Author: Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

February 1, 2021 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

Every year we are encouraged both secularly and spiritually to look back, to reflect, to consider the past, and to ponder the future. In this past year, many of our worldly distractions have been stripped away. Yet despite this, many of us still find it nearly impossible to stop, to reflect, to consider God, and to remember what He’s done.

This Hebrew word selah is found 71 times in the book of Psalms, as well as a smattering of other places elsewhere in the bible. Nobody knows exactly what this word means, so most translators leave it in the original language. Though Scholars debate as to its exact meaning, most conclude that selah could be interpreted to stop, to pause, to weigh in the balances, to value, to praise, to lift up.

Our Duty

Nearly everyone would agree that the concept of selah is a good idea. Even the secular world promotes stopping, thinking, reflecting, and meditating as healthy habits. Yet in the bible, the concept of selah is more than a good idea, it’s our duty.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

In fact, Jesus reprimanded his disciples for not stopping and reflecting. He said,

“Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?”
Matthew 16:9-10 (ESV)

John Flavel, a puritan author from the 1600s, tells us, “meditating on the providence of God is our duty because God has expressly commanded it, and called His people to make the most serious reflections upon His works, whether of mercy or judgment.”

Our Present

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (ESV)

The word know in this verse means to see, to perceive, to behold. Yet are we doing that? Are we stopping to see, to perceive, to behold… all things (i.e., our job, our upbringing, our relationships, our family, the age in which we live, where we live, nature, the seasons, our friends, our church, the authorities in our lives, our challenges, our victories, our weaknesses, our strengths)? Even if we love God and are called according to His purpose, we will miss the consolation of this verse if we fail to stop and to recognize God’s handiwork.

As John Flavel put it, “Praise and thanksgiving for mercies depend upon this act of observation… and cannot be performed without it.”

Our Future

The practice of selah isn’t just about our present state of mind. But will have a profound effect upon our future.

Before David faced Goliath, he considered how God had rescued him in the past…

And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
1 Samuel 17:37 (ESV)

When faced with hardship, Paul confidently hoped in the future, recalling God’s previous deliverance…

“He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”
2 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)

Quoting John Flavel, “O that we were but acquainted with this heavenly spiritual exercise, how sweet it would make our lives, how light it would make our burdens! Ah, sirs, you live estranged from the pleasure of the Christian life, while you live in the ignorance or neglect of this duty.”

Our Choice

Here’s the crux. We all agree that the concept of selah is good for our soul. But let’s be honest… It’s just not that important to us. We are too busy, have too many responsibilities, are needed elsewhere, have other commitments, other desires, and just frankly don’t have time for this…

Yet in all our chaos… God pleads with us that we might stop… Take some time to acknowledge Him… and meditate upon His care for us…

As Isaiah put it,

“Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care— but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.”
Isaiah 1:3 (NLT2)

Does that describe us? Let’s be honest.

It’s our choice. What will we do with selah?

December 1, 2020 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

“The life of a Christian consists very much in our love to Christ. Without love to Christ, we are as much without spiritual life as a carcass when the soul is fled from it is without natural life.” – Thomas Vincent (1634-1678)

Thomas Vincent ministered at the time of the London Plague, the last major outbreak of the Bubonic plague in England. Seven from his household died as a result of the plague. This article is based on excerpts from his final work, “The True Christian’s Love to the Unseen Christ”. It is intended as an encouragement to keep our eyes on what matters, despite present circumstances.

Conviction of Sin

While surrounded by sickness, Vincent declared the greatest illness to be sin, preventing us from loving Christ. He said, “If you would attain true love unto Jesus Christ, you must get conviction of sin… The prevailing love and liking of sin is inconsistent with true love unto Jesus Christ… While your hearts go after your covetousness, or your voluptuousness, or are set upon any other wickedness, your hearts cannot be set upon Christ. Before you can love Christ, your hearts must be taken off from sin.”

He continued, “Look upon sin as the most mischievous thing in the world. If there be any evil in any temporal calamities; if there be any evil in future miseries, in the extremity and eternity of hell’s plagues and punishments, be persuaded that there is far more evil in sin, which is the cause of all.”

