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I know many of you are working through John 15 and asking all kinds of questions about pruning, disciplining, abiding, trials, temptations… this is good and right. This is what the church ought to do on a regular basis. Remember, the Bible is not for or from scholars as it was written by common individuals who just knew the Lord and loved Him daily. Yes we can dig into the original languages, historical context, individual personalities, and background introductions – all of which are good and right. Don’t forget that the Word is for the reader and the Holy Spirit is the Teacher. Be humble. That is the key to understanding what God says and writes. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10) If we deal with all the stuff in our lives with humility, all will be well. So keep asking, seeking, and knocking with humble hearts and trusting souls so God will be drawn to you as He reminds us, For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isa.57:15) Our part is to humble ourselves in His presence, not to figure it all out with our abilities and gifts. Not a good thing. The good thing is Ps.27:4.

Please remember to bring your notes from two weeks ago so you can write in them.

Want to share with you a chain for freedom which links together truths for you to consider and remember. God is our Master and His burden is light but we must learn how to be free apart from country, family, or circumstance. It comes from the Lord, in the Lord, and by the Lord. We are not free because we are American but because we are Children of God. Our freedom is not in the Bill of Rights but in the God of truth. Let your light shine this weekend and pray for Sunday that God will glorify Himself in our midst as we worship Him and submit our lives to Him. Your relationship with God is the basis of your freedom now and forever. Read John 15 and prepare your hearts to take in more spiritual sap from the Vine as He teaches you in the Spirit. 

Freedom Chain:

·         Freedom is for every Christian – how do we get free? God

·         Truth shall set you Free – John 8:32, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

·         God’s Word is Truth – John 17:17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth

·         God is Truth – Ps.86:15, You O Lord, are a God full of… truth.

Good day and I hope you are well. Much to talk about and to keep focused on as we move through a new way overseen by God. This morning men got together to pray and plead with God that He would grant grace to Hope Chapel as we seek to sacrifice to the Lord. Please continue to pray that God would bring a buyer for this property so we can extend His kingdom here and there according to His will. Thanks.

We will begin studying John 15 this Sunday and it will help us to remind ourselves that Jesus is the “True Vine”, and no one else is, can be, or will be. If we go to some other thing, person, or support besides Jesus, we are destined to a life without the sustenance needed for an abiding and growing life. Only Jesus can give what we need to live a victorious and vital life of witness for His glory. Please read John 15 today, tomorrow, and before you come to church on Sunday asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into all truth as you ponder what it means in your life that Jesus is True Vine the TRUE Vine, not a substitute or imposter for the True Vine for His children and all who would know Him. Are you being sustained by Christ? Are you being supported by Christ? Are you being satisfied by Christ? Please do not go to the world, or a person, or a position or wealth, fame, or anything for what you can only enjoy in Christ. You will find your life empty and barren. Is Jesus your True Vine?

Sunday is the last Sunday of the month, and we usually set aside time for prayer and communion. We are changing things around because of a number of things that I will relay to you Sunday. So, we will have a full service complete with praise/worship, sermon, and communion and begin a new cycle of prayer on another time frame for 2021 during the week. Come on Sunday to hear all the details. Also, we have been invited to a Prayer Breakfast next Saturday, February 6th with the Ukrainian church at Hope. They will provide breakfast and then pray together, all of which starts at 8:30am. Please come if you can, and let Rachel know so the Ukrainians can prepare for the meal. Thanks.

On Sunday I will finish John 14 with a message on “If You Loved Me” this will conclude the 2nd section of the Gospel, and then we will move into the last section (15-21) dealing with the heart of Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection concluding with the restoration of Peter following his denial of Christ. At the end of the service we will have a church meeting for all with a bunch of information to make sure we are all on the same page and going in the same direction. The Lord is blessing us and bringing all kinds of things to our attention for the extension of His kingdom and keeping our eyes on Him while we are following Him is important. We must not look at the wind and waves as we walk toward Him, or we will begin to sink. All of this we will talk about at the end of the service. Don’t miss it.

Hello Hope, I trust you are well. There is much to be thankful for even in the circumstances that we find ourselves in according to God's Great Grace and good favor. We were invited by our Amish friends to come up and visit for a couple of days so we have been visiting Sugar Creek, Maple Creek, Berlin, and a couple of other cities of Amish and Mennonite descent. We both have been reminded again of the Simplicity of life and the joy of family and how in the end what really matters are Loved Ones that are so near. But all too often they are forgotten by being caught up in a dim focus on immediate and immaterial things calling for our attention. I am reminded of Paul's words and want to live them out with Grace and goodness to all our loved ones... For our goal is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.(2 Cor.1:12) 

Let us love one another in peace and holiness reminding us that this world is not our home. God has provided for us a much better place to live and love and last forever. Blessings to you and see you on Sunday, Lord willing.