From The Pastor: October 18, 2025
Christian Fellowship:
Intro: Romans 16 is often overlooked because it is filled with names and greetings. Yet within this chapter lies a powerful lesson on Christian fellowship, faithful service, doctrinal firmness, and God’s glory. Paul closes this monumental epistle not with lofty theology but with loving relationships—showing us that truth must always be lived out in community.
1. The Saints Commended (Romans 16:1–16)
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Paul commends Phoebe (v.1), greets Priscilla and Aquila (v.3), and names many others who labored in the Lord.
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Word Study: The word “commend” means to recommend, to present favorably. Paul highlights these believers as examples of service.
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They are:
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Recognized for their Faithfulness – “our helper in Christ” (v.3).
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Remembered for their Friendship – “my beloved” (v.8).
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Rewarded for their Fruitfulness – “laboured much in the Lord” (v.12).
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A missionary once said, “The church is built not by great preachers but by faithful people whose names the world may never know but whose service heaven records.”
Do not underestimate the value of your service. You may never stand in a pulpit, but your prayers, encouragement, and labor matter in God’s work. Be faithful, for the Lord sees.
2. The Schism Cautioned (Romans 16:17–20)
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Paul warns against those who “cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine.”
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Word Study: “Mark” means to look at attentively, to fix one’s eye upon. Believers must be vigilant.
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Characteristics of false teachers:
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They Deceive with Smooth Speech (v.18).
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They Divide the Simple-hearted (v.18).
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They are Defeated by the Savior (v.20 – “the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly”).
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Just as a shepherd must watch for wolves among the flock, so must the church guard against false doctrine. Wolves do not announce themselves; they disguise themselves.
Not every voice claiming to speak for God is true. Measure every teaching by Scripture. Guard unity, stand firm in doctrine, and avoid compromise.
3. The Savior Celebrated (Romans 16:25–27)
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Paul closes with a doxology—praising God’s power and glory.
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Word Study: “Stablish” means to make stable, to strengthen, to set fast. God alone can establish His people in truth.
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The gospel is described as:
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Personal – “my gospel” (v.25).
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Prophetic – “according to the revelation… kept secret since the world began” (v.25).
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Powerful – “to God only wise, be glory” (v.27).
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A great cathedral’s beauty is not in its scaffolding but in its foundation. Likewise, the Christian’s strength is not in outward rituals but in being established in the gospel.
End your days as Paul did—giving glory to God. Let worship flow from your lips, not just in church, but in daily life. When your work is done and your warnings are given, let your words magnify the Savior.
Conc: Romans 16 teaches us:
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Commend the Saints – honor faithful service.
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Confront the Schism – guard the church’s purity.
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Celebrate the Savior – give glory to God.
Though filled with greetings, warnings, and praise, this chapter reminds us that the Christian life is about faithful people, firm doctrine, and fervent worship.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Romans 16:24)
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From The Pastor October 10, 2025
Romans 8:35–39
I. The Possibility Questioned (v. 35)
Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
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The word separate means “to divide, put asunder, sever by force.”
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He lists seven circumstances—tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword. These are not light troubles but crushing realities.
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Yet Paul frames it as a rhetorical question—the implied answer is no one and nothing can!
The believer will face hardships, but no affliction has the authority to drive a wedge between Christ’s love and His children.
II. The Persecution Confirmed (v. 36)
Paul quotes Psalm 44:22: “For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
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This verse reminds us that suffering has always been the portion of God’s people.
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Accounted means “to reckon, to impute.” The world views God’s people as expendable sheep—but heaven reckons us as precious sons.
Do not be surprised when the world treats you with contempt. Persecution is not proof of separation from Christ, but proof of union with Him.
III. The Position Conquered (v. 37)
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
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The phrase more than conquerors literally means “to gain a surpassing victory, to overwhelmingly triumph.”
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Notice: in all these things, not apart from them. Trouble doesn’t hinder the victory—it highlights it.
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The source: through Him that loved us. Our triumph is not rooted in our strength but in Christ’s steadfast love.
A soldier may win a battle and barely survive, but the Christian comes through not merely surviving but triumphing—like a champion crowned, not a captive crawling.
Instead of praying for escape from trials, pray for endurance in them—because Christ turns tribulation into testimony.
IV. The Persuasion Claimed (vv. 38–39)
Paul concludes with unshakable confidence: “For I am persuaded…”
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Persuaded means “to be fully convinced, to have a settled trust.”
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He lists ten possible threats—death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, any creature—and rules them all powerless against Christ’s love.
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The love of God is not abstract, but “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” His cross proves it, His resurrection secures it, His intercession sustains it.
Imagine being bound with an unbreakable chain to a Rock that cannot be moved by storm, tide, or time. That is the believer bound to Christ by His love.
