Moving Day!

Dr. Mike Murphy
June 11, 2026

Among my many, many faults and shortcomings, not always asking others for prayer is near the top of that list.  I have always found it easier to pray for others than to ask them to pray for me. Looking to lead others in prayer for those around me in need, instead of directing that focus to the problems in my life.  And I must admit, it often leaves me trying to put the proverbial lipstick on a pig, With the cancer, others will frequently contact or message me, asking me, out of concern, how I am doing. And usually, I am quick to dismiss them, moving on to other subjects the first chance i get.

Recently though, the dismissals have become a lot harder, as the cancer is taking a greater toll.  Often leaving me facing struggles more each day that are increasingly difficult to put a good face on, and move the conversation away from. Showing me that one day soon, the cancer will leave me facing a permanent address change. But as that “moving day” draws nearer, I find the Lord is giving me little glimpses of what my new home is going to be like.

“But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind-- God prepared this for those who love Him.”(1 Corinthians 2:9). We read those words, and we think to ourselves just how glorious Heaven will be. But as we look closely at those words, we soon realize that mankind does not know a word that can come close to describing how amazing Heaven will actually be.  Heaven will be perfect, and without seeing perfection, there is just no way we can begin to describe what we think that perfection will look like. Simply put, we have nothing in this world to compare it to. Nothing in this world that gives us a glimpse of a place where suffering will be felt no more. Where conflict will no longer be seen. And where disappointment will never be experienced again. A place where temptation, and the evils of this world, will never again have a single ounce of influence on our lives.

Heaven will be a place where our friendships will be even closer, as there will be no disagreements or misunderstanding.  A place where all our relationships will be open and honest, as the complications of our sinful nature will be left behind.  Heaven will be a place where our work and our rest will go hand in hand. As we serve Him each day, our work will be found as perfect, sweeter than anything we can imagine, never leaving us bored for a single second.  And Heaven will be a place where our longing for home will finally be fulfilled. A place where our hunger to know Him more will forever be quenched, and a place where satisfaction will no longer need to be defined.

The glory of Heaven will not be felt in our anticipation, but will be known each day in His presence.  Think about that. All you know about Christ now, will pale beside being able to hear His voice speak to you each day.  And as our Lord creates a new Heaven and a new earth, we will share in that wondrous world with Him. A world of such perfection, the wolf will then live with the lamb(Isaiah 11:6-7).  A place of continuous joy, where we will be able to finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and realize just how perfectly all fits into His eternal plan.

As I now struggle with the cancer, and anticipate the approaching of that day, a verse from His Word continues to comfort me. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”(Isaiah 41:10).  My life is not a measure of the ups and downs that this cancer might bring to me. My life is a sum of His love, and His undying grace. And through His love, and by His grace, I am blessed each day, to get a little glimpse of what this “moving day” soon holds for me.

Each day, the Lord gives me a glimpse of Heaven, as He blesses me to be able to look at so many of you.  Most days as I turn on my computer, or check my phone, I see or hear each of the messages all of you send me. Messages of prayer and encouragement, that ask the Lord to keep His hand of protection over me. Messages of sincerity, that come my way with all the concerns each of you have as to how I am feeling. Messages that often are nothing more than a simple picture of something you know will uplift me. Messages of stories of how Christ is working in the lives of others.  Messages of hope, that tomorrow will hold for me a better day. All messages that offer a small reflection of the true love and compassion that Heaven will offer, as you take the time out of your busy day to check on me. Giving me a glimpse of the brotherly and sisterly love that Heaven will be overflowing with.  

As so many of you send me your questions each day about Scripture, and how the Word of God applies to our life, the Lord also gives me a little glimpse of what Heaven will be like.  In each, I see your sincere desire to know more about His Word, and about our Savior. A true yearning and craving in each of you to know Him more, to know everything you can possible learn about Him.  To be feed by a truth that only He can bring us. And with each new fact you learn, you do not sit quietly on that knowledge, you look to to use it to feed others. Each new detail you learn about Him, you find yourself wanting to praise Him more.  And with each of those praises, with each desire in you to know Him more, I am blessed to get a little glimpse of what each of my coming days will soon hold.

And as I watch and hear the concern that so many of you have for this world and this Church, the Lord also gives me a little glimpse of what Heaven will be like.  I see in you a compassion for all that only He can offer. A compassion that brings you to your knees in search of the certainty that will come from His lasting answers, not just leading you to turn to your fellow man in the hope he might have a temporary solution.  A compassion that helps all around you each day to understand, true peace will only come from the Prince of Peace. And that true hope, is only found in His presence.

There is no denying, I cannot even begin to imagine or fully understand what the Lord has in Heaven waiting for me.  But as I see the compassion each of you offer, the desire each of you have to know Him more, and the hope each of you find in the presence of His arms, the Lord gives me a little glimpse of just what Heaven has waiting for me.  The slightest of glimpses at the way to spell that word that no man yet knows. The perfect word to describe all that Heaven will have to offer. But each day until that word is perfectly known to me, I thank Him for allowing me to understand the perfection of that word a little more as I see it reflected in all of you.

