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How to Cultivate Community

“It is not good for man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18

Pretty much from the beginning, God establishes that humanity is not designed to be alone. He created Eve as a partner to Adam, a helper in caring for God’s creation. But Eve was also there to create community with Adam. It wasn’t good for him to be alone. So why do we think we’re made that way?

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, we saw what the world would look like in isolation. Forced to quarantine, it was easy for people to feel stir-crazy, cut off, and search for other ways to connect. Why? Because we were made for community. The National Institutes Of Health (NIH) reported that severe loneliness rose to 21% during COVID-19 compared to 6% prior. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, dementia, and earlier death. These examples show that science reinforces what we already know: God created us to live in community.

As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus’ example, and He lived in community. The twelve disciples weren’t just traveling with Jesus to hear Him teach, they were learning from Him just by being together. Mark 3:14 tells us this with, “He appointed twelve of them. They were to accompany him…” The bonds these men built with each other were likely what made their ministry so strong after Jesus’ ascension. They were able to rely on one another and hold each other accountable to the task Jesus gave them. 

This is why we need community as Christians. It’s not just for support, it provides accountability for the times when we struggle. When life is difficult, or doubt creeps in, your community is there to encourage you and help you to course-correct when you need it.

So we know community is important. But how do we build it?

1.  Be intentional.

While time spent with others is important, the quality of the time is more so. Put away the phone, listen for more than how to respond, and be present. Invite people over, linger after church, follow up on prayer requests — small steps build deep roots. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.” Community doesn’t happen by accident; it grows when we make space for it.

2.  Be vulnerable.

Real community isn’t built on surface-level connections. It’s built when we take the risk to be known — struggles, questions, and all. Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” But people can’t carry what we hide. Vulnerability allows others to step in with encouragement, prayer, and practical help. It also gives others permission to do the same.

3.  Be consistent.

Community grows with time, trust, and showing up. That doesn’t always mean doing big things — sometimes it’s just being faithfully present. Whether it’s a small group, Sunday service, or coffee with a friend, regular connection builds familiarity and safety. Like Acts 2:46 describes, the early church met together “daily with one accord… breaking bread from house to house.” That kind of rhythm created a deep and lasting unity.

4.  Be welcoming.

Cultivating community doesn’t stop with the people we already know. It includes making room for others who are new, hurting, or lonely. Romans 12:13 tells us to “practice hospitality.” In a world that often feels cold and closed off, warm and open hearts stand out. Be the person who invites others in — into your conversations, into your life, and into your circle.

At the end of the day, community is not just a Christian idea — it’s how we thrive as people. It’s a Kingdom necessity. It’s how we reflect the heart of a relational God. And in a culture that is increasingly isolated, we have the opportunity to be different by simply doing life together.

So let’s build the kind of community that lifts people up, points them to Jesus, and reminds them they are never truly alone.

Who Do You Worship?

By Elena Ardis, First Year MHLS Student – Worship Track

Did you know that you could be worshipping something other than God?

You might be thinking that sounds silly. We have worship in church on Sundays, where we sing praises to the Lord. Who else would we be worshipping? But it’s true—a lot of believers are actually deep in idolatry without realizing it.

In order to properly assess how that is possible, we need to ask: Why should we think about worship in the first place? What is worship, really? Why does it matter?

Worship and religion are connected, because they both focus on serving God. If you consider yourself to be a Christian, it is important to evaluate your views on worship.

Here is a look at the definitions of worship and religion:

WORSHIP: (noun) The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. (verb) Show reverence and adoration for a deity; honor with religious rites.

RELIGION: (noun) A pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

RELIGIOUSLY: (adverb) With consistent and conscientious regularity.

MISDIRECTED WORSHIP

We may not make this connection in our conscious, but we can turn anything we choose into a religion. Think about it. Is there anything in your life that you are giving all of your attention to? What do you feel conviction for?

Matthew 6:22-23 NIV reads:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

As humans, we can easily be swept up in escapism and temporary pleasures that satisfy our flesh, but not our spirit. It is dangerously easy to let ourselves worship our phones, our possessions, or our habits. However, these things will only fill us up with darkness. There is only one thing that will fill us up with pure light: God.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV

Although Jesus is speaking about the love of money in this verse, it  also applies to any other worldly thing that we might have love for. If we are fully committed to God, our hearts will not crave the things of this world as strongly anymore, being drawn to holiness and purity instead. This is why we should only worship Him and ascribe importance to things that glorify Him.

If you have ever been stuck in a cycle of sin, you know that it is frustrating beyond belief. You can find yourself questioning if there is any escape, or if there is any possible way that God could forgive you or save you from it. But one thing that we don’t often realize is that our sin issues are tied to idolatry. You feel poisoned and dirty, but you’ve been on social media for 8 hours while your Bible has been collecting dust. You fall back into comforting sin habits because you have no motivation or self-respect, but you haven’t stopped to thank God or pray in weeks.

