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HOPE REFORMED CHURCH

Member Congregation of the RCUS

August 21, 2015 admin Sinclair Ferguson

HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM THE SERPENT By Dr. Sinclair Ferguson

How do we distinguish the promptings of the Spirit of grace in His guiding and governing of our lives from the delusions

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August 21, 2015 admin Paul Tripp

TRUSTING GOD By Dr. Paul David Tripp

David writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am

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August 21, 2015 admin Scott Henry

DOING GOOD TO ALL By Pastor Scott Henry

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians

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July 24, 2015 admin Scott Henry

CHRIST ALONE! By Pastor Scott Henry

“Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be

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July 17, 2015 admin Scott Henry

WHERE WILL YOU AWAKE AFTER YOU DIE … HEAVEN OR HELL? By Pastor Scott Henry

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for

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July 13, 2015 admin Scott Henry

DEATH AND ETERNITY By Pastor Scott Henry

“For the living know that they will die…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The death of a loved one, a friend, or a relative ought

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July 13, 2015 admin Tim Challies

WHY GOD MAKES YOU WAIT By Tim Challies

There are times in the Christian’s life where we wait upon God, where we wait for relief from some kind of affliction,

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July 13, 2015 admin RC Sproul

THE BASIS OF A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE BY R.C. SPROUL

Some years ago, I attended an interesting wedding. I was especially struck by the creativity of the ceremony. The bride and the

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July 3, 2015 admin Scott Henry

PSALM 42 FOR THE DISCOURAGED SOUL By Pastor Scott Henry

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet

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June 26, 2015 admin Scott Henry

LOVE FOR GOD By Pastor Scott Henry

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according

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Hope Reformed Church
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Hope Reformed Church
11 hours ago

LOVING ONE ANOTHER

“If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
—1 John 4:20-21

THROUGHOUT THE BOOK of 1 John, the apostle is concerned to exhort Christians to love one another, not just in word but in action. And John emphasized this in many ways. For instance, 1 John 2:8-9 he calls us to love one another because love is what God commands. In chapter 3:14-15, John said believers need to love one another because true love is the evidence that we have been made a new creation in Christ. Love is the evidence that the Spirit of God has changed us from the inside out, from darkness to light. Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another as I have loved you.” In 1 John 4:7-16, John argues that we ought to love one another because God is love, and God demonstrated His love by giving His Son for our redemption. Therefore, if we have been adopted into the family of God and are being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, then we ought to love one another in the same manner that God has loved us. But John knows it’s a challenge to manifest this kind of love in the life of the church because of remaining rebellion, and so he continually exhorts believers to love one another.

“IF SOMEONE SAYS, "I LOVE GOD," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). John is saying that our love expressed to one another as Christians demonstrates the reality of our claim to love God. It is easy to “say” you love God, but the real proof is whether you love other believers. You see, John was writing to warn the congregation against the Gnostic false teachers who said it didn’t matter how you lived –only the spiritual things mattered. Therefore, you could treat others any way you wanted, and it really didn’t matter. But John says true love is always manifested by good deeds –“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar.” In other words, if someone says he loves God yet has no love for Christians then his claim to love God is false –he’s a hypocrite. John says it even stronger, “he is a liar.”

THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE of our love for God is always demonstrated by our practical love towards other Christians in deeds of kindness, helping one another, and sharing with those in need (James 2:14-26). John makes the point very clear when he wrote the following words, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18). Does the direction of your life (not the perfection) demonstrate that you really love God, or do you wear the hypocrite’s mask?

Friday Devotional: May 29, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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LOVING ONE ANOTHER
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Hope Reformed Church
3 days ago

GOD’S WONDROUS WORD

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
—Psalm 119:105

ST. AUGUSTINE ONCE WROTE, “Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in You [the Lord].” The only thing that can satisfy the longing in our soul is the Word of God. So often we are discontented with our possessions and when we obtain more to satisfy the longing in our soul we quickly learn that the hunger continues. Why? Because the longing of man’s soul can only be satisfied by the Word of God –Scripture alone is the food for our soul. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” The Apostle Paul told the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:32, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” The Word of God is what the believer lives by –Scripture alone brings joy, comfort, peace, and satisfaction to our soul.

THE WORD OF GOD brings light to our pathway and illuminates the way before our feet in this dark world (Psalm 119:105). This sinful world is a stumbling block of darkness. We cannot look to the wisdom of this world to give us guidance because the wisdom of this world is “foolishness, earthly, sensual, and demonic” (1 Cor. 3:19; James 3:15). Only God’s Word is sufficient and dependable to guide us in this world. This doesn’t mean that we can’t turn to others for advice. The psalmist turned to his father, mother, and friends many times for counsel. But only when others give us counsel in accordance with the Word of God will their counsel be reliable, true, and worthy to be followed (Psalm 1).

IS YOUR SOUL DISCONTENT? Do you have a longing that is never satisfied by the things of this world? Do you have troubles with your marriage or with your family? Do you struggle with certain sins in your life? The only solution is to feed on the Word of God. The Word of God is the only reliable and trustworthy guide that can give us the wisdom, strength, comfort, and hope we need to withstand the temptations we face in this life (Romans 15:4). That’s why the Psalmist wrote, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). And again, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99). And once again, “and that from childhood you have known the Scriptures which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). So, the question is, have you had your spiritual food today? Have you partaken of God’s spiritual bread of life? “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

Tuesday Encouragement: May 26, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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GOD’S WONDROUS WOR
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