Oak Hill Baptist Church

Is God too loud or not loud enough?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “… but don’t let God speak to us, or we will all die.” Exodus 20:19 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Is God too loud or not loud enough?

In the passage from Exodus chapter twenty which I cited above, Moses had just come down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments from God. The Israelites had been standing in the valley, at the foot of the mountain, witnessing the thunder and lightning and the sound of the trumpets, and they saw the mountain surrounded by smoke as God communicated with Moses. And it scared them witless. So, when Moses came down from the mountain, the trembling people, knowing they were about to receive a message from God, said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen, but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”

In their defense, God was being a bit dramatic and showy. It would have scared me too. Likewise, earlier in Exodus when Moses encountered God at the burning bush, that too was one of those Ripley’s Believe it or Not moments – a real attention-getter.

Yet, as we know from Scripture and from personal experience, the overwhelming majority of the time God’s presence and His voice are much more subtle and discrete – sometimes to the point of being a whisper. So, does God speak too loudly or not loudly enough? Is His presence too obvious, or not obvious enough?

In her book “Teaching Stones to Talk”, author Annie Dillard makes the case that we prefer it when God is subtle and quiet. Too much of Him scares us. So, our tendency is to douse the burning bush, turn away from the mountain, and ask Moses (or the preacher) to speak to us on God’s behalf so we don’t have to deal with Him directly. And sadly, often, God complies with our request. He limits His communication and revelation to what we will accept and can handle.

So, God does speak to us and show Himself to us through His creation. But instead of seeing it for ourselves, we need someone else to point it out to us. And He speaks to us through His inspired Word (the Bible). But instead of digging deeply into it for ourselves, we wait for the preacher to serve it up to us it on Sunday mornings in small, easily digestible portions. And God speaks to us through our interactions with other Holy Spirit-bearing Christians. But instead of being there at the gatherings of God’s people like we’re supposed to be (Hebrews 10:24-25), so God can speak to us through them, we skip church and consequently we miss God.

Does God speak too loudly or not loudly enough? I guess the answer depends on you. In Jeremiah 29:13-14 God says, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you …”

He will be found by you if you really want Him. The question is, how much of God do you want? Is He too loud for you, or not loud enough?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Did you notice?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our verse for today: “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Did you notice?”

I’m really loving my new study Bible for 2023. It’s “The Experiencing God Study Bible: Knowing and Doing the Will of God”. I intended to begin on January 1^st, but I was so eager to get at it that I’ve been into it for a month already.

Probably the most helpful feature of this study Bible is that every chapter begins with a sidebar entitled, “Prepare to meet God”. That sidebar then lists several key points you should be looking for as you read the chapter. Then at the end of every chapter there’s another sidebar entitled “Did you notice?”, which directs your attention back to some things you should have seen in the chapter. It’s deeply insightful and I find myself mulling over the points, taking notes, and journaling my thoughts about it.

In Exodus chapter twenty-five we’re reading God’s instructions to the Israelites about how they were to construct and furnish the temple. What’s notable is the extraordinary detail God gave outlining the conditions under which He would abide with and interact with His people. For them, it was complicated, limited, and restricted. It was still more revelation of the presence of God than had ever been given to any group of people at any other time in history up until then, but still, it was labor-intensive and limited.

It’s much easier for us today. For us God manifest His presence in nature (Romans 1:19-20); and through the Bible (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17); and through the physical incarnation of Jesus (John 1:14, John 10:30, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 4:14); and through the presence of His Holy Spirit living in the hearts of the followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

The truth is that God has gone to extraordinary lengths to be with us and to make Himself known to us. As we’ve been learning all month, God wants to be known and understood by His people. But do we notice? Are we paying attention? Do we see God when He shows Himself to us? Do we hear Him when He speaks? And if not, why not?

We’ll think more about this tomorrow but for this morning, as we’re considering the great truth that God is with us, and He shows Himself to us, and He speaks to us, I’ll challenge you with the same words Henry Blackaby repeats all throughout his study Bible, “Did you notice”?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Do you leave blessings in your wake?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” Hebrews 13:16 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Do you leave blessings in your wake?

I read a statement one time that immediately captured my attention, and my heart – to the point that I wrote it down and have kept it in my Bible for years. The writer was considering the fact that God has called His people to be a source of blessing to others in this hurting and bleeding world of ours. This has always been true. It has always been God’s plan that His people would show kindness and compassion to those who are hurting and in need – especially to the poor, the widows, the orphans, the marginalized in society, the grieving, and the distraught.

The statement read, “As I go through life, do I leave blessings in my wake? Do I leave a trail of gladness behind? Let it be said of me that, “He went about doing good and blessing people.”

