Peace Today...

If you wish to find peace today, it will all start with your attitude as you approach it. Bring nothing into today from yesterday, lest you start your day with a burden, before it has even begun. It is the baggage of yesterday that often wearies us before we have even taken the first step, on today’s journey. Carrying the knowledge of the past is different than carrying its burden. Let those things that ailed you yesterday, stand as a pile of rumble before you today, being thankful, that you no longer need to carry them or the burden they represent any further on your journey. It is often not, what we run into, but rather what we choose to carry that drains us of our strength. Approaching today’s challenges while carrying yesterday’s burdens will certainly leave you unable and incapable of facing them with the muster necessary to meet the challenge. No matter how strong you are, the weight of the past will certainly overwhelm you at some point, but more important, it will keep you from having the freedom to begin each day fresh and renewed. Understand, those who dread tomorrow, do so because they have chosen to live in the burden of yesterday! Remember, we are to cast all our cares upon him; for He careth for us. Start each day with empty hands, open hearts, and eyes filled with the wonder of what each new day holds!

Your Pastor.

Victory or Death

Victory or Death

Moreover, what shall we say about our failings and shortcomings, and how in their midst can we have confidence before God. Concerning this, we evolve into one of two dispositions. One is that we lean upon our fallen nature and we become our own excuse. Seeing all sin as equal, and knowing perfection is not attainable, we sink and surrender. Unwillingly, as Paul proclaimed, we drown in sin and so grace abounds. Though we may not articulate it as such, such is the disposition of the heart. By contrast, another disposition is to see sin as an evil to conquer. Victory over sin is seen as the prize, the proof of God in us. As Christ conquered sin and death, so we fight to taste this same victory. The disposition of the heart looks not for excuses, but rather the path to victory. When the need to make excuses is greater than the need to forge a path to victory, the soul is surely spiritually sick at best, or desperately lost at worse. The power of the living God imparted to His children will never serve to foster complacency in the face of sin, for we are more than conquerors through Christ who died for us. Let your fight not be to excuse the obvious, but rather to become victorious over the inevitable!

Your Pastor

The Woman at the Well

The Woman at the Well

The story of the Samaritan Woman, or the woman at the well, is a microcosm of Scripture itself. As Jesus sat at the well, weary and exhausted, He was fulfilling the promise to Abraham, it was Gods way of saying I AM here! The well that Jacob had returned to time and time again to water his flocks and quench his own thirsts, had now been visited by the promised seed of Abraham, who would quench men’s thirsts forever. This well was situated within the despised territory of the Samaritans. The well, where now the source of living water, the Son of God had come to sit, was in the midst of an area considered unclean by the phony and self-righteous. In the midst of a despised and rejected unclean land, Jesus the source of all goodness and hope had returned, for such was the mission of the Savior of the world. There at the well, was one spiritually unclean, lost, one worshipping what she did not understand. For her to receive the living water, the promise of Abraham, and like all who will be saved, a dialogue must needs begin. Jesus simply says, go get your husband, and this woman’s whole world was laid bare. This woman who had five husbands and was living with another now, in a moment, comes to realize the depths of her sin, the true reality of her condition before God. In return she begins to inquire of Him, perceiving Him a prophet, she inquires as to why He is even speaking to her, being a Samaritan. However Jesus had come to save such, the outcast, the unclean, the rejected of society, was the mission of the one sitting before her. She then ask whether Jesus considered Himself greater than Jacob, to which Jesus responded, I AM. Jesus in very few words, revealed to her that He was greater than all before Him, and all who would come after Him. Then the woman asked, how can you give me water, when you have nothing to use to draw from the well, for little did she know Jesus needed nothing at all, for He was the source of the water of which He spoke, and was free to give it at a moment’s notice. In this story, only one thing still remained, and that was for this woman to thirsts for the water of which Jesus spoke. The one element needed now, was a weary, longing and thirsty soul, willing to ask the Lord of Glory to quench her thirsts, and so He did. In this story is the paradigm of all who will be saved. In it, is the sum of Scripture. When wearied enough, we come to the well seeking something to quench our parched souls, and there we meet the one who tells us all we need to know. We see our sin, we meet our Savior, and we ask for this living water that only He can give, and He gives it freely! What a glorious story of us all!

Your Pastor

To Prove, What’s in Your Heart?

To Prove, What’s in Your Heart?

Three months after the Israelites had left Egypt, God gathered them at the base of Mount Sinai to prepare them for their journey to the Promise Land. At that time, God descended upon the mountain in a terrible display of fire and thunder, the earth even quaking. Such was the display that the people ran to the nether regions of the mountain, in fear. It was at that time, the Lord explained to them the reason for visiting upon them in the manner in which He did. This was the first time the Israelites had witnessed the awesome presence of the God behind their miraculous deliverance. God said that He had appeared to them in such an awesome display to instill in them fear. This fear was serve as a healthy reminder of who He was and of His nature as a being outside the scope of the human experience. The Lord told them in no uncertain terms, He meant to scare them, so they would fear and “sin not.” Another reason the Lord appeared in this manner was to tell them they were going to be tested on their journey to the promise land. These test the Lord explained, would reveal what was actually in their hearts and especially as it related to whether or not they would obey Him. This brings up the question as to whether in God’s eyes their deliverance from Egypt was as important as the journey that followed. Knowing that generation perished in unbelief, holds for us the undeniable answer to that question. God here was making the point to all of us, that if the journey that follows ones “deliverance” is not marked by a life of obedience, you will still surely perish in the end. Life’s trials are not for God, for He knows our hearts. Life’s trials are as He told the Israelites, for us, to show us what is in our hearts, so that we might make things right with Him, before it is too late. The Lord told the Israelites, their faith would have to be “proved.” For us today, this moment in the life of the Israelites, becomes in every way a shadow of our own. We must ask ourselves, is our journey to the promise land consistent with all the implications inferred at the moment of our deliverance? The Israelites were not freed from bondage to become entangled and bound again by sin. They were delivered to follow the Lord as God, to live holy and obediently before Him. This journey we are on between heaven and earth, is where the case is being made for whether or not we should be allowed into heaven. Remember, obedience is not a work, nor is a right heart a work. Works have become the fools excuse to live in sin and disobedience. Our lives will either prove we are true followers, or provide in the end the evidence we were not. Every trial, temptation, and test we encounter in this life, provides for us the answer to that question, an answer we desperately need before it’s too late!

Your Pastor,

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

"That Which I Feared Most Has Come Upon Me" (Job 3:25)

The story of Job is one of the oldest in Scripture. Written probably during the patriarchal period, Job is a story of profound importance, for it speaks to a specific aspect of human suffering. Job was a righteous man, but as the story reveals, far from perfect. He was also a man of great piety and religious commitment, so much so that he even offered sacrifices to God for his children, who appear to have not been living for the Lord. The Scriptures also reveal that Job was always worried in the back of his mind that his good fortune could change, for he was a man blessed beyond measure, but like so many, Job assumed that his religious piety would serve to prevent any of life’s misfortune. The story goes on to reveal that Job’s real problem was not so much the suffering he experienced, as much as it was the attitude of self-righteousness he carried wherever he went. The story of Job speaks only briefly to his actual ailment, but devotes chapter after chapter to the attitude he maintained during his misfortune. This attitude becomes clearer throughout the narrative, as the author digs deeper into an explanation for Job’s misfortune. Job, throughout his ordeal, proclaims his goodness, his integrity, and his righteousness. Instead of looking inside, Job beats his chest, and accuses the God of heaven of acting in an unrighteous manner. Think for a moment about the heart of any man who could think God would owe him an apology as Job did. Thus was the heart of Job. The story is not about the patience of Job at all, it is about the self-righteousness of Job. When Jobs faith is put to the test, he fails miserably. Job did not curse God as his wife suggested, but rather does something far worse, he implies that the God of heaven is unjust, unfair, and by inference unholy, especially to allow this to happen to a man as good as he! As Job cries out to God, “you know that I am not wicked,” he was revealing to all, the true depths of his depravity and the answer to his misfortune. Certainly, a truly pious man would know, “there is none good, no not one.”  Should Job have been consumed in his trial and perished at the hand of God Himself, the truth was God would have been justified, for Job was no less vile than any man who had ever lived before him. Fortunately for Job his misfortune, serves to open his eyes to the true nature of the God in heaven, who does nothing, nor allows anything to occur without a purpose. As Job falls to his knees and repents in dust and ashes, he admits he knows little of God, and that truly he is a vile man, undone, and desperately in need of forgiveness. The point of the whole story of Job is summed up in his closing words, Job declares to the Lord, “before I knew you only by the hearing of the ear, but now I see you for the first time.” Job was actually ignorant of the God he thought he served, until this great misfortune happened upon him. Jobs misfortune actually served to rescue his soul and gave him an understanding of the Lord, of which before now he knew nothing. It appears that Job’s misfortune caused him to seek God in earnest for the first time and so in the end Job saw his suffering as an act of mercy and love by the God who created him!

Your Pastor

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

Carnal Words

The most carnal words a believer can utter are, “I don’t care what other people think.” Did you ever stop to consider that it was what you thought about Jesus that contributed to your turning towards Him? We must never forget that we are drawn to everything that Jesus is and it is all based on what we think about Him. What people think about you should always be a priority in your life. Now you may ask why, or think to yourself I don’t care what anybody thinks but God, and that is my point! God cares greatly what people think of you, because you are His ambassador here on earth. If you are a believer you represent Jesus, plain and simple. There is often an arrogance that is associated with believers, which is not becoming of the Savior they follow. You can bet that people have an opinion of you and it is probably more closely aligned to what Jesus thinks as well. We may all have opinions, but they do not create themselves in a vacuum. There is a reason why people think about you what they do. Never forget that the Christian faith itself is built upon one thing and one thing alone, what we have come to think about Jesus and it is no less important that the world think the same thing about you it has come to understand about Him.

Your Pastor

Birth Pangs

Birth Pangs

Matthew 24 is a sobering chapter in Scripture. Upon being asked about the end of the world, Jesus proceeded to describe a time on earth of unbelievable pain and suffering, so great that if time were not shortened by the Lord Himself, no flesh would be spared. Although it sounds both traumatic and dire, our world has always been in the throes of turmoil and suffering. The first world before the flood only lasted some 1650 years or so. Within 500 years of the flood, man was back to building the Tower of Babel and God was raining fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah. Since the flood, over the past 3,400 plus years, humanity has been at peace for only a fraction of them, actually only about 8 percent of recorded history. It is a grave miscalculation to think that our world is getting worse, for it has always been as we see it today. The first murder was in the first family and man’s heart is the same today as it was then. Jesus spoke of the birth pangs of planet earth. These were pains the earth would feel due to the wickedness of man and a world slowly unraveling. As it was before the flood, so it is today. The world is not getting more evil, there are just more and more evil people living in it. As good is diminished, evil abounds more and more. As society slowly removes those instruments of good and righteousness from its midst, an ever increasing number of lawless, godless souls will fill its ranks. Over time, like the leaven Jesus spoke of, it will leaven the whole lump. Birth pangs are nature’s indicator of something greater about to take place. In this case, an indicator of a world about to give birth to an era in human history that no words are capable of describing. Only two elements are necessary to bring the world to an end, man and time, nothing more. As we look around at the world and the pangs being caused by evil everywhere, they are meant to be a reminder, a reminder to get ready for the inevitable!

