Something about the hand that garnished the attention of the biblical writers. God’s hand; the hand of man; the hand of pharaoh and that of the enemy are all descriptive terms. Elijah’s promised vision came when he saw a cloud the size of a man’s hand rise from the sea. The hands of people are described by the aged novelist as healing or hurting. This appendage with 27 bones, not including the sesamoid bone, is the means by which we eat, write, work, and so much more. Hands are critical to both the physical and spiritual body.

Nevertheless, of all of the analogies offered, few compare to the Open Hand. It’s the giving hand; the helping hand. It denotes an intentional action by people among people. Our hands are not large enough to hold both judgment and mercy. Neither can we give and withhold at the same time. As one man said: A closed fist cannot both give and receive. It is one or the other.

Paul wrote about an open hand of giving when he raised money to help the struggling church in Jerusalem. He used significant portions of scripture to do so: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15, Romans 15:14-32. It was a missions offering. It was a time of sacrificial giving that required the Open Hand of the church. I say that New Life is that church.

Our state population is about 6 1/2 million and we are desperate to reach them. There are roughly 7 billion people worldwide that need to hear the Gospel. Not only do we want to flood our city with the message of Acts 2:38, we also want the whole world to know that they too must be born again of the water and the Spirit (John 3).

I know what I’m up against. I’m up against religious charlatans that have misused faith offerings and seed offerings for their own sake. I’m up against fake preachers and prosperity doctrines, which are really false doctrines, that boast of vain endeavors. Nevertheless, I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to call on the church to give to reach the world. We must do what we can, while we can, to support every cause for the sake of Jesus Christ.

I believe that if we will support ministries beyond our walls, God will grant us the desires of our heart for our families and for our church. Our revival may very well hinge on what we do for the sake of missions. The financial seeds planted abroad may be the harvest in our own city. It is after all, Kingdom giving.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

It’s 1953 and Ben Hogan is all the rage.  He sits atop the golfing world.  His hair is slicked back and his short sleeve shirt cannot hide his toned muscles.  He’s a phenomenon.  He’s strong.  His wide smile and trophy-laden arms tell a story of successful youth.  Everyone wants to be like him as his name is etched into the record books.

However, time has a way of dismantling even the strongest among us.  Time is the great equalizer.  Muscles deteriorate and eyes grow dim.  The scripture tells us that youth is fleeting and beauty fades.  The last picture of Ben Hogan was that of an aged man, worn and weary.  His hips hurt.  His golf swing was a shadow of its former self.  Instead of seeking the fairway’s length, he cut it in half.  Instead of trying to manage the dogleg, he laid up and added another stroke.

The latter years did not take away from the former, only that the crowd moved on to the next great golfer.  Thankfully, the history books have helped us remember what he had done.  Though I’m not here to verify his character, the point is that there are seasons in this life when men and women excel.  Those seasons are not forever.  Time replaces teachers and preachers, pastors and prophets.  Revivals of the past are sometimes forgotten.  Powerful services are erased from our memory.

I’m a little nostalgic about Ben Hogan, even though he came and went before my time.  I never followed the sport and only found him in a pictorial way.  Nevertheless, there was something about the fervor in his eyes; his confident stride and magnanimous personality.

All of this leads me to know that in this life we have a small window to make a difference.  Our time to make our mark is limited.  Another season will come and we will fade.  Whatever we are going to do for the Kingdom must be done now.  Otherwise, we will have left nothing and done nothing.  We cannot look back on what came before and think that it is sufficient.  Nor should we bypass our present, believing that someone else will make up the difference.  Our time for Revival is now.

Our strength must be given; fervent prayers prayed.  Today is the day of our sacrifice.  Bible studies must be taught and disciples must be made.  Revival cannot wait.  Commitment cannot be put on hold.

Our existence will be determined by this window of time.  If the next generation does not remember who we were, at least we will have left something to build upon.  If they do not remember us in the days of our strength, if they do not recall the years of our revelations and revivals, maybe they will be able to progress further because of our contributions to the Kingdom.

This is our season; our window.  It is our time to build, grow, plant, teach, and pray.  Jesus said it like this, “I must work while it is day.”

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

A pastor recently called me to lament his inability to raise money for a small church project. Rhetorically he asked, “Where are the givers who helped Moses build the Tabernacle?” I told him, “They’re at the movies.”

According to the Labor Bureau of Statistics, the average home spends about $230 a month on media per month. That figure includes paid-TV, monthly Netflix and other in-kind services; home internet; Redbox and DVD sales/rentals, etc. The figure does not include cellphone service, which could tack on another $40 to $80 per month, per phone. Nor does this figure include the price of a ticket to the cinema $7-$16 nationally). Of course, cinemas make their money at the concession stand. The price of a large popcorn and a large Coke costs $9.09 and $6.26 respectively.

