Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2025
June 2026
 

"I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  John 15:5 (NKJV)

Jesus used the imagery of the vine and branches to explain the importance of being in the vine, but not just being, but abiding.  He directs us to the method of our abiding.  We build a life centered on our relationahip with Jesus.  We make time for Him, each and every day.  We meet with Him in His Word, meditating on it day and night.  Jesus speaks to us the truth our souls need to hear.  We take Him in like water for our thirsty souls.  While the world seeks to conform us to its pattern.  Jesus seeks to transform us by the renewal of our minds.  Abiding not only renews our minds--it transforms our desires.  And abiding in Jesus also connects us to every other branch.

We are not meant to live apart from others any more than we live apart from Jesus.  So to abide in Christ is to participate in the life of His body, the church.

Adapted from:  https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/abiding-in-the-vine

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'"  John 8:58 (NKJV)

In John 8 Jesus said something that completely makes the Jews of His day erupt in anger.  They become so angry they try to stone Him, but Jesus escaped.

Jesus had been speaking on His departure (verses 21-30) and many Jews believed in Jesus.  He transitions to talking about being a disciple - someone who has been set free by the truth.  The Jews of Jesus' day found their salvation in being Abraham's seed and the Law.  They didn't realize they were in bondage to sin, because they could not hear (spiritually) what Jesus was saying to them.  The Jews verbally attacked Jesus, but He honored His Heavenly Father and sought after His glory.  Then after asking if Jesus viewed Himself greater than Abraham, He responded that "before Abraham, I AM."  Jesus is the I AM that I AM and as the I AM, He is more than enough for whatever you need.

Adapted from:  https://devotable.medium.com/daily-devotion-john-8-58-jesus-is-the-great-i-am-882ca2d85ad3

"...how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  Matthew 7:11 (KJV)

In this discourse, Jesus talks about bread and rocks, and then fish and snakes.  Here's Jesus' point:  a child may ask for these things that are commonplace in their culture, particularly for basic sustenance: bread and fish.  As a child aks for these things his parent would not give them something that is harmful in its place.

If a child wants a fish, the parent won't give the child a snake.  If your child wants a juice box, you won't give him or her a quart of motor oil  If your child wants toothpaste, you won't give him or her Elmer's glue.  A good parent is a responsible human being, who cares for those who are dependent on them.  This parent wants to help their child, not harm them.  So as a good parent enjoys and delights in their role of providing for those they love.  Yet Jesus said that God the Father, loves the role of fatherhood so much more and He is much better at it.  That is why Jesus says, "how much more will God provide for us and bless us with what we need and ask?

God the Father is perfectly holy, perfectly generous, perfectly loving, perfectly providing, perfectly righteous, and perfectly wise!  God will surely give us the gifts we need if we ask and seek and knock!

Adapted from:  https://fbcbartow.org/sermons/the-good-gifts-of-our-good-god-matthew-77-12/