Good morning! I trust you all were safe Sunday and that despite two weeks of disrupted services or studies. We are plodding on by faith.

I know we only had about half our Neighborhood groups able to hold studies the past two weeks, and our Gathering meeting was postponed in the Omaha-Lincoln area for two weeks. We will give you the exact location, time and date in the the next few days for the event.

Some of you have asked how they might share their gifts or offerings during this time. You can either send a check to Covenant of Grace Ministry & Fellowship at the office at 2217 Deer Park Blvd. in Omaha, Nebraska 68108, or click the donate button on the bottom of our website pages at cgmfinc.com. Thanks for your faithfulness and love for the ministry.

The study guides we have been using in the advanced study portion of our Foundations Truths Studies are available. We have finished 10 lessons so far, and those guides I am making available through a link on my persona OneDrive account, until I have them posted on our website archives at cgmfinc.com. Take advantage of the guides. They will help you in retaining what you are studying.

Here is the link: Laying the Foundations Guides

Blessings and Grace,
Founding Pastor, Patrick Vossen

Scripture Thought

November 25th, 2018

John 18:33–37 CEB

33 Pilate went back into the palace. He summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me?” 
35 Pilate responded, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your nation and its chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 
36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world. If it did, my guards would fight so that I wouldn’t have been arrested by the Jewish leaders. My kingdom isn’t from here.” 
37 “So you are a king?” Pilate said. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.” 
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked 

Pilate’s question reveals doubt. He asked, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He asked it because Jesus didn’t look like a revolutionary or a criminal, the only types who would be foolish enough to claim to be the King of the Jews in the face of Rome.

Jesus responded by asking are you speaking for yourself? Jesus must clarify the question, because the Roman conception of king. To the Romans, “king” meant a political rival. Though Jesus was a King, He was not a political rival in the sense Pilate thought. Jesus goes on to explain to Pilate that My kingdom is not of this world. Jesus here declares the great and permanent difference between God’s kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. Jesus’ kingdom originates in heaven (My kingdom is not of this world). The foundation of Jesus’ kingdom is peace (His servants will not fight). His kingdom is not from here: Augustine observed from this verse that earthly kingdoms are based upon force, pride, the love of human praise, the desire for domination, and self interest—all displayed by Pilate and the Roman Empire. Jesus Kingdom wasn't. It was based on not on self interest, but upon the Father's desire which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. A kingdom where the Holy Spirit operates on the inner man. Where our soul and spirit join together, linking with the God who is all in all. His focus wasn't on power and politics, but praise, peace and power in the Spirit.
Desiring for us to walk in the anointing, grace and favor of God.

Next Jesus challenges him by proclaiming he came here to testify to the truth, and if we accept the truth we obey His voice. Pilate then asks, " What is truth? " “It was the question of the practical politician, who attached no importance to the speculations of philosophers or the dreams of enthusiasts. If the truth was all that Jesus was concerned about, there was no need (Pilate thought) to take him seriously.” (McClymont) For Pilate, soldiers and armies were truth, Rome was truth, Caesar was truth, political power was truth, but Jesus knew what truth was, while Pilate was still seeking. 

Jesus doesn't go on in this passage and explain truth to him. He basically leaves the subject hanging out their just to be thought upon by Pilate. However, through his life and teachings we know he demonstrated that he was the truth. Jesus said “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. " He was the truth ( John 14:6 ), and promised that those who expressed faith in him would be set free from sin, doubt and fear. 

Truth is a predominant subject of our Lord's in John's gospel. He even declared that the Spirit of truth would come and testify of him in John 15:26. Truth is an important commodity in God's kingdom. Let us not forsake its liberating force by avoiding its revelatory nature, but find its power in its clarity. Walking in the light of the Lord's grace and abiding faithfully in his kingdom of light.
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THE ROCK OF OFFENSE
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“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
—1 Peter 2:6–8

Today the meaning of the word believe has been weakened. In the eyes of most it has become a mere acknowledgment of a certain fact. To many it has nothing to do with obedience. But in the passage above, the words believe and disobedient are represented as opposites.

The Scriptures exhort “that whoever believes in Him [Jesus Christ] should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). As a result of the way we view the word believe, many think that all they are required to do is believe that Jesus existed and died on Calvary, and they are in good standing with God. If this were the only requirement, the demons would be in good standing with Him. The Scriptures also say, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19, emphasis added). Yet, there is no salvation for them.

The word believe has more meaning in the Scriptures than acknowledging existence of or just mentally assenting to a fact. Remaining true to the context of the verse above, we can say that the main element of believing is obedience. We could read it this way: “Therefore, to you who obey, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ ”
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It is not difficult to obey when you know the character and love of the one to whom you are submitting. Love is the bottom line in our relationship with the Lord—not love of principles or teachings but love for the Person of Jesus Christ. If that love is not firmly in place, we are susceptible to offense and stumbling.

From the book " The Bait Of Satan ", Written by John Bevere

Weekly Message For Oct. 13th, 2018 " The Legend Of The Fourth Temptation. "

​To listen in call the CGMF Prayerline at 712-432-8399 and use the Conference number 584684. Then hold to be placed in conference and the message will play.
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My devotion today was on this passage. Talking about ” Setting Aside Those Things. ” Those things that do no reflect the character of Christ in our Daily CGMF Prayerline Message.


3 Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. 2 Think about the things above and not things on earth. 3 You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. 7 You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. 8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. 9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices 10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. 11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.                 Colossians 3:1-11 CEB

Listening To The Prayerline Message

We have a new and fresh message on the CGMF Prayerline daily. Hope you will take the time each day to call in and get your fresh bread for the day.

​To listen in call the CGMF Prayerline at 712-432-8399 and use the Conference number 584684. Then hold to be placed in conference and the message will play.

​September 1st, 2018
Today's Message from Mark 7:24-23
" Contamination Of The Heart "
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​We have a new and fresh message on the CGMF Prayerline daily. Hope you will take the time each day to call in and get your fresh bread for the day.

​To listen in call the CGMF Prayerline at 712-432-8399 and use the Conference number 584684. Then hold to be placed in conference and the message will play.

​August 31st, 2018
Today's Message from 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
" Human Wisdom Versus The Cross "
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​We have a new and fresh message on the CGMF Prayerline daily. Hope you will take the time each day to call in and get your fresh bread for the day.

​To listen in call the CGMF Prayerline at 712-432-8399 and use the Conference number 584684. Then hold to be placed in conference and the message will play.

Haven’t had a chance to polish up my notes from Sunday, but wanted to share with you the basic information and notes from my message last weekend. Thanks guys always for your thoughts, prayers and support.
The Glory Of God Reflecting Upon Us And Through Us.


Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shonebecause he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.           
Exodus 34:29-35
Moses’s Radiant Face (34:29–35). There is something fitting about this entire section regarding the golden calf ending with this passage about Moses’s radiant face. What is it that God wants for his creatures? He wants us to be able to know him intimately. He wants us to reflect his character. He wants to transform our lives by the immediacy of his presence. The Israelites only knew that they needed the presence of the divine in a way that would meet their needs. And when they tried to cast the divine in a form that would be amenable to those purposes, they fell into that way of thinking described by the apostle Paul in Romans 1, which can only further alienate us from God and will ultimately destroy us. But God does not give up. And in Moses’s experience we get a glimpse of the reason why he does not give up. Moses talked with Yahweh “face to face” (33:11; cf. 34:29). Moses had not “seen” Yahweh face-to-face (cf. 33:20) but something better than that had happened: He had spoken with Yahweh. And that experience was reflected in Moses’s face (34:29–30), although he himself was completely unconscious of it. That is as it should be. Moses did not seek God so that his face would be “radiant” (see note on 34:29). He sought God because he wanted to know him and his ways (cf. 33:13). But if we have experienced the “face” of God, it must surely transform our “faces”—the expression of our lives—so that other people cannot avoid the reality, even if it might frighten them and make them uncomfortable at times. At the same time, the radiance is wholly derivative. It was when Moses had been with God again and came to share his word that the radiance was to be seen (34:34–35). The radiance did not become some permanent possession of Moses’s. Yahweh alone is self-sufficient; we are but the filaments in a light bulb through which his glory flows. Cut the filament off from the source of electrical supply and it will be as lightless as a stone. The apostle Paul got it right when reflecting on this incident. If a covenant that could only show us that we are sinners produced a glory like that, what ought to be the effect of a covenant that can reproduce the very character of Christ in us (2 Cor 3:18)? The old covenant could not produce the character it called for because it could not overcome our disposition to sin (Rom 8:3), but now the Spirit of Christ has come through the New Covenant and he is able to make “us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Cor 3:18). ( Cornerstone Commentary )
“ Horns “
34:29 had become radiant. Lit., “the skin of his face sent out horns” (cf. 34:30, 35). In the Hebrew language, a “ray” or “beam” is designated by the same word used for “horn” (so also in Hab 3:4). The literal rendering explains Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses with horns on his head. Sarna (1991:221) suggests that the root qaran [7160, 7966], with its connotation of horns, may have been chosen specifically to contrast this experience with the golden calf episode, which began this segment of the book. ( Cornerstone Commentary )
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36
9:29 the appearance of his face was transformed. Lit., “the appearance of his face became different” (heteros [2087, 2283]). Luke does not use the Gr. word “transfigure” (metemorphōthē [3339/A, 3565]), the term employed in Matt 17:2 and Mark 9:2. It seems Luke deliberately steered clear of a term that had negative associations in the pagan world, where apotheosis (the elevation of humans to divine status) was known. “Luke was aware of the danger of confusing Jesus with some polytheistic pagan notions (compare Acts 14:11 [NIV], where Paul and Barnabas are acclaimed in Lystra as ‘the gods’ who ‘have come down to us in human form’). Jesus is not to be identified in Luke’s mind with one of the Hellenistic deities. He is the unique bearer of the divine glory (9:32; cf. 2 Cor 4:7),” and no comparison with any Hellenistic figure is appropriate or illuminating (Hurst and Wright 1987:74). For literature on the Transfiguration, see DJG 834–841; NIDNTT 3.861–865; Trites 1987a. ( Cornerstone Commentary )
Luke in contrast to his other gospel counterparts wants us to know that “ Jesus is the Unique Bearer Of The Divine Glory. “ Not like the  Hellenistic or pagan gods in contrast.
Reflecting His Glory
Blaise Pascal, the brilliant 17th-century intellectual, made significant contributions in the fields of science and mathematics. He established the groundwork for the development of mechanical calculators and modern hydraulic operations.
As a young man, Pascal had a profound encounter with Jesus Christ. This life-changing experience motivated him to refocus his study from science and math to theology.
Pascal wrote a remarkable prayer that can help each believer in facing the tasks of life. He prayed: “Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name.”