Remember: He WANTS your fellowship, and He has done everything possible to make it a reality. He has forgiven your sins, at the cost of His own dear Son. He has given you His Word, and the priceless privilege of prayer and worship. - Billy Graham
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” – Luke 4: 8-9
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From the Pastor
“When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:43-45
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:1-7
The other day, when we had some bad weather and slippery roads, my mind was transported back to the past. I had been driving for a little while by the time this story takes place. I had driven on snowy and slippery roads. Actually, I was good, fairly good, at driving on them. Then something happened. I was headed to school one morning and I began to slide. I was able to navigate my way through it with minimal trouble. My car came to a stop, and I was happy. However, when I pushed the accelerator and felt the tires grip, it was for only a short time. All of a sudden my car, which had moved forward, once again became stuck.
I thought, “No problem.” I jumped out of the car, dug the wheel out a bit, and I thought I was back in business. I pressed the accelerator and went absolutely nowhere. I couldn’t understand it. My wheels were moving, and the car didn’t feel stuck. I climbed back into the car accelerated more this time, and the car did not budge. I was…stuck. After some time and investigation, I realized something. My car had slid into a block of ice, and the axle was sitting on the block of ice. So, sure, my wheels were spinning and by the looks of it from a distance, the car could move freely. Yet, upon a closer examination, my wheels were slightly off the ground, free to spin, but the car…well, it was completely stuck.
Spiritually speaking, you and I were stuck. The Bible says that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. We had no way to move. We could not climb out of the pit we were in, no matter how hard we tried. Spinning our wheels, no matter how hard we pressed the accelerator in life, would do nothing. No amount of effort could get us moving in the right direction. We, each of us, were stuck, separated from God, and without hope in the world. Yet, God did not leave us in our “stuck” state. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, to shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Now, each of us who hand the keys of our lives over to Him as Lord and Savior are made truly unstuck. In fact, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus has given us three keys that we could not get ourselves: resurrection from our dead state, redemption from our old life and old sinful nature, and new life, eternal life, in Him. Jesus is the one who makes anyone who believes in Him unstuck.
It does not matter the old road we have traveled. Jesus has rescued us from the path of destruction. Barriers do not stand in the way any longer. For Jesus has removed them through the sacrifice of His life on our behalf. Where there was once enmity, we now have forgiveness, grace and mercy. This is true of our spiritual hearts and life, my friend. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection have paid the debt to release each of us from any prison of the past. Hear the chains fall and the doors open. Jesus’ resurrection has also given us the power, His power and not ours, to get us unstuck from any and all hindrances in this life whether it be doubt, fear, anxiety, past mistakes, present missteps or concerns about the future. Jesus’ resurrection has powerfully handled everything associated with the graves that once held us as captives and the barriers which await us in this life. Walk in the new life of Jesus by faith today. Pray and draw near to Jesus. Read His Word and hear His voice calling you to, “Come forth!” as He once did to Lazarus. Hear Jesus’ instruction to remove the “grave clothes.” Walk by faith and walk into the new life Jesus has given you by faith and obedience. For we are stuck no longer! You are stuck no longer!
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
April 2026
