Hear the warning of the Hebrew writer – BEWARE!  Beware that no root of bitterness takes hold in your heart.  Here is how the warning reads, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).

Bitterness is DANGEROUS.  The writer said the root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble. Bitterness causes trouble to the person who has allowed it in their heart.  It can cause them to fall short of God’s grace.  In other words, it can actually cause a person to lose their salvation.  It can cause them to forfeit eternal life.  That’s a terrible price to pay just so you can stay bitter at someone. 

Bitterness is dangerous for another reason – it’s CONTAGIOUS.  While bitterness brings trouble to the person who has allowed it in their heart; it also causes trouble for others, too.  The Hebrew writer said, “And by this many become defiled.”  The 20th Century NT translation reads, “Take care that…no bitterness is allowed to take root…and so poison the whole community.”

Bitterness is not an attitude of heaven; forgiveness is.  We all have things that happen to us, whether real or perceived, about which we could allow a root of bitterness to spring up in our hearts.  Satan will see to that!  The Hebrew writer warns us to not take the bait.  If you sense a root of bitterness starting to spring up in your heart, pull it out by the roots and be done with it.

The wisest man in the world gave this bit of advice, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).  Bitterness spills over and contaminates everything it touches.  So protect your heart.  Protect yourself.  And do what Paul said in Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ Jesus forgave you.”

 

Pastor Todd Weston

 

Just before he died, Joseph asked his family to make a very strange promise.  He said God would surely visit them and bring them out of Egypt to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 50:24).  He then made them promise to take his bones with them (Genesis 50:25).  So they made the promise.  Then Joseph died, was embalmed and buried in Egypt (Genesis 50:26).

Fast forward some 200 years to the night of the exodus.  The grip of Pharaoh was finally broken by the death angel, and the Children of Israel were in a hurry to get out of Egypt.  That’s when Moses gave the order – Go get Joseph’s bones!  We can’t leave without them!  So they dug up the coffin, and for the next forty years someone had the unique job of hauling Joseph’s bones all over the Sinai wilderness.

In the meantime, Moses died and Joshua became the new leader.  Under Joshua the Children of Israel finally moved into the Promised Land and launched the conquest of Canaan.  Everywhere they went, the bones of Joseph went with them.  Finally, in the next to the last verse in the book of Joshua we read that they buried Joseph’s bones in the family cemetery in Shechem.  He made it at last!

I think it’s interesting that in the roll call of the heroes of faith that appears in Hebrews 11, the writer said nothing about Joseph resisting Potiphar’s wife, or his faithfulness during those years in prison, or his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, or even his role in saving Egypt from starvation. 

So what did the writer say about Joseph?  Here it is, “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:22).  That’s it.  Joseph told his people, Someday you are going to leave this place, and when you do, take me with you!

Although he lived his entire adult life in Egypt, although he acquired fame and fortune in Egypt, although he married and raised a family in Egypt, Joseph never considered it his home.  He knew he was a stranger and a pilgrim in Egypt (Hebrews 11:13).  And he died in faith without seeing the promise, but he was convinced in his heart it would be fulfilled.  And it was!

Do you believe in a place called heaven?  Do you desire a better country?  Do you understand that this world is not your home?  We’re just passing through on our way to the place Jesus is preparing for us.  So remember Lot’s wife and don’t get too attached to this old world because it’s only temporary.  Heaven is our forever home.   

Pastor Todd

Another great mission’s convention has come and gone.  To date we are only $3,300 away from reaching our goal of $100,000 in faith promises.  I believe we will easily surpass that figure in the next few weeks.  This amount sets a new record for missions faith promises received at RLA! 

Our theme this year was: COMMITTED – to Pray, Give, and Go.  Everyone is committed to something.  The big question is: Am I committed to the right things?  Am I committed to the things that really matter?  I think we all have to ask ourselves if we are committed to the same things God Himself is committed to.

There seems to be a lot of misdirected commitment in the world today.  Last week I listened to Chip Ingram as he addressed a crowd of one thousand gathered at the Bonita Prayer Breakfast.  It got pretty quiet when he suggested there might be a higher purpose in life than striving to put a little white ball in a four-inch hole in the ground in fewer strokes.  Isn’t it amazing watching people knock themselves out over things that have little if any eternal value?

I think it was Leonard Ravenhill who asked the searching question, “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”  While recreation certainly has its place, and vacations are nice, there is a higher cause worth living for.  It’s called the Great Commission.  There is no higher cause.

Last Sunday our guest missionary, Jason Frenn, made a statement that resonated deep in my heart and brought out an instant “YES!”  He said, “A mission’s convention is the transference of God’s burden for the lost to our hearts.”  It’s not just about raising money so we can send missionaries, although that is an important part of it (Romans 10:14-15).  But it goes deeper than that.  It’s about our hearts getting in alignment with God’s heart.  It’s about our commitments and priorities lining up with His.

Financially, this year’s mission’s convention was a success.  But the true success will be measured by the ongoing commitment level of our hearts to the Great Commission.  That’s the deal.