Your Pastor

The World to Bring About the Best of All Worlds

The World to Bring About the Best of All Worlds

As we look at our world we are confronted with unimagined evil, pain, and suffering. Some as a result find it impossible to see behind it all a God of love, but this comes about chiefly because we tend to see everything through the individual moments of our circumstances, rather than stepping back and looking at the big picture. To understand our world better we need to look at what is left, when all is said and done. When the heavens and earth melt with fervent heat and the universe that declares the glory of God is no more, only two things will remain…sheep and goats, wheat and tares, two doors leading into eternity, one to a new heaven and new earth, the other to an unimaginable place the Scriptures call Hell. The Scriptures tell us that when God created the earth and placed man upon it, His desire, was to bring out of it a redeemed people. These purchased by His blood, would belong to Him legally and rightfully, but at the same time they would surrender to Him willfully. The question we must ask is, what kind of world is needed to bring about a redeemed people? What kind of world will manifest the best in people, develop the greater virtues, and cause them to long and seek those things that are above. By creating a world where evil could exists, good could now stand in stark contrast. By allowing a world where fear could abound, courage and bravery could now exist alongside. Suffering would allow for acts of selflessness, mercy, and compassion. In a world where evil could exist, it would exist as the antithesis of everything wholesome and good, a picture of everything God is not. You see we know and appreciate the greater good by experiencing the consequences of evil. We long for God because we live in a world that manifests the fruits of an existence without Him. We long for heaven by living in the Hell we have created. We may not fully understand now why we go through all we do, but we can be assured, that although this is not the best of all worlds, in God’s wisdom it is the best world to achieve the best of all worlds. A benevolent God would and will remove evil once and for all, and with it, like gold refined in a furnace, in time, He will remove from an evil world a redeemed people, prepared like fine gold, to dwell with Him forever!

Your Pastor.

True Followers

Summing up Sunday mornings sermon…Contrary to what many believe, Jesus was in many ways not so unique during His earthly ministry. There were many false prophets and fake messiahs in Israel that had come and gone. Even John drew larger crowds initially. So in an age with no television or internet, people flocked to hear whoever was speaking. Jesus was different in one regard however, he was performing genuine healing miracles and feeding the crowds who came to hear Him speak. As is often the case when you hand out free food and health care, the crowds began to grow exponentially. During one occasion Jesus rebuked the crowd openly, this because He knew the only reason the people were seeking Him out was because of what He could do for them personally, and that they had very little concern for their lives spiritually. It was in this setting that Jesus turned to a riotous mob to set the record straight. It was on this occasion that Jesus proceeded to tell the crowd, if you don’t love me more than any other, including the members of your own family, if you don’t intend to serve me faithfully, and if you intend to keep one foot in the world, don’t bother going any further, because you cannot be a disciple of mine! Today the world is under the impression that you can come to Jesus and get the cookies and Kool-Aid and then disregard His prerequisites for following Him. How foolish to have such an assumption. The church is filled today with welfare believers, those who want what Christ and His church can offer them, without any intention of giving anything in return. Jesus said they may be present among you, but they are not followers of His. The Christian life is about serving and giving, it is characterized by selflessness. While some preachers are promising miracles and prosperity, Jesus was quick to point out that being His follower has nothing to do with that. If what Christ did for you on Calvary isn’t enough, if there isn’t a sense of debt you feel you owe in return, if you are not compelled to give back and serve, Jesus said, you can be sure, you are no follower of His!

Your Pastor

Bro. Joel

Understanding Faith

Summing up Sunday mornings sermon…There are many things we believe, many things we mentally may affirm, none of which will automatically find its way into reality, as far as our daily lives our concerned. Somewhere in the mix, between what God has said or commanded and our willingness to obey, is the point where our will is surrendered to His. The momentum of that occasion, the place where understanding gives way to action, is what the writer of Hebrews describes as faith. As... Abel prepared his sacrifice to present to the Lord, he did so based upon what he knew was acceptable to God and in so doing, he acted in faith. Faith is where knowledge gives way to obedience. This is why James could say with confidence that a faith without works is dead. This because genuine faith is always yielding in obedience! This is also why Jesus said a little faith, like that of the grain of a mustard seed could move a mountain. This knowing that anytime we act based on what God has said, nothing under heaven or earth can prevent it, for it is based on His Word. Where there is no action…there is no faith. Remember all the conviction in the world could never build an ark, however, a man filled with conviction, overwhelmed by the presence and influence of the almighty, now full of faith, could not be stopped from building it!...

Bro. Joel

Regular Maintenance...

Life is filled with principles that permeate every aspect of creation. One of those is the principle of maintenance. In all my years in strength training, it became obvious very quickly that if you quit lifting and working out, the effects were seen almost immediately. Whether it is an old tractor that needs the oil changed, or a car that needs new tires, everything in creation, without exception, needs to be maintained, and nothing reveals this principle greater than our spiritual lives. Jesus said without me, you can do nothing, and how true we must learn this simple spiritual fact is. Time spent with Christ each day, is the same as light and water to a plant, they are the essential parts of the plants daily life cycle, remove either, and you can watch almost immediately the plant begin to weaken and whither. As I look out over the congregation each Sunday, it is always easier to notice those who aren’t there, verses those who are. Knowing faithfulness to ones prayer life, worship, and time meditating on God’s word are essential parts of the Christians daily life cycle, it begs the question, are the people you see so inconsistently, healthy spiritually? Now to the one who says, I don’t need to go to church to walk with God, I would say, then why the church at all? Who is Sunday worship supposed to benefit, if not you? The Lord established the church to be a part of the Christians maintenance, the place where the oil is changed and the tires rotated. It has been my experience, that the lack of this maintenance in a believer’s life is evident to everyone. Like brakes on a car that squeak, or a tail pipe that burns oil, the car is moving, but signs of trouble are obvious. If you feel life has become a bit sluggish, maybe some regular maintenance in God’s house is in order! Remember the Church is God’s garage and with regular visits your life will simply run better!

