Reflecting His Glory

 Tuesday, April 21, 2026

…but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Reflecting His Glory

We all have a veil covering our hearts - a veil of sin. That sin is a barrier that veils the glory of God and all His goodness and mercy when we don’t know Him. This veil separates us from seeing God and His love for us - and our need for Him. When we turn to Him, that veil is taken away in Jesus. Until then we are veiled to the knowledge and glory of Him. When we witness to others, they have this veil, and if they are not ready to receive His Gospel, they won’t hear it. Our prayer for the unsaved is that they will be ready to be unveiled, and to hear and receive. 

Even as Christians we can still have a veil over our hearts. Sin still finds its way in and creates the barrier between us and our Savior. It veils His glory, muffles His voice and dulls our awareness of the gap between us and Him that our sin creates. 

Jesus removes the barrier between us and God. Through His death on the cross, He made a way for us to ask for forgiveness and repent. He removes the veil from our hearts, bringing us into communion with God. Only then can we know and reflect His glory.  

Moses met with the Lord on Mount Sinai after the people of Israel committed idolatry. He met God face to face and he got to behold the full glory of God. After seeing the glory of God, we read what happened in Exodus 34:29-30; 33-35: As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone! They were afraid to come near him… When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever Moses went before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. After he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded, and the Israelites would see that Moses’s face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went to speak with the Lord.

Moses was in the presence of God for a limited time, and the glory of God faded. His face stopped glowing so brightly after a while. But we have the privilege of abiding in His presence. We never have to leave the mountaintop to come back down to the camp. He is always with us, wherever we are. When we abide in Him, His glory never fades from our lives. 

When we spend time with the Lord it shows all over us. It shows on our faces - our countenance. It shows in our actions and in our words. And when we have that intimacy with God, we have pure, unfiltered worship and adoration for Him. Unveiled - no barriers. Authentic worship. 

When we can see His glory - with unveiled hearts - He can be the object of our affections as He deserves. Abiding in Him gives us the reflection that we need to reflect to the rest of the world. When we abide in Him we see His glory and it shines all over us, and through us to those around us. This glory is reflected in our worship. When He is the object of our affections, and therefore our worship, we have pure, authentic worship.

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

Monday, April 20, 2026

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom – 1 Kings 3:3-12 Submitted by Kay Crumley

Solomon was the son of King David, the man after God’s heart. David sinned and strayed from God, but he had a heart for God throughout his life. Solomon became King of Israel when David died succeeding him to the throne. In Chapter 2 we read that David charged Solomon to walk in obedience to the Lord and follow His commands.  Many of us have been given directions by our parents or grandparents concerning how to conduct our lives. David spoke to Solomon his death bed giving him advice based on his own reign over Israel that lasted 40 years. He had experience in leading this nation and learned that success would only come by following the guidance of the Holy God. Solomon began his leadership by conforming to what David’s instruction, at least in part. He continued to make sacrifices to idols as stated in verse 3. 

 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 

The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 

Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 

 Solomon loved the Lord and did follow His way as David had instructed him. He went the most important place to offer sacrifices to God. While he was there, God spoke to him directly in a dream. That is amazing to me. God communicates to us today through His Word, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and through fellow believers. But I have never had Him come to me in a dream directly. God had only one question for him, ‘What do you want me to give you?’ Solomon could have asked for anything, yet he asked for wisdom for leading God’s people. He recognized that was the thing he didn’t know how to do and that he would need help to rule over this nation. 

His request wasn’t selfish but focused on the need to please God by being an effective leader of His people. 

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.  

God was pleased with Solomon’s request and granted it. He promised he would have what he asked. AND MORE, God assured him there would be not one as wise or discerning like him, ever. If you read further into the chapter, you’ll see that God also gave Solomon all the wealth and honor he could imagine as well as a long life.  

The lesson is that God will answer our requests if those are in alignment with His purpose and plan for us. Jesus, speaking to His disciples just before He was arrested, gave this promise to them in John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  He will grant our requests as long as they are to bring glory to God the Father through Jesus the Son. Requests that are for selfish gain will not be granted. Our purpose is to further His Kingdom by bringing others to know Him. We must be wise in our prayers and obedient in our actions. God’s promises are sure but they have to be accessed by obedience.  

