December 15, 2024

Several years ago, Clarence DeLoach, preached a sermon he called, “The King’s Highway.” The title comes from the book of Numbers, where the writer said, “We will go by the king’s highway we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders” (Num. 20:17)

The lesson was about a different highway. It was about the road mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” From this text, the following observations were made about one’s journey down “The King’s Highway”

A Decision to Face: There are only two possibilities. We can either choose to follow the broad way or the narrow way. We often divide men horizontally. He is an athlete, a successful business man, a parent, a taxpayer, etc…But, God divides man vertically. You are either on the right hand or the left. You are either going to Heaven or you’re not. You have the freedom to choose the direction that you want to go.

A Direction to Follow: That gate is strait and that way is narrow. The terms “strait” and “narrow” describe the direction God wants us to take. These two terms literally mean difficult and rigid. It takes discipline to follow the righteous path. This way takes discipline because it its different than the broad way. It has a different source, follows a different course, and ends with a different conclusion. Though this way is a disciplined way and a different way, it is also a delightful way. Delightful because it is Christ’s way. Delightful because it is the heavenly way.

A Destiny to Find: Every road we travel leads to a destination. The broad way leads to destruction, but the narrow way leads to life. Someone asked this powerful question, “When I get to where I’m heading, where will I be?” Both roads are heading in different directions. If you keep following the way you have chosen, where will you end up? Are you on your way to a destiny of eternal destruction? Or, are you on your way to eternal life?

Today, you’ll be faced with a decision to make. The decision will determine the direction that you follow. The direction you follow will determine the destiny that you find.

Amended from Notes by Neil Richy

~ Kevin Cleary

December 8, 2024

To thousands, Christmas does not mean a mass for Christ, just as Saturday does not mean a day to worship Saturn, and as Thursday does not mean a day dedicated to the war god, Thor. To thousands, Christmas means only a time for families and good friends to get together, to exchange gifts, and to relax. 

All Christians rejoice that the great Father planned that Mary, sitting on a donkey’s back, riding toward Bethlehem, had, in her womb, God in the flesh, being protected by a water bag. This was the super-miracle, for lying in a feeding trough was the creator of the universe (Jn. 1:3), one who would become a brother (Rm. 8:29), a friend (Jn. 15:14), the sin-bearer (2 Cor. 5:21), and the redeemer (1 Pt. 1:18-19). 

On any day at any season of the year it is edifying to sing songs about the birth of the Anointed One, the Christ-child. Songs about the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem continue to make millions happy and draw them closer to one another and to the One who came to live among humans and who wants to take them to heaven. 

G.K. Wallace (GOSPEL ADVOCATE, 12-15-1966) asked “What shall we do this Christmas?” He gives 12 answers: 

1. Seek out a forgotten friend and write a love letter.
2. Dismiss suspicion and learn to trust.
3. Share a treasure and give a soft answer.
4. Manifest loyalty in word, in deed, and encourage youth.
5. Find time to do what needs to be done and keep our promises.
6. Forgive an enemy and forgo a grudge.
7. Listen, understand, and apologize, if you are wrong.
8. Be gentle, be kind, and so act as to deserve confidence.
9. Learn to laugh and take up arms against malice.
10. Do not become complacent. Express your gratitude.
11. Gladden the heart of a child, welcome a stranger, and take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
12. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again and our Holiday will be a happy day.

~ Kevin Cleary

December 1, 2024

A few years ago, I read an article by Hugo McCord. It’s offers some useful history and a good perspective that we might benefit from as we head into the Christmas season. My prayer is that this time of year may provide opportunities for sharing the truth of the gospel. McCord’s article:

 At year’s end for centuries, even before the birth of Christ, people in Europe enjoyed a holiday season. An occasion of rejoicing [for] the fact that at year’s end the northern hemisphere was at its farthest point away from the sun and was about to turn back closer to its light and warmth. Days would begin to lengthen. Gradually the long nights would be shorter. As a symbol of returning life the ancient Teutonic tribes decorated their houses with evergreen and the fireplace burned brightly with the yuletide log. Good luck gifts were freely exchanged. It was a time of joy and good cheer. 

Over three hundred years after Jesus was born the year’s end holiday season was appropriated to make a religious celebration. It was recognized that Jesus was not born in the winter time, for shepherds do not have their flocks out in the open around Bethlehem in December. Nevertheless, the date of December 25 was selected by Liberius, bishop of Rome, in 354 A.D., to coincide with the established year’s end holidays. Since that time, the bishop’s order has been followed by the Roman Catholic Church, and when the Protestant churches were established, they began following Rome’s lead in making December 25 a sacred day. 

God did not make any day of the week or of the year as a holy day for Christians. If anyone does so, it is his own private doing from “his own mind” (Rm. 14:5). And if he does so, he must not push that day on others, for, said Paul, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls (Rm. 14:4). The Christians in Galatia were pushing holy days, and they received a blistering condemnation from Paul: “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you” (Gal. 4:10-11). 

After the Roman Catholic Church had fitted an erroneous birthday of Christ to coincide with the established holiday season, more and more additions became part of the celebration. “St. Nicholas” was a 4th century bishop, who was called “the patron saint of children, sailors, and scholars,” now called “Santa Claus.” In the 11th century someone invented the word “Christmas,” meaning “Christ’s Mass” (Christes Masse). In France the word was “Noel,” meaning pertaining to a birthday. 

The burning of candles and the use of bright lights during the December holidays are believed to have come from the Jewish custom in their celebration of the Feast of Dedication, the Hanukkah, the “Feast of Lights,” December 23-30, mentioned in John 10:22. 

The use of trees as decorations began in German mystery plays as symbolic of the Garden of Eden. The use of mistletoe came from the English belief of its magical powers: If one’s enemy stood under the mistletoe he would disarm himself. 

Manger displays started in Italy, and mincemeat pies began to be baked in oblong shapes to represent the manger. The poinsettia was discovered in Mexico, and came to be called the “Flower of the Holy Night.” The sending of greeting cards originated in England. Today such a custom spreads good cheer the world around. 

~Kevin Cleary

November 24, 2024

I am sometimes asked why I do what I do as a person and preacher, why as a church we strive to go back to the Bible. I sometimes struggle to answer because there’s just so much to say. I pray the following encourages someone to study and love the word. We love the Bible because:

It is the word of God: the same word that initiated the universe, separating light from dark, which implemented to functioning of the Laws of Physics. Which places the heavenly bodies in the paths and brought life from dust, the same voice of God is in His Book II Tim 3:16-17.

It is the word of Christ: the same word that commanded the storm on the Sea of Galilee, The words that comforted the apostles in the upper room “You believe in God, believe also in me” and which will comfort the faithful on the last day saying “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Those words were given by the Holy Spirit to the inspired writers and we can read them today (John 16:12-15; I Cor 2:6-16; Eph 3:4-5)

It is the word of truth: The words that created reality also describe it, despite any and all challenges, discoveries, doubts and fears of men the Bible is true. It’s true if we love it, it’s true if we hate it, it’s true if we do it, it’s true if we don’t. As the apostle Paul so aptly put it “Let God be true though everyone were a liar,” Wisdom embraces Jesus prayer: “sanctify them in the truth your word is truth” John 17:17

It is the word of Life: “Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Peter said of Jesus when many were leaving him “where else would we go? You have the words of life.” Will we have the same courage in a world, a family, a church, a workplace, a party, a neighbourhood that is turning away from God to “Hold fast to the word of life” and in so doing “shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15-16)? 

It is the word that endures: “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” At the end of all that we know when the heavens have been rolled up like a scroll and the earth and everything in it have burned to nothing all that will be left is the word of God. “My word will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48)

It is the living word: The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joins and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Heb 4:12) “You were born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (I Pet 1:22-23)

All we can do is: love it, trust it, depend on it, obey it, and abide in it. My prayer for all those who believe in God is that they would take the next logical step: listen to what he has revealed about life and eternity in the only source that can lead us to both. 

Having embraced the word of God for our life and salvation, our divine mandate is to take that living word to all men everywhere (Mat 28:19-20). To “preach the word” to “be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” May we ever strive to know, live, and share, God’s Holy word.

~ Kevin Cleary

November 17, 2024

     In the discussion surrounding abortion the subject most often raised is a woman’s right to freedom with her own body. There are many appropriate responses to that objection including and maybe especially the fact that freedom with the body is what created the situation in the first place. Once in a while a situation comes along that teaches so powerfully that no arguments are needed. One such situation is that of Elizabeth Joice. 

     Elizabeth desperately wanted children and so she was ecstatic when she learned she was pregnant, bad news quickly followed. Elizabeth was promptly told by doctors that she would have to make a decision. The cancer that she’d been treated for years earlier had returned. She would have to abort the baby so she could receive lifesaving cancer treatment or forgo the treatment to carry the baby. For Elizabeth that was no choice at all she knew that she would carry the baby. Elizabeth carried her baby until six week prior to her due date when a mass in her lung necessitated delivering the baby by C-section. When Elizabeth woke after surgery she was desperate to know how the baby was doing. 

     When full body scans were done it was revealed that Elizabeth’s abdomen was full of cancer and despite treatment she passed away March 9^th in hospital with her husband Max by her side. She was only able to spend one night at home with her new baby. A documentarian visiting on her one day at home records Elizabeth holding her baby and filled with joy and pride. She said “This is so worth it I would do it all again to have this child”.

     What a perfect example of love. Elizabeth demonstrated what it means to love someone to death. 

     What an honour God has bestowed upon mankind that we can bring new life into the world. What a joy to see the hope and anticipation that a baby brings. 

     As we contemplate this story let’s remember that someone else has laid down their life for us and that we have been reborn because of that sacrifice. May God bless Elizabeth’s baby and her whole family. May God bless us, as we remember that value of sacrifice and the power of love.

~ Kevin Cleary