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You can know God! You can have a real, vital, living relationship with the eternal God, the creator and Lord the universe.  You can talk to him. You can relate to him as father. Now that is an enticing proposition. We are all eager to have a relationship with God.

But, we too often think that we need to establish and maintain this communion just as we do other relationships.  We need to start the relationship. “Clean up my life and give my heart to Jesus.” I need an introduction somehow. I must prove that I am useful to God, I need to offer him something. “I can scratch your back, if you will scratch mine.” Most relationships are a means to another end. Friends are our ticket into the right crowd, or they will open doors for my career.

We think of relating to God in utilitarian terms. If I know God I will receive forgiveness and go to heaven when I die.  So, Knowing God is useful, beneficial.  He gives gifts to me – blessings. He is a means to another end.

We think that we maintain our relationship with God with submission and obedience.  If I am good, God will bless me.  If I serve Him, he will have my back. If I make sacrifices for God, he will owe me one.  Too many have a cause and effect agreement with God.

But truly knowing God turns this all around. It is God that initiates the relationship.  We are not ‘useful’ to God.  That is not why he befriends us. Early in Genesis when all men had descended deeply into sin and “the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, 8), “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” That word ‘favor’ means grace. God was not responding to Noah’s good works, faith, or sacrifice, he simply gave him grace.  That was the foundation of the relationship.

God asked Noah to respond to his grace, not earn it. The unmerited grace and one-sided favor of God transforms us.  Knowing God in this way, we respond with joy and gratitude to his love and kindness, but we do not merit it.  And, therefore, we cannot lose it.  When God claims you as his friend, no one can take you out of his hand. Grace is forever. That forever commitment from God releases, calms, encourages, stabilizes, and empowers us to live a life of gratitude. It is God who begins and maintains his friendship with us – that is life in God’s Covenant – so that we respond in love, kindness, thanksgiving and praise to God for what He has done for us. 

Do you want to know God? He invites you to respond to his mighty grace.  You have found favor with God.

The Lord tells us that he loves his children many times. 

The Lord shows us that he loves his children in many ways.

One of the more shocking ways, and perhaps the most comforting way we find in Hosea chapter 3.

Hosea 3:1-2 And the Lord said to me (Hosea), “Go again, love a woman (Gomer, your wife) who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.”

Go again and reclaim her. Hosea was earlier told by God to marry a woman who would break his heart, and in the end give herself to many other men. In fact, she is most likely a temple prostitute now.

Go again. Buy her back from slavery and degradation. 

Go again, and make her your wife a second time. 

Go again, and reestablish a relationship of love with her. 

Go again, and assure her, at great cost, of your love for her.

Why does God command this? 

Because, God’s bride, the church, is like Gomer, chasing after other gods. And God, in the depths of His love, will buy her back. God, out of the great love that He has for her, will make her His very own again. Even great sin cannot quench my love for my bride – my people.

Grace is love poured out on the undeserving, the lost, the fallen, the broken, the rebels. 

Jesus, like Hosea, is married to a fallen woman. And he will go again, and buy her back at great cost. He will reestablish a relation of love with her even by the shedding of his own blood. He will receive her back to his table, to his home, to his heart.

That is what the Lord’s table speaks to us.  We are Gomer, having chased after other gods and turned our backs on our full and lasting delight in the love of God. 

The great grace of God is given freely to the rebels and the outcast, the stained, shamed, guilty and broken.  This love, this grace is free.

Do this in remembrance of me. Remember my love. Remember my sacrifice. I have come again, to embrace you, to forgive you, to make you my very own.

If you are Gomer, and know that you are greatly loved. If you can remember the gospel fact that Jesus has come again for you on the cross.  You are welcome to this table.

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“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” Philippians 2:12-13.

If you are growing in Christ-like sanctification, who does the work, you or God?  Yes.  God works in us and with us, but He will not work without us.  God, by His Holy Spirit, makes us holy.  He gives us a new “want to.” He changes us from the inside out and we begin to desire what God commands.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10.  We do good works, we respond to the exhortations of the Scriptures, and as we do so, we reveal God’s workmanship – He has prepared us beforehand for such good works.