 

Your Pastor,

Bro. Joel

You Are Salt....

Can you imagine putting salt on your food, but you couldn’t taste it? Hoping that it would put flavor where there was none, only to have that same boring bland taste in your mouth. Salt has been used for thousands of years to preserve and add taste to foods, which otherwise would be unpalatable. To have salt that doesn’t possess the properties of salt, makes the salt useless. That is what Jesus was talking about when He said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt lo...ses its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13 MKJV) Jesus was comparing bland salt to a believer that did not possess the qualities a believer ought to have. As salt without flavor is useless, so is a believer who doesn’t reflect the qualities consistent with the person of Christ. The Christians flavor is Jesus! It is something people should taste wherever we go. Make sure that you leave the right taste in people’s mouth and not a bland and tasteless Christianity that according to Jesus is useless. Remember, you are the salt of the earth!

Your Pastor
Bro. Joel

Gethsemane

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Brilliant Men

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Prayer and Insanity

They say the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and then to expect different results...so what is prayer? Prayer is another way of God taking the foolish things of the world and using them to confound the wise. For as we pray without ceasing we fully believe that through His power and providence things will change and they will change greatly and solely for the purpose that His glory can be revealed. Prayer is insanity with a twist and this being our trust in Him and not ourselves, our belief that it is not by power or might but by His Spirit things will change.
JM

"Live What You Say" - Dallas Holm

“As it Was, So it Shall Be”

 

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it also shall be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and the flood came and destroyed them all.                              (Luke 17:26-27 MKJV)

 

There is an eerie ignorance in the world today, which has now settled over most of mankind. It is hard to comprehend the things we are hearing and seeing. They reveal an evil and barbarism, unlike anything else we have known in the modern era. It seems as though there is a disconnecting with reality, as humanity just blocks out the unbelievable. Thousands are being killed and beheaded for the name of Christ, Christians are systematically being exterminated in third world countries, and it is as if, no one seems to really care. News channels would rather speak of racial tensions and incite more hatred for political motives, than rightly proclaim that man is sick, and our society is unraveling. We must ask, when will the world look into the mirror of humanity and see it, for what it is.

In Noah’s day it was no different. A preacher of righteousness building a boat, drew the scorn of passers bye.  Certainly Noah’s words meant nothing to those convinced he was just a crazy voice, a delusional prophet, a man obsessed with the end of days. What will it take for humanity to wake up, the beheading and burning of a thousand at once, a new holocaust, the detonation of a nuclear bomb in a metropolitan city? When will we pay attention to the significance of what is being reported, it is as though the world has accepted that this is just how it is. In the days of Noah, there was the same kind of ignorance and indifference to what should have been obvious and alarming. Rather than humanity being alarmed about the disintegration of society, for some reason, they danced until the flood came and took them all away instead!

We continue to report on the evils of man, but no one calls man evil. We see the hatred and murder in men’s hearts, but no one wants to recognize man’s depravity. Here we live in a world where men have killed one another since the beginning of time, and still no one gets it. After thousands of years of so called evolution, man is more murderous than ever. The problem now is the same as it was during the days of Noah, there comes a time of no return, a breaking point as it were. We are there! The fools believe humanity can cure itself. The intellectual simply disregard the place of sin in the human heart, and a world convinced it will be okay, sees no need for a suffering Savior.

Today, Christ is the boat, the ark! He is ridiculed, mocked and scorned, just as that big ole boat was in Noah’s day. When the time comes, the same will be true of this generation, as was true of Noah’s. The same way God closed the door of the ark, he will close the door of opportunity, for the lost to find shelter in Christ, His Son. There is a strong delusion on the way, which will shortly, completely engulf the minds of those who have rejected the Son of God. They will march in step to their own destruction, never knowing what is coming upon them. As Jesus proclaimed,

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. But to what shall I compare to this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets and calling to their playmates, saying, We played the flute to you, and you did not dance! We mourned to you, but you did not wail! For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man who is a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners. But wisdom was justified by her children. Then He began to upbraid the cities in which most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the powerful acts which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes! But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to the heaven, shall be brought down to hell. For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for you. (Mat 11:15-24 MKJV)

 

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

            4/11/2015

“Treasure in Earthen Vessels”

 

For it is God who said, "Out of darkness Light shall shine;" who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us; in every way having been troubled, but not having been hemmed in; having been perplexed, but not utterly at a loss; having been persecuted, but not having been forsaken; having been thrown down, but not having been destroyed; always bearing about the dying of the Lord Jesus in the body, so that the life of Jesus also might be revealed in our body.           (2Co 4:6-10 MKJV)

  

First, let me begin by giving you a concise paraphrased version of the passage, “God planted the unbelievable truth and hope of the gospel in a highly fragile and susceptible container, one subject to breakage, wear, abuse, and neglect. This He did so the power of the hope of the gospel could show itself sufficient to overcome such, despite the vessels susceptibility. This all to point to something deeper within, which would serve more powerful than those elements that work to eventually destroy the vessel itself. Therefore the vessel knows well its susceptibility, yet never gives up hope, because of the hope this message provides it!” JMMV

