Priority Choices

Posted on by josiahkagin

Recently, my pastor, Don Williams, sent me this picture of me helping collate Bibles. Growing up, our church was involved in the Scripture ministry. We would collate, bind and prepare John and Romans, New Testaments and sometimes Bibles for different languages around the world. What a worthwhile endeavor! As a family, we would involve ourselves regularly in this process. 

Looking back, I am thankful for my parents, Jim and Dawn Kagin, who made church, the faith of our pastor and the work of the Lord a priority in our lives. Some good activities were sacrificed in order for our family to serve the Lord in this way.  I am thankful for a pastor who provided opportunities to serve the Lord in and through the local church. As a young man I really enjoyed spending time with him in the printshop and helping in the with the Scripture ministry. My parents encouraged me to be a help to my pastor and I owe so much to his influence in my life.

Parents and grandparents, never underestimate the influence of your priority choices today! Align your priorities with Christ’s priority — serving others and doing the will of God. 

“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:12-17)

Jesus Gives Peace

Posted on by josiahkagin

We live in very uncertain days! The recent news of the unprovoked terrorist attacks of Hamas on the people of Israel is both shocking and unnerving. I stand with Israel and unequivocally condemn the evil actions of Hamas. God promises to bless those that bless Israel, therefore it is vital that we do so in these days. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

These times can create much fear in our hearts and fear is a powerful motivator. Whether it is the threats of global terrorism, our own struggles, relationship tension, job security or whatever is dominating your thoughts right now, we can be driven by our fears. Yes, our hearts are prone to fear, but Jesus desires to give us peace. Consider these words from Jesus Christ.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

So how should we live in these uncertain days? How should we talk with our co-workers? How should we encourage our families?

  1. Listen to the words of Jesus and believe them. Be sure to read the Word of God each day, assemble in church for the preaching of the Word whenever the doors are open and let the Word of God direct and dominate your thinking. Be expecting His soon appearing to rapture the church. Titus 2:13 say,  “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
  2. Seek Jesus Christ in prayer and gather with others to do the same. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.“
  3. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6 says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.” We understand that ultimately this is a prayer that they would accept the Prince of Peace as the Messiah — Jesus Christ. This is the need of the whole world!
  4. Think truth. In a world full of evil and corruption, it is very easy dwell on matters that cause us to be be despondent and depressed. Philippians 4:8-9 helps us know specifically how to think. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.“
  5. Communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ with the lost. 1 Peter 3:15 urges us, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Finally, in our recent trip to Israel, the Lord allowed us to meet and be blessed by the ministry of Joel Rosenberg. He is a born again Jew and currently lives in Israel. He is an author and host of the Rosenberg Report on TBN. He also is the founder of All Israel News. I have found their reporting at AllIsrael.com and on Joel Rosenburg’s social media updates on X to be helpful. 

May the God of peace give you peace as your trust in Him.

Prepared for Persecution

Posted on by josiahkagin

What happens in your heart when you hear of being persecuted for following Christ? Fear? Avoidance? Resolve? As Americans, we have not been accustom to facing persecution for believing in Jesus Christ, worshiping Him in our assemblies or sharing Christ in our communities. However, just because we do not have as much experience with it, does not mean that the persecution of believers is not happening around the world and even within our own country. Jesus finished the  beatitudes by helping his followers understand how to handle persecution. If believers live according to the truths Jesus preached in the sermon on the mount, persecution in some form must be expected.

Recently, research conducted by Family Research Council (FRC) indicates that criminal acts against churches have been steadily on the rise for the past several years, and the first quarter of 2023 has continued the upward trend. The first three months of 2023 saw approximately three times the number of acts of hostility perpetrated against churches in the same timeframe last year. The fourth quarter of 2022 saw an additional 54 incidents, for a total of 191 in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, 69 incidents have already occurred.

As believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, we must be fortified to stand for Jesus no matter the cost. William Wolfe, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense at the Pentagon and a director of legislative affairs at the State Department, wrote, “Despite what some may claim, Christians are being persecuted in America. That might be hard to hear, but it’s true. Even though the United States is, arguably, the freest nation on the planet, and offers the First Amendment protection, Christians still face already-and-increasing persecution here between our shining seas. We need to recognize this and prepare for it to get worse.“

Let be reminded of several truths:

  1. Jesus promises a blessing for the persecuted. He gives divine grace and internal peace to endure through persecution. Jesus reassured His disciples before He went to the cross in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We should remember that all the grace that we need to stand for Jesus will be ours in the moment. The greatest blessing we could receive is hearing “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord.“
  2. Those that give their lives for Jesus Christ will receive the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 tells us, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.“
  3. Believers are commanded to pray for those in bonds for their faith. If we are to pray for them, we must know about them. There are many organizations that exist to raise awareness of Christian persecution around the world. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.“

I have read many books detailing the brave faith of Christians for Jesus Christ. There are two that I would recommend for your consideration. Forward in the Face of Fear by Edgar Feghaly will challenge your heart about the power of God and the Gospel in difficult, hostile regions. The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripkins will open your eyes to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world.

I pray that our Savior will strengthen you to stand for His sake wherever you are and whatever you may face.

“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Two Moravian Martyrs

Every King had a Prophet

Posted on by josiahkagin
Pastors from across the country join in singing How Great Thou Art in the Rotunda of the United States Capital on March 28, 2023.

Recently, my wife and I had the great privilege of gathering with pastors from across the country for the Faith Wins national pastors’ summit. Beyond the amazing, talented speakers that presented and the enthusiastic leadership of Chad Connelly, the night tour of the United States Capital building was the highlight! We were led by historian David Barton, United States Representative Mike Johnson (Louisiana), Former Congressman Bob McEwen (Ohio) and Senator Tim Scott (South Carolina). It was a truly inspiring evening. After being reminded of our rich history as a nation, being prayed over by Senator Tim Scott on the floor of the House of Representatives, and realizing God’s rich and undeniable blessings upon our country, we sang Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art in the Rotunda. What a moment of worship!