So, sanctification is God’s work in us, and with us – we cooperate with his work in us.  A sailboat is a good illustration of this.  When you take your boat out on the water and hoist the sails, do the sails propel you through the water? No, the wind does. The wind hits the sails, the sails that have been hoisted!  You will not go anywhere without the sails up and biting into the wind. So, we must lift our sails. We must do the things that God commands in his word, we must act on the exhortations of scripture to be holy, to be perfect, to forgive one another, to love one another – and with those sails reaching for the skies, the Holy Spirit will push us on down the river of sanctification.

So, let’s go sailing. God is our captain so let us hoist our sails.

None of us needs another excuse to skip our church’s prayer meeting. We have more than enough: we’re busy, it’s difficult to wrangle the kids, it’s dark and we don’t feel like going out again, we’ve got an early appointment the next day, or we’re scared of being asked to pray in front of others.

What we need instead are a few reasons for going. I’ve listed five below. I hope they motivate you to get out the door, go to the prayer meeting, and get on your knees with God’s people.

1. Prayer makes God smile.

Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual for every decision we face. We spend most of our time navigating the nebulous gray, relying on wisdom from above. But isn’t it satisfying when we can know for certain that what we’re doing pleases God and meets with his approval? First Peter 3:12 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” In a week filled with choices we may look back on and question, we need not doubt whether God is pleased with the time we spend in prayer with his people. He loves to hear our prayers and praises.

2. Prayer strengthens our faith.

Hearing others pray can inspire us and bolster our trust in God’s promises. In his book Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, “God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother, in the mouth of a man. . . . The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure.”

On more than one occasion, I’ve been disinterested in prayer at a prayer meeting. But God often does a wonderful thing: he works through the imperfect petitions of another dear saint to wake me out of my spiritual slumber and fill me again with confidence in his good sovereignty. Left to ourselves, we may doubt God’s ability or grow discouraged in our faith, but to see faith alive in the prayer of another reminds us we believe no fantasy. God is real, powerful, and good, and that makes us want to pray.

3. Prayer is more caught than taught.

The prayer meeting is one of the best places to go if you want to learn how to pray. If Steven Spielberg wasn’t always at the movies as a young kid, would he have grown up to be an iconic, Oscar-winning filmmaker? Composers go to concerts. Authors read books. Athletes play pickup games at the Y. When we want to get better at something, we surround ourselves with others who know what they’re doing. The same is true for prayer. The church’s prayer meeting provides an invaluable opportunity for us to learn how to speak to God from other godly saints. When we see how they weave Scripture into their praises, or how they wrestle honestly with their petitions, we’ll come to do the same.

4. Prayer fuels the church.

Paul was aware of his need and wasn’t shy in making it known to the church. He fully expected they’d keep him uplifted before the Lord in earnest petition (Eph. 6:19; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1). Paul was confident the prayers of God’s people would sustain him through the rigors of ministry and the trials of life. Why should we presume to find success apart from that same kind of intercession from the saints? Charles Spurgeon understood this well. When some ministers visited his thriving Metropolitan Tabernacle, they asked about his secret to success. In response, he took them to the basement “boiler” room where a small group had gathered in prayer. Spurgeon said the secret was simple: “My people pray for me.”

5. Prayer works.

Most importantly, let’s remember prayer isn’t an empty exercise in religious ritual. When we come to God in faith, it’s as though we tap into his cosmic power (1 John 5:14–15)—God is pleased to work out his eternal will as an answer to the prayers of people like you and me (James 5:17). What a marvel! God may use our prayers to grant healing, encouragement, comfort, victory over sin, growth in spiritual virtues, and success in ministry. If for no other reason, prayer is worth it because it works.

These reasons mean attending your church’s prayer meeting is never a waste of time.