Live with holy confidence. Fear may whisper, Satan may accuse, trials may buffet—but the believer can rest in the unshakable reality that nothing can sever him from Christ’s love.
Conc: Paul began with a question—“Who shall separate us?”—and ends with an answer—“Nothing shall separate us.” From the courtroom of accusation to the battlefield of affliction, the child of God stands secure.
Takeaway Truth: The believer’s security is not in his love for Christ but in Christ’s love for him. Troubles may shake us, but they can never separate us.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From The Pastor October 3, 2025
Psalm 127:1–6
The Lord Must Build the House
Intro: This psalm, attributed to Solomon, addresses the futility of human effort without God's blessing. It applies to both the physical house (home/building), the family (legacy), and even the nation (city). It’s a call to recognize the sovereignty of God in every area of life.
I. The Futility of Self-Reliance
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it…” (v. 1)
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"Vain" – emptiness, falsehood, worthless effort.
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"Build" – to construct, establish.
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"Keep" – to guard, preserve, or protect.
Without God's direction and presence, even the hardest work is empty. Builders may toil, and watchmen may stay alert, but without the Lord, it results in wasted effort and false security.
Imagine a man trying to build a house with no blueprint, only guesswork. He may work hard, but he wastes materials and ends with a weak structure. Likewise, life without God’s guidance leads to spiritual collapse.
Before you build a home, start a business, raise a family, or make a major decision—seek God first. Align every plan under His will. Prayer must precede planning.
II. The Fruit of Sovereign Reward
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (v. 3)
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"Heritage" – inheritance, possession, allotted gift.
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"Reward" – compensation, wage, benefit.
Children are not a burden—they’re a blessing, a gift entrusted by God. Society may view children as inconvenient, but Scripture declares them as valuable assets in God’s kingdom.
A father once viewed his children as obstacles to his dreams. But years later, during a severe illness, it was those same children who cared for him. What he once saw as a hindrance became his greatest help and joy.
Parents, treasure your children. Teach them God's Word. Raise them in love, not just with rules but with relationship. Pastors and leaders—invest in the next generation as a reward, not a responsibility alone.
III. The Focus on Strategic Raising
“As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” (v. 4)
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"Arrows" (Hebrew: chets) – sharp weapon, symbolizing potential and purpose.
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"Mighty man" (Hebrew: gibbor) – warrior, champion.
Children are like arrows—they must be crafted, aimed, and launched. A warrior doesn’t keep arrows for display; he shapes them carefully and sends them into battle with intentionality.
A craftsman spends time refining each arrow so it flies straight. Likewise, godly parenting involves discipline, direction, and discipleship.
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Shape your children with Scripture.
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Aim them with purpose.
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Launch them with prayer.
Don’t just prepare them for success in the world—prepare them for service in the kingdom.
IV. The Fulfillment of Secure Relationships
“Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them…” (v. 5)
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"Happy" – blessed, joyful.
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"Speak with the enemies in the gate" – implies defense, wisdom, and strength in social or legal matters.
A man with godly children is honored and strengthened. The “gate” was where judgments and decisions were made; children bring influence and protection to the family name.
In ancient cities, a father’s legacy was judged at the gate. With upright children around him, he stood strong. Likewise, a godly family today can stand firm in a godless culture.
Build a godly heritage. Be the kind of parent, grandparent, or mentor who lives so that your children and spiritual descendants can stand boldly for Christ when you’re gone.
Conc: Psalm 127 reminds us that God must be the foundation of every endeavor—whether it’s building a house, guarding a city, or raising a family. Labor, vigilance, and parenting only bear fruit when they are God-centered and Spirit-led.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From The Pastor September 27, 2025
1 Timothy 2:1-6.
I. The Priority of Prayer (vv. 1–2)
Paul opens with the phrase, “first of all.” This emphasizes the supreme importance of prayer in the life of the believer and the church.
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Supplications – (“specific requests for needs”): coming to God with earnest petitions.
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Prayers – (“general communion with God”): lifting our hearts heavenward in worshipful conversation.
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Intercessions – (“pleading on behalf of others”): standing in the gap for others.
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Giving of thanks – (“gratitude expressed”): recognizing God’s goodness and sovereignty.
Paul instructs that these be offered “for all men…for kings, and for all that are in authority.” In a time when Nero reigned—a cruel, pagan persecutor—Paul commands prayer for rulers, not protest.
Do we spend more time complaining about leaders than praying for them? God calls us to be prayer warriors, not political worriers.
II. The Peace from Prayer (v. 2b)
Paul connects prayer with peace: “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
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Quiet – (“tranquil, free from outward disturbance”).
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Peaceable – ( “undisturbed within, calm of heart”).
