Good Shepherd Church

Building Altars!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:58:28 -0700

Genesis 13:18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

In many church settings the worship service is conducted from an altar. The altar is considered a holy place, set aside for specific purposes and precautions are taken so that the altar will not be defiled. Altars are places of sacrifice, thanks, petition, worship, and acknowledgement.

When God brings Abram into the land He had promised him, the first thing Abram does is to build and altar and sacrifice to the Lord. This verse should cause us to stop and reflect upon what we do in response to God's blessing in our lives. Do we go out and celebrate by buying something new for ourselves? Do we just step back and admire our blessings? Do we pass the blessing along to others? Or do we build an altar? Not out of wood and stone but in our hearts.

Do we live in an awareness of the goodness of God in our lives? Do we take time to reflect, give thanks, worship and acknowledge the One from whom all blessings flow? As parents nothing delights us more than when our children are appreciative. Our hearts are warmed when our children unexpectantly acknowledge our love and care for them.

The scriptures tell us that our God is a jealous God. Jealous in the sense that He desires our love first. He knows that loving Him is the very best thing we can do with our lives. Maybe it's time for all of us to build some altars. In the midst of everything that must be done, take time to give thanks and acknowledge the One who loves you beyond all comprehension.

Give thanks with a grateful heart!

Blessed to Bless!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:43:13 -0700

Genesis 12:1-2 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing;

Just as God choose to bless Abram He has chosen to bless you. When we think of blessings our minds seem to automatically head down the road of material blessings. And part of God's blessing in Abram's life and in our lives is material blessing, but it's not the greater part.

The blessing to Abram was a deep and rich relationship with God. God promises Abram that he was going to be a blessing to the nations of the world. Certainly Abram was not wealthy enough to bless the nations materially! It was the faith of Abram that would bring blessing upon the nations. The same faith that we exercise when we put our trust and confidence in the person of God's Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from the grip of sin and death.

God blessed Abram so that he could bless. God has blessed you so that you could bless. What greater gift could you give to someone than eternal life. If you've come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, God has given you eternal life. The affects of sin have been broken from off your life. Pass the blessing along. Tell someone else what God has done for you through His only begotten Son.

Pass it forward!

Living for Him!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:53:31 -0700

Genesis 11:4 And they said, Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth."

There is a word used twice that should stand out to us as a warning in today's verse, and that word is ourselves. The account of the tower of Babel according to the historian Josephus takes place a considerable amount of time after the flood. Maybe people had forgotten why God destroyed the earth. During the time of Noah people had separated themselves from God. They sought after sinful pleasure and wickedness to the extent that it corrupted all mankind except for Noah.

Once again in Genesis 11 we find man seeking to pursue his own ends. They wanted to make a city for themselves and a tower that reached into heaven so they could make for themselves a name. They were seeking their own glory, not the glory of the Creator. They were seeking to live their lives outside of a covenant relationship with God and to live solely unto themselves.

This is still a trap for mankind today. Science and technology regardless of how well advanced it may become will never take us beyond our need to live in a dependent relationship with God. We must keep in mind that the wisdom of man does not begin to compare with the foolishness of God. Whatever it is that man is able to discover or understand concerning any aspect of the universe, it is simply a revelation of the majesty and power of God.

Are you trying to live life on your own? Are you living for His glory or seeking to develop your own fame and reputation? You were designed to live in harmony and child-like relationship with the heavenly Father. Love, comfort, correction, and purpose are waiting for you in His presence. Even if you are successful in building your own tower it will someday collaspe. Your tower will never take you to the place that will bring the satisfaction your looking for. You simply were not designed to live for yourself!

There is the true light which, coming into the world enlightens every man. (John 1:9)

We're All Connected!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:25:46 -0700

Genesis 10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these nations were separated on the earth after the flood.

