The 19^th century evangelist D.L. Moody once said, “We can stand affliction better than prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.” A Baptist minister who suffered under Romanian communist rule said, “Ninety percent of Christians pass the test of adversity, while ninety percent of Christians fail the test of prosperity.” Prosperity can be a blessing but more often it can become a curse. For many years, America has enjoyed the fruits of prosperity. In fact, the poorest people in America have a better standard of living than most of the world. According to Forbes.com, “the typical person in the bottom 5 percent of the American income distribution is still richer than 68 percent of the world’s inhabitants.” As Christians in America, we live in a state of prosperity. But may we take heed to warning of the potential dangers of prosperity that God gave to the Israelites in the Old Testament.  

In Deuteronomy 8, God gives a warning to the people of Israel who were on the brink of entering “a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths…a land of wheat…barley…vines…fig trees…pomegranates…oil olive…honey…a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness” (vv. 7-9). The Promised Land would be a land of God-given abundance. However, God gave a warning before they entered the land which contained such privileges. He said, “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments” (v. 11). He warned them of lifting up their hearts and saying in their hearts “my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth” (v. 17). God reminded them to not forget who the source of their blessing was and to allow it to turn their eyes away from Him. God warned them not to forget who their Sustainer, Deliverer, and Provider was. God said, “…if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods…I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish” (v. 19).

Israel was in danger of forgetting God when she was in prosperity. Her danger was forgetting the God who had so richly blessed them. She was in danger of lifting up her heart in pride and taking credit for the good things God had so richly provided. As Christians in America, we live in the land of plenty. Even in seasons when we lack, many of us enjoy far more than most people in the world. We must beware that our prosperity doesn’t blind us to the blessings of God or cause us to lift up our hearts in pride and take credit for the good things God has richly blessed us with. God does not forbid His people to eat and enjoy physical blessing. However, He does provide us a warning against taking pride in our abundance and allowing it to turn our eyes off God as our Sustainer and Provider. Hosea 13:6 says, “According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.” May we never take credit for the blessings God has given us but realize that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17).

~Pastor Aaron Francis

Every four years, the world watches as the best athletes from all around the world gather to compete at the highest level of sports in the Olympic Games. In my opinion, one of the most captivating sports to watch are the track and field events. Although many athletes in track and field run races or compete in individual events, there are some whose performance will affect the success or failure of an entire team. For example, consider the interdependence of those who participate in the relay races. As I watch those relay races, I find myself on the edge of my seat as I keep my eyes on the runners coming around the bend and stretching forward with the baton in hand to pass it on to the next runner. It is at that crucial moment that one slip or one hesitation can lose the race for the team.

The Christian life has many similarities to a relay race. God has entrusted every generation of Christians to pass on the “Baton of Faith” to the next generation. This crucial window of time that we have to pass on “…the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3) is fleeting. One moment of hesitation or one slip and the opportunity may be lost. This idea of passing on our faith is seen in many places throughout the Word of God including in Psalm 78. Consider the verses written by Asaph in this chapter: “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done…That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (vv. 2-4, 6-7). Asaph understood the responsibility that fathers have been given in passing on the teaching of God’s Word with a multi-generational vision in mind. Not only did he speak of teaching his own children but of his children teaching their children. We are reminded here that we must teach our children to teach their children to teach their children and on and on. Asaph was concerned with showing the next generation God’s praise, God’s strength, and God’s wonderful works. And we must be committed to doing the same.

Christian parents must not give into passivity or think they can outsource this great responsibility they have been given in passing on God’s truth to the next generation. Every parent is a teacher, a discipler, and an evangelist to their own children. Charles Spurgeon once said, “…ministers and Sabbath-school teachers were never meant to be substitutes for mothers’ tears and fathers’ prayers.” It is our duty as parents (and grandparents) to successfully pass on the “Baton of Faith” that is in our hand!

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.” (Psalm 66:18-20)

Have you ever tried to make a phone call and received a “call failed” message? This can be very frustrating to those of us who are accustomed to instant, unhindered connectivity with our phones. When you try to call someone and receive the “call failed” message, there can be many reasons why your call isn’t going through. It is obvious, however, that there is something blocking your phone from connecting with the person you are trying to call. When this happens, people will do whatever they can to get that clear, instant, unhindered connectivity back in use. We will go out of our way and act with urgency in order to remove hindrances to our cell phone connections. But do we have that same sense of urgency in removing hindrances in our connectivity with God through prayer? Our greatest concern and sense of urgency ought to be directed towards removing anything that might hinder our prayer connectivity with God!

