Weekly Sermon

Beginning

2008-01-01T12:56:00.001-05:00

Beginning Genesis 1 John 1:1-18 Revelation 4:11

There are several theories that battle with the question of how life began. In the time we invest here we will touch on two of them. I will discuss two of them, not because of their probability as being truth as much as their prominence at being discussed. There are more people who cling to one of these three possibilities than all the others combined. The third is not just a possibility but the facts that are handed down to us in the Holy Scriptures. I do not hide the fact that I consider it reliable nor do I apologize for holding it in such high esteem.
The crux of the matter is that if you are not predisposed to believe in the Bible as the very Word of God and the very first account of the beginnings of the earth as He sets forth, then you will very likely not believe the rest of the Scriptures as truth either. You will try to explain away the epic heros of our faith like Sampson, David, Elijah and Elisha, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. You will explain away the truths taught in the plagues brought on Pharaoh and the Egyptians, find a safer place to cross the Red Sea, and say that the lions were already full of human flesh before Daniel entered their den. You will say the three Hebrew men cast into the fire of the furnace was a good story, but not at all true. If we believe the beginning of what God says is true, the middle and final things are just as valid.
These are: The Big Gang Theory
Intelligent Design
Creation with purpose by the three in one God

1. The Big Bang Theory
The first thing that educators who support other possibilities apart from literal creation is the idea of a huge catastrophic explosion or collision that is to have taken place millions, if not, billions of years ago. They will literally pound this concept into the heads of children (I’m trying to be polite). The funniest thing that happened, as they relate this myth, is that instead of this explosion destroying life it created the beginnings of life. I don’t know about you, but I have never seen an explosion that did anything but destroy what was exploded.
Part of the ‘Big Bang Theory’ is the implementation, or mixing, of the ‘Darwinian Theory of Evolution’. They teach this as beginning with cell structure and then moving to bacteria and germs. It then proceeds through a process of mutations to larger masses of cells to create insects and eventually the animal, plants and mammal population we see on the earth today.
The problem with this theory is there are no species to link the various species that we see on the earth at this present time. What I am saying is for the ‘Big Bang’ and ‘Evolution’ to be a probable link to our past, it would need to be taking place in this day and age also. I have never seen a frog-dog, eagle-beagle, or a rat-cat. So, unless these folks can make claims that their missing links include catfish, cowbirds, and seahorses, (which they cannot) they are going to fall short of a complete explanation. The voids that are left are too vast to persuade me and I hope you can say that too. I need more faith to believe in the ‘Big Bang Theory’ than I can possibly muster. It is too much like a fairytale that starts out with, “Once upon a time.”

2. Intelligent Design
‘Intelligent Design’ is perhaps the, the result of collaboration between those who are not duped into believing the fallacies of the ‘Big Bang’ and ‘Evolution’ theories, but are not willing to accept the biblical explanation of creation. They assume by the complexity of the world that it all had to have a designer. However, they do not want to believe giving honor to a supreme God or even a group of gods.
At the very best, the supporters of ‘Intelligent Design’ say that if there was a god who created the world creation is all that he or it did. The God who they see left the world to fend for itself with no rhyme or reason, no point or purpose. This, I find unacceptable also.
When we look at all we can see in this universe, we see so much that is so complex that we marvel at it all. With all the sonagrams, x rays, EEGs, and EKGs, we still do not fully comprehend. I find it impossible to fathom such a complex design without a purpose. It would be like a master artist either painting of sculpting his major artistic creation without planning where it would be placed for display. I can’t buy it.
I see “Intelligent Design’ as one of the most dangerous thoughts supported in the world today. It has enough truth dashed into it to be similar to the biblical explanation and enough lie to send people to a godless eternity in hell fire. It reminds me of the dialogue between the serpent and Eve that led to the downfall of all mankind in the Garden of Eden.

