You are invited to join together in prayer Thursday night at 7pm on Facebook, Youtube, or our website.
Please submit any prayer requests to me by 5pm. You can submit prayer requests on the Contact Us page.
Thank you and God bless!
See you tonight!
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
When you make choices about your life and behavior, what things do you consider?
Most people think about things like…
There was a woman who needed to travel abroad for a couple months for work. Her brother happened to be between apartments at the time, so she said to her brother,
“Why you stay in my house for a couple of months while I’m gone. I’ll have someone watching my house and you’ll have a place to stay while you look for a new apartment.”
So, her brother moved in and she went on her trip. A couple of months later she returned to find her house completely rearranged and one of the rooms even painted a different color.
“What did you do to my house?” she exclaimed.
“What? I thought it looked better this way.” her brother responded.
“But it’s my house!” she yelled.
He said, “Sorry, I thought the other color was too bright. So, I picked a better color.”
She responded, “But it wasn’t your house to make that choice.”
Our passage for today reminds us that we are not our own. Our body is not ours to do with as we please. That has far-reaching consequences. It means that we realize that our body is actually God’s body. Not only did He create it, but His Spirit literally dwells in us. So, the first question we should ask is,
If I’m going to do something that affects this body that is not mine, I should first check with the owner. I should take care of my body (I struggle with that one). I shouldn’t defile my body. I shouldn’t use my body to harm others or lead other to sin.
It also means my body is special and holy, the dwelling place of the Lord. That’s pretty awesome.
Heavenly Father,
You have created me and given me life. You have also given me new life in Christ and given me Your Spirit. Thank You for my body and my life. Help me to treat my body in ways that honor You.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” – Psalm 119:14
Have you ever seen a “How to Get Rich” book? Have you ever read one?
It’s one of the most popular topics for books and websites. Why? Because people want to get rich?
Dorothy picked out the book at the bookstore, “How to Flip Houses.” As she started reading she grew more and more excited with every page. She could see it in her mind…the purchase…the renovation…the sale…the profit.
Don also picked out a book at the bookstore, “How to Retire Wealthy.” It was filled with practical tips for saving money and investing. He could almost feel his toes in the sand of the beach house he would retire in.
Even though they had only purchased books and didn’t have the riches, yet, Dorothy and Don were excited. They were excited to get started. They were excited at the prospect of becoming wealthy.
What if we got excited over God’s Word the way we get excited over things that could make us financially wealthy?
God’s Word is true riches. God’s ways are truly good and wonderful. Financial wealth can be exciting and beneficial, but it isn’t permanent and it has its limits. You can’t buy true peace. You can’t buy eternal life. Yet, God gives these in His Word.
So, we can rejoice, along with the Psalmist, in God’s Word even more than a “How to Get Rich” book. We can celebrate His promises and His ways knowing that in them we find life and life abundant.
Heavenly Father,
You are better than gold, stocks, or cash. Your ways are better than the fleeting happiness of wealth. Help me to love Your ways and get excited about Your Word more than wealth.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
Where do you turn when things start to fall apart around you?
I remember a cartoon I saw a while back. It was a single frame cartoon. In it, a pastor was kneeling in a position of prayer and his secretary is walking in the door and says,
“Oh, good, you aren’t doing anything important…”
Unfortunately, that’s our view on prayer all too often. It’s either a last resort or that thing we “do” before we go really do something to help.
What if prayer was the first thing we did and the thing we considered most important?
Luther has a somewhat famous quote,
“I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.”
I wish I could say I’ve always had the same response, but I have all too often gotten straight to the things I “needed” to do and let it push the prayer aside. I think I handled those days wrongly.
God is our very present help!
He really is. This is one of my favorite passages, not just because it’s a great encouragement, but because it’s a wake-up call. It reminds me that I’m not the first place I need to turn when things start going south. Neither are the various helps of the world.
It’s not that these things aren’t good or helpful, but we need to start where the real source of the help comes from…God.
He may help us directly. He may help us through another person. He may help us through an insight we have.
He is our help, though. He is our refuge when things go bad. We can come to Him…rest in Him…trust in Him.
Let’s start our day with God. Let’s pray. Let’s spend time reading His Word.