I pray on the day you hear that I have officially moved, you will not be saddened by my leaving.  Knowing that in my new address, I am more alive than ever. And as the days draw ever closer to my “moving day”, my mind wanders forward to the day each of you will be moving also.  A day that as you stand in His presence, and find all your questions answered, you will look over your shoulder to see someone standing there with a smile so big it will not fit on their face.  And as you look closely, I hope you will begin to realize that smile has a familiar presences. A presences that you cannot help but walk over and speak to. Because behind that biggest of smiles, you will find me!

Praying the Lord gives each of you a little glimpse of Heaven today!

The True League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen!

 

Dr. Mike Murphy

July 7, 2026

Ordinary men by the world’s standards.  The world saw nothing special or spectacular about them. They were just working men.  Not a one was a professing clergymen.  None had been called to the priesthood.  Most were considered uneducated for the day they lived. If you had decided you need a group of men to build a religion on, these would have probably been near the bottom of your list. But when Christ called them, their lives became extraordinary!

Through these “ordinary” man, Christ changed the world as we know it. They took the message of Christ to parts of the world they never thought they would have ever seen, and they touched the lives of people they could have never imagined they would have known.

So what do we know about each of these men?  Who were they, and where did they come from?  After the Ascension of Christ, what became of these men? Let us take a look at what the Bible, history, tradition, and legend tells us about these "extraordinary" men.

Andrew

The Bible tells us that Andrew was one of the first of the disciples of Christ. Along with his brother Simon Peter, Andrew was a fishermen from the city of Bethsaida.  Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, leaving him when called to follow Christ.  Andrew was quick to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, finding his brother to let him know of the Promised One.

We can learn much about Andrew by what is not said.  Andrew was quick to lead his brother to follow Christ, but was willing to step into the background as his brother became a leader of the disciples and of the early church.  We see in Andrew a man who had a thirst for the truth in God’s Word.  We also see a fisherman who was willing to drop his own nets so he could become a fisher of men.  Andrew knew that when he found Christ, he found everything he was looking for.

Church history and tradition tells us that in Andrew’s latter ministry, he took the Good News as far as the Caspian Sea.  He later ministered in Turkey, then went on to Greece.  It was here, in Patras, Greece that Andrew was said to be crucified on a x-shaped cross. After being whipped severely, Andrew was tied to the cross in order to prolong his agony. For three days, Andrew continued to preach to all who would listen, until he finally met his death.

Bartholomew or Nathanael

The Bible tells us that Nathanael came to be a disciple in a very unusual way.  The Book of John tells us that Philip approached Nathanael, telling him to come meet the Messiah that was promised.  Nathanael replied to Philip, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  When Nathanael approached Christ, Jesus told all around him that Nathanael was without deceit, willing to follow where the truth might lead him.  When he realized who Jesus was, Nathanael was quick to call Him the Messiah(John 1:45-51).  Nathanael shows us a man who was willing to overcome his skepticism and prejudices in order to find the truth.

Church history and tradition tells us that Nathanael would take a copy of Matthew’s Gospel to India, and would latter minister in modern-day Turkey and in Armenia.  It was while preaching the message of Christ in Armenia that Nathanael would be flayed to death by a whip,

James the Son of Zebedee

Was the son of a fisherman from Capernaum.  He was a part of the inner circle of Jesus, along with his brother John and Peter.   Three times, we are told, these men witnessed events none of the other disciples saw.  James and John were referred to as ‘Sons of Thunder’(Mark 3:17) because of their feverish personalities that Christ would soon temper with love.

There are writings that claim James ministered in Spain to Jewish colonist, before returning to Jerusalem.  The Bible records James as being the first of the apostles to face death(Acts 12:2).  Herod had James killed with the sword because of his faith.  Most historians believe this occurred around 44AD.  There is an interesting legend that surrounds the death of James.  It is said that the man that gave false witness against James, leading to his death, watched as James was led to die.  As he watched, he could not believe the joy he saw in James.  He suddenly came to believe that the Savior this man had preached of must be the One True God.  This man is said to have began shouting his love for Christ as James was led to his execution.  Because of this man’s actions, legend says that he was immediately ordered to face death also, and was beheaded next to James.

James the Son of Alphaeus

Also known as James the Less.  James is only mentioned four times in the Gospels, all when listing the disciples.  Many think he was called James the Less, because he carried a lesser role than James, the brother of John.  This could not be farther from the truth!  The title ‘Lesser’ comes from the Greek word mikros, which means young or small in stature.

We know little about the ministry of James.  Many have tried to credit him with writing the Book of James.  Evidence, and most Christian scholars, believe the author of the epistle to be James, the brother of Christ.  Tradition tells us that James was crucified in Egypt while he was preaching the Gospel.