3. Creation with a purpose by the Three in One God
The biblical account of creation makes the best sense. It tells when the universe began. It tells why it began. It covers the complexity of good and evil. It reveals the structural order that is to be followed.
The creation account laid out in the Bible might be a simplistic explanation of the beginning of life, but it is the only one that makes sense. All the scientific discoveries that have been made about the existence of mankind and all the archeological digs that have been made, all work together to substantiate the account found in Genesis and other parts of the Bible.

1. How? God created
1. God says, He did it in six days.
2. The order of creation led up to the final crowning part of the work.
3. Only one species was made int the image of God Himself.

2. Why? For God’s pleasure
1. God wanted to love someone who would love Him.
2. God wanted a redeemed creation.
3. God wanted it to last forever.

3. Good (godliness) vs Evil (selfishness)
1. The fall in the garden was not a flaw in God’s plan.
2. The law was given to show man how very self-destructive and sinful mankind is.
3. It was planned that Jesus would to come to earth to redeem us before the beginning.

Conclusion:
Just as there was a beginning, there will be an ending.
The Bible warns us of a final judgement.
There is an urging to live a godly life and not be discouraged when we are disciplined in God.
There is a hope of eternal life and a glimpse of our final future.
We need to ask ourselves these questions:
Have I been redeemed?
Am I willing to be disciplined?
Do I have and eternal future in Christ?

The First Noel

2007-12-15T11:35:00.000-05:00

The First Noel Luke 2:8-20

What, do you suppose, the shepherds were discussing that night when the Angel of the LORD appeared to them so long ago? These men had probably chased thieves and wild animals away from their flocks in days gone past. Where they boasting about how their adversaries had taken flight as they were chased away by the shout of their voice, the throwing of stones, or the painful impact of a shepherds crook coming down on them?
Somehow, I just don’t get that kind of image in my mind. What I imagine is a somber and serious, even earnest desire to have a closer relationship with God the Creator. These men were not scholars of the Torah. However, they were, no doubt, believers in God who had been to the temple often and had celebrated the various rites and feasts all other Hebrews observed. I can nearly hear their conversation as they talk with one another about the promise of the Messiah.
They really don’t understand all that is said concerning the coming of the Messiah, The Chosen One. Yet, they believe and trust the some day when the time is right God will fulfill the prophecies concerning Him. Did they recall the passage in Isaiah that indicated:
“Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
If they did, I’m not so sure they understood the passage completely the way it would be fulfilled. I wonder if we aren’t like that today ourselves? Some of us are extremely adamant and sure of ourselves when it comes to the prophecies are yet to be fulfilled. We are sure of how and when Christ will return. Some of us are even so sure of ourselves that we seem to be literally demanding God to do it our way.
We should remember that we should stand in awe and see what God will do in these times. I think that some of us will be standing in joyful awe and some of us will be standing in dreadful awe.
To be sure that we are standing in joyful awe we need to take a look at what happened so long ago on that “First Noel.” Let’s ask ourselves what did those humble shepherds do that we should be using for a model for our own spiritual and Christlike behavior?

“The First Noel” was to certain shepherds. Why?

1. These people were hard workers and common people. KID
1. Know who you are.
2. Identify with how you are like others.
3. Never forget, we are all common people in the eyes of God.

2. These people were aware of their own need for a Savior. WIN
1. Be aware of your weaknesses.
2. Be aware of your consistent inconsistencies.
3. Be aware that you need God to make you what you want to be in His eyes.

3. These people would tell everyone they met what they had experienced. PIE
1. Don’t be persuaded by political trends.
2. Don’t be intimidated by someone else’s power.
3. Don’t be enticed by potential or persuasive wealth.
4. These people were obedient.
1. Witness the announcement.
2. Act on what you know.
3. Spread the news.

If this is the first time you have heard the Good News and understood what it meant for you, you can have a new start in you life today.
Come to the Savior, who is Christ the LORD.
He will accept you just as you are. He will make something beautiful of your life today.
He will give you something worth sharing with everyone you meet.
“God is with us” was the announcement the angel gave to the shepherds.
He is still here with us today.