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Godliness – reverence toward God in conduct.
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Honesty – moral integrity, dignity, and respect.
When God’s people pray, the result is not only personal peace but also a stable society in which the Gospel can flourish.
A missionary once said, “Before revival broke out in our field, it was preceded by months of hidden prayer.” Just as rain follows the dark clouds, peace follows persistent prayer.
If we long for calm in a chaotic culture, it begins on our knees before the throne of God.
III. The Pleasure of God (vv. 3–4)
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
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Prayer pleases God because it aligns with His saving purpose.
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God’s desire (“wills, longs for”) is that all men be saved and come to a full knowledge of the truth.
When we pray for the lost—neighbors, nations, and even our leaders—we are praying in harmony with God’s own heart.
Think of a parent longing for a wayward child to come home. God’s heart is infinitely greater, yearning for sinners to repent.
IV. The Provision of Christ (vv. 5–6)
Paul grounds prayer in the mediatorial work of Christ:
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One God – the exclusive sovereign of the universe.
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One Mediator – (“go-between, one who brings together opposing parties”): Christ bridges the gulf between God and sinful man.
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The Man Christ Jesus – He became flesh to fully represent humanity, yet without sin.
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Ransom for all – (“the price paid in exchange for freedom”): Christ’s death satisfied the demands of divine justice, purchasing liberty for sinners.
Imagine a prisoner awaiting execution. A stranger steps forward, pays the full penalty, and the prisoner is set free. That is what Jesus did for us—He took our place, bore our punishment, and purchased our release.
Since Christ is the only Mediator, our prayers go to the Father through Him alone. No priest, saint, or ritual can replace His mediatorial work.
Conc: Paul teaches that prayer is not a side duty but a first priority. It brings peace, pleases God, and rests upon the provision of Christ. As we pray for all men—neighbors, nations, and leaders—we participate in God’s saving purpose.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From The Pastor September 21, 2025
Restored by Mercy
Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51 is David’s heartfelt prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). It offers us a model for confession and restoration.
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Plea for Pardon (vv. 1–2)
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness…”-
“Mercy” (Heb. ḥānan) – to show grace or favor to the undeserving.
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David appeals not to merit but to mercy.
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Like a guilty child running into a forgiving parent’s arms, David runs to God, knowing mercy awaits.
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Cross Reference: Lamentations 3:22 – “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.”
No matter how great your sin, God’s mercy is greater. Run to Him, not from Him.
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Personal Pollution (vv. 3–5)
“For I acknowledge my transgressions…”-
“Transgressions” (Heb. pāšaʿ) – rebellion; “sin” (Heb. ḥāṭāʾ) – to miss the mark.
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David uses three Hebrew words to describe his offense: iniquity, transgression, and sin. He owns them all.
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A man who realizes he's been drinking poisoned water doesn’t argue—he seeks the antidote.
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Cross Reference: Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned…”
True repentance begins with honest admission. Don’t excuse sin—expose it to God.
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Passion for Purity (vv. 6–12)
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean…”-
“Purge” (Heb. ṭāḥēr) – to cleanse ceremonially; also used for lepers (Lev. 14:4–7).
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David doesn’t just want forgiveness—he wants transformation.
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Like wanting a house fumigated, not just dusted, David seeks deep cleansing.
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1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins…”
Don’t just ask God to forgive the act—ask Him to change the heart that committed it.
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Promise of Proclamation (vv. 13–15)
“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways…”-
“Teach” (Heb. lāmad) – to instruct or train. David vows to use his experience to help others.
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His brokenness becomes a platform for ministry.
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Recovered addicts often become the best counselors—they know the road out.
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2 Corinthians 1:4 – “…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble…”
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Your testimony of restoration can be someone else’s roadmap to redemption.
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5. Pleasing Worship (vv. 16–17)
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“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit…”
“Broken” (Heb. shābar) – shattered, crushed.
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God doesn’t delight in rituals alone—He wants reality and humility.
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A cracked vessel may leak, but it can also shine light outward when filled.
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Isaiah 66:2 – “…to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit…”
God honors a humble heart more than perfect words. Come as you are—broken but believing.
Conclusion: David’s journey from guilt to grace shows that no sin is beyond God’s forgiveness, and no sinner is beyond God’s use. Whether you're a believer who’s stumbled or a seeker in need of salvation, Psalm 51 calls you to repentance—and promises restoration.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From The Pastor September 6, 2025
The Pathway of the Godly vs. the Peril of the Godless
1. The Separation of the Righteous (v.1)
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…”
The godly man avoids ungodly advice, sinful actions, and scornful attitudes. Notice the downward progression: walk → stand → sit. This shows the danger of gradual compromise.
