resurrected Christ Jesus. Our Lord showed His love, His grace by treating people right, even toward those who killed Him. Not one deserved it but all were presented the avenue of grace. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) Can you see His grace for you? Justice, what many screams for when mistreated, is what we all deserve deserve. Mercy is what we do not get what we deserve. Grace is we get what we don’t deserve. What a beautiful act of God toward us. His blessings to you. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Be Content [MP3]


April 8, 2020

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of with me.” (I Cor. 15:10) The true motivation for those in Christ is God’s grace. Not motivational speeches, help groups or anyone or anything on earth. Simply grace! If that seems strange to you, please, you need to have a search and study of grace from the Scriptures. It’s more than just defining the word; grace is a life-changing director of our lives.

Amazing grace, we sing it. We need to preach it more. We need to live it! Using the word ‘Christianity’, it means nothing without the grace of God. ‘Christianity’ without understanding grace is just a word thrown around as a religious claim, shallow and empty. It was grace that made Paul who he was. It was grace that helped Paul labor each day. Grace shows us the depth of God’s love. When the gospel is believed upon grace becomes clear. Tell your family, tell your mate, tell your neighbor what God did for them before you tell them what to do. The Lord bless you. Take care!

Moment of Truth - When Prayers are Heard [MP3]


April 7, 2020

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (II Cor. 9:15) “…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24) “For this reason it is by faith, in order that is may be in accordance with grace…” (Rom. 4:16) “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” (Rom. 11:6)

Grace is what we need yet many fight the grace of God. Why? Because God’s grace renders man helpless and completely dependent. People want to put their efforts in salvation, work for it in some form and achieve something to earn. Grace eliminates salvation from being a business transaction. We sing: “His grace reaches me…” or “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” Grace is given and can only be received. The free gift of God is never earned. We are wonderfully, marvelous saved and because of His grace, His free gift should make us rejoice and draw near with a sincere heart of faith.

Moment of Truth - God Said No [MP3]


April 6, 2020

I pray you start this day with joy & peace found in the Lord. Pray for one another. Pray for our president. Pray for our authorities (I Tim. 2:1-2). We need to be a people living a tranquil & quiet life. In fact, we need to make it our ambition to living a quiet and tranquil life by attending to your own business & work with your own hands because this is proper behavior toward outsiders (I Thes. 4:11-12).

Let’s continue to be a people of prayer, not believing in prayer, but believing in the God who hears our prayers because of Christ. Prayer is faith. Prayer is work. Prayer is our heart reaching to God who cares but wants us to depend on His grace & His efforts. We aren’t a self made people. Pray to the Lord God knowing He cares for you. Have you approached God today in prayer?

May the Lord’s face always shine upon you. Take care!

Moment of Truth - Do You Ever Wonder? [MP3]


April 4, 2020

Grace & mercy to you. What a blessing to be in Jesus. There are so may things around us trying to draw our attention away from our purpose & Lord. No matter what you do or where you go, the safest place to live is in Christ Jesus. Our thoughts, our desires & our entire being should be Jesus Christ.

In Jesus we find redemption (Eph. 1:7). One can't find that in the world. In Jesus we find forgiveness. In Jesus we find the grace of God (Eph. 1:5-6). In Jesus we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:3). In Jesus we have salvation (Acts 4:12). What is your direction & thoughts each day? Where is your focus & efforts? Those honest answers will indicated where the eyes of your heart seek & where your life is headed!

May the Lord bless you as you strive to seek Him as He sought you! Take care!

Moment of Truth - To Do or Not to Do [MP3]


April 3, 2020

A word to encourage you to remain firm & steadfast. As we look at the things around us, we may be somewhat confined but the Lord isn’t. Paul found himself in prison, awaiting a life or death sentence by emperor Nero and the Holy Spirit has him pen the words to the Philippians & us. His circumstances, sitting in prison as a criminal, he speaks from his difficulties: “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel so that in my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else.” Phil. 1:12-13 Yes, the gospel of Jesus Christ was being heard right in Nero’s palace!

Use this time to show your family the gospel that leads to salvation. God’s blessing be upon you as you seek His face.

Take care!

Moment of Truth - Thy Will Be Done [MP3]


April 2, 2020

I want to send you encouragement from the Lord. We are God’s children. That’s not what we call ourselves but our Creator, our Father in all His love sent His Son on our death mission, and because of our faith He calls us His children. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us that we would be called children of God, and such we are.” - I John 3:1

This virus does not change our status before God. This virus does not make stop God hearing & helping. This virus gives us a great opportunity to work on our faith & prayer life. It settles us down to be still & get our attention rather than distractions caused by the world around. Use these messages to encourage & focus on the Lord. My prayers are with you.

Moment of Truth - Filling the Void [MP3]