Have you ever prayed to God and felt that you were receiving the message- “prayer failed”? Has it ever seemed that there was something between you and God that hindered your prayer life? There are many things that can hinder our open line of communication with God- lack of forgiveness, doubt, disregard for God’s Word. In Psalm 66:18, we see one of the most common “prayer blockers” that can ensnare any believer in Christ. It says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me…” Unconfessed sin can be one of the greatest hindrances to our prayer life. The verse makes it clear that if I “regard iniquity in my heart”- meaning, “If, having seen it to be there, I continue to gaze upon it without aversion; if I cherish it, have a side glance of love toward it, excuse it, and palliate it” (R. Gordon) then “the Lord will not hear me”. The Psalmist is speaking of the willful acceptance of sin into our lives. When this happens, God will not give attention to or consider our prayers. The very thought of this potentially happening should seriously concern any Christ follower.

The Psalmist continues in v. 19-20 by saying, “But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.” It is clear from these verses that the Psalmist did not hold onto or cherish his sin. Rather, through confession and forsaking of his sin, his prayer was heard. The line of communication was opened. The joy of clear communication with God had returned!

What about you? Has your prayer life grown stagnant? Is there something hindering your prayers? Are you receiving the message- “prayer failed” when you cry out to God? Although prayer can be hindered by various things, we ought to check our hearts daily to see if there is any unconfessed sin that needs to be rooted out through confession and repentance. There is nothing so joyous to the Christian as sweet communion with Christ through an open line of prayer.

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“Once upon a time, a certain town grew up at the foot of a mountain range. It was sheltered in the lee of the protecting heights, so that the wind that shuddered at the doors and flung handfuls of sleet against the window panes was a wind whose fury was spent.

High up in the hills, a strange and quiet forest dweller took it upon himself to be the Keeper of the Springs. He patrolled the hills and wherever he found a spring, he cleaned its brown pool of silt and fallen leaves, of mud and mold and took away from the spring all foreign matter, so that the water which bubbled up through the sand ran down clean and cold and pure. It leaped sparkling over rocks and dropped joyously in crystal cascades until, swollen by other streams, it became a river of life to the busy town.

Millwheels were whirled by its rush. Gardens were refreshed by its waters. Fountains threw it like diamonds into the air. Swans sailed on its limpid surface, and children laughed as they played on its banks in the sunshine.

But the City Council was a group of hard-headed, hard-boiled businessmen. They scanned the civic budget and found in it the salary of a Keeper of the Springs. Said the Keeper of the Purse: ‘Why should we pay this romance ranger? We never see him; he is not necessary to our town’s work life. If we build a reservoir just above the town, we can dispense with his services and save his salary.’ Therefore, the City Council voted to dispense with the unnecessary cost of a Keeper of the Springs, and to build a cement reservoir.

So the Keeper of the Springs no longer visited the brown pools but watched from the heights while they built the reservoir. When it was finished, it soon filled up with water, to be sure, but the water did not seem to be the same. It did not seem to be as clean, and a green scum soon befouled its stagnant surface.

There were constant troubles with the delicate machinery of the mills, for it was often clogged with slime, and the swans found another home above the town. At last, an epidemic raged, and the clammy, yellow fingers of sickness reached into every home in every street and lane.

The City Council met again. Sorrowfully, it faced the city’s plight, and frankly it acknowledged the mistake of the dismissal of the Keeper of the Springs. They sought him out of his hermit hut high in the hills, and begged him to return to his former joyous labor. Gladly he agreed, and began once more to make his rounds.

It was not long until pure water came lilting down under tunnels of ferns and mosses and to sparkle in the cleansed reservoir. Millwheels turned again as of old. Stenches disappeared. Sickness waned and convalescent children playing in the sun laughed again because the swans had come back.

Do not think me fanciful, too imaginative, or too extravagant in my language when I say that I think of women, and particularly of our mothers, as Keepers of the Springs…There never has been a time when there was a greater need for Keepers of the Springs, or when there were more polluted springs to be cleansed. If the home fails, the country is doomed. The breakdown of homes life and influence will mark the breakdown of the nation. If the Keepers of the Springs desert their posts or are unfaithful to their responsibilities, the future of this country is black indeed. This generation needs Keepers of the Springs who will be courageous enough to cleanse the springs that have been polluted. It is not an easy task- nor is it a popular one; but it must be done for the sake of the children, and the young women of today must do it.”

D.L. Moody was an evangelist whom God used in a mighty way to shake two continents with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Growing up, Moody faced many seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his life. Moody grew up in a fatherless home, was raised in very poor conditions, and lacked a complete education.  However, one day, Moody was challenged by a man who said, “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him.” In spite of the obstacles he faced, Moody accepted the challenge by faith and gave himself wholly to the service of God! Because of his choice to walk by faith, God used D.L. Moody in a mighty way to reach many people with the Gospel!

In Numbers 13, we see a group of twelve spies who had been sent out to survey the land that God had already promised to the nation of Israel. God told the Israelites in Exodus 23:28 that He would “drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.” All they had to do was trust in the promise of God and take the land. This group of twelve spies searched out the land for forty days and brought back a report to Moses and the people of Israel. Tragically, however, just as they were on the verge of entering the land God has promised them, ten of the spies chose to focus on the obstacles that stood between them and the land rather than focusing on the promises of God. These spies chose to walk by sight and view the obstacles (strong people, walled cities, giants) of the land as insurmountable. Two of the spies, however, named Joshua and Caleb chose to walk by faith. Caleb said in his report to the people, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (v. 30). The ten spies saw the obstacles that stood in their way. The two spies saw God’s faithful ability to bring them into the land if they would simply trust in Him and obey.

