Valley Life Church - Yakima

A Perpetual Series of Occasions for Hope

Trevor Hutton Psalm 139:11-12 Hebrews 11:1

A Great Light has Dawned

A Great Light Has Dawned How Christmas Shines Hope into Our Deepest Darkness

The Birth of Light and Hope

Pastor Joe Hite Psalm 112:4 New Living Translation 4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Psalm 139:12 NLT but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. What is the meaning of light? John 1:5 NLT 5 The light shines in the darkness,     and the darkness can never extinguish it. Enter The Light in This broken World Repentance and Pursuit Broken person living in a broken world The Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” Hope In Jesus Future … and in His restored Kingdom.  Today “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”                                                                                                                   John 8:12

Seeing Through the Smoke

Pastor Jon Verwey When we trust our own rules, our way of living, or even our church culture more than God’s Word, Jesus begins to fade from view. The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” — Mark 7:1–13 NIV …“Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders… v. 5 Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:  ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ v. 6-7 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” v. 8 You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! v. 9 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. vv. 10-12 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” v. 13 “I know the Bible says forgive… but my situation is unique.” “I don’t need other people—God helps those who help themselves.” “I’m not gossiping—I’m sharing a prayer request.” “I don’t need to give or serve because I’m still ‘working on myself.’” “I don’t need to change my attitude—this is just who I am.” “It’s not stealing—I deserve this, and they won’t miss it.” “I’m not unloving—I’m just being real.” “It’s not really adultery—it’s just emotional connection.” “I didn’t lie—I just didn’t tell the whole story.” “It’s not greed—I’m just being a good steward.” Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. — James 1:22–25 NIV  Jesus knew the Word, Jesus quoted the Word, Jesus taught the Word, Jesus fulfilled the Word. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. — Matthew 5:18 NLT  If you love me, obey my commandments. — John 14:15 NLT And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate… But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.— John 14:16a & 26 NLT The more we trust and live by our own rules, the more Jesus fades from view—but trusting and living by God’s Word reveals Him clearly.

The Heart of the Matter

Jesus uncovers the heart’s condition and provides the cure. 11/16/25  A pure heart isn’t achieved through outward effort but received through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” — Mark 7:14–15 NLT  He is challenging the crowd’s superficial approach to spirituality and pointing them toward the deeper way to live. Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used.  “Don’t you understand either?” he asked.  “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.”  (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.) And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. — Mark 7:17–20 NLT  Within every human being there is a heart that needs to be made clean, and no external effort will ever scrub away the stains. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” — Mark 7:20–23 NLT  “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! — Matthew 5:21-22a NLT You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery. ’But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. — Matthew 5:27-28 NLT It is not just our outward actions that defile us, it is also the inward thoughts, attitudes and motivations of the heart that produce sin and lead to death. (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.) — Mark 7:19b NLT Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. — Matthew 5:17 NLT  Salvation — We have been saved from the penalty of sin. Sanctification — We are being saved from the power of sin. Glorification — One day we will be saved from the presence of sin. …through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ we can receive forgiveness of our sins and be made clean all the way down to the depths of our soul! If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. — Romans 10:9 NLT …walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. — Galatians 5:16 NIV