What is the most mischievous thing to us? Do we find fault in the present circumstances… or in other persons? Or is the greatest mischief within our own hearts, keeping us from loving Christ?

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:15

Christ’s True Love

The greatest need in Vincent’s time was not for medicine, but for love… He said, “Christ loves you with the truest love. There is little true love in the world; you have many that truly hate you, and there is much dissimulation in the pretend love and affection of some; all that flatter you do not truly love you… But love in deed and truth… where there is the greatest need, that is rarely to be found.“

He continued, “None do or can love you with such a true love as Jesus Christ. There is no flattery or dissimulation in His love. His love is not the least counterfeit. It is not the least selfish and for His own ends. He does not love you to receive good from you, but that He might do good unto you.”

Where do we look to have our greatest needs met? To the world? To other Christians? Or to Christ’s love?

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
John 15:9

Our Duty to Love

Despite personal tragedy, Vincent reasoned, “It is your duty to love Christ. If it be your duty to have natural affection unto parents and children, it is much more your duty to have spiritual affections unto Christ. If it be your duty to have conjugal affection unto your earthly husband and wife… if it be your duty to love brethren, sisters, and kindred that love you, it is a greater duty to love Christ, who loves you above all relations… who is your best friend.”

He continued, “Christ has the most right to your love, and will you not give to Christ His due? If you are bound to give men their due, are you not much more bound to give unto Christ His due?”

In times of difficulty, who has the right to our love? Does the world? Does another person? Or does Christ?

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38

The Christian Life

Perhaps our Christian life consists of regular church participation, faithful Christian service, healthy Christian fellowship, daily bible reading, prayer, and moral uprightness…

But is there any true love unto Christ? Is our greatest conviction our own sin? Is our greatest need Christ’s love? And is our greatest duty found in loving Christ?

Vincent said, “Faith without love to Christ is a dead faith, and a Christian without love to Christ is a dead Christian.”

Let it not be said of us. May we be known, above all else, by our love to Christ.

The True Christians Love to the Unseen ChristDownload

August 31, 2020 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

A cat’s point of view…

We named one of our cats “Kidden”, shortly after picking him up from the humane society. At the time, he was a little orange fluff ball with oversized paws. After seven years, he isn’t the size of a kitten anymore. He’s probably double his recommended BMI. In fact, I doubt he has ever seen the bottom of his food dish because Faye checks it every morning. Yet before his dish gets filled to the brim, Kidden stands in our path, meowing incessantly, as though he is about to die. He is deathly afraid that his food dish won’t get topped off before we leave.

If we allow this to go on, he gets so worked up that when he does eat, he overeats, doesn’t chew, and vomits it all back up in a warm pile somewhere in our house. He also meows just before that, signaling his masters to reach for the wet wipes and paper towels. Ah, the causes and effects of anxiety… from a cat’s point of view.

Do not be anxious about anything…

What do the scriptures teach us about anxiety? Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Do not be anxious about anything? Just to clarify, the word anxious here can be translated full of care, or full of thought. Really, Paul? What about our responsibilities… at work… …in our ministries… with our family… in our finances… maintaining our stuff… concerning our health? Be careful… for nothing?

Jesus uses the same word in the parable of the seeds when speaking of the seed sown among the thorns. He says the thorns are the cares (i.e. anxieties) of this world. These cares choke out the seed (the Word of God), making it unfruitful. Take a minute and consider the last week… What caused us to be anxious, full of care, full of thought? How fruitful was that time for us… or for those around us?

We all face anxiety, no matter who we are. Even the sluggard doesn’t go out because he is worried there might be a lion in the streets (Proverbs 26:13). Nobody is exempt from the temptation to worry. And no one gets a free pass to give in to it just because their circumstances are difficult.

Give thanks in all circumstances…

As emphatic as the bible is about what not to do, it is equally emphatic about what to do. Paul tells us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God’s will is that we give thanks… in all circumstances. Really, Paul? Weren’t you the one who was whipped, beaten, stoned to death, shipwrecked, sleepless, without food, and exposed to the cold? Yet Paul tells us… in all circumstances… to give thanks. Take a minute and consider the last week. In what circumstances did we fail to give God thanks? Why? Did He fail to take care of us? Has He ever?

