"From the Pastor's Study"
Monday, October 12, 2009
Most often my Monday morning blog is a synopsis of the Sunday morning message, but this morning I want to depart from that to share with you a thought from my own devotional readings. Oswald Chambers, has written:
"The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting going on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not in the footlights. It is a painful business to get through into the stride of God. It means getting your second wind spiritually...Getting into the stride with God means nothing less union with himself. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don't give in because the pain is bad just now. Get on with it and before long you will find you have a new vision and a new purpose".
It was a blessing to me. I hope it is to you as well.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, October 5, 2009
There are many problems that would seem to hinder the gospel: lessened moral strength among Christians, a loss of confidence by people in sharing their faith; and, a lack of obedience to walk as God has commanded are just a few. But there is one great truth that is found throughout God's Word and confirmed throughout history. God wants to save! Writing to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul said, "The important thing is that in everyway...Christ is preached". Why must we preach Christ? We must preach Christ because people sin. This past week saw yet another revelation by a celebrity of a moral indiscretion as he admitted to having sex with women in the workplace. A noted news reporter filed a story that indicated, unless complaints are filed, the man will be in the clear. He may be in the clear with the government, but the Bible says unless he repents and comes to God through faith in Christ, he will never be in the clear with God. Yes, we must preach Christ because people sin. But we must also preach Christ because God saves. One man has written that, as Paul wrote to the Philippians, this much was obvious. His captors were evangelized. His colleagues were emboldened. His critics were exposed. And his Christ was exalted! God saves!
May we preach Christ with clarity, courage, and with cheer. People sin; but God saves!
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, September 28, 2009
It's a good thing to have great aspirations. People have great aspirations for their communities. Parents have great aspirations for their children. Pastors have great aspirations for their congregations. It's a good thing to have great aspirations. Reading from Philippians 1:9-11 it is obvious that Paul had great aspirations for the church at Philippi. "And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best..." Paul's aspiration for the church was that abounding love for God and one another would be present because where such a love exists, there you will find a discerning spirit. With abounding love comes discernment with awareness. Paul calls it "knowledge and depth of insight". God's word gives awareness to those who love Him...awareness of who we are and what we have done; who God is and what He has done. With abounding love comes discernment with application. Paul calls this "pure and blameless". Awareness must lead to application that makes a difference in our lives. Abounding love never makes excuses, but holds one another accountable. And with abounding love comes discernment with acceptance. Paul calls this the "fruit of righteousness". One must accept that God has done for us in Christ what we cannot do for ourselves, and as such, He is able to produce within us the fruit of righteousness that He requires of those who love Him.
A little drummer boy, captured by the French during the Napoleonic wars was commanded by the French emperor to tap out the cadance for retreat. The drummer boy replied, "i never learned it". May we never learn the cadance of retreat where abounding love is concerned, but rather may we be seen on the march, loving God and loving others, discerning with awareness, application, and acceptance.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, September 21, 2009
There are two important characteristics we share in God's grace through the gospel that demand we affirm our affection for one another in Christ Jesus. First, the Bible says in Philippians 1:8 we must affirm our affection for one another in Christ Jesus because we share faith in God's grace through the gospel. As Paul writes in verse eight, "God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus", it is as if he is saying, "Words cannot express the depth of my affection, so I will let the language of God speak for me. We have a common faith in a common Lord, and it is with the same affection you received from him that I have for you". Second, the Bible says in Philippians 1:7 we must affirm our affection for one another in Christ Jesus because we share fellowship in God's grace through the gospel. As Paul writes in verse seven, "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have you in my heart" we take note there is no parallel in English to the way the sentence is structured in the Greek. Were we to translate the words, "since I have you in my heart", literally they would read, "Because of the having me in the heart you". If it sounds like double talk, it is. In essence Paul is saying, "I hold you in my heart and you hold me in yours". For Paul this is more than emotion. It is devotion...devotion to one another through fellowship because of the gospel.
A little boy once jumped in his father's lap, put his arms around him and said, "Daddy, I love you so much I have to do something about it". May God cause us to do something about the affection...the love, we are to affirm in one another because we share faith, and we share fellowship in God's grace through the gospel.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, September 14, 2009
God's people live with a blessed assurance, and that assurance is found in Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus". We are confident in the assurance that it is always God who begins His good work. Salvation comes to every person on God's initiative, and for this we give thanks for this means we are assured that our salvation is secure. We are confident in the assurance that is is always God who completes His good work. God desires for us to be mature and complete. He never intends for us to remain as babes in Christ, but rather he desires that we should grow in him and come to the completeness of Chrisitan maturity.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, September 8, 2009
Speaking the truth to encourage accountability is a good thing, because speaking the truth to encourage accountability is a God thing! When the Apostle Paul was released along with Silas from the Philippian jail, the officials told them they could go and to "go in peace". But Paul said, "They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens; and threw us into prison. And now they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out". Paul could have left without saying a word, but he held those accountable for the actions they had taken. We must do the same. Speak to one another with accuracy; tell the truth in love. Speak to one another with authority; it is more important to be a person who speaks with authority than to be one who only speaks as one in authority.