Pastor Todd Weston

Have you ever had one of those days?  A day when everything that could go wrong did?  First, you overslept.  Then the car wouldn’t start.  Your dog ran away.  Then your computer crashed.  Your credit card company called asking if you have made any large purchases recently in Indonesia.  And a letter from the IRS awaited you at home with some vague but ominous language.  Did they say “audit”?  Just what you needed to assure a good night’s rest!

Did I over-do it?  Ok, maybe a little.  But sometimes it really does seem like everything that can go wrong does.  So how do you respond?  The word perspective comes to mind.

Listen to what the psalm writer did in Psalm 121:1-2, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

Lifting up your eyes to the mountains is to focus on something massive, enduring, and truly great.  And God made them!  Just think – the God who shaped and formed the mountains holds you in the palm of His hand!

Go outside and look up at the moon and stars.  The God who spoke the heavens into existence and calls the stars by name is the One who watches over you every moment of every day. 

Look in the mirror and consider the hairs of your head.  God knows their exact number.  Run a brush or comb through your hair a few times.  The data bank of heaven does an instant recalculation.  This is the God who knows all the personal details of your life.

Perspective reminds us that God is BIGGER than all the things that can go wrong.  When you are having “one of those days,” just lift up your eyes to the God who made heaven and earth.  He sees, He knows, and He cares!  

Pastor Todd Weston

Here is a number for you to consider - 6,889.  No, it’s not the total of ceiling tiles in our building or my cumulative golf score from 2011.  It’s the number of unreached people groups in the world.  Think of it!  Nearly seven-thousand people groups have yet to receive an adequate presentation of the gospel.

Wow.  That seems kind of overwhelming.  There ought to be a plan on how to reach all of those people.  There is.  It’s called the Great Commission.  It appears first in Matthew’s gospel, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Great Commission appears in one form or another in each of the four gospels.  And just in case we still don’t get it, it appears again in Acts, “But 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). 

The Great Commission is the greatest undertaking, “Go into all the world,” to deliver the greatest message, “and preach the gospel,” to the greatest audience, “to every creature” (Mark 16:15). 

Our response to this call is echoed in our mission’s convention theme – COMMIT, to PRAY, to GIVE, to GO! 

·        Pray – for our missionaries, and for God to give you a heart for missions.
·        Give – make a faith promise on Feb. 26th and give faithfully to missions.
·        Go – make yourself available to God and start others about Jesus.

God has determined that the gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations (Matthew 24:14), and we are the ones He intends to us.  So let’s do it!  And here is what we will find:

A great commitment
To the Great Commission
Will build a great church!

 
Pastor Todd Weston

Sheri and I are so proud of the young people of River of Life!  Last night the youth group led the Sunday night prayer meeting, and they did a fantastic job.  I was especially impressed by the IMPACT worship band (12 strong).  They were musically tight and spiritually anointed.  Our young people truly led us into the presence of God!

Isn’t it amazing how God can use young people?  Joseph was just a teenager when his great adventure began.  David was still in the youth group when he killed the giant Goliath and led Israel to a great victory against the Philistines.  It’s believed that Daniel and his three friends were still in their teenage years when they were taken into captivity and chosen to serve in Nebuchadnezzer’s court.  And then there was a young girl named Mary who was singled out for an extraordinary purpose.  And John was just a teenager when he and his brother James were called to be fishers of men.

To another young man named Timothy Paul gave this word of advice, “Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, Amp.)  God is no respecter of age – young or old.  The same God who called Moses at the age of eighty used a young boy in one of the great miracles of the New Testament – the feeding of the five thousand.  No matter your age, God can and will use you if you make yourself available.

So a word of thanks is in order to Nicholas and his dedicated leadership team for doing such a great discipling the youth of RLA.  And thanks to all of our young people who ministered Sunday night.  You truly were an example to the believers.

Pastor Todd

Tuesday, January 31, is a big day in Florida.  That’s the date of the Presidential Primary election.  For months we have watched the process, listened to debates, read articles, and now its decision time.  Who will it be?  Mitt, Newt, Rick, or Ron?  Have you made up your mind?

Life is full of decisions.  Some big; some small.  Small easy; some difficult.  When it comes to seafood, it’s an easy choice for me. Grilled Grouper sandwich every time!  But standing in line at Royal Scoop Ice Cream with their innumerable tantalizing flavors sends me into a conundrum of indecision.  I usually get vanilla!

It’s true that the decisions we make today shape our tomorrows.  So what kind of decisions are you making?  Hopefully, they are wise decisions based on biblical convictions and Christian standards. 

In the Assemblies of God we consider the Bible to be our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.  The Bible speaks to the matters of faith and every day life.  So when faced with a decision, find out what the Bible says.  As you prayerfully search the Scriptures, you will find the guidance you need.  You will hear the voice of the Spirit say, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

Have a blessed week.  I need to sign off now.  I think I hear Royal Scoop calling!

Pastor Todd

The other night while reading I came across this statement from the Latin, vive ut vivas, which means, “Live so that you may live.”  The young poet, Everett Ruess, said it this way, “While I am alive, I intend to live.”

