Mountain Ridge Bible Chapel, 763 Mountain Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ (2026)

09/07/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090726 “Surely God Does Not Hear An Empty Cry…”

God is not at our beck and call! He does not answer just because we call out to Him. Nor will He be manipulated into listening to the demands of a sinful heart. Job tried what many children try with their parents. They whine and complain until they get what they want. Elihu assured Job that kind of approach was in vain. “Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!” Job 35:13-14.

The psalmist revealed a similar truth. Our thoughts can cause God to refuse to hear us. “If my thoughts had been sinful, he would have refused to hear me.” Psalm 66:18. Notice it is not only what we say. God even hears what we think!

It’s not that God can’t hear our voices, He chooses not to. Sin separates us from God. When we speak falsehood, when we mutter against God, we become defiled and He cuts off all communication. Isaiah wrote concerning the chasm between Judah and Jerusalem, and their God. “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness.” Isaiah 59:1-3.

Jesus healed a blind man who taught the Pharisees whom God would listen to. “The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” John 9:30-31. God does not hear vain cries; He hears worshipful ones.
Dear brother and sister, who are we to tell God what He must do? He does according to His will. Paul proclaimed, “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?” Romans 9:20-21. Today let’s come to God in faith, seeking what He wants. Let’s not try to convince God that He must listen to us. God will not hear our empty cry!

In His service,

Doug Tremper

09/06/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090626 “If He Should…Gather to Himself His Spirit and His Breath…”

When I was in elementary school as part of a science project, we had a competition to see how long a person could hold their breath. I lasted about two and a half minutes. We can’t live without air, and our body is built to know that!

Though Job had complained that God had taken away his rights, Elihu demonstrated that God is just and does whatever He wishes in the world. Job couldn’t even breathe unless God gave him the breath of life. Elihu proclaimed, “If He should set His heart to it and gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.” Job 34:12-15.
Man lives because God created him and breathed into him the breath of life. “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7.

Man became corrupt through sin and fell into condemnation. Humans multiplied sin to such an extent that they only thought about doing evil continually. The Lord regretted that He had given mankind life, and He determined to bring a world-wide flood upon the ungodly. He told righteous Noah, “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.” Genesis 6:17. He actually took His breath back…
Job knew this. He knew that God could take back his breath. He had stated, “In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10. Elihu merely repeated what Job had said.

However dear reader, life is not only physical, but spiritual. Spiritual life comes from God, just as physical life does. Jesus taught this truth to a Jewish Rabbi who came to him in darkness looking for answers about Jesus’ teachings. “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3-4.

Today, all who have “the breath” of spiritual life have received it through believing the word of God. Peter says, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” 1 Peter 1:23. One day our physical bodies will die, and we will return to the dust. But thank the Lord, the new life that believers have in Christ will never die!

To God be the glory!

Doug Tremper

09/05/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090526 “What My Lips Know They Speak Sincerely”

Elihu exhorted Job. “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely… Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you…” Job 33:1-3, 31-32. Elihu was a man with a good and sincere heart. Perhaps Job had helped him greatly in the past, but whatever the reason, his motivation was solely to justify Job. He wanted to bring Job back!

By contrast, the enemies of Christ sought to bring Him down. They appeared to be sincere in their question about paying taxes to Caesar, but their hearts were only so much gilded dross. “So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.” Luke 20:20.

Paul observed the way people preached Christ. Some were jealous of Paul’s success, and told others the gospel with wrong, insincere motives. Others shared with a good will and sincere love for the lost. He wrote, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.” Philippians 1:15-17.

James also highlighted the difference between motives of selfish ambition and impartial sincerity. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:16-17.

Peter taught that the source of sincere speech is a sincere, brotherly love born out of the word of God that abides in the believer’s heart. “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” 1 Peter 1:22-23.

Dear brother and sister in Christ, are we speaking to one another sincere words rooted in God’s word? Peter said to the Christians of the dispersion, “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder.” 2 Peter 1:1. Speaking sincere words will stir up our minds to remember what God has done in saving us and cause us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today let’s be sincere with our beloved family in Christ!

For His glory!

Doug Tremper

09/04/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090426 “It Is Not Only the Old That Are Wise”

When I was a boy, there was a program on television that I loved to watch because of the wise and funny things that innocent children would say spontaneously. It was hosted by Art Linkletter and called, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” Some of those things turned out to be very embarrassing for adults!

Job’s friends could not convince him of wrongdoing. Elihu, who had watched the discourses quietly now spoke up. “So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.” Job 32:6-9. Just think, how many times have we as the older generation been reproved through the words of the young?

A young girl far from home had a word of wisdom for her new mistress. She knew there was a prophet of God in Israel who could help her master. “And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:2-3. None of the wise men of Syria knew what this young girl knew!

David wrote of the Lord’s wisdom in revealing truth to even toddlers. “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2. Notice that It pleases God through the foolishness of children to proclaim the praise of His Son! The Pharisees and Scribes did not have this wisdom. If they had, Paul says they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory!