Several things come to mind here, first is how common the vessel God deposits the hope of the gospel in, really is. One thing I have always noticed in near eastern archeology at the various sites was the immense number of clay chards that litter the ground, they are always in the thousands and tens of thousands. Nothing appears to be more common or more breakable in ancient times. Anyone who has been around a clay vessel knows how easy they are to break. At a time when the bronze and iron ages were flourishing, Paul reminds us of how common and fragile we are. Secondly, Paul reminds us that God created the vessel fragile on purpose. Today we can add certain ingredients to strengthen the integrity of the vessel, but in Paul’s day it was basically clay, the same clay interestingly enough that God formed man out of, in the Book of Genesis. Once dried, it was sometimes fired to give a bit more strength, but at best, it was still quite fragile. One interesting characteristic of theses fragile clay vessels, was that once they were damaged they were pretty much good for nothing and so they were discarded. If a piece was found large enough, sometimes they became surfaces to write upon, but other than that, they were useless. Paul reminds us here that God put us into fragile vessels on purpose, vessels that have the potential to be rendered utterly useless when damaged. This brings me to the third thing worth mentioning, and that is, Paul alludes to the fact that though the vessel be scattered in pieces on the ground, somehow it can remain intact! Paul gives the picture of a shard that maintains the integrity of the whole vessel. How can that be? You see we have a vessel, but the vessel isn’t all there is. The vessel contains something that cannot be destroyed, something that is reacting and responding to what the vessel outwardly experiences. It is what is in the vessel that God adds the hope of the gospel to! There is a very powerful lesson for us to learn here and that is you cannot control what happens to the earthen vessel, but you can control the integrity of the vessel when the outer shell is shattered! Paul tells us that the only thing that can allow us to maintain the vessels integrity when the vessel is damaged, is the hope that Christ brings. You see when the vessel is damaged on the outside, sometimes it is irreparable, and the damage is obvious to all. The question now becomes, what can hold the remaining pieces together and still allow the vessel to find usefulness and purpose somehow? Paul tells us, that what gives strength to a vessel that would otherwise crumble is Jesus! Jesus is the invisible glue that miraculously holds all the broken pieces in place. Paul also tells us that when we see the vessel intact, although it has been badly damaged, we will know the source of its strength is God, and not ourselves! This is why it is so important to deposit the hope of the gospel in every vessel before they crumble entirely.

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

3/19/2015

c2015

“He Must Increase and I Must Decrease”

“You yourselves bear witness to me that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Then my joy is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:28-30
Like so many things written in Scripture, the power of the occasion is lost oftentimes in the frivolity of the ...story. Such is true in this case with John the Baptist. Here the context is important because it shows the real heart of a man who would not let anything compete with the glory that belonged to Christ and Christ alone. Here, John at the pinnacle of his ministry, at a time where so many people followed him he needed to relocate to a place with enough water to accommodate them all, simply says…it is time for me to step aside. John equates his stepping aside to that of a friend to the bridegroom, one who stands to the side and finds joy in making sure all attention is given to the man of honor. John was a man who could have stood in his own limelight; he could have refused to yield his followers to another’s care, but John was a man who lived his life from only one perspective, and that was how his life fit into the life of Jesus, his Lord. John was born to yield his life to the one whose shoes he was not worthy to loose and the same is true for all who follow Christ today. In this life, we are not called so much to give up anything, as much as we are to simply give the bridegroom the honor He is due. May we find our joy as John did, in seeing Christ honored and glorified above all else!

 Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.
6/23/2014

Practical Advice for Young Pastors. Part II

1.      Pay attention to becoming a highly competent communicator.

One piece of advice I can give young preachers is to hone your communications skills. By this I mean, how you speak, your pronunciation, and the vocabulary you use. Jesus was a master communicator. You may not think how you speak is as important as what you speak, but you would be wrong. Remember you will always have educated and well informed people in your audience, and accordingly you should be able to speak to the full gamut of those who are there to hear. One mistake many young preachers make is speaking to fast. Now, I know it is easy to get caught up in the moment, but slang, off cuff statements, and a lot of screaming, is simply not becoming those who preach the Gospel. We must always remember the power is in the words, so take the time to speak them clearly and accurately, to make sure you are effectively communicating them.

2.      Make sure the preaching is geared towards inward personal change and making disciples, and not simply to impress others with how much you think you know.

I have had the unfortunate privilege of sitting through many a personal rant from the pulpit, and if it had not been for respect and courtesy, I would have walked out. The pulpit is not a place for your political views or your personal pet peeves. It is the Bible that changes people’s lives and that is what they need to hear. There are other times and places where you can voice other matters. You are there to feed the people the word of God, period, end of story! Many young men feel it is time to regurgitate their seminary education, but let me implore you, don’t do it. The most important part of preaching is proper application, spend most of your time not on facts, but rather on how they might apply what they are hearing. There is an art to balancing content, and the depth of that content, with real world application, so work hard to find the balance. But always remember, the goal of preaching is to share the gospel and make disciples!

3.      Don’t confuse enthusiasm with prayerful contemplation.

Most young men enter the pulpit for the first time bent on changing the world, and it is a noble cause, but let me tell you from experience, it is not as easy as you think. Oftentimes in that endeavor it is easy to mistake the passion to do, with the divine mandate to do it. Just because you know something needs to be done, doesn’t mean that God has told you how or when it should be attempted. Timing and patience are key elements in ministry. What may not work today, may, with proper prayer, planning and patience, work well six months or a year from now. Don’t let your passion to do, override your need to pray, wait on God, and to discern all the other aspects that come into play in order to see it attempted successfully.

Practical Advice for Young Pastors. Part I

Practical Advice for Young Pastors.

 

1.      Slow Down

Remember, even the Lord took six days to create our universe. One of the first mistakes a young pastors makes is trying to do things too quickly. Just take a look at the wall of pastor photos and you will quickly realize a lot of good men have been there before you, and more than likely there will be many after you. Churches don’t like to have someone come into their house and start rearranging things, especially when they don’t know you and they see you as a guest. Big changes need to take place over time if they are to last.