Take a look at this passage in Romans:

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:21-25 NIV

Because these people did not acknowledge or turn to God, they fell deeper and deeper into degrading sin, and God gave them over to their desires. The things that they worshipped filled them up to the brim with darkness, and they made no space for light.

 

GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR WORSHIP

Read through these two passages:

“In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:12-13 NIV

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Because He loves us, God sent Jesus as the perfect living sacrifice for all of our sin, to redeem us for all of eternity and be the bridge connecting humanity to God. Without Him, we would all be doomed to suffer forever. He is infinitely more worthy than any other thing we could possibly imagine! The more time you spend reflecting on what He has truly done for us, the more gratitude and joy will spark within you and begin to fill you up, empowering you to boldly worship Him with awe and reverence!

REDIRECTING OUR WORSHIP

So, are you stuck in your sin and ready to redirect your worship? The best first step you can take is to invite the Holy Spirit in to examine your heart.

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV reads:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

God is gracious, so if we ask Him to, He will point out the things in our life that we must remove. All it takes is intentional prayer time with Him and the patience to listen.

“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” Romans 2:7-8 NIV

On top of listening to God’s voice, we must also turn away from things that encourage sin and replace them with holy habits.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV

Just like how we read that the eye is the lamp of the body, replacing worldly things with holy ones will flood your body with light—creating a welcoming atmosphere for God to dwell in.

Here are some practical examples of habits that you can change:

  • Instead of spending all day scrolling & consuming anything your algorithm feeds you, try:
    • Deleting your socials for a time to focus in on prayer and reading your Bible every day
    • Setting a time limit on your socials so they don’t take up more of your attention than God does
    • Resetting your suggested content to build a healthier for you page
  • Instead of constantly worrying about how other people perceive you, try:
    • Committing to a Bible reading plan that uses Scripture to teach you more about your identity & value in Christ
    • Being intentional with who you spend time with—mature believers in your life can speak life and encouragement into you as a person
    • Asking God about any self-deprecating habits you may need to stop and cutting them off
  • Instead of impulsively doing whatever your flesh desires, try:
    • Engaging in a physical activity that takes all of your effort (e.g. working out, dancing)
    • Practicing being still before God in contemplative prayer when you feel tempted
    • Finding an accountability partner to confide in and spend time with

Lastly, remember to have grace for yourself as you learn and grow. It is impossible to get everything right in one try, and it takes time to cultivate a healthy lifestyle that gives glory to God. Rest assured that you can lean on His strength, wisdom, and presence to guide you through as you redirect your worship towards Him!

How to Win as a Father

First off—thank you. Thank you for showing up, for doing your best, and for carrying more weight than most people will ever see. Fatherhood is no small assignment. It’s not just a role you play—it’s a legacy you’re writing.

On this Father’s Day, I want to speak straight to your heart—not just to the provider for the family, but to the warrior, the worshipper, and the Kingdom man inside of you. The world may measure your success by how much you make, but heaven measures it by your impact—what you give of your heart, your presence, your leadership, your love. The things that last generations.

You’re not just here to bring home the bacon (although hey, we’ve got that covered on the grill Sunday). You were made to bring heaven into your home. Your family needs more than your wallet—they need your wisdom, your worship, and your willingness to walk closely with God.

As one of the foremost experts on restoring fatherhood wrote: “The greatest battle a man will ever fight is the one to reclaim his identity and purpose as a son of God.”

So let me remind you how you win as a father:

We win by walking in our true identity as Sons of God.

Romans 8:15 declares “You have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”

You’re not striving to become a man of God—you already are a son of God. And out of that sonship flows everything else. When you know who you are, your kids will know who they are. Just as you would be appalled by your children trying to approach you as slaves, so too do slaves of fear have no way to connect with a Father’s heart. We must leave the old behind and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Embrace the sonship that gives us access to a perfect Father that leads and models fatherhood perfectly in everything He does.

In the book, The Uprising, author Kris Vallotton shares “The absence of identity leads to the abuse of authority. Know who you are before you try to lead others.” When our children grow up with just RULES from a workaholic father that barely has time to invest in parenting them well, it goes off the rails so easy. But when our children are led into all truth and the paths of righteousness by a Son of God who invests in them because we LOVE them and are FOR them…that’s a whole other thing.

Your family doesn’t need a perfect dad. They need a dad who knows he’s loved and leads from that place.

We win by living courageously in the face of culture.

One of father’s greatest roles is to model and teach their family in how to overcome fear, not just avoid it.

Joshua 1:9 says it best, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

We live in a time when masculinity is under pressure, and biblical fatherhood is misunderstood or minimized. But you don’t have to conform. You’re called to confront culture—not with anger, but with truth and love. Your courage becomes a covering. Your faithfulness becomes a framework for your children to build their lives upon. Where so many rely on external rules and moral codes and political frameworks, the Lord builds strength and resiliency into our very DNA as His Sons.