At first glance the tenth chapter of Genesis is not a real exciting chapter to read. We have to wade through names that are hard to pronounce and may even wonder whether there is any spiritual significance in this list of the descendants of Noah. If your looking for encouragement you might want to read another chapter. But God has included it as a part of His word to man, so we must give it our attention.

Today's verse indicates to us that just as God originally brought forth humanity from Adam and Eve, He is now bringing forth the restoration of mankind through a single individual, Noah. After the flood Noah and his family were the only survivors. God's desire to save mankind and live in relationship with man can be seen in the repopulation of the earth from a single source. God is giving man a second chance.

All of us are in someway or another distant relatives of Noah. All the nations of the world regardless of the color of their skin, or their cultural norms can trace their descendants back to Noah. Through Noah God restored what He had destoyed.

Noah is a foreshadowing of the salvation that would be offered to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, you and I are given a second chance. A chance to live our lives the way God intended from the beginning of creation, in relationship with Him. God calls us to Himself in various ways, but He specifically calls us to Himself in the message of the gospel. God's desire toward man is compassion, mercy and love.

Noah was a man who walked with God and found favor wth God. We are the product of his faith. God wants to extend His favor toward you through His Son. Isn't it time to welcome into your life the One source of life who wants you to experience His compassion, love and mercy? Why delay?

Favor awaits you today!

A Greater Covenant!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:40:50 -0700

Genesis 9: 9 " Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;..."

The first mention of the word covenant in the Old Testament takes place in Genesis 6:18 and there God is also speaking to Noah.

A covenant was a a treaty, alliance of friendship, a pledge, an obligation between a monarch and his subjects. It was a contract which was accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath.

One of the important things for us to notice is that God chooses to enter into this contract with Noah, mankind's official representative.

In Genesis 9:9 we see the fulfillment of God's promise to enter into covenant with Noah. God preserved Noah, his family and a portion of all living animals from being destroyed by the flood. Now, God enters into a agreement with Noah and his descendants never to destroy the earth by a flood again. The sign of this covenant is the rainbow. Despite the fact that scientist can explain the rainbow, does not diminish its significance.

God has chosen to enter into a greater covenant with you and me. This is the New Covenant made available to us through the broken body and spilled blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God's intention in entering into covenant with Noah was to keep him aliveas well as mankind.

Through the giving of His Son God is still seeking to keep us alive. All those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will not only receive the forgiveness of sin, but will be given life eternal. We celebrate this covenant in the communion meal as we remember and reflect upon what Chrsit did for us in obedience to the Father.

Our God is a covenant keeping God who desires to enter into a binding contract with us in order that we might receive eternal life.

Could there be anything better?

Worship First!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:47:32 -0700

Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Noah and his family were in the ark for over one hundred and fifty days. The very first thing he does upon exiting the ark is to build and altar and sacrifice to the Lord. The burnt offering was a sacrifice of thanks and an acknowledgement of God's divine protection and care upon his life and the life of his family.

I would like to suggest to you this morning that worship needs to be a part of our daily walk with God. Take some time to thank God for His hand of providence upon your life. There is nothing that will touch your life or is touching your life that He is not concern about. He has the wisdom, and knowledge to help see you through any situation. Even before you lift a request before Him acknowledge His care and power through the act of worship.

The word worship in the Hebrew context means to bow down to a superior. You can bow your heart toward God while your on an airplane, at your office desk, or driving to an appointment in your car. Worship acknowledges that your not in charge. We release the reins of our life into the hands of the One who loves us beyond our comprehension.

Making worship a priority in our lives connects us with the source of all life. The God of Noah is our God through Jesus Christ.

Righteous Before God!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:18:25 -0700

Genesis 7:1 Then the Lord said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household; for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time."

Righteousness is a subject that often comes up in these morning devotionals. It is a rich word full of significance and meaning, one which every believer should become well aquainted with.

Righteous means to declare someone innocent, to be vindicated from wrongs. It is a word that is used to describe God's standard of ethics and morality. Ps. 145:17 tells us that, "The Lord is righteous is all His ways, and holy in all His works." One aspect of God's nature is that He is righteousness.

