The Precious Treasure #108

2 Corinthians 4:1 And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry we never give up.
4:7 But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us— is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.
4:14 We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you.
4:15 All these things are for your benefit. And as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying our spirits are being renewed ever day. (NLT)

The ministry of the New Covenant is a ministry of reflecting the light of the glory of God into a world of people who need hope, encouragement and life. God receives glory as His light is reflected by those who believe in Jesus.

Because this ministry is of God and for His glory we never give up in proclaiming the Good News of salvation by grace through faith. The struggle we have is that the gospel, the wonderful treasure, is contained and proclaimed from a perishable house, the human body. All of us live in a body that will eventually die and is in that process now. The precious treasure of the gospel is proclaimed from the frailty of the human life and body in order that it becomes obvious to all that it is God at work and not us.

The hope of the believer in Christ is that as God raised Jesus from the dead after his death on the cross, we too will be raised to life through Christ. Our hope is of eternal dimensions. Through the light you reflect of God in your life the more people will come to know Jesus as their own savior. God’s grace will bring more and more people to Christ and in turn God will receive more and more glory.

That truly is why no matter the circumstances we our experiencing, God is at work in your life for His glory. That is why we do not give up. Our bodies may be dying but our Spirits are being renewed day by day. To God be the glory.

_____________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks: But in Osage Beach, MO!

I am in MO this week to prepare for my Dad to enter the local nursing home. I am glad to report he is doing quite well and looks forward to living in the home. The plans are to have him in and settled by Friday. Thanks for your prayers. Things have gone extremely well.

This is the first time in almost a year and a half for me to be away from Sandy. Because I still have a liver tube, wound dressings and flushing of the tube it was with a bit of concern I left my very special care-giver. So far so good. I just talk to her on the phone several times during the day.

Continue to pray for Sandy and me as we prepare for teaching and preaching in Louisiana. We will be in Denham Springs September 8-21. I will be preaching at New Covenant Baptist Church on the 12th and Sandy and I will lead a mini-conference on Saturday morning the 18th at Christ Community Church and I will be preaching there on the 19th. Really looking forward to renewing old acquaintances. It is hard to believe it was thirty years ago we moved there.

This last Sunday was our twenty second anniversary at Church on Mill. That also seems hard to believe. Sandy and I are still on staff as Missionaries at Large. The Church recently made me a new business card which reads "Greeter." I really like greeting people and meeting new people. The best part: I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO MEETINGS.

I pray for you today. It is my prayer you will come to know God a little more, love Him deeper, and serve Him with the gifts He has given you. To Him be the glory. ~ DGW

Removing The Veil #107

2 Corinthians 3:12-18
12 Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. 14 but the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, He gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more. (NLT)

The New Covenant, the covenant of grace, extending through Jesus death and resurrection, the privilege of being right with God by grace through faith is the basis of our confidence before God. Unlike the Old Covenant written on tablets of stone and given to Moses as the Law the New Covenant was written on the human heart.

Whenever we attempt to live by law, rules, regulations and believe that the achievement of that attempt gives us a real relationship to God we are fooling ourselves and a veil of non-truth is over our eyes. Moses came from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments and because of being in the presence of God and receiving the law his face shined with the glory of God. Yet the glory faded. Moses wore a veil over his face so Israel could not see glory fading away.

The New Covenant in the blood of Christ does not fade. The glory of God is reflected in the life of everyone who comes to believe in Christ. The veil is removed and God’s glory is reflected as a mirror in the life of the believer. The reason is because the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, lives in every believer. Not only is the veil removed, the glory of God reflected in the life of the believer; but as the Spirit works in your life you become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more. What an incredible thought; God is in you and is working in your life to make you like Jesus, for His glory. No wonder Romans 11:36 says: “For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen.”

______________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from rain soaked Tempe, AZ! The Monsoon Season
hit this week with wonderful rain. Living in the desert makes rain a real blessing. The Lord continues to bless Sandy and I both with opportunities to minister the word. I preached this past Sunday at Laveen Baptist. After two morning services and an evening service I slept real good Sunday night. I thank God for the strength.

I will be going to MO this next week in order to see my Dad and help him become a permanent resident in a senior adult care living center. I am so grateful he is doing well and that he looks forward to living there.

Sandy and I will be preaching and teaching in Louisiana Sept. 8-21 and in Virginia Oct. 22-24 and in Ohio Nov. 5-7. We so look forward to seeing the folks in these areas and in sharing with them about the wonderful grace of God.

God is good and I praise Him constantly for His provisions. I do pray He will bless you today with good news and special help for a need you have. Let me know what God is doing in your life. I will pray for you and rejoice with you.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Encourager please send me their name and email address or send them to the blog site. ~DGW

What A Warranty! #106

1 Corinthians 1:21-22 “It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us.” (NLT)

Ever buy something with a warranty? It meant that if anything went wrong with the product you could return it. Of course the warranty is usually short lived. It has certain requirements that must be upheld in order to remain in effect. After a few months or years it is no longer good. Then the store wants you to buy an extended warranty which goes for another length of time.

Aren’t you glad God doesn’t have the same approach to your walk with Him. Instead of you being the one who meets the requirements, it is God who gives us the ability to stand firm for Christ. He is the one who delivers the product, eternal life, and then guaranties it for all eternity. It is God who commissions us and identifies us as belonging to Him.

He even goes so far as to place His Holy Spirit within us as the symbol of His ownership of our lives and a guarantee we will never lose what He has given us. And the scripture says that the Holy Spirit is the first installment of everything He will give us throughout eternity. What incredible assurance, hope and encouragement that we have because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God lives in you and makes us confident that “He who began a good work in you will complete it.” Philippians 1:6

What a terrific guarantee. God paid for our eternal life in Christ with Jesus death and resurrection and then gave us His Spirit as a guarantee.

You serve an amazing God. Praise Him today and thank Him for His Holy Spirit.

I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.

_________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Tempe, AZ!

Thanks for your prayers concerning opportunities for ministry for both me and Sandy. God continues to open doors of service to Him and ministry to encourage God's servants. We scheduled speaking opportunities in Louisiana in September. We will be speaking at the New Covenant Baptist Church and Christ's Community Church, both in Denham Springs, LA. We are eager to minister but to also see many friends.

We will be in Columbus, Ohio for a conference in November and the dates are still being worked out for a conference in Virginia in October. Both of us are available the rest of the time for speaking engagements in Arizona.

I will be speaking at the Mission Service Corp meeting at the AZ Southern Baptist Convention meeting in November. Praise God for allowing both of us the health and desire to continue sharing God's word. Pray for our study and preparation time. Thanks!

Several of you have asked about how Sandy is doing after her fall while we were in South Dakota. She has recovered and healed and is doing fine.

God is so good and we are so grateful for His provisions. What a great God we serve.

Are You Part of the Flock? #105

John 21:15
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."He said to him, "Tend My lambs.
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to Him," Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. "Jesus said to him," tend My sheep. (NAS)

The Bible uses many metaphors to describe the church. It is compared to a bride, a field, a flock, a building, a people for God’ possession, sheep, an assembly. Jesus, Himself said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

Jesus confronted the apostle Peter with the imperative of caring for the flock. Jesus saw the church as sheep needing leadership. A leader that tended, cared for, and shepherded the flock of sheep He called His church. It should show you the importance of the church in your life to realize that Jesus left disciples to care for His church.

Today He still has those whose calling is to shepherd the sheep. We all need the fellowship, the teaching, the worship, the ministry of the church, but especially the care we receive from the church. Are you a part of the flock, then why not join with a local church in your area this Sunday and experience along with the other sheep what it means to be a part of Jesus’ flock.

I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.

________________________Today's Personal Note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in Tempe, AZ
We are back home from our road trip to South Dakota. We traveled 3585 miles and drove in 6 states. Sandy, Collin, and I had a wonderful time. All along the way I was able to share with people about the amazing God we serve. From people in laundramats to waitresses to preaching three times at the Community Bible church in Pierre, SD God opened doors for ministry.

The Jones family in Pierre were great hosts for our time there. What a great family. The Community Bible Church welcomed us and blessed us. We returned with mixed emotions. We were glad to be home but had such a good time we wanted to stay.

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Thanks for your prayers for open doors for ministry. I will be preaching at the Laveen Baptist Church on Sunday August 15th. Our fall schedule is beginning to fill. Please continue to pray for both Sandy and me to have opportunities to use our teaching gifts.

May God extend extra grace for your special need today.