God with us

2007-12-09T00:56:00.000-05:00

Matthew 1:18-25

This time of year one can easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Getting the lights and lawn decorations up before it gets too cold. Don’t forget all the shopping and sending out cards. The frantic people scurrying from store to store looking for the right gift, then there’s all the wrapping afterwards. After all that shopping and wrapping you have to get the tree up so you will have somewhere to put the gifts. There is also all the TV specials, movies and music just for Christmas. Ah yes and packing the gifts, cookies, kids and wife in the car to visit family. Oh and don’t forget the snow we have to have a white Christmas, it just wouldn’t be Christmas if there wasn’t snow just think how awful Christmas would be without snow. When I was a kid I would really be upset if we didn’t have snow for Christmas. You know the sad thing is most people today get so caught up in all their Christmas activities and don’t even take a moment to stop and really remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Several years ago in Sunday School class our teacher gave us a book one year for Christmas it was called “The Greatest Gift” Christmas eve that year I was so excited about being able to open all my presents the next morning I couldn’t sleep. I pulled out that book and read it I then realized that I was getting all caught up in the commercialization of Christmas I lost sight of what Christmas really is about; it’s Immanuel, God with us.

Joseph learns 4 very important things here about God’s plan for him and Mary. First we learn that what is conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit. Second the baby is a boy. Third He is to be called Jesus, and fourth He will save His people from their sins. Joseph got the answer to why there is Christmas; Jesus came to save His people from their sins. Sometimes we think of Christmas as just the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem but it is more than that. Jesus came for a reason and Joseph was told that reason in verse 21.

Let me give you a more detailed reason lets start with John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Jesus came to give His life so that we might be forgiven of our sins and have access to the Father. Mark 15:38 tells us that during Jesus’ Crucifixion “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” This is an important point and when I really think about it I get really excited. Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden man has not had access directly to God until Jesus’ work was completed. The torn curtain signifies that man has direct access to God now no more having the priest go in to the Holy of Holies. Jesus is preparing a place for us He will return for us and take us to be with Him forever. We find this in Revelation 21:3 it reads: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them, They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” After Jesus returns and the Judgment is complete God will dwell with us. So then the reason Jesus came was to give His life for us so that we could be forgiven and after His Second coming dwell with God forever.

The prophet in verse 22 and 23 Matthew mentions is Isaiah who spoke about the Messiah’s birth about 700 years before it happened. Isaiah 7:13-14 reads “Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.” This is the true meaning of Christmas; Immanuel, God is with us.

For those of us who are saved God is with us today the Holy Spirit living inside of us molding us and making us more and more like Christ each day. Maybe you don’t know Jesus maybe you have never taken the time to confess your sin to Him and ask Him to come in to your life. Or maybe you are like I was and thought since I go to church and live a good life I am a religious person and I’m going to heaven. Wrong you have to know Jesus not just know about Him. He wants to have a relationship with you that is the meaning of Christmas. If you don’t know Jesus you can. Romans 10:9-10 tells us “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” That is all there is to it. Confess, Believe be Saved. Jesus is waiting, won’t you come to Him today?

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

2007-11-29T21:36:00.001-05:00

Psalm 107:1-7

Everyone who has joined themselves to the cause of God in Christ Jesus has a purpose; a calling that God has laid upon their life. Everyone is called to be a witness of what God has done in their life and to verify who the Son of God actually is.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.

