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Who reigns on the throne of your heart? It will either be self or Christ.  Choose wisely! For in your choice, you also choose the consequences that follow. 

For many years, the children of Israel enjoyed the privileges of having God rule over them as their King. It was during this time that the children of Israel experienced many of their greatest victories. Psalm 105 recounts God’s faithfulness to His people as their King. When they were still in Egypt, God fought for them- “…he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies…” (Psalm 105:24). He delivered them from their Egyptian bondage with His strong power- “He sent darkness…He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish…He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice…He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land…He smote their vines…He smote also all the firstborn in the land, the chief of all their strength” (vv. 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 36). God’s faithful reign continued even when His people were in their wilderness wanderings- “He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night…he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven…He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out…” (vv. 39-41). God’s rule over His people was marked by faithfulness, mercy, and provision. From Egypt to the Promised Land, God never forsook or misled His people- “For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: And he gave them the lands of the heathen…” (vv. 42-44).

When the people of God submitted to the rule of God, the blessings flowed freely. However, when the Israelites quickly turned their hearts from God the results were tragic. In 1 Samuel 8, we read, “Then all the elders of Israel…came to Samuel…And said… make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (vv. 4-5). Samuel was shocked and very displeased at this request of the people. But God answered and said, “…Hearken to the voice of the people…for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me that I should reign not reign over them” (v. 7). The people of Israel demanded a king with evil motives- to be like the nations. They rejected God’s plan and God’s rule over them. God had Samuel forewarn the people about the consequences of their choice- “…ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you” (v. 18).

What a tragedy indeed! When we persistently reject the reign of God in our hearts, we end up hurting ourselves and dishonoring God. For many, a rejection of God’s reign in their heart is merely the desire to be conformed to the world rather than Christ. When Christ reigns in our heart, victory, fellowship, provision, strength come our way! When we allow self upon the throne of our heart, defeat, discouragement, barrenness, and hurt will inevitably come.

~Pastor Aaron Francis

A legend is told of the Devil summoning his demons to consider the best way to keep the world on his side. One demon said, “Send me. I will tell them that there is no God.” Satan replied, “They will never believe you. Most of them know that there is a God.” Another said, “Send me. I’ll tell them that there is no heaven or hell.” Satan shook his head, “That will never do. They know that there is life after death.” Then a third spoke, “Send me. I’ll tell them there is a God, a heaven, and a hell, but there’s no hurry to decide.” “Ah,” said Satan with satisfaction, “that is the best plan!” He was sent out into the world to spread this lie. Although this story is merely a legend and is not based in God’s Word, the lie that “there is no hurry to decide” between life or death, heaven or hell, God or Satan has been believed by many people down throughout human history! Many are waiting for a ‘convenient season’ to get right with God, yet for most, that season never comes and they lose their window of opportunity to receive the truth of God’s Word!

In Acts 24, we find the Roman governor Felix presiding as judge over the trial of the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul had been falsely accused by the Jewish leaders of certain ‘crimes’. As Paul stood before the judgment seat of Felix, God provided Paul an opportunity to share the truth of the Gospel with Felix.  The Bible says that “after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning his faith in Christ” (v. 24). Felix was about to have an opportunity of a lifetime. He was about to hear the Apostle Paul preach the Gospel personally to him and his wife. And as Paul stood before Felix, “…he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come…” (v. 25a). Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel. He preached the righteousness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the judgment to come. And likely for the first time in Felix’s life, the Holy Spirit of God was convicting him of sin and opening his eyes to his lost condition. Felix understood that he was in serious trouble with God. The Bible states that “…Felix trembled…” (v. 25b). Something that Paul said had struck the fear of God into the heart of Felix. Felix trembled before the righteousness of God. Felix had a choice to make between salvation or condemnation. Rather, than asking “What must I do to be saved?” like the trembling Philippian jailor, Felix responded with “when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (v. 25c). As far as the Bible records, Felix’s more ‘convenient season’ never came.

