I met the Bella Terra bear!  

I had just pulled into the driveway after a long day at the church.  It was late and I was tired.  Walking toward the mailbox to get the day’s mail I happened to notice a large shadow moving near the house across the street.  Looking closer I realized the dark shadow was actually a large black bear.  I decided the mail could wait!

Captivated by the sight, and contrary to the protests of my wife urging me to come inside, I stood there and watched as the bear meandered around.  He walked through yards, up driveways and walkways, and down the street.  Several dumpsters were set out awaiting the next morning’s trash pickup, so the bear might have been looking for supper.  (Note to self:  running through Bella Terra at night is not a good idea!)

The apostle Peter told us to be on the lookout, not for a wandering bear, but for a roaming, roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8).  My experience the other night was confirmation that the Bella Terra bear is real.  So is the roaming, roaring lion.

He has many names, all with diabolical meanings.  The most common are satan (adversary), and   devil (accuser).  While a supernatural being, Satan is not God’s equal.  He is a fallen angel who made the foolish and fatal mistake to rebel against God.  As the prince of this world (John 12:31), Satan rules a dark kingdom of demonic spirits who do his evil bidding (Eph. 6:12).

Along with being compared to a serpent and a dragon, Peter likened Satan to a roaming, roaring lion that seeks to devour.  There’s a hungry lion on the loose, so we better head for the hills!  We better run inside and look the doors.  No, that isn’t the strategy given in the Bible.

Peter said, “resist him” (1 Peter 5:9).  That’s it?  Yes.  “Resist him, steadfast in the faith.”  In Florida we are familiar with the phrase “stand your ground.”  This is the biblical strategy given in our dealings with the devil.  Stand firm.  Stand sure.  Do not run.  Do not yield.  James agrees, “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  

Paul offers the same battle strategy in Ephesians 6 - the spiritual warfare chapter of the New Testament.  Four times in vv10-18, Paul tells us to stand.  But we must be careful not to stand against the enemy in our own strength.  Remember the seven sons of Sceva? (Acts 19:14-16)  Paul was quick to say, ”Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10).  

We are no match for the devil.  But be encouraged.  The devil is no match for Jesus!  Stay strong in the Lord.  Stay submitted to the Lord.  Stay steadfast in the faith.  Stand your ground in Christ, and watch the lion run!

Pastor Todd Weston 

​By the time you read this article I will have completed my first day of teaching at the Addis Ababa Bible College of the Assemblies of God in Ethiopia.  I have the privilege of spending two weeks in this east African country teaching future ministers on the subject of Pneumatology. 

Pneumatology comes from two Greek terms --

• Pneuma which can mean wind, breath, or spirit
• Logos which means word, speech, principle, or thought

Put the two words together and you get Pneumatology - the theology of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not a divine principle or mystical force that floats around like a cloud.  He is a divine Person; the active third member of the triune godhead.

We meet the Holy Spirit in the second verse of the Bible which speaks of His presence at creation (Genesis 1:2).  The last mention of the Holy Spirit is in the closing verses of the Bible as He goes about His work of drawing people to Christ (Revelation 22:17).  From Genesis to Revelation we read of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the world and the lives of people.

Contrary to how some might think, the Holy Spirit didn’t just show up in the New Testament.  The Old Testament speaks much of the ministry of the Spirit.  But in the New Testament things changed.  Jesus announced to His disciples that the Holy Spirit who had been with them would now dwell in them (John 14:17).  At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit moves in and takes up residence in the life of the believer.

But that’s not all.  Quoting the ancient prophecy of Joel, Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost and declared that the phenomenon witnessed by the multitude in Acts 2 was the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh.  The same Holy Spirit who saves and sanctifies believers, also empowers for service (Acts 1:8).

This unique ministry of the Holy Spirit, including all the accompanying spiritual gifts, is God’s gift to the Church.  The gift was not intended just for the Early Church as some suppose.  God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is for the entire Church Age which began on the Day of Pentecost and will come to a glorious conclusion at the Rapture of the Church.

Take a moment right now to thank the Lord for His gift of the Holy Spirit.  Have you received God’s gift in all of it’s fullness?  If not, ask in faith.  According to Jesus, God is a faithful Father who gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13).

Pastor Todd Weston

​If you have attended church for very long you are probably familiar with the phrase tithes and offerings.  The two words appear often in the Bible, but are linked together only once in Malachi 3:8.  It’s a sobering passage.  God levels the charge against the people of Israel that they were guilty of robbing Him.  Imagine robbing God!  “In what way have we robbed You?” they asked in disbelief.  God answered, “In tithes and offerings.”  Stunned silence.

Most Christians understand that failing to tithe is robbing God, for the Bible specifically states that the tithe belongs to the Lord (Lev. 27:30).  When we fail to tithe we are keeping for ourselves what rightfully belongs to God.  It’s that simple.  Consequently, our finances are cursed with a curse.  We end up cheating ourselves (Mal. 3:9).

I believe most Christians get that.  Whether they tithe or not, they know in their heart of hearts that failing to tithe is wrong.  It’s the other part of the verse many believers miss.  The Bible says that the withholding of our offerings is also an act of robbery.

It might help at this point to distinguish between tithes and offerings.  The Lord’s tithe is the 10% of our income that we return to God.  Of course, 100% of our income belongs to Him.  The paying of tithes (the word means 10%) acknowledges the ownership of God over everything.

Some argue that tithing is part of the Old Testament Law and therefore no long applicable to New Testament believers.  I have a few things to say about that.  Those who dismiss Malachi 3:8-10 as no longer applicable forget what comes just before it in 3:6, “I am the LORD, I do not change.”  God’s principle of tithing has not changed because it was given by the Lord who was very careful to remind us He does not change.  What part of “do not change” do we fail to understand?

Second, tithing predates the Old Testament Law by several hundred years (Genesis 14:20; 28:22). Third, Jesus approved of the practice of tithing in the New Testament (Matthew 23:23).  And fourth, we who are under grace should not do less than those who were under the law.  If anything, we who have been saved by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ should do more.

Unlike the tithe which is a set percentage given to support the local church (the storehouse Mal. 3:10), offerings can be any amount and are free to be designated by the giver as directed by the Lord (2 Cor. 9:7).  For that reason, the Bible calls them freewill offerings.  Note:  it’s the LORD’s TITHE and MY OFFERINGS.  The one is God’s and I return it.  The other is mine and I give it.

I have been captivated for the last few weeks by this verse, “And none shall appear before Me empty-handed” (Exodus 34:20).  The challenge for me is to always come to church prepared to give in the offering.  That doesn’t mean I spread out the tithe and give a little at a time.  No, the tithe is given first and in full.  The challenge is that every time the offering is received I will worship the Lord by giving.  I will not appear before God empty-handed.  
I’m not asking you take the “ice-bucket challenge,” or to accept some other crazy dare.  I am asking you to take the giving challenge.  Actually, I am just passing along the challenge given by God Himself in Malachi 3:10, “‘Test me in this,’” says the Lord Almighty, “‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”

Do you believe God meant what He said?  Then join me in accepting the giving challenge.

Pastor Todd Weston

The other day I read about an organization called the Quitters Club.  It’s one of the largest organizations in America. The reason you’ve probably never heard of the Quitters Club is because they have no meetings — the members quit coming.  There are no dues — the members quit paying them.  

The Quitters Club has an exclusive membership.  Not just anyone can join.  The Club is made up of people who have a track record of quitting.  Be it a tough job, a longterm commitment, an unpleasant task, a painful discipline, a difficult relationship — they quit.  You’ve heard the old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  When the tough gets going, the quitters get going too — they go away!

Think of all the things we start and quit.  Reading the Bible.  Praying regularly.  Attending a certain church, or attending at all.  Reading a book.  Watching a movie.  A new exercise program.  A new diet.  A new job.  A class at school.  The list is endless.  So are the excuses.

It has become very easy to quit and never finish anything.  From all appearances, commitment and endurance levels are dangerously low.  How can a person achieve anything in life if they are constantly quitting?  The answer is, they can’t!

A few days ago I was engaged in that self-inflicted torture called running.  Long before reaching my predetermined goal, I was overwhelmed with the insatiable desire to quit.  I cannot tell you how much I wanted to quit!  I had a list of reasons to justify quitting.  I even could have twisted a few scriptures out of context to present a biblical case for quitting.  

But about the time I was ready to throw in the towel I remembered a catchy little saying I read somewhere, “TRIUMPH is just ‘TRY’ with a little ‘UMPH’ behind it.”  I finished my run!

It’s been said that a dead fish can swim downstream.  It takes effort to stay with something.  Quitting takes no effort at all.  Just walk away from the commitment.  A lot of people do that, even Christians.  But the Spirit of God calls us to better things.  Faithfulness, dependability, responsibility, perseverance, and loyalty are Christian virtues.  These are things seriously lacking in our society, but should never be lacking in the Church of Jesus Christ.

If quitting has become a bad habit for you, I want to give you two words that can change your life - quit it!  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you break past patterns of quitting, and establish new habits of finishing strong.  

If you are going to quit anything, quit quitting!
Pastor Todd Weston