Discipleship

Complete Joy

June 9, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

When we come to Christ, a joy we have never known fills us. We want nothing but more of Him. Over time, that joy may wane. Following Jesus is not an emotional journey, it is a journey of truth. The emotions we experience from knowing Christ are exhilarating, but in the end, it is not the emotion we seek. We seek only Jesus. Still, the emotional highs propel us in His Name to do work for His Kingdom.

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So, how do we continue to find joy when the struggles and trials of day-to-day living weigh us down? How do we find complete joy in a world intent on crushing us? The Bible shows us the way, and it is not about manufacturing emotion or attending events designed to elicit an emotional response from us. No, the way to reignite our joy is by sharing it with someone else (1 John 1:4).

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Stand Firm

June 6, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

As the days continue to grow more dark and evil, it becomes increasingly urgent for the Church to stand firm and hold its ground, advancing as we have the opportunity. The darkness has been pushing hard against the light and gaining ground we would have never thought possible in the past. Meanwhile, the churches in the land seem content to appease the sinful advances in hopes of everyone getting along.

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Jesus did not come to make a way for everyone to get along. He didn’t sacrifice His life so darkness could coexist with light. He died and rose again to provide a way out of the darkness and death. We are called out of the dark, not to accommodate it. The Word of God does not change. It is steadfast, and it is final.

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Fear God

June 2, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

Why do you fear God? Perhaps a better first question to ask is, do you fear God? Scripture commands us many times to live in the fear of God (Deuteronomy 6:13; 1 Samuel 12:24; Proverbs 9:10; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 2:17; Revelation 14:7). So, it’s not a question of whether we should, but imperative that we must. With all the sermons teaching God is love these days, it may seem a bit out of step to be talking about fearing God. Humans do not typically fear those we love.

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But God is not just someone else we love. He is the holy, righteous, and glorious Creator of the Universe, the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. God is indeed the highest expression of love. John told us this plainly in his epistle to the Church (1 John 4:8). However, we do not serve a one-dimensional God. Every emotion is magnified and perfected in Him. Thus, jealous, zealous, and righteous anger are also part of who He is. To quote Jonathan Edwards, “… it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.

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Spiritual Maturity

May 30, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

What does it take to rob you of your joy? Are you joyful when things are going well but less so when troubles come? You can know joy every day of your life, no matter what you are going through. It is possible to live in joy in every circumstance. John MacArthur once wrote, “One of the surest measures of our spiritual maturity is what it takes to rob us of our spirit-bestowed joy”. A spiritually immature person will find their joy in a constant ebb and flow, coming over them in waves, but drifting away just as easily.

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So, if we want a joy that does not leave us, we need to become more spiritually mature. This works because the more we spend time with God, the more joyful we become. And the more we learn about His unchanging character and love, the more we come to believe in His unfailing promises, the more confident we will become in our joy. We will develop such joy that nothing can shake it.

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A Biblical Worldview in Crisis

May 23, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

A recent survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found only 37% of pastors in America have a biblical worldview. Let that sink in for a moment. If you wonder why the world seems to be in the death spiral that it is, we need to look no further for an answer. Looking at the converse answer, 63% of pastors in America do not see the Bible as the inerrant and infallible Word of God. How else can you reconcile the fact only 37% of pastors consider the world around them through the lens of Biblical authority?

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To have a biblical worldview is to hold to the truth of the authority of God’s Word over any standards or opinions of man. If pastors won’t teach their congregations how to respond biblically to the world around them, how will those congregants understand how to live godly lives?