God wants us to grow up in Him, and that speaks to accountability. Speak the truth to encourage accountability, and as you do, never forget to listen as God speaks to you as well!
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, August 31, 2009
Some words go together easily...up and down, over and out, right and wrong. Some just flow of the tongue rather nicely...salt and pepper, sugar and spice, sweet and sour. What about these...believe and behave? Although they ought to go together as easily as any, often they don't, do they? Why is this? There are many reasons, but among the most common is that many people want to say they believe one thing while behaving as if they believe something entirely different, but for the person of spiritual integrity this is never an acceptable place to be. Commitment to Christ demands that belief and behavior meet at the place of spiritual integrity. When the Philippian jailer committed his life to Christ, belief and behavior met. He behaved as those committed to Christ because he was converted to Christ. And He behaved as those committed to Christ because he was changed by Christ. Acts 16:34 says, "The jailer brought (Paul and Silas) into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole family". So it is with each of us who commits his life to Christ. Spiritual belief plus spiritual behavior equals spiritual integrity. Believe and behave...flows off the tongue rather nicely, don't you think?
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, August 24, 2009
When is a heart an open heart? How can we know that our heart is open to the great work that God wants to do in us and through us? In Acts, chapter 16 the Bible speaks of a woman by the name of Lydia. The Bible describes her as a "dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message". Lydia was a woman with an open heart to God. What made her heart open. Her heart was a receptive heart to what God was saying. Her heart was receving heart to what God was offering. And her heart was a relational heart with others who had an open heart to God as well.
Are our hearts open to what God wants to do in us and through us? Mya e be receptive to what God is saying, receiving of what God is doing, and relational with others with whom he is doing the same is my prayer for each of us as we begin a new week.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, August 17, 2009
God wants our world to hear the gospel and so we must make right choices as we serve the Lord. How can we know whether or not we have made a right choice as we serve Him so that our world can hear? In Acts chapter 16 the Apostle Paul and his friends were seeking guidance from God as to where they should preach the gospel. The Bible says the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the Word in the province of Asia and the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter Bithynia. But in the middle of the night, through a vision, Paul got his marching orders. He was to preach the gospel in Macedonia. How do we know he made a right choice? Paul made a right choice because people who serve the Lord are those who hear the cry of lost people and those who make a right choice to serve the Lord are those who heed the call of a leading God. "During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us'. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them" (Acts 16:9-10). May we too hear the cry of lost people and may we also heed the call of a leading God as we serve the Lord by sharing the gospel with those who need to hear and are waiting to know.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, August 3, 2009
Where do we go and to whom can we turn when life is full of concern? John chapter 14 is a good place to begin. God has three words for us that we should live by when confronting life's concerns. First, Jesus speaks a word about trouble. In John 14:1 Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled..." The Greek imperative found in verse one suggests that Jesus was saying "Set your hearts at ease...stop being troubled". Trouble is a part of our lives, but Jesus makes it clear by what he said, God is greater than any trouble we might ever face. Second, Jesus speaks a word about trust. John 14:1 continues, "You trust in God; trust also in me..." A good friend recently told me of his having given advice to someone out of work. His advice was good, but most importantly among his words of advice were these: "Trust God". In our times of trouble what other choice do we have, but to trust? Third, Jesus speaks a word about truth. "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me". The truth is God cares and his care is demonstrated to us through the presence of Christ. Jesus loved us so much that he lived among us, died for us, and rose ahead of us that we might have life.
Trouble, trust, truth...three good words for us when life is full of concern.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, July 26, 2009
As we listen to Jesus speak about compassion, the parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us of two truths. First, if we are to practice showing compassion we must answer the question, "Who is my neighbor"? It is a question that demands that, instead of looking away from others, we look at others, and when we look at others there is no greater reason to show compassion than this: people are in need. Second, if we are to practice showing compassion we must answer the question, "Which was a neighbor"? In listening to the story of the Good Samaritan Jesus told of three people; a priest, a levite, and a Samaritan. Each had their own response to the man who had been robbed, but only one of them showed the kind of compassion that Jesus said should characterize God's ideal in a neighbor. This question, "which was a neighbor" demands that, instead of looking at others, we must look to ourselves. Look to yourself and there you will see someone who is in need of the compassion of God, and if you have received the compassion of God, you will know that God wants you to dispense that same compassion you have received to others.