Now let me be clear, we are not talking about self-righteousness. Even in the case of Noah, it was his faith in God that made him righteousness. No where in the scriptures do you find Noah pointing to himself or the things he has done to gain favor with God.

The righteousness that God desires us to possess can only be obtained by faith. We as humans are incapable of coming up with it on our own. When it comes to the righteousness that God desires, we are bankrupt.

But thanks be to God, He has made righteousness available to us through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, through His life, death and resurrection from the dead gives us access to the righteousness that God requires. When we place our faith in Jesus, the righteousness of God covers us like a blanket so that when God looks upon us He sees the righteousness of Christ.

Does this imparted righteousness give us the license to live an unruly life, absolutely not! The righteousness of God in Christ supervises our behavior so that we might be a light in the midst of darkness. We need to be careful not to offend or take for granted what God has accomplished for us in the sacrifice of His beloved Son.

Righteouness is the inheritance of all those who are in Christ Jesus!

Finding Favor!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:16:47 -0700

Genesis 6:7-8 And the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

In Genesis six we find the account of God being grieved in His heart because every intent on man's heart is evil. The scriptures tell us that the earth was filled with violence. All you need to do is pick up a local newspaper and you'll readily discover that violence abounds in our society today. Much of the entertainment we find in film, television, and video games is centered around violence. It's sad to say, but in this post-christian culture we are a people that enjoy violence.

However, in the midst of the dark times we read about in Genesis six, Noah found favor in the eyes of God. The ninth verse of Genesis six tells us that Noah walked with God. There is a day of God's judgment that still remains to unfold. The days of Noah are much like the present days. Noah and his family were spared because they found favor in the eyes of God. Where will you find the favor that is needed to withstand the judgment of God? None of us likes to discuss the outpouring of God's wrath, but it is a sure and coming event. When? We just don't know.

What Noah found in the eyes of God was mercy, kindness and grace. Because he looked to God for these things he was spared from being destoyed with the rest of mankind. Noah was not perfect, but he looked to the perfect One. Think for a moment what you might be looking to? There is only one place we are told to fix our gaze upon and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the ark that will protect you from the wrath to come.

Those that call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!

Walking with God!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:31:51 -0700

Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

We often don't see ourselves in the same light as the Old or New Testament saints because we just don't seem to measure up. But the truth of the matter is, we have been clothed with righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. We, wou are in Christ Jesus, have as much potential to walk with God as Enoch did.

In the morning my wife and I go prayer walking. Three things are accomplished during this time: first, we get some needed exercise, about four miles a day, secondly, we get a chance to talk with one another without any distractions, thirdly and most importantly, we invite the Lord to come and walk with us. Not only are we praying for particular people, and certain situations, but we are asking the Lord to speak to us as we walk with Him. He's the one who makes these morning walks so exciting. These walks have become the highlight of our day. We go to bed each night looking forward to our morning walk with the Lord.

God wants to walk and talk with each of us. It may be a short walk for some, or a twenty minute ride into the office. Whatever your life circumstances may be, there must be room for God on a daily basis. I'm not talking about going through religious exercises, but seizing the opportunity to spend time with the Almighty.

During these times He will affirm His love for you, bring specific direction, offer comfort and consolation, and bring the necessary correction and admonition to our lives. He really knows how to keep things in balance.

Walking with God is not for a select few, He is no respector of persons. He's waiting to walk and talk with you.

One word from His lips can bring about miraculous change!

Bring the Best!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:27:05 -0700

Genesis 4:3-4 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the Fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;

What was the difference between Abel's offering and Cain's offering. Obviously, Abel was a keeper of the flocks so he brought an animal to sacrifice. Cain who was a tiller of the soil, brought fruit to sacrifice. We can't say anything concerning the condition of their hearts prior to their individual sacrifices because the scriptures are silent.