A quote that has impacted me greatly in this mindset is “You don’t reproduce what you teach. You reproduce who you are.” It’s hard to be courageous in ideologies and political views in the face of so much intolerance these days, but it’s amazing how resilient we can be when we walk in the truth of who God created us to be, when we stand firm on the foundation of our God. The one who goes before us and prepares a way for us, the one who makes a way where there seems like there is none, the one who is SO FOR US – who can be against us?

We win by fighting for the spiritual health of our family.

Nehemiah 4:14 – “Fight for your families, your sons and your daughters…”

We aren’t designed and called to fight WITH our families, we are called to fight FOR our families. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers and principalities. You are the spiritual gatekeeper of your home. That doesn’t mean being controlling—it means being present, prayerful, and protective. It means providing coverage for your wife and children. Fight for your family in the Spirit. Declare the promises of God over them. Break off generational curses. Speak life when the world speaks confusion. Generational curses can last for a few generations, but when we partner with the Lord to turn them into generational blessings they can last for 1,000 generations!

You’re not just raising sons—you’re raising priests and kings. When we speak life over our children, it’s not just “you’re beautiful” or “your great at sports”. We have the opportunity to speak the blessings of the Lord into their lives, calling them up into the divine purpose that the Lord has for them.

We win by leading with love, not just rules.

1 Corinthians 13:1 – “If I have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Have you ever felt like when you talk to your children, you’re just making noise and nobody is paying attention? Rules without relationship breeds rebellion and indifference. Your kids may forget your lectures—but they’ll remember your laughter, your hugs, your quiet presence when they needed you most. I’ve talked to a number of fathers with grown children that don’t come to them for anything anymore, only now realizing that when their children were young and came to them with what seemed important got brushed off as unimportant to their busy fathers. What are the opportunities for you to love your children that you can take advantage of now, that will invest in the future of your family? What are things that your father instilled over the course of years in you that you have simplified into a rule for your children to follow without ever understanding why?

You don’t have to be perfect. Just be present. Just be real. Invest love into your family.

We win by dreaming generationally.

Proverbs 13:22 – “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…”

You’re not just raising kids—you’re building a Kingdom legacy. Financial provision is important—but far more powerful is the spiritual inheritance you leave. Speak identity over your children. Speak purpose. Call out the gold in them. Build a home where faith is normal, forgiveness is frequent, and love is never in question.

What would it look like for us to model “it stops with us”? How can we train our children to walk with the Lord in the family business of restoration? When transformation and refreshing are the standard not the miraculous. When the legacy you leave is building up and empowering those around you to experience the Lord and step into the fullness of their calling, and giftings, and purpose. What a legacy! What is your legacy?

“Legacy is not what you leave to your children—it’s what you leave in them.” – Uprising

Dad, your worth isn’t found in your performance—it’s found in your presence. Your family doesn’t need a superhero—they need a man who knows who he is in Christ. Someone who is fully loved, and can fully love.

This Father’s Day, don’t simply measure success by how perfect your parenting is—measure it by how present, purposeful, and passionate you are in pursuing your God-given identity as a father. You’re not just raising kids—you’re raising kingdom leaders. Stand strong in what God has designed you to do. Not because you’ve done it all right, but because you’re choosing to follow His example, show up, fight well, and speak life over your family and your circumstances.

We honor and believe in YOU!

Stop At The Crossroads

Dear friend, I want you to know that Renee and I love you and are praying for you! We are thrilled that God added you to the Mount Hope Church family. It is our delight to pray for, love, and serve you. 

I was reading the Bible the other morning when I ran across a passage that leaped off the page. It’s the answer for the person who feels stuck in life. It’s the answer to a nation that has gone astray. It was a specific word for Judah and a relevant word for America today. Here it is: 

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’” – Jeremiah 6:16. 

Maybe you have looked around at what is happening in our country and around the world, and it has grieved you. What are we to do? The Lord tells us precisely the critical steps we must take. 

The first thing we need to do is STOP.

I want to encourage you, my brother and sister, to stop business as usual, stop going through the motions, stop being obsessed with the negativity around you, and stop and listen to the voice of the Lord. Ask the Lord for His perspective on the circumstances you are currently facing. What does the Lord have to say about your family, our community, and America? Just hearing one word from God can change everything for you. 

Next, LOOK AROUND.

What do you see happening around you? What has the Lord called you to do about it? I look around and see confusion, division, and intense hatred for Israel like I’ve never seen before in my lifetime. But I also see that God is raising up a remnant of prayer warriors in these last days. As you look around, I want you to take note of what is possible. Take note of not just what is but what could be. When you do this, faith will well up in you! That faith will prompt you to action. 

Now it’s time to ASK for the old godly way!

I love this. Ask for the old, godly way of humility to be evident in your life. Ask for the old, godly way of reverence. Ask for the old, godly way of prayer to be active in your life. Ask for the old, godly way of honoring the Lord’s Words. Ask for the old godly way known for a deep, intimate relationship with God, what the Bible calls close fellowship or walking with God. 

