Back to Worship!
Terry R. Baughman

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6 NKJ).

The prophets declared the accessibility of God; He is available when we come seeking Him! Jeremiah assured us, “You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJ). This promise came right after the passage where it was revealed that the very thoughts of God toward us are of peace and His plan is, “to give you a future and a hope” (vs. 11). The God of Glory is not an angry God just waiting around the corner to catch us in our sin bringing swift judgment, but He is One who is patiently and lovingly waiting for us to turn our hearts to Him. 

The story of the entire Bible is the revelation of God’s eternal purpose. It brings us hope and assurance that God is working all things for good, that He is a good God, and that He is present with us when we seek Him. The character of God is revealed in that His mercy endures to all generations!

Among the many lessons given in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issued a steadfast promise, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8 NKJ). God encourages prayer and assures us of His attentive response if we will simply ask, seek, and knock. 

To seek is to diligently search for something desire. Answers to our most pressing needs are not always apparent and readily available, but the assurance of His promise leads us to continue looking, searching, and seeking. Jesus said “seek, and you will find!”

In the parables of Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. In his search he found one that was so superior to any other that he sold all that he had to obtain it. Some have likened this to our search for God, signifying that Jesus is our Pearl of Great Price. However, we have nothing to give, nothing to sell that would ever enable us to purchase the value of salvation which we have freely received. 

A better understanding of the pearl of great price, is that Jesus willingly gave everything so that He could redeem us from sin and unite us with Him. It was by His blood we have been redeemed and by His sacrifice we have been purchased. He who had everything gave it all so that we who were nothing, might be made something in Him.  

In the reality TV show, “American Pickers,” the stars traveled small towns and distant places to dig through antiques and storerooms to discover things of value. They negotiated a price and bought items for their collections or other antiques they planned to sell. These were people who made a business of seeking valuables. Similarly, Jesus came seeking things of great value to Him that others may have viewed as worthless. Only God can see the true value of the soul. It was written, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ).

Knowing that Christ has done so much to save us, why wouldn’t we seek Him and respond to His great love? Time is of the essence. The prophet admonished the people, “Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6 NKJ). He is near and He is available to respond to our cry. Seek Him! He is here!

Theme passage:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NKJ).

MidYear Renewal!
Terry R. Baughman

“We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 TPT).

Perspective is viewing a situation from another point of view. It is helpful to at least attempt to see every issue from the opposing viewpoint. If nothing else, it gives us more tolerance for those with whom we disagree. 

When we begin to compare our view of things with another’s opinion, we are sometimes challenged to change our own perspective. This is the value of dialogue, discussion, or even debate. With mutual respect between parties a new point of view may emerge affecting all sides. Often, compromise is viewed with distain. However, in situations where there is no right or wrong viewpoint, compromise can be a positive outcome. 

Paul challenged us to view our struggles in a new light. As bad as our situation may be, when compared to the pain others have endured we may discover that our condition is not so bad. 

Paul shared the persecution and injury he suffered for the cause of Christ. He did not share the information for us to pity him, but to recognize that many others have suffered the same, or more, than we have endured. Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NKJ).

In comparison with the eternal life that awaits the believer, Paul minimized our trials and dismissed our complaints. He said, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV). In the light of eternity, what is a few days of trouble? When compared to, “the glory which shall be revealed in us,” all of our problems are “slight, short-lived troubles.” 

​Our greatest struggles pale in comparison to eternity in God’s presence. Everything we endure is as nothing when you consider the eternal glory promised to the redeemed. A change of perspective is needed. View the unseen. Don’t focus on the temporary present, and the surrounding scenery, but rather, look to the unseen and focus on the future, “in the light of eternity!” 

MidYear Renewal!
Terry R. Baughman

“So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 TPT).

It is the end of a long week and we can easily feel exhausted, depleted of energy and ready for a day off, or at least a short nap. Sometimes, we are overcome with the stress of life, the demands of our job, and the feeling that everyone around us needs something from us. Then, the phone rings, there’s a knock at the door, or an urgent notification pops up on the screen. We mumble, “No rest for the wicked, and the righteous don’t need it.”