Like a man avoiding a mud puddle on a clean path, the righteous avoid moral contamination.
Cross Reference: Proverbs 4:14–15 – “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”
Who are your influences? What media, friends, or habits are shaping your walk?
2. The Satisfaction of the Righteous (v.2)
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD…”
The godly don't just read the Bible—they delight in it and meditate on it day and night. It becomes their joy, not their duty.
Like a cow chewing cud, meditation involves turning the Word over and over in the mind and heart.
Joshua 1:8 – “...thou shalt meditate therein day and night... then thou shalt have good success.”
Start and end your day in the Word. Let it shape your mind more than the news or social media.
3. The Stability of the Righteous (v.3)
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”
The blessed man is fruitful, firm, and flourishing—like a tree near a never-failing water source. Life’s droughts don’t destroy him.
Unlike tumbleweeds that blow with the wind, trees planted by rivers withstand storms and seasons.
Jeremiah 17:7–8 – “...like a tree planted by the waters... shall not see when heat cometh...”
Where are your roots? Are you planted in Scripture, church, and prayer?
4. The Shakiness of the Rebellious (v.4–5)
“The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”
Chaff is worthless husk, separated from grain during harvest. The wicked have no substance, no anchor, no eternal value.
Chaff is what’s left after wheat is sifted. It’s blown away—useless and rootless.
Matthew 3:12 – “...he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Examine your life—are you bearing fruit or blowing with the wind of culture?
5. The Surveillance of the Redeemer (v.6)
“For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
God knows, watches, and preserves the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked ends in ruin.
Like a shepherd watching his sheep, the Lord watches over His children’s path.
Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
God sees the path you’re on. Are you walking the narrow road that leads to life?
Psalm 1 draws a clear line between two lifestyles: the godly, who are separated, satisfied, and stable, and the ungodly, who are shaky, scornful, and soon to perish. There is no neutral ground.
Which path are you on today?
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve...” (Joshua 24:15)
Let us delight in the Word, walk in righteousness, and live lives that are rooted, fruitful, and blessed.
Happy In His Service,
Pastor Scott Harvey
From The Pastor August 29, 2025
When the Heart Cries for Cleansing
Psalm 51:1–19 (KJV)
Theme: God’s mercy meets man’s misery.
Intro: Psalm 51 is the cry of a broken man. King David, after his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11–12), pours out his heart before God. He knows his crown, his kingdom, and his comfort mean nothing if fellowship with God is broken.
This psalm reminds us that sin is serious, forgiveness is possible, and restoration is real.
I. David’s Cry for Compassion (vv. 1–2)
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness…”
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Mercy — “to be gracious, to show favor undeserved.”
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Lovingkindness — God’s steadfast covenant love.
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Blot out — to wipe away as one erases ink from a scroll.
David appeals not to his merits, but to God’s mercy. Sin doesn’t demand negotiation—it demands confession.
A man once tried to “bargain” his way out of a speeding ticket by telling the officer how good a driver he usually was. The officer replied, “We’re not here to talk about your past good driving; we’re here because of your offense today.” Likewise, God’s forgiveness is not about our past record, but His present mercy.
When you sin, don’t excuse or explain—appeal to God’s mercy.
II. David’s Confession of Corruption (vv. 3–6)
“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
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Acknowledge — to know intimately and personally.
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Sin — missing the mark; transgression — deliberate rebellion.
Sin isn’t a mistake to be corrected but a crime to be confessed. David recognizes he has offended a holy God (“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned”).
A child who spills milk may say, “It just happened,” but when he looks you in the eye and says, “I knocked it over,” you know he’s taking responsibility. Confession is when we stop blaming others and admit, “I did it.”
God already knows your sin—He’s waiting for you to admit it without excuses.
III. David’s Craving for Cleansing (vv. 7–12)
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Purge — to de-sin, to remove guilt.
Hyssop — a plant used in ceremonial cleansing (Exodus 12:22; Numbers 19:18).
Create — The same word used in Genesis 1:1 for God’s creative act—only God can create a clean heart.
Sin leaves a stain only God’s grace can wash away. Cleansing is not self-improvement; it’s divine transformation.
Imagine a white shirt stained with dark ink. Scrubbing only spreads it around, but applying the right solvent removes it entirely. The blood of Christ is the only “solvent” that can remove sin’s stain (1 John 1:7).
Don’t just ask God to forgive your actions—ask Him to renew your heart.
IV. David’s Commitment to Consecration (vv. 13–17)
“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
Teach — to train or disciple.
Contrite — crushed, broken to pieces.
A cleansed heart leads to a consecrated life. True repentance produces service, testimony, and worship.
A man rescued from drowning doesn’t just walk away—he tells everyone about the lifeguard who saved him. David vows to tell others of God’s mercy.