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians “Walking in Wisdom”

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians
“Walking in Wisdom”
Ephesians 5:15-21 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: The local church is not a destination but a base of operation.

Main Question: How do we intentionally and strategically walk in wisdom?

1.        Walk intentionally.  (vs. 15-17) 

- Wisdom- The practical, ethical, and theological insight that allows us to understand life from God’s perspective and apply it to our own lives. It is the filter between biblical knowledge and practical action.

2.        Live strategically. (vs.18-21)

After the Message: 
Read Ephesians 5:15-21. Are you pursing the wisdom that comes in relationship with God through Christ as you are filled with the Holy Spirit? If not, what folly is keeping you from being who God is calling you to be? What needs to be surrendered so that you might walk in wisdom? 

Stay Awake and Be Ready

 Friday, April 17, 2026

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11

Stay Awake and Be Ready

In studying Ephesians earlier this week, Paul ells the church in Ephesus to be imitators of God in their daily lives and walk in love. In the passage above he is talking to the Thessalonians about the return of Christ. He is encouraging them on how to live while they wait. He tells them to remember they do not belong to the darkness or night, but they are children of light, children of the day. As children of the light, they should live as children of the light – with faith and readiness for the day the Lord returns. 

Paul isn’t talking about literal sleep here or drunkenness. When he speaks of staying awake he is speaking of being spiritually awake or aware of how we are living.  He encourages them to be self-controlled and disciplined, protecting themselves with the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation to help them live intentionally, guarded in faith, love, and hope.

This message is for us too because we can get lazy in our day to day lives while we wait for the Lord’s return. We can get distracted and fall asleep while we wait instead of staying awake and self-controlled, and end up caught off guard. What causes us to “sleep” while we wait? The mind-numbing distractions of the world, boredom, taking our eyes off of God and focusing on the wrong things. Maybe in a season of waiting we become weary, and we turn to something else besides God to “lull us to sleep” so we are not thinking about our circumstances. We must be intentional not to fall asleep in distraction or idol worship or anything else that can draw us away from the light. 

We sometimes fall asleep because the alternative is too painful – to feel our lives – the pain, betrayal, rejection, consequences, sin, emptiness, loneliness, fear… The sad thing is that when we sleep so we don’t feel all these things we miss the beautiful things too – the love, joy, peace, fulfillment, victories… We were never meant to not feel it. We were meant to feel it all. But there is no way we can bear the weight without the Lord. He carries what we cannot. And when we abide in the light – because we are children of the light – we can rest in that light and draw strength from the light. 

We may fall asleep or go numb on the distraction of this world. We may stumble in the fog or become hypnotized by the backward lies of the world that it has more to offer than God can give us. But in the light we can wake up to be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.  The armor of faith and love and the helmet of salvation stand against all circumstances we could ever face. 

Remember that if you are a child of God you are a child of the light. Abide in the light and stay aware because the Lord will return at a time we do not know. We need to always bone ready and live our lives every day like today is the day. Always wear the armor of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation. Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to also “stay awake and self-controlled” and build one another up. 

Children of the Light

Thursday, April 16, 2026

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.  Everything exposed by the light is made visible, for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:8-14 CSB

 Children of the Light                                                                                                                                                     

There is a lot of darkness in life.  There are times where it seems we will never break into the light again.  In the passage above Paul is speaking about how we were once in darkness when we were apart from Christ. Dead in our sins - being in darkness and in need of the light. It was into this darkness that God sent His light (Jesus) who then shines that light into our lives. That is the light we are to walk out in our lives with the fruit of the light – goodness, righteousness, and truth.  

It is light that dispels the darkness by revealing the truth about it.  In the darkness of our despair, fear rises up in us for what we think could be there.  We find ourselves groping and timidly searching our way along in life.  What is it we need?  We need light...the light that enlightens us to the truth about the darkness and thus strikes down our fears. It is light that brings understanding. It is light that brings hope. It is light that brings security. It is light that brings salvation.