We must ask for the old, godly way and walk in it! Asking must be followed by action.
When it comes to our state and country, please pray and please take action. One of the actions you can take is to vote. The truth is a large percentage of Christians don’t vote every election year. I don’t know why that is, but it should not be. Elections have consequences. Be sure to make your voice heard. 

As long as people are running for office, there will never be a perfect person to vote for. But you can vote with biblical values as your guide. Let’s do our part and ask for that old, godly way and then walk in it. The promise is that then there will be rest for your soul. I pray that for you and your family. 

Would you join me in a prayer for the United States of America? 

Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name to pray for Michigan and America. I’m asking for the old godly way! As your people who are called by your name, we humble ourselves before you, great King. We turn from our wicked ways. Forgive us for the injustice, murder, pride, arrogance, and perversion that has polluted this nation. May our hearts be right before you so that you will hear our cry, forgive us, and heal our land. 

We are a nation in need of your healing touch! We are utterly broken and bankrupt apart from you. I ask that the fear of the Lord will fall on this land called America. May there be a holy respect for you, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. According to your word, give us hearts that long to know you more than anybody or anything—that you will be our God, and we will be your people! May there be a genuine spirit of humility and repentance across this land that will cause thousands to be swept into your Kingdom in these last days.

As it is in Heaven, let it be on the earth! As it is in Heaven, let it be in America! I ask for an invasion of your Kingdom—the King’s Domain—to come to this land. I declare the state of Michigan to be a healing zone, a divorce-free zone, a cancer-free zone for your honor and glory! I ask that you stretch out your hand with healing power over this nation and heal those who are hurt. 

Father, you have a long history of waking kings in the middle of the night and putting in a leader’s heart what they should do. I ask that you wake up our leaders in the night season. I ask that you give them dreams and visions and put what they should do in their hearts. Cause our leaders to be delivered from wicked men. Heal our leaders where they hurt and give them peace. I pray that our leaders will have ears to hear you and a heart to obey so that our land may be healed. 

Grant our leaders wisdom in all their decisions, specifically concerning our interaction with Israel. We know that those who bless Israel will be blessed! So, help us as a nation to always bless Israel. May we walk in the blessing that comes from blessing your people, Israel. 

Father, surround this nation with a fiery wall of protection, and no weapon formed against this nation will prosper in the name of Jesus. You, Lord, be the glory inside this nation. Thank you for bringing healing to America for your honor and glory. Amen.

Pray for Ukraine

Urgent Prayers for Ukraine

As the potential of a Russian invasion increases in Ukraine, Mount Hope’s Eurasia region is asking for urgent prayers for peace be offered up.

Currently, two Mount Hope missionary families plan to stay in Ukraine, while five will return to the United States. Five more families were already in the United States for itineration, and will remain stateside until further notice.

Missionaries Gerald and Jane Dollar say, “Everyone is speculating and preparing for an invasion, but that hasn’t happened. We read the American News and it is accurate reporting. A devastating invasion in the east could happen, and air strikes on Kyiv could happen. Everyone is preparing—most civilians have a plan. The situation is grave, but GOD! He will not forsake us. Only His mighty hand can stop the imminent bloodshed. That is what Christians on both sides of the conflict are believing for. Churches are on high alert. We’ve been called to prayer and fasting.”

The Pentecostal Union

Amid Ukraine’s population of 44 million, 11,000 registered evangelical organizations and churches exist. The Mount Hope’s primary partnering organization—the Pentecostal Union—has 1,800 established churches. And 3.6% of the population is evangelical believers.

In recent years, the Pentecostal Union, in partnership with Mount Hope personnel, has engaged in aggressive church planting across Ukraine, realizing that years of peace gave them unprecedented opportunity to work quickly and thoroughly.

“We must seize this opportunity and plant as many churches as we can before doors are closed. Our task is to prepare and send leaders to new churches,” says Vasiliy Voytovich. (In September 2015, ETS launched the first Russian-language Doctor of Practical Theology program in the former Soviet Union of which Voytovich is the president!)

His wife, Lyubov, agrees, “Every day, I and my 10 younger siblings left for school unsure if we would even get home to see our parents,” she says. “The government was threatening to take us from them unless they raised us as atheists. So, I know that what we have opportunity to do now is important! Please pray that we will have the wisdom to catch and realize what God wants us to do in the midst of what He is doing so quickly. We don’t want to miss anything that He needs us to do.”

Prayer Points

The Pentecostal Union has issued a call to prayer and fasting January 30—February 6, with the following prayer points:

  • Peace in the region
  • That many will come to repentance
  • That the good news of Jesus Christ will be preached widely throughout this crisis
  • For sound minds and peaceful hearts

In addition to our calls to prayer, many believers have already been fasting for weeks around the world. We know there is a miracle needed! And God will show up. I’m sure of it.

Hold Nothing Back

“and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.” (Acts 5:2-5 ESV)

The questions’ The Apostle Peter posses here are piercing, “ And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? ” especially if we turn the sharp inquisition towards our own lives. What if this wasn’t about property and money? What if this moment is about our lives?