"Who is my neighbor"? "Which was a neighbor"? Look at your life this morning. How would your practice of compassion answer both today?
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, July 20, 2009
Spiritual character is measured by how we hear the Word of God, and then in turn how we respond to it. In Mark's gospel, chapter four, Jesus said spiritual character is seen in four kinds of people represented by four types of soil. The first person's character is such that he hears the Word of God and immediately forgets it. It is as if this person has received a word from God and hit "delete". The second person's character is such that he hears the Word of God with joy, but when trouble comes, he quickly falls away. He is unable to finish what he has begun. The third person's character is such that he hears the Word of God, but worries and concern for this world crowds it out. He can never see the eternal because the temporal is too important. The fourth person's character is such that he hears the word, accepts it and a spiritual crop is produced...30, 60 or even 100 times what was sown. In this person one can see "Kingdom productivity".
If you were to measure your spiritual character by how you hear the Word of God, and by how you respond to it, which person would you be?
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, July 6, 2009
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's". Jesus spoke those words in response to the Pharisees and Herodians coming to him to question him about the relationship between people of faith and the state. We are still asking those questions today, but a quick study of this passage reminds us of two truths that help us define who we are and what we must do as people of faith. Integrity...knowing the right thing, and intentionality...doing the right thing are two truths essential to Christian citizenship. As American citizens we can work to change our taxes by electing represtatives with whom we agree. But as Kingdom citizens we can never work to cheat on our taxes by eluding responsibilities with which we disagree. That's it in a nutshell, and that's a pretty good lesson for citizens of both on the Monday after the 4th of July!
Rev. Greg Morrow
Wednesday, June 19
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Three thoughts from this verse serve to encourage us as we train our children. First, we must expect work. The verse begins with this word: "Train"! We should never let the work of training serve to weary us in the process. Second, we must share wisdom. "Train a child in the way he should go..." Training should be purposeful. And third, we must anticipate waiting. "...when he is old he will not turn from it". Ask anyone who has had to wait and they will tell you this is the most difficult part of training...waiting. Nevertheless, as we wait, we expect the work and we share the wisdom.
No work is more important to any family. No work is any more important to a church. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, May 18, 2009
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' - which is the first commandment with a promise - 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth'" (Ephesians 6:1-3). In writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul spoke directly to children. Obedience is required of those who honor the Lord. Obedience is required because it is right, it is respect, and it has rewards.
May God grant us wisdom to raise our children so that they desire to be obedient, for, "these are the children we depend on - our hope for the future, and then; grave problems of state and world's work awaits such children when they grow to be men".
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Bible records in 1st Samuel 1:27-28 the words of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. so now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given ovr to the Lord". Hannah was a remarkable woman and an even more remarkable mother and what made her so was her prayer life. Hannah's prayer life revealed several things about her. Through her prayer life we see she was able to tell God about her problems. Through her prayer life we see she was willing to tell God about a pledge she had made to him. And through her prayer life we see she was ready to tell God about a promise she was going to keep.
I hope your prayer life reveals as much depth about you as Hannah's did about her. But most importantly, I hope that your prayer life reveals what you know about God, for Hannah could tell God her problems, tell God her pledge, and tell God her promise because she knew God intimately. His grace, not our goodness is the imperative in the life of one who could pray like Hannah. May it be so in our lives as well.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday May 4, 2009
Philemon 21 reads, "Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask". Are there any words that more aptly describes what should be the attitude of every person who has experienced the risen Lord than obedience and doing more than asked? The Lord was obedient, even to the cross. He did more than we could have ever asked. And now, as His disciples, we must do the same. People that do more than even asked look for Godly partnerships with others, as Paul did with Philemon. People that do more than even asked listen for Godly purposes, as Philemon did with Paul. And people that do more than even asked live for Godly perspectives, as did Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus.
May God grant us to do the same, that our lives might never be the same because of what happened at Easter!
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday April 27, 2009
What happend after Easter? Well, many things happened, but among the most amazing things that happened what that Christianity exponentially exploded. In Acts 2:41 the Bible says that on one day, Pentecost, "3000 were added to their number". How did it happen? Perhaps a verse from the book of Philemon will help us to understand. Writing to Philemon in verse four, the Apostle Paul wrote, "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ".