In spite of what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles, D.L. Moody chose to see with the eye of faith what God could do with any man that was fully surrendered to Him. Similarly, Joshua and Caleb chose to see what God could do if they would simply trust in Him to keep His promises. As believers, we are called to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we get our eyes off God and forget His promises, difficulties and problems are quickly magnified in our sight. When unbelief fills our hearts, our eyes begin to focus on the “giants” around us, rather than the God who is with us. When we view life from God’s point of view, however, we are given the faith to overcome whatever obstacles are in our path. 1 John 4:4 reminds the believer in Christ that “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  When we walk by sight, we see giants. When we walk by faith, however, we are able to focus on our faithful and mighty God who enables us to live out the promises of God!

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“Excuse me sir, are you saved? If you die tonight, are you going to heaven?” With those words and armed with a pocketful of gospel tracts, Australian street preacher Frank Jenner was used by God to ignite of fire that would spread around the world. It wasn’t fancy, and Jenner had no training. All he had was a desire to reach lost souls for Jesus Christ. How about you?

“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”   

(Author Unknown)

One of my favorite parts of Springtime are the sights, sounds, and smells of a thunderstorm! The flash of the lightning, the crack of the thunder, the smell and sounds of the rain are all things that I have come to enjoy through the years. It is in the midst of a thunderstorm, that you get a glimpse of the majesty and power of God as displayed in nature. You get a reminder of how big God is and how small you are. You are reminded of God’s power and your own feebleness.

In Psalm 29, David likens the voice of God to the thunder in a storm. Many Bible commentators believe that David penned these words as he viewed a storm roll across the land. David began this psalm by giving glory to God- “Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name…” (vv. 1-2a). As he saw the storm clouds forming, David didn’t run from the storm, but rather, ascribed glory to the One who he knew was in perfect and complete control of the storm.  

David began to describe the storm in vv. 3-9- “…the God of glory thundereth…the voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty…The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars…The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness…The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve…” It is significant that David referenced God’s voice seven times between vv. 3-9.  As David viewed this mighty storm, he couldn’t help but think of the mighty voice of God. He likened God’s voice to the thunder roaring across the sky and shaking the earth. He likened God’s voice to the bolts of lightning breaking and splintering the mighty cedars into pieces. The storms remind us of the power in God’s voice. In verse 10, we find that although the storms come and go, God remains seated upon His throne! The verse says that He  “…sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever” . The storms of earth come and go but God remains unchanged, and His throne remains unmoved!  

Being a Christian does not prevent a person from experiencing the storms of life- trials, heartaches, losses, sickness, and disappointments. However, as believers in Christ, we should not fear the storms of life. We should not run from the storms of life. Rather, we ought to see the storms of life as that which God has providentially allowed into our life to turn our gaze upon Him! God has promised strength and peace as learn to lean on Him through the storms of life. Verse 11 says- “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” As you walk the walk of faith, there may be many storms that come and go. There may be many heartaches and losses and griefs. Yet we must remember that when storms come into our life and shake us to core of our being, that God is still on His throne, He is in control, and He is working out His purposes and plans. For those who know and love Christ, God is working all things together for our good and for His glory!

H.A. Ironside said regarding this Psalm- “It is a wonderful picture of the soul that has gone through its exercises, its stress, its trouble, but has learned that God is over all, that He is strong to save. And so the heart rests in Him and is at peace.”

When the storms of life come, do you turn your focus to the Almighty God? Do you rest in His power and control? Do you find your strength and peace in Him?

~Pastor Aaron Francis

“The rain falls on the thirsty earth, so the Word falls on man’s dry and thirsty spirit. Rain falls indifferently on mountain and on valley, but the hard, lofty mountain casts it off, and the valleys receive and profit by it. So the Word of God is for all; but lofty pride casts it off, and lowly penitence takes it in. The rain softens the clods, and this permits the seed to suck its nourishment from the earth, and thus the earth is rendered—what it could not be at all, but for the rain—fertile, and so is covered with every form of vegetable life, grass, herb and tree. So where the Word is received the fruit of love, joy, and peace abounds. Then the harvest provides for a future reproduction as well as for the present nourishment of men. So the Word of God wherever it falls and sinks in, not only produces a corresponding harvest, and there is bread for the hungry, but there is, too, seed for further sowing. No one truly receives the gospel without wanting to propagate it. It must flow on, it cannot stagnate. Finally, the rain is drawn back to the heavens, and so the Word of the Gospel goes back to God, accompanied as it were, by the singing joy of those who have partaken of its blessing.” (F.C. Jennings)