Sunday: Out of Our Caves and Into Our Missions / 1 Kings 19

Sunday! We gather in worship, waiting and listening for God.

• Worship: Mike Neelley

• Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley

• Sermon: Bob Ekblad

• Call to Action: Mike Neelley

• Blessing: Gracie Ekblad

1 Kings 19:9-18 (ESV): The Lord Speaks to Elijah

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 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. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 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?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Sunday: Removing Blinders to See Through Delusions / 2 Thessalonians

We gather in worship together, seeking a God of truth and light.

• Worship: Mike Neelley - 0:00

• Prayers of the People: Gracie Ekblad - 18:50

• Message: Bob Ekblad - 34:47

• Closing Song: 56:15

• Call to Action: Andrew Lewis - 59:45

• Closing Blessing: Danielle Riley - 1:01:10

2 Corinthians 3:23 (NASB)

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech…

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 (NASB)

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (NASB)

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Trusting in the Lord Above Doubtful Lake: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Exodus 14

Bob climbs to great heights to examine trust in God.

Exodus 14:31 (NASB)

When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

Sunday: Rejoice in the Lord Always / Philippians 4

Sunday! We gather to worship in a difficult world.

• Welcome and Worship: Mike Neelley - 00:03

• Prayers of the People: Andrew Lewis - 18:00

• Message: Bob Ekblad - 24:08

• Call to Action: Gracie Ekblad - 49:16

• Closing Song: The Blessing - 54:01

• Blessing: Danielle Riley - 58:40

Philippians 4:4-9 (NASB)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Purity of Heart: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Psalm 24

Bob examines God’s control in all creation, and finds heavenly perspective in truth and untruth.

Psalm 24 (NASB): The King of Glory Entering Zion.

A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. 

Selah.

7 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. 

Selah.

Sunday: Do Not Fear, Only Believe / Mark 5

We gather, a dying people, in worship of a welcoming and healing God.

• Welcome: Andrew Lewis - 0:05

• Worship: Alvin and Kelsey Shim - 1:52

• Prayers of the People: Bob Ekblad - 15:26

• Message: Gracie Ekblad - 26:03

• Call to Action: Andrew Lewis - 55:53

• Closing Song, Revelation Song - 59:04

• Closing Blessing: Salvio Hernandez - 1:04:39

Mark 5:21-43 (ESV): Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Enduring to the End: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Matthew 24

Bob examines the indicators of a difficult time and re-affirms our role in it.

Matthew 24:4-14 (NASB)

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NASB)

5 Thus says the Lord,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.

Sunday: Confessing Our Blindness and Deafness / John 9

Sunday! We gather in worship, that we might enter into the light of a broken, divided world.

• Welcome: Kevin Riley - 0:00

• Worship: Andrew Lewis - 0:40

• Prayers of the People: Gracie Ekblad - 12:34

• Message: Bob Ekblad with Tony Cienfuegos - 22:20

• Call to Action: Kevin Riley - 54:06

• Closing Song - 55:46

• Blessing: Danielle Riley - 57:58

John 9:39-41 (NASB)

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

A Call to Not Fear in these Days of Growing Injustice: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Psalm 49

Bob examines a song of rich and poor, finding encouragement in the end of the story.

Psalm 49 (NASB)

The Folly of Trusting in Riches.

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Hear this, all peoples;
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will express my riddle on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
6 Even those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7 No man can by any means redeem his brother
Or give to God a ransom for him—
8 For the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
9 That he should live on eternally,
That he should not undergo decay.

10 For he sees that even wise men die;
The stupid and the senseless alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have called their lands after their own names.
12 But man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of those after them who approve their words. Selah.
14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
And the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
And their form shall be for Sheol to consume
So that they have no habitation.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
For He will receive me. Selah.

16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
His glory will not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he congratulates himself—
And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They will never see the light.
20 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding,
Is like the beasts that perish.

Sunday: Enlighten the Eyes of Our Heart / Ephesians 1:15-19

We gather in worship for help and direction from our loving God.

• Welcome: Mike Neelley

• Worship: Alvin and Kelsey Shim

• Prayers of the People: Kevin Riley

• Message: Gracie Ekblad

• Call to Action: Bob Ekblad

• Blessing: Andrew Lewis

Ephesians 1:15-19 (NASB): The Blessings of Redemption

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Sunday: What is the Gospel? / Ephesians 2:1-7

Sunday! We gather in worship together, celebrating our brought-back-to-life status as God’s beloved.

• Welcome and Worship: Lucy Capron

• Prayers and Call to Action: Bob Ekblad

• Message: Mike Neelley

• Closing Blessing: Andrew Lewis

Ephesians 2:1-7 (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Know Your Identity and Calling: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / 1 Peter 2:9

Bob examines our identity, as discussed by Paul writing to a group of aliens.

