About Pastor Paul Delmark

Pastor Paul Delmark accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1973 at Youngstown Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio at the age of 22. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry in July of 1980 at the Baptist Temple in Painesville, Ohio. He founded and pastored two churches; Sturgis Baptist Church in Sturgis, Michigan, where he pastored from 1980 until 2010, and Portage Community Baptist Church, where he pastored from 2011 until 2014. He received honorary Masters of Divinity and Doctorate Degrees from Indiana Fundamental Bible College in New Paris, Indiana. He has also authored two books. Pastor Delmark has been the Director of two Bible Institutes, at home and abroad, where many men have been taught, ordained and sent to start and lead churches. He has done mission work in many European countries, Central America, Canada and Mexico as well as America. Linda, his wife of 44 years, has been his constant companion in all of these areas of ministry, and she remains involved and supportive of the work.
7.18 2021

Devotional – July 18, 2021

2021-07-15T20:05:05-04:00By |

Do you have true friends? If you do you are blessed indeed! What is a friend? Webster defines a friend as “ One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy.” Proverbs gives a lot of insight to this truth.

Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Here we see the importance of a good friend. A friend may not always agree with you, but he always wants the best for you. Like a surgeon, friends cut you in order to heal you. – Tim Keller. Paul in writing to the Galatians to correct an error in their doctrine said, “Am I your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Of course, Paul only wanted the best for these dear people.

As much as we see the value of a true friend in the Scriptures, we see the warnings of having a false friend. “He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God.” – Abraham Kuyper. Of course, the opposite would be true.

Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

2 Peter 3:17, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

Matthew 15:4, “…if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Malachi 2:8, “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble…”

It is amazing the influence a friend can have on someone for good or bad. We are all on a journey through life and are in need of good Godly council and guidance.

The Psalmist, speaking of God and His Word said, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” What better guide than God! What better friend and guide than one who is led by God!

Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD; and he delighteth in his way.” Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

This guidance is needed in every part of life. I Timothy 5:14, “…the younger women marry,…guide the house…” Psalm 112:5, “A good man…will guide his affairs with discretion.” Jeremiah 3:4, “…the guide of my youth?”

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.
– Arnold H. Glasgow

The sign on the back of a trailer read, “If I’m not headed west, stop me and turn me around.” It is a blessing to have someone to point that out and it is a blessing to want it to be pointed out! Some people go a long way in the wrong direction. Thank God for a good friend.

7.11 2021

Devotional – July 11, 2021

2021-07-09T23:51:27-04:00By |

Proverbs 3:26 states that “the LORD shall be thy confidence”. Confidence is a trusting or reliance. An assurance of mind or firm belief in the stability of another or the reality of a fact. The Christian’s confidence is unshakable. I Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” This is why the wise man built his house upon the Rock and that Rock was Christ. Confidence brings peace and stability. If your security is based on something that can be taken away from you, you will constantly be on a false edge of security. Confidence produces action. Zwingli (1484-1531) wrote “Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent or careless, but on the contrary, it awakens us and urges us on.” Christians are confident people. Oswald Chambers wrote “Confidence in the natural world is self-reliance, in the spiritual world it is God-reliance.”

Proverbs 25:19, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” The verse needs no explanation. Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” The Christian’s confidence is in God and His Word.

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus Blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

We who believe the Bible know that the Scripture cannot be broken. John 10:35. We know that it is impossible for God to lie. Romans 3:4, “…yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;” Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” He was cheerful in his present state, being assured of future happiness. What are you really confident in? What do you know for sure?

I John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:12, “… I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” That’s confidence! A verse that speaks of Abraham’s faith is Romans 4:21, “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

THAT’S CONFIDENCE!

7.4 2021

Devotional – July 4, 2021

2021-07-04T12:49:11-04:00By |

Would you like some good news today? We could all use more good news! There is a parable about when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt. When he came to the Red Sea he asked God for help and was told that there was good news and bad news. “The good news,” said the voice from on high, “is that I will part the sea so you and your people can escape.” “And the bad news?” asked Moses. “You will have to file an environmental-impact statement.”

When someone says that they have good news and bad news, we usually want the bad news first. We call it ending on a good note! Saving the best for last. That’s why desert is at the end of the meal. There is a hymn that we sing which proclaims “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.” This is certainly a Bible principle. Proverbs 13:12 states, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Psalm 30:5, “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Proverbs 25:25, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Cold water always tastes better when you are thirsty!