Whether things are good or bad, let’s go to Him. When things do go bad or when things get a bit hectic, rather than running to other sources or even ourselves, let’s start by turning to God, our help, our refuge, our very present help in trouble.
Heavenly Father,
Far too often I have turned to other sources first before I came to You. Help me to come to You first. Help me to come to You even when things are good. Thank You for always being there for me.
Amen!!
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:6-7
Have you ever felt like no one cares?
Cindy stared into the mirror. It had been a month since her husband walked out and she still saw the same thing. The same questions still swirled about her mind. Why? What was wrong with her? Who would want her now?
Cindy felt worthless, but this feeling couldn’t be farther than the truth.
The Sea of Life
Life has a way of beating us down at times. At other times it lifts us up. It’s like a seesaw and a merry-go-round all in one. When we look at ourselves and our lives for a sense of our value, we may feel great one day and worthless the next. There’s no good foundation, no anchor as we bob up and down in a raging sea of emotions.
The Solid Rock of Christ
God is not like our life. He does not waiver. Our value in His eyes doesn’t rise and fall based on how productive we are, how good our marriage is, or how obedient we are. He loves us and cares for us. We are immensely valuable to Him.
Why are you valuable?
You are God’s creation. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He knows everything about you, even how many hairs are on your head. You are valuable because God values you.
Duckie
My daughter had a special stuffed animal growing up, Duckie. Duckie went everywhere with us and she couldn’t sleep without him. Once Melissa and I realized Duckie was the special stuffed animal we tried to find another, “just in case.” We found one and that other Duckie sat in waiting until the day it would be needed.
One night Kaylee got sick and threw up in her bed…and all over Duckie. He needed to be washed, but she needed her Duckie. It was the other Duckie’s time to shine. We snuck the original Duckie out and brought in his replacement. It took about 2 seconds before we heard,
“That’s not Duckie.”
“Sure it is, dear.”
“No, it’s not. Where’s Duckie?”
There was no convincing her. She knew without a doubt because she knew every inch of her Duckie.
In one sense, you could say Duckie was a $20 stuffed animal, but you would be wrong. Duckie was priceless. There were no other stuffed animals like Duckie. Duckie wasn’t valuable because of the materials used or cool features he had, but because he was loved. You are more valuable than many Duckies.
You are valuable because you are loved by God.
Instead of looking in the mirror to decide your value, look in the Bible. God’s Word doesn’t change and it says, you are greatly valued and precious, one of a kind…loved.
Heavenly Father,
You have created me and You love me. When I start to question my value or the world says I’m worthless, remind me of what You say.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
You’re Invited!
I hope you have enjoyed this devotion. I’d like to also invite you to join us for worship this week. Our services are casual and our people are friendly. We meet for worship at 11am at 27221 Foamflower Blvd. Wesley Chapel, FL 33544.
See you there!
You are invited to worship with us at 11:00 AM on Sunday, August 2. Below, you will find the Order of Service so you can follow along and participate in the worship service. If you would prefer, you can also download a bulletin here:
Before we start, please share the live stream on Facebook and invite your friends.
Worship Service for August 9, 2020 at 11 AM
Welcome
Opening Song: King of Kings
In the darkness We were waiting Without hope Without light
Till from heaven You came running There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfil the law and prophets To a virgin came the word
From a throne of endless glory To a cradle in the dirt
Chorus:
Praise the Father Praise the Son Praise the Spirit Three in one
God of glory, Majesty. Praise forever to the King of Kings
Verse 2:
To reveal the kingdom coming And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation You did not despise the cross
For even in your suffering You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation Jesus for our sake you died
Chorus
Verse 3:
And the morning that You rose All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come To the Father are restored
And the church of Christ was born. Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old Shall not kneel, Shall not faint
By His blood and in His name In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ Who has resurrected me
Chorus (2x):
Praise the Father Praise the Son Praise the Spirit Three in one
God of glory, Majesty. Praise forever to the King of Kings
Invocation
Confession and Forgiveness:
P: Come into the presence of the Lord our God.
C: Have mercy, O Lord. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(a time of silence to reflect and personally confess our sins)
P: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Let us confess our sin before the Lord.