2 Peter 1:10-11 (NASB)

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

1 Peter 1:1 (NASB)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…

1 Peter 2:9-11 (NASB)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NASB)

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Our Way Down Towards the New: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Psalm 74:1-11

On July 4, Bob examines allegiance and devastation.

Psalm 74:1-11 (NASB): An Appeal against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy

A Maskil of Asaph.

1 O God, why have You rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.
3 Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins;
The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary.
4 Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their own standards for signs.
5 It seems as if one had lifted up
His axe in a forest of trees.
6 And now all its carved work
They smash with hatchet and hammers.
7 They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.
8 They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.”
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet,
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, will the adversary revile,
And the enemy spurn Your name forever?
11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
From within Your bosom, destroy them!

Watch & Pray to Follow Jesus' Way: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Bob re-adjusts his posture in a divided world.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB): The Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NASB): Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

John 1:29, 35-36 (NASB)

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Mark 14:34, 36-38 (NASB)

34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”

36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Sunday: Come, See, and Stay-Relational Life with Jesus / John 1:35-39

Sunday! We get together in real time, via Zoom and Facebook Live.

• Welcome and Worship: Mike Neelley

• Prayers of the People: Gracie Ekblad

• Message: Bob Ekblad

• Closing Blessing: Gracie Ekblad

John 1:35-39 (ESV) Jesus Calls the First Disciples

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

Receiving and Offering Comfort: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Isaiah 40

Bob examines comfort, how we receive it and how we’re put to work through it.

Isaiah 40:1 (NASB): The Greatness of God

1 “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NASB)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

Living By Faith: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Hebrews 11:1

Bob looks to faith and God’s promises.

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB): The Triumphs of Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Genesis 12:1-4 (NASB): Abram Journeys to Egypt

1 Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

4 So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Romans 4:16-25 (NASB)

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Galatians 3:23-27 (NASB)

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Sunday: God's Protest & Action Plan / Isaiah 59

Sunday! Our first week gathering via Zoom and Facebook Live—in real time. It did not go very smoothly, with stable connection, but we did it!

• Welcome and Worship: Alvin and Kelsey Shim

• Testimony: Lorinda Conley, Danielle and Kevin Riley

• Prayer: Bob Ekblad

• Message: Gracie Ekblad

• Call to Action: Mike Neelley

• Blessing: Kevin Riley

Isaiah 59, interpreted by Gracie

3) You have blood on your hands and have committed crimes with your fingers.
You have lied with your lips and spoken evil things with your tongue.

4) People are charged in court unfairly, no one accuses based on all the facts.       
They rely on empty plea agreements, and speak lies, which results in             
lawlessness and more evil.

7) People eagerly run to do evil and they are quick to shed innocent blood.
They think evil thoughts. 
Everywhere they go they cause ruin and destruction.

8)  They do not know the way of peace and there is no justice where they go,
They’ve made a crooked road for themselves.
Nobody on that road knows peace.

9) Therefore, justice is far behind us, and goodness is nowhere to be found.

10) We hope for light, but there is only darkness…

14) Justice is pushed back
and righteousness stands far away.
For truth has stumbled in the streets, and honesty cannot enter.

15) Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever goes away from evil becomes a victim themself.
The Lord saw it and it displeased him,
that there was no justice.

16) He saw that there was no one,
He couldn’t believe that there was no one to intervene.
So his Own Arm brought Him salvation,
And His righteousness upheld Him.

17) He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing 
and wrapped himself in zeal as a coat.

18)  So He will repay, according to their deeds,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
He will pay back the coastlands.

19)  So they shall respect  the Name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
For he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the Lord drives.

20) “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob 
who turn from sin,” declares the Lord.

21) “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord.
“My Spirit that is upon you, and my Word that I have put in your mouth,
will not leave your mouth, or the  mouth of your children, or the mouth
of your grandchildren,” says the Lord,  “from this time forth and forever            
more.”

Surrender: Morning Devotions with Bob Ekblad / Matthew 4:18-22, 6:31-33

Bob continues the examination of Jesus’ calling from Sunday’s message.

Matthew 4:18-22 (NASB): The First Disciples

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Matthew 6:31-33 (NASB)

31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Sunday: Jesus Recruits Those Sitting in Darkness / Matthew 4:16-22

Sunday! June 7, 2020. We gather in worship for guidance in a broken world.

Welcome and Blessing: Andrew Lewis

Worship: Lucy Capron

Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley

Testimony: Lorinda Conley

Message: Bob Ekblad

Call to Action: Mike Neelley

Matthew 4:16-22 (NASB)

16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,
And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,
Upon them a Light dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The First Disciples

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.