We have a marvelous example of witnessing from the first chapter of the book of John. It is the pattern for witnessing that is laid out by example by John the Baptist.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
[It is hard to fully understand what is being said here, but let me try to paint you a vivid picture:
The Son of God is not merely the offspring of God the Father.
The Word of God is the Son of God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The Son of God is God.
God the Father is God.
In all this, we are talking about one God who reveals Himself in three various ways.]
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
[Jesus of Nazareth, the baby in the manger in Bethlehem, was and is the God of creation]
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
[Jesus of Nazareth, the baby born to the Virgin Mary, was and is the life giving light of the world.]
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
[If you are honest, you have got to admit to the fact there are some things you just don’t know. There are some things I won’t fully comprehend until I get to see Jesus face to face in heaven. The apostle, the one who Jesus loved, John who wrote this book of the Bible is not trying to reconvict you and me because there are some things we don’t understand. He is referring to the fact that people then and now do not understand the full ramifications of what took place in the short life on earth of the person known as Jesus of Nazareth.]
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
*Where do you come from?
[Where John came from is of the highest importance for us to stress. John came from God, and if you have accepted the payment for your sins that was offered up by the giving of Gods only Son on the cross of Calvary, then you are also a representative of God the Father as John the Baptizer was. There are people who are watching your every move and they will question every word and deed that you do. Some will try to expose you as a fraud; that is what will happen when your life radiates the presence of God.]
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
*What is your purpose?
[The purpose that motivated John needs to be the motivating factor in every believer in Jesus Christ. We need to let God have full control of our lives. Here is how to do just that:
Recognize your sinful nature and the sin it has led you into.
Accept the payment for sin that is provided in God through Jesus Christ death and resurrection and His ascending back into heaven.
Live a life pleasing to God with the life of Christ Jesus as your example that you follow.
Remember, this is not just a good way to live; it is not even the best way to live; it is the only way to live eternally.
Because “the wages of sin is death,” and sin is any other path I might try to take other than the one God has provided through Jesus Christ.]
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
*Don’t put on appearances.
[Just as John made it clear that he was not the Christ, we need to be ever so clear that we are just sinners who are saved by grace. It might be good to let people know when they are in our presence they should be wearing hard hats, because there is active construction going on and the process won’t be completed until we are at home with Christ our LORD in heaven.]
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
*Point people to Jesus
Even though He made everything that was made, even His unique creation did not recognize Him.]
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
*Show others the value of Jesus with your works as well as your words.
[Even by His own he was not received. That is like you going home to your family for Thanksgiving or Christmas and having Mom and Dad, Sister and Brother, Aunt and Uncle, lock all the doors to the house and refuse to let you in to take part in the celebration.
Remember, there was no room at the inn for Christ to be born. There are people today who are locking the doors to their hearts and refusing to let Jesus into their lives.]
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
* Let people know what God is offering them.
[By receiving Jesus we become God’s dear children, heirs of God and co heirs with Christ. In receiving Him we reject the love of the world.]
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Word Becomes Flesh

*Let them know what it is like to be born of the Spirit.
[It is not a physical thing, it is not a mental, thing, and it is not a ritual or religious thin that makes one born anew. It is a supernatural spiritual bonding between one who desires to belong to God and God Himself accepting that person as His own. It is like the most beautiful adoption that has ever taken place, where God Almighty, who created me, with all my flaws and imperfections and called me His son. He gave me a new name that no one knows (I think it’s His last name).
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
*Tell them God can relate to their suffering.
[It is the most amazing thing, and it has been missed by those who have rejected Jesus as the Son of God. He, Himself, the Creator oft he universe, became His own Son by manifesting Himself in the womb of the Virgin Mary. God took on the form of a man so that mankind might be more capable of relating with God. He suffered every ache and pain we ever suffer. He knew what we ate. He knew sleepless nights. He knew what it was like to be a baby, a child, a pre-teen, a teenager, and an adult. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows.
Of course we beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father. This baby, boy, and man was the Father come to earth in the form of a man.]
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
*Give the people what you understand.
[John understood who Jesus was. He knew Jesus was God in the flesh.]
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
*Huh?
[The idea of “race for grace,” is literally stated as grace upon grace, or that God’s grace to us has been piled up.]
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
*Let people know that if they want to know what God is like, look at Jesus of Nazareth.
19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
* Tell people who you are.
[I am a nobody and nothing, but I serve the living God who is my everything.]
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”
22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said: “I am
‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
*This is the wilderness where we have been called to raise our voices saying, “Get ready to meet God!”

