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The Book of Revelation: Part 1

Posted on Mar 1, 2023 in General, Pastor's Blog | 0

3-1-2023

C. Hayden

I love the Book of Revelations. I know that many read it and have difficulty understanding the hidden meanings found in the Apostle John’s writing (I do too sometimes), and some ministers will even council believers not to even attempt to read it because, in their opinion, “it cannot be understood!” Well, those “councilors”are wrong to the nth degree! God would never have John write this most important, although cryptic, portion of the Bible if it was not meant to be understood and/or meant to edify Christians as other portions of the Bible most certainly do.

Now I will admit, some portions of this Book seems to have hidden meanings, and we often see passages that are difficult to pin down with perfect understanding, but the Holy Spirit was given to us so that we can actually have a decent grasp on what the Book has to say. First of all, the title of John’s prose is “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” While “Revelations” does reveal end time events and a panorama of futuristic scenery, it teaches so much more. The Book actually is a revelation of who Jesus Christ is, has been, and always will be. Through Revelations, we get the picture of Christ, not as the baby in a manger, or suffering Messiah on the cross, but He is displayed as the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the omnipotent, omniscient Conqueror who will soon return to bring justice to the world and receive His Church unto Himself. Revelations 1:7-8 says this, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. Even so, Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus is not just a wonderful Holy Man; He is so much more!

Revelations is also a writing which is sent to the Churches to receieve encouragement and warning on what they are doing and what God wants them to do. Would you like to know what God wants you to do?! The first 3 chapters of the book is mostly Jesus speaking to John, dictating to him on the message He wants to send to His Bride through the Angelic head of each Church. Verse 1:11 declares that John heard a voice saying (it was Jesus) “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, the Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphio, and to Laodicea.'” Wowser!!!

The Lord revealed to John what to write SO THAT THE CHURCH MIGHT KNOW SOME THINGS THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO KNOW. Well, in the next couple of months, we will explore some things from Revelations that God wants us to know.

May God bless you even more!!

Pastor Chris

Weeds

Posted on Feb 15, 2023 in General, Pastor's Blog | 0

2-15-2023

J. Fields

This past November my family and I purchased a new house here in Huntington, the house itself

isn’t brand new however, it’s new to us. If you know me very well you would know that one of my

favorite things to do is work outside, especially in the flower beds. I’m picky, I like to make sure the

mulch looks fresh, the flowers and plants are nice and hardy, and I cannot stand having weeds growing.

This time of the year, it’s hard to tell what plant may belong, which is weeds, especially when you aren’t

familiar with the flower beds yet. Now that the snow is melting and I’m starting to get a little itchy to get

out in my flower beds I’m starting to examine them a little deeper, there are a few things that look like

weeds but I can’t tell, I want to pull them but my must smarter and beautiful wife, Heather keeps telling

me to wait and be patient, she told me the last thing I want to do is pull something that just may be a

plant. Well, I’ll stay patient and wait to see what starts growing.

This situation got me thinking about a famous parable found in Matthew 13, The Parable of the

Weeds. Just a quick recap; The man in the story who plants good seed represents God, the field aligns

with heaven while the enemy (satan) represents the weeds that have “snuck” into the fields. Let’s look at

the Scripture; 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat,

and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The

owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the

weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go

and pull them up? ’ 2 9 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the

wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First

collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The point of the story is that the enemy is a sneaky snake, he wants false believers to be in the

church so they can lead the true believers astray.

As the church, we must be cautious that we don’t allow

the “weeds” to entangle and overtake the goodness of what God is trying to do. It’s not our job to judge

or try and “uproot the weeds”, we are to stay vigilant, allow ourselves to grow strong by being fed with

the Word, and then trust that God will do the proper judging. Let’s now look at how the Scripture

explains the rest of the parable; 36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to

him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed

the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the

kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The

harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in

the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed

out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing

furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in

the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Life sometimes isn’t fair, but don’t grow weary, while times get tough at the end of the day light

always overtakes darkness. One day, the enemy and all his evil will be destroyed. The wrath of God will

one day be felt by all those who rebel against Him. Don’t lose heart here on earth, weeds are growing all

around us, especially in today’s culture but don’t pick up the weed killer, remember our job is to be the

light, to bloom with God’s goodness, and God will be the one whom will one day choose who it is that

belongs in His garden of eternity.

Blessings,

Pastor Jason

Pray Like This: Matthew 6:9-13

Posted on Feb 1, 2023 in General, Pastor's Blog | 0

2/1/2023

C. Hayden

As we see the renovation continue here at Central Christian, we are reminded that God is doing new things in us

and through us as we prepare for the ministry the Lord has ahead for us. The most important change we see,

however, is what Jesus does inside of each of us as we follow Him and push into His

purposes. With this in mind, we are going to be launching a new pray group in the

upcoming days and you are invited! We want to gather 50 or more Central Christian

believers to commit to praying for this Church and Church families, our leadership

at CCC, our Pastors and their families, and our Elders. Below is the example Christ gave

us and some thoughts on prayer. Will you join us in this endeavor? Stay tuned & pray

like this:

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven , ((Prayer is to be personal & relational, prayer is not to

only be transactional ))

Hallowed be Your name. ((Gazing on God brings praise )) Psalm 100:4 – I will enter His gates with thanksgiving and

His courts with praise.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ((Blackaby (“Experiencing God”) said “find

out what God is doing and get there )) Align your will with His will.

11 Give us this day our daily bread. ((Ask God for needs. Recognize that God is your Source )) Psalm 23 The Lord is

my Shepherd, I shall not want…

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (( Forgive & be Forgiven )) “If you do not forgive…” Matt

6:14-15. Recognizing your need for God’s grace makes one humble toward others.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ((God is our deliverer & Satan seeks to

destroy us thru influence ))

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. ((Father, You alone are God & Jesus you

alone are Lord of All…So we must be vessels of Worship )) John 4:23 – true worshippers worship in Spirit and in

truth…the Father seeks these kind of worshippers.

May God bless you even more!!

Pastor Chris