John

John was the brother of James, and the son of a fisherman from Capernaum.  John referred to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’.  From this many refer to John as John the Beloved.  John was a part of the inner circle of Jesus.  He was the only disciple present at the trial of Jesus  and was the only disciple that is mentioned to have been present at the Cross.  Jesus entrusted John with the care of his mother(John 19:27).

John’s ministry carried tremendous weight on the early church.  He wrote the Gospel of John in a way to show all that Jesus was who He said He was.  He wrote his letters, 1, 2, and 3 John to encourage faith and to warn against false teachings.  And he was given the Book of Revelation, so we may have hope in what the future holds, and may know the signs that will signal the return of Christ to reign on this Earth.  John served the church in Jerusalem for many years, then served the church in Ephesus.  We are told that while in Ephesus, John was arrested and sent to Rome.  He was boiled alive in a large basin of oil, but escaped unharmed.  We are told he was then exiled to the island of Patmos, where he lived for several years.  Eventually John was freed, and according to early church history, lived out his life in Ephesus until his death around 98 AD. John was the only one of the apostles to die a peaceful death.

Jude or Thaddeus

Little is known of Jude, only that he is listed among the disciples.  Many credit him as the author of the Book of Jude, but most worthy scholars do not. The author of the epistle of Jude tells us he is the brother of James, in other words the half brother of Jesus, called Jude. 

Tradition says that Jude was one of the first apostles to take the message of Christ to the Gentile world.  He is said to have witnessed and preached in the area of modern day Beirut, and was said to have martyred in Edessa around the year 65 AD.

Matthew

Also known as Levi, Matthew was a tax collector or publican from Capernaum.  Matthew would have collected duties on all who wished to trade goods in the city.  Tax collectors were required to pay all taxes in advance to Rome, then would collect from all the citizens and those travelling through the city in order to reimburse themselves.  Most publicans were very corrupt, because they made themselves wealthy by extorting citizens for their own profit.  When Christ called Matthew, he experienced a life change unlike anything he could have expected.  Matthew left behind the pleasures of this world for the promise Christ showed him of an eternal life.

The ministry of Matthew greatly affected the Christian world.  He would write the Gospel of Matthew, and his past traits served him well in doing so.  As a tax collector, Matthew would have been trained to keep accurate records and to be a keen observer to details.  Matthew wrote his Gospel just this way, showing Jews and the world how Jesus had fulfilled the promises and prophecies written about the long hoped for Messiah. Writings and records show us that Matthew ministered for several years around the area of Jerusalem.  He later took the message of Christ to Ethiopia, where we are told he was martyred, stabbed to death while preaching God’s Word.

Peter

Simon, the brother of Andrew, was a fishermen from the city of  Bethsaida. Peter was a part of Jesus’ inner circle, and was considered the leader of the disciples because his is always the first name listed.  Jesus renamed him Cephas, the Aramaic word for ‘rock’.  The Greek word for ‘rock’ is ‘petros’, thus we get the name we all know, Peter.  He was a man we could all associate ourselves with. He often showed the greatest of faith, but at other times we saw in him doubt. But his faults never stopped Peter from seeking God, and following His Son.

Peter’s ministry began like no other. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled the apostles, Peter became so overwhelmed that he began to preach out loud to the crowd.  About three thousand came to Christ that day, the Bible tells us(Acts 2:41-42).  God called Peter to preach to the Gentiles.  and it was Peter who told the church council in Jerusalem that the Gentiles should not have to convert to Judaism first in order to be saved(Acts 15).

Church history and tradition tells us that it was the persecution of Christians in Jerusalem that led Peter to Rome, where he is said to have also preached.  We are told that Peter was imprisoned and brutally beaten for some time.  We are told that Peter was to be crucified, but said he was unworthy to die as his Savior had.  Peter was then crucified on a x-shaped cross, upside-down, fulfilling the words Christ give to him(John 21:18).  Legend tells us, that when Peter was imprisoned and beaten, he preached daily to those who jailed him.  Despite all he suffered, he converted his jailers and forty-seven others to Christ.

Philip   

Like others, Philip was a fisherman from Bethsaida.  He was one of the first to be called to follow Christ, and we see the excitement he brought  with him.  We soon read of Philip proclaiming the Promised Messiah to others, as we see him telling the skeptical Nathanael(John 1:45-46).  We also see two examples of Philip that many of us can easily identify with.  We see Jesus testing Philip at the feeding of the five thousand(John 6:1-14).  In John 14:8-9, we see Philip not understand that Christ and God were One.  Philip sought the Savior, but could only see him by his earthly experiences.  It was only after he saw the Resurrection and the Ascension that he truly understood who Christ is.

Tradition says that Philip preached for several years in the area of Scythia, before ministering in Hierapolis in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.  We are told it was here that Philip was martyred.  Legend says that Philip converted the the wife of the Roman proconsul in the city.  Out of anger, the proconsul ordered Philip crucified.