2.      Take time to get a lay of the land.

If you think you know what to do when you get there, let someone who has been there tell you kindly, you are wrong. Every church is different. Until you have been there for a while you have no idea what to do and know what works in one church could utterly fail in another. Take the time to get a lay of the land. Watch and observe for the first year instead of barking out orders and driving the sheep towards the change you believe is necessary. I read somewhere, “You’re not the leader if you turn around and no one’s behind you!”

3.      Address fiscal matters immediately.

One thing you can do which will get almost everyone’s support from the start, is save the church money. From day one begin reviewing church expenditures and save money anywhere you can. Oftentimes, churches are the worst stewards of their resources. Review contracts, rebid insurance policies, consolidate everything that can be consolidated. Operate your church budget as though you might be facing bankruptcy. People that give want the resources used wisely, but all too often they trust the staff or committees that are given that responsibilities. Although a pastor should never touch a penny of the money that comes into the church, he should approve the stewardship of every dime the church spends.

4.      Spend more time building unity than isolating your detractors.

You won’t be there long before you know who your detractors are! They will find you and make their presence known. They will also be quick to point out the error of your ways. One thing that can become very discouraging for young pastors is coming to grips with the fact they have enemies in their congregation. The tendency is to just marginalize or ignore them but wisdom has another more powerful approach, make them your friends. There is nothing more powerful in your church than a strong supporter that comes from the old guard. Seek to seek out their wisdom, gain their help in implementing your ideas and show them you appreciate the years of service they have given pro and con over the years. Your job is to bring the fellowship together to carry out the great commission and it will take a concerted effort to see that accomplished.

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

3/4/2015

 

When God Doesn’t Answer

And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will. Matt. 26:39 

 

Who could have had a more optimistic view of the future than Jesus, the one who held eternity in His hand? However, in the temporal world He was thrust into, He found Himself at this moment in a much different state of mind. As I consider His words here, I believe there are several things worth mentioning. First, we all live in the tensions between the joys of heaven and the realities of earth always. For Jesus to know of sitting at the right hand of the Father while He agonized in Gethsemane is something worth pondering. There may have been a throne to sit on and a banquet to attend in heaven, but the reality on earth at that moment was something far different. As believers we are told to set our minds on things above, but that in no way can take away from the present struggle right before our eyes. Our struggles are real, our pain is real, and so is the fear and trepidation life brings. To simply cast off the realities of life to a fanciful view of heaven is simply, for most, not realistic or helpful. Jesus’ words here identify Him with that part of our own existence. Jesus wept, anguished, feared and almost fainted at the reality that was before Him.

The next thing worth noting, is that Jesus did what we are all inclined to do when faced with great difficulty, He asked God for help. In this tender moment Jesus is identifying with anyone and everyone who has ever looked to the heavens in their time of need. It is quite amazing to behold this aspect of Jesus’ humanity. There was the creator of the universe, in His time of need, doing simply what we all do, asking, God, if it is possible, please help me. This also reveals another important aspect of this moment in the life of Christ, and that was, He knew the Father was aware, and that He knew of His situation, and more so, even personally what He was going through. We should take great comfort today in knowing that we can have that same confidence as we look up and ask for help from our heavenly Father. Remember, Jesus never wondered if He was there, or if He heard, Jesus’ biggest concern was would He answer, and how would He answer.

This brings us perhaps to the most important thing, and that is, God answered, and didn’t answer at the same time. So many times we look to heaven and cry out to God and there appears to be no answer. We often interpret the occasion as if God doesn’t care, or maybe that He is not there at all. We can take comfort in knowing that the same thing happened to Jesus. God responded to Him as He most often responds to us, in silence! Jesus called out, but no answer. Now Jesus could have said like many do, God you’re not there or you don’t care. The problem was, that Jesus knew God was there, without any doubt. Jesus was also recognizing something else, and that was, God was answering in the silence. You see, saying nothing here, was the same as saying no! God simply answered Jesus no in the silence. One thing we must come to realize is that if God wishes to change our situation He could and would. When we pray for relief and it doesn’t come we must do as Christ did before us, press on! More importantly though, we must also realize that the silence may signify that we are perfectly in the center of His will!

Rev. Joel M McDuffie
3/3/2015

Just a Thought

I am convinced that we shall never be free of the anxiety, worry, stress, and adversity that await us each day. With every step of progress we make, there will come another adverse occasion, which like gravity, will pull against us, less we should finally become free of perplexities grasp. Those adverse occasions here that are “common to man,” are set in place so that we might never grow fond of this world. One great medicine for this found in the pages of scripture, is the admonition to set our minds on things above, on those things that are not of this world. With every struggle that comes our way, there is an opportunity to do so. Remember that with every struggle you face, God is at the same time, also giving you another real reason to long for home!

 Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.
4/15/2014

On Our Destiny…

One of the unique characteristics of being a believer is that we understand we are here for more than just a brief ride on a revolving ball. When we look up, we see our purpose, when we look out, we see our destiny. We live with a reason for our existence. We find value in the good, through Him, we are able to being to others and life itself. One thing we must guard ourselves against as believers is, losing our sense of destiny and purpose. Now, I don’t mean some financial windfall or in any sense a reward as it relates to this world, what I am speaking about is waking in the morning with the notion that there is a divine path for me to walk today and it matters that I walk it, and that I walk it boldly and faithfully. Many lose this sense in the midst of life’s trials and adversity. Guard yourself from getting lost in the ranks of the despondent. We matter, we have a purpose, we have a reason to be, and we have the privilege to set out each day with the knowledge we matter to the Lord!

He is There…

Though I should write a thousand words
I never shall convey
The blessings and the goodness
He hath brought along my way.
To my ever wandering pathway
His light hath always shone
And confirms within my heart each day
The pathway that leads home.
When lonely and discouraged
When despondent and in despair
I only need to bow my head
To know that He is there.
Sometimes the clouds are dark and grey
And my soul is not at ease
For all I wish to do each day
Is His heart to love and please.
Oh give me Lord the grace this day
To do what I must do
And may I learn with every breath
To put my trust in you!