What good thing do we have in Christ that leads us with full understanding to actively share our faith? First we must actively share about the Lord Jesus with a full understanding of our faith, and that means that we share our faith with confidence knowing that it is God who does the seeking, it is God who does the saving. All He asks of us is to be active in faithfully sharing. Secondly, we must actively share our faith with a love for the saints and that means with a full understanding that the saints of God are sinners saved by grace. If we are going to love the saints we must love the sinner because that is where saints come from.
Understand fully your faith in the Lord Jesus and understand fully your love for the saints and you will be active in sharing your faith with a full understanding of every good thing you have in Christ.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, April 20, 2009
The week after Easter was dramatic for the disciples. Everything had changed; nothing remained the same. The stories of change were as numerous as the people who came to receive Christ as Lord. Philemon 3 says, "Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". Do any two words more aptly describe what it means for Christ to change us than the word, "Grace" and "Peace"? We receive grace from God when we trust Christ, and then having received grace from God we live at peace with God.
"But we are tethered to Hope that will promise anything without blushing, and the flowing water of foreknowledge is far away beyond our reach. Therefore neither shore no in the hollow ships will any praise be given to an act on which the doer does not stake his life" (C.S. Lewis). Like those disciples in the days after Easter, we have staked our lives on the reality of the resurrection, so as those whose lives have been changed, commit to living as His disciple. Commit to living as His disciples and you will commit to one another, you will commit to the work of the kingdom, and you will commit to the Lord Jesus.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection..." To know Christ and the power of his resurrection is to know the power of a new direction. The women at the tomb were given a new direction by the power of the resurrection. They had gone to anoint a dead body, but found themselves worshipping a risen one. The disciples were given a new direction by the power of the resurrection. With the death of Jesus they thought following him was over, but they found out it had just begun. The Apostle Paul was given a new direction by the power of the resurrection. He went to Damascus to arrest the followers of Jesus and left several days later as one of them.
To know Christ and the power of his resurrection is to know the power of a new direction, but it is also to know the power of a new destiny. We may not know exactly how to describe heaven, but this much we do know. We know how to get there. Jesus gives a new destiny to every person who comes to him by faith. Are you missing a loved one today who was given a new destiny by the power of the resurrection? Give thanks and be patient. You will see them again. Are you concerned over someone you care about who had yet to come to know the Lord? Be diligent. Pray and ask God to give you the words to speak. They too can have a new destiny by the power of the resurrection.
How do we know it is so? How can we be sure it will happen? God has promised us this through his word, and well...you know we've been studying about it for months now. God never goes back on his promises.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, April 6, 2009
In John’s gospel, chapter 12 verse 27 Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what can I say: Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour”. No matter the cost He wanted the Father’s name to be glorified through and by his act of redemption our loneliness from God is removed. Our loneliness is removed as we trust in the light of his presence. Jesus said in John 12:36 the only way a person can become a son of light is to put his or her trust in the light. “Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light”. And Jesus said in John 12:35 those who trust in the light and become children of God must now walk in that light. “Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you”. As we press forward towards heaven we must walk in such a manner knowing, that as we get nearer to it, it is good to be made fitter for it.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, March 30, 2009
"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate". Joel chapter two, verse 13 gives the penitent of heart two insights as to how to respond to God, who promises to relent in sending calamity.
The penitent of heart know they must rend their heart before God. God is always more interested in the inward condition of a man over the outward appearance. And the penitent of heart also know they must return their heart to God. Against the overpowering evidence of our sin that clearly proves our guilt, God presents the overwhelming example of salvation that confidently promises his gift. When Jesus died on the cross God relented from sending the calamity of destruction that we all deserved that we might respond to God and there find his saving grace.
There is good news for us today. Whatever remorse we carry with us and whatever regret is ours to bear, God says, "Respond to me. Rend your heart. Return to me". God promises to relent from sending calamity to those who respond to him with penitent hearts.
Rev. Greg Morrow
Monday, March 23, 2009
"Blessed are the peacemakers; they will be called Sons of God". The words of Jesus are simple, but profound.
Peacemakers live in peace with others. As others observe your life this coming week, ask God to help you be a peacemaker instead of a peace taker. And peacemakers live in peace with God. The one who makes peace with God comes to know that in reality we have not made peace with God. It is He who has made peace with us.
Have you done that today? Have you experienced that peace this morning? There is no greater promise upon which you will ever take your stand than God’s promise of peace given to every person through faith in Christ.
Rev. Greg Morrow