Simon the Zealot

Also called Simon the Canaanite, little else is told of this disciple.  But we can learn much from Simon!  Some versions will refer to Simon as the Zealot, while others will refer to him as the Canaanite.  This is not in contrast to each other, as we can probable see truth in both.  It is likely he came from the region of Canaan, which at the time had a strong presence of Zealots.  The Zealots believed that only God could rule over Judea, and looked to rebel against Rome in order to accomplish this goal.  This was tried in 66 AD during the Great Jewish Revolt, as the Zealots successfully overtook Jerusalem.  But four years later, the Romans destroyed the city and the Temple.  

We see in Simon what an incredible peace only Jesus can bring!  Among the twelve disciples we see a Zealot, and in Matthew, one who worked for the Roman government. Both came to see that the true rule of the Lord is in our heart and soul when we allow Christ and the Holy Spirit to occupy it, no matter what government man may choose.  Simon came to have a zeal for Christ, not for the desires of man!

Church history and tradition tells us that Simon left Jerusalem to minister in Egypt. Later he would minister in Persia.  It is here we are told that Simon was martyred because he refused to deny Christ, and sacrificed to the sun god.

Thomas

Thomas was also called Didymus, meaning ‘twin’ in Greek.  We are not told who this twin was.  Most of us know Thomas by the story of ‘Doubting Thomas’, where he refused to believe Christ had risen until he could see and touch the physical wounds.  Although little is known. we can learn a tremendous lesson from Thomas.  If we will honestly seek God’s Truth, even if we show our doubts and struggles, God will reveal Himself to us

Early church writings and tradition tells us that Thomas ministered throughout Syria and India.  We are told he was a fearless evangelist and was a great early church builder.  It was during one of these missionary trips to India, that Thomas was killed with the spear of a soldier.

Matthias

Little is known of Matthias, except that the Bible tells us he was chosen to replace Judas(Acts 1:12-26).  We do know a lot about Matthias from the requirements these verses tell us was necessary to be chosen to replace Judas. We are told he had to have been present during the entire ministry of Christ, and that he would have to witnessed  both the Resurrection and the Ascension.  So we know from this that Matthias was present with Christ throughout His time on this earth.

Church history tells us that Matthias ministered in the area of Armenia.  It was here that he was martyred, stoned and then beheaded.

Twelve ‘ordinary’ men who would forever go on to change the world.  Luke tells us that these men “turned the world upside down”(Acts 17:6), and that they did!  They faced every obstacle the world could throw their way, but with Christ by their side they prevailed.  They were mocked, spit on, cursed, beaten, whipped, and all but one faced their death in the most horrific of ways.  And they all did it gladly, never forgetting the call and the purpose Christ gave them.  Not a one went out into the world for his own glory, but was lead only by the truth in God’s Word. Their reward would not come in this life, but in the promise of what the future held. Their names will never be forgotten!  They will be written on the walls of the future city for all to see(Revelation 21:14)!

As we reflect back on the ministry of Christ, I hope each of you will take a moment and remember each of these men  As you do, ask yourself this question. Is the call Christ gives to us today, any less than it was when He called each of these men to follow Him?  If Christ could forever change the world with twelve ‘ordinary’ men, what could he do with twelve of us today?  What if that call today was not just twelve, but twelve hundred?  Twelve thousand? Or what if that was twelve million?.

Twelve men that most cannot tell you the names of, that much of history has forgotten.  But names we should never forget.  Men that changed this world unlike most others.   The “True League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen”!

Row!

Dr. Mike Murphy

May 24, 2026

The rain just keep coming. For days it had come.  Every minute of the day, it fell from the heavens in waves.  As each drop came down, they watched as the ground around them slowly inched away.  And, with each drop, their small town faced the sudden reality of being washed from their sight.  All they had known, all they had worked for, gone before their eyes with each drop of rain.

If the news could not get any worse, they soon received word of even greater danger.  The river that ran through their small town was also at risk.  The dam that overlooked their town, sitting just two miles upstream of their little town, was in threat of giving way.  Reports had come of a small crack that was beginning to form in the wall of the dam.  They were told that the dam could easily be patched, but the state was facing even greater threats from the flooding, in even larger towns.  The simple truth was, the small town was at the bottom of the state’s priorities.  It was easier to tell them to evacuate than to send the manpower necessary to save their town.

But in the eyes of those who lived in their town, the town was all they had. The years of the Depression had taken almost everything else.  And the building war in Europe and Asia, had called into service many who would make up the future of the town.  But despite the hardships, the people of the town had come together.  Looking out for each other at a time when many had no one left to look out for.  There was a closeness in their town that meant more than just words, that no one in the town could imagine life without. “Love thy neighbor” was more than just words they learned on Sunday, it was words that filled the heart of each in the small town come Monday.  They could not imagine their life without the small town, and each and every precious face that made up their small town. They quickly came to the conclusion, if the state would not help them, they would give their all to help themselves.  Even if giving their all was giving everything they had.