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

Jesus, Love and ISIL

In today’s world it is not unreasonable to ask as Christians, what our response to ISIL should be. Now I do not pretend to have all the answers, nor could I begin to explore all the point and counter points that could arise from such a question. However, that being said, I do think there are a few considerations worth mentioning. Let me begin by asking you a question, would you invite Satan to dinner? Now, let me ask you another question, do you think you would have opportunity to see him converted as a result of your invitation. You may be saying to yourself that this represents an extreme, but that is the issue, what we see with ISIL is an extreme. In Scripture, the argument can be made to love your enemies on one occasion, and to destroy them at the same time in another, like with Joshua or David. I think the question we must ask today is, is what we see happening in the world a final congealing of the forces governed by the principalities and powers Paul warned us of. Evil has always been with us, but Scripture speaks of a coming great deception and darkness, which over time will consume all of mankind. I think what we see happening in the middle-east, due to the vacuum left through the over throw of numerous dictators, is the reforming of a new and expanded empire, which will be headed by Iran very shortly. In Scripture, Iran is Persia, and it is from Persia that many scholars believe the beast of Revelation will arise. Now I do not want to get into a discussion about those matters as much as I do a key aspect concerning the outlook we as Christians should have. If what we are witnessing in the world today is prophetic and eschatological in nature, nothing but God Himself is going to stop it! There are unseen forces in this world whose nature and origin are so malignant and malevolent that trying to convert them is simply futile and naïve. We must at some point admit that there are those who hate our Lord and hate us as a result. They will not be converted, they will not be swayed, but on the contrary they will advance their hatred of the God of the Bible, our God, whenever opportunity permits. This is precisely what I think we see going on presently in the world. Now, although it is true that the cause of Christ has benefitted in the past by the reaction to persecution, the scriptures also speak of a time of persecution that will continue unabated in the future, and that will not cease until Christ returns. As a believer, I am compelled to pray and love my enemies, but these are God’s enemies, with no inclination to do well, or to desire mercy. Now we can argue, let God sort it out. I would suggests there comes a time like while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, when one kept watch with a spear in his hand, while the other worked on the wall. We should ask does that serve as a model for us today. I do believe we should see the possibility for souls to be converted through all this, but I also see a need to cry out for the defense of our brothers and sisters who are dying. I also believe that means bringing to bear whatever means necessary to rescue them now from their present danger. Some argue that Christians should be pacifists and that is why we have the many problems we do today. We are not to bear hatred in our hearts, but we are to recognize evil when we see it, and we are commanded to have the same hatred of evil that God has. Until our Lord returns we are the soldiers in this fight and we should act and conduct ourselves accordingly. We as Christians are at war like never before, and we had better unite and take it seriously or we will soon feel the same dread of our near eastern brothers and sisters.

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/28/2015

How Were Your Eyes Opened?

 

As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. And when He had spoken these things, He spat on the ground and made clay from the spittle. And He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which translated is Sent). Therefore he went and washed and came seeing. Then the neighbors and those who had seen him before, that he was blind, said, Is this not he who was sitting and begging? Some said, this is he. Others said, He is like him. He said, I am he. Then they said to him, how were your eyes opened? (John 9:5-10 MKJV)

 

First, Consider an Alternative to Your Estate

 This story begins in a world steeped in superstition. Surrounding Jesus that day were the ancient notions of how the parents of this young man had sinned and passed to him somehow an act of divine retribution, which in turn, had left him blind from birth. This was in keeping with the common notions of the day. In the ancient world they often drew a direct parallel between the difficulties of one’s life and the purity or lack thereof that was responsible for them, very similar to what we see spoken of in the book of Job. Now, although that may seem strange to us, it was the common perception of the day. On the surface this may not seem like a big deal, for we would just overlook or ignore it, but for that blind man, know, his perspective was remarkably different. He had been that way from birth, and so that was his plight. Understand, it would not have been his inclination to believe that anything would ever change. To him, he was cursed of God, left to suffer for the sins of another and resigned to not even ask why, for all back then believed it was the will of God. That was until Jesus arrived and told him, you are not blind because of your sin, you are blind that the glory of God might be revealed in you this day. Now we cannot underestimate the importance of that revelation. For the first time this blind man had hope and an alternative to his life’s situation. This is at the heart of having our eyes opened. As we look at our world and at our own personal situation, the first step in having our eyes spiritually opened begins with recognizing that Jesus has a very different perspective on our state of affairs. We believe this is our plight, but Jesus says, let your life allow me to reveal my glory!

 

Second, Let Jesus Touch You

Now it may sound absurd, but this man could have run away, or sought relief from being harassed by a mad man, who believed differently, or who was practicing some sort of strange magic. This man was faced with a decision, listen to Jesus and give Him a chance, or continue to live in the darkness to which he had grown accustomed. Several things for this man seem on the surface to be obvious, first, what did he have to lose? I guess if a man wants to try and help you to see, what harm is there. The second thing is, deep down inside he had been living his whole life in hopes of such a miracle. Whether he ever thought it would happen, does not take away from his deep desire that it could. This brings us to another important aspect of having our eyes opened, and that is, our desire to see, and our willingness to give Jesus a chance. I find it interesting on this occasion that Jesus touched the man. He could have spoken to make the man whole, but He did not. Scripture said He made a salve as it were, and placed it on the man’s eyes. You see, to a man who is blind, touch was everything. In many ways touching was the most personal and nurturing way to speak to this man. This speaks of another spiritual truth, and that is, that no one shall see until they are touched by Christ. We are all blind from birth! This begs the same question today as it did then, why not give Christ a chance and what could it hurt? The question is do you want to see and are you willing to let Christ touch you?

