LifeLink Devotions

Friday, November 12, 2021

One of the highlights of ministry life for me is to see people from radically different religious backgrounds coming together in Christ and forming a loving, unified body because of the peace provided for them at the cross. I am especially blessed to have experienced this in other cultures.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Philippines and India lately. I pray almost daily that the Lord would provide a way for me to return to those countries and personally participate in the mission works I love there. I pray that international travel will be able to be a reality for me.

I am especially moved by the transforming power of the cross when I think about the tribal churches that have been planted up in the mountains. I have visited several of those churches, and I remember one in particular. The church met in a community shelter in this extremely poverty stricken area. Now you must not visualize a community center according to American standards. The building was 8’ x 8’ made of bamboo with a palm branch roof, and a small 15’ x 10’ dirt courtyard surrounded by a broken down bamboo fence. We had church on this particular Sunday morning in the courtyard, with around 45 people in attendance. They had walked up to 10 miles down the mountain trails to get there that morning so that we would not have to try to take the mission vehicle up the muddy trail to their village. We sang some songs to the sounds of a crude guitar played by one of the tribal boys who was learning to praise God with an instrument. No worship band – just worshipping people! It was awesome. I preached that morning on Elijah and the prophets of Baal when they met on the mountain. I shared how God’s power conquered the false worshippers.

The reason I had chosen that story for that day was because of the living reality of it in those people. They came from a tribe of false worshippers and spiritism, and they had never heard the truth of Jesus until one of the graduates of our Bible college went there to plant a church. These had been people who had never seen a white man, and who probably would have killed one in their village area if he had gone there unannounced and unescorted. They were dressed as well as their meager means would allow. A few of them still had some teeth. Our American standards have conditioned us to avoid such people. But now, because of the cross, we were worshipping together. We were smiling at each other with a joy that is only shared between family members. In fact, I am crying my eyes out right now as I write this because of the joy in my heart that Jesus saves equally and completely.

Ephesians 2:11-18 “…remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Just think, in Christ we have equal access to the Father! I receive no preferential treatment from God because I am American or have a home or money or cars or because I dress right, and especially not because I have a particular color of skin. In Christ we are all one!

That’s the power of the cross – it brings peace that passes all human reason. Let’s not draw lines of separation between people when Jesus came to obliterate those lines and make us one!

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, November 11, 2021

When I was in high school in the Twin Cities, with a graduating class of 825, I was an unnoticed nerd – or at least I thought I was. I was very insecure, I hated my appearance, and I had nothing that identified me except my trombone, and according to the cool kids, band was for geeks. But one day in English class, one of the most popular girls in school came up to me (she happened to be a cheerleader) and said, “I love it when you wear blue because it brings out the color of your eyes. I love blue too.”

Well, you can imagine how I felt after they revived me from fainting. I had found a connection point to the cool kids. I wore blue every day. I started to choose my clothing carefully, and I became one of the best-dressed kids in school. No blue jeans ever. Only dress pants and nice shirts and sweaters. All of my clothes had to be the latest fashion. I even wore shirts with French cuffs and cufflinks, and they were always blue. I was compelled to make a good impression outwardly. No one had ever noticed me for who I was inwardly, and I didn’t believe they ever would. For sure if they saw the real me they would reject me, and there was no way I was about to put myself through that pain. No one wants to be persecuted for who they are.

In Galatians Paul makes this point – don’t use an external image of religious conformity to avoid the pain of rejection.

Galatians 6:12-15 “Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.”

The Judaizers, those Jewish Christians who believed that salvation was only available to those who believed in Jesus and conformed to the Jewish law, were trying to force Gentile Christians to get circumcised. I don’t believe they were doing this because they theologically believed it, but because they socially needed it for their own approval rating. They could remain active in their Jewish sub-culture if they minimized the effect of the cross and kept some of their socially and religiously accepted traditions.

How often are we guilty of this in our lives? We add an external appearance or behavior standard to the message of the cross so that we can stay in our comfort zone. But let’s be clear about this: the message of the cross is simple and powerful. By the shed blood of Jesus as God’s sacrifice for our sin, all sin is forgiven in the life of any person who repents of their sin and by faith receives its cleansing power. At that instant they are made a new creation by the power of the resurrected Christ in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

They are blessed with every spiritual blessing from on high.

Ephesians 1:3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 

They are made joint heirs of all eternity with all of the saints in glory, including you and me.

Romans 8:16-17 – The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

Anyone!

Everyone who believes!  

