Church of God (7th day) of Spokane,WA

Living in the land of lies! Jeremiah 9:6 says, “Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the Lord.” It is increasingly swirling all around us, it is an unrelenting barrage of disinformation, doublespeak, duplicity, fabrication, falsehood, fraud, half-truths, hypocrisy, subterfuge, and scams. When you are lied to so much and so often, it is easy to lose trust and become a calloused cynic. This seems to a central scheme being perpetrated upon us by the father of lies, the devil. In a sense the more we are lied to, the less capacity we have to discern and distinguish truth and to even trust. You can find yourself falling into a place of hopelessness and despair. Our culture has lied so much, they have lost their way, they have come to believe their own lies, and now they have no real source or anchor any more. I think we can use the words of Romans three, “Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” Many today have embraced the lies of the enemy and are in a state of war with God and His creation, but we have the absolute source of truth, God. May the deceit of man drive us to the God of all truth! Thank God for Jesus, full of grace and truth!

Over the next few months, we will be tempted to lose our peace over politics. I just want to remind you again to rest in the sovereignty of God. Let’s proclaim and thunder this truth to our souls! God still observes and reigns sufficiently supreme and the resting place for the heart, soul, and mind is in the character and throne of God. In Luke 21:26 it says that before the coming of Messiah with power and great glory, that men’s hearts will be failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth. Maybe this is a good time to practice resting in the Sovereign? Resting in God's sovereignty is directly tied to being “filled with the fullness of God” and thus experiencing “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding”.
God’s supreme authority should be our supreme comfort! If God is in control, we need not be! If God is in control, then the forces that seem to be manipulating our politics, destiny, health, relationships and etc. . . must submit to the supreme sovereignty of God. Their reach in our lives goes only as far as sovereign God allows them to go. Rest!

“Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord” - Psalm 96:12

God has many amazing names that represent His character. Names carry great significance, especially in the Bible. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and confirmed that Mary was to bring forth a son and He was to be called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. This is the name by which we must be saved, it should establish the tone for everything we do, and it is the name at which, one day in the future, every knee shall bow.
Occasionally, God changed the names of people. It often would symbolize God redefining their identity and destiny, and His authority over their lives. Jesus gives His disciple Simon a new name. His new name, Peter, means “rock”. Peter seemed more like shifting sand than a rock, but over time he grows into his name. If God were to give you a new name, what would it be? How does He want to further define your purpose and destiny right now?
Of course, all of this really points to the ultimate glory that is coming. Revelation 2:17b “And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 3:12b “I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Revelation 22:4-5 “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Elevation Worship - The Blessing (Lyrics) ft. Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes Elevation Worship - The Blessing (Lyrics) with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes[re-upload]“The Blessing” with Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes live from Elevation Ballantyne...

Proclaim Liberty - It is reported that the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the 2,000-pound Liberty Bell from London in 1751, specifying that it bear this inscription: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Lev. 25:10b KJV). It arrived in Philadelphia the next year but cracked on its very first test, probably due to a flaw in its casting, so it was melted down and recast twice to make a new bell, and eventually it cracked again and had to be taken out of service. Tradition says that it was rung on July 8th, 1776, to summon everyone to come hear the Declaration of Independence read publicly for the first time.
It is so interesting that they chose and inscribed that passage of scripture on the Liberty Bell that had to do with the Year of Jubilee. The idea of Jubilee is amazing and radical, every 50 years a total socio-economic reset. And, even more amazing is that Jesus in Luke 4, stands up and reads from Isaiah 61 which is not only tied to the Year of Jubilee but points prophetically to Messiah. Jesus is the ultimate Jubilee. No matter what sin you have committed, no matter what bo***ge is holding you captive, no matter your devastation or addiction; the Jubilee Messiah can set you free, liberty can be yours! You can have a spiritual set free Jubilee reset!

Come as you are…and humbly yearn for transformation

“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” was a western film released in 1967 starring Clint Eastwood. There seems to be plenty of bad and ugly going around today, but it can present us with all kinds of opportunities for the gospel and the glory of God. In fact, it may be that we have a Kairos moment in time, that has never been presented to believers to this degree before! Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” If we can stop being so frustrated and consumed by the bad and the ugly, and rather strive to lovingly engage and influence those insnared by it, then these can be exciting and positive times. Amid the darkness of the bad and ugly, are you willing to lay down your life, and walk in the light of Christ for the good and grand purposes of God?

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Elevation Worship - The Blessing (Lyrics) ft. Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes Elevation Worship - The Blessing (Lyrics) with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes[re-upload]“The Blessing” with Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes live from Elevation Ballantyne...

FILLED! Acts 2:1-2 says, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” If you consider what the presence, provision, and power of the Holy Spirit can bring into our lives, it should create such a desperate yearning in you. Yet many walk in the flesh rather than the Spirit. Why would we settle for less than the Holy Spirit filling our whole house, mind, heart, and life? Being baptized in the Spirit does not equal being controlled by the Spirit. Surrender is the key to walking in the Spirit. Often, it’s really not that we need “more of God”, it’s that we need to surrender “more of ourselves to God”. The filling of and walking in the Spirit comes by a humble intentional surrender on our part.

Unfortunately, many will go to sleep tonight in a home without a father. Or, the father that is there, is severely tainted by pride, anger, apathy, or selfishness. The influence a father has on his children is immense. If you are a father who is a Spirit led tender warrior, please know that I praise God for you! I know at times it is very difficult, it can feel like the weight of the world is upon you. Your enemy doing all he can to bring you down into a dark pit of chaos and confusion. Thank you for continuing on, in spite of all that tears at your soul. Thank you for being a servant-leader who is willing to lay down his life. I pray that you would walk in the Spirit and the power of Christ! May the call of this verse be inscribed on your heart today: I Corinthians 16:13-14, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”

This guy...a big praise the Lord for this guy, Pastor Montana Mike. He brought us the story of Lewis and Clark and then related it to our spiritual lives in an amazing way. And we proceeded on!

Men's camp this weekend, see you at the fire!

Is justice blind…deaf and dumb? The more man fails me, the more I yearn for the righteousness, justice, and mercy of God. I want it to be on earth as it is in heaven, but I will have to wait for that. They say justice is blind, fairly administered, and equal to all, but that surely is not the case. “I pledge allegiance to the flag….and justice for all.” Justice for all? In this age, unless man is led by God’s Word and His Spirit, there will never be “justice for all”. Proverbs 24:24 says, “He who says to the wicked, “you are righteous,” him the people will curse; nations will abhor him.”

Psalm 96:13 says, “For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.” Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne. God is just because that is His very nature and character, He defines and sets the very standard for justice. God help me to not just throw up my hands in anger and frustration. Help me to seek kingdom justice in my life and context now. Help me to pursue Your truth, goodness, and grace. May I let my light shine before others, so that they may see Your good works in me and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. This is justice, and when it is manifest on the earth, it bears testimony to the God of justice who reigns in heaven, and the glory of our Messiah and Judge, Jesus Christ!

Memorial Day - “The sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them,” - President Reagan, May, 1982, after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. John 15:12-14 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” While I don’t want to detract from, and certainly appreciate and am very thankful for the sacrifice that prior generations have made so that I can enjoy the freedoms and rights I enjoy today; I can’t help but be drawn to consider the greatest sacrifice of all time, the sacrifice of my Lord. Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Thank you my Savior, Lord, and Messiah for securing the death of death.

No blame here...what happens at Bull River...stays at Bull River. Men's Camp June 7-9, 2024

No one can serve two masters, …but many try. Embedded deeply in the lust-laden heart of our culture is an unseen enemy who is constantly appealing to our lower natures, persistently trying to deceive and seduce us, and viciously attacking anyone who doesn’t conform. We must refuse and give ourselves fully to the kingdom calling of Christ. The first duty of kingdom people is to say YES to Him! The second, is to say NO to everything else. Kingdom people must break from idolatry and live in truth. If you are trying to serve two masters, then listen to the clear word of God:
“My kingdom is not of this world, The world has been crucified to me, You formerly walked according to the course of this world, Do not be bound together with unbelievers, Keep yourself unstained by the world, Do not be conformed to this world, Come out from their midst and be separate, Do not love the world, nor the things in the world, If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me, A friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God, Gain the whole world, and forfeit your soul.” So, what do you love, who is your master, and whose kingdom are you living in?

There is nothing inherently wrong with social media, yet our technology makes it so very accessible to us. And we have an enemy that is constantly scheming of ways to distract and destroy us. These social media platforms were specifically designed to deliver us instant gratification and even idolatrous addiction. We were created with needs and desires, but how we try to fulfill those needs is critical. Jeremiah 2:13 says, “For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Many find their validation, affirmation, approval, and social connection through their phones. It is a well that make all kinds of unfulfilled promises. We go there for myriad of reasons: distraction, entertainment, knowledge, and etc. What is at the heart and core of this struggle and why are we some so consumed? Are there ways that we are allowing social media to encourage us to forsake The Fountain of Living Waters? Lord Jesus, let our soul ache for You, Your manifest presence, let us hunger for Your fullness, yearn to feast on Your goodness and truth, and thirst for the living waters of Your Spirit!

Pursuit – We all want to be loved and desired. In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man who is then harassed and outed by the religious leaders. Then we read this, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” Earlier Jesus had healed his eyes, and now in compassion and love he pursues him to heal his soul. That is the heart of my Messiah! He called me his child before I even acknowledged him, He chose me before I chose Him, loved me before I loved Him, and died for me while I was a sinner. Just hold still for a moment and you will feel His romance, His tugging on your heart, and His sweet love for you; He is relentless in His pursuit of you. This Jesus has not changed. He is still present in our time of need, He knows your suffering, shame, and struggles. Allow him to reach you today, He wants to rescue and restore you. You may feel very alone today, but please know that you can rest in the assurance that God is pursuing you.

Embracing and resting in the power and reality of the resurrection is an act of rebellion against the evil, depravity, and oppression that can come to consume us. It’s standing on the promises of God and refusing to accept the world is as it is and holding tightly to our blessed hope for tomorrow. Read I Corinthians 15:12-28

Indoctrination - It’s been sad to listen to some of the interviews of the young protesters at our institutions of “higher learning”. The real chaos on the campus is in the mind of the educators and their students. Our culture is increasingly more polarized, tribal, and deceived by the demonic realm. The racial rhetoric of the self-appointed social justice warriors who are committed to enflaming racial division, promoting ani-semitic lies, and the trampling of truth; is all eating away at the very fabric and foundation of our nation. These youth have heard the same thing repeated in a million different ways until they finally take it as unquestionable truth. Indoctrination happens in the absence of thinking, many teachers who engage in indoctrination do so unconsciously, they are simply passing on the lies they have been given. For truth to prevail, there must be an avenue for discussion, debate, and thinking. Students must be challenged to prove what they are told. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
At many of these institutions thoughtlessness reigns supreme. In C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, a fictional demon Screwtape, tells Wormwood, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” Real teaching is what will sustain our culture and bring out its virtues, foster the presence of active thought, not uniform thought, and it is what will heal and civilize our divided nation. And of course, ultimately our saving only comes by the truth and grace of Christ, and that is the truth that will set us free!