This is life. Maybe it’s not always like that, but there are times when it’s easy to feel that way. The life of a Christian is no different. Yes, we do have the privilege of prayer as we navigate the challenges of life, but we are not immune to the pressures of responsibility or the stress of conflict. We actually may experience more than our share of conflict because of our faith and the spiritual battles that ensue. 

Paul wrote about this very thing, “We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out” (2 Corinthians 4:9 TPT). In other letters Paul wrote about potential adversities such as, “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword,” but declared that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. (See Romans 8:35 NKJ.) Paul affirmed, “We have great endurance in hardships and in persecutions. We don’t lose courage in a time of stress and calamity” (2 Corinthians 6:4 TPT).

Jesus gave us a model and an example of prayer. Luke recorded this familiar phrase in petition for daily sustenance, “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3 NKJ). Prayers are continual and petitions go up daily. This demonstrates our constant dependence upon God.  From now until eternity we will find ourselves in need of prayer and continually seeking divine guidance. 

Similar to the daily provision of manna in the wilderness, God’s mercies are new every morning. (See Lamentations 3:22-24.) Each day in the wilderness the people of Israel went out and gathered provisions for the day. Every morning there was fresh provision to meet their needs. On the sixth day there was sufficient manna for two days so that they might rest and observe the Sabbath. This demonstrated God’s care for their needs in advance, and giving them a day for rest, reflection, and worship. We can be assured of God’s constant care and provision as we honor Him daily. There is always enough strength for the day. 

We are challenged to rejoice even in persecution. The apostles found an inner resource of strength when they were beaten for preaching and performing miracles in the name of Jesus. They rejoiced, “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41 NKJ). The beating and the threats were simply fuel to the fire. They continued, “daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42 NKJ).

Paul said, “We may suffer, yet in every season we are always found rejoicing. We may be poor, yet we bestow great riches on many. We seem to have nothing, yet in reality we possess all things” (2 Corinthians 6:10 TPT). We may not see the future, but we have enough grace for this day. We may not think we can accomplish what others have done, yet day by day we are renewed in the Spirit and find enough strength to accomplish every task. 

Again, Paul wrote, “Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times. … Speak blessing, not cursing, over those who reject and persecute you” (Romans 12:12, 14 TPT). There is no time for giving up; there are countless opportunities ahead. Keep believing. Remember, “Our inner being is renewed every single day.” 

​Theme passage:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJ).

MidYear Renewal!
Terry R. Baughman

“Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option” (2 Corinthians 4:8 TPT).

Anxiety and mental health challenges are on the increase in our modern culture. In a time when we have the most conveniences, opportunities for recreation, and advanced medical care, we see a rise in anxiety disorders. Some point to the isolation of shutdown during the Covid19 pandemic as the primary cause of the increase, though there are many other factors that contribute to this growing condition.

Stress is common in life. In some ways stress can be helpful. We are challenged to find solutions to situations that produce stress. Problem-solving and negotiation skills are developed during stressful interactions with others. Stress can promote positive coping skills and encourage healthy habits to overcome challenges. However, stress can also lead to anxiety and unhealthy responses. 

Stressful circumstances are normal conditions of life. It is unreasonable to expect a trouble-free existence. From the earliest writing of Scripture we are taught, “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1 NIV). In times of trial we often turn to the Book of Job for consolation. We are not the first, or the last, to experience trauma in life. It is natural to seek for a reason or a purpose for the problems we experience. If some good can come through our situation, we can more easily endure the stress of the moment.

We can find great consolation in our relationship with God. In the final setting before the arrest, the trial, and the crucifixion of Jesus, He comforted His disciples. Understanding the anxiety they would experience in the next few days, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2 NKJ). He encouraged them to focus on the eventual rather than the immediate. The eternal reward is so much greater than our current condition. Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NKJ). 