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

2007-11-29T21:36:00.000-05:00

The Blessing

2007-11-20T16:27:00.000-05:00

The Blessing

There is an obvious difference between physical blessings and spiritual blessings.

Back in Genesis we read about the blessings that Jacob passed on to his descendants.

It is the classic story ending of the old adage, “What goes around comes around.”

First Jacob desired to see Joseph and his children Ephraim and Manasseh so he could bless them before he passed on to the Lord. Jacob continued the tradition that defied tradition that was handed down from Abraham through Isaac, and then through the deception Jacob and Rachel had pulled off on Isaac in disguising Jacob like Esau.

Evidently it had now become so ingrained in his mind, he now gave the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim.

Even when Joseph tries to correct his father Jacob insists that he has done as the Lord has directed him.

Physical Blessings:

In chapter 49 Joseph has called the rest of the family to his bed side and he passes on his blessing.

As I read this portion of Scripture, couldn’t help but sense Jacob’s obvious irritation with some of his children.

Genesis 49

Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

1 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:

2 “ Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob,
And listen to Israel your father.

3 “ Reuben, you are my firstborn,
My might and the beginning of my strength,
The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel,
Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—
He went up to my couch.

5 “ Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place.

6 Let not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honor be united to their assembly;
For in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel.

8 “ Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father’s children shall bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He bows down, he lies down as a lion;
And as a lion, who shall rouse him?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

11 Binding his donkey to the vine,
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,
He washed his garments in wine,
And his clothes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine,
And his teeth whiter than milk.

13 “ Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea;
He shall become a haven for ships,
And his border shall adjoin Sidon.

14 “ Issachar is a strong donkey,
Lying down between two burdens;

15 He saw that rest was good,
And that the land was pleasant;
He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden,
And became a band of slaves.

16 “Dan shall judge his people
As one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way,
A viper by the path,
That bites the horse’s heels
So that its rider shall fall backward.

18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!

19 “Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him,
But he shall triumph at last.

20 “Bread from Asher shall be rich,
And he shall yield royal dainties.

21 “ Naphtali is a deer let loose;
He uses beautiful words.

22 “ Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a well;
His branches run over the wall.

23 The archers have bitterly grieved him,
Shot at him and hated him.

24 But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),

25 By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father
Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors,
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.

27 “ Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
In the morning he shall devour the prey,
And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

Physical blessings are passed in regards to:

How you impress the blesser (Yes! I do know there is no such word as blesser.)
How you behave
How blessed the blesser has been

Spiritual Blessings:

Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Spiritual blessings are passed on in regards to:

Our relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ
Treasures the world cannot understand or see
How much we desire to share the blessings of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ

Henry Nowuen tells of a time when one of the residents at his home for mentally and physically challenged people came to him and requested he bless her.

He reached out his hand and began to place it on her head. When she avoided his touch he was puzzled.

She insisted that she wanted a real blessing and he was to do it at the service that evening.

He struggled to understand what this emotionally and mentally challenged woman was asking him to do for her.

As the service that evening was drawing to a close he mentioned (with great caution) the ladies name and told the other thirty some attendants about her desire to receive a blessing. As he called her to come forward, he again extended his hand as if he would place it on her forehead. This time however, she not only avoided his hand but walked directly into him and grasped him in her embrace.

He finally figured out what she wanted, and he put his arms around her and gave here a blessing that was specific to her and her spiritual gift of making people of the home and visitors feel welcomed.

I want to pass on a spiritual blessing to you.

May you grow in the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ our LORD.

May you learn to share the blessings of your relationship with Him so others might know Him too.

May you all inherit all that God wants you to have in Christ Jesus.