The peace of God…

I sometimes wonder what a morning would be like if Kidden wasn’t worried about getting more food. Would he be purring in my lap? Or would he be watching the birds out the window? Or would he enjoy his food instead of swallowing it whole? I know his masters would sure appreciate that…

I likewise wonder what God thinks when we are given to anxiety and worry. Would he shake his head at us and say, “Oh you of little faith… Don’t you realize that I’ll take care of you?” Would he ponder the various joys we are missing out on? Would he appreciate not having to clean up our mess afterward?

Paul goes on to say what happens when we put a stop to anxiety, and bring our requests in prayer to God, with thanksgiving… He tells us, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Are we experiencing this peace of God? Are we allowing it to guard our hearts and our minds… in all of our circumstances?

The next time anxiety attacks, how will we respond? Will we give ourselves over to worry… and its effects? Or will we cast all our cares upon God… and experience His peace?

For more on this subject, see Matthew 6:25-34.

June 1, 2020 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

                Providence isn’t a word we use a lot in conversation.  Even in Christian circles, it has become less and less popular.  Instead, we often substitute words like ‘sovereignty’ or ‘God’s will’ in place of the word providence.  But neither of those terms fully encompasses the meaning of providence.  According to Webster’s dictionary, providence means (1) divine guidance or care, (2) God conceived power sustaining and guiding human destiny.  In fact, the closest thing we have to this Latin word in modern English is ‘provision’.

Is Providence Biblical?

                Where do we see providence in the Bible?  We see it in God’s promise in the Garden, that the seed of the woman would one day crush the head of Satan (Genesis 3).  We then see it in God providing himself a sacrifice… a ram caught in the thicket… This just as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22).  We also see it with King Saul… diverted and distracted by various means… as he sought again and again to kill David.  We later see it in Joseph… warned by an Angel to flee to Egypt with Mary and their newborn son… just as Herod ordered the slaughter of all the children in the land.  And finally, we see it in Jesus’ crucifixion… his hands and feet pierced… hanging on a tree… as soldiers cast lots for his clothes… in fulfillment of prophecy a millennium earlier (Psalm 22).  In considering all of this, perhaps a greater question is, where do we not see providence in the Bible? 

What About Today?

                What about today?  Is providence as effectual for us living in the 21st century as it was for those living in biblical times?  The Bible answers that question with an emphatic “Yes”.  Because God is the “same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  And God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).  Furthermore, Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  So we can know “for those who love God, all things work together for the good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Do we recognize God’s guidance and care for us today, God’s power to sustain and guide our destiny in the 21st century?

Observing Providence

                Take a minute and observe providence in your own life.  Do you see God’s hand at work in your past, where you were born, who your parents were, where you went to school, in those you met along the way, in your times of difficulty, or through your unique circumstances?  The puritan author John Flavel, in “The Mystery of Providence” (1678), encourages us to observe such works of providence…

“Without due observation of the works of providence no praise can be rendered to God for any of them.  Praise and thanksgiving for mercies depend upon this act of observation of them, and cannot be performed without it.  Psalm 107 is spent narrating God’s providential care of men: to His people in difficulties (vv. 4-6); to prisoners in their bonds (vv. 10-12); to men that lie in languish upon beds of sickness (vv. 17-19); to sailors upon the stormy ocean (vv. 33-34). Yea, His providence is displayed in all those changes that occur in the world, debasing the high, and exalting the low (vv. 40-41), and at every paragraph, men are called upon to praise God for each of these providences.  Verse 43 shows you what a necessary ingredient to that duty observation is: ‘Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.’”

Applying Providence

                It is one thing to praise God after we have seen the effects of providence.  It is another thing entirely to trust God in the midst of our circumstances.  Yet that is exactly why we need to pause and observe God’s providential care over our past.  As Paul so aptly puts it, “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him, we have set our hope that he will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:10). As John Flavel tells us, “Providence carries our lives, liberties, and concerns in its hand every moment. Your bread is in its cupboard, your money in its purse, your safety in its enfolding arms.”