What if the Scripture, by the Spirit of God is really asking us, “Have you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back a part of yourself? Was not your life your own to do with what you pleased before you made Jesus Christ Lord of your life? Why is it that we have contrived this deed in your heart … to say that you have given your life to Jesus, but yet you have held back a portion of it for yourself?”

Holding Back A Portion

In the context of our faith, I believe these questions are relevant today and the outcome the same. Like Ananias, those who hold back a portion of their life from God yet pretend to present the whole eventually fall and their faith dies (Read Luke 8:13). James, the brother of Jesus Christ writes, “For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead” (James 2:26 AMPC).

This issue of holding back is not new. The Lord knows what is in man, and from the beginning He has encouraged us to guard our hearts from pretending to be something we are not. For example, in Exodus Moses records his encounter with the Living God on a mountain where he was instructed by the Great I AM to write Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments would become the foundation of a moral life and the fundamental principles of godly living for those who would follow God. However, the third commandment is one that is often misunderstood. It states, “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

For most western Christians, we understand this commandment as a warning to never use the name of God recklessly or in a meaningless way. For example, when someone gets upset and out of frustration may yell “Jesus Christ!” Or when someone is mad and they shout, “God d@%# it!” Most television networks will bleep these statements out as a curse word (and in order to not engage your web browser’s parent controls, I also had to censor the phrase—which only proves the point). However, though I acknowledge these rude uses of God’s name are disrespectful and wrong, this is not really what the third commandment is talking about. The third commandment is really a warning against pretending to be something we are not.

Represent His Name

The third commandment is saying don’t take on the name of The Lord unless we mean to represent who He is! It is a warning against holding back or pretending we are followers of God, when we’ve actually held back a portion of your lives for your selfish desires or a sinful lifestyle. The commandment is warning us against calling ourselves “Christians” when our lives and behavior are not “Christ-like” at all!

It would be as if someone put on a team jersey, but had no idea how to play the team’s sport, didn’t know the coach, didn’t know the plays, nor did they intend to do what was necessary to train to win. They have taken on the team name in vain. They may wear the name, but they don’t represent nor belong to the team. Or it would be like a woman taking on the name of her husband with no intention of being faithful to him alone. She has taken on his name in vain and her vows were meaningless because her actions don’t correlate with the name she took on as her own.

This is why the Lord said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:27-28 ESV)

Jesus goes onto to say, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33 ESV).

What Are You Holding Back?

Are you holding back? The Lord is asking you right now to stop and really measure what it means to follow Him and to give Him your whole life. Your life was yours to begin with and you can do with it what you please. However if you step forward to present your soul to the King of Glory, hold nothing back! We are commanded to give it all and do not lie to the Holy Spirit. Give Him ownership of your thoughts, your opinions, your behavior, your work, your marriage, your family, your future, your entertainment … let Him have it all! Hold nothing back … because The Lord so loved us that He held nothing back from us—He gave His life for us—He gave it all on the cross, so hold nothing back from Him. He is worth it!

“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24 ESV)

Let me remind you that The Lord requires that we give Him everything, yet we are putting our lives into the hands of He who is Love, He is Good, He is Truth, He is Life. He knows that if we give Him our life, He can then multiply it into something far greater than our best intentions. When we place our entire life at His feet, He then takes it and transforms it into something so amazing, so fulfilling, so supernatural, so loving, and everlasting. When we lose our life for Jesus and hold nothing back, we gain immeasurably more!

Prayer

Lord, I give it all. The portion I have held back from You, I now give. I let you in to take the things that I have been unwilling to give up or was afraid to let go of. You have all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength. I present my whole life afresh and new. I have counted the cost and realize you are worth my entire life! I renounce all sin and turn from evil that I know keeps be from knowing You wholly. Jesus, you are my everything, I love You! I hold nothing back! Amen. 

Take Action

Faith without obedience is dead. This is where the rubber meets the road. If you meant that prayer and are presenting your whole life, you must now give up those things that you have kept back for yourself. For example, maybe you have refused to give up an immoral relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Maybe a relationship has become sexually immoral and you need to establish new boundaries to maintain holiness. Or maybe you’re viewing websites that are immoral and unholy and you need to delete some apps and use some software that will keep you accountable. Faith in God is alive when you take action to remove sin in order to please God and live for Him wholly. Hold nothing back!

What is Our Purpose?

A MHLS First Year Student Essay by Bram Nguyen

 Wanted Not Needed

I would like to believe that when we were born our parents’ first thought was not, “Why did we bring this child into the world? What purpose will they serve?” But rather, when we were brought into this world their first impression was that they simply loved us and wanted to be with us, not because of anything we had done but because we were their child. We were not created to fill a job, we are not created to fill a need; we are created because we were wanted. Earthly parents want to have children; they do not need to have them. In a similar way, God does not need us:

“nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” – Acts 17:25

Yet, also in a similar way, God wants us. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible tells us one story; in sixty-six different books. It’s the story of God wanting to be with the people He had created.