There are many in the world like Felix. They hear the truth of the Gospel and they know the truth of the Gospel, but they put off their decision to receive the Gospel for a more convenient season. Rather than sensing the urgency of the gospel appeal and fleeing to Christ for forgiveness, many dull their conscience and harden their heart by putting off the things of God for a more convenient time. Yet for many that more convenient season never comes.

The Bible makes an urgent call to mankind to “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Turn your “someday” into a “today.” The Bible says that “…now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t wait for a more ‘convenient season’. Flee to Christ today for salvation!

The following quote is written by Arthur Mathews. Mathews was a missionary to China from 1938-1949. He was in China during the Communist takeover and was held under house arrest for four years with his family. During that time, Mathews wrote the following quote which reflects his commitment to the Lord even in the face of difficult circumstances. Mathews chose to view suffering from God’s perspective & stay focused on God’s overall purpose through the pain of suffering.

“We tend to look at the circumstances of life in terms of what they may do to our cherished hopes and convenience, and we shape our decisions and reactions accordingly. When a problem threatens, we rush to God, not to seek his perspective, but to ask him to deflect the trouble. Our self-concern takes priority over whatever it is that God might be trying to do through the trouble….

An escapist generation reads security, prosperity, and physical well-being as evidences of Gods’ blessing. Thus when he puts suffering and affliction into our hands, we misread his signals and misinterpret his intentions.”

Ask yourself: “How do I respond to suffering & pain in this life? Do I seek God’s perspective as I lean upon Him through suffering, or do I seek God simply for the purpose of removing the suffering? Do I run from trials of life or do I see them as means whereby God is drawing me closer to Himself and conforming me to the image of Christ? Have I believed the lie that following Christ will bring earthly security, physical prosperity, and physical health or do I believe what the Bible says when it states that ‘…we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22)?”

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place. “When they knew God,” wrote Paul, “they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Then followed the worship of idols fashioned after the likeness of men and birds and beasts and creeping things. But this series of degrading acts began in the mind. Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true. Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough, the history of the Church confirms it. So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it. The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God.” (A.W. Tozer- Knowledge of the Holy)

We live in spiritually dark days in America. But instead of shining brighter and exposing the darkness, many Christians have allowed their light to dim by giving into a slow and subtle desensitization towards the evil that permeates the culture. As our culture plunges into greater depravity, the temptation is to allow our eyes to adjust to the dark so that sin appears less sinful.

In 1981, evangelist Vance Havner preached a very a timely sermon entitled, “Getting Used to the Dark.” He said about the moral degradation of his day: “We get used to it. We get acclimated to it. We accept it as a matter of course, its language and its art and its literature and its music. We learn to live in it without an inner protest anymore. We don’t hate evil. We don’t abhor that which is evil. We don’t abstain from the very appearance of evil. We get used to the dark.”

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul entered the city of Athens. It is said that Athens had more statues of idols than all the rest of Greece put together. Paul didn’t come to the city as a sightseer, but rather, as a soul winner. Paul entered the city with a burden for souls and a desire to see the name of Christ glorified. Therefore, when he entered the city, “his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry” (v. 16). Paul had such a jealousy for the glory of God, that he was provoked within himself when he saw the idolatry that filled the city. Paul was stirred up with righteous indignation as he looked around himself and saw spiritual blindness that had gripped the hearts of the people.

As we look around the American cultural landscape, we see a nation wholly given to idolatry. Sure, we don’t have statues of false gods as you would see in ancient Athens or a modern-day Hindu country. But the idols of money, self, pleasure, power, fame are being worshipped by millions. This ought to provoke us because Jesus Christ is not receiving His rightful place of worship. When anything or anyone other than Christ is worshipped, it ought to put a burning passion in our hearts to see His name magnified. Our hearts ought to be broken for the lost who are blinded by the ‘god of this world’ and are shackled by the chains of sin.

Paul was not only stirred by the idolatry. Paul declared the true God to these Athenians. Paul couldn’t keep silent. He did not allow himself to get used to the dark. Paul did not choose the easy path of tolerance. Rather, he loved Christ and loved others enough to deny self and share the truth with them.