There is the very real possibility that within your family or your circle of friends, or even in your church, you will be rejected and persecuted for living this way. Yet Paul was so convinced of the power of the cross that he said he would never boast about anything else in his life except that. He did not take pride in his pattern of behavior or in his theology and use those things as a means of gaining acceptance with anyone. He simply loved the cross. He simply loved people who loved the cross. He knew that the power to affect the external had to come from the power of the eternal in them. 

When the Holy Spirit brings the new creation of Christ into a spiritually dead person, His ministry is just beginning. He will bring the external changes necessary to complete His work. He uses all of us to help influence that development, but we must be willing to let the finished work be unique, not cloned. What we do for Christ must be for the glory of the cross, not for the approval of people.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ must remain the central focus of all that we are and all that we do. That is the conclusion drawn by Paul to the church at Corinth as he opens his letter to them.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18  “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

You may remember that this church was going through a lot of difficulties. One of the  issues Paul addresses is the tendency church-goers have to be people-followers. There were divisions in the church because some people liked Apollos better than Paul or Peter, and some even were taking pride in the fact that they had stayed true to Jesus. They were arguing and bickering about who taught better, who led better, and who gave them the best spiritual benefits.

In addressing these divisions, Paul makes it clear that the following of any human wisdom diminishes the power of the cross in our personal lives and in the life of the church. When the focus and form of our teaching and preaching becomes self-centered rather than Christ-centered, we lose power.

Let me illustrate: once there was a professional football team that had incredible talent but couldn’t win the big games, primarily because the focus of the team was on an individual rather than the purpose of the team. It was so bad that free agents from other teams were refusing to even consider becoming a part of this team. Then it happened – the team changed its focus from the problems caused by an individual to the goal of accomplishing their purpose, and a huge change occurred. Weaknesses in the team were suddenly made strengths. Free agents from other teams were anxious to become a part of the organization. Franchise players from other teams are begging to be traded to this team. Why? Because the self-centered focus has been replaced with a team spirit based on a unified purpose.

That’s what must happen in a church. People must move from a self-centered, people-following, people-pleasing lifestyle to one of surrendered, sacrificial commitment to Christ and His purpose. When it does, people who are not part of the body of Christ yet will want to be. They will ask to join us, because that is the power of the cross.

We hear a lot today about the seeker-sensitive church, and one of the characteristics of such churches is a non-offensive presentation of the Gospel. I have a very serious question in that regard: How can the Gospel message of the cross of Christ be non-offensive to an unbeliever when Paul states here in today’s Scripture that the cross is considered foolishness to the unsaved, and in Galatians 5:11 he states that if he compromises the Gospel in any way the cross loses its offense to the unsaved?

So many churches today are avoiding the real issue of people’s lives by speaking only to the perceived or surface issues because they believe it will attract more people and offend fewer people. My friends, I do not wish to purposely offend anyone, but I most definitely will not offend my Lord and Savior by turning the church or the ministry to which He has called me into an effort of human wisdom. I will preach the cross of Jesus Christ, and those who respond will be transformed by the power of God and not by human reason. And they will respond, because the power of God will draw them to the place where their spiritual need can be truly met in Christ. Calvary is that place – the place of the cross. May Calvary the church represent its name well.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Why did Jesus die? That questions has plaqued people for centuries. Unsaved people explain it in ways that reduce Jesus to mere mortal who was weak and therefore deserved to die.  However, in his Holy Spirit empowered sermon, Peter declares that it was not because of the weakness of Jesus or His failure that He was put to death, but rather by the sovereignty and foreknowledge of God to accomplish His purpose.

Acts 2:22-24  “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. “

This is so very important for several reasons:

1. Man can take no credit for anything that has been done for our salvation. No man or government can claim any credit or be given any specific blame for the crucifixion of Christ. The religious leaders of Israel cannot now claim any reward from God for having been willing participants in the plan of salvation. The Romans cannot claim any earned favor from God for having done what He wanted. All participants in the crucifixion are called wicked, and all the credit for it goes to God who ordained it to happen. Salvation is God’s plan done God’s way in God’s time.
2. The crucifixion of Jesus does not negate the accrediting of God that came through the miracles, wonders, and signs, but rather is a part of the accrediting process, for only by death could the power and glory of Jesus be seen in a resurrection. In Acts 2:24 we read, “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” This points directly to the divinity of Jesus. Eternal life was the nature of Jesus. Death had no power over Him. He went into it knowing He would conquer it. His resurrection was more than the outside force of God working on His dead body to raise it up; His resurrection was the force and power of His own nature coming forth. He is declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection. 