C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinners. We have sinned against you and our neighbors. We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
P: The Lord is gracious and merciful. He promises to forgive our sins. Therefore, upon this, your confession, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Song of Praise: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
C: And also with you.
P: We greet each other in the peace of Christ.
(Waive and greet from a distance, please)
Epistle Reading – Romans 10:14-17
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Gospel Reading – Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Children’s Message
Sermon Hymn – Indescribable
Verse 1:
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Chorus:
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All-powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Verse 2:
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Chorus 2X:
Sermon – “Fear and Confidence”
Job 38:4-18
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
“Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen
Benediction
Closing Song: Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)
You hear me when I call. You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night, It cannot hide the light. Whom shall I fear
You crush the enemy Underneath my feet
You are my sword and shield, though troubles linger still. Whom shall I fear
Chorus:
I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
The One who reigns forever He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
My strength is in Your name For You alone can save
You will deliver me. Yours is the victory. Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
Chorus:
I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
The One who reigns forever He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I’m holding on to Your promises. You are faithful, You are faithful
(Repeat)
You are faithful
Chorus:
I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
The One who reigns forever He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
(Repeat)
The God of angel armies Is always by my side
Upcoming Events
August 11, 7 PM – Church Council Meeting
Zoom
August 13, 7 PM – A Time of Prayer
Facebook, YouTube, FaithWesleyChapel.com
August 14, 7 PM – Growth Group Bible Study
Zoom
Connect with us:
“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” – Psalm 149:4
When you dress to impress, what do you wear?
Do you have an outfit you think looks great? Do you put on certain jewelry? Do you take a little more time on your hair?
We all have ways of making ourselves more beautiful, but so does God. His ways, however, are much better and don’t fade or go out of style.
Adorn
I actually looked up the word. I initially through it meant clothed, but it’s more than that.
1. to enhance the appearance of especially with beautiful objects..
2. to enliven or decorate as if with ornaments
– Merriam-Webster
To adorn is to enhance with something beautiful. God doesn’t use precious metals or stones, He adorns us with salvation.
Getting Ready for the Big Day
When a woman is about to get married, she usually does all manner of things to get ready. She may get a special dress, have her hair done, gets a manicure, and may get special jewelry, etc.
God is preparing us, His bride, for our special day as well, the day of His return. We don’t prepare ourselves, He does it. He washes us clean of all our sins by the washing of water with the word. He clothes us in the white robes of His righteousness. He adorns us with His salvation and He takes great pleasure in doing so.
Humility not Pride
Sometimes, when people dress up, it breeds a bit of pride. “I look good!” With God it’s the opposite. He adorns the humble. He adorns those who humble themselves to confess they are sinners and acknowledge they cannot save themselves. When we see ourselves in the spiritual mirror, pure, holy, and righteous, still there is no boasting. For this all came from Jesus. If we boast, we boast only in Christ, Himself.
So, let us humble ourselves and receive God’s salvation. Let us be clothed not in our righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. Because let me tell you something about how God dresses and adorns you…
You look good!
Heavenly Father,
I confess that on my own I am tarnished with sin and unable to save myself. Yet, Jesus died and rose again to forgive me of my sin and clothe me in His righteousness. Adorn me with Your salvation that I would be ready for the day the bridegroom, Jesus, returns.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” – Psalm 119:160
Have you ever gotten bad advice?
We’ve all gotten bad advice from time to time. You may have even gotten good advice, but it was only good for a certain amount of time. Investing in Pet’s.com was a great idea in 2000. A few years later, that was no longer a good idea.
Today, in the midst of a pandemic, the truth is hard to find. There’s political spin and agendas everywhere. Even if we try to ignore it and just look at the figures, we can’t trust the figures. Stories of deaths being reported as COVID-19 deaths which really had nothing to do with the disease as well as testing misreporting are rampant. It can leave us feeling lost and hopeless.
The Source of Truth
There is one place we know we can turn which will always be true, The Bible. God’s Word is truth. God not only says what is true, but the fact that God says it makes it true, and His Word will endure forever. It doesn’t expire. It is always true.