Both the Old Testament and the New (but especially the New), are packed full of verses and passages in which God exhorts us be a source of kindness and compassion, hope and healing, to the hurting and needy. Here are just a few:

“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.” Luke 6:31

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10

“Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

Those are just a handful of examples; I could easily cite many more, but I think the point has been made. The presence of God is manifested in this world through the faithful blessings bestowed by His people, in His name. So, we will end today where we started: Do you leave blessings in your wake, a trail of gladness behind you? Are people better off because they encountered you? Will you be a blessing to someone today?

God bless,

Pastor Jim

God makes His presence known through you

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “God makes His presence known through you”

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 the Apostle Paul revealed one of the most important truths about the presence of God in our day. In the context, he was explaining to the Christians in the church in Corinth (who lived in the midst of a highly sexualized and immoral culture), why they should not use their bodies in immoral sexual ways. It was because the Holy Spirit of God lives inside those bodies.

But in the process of admonishing them about that, Paul revealed a much larger spiritual truth that pertains to all of life for the Christian. The Holy Spirit of God lives in your heart. Therefore, you are not your own. Your body doesn’t belong just to you. It belongs to Christ. Paul wrote, “… you were bought at a price.” On the cross Jesus not only paid the penalty for your sins, but He also purchased your physical body to be used as a temple of His Holy Spirit.

The moment you placed your faith in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins your sins were forgiven and removed, and the Holy Spirit entered into your heart. That’s what Paul meant when he said that your body is now a temple of God’s Holy Spirit.

In terms of our theme for this month regarding the awesome reality of the presence of God in the world, this is a crucial understanding. The primary way God manifests His presence in our world today is through the lives of the followers of Christ. It’s the Holy Spirit living in you and working through you that makes the presence of God evident to the surrounding world. He does it through your words, through your actions, and through your example. The Holy Spirit within you moves you to offer help and comfort, and He prompts you to speak words of blessing and truth, thereby making Jesus known in the world around you. Today God has multiple millions of walking talking mobile temples of His Holy Spirit moving all through the world making His presence in the world known.

We’ll think more about this in the days to come. In the meantime, let me ask you, will people experience the presence of God today because their path crossed yours? I hope they will because one of the most important ways God is present in the world today is through the followers of Jesus Christ.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

How do we hang onto this?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome presence of the reality of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “How do we hang onto this?”

In 2010 I wrote and published a book with the title, “Bringing it Home: A Post-Trip Devotional Guide for International and Domestic Short-Term Mission Teams.” The purpose of the book was to help returning missionaries process and hang onto the experiences and lessons from the mission field, and then incorporate those experiences and lessons into life back home. It’s often said that missions can be a “mountaintop experience”, and that “mission trips change lives”. Mission trips do change lives – if the lessons and experiences are kept and incorporated.

The same can be true for our Christmas experience. In his book “God Came Near” author Max Lucado includes a chapter with the title, “Christmas Night”. It was the true story of how late one Christmas night, he was sitting in front of the fireplace reflecting on what a wonderful Christmas season it had been. But now, the presents had been given and received, the wrapping paper and ribbons were in the trash, the Christmas meal had been eaten, the last carol had been sung, the visitors had gone home, and the kids were in bed.

Max’s thoughts drifted to what a joyful time of year the Christmas season is. People go to great lengths to be nice, generous, compassionate, and to share good cheer. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all hang onto that and carry it forward into the New Year? And shouldn’t we?

This celebration of Immanuel, God with us, is supposed to remind us that God is with us. All the time. It wasn’t a stand-alone event. It wasn’t just a birth, and that was it. The birth of Christ inaugurated a new era in human history. There was a significant shift in the spiritual world that changed everything in the physical world. Nothing ever would or could or should be the same again. The presence of Jesus in the world for thirty-three years, and His Holy Spirit living in the hearts of His followers ever since then, changes everything.

The celebration of Christmas does make a difference in the world every year – for a short-time. The world is always a better place for three or four weeks in December. But it’s up to us, the followers of Christ, to hang onto that and carry it forward into the New Year. Christmas isn’t supposed to be just a day, or even just a season. Instead, it’s a spiritual reality that should make the world a better place every day, all year long.

We’ll spend the rest of the month considering how we can carry the spirit of Christmas with us into the New Year.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

A message of good news and great joy

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “A message of good news and great joy”

In recent weeks during this Advent season, as we’ve been approaching Christmas, we’ve been thinking about the presence of God in the person of Jesus. We’ve spent some time mining important truth from Isaiah 9:1-7 that the Messiah would be a light shining truth into a spiritually dark world; and that He would be a Redeemer who would set people free from the captivity of sin; and that as The Prince of Peace He would bring people peace with God, peace with themselves, and peace with others.