Jesus has brought light to our lives and we must walk as children of the light exposing darkness and bringing his light to the darkness. It is through His truth that we have been set free. He has conquered the darkness by revealing not just our sin but His cross.  

Instead of associating with ungodliness and participating in those things that are not fitting for a Christian, we expose the unfruitful works of darkness with the light ofGod in our lives. We do not do this for the purpose of being judgmental or self-righteous, but for the beauty of the purpose as believers to shine his light where darkness hides. 

As children of light, we are known by the way we walk, talk and live. People are watching our words, actions and attitudes because we claim God as our Father. We have a great responsibility to shine the light of Jesus and represent our Father in a way that brightens rather than darkens. No matter what is said or done, we can live as children of light when we are surrendered to the Father of lights. 

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.Matthew 5:14-16

Are you walking as a child of light?

 

 

Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk - For Real!

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:3-5

 Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk - For Real! 

As believers there are some behaviors that should never again be a part of our behaviors. Paul lists some of those behaviors for the believers in Ephesus as those that are not fitting for saints (that’s us!). He begins chapter 5 telling us how we should live as believers – imitators of God, walking in love. Next he gets into what the opposite of that life would look like – sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscene and foolish talking, crude joking, greed and idolatry. That is quite a list! If we are honest, we have all participated to some degree or turned our heads while another brother or sister in Christ participated in some of these actions. When was the last time you told, or laughed at a crude joke? Paul is saying these actions are not fitting for a person who says they are a believer and professes to walking with the Lord. They do not imitate God in our lives but imitate the opposite. 

Paul is always straight forward but those believers in Ephesus needed to hear it and so do we. We may have a tendency to let things “slide” or “have a little grace” for a joke, or obscene and foolish talking. It is okay to do that around people who know we really don’t mean it right? Paul says no it is not. As children of God we should imitate him at all times, in everything we say and do. We may think we are not idolators because we do not bow down to a statue but what we don’t realize is that we are bowing down to other “gods” in our lives. Any sin in our lives is idolatry because we are worshipping something other than God. All these things will never satisfy the longing in our hearts that only God can fill, and they lead us further away from him.

Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,  and don’t give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:25-27

 

When we let things slide in our lives, they can be a “foothold” for the devil. A “foothold” refers to any opportunity or position that allows the devil or evil forces to gain influence our lives. These things creeping up in our lives can be a slippery slope and an open door for the devil to get in. Once we start crossing lines they become very blurry. Paul tells us that there is no inheritance for the person that chooses this kind of life over a life surrendered and walking with God. 

Choose to live purely and be intentional with what comes out of your mouth. Always be thankful. Don’t get caught up with those living in disobedience but follow God and his holy ways. Lean into the Holy Spirit for strength and walk where he walks, step where he steps, and live and love like Jesus. In his power we can live an obedient and pleasing life to God.

How to Love Others Faithfully and Intentionally

Monday, April 13, 2026

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 CSB

 

The past couple of Sundays we have taken a break from our We Are The Church Series for Easter. Yesterday Pastor Jim picked it back up for the last few messages in the series, starting with a sermon titled Walk In Love. Paul is getting down to the nitty gritty of what it means to live every day as a follower of Christ. Chapter 5 of Ephesians begins with Paul telling the Christians at the church in Ephesus that the key to living as children of God is to imitate God in everything we say and do. Our key truth for the series, The Church is not a destination but a base of operation, means that we build each other up and then go out from the church, living the Gospel out in our lives for everyone around us.  

 

When we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior we become a new creation in Him. As we grow in a relationship with Him we are transformed by Him more along the way. Through the process of regeneration, we are changed into a new creation in Him - a new child of God, part of a new Kingdom. The old sinful ways are gone – behind us. We have been forgiven of them and set free and they are replaced by new ways – God’s ways. We are no longer a slave to sin but empowered by His righteousness with new desires, feelings, and a new vision and perspective. 

 

When we become dearly loved children walking in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, we will be different and live different. The first step in being different and living different is becoming imitators of God. As we grow in a relationship with him we will know him and begin to imitate him in our own lives. God transforms our mind and reshapes our desires to reflect his. This Spirit-led formation is ongoing sanctification that reflects Jesus in everything we think, say, and do. He will be reflected in our character, desires, and everyday lives. When God transforms us to look more like him over time, it will be evident to those around us as they will see this transformation in our lives. We will mirror his own love for us to others, the purest form of love we can show to another human being. 

 

How do we intentionally and faithfully love others well? 

 

As his children we are called to look like him to the world. We are his representatives – his hands and feet to the world – to carry on his work of spreading the gospel to all. Our words and actions that mirror him help us to do that. Our lives should be a reflection of his glory that points others to him. It should be a pleasing aroma to God. A life lived in love is a life pleasing to God. A life absent of God’s love will give off an unpleasant odor to God. We intentionally and faithfully love others well by imitating God in our thoughts, words and actions to others and by loving others through him just as he has loved us. 

 

Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 1 John 4:10-11

Are you living daily to imitate God by imitating Christ? How does your life “smell” before God? What needs to change? What do you need to confess, repent of, and surrender to Jesus today? 

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians “Walking in Love”

 

We Are The Church: A Study in Ephesians
“Walking in Love”
Ephesians 5:1-14 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: The local church is not a destination but a base of operation.

Main Question: How do we intentionally and faithfully love others well? 

1.        Imitate God.  (vs.1-2) 

 

2.        Be different. (vs. 3-5)

3.        Live different. (vs. 6-14)

After the Message: 
Read Ephesians 5:1-14. Are you living daily to imitate God by imitating Christ? How does your life “smell” before God? What needs to change? What do you need to confess, repent of, and surrender to Jesus today? 

The Comeback From Death

Friday, April 10, 2026 

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.  You know the way to where I am going.” “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

The Comeback From Death

This week we have seen how we can comeback from anything because of Jesus’ resurrection. The ultimate comeback because of the resurrection of Jesus is the comeback from death. 

Jesus and the disciples are gathered in the upper room for the last supper together before Jesus is arrested. He is telling the disciples lots of very important things he wants them to know before he leaves them. Understandably they are troubled, but Jesus tells them to not let their hearts be troubled. He explains that he is going away for a while, but he is coming back for them. Jesus reminds them that they know the way to where he is going. He is the way – the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I can comeback from death.

The Disciples thought all hope was lost when they witnessed Jesus die on the cross.  Imagine how dark that time was for them between when he died and rose again. The world was looking for them and the one person they trusted and who gave them hope was dead. They didn’t completely understand that he was going to rise again and without the resurrection there is no hope in death - it is final. When Jesus rose from the grave three days later and visited them in the upper room, they remembered what He had said, and their hope was restored! Jesus was raised from the dead to bring us new life and because He did that, we can live in hope.  He walked out of that grave so that we can stop living in our own graves. The light of Christ comes shining in like the light of day into our musty tomb and everything changes. 

When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:19-23

Jesus dying on the cross provided payment for my debt, and yours too.  Through the resurrection we can have hope of eternal life.  His payment for sin satisfies the Justice of our Holy God in full. The sacrifice of Jesus is enough to cover every sin ever committed by every person who ever lived throughout history and every person who ever will live. All sins past present and future, paid in full! We can have hope for eternity because he defeated sin and death through his resurrection. We can have hope for today because he has defeated and overcome every trial we might endure. In the power of the resurrection – the power that raised Jesus from the dead – we can endure and overcome.  

Have you lost all hope? Have you given up because some days it is just too painful to believe that hope is real and it is for you? Or do you believe that hope is for everyone else because you don't deserve to hope? One thing after the other - after the other can take our breath away and steal our hope if it is not in the right place. The only true hope comes from Jesus Christ. He loved us so that he laid down his life for us so we could have hope in the face of trials and suffering. We want hope that everything will be perfect today but the true hope is that no matter what today brings, we are forgiven, redeemed and have eternity to spend with him because of the resurrection of Jesus. Put your hope in him and rest in his promises. Jesus overcame death with his resurrection so we could comeback from death and have eternal life with him. 

The Comeback From Doubt

Thursday, April 9, 2026

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:36-45

The Comeback From Doubt

The disciples knew Jesus well – probably better than anyone. They had spent several years with him, doing life by his side. But when the resurrected Jesus suddenly stood among them in the upper room, they were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 

The first thing Jesus said to them was Peace be with you because he knew they were afraid, worried, and doubting. This appearance would begin to lay aside any doubts they had and would reassure them that death had been conquered.   

Again, the disciples knew Jesus well - better than anyone else aside from family. They had been given the timeline of events from Jesus himself and yet, they were doubting. They were afraid. They were hiding because they didn’t know what would come next. Jesus appearing to them confirmed the truth of the scriptures – the fulfillment of the prophecy that had been written about the Messiah that told of his death, burial, and resurrection. Everything he had told them had come true and now they would have absolutely no reason to doubt the gift of eternal life that was promised. The fulfillment of the scriptures before their very eyes also erased any doubt they might have about any part of the story as they set out to continue his work here on earth as he ascends to heaven. 

Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared to the disciples the first time, but Jesus appeared to the disciples again and Thomas was present. He had just said he would never believe it unless he could touch the wounds on his nail scarred hands and put his finger in the hole where the sword had pierced his side. Jesus invited him to do just that and Thomas fell down in awe. 

A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” John 20:26-29

Jesus told Thomas, Don’t be faithless, but believe. In other words, don’t doubt, just believe. Jesus had never given them a reason not to trust him in their time together, but he had given them a million reasons to trust him and this was the greatest one of all –prophecy straight from the Messiah’s mouth, fulfilled right before their eyes. 

Jesus went on to say “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” We have not seen with our eyes, but we have see with our hearts and believe. We celebrate the resurrection every year as Christians know that the resurrection means we can overcome anything through Jesus because in his death, burial, and resurrection he overcame it all. The resurrection destroys doubt and proves everything we believe about him to be true. We can trust him, believe in him, and comeback from doubt, living in security and reassurance that everything we know about Jesus is true. Every promise he keeps. Every prophecy fulfilled throughout the ages.  

The Comeback From Defeat

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:72

The Comeback From Defeat

I have messed up too bad. I can never comeback from this. My life is forever destroyed because of my bad choices and mistakes. No one will ever want me. This cannot be fixed. Have you ever felt like any of those statements were true about you? Peter made a mistake and felt the powerful sting of defeat when he betrayed Jesus the evening he was arrested. But Peter learned an important and valuable lesson about how the resurrection of Jesus changes everything – even past failures and defeat. It is a lesson for us as well. 

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing. Mark 14:27-31

Peter was deeply troubled by Jesus’ words that he would deny Jesus, his Lord and Savior, but he did deny him just as Jesus said he would. He denied him three times before the rooster crowed twice. In his pride, Peter said he would never deny Jesus. We all have those things we say we would never do. Satan loves it when we say that – and he waits. The minute we cross the line we say we will never cross, he is right there cheering us on. He takes advantage of our weaknesses and helps us stumble right into what we said we would never do. 

Pride can make us think that we have it all together, but pride is the root of many sins. It can make us secure in our own ability when the truth is that we have no security or power apart from Jesus Christ. Pride tells us that we should be able to fix our own problems - to take control of our lives and get it straightened out. Pride keeps us from calling out and depending on the power of God in our lives and leads us straight to defeat.  

Three times Peter was asked, by three different people if he knew Jesus or was one of His disciples, and three times he said no. And then he heard the rooster crow, locked eyes with Jesus, and wept bitterly. It was the kind of look that cuts right to your soul. The kind that means he knows what is going on inside your heart. Peter felt shame - the shame you feel when you know you have done something wrong to someone else and then you find yourself face to face with them. Peter felt shame, but that was not what was being reflected in Jesus eyes. There was no condemnation, but compassion. There was no judgement, but only mercy. There was no disappointment, but only grace. 

The beautiful ending to Peter’s story was after the resurrection, when Peter could comeback from his defeat because of the resurrection of Jesus. The angel at the empty tomb told the women to go and tell the disciples – and Peter – to go to Galilee where Jesus would meet them there. The angel specifically named Peter because Jesus knew the defeat and hopelessness that Peter was feeling in his heart about his betrayal of Jesus.   

“Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’” Mark 16:6-7

Jesus met them on the beach, cooked them breakfast and restored his relationship with Peter and Peter’s calling. 

Jesus looks at us in our sin the same way - with love, compassion, grace, and mercy. No condemnation, no judgement, no disappointment. He defeated death and the grave so that we can comeback from our defeat. He refocuses our hearts to him, just as he did Peter, and he restores our purpose and path. Are you lost in defeat today? Have you given up on your calling because of the mistakes and choices that you feel you cannot comeback from? Because of Jesus’ comeback in the resurrection, you can comeback from defeat.   

The Comeback From Despair

Monday, April 6, 2026

 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” Matthew 28:5-10

The Comeback From Despair

Have you ever felt despair? Most of us in this broken world are familiar with the feeling of despair. This past Sunday we celebrated Easter - the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Pastor Jim walked us through four different serious pitfalls of life that can knock us off our path and take us out if we are not careful– despair, defeat, doubt, and death. We learned that we can comeback from these because Jesus defeated death and rose again. As our key truth from the “Risen” series says, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection provide hope and life for all who will believe. 

The four gospels tell the story of Jesus in different ways because they were talking to different groups of people. In Matthew we find the account of two women coming to the grave of Jesus on the third day after he was buried. These two women, Mary Magdalene and another Mary, were followers of Jesus and they loved him very much. They were in great despair because of his suffering and death, and they were on their way to a tomb that they believed held the dead body of their Messiah. Death on this earth is final. It is the hopeless end to a mortal life, at least as they believed it to be that day. But when they got there they met an angel sitting on the stone that had sealed the grave. The stone was moved, and the tomb was open, but their Jesus was not inside the tomb. The angel spoke to them and told them that he was not there – he had risen just as he said he would. He told them to come see and then go and tell the disciples. They rushed off to find the disciples and met Jesus on the way. He told them to not be afraid but to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. 

Those two Mary’s went from the finality and despair of death to the hope and eternal life a resurrected Jesus brings. He spoke to them and told them to not be afraid. Jesus defeated death and despair that day. 

Are you staring at a tomb of despair today? It may not be an actual grave in a cemetery for you. Maybe there is another kind of death in your life that has you hopeless and filled with despair. The death of a marriage, friendship, or family relationship? A chronic illness, job loss, a prodigal loved one, or financial loss?  Some things in this life it seems we cannot overcome because of the devastation to our hearts and lives, but just as Mary could not see the resurrection before her that day, we cannot always see the comeback Jesus has for us in our despair. It is there if we will just hold on. Keep going down the path where he meets us and calls our name – where we find hope and life for all who believe.  

Something that happened so long ago has completely changed our lives and continues to change our life every day. Because of his comeback we can come back from anything and everything, including despair and hopelessness. He calls our name and tells us not to be afraid just as he did Mary’s on the path that day.  Because of the resurrection of Jesus we can have hope and life instead of despair. 

Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus that gives hope and life for all who will believe? If you have not and want to place your trust in him today to find that hope and life please talk to someone. You can text CONNECT to 72318 to speak with a member of our staff or you can call our church office at 817-599-8612.

If you have believed and you are lost in hopelessness and despair, remember the comeback of his resurrection and how it provides hope and life in the face of despair.  

Risen “The Comeback” - Easter

Risen
“The Comeback”

John 11: 11:21-27 (CSB)

 

-     Key Truth: “Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection provide hope and life for all who will believe.”

Main Question: How does Jesus’ comeback on Easter Sunday Morning show us how we can comeback as well? 

1.        Matthew: Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I can comeback from despair.

2.        Mark: Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I can comeback from defeat.

3.        Luke: Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I can comeback from doubt.

4.        John: Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I can comeback from death.

 

 

After the Message: 
Read John 11:21-27. How does Jesus’ resurrection change our lives? How does this affect our lives now and in the future? Do you believe this?