Paul had plenty of occasions to give in to the opposition and be overcome with anxiety. Recounting some of his experiences he wrote, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers” (2 Corinthians 11:24-26 NIV). Throughout his writings in the New Testament we are given encouragement to rise above our situation and keep believing. 

When Paul writes to encourage those facing challenges, it might be easy to say, “He just doesn’t understand my situation.” However, if we look at all he endured, we might discover our challenges are not so severe. Paul didn’t minimize our problems, but he said, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV).

Remember the words of Jesus, “Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also” (John 14:1 TPT). An ancient adage says, “Where there is life, there is hope!” As long as we live, trust in God and keep believing. “Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option” (2 Corinthians 4:8 TPT). Don’t quit!


Theme passage:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJ).

Believe in our Future!

Terry R. Baughman
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

God’s thoughts are far beyond what we can comprehend. What makes sense to us is not always the direction God will lead. The things that seem logical in our thinking are not the steps that God places in front of us. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9 NKJ).

Many desire to have scheduled events, well-laid plans, and systematic progression toward a pre-determined goal. As a youth we may have set down and began to plan our idyllic lives with full confidence that we would marry by 28, have our two kids (a boy and a girl) by 36, lead a successful career in a well-paying job for 20 years, and retire independently wealthy by 50. Then, we will travel to exotic places, enjoy our grandkids, and never have a pain or problem for the rest of our lives. It all looks good on paper but those who have lived a few years know this is not our reality. There will be unexpected surprises in life, relationship challenges, infertility, sickness or separation, career changes, and there will be pain and problems. 

Life in Christ allows us to learn to trust in God through the process of life. While we may question God’s leading and the path or the journey that He directs, our trust in Him allows us to develop confidence in His wisdom and faith in His ways. While it may be impossible to understand, we can believe in His Word. Paul revealed that, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJ). As difficult as that may seem sometimes, we know that God does all things well. Only God can see beginning to end, and we can trust His plan. Know that indeed God does have a plan and He sees the entire journey beginning to end. 

The Prophet Jeremiah recorded God’s promise to prosper and not to harm. Often we view the prospering as the blessing of material things. However, that is not necessarily the case. God’s promise of prosperity has more to do with our spiritual condition, our mental wellbeing, and the fulfillment of His purpose. God is more concerned that our souls prosper rather than that we would have natural riches or material success. 

John wrote to a believer, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2 NKJ). He went on to say, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (vs.4). While God is concerned about our lives in every area, the critical concern is the condition of our souls and our relationship with Him. It is not wrong to pray for natural prosperity, but notice the correlation with our spiritual condition, “as your soul prospers.” The greatest success in life is to know that we are following God’s leading and we are “walking in truth.” 

We can trust God! As our Heavenly Father, we know that He is working all things for our good. Jesus taught us that He regards us as children and asked, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11-12 NKJ). The obvious answer is no. A father is sensitive to the needs of his children. Likewise, God gives good gifts to those who are trusting in Him. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13 NKJ).
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God promises His Holy Spirit to all who ask Him. This is the beginning of His plan for each life. His desire is that we may walk in His word, and His truth throughout life. When seeking our direction for the future, this is a great place to begin. God has a plan!


Theme passage:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJ).

God is not Done
Believe in our Future!
Terry R. Baughman

“My prayers for you are full of praise to God as I give him thanks for you with great joy! I’m so grateful for our union and our enduring partnership that began the first time I presented to you the gospel. I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Philippians 1:3-6 TPT).

Paul reflected on his relationship with believers in Philippi. From the baptism of Lydia, to the deliverance of the slave girl’s oppression, and the conversion of the jailer’s family after the miraculous earthquake that freed Paul and Silas from confinement. These and many more were among the converts and followers of Jesus as a result of Paul’s ministry there. In his letter to these believers, Paul’s heart was overflowing with praise to God for their faithfulness. He was thoroughly convinced that God, who had started this spiritual journey in them, would continue to lead them until the very end. Paul was convinced that, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJ).