Immanuel Means: God With Us.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” – John 1:14

All of us at one time were separated from God; removed from His presence not because of His will, but because of our own. We were all born into sin; choosing to live apart from Him. But, God had a plan from before the creation of the world to reconcile us to Himself.

“He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” – 1 Peter 1:20

Humanity had fallen infinitely short of God’s standard. He was completely holy, completely just, completely loving, and completely perfect. And, whoever did not meet those same criteria would become subject to judgement—eternal judgement.

“All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” – Psalm 14:3

And yet, through all of mankind’s sin God still desired to be with the people He had created. He knew that no one would be able to follow the law in its entirety, and that we could not obtain remission for our sins on our own. So, we needed another means of salvation; another means of being reunited with God.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

So, God in His great mercy made another way for us. He stepped out of Heaven and stepped into the world; to accomplish salvation for us. He sent His one and only Son to dwell among His people, and to grant salvation to mankind.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Jesus came—as God in the flesh—lived the perfectly righteous life we could not, was crucified as the unblemished offering for our sins, and rose again to bring us to life with Him. God’s plan all along wasn’t that we would make ourselves righteous, but that He himself would make us righteous. Perfectly righteous before His eyes, not because of the work we had done, but because of the work He had done on the cross on our behalf.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…” – 2 Timothy 1

The entire Bible culminates around the story of Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins—God with us. But why? The “why” behind God sending His son to earth is His “why” for creating us. God sent Jesus to reestablish the relationship we lost with Him, because of sin, that He had intended for us to have with Him since the beginning. God wanted to be with His people.

This is the First and Greatest Commandment

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” – Matthew 22:37

Sometimes we tend to over complicate God’s purpose for our life. Jesus is pretty clear about what God’s desire is for us—that is to love Him. God is not a God of confusion, the purpose He has laid out for us in scripture isn’t meant to be complicated. Throughout the narrative of the Old Testament we see God’s people struggling to grasp the simplicity of His desire for them. The Jewish people often thought that God’s purpose for their lives was to follow the Mosaic Law, and that by doing so they would be doing His will. But, they deeply missed the point of the Law. God gave them commandments not to help them overcome sin, but to point out their sin. And, to point to the deeper message that they needed God Himself to be made righteous. God’s intention was not for them to simply follow a set of rules, but that the Jewish people would love Him enough to want to follow His commands.

And the Second is Like It

“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:39

And, God purposed that not only we love Him, but that we also love our fellow man—in an expression of our love towards Him.

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11

To Know God

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

John 17:3 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It comes straight from the mouth of Jesus—from the mouth of God Himself. In one sentence Jesus explains what it means to live—why we were created.

The most profound assertion Jesus makes in this verse is that eternal life “is” knowing God. Eternal life doesn’t just include knowing God, it’s not just about knowing God, it’s not just “for” knowing God, it “is” knowing God. What Jesus is saying here is that the essence of life itself is to be in relationship with Him.

            “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…” – Ephesians 2:1

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul uses deliberate language to describe what it means to be “born again.” He states that we were once “dead” because of our trespasses and sins—This isn’t figurative language. When he said we were dead, he meant it. Because sin had separated us from God, we were truly dead. Our physical bodies were moving, breathing, and functioning—yet our eternal spirit—was dead.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:4-7

The process of us being “born again” into new life was the act of us entering into a relationship with Him. As we came to know God through putting our faith in Christ and turning from the sin that gave us death, we were made alive. Us coming to know God didn’t just give us eternal life, it was the eternal life we had been separated from since the beginning.

The Lord has revealed so many things about Himself to us. Yet, there are an infinite number of things we don’t know about Him. What I find so intriguing about God is that He decides not to completely reveal all of Himself to us at once. Throughout the narrative of the Bible, and even in our personal relationships with God, we see Him unveiling His character and who He is little by little. As if He is intentionally desiring for us to seek and pursue Him more. This is really one of the main reasons for why God gave us the scriptures in the first place. The Bible isn’t just a book of stories or commands from God. In some sense, the Bible is one enormous invitation-letter to knowing Him more deeply.

God’s Glory: the Imago Dei

“And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” – Isaiah 6:3

Pens were created to write, knives were created to cut, hammers were created to build, and mankind was created to glorify God.

“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” – Isaiah 43:6-7

When we are glorifying God we are fulfilling our purpose. When we exalt Him and lift Him up we are doing what we were made to do.

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…” – Genesis 1:26

We were created to reflect God’s image back to Him. He gave us His image, and now we give it back to Him. When we look into a mirror the mirror itself isn’t what we are admiring, rather we are admiring the image of ourselves that we see in it. I believe, in a similar way, God loves when we seek to glorify Him because, when we do, we reflect back to Him His own image like a person looking into a mirror.