We all realize there is a marked difference between living and existing.  How exciting to see people who are full of life.  They face the future with enthusiasm and hope.  How sad it is to see people who are still breathing, moving, and going through the motions of life, and yet they stopped living a long time ago.

On the plains of Moab Moses issued a great challenge to the Children of Israel.  Behind them was the wilderness.  For forty years they had walked in circles waiting for the unbelieving generation to die.  Ahead of them was the land God promised to their fathers.  It was a land full of dreams and potential.  Camped between the wilderness and the Promised Land, Moses issued this challenge, “I have set before you life and death…therefore choose life” (Deut. 30:19).

Maybe you look back today only to see wasted time.  Years spent walking in circles.  Ahead of you there is yet promise and potential to make a difference.  There is yet the opportunity to do something significant for God; to make your mark for the kingdom.  The Bible says, choose life!

I don’t care how old you are.  When it comes to life, it’s not over until it’s over.  And if you are a Christian, when it’s over it still isn’t over!  We have eternity in heaven to look forward to! 

Concerning life on earth Paul said, “To live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21).  If you are still alive on planet earth (if you are reading this article I assume you are!) then God still has something for you to do.  Maybe you can’t do some of the things you used to do when you were younger.  That’s OK.  Do what you can do.

Interesting thing about Everett Ruess.  He died at the age of twenty.  And yet in those twenty years he accomplished a lifetime of achievements.  While he lived, he lived. 

Any way you look at it, life is short.  So make every moment count.  Don’t run the race of life only to slow down and meander across the finish line.  Run the race with everything you’ve got, and finish strong.

Pastor Todd

As I write this article, we are in the middle of our second Jesus Sensitive Conference.  The conference got off to a strong start Sunday.  The church was packed Sunday morning, and the altars were packed Sunday night with seekers receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  And now, over fifty people are here Monday morning out of a desire to draw near to God.  We are starting our day with God, and it really feels good!

Earlier this morning I read this verse in my devotional time, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up” (Psalm 5:3).  Does God hear your voice in the morning?  Is spending time with God part of your morning schedule?  Do you start your day, every day, with God?

I know.  Mornings can be so busy, especially when you have children at home.  So what can you do?  May I offer a few suggestions?  First, set the alarm a few minutes earlier to allow some time to spend in the Word and prayer.  If you need your regular eight hours of sleep, just go to bed 30 minutes earlier so you can get up 30 minutes earlier. 

You can also free up extra minutes in the morning by preparing for the next day the night before.  For example, if lunches need to be prepared, do it the evening before.  If ironing needs to be done, do it the evening before.  If you spend several minutes each morning trying to decide what to wear, lay out your clothes the evening before.  As much as is possible, move household chores normally done in the morning (like taking out the trash) to the evening.  If you are a coffee drinker like I am, prepare everything the night before so all you have to do in the morning is turn on the coffee maker. You get the idea.

One more suggestion.  Use your morning commute as an opportunity for prayer.  Driving in Southwest Florida can make a prayer warrior out of any one!  Follow the biblical command to watch and pray and your morning drive time will be transformed into God-time.

Notice that the end of Psalm 5:3 says, “And I will look up.”  We can start our mornings looking around at all of our problems.  We can start our mornings with a downcast look of sadness and despair.  Or we can start our mornings lifting our eyes above and beyond these things, and looking into the face of Jesus.

So start every morning with Jesus.  Tell the Lord, “My voice You shall hear in the morning.”  Make the appointment.  Keep the appointment.  Start your morning looking up and continue that upward look throughout the day. 

Pastor Todd

So how did you start your week?  I started mine in the dentist’s chair having a broken crown replaced.  In an attempt to make it as pleasant an experience as possible, they decided to administer nitrous oxide.  This chemical compound meant to produce a euphoric sensation may work for other people, but it sure didn’t work for me.  As a matter of fact, it had the reverse effect.  This stuff commonly known as laughing gas made me feel like doing just about anything but laugh.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my dentist.  And the new crown is great.  But no more nitrous oxide for me!

The experience made the think of how often the world promises one thing but delivers another.  The Hebrew writer called it, “the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).  It started with Eve in the garden when Satan encouraged her to eat the forbidden fruit.  He told her that her eyes would be opened and she would have a greater knowledge of good and evil.  Eve believed the lie and ate.  And sure enough, her eyes were opened.  But not in the way she expected.  They were opened to all the guilt, shame, and ugliness of sin.

Satan makes sin look so attractive and appealing.  Just remember: you can have what you want, but you won’t want what you get.  Just ask Samson as he grinds grain in the prison house of the Philistines.  Or David as he kneels beside the grave of his infant son.  Or Judas as he fastens the hanging rope to the tree.  Sin always over-promises and under-delivers. 

So be wise.  Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word.  God’s Word hidden in your heart will help you stand strong in the hour of temptation (Psalm 119:105).  And the next time Satan comes along with some line about how fun and exciting sin can be, listen close for the hissing sound.  It’s the sound of a serpent!

Pastor Todd