Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Letting The Truth Set Us Free!

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Letting The Truth Set Us Free!: Often people need to hear the truth, even preachers. There was a story of a preacher and his wife that were driving home after the servic...

Letting The Truth Set Us Free!

Often people need to hear the truth, even preachers. There was a story of a preacher and his wife that were driving home after the service, and the preacher was feeling pretty good about the message that he had just given. The preacher asked his wife the following question: "How many great preachers do you think are preaching today?" The preachers wife replied: "One less than you think".  Yes, even preachers need to hear the truth, and I can relate to the story in the fact that every Sunday when we arrive home I ask my wife to critique my message and to be "Brutally Honest!"  Sometimes she states the message was good, but other times she is honest enough to tell me that I was long winded! 
How often do we ask to hear the truth, but really are not ready or even willing to grasp with the answer that we may get?  
2 Corinthians 3:15-16, 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶ But when one^[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed . 
Brothers and Sisters one of the most difficult things that humanity can do is to face the truth about themselves, whether it is hearing someone else speak it or coming to the realization ourselves. Those of us that trust in the Lord understand that the truth can and does set us free in our lives. When we go through life unable to come to terms with the truth about ourselves or our actions, we truly cast a veil of lies over our relationship with Christ Jesus. Only by turning to the Lord in self understanding and truthfulness can this veil be removed and our sight made clear instead of being obscured. 

My prayer for us all this week is that we be truthful with ourselves and our feelings, while being able to speak the truth while hearing the truth. Yes, the truth sets us free and clears all obstacles in our life and especially in our relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Often we find it easy to tell others about their faults and failings, but we find it offensive or embarrassing when someone points out something that we need to know about ourselves. As I speak about telling the truth and being honest with one another this week, I must impart the following: As we speak the truth to set people free, let us make sure that we are speaking the truth in love and that our motives are as pure as the truth and information that we are trying to impart.

I conclude with the following story: A preacher had just concluded a vigorous sermon, a very thoughtful sermon. As the preacher stood at the door while the congregation exited the building a lady approached the preacher and stated the following: "Preacher, every sermon that you preach  is better than the next one!" 

Brothers and Sisters, always speak the truth in love, let it set you free and let the veil uncover your hearts as to reveal the trust, faithfulness and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hoping that this message isn't better than the next one =)
Pastor Tim

Claiming the Ultimate Victory

Many people will gather next Sunday to watch the Superbowl, and we will root for our favorite teams and most assuredly eat way to much junk food. Watching the Superbowl is a fifty/fifty proposition at best, because half will see their team lose and another half will see their team win. Yes, some fans will walk away having victory bragging rights for the next year, while the other half will mourn the loss of their favorite team. 

Isn't it funny that we find it easier to go around speaking of an NFL victory that in the end brings us nothing, and yet most of us find it difficult to go around speaking of the victory of Jesus Christ that brings us eternal rewards!

Brothers and Sisters often life is that way, in the fact that we live our lives vicariously through the victories of others. We think to ourselves: "Wow, what must it be like to be a winner"? What the world must discover is the fact that we already are the benefactors of the ultimate victory because of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:14 tells us: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  

The marks of a Superbowl champion may be rings, trophies, and money! The marks of victory that we as Christians identify with are the nail holes and pierced side of our Savior Jesus Christ! While those that win championships here on earth claim title to the riches of the world, we that are victors through Christ receive the riches and abundance of an eternity with God in heaven. 

• Are you looking to claim the ultimate victory in your life? 
• Are you wanting to be a champion (for Christ)? 
• Are you wanting a hundred percent chance of victory? 

Romans 10:9-10 tells us how to claim victory in our lives: ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Yes, brothers and sisters we are all winners of the ultimate victory through Christ's sacrifice for you and I on the cross and his overcoming of death. My prayer for you this week is that if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that you invite him into your heart this week. If you know of somebody that does not know Christ, please pray for God to enter their hearts with ultimate victory.

Enjoy the Superbowl and root for your favorite team, but remember that only Christ Jesus has ever won the ultimate victory. 

Now pass the chips and lets watch the game!
Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Rediscovering God's Word

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Rediscovering God's Word: As I work from home today, I am led to the fact of the importance of words and how they began. Yesterday many gathered in their respectiv...

Rediscovering God's Word

As I work from home today, I am led to the fact of the importance of words and how they began. Yesterday many gathered in their respective churches and at sometime during the service a preacher got up and gave a message to their flock.

I'm reminded of another pastoral message that took place long ago, in which Ezra helped the people to understand God's call for them. In the Book of Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 , we see a sermon taking place in the fact that Ezra read from the law of Moses. This was done to relay, and communicate the divine words of God for the people to hear them and to rediscover them.

Ezra's Plan for Rediscovery

1. To publicly speak and expound God's Word to the people.
2. For the people to understand the Laws of God.
3. For he People to be comforted.
4. For the people to take care of the poor.

Likewise we will be given another message today in the form of an inauguration message. Many people may vary on the support of the person giving the message, but it is an important time for all to rediscover the message that faith and God's Word still have a place in our past, present and future.

The Past in the fact the the words: "So help me God" were first spoken by President George Washington.

The Present in the fact that the words: "So help me God" are still spoken today. 

The response "So help me God" is not a constitutional mandate to be read, but a personal choice of the faithful to recognize the fact that God has the primary role in our success or failures.

The Past in the fact that the Oath of Office is done with the oath takers hand on the Bible

The Present in the fact that the Oath of Office will be taken with the oath takers hand on the Bible.

Yes, whether you agree our disagree with the speaker, this is our opportunity to be like those that listened to Ezra and rediscover the fact that success or failure rest on the Word of God and the Presence of God in everything that we do.

My prayer for all of us is that we publicly speak the Word of God, understand the Word of God, be comforted by the Word of God, and understand that the Word of God mandates that we take care of those in need.

Let us pledge to hear and rediscover God's Divine Word for us all!

"So Help Us God"!

Pastor Tim

Turning Whines into Miracles!

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Woman,^[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^[b]

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: A Mud Covered Truck and A Mud Covered Faith

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: A Mud Covered Truck and A Mud Covered Faith: From This To This A few months ago I purchased my first new vehicle, yes the preacher is driving a new pickup truck! My wife (Lyn...