By Him and For Him

God loves each one person individually, and has specific plans for each one of our lives. However, I think sometimes—in an innocent way—we overemphasize ourselves in the matter. We tend to ask the Lord, “God, what is your purpose for me?” when it might be more beneficial for us to ask, “God, what is my purpose—for you?” This is not saying that we make up or decide our purpose for God—or that we have some sort of plan for Him—but rather that God gives us a purpose that is—for Him.

God’s purpose for our lives is not so much “for us” as much as it is “for Him.” When a craftsman builds a chair to sit in, the purpose of that chair is not for the chair itself; the purpose of the chair is “for” him—the craftsman. In the same way, we were not created by Him for ourselves, we were created by Him, for Him—Jesus.

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” – Colossians 1:16

Who has Jesus made mankind to be? And, what is our purpose on earth?

When I read over that question my mind automatically wants to rephrase and restate it. “Who has Jesus made mankind to be?,” well the answer to that question is in the question. Jesus made mankind—to be. God’s purpose in creating us, our purpose for this life, our reason for being placed on this earth was simply “to be.” God never needed us; since before the creation of time God lived an infinitely perfect existence in communion with Himself—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created mankind simply—to exist—and His purpose for us on the earth was to share that perfect communion with Him.

Everyone Is A Minister

by Joseph Mead

At Mount Hope Church, we have seven beautiful core values. These values function as cultural guardrails to keep us on track with biblical truths that the Lord has expressed in our unique church family. One of those values is particularly powerful and very significant for anyone who follows Jesus Christ. It states that, “Every member is a minister. Each member of the body is responsible to help the others grow.”

Can You See It?

Have you ever really stopped to envision what it might look like to have 1,500 ministers all gather in one place to worship Jesus and minister to one another? Can you imagine if every one of those worshipers were spiritual powerhouses like King David, the Prophet Jeremiah, or the Apostle Paul? What if everyone in the room was a person who knew exactly who they were in God, had impeccable godly character, knew their gifts, and were daily doing supernatural exploits for God in the unique area of their calling and anointing? Can you imagine how the earth would shake when these ministers gathered to worship Jesus together? Can you see how darkness and evil would flee the region due to the glory of this holy gathering of the sons and daughters of light (See John 12:36)?

What’s described above isn’t my vision. It isn’t even Pastor Kevin’s vision. This is God’s will and what He has made possible through Jesus Christ. And as believers, we have become the stewards of it! Maybe you need more proof that this is God’s will. If so, let’s look at Hebrews, chapter 8. The writer of Hebrews unpacks a prophecy from Jeremiah from the sixth century. The prophecy declares a day when God establishes a New Covenant with His people, and the outcome is amazing [Jer. 31:31-34].

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And it will not be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, ‘Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins, and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more” (Hebrews 8:10-12 AMP).

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jeremiah! He came and made a way for our sins to be remembered no more! He has lavished His grace on us and made us righteous before God. But it doesn’t end there! This mercy also empowers all who believe to have full access to God’s thoughts, ideas, and understanding! Each of us has a unique gift to pray, read, and study the Scriptures with the Spirit of God and then apply the truth He teaches us! This does not eliminate our need for others or our call to honor the five-fold ministry as described in Ephesians 4—for these ministers are also gifts to us to further empower us to come into our full maturity in Christ! However, this does liberate us into personal relationship with God and a responsibility to seek Him for ourselves (See Matthew 6:33).

This new covenant challenges the religious myth that only an elite group of qualified professional holy people have access to God for greater works. Additionally, this myth provides a convenient way out for those who would rather delegate spiritual responsibility to others. The myth of religious pride robs people from entering into God’s unique purpose for themselves. Believing this myth sets up a new veil between them and God (unlike the one God ripped in the Temple), and the separation keeps them at a distance, unable to experience anything close to what Jeremiah prophesied.

This Ought Not Be!

Jesus Christ came to die on a cross and ransom His sinless life for the world (See John 3:16). This spiritual trade made a way for us all to come close to God. The Father in Heaven ripped the veil in the Temple, as if to announce, “Come into the Holy of Holies! Through faith in Jesus, The Son of God, I have awarded you righteousness! So everyone, draw near to Me” (Read the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15). Therefore, we can all pray and be heard, we can all experience the Holy Spirit fill us, we call be given wisdom and godly character, we can all operate in spiritual gifts (See 1 Corinthians 14:1).

To further the point, read the miracle of the crippled man in Acts 3. When Peter prayed for the crippled man and he was instantly healed, God wasn’t saying that Peter and John had finally attained to some level of holiness to do miracles now. (I mean, Peter had just recently denied Jesus, months prior.) God was showing what the New Covenant through Jesus Christ is capable of through ordinary men like Peter and John.

“Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?’” (Acts 3:11-12 NKJV)

It wasn’t Peter’s godliness or by John’s power that this miracle happened. It was possible because Jesus had finished what He came to accomplish on the cross and enacted the New Covenant. “For all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them.” And now God had written His ways on the hearts of His people through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (See Acts 2). God had written on Peter’s heart that He has compassion on the poor and the broken and that He came to heal the sick! So that is exactly what Peter did, even though the “holy elite” threatened them and took them into custody for … ah, well … I guess you could say an unauthorized miracle. How insane is that! Religious pride blinded the Pharisees so that they could not see God working right in their midst. Instead, they were more worried about maintaining their spiritual high-ground, their money, and their elite status. The Pharisees missed the dawn of a new day where God had decentralized His Spirit and now sent His grace to every tribe, tongue, and nation!

The New Requirement

What the religious did notice was “…they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NKJV). There you have it! If there is a “requirement” to minister to others, this new requirement is to “be with Jesus.” The cross of Christ made you worthy, the resurrection made you alive, and the Holy Spirit made you powerful. So, let every member be with Jesus and be a minister, and all do our part “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13 NKJV).

Keys to Boosting Your Immune System

I sat down with Dr. Jean-Guy Daigneault, Director of Gilead Healing Center, who has been specializing in clinical nutrition, chiropractic, and overall wellness in the Lansing community for nearly two decades. He shared some practical tips that you can do on this journey to better health!

Pastor Kevin: Everyone wants to be healthy, but we know sometimes if feels like all we can do is try not to get something bad, but you and I both know there are some things we can do to position our body to heal itself, just the way God made it. If I cut myself, what does the body do? It heals, because God made it that way. So what are some things we can do to position our body to be healthy, boost the immune system, and heal itself?

Dr. Jean-Guy: That’s a great question! God wants us to be healthy—that’s number one! Our vertical relationship with Him is first. And following the pandemic, many people have had more questions. There are things we know people can do across the board that will help their bodies get the proper raw material to help them function. These are things that optimize—not a treatment or cure for anything—but optimize function. And we can implement what we know about the human body that can benefit us as it relates to the immune system.

Here are some practical ways you can boost your immune system on your way to better health!
  1. Vitamin D: We naturally receive the benefits of Vitamin D from the sun, but Lansing is the second most overcast city in the nation. Over ninety-percent of people across the country are low in Vitamin D, so it is vital that we supplement with a good, inexpensive supplement. You can have your level checked with a simple lab test. Vitamin D also functions like a hormone in our body, so it is important to a lot of different biochemical pathways in your body in order for your body to function as it should.
  2. Zinc: important to take daily to enhance your body’s ability to function better as it relates to your immune system.
  3. Vitamin C: You may think of orange juice, but let’s understand that there are optimal sources of Vitamin C that don’t have as much sugar. If you are taking in a lot of sugar, you will reduce the good effects of Vitamin C in your body.
  4. Reduce Sugar: The more you can reduce the amount of sugar intake—anything that contains sugar or breaks down into sugar—then you will enhance the response and ability for Vitamin C to do what it was designed to do. Our cells have receptors that have an affinity for Vitamin C, but those same cells also have an affinity for sugar. Sugars will hook to those cells at the expense of the Vitamin C.
  5. Fish Oil: This contains Omega-3 fatty acids which we need and don’t readily get enough of in our standard diet. These are good for cognition, eyes, heart, immune system, musculoskeletal system… pretty much everything! Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc, can be traced back to inflammation. Reducing inflammation with quality supplements including fish oil means you are likely to function better. You may think cod liver oil does not sound appealing, but there are various products that can deliver the benefits with a better taste; some have Vitamin A added for even more benefit during the winter months.
  6. Probiotics: Often, your gut—your gastrointestinal tract—is not functioning properly. You may frequently deal with bloating, indigestion, heartburn, or similar issues, and this is often due to imbalance between the good bacteria and bad bacteria in your gut. Because 80% of our immune system is in the gut, if your gastrointestinal tract isn’t working properly then there is trouble. Also, 80% of your “feel-good” neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, are made in your gut. If your gut is not functioning optimally, your body can’t adequately produce these, and there can be links to such things as depression. There is such a vital connection between your gastrointestinal tract and the brain. To learn more, there’s a book that explains this well: The Second Brain, by Dr. Michael D. Gershon, MD.
  7. Multi-vitamins/Minerals: Organic, made from whole foods. Our diets are lacking and need this key supplementation.

Pastor Kevin: There are many ways that Gilead Healing Center is here for our Mount Hope family and entire community, from chiropractic care to nutrition, healing prayer, counseling, and general medicine. Doctor, would you pray a prayer of covering, for divine health over all who are reading this today?

A prayer from Dr. Jean-Guy:

Father God, we come before you with humility on behalf of everyone who is reading this. I pray for every one of you to know that God wants you to be healthy. I pray for wisdom and discernment to take care of your body and have the desire to do that. God’s Word tells us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so I pray for you at this moment, starting today, you will have the desire to take care of yourself, to be better, to do God’s work. We know we can’t do that unless we have our health. So I pray you will have the ability, desire—not only for yourself but for others around you—to have that wisdom and discernment to help your body, your household, and the people you love and care about. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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