Isn’t it wonderful that the first glimpse we have of the wisdom of Christ is seen in His youth. At twelve years of age His understanding of the scriptures far exceeded that of the teachers in the temple. “And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast…Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.” Luke 2:42, 46-47.

Dear believer, when we speak as the Holy Spirit gives understanding we proclaim the wisdom of God. It does not matter how old we are chronologically. We can be known as wise followers of Christ in our youth. Paul told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:12-13. Age is “relative” in God’s kingdom…Not only the old are wise!

To the praise of His glory!

Doug Tremper

09/03/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090326 “I Have Made a Covenant With My Eyes…”

The eyes are the gateway to sexual temptation. Job examined himself before his friends in numerous areas of his life. The first thing that he mentioned was moral purity. He knew that he had kept himself pure because of an agreement he made with himself before God. Here is what Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?” Job 31:1-2. We would do well to follow Job’s example.

David had trouble with his eyes wandering - even late in life! He was not at war with the army because he was “resting” in his palace. “It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.” 2 Samuel 11:2. If David had made a covenant with his eyes, he would have turned away from what was before him. He would have considered the consequences of sin.

For those who are inclined to browse, or surf the internet, the enemy of our souls has set up an immoral playground. We need to keep our “head in the game”, and focus on the things above, not on things of the earth. Solomon, who also was brought down by immoral women, had this to say about lusting after a woman. “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids…” Proverbs 6:23-25. There is no question that those who go looking for evil will find it.

Jesus spoke about where the lusting for sexual gratification will lead. A little bit of sin is addictive. The person caught in po*******hy will lust for more and more until it leads to immoral relationships. Jesus warned, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27.

Dear believer, the way to overcome the sin of sexual immorality in our lives is to commit to making a covenant with our eyes. Decide in advance not to go looking for sin. Consider the consequences of sin. Drink the pure water of the word of God. “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By paying attention to it, according to the word of God” Psalm 119:9. Feed on the word. “Your words were found and I did eat them and they were the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” Jeremiah 15:16. Today let’s make a covenant with our eyes!

For the glory of the Lord!

Doug Tremper

09/02/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090226 “Now They Mock Me…”

Job was humiliated - not just humbled from his pride but utterly humiliated. Young men that he would not associate with because of their crude living, sang mockingly about his calamity. He mourned, “But now they mock me, men younger than I... “now those young men mock me in song; I have become a byword among them. They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.” Job 30:1, 9-10. Imagine someone despising us so much that they spit in our face!

David prophesied concerning the Christ in Psalm 22. The Messiah would endure the same disdain. He penned, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.” Psalm 22:6-8. As pictured in the lives of Job and David, Jesus would be rejected, and despised, and mocked by sinful men.

Isaiah prophesied the words of the God-Man to His Father, “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6. Job complained about the lot in life that Jehovah had brought upon him. To the contrary, Jesus embraced the will of His Father and endured the suffering in steadfast obedience.
Jeremiah mourned the punishment of Jerusalem, lamenting, “He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long.” Lamentations 3:13-14. God struck the city and His people were mocked in derision by their neighbors. How like the Lord Jesus Christ. God struck His Shepherd with the sword also and the enemies of Christ mock Him still.

The Lord’s own priests, scribes, and Levites called for Jesus’ death. “What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” Matthew 26:66-68. The heavens must have cringed to see the Son of the Highest treated so!

Dear reader, like Job, David, and the city of Jerusalem, Jesus the Messiah was mocked and spit upon! Why should he suffer thus? “He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief… Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” Isaiah 53: 3a – 4a. It was for us that He was treated so shamefully. It was for our sins that He was mocked and spit upon!

Today, let us not be ashamed of You, Lord! May we be willing to bear daily our cross for You!

For Your Glory!

Doug Tremper

09/01/2026

Turning Back Devotion 090126 “When the Ear Heard…and When the Eye Saw…”

Job had an amazing testimony! He delivered so many from their problems. He delivered the poor, the orphan, the sick, the widow, the blind, the lame, and the needy. No wonder God challenged Satan to consider His servant. Job testified, “For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. “The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. “I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. “I was a father to the needy….” Job 29:11-15.

Job was the greatest of the men of the East, but there arose a king of Israel whose wisdom was greater than all the men of the east. “When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.” 1 Kings 10:4-7. When the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon, she had to come and see. And when she saw she blessed Solomon and praised his wisdom and justice.

Yet the Bible tells of One who would come that was greater than Solomon or Job. He would far exceed the wisdom of Solomon and the righteousness of Job. Isaiah predicted His coming. “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy…” Isaiah 35:5-6.

When people heard about Jesus, they had to come and see if the report was true. They came bringing their poor, lame, deaf, dumb, demon-possessed, and spiritually needy. When they heard Him speak, and saw Him heal, they gave praise to Him. Mark 7:35-37 tells of one incident and the crowd’s response when a deaf and dumb man was healed. “And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7:35-37.