If God has restored you, don’t waste the lesson—help someone else find His mercy.
V. David’s Concern for the Community (vv. 18–19)
“Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion…”
Personal revival fuels corporate revival. When the individual heart is right, the people of God are blessed.
A healthy church starts with healthy hearts. Your repentance affects more than just you—it impacts your family, church, and community.
Practical Applications
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Run to God, not from Him, when you sin (Hebrews 4:16).
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Be honest with yourself and God (1 John 1:9).
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Seek not only pardon but purity (Matthew 5:8).
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Let your restoration lead to ministry (Luke 22:32).
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Remember your walk with God affects others (Matthew 5:14–16).
Closing Thought: Psalm 51 begins with guilt but ends with grace. The same God who blots out sin can build up the soul. Sin may leave you broken, but God specializes in making broken things beautiful.
Happy In His Service,
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor August 13, 2025
Devotional: Trust in the Lord’s Guidance
Scripture: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Reflection
In life, we often rely on our own reasoning, experiences, and plans to guide us. While wisdom is important, God calls us to place our full trust in Him—not just in certain situations, but in all things. Leaning on our own understanding can lead to confusion, but leaning on the Lord brings clarity and peace.
When we acknowledge God in every decision, He becomes our compass, guiding us on the right path. His ways are higher than ours, and His timing is perfect. Even when we cannot see the whole journey, we can walk in faith knowing He will not lead us astray.
Application
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Begin each day with prayer, asking God for wisdom.
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Acknowledge Him in your decisions—both big and small.
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Choose to trust Him when life feels uncertain.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to trust You with all my heart. Keep me from leaning on my own understanding, and guide my steps according to Your perfect will. Amen.
Happy In His Service,
Pastor Scott
From the Pastor August 8, 2025
“The Man of Sorrows” – Isaiah 53
Text: Isaiah 53:3 – “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…”
I. The Suffering Servant’s Pain
“Surely he hath borne our griefs...” (v.4)
Jesus didn’t merely observe our pain; He bore it. His suffering wasn’t symbolic—it was substitutionary. He took on the punishment we deserved, carrying grief, sorrow, and sin.
Imagine a courtroom where the guilty are sentenced to death. Suddenly, a sinless man walks in and says, “I will take their place.” That is Christ at Calvary.
When you feel no one understands your hurt, remember—Jesus bore it already. Bring your burdens to the One who has walked the road of sorrow for you.
II. The Suffering Servant’s Purpose
“But he was wounded for our transgressions...” (v.5)
His wounds were not random—they were redemptive. Jesus came not just to teach or to heal, but to die. The stripes laid on Him became the means of our healing.
A soldier dives on a grenade to save his squad. His death brings them life. Jesus' crucifixion purchased our eternal salvation.
Your salvation cost Heaven its greatest treasure. Live in a way that shows gratitude—not to earn grace, but to honor it.
III. The Suffering Servant’s Provision
“With his stripes we are healed.” (v.5)
Through Christ’s suffering, we are offered peace, pardon, and power to live transformed lives. His provision is not only eternal but everyday—healing for broken hearts, strength for weak wills.
A broken clock cannot fix itself; it needs the clockmaker. We, broken by sin, can only be restored by our Creator and Redeemer.
Have you received this healing? Trust Christ not only as your Savior but as your Sustainer. Let His grace work through your wounds.
Isaiah 53 reveals a Suffering Savior who took our place, bore our pain, and offers us peace. It’s not just prophecy—it’s personal.
“All we like sheep have gone astray... and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott
From the Pastor August 3, 2025
Psalm 56, penned by David during a time of great distress, offers a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness when fear threatens to overwhelm. Hunted by enemies, David clings to trust in God, and his words inspire us to do the same. Let’s explore three truths from this psalm, that are designed strengthen your faith in the Lord.
1. Fearful Foes, Faithful Father
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3).
David faced relentless enemies, yet he turned his fear into faith. When “man” pursued him (v. 1), he looked to his merciful Father. God is not distant; He is a faithful refuge in our storms.
When anxiety or opposition arises—whether from people, circumstances, or inner doubts—pause and pray. Write down one fear today, then beside it, pen a truth about God’s character (e.g., “God is my strength”). Speak this truth aloud to shift your focus from foes to your faithful Father.
2. Trusting Through Tears
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (Psalm 56:8).
David’s tears were not wasted; God saw and recorded each one. This vivid imagery assures us that our sorrows matter to God. He counts our steps and collects our tears, proving His intimate care.
In moments of grief or frustration, journal your emotions as a prayer to God. Trust that He sees every tear. Set a reminder this week to thank God for His nearness, even in pain, and share your struggles with a trusted friend to experience community care.