May we take some time to meditate on His divine guidance and care over our lives. May we consider how His power has sustained and guided us.  In doing so, may our hearts praise Him for what he has done… and trust Him for what He is now doing…

March 1, 2020 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

If you grew up in a Christian home, you are likely familiar with the phrase “All things work together for the good.” Personally, I’ve recalled these words to memory at least a thousand times since junior high. Many of us look to this promise of a brighter future, in the midst of difficult circumstances. And we put our trust in these words because they aren’t just some nice sentiments, but were penned by the Apostle Paul in the holy scriptures. In fact, Romans 8:28 is one of the most referenced bible verses by both Christians and non-Christians alike to encourage, to comfort, and to provide hope for the future.

Is it really true?

We might not admit it openly, but in times of hardship, we can quietly wonder if all things really are working together for good. Consider those who have walked away from God, whose lives are a mess, who seem to be spiraling toward disaster. They once claimed to be a Christian. Is everything working together for their good? Consider those who attend church weekly, but are constantly in spiritual turmoil, are personally unfulfilled, and are full of complaints? They claim to be a Christian. Is everything working together for their good? If this verse isn’t true in their lives, are we trusting in empty words?

Suffering…

Add a little suffering or difficulty to our lives, and we really begin to doubt. Yet, this is who Paul was trying to encourage with these words. He was writing to those who share in Christ’s suffering. (For further study on suffering, listen to the message “Suffering” from Romans 8:17-28 by Pastor Tim Dodson.)

Due to our present suffering, we can also come up with theological arguments to defend Romans 8:28 while denying its spiritual and practical implications for our lives. For example, we may agree that all things are working for God’s good, but not necessarily for ours. The problem with this argument is that Romans 8:28 isn’t talking about what is good for God… The verse continues “all things work together for the good… for those…” The good that God intends is for us personally. When we argue that this verse is all about what is good for God, we conveniently sidestep the honest examination of our lives. Are all things working together for the good… for us? And if not, why not?

If we love God…

The living bible continues the verse this way, “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good… if we love God…“ The word “if” is a qualifier. Meaning in order for all things to work together for good, we must love God. This is one reason why things might not be working out.

Our greatest call in scripture is to love God (Matthew 22:37-38)… and we are told to do so with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27). But does God have our innermost affections? Do we meditate on him in the evening, like David? Do we wake up before the morning light to spend time with Him, like Jesus? Are we diligently applying our minds to His scriptures? Do we serve Him with all our strength?

God isn’t expecting perfection… But He does know those who are His… and those who truly love Him. Do we love God? If not, we cannot expect all things to work together for good. In fact, we should expect quite the opposite.

And are fitted into His plans…

The living bible finishes the verse this way, “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God… and are fitted into His plans…” The word “and” indicates this is the second qualifier. Meaning in order for all things to work together for our good, we must be “fitted into His plans.” This is another reason why things might not be working out.

We must evaluate our life in the context of His plans. Are we living where he wants us to live? Do we involve ourselves in the church He wants us to be in? Are we working the job he wants us to work? Do we serve in the ministry He asked us to serve in? Are we being who he created us to be?

We may not have all the answers to these questions. King David started out as a shepherd boy, was promoted to a music leader, then a captain of the army, before becoming King of Israel. We may not be at our final destination today. But are we on the right path? If we are sidestepping his plans today, we have no guarantee that things will work together for our good in the future. In fact, they probably won’t.

Putting it all together…

If things just aren’t working out for us spiritually or practically, it may be time to reevaluate our lives in the light of Romans 8:28. Perhaps God is calling us out. He may be asking us to love Him… and we haven’t been. He may be telling us to abandon our plan… because He has a better one. Do we trust Him? Will we repent where we recognize we are out of line?

But if we are loving Him… despite our numerous imperfections… And if we are fitted into His plans… to the best of our limited understanding… He wrote Romans 8:28 to encourage us. He wants to remind us today that all things really are working together for our good. Peter puts it this way, “He will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life” (2 Peter 1:3 TLB). Do we trust Him?

