Steadfast Love - Part 1

By Richard Cope
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16 Oct, 2019
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"Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." Psalm 63:3

This is the first post in my series on His Steadfast Love. We are going to be talking about a few of the cornerstones of Steadfast Love.

Have you ever had a good role model in your life? Someone that you knew everything about like their favorite food, the way they smelled, their favorite thing to do, their favorite place, etc. Can you put into words the impact they had on your life?

I believe there are three key ingredients to Steadfast Love.

Identity.
Steadiness.
Love.

Identity & Steadiness feed into Love.

Without identity we don't know who we are. Without steadiness we waffle back and forth. Without love, we become lost and hopeless.

IDENTITY - Everyone is looking for identity.

We search out who we are daily until we finally get satisfied with who we are! Let's look at how we get our identity.

Some men get their identity from their father.

Smithson - probably was a stone smith down the line.
Peterson - probably someone named Peter had a son.
Richardson - You see where I'm going here?

Many men are known for the work they do.

Nolan is a great plumber
Ron is a great brick layer
Jack is a great mechanic

Some men are known for their family.

Aren't you a Cope?
Aren't you a Wilcox?
Aren't you a....?

Men gain more confidence the more they have solid understanding of who they are!

Romans 8:14-17
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Women get identity from some of these things as well, but they also get their identity from their Husband and Children...

First of all, they take the last name (most times) of their husband. When Debbie and I got married, Debbie changed from Leinweber to Cope. I can't begin to tell you how many times she has been identified as Rich Cope's wife.

Many women get identity through their children.

Are you Tiffany's mom?
Oh you must be Jessica's mom!
Leslie's mom said...

I've often seen a sequence in some (not all) girls as they age.

Unsure of themselves - Pre-Boyfriend
Finding their identity - Boyfriend
Beginning to know themselves - Engaged
Know themselves, but not entirely - Married
Know themselves fully and are gaining confidence - Married with Kids
Know themselves and are ALL THAT - Married with kids AND grand kids!

This is just a simple example of how women grow into the fullness of who they are as they age.

Children get their identity from their PARENTS. They get their traits and characteristics from both parents, among other things.

Many of the most confident and satisfied children in life are the ones who have understanding of their identity from both parents. When they have two great parental figures, most times they will grow up secure in who they are. Why? Because they aren't trying to overcompensate for what is missing.

We gain our identity through all of these things, but most of all we have an innate desire to find our Spiritual Identity.

We have a Father in Heaven. The Creator of Heaven and Earth. He has the biggest family there is. He's Abba Father.

In Christ we have a:
Savior
Brother
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Counselor
And so much more.

Proverbs 18:24 Revelation 22:13

Security Or Steadiness - We All Want Steadiness

When we talk about Security or Steadiness we think of how safe we felt in our Father’s arms. How safe we felt when that Protector rose up! I’ve said this before but it bares repeating. Did you ever feel so secure in whoever your father role model was that you knew they could just whip anyone if they needed to? I knew that if I needed steadiness, stability or a secure feeling that I could just get close to my Dad. Even spiritually… He didn’t get too far out and yet he always wanted to allow God to move in power. Dad’s are supposed to be Stable and Secure! They aren’t supposed to be tossed to and fro! They need to be strong. The Word Talks of our Heavenly Father as a Strong Tower! A Refuge in a time of Trouble! Dad’s are supposed to be Steady. A cool hand when the chips are down, and a cool hand when things are really good. Always there! The reason we have so many orphans and people with Orphan Spirits is because Dads abandoned their kids.

You might be thinking, I was there in the house! But were you there when they needed you?

Mom’s have become the driving influence in too many ways because Dad’s left all of their Dad duties to Mom. Where have the Dad’s who are the Steady influence Gone? Where have the days gone when Kids would say, "I need to ask my Dad?" Wives look to the Husband for Stability! Wives look Strength and Steadiness! They weren’t wired to be the Rock of Gibraltar! MEN WERE.

Kids look for Security, stability and steadiness from Dad first and if he is absent they go to Mom. Too many Moms have had to be a dual role player! Kids need security, stability and steadiness. They need to feel Safe! They need to feel that life is stable. They need steadiness in life. Why? Because if they have that as a kid they will be that as an adult. Many times you become what was emulated in front of you as a kid! Not every time but most!

Fortunately we have a Heavenly Father that Never Changes! He is more steady than the rock of Gibraltar and His Steadiness is second to none!

Malachi 3:6 NKJV

6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

Love - Love is what we Long For.

Love comes in many forms… There is Puppy Love! There is mushy Love! There is kid love! There is also romantic Love! There is friendship love! There is Brotherly Love! There is “Only a Mother Could” kind of Love! There is Daddy’s Love!

No matter who we are or how tough we are, or think we are, we are looking for Love! Someone to Love us! Someone to care about us! The old song “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” Everyone is looking for that feeling of Love! When God made the original family, he put love in the middle of the family. A Dad that was there, a Mom who was there, Siblings who were there! Was if perfect? No! Look at Cain and Able. There isn’t a family around that is perfect.

Dads are supposed to be there, bring stability, steadiness but most of all LOVE! Moms pour out their love more openly than Dads do. Its the way they are wired. They are wired with a nurturing nature. A Mom will take on the biggest mountain because they love their kids.

Here is the thing! Kids need both the Father’s Love and the Mother’s Love! It will make them into well rounded, loving, and caring adults for their kids! How many girls out of love of their Daddy, end up with a man like their Daddy?

In this world today there isn’t enough Godly Love from Dad and Mom spread around to their Children! Our Heavenly Father Loves us so much that:

He is There when we need Him
He is there when we feel like we don’t
He is strength when we need Him
He is the gentle guide when we need it
He is our Refuge, Strong Tower and our ever present Help in time of need
He is our Provider our Healer
He is our Disciplinarian when we need it
He is our encouragement
He is our Rock
He is Always Present, All Knowing and All Powerful.
He is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent

Most of all, He is a Steadfast Loving Father who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die a cruel death so that we can have Eternal Life.

You see that Through Our Heavenly Father we have Identity in being a “Child of God,” Chosen before the Foundations of the World. We have Steadiness in knowing that He has prepare Eternal life for us if we will walk in relationship with Him. And Last of all His Love is out of this World! No love is greater than the Love the Father has for us.

Thanks for reading and be blessed!

-Pastor Rich

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Steadfast Love-Part 2

By Richard Cope • October 15, 2019

In Steadfast Love Part 1, we talked about family love and how that in the Father we find Identity, Love, and Steadiness. Everyone is looking for their Identity and that starts at an early age. We are all also wanting our lives to be steady or stable. I don't know anyone who would say that they like to have their life in turmoil. Last of all, we talked bout the Father's Love. His love is amazing and reaches so far that it spans time and space. He thought of us before the foundations of the world.

In this post, I will be talking about Brotherly Love !

Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

When we act in a way that love shows, then everything will change. Our home life changes, our work life changes, our family life changes... Everything changes when we LOVE the way that the bibles tells us.

The definition of LOVE from Websters 1828 Dictionary:

In a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification.

We love a friend, on account of some qualities which give us pleasure in his society.

We love a man who has done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters into the composition of our affection.

We love our parents and our children, on account of their connection with us, and on account of many qualities which please us.

We love to retire to a cool shade in summer.

We love a warm room in winter.

We love to hear an eloquent advocate. The christian loves his Bible.

In short, we love whatever gives us pleasure and delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the christian loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for favors received.

John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, then to lay down one's life for his friends."

What does a brother do for those he loves?

If you have a BROTHER, then you will be able to answer this question.

Before I give my input on that, I will share some Biblical examples of what brothers should NOT do.

In Genesis 4 we see where Cain killed Abel. Not really a good start when it comes to siblings...

In Genesis 25 Jacob tricked Esau into selling his birthright.

In Genesis 37 Joseph was sold into slavery.

These brothers of Genesis don't really give us a good example of brotherly love.

THESE are the things that I think that a brother does:

Teach & Train.

Clear the way - Not block the way.

Speak the TRUTH... even when we don't want to hear it.

There when needed.

Committed to each other.

Take care of each other.

Love... unconditionally, unbiased, and regardless of the cost.

One of the best examples of true brotherly love that I have ever seen in action, was of my two grandsons Carson & Wyatt. At the time, they were maybe 3 and 5 years old. Wyatt is the younger. Carson was playing in the McDonald's playland and Wyatt wanted to play also. Wyatt would get so excited watching his older brother climb up the multi-level platforms to get to the slide and slide down, but he was sad because he couldn't get his little legs high enough to climb up on his own. So Carson, of his own volition, go on his hands and knees and allowed Wyatt to use him as a step stool so that he could climb to the top to go down the slide.

That is what our Big Brother Jesus does for us. He allows us to climb on his back all the way to Heaven. He laid down his life for us. He allowed a crown of thorns to be upon our backs, he allowed stripes to be put on his back and he gave up His Own Life so that we may obtain eternal life.

Let me show you something...

Romans 8:16-17

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So we have a Big Brother named Jesus!

And what did our Big Brother do?

He showed us the way to eternal life.

Cleared the Way by coming and dying for our sins.

And He spoke truth even though we didn't want to hear it.

So, I challenge you readers.

Show Brotherly Love to those around you just as Christ has shown it to you.

Thanks for reading & be blessed!

- Pastor Rich

What God Sees

By Richard Cope • May 28, 2019

There are many times in our lives that we question who we really are. Am I good enough, am I pretty or handsome, do others think I'm smart and finally what does it matter anyway? Throughout life we are told building blocks that make us who and what we are. When we are told good things, then we begin to build upwards into the positive things of life. When we are told not good things we begin a path toward self doubt, self pity, self abuse, depression and many other attitudes that are not good for us. Our spouses and children can build us up or tear us down the quickest. Those that are closest to us after our family have some of the same abilities. We measure ourselves by their approval. We measure ourselves by the good and bad comments. We strive to please even to the point of missing, that the one really need to please is the one who is most times the easiest. You see, God sees so much more of you than you can ever realize. His positives about you are endless and His love for you is eternal. Let me give you a few examples:
In Adam, He saw the one who would name every animal and start a new species
In Abraham, He saw the Father of Many Nations when people saw a liar.
In Moses, He was a man to lead His children to a promise land when Moses saw a man who could not speak.
In David, He saw a king that would sit on his throne for all eternity when people saw a rudy complected shepherd boy.
In Mary, He saw the perfect woman to give birth to His Son, when people saw a pregnant woman who wasn't married.
In Peter, He saw the man that would stand up and preach to thousands when people saw a man who denied the Christ.
In Paul, He saw the man that would share the Good News Gospel to the Gentiles when people saw a Zealot for the Jews.

In You, He sees a work in progress. A Masterpiece that isn't completed yet. A novel that the last chapter is finished to. He sees the beauty and brilliance that only He could see. Oh, that we could see what God Sees!

In You He sees someone worth sending His Only Begotten to die on a cross for.

My Prayer for you today is that you would allow God to mold and make you to what He sees and that the journey to that would be simply amazing for you!

Victory

By Richard Cope • May 19, 2019

As I entered the building this morning one of our Greeting Team members had a little comment. She said "Pastor, I don't think a lot of our church has victory in their souls. I don't think they understand that they can be victorious in life." I smiled at her and replied "That is exactly what I am preaching on this morning." In the letter to the church at Ephesus Paul wrote that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and evil darkness of this world. He went on to say "Put on the Whole armor of God." I'm going to paraphrase for a moment here... Put on the breastplate of righteousness that protects the vital organs of who you are. Put the Helmet of Salvation that protects your brain, thoughts and actions. Put the belt of truth because truth will set you free. Put on gospel of peace for shoes and carry the good news gospel with you wherever you go. Take of the shield of Faith that will help protect you from the fiery darts of the devil and his forces, and last but definitely not least... Take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Jesus defeated the devil, because he knew the Word of God. We can defeat the things of life that try to draw us away from God's plan when we put the Whole Armor on. I challenge you today. Put on the whole Armor of God and Live Victoriously.

Pastor's Blog

By Pastor Rich Cope • May 16, 2019

The Faith of Jonathan