Often people feel that their spiritual experience began and ended with the New Birth. Though we can rejoice in that miraculous experience, there was a process that brought us to that wonderful conversion and it continues beyond our birth of water and the Spirit. Our Spiritual journey is more than a few noteworthy experiences, but encompasses all of our days, the highs and the lows of life. And, He is not done with us yet!

It is extremely encouraging to realize that God is not a momentary friend and our experiences with Him are not just for a moment. Jesus is faithful and steadfast in His commitment to every believer. The writer of Hebrews stated, “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJ). One of the last recorded statements of Jesus was, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:29 NKJ).

Where God is there is life, there is hope, and there is a future. Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 NKJ). He declared, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). His eternal purpose was to give us a hope and a future beyond this life. 

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3 NKJ). He goes before us to prepare the place, and clear the road. He is the way!

Paul taught that, “Patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!” (Romans 5:4-5 TPT). Our hope is found through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is His Spirit in us that gives us hope for the future and confidence in His leading. 

What God has already done for us and through us gives us great confidence in His ability to see us through every obstacle of life and all the adversity of the enemy. The prophet Isaiah delivered the word of the Lord, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me” (Isaiah 54:17 NKJ).

An Elevation worship song, My Testimony, has a line that says, “If I'm not dead, You're not done, Greater things are still to come.” This is a confession that God is not finished with us yet! We are still in process. He is still working on us. We have a future!
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As long as we live; as long as we have breath, we know that God has a plan for our lives and is working in us. We may struggle to know God’s purpose, and strive to understand God’s plan in our lives, but this one thing we know: God is not done with us yet!


Theme passage:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJ).

Celebrate our Past!
Terry R. Baughman

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:5-6 NIV).

Some pride themselves on being a self-made man, however, that is seldom the case. Everyone who accomplishes anything in life does so with the assistance of someone else. We learn from our parents, mentors, friends, and educators. Mistakes are made, and second chances grant us the possibility to try again, having learned from our failed experience. Other opportunities come from unexpected sources and beyond our ability to create. We learn and we grow because of the collective wisdom of all these influences.

It becomes apparent that we are a product of our environment and those attributes which we inherited from our ancestry. Some of our abilities and inclinations are inherent in our psyche; they are talents with which we were born. Other strengths and understanding comes from external sources. We were taught tools to navigate life in difficult circumstances. 

It may serve us well to remember that one of the ten commandments, which are the very foundation of God’s guidance for life, calls on us to, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 NIV). Paul referred to this commandment as one with promise, “That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:3 NIV). 

It is expected of us that we would live in obedience to God’s commandments. In the context, after a commandment to observe the Sabbath of rest, and right before, “Do not murder,” is this commandment to, “Honor your father and mother.” Observe this and there is an attached blessing to those who remember our past and honor our legacy. 

Paul spoke of the legacy enjoyed by Timothy. He wrote to the young minister and remarked that the same sincere faith seen in him was also evident in his mother and grandmother. Something special and spiritual had been transmitted to each succeeding generation. Those who can look back and remember the heritage received from their lineage are especially blessed and should always give honor to those who lived in faith and left such a great legacy. 

The implication of a spiritual legacy is included in the message of Peter on the Day of Pentecost. After he declared the outpouring of the Spirit to be a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, he went on to extend the blessing to those who were to come. The gift of the Spirit was promised to all who believe, repent, and experience water baptism in the name of Jesus. All who heard him preach could have been recipients of this promise. He said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Then Peter continued with an extension of that promise when he said, “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39 NKJ). Jesus is still calling people unto Himself, and the promise is still being proclaimed to every succeeding generation. 

There are many who do not have a legacy of spiritual gifts in their families. Some are the only representative in their family that have obeyed the Scripture and received the New Birth experience. Even those have a legacy. There are a host of believers who have preceded us that have left behind their witness of faith, and lived their lives in such a way to inspire us to follow Christ with the same passion and conviction. That is also a legacy we can honor as we thank God for His grace and the blessing of knowing such great leaders.  