3. Steadfast Steps, Sovereign Savior
“For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” (Psalm 56:13).
David’s confidence in God’s past deliverance fueled hope for future stability. Our sovereign Savior not only saves us eternally but also steadies our daily walk, guiding us to live in His light.
Reflect on a time God delivered you—big or small. Write it down to anchor your hope. Each morning, pray for God’s guidance to walk confidently in His purpose. Take one practical step today (e.g., forgiving someone or serving another) to live out your faith boldly.
Psalm 56 reminds us that while fear may come, but faith in our faithful Father conquers all. Trust Him with your tears, and let His deliverance guide your steps. This week, lean into these truths: God sees you, saves you, and steadies you. Walk in His light, knowing He is ever near.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott
From the Pastor July 12, 2025
Theme: Trusting God in Difficult Times
📖 Key Verse:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
— Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
💡 Devotional Thought:
Life often brings seasons of uncertainty—times when the path ahead is unclear, and our hearts are troubled. In these moments, the Bible gently calls us to trust in the Lord—not just a little, but with all our heart.
God sees the beginning and the end. His wisdom far exceeds our understanding. When we lean on our own ideas, we can stumble. But when we acknowledge Him—invite Him into every decision, every burden, every prayer—He promises to direct our paths.
Trusting God doesn’t mean we’ll always understand the “why.” But it does mean we can walk confidently knowing He is with us, and He is good.
🙏 Prayer:
“Lord, help me to trust You even when I don’t see the full picture. Strengthen my heart to lean on Your promises, not my own understanding. Direct my path and help me walk in Your peace.”
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scotty
From the Pastor June 12, 2025
Abide in me, and I in you.
I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. — If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. — If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard.
Little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. — He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Galatians 2:20. Romans 7:18,24,25. Romans 8:10. Colossians 1:23. 1 John 2:28. 1 John 2:6.
From the Pastor May 31, 2025
On Not Loosing Hope
"The tragedy of man is not that he dies, but what dies within him while he still lives."
Some years ago, I read the story of a wife whom walked out on the marriage, leaving the husband with their four children, all under 10 years of age. When this catastrophe struck, he had just completed his Ph.D., and was embarking upon a promising teaching career at a prestigious university. Desperate now for help in raising his children, he found it necessary to relinquish his position and return to the city of his parents to enlist their assistance.
Early one morning before driving his U-Haul truck of household goods the 1400 miles north, he stopped by to say good-bye. It was painfully obvious that he was deeply crushed by the desertion of his wife, and the uncertain future awaiting him. So we talked, wept, and prayed… and finally bid farewell.
And as he climbed into the cab of the truck with his four small children he looked down, eked out a smile, and said, "Well Dwight, I still have HOPE." As his vehicle disappeared from sight I was reminded of the words penned by Paul:
"We… rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE. And HOPE does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 2:2b-5)
Today, eight years later, he and his clan are doing beautifully. The children give every evidence of maturing spiritually and socially into responsible adults. Recently he was appointed the head of his department in a respected institution of higher learning.
With the sparkle back in his eyes, it is apparent that he is experiencing God's promise that "HOPE does not disappoint us… "
So what do you do when the bottom falls out of your life?
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Allow that which lies within you to die while you are still alive? Or
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Choose to place your HOPE in the character and promises of God?
"Why are you downcast, O my soul?… Put your HOPE in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God… 'For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.'" (Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 29:11)
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From the Pastor May 17, 2025
Two Kingdoms
GOD'S
SATAN's
One represents the spiritual, the other the material.
TWO CHOICES:
Between the eternal, and the temporal
One choice offers a life of peace and purpose.
The other choice leads to a life of self-centeredness and emptiness.
God's Word makes the choice clear:
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I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
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"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)
Indecision is not an option:
"The person who vacillates [between faith and unbelief] is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for let not that individual be supposing that he will receive anything from the… Lord, [being] a dubious, undecided man, vacillating in all his ways." (James 1:6b-9
Actually, you and I have already made our choice — either by:
Design, or Default
TWO CONSEQUENCES:
Eternal life leading to heaven, or eternal death leading to hell.