But there is a difference. Abel brought the firstlings from the flock, but there is no indication that Cain brought the first of his produce. Abel thought of God first before anything else. It wasn't as though Cain didn't think of God, but he didn't give him first thought.

Why is it important for God to have first place in our lives rather than just a place? Well, there are some obvious reasons. He's the maker of heaven and earth. All things exist though Him, all things that exist came into being by Him, and He holds all things together by the power of His might. He is the source of life for all mankind and He sacrificed His only begotten Son to free us from sin and death. The New Testament tells us that Jesus is the first raised from the dead so that He might come to have first place in all things. This isn't a new idea given to us in the New Testament, God has wanted to have first place in our lives from the beginning of time.

We do well and life goes well for us when God is situated in the place that only He deserves. What's in first place in your life today? Don't condemn yourself if it's not God, but do confess it to Him. Ask Him to assume His rightful place in your life and rest in the comfort of His love and care for you.

Have a blessed day!

Deception, The Enemy's Tactic!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:22:13 -0700

Genesis 3:4-5 And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil."

Our enemy, the devil, has one goal in mind, to separate us from God. The New Testament tells us that he has come to rob, kill and destroy. This was his tactic in the beginning and still is his tactic today.

God spoke to Adam and told him that if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die. The devil, working through the serpent, tells Eve that "she surely will not die." He promises her that if she does eat of the fruit she will become like God. Now here's the problem, Eve already was like God because she was created in His image and likeness. She just wasn't God and that's what the enemy deceptively promises.

Eve takes a second look at the fruit and the scriptures tell us that it was a delight to her eyes. Even though the fruit was desirable to her what would have kept Eve in the midst of temptation was to hold to what God had already spoken, "You will surely die if you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Now, Adam is not without blame because he is with Eve the whole time the temptation is taking place and he also takes and eats.

The enemies tactic is still deception and the weapon we have to war against that deception is the word of God. Something may seem desirable to us, we may have rationalized in our minds that what we're about to do will not hurt anyone, but the standard we must keep in place is, "what has God said."

God's intent is to bring us life and life flows from an unhindered relationship with the Father.

Cleave or Leave!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:50:46 -0700

Genesis 2:24 For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

We live in a day in which marriage is under severe attack. The daily pressures of demanding jobs, our overloaded schedules, misguided cultural norms, and the baggage that all of us carry into marriage, require us to maintenance our marriages on a regular basis. A nice vacation once a year does not make up for the neglect of the previous fifty-one weeks.

The second chapter of Genesis indicates to us that woman was a special gift from God to man and man was to treasure her. That doesn't give man the right to do whatever he pleases, it places a responsibility upon man to honor and respect his wife as a gift from God. The New Testament calls man to love his wife even as Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for it. Man is called to love his wife in the same manner.

The closest and the most tresured relationship a man has prior to being married is found in his relationship with his parents. Marriage requires us to leave that relationship and cleave to our wives. In other words, the life that man once gained from that relationship with his parents is now to be found in his relationship with his wife, as he cleaves to here. The word cleave here means to "stick like glue". God wants men to stick like glue to their wives.

There is such an exchange of life that takes place between a husband and wife, that they become as one person. The math of marriage looks like this, 1+1=1. In marriage, the lives of two distinct creatures is blended together into one new person. God must be invited into marriages on a regular basis. The breakup of marriages in our society is only an indicator that society as a whole is crumbling before our eyes, and we're too busy to even notice it.

Take time today to express your love and admiration for your spouse. You are gifts to one another from the Lord Himself.

The Pinnacle of God's Creation!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 05:40:21 -0700

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Today we will start to work through a new book in the bible, the Book of Genesis. Just taking the time to read even one chapter daily and meditating upon a particular verse will open your heart to hear the voice of God through His word.