Whether it’s a family connection, or a long surviving congregation of faithful believers, there is ample cause to celebrate our heritage and honor the legacy of faith with which we have been blessed. May we always honor our legacy!
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Theme passage:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJ).

Celebrate our Past!
Terry R. Baughman

“I planted the church, and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 TPT).

We stand on the shoulders of giants and our vision is unobscured. We see clearly and further due to this elevated place of support. If it were not for those who stood in the past, we could not stand presently in this position of trust and responsibility. We are gifted a great opportunity and an awesome task to leverage the talents, the investments, and the properties with which we have been endowed. We cannot miss our moment! 

Because of the many sacrifices of past heroes, we are able to celebrate successes they would have never dreamed possible. In humility, we should celebrate all those who have preceded us. Everything that we enjoy are the fruit of those who faithfully planted, watered, and tended the good seed placed in fertile soil. Because they labored, our harvest is greater. Because someone laid a good foundation we are able to build for a better future. This is both our blessing and our great responsibility! 

Paul stressed the connection between ministries and our reliance on other men and women to fulfill our ministry. Any success we enjoy is due to the contribution in the kingdom harvest of others who work with us, or have gone on before us. The church is a body, and we are all connected. Any good thing that comes from our efforts is a team win. We (all of us) are workers together with God. 

The Apostle also emphasized our utter dependence upon God when He said, “It was God who caused it to grow.” We are nothing! “God is the one who brings the supernatural growth.” As much as we are dependent on those who have gone before, nothing would have been accomplished except for God’s supernatural empowerment to complete the work. Paul wrote, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJ). What He has been doing through us will be finished. He is faithful to complete it! 

The harvest comes at different times for different species. Some vegetables come to fruition and are ready to enjoy within a few weeks, while fruit trees take years to begin their season of fruitfulness. Nature has a way of developing patience in the gardener. You can plant and prune, water and nourish, but the harvest cannot be hurried. When the time is right and the season has come the natural fruit is produced in abundance. 

We long for the latter rain and the great ingathering of the last days, and it will come, but it will only come in His season and in the fulness of the time. Just as Jesus appeared at the prescribed moment in history to enact the greatest hope for all of humanity, we rejoice in the promise of redemption prophesied for the end of days. Joel spoke the Word of the Lord, “It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28 NKJ). Peter declared it to be accomplished on the Day of Pentecost, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16 NKJ). What was fulfilled then continues now as God’s Spirit is being poured out in every nation and around the world. 

An understanding of our past and how we arrived at this moment is crucial to our continued success. We did not arrive here by accident or due to our own special abilities, but only by the grace of our God. He saw us and saved us in spite of our failures and He redeemed us from our sins. Now we are commissioned to fulfill His purpose and we are privileged to serve in His Kingdom. 

We are another link in a long succession of Apostolic ministries. We do our part and fulfill our calling. Then, we pass the torch to another generation to carry on what we faithfully communicate to them. So, on this Father’s Day, and every day, we celebrate our past and we believe in our future! 

​Theme passage:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJ).

Jesus to the World!
Terry R. Baughman

“Your lives are like salt among the people. But if you, like salt, become bland, how can your ‘saltiness’ be restored? Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others” (Matthew 5:13 TPT).

The effectiveness of salt as a seasoning is unmatched. Just the right amount of this basic staple in cooking brings a bland dish to life. With just a dash of salt, flavors bloom like flowers in springtime. Jesus taught, “Your lives are like salt among the people.” We are to affect our surroundings with an awareness of life previously unnoticed. The impact of Christianity should be a positive revelation of new possibilities. 

While many seasonings grow less effective over time, salt is a stable seasoning that does not support microbial life and therefore does not lose effectiveness. There is no expiration date to salt. When Jesus spoke about salt losing its saltiness, it was really a warning to the Christian that ceases to be salt any longer. If salt is not salt, it’s just sand, or an abrasive element! Christians who cease to be like Christ, have ceased to have a positive effect on those around. They become abrasive and will be discarded from relevance like so much sand or dust. 