 Third, Be Washed and Wash Again.

 We live in a grace filled world. We are led to believe that we are doctrinally flawed somehow if we suggests that we have any portion in our salvation. Now let me make it absolutely clear, it is Christ and His blood alone, which saves us, but, we do have a dog in this fight. This story makes it obvious that this man had to do something if he ever wanted to see again. First, had to be willing to let Christ touch him, next, he also had to be willing to listen to what Christ was saying to him, and lastly, he had to be willing to do what Christ instructed him to do. Christ told him to go and to wash himself. Now, I know that our minds go immediately to the idea that our cleansing comes from the blood of Christ, but remember, Christ had already touched him! You see after Christ touches us next we must go to the water to be baptized, but we must also wash ourselves daily of the sin that so easily beset us. Jesus sent this man to the water because that is where we go after Christ’ touches us and Christ told him to wash himself because we are called to a life of holiness. So how are our eyes opened?  First, we hear the words of Christ that promise and give us an alternative to our present reality. We make a decision as to whether or not to give Him a try, to take Him at face value to reveal Gods glory in us. Then we let Him touch us, this comes when we repent and surrender to Him, receiving the greatest touch of all, His Holy Spirit, which now touches every aspect of our being. In obedience we now go to the water where we are ceremonially washed and reminded we are to continually wash and be holy as He is Holy. This glorious theme is repeated over and over again in Scripture!

 

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/27/2015

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Some Thoughts on Jesus and Modern Ecumenism

And I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one, I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. (Joh 17:20-23 MKJV)

 

A Divine Concern

One of the first things we should recognize is the obvious, the fact that Jesus thought “being one” was worthy enough to make it into His public prayer life. It is the public prayers of Christ that most readily attract our attention and these usually surround events of great importance. Occasions like Gethsemane immediately come to mind. We should have no doubt that anything Jesus openly addressed in prayer, was a concern to Him, and in turn, should be a concern to us. It is also worth noting that the concerns Jesus addressed at the time, had no real immediate relevance, suggesting to us that the prayer foresaw a time in the future, when “being one” would eventually become a pressing concern.  That being said, Jesus’ prayer did also include those disciples present, “And I do not pray for these alone,” which also suggests that such concerns over “being one” would present itself in the immediate near future. At this point, the question that begs asking is why, why of all the things that may have preoccupied the Savior at the time, does He seem to pray so vehemently for unity?

 

A Divine Definition

Today, it is unfortunate to look upon all the division we see in the Body of Christ, most of which begins primarily on doctrinal grounds. However, the question is whether what we perceive in a divisional sense today, was in fact, what Jesus was concerned with when He prayed that we be one. In Jesus’ prayer He reiterates twice a theme that seems to characterize His concern. Jesus in essence prays that His disciples, present and future, would have an oneness equal to that illustrated in the trinity itself,  specifically in order that the world might believe that Jesus had come from the Father. To instruct fellow believers to be one as Christ was in the Father and the Father was in the Son, is quite remarkable. On the surface, it would not appear that the oneness was a reference to a theological persuasion, but that is not to say that Jesus and the Father were inseparable as such. Jesus repetitious use of the word “in” seems to be a dominant characteristic of His appeal. The word “in” becomes significant, because in chapter sixteen Jesus has just finished speaking of the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This fits well into Jesus’ analogy. The world knew the Father was in Christ because of the power that proceeded from Christ in the works He performed, these testified of one working greater within Him. It is worth noting that on more than one occasion Jesus appeals to the works He is performing as a testimony to the power within Him, and that the acts He performed were a direct revelation from the Father. If one takes at face value what is being said, and considers the context of what Jesus has just previously said, it appears that Jesus is referring to oneness as a cause and effect, not a scenario for potential theological differences. It would not be a stretch to paraphrase Jesus this way, “Father, let them be one in us, as I am one in you, let the power which flows from you to me, flow from us through them, so that the world may know they belong to us, the way they knew I belonged to you.”  Knowing that Jesus has just mentioned such a divine unity and oneness brought about through the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, suggests clearly that the prayer was a reference to the effectiveness of the relationship that would exists between the two.  The oneness that Jesus speaks of here, appears to be the relationship and effectual working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His followers, essential if the world was to know that Christians had been sent from God and had been deliberately empowered to bear witness of Him.

 

A Developing Disaster

This brings us to consider the divine appeal and the implications themselves. One unmistakable aspect of Christ’ ministry was that if it had not been for the miracles and supernatural working of God’s Spirit through Him, no one would have given Him the time of day. This would become even more critical as His disciple began to go out on His behalf after the ascension. That being said, after all these years, how critical would you suppose that dynamic is today? According to Jesus, millions going out without the power of God evident and flowing through their lives, is absolutely fruitless and pointless. Jesus knew the stubbornness of the human heart, He knew of the veil over the mind, and more importantly, He knew it would take something more to convince a lost world than just the mere words of men. Now this is not to say we are all to manifest miracles as Christ and the early apostles, but it is to say there is to be a clear outward working of an inward unmistakable divine dynamic based on our becoming one with Him. While we focus on unity as what each one believes differently, Jesus’ concern was that He would be in us, like God’s Spirit was in Him, and that the fruit of that oneness would be that the world could witness the power of God and know He sent us. Unfortunately we have become a people of thoughts and ideas, rather than a people who possess and emanate the power of the living God wherever we go. The developing disaster is characterized by an emphasis on going, rather than on the nature of who is going. Our prayer today should be as Jesus prayed then, Lord, make us one with you and let the power of that oneness be evident to all, Lord may others be drawn to your power working in me! Jesus’ prayer was simple, Father don’t let them attempt anything without being one with Me, which explains much of the mess we have today.

 

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/26/2015