We also learned, from Matthew 11:28-30, that life is always better with Jesus than without Him, and that’s true regardless of the external circumstances of that life. That being the case, the Christ of Christmas if for everyone. Everyone needs Jesus and it’s up to us, the Christians, to openly and eagerly declare the truth of Immanuel, God with us in the person of Jesus the incarnate Son of God. This is what Christmas is really all about – it’s a celebration of Christ.

Tonight, Christmas Eve, at Oak Hill Baptist Church, we will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5:00. It will also stream live on Facebook and on the church website at oakhillbaptist.net. Then on Sunday (Christmas morning), we will have a Christmas worship service at 10:00. Both of those will proclaim and celebrate the birth of Christ and the truth contained in the name given to Him, Immanuel, God is with us.

Please join us for those celebrations – in-person if you can or online otherwise, and please invite others to as well. This world needs to know that Jesus is the reason for the season and that His coming truly is a message of great joy for all people. It’s up to us, the people of God, the followers of Christ, to share that Good News.

God bless,

Pastor Jim

Tell them it’s really about Jesus

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:5 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Tell them it’s really about Jesus”

In recent days we’ve been considering the difference the Christ of Christmas can make in the lives of people living in even the worst of circumstances. We’ve considered the situation in war-torn Ukraine, and I’ve made reference to people living in poverty in places like Africa and the Amazon Jungle. The Christ of Christmas is needed by impoverished and homeless people right here in America, right there in your own hometown. As we learned yesterday, life is always better with Jesus than without Him, and that’s true regardless of the circumstances of that life.

But is that equally true for those living in comfort and affluence? Is it true for those who are not suffering and who are not in need? Yes, it is.

I had an unpleasant encounter the other day with a person I’ve known for years but only see occasionally. Honestly, he’s someone I tend to avoid if I can. He’s the kind of person who is always grumbling and complaining about one thing or another. He’s frequently critical of people and situations, and a conversation with him usually mostly involves him talking and me listening as he complains and criticizes. He’s also not a Christian and he is dismissive of the Christian faith. And so, after years and years of this, let’s just say I’m not always eager to see him coming my way.

But our paths crossed the other day and when they did, he greeted me with a grin and a snarky “Happy Winter Solstice, Jim.” Now, he knows I’m a pastor, and he knows that I celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, so his greeting was intended as a dig not as a sincere wish. I replied with, “Merry Christmas, (his name).” At which he snickered and shook his head in weary disgust. He is well aware of my faith and I’m well aware of his lack of faith.

Afterwards I thought about what a sad individual he seems to be. He is very smart (a retired chemical engineer); and his wife is a retired professional too. They seem to have a lot of money (he talks about his investment properties a lot and what a headache his renters are); and he and his wife are both healthy. But still, he is not happy.

Why is that? He has wealth and health and safety and freedom, living in a nice community in the greatest country in the world, but he is not a happy or content person. Why not? The answer is that he needs Jesus. He has lots of material things but he has a big hole in his heart where the love of Jesus needs to be. Psalm 43:5 (above) is about Him. His soul is dejected and in turmoil. He needs Jesus, and the Christ of Christmas came for people like Him too.

One way people learn the true meaning of Christmas is when Christians celebrate it for the right reason. This is a celebration of the incarnation of Jesus and people need to hear that, even if they don’t believe it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Life is always better with Jesus than without Him

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Life is always better with Jesus than without Him”

Among the many things Isaiah prophesized regarding the coming of the Messiah, including that He would be the Light of the World and The Prince of Peace, was that He would set the captives free. What could Isaiah have meant by that? He wrote those words to people living in a world where both slavery and unjust imprisonment were common. Many people, Jews and gentiles alike, were being held in slavery at that time, and there were certainly many innocent prisoners. That has continued to be true throughout history. Was Isaiah guaranteeing freedom for those held in bondage? No. Although slavery and unjust imprisonment has been and always will be wrong, that’s not the kind of freedom Isaiah was referring to.

Jesus frees those held in bondage to sin. He also frees those who are prisoners to addiction, and bitterness, and unforgiveness, and poor self-image. He breaks the bonds of hopelessness and despair. Jesus offers us freedom of the heart and soul and we experience it regardless of, or even in spite of, external circumstances.

Matthew 11:28-30 is one of the most helpful and reassuring passages in all of Scripture. In that parable Jesus created a word picture that the people of His day could easily relate to. They lived in an agrarian society. They were farmers and were therefore very familiar with the image of a team of oxen yoked together plowing a field or pulling a cart. In every team of oxen there is a lead ox and a follower ox. The lead ox is bigger, stronger, and more experienced. He carries most of the load and provides all of the direction. The job of the follower ox is to stay yoked to the lead ox, share the burden, follow his lead, and learn from Him.