Not only are church members spending 5-7 hours a day on media devices or sitting in front of their televisions, computers, or tablets, they are paying large sums of money for their daily addiction. Few would consider media a “want.” They consider it a “need.” Therefore, money is not an object because these things are viewed in the same light as food or electricity.

The children of Israel brought their best for the sake of the tabernacle. They brought fine linen, gold, and silver. Their sacrifice was so great that at the end, Moses turned away their offerings. It was too much! However, today there is a pastor burdened because he cannot seem to raise funds to build a handicap ramp on the side of his building. Make no mistake the money is there. It’s just being spent on popcorn and Coke. He’s not alone. People still balk at giving money to a missionary or building fund, but have no qualms about cable TV.

Our problem centers around priorities. We have heart issues, not money issues. Jesus said, Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The heart follows the treasure. It means that our will to invest in something creates a passion for the thing.”

I’m calling for the constraint of pleasure and the unconstraint of giving. I’m calling for the church to return to tithes and offerings which is the Word of the Lord. I’m praying that we will become givers; not based on need, but upon desire. I’m seeking for investors in the Kingdom just because God is good and our lives are built around His purpose and mission.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

  Let us not neglect our church meetings, (the assembling of ourselves together) as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 (TLB)

College football is a growing sport, consuming more audience in the critical advertising segment 21-35 year olds. While the NFL lost 6% of its viewers 2 years ago and almost 10% in the past season, it is still a powerhouse of entertainment for Sundays. While televised sports consume the majority of the weekend, sports activities are also in full force as families flee the house in search of outdoor activities.

On another front, more people are trading 2 week vacations for 5 longer weekends, e.g., taking off Fridays and Mondays. Shift-work and seasonal jobs also add to a busy weekend and we haven’t even mentioned our own domestic obligations. To that end, a new survey reveals how Americans are making Sundays “home improvement days.” Add it all together and you have a perfect storm for worship competition.

Even though one of the Ten Commandments is clear about keeping a day for the Lord, Christians are not so inclined to observe Sunday as the Lord’s day. Instead, they are making Sunday a catch-up day. School projects are pressing; laundry piling up; reorganization before the new week begins and suddenly Sunday is the only day left. Something has to give and many are giving up regular, faithful church attendance.

This was not always the case. Sunday was for singing and preaching. It was for the family to gather at God’s House to hear, give, and receive. People used to look forward to attending church, morning and evening. There is much to do and little time left. It leads me to the question: If we only had service when you came, how many services would we have?

I wonder if we still believe in David’s declaration: Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the House of the Lord.” I wonder if we relish the simplistic things of Bible Study, morning worship, and evening sacrifice as we once did. Those were the things that held our lives together. They bound us around the Cross of Calvary and directed our thoughts. Church services brought structure into our lives and made us think about eternal things. Faithfulness to the House was premier and everything else was peripheral. I long to return to those days. I wish them upon your heart also.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

On a small knoll, Jonathon the son of Saul made a statement that echoes through time. He said, “There is no restraint for the Lord to save by many or by few.” He said, “God can work through and for any number of people.” The factor was always God. The catalyst for victory was Him from Whom all blessings flow. Jonathon was but a player, an instrument, in the hands of the Omnipotent One.

When the kings and armies of Israel were outnumbered by their opposing forces, it was the Lord Jehovah Who gave the victory. In addition, when they were hungry; destitute in the wilderness; bound by the oppressor, the Lord fed them and delivered them. He was and is the I AM.

The knowledge of the Lord’s deeds were so great that the psalmist wrote, Psalm 118:22-23 “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” The “stone” in this verse had a dual meaning. The first spoke of Israel’s king that the nations could not defeat. God made the king the head of the corner. The second meaning pointed towards the Messiah which Jesus referred to as Himself being rejected by His own people. He, Jesus Christ, became the Headstone of the Church. In both settings the results are the same: God can do anything. God is our Victory and our Provision. All that He has done is “marvelous in our eyes.” When we were left empty, He became our substance. When we should have been defeated, He became our strength. He straightened our path and established our feet. He made a way through the desert and gave us what we could not attain.

In the light of this very day, as we gather to rejoice over what He has done in the last 7 years, we stand in awe of the Lord’s mighty hand. This church; with revival, passion, properties, families, finances, ministries, and more is nothing less than a miracle. There is no restraint for the Lord.

We should not be here, but God…

We should not be together, but God…

We should not have anything – not love or acceptance; hope or a
future, but God…

Moreover, from where I’m standing, This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole