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Get Out of the Cave

The Pearl of Great Price

Father's Day 2005

Revival Fire Burns

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Get Out of the Cave
1 Kings 19

Elijah was one of the great prophets whom God used to perform many mighty works in His name.  However, there was a very human side of Elijah too.  After he had done all these great things he became afraid because Queen Jezebel threatened his life.  He sat under a juniper tree and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (v 4 ).  Of course the Lord had other plans for Elijah.  He had an angel come down and feed him and give him something to drink, and that gave him strength for 40 days.

Although the Lord had given him the strength to get up and go again, he still wasn’t over his "pity party."  He went into a cave to stay, but the wonderful thing about the Lord is, He doesn’t leave us alone when we are feeling like giving up.  He asked Elijah, "What doest thou here, Elijah?"  God let him answer and then He basically said, “Elijah get out of the cave."   Elijah did, and this is what he saw.  (v11)”… behold the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rock before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind: after the wind an earthquake: but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
(v12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

Elijah finally began to listen.  He stopped his complaining, turned his fears over to the Lord and got out of the cave; then he was able to continue the work that God had for him to do.

God told him to go in a certain direction.  While he was traveling he saw a man, Elisha, plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. This man was to be his successor.  Apparently Elisha knew of Elijah's great reputation, because when Elijah put the mantle on him he left the oxen and was ready to follow him.

It is so important that the older generation set the example for the younger.  If all they hear is complaining and never see us getting victory over our fears, they may never follow the leading of the Lord to succeed us.  Elisha knew of the great victories of Elijah and maybe even the fears, but they both knew a God that could deliver them either way.

One of the greatest things that a younger person can say about an older person is " I want to be like that person." When Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted before he was to be taken away, he said, "I want a double portion of thy Spirit."   Even though Elijah told him that he asked for a hard thing, he still received the double portion.  Elisha was able to do great and mighty works by following in the steps of Elijah.

The Devil will always try to put discouragement and fears in our paths to stop us.  There are times we may be like Elijah and find ourselves in a cave trying to hide from them.  Hopefully, we will be like him, too, in learning to overcome.  There just may be an Elisha waiting down the road for the mantle and double portion to fall on them.

The Pearl of Great Price


"Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

(Matthew 13: 44-45)

A business man is trying make a living selling pearls. He looks for the ones that have the best quality to sell.  He finds many that look good. He also finds many that are not of good quality.  While he is on this quest he runs upon one that is beyond all of his expectations.  It is perfect; without flaw; it is so remarkable that he decides to sell everything he has and buy the one.

Jesus used this illustration to show how man is on a quest, looking for things to satisfy a longing that they have.   They are looking for something to fill a void in their lives.  Many think that riches will satisfy that longing, so they work and work to fill their bank accounts.  They buy houses, cars, and other pleasurable items, only to find out that these things are not lasting.  Not being satisfied they continue searching.  Some will try alcohol or drugs and others try to fill that void with illicit sexual pleasures.

The journey continues
because these "things" only give temporary pleasure.  When Moses lived in the palace he had access to all the riches that Pharaoh had, but Hebrews 11: 24 -25 says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter choosing rather to suffer the affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."  You will find pleasure in the world, but it is never lasting.  Oh, but the things that are lasting are love when you feel no one loves you, peace when your mind is troubled and the promise of eternal life.  These are the things you will find when you discover that "Pearl of Great Price" who is Jesus, the one who gave His life for our sins.

I would like to add that God does not care that we have material things; He wants to bless us, but everything has to be in its right place, and God should always be first in our lives.  The Devil will try to lure us as Christians back into the world.  The temptations will always be there, but just as Jesus overcame when He was in the wilderness by using the Word of God against Him, we can overcome too.  Matthew 4:10, "Then Jesus said unto Him, get thee hence Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve."

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your personal Savior and He is speaking to your heart now, I plead with you, do not turn Him away.  Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

If you need prayer for salvation or any other need, please sign the Prayer Request Book.  Prayer Books are on Pastor Jerry's Home Page--Click here.

July 8, 2005

Father's Day 2005

Since this is the time of year that our minds are on giving our fathers the honor they so richly deserve, I would like to take this time to give honor to my father, Rev. Paul Grubbs.  He has gone to be with the Lord now, but his life was a testimony of the goodness and grace of God; first to his family and then to those to whom he was a pastor and to all who knew him.

This song became a theme song for my dad.  He really believed that God had kept his hand on him all the years of his life.  As a young husband and father he became gravely ill with typhoid fever.  My mom felt  that he wasn’t going to make it.  When he finally began to recover, he went to get a haircut and the barber who had known him for years didn’t even recognize him because he had lost so much weight.  He faced death, but God had other plans for him.

For several years he worked as a coal miner in Fonde, Kentucky (Bell County).  He also worked as a logger.  He was a man who was not afraid of hard work.  Along with working  these jobs, he also was a pastor.

Our family like many others moved to Detroit Michigan in the early 1950’s, because there was no work to be found in the area where we lived.  There were 5 of us children, and he had to do something to make a living for his family.  The move to Detroit was a difficult one for all of us.  As he began to go from place to place looking for a job, it was required by the companies that he have a physical examination.  It was during this time that he  discovered that he had a bad valve and leakage of the heart.  No company wanted to hire him.  He continually prayed for help from the Lord.  The Lord answered his prayer and blessed him with a job at a Brass Co. He worked there until his retirement at the age of 65.

During the time he worked at the Brass Co. he felt the Spirit of God speak to him and tell him to start a church. With just his family and one more family the church was opened in a store front building. He was pastor of this church for 40 years. During these years there were different times that he had serious illnesses and the Lord touched him. One Sunday
morning we were in worship service and he was in the hospital. All of a sudden he came through the door still wearing the ID bracelet from the hospital. The doctor had released him and he wanted to come straight to church to give God the praise for touching him.

Of all the wonderful memories I have of my father, of all the great lessons I learned from  him; I am most thankful for the testimony he left me, of Jesus’ saving power, of His healing power and of His keeping power. As for myself, being  a father, a grandfather and a great- grandfather I pray that I can leave the same legacy  for my family and they will know that "Down through the years , God’s been good to me"!

I would like to add this thought:
Throughout  the book of Proverbs Solomon gave many instructions to his son, about commitment to God and the promises that go along with it.  One of the most important instructions he gave was that of having a good name.  Proverbs 22:1: "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Many fathers are working extra jobs to give their families a lot of material things above and beyond their needs. There is nothing wrong with us having material blessings, but more than anything let us as fathers be sure our children remember us for having a good name.

I give honor to all the fathers and may God’s blessings be on  you.
 

In honor of my dad, Rev. Paul Grubbs.

........Pastor Jerry Grubbs

 Welcome and News

"Revival Fire Burns"

April 23 2004

I just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to our new web site.  Hope you enjoyed visiting with us.

The Lord is blessing in our church with a spirit of revival.  I was privileged to baptize 30 individuals in our church.  We had scheduled a baptismal service with seven people to be baptized; as the service progressed and the Spirit of the Lord moved, people who had not even intended to be baptized were coming forward.  As they left the pool, they were crying and praising the Lord for what He had done in their lives.  Many were new converts, and the others just wanted to renew their covenant with the Lord.

The following week others were coming to say they too wanted to be baptized.  It is marvelous to see how the Spirit of the Lord can move upon the hearts of people to change their lives.  We give God all the honor and praise for what He is doing.

We had some who were prodigals who had come back to the Lord.  In my sermon that morning, the Lord inspired me to preach on the prodigal son; how he was so low he was willing to eat with the pigs, while everyone in the Father's house were feasting.  I believe there are many out there now who need to come back to the Father's house and eat at the father's table where there is "bread enough to spare" (Luke 15:17).  You don't have to "perish with hunger."  The Father is waiting with "compassion" to welcome you home.  Praise God for His mercy and grace that He shows to all of us.

If you need prayer, please feel free to e-mail me, and I will pray for you

. . . . . . . Pastor Jerry