Three men in the town had small boats with outdoor motors on them, motors that would help them make it through the current and reach the dam. They filled their boats with the goods needed to repair the dam, or at least to keep the dam from giving way until the waters decreased.  As the three set out, the town gathered.  Openly praying for each of these three men, knowing the sacrifice they were willing to make to save their town.  As the rain continued to fall, the three men set out in hope of making it the two miles upstream. One by one, as they began their journey to the dam, the three could barely see each other. The rain was falling so fast, and the waves were crashing so hard, they could only see a few feet beyond their boat.  Soon the sight of three boats became the image of two.  And as if time was standing still, the image of two soon became the vision of one.

Only one boat now remained.  A single hope was left to save the town. But as the man who sat in that boat faced the river that day, he knew he did not face it alone.  From the moment he started his engine, it was not him who held the hope of saving the town, but the One who controlled the seas.  Each minute in the boat, he prayed.  And as he watched the other two boats fade from his sight, he prayed harder.  Not for God to save him, but for the Lord to save all he loved, all he knew, and all he had got in that boat for. With each word he cried out to the Lord, it was the faces of the town that he had moments before seen praying for him that filled his thoughts.  And it was his memory of each of  those faces that led him to call out to God even more.

Within minutes, he felt the engine give out.  The roaring waters was just too much strain for the small engine to take.  But as the engine began to smoke and came to a stop, his hope was not lost.  And his prayers only began to increase.  He reached into his boat and pulled out two old oars that he had keep in case they were needed.  This was now the case he found himself in like no other, needing each of those oars like never before. Even though most would have told him it was useless, he slid the oars into place on the small boat, and began to pull with all his might.  And with each pull, he prayed.  With all his might he rowed, and with a might beyond his, he called out to God.  Left in the confusion of the waves and the rain, he rowed with more energy and force than he knew he had.  And with each pull of the oar, he thanked the Lord above.

Soon, he found he had done what no one could have imagined.  He could feel the boat as it banged into something viciously, causing him to realize he had miraculously made it to the dam.  Looked up at the dam, he could see the crack that had began to form.  A crack that was barely in his reach, but a crack the Lord reached for him to repair.  It was as if the boat was being held steady as he stood on the sit to repair the dam.  For minutes, as he repaired the threatening breach in the dam, the boat remained still.  Within moments, the crack was no more, repaired enough to hold until the rains would cease.  But before the smile could find his face, the reality of the boat came into his vision.  In the midst of the storm, the boat had greatly taken on water.  Far more water than the small boat could hold. And within that moment, he became aware that he would row no more.  But it was also in that moment, as the river began to take him under, the largest of smiles found his face for one last time.  He realized that the Lord had heard and answered each word of his prayer. That although he would never see the faces of those in his beloved, small town again, he knew that the Lord would continue to stand in their presence.  And as the water began to fill his lungs, and his last breath faded away, he recognized that the Lord had given him a gift far greater than he could ever have deserved.

As we look around us today, we can see the rain falling.  We can feel the wind blowing.  We can hear the thunder roaring.  We watch the waters continue rising.  And we hear the reports of the dam that holds back the evil that desires to flood this nation, starting to form cracks.  With each new drop of rain that hits our face, it is time this Church remembered the love He has called us to have for all those around us, and the hope we see in each face He shows us.  And as the flood begins to surround us, it is time we got in our boats and began to row.

The evil we see filling this world today should not bring fear to us, but remind us of the opportunity that each day brings.  It was for this very day that God has prepared us, and for this very moment He has called us.  The flood of evil that looks to sink us, can never stop us from reaching and repairing that dam, because of the One we have riding in the boat with us.  Our call this day is to row. To not worry about waves that crash into the boat with us, or to even worry about what we will face as we reach the dam.  Our call is to fulfill His will, to bring to Him all glory, and to let Him take care of the rest.  Not worrying about what this might cost us, or the depths this might require from us.  Remembering the words Christ taught us, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.  On earth as it is in heaven.”(Matthew 6:10).    Knowing there is no price too great we can pay to bring about that will.  No greater accomplishment our life can achieve than to bring to Him glory.

As the evil in this world today looks to  rise up and drown you, look into the eyes of all the faces that surround you.  Faces of love and hope that He has placed in front of you. And as you look into their eyes, do not think for one second of evacuating, instead climb willingly and joyfully in the boat He has prepared for you.  Do not worry about the waves as they crash against you.  Pick up the oars He has placed in the boat for you, and row!  

Praying this day, you will row with all your might!

Giants And Grasshoppers

Dr. Mike Murphy

May 17, 2026

I cannot even begin to imagine what those forty days must have been like for Caleb. To have seen with his own eyes everything the Lord had promised.  To have tasted the milk and honey the Lord had told them flowed from the land.  To have seen grape bunches so large it took two men to carry them.  Every word the Lord had promised, his eyes had just seen.

But as he returned to their camp in Kadesh with the other eleven scouts, his ears must have deceived him.  The words he heard spoken did not match what his eyes had seen.  As he heard ten of the other scouts speak, he heard a reaction he would have never fathomed.  The report they gave was not one of promise and fulfillment, but one of fear.  He heard the ten scouts say, “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country--a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified.”(Numbers 13:27-28). Caleb saw the reaction of the people as they heard the scouts speak, and he tried to encourage the crowd, calling on them to take the land at once. But before he could even finish, the fear of the scouts could be heard again. “We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that's what they thought, too!"(Numbers 13:33).