Granted, you can’t find coronavirus stats or advice in the Bible, but what the Bible tells us is even more important and more comforting. The Bible tells us that God loves us and is with us. Whether we’re in a pandemic or a hurricane or just normal life, God is with us and will not leave us.
As Psalm 23 tells us, we have nothing to fear even if we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus has overcome death!! The truth of God’s love and salvation are true and will always be true. That truth defines our reality. That is how we can have peace no matter what the true stats are about COVID-19 or any other situation we may be in.
A Tree by a River
The more we read God’s Word, the more we understand the truth. The more we read God’s Word, the more we become grounded in that truth and know the peace and hope that God gives. As Psalm 1 tells us, delighting in God’s Word makes us like a tree planted by a river which will never go thirst and never wilt or fade.
“but his delight is in the instruction of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” – Psalm 1:2-3
Heavenly Father,
May I delight in Your Word every day. Strengthen me with Your Word and ground me in the truth of Your Word that I may know Your peace and hope and not be battered by the ever-changing “truths” of the world.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” – Psalm 119:130
How did you feel the first time you really started reading the Bible? Was it daunting…exciting…enlightening?
God’s Word is unlike any other book. It is God’s revelation of Himself and His salvation to mankind. It is intended for all people, young and old.
There are some passages which may cause leave us scratching our head after we read them and others which seem pretty straight forward. We may sometimes feel like we need an advanced degree to really understand it, but do we?
God’s Word for All People
We need to remember two things when reading the Bible:
Intended for All People
Why is it important to remember that God’s Word is intended for all people? Back in the middle ages and even before, there were people who said that the Bible had several levels of meaning and that the plain meaning of the text was the least important. That made most people think they couldn’t understand the Bible. However, it wasn’t true.
If you were writing a book for young and old, educated and uneducated, alike, would you make it complex and hidden? Of course not! Sure, there are some parts that have analogies or symbols or other more difficult things, but most of the time the plain meaning of the text is what you are meant to understand.
The Holy Spirit Gives Understanding
Why does it matter that the Holy Spirit is the one who helps us understand? It means that the smartest among us can miss the meaning while the simplest understand. The Holy Spirit can give understanding and faith to anyone. Our human understanding can miss any of it and can never create faith.
So, read the Bible.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you understand it. He will. His Spirit will create and nurture your faith. He will reveal God and His plan of salvation.
Keep Reading the Bible
One of the other great things about God’s Word is that we keep learning and growing. I still frequently reread a passage and see something I didn’t see before that adds depth and beauty. God is infinite and His wisdom and knowledge are infinite. The more the read the richer the text becomes. It never gets old.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word. Help me to have a hunger for it. As I read it, help me to understand it and read it in faith. Strengthen my faith and deepen my understanding.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” – Jeremiah 33:2-3
Are all “Gods” the same? Are we all worshiping the same “God,” just using different names?
What is your name? Are you the same person as your neighbor? What if you have the same name? Are you the same person, then?
Of course not.
We don’t really struggle with this concept with people. Every person is their own…well…person. You cannot be held responsible for the actions of someone else, even if they have the same name as you. You also receive different benefits, have different skills, and have a different personality.
All One God?
There are many people who believe that all religions and all “Gods” are the same, but the Bible tells us something different. The Bible tells us that God is specific. He has specific characteristics and is not to be confused with any other.
Allah, Budha, Shiva, etc. are not YAHWEH and we are not to treat them as though they are. However, it’s worse than that.
One God
There are no other Gods? There is only one. So, treating other gods as though they were YAHWEH is like saying you are the same person as the piece of paper on your desk. YAHWEH is real and He has specific characteristics. He is Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is merciful and gracious and mighty. He is the creator of the world, of you and me.
We are to go to Him alone as God and He reveals things that we would not have known, like the Gospel. This is something else that distinguishes YAHWEH from all others. The Gospel is about what God has done for you for your salvation, not what God demands from you for salvation as others claim the other “gods” demand.
God is unique. He alone is to be worshiped and it is through Him, alone, that we are saved…by grace through faith.
So, let us call on the LORD and He will answer. Let us turn to Him for our salvation.
Heavenly Father,
You alone are God and I worship You alone. I look to You alone for my salvation and know my salvation is secure.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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