As our culture continues to run headlong into depravity, we must not allow ourselves to get used to the dark. Rather, we must learn to be like Paul. We must be jealous for God’s glory and magnify His holy name!  

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Psalm 113

“Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.

The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.”

In 1789, John Montgomery was inspired by Psalm 113 to pen the words of a hymn. He wrote: “Who is like God? So great, so high; He bows Himself to view the sky; And yet, with condescending grace; Looks down upon the human race.” Psalm 113 is a psalm of praise to God. Praise should be the natural outflow of a life that has tasted of God’s saving grace. It is a proper response to God’s many blessings. Verse 3 reminds us: “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.”

The psalmist asks question: “Who is like unto the LORD our God?” (v. 5). We know that the answer is NOBODY! Nothing or nobody compares to our God. Where are the gods of the Old Testament? Where is Baal and Ashtoreth and Molech? Where are the ancient gods of Egypt and Greece and Rome? Where are Buddha and Krishna and Mohammed? They are dead and gone. And eventually they will all be forgotten. The false deities that man devises do not even come close in comparison to our great God! It is He who is “high above all nations” and whose “glory is above the heavens” (v. 4). It is He who “dwelleth on high” (v. 5). When we think of God, we stand in awe of His greatness and His loftiness. We are amazed at how exalted He is! There is none greater than God!

Yet, the psalmist continues his description of God: “Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” (v. 6). This is remarkable! God is great and there is none like Him! He is above all and over all! Yet, who is like God? There is none like Him in His greatness. But there is also none like Him in His condescension. It reminds me of what David said in Psalm 8:4- “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” When we realize how great God is and also realize how God condescends to lowly creatures like us, what can we do but praise Him? God not only stoops down to behold things on earth, He also cares for the lowly. Consider v. 7- “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill.” God takes the poor and lowly and raises him up “that he may set him with princes…” (v. 8a). Is this not what God has done for every believer? “Even when we were dead in sins, hath raised us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-6).

There is none greater than God- in greatness or in condescension! Let us live today with praise to God upon our lips and in our lives!

“Tomorrow is the devil’s day, but today is God’s. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow.” (JC Ryle)

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says- “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

Just as the indecisive farmer loses the opportunity to sow and reap by allowing the uncertainties of weather to paralyze him from action, so many people suffer from spiritual paralysis in the present by an unhealthy focus on the uncertainty of the future. As Christians, we must not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of waiting for a ‘convenient season’ to serve Christ. Actually, there is no such thing as a ‘convenient season’ to serve Christ. Yet so many people who intend to serve Christ ‘one day’ keep kicking the can of good intentions down the alley of their life until they wake up one day realizing that they are at death’s door without any life left to live for Christ. If you are going to serve Christ, serve Him today with all your heart!

~Pastor Aaron Francis

The book of James makes it clear that our life “…is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). God has called us to be ‘redeeming the time’ (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5) that He has given to us. Our prayer in response to God’s call to ‘redeem the time’ ought to be like that of the Psalmist who prayed- “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).

Charles Spurgeon wisely said that “No man ever served God by doing things tomorrow.”

If we are going to serve Christ, today is the day to work, to serve, to learn, to grow, and to share the glorious Gospel message with others! Let us not be guilty of ‘wasted time’! The time if ticking on, so let us labor for our Master while we can!

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

On July 4^th, 1776, America’s Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress which officially severed America’s political dependence on Great Britain. Every year since, Americans have celebrated this momentous event in American history which secured our independence and freedoms as a nation. But as much as we love to celebrate the freedom we enjoy in America, it would do us well to remember that America’s freedoms are only temporary and earthly. One-hundred years from now, the thing that will matter the most for every individual American is whether or not they have experienced the greatest freedom of all- the spiritual freedom offered to them through the Gospel of Jesus of Christ!