There are many marvelous and wonderful things in creation. Just take some time on a clear night, gaze up into the sky, and there is no doubt that you will become enchanted by the beauty of the stars. An October day in the mountains of Pennsylvania will enable you to see a vast array of stunning colors as the trees go into a dorment stage. And probably my favorite, the ocean. It is magnificent in size and the sound of its surging power somehow brings comfort and peace to us. All of these things in creation speak to us concerning the glory and majesty of the Creator.

However, the pinnacle of God's glorious creation is man. Man, you and I, male and female, were created in God's image and likeness. We were intended to be the ultimate expression of who He is. Notice in today's verse that when discussion takes place in the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they decided to "let" man rule. God gave man the right to rule over the rest of creation. Man is responsible to God for how he carries out that rule.

Man was designed to live His life under the benevolent authority of God. We were covenantally joined to God in creation and intended to live our lives in relationship with Him. The sin of Adam and Eve severed that relationship, the sacrifice of Jesus reunites us in a covenant relationship.

God has us on a journey back to a garden-like relationship with Him and it begins by calling upon the name of Jesus, that person of the Godhead, who originally gave us permission to rule.

Self-rule destroys, the Lordship of Jesus brings forth life just as we see in the first chapter of Genesis!

"The Son of Man Must!"

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:33:23 -0700

Luke 24:6-7 "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was stilll in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful man, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

Most of us don't like the "must" of life. We generally don't like anyone telling us we "must" do this or that, but that doesn't prevent them from telling us what we "must" do. The "must" of life enable us to live in an orderly society. We are told by state and local authorities that we "must" wear our seat belts when we drive. Our bosses tell us what we "must" do in order to keep our jobs. Parents tell their children they "must" be in bed by a certain time. If we abide by the "must" we will reap certain benefits. However, if we challenge the "must" of life and choose not to abide by them, we will also suffer the consequences.

The angels are reminding the women who came to the tomb what Jesus told them earlier, "That He "must" die and rise again." Generations past, you and I, and generations to come will benefit from the "must" that was laid on Jesus by the Father. His death cancels out our death. His punishment erases our punishment. His alienation from the Father reunites us with the Father. His sacrifice fulfills are the requirements necessary to cause us to stand righteous before the Father. We benefit from the "must" that Jesus carried out.

There are certain "must" that God has laid upon each of us. We need to allow His word to speak to our hearts and follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and carry out the "must" the Father has laid on us. When the Father speaks to us and tells us we "must" do this or that, we can be assured that certain benefits will follow. Those benefits profit us and many times carry profit into the lives of people we don't even know.

Don't shy away from the must of life, they are there for your benefit!

Two Criminals, Two Perspectives!

nospam@example.com (Pastor Rick Wiater) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:35:03 -0700

Luke 23:42 And he was saying, "Jesus remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

If you were to read Luke 23:39-43 you would find the account of the two criminals, who were executed along side Jesus of Nazareth. I've always been taken back by the simplicity of the one criminal who realized that Jesus had done nothing deserving death. But even more than that, He recognized that Jesus' kingdom was not of this world.

On the other side of Jesus hung the other criminal who joined in with those hurling abuse at Jesus. "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" Imagine the hardness of this man's heart. Even in the face of death he is not contrite, there is no sense of remorse for the wrong he has done. And by no means is there a hint of repentance.

Each of these men comitted a crime deserving punishment by death. But what a contrast between the condition of their hearts. God's not looking for perfection in us, He's moving us toward perfection. He knows our hearts, the good and the ugly, don't think you can hide it from Him. Confession is good medicine for the heart. Jesus responds graciously to the criminal who asked not to be forgotten.

There is abundant and amazing grace available for you today. Confess your weaknesses, your faults, corrupt motivations, and hidden sins to the Lord, His unmerited favor awaits you. Why try and hide something from the One who sees all? Jesus took notice of both the criminal's hearts and He also takes notice of yours. Which of criminals do you want to identify with?

It's all a matter of the heart!