How does this apply to us in a practical way today? First, none of us can take any credit for our salvation in any way. God planned it, provided for it, and prepared us to receive it. We have earned nothing. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus, and we are to live lives of gratitude and praise for His magnificent grace!

Second, as believers, Jesus Christ, in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, has made our lives a temple in which He permanently resides. Jesus brings the power of His life to conquer our death. We are alive in Christ because it is now our nature to be alive. When we do the deeds of a dead person we are acting in contradiction to our nature.

Many people claim that it is easier to fall back into sin than it is to stay holy. This points to a serious lack of understanding of their salvation. It is always easier to follow our nature, and in Christ our nature is to live, not to die. It should be more natural for us to be holy than to sin, and if it is not, then we need some spiritual refreshment.

Spend time today contemplating the wonder of your salvation. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then the next time you are tempted to sin you will discover that the nature of Jesus Christ immediately conquers that thought and brings it captive so that the resurrection power of Jesus Christ reigns supreme.

How awesome to know that Jesus lives, and He lives in us, giving us the power to be more than conquerors.  

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click link for audio blog) 

Monday, November 8, 2021

For the last two weeks we have been studying the first and second chapters of Acts to discover the fundamentals of a REAL church. It is in the second chapter of Acts that the REAL church gets its start when the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit falls upon the believers in Christ on the day of Pentecost. When Peter stands up to preach with the power of the Holy Spirit, he becomes the first Gospel evangelist, and his sermon is very simple. It presented to the people the truth that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah based on His death and resurrection.

In the days ahead we are going to look at some of the various New Testament passages on the cross, and discover some wonderful truths about God’s indescribable gift of salvation to us. For today, I want to focus on one thing from Peter’s sermon.

Acts 2:22-24  Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 

Peter tells the people that they know who Jesus is because God accredited Him to them by the miracles, wonders, and signs God performed through Him. Jesus was affirmed as the Son of God by the supernatural work of God in His life, and these unsaved people to whom Peter was preaching knew it. They had not yet placed their faith in Him, but in their heads they knew who Jesus was.

I find that to be all too true in our world today – people who have head knowledge of the truth, but it has not yet penetrated their heart. In their minds they know the truth. They have heard about Jesus, and have seen His work in the lives of His followers, but they deny any need to surrender their lives to Him. 

However, can it be said today that people who observe our lives have a knowledge of Jesus because of what they see?They may have heard about Jesus, but have they really seen the resurrection power of Jesus at work in the lives of His followers?

What a challenge this is to us. Is God continuing to accredit the reality of Jesus to a lost world through His powerful work in us as believers? Oh, we may not all be gifted to do miracles and signs and wonders, but we are all gifted with the Holy Spirit who produces the character of Christ in our lives so that the fruit of the Spirit is visible. When love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control rule our lives, God is affirming the reality of Jesus Christ to a world that does not know Him.

In Ephesians 1, verses 18-20, Paul the Apostle says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”

The same power that God exerted when He raised Jesus from the dead is the power that He exerts in us when He raises us from spiritual death to new life in Christ. You see, God is still accrediting Christ to the world through the miracle of a transformed life. How are we doing at showing it to them?

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click link for audio blog)

Friday, November 5, 2021

The third fundamental of a REAL church as described in Acts 2:42 is that the people are devoted to the breaking of bread. At first reading this may appear to simply mean that the church had lots of carry-in dinners, or what we used to call potlucks. I remember asking an older gentleman in the church I attended as a youth why it was called a potluck, and he said, “Because everyone brings a pot of food, and good luck finding anything worth eating.”

Yes, the early church did have fellowship dinners every week. That’s what Paul wrote the Corinthians about when he admonished them for the improper way in which they were conducting themselves at those dinners. But following that admonition, he gave them instructions about the real significance of those dinners – it was the communion service at the end of them that was to be reverenced. Paul says to them to not be devoted to the food, but be devoted to the spiritual significance of the food – it represents Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.

John 6:32-35 “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

I believe that it is essential for the REAL church to consistently celebrate redemption. The church should be constantly rejoicing in the grace of salvation provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is equally important for the individual members of the Body of Christ to constantly reflect on the nature of their salvation and to live in humble gratitude for it. Being devoted to the breaking of bread means we are devoted to the joy of our salvation.

