09/05/2026
It is Labor Day Weekend! The unofficial end of summer, even though it feels like 110 degrees outside. We used to put on our church sign during very hot streaks, “You think it’s hot here?” implying that we all face an eternal choice. Heaven or hell. There is no in between. Either you’re saved by the blood of the cross and are Heaven bound, or you are bound for hell. I’ve often been asked, “How do I know that I’m saved?” I always start with, “You’ll see the fruit in your life grow.” What fruit, you may ask? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23). We will hate the sin in our lives and allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in us to run from sinful behavior. It’s not that we are perfect but the ONE who lives inside us is perfect. If you are saved, you will have a deep desire to study His Word, obey His Word, and to spend time with other Christians. Yes, our relationship with Jesus is personal, but not private. There is no secret service in God’s Army. God doesn’t always automatically remove our temptations, even though I have heard testimonies of people who said that God took the taste for a particular sin out of their mouth; we will, however, have the Holy Spirit to guide us to a way out when we are tempted. When you are saved and tempted, you are not alone, we all are tempted but God is faithful and He promises us a way out, we just have to be bold enough to take it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
I say all this because there are people all around us that are ready to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and they just need someone to walk them through the steps. They don’t know where to begin. This is called discipling. Discipling isn’t just for the pastor, it’s for all children of God. It’s for everyone who claims Christ as their Lord. We are called to lead others on the path of righteousness. That’s the Gospel. The Gospel is a righteous Gospel. Not a holier than thou righteousness, but leading others to the one that we are grafted to; to the one who is holy and righteous inside us. We are a grafted branch, not the root (See Romans 11:17-18)
This Sunday, we will look at four short verses. Matthew 9:35-38. Studying these verses has changed the way I see things. It has changed the way I pray. It has changed the way I hear things. It has changed the way I function. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit can work and change us from the inside out by simply reading and studying His Word. I encourage you to read these verses and be ready for the Holy Spirit to move inside of you. Will you read it? Will you pray about it? Will you ask the Holy Spirit to move this Sunday? Are you ready?
See you Sunday,
-Gabe