Jonathan Cruse

It is good to have a “life verse.” It can be a Biblical source of comfort, security, and strength as you walk the Christian life.  We usually choose a verse that highlights the compassion or victory of Jesus; of his blessing and presence.  “I will never leave you or forsake you,” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” or “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Let me give you a life verse that is more real, raw, and honest – Psalm 66:10-12. “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.”  I know of a family friend who lost his battle with cancer at 61, and this past week a PCA lost his 9 year old daughter to an active shooter. Life is hard and death is sure.

The Christian life is not easy. There are many obstacles, setbacks, and very confusing events along the way.  The way home is a jagged, craggy path up and down the mountains, into some sad and dark valleys of bitter experience.  Jesus never promised you a Rose Garden without any thorns. He did promise to make you more like Jesus.  He did not promise happiness, but holiness.

Jesus is present, and working powerfully in the valleys, after the stumbles, and through the disappointments.  The burdens of this life are the chisel in God’s hands to make us and others fit for the glory to come. This life is a preparation, it is not the final destination.

In Psalm 66, God tests us, brings us into the net, lays crushing burdens on our backs, allows evil men to place injustice on our backs.  God does these things! “There is none beside me.I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil:I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6–7, KJV).  And God brings something precious out of the chaos and confusion.  “Yet you have brought us out to a place of  abundance.”

The road home is filled with difficulties.  We often judge the quality of the trip before we even reach the destination. Hindsight is 20/20, but we are not yet home, in heaven, to enjoy that hindsight.  For now, on the trip home, we trust our navigator. He does have answers for us, morally sufficient and satisfying answers, but we are not home yet.  Therefore we continue to ask, like the 5 year old siblings in the back of the car, “Are we there yet?” “How much longer?” “Are we close now?” The answer that we receive, “Almost; we are almost home.” “It will be so good when we get there – it will be heaven, and well worth the trip.”

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;

bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

leave to thy God to order and provide;

in ev’ry change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

– Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel

“United to one another in love the saints have fellowship in each other’s gifts and grace and are obliged to perform those public and private duties which nourish their mutual good, both spiritually and physically.” Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 26, Article 1.

When Christ claims us as his own, he also welcomes us into a family – a large, gifted family.  And we begin to benefit from the wisdom, love and experience of others.  We belong to each other, and mutually support one another.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

We really do need each other as Christians. We do not stand alone. We are to love one another, forgive one another, encourage on another. This is why private, stand-off-ish, Lone Ranger Christianity is so prone to doubt and discouragement – they deprive themselves of the blessing, support and defense of their brothers and sisters.

True, interpersonal fellowship is vital to the health of a Christian and the church.  We need to know one another in order to help one another.

This fellowship or communion of the saints exists in every true church. So, enter in, benefit from knowing and being known by the family of God.  “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Invite a friend or neighbor to church.  Why?

The lost world around us, and especially the younger generation, have a gnawing hunger for at least three things.

1) Authenticity, 2) Community, 3) Transcendent Truth.

Authenticity – They can spot a fake. The smile of the used car-salesman, the empty promises of a marketing strategy, the insincere hypocrite.  They are looking for something real, solid, genuine.  People who both know and live what they believe.  Unapologetic consistency.  This is what I believe, and I practice what I preach.

Community – This fallen world is driving us apart.  We are divided into us and them. We shrink into narrow, individual categories of identity – and it is lonely.  They are seeking for authentic community.  They hunger for a place to belong. They want to be part of a movement that is larger than themselves; an important, world changing movement. They long for a community that matters, that makes a difference in this world.

Transcendent Truth – They have seen enough of life and of entertainment to know that much of it is empty, vain, and pointless. They are looking for truth; truth that comes from beyond this world. They are looking for the source of life, of truth, of meaning – they are looking for God.

They are searching for a group of people who know God and are living with him in sincerity.

They are only an invitation away from finding it. They need Jesus, the creator and redeemer, whose word is truth, and who is building a Temple with living stones.

So, invite them to church- the pillar and ground of the truth. Welcome them into our fellowship and community. Allow them to see your sincere and authentic faith. And pray that God would make them brothers and sisters in Christ as we build the kingdom of God together.

Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

The Christian puts God first, others second, and himself last. We honor others above ourselves.  That conviction has changed the world.

We love God above all – that is the first part of the Ten Commandments, and our neighbor as ourselves – that is the second part. We can demonstrate our love for God by loving others.

Jerome, a 4th century theologian,  tells a story about the Apostle John. 

John was old and frail, unable to walk, so his disciples would carry him into the gathering of believers on the Lord’s Day. Every week these were his words to the congregation: “Little children, love one another.”

This went on week after week, until at last, more than a little weary of these repeated words, his disciples asked him, “Master, why do you always say this?”

“Because,” John replied, “it is the Lord’s command, and if this only is done, it is enough.”

The secret strength of the Christian comes from spending time alone with God.  Sacrificially loving others is the demonstration of that strength.  

So, worship God, and love his children. That is the Christian life; and that is a blessing to others and that will change the world.

1 John 3: 18, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.”

All active Session members were present along with guest Sharon Kuhn and new missions team leader Gene Striker.  A new members class taught by our pastor is ongoing with a number of potential new members.   Ross and Nancy Schlosbon were recently approved for church membership.  Please welcome them and get to know them better!  The Trellis team reported that our December giving exceeded our spending by $16,000, allowing us to close December with a $11,000 surplus.  Thank you for your generous giving.  The Trellis team subcommittee on facilities rental, has developed a plan for how to adapt and charge for the use of our facilities if another like-mined organization is interested in sharing a portion of our buildings for Sunday use.  This is a missions oriented outreach that can positively impact our community and help us financially.  If you know of a group that is looking for a church home please see Pastor Mark.  If you have an interest in helping with our sanctuary audio and camera systems, helpers are still needed.  New ministry team members are also needed for the church growth, creative, and worship teams.  Sign up on the large poster in the narthex to help pray for the many missionaries we support throughout the world.  Sharon Kuhn will be traveling to Thailand in early March to support a woman’s missionary conference.  The every other Wednesday night “Your questions, God’s answers” meeting and fellowship meal is starting some new curriculum.  Come and enjoy these thought-provoking topics and discussions.  The Diaconate is working on the new fiscal year budget starting April 1.   Please plan to be available on March 26^th for the election of officers, and the presentation of the budget.  A new digital sign will soon be placed out near Wheeler Road thanks to anonymous donations. Our next Session meeting is scheduled for February 27th.  If you are visiting Westminster today, thank you for being here and please join us for our visitors luncheon.  

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How do I know that I am saved, and that I am going heaven when I die?

A full assurance of faith is a precious, fortifying and comforting truth.  But not every Christian has it. Why?

Our battle with sin calls into question the outcome of the war. Will I ever overcome these sins?  The promises of God astonishing, and we fail to rest in them. We know that we could be better Christians, so we wonder if we are Christians at all.

How can we build a well grounded, confident faith?

The Westminster Confession says,

An infallible assurance of faith [is] founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, [and] the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God (18.2).

The primarily foundation of faith “is the divine truth of the promises of salvation.” We believe the gospel, trust it, rest in it. We believe God and his testimony to the good news. 

Secondly, “the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made.”  First, we believe the gospel of God and then secondly we walk with God.  Saving faith is demonstrated by good works. We can look at the work of God in our lives after we believe the gospel.  We can see evidence of the change that God has worked in our souls, our minds, our actions.

Last, “the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God.”  As we believe the gospel and walk in trusting obedience to God, the Holy Spirit points it out to us by way of encouragement. 

Some call this the reflex act of faith, faith looking back on itself.  The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that are children of God.

You can’t see the wind, but you can see what the winds does to the trees.  If you branches are shivering, the wind of the Spirit is blowing.

So, look outside yourself to the fullness of Christ and the truth of his gospel for assurance. Then, look to the evidence of faith in your own life and the Spirit will encourage you to rest in the knowledge that you are a child of God. Rest assured.