While we have strayed so far from God as a nation, I am thankful for God allowing me to be a citizen of this great nation. I firmly believe that the answer to our present situation as a nation is returning to God. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…” We cannot persist in our denial of God’s Truth and our national accountability to Him and expect to experience the blessings that were once so abundant.

The words of Senator Tim Scott on the floor of the House of Representatives continue to ring in my ears. “Pastors, you are the last line of defense for our nation. You hold the highest office in our land.” He exhorted us to stand for truth and then prayed over us. That was a surreal moment for me as a pastor. Many pastors have become so isolated from what is going on all around them that they have little to no influence on the leaders of society. I pray for a spiritual revival of the watchmen across our land.

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”

Ezekiel 3:17

Following our time at the capital, a reporter for the Center Square reached out for an interview. I was delighted to talk with a member of the media that wanted to publicize why the pastors were in Washington DC. I share my perspective on the importance of pastors who had engaged in the public arena in our Country’s history. “Pastors were so engaged in the founding of our country that they were also signers of the Bill of Rights. The reason we have freedom of religion today is because we had men of faith who were politicians founding our country. I cannot underscore how much pastors influenced the founding documents of our country.“

Throughout Scripture, you will find that the kings had prophets that God assigned to them to be ambassadors of His truth. David had Nathan. Ahab had Elijah. Herod had John. The list goes on! Today should be no different. How can we expect elected officials to make good and godly decisions if the only voices they hear are that of the ungodly. I implore pastors to reach out and build relationships with your city, state and national elected officials. Do this with humility and compassion. They are people with much weight on their shoulders. They have struggles, fears and burdens just like everyone else. Pray for them. Lead your congregation to pray for them. Let them know you are praying for them and also seek opportunities to pray with them. Don’t forget, they need your witness of Jesus Christ like everyone else in your community.

Let’s be salt and light in every arena of our lives including in our government for the glory of God.

The Just Shall Live By Faith

Posted on by josiahkagin

“The just shall live by faith” appears four times in the Bible. It is found in both the Old and New Testaments. Throughout all time, God has called His followers to live lives of faith. Consider some of these Biblical examples.

Adam to obey a simple instruction not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Abel to offer a lamb as a sacrifice for his sins.

Enoch to please God.

Job to endure the loss of his family and wealth.

Noah to build an ark and preach for 120 years before the first drop of rain.

Abraham to leave his homeland for a land that God had promised.

David to await inauguration and to honor King Saul’s position.

Solomon to seek God’s wisdom in order to lead the nation.

Jeremiah to preach to a hardened audience.

Isaiah to declare “Here am I, send me.”

Habakkuk to pray in the midst of a rebelling nation.

Nehemiah to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem.

Haggai to preach for a return to building God’s House.

Ezra to teach and instruct the children of Israel as the rebuild the temple.

John the Baptist to preach of the coming Messiah.

Mary to declare her acceptance of God’s plan for her life as the mother of the Messiah.

The twelve disciples to leave all and follow Jesus.

The small boy to willingly give his lunch to Jesus not knowing He would multiply it.

The centurion to return home believing Jesus had heal his son.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to care for the body of Jesus knowing that their public respect would be lost.

Peter and John to go to the tomb looking for their Savior.

The 120 believers to gather in the upper room to pray and await the coming of the Spirit of God.

Peter to preach the Gospel of Christ in Jerusalem on Pentecost.

Philip to leave Samaria to go toward Gaza to meet and share Jesus Christ with one Ethiopian.

Lydia to gather by the riverside with other believers to worship God.

The persecuted believer to preach the Gospel as the were scattered everywhere.

Paul and Barnabas to embark on a journey to take the Gospel the unreached.

Barnabas to restore John Mark to usefulness in the work of the Lord.

Timothy to pastor the church in Ephesus despite the opposition and his own timid nature.

Titus to pastor and to set things in order in the churches on the Island of Crete despite the unruly.

The Macedonian to give out of their poverty for the persecuted believers in Jerusalem.

The Philippian believers giving to fund
Paul’s ministry so that he would not be chargeable to the Corinthians.

The Apostle John to faithfully live out his final days on the Isle of Patmos penning the book of Revelation and looking for the imminent return of Christ.

Every believer today to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world while looking for the blessed hope of Christ’s soon return.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” —Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭

All the Fiery Darts

Posted on by josiahkagin

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16)

We should be aware that satan has fiery darts with your name on them each day. However, God has given you a piece of armor to stop EVERY ONE of them, the shield of faith. Faith is total trust and dependence upon God. It is taking God at His Word. In this case, it is in full faith using the very truth of God’s Word as a shield from the darts that satan will throw at you. The words “above all” indicates to us that the shield of faith is a high-priority piece of armor.

Let’s think about how this would look in our daily lives. As you get in the car to leave for work, satan throws a dart of worthlessness at you. He tells you that you are of no value to God. Do you believe it? Does he get to write your reality? He should not! Instead of meditating on that dart satan has thrown, go to the Bible and see what God says about you. God says that those who are in Christ are indwelt by the Spirit of God and ARE the children of God. He says that His children are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. God views you as valuable! By faith hold God’s truth up as a shield against that dart of worthlessness.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Every person is intrinsically valuable to God because He created them. Even though man sinned against Him and is separated from Him, God valued a relationship with mankind so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in place of man. Jesus did not just die but rose again. He offers all who will believe on His name the total forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God thinks you are valuable!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Now it is time to take the shield of faith up in your hands!