Peeling away the outer layers of almost any subject, it is most likely you will discover the motive or the reason. Within this thought resides “The Heart of the Matter” or The Core.

Ishmael was born because of Abraham’s root problem of patience and trust. David’s issue came about through lust and displacement; Saul fell through pride. All were exposed when they dismissed their Core Principles and God’s directives.

The healing of the nation comes about through a return to the Law of the Lord. Psalms 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” The world looks to governments or prominent leaders. Celebrities of all kinds join the ranks of misguided voices. These groups are in constant pursuit of influence and power.

Yet, the Core lies within the family and the Church. At the center of both of those God-given institutions is the relationship of husband and wife; parents and children. “These Two” constitute the family, which is the basic building block of all societies. When the family is disjointed or emotionally unhealthy, all other aspects are the same. If the family is spiritually weak, the Church is spiritually weak. Ultimately, the nation is a reflection of the condition of “These Two.”

If you will notice the ‘spirit of the age’ you will see an attack against the home and the marriage. Definitions are being rewritten; roles of fathers, mothers, and children are being redefined; and image has usurped substance. Of the myriad of deficits lies disrespect which is derived from improper boundaries and the absence of limitations.

We begin today in the Garden of Eden which was God’s original design. Within the framework of God’s first order lies the answers, though not complex, for our lives. Our continual issues and subsequent answers can all be found in the scripture.

Paul said that 2 Timothy 3:15 “…the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

This may be bold, but it is apparent that the ‘spirit of the age’ has infected a host of Pentecostal homes. The root of the matter lies in what is called postmodernism. The thought here is subjectivism. Israel experienced this calamity: Judges 17:6 “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Many are developing the fleshly habit of thinking scripture and spiritual authority can be negotiated based on the circumstance. The end of that road is the exclusion of biblical doctrines. We were once emphatic that there was only One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5), but now, some believe there to be allowances of varying degrees based on understanding. Yet, these allowances have eroded the Bible’s plan of salvation as well as a host of other necessary directives.

It was about a year ago that the U.S. Senate convened to questioned a Supreme Court Justice nominee. Within those hours of query, there arose this statement, “her truth” meaning, what she believed to be true. Truth became an individual matter; a personalized feeling rather than a settled fact. “Her truth” or “his truth” has now entered our grammar as a common reply to any subject.

Because of this postmodern thought, sin has been redefined as a personal preference or commonly accepted norm. It is one thing for the carnal mind to excuse such behavior, but the issue resides in the lives of the believer. This leads me to the question, “What does it mean to be a believer?” I thought that a believer was first obedient to the already established-forever settled Word. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure.” Luke 4:4 “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

While I cannot convince the hardened heart by a simple writing, it is incumbent on me to say: Sin is not subjective. There is no such thing as “personal truth.” A believer is someone who follows the Bible and not the ideas of an ever-shifting society. Cultural ideologies, if outside the boundaries of holiness and regardless of how many people find them appealing, will lead to eternal judgement.

While we reach for the lost, we must not dismiss the practices that have brought us to this point. The Church must remain The Church. We are called to be a holy nation and a royal priesthood. We are not called to blend in with the precepts of people whose destinies are of destruction. Light reproves the darkness. It does not conform to it. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

In respect to the time, it is apparent that our western culture has seen its most violent shifts in the last few years. Governments, debt, divorce, crime, and a host of other factors make our generation a stark contrast to those before us. The American way of life has become disheveled. While there is a difference between the saint and the sinner, I have found that what exists in everyday life often makes its way into the mindset of the Church Body.

One of the issues is that of Balance – I am not speaking of a steady equilibrium. I speak of the equal scale of encouragement and correction; of giving and saving; of faith and works; of church involvement and family time. Our spiritual lives are often out of sync with the Spirit, because our natural lives have no room to hear Him. The early church balanced their gatherings by being present in the Temple and from house to house. They believed both were necessary as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Consider the critical substance of water. Oddly enough, drinking too much water can be deadly. Over-hydration occurs when a person drinks too much water. It’s called water intoxication or hyponatremia. In 2002, Boston Marathon runner, Cynthia Lucero died from drinking too much water as she threw her body out of balance thus losing the necessary chemicals to live.

Overindulgence of fun, entertainment, and media affects our spiritual health. Nonstop work with no Bible reading or prayer time might garnish more money, but it removes us from The Bread of Life. All of these things, if they are out of balance, cause the spiritual body to suffer. Time spent can never be recovered and when those hours are gone, they tell the story of our priorities and passion.

Jesus saw it in Israel – their striving for land, goods, and gain. He told them to seek first the Kingdom. He addressed the out-of-balanced religious sects concerning their indulgences. He said, Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe… and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

Jesus presented Balance.

I urge you today to take note of your life. How do the scales read at the end of your day? And finally, what shall you answer when God asks you about the way you spent your life?

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

By the time Moses had retreated and Pharaoh had dug in, the land of Egypt was wasted. Nine plagues had ravished both water and land; crops and livestock. The residue of God’s judgment could be seen in every corner of the nation. God made His intent clear when He said, Exodus 14:18 “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD…”

Of the ten plagues only one was able to afflict both Hebrew and Egyptian. The tenth plague would know no boundary. The ninth was that of Darkness, and yet, there was light in the land of the Lord’s people. However, the final one would offer no reprieve. Everyone was required to cover their homes with the blood of an innocent lamb. Both Egypt and Israel had the opportunity to save their sons if the blood was applied. If not, judgment was certain to come.

God sent an angel at midnight. It was the commencement of something far beyond the moment in which they lived. Each home which had the sign of the blood on their doorposts were saved. The angel would “pass over” when he saw the blood, thus the day was called The Passover.

While we have adopted the term “Easter” (having multiple meanings in American culture), the root of it was always The Passover. It was the moment when the curse of death could not enter by virtue of the applied blood. The difference between the Passover of Moses and the day in which Jesus died was that Jesus was The Lamb of God. His blood was precious, atoning, and perfect. His death was the sacrifice made once and for all. The whole of humanity would now have the ability to be covered by the saving Blood of the sinless sacrifice.

His death gives reason for forgiveness and His burial gives promise of removal. Howbeit, His resurrection gives Hope of a New Life. Today, we are thankful for His sacrifice and His burial; and we rejoice at His assurance of His empty tomb. Paul wrote it this way:

Romans 6:4-5 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

It came by way of The Passover…

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole