Scammers are among the biggest thieves there is, and thieves will not inherit God’s kingdom. I Corinthians 6:10

While on a personal retreat recently, this thought came to mind: “Focus on Jesus”. Not focus mainly on problems, bad news, politics,etc., but as the following scripture reveals, focus on Jesus as revealed in scripture. “fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭aTCENT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/3427/heb.12.2.TCENT

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/gal.6.9.NKJV

https://youtu.be/xA9jyh58cEQ?si=dxQw2O2e1mmrdG0O Message to Hilltop Bible Church in Bergton, Va on l Thessalonians chapter one

This is in regards to the two churches l pastor. Let all who read this remember that we are a local church, a body of believers who meet twice a week. We do so, because God in His word has commanded us to. Hebrews 10:24,25. We operate as a local church should in accordance with the scriptures. We worship, pray, and hear the word of God together when we meet as scripture teaches. God is honored in us being together. Anybody that does not like this set up may want to unfriend us, or not send us a friend request. We stand by what we do.

Another of the Apostle Paul’s prayers: ”do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,“ ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.“ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭138‬:‭2‬ b NKJV‬‬ Public opinion polls matter nothing to God. His nature and character does not change and His word is forever settled. With that in mind, we the church should not be moved by public opinion polls either, that go contrary to God and His word.

”But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.“ ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/gal.1.8.NKJV Should point out that Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, and those who believe that one must observe Saturday as the Sabbath in order to be saved, are preaching another gospel. If you are in such groups, repent, trust Jesus for salvation if you haven’t already, get out of those groups, and get into sound Bible believing churches.

Be in prayer for me. I am looking for another church to pastor. Thanks

”and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,“ ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.6.19.NKJV In continuing on Paul’s prayers, we see in a number of instances that he requested prayer for himself from the churches he wrote to. I, the pastor of Hilltop, request from you the readers, the same prayer that Paul requested from the Ephesians.

”“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“ ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.9.10.NKJV

Another one of Paul’s prayers with a praise along with it: ”For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.“ ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬, ‭16‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.3.14-21.NKJV

”Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.“ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.1.1-2.NKJV Focus mainly on Jesus, not all the things in the world. Spend way more time in God’s word, and less on CNN, Fox News, BBC, NPR, and other news outlets. Listen more to God’s word and less to politicans and unsaved celebrities. Allow God’s word to renew you mind and revive your soul.

Another of the Apostle Paul’s prayers: ”And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.“ ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/php.1.9-11.NKJV

”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭ We believe the church of Jesus Christ needs to present the gospel to Jewish folks that they maybe saved. Like the early church did. And we reject false conspiracy theories against Jewish folks spread by white supremacists and Muslims.

Another of the Apostle Paul’s prayers: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.“ ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/114/col.1.9-12.NKJV