Every day I experience something wonderful about the life of Christ in me. But as wonderful as those daily expressions of God’s grace are to me, there is nothing that can compare with the wonder and emotion that I sense when I think of the cross of Jesus Christ and that He died for me! He paid the debt of my sin by becoming my sin and suffering the physical pain and death of the wrath of God against that sin. His love is amazing! His salvation is an indescribable gift! Nothing I will ever learn or experience will ever mean more to me than this – I am not my own anymore. I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and I am His eternally!

So for me, food takes on a new symbolism. Not just the communion bread and cup, but all food. Every time I eat anything, I will seek to remember this – Jesus is the Bread of Life, and only He can completely nourish life. I will be devoted to the joy of my salvation.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click on link for audio blog)

Thursday, November 4, 2021

In addition to being devoted to the teaching and application of the Word of God, the REAL church is also devoted to the fellowship. I often wondered why the verse in Acts 2:42 doesn’t just say that they were devoted to fellowship, but rather to “the” fellowship. What is it that makes the fellowship of the church distinct from all other forms of fellowship?

I believe the answer is this – normal human relationships are strictly two-dimensional, on a horizontal plane only, and for that reason tend to be primarily self-centered. Relationships in the Body of Christ are three-dimensional, like a triangle, with a horizontal and a vertical plane. The vertical plane of our relationship to God in the power of the Holy Spirit is what sets “the fellowship” apart.

Here’s how the Apostle John describes it:

1 John 1:1-4  “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.”

Here are some principles upon which REAL church fellowship is built:

1. Relationship with God is possible only faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We are all equally guilt, and in Christ equally forgiven.
2. In Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us to produce the character of Jesus Christ. The same Spirit is at work in each of us.
3. One aspect of the character of Jesus Christ is to sacrifice self for the sake of others. Philippians 2 describes what our attitudes should be towards one another in the Body of Christ.  “¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
4. Relationships on the horizontal plane take on a whole new context because of the humble spirit of Christ in each of us that puts others ahead of ourselves.

You see, within the church there is no favoritism or distinction between people. We do not determine value based on race, color, social status, financial status, or past sin. In Christ we all have the same value – His!

Therefore, we make no distinctions between people and we fellowship equally with one another, or at least we should. We should be the model to the world of love and acceptance, of understanding and compassion, of healing and forgiveness. The world should be asking to be a part of “the fellowship” because it goes so far beyond anything they can find in themselves.

Unfortunately the world is not knocking down our doors to get into this fellowship, and the reason may be that we aren’t modeling it to them very well. They see us fighting and bickering with one another, holding grudges and being unforgiving, and seeking our own benefit instead of the benefit of another. They hear us call it fellowship, but it looks no different then what they get in any other area of their secular life. What is the attraction in that?

We need to honestly look at our relationships and determine why certain people are being excluded. If in any way it has to do with personal benefit, anger, frustration, personality clashes, vengeance, or any reason other than lack of opportunity, then we are in sin and are hurting the cause of Christ. Spend time reflecting on your fellowship with God through Jesus Christ and what makes that possible, then let that same spirit of humble surrender influence your relationships.

Let’s continue to have REAL church by having REAL fellowship.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021

I am a reader of instructions. When I get anything new, I read the instructions before I attempt any assembly. When we get a new family game, I read the instructions so I know the rules. I like to know that things are being done right.

The church has been given an instruction manual called the Bible, and for the assembly to work we need to read and follow the instructions.

2 Timothy 2:15  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

A REAL church, after the pattern of the first ever REAL church, is populated by people who are devoted to the Word of God. They are devoted to personal study, small group study, and congregational preaching and teaching, and they are devoted to the application of what they study.

James, the brother of Jesus, says it this way: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) 

Jesus told people a parable to emphasize the importance of putting what we know into practice.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The REAL church is able to stand against the onslaught of the gates of hell because its foundation is the Word – Jesus Christ – and it is being built on the truth of the Word – the Bible.The REAL church is indwelt by the Word Himself. The individuals of the REAL church are indwelt by the Word Himself. The REAL church stands solidly against all of the storms of society because the people of the church are devoted to living out the Word in every part of their lives.

When we know the truth, and do not do it, it is sin. (James 4:17 – Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.) Being devoted to the teaching of the Word of God includes being devoted to the application of the truths we learn.

Let’s be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. 

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

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Tuesday, November 2, 2021

As time goes by and most things change, it is wise for us to realize that some things must not change. New technology and improved methods of production do not necessitate a change of purpose in most cases. Automobiles are certainly produced differently today than they were 75 years ago, but the basic purpose of the automobile has stayed the same. There may be more comfort and convenience in them today, but they still provide simple, basic transportation from point A to point B. 

The same must be true in the church. Society has changed, and methods of ministry have certainly changed, but the primary purpose for church must not change. REAL church exists to glorify God by reproducing disciple-making disciples. The church is the Body of Christ, chosen and called out from the world to be people of God’s possession who are zealous for doing the good work of the Gospel. The fundamental activities of church people should be the same as when the church was established. 

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Our Scripture passage for today tells us the four things that are foundational to the REAL church:

1.      A devotion to the teaching of God’s Word

2.      A devotion to the fellowship of God’s people

3.      A devotion to the cross of Jesus Christ

4.      A devotion to prayer

Notice first of all that “they devoted themselves” to these things. Who were “they”? The context begins during the Jewish feast of Pentecost. The 125 faithful believers in the resurrected Christ were together in a prayer meeting. The Holy Spirit came upon them in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, and Peter began to preach. As a result of his sermon, 3,000 people were saved, baptized, and added to the fellowship of the first REAL church. A total of 3,125 people now devoted themselves to the foundational principles of the church. 

Notice that they devoted themselves. They were not asked to sign a document that stated their specific doctrinal position on any topic nor were they forced to obey a set of rules and regulations to conform their behavior. They simply responded to the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives to produce the character of Christ in them and they devoted themselves to the things that produce that character. 

My friends, in response to an ever-changing world system, the church has been tempted to change its foundational principles to seemingly add more security. For some reason we feel safer surrounded by more rules and stricter control, but that is a deception of Satan to keep us from a walk of faith. Everything about the new church in Acts was about faith in Christ, and everything built on the foundation of faith will stand. There is nothing we can add to the four fundamentals of Acts 2:42 that will make the church more productive or more holy.

In the devotion to God’s Word comes an honest surrender to its teachings, producing holiness of lifestyle. In devotion to the fellowship of God’s people comes accountability for spiritual growth and production. In devotion to the breaking of bread comes a constant reminder of the death of Jesus Christ for our sins, which produces the humble spirit of unity. In devotion to prayer comes surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ over the church and a serving spirit of accomplishing His purpose.

Every aspect of church life is covered in these four fundamentals of the REAL church. Twenty-five years ago our church chose to make these four fundamentals our CORE values.

Committed to truth

One in the Spirit

Rejoicing in redemption

Energized by prayer

But for core values to work, we must devote ourselves to them. We must not be satisfied to just be able to state them, but rather we must live them. Let’s evaluate our lives today in light of these four principles, and set a course of devotion to them, so we can truly have REAL church.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Monday, November 1, 2021

The one consistent theme of the REAL church in the book of Acts is prayer. The early believers in Jesus Christ understood the need for constant communication with Him. They were devoted to intimacy with Christ. They praised the Father in all things. The most important ministries of the church were prayer and the teaching of Scripture. They knew that prayer was essential because it was the only way to see life from God’s perspective.

Acts 1:12-14. “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 4:24 “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.”

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Acts 6:3-4 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

There are 29 more references to prayer in the book of Acts that reveal its importance as a foundation to the spiritual vitality of our church. Stephen prayed while he was being stoned. Paul and Silas prayed while in prison. Peter prayed and was directed to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. The church earnestly prayed while Peter was in prison, and he was set free. The church prayed about sending out missionaries. Paul and Barnabas knew that prayer had to be the foundational activity of every church they planted. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

It is very obvious that in a REAL church there is a priority activity that needs to captivate our involvement, and it is prayer. May I suggest a way for you to get started?

1. Choose a minimum of 5 minute time every day that you will commit to pray for the ministry of Calvary (or your own church if you do not attend here).
2. Every day at that time, pray for the following things:
   • That every person who attends the church would be living out the Great Commandment in every part of their lives, loving God above all else, and loving each other with His love.
   • That every person who attends the church would in some way fulfill the Great Commission by being a Holy Spirit empowered witness of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
   • That every ministry of the church would accomplish two purposes: equipping each person to fulfill the first two objectives just mentioned, and providing an entrance point for unsaved people to meet Jesus.

Are you ready? I am! In prayer we surrender to the purpose of God, we are strengthened by the power of God, and we are supplied with the provision of God. The Holy Spirit has been given the church as His temple of residence, and when the foundation of our ministry is to fulfill that spiritual purpose, then God will provide all the rest that we need to do His work. 

Pastor John