1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet 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, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

—John 5:39

The Greek word here rendered search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. Holy Scripture requires searching—much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word, yea, upon every title of Scripture. Tertullian exclaims, “I adore the fulness of the Scriptures.” No man who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures claim searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur—who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account. The word of God will repay searching. God does not bid us sift a mountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible is winnowed corn—we have but to open the granary door and find it. Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendor of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No merchandise like the merchandise of Scripture truth. Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: “They are they which testify of me.” No more powerful motive can be urged upon Bible readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all things. Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Savior.

-- C. H. Spurgeon

COVID-19 Crisis Prayer - Pastor Mike

Today's Prayer

Psalm 67

Today’s Subject: Community Concerns

That the authorities would not release those incarcerated that still need to be in prison.  That the people of Modesto and Stanislaus county would have a sense of peace.  That God would help us in our jobs and how we will provide for our families, that God would supernaturally protect Stanislaus County and Modesto as with a shield and that it would be a shining bastion of His protection through the prayer of His saints, that the shut ins would be at peace and not become ill.  That the homeless population would decrease by finding a home and work

That the Word of God would be proclaimed in Stanislaus county, California and Nationally because of the virus.  That people would come to see that salvation is in Jesus alone as we see our collective impotence to fight this battle. That those in prison/jails would come to salvation in Jesus.  That we all would repent of whatever rebellion against God that we may have committed and turn to Him in faith through Jesus Christ our Lord. That communities would rely upon Jesus and the Word for wisdom during this time and be granted great provision and care from the Lord.

That God would be praised for His sustaining power during this time.  That God would be praised for His Living Word through which we have an eternal anchor and hope in Jesus, the Savior of Mankind. That God would be praised that He IS the answer and continually extends His hand of mercy and deliverance to us if we will accept it. That God would be praised that we are not without an answer in Him and He calls to us through His Word

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your Way may be known on earth, Your Salvation among the nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You” Psalm 67: 1-3