In making decisions of a spiritual nature, the battlefield is not the intellect, but the will.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott
From the Pastor April 26, 2025
"This do in remembrance of Me." 1 Corinthians 11:24
It seems then, that Christians may forget Christ! There could be no need for this loving exhortation, if there were not a fearful supposition that our memories might prove treacherous. Nor is this a bare supposition: it is, alas! too well confirmed in our experience, not as a possibility, but as a lamentable fact. It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb, and loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God, should forget that gracious Saviour; but, if startling to the ear, it is, alas! too apparent to the eye to allow us to deny the crime. Forget Him who never forgot us! Forget Him who poured His blood forth for our sins! Forget Him who loved us even to the death! Can it be possible? Yes, it is not only possible, but conscience confesses that it is too sadly a fault with all of us, that we suffer Him to be as a wayfaring man tarrying but for a night. He whom we should make the abiding tenant of our memories is but a visitor therein. The cross where one would think that memory would linger, and unmindfulness would be an unknown intruder, is desecrated by the feet of forgetfulness. Does not your conscience say that this is true? Do you not find yourselves forgetful of Jesus? Some creature steals away your heart, and you are unmindful of Him upon whom your affection ought to be set. Some earthly business engrosses your attention when you should fix your eye steadily upon the cross. It is the incessant turmoil of the world, the constant attraction of earthly things which takes away the soul from Christ. While memory too well preserves a poisonous weed, it suffereth the rose of Sharon to wither. Let us charge ourselves to bind a heavenly forget-me-not about our hearts for Jesus our Beloved, and, whatever else we let slip, let us hold fast to Him.
Happy In His Service,
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor April 17, 2025
"That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death." Hebrews 2:14
O child of God, death hath lost its sting, because the devil's power over it is destroyed. Then cease to fear dying. Ask grace from God the Holy Ghost, that by an intimate knowledge and a firm belief of thy Redeemer's death, thou mayst be strengthened for that dread hour. Living near the cross of Calvary thou mayst think of death with pleasure, and welcome it when it comes with intense delight. It is sweet to die in the Lord: it is a covenant-blessing to sleep in Jesus. Death is no longer banishment, it is a return from exile, a going home to the many mansions where the loved ones already dwell. The distance between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems great; but it is not so. We are not far from home—a moment will bring us there. The sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How long will be its voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the sail ere it shall be reefed in the port of peace? How long shall that soul be tossed upon the waves before it comes to that sea which knows no storm? Listen to the answer, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." Yon ship has just departed, but it is already at its haven. It did but spread its sail and it was there. Like that ship of old, upon the Lake of Galilee, a storm had tossed it, but Jesus said, "Peace, be still," and immediately it came to land. Think not that a long period intervenes between the instant of death and the eternity of glory. When the eyes close on earth they open in heaven. The horses of fire are not an instant on the road. Then, O child of God, what is there for thee to fear in death, seeing that through the death of thy Lord its curse and sting are destroyed? and now it is but a Jacob's ladder whose foot is in the dark grave, but its top reaches to glory everlasting.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor April 12, 2025
This Body Fashioned Anew
"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Phil. 3:21
Often when we are racked with pain, and unable to think or worship, we feel that this indeed is "the body of our humiliation," and when we are tempted by the passions which rise from the flesh we do not think the word "vile" at all too vigorous a translation. Our bodies humble us; and that is about the best thing they do for us. Oh, that we were duly lowly, because our bodies ally us with animals, and even link us with the dust!
But our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, shall change all this. We shall be fashioned like His own body of glory. This will take place in all who believe in Jesus. By faith their souls have been transformed, and their bodies will undergo such a renewal as shall fit them for their regenerated spirits. How soon this grand transformation will happen we cannot tell; but the thought of it should help us to bear the trials of today, and all the woes of the flesh, In a little while we shall be as Jesus now is. No more aching brows, no more swollen limbs, no more dim eyes, no more fainting hearts. The old man shall be no more a bundle of infirmities, nor the sick man a mass of agony. "Like unto his glorious body." What an expression! Even our flesh shall rest in hope of such a resurrection!
Happy In His Service,
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor April 6, 2025
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. — Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last: I am he.
Sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. — The very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. — He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. — Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? — The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.
It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Revelation 1:8. Isaiah 41:4. Jude 1:1. 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24. Philippians 1:6. Galatians 3:3. Psalm 138:8. Philippians 2:13.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor 30 March 2025
Riches are not forever; and doth the crown endure to every generation?
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. — Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. — Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
They do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptble. — We look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. — To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. — There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing. — A crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Psalm 39:6. Colossians 3:2. Matthew 6:19-21. 1 Corinthians 9:25. 2 Corinthians 4:18. Proverbs 11:18. 2 Timothy 4:8. 1 Peter 5:4.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor 22 March 2025
He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.—Ecclesiasticus 19:1.
One finger's-breadth at hand will mar
A world of light in heaven afar,
A mote eclipse a glorious star,
An eyelid hide the sky.
A single sin, however apparently trifling, however hidden in some obscure corner of our consciousness,—a sin which we do not intend to renounce,—is enough to render real prayer impracticable. A course of action not wholly upright and honorable, feelings not entirely kind and loving, habits not spotlessly chaste and temperate,—any of these are impassable obstacles. If we know of a kind act which we might, but do not intend to, perform,—if we be aware that our moral health requires the abandonment of some pleasure which yet we do not intend to abandon, here is cause enough for the loss of all spiritual power.
