Harvest Blog

“. . . upon this rock I will build my church . . .”

Last week Pastor Nelson was out of town so I preached last Sunday. We asked the question, “How’s Your Insurance Policy?”, from 1 John 2:24-29 in the morning service. Don’t worry I haven’t taken a second job as an insurance salesman, abiding in Christ gives Christians the best insurance in the world. When we abide in Christ we give Him control in our lives. Who better to take care of us than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We answered 3 questions about our insurance policy.

The first question was, “How do I know I’m covered?” (vv 24-25)

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”

God’s answer to us is to walk abiding in Him and He will keep His promise.

The second question was, “How do I make a claim?” (vv 26-27)

“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

The answer was to abide in the indwelling Holy Spirit who is our teacher and will keep us from error.

The third question was, “How do I get peace of mind?” (vv 28-29)

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

We looked at the glorious promise from God that if we abide in Him we can stand before His judgment seat with confidence. Knowing that He is pleased with our righteous life. Abiding in Christ and his provision for us truly is the best insurance we could ever have.

In the evening we looked at how sin robs us from an abiding relationship with Christ in Joshua chapter 7. But how when that sin is dealt with we can live in a close relationship with him and expect victory from Joshua chapter 8.

Last night (Thursday)  we looked at how to rejoice through the trials of our life from 1 Peter 1:6-9. God does not put trials in our life to put us down or incapacitate us. Trials are a necessity in our lives so that God can, strengthen our faith, purify our lives, honor himself, and to bring us closer to Him. Because of this work in our lives we can rejoice in our trials and tribulations.

Pray for Pastor as he is in Alaska that God would give him safety in his travels and power in his preaching.

Continue in prayer for our building project. God is doing a great work in raising the funds to build this last week we jumped up above 5,000 dollars and are still above our goal for the month. Let’s continue to be faithful in our giving so that we can move forward for God here in Castle Rock.


I included a picture in the top of this message that I have spent time praying over for Castle Rock. This picture was taken from the “Castle Rock” down over the town. I look at the houses here and pray that God will reach the people in them for Christ. Lets pray for souls in Castle Rock.

I want to encourage all of you to be here for Sunday Services this Sunday. We will be looking at a very exciting passage about the Love of God from our series in 1 John. You won’t want to miss this encouraging yet convicting passage. In my study God has already begun working in my heart in a powerful way and I know that God will work in your heart.

See ya Sunday,
Pastor Josh

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This morning I was blessed with this verse: Psalm 112:1 “Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.” This man is certainly blessed because he fears the Lord. To fear the Lord is to recognize how great He is and respect and honor Him. The word “fear” carries with it the idea of reverence and worship of the Lord. How important it is for each one of us to recognize that we are answering to the Lord each day of our lies. A genuine fear of the Lord, a reverence love for Him as the holy and yet loving God, is an absolute must in all our lives—something I believe that is missing in far too many Christian lives today. With that fear of the Lord, comes delight in all His commandments. When we love the Lord we find that His commandments are not grievous, (1 John 5:3), but rather they are a delight to us. May we live each day to honor and glorify Him.

Last Sunday we were blessed to have a visiting preacher, Pastor Wayne Williams, Liberty Baptist Tabernacle, Rapids City, SD, speak for us in the Morning Service. It was a wonderful blessing. And to add to the blessing was the fact that his daughter, Karen, sang a great special number. The Williams family were a great blessing to us at Harvest last Sunday. Sunday night I continued my series of messages on Revelation. I will continue these messages on Sunday, August 9.

Last Sunday we had mounted for the first time a “thermometer” showing the progress of our Building Fund. Harvest Baptist church had voted to launch an “Arise and Build” fund raising drive. The goal has been to raise $40,000 in a thirteen month period, June, 2009 through June, 2010. We did have a Building Program to remodel our present building at a cost of $600,000. We have raised $10,000 and we were going to raise the $40,000 so that we would have a total of $50,000. In the first six weeks of this campaign we are ahead of the goal for that period of time. We have been preparing material to present to a Foundation for a grant to care for the additional $550,000 needed. Yesterday, we were informed that Foundation had such serious losses with their funds in the stock market that they could not accept any more applications for grants fat this time. This means we must go to Plan B. And we are now going to be working on a Plan B. We may have to change the thermometer at the front with larger goals and that will challenge our people to pray that funds will come in another way. And we may have to scale back to plan only to finish the “warehouse ” into a large all-purpose room that will serve as an auditorium for services. We must not get the idea that we cannot build. Instead we must move forward to build something to give us more room for our services. Therefore , let us not be sad about this news. Rather may we realize that God’ is sovereign and this is His will for us at this time. Therefore, in His will we must move forward to see Harvest to have more adequate facilities to reach souls for Christ. Let’s all pray that we will know the will of God.

I encourage you all to be out next Sunday to hear Pastor Josh Musgrave in both services. Lord willing, I will be in Alaska preaching. Please back Pastor Josh with your attendance and prayers. I will appreciate your praying for me as I preach in Alaska.

Ann Kroeker went home to be with the Lord this morning. The will be held in Beulah KS on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Pray for the family.

Yesterday, my wife and I visited Jan Waters. She said that yesterday was her best day in weeks. Keep praying for her. And I ask you to keep Dan and Beverly Stout in your prayers.

Let’s look to God for a great day this coming Sunday.

Yours and His,

Pastor Nelson

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I thought we had a good day last Sunday. Especially was this true of the Evening Service. Dr. Bob Doom of Asheville, North Carolina, visited our service and brought a tremendous message on Revival. I believe every one in attendance received a great blessing. I grieved over the fact that so many missed the blessing of that service. Following the Evening Service we rejoiced in the Lord for grace and His goodness as we celebrated The Lord’s Supper.

We look forward to our services next Sunday. We will again be considering truth from the Book of Revelation. Remember there is a blessing God gives to every one who reads Revelation and who hears the words of this prophecy and who keeps those things which are written therein. (Rev. 1:3) It behooves us to read and study this great book.

My wife and I visited the Kroekers yesterday. Ann was able to quote verses with us. Amen! But Ann does need our prayers for God’s will to be done in her body at this time.

Pray also for these: Jan Waters and the Stouts. The Heads have returned home, and they now have Viol Wall living at their house again. The doctor has said Viola is not to leave the house for any purpose (Including Church) for some time.

Let’s look to the Lord for blessings next Sunday. Do plan to be with us for Sunday School, Adult Bible Study, and the services.

Yours and His,
Pastor Nelson

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