Noted by Marvin Olasky, Paris has three chefs for every one lawyer while Washington D.C. has 15 lawyers for every one chef. Our capital also has 10 economists for every one clergy. There are also more chefs than ministers. If you can’t see it, then let me brief you on the matter: The fading figure is the ministry and the church. I suppose the point is reflective in Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

The king of Israel was part and parcel of the nation’s leadership. Along with a prophet and a priest, the king organized the armies and defended the land against paganism. However, there came a day when spiritually appointed authority was disbanded and every person “did that which was right” in their own eyes.

While our nation hurls towards a $21 trillion debt, America is lauding gender fluidity; censorship; abortion; gay and lesbian advancements and I’ve only scratched the surface of the debauchery. What we need is a return to the scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I almost feel apprehensive to reference the above text because it has been so overused and under-practiced. However, it is the only way to regain our direction and purpose. When we place ourselves, and our church, in the context of these things it can be somewhat bewildering as to what, if anything, we can do. Nevertheless, take heart. We are the people of the Most High God. We lead by exampling the scripture in our everyday lives. If I’m reading the Bible correctly, 2 Chronicles begins by addressing people called by His name.

Suddenly the accusation of “Jesus only” people is working in our favor, “called by my name.” We are people of the Name. To that end, we must humble ourselves and pray. Seeking His face becomes an ongoing process, not a single event or a scheduled program. We are commanded to turn from our own wicked ways, which simply means anything that is contrary to the Spirit.

Then…then comes the promise. God will hear from heaven. Heaven is His throne. Earth is His footstool. Heaven is limitless. In response to our actions, God will forgive sin. The result of forgiven sin is a healed land. The land, our city, state, and nation may very well rest on the response of the Church to the scripture.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The church of Ephesus was given a powerful admonition to take on the whole armor of God and be strong in the Lord. Paul lists a plethora of items relating to the Spiritual fight, as we will discover. However, the most perplexing words in the narrative speak of the time in which we will need these spiritual weapons. He wrote that we will need them “in the evil day.”

I ask, When is the evil day? What time, era, or environment denotes such a day? I suppose that it could be the day of great tribulation when the world unites around the antichrist. It could be when wars and rumors of wars abound; earthquakes rattle the foundations of the world; and sin is normalized. (If so, then we are living in that day this very moment.)

I submit that the most common “evil day” occurs when we are personally attacked and the enemy of our spirit has waged a war against our faith and mind. This is the time when we “wrestle” with truth, doubt, courage, and consistency. It’s an evil day when the devil plants seeds of unbelief in our thoughts so that we question the veracity of God’s love and kindness.

Whatever day constitutes “the evil day” the fact remains for us to be armed with the elements in Paul’s sermon.

• The Belt of Truth: holding the other pieces together through honesty, integrity, and commitment.

• The Breastplate of Righteousness that protects the heart. The scripture says to “guard the heart.” “Keep thy heart with all diligence” Proverbs 4:23.

• Shoes advancing the Gospel; stamping out darkness and spreading the message of Acts 2:38.

• The Shield of Faith quenching and deflecting the arrows of doubt and skepticism.

• The Helmet of Salvation protecting our thoughts and providing peace in the midst of trouble so that false doctrines and vain philosophies cannot cause confusion.

• And finally, the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The Sword being unique in that it is the only item of Offense. Jesus used it against Satan in the Wilderness. Jesus said, “It is written…”

I encourage you to Stand Fast and put on the Whole Armor of God against that evil day.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

It is interesting that Jesus put money in the category of a master. In fact, Jesus said that a person can only serve one of two masters: God or money. He did not say God or the world; God or Lucifer. Jesus said that the opposing master is money. If you lean toward statistics, then consider that 16 of 38 parables deal with handling money or possessions. One of ten verses in the Gospels (288 in all) speak directly with the subject of money. In the entire Bible, about 500 verses speak of prayer; less than 500 deal with faith; but over 2,000 verses talk of money and possessions.

I understand the damage religious charlatans have made concerning giving, but we must not withhold tithing, offerings, or sacrifices because they misused the subject. Solomon wrote, Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Abraham gave his tithes before the Law of Moses was written. All of Israel gave tithes and offerings, then made a sacrifice to the Lord. Jesus followed this teaching in Matthew 23:23 scolding the Pharisees because they gave their tithe, but did not obey other parts of the Lord. He said, “you should have done both.”

A tithe is based on your Firstfruits. The first 10% of your income belongs to the Lord. God said to bring our Firstfuit into the storehouse. The early church understood the “storehouse” to mean the place where spiritual food is offered. Offerings are above the tithe. Afterward came sacrifice. This is what happened in Acts 5 when people made pledges and brought their sacrifice to Peter. They knew that a sacrifice is something that we give that is not in our budget. A sacrifice is something that you give up without expectation of a return.

Tithing, offerings, and sacrifices, however, have fallen on hard times. Once again, the statistics say that most church-goers give about 2.3% of their income in total. The reasons vary, but in general they believe that if the church is doing well then they don’t feel obligated. Thus, they give according to the need, not according to the Bible’s command.

I offer this to you today because it is the Bible. I do not write because New Life is hurting for finances. I write because you and I cannot afford to miss Heaven over money. How foolish it is to neglect the scripture? We are obligated to the Word and we must follow! Therefore, I admonish you not to neglect giving tithes, offerings, and a sacrifice.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

In the dark hours of prayer among the olive trees, Jesus roused His disciples and said, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus knew that their battle, even His own, would be between the human will and the Father’s Will. After His own all night prayer meeting struggling with the sacrifice that lay ahead, Jesus Himself said, “Nevertheless, thy Will be done.” It was and is Flesh versus Spirit: Humanity opposing Divinity. It’s a tug-of-war; pulling and grappling for position.

The word “flesh” doesn’t resonate with our generation. It is an odd term, perhaps old in nature. Greater still, the concept of fleshly desires is just as foreign. Modern vernacular does not include these terms. However, the human will is full of lust and pride. Flesh is everything that opposes the Holy Spirit and no one is exempt from this battle. Consider Paul’s powerful life and ministry. Yet, Paul wrote: 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Our spirits want to do right, but our flesh is waging a war. There is a war raging inside of our members. Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. We are in the fight of our lives and it is greater than this forum can explain. Maybe this is why the Lord instituted the structure of worship and a sacrificial offering. Both are spiritual tools that put the flesh under subjection.

I have discovered that a scattered, unfocused, and undisciplined life is a haven for the flesh. Seeing that God is a God of order, the opposite can be said of humanity. God instituted feasts and festivals for the Jewish people to give them an order to their year. These were to remind the people of their past and of God’s goodness. They worshipped and made sacrifices to the Lord. Even the Sabbath was to provide structure on a weekly basis. It has been said that while the Jews kept the Sabbath, in reality, the Sabbath kept them.

I submit that Sunday worship is the pivot point of defeating the flesh. I submit that as we keep our Sunday, it will keep us. We are giving rise to the Spirit with worship and sacrifice. We have come to offer Praise and say, “Thy Will be done in my life.”

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole