Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Celebrating 50thAnniversary at SVBC Hebrews 11:5-6 “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Today I have...

Psalm 2:1-6 “Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And dist...

“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in...

Remember we learned from this chapter that there are two men, two ways, and two destinies. The very first word of the chapter is “Blessed”. The last word of the chapter is “Perish”. Every day we will make the choice as to which path we will take. I especially want to look at the last verse in this chapter today. First, “the Lord knows the way of the righteous…”. The word "know" in the Bible means...

“The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away." Psalm 1 describes at least three individuals. The one who is blessed (vv. 1-2)). The one who is a blessing to others (v. 3), and the one who needs a blessing (vv. 4-6). Psalm 1 puts everyone in one of two categories. We are either godly or we are ungodly. We are either a saint, or we are a sinner. We are either righteous...

Did you ever wonder why so many church members fail in their Christian walk? They seem to start out so well. They are so excited that their sins are forgiven. They have found a group of people that accept and love them unconditionally. They jump in with both feet to be involved with the “church life”. They show up every time the doors are open. They serve in any way they can. They sing on the prai...

I will never forget, as a brand-new believer, how I was encouraged to memorize scripture by my dad, J.O. Grooms. Right after I told him that I felt like the Lord was calling me into the Gospel ministry in 1971, he actually told me, that all I need to do to prepared for it was to memorize the entire New Testament, large portions of the Psalms and Old Testament, and go for a week to a pastor’s schoo...

God's covenant with Israel made it clear that He would bless their obedience and judge their disobedience (Lev. 26; Deut. 28).  This is the story line through the entire Old Testament. God’s Word also makes it very clear that this same principle is true for everyone. For the most part, God’s blessings are conditional! The person described here in Psalm 1:1-2 is one who is being encouraged to...

I’m amazed how God used people to give us the greatest Book in human history and that we have no idea who some of them are. The songs, praises and prayers that make up the Book of Psalms were written by different people over the course of many centuries. We know that David wrote about 73 of the Psalms and we have the names of many of the other authors that we read in the preface of their Psalm. Bu...

The very first word that introduces the Book of Psalms is one that should catch our attention. The work “Blessed”. Everyone wants to be blessed or at least feel they are being blessed! Basically “blessed” means to have a sense of “happiness” instead of sadness. I believe it also includes being completely satisfied, fulfilled, and a very good assurance that you are in a right relationship with God...

The Psalms are both a praise book and a prayer book! When I read and personalize a passage from Psalms it takes me into the presence of a Holy God and gives me the opportunity to share and unload my feelings and burden on Him. We all handle our feelings and emotions in different ways. Some people stuff their feeling inside and try to drown them with other things such as drugs, alcohol, pleasure, a...

Today we begin a new series of study in the Bible for our daily Pastor Chat. I felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to at least start with looking at the Book of Psalms. I believe this is on my heart, because as I look at the world around me, it is obvious that it is filled with broken people who are hurting and desperately looking for help and answers to their problems. Our lives are broken. So many...

Jesus said, quoting from the Old Testament, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). For those who have gone on this journey with me through the entire Bible, I trust that you have experienced 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as much as I have. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correctio...

Remember in the opening verses of this chapter, John tells us about what he saw in heaven our eternal home. In Revelation 21, John described the beauty of heaven, but here in chapter 22 he sees and describes “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. John told us about the tree of life, and that there would be no more curse. He told that in...

I think it is so fitting that in these last verses of the Bible that Jesus Himself speaks! Up to these verses, for the most part, an angel has been talking to John and showing him visions and events that will take place in the future. But now, Jesus speaks, and basically says that He is the One who sent the angel to tell John these things that he was instructed to share in the churches of his day....

These are the final verses of the Book of Revelation and the Bible itself. For the most part, in this book, John is given a message and visions about future events. After the introduction in chapter 1, and the letters to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3, John, in chapters 4 and 5, sees a future worship scene in heaven. Then from chapters 6 through 19, John sees and writes in detail about the...

It is hard to believe that we have come down to the final words of the final chapter and final verses of both the Book of Revelation and the Bible itself! In these words, we have a wonderful and final invitation. We have a final warning, and we have a final word! Did you notice how the Book of Revelation begins with a promised blessing. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this...

As John finishes writing the Book of Revelation, he reminds us of at least four responsibilities that we have as believers. First, we are told that we must “keep His Word” (v. 10). Second, we are to be obedient servants (v. 12). Third, we should keep our lives clean (vv.14-16). The contrast here is between those who do God's commandments and enter the city, and those who reject His Word and are ex...

As John finishes writing the Book of Revelation, he reminds us of at least four responsibilities that we have as believers. First, we are told that we must “keep His Word.” In verse 10, John was told, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book…”. In other words, don’t keep this revelation of end time events just for yourself, but share it with the world so that others can also find hope a...

As John finishes writing the Book of Revelation, he reminds us of at least four responsibilities that we have as believers. We will be looking at them over the next several days in more detail.  I’ve noticed that in this last chapter of the Book of Revelation, that we have a repeat of several phases. In Revelation 1:1-3, this book began with these words: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which...

“Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place." Heaven is more than a destination; it is a motivation. Knowing that we shall dwell in the heavenly city ought to make a difference in our lives here and now. The vision of the heavenly city motivated the patriarchs as they wa...

“And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever." Years ago, at a pastor’s conference at First Baptist Church in J...

“And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." The Bible is a Book of Hope! So, it should be no wonder that as we come to the last two chapters of the Bible, here in the Book of Revelation, we find the great promises of God concerning the future that is filled with tremendous blessings and hope! As I began doing this chat...

The last two chapters of the Bible bring our attention to our eternal home that we call heaven. Remember in Revelation 21, John was taken by angel to a great and high mountain where he saw the great city, the Holy Jerusalem come down out of heaven from God. He gives a description of the twelve foundations with the names of the twelves tribes of Israel written on them. He describes the twelve gates...

This morning as I began to do this chat, I couldn’t help but think about how today is the first day of a brand-new month! Our God is so awesome, and loves us and wants us to enjoy Him and His creation that He is continuously giving us something new. We are prone to wander, prone to sin, prone to fail and mess up. Because of the curse of sin, we have broken lives and broken relationships. Each day...