March 2, 2021

A Missing Perspective in the Safety Debate

One year ago, most of us were just beginning to hear about the COVID-19 virus. And for the last twelve months staying safe from the virus has dominated the news. Varying strategies attempting to keep us safe have been debated and employed, from lockdowns, to masks, to herd immunity, to vaccinations. Today, we are aware of unintended consequences that have arisen from some of these strategies as the headlines contain articles dealing with children’s mental health issues from school lockdowns, and the rise in suicide and drug overdose within this last year. The focus continues to be on economic safety, mental health safety, and physical safety.

So what is the missing perspective in the safety debate? The news has been dominated by man’s ideas for safety, but there has been little or no mention of the Lord needing to be our safety. Imagine if Psalm 91:1-2 dominated the headlines of our minds: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God in Him I will trust.” Did you notice the words, “shadow,” “refuge,” and “fortress”? All these terms deal with protection and safety. What better place for safety, then the shadow of the Almighty and the Most High. The psalmist declares, “My God in Him I will trust.” One may say, yes, the psalmist is trusting in the Lord for spiritual protection, but not for safety from a disease. But as you continue reading you see that this trust is for the Lord to deliver him from the perilous pestilence (Psalm 91:3, 6). A pestilence is a deadly, contagious, physical disease. The One who is to be trusted for our daily bread is the same God who is to be trusted to deliver us from sickness and disease.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the major news outlets, social media feeds, and government officials proclaimed we need to ultimately depend on the Lord to deliver us from this disease? Yet this disease is showing the state of our society and our lack of trust in the Lord. Headlines are dominated by government “experts” and government edicts, all of which are training people to depend more on the government, rather than on God. Some have even borrowed a biblical term, “trust” as they have implored us to trust the science, without any mention of trusting the Savior. The term trust means “to confide in, to place one’s confidence in or to set one’s hope upon.” The Biblical perspective warns us to beware when we are told to trust in human wisdom or knowledge rather than trusting in the Lord (Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 3:5; 14:12).

When the King of all the earth, spoke to King Solomon at the dedication of the temple, He proclaimed, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Proud people will not recognize God’s sovereign hand over sickness and death. Their perspective lacks the truth that God is the Most High. But the humble will experience the blessing of “dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty!” (Psalm 91:1) Ultimately, the one who trusts the Savior will be the most secure in this life, as he will see God’s sovereign control and His eternal salvation. (Psalm 91:16)

February 3, 2021

When My Heart is Overwhelmed

Have you ever been at a place where the pressures of life, the anxieties of your mind, or the burdens on your heart become overwhelming? For the Psalmist it wasn’t a matter of “if” he had been there or will be there, but “when” he would be there. Psalm 61:2b states, “when my heart is overwhelmed.” David, the human author of this God-inspired psalm rightly recognizes that as we live life in this fallen world there will be times when our heart will grow faint and will be overwhelmed. But the good news is this verse doesn’t end with an overwhelmed heart.

“When my heart is overwhelmed,” David cries out to the Lord, “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” One lesson King David learned was that even in his powerful position as a king, he as a man, was powerless to relieve the burdens of his heart. It is imperative for us to realize that when our heart is full of worry and anxiety we are acting as if we are the “highest” person; and the temptation is to live like we have to solve all the issues we are facing. David’s humility in recognizing God is higher is vital to overcoming an overwhelmed heart.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” I believe David learned this lesson as the waves pressing on his heart caused him to cling to the highest Rock! Psalm 61:3 gives David’s testimony of what He knew about the Lord when the pressures of life overwhelmed him. First, David declares, “For You have been a shelter for me” (vs. 3a). David learned that the Lord was a refuge providing protection from the dangers of life. David didn’t just learn that the Lord was a shelter, but that the Lord was a shelter “for me.” He learned that the Lord was a personal shelter. A shelter is of no value to the person who doesn’t take refuge in it. Yes, the Lord is a shelter, but if one doesn’t trust in the shelter of His wings (vs. 4), then he will be like a man standing in the rain with an unopened umbrella. I believe David took refuge in the shelter of the Lord’s wings by casting his cares upon the Lord through prayer. Psalm 61 begins with these words, “hear my cry, O God attend to my prayer.”

Second, David learned that the Lord was his strong tower (vs. 4). This was not the first time that David had faced the enemies of peace in his heart. David knew that His God was a strong tower from the enemy when his heart was overwhelmed. In those days various cities would have a tower, a fortified elevated fortress, to provide protection for the lives of the citizens when they were being attacked by an enemy. In those moments of danger, the citizens trusted their very lives to the strong tower. In this Psalm, David describes the Lord as His strong tower. He believed that his very life was in God’s hands. He knew that if God would take care of prolonging his life and take care of his eternal life (vs. 6-7), then this God could be trusted to handle the situations that were overwhelming his heart.

David goes from an overwhelmed heart in Psalm 61 to a heart that is singing praise to the Lord and serving the Lord on a daily basis. How can we praise the Lord and persevere when we are tempted to lose heart and faint? Consider what happens when we come to the end of our own resources and we know we need the rock that is “higher than I”. We, through David’s testimony, can learn that God uses the “wave” of an overwhelmed heart to lead us to the Rock of Ages, the Rock that is higher than us!

December 30, 2020

An Introduction to God

What do you believe about God? It has been said that what a person believes about God is the most important thing about a person. Now, if God never revealed Himself to us we would all be in trouble. But the good news is God has made Himself known to us. And a primary way to know what to believe about God is through His Word. The most times the term, “God,” is used in a chapter of Scripture or in a single psalm is thirty-two times, and that happens twice. Once is in Psalm 68 and the other is the introduction to the Bible, Genesis 1.

Genesis 1 is our introduction to God and it declares some foundational truths concerning God. We rightfully think of Genesis 1 as the account of God creating the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. But the main verb associated with God in Genesis 1 is that of God speaking. Ten times we read the phrase “God said”(vs. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29). This is good news. God speaks! God communicates! God makes Himself known. This becomes even better news when we see another repeated phrase in Genesis 1, “and it was so”(vs. 7, 9, 11, 15, 24, 30). What God says is reality and it is powerful. Then God said, “Let there be light; and there was light (vs. 3). Wow! Let the power of God’s Word sink in! He speaks and it happens! What a blessing for us to have the true and powerful Word of God to guide us as we enter a New Year!

But there is another repeated phrase that ought to reinforce God’s Word to be the foundation for life in 2021: “And it was good” (vs. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Because God is a good God, His Word is good. Do you want to know what is good in 2021? God has spoken! And His Word is not only powerful and real, but it also is good!

As we enter this New Year, may God’s introduction in Genesis 1 encourage us to know Him and trust Him more. Furthermore, may it spur us on to be in God’s Word on a regular basis. Two goals that I would encourage all of us to consider for this next year. First, set a Scripture reading goal. Some maybe could read through the entire Bible for the very first time. A younger reader might want to focus on several books of the Bible or the New Testament. Remember, God’s Word is powerful and it is good and it will teach you about God! Second, set a sermon listening goal. A primary way that God’s Word goes forth today is through the preaching and teaching ministries of the church. Here at First Baptist Church of Hamburg, our Wednesday night Bible Classes will resume on January 13th at 7:00 p.m. And on Sunday, January 24, we will begin two new sermon series; “In The Beginning: Foundations For Living in God’s World” from the book of Genesis at 10:30 a.m. and “That You May Know Him: The Miracles of Jesus,” an in depth look at the Christ’s miracles recorded in Luke’s Gospel.” at 6:00 p.m.

May we grow in the grace and knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ in 2021, as we know Him through the powerful and good Word of God.