Caleb’s words were never heard, all the people could hear were the words of fear. Caleb could hear the mumbling and cries of the crowd.  Cries that questioned God, and only feed into the growing fears.  As Caleb heard these words, he rebuked the crowds with another faithful scout, one we know as Joshua. They tore their clothes and called out to the people, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!  And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.  Do not rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us!  They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don't be afraid of them!”  (Numbers 14:7-9). But the people had been filled with doubt and fear, and could only envision what their eyes would show them, not the vision the Lord had in mind for them.

The doubts of the people brought on themselves more than just fear.  Their doubts would cost a whole generation from ever seeing the promise the Lord had made them, the beauty and amazement He had waiting for them.  For forty years they would now wander, wandering aimlessly in the desert while the doubts of this generation passed.  Forty years wasted because of their doubts and fears. Forty years for this sinful generation to pass, so another faithful generation could rise up.  A future generation, that would not share in their parents doubts and fears, who would trust the Lord’s vision more than their own.  Of all the men and women who heard the scouts speak that day, only two would ever see the beauty of the land the Lord had waiting for them.  Would ever taste the promised milk and honey. Only Caleb and Joshua, would set their feet in the land, and see the promises the Lord had made them come to life.

We all know this story well.  A story of great promise, and a story of endless hope. His chosen people had seen the hand of God move so many times.  They watched as the power of that hand moved with each plague and miracle that had brought them out of Egypt. They watched as that hand separated the waters, so they could miraculously escape the world’s most powerful army.  And they watched as that hand had provided for them in the desert, where nothing of substance could have otherwise been found.

As they approached the Promised Land, God had assured them of victory. The land that stood in front of them was already theirs, all they had to do was trust God and take it. All the miracles they had seen, should have assured them that God would never lead them to a place where His power could not provide for them, and His hand could not protect them. But like so many of us, His people walked by sight, not by faith.  Hearing only words of fear, not the words of promise.  Words of doubt, that lead them to forget each word of praise.

As I look to what we refer to as the Church in this nation, I see the eyes of those in the Wilderness staring back at me.  I hear their words of doubt and fear in the mumbling of their voices.  I hear the cries of panic, as they are told of the giants that stand in front of them.  And I hear the denial in their sounds of anguish, as the Lord seeks to lead them.  A people with a greater fear of the giants of this world, than a love for the Lord above.

Look at where this fear has led us.  And look closely at where this fear will lead us. This fear has led us to silence and compromise, with a Church that finds it easier to appease this world than to tell this world the truth the Lord has taught us..  A fear, that has left us sitting quietly, as we watch the moral structure of this great nation collapsing around us.  And a fear, that in our quiet, has left us afraid to even speak the truth of God amongst ourselves.

A few years ago, a noted research group did a survey of the Church.  In this survey, regular churchgoing people were asked if goods works can get us into Heaven.  When the results of this poll were published, it astonished many of us in the ministry.  Over fifty percent, of regular churchgoers, believed they can earn their way to salvation.  Over fifty percent!  Over half of those sitting beside you in the pews think they can do enough good in their life to be able to stand in the presence of our Lord.  Over fifty percent do not understand why Christ gave His life, and why He even came to this earth in the first place. As this Church sits in our quietness, think about that for a minute.  

As I said, this poll was taken several years ago.  What would the results be if it was taken again today?  What percentage of churchgoers would now believe they could do enough good works to get into Heaven?  How many that sit in our churches each Sunday, would say today that they do not need to accept Christ to receive eternal life?  And I would even ask the question, why has this poll not been taken again in the years since?  Sadly, I think I can answer that question. Because we do not want to know the results.

We, the Church, are a people wandering in the Wilderness.  A people that sees themselves as grasshoppers, and the absent-minded morals of this world as giants.  And as we look around through the quietness of our fears, there is one thing we do not see. The one thing we need to see the most.  The one vision that can overcome our fears, and give us a voice at a time when our silence is destroying us.  That one thing we do not see?  The only “One” thing that matters. God!

Stand up Church, and listen closely to the words of Joshua and Caleb! Ignore the fears and panic of the other scouts!  It is time we rose to our feet, found a strength in our voice, and stood for God when others may not.  And in doing so we can take assurance in knowing, that God will bless us in ways that we could never begin to imagine.  And He will extend that blessing to future generations, and bless them in ways we would find nothing short of amazing.

