Gratitude is the fundamental response of man to God. We are to be thankful in all things. God made this world and God governs this world through His providence. He is sovereign over everything that happens to you, and so you are called to give thanks. We know from Job that this includes both the evil and the good. Naked you came into the world and naked you will leave. Everything you get in between is a gift from God.

But what happens when we are not thankful? Paul tells the Colossians that every act they do and every word they say should be done in thankfulness to God. Every single one. Giving thanks is turning oneself to God with the right response, but when you do not give thanks you turn your face away from God. And this leads to every other sin imaginable. This is no small thing. You are the creature, and you are rejecting your creator. 

In ungratefulness for the state in which they were created Eve took the fruit and ate. And in so doing all the blessings of God became a curse for her and for Adam. The garden full of fruit was a blessing, but now it would be a curse to them, and they were removed from it. Dwelling together in perfect unity, naked and unashamed was a blessing, and now nakedness was a curse. Work was cursed. Childbearing was cursed. The earth was cursed. 

When you are ungrateful, the blessings you enjoy will be turned against you into curse. Many of you are building or remodeling houses right now. With thanksgiving that project is an amazing joy and a blessing. God has given you an opportunity to use your hands, to makes something of your own and bless your family. But as soon as you are ungrateful that same project becomes a burden upon you, that stresses you and drags you down. You begin to hate your own project. 

Ungratefulness will turn everything that should be a blessing in your life into a curse.  Your kids, your spouse, your friends, fellowship, food, sex, your job, your vacations, you name it.      

And so, what should you do? First look down at your hands. Next look up to God and give thanks for whatever he has put in those hands.

Zach Browning – March 17, 2024

Read Full Article

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not foreswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by the head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea: Nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus words here can appear hard to understand. Is He condemning oaths? If so, then that would contradict the instruction on vows in Deuteronomy 23. What about marriage vows? Is the church in sin when we ask the head of household to make membership vows? No Jesus is not condemning oaths. He is condemning man in his pride and arrogance. 

You have given your word to do something. Good. But that is all you can do. If your word is not good on it’s own than extra promising won’t help. You cannot back your word up by swearing it by heaven or by earth or even by swearing upon your own head. Your own life cannot guarantee your word because you don’t have control over even that. Can you keep your hair from turning gray? No. Can you keep your hair from falling out? No. Then stop acting like you have control over all of life. Yes, be honest, all the way down to your toes. When you say you will do something, do it. Keep your word. Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Parents, this is incredibly important for you. Never allow the word “maybe” to become codeword for “no”. Don’t say “I’ll do it in a little bit” with the knowledge that you will run out of time and then never do it. Protect the value of your word at all costs. But combine truthfulness with the humble knowledge that you are just a man. You will wake up tomorrow morning only if it is the Lord’s will. Check your pride. Check your promises. You are not God. Your days are like grass and your plans are a vapor. 

Zach Browning – March 3, 2024

Read Full Article

Be angry and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your anger.

Ephesians 4:25

Anger is like a hot coal, straight from the fire. Your hands have not been made tough enough to hold it and not get burned. And so, you are commanded to let it go. You may not hold onto it even for a night. 

There are plenty of things in a sinful world that should make you angry. The world is broken, full of sin, pain and sorrow. People hurt other people, they hurt us. Wives disrespect husbands, husbands are unkind to their wives. Dad’s abandon their kids.  

In the Scripture we often see God’s righteous anger burn hot against the ungodly.

This anger is the right response when a perfectly Holy God meets wicked men. 

And we too should be angered by sin. But here is the key point. You are not God and you are not perfectly holy. Anger held in your hands will quickly turn to bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking, and malice toward others. 

So, what must you do? Two things: First – do not sin in your anger. And second – let go of your anger today. Psalm 4, which Paul is quoting here says “Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your hear on your bed, and be still”. When you are angered is the time you must use utmost self-control. This is not a time to debate with your wife, or discipline the kids, or send an email. No stop right where you are and be still. Sit on you bed and be quiet. 

Secondly, you must let it go. If someone has sinned against you, you must forgive them. If someone has sinned against someone else, then give that wrong to God. Trust Him that all things will be put right. If you refuse to do this, then you are ultimately directing your anger back at God. You are saying in your heart that God cannot make this good, that God’s plan is not right, and that you deserve to be angry at Him. This is the heart of all bitterness, and it is like dry rot in the foundation of your house. It must be pulled out all the way, every sliver of it, or else the house will fall.

Zach Browning – February 25, 2024

Read Full Article

Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord I am not eloquent, neither before nor since you have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. So, the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

Exodus 4:10-11

The exhortation this morning is an encouragement to this congregation to continue to serve God with singing. Become skilled at it. Learn the songs, understand the theory, and when you sing unto the Lord sing with all your being. 

We have a wonderful music leader in Mr. Bonet and we have skilled musicians accompanying us in worship. But it is not enough to just be here and soak it in, and even if this singing is new to you and all you can do is mumble and bumble along with your song packet, that is fine if that is you today. But take heart and look up ahead to where you are going. 

Singing appears over 400 times in Scripture with a direct command to sing given over fifty-times. Both the opening passage and psalm this morning exhorted us to sing to the Lord. 

So as Christians, we don’t have the option not to sing. And you don’t have the excuse that you are not very musically talented. As the Lord said to Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth?… Have not I, the Lord?” Lord has called you into His choir, and He knows every bit about you. 

But why singing? What is God doing with Music?

Think of the children of Israel singing on the banks of the red sea. Think of Moses singing on edge of the promised land. Think of Deborah, David, Zacharias, Mary, the heavenly hosts over Bethlehem, the greeting of the saints in Ephesus and Colassae.

Singing is words said victoriously. 

Singing is the rightful response to God’s victory in our lives and in this world. 

And Song is powerful. Song is warfare. Both against sin in our lives and sin in the world.

So be thankful to be in such a musical community, but do not allow yourself to be satisfied with where you are today. Remember you will be singing before the thrown into eternity. So as the saying goes, further up and further in. Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.

Zach Browning – February 11, 2024

Read Full Article

It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

In 1969, future president Ronald Reagan signed a no-fault divorce law into effect in the state of California. This was the first such law in the nation, but today every state holds a similar statute. In its effect it declared that marriage was not a covenant before God but was simply an institution of man which was of no more significance than an agreement between individuals, which could be ended at any time, for any reason or no for reason at all. Reagan would later admit this was the worst mistakes of his career. 

The evangelical church in America largely allowed this change to go unchallenged. It was argued that this was a necessary step allowing a peaceful way to end a bad marriage without ruining reputations or incentivizing perjury in court.  

But there is no such thing as a peaceful divorce. 

Jesus declares that only fornication can end a marriage. There is either fornication before the divorce or there will be fornication after the divorce. By codifying into law that 2 people may divorce for no reason at all – the state lied about what a marriage is and sanctioned adultery. The state legislated sexual immorality. And this 46 years before the Obergefell decision. 

If there is no God above the state, then the state becomes god. 

But what about you? Do you tell the truth about what marriage is? Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. Do you profess this truth about marriage in your actions? Or do you allow days to go by in which you define marriage differently, telling yourself today I don’t need to sacrifice for my wife, after what she did or what she said, she doesn’t deserve it. That is not marriage, that is a lie. 

And likewise, wives, do you profess biblical marriage with your actions? Submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Respect your husband. The one you have right now, not the one you wish your husband became. Do this today, and tomorrow and until death do you part. And in this way, stand on the truth.

Zach Browning – January 28, 2024

Read Full Article