April 21, 2024 - Psalm 87 demonstrates God’s love for Zion and the joy of the nations that is represented by that place.God declares individuals from all the nations surrounding Israel who know him to be born of Jerusalem, saying 3x, “This one was born there.”The fullness of joy of the nations who are declared to be born in God’s city is portrayed in their singing, dancing, and confessing, “All my springs are in you.”

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

April 14, 2024 - Of all the 73 Psalms that David wrote, Spurgeon comments that Psalm 86 alone can be called the Psalm of David. Psalm 86 logically follows Psalm 85 which taught that there is life after sin. David becomes the living model of this, demonstrating that a murderous adulterer can also be called “A Man after God’s Own Heart.” The 17 verses of this Psalm are one long cry for help in escaping circumstances that are, apparently, David’s own fault. How he prays and the posture he takes in his prayer teach the church how to approach God when we sin. The Psalm teaches:Confession and repentanceThat we ought to seek forgivenessThe appropriate posture and demeanor to approach God when we sinAbout the temporal consequences of sinThe removal of the consequences of our sins is not our primary concern The absolute high point of the Psalm comes in verse 11 where David shows his priority, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

April 7, 2024 - Revival must be continually on the minds and in the prayers of every born-again believer. It was on the mind of the Israelites as they returned from the Promised Land and sought to be faithful in the time between reaping the consequences of their sins and inheriting the blessings of faithful living.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

March 31, 2024 - God shows the source of the warmth and heart of Christian fellowship through The Sons of Korah in Psalm 84 by giving three marks of a blessed life. These entry-level marks must be present and increasing in each member of the congregation to bring the vibrancy and life to a church. These are the marks which differentiate the living churches from the dead churches and cathedrals which dot the European landscape. The three marks are:

• ​“Blessed are the Gathered” (“How blessed are those who dwell in your house!”)
• ​“Blessed are the Dependent” (“How blessed is the man whose strength is in you!”)
• ​“Blessed are the Trusting” (“How blessed is the man who trusts in you!”)
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For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

March 24, 2024 - In Psalm 83, the church sees enemies of God surrounding the nation Israel, “To wipe Israel out as a nation (v. 4).” The church in 2024 has transcended ethical and geographical boundaries, and we are surrounded, albeit differently than our ancient counterparts. Today we are forced to fight on many fronts—socially/culturally, politically, religiously. We must combat heresies coming from outside of our church, we must fight for our reputation against faithless denominations who have strayed from the pure tradition handed to us. We must combat misinterpretations sown into the church that plague every generation. And Jesus promises we must be on guard for “wolves in sheep’s clothing” who bring disunity from within.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

March 17, 2024 - In Psalm 82 the forgotten attribute of God brilliantly on display. Conservative churches of our generation have virtually forgotten impartiality as an essential attribute of God. Deut. 10:17, “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.” What is the response then of God’s people and of those rulers and princes he has delegated his authority to on earth? V. 19, “Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” The church is taught in Psalm 82 about the importance of proclaiming God’s word and displaying his ethics in the world by seeing the terrible judgment that is promised for those who have showed partiality in the world. Both conservative and liberal churches have missed by failing to prioritize both the true word of God preached and his true ethics and character revealed in Christian charity.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

March 10, 2024 - Psalm 81 is an emotionally rich passage which demands two great things of the church. First, celebration of God and praise for his deliverance from bondage. Second, the rededication of our lives to him and the ordering of our lives around his great promises. He gives a promise which has been incredibly influential in church history, particularly through George Muller, who cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime because of his understanding of Psalm 81:10, “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” The church is promised “honey from the rock” and “the finest wheat” if we would listen and be faithful to Him.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

March 3, 2024 - Heritage Associate Pastor Jon Burgess teaches on Psalm 80.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

February 25, 2024 - Psalm 79 represents the cutting and pasting of many other verses from Scripture, particularly from the Psalms, that teach Christian how to use the Bible to give expression to their own situation. Israel also lost their ability to atone for their sins in the temple, forcing them to rely on God alone to restore their relationship and remove the penalty of their sins. Today, the church looks to God’s provision in Christ as their ultimate atonement. Finally, the church, like Israel, looks to God for their ultimate restoration and deliverance from their miserable circumstances. Not only for the temporal consequences of their sins but for ultimate restoration from sin and death.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org

February 18, 2024 - Psalm 78 is a recounting of history, but not only for the sake of remembering the past. It is an appeal to future generations of God’s people to remember our history that we might gain wisdom from it, that our lives might more glorify God, and that through it we might see generational faithfulness in the church. The link that ties the historical re-tellings of the Bible together, and a link that bridges their history and ours, is the link of covenant. Though we frequently forget our promises to God and fall into all forms of sin, God never forgets his promises to us and is eternally faithful to them.

For more information about Heritage Church, visit our website at: https://heritageshawnee.org