We must gain our voice again and remember that in the face of the reality that surrounds us, there is an even greater hope found in us.  There is a crisis in our world. There is a crisis in our families. There is a crisis in our morality. There is a crisis in our government. Integrity has been shoved aside, and left on the ground for dead.  We look all around us, and all we can see are the giants this world is sending at us.  But as you look into the eyes of the giants approaching you, do not see fear, see opportunity!  The opportunity to rid this world of an evil that haunts it, but an evil that can never control it. Stand up, and get yourself ready to enter in this fight.  Put on the full armor that God has given you. Sharpen the sword of truth that He has placed in your hand.  And as you get ready to place the armor on your body, remember to first put on the lining.  A lining of prayer that makes you impenetrable.  Stand up with confidence, and prepare yourself for the battle that awaits you.  And as you walk forward into this battle, know it will be a short and victorious one.  As the Lord has made you into a mighty giant slayer!

People, if there has ever been a time this world needs the Church it is now. Christians who care about hurting people, Christians who will reach out to a confused and lost world, Those of faith, who will preach the awesome and simple message of the Bible without compromise. Now is not the time for us to retreat, but to follow God into the Promised Land.. A time when the giants we see do not bring fear and intimidation to us.  In our eyes they must be seen as nothing but obstacles we can easily overcome because of the blessings the Lord has awaiting us.  And as the Lord leads us into the fulfillment of these promises, we must never forget, our God specializes in bring giants to their knees!

Remember, and never forget what we are fighting for.  Our fight is for far more than just a conquest today, but for an eternal victory we will all celebrate tomorrow.  Our battle may take place in the midst of this world, but in our victory this world has nothing to offer us. How foolish would we be to place all our hopes in a world that is quickly passing, a world that will one day to be gone.   Jesus told us, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?"(Mark 8:36).  This is not a battle for the riches this world has to offer, or for a fading glory that men might see in us.  This is a fight for our very soul, an eternal fight for the spirit in us that will last forever.  

Let the words of Solomon serve as our battle cry!  “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more.  But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”(Proverbs 10:25). It is time we rose up, and fought like the whirlwind.  Time we walked onto the battlefield and looked the giants of this world square in the eyes.  Knowing that the One who stands behind us brings far more fear to their eyes, than they can ever bring to ours. Time we let no giant stand in the way of promises He has ahead for us, the milk and honey that He has waiting for us.  It is time for us to feast! And I do not know about you, but I am hungry!

Praying your visions are not filled with giants, only filled with the loving face of our Lord!

Courageous

Dr. Mike Murphy

May 10, 2026

She loved the peacefulness of the country as she sat under the tree.  As she sat in the shade of the tree, she could look for hours at the beauty that God had placed all around her. She could stare for hours at the miraculous gift He had given her and all of His people.  Often He had brought her to that tree, and each time He would lead others to her.  They came with the problems that each day brought to them, and she helped them settle the disputes with the advice that God lead her to speak.  She took comfort in the fact that her office was not find in the midst of Jerusalem, her office would be about ten miles to the north, in the quiet of the mountains of Ephraim.  Her office would be a date palm tree, where God’s wisdom could be heard under the branches of her tree.

Each day she was there, the people would come.  She would see their faces, and she would hear their problems.  With each word of advice, she could see their fears, and she could feel their pain. As she watched their faces each day, her prayers became stronger.  And with each prayer, she found that her words to the Lord were just a little longer.  For twenty years she had watched as the people had suffered, under the cruel hands of their Canaanite oppressors. She watched as they terrorized His people, as they raided their homes, and killed their sons and daughters.  Each day she prayed that the Lord had not forgotten them, that He would again reach down His hand and save them..  Each day she prayed, and waited patiently for the day she would hear His answer.  

As she sat under her palm tree that day, He answered to her the prayer she had so long prayed.  He had led her to summon a man who would be called on to lead His people against the king of her oppressors.  Today, her prayer had been answered.  And under the quiet of her tree, she knew that the Lord would not be silenced.

Of all the stories I love in the Bible, Deborah is among my favorites.  Her story is told in two short chapters(Judges 4-5), but in two short chapters comes such a powerful story.  A story of devotion and strength.  A story of obedience and patience. A story of humbleness, and a story of mercy.  A story that defines the very definition of courage.

What is courage?  Ask twenty people on the street and you will probably not be able to tell the difference between courage and bravery by their definitions. They will tell you that courage is standing strong when faced with pain or grief, that courage is strength when we are frightened.  But when we look at how the Lord defines courage, what we see is a whole lot more.

In the Old Testament we see God define courage in many places as “determined, proven,  resolute, to prevail”.  In the New Testament we see the Lord continue in this definition and expand on it.  Here we often see courage called “good cheer”, and the word for both translates “boldness and confidence”.  God does not just describe courage as the opposite of fear, but He describes it as the very thing that causes us to not have fear.  In the word “courage”, the Lord does not just describe the action, but deepens the meaning of the word by showing us the purpose behind it.  Each time the Lord tells us in His Word “fear not”, He is not just telling us to not have fear, but is telling us why we should never have a reason to experience that fear.  God is telling us that in His very nature, in the perfection of His plan, fear can never be found.

In trust you will never find the word fear, and in His trust only courage can be found.  The Lord knows that we are far from perfect, that flaws come into our lives each day.  It is for this reason, that from the first word of Genesis to the last sentence of Revelation, God tells us so many times to “fear not”.  He knows that the more trust we have in Him, the more courage that will be found in each of us.  One of my favorite Bible passages begins, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”(Proverbs 3:5-6).  The more we trust God, the more that courage is felt in our heart, the more that courage is seen in our actions, and the more that courage is defined in our lives. The more we put our trust in God, the more determined and embolden we are to stand on His Word.  The more confident and resolute we are that His plan is the only plan that will work in our lives.  And the more we lean on that trust, the more we realize that with the Lord on our side, we will always prevail!

No story in the Bible paints for us a better picture of the definition of courage than the one of Deborah.  In two chapters, in a few short words, the Lord uses the life of Deborah to show us just what courage is.  In Deborah, we see the trust, the determination, the resolution, the proven confidence, and the prevailing faith that God uses to define the word courage.

Deborah relied only on God.  The Israelites had come under the hand of the Canaanites for one reason, and one reason only.  They had turned their back on God, and placed their trust in other gods.  It took twenty years for the Israelis to see that God’s discipline was not a punished to them, but a confirmation of His love for them.  It showed the Israelites that their future and their trust could only be found in the Lord God, not in all the other gods that they had tried to replace Him with.  But through this time in Israel’s history, Deborah remained strong, loyal in her faith.  She continued to teach His Word, to follow that Word, and to remind others of that Word.  In the most troublesome of times, Deborah had the courage to remain faithful to His Word, knowing that He alone was her people’s only hope.

Deborah had the faith to know His Voice.  When the Lord spoke to Deborah, revealing to her his plan to restore the nation, she immediately called for Barak, the one who the Lord told her would lead his people against the Canaanites.  She had the determination to stay loyal to that call, not adding one word of her own.  Not looking to carry out her own vengeance or her own desires, but determined to carry out exactly what the Lord had commanded of her. Deborah had the courage to follow God’s plan, and the determination to make sure that planned was fully carried through. 

Deborah trusted the will of God, allowing the Lord to work through her.  As a judge in that day, Deborah had the respect of the Israeli people.  They knew that she had an ear for the Lord, and they trusted the words, advice, and direction that the Lord gave them through her.  Deborah could have easily decided she would lead the army against the Canaanites, and the people would have followed.  But she was resolute to the will of God, knowing that for her to lead was not His will.  Deborah humbly submitted to the Lord’s will, His wisdom, and His plan, knowing that only He could deliver them from the hands of their oppressors.  Deborah had the courage to follow God’s will, and to ensure that His will alone was done.

Deborah gave God all the glory.  In the fifth chapter of Judges, we read the beauty of the song that Deborah sang to the Lord.  As we read the words, we see Deborah and Barak praise the Lord for all He,alone, did to liberate His people.  In not one verse do we see either giving themselves praise or any credit for the victory, they lay every ounce of glory the victory brought right at the feet of God.  Right where they knew that glory belonged.  They knew that nothing they could have done would have helped them to overcome the power of the Canaanite army. They knew it would not have mattered how many men they would have sent, whether it had been ten thousand or one hundred thousand, God alone was victorious.  Deborah had the proven confidence to know that with God all things are possible.  And she had the prevailing faith to trust that His hand would move.  Deborah had the courage to give God all the glory, and the trust to know from where that glory had come.

Deborah was nothing short of an amazing woman.  A woman who had a heart for God. Although the words used to describe her life are brief, the impact she had was nothing short of incredible.  Unlike all the other Judges, the Bible does not record one word of condemnation about Deborah.  God’s Word only tells us about her faith, and her will to serve our Lord. Deborah used all of her abilities to serve God, to do nothing more than to bring honor and glory to His name.  

As I remember the words of the song that she sang(Judges 5), it is not hard to see the courage of her faith.  She knew that as the battle was about to start, it could have been only One on the field for Israel that day.  It was about what God had promised, not about what man could accomplish.  Deborah’s courage was nothing short of contagious, and her courage became nothing short of encouraging.  With each “fear not” we read in His Word, I can see the Lord’s hand pointing back to Deborah.  I can hear the courage in her voice, and I can see it defined with each step that she took.  And as I read the words of her life, I can hear the Lord looking to define courage the same in each of us today.

Courage.  A word that stirs us, and a word that moves us.  A word that can be seen in man, but cannot be defined by man.  Man may attempt to explain it, but to experience it through the Lord’s hand is the only way to fully understand it.  Courage can only be defined when we make the most of the opportunities the Lord gives us.  Courage is found in hearing His voice when He calls us.  Courage is found in going wherever He may lead. Courage is found in the obedience to do what He says to us.  Courage is found in what brings us to the Cross, and it is what leads us each day to strengthen the grip we have on that Cross.  We can only become courageous when we realize that His Will is the only will that will ever matter.  Courage is what brings a man to his knees, and can be defined by how long that man then stays on his knees. Courage can be found in you every time you hear His Voice, then can be seen by what you do immediately after hearing that Voice.  Be strong in Christ!  Be of good cheer!  Be courageous!

Praying each of you live your lives courageously!