Truth In The New Covenant Life (Sunday, January 18, 2026)

It is a joy to see each of you here today. As I prepared this message, I’ll be honest—I wrestled with it. We have many visitors and friends traveling from afar, and part of me wondered if this was the "right" kind of message to share on such a happy occasion. It feels a bit heavy, perhaps even a little sharp, but I believe it is a word the Lord has deeply impressed upon my heart for us today. My prayer is that we don't just settle for a comfortable, surface-level faith, but that we truly grasp the life-changing power of the New Covenant.

The Core Pillars of the New Covenant Life

1. Internal Transformation vs. External Performance

The New Covenant is not a modification of the old; it is a complete internal overhaul of the human heart.

• The Inward Law: God promised to move His instructions from tablets of stone to the very fabric of our being. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

• A New Heart and Spirit: He takes away our stubborn, unresponsive "heart of stone" and replaces it with a tender "heart of flesh," empowered by His own Spirit. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

• Internal Righteousness: Jesus taught that the heart is the root of everything; He isn't just looking at our actions, but at the anger or lust hidden within. (Matthew 5:21-28)

• A Cleansed Conscience: Through Jesus, we don't just get a temporary "covering" for sin; we receive a conscience truly cleansed from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)

2. Forsaking Modern "Old Covenant" Traps

I want us to be careful that we don’t recreate the Old Testament systems while using New Testament language.

• Jesus as the Only Mediator: We must reject the idea that we need a "special" person or pastor to hear from God for us. We all have direct access to the Father. (1 Timothy 2:5)

• Relationship Over Ritual: God is not looking for a checklist of religious duties or specific "minutes" spent in prayer; He wants a heart that seeks Him out of genuine love.

• Scripture as a Pathway to Jesus: We should not read the Bible merely for knowledge or "promises" to get what we want, but to find the One the scriptures testify about. (John 5:39)

• Integrity of the Inner Life: Our private reality must match our public "Christian" image. Being spiritual in public while remaining "rotten" in private is the way of the Pharisee.

3. The Goal: Reflecting the Character of Christ

The purpose of your salvation is not just to solve your earthly problems, but to transform who you are.

• Forming Christ Within: God’s ultimate desire is that we would reflect the character and glory of His Son to everyone around us.

• A New Creation: When we come to Christ, the "old" is not just repaired; it passes away, and everything becomes entirely new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• The Aroma of Life: In moments of tragedy or trial, the New Covenant allows the "aroma" of Jesus—His peace and joy—to flow out of us instead of bitterness.

4. The Secret of the "Hidden" Life

The only way to live the "impossible" Christian life is through a total exchange of our life for His.

• Dying to Self: Because Christ died for all, we accept that our old self has died, meaning we no longer live for our own rights or reputation. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

• A Heavenly Mindset: We are called to stop being consumed by earthly gains and instead set our minds on things above where Christ is. (Colossians 3:1-2)

• Hidden with Christ: Our true identity and security are now "hidden with Christ in God," making us untouchable by the insults or losses of this world. (Colossians 3:3)

Conclusion: The Reality of the Exchange

As we go from this place, I urge you: do not settle for a "ritualistic" Christianity. If your inside is seething with resentment while your outside puts on a spiritual smile, you are missing the power of the Cross.

The New Covenant was bought with the blood of Jesus to give you a peace that passes understanding and a "joy unspeakable and full of glory." Let us be like the one who found the pearl of great price—joyfully giving up our old, self-centered lives to possess the true life of Jesus. May your life be truly hidden in Him this week, so that when the world looks at you, they see the unmistakable fragrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He Makes My Feet Like Hind’s Feet (Sunday, January 11, 2026)

It is a blessing to gather in the presence of God today, for whenever His word is spoken, He is speaking directly to each of us. My prayer is that we receive from God—not from humans—so that His truth penetrates our hearts and finds application in our daily lives.

Rising to the High Places

We are not a people designated to stay in the valley; we must stand high. God equips us with spiritual strength and stability, much like a deer climbing steep heights.

• The Strength of the Hind: In 2nd Samuel 22:34, the Word says He makes my feet like "hinds' feet". A hind is specifically a female deer, uniquely equipped for these heights.

• The Lord as Our Strength: As written in Habakkuk 3:18-19, the Lord God is our strength, making our feet like hind's feet so we can walk on our high places.

• Spiritual Ambition: We should never be satisfied with where we are currently; we must have an ambition to climb to a higher spiritual level.

• Defining the Heights: These "high places" represent spiritual maturity, holiness, and a deeper intimacy with God.

• Glorifying the Body: While we focus on the spirit, we also honor God by keeping our bodies healthy through exercise and good food, as we are called to glorify Him with our bodies.

The Conditions for the Ascent

God’s promise to make our feet like hinds' feet is not something to be taken for granted; there is always a condition to reaching the level where He wants us to be.

• Purity of Heart and Hand: According to Psalms 24:3-4, those who ascend the hill of the Lord must have clean hands and a pure heart, not lifting their souls to falsehood.

• Preparation of the Mind: We must prepare our hearts and our thinking to be holy so we can get to the higher place God has for us.

• Reliance on Grace: Even when we feel weak—physically, mentally, or financially—2nd Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us.

• Overcoming Limitations: We all have limitations that hinder us, but God gives us His grace to overcome them and move to the highest places.

• Total Trust: To keep our path straight, Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding.

Prepared for the World

God does not only want us to stay on the high places; He prepares our feet to carry the gospel of peace back down into the valley and out into the world.

• The Beauty of the Messenger: Isaiah 52:7 highlights how lovely the feet are of those who bring good news, announce peace, and bring hope and happiness.

• Protective Preparation: Ephesians 6:15 tells us to have our feet "shod" with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

• Spiritual Armor: To be "shod" implies wearing special protective shoes—like steel-toed boots—that keep our feet safe from obstacles while we proclaim the Word.

• The Boat in the Water: We are designed to live in this world, just as a boat is designed for water. However, we must ensure the world does not get inside us, or we will sink.

• Floating Above: Even if we aren't "handy" people by nature, we must understand that God has placed us here to float and stay on top of the world's influences.

The Power of Fellowship

We do not climb these mountains alone; this is why we have fellowship and the support of one another.

• Active Encouragement: We must use every method—calls or texts—to check on one another, offering a word of encouragement to those who may be struggling.

• Shared Growth: We should not be satisfied with where we are as individuals, families, or a church; we must climb to experience God's presence more deeply.

• God is Sufficient: Even when we feel alone or downcast, we must remember that God is sufficient to supply all our needs and strengthen our feet to overcome any obstacle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us walk firm in faith, knowing that our work is holy and directed by God. When we face the obstacles of daily life, we do so with the strength of the hind, refusing to be disappointed because our God is sufficient for every need. As we trust in Him, pray, and maintain our fellowship, we will surely get to that high place He has prepared for us. Amen.

The Most Valuable Treasure (Sunday, January 4, 2026)

Greetings, church. This morning, my prayer is that we catch a fresh revelation of who the Lord is and how His presence can truly change us. We began with the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:44–45, reminding us that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth giving up everything we own. This is the heart behind our meditation today: finding that one thing that is more valuable than any earthly pursuit.

The Journey of the Presence

For many years, the Ark of the Covenant—which symbolized the very presence of God—was missing from Israel. It eventually sat in the house of Abinadab, while the official tabernacle stood empty and devoid of glory. When King David finally attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, he did not inquire of God's proper order and tried to move it on a cart. After the tragic death of Uzzah, a fearful David left the Ark at the house of a man named Obed-Edom the Gittite.

Key Points

• The Symbolism of the Ark (1 Chronicles 13:6): The Ark pointed to Jesus Christ; its acacia wood and gold spoke of His humanity and divinity, while the manna, Aaron's rod, and the commandments inside showed Him as the fulfillment of all things.

• God’s Presence Brings Total Blessing (1 Chronicles 13:14): When Obed-Edom opened his house to the Ark, the Lord blessed his household and everything he owned in just three months.

• A Hunger for the Presence Over Possessions (1 Chronicles 15:17–18): After tasting God’s glory, Obed-Edom was no longer satisfied with his old life; he left his house, farms, and local influence to follow the Ark to Jerusalem.

• The Humility of a Gatekeeper (1 Chronicles 15:18): He was willing to start at the bottom, choosing to be a gatekeeper just to stay near the source of blessing.

• The Danger of a Casual Attitude (1 Chronicles 15:13): We learn from David’s failure that we cannot be casual about God; we must consult Him about the "proper order" of handling His presence.

• Deepening the Desire to Minister (1 Chronicles 15:21): Obed-Edom was not satisfied staying at the gate; he learned to play musical instruments to get closer to the Ark and celebrate the Lord.

• A Personal Pursuit Beyond Lineage (1 Chronicles 15:18): Though he was a "Gittite"—likely of Philistine origin—his heart was perfect before the Lord, proving God’s presence is for anyone who desires it.

• A Permanent Legacy of Devotion (1 Chronicles 16:38): His commitment was so contagious that he brought 68 of his relatives into the ministry to serve alongside him.

• The Presence vs. The Past (1 Chronicles 16:39–40): We must not be content "sacrificing in Gibeon" where the Ark is absent; we need a new, manifest revelation of God in our lives today.

• A Permanent Inheritance (1 Chronicles 26:4–5, 15): Because he valued the presence of God, Obed-Edom received a permanent place in the history of Israel and a lasting inheritance for his sons.

• The Stamp of Devotion (2 Chronicles 25:24): Even 220 years later, the house of God was still associated with his name, showing that a life lived for God's glory leaves a permanent mark.

Closing Thoughts

I urge you this year: do not be satisfied with religious traditions where the presence of God is missing. Like Obed-Edom, let us seek the Lord's closeness above all earthly comforts, entertainment, or leisure. One thing have we desired of the Lord, and that will we seek after: to behold His beauty and inquire in His temple. If you truly seek Him, you will find a treasure more valuable and permanent than anything this world can offer.