In this parable Jesus is saying, “Let me be your lead ox. You stay yoked to me; walk through life with me – side-by-side. I will carry most of the load and I’ll provide all of the direction. You just stay with me and we will do this (life) together.”

This is the freedom Jesus came to offer us. Regardless of our circumstances in life everything will be better with Jesus than without Him. Whether that life is lived in comfortable and affluent Crossville, TN, or in the Amazon Jungle, or in a remote part of Africa, or in war-torn Ukraine, life will be better with Jesus than without Him.

Several days ago, I asked the question, “Is the Christ of Christmas present in Ukraine?”. The answer is yes. Yes, He is, just as He is present everywhere else. And He wants to be present in every heart, everywhere. That’s one of the things we celebrate and remember at Christmas. Jesus came to enter into every life and into every heart. Not only is this vital for eternity, but life itself is better with Jesus than without Him. We’ll think more about this tomorrow.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

The peace of Jesus is better

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” John 14:27 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The peace of Jesus is better”

In recent days we’ve been thinking about what it means for Jesus to be “The Prince of Peace”, as Isaiah identified him in Isaiah 9:6. Yesterday we learned that since the world continues to be filled with hostility, hatred, and violence, including one war after another, the peace that Jesus came to bring must be different than what we might expect. And sure enough, in John 14:27 Jesus alerted us to the truth that His peace is different from the way in which the world understands peace.

Yesterday we also considered the rich and beautiful Hebrew word “Shalom”, which is the word Isaiah used for “peace” when he described Jesus as the Prince of Peace. The actual phrase in that passage reads “Sar Shalom” for “Prince of Peace”. It was sometimes used to describe a good human prince who brought peace and prosperity to his people. When applied to Jesus, as Isaiah was doing, Sar Shalom certainly includes the understanding of blessings and peace as the world knows it, but it goes much deeper than that as well. It speaks of internal peace in the heart and soul. This is the peace Jesus as the Prince of Peace offers us. Here’s what that means:

First, it means being at peace with God. In Romans 5:1 the Apostle Paul told us, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Second, the peace Jesus gives allows us to be at peace with ourselves. Isaiah 26:7 is an Old Testament promise but it was fulfilled in Jesus. In the NIV it reads, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you.” We also see this in the writing of Paul in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Third, the peace of Jesus enables us to be at peace with others. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts.” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus even called His followers to be “peacemakers” so we can be at peace with others.

The peace offered to us by The Prince of Peace runs so deep and is so pervasive that in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Paul describes it as being a peace that impacts us in every way, “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way.”

Jesus really is The Prince of Peace. The peace of the world is superficial and temporary. The peace of Jesus runs deep – to the core of our being, and is eternal. His peace is different from how the world understands peace, but it is better. Much, much better. We’ll see this tomorrow as we go back to thinking about the situation in Ukraine this Christmas.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Jesus is the Prince of Peace

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God”

Our Bible verse for today: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us … He will be named … Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Jesus is the Prince of Peace”

More than seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Isaiah told us that once He came, He would be known as “The Prince of Peace”. Well, He came, He lived, He died, He arose from the grave, He ascended back into heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit in His place, and it has been two thousand years since all that happened. And … peace? Seriously? Look around. Remember Ukraine.

What happened? Did Isaiah get it wrong? Was Jesus stretching the truth a bit when He claimed in John 16:33, “I have overcome the world.”? We’ve had seemingly endless wars in the two thousand years since the birth of Christ. Where’s the peace He came to bring?

If we go back to John 16:33 and read the entire passage we find that Jesus actually said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” At other times He even warned us that we would hear of wars and rumors of wars. Okay, so we will have trouble, and there will be wars and rumors of wars. Evidently Jesus being “The Prince of Peace” means something other than peace on earth in terms of the end of violence and hostility.

The Hebrew word that Isaiah used for “peace” is actually “Shalom”. It’s a beautiful word that includes concepts like health, well-being, harmony, and blessings in this life. But in a deeper sense it also speaks of internal wholeness, spiritual wellness, and a heart that is steady, stable, and at peace with God and others. “Shalom” has much more to do with the internal condition of the person’s heart than the external circumstances of the person’s world.

When we speak “Shalom” upon a person as a word of blessing we certainly are wishing them the material blessings of God in their life. But more than that, we’re calling for internal peace of mind and heart for them. And that brings us much closer to what it means for Jesus to be “The Prince of Peace”.

We’ll continue our thinking about this tomorrow. For now, I wish you the “Shalom” of Jesus – in the fullest meaning of the word.

God bless,
Pastor Jim