Whenever Jesus Christ came into the world, He came to purchase mankind’s freedom! This freedom, however, is not a political freedom (that only has earthly implications) but rather a spiritual freedom (that has eternal implications). It is a freedom from sin, death, and hell! It is a freedom that is not relegated to one nation but is available to all people everywhere. It is a freedom that cost Christ His very life, yet it costs us nothing to receive it. It is a freedom that cannot be taken away by any government, army, or earthly power. It is the greatest freedom of all!

Jesus made it clear that mankind’s greatest need is spiritual freedom. He said- “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). Because of our sin against God, we are in spiritual bondage. We are truly ‘servant[s] of sin’. The Bible makes it clear that “…sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). As we look into the mirror of God’s law, we find that God’s standard is holy, righteous, and perfect and that we all fall short of God’s standard. Romans 3:23 declares- “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Because God is holy and just, God must punish sin- “For the wages [payment] of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). This ‘death’ speaks of physical, spiritual, and ultimately eternal death in the ‘lake of fire’ for all who have died without their sins forgiven. 1 Corinthians 6:9 makes it clear that “…the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God”.  Revelation 21:8 says- “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

But there is good news for sinners! Although we deserve death because of our sin, Jesus Christ came in order to “…taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus “…hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ took the punishment that we (sinners) deserved as He suffered upon the Cross and satisfied the justice of God against sin. And because of His death and resurrection, God offers spiritual freedom from wages of sin, the fear of death, and the flames of hell to all who will repent and receive the message of the Gospel!  

You deserve death but Christ offers you life! You deserve hell but Christ offers you heaven! You deserve wrath but Christ offers you peace and acceptance! You deserve condemnation but Christ offers you forgiveness and a new life! Will you repent (forsake your sin) and trust in Christ alone to save you from your sins? The moment you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God will grant you a spiritual freedom from sin, death, and hell that can never be taken away! Have you received the Gospel message that alone can bring true freedom in your life?

 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

~Pastor Aaron Francis

On September 6, 1943, one of America’s deadliest train derailments occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when the “Congressional Limited”, the Pennsylvania Railroad’s fastest train of its time, was making its way through a station. Due to mechanical malfunctions, flames began to shoot out of a car’s hot box, which led to the snapping of an axle, causing the train to derail, and killing 79 passengers and injuring many others. One small malfunction caused a great catastrophe. In a nation that has “derailed” from the Biblical principles that kept our nation on the right track for so long, how do we as Christians keep from doing the same?

In a nation where the liberties we have enjoyed for so long are being infringed upon and slowly chipped away, it is imperative that we as believers keep on track by dwelling upon God’s Word. David said it best in Psalm 119:161- “Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.” David knew what it meant to be treated unjustly. He knew what it meant to be persecuted without a cause. Yet, David didn’t turn to rebellion or anarchy. Rather, David turned to the Word of God. David didn’t allow the unjust treatment he was receiving to veer him off the right track. Rather, David rejoiced at the treasure of God’s Word (v. 162), he expressed his love for the Word of God (v. 163), and he focused his heart upon praising God in light of God’s righteous judgments (v. 164). And in doing so, David found peace that only God’s Word could give. He said, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (v. 165). During these times when our culture has long-departed off the “tracks” of the Word of God, we as Christians must learn to so saturate our minds in the Word of God that we develop a great love for it which will, inevitably, bring a peace within our hearts. When we are given to the Word of God, the Bible states that nothing shall offend us. The word “offend” has the idea of a “stumbling block”.  When God’s Word fills our hearts, nothing will cause us to stumble. Nothing will “derail” our service to God. Oh, how we desperately need this in the day and age we live!

The answer to our nation’s ills is not going to be found in government, education, psychology, or reform to community structures of authority. These are simply ways to pad our seats and make us feel good as a nation while ignoring the fact that the train is actually veering off the rails and headed for catastrophe.  The only solution to keep us on the right track is a greater love for and devotion to God’s Word! When we stand in awe of God’s Word, God will stabilize us and fill our hearts with peace that keeps us from a catastrophic “derailment”.

~Pastor Aaron Francis