The saltiness of a Christian is to bring an awareness of life and flavor to others’ existence. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). We are to be agents of change in our culture. There must be a different taste when the Christian appears. If we fail to make a difference in our world, we have lost our effectiveness. We are no longer salt.

In the context of the Beatitudes, Jesus warned His followers of persecution. However, He pronounced blessings on those who suffer for His sake. The unexpected result of opposition is that we can be joyful in adversity, even rejoicing in times of persecution. The Passion Translation said, “How ecstatic you can be when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me! So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12 TPT). Rather than experiencing despair over adversity, we are encouraged to “leap for joy” because of our identity with the prophets who suffered persecution before us. 

Jesus immediately identifies His followers as salt among the people. While this metaphor is often taken in isolation, in the context it is associated with the persecution and adversity we will experience as a Christian in the world. Maybe our saltiness should be measured by the amount of adversity we have experienced. Can we be salt if no one notices we are different? How will they know the Savior if they have not tasted the savory salty seasoning?

There is a difference in being salt and being abrasive. Although salt is an abrasive when used in cleaning, it can also be healing to the wounds and a prevention of infection. Some seem to believe their Christianity is proven by their abrasion, however, Jesus emphasized the flavor of the seasoning rather than abrasive properties. If our salt causes unbelievers to ridicule us because of our Christlikeness, we can rejoice in that. True joy comes in an indistinguishable identity with Jesus! 

Theme passage:
“We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, ‘Turn back to God and be reconciled to him’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 TPT).

Jesus to the World!
Terry R. Baughman

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NKJ).

The last thing Jesus said before ascending into heaven, was this promise of power through the Spirit’s infilling, and the confirmation of the commission of His purpose. Emphatically, Jesus stated, “You shall receive power…,” and, “You shall be witnesses!” He would not send us out without first equipping us for the task. Actually, He commanded all to wait for the promise of the Father, before anything else. Jesus said, “Stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:49 NLT).

All along, as Jesus taught His followers what was to come, there were assurances of His additional empowerment. Jesus said He would not leave us as orphans, but promised, “I will come to you” (John 14:18 NKJ). He declared, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38-39 NIV). Jesus promised His Spirit would be within them a source of life and of power. 

During the ministry of Jesus everything pointed ahead to a baptism of power. Jesus said, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20 NIV). What Jesus promises is not just a spirit, but His Holy Spirit! God lives in us to fulfill His purpose in a powerful way. 

The Passion Translation makes the text even more explicit, “But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be seized with power” (Acts 1:8 TPT). It is footnoted that the understanding is, “You will seize power!” Christ’s authority rests in His Spirit that is available to every born-again believer. We must not be content to just receive the Spirit, but encouraged to seize the power of the Spirit!

After receiving the power of the Spirit, Jesus taught His followers that, “Signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18 NIV). The final verse reveals the result, “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it” (Mark 16:20 NIV).

The Spirit made the difference. As they waited in Jerusalem for the promise to be fulfilled, the celebration of the feast of Pentecost arrived. During this notable Jewish feast God chose to pour out the gift of His Spirit. This new baptism of power, which they received on the Day of Pentecost, was the source of strength that had been promised. Normal tradesmen and fishermen now spoke with authority from the Scripture with a Spiritual anointing. The people who heard them were amazed. It was stated, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NKJ). 

This was just the beginning. After they were filled with the Spirit they launched into their appointed ministry, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:33 NIV). The Spirit enabled them to testify of the resurrection. They prayed for the sick and, “Through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people” (Acts 5:12 NKJ).

They taught publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20). They prayed powerfully, and the place was shaken, “and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31 NKJ). They prayed for multitudes of sick and tormented people and saw them all healed (Acts 5:16). Today, let us be filled with the Spirit, but more importantly, let us be seized with power to fulfill the purpose of Christ!

​Theme passage:
“We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, ‘Turn back to God and be reconciled to him’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 TPT).