God has a way of cancelling out the bad news with good news. When the Christian dies, the Bible says he is “absent from the body”. That’s the bad news, but the verse does not stop there. If we finish the verse, the Bible says “…present with the Lord”. Paul Harvey used to say, “And that’s the rest of the story.” Joseph’s brothers were very cruel to him. They wanted to take his life, but God intervened and he was sold as a slave and carried away to Egypt. If you just see the beginning of the story it would be very depressing indeed. But what a powerful ending. Joseph ultimately said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” It is a story worth reading again and again. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

The good news is that God overrules the bad news. For the Christian there will be an end to all this suffering and heartache. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. There is a place where there is no more bad news! Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 22:3, “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;”

JESUS DOES NOT JUST BRING GOOD NEWS; HE IS THE GOOD NEWS!

6.27 2021

Devotional – June 27, 2021

2021-06-25T20:36:06-04:00By |

Are you saved? “Saved” is a Bible term. It can be a noun or a verb. The saved (noun) are those who have received the salvation or forgiveness of God through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. To be saved (verb) is how that takes place. So the question is asked, “Are you saved?” The answer to this question is of eternal value. It is the reason God sent His Son into the world to pay the penalty for our sins that we might have eternal life. John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;…” This must be of utmost importance. 1 Timothy 2:4, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” This is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” This is the reason we celebrate Easter. Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” It is the desire of a Christian to see others saved. Paul said in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

Are you saved? God has given us His word, the Bible to show us how to be saved. 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The Bible teaches that we are not saved by our own works or our own righteousness. Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,…” Ephesians 2:8-9, “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Here is God’s simple plan of Salvation: First, you have to see and admit your need of a Savior. All men have sinned and all men need salvation. Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Forgiveness, justification, redemption, an eternal home in Heaven, grace, comfort, mercy, SALVATION, are only a prayer away. Romans 10:9-10, 13, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as my Savior. From now on, help me live for You. In Your precious name, Amen

6.20 2021

Devotional – June 20, 2021

2021-06-17T21:08:37-04:00By |

Happy Father’s Day! If you are enjoying that wonderful relationship with your Father, you are very blessed. It is indeed a HAPPY Father’s Day! Sad to say that this is becoming more and more uncommon. For many children, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are not occasions for celebration. They are no longer Happy days.

Here are the top ten facts and statistics on fatherless homes for 2021:

  • There are 1.8 million “solo” dads in the US.
  • Statistics on absent fathers show that 7 million American dads were absent from the life of all their minor children.
  • Divorces are one of the leading causes of fatherless homes.
  • When it comes to the importance of fathers, statistics can help determine how children see school and education.
  • Father absence statistics show that adolescent women from fatherless homes have a higher chance of getting pregnant.
  • According to the statistics of fatherless homes, 17.4 million children lived in fatherless homes.
  • Fatherlessness stats may be linked to higher rates of suicide in high school students.
  • Children from single-parent homes participate in more government nutrition, education, etc. programs.
  • Fatherlessness may be linked to lower educational levels of African American girls.
  • According to the Department of Justice, statistics on parents in prison show that the number of incarcerated fathers in the US grew significantly in the period from 1991 to 2007. What a shame and tragedy for their children.

In II Samuel 10, Israel was fighting against an enemy. In verse 12 they said, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God:” Men, godly men, courageous men are certainly needed in days such as these. Their family needs them. Their children need them. “LET US PLAY THE MEN!”

In Luke chapter 15, we read the familiar story of the prodigal son and how he left home and squandered his inheritance. He ends up in the “hog pen” and has a revelation about his condition. He returns home with a broken and repentant heart and is received and forgiven by his Father. There is a song entitled “Turn Your Heart Toward Home”. It begins with a reference to this father’s prayer, but then makes a wonderful and important statement that should cause us all, as Fathers, to hear the prayers of our children. Here is the song.

Late in the evening, when everyone was sleeping
The Father of the wayward son slipped out in the night,
And looked toward the city and wiped away the tears
And prayed his son could hear his father’s cry,
Turn your heart toward home, Turn your heart toward home,
You’ve been gone so long, turn your heart toward home.

But not only the sons are the wayward ones
There are mothers and fathers who have said their goodbyes
And the sad eyes of children are lookin’ through their tears
Prayin’ mom and daddy could hear their cries,
Turn your heart toward home, Turn your heart toward home,
You’ve been gone so long, turn your heart toward home.

And there are those who have never walked away from home
But in their hearts they’re so many miles away
And the Father in heaven is the only One who knows
If they’d listen they could hear Him say

Turn your heart toward home, Turn your heart toward home
You’ve been gone so long, turn your heart toward home
You’ve been gone so long, Please don’t wait too long

Turn your heart toward home