What's Wrong With THis Picture

What’s Wrong with this Picture Jeremiah 18:5-10 Rev. Al Carter
HAVING A HEART FOR PEACE by H. B. London Jr.
In our Lord's discourse on the end times, He indicates that "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matt. 24:7). In other words, there will be war everywhere you look. That seems to be the case today. If you point your finger at a world map, you will very easily come to the conclusion that the world is a very dangerous place to live. Not only do we have wars raging, we have rumors of more wars to come.
I hate the thought of war. I am well aware of the concept, and why we war, but it is very difficult to think of so many people hating so many other people enough that you would want to kill them. I am not being overly naive — I just hate war.
Paul explained part of the reason for mortal conflict when he said, "The acts of the sinful nature are hatred, discord ... [and] dissensions" (Gal. 5:19-20). In Jeremiah, it states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9). The NIV says, "And beyond cure." In other words, the very same motivation that creates war between nations is the same thing that causes a father to almost kill a little league coach because his son is not playing more; or neighbors to do bodily harm to one another because the snow is not removed from the sidewalk; or a church member to have such hatred for their pastor that they would do nearly anything to see them lose their job; or someone to assassinate Martin Luther King or kill a president or murder a spouse. The heart — that which tempers our reactions and causes us to want to love or hate — is basically evil, and unless there is radical surgery on the heart there will never be peace. That is why Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you ... not as the world giveth" (John 14:27). His peace is a transformation of the mind brought about by a changed heart.
I listened to the President Wednesday evening and, though I support him, I know that, in spite of the increased troop level, there will never be "peace." We may win. We may even have the last word, but that does not translate to peace. Why? Because hearts must be changed. That is why you need to preach it. "Change my heart, oh God."
"He will judge between nations and will settle disputes for many people" (Isaiah 2:4).
Pray for those who lead to be instruments of peace. Be blessed and be a blessing. —HBL

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,
10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
I. God is trying to get our attention.
1. 911
2. Katrina
3. The was against terrorism
4. Economic collapse
2. God molded us in to a great and powerful Christian nation.
1. Founding purpose to be able to worship as well as self-govern.
2. Foundational laws based on the Holy Scriptures.
3. Foundational evidence of God’s intervention
4. Foundational evidence of God’s blessing
3. It is time to return to out foundation in Christ.
1. Repent from sin
2. Tear down idols
3. Preach the Word of truth in love
4. Get back to doing and being what God intended us to be
A. People with greater vision
B. People with a heart for God rather than themselves

Fearless Faith James 2:14-26

Fearless Faith James 2:14-26
Someone said "Faith is not believing is spite of the evidence, but obeying is spite of the consequence." The tree Hebrew children who were facing the fire of a furnace in the court of Nebuchanezar told the king that regardless of whether God would deliver them or not they refused to worship the idol the king had erected. Regardless of the circumstances the young shepherd boy David went out to do battle against an enemy that had grown men shaking in their sandals. Many people have been put to death for their faith in Christ, but that doesn’t mean they lost the battle of life. They had faith that looked far beyond this present world into a glorious meeting with the God of heaven and earth.
This passage in James 2:14-26 depicts three varieties of faith that is displayed in the world we live in: Dead faith, Demonic faith, and Dynamic faith.
I. Dead Faith
1. People with dead faith substitute words for deeds.
2. People with dead faith know the truth but do not live the truth.
3. People with dead faith like to talk but fail to walk.
II. Demonic Faith
1. People with demonic faith believe in the existence of God.
2. People with demonic faith believe in the deity of Christ.
3. People with demonic faith fail to demonstrate what they say they believe.
III. Dynamic Faith
1. People with dynamic faith base their faith in the Word of God.
2. Their faith leads to action.
3. Their faith leads to life change.
Search your heart:
1. Was there a time that I honestly realized that I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and God?
2. Was there a time when my heart stirred in me to flee from the wrath to come? Have I ever been seriously exercised over my sins.
3. Do I truly understand the gospel, that Jesus Christ died for my sins and arose again? Do I understand and confess the I cannot save myself?
4. Did I sincerely repent of my sins and turn frm them, or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it, or do I hate sin and fear God?
5. Have I trusted Christ and Christ alone for my salvation? Do I enjoy a living relationship with Him through the Word and the Spirit?
6. Has there been a change in my life? Do I maintain good works, or are my works occasional and week? Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord. Can others tell that I have been with Jesus?
7. Do I have a desire to share Christ with others, or am I ashamed of Him?
8. Do I enjoy the fellowship of God’s people? Is worship a delight to me?
9. Am I ready for the Lord’s return, or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?
There are degrees of growth and no one is at the same place as someone else, but this inventory can be very helpful in determining how you stand before God.
Psalm 139:23-24
"Search me, oh Lord, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there is any wicked way in me, lead me in the way everlasting."

ALEPH The Blessings of Keeping the law of the Lord

ALEPH The Blessings of Keeping the Law of the Lord 1/7/07
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways.
4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all Your commands.
7 I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous laws.
8 I will obey Your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
I. THE PREREQUISITES OF KEEPING THE LAW OF THE LORD:
Note: The law of the Lord is much more than the ‘Ten Commandments’. It includes and is summed up in the directives that Jesus gave us before leaving this place and sending His Holy Spirit to comfort us. It is loving each other genuinely and assisting each other daily as we have opportunity. It is seeking the very best for the other person in each relationship, whether friend, spouse, business associate, employee, or customer.
1. Be blameless
The person who walks in the law of the Lord is blameless. The customs and traditions of mankind can be very grievous, but following the law of the Lord is the reward of life, joy, and peace. They live above reproach; no one can blame them of any wrong doing. If they are accused of anything, it is of doing what is good, righteous and true.
2. Be totally sold out to God
If we are claiming to be a Christian and yet we do not follow the law of the Lord; the presence of the Lord is not in us. James tells us that we must be a doer of the Word of God. If we are not living in truth the truth is not in us, and to put it more bluntly; if we are not following the law of the Lord God does not live in us.
3. Be obedient
We do not have an option in this matter. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good."(Proverbs 15:3) There are serious consequences for breaking away form the law of the Lord. Look at Romans 1:26-27 ,and Isaiah 3:11 examine it and let me know what you think it’s talking about.
However, don’t just follow the law of the Lord because you want to escape the consequences of not doing so; Follow the law of the Lord because you love Him and want to be like Him.
II. THE BLESSINGS OF FOLLOWING THE LAW OF THE LORD:
Note: You are not following the law of the Lord if you have not accepted forgiveness for your sinful nature, or if you don’t think you need to be forgiven for your sins. If we didn’t need forgiveness Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem and He wouldn’t have needed to die for our sins on the cross of Calvary.
1. The blessing of being counted as righteous.
King David said in the psalm, "All our righteousness is like filthy rags." Now I am not going to discuss what he was referring to in public, but it is a very eye opening study and when you find out what he’s talking about you will find that it was the most disgusting reference that he could have possibly made in that culture and at that time.
God covers us with the righteous life of His only Son, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. When he looks at us He doesn’t see our sinful nature any more, what He sees is His own Son and the purity that He displayed while living on this earth. He see the penalty His Son payed for the sins of mankind.
One of these days we will become perfect, even as the Lord Himself is perfect; that will be full sanctification. Until then He forgives our sins if we are faith and ask Him to do so.
2. The blessing of being able to learn the law of the Lord and its purpose
We all need to love the journey as well as the final destination. I like to travel during the daylight hours so that I can see the sights I pass along the way. I like to find new ways to arrive at the same destinations and explore all the roads in the area that I live. I make it my goal to know about the area that I travel through.
In the same way we need to love to learn the Word of God and the law of the Lord. Do your best to memorize verses of Scripture. Spend time reading God’s Word every day. Be extravagant and fanatic with your practice of learning God’s Word; put it on your walls at home and in your car.
If you haven’t asked Jesus to come into your life and control your behavior; you need to do that.
1 Corinthians "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
3. The blessing of eternal life and a home in heaven
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, remember that Jesus told us he would never leave us or forsake us. He has always and will ever keep His promises to us.
For those who might be doubting where you stand in Christ, this is the time and the place to make sure that these blessings and promises apply to you. Come and accept Him and let Him take control of your life for you.