Exploring & Proclaiming the Depths of Scripture. Pastor Mike Fabarez of Compass Bible Church.
Aliso Viejo, CA
Joined June 2009
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Should you sit in silence to hear from God? Silence has its place, but not so you can hear God. Wanting to hear new things from God lets your impressions and emotions crowd out the one thing you actually need in front of you: the truth of His Word.
The Bible is one of three things: the writings of sincere but deluded men, a deliberate hoax, or the revelation of God. If it’s not God’s word, throw it away and run. If it is, read it, study it, meditate on it.
What first convinced you Scripture was more than a human book?
Will you be friends with your husband in heaven? Pastor Mike’s answer is a warm yes. You’ll recognize each other and probably matter more to each other than almost anyone else. The years you shared won’t be lost, and after centuries together, who knows what you’ll build.
“Nobody’s perfect” is how we let ourselves off the hook. But David prayed, “I know my transgressions” (Psalm 51:3) — specific, not vague. That’s the difference between real confession and a shrug. You can’t embrace a forgiveness you’ve never admitted you need.
Should you talk about God every time you see your unsaved brother? If you’ve invested in those conversations, you’re still light and salt. The one reason to back off? When they ask you to stop. Even then, “the welcome mat’s always out.”
There are no quick-and-easy steps to patience. It’s forged through the furnace of extended trials and deprivation. When your joy is deferred, your muscles of endurance are being strengthened and enlarged.
Where have you seen God grow something in you through waiting?
You don’t lose your salvation. Not the proudest way to meet the Lord — but you’d get past it fast. Even in His presence you can say “I’m sorry,” and He forgives. Christ died for your sins.
“Love your enemies” isn’t asking you to feel warmly toward people who mock your faith. Love is a decision to do good — to bless, to pray (Luke 6:27-28). The greatest good you can want for an opponent? That they’d be changed. God’s done it before.
When Paul had a vision of heaven, he wasn’t even allowed to describe it — so why would God send people back today to publish it? What we have is what we have: 66 books.
Lost a few friends this week for your faith? You weren’t thrown in prison. The hurt is real, but it’s “light and momentary” next to what God is preparing (2 Corinthians 4:17). Stare at what’s seen and it swallows you. The unseen things are the ones that last.
"Who am I to judge?"
Pastor Mike says that gets misused. We're told to judge rightly — judging is just discerning.
Some of the biggest tests in the Bible came late. Abraham was old when God asked for Isaac. Moses waited decades before the bush. A smooth stretch doesn’t mean testing is over. It’s not your past record — it’s your future.
How has a hard season prepared you for what came next?
Should I pull my kids from public school? Pastor Mike: it depends. If it's not disastrous, they can make it — with real discipleship before and after school.
Vengeance feels good — that’s why the bad guy getting it at the movie’s end is satisfying. Wanting justice is godly. That’s what makes forgiveness hard: what you lay down is a good desire. But “vengeance is mine,” says the Lord.
What’s helped you forgive when it felt impossible?
New Christian, first Sunday — it feels almost euphoric. Then someone whispers, "Just give it time." He's not wrong. We're forgiven, but not yet perfected. Conflict will come. The question is what you do with it.
There are people around the world breaking the law just to get God's Word in their hands — and you've got it on your phone. Get back into it this week, because you know it's sure and true.
What's one way you're getting back into Scripture this week?
If I have the Bible, why do I need counseling? Pastor Mike: Scripture has it all, but we need help applying it. Counseling is just one-on-one preaching.