October 07 2025

Monday October 07

God Has Raised Us Up Together

Ephesians 2:4-7

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Welcome to Pastor's Chat today. Well, it's wonderful to be back with you again with this chat. And as we have been away from our desk and making this chat daily, we've heard so many people remark how it's been such a blessing to them over the past several years and how God's using it and the devotionals that we're posting to encourage them in their walk with Jesus. This sure encouraged me to keep on keeping on. And I also appreciate so much your prayers for our trip as we went to the Middle East and the wedding in Slovakia. I wish I had time to tell you all the divine appointments that took place. Maybe as they continue to happen because of the seeds that were planted, we'll be able to post them.

Also, we just had a very busy weekend this weekend in Lynchburg and Roanoke, Virginia. Many of you have been praying for Luke who had his 31st brain surgery. This is now over 40-some surgeries as a result of the brain leakage of fluids that's having to be taken care of off his brain. We are so thankful for your prayer. Luke had the surgery late Sunday afternoon. It was a 4-hour surgery. Edith spent the whole day at the hospital, and I was also able to spend the afternoon with Kimberly and Chris. Luke came back to the room in lots of pain but was finally given medication which gave him some relief and calmed him down. Monday morning, he was doing much better and was able to go home in the afternoon. We had a FaceTime with him as he was leaving the hospital and as we were driving back here to NC. He was laughing and chuckling. Wow!!!! What a miracle. God is so good. And it looks like what needed to be taken care of was taken care of. We thank God for the doctors, the surgeons, and all the hospital help that took care of that for him. But most of all, for God’s grace and help and all your prayers. Thank you.

On Saturday, I participated in the Global Partners Peace and Development Golf Tournament to benefit the work in Haiti with Amber Hassen. Over 100 golfers participated there in Daleville at Ashley Plantation Golf Course and over $10,000 was raised. We're so thankful for your prayers for that. And I survived. I don't know if I played golf. I hit the golf balls. But did the best I could. And I set a record for myself. I finished with the same golf ball that I started with. That's the first time that's ever happened in any time I played golf or hit around on the golf course.

On Sunday morning I preached at Thomas Terrace Baptist Church in Lynchburg. It was an awesome service, and a great crowd. There was awesome excitement and for the mission’s conference there and after the message over 46 people signed up to pray for a pastor in India. If you're still interested or God is speaking to your heart about joining the pastor's prayer team for the India pastors, please email me, text me, call me, let me know, and I'll be glad to line you up with a pastor there in India. You can specifically pray for an India pastor on a regular basis.

I had a board meeting with Treasure Path Soulwinning on Monday morning. And it was a wonderful meeting with our board and just preparing for this next year with encouraging people to memorize scripture, to pray, and to be a part of winning a world to Jesus Christ. Well, it's been a great time these past couple weeks. Sorry I've been away from our pastor chats.

Remember here in Ephesians 2, we find out how sin is against us, how sin works against us. We are born into this world dead in trespasses and sins. And because we're dead in trespasses and sins, we're also disobedient, sons of disobedience. We live disobedient lives. Then we go on to depravity. The lust of the flesh drives us. And then we also see we're doomed because we're children of wrath. We're under the condemnation of the law.  

But God, (In verse four where we basically left off), But God who is rich in His mercy and because of the great love with which He has loved us, He has quickened us. He has made us alive, He has given us a new life. And not only that, we find in verse six, and has raised us up together to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We weren't just made alive and left in the grave. Because we are united to Christ, we have been exalted with Him and we are sharing His throne in the heavenlies. Our physical position may be on earth, but our spiritual position is "in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Like Lazarus, we have been called from the grave to sit with Christ and enjoy His fellowship (John 12:1-2).

My friend, that's what God does for us.

God bless!