He’s a good God. He loves us. And He has our best interests in mind. May we love Him… And be fitted into His plans…

November 1, 2019 Pastor Jason Gilbert | Menomonie

What do people see when they look at us? Scripture tells us that we are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece, His poem (Ephesians 2:10). We are God’s letters of recommendation. But how do those around us actually see us? Would we be described as a masterpiece, an intriguing story, to be read and told to others? Or would we be depicted as a rough draft, as a ‘piece of work’, to be discarded in a recycle bin?

The first-century church in Corinth, like many of us, was sending mixed messages. The Apostle Paul reminded this church of:

  • The means God uses for communicating His message
  • The medium God uses for recording His message
  • The resulting effects of beholding His message

Paul’s instructions were left for us today, that we might be letters of recommendation to the world around us.

The means God uses for communicating His message

What means do we use to hear from God? Many of us hear from God through bible devotions, Christian books, journaling, memorizing scripture, and bible apps. We can distinctively hear from God through His word (Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16). We find God’s word alone to be living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

But by what means does God use… to communicate to us? According to Paul, we are a letter… written not with ink, but with the Spirit of God… not of the letter, but of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:2-6). God communicates to us, not through the letter (i.e. grammar, words, scripture, books, epistles), but through the Spirit.

Is it possible we are mistaking the means for the end? Jesus warned the Pharisees of searching the scriptures, but failing to see who the scriptures pointed to (John 5:39-40). Elsewhere, Paul warns of those who are always learning, but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). Is our end goal to know scripture? To be proficient with the gospel? To practice correct biblical doctrine? Or is our end goal to communicate with God? To have communion with God’s Spirit?

Paul says such is the confidence we have… not of the letter, but of the Spirit. The Spirit is who gives us confidence in our relationship with God (Romans 8:16, 1 John 4:13), not our knowledge, our understanding, our biblical doctrine. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). The Spirit is the means God uses to communicate His message.

The medium God uses for recording His message

What medium do we use for recording God’s message? Perhaps we use our bible margins, our journals, our memories, our phones, the cloud, etc. But what medium does God use… for recording His message?

Paul writes, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ written not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). God writes his message on our hearts.

Why would God choose the human heart? No canvas is more contaminated, no backdrop more corrupt (Matthew 15:19). No environment is more fragile, with no storage more transient (Jeremiah 17:9). Yet God chooses to write his masterpiece in the most volatile of habitats, the human heart.

When the bible refers to the heart, it is referring to more than the organ. It is referring to the thoughts, feelings, middle, center; the entire mental and moral activity, including the emotions, reason, and will; the hidden springs of the personal life (Proverbs 4:23). God chooses to pen his poem on the medium of our hearts.

When hearing God’s message, where are we storing it? In our memory, in our thought life, in our journals, in the margins of our bible? Or do we allow God’s Spirit to inscribe his message into our hearts, our wants, our desires, our will? God wants more than our bodies, our obedience, our intellectual agreement. God wants the hidden springs of our personal life. Does our heart belong to God today? The heart is the medium God uses for recording His message.

The resulting effects of beholding His message

When we turn to the Lord, through the Spirit, in our hearts, the veil is removed and we experience freedom (2 Corinthians 3:16-17). We are freed from condemnation, guilt, shame, judgment, selfish desire, restlessness, and wantonness. We are feed to a new life provided by God, with patience and quietness of soul, being fully satisfied with the presence of God. Have we been liberated by this freedom today?

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). Beholding refers to a prolonged gaze, not a quick glance, as to something remarkable with wide-open eyes. Where are we looking today? Are we looking on our phones, at social media, to relationships, to our careers, for approval, for success? The old hymn says,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus... 
Look full in His wonderful face... 
And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim... 
In the light of His glory and grace...

Are we beholding His glory, today? If the light is not getting through, it is because you are not looking at Him long enough. You do the beholding. He does the transforming. There is no short-cut. This comes from the Lord, who is Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Letters of recommendation

What will people read when they look at us as Christians? Will they see someone whose communicating with God’s Spirit? Someone whose heart is filled with His divine presence? Someone whose face is beholding the glory of God? Will they see someone being transformed… to reflect the glory of His image?

We are God’s workmanship… His masterpiece… His poem…

May we be His letters of recommendation… to be known and read by all…