December 2, 2020

Viewing Christmas through the Lens of Revelation

What happens when our expectations are high, but then they are not realized? Consider a child who has high hopes to receive a certain gift, only to be disappointed when the gift is opened. When you look at the prophecies of the Old Testament regarding the coming of Jesus Christ, one would rightfully expect a King who would rule the nations. For example, Isaiah 9:6-7 declares, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in referencing the birth of Christ, alludes to this high expectation of Jesus ruling the nations. Revelation 12:5 states, “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” If all we had was this verse, then viewing Christmas through the lens of Revelation would be a big disappointment. Jesus who was to rule the nations, didn’t fulfill that when He came to earth the first time. And now Jesus has been caught up to His throne.

Thankfully we have more than this one verse in Revelation regarding Christ’s first coming. And there are two powerful perspectives that the final book of the Scriptures encourage us with as we celebrate Christ’s first coming. First, the purpose of Christ’s first come was to be a sacrificial lamb. Just because Christ didn’t rule the nations during His first coming doesn’t mean that His first coming was without a purpose. The primary description of Jesus Christ in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. Twenty-nine times in The Revelation the word “lamb” is used to describe Christ. The reason why Jesus came to the earth nearly 2,000 years ago was to give His life as the sacrificial lamb, a ransom for many. Revelation 5:9 describes the Lamb as the one who has “redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” As you celebrate Christmas this year remember that the reason Jesus Christ came into the world was to seek and save that which was lost. He came as the Lamb of God to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins!

The other perspective that we ought to have as we celebrate Christmas is that Jesus Christ still has some unfinished business to fulfill. Just because Christ didn’t rule all nations with a rod of iron at His first coming doesn’t mean that He will not do that. Revelation 19, which is a climax chapter in the book, shows Jesus Christ being revealed as He comes again to this earth. On His thigh and on His robe the name, “KING of KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” will be written and He Himself will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15-16). As we celebrate Christmas, our perspective is to be looking forward to the day when Christ will come again to this earth and we will rule and reign with Him! “The Child who was born was to rule all nations” (Revelation 12:5). Don’t be disappointed because that didn’t happen when He came the first time, instead keep your expectations high. It is true He is coming again and He will rule all nations! Have a blessed Christmas worshiping Christ the Lamb and the coming King of kings and Lord of lords!

October 28, 2020

Which they Made for the Purpose

As the Israelites were rebuilding Jerusalem, they needed a place for the entire congregation to gather to hear the Word of the Lord. Now, unlike Western New York, the climate in Jerusalem did not necessitate an enclosed building for their meeting, but it did require a large space and the building of a platform. Nehemiah 8:4 describes this occasion, “So Ezra, the scribe, stood on a platform of wood, which they made for the purpose . . . and Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people.”

In the Hebrew language there is a play on words regarding the English word that is translated, “purpose.” The purpose or the occasion was for all the people to hear the Word of the Lord. This is clearly seen in the overall context as Ezra’s purpose was to bring the “Book of the Law of Moses” (Nehemiah 8:1). Then Ezra and other men opened the book (8:5), and read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God, and gave the sense (preached). Everything about this occasion centered around the Word of the Lord. The Hebrew word translated, “purpose” is the word, “dabar”, and it can be translated occasion or purpose, but the main way it is translated over 800 times is “word.” The gathering of the congregation in Nehemiah 8 was for the purpose of the congregation hearing and understanding the Word. So, they built a platform for the purpose of the going forth of the Word.

Like those who “made the platform” in Nehemiah 8, many within our congregation, over the last several months, have been working diligently on remodeling the chapel. And the purpose for all the work on the chapel is for God to be glorified, as God’s Word goes forth from that building. On November 1st at 6:00 p.m., we will begin to fulfill that purpose in a very God-honoring way as several believers will be proclaiming the Word. They will be following the Lord in believer’s baptism. In the days to come, the Chapel will serve as a place for our congregation to meet for services, fellowship, special events and other God glorifying purposes. I believe November 1st will be the beginning of many God-glorifying opportunities for the Word to be proclaimed in the chapel. The chapel has been remodeled for this very purpose!