It is astonishing how soon the whole conscience begins to unravel, if a single stitch drops; one little sin indulged makes a hole you could put your head through.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor 10 March 2025
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.—Isaiah 43:2.
I am with thee to deliver thee.—Jeremiah 1:8.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
Turn it as thou wilt, thou must give thyself to suffer what is appointed thee. But if we did that, God would bear us up at all times in all our sorrows and troubles, and God would lay His shoulder under our burdens, and help us to bear them. For if, with a cheerful courage, we submitted ourselves to God, no suffering would be unbearable.
Learn to be as the angel, who could descend among the miseries of Bethesda without losing his heavenly purity or his perfect happiness. Gain healing from troubled waters. Make up your mind to the prospect of sustaining a certain measure of pain and trouble in your passage through life. By the blessing of God this will prepare you for it; it will make you thoughtful and resigned without interfering with your cheerfulness.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor 8 March 2025
Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for- ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with ever-lasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. — I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. — The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Micah 7:18,19. Isaiah 54:7,8. Jeremiah 31:34. Psalm 32:1,2. 1 John 1:7.
Happ In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor 1 March 2025
The fruit of the Spint is love.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:22 (KJV)
God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. — The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Unto you ... which believe he is precious. — We love him, because he first loved us. — The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. — This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. — Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. — Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
1 John 4:16. Romans 5:5. 1 Peter 2:7. 1 John 4:19. 2 Corinthians 5:14,15. 1 Thessalonians 4:9. John 15:12. 1 Peter 4:8. Ephesians 5:2.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey
From the Pastor 22 February 2025
"His bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." Genesis 49:24
That strength which God gives to His Josephs is real strength; it is not a boasted valour, a fiction, a thing of which men talk, but which ends in smoke; it is true—divine strength. Why does Joseph stand against temptation? Because God gives him aid. There is nought that we can do without the power of God. All true strength comes from "the mighty God of Jacob." Notice in what a blessedly familiar way God gives this strength to Joseph—"The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." Thus God is represented as putting His hands on Joseph's hands, placing His arms on Joseph's arms. Like as a father teaches his children, so the Lord teaches them that fear Him. He puts His arms upon them. Marvellous condescension! God Almighty, Eternal, Omnipotent, stoops from His throne and lays His hand upon the child's hand, stretching His arm upon the arm of Joseph, that he may be made strong! This strength was also covenant strength, for it is ascribed to "the mighty God of Jacob." Now, wherever you read of the God of Jacob in the Bible, you should remember the covenant with Jacob. Christians love to think of God's covenant. All the power, all the grace, all the blessings, all the mercies, all the comforts, all the things we have, flow to us from the well-head, through the covenant. If there were no covenant, then we should fail indeed; for all grace proceeds from it, as light and heat from the sun. No angels ascend or descend, save upon that ladder which Jacob saw, at the top of which stood a covenant God. Christian, it may be that the archers have sorely grieved you, and shot at you, and wounded you, but still your bow abides in strength; be sure, then, to ascribe all the glory to Jacob's God.
From the Pastor: The love of the Lord." Hosea 3:1 4 February 2025
Believer, look back through all thine experience, and think of the way whereby the Lord thy God has led thee in the wilderness, and how He hath fed and clothed thee every day—how He hath borne with thine ill manners—how He hath put up with all thy murmurings, and all thy longings after the flesh-pots of Egypt—how He has opened the rock to supply thee, and fed thee with manna that came down from heaven. Think of how His grace has been sufficient for thee in all thy troubles—how His blood has been a pardon to thee in all thy sins—how His rod and His staff have comforted thee. When thou hast thus looked back upon the love of the Lord, then let faith survey His love in the future, for remember that Christ's covenant and blood have something more in them than the past. He who has loved thee and pardoned thee, shall never cease to love and pardon. He is Alpha, and He shall be Omega also: He is first, and He shall be last. Therefore, bethink thee, when thou shalt pass through the valley of the shadow of death, thou needest fear no evil, for He is with thee. When thou shalt stand in the cold floods of Jordan, thou needest not fear, for death cannot separate thee from His love; and when thou shalt come into the mysteries of eternity thou needest not tremble, "For I am persuaded, that neither death; nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Now, soul, is not thy love refreshed? Does not this make thee love Jesus? Doth not a flight through illimitable plains of the ether of love inflame thy heart and compel thee to delight thyself in the Lord thy God? Surely as we meditate on "the love of the Lord," our hearts burn within us, and we long to love Him more.
Happy In His Service
Pastor Scott Harvey