Dear believer, have we heard Him speak to us? Have we seen the goodness of the Lord? Job was a compassionate man. And Solomon a wise king. But our Lord Jesus Christ is incomparable! Today may we hear His voice and see His hands move in our lives!

To God be the glory!

Doug Tremper

08/31/2026

Turning Back Devotion 083126 “Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?”

One thing troubled Job. Where was wisdom in all of his suffering? Surely, we have felt the same. Job debated out loud, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?... “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens… And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:12, 23-24, 28. Job knew the answer! Wisdom is found in fearing the Lord and choosing to live according to His word.

Solomon explained that God gives wisdom to us when we call out fervently to Him. “...yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:3-6.

David connected praise with wisdom. We are to revere God for Who He is and what He has done. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” Psalm 111:10. Wisdom is found in reverential fear and praise.

Worldly wisdom puts trust in man for salvation. Godly wisdom trusts only in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul taught the same. “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling...” 1 Corinthians 2:1-3, 6-7. Notice the weakness and fear and trembling. A person may be so touched spiritually by God that fear affects them physically.

Those who receive this wisdom are the “called out ones”. Today we call them the church. Paul explained to the Ephesian believers, “...and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 3:9-10. God saves them for Himself and manifests a special testimony to the angels of His wisdom.

Dear believer, the Lord’s understanding is infinite! He has all the wisdom we will ever need for any situation in life or beyond. He is loving and gracious and offers us His wisdom. James wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5. The caveat is that we must receive the wisdom He gives and believe in what we do not yet see. May God help us today to discover where wisdom is found!

For His Glory!

Doug Tremper

08/30/2026

Turning Back Devotion 083026 “I Will Not Deny My Integrity”

Please consider a crucial matter in Job’s suffering - his integrity. How many of us could say we have a clear conscience today concerning all of our interactions with God and our fellow man? Do you remember the beginning of the book? God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8.

After all the discourses with his friends, here is Job’s final statement about his integrity. “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies. I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” Job 27:2-6. Job may not have known why all these things happened to him, but he still maintained his integrity.

David was a man of integrity. He committed grave sins, but he confessed them and turned from his sins to God. He was a man after God’s own heart. He purposed in his heart to do God’s will. He could confidently pray to the Lord, “Let the LORD judge the peoples. Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.” Psalm 7:8.

Jesus is the ultimate example of integrity. The Lord said of Him, “This is My beloved Son in whom is all My delight!” Unlike Job and David, Jesus never sinned. He was “holy, harmless, undefiled” in a class by Himself. Even men who hated Him declared His integrity. In Mark 12:13 we read, “Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth…” Mark 12:13-14.

Is it possible for us as Christians to live with integrity? Absolutely! The apostle Paul told this to the Corinthians, “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity.” 2 Corinthians 1:12.

Dear brother and sister in Christ, it is not only possible, it is imperative that we live in integrity! Family is watching, neighbors are watching, fellow workers, and students are watching, believers and unbelievers alike are watching. They want to see if our words about Christ match our lives. God has ordained that we should go and bear spiritual fruit, but if there is inconsistency in our lives, we will not be able to do this. Today, let’s be those who maintain a clear conscience, and faithfully say, “I will not deny my integrity!”

May it be so for His glory!

Doug Tremper

08/29/2026

Turning Back Devotion 082926 “How Small A Whisper…”

A man I knew once questioned why he didn’t “hear” the word of God? He failed to grasp that the small whisper of God is hard to hear if our spirits are anxious and disturbed.

Job wondered at the greatness of God. As he pondered many ways by which the Lord showed his power to us, he became aware of how small he was by comparison. He could “hear” only a very small whisper of God. “By His power He stilled the sea; …By His wind the heavens were made fair; …Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power, who can understand?” Job 26:12-14.

Elijah experienced both the crushing power of the Lord and the low whisper that reached his soul. “And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ... And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13. Notice that God repeated His question to Elijah. Sometimes we need to hear the whisper of God repeatedly in order to receive what He is saying to us.

We search in many ways, and speak to many people, but there is only one voice that the sheep hear that can give unfailing direction. That is the voice of our Teacher, “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”” Isaiah 30:20-21. We get off track from following God, but He brings us back with how small a whisper!”

Jesus exhorted His disciples, “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” Matthew 10:26. Dear one let us listen in the dark and proclaim the words that He whispers to our hearts to our neighbors, and all within distance of our voices.

Dear believer, we have such a great God! Our loving heavenly Father has given us His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us. His is not an audible voice, but it is a sure voice. Among the many voices of the world and the demonic world, we hear Him. Behold how powerful He is to help us, and how small a whisper His voice is!

To God be the glory!

Doug Tremper

Mountain Ridge Bible Chapel

09/07/2026

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