If Jesus is the Answer, Then What is the Question

2007-11-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

1If Jesus Is the Answer, Then What is the Question? John 3:16

In Philip Yancey’s book, “The Bible Jesus Read,” he recalls growing up in the state of Georgia. He remembers graffiti on sides of barns and bridges, rocks and roadsides. They were either Scripture direct from the Bible or reference to the biblical text. Just before writing this book he was driving through the state and observed that some sceptics had added their own graffiti to the mix. Where one person had written, “Jesus is the answer,” another had scrolled, “So what’s the Question? Yancey goes on to reflect that, even though that person might have written the statement in a smart-aleck mood, he might have hit on something very concrete that we, as believers should be constantly thinking about. He reflects that there are three questions each of us had to have answered before we came to, or can come to, solid trust in God through Jesus Christ.
He suggests these three questions to ponder.
Do I matter? Does God care? And Why doesn’t God act?
During the next few minutes, let’s look for some answers to these hard questions.

1. Do I matter?
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,[b]
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

2. Does God care?
Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Why doesn’t God act?
Daniel 10:11-13
11And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 1And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Think of the entire book of Job. God never tells Job about the contest of Job's faith and trust in God that was set up in chapters 1-3. God never tells Job why he has suffered. God only restored Job.

You are important to God .

He created you and sent His Son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for your sin.

Your answer or deliverance might be on the way but delayed as in Daniel's case.

Perhaps we might not receive an answer as to why God doesn't act. Remember, His goal for us is eternal life, not to provide us with gifts or answers in this life.

If you need more assurance of God's love and purpose for your life, contact me at 740-385-6460
or e-mail me at the address on this site.

God loves you and I do too!

In the Spittin' Image of God

2007-10-26T11:46:00.000-04:00

n the Spittin' Image of God Romans 8:14-21

If you're living like you should,

If you're growing like you could,

In His image you'll become,

As the Father, so the son.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Two Greek words: 'teknon' and 'huois'

these words are used in this text to depict the 'sons of God' and the 'children of God'.

There might be a particular reason the both words are used in this passage.

Some scholars suggest that one might imply a closer relationship with 'huios' as the sons of God in verse 14 that that of 'teknon' in verse 16.

The point I'm going for here is that some children bear a closer image to their parents than other children do.

In the physical world, I bear some resemblance to my Kenneth Keith Carter. Some folks would go so far as to say that I remind them of him in my physical appearance; I personally don't see that. My dad was over six feet tall during his prime years. Through a series of serious back and spinal injuries, he shrank to just under six feet tall prior to going to the Lord in 1969. My father's hair was blond. My father was very mechanically minded, and could make anything he needed for house he lived in or the vehicles he drove with either a piece of wood or a hunk of metal.

In contrast I have never been taller than five foot eight and three quarter with high-heeled sneakers. My hair has always been this very dark brown. I tend to bee much more word oriented that he was. My history with plumbing is well documented by the leaky pipes that someone else had to fix. While I might enjoy working on a trinket or toy, I tend to get very frustrated working on vehicles. I like to read and write.

Things that my dad and I have had in common are quite a few. We shared a love for the game of baseball and we both played it to some degree of success. We both enjoyed plants and animals and just being in the wild. We have the same sound to our laughter. We share a love of people and are willing to receive those who have hurt us emotionally and love them too. There are times that my fun-loving humor has gotten me into trouble with my wife, but that's my dad in me. There were times when my father was around that I would pick up the phone at his house and the person at the other end would think they were talking to Kenny. The biggest identical imagery that we have is our love for God and the ways of God.

In the passage that we just read, that is the identity we are going to be looking at: how and in what ways do we mirror the image of God and remind those we rub shoulders with of His very presence.

I. Children of God

We are all made in the image of God, and being made by Him in creation, we are all His children.
We all bear some resemblance to God in that we are basically creative creatures.
Even though some might not recognize it, we all have a deep desire to draw close to God and be more like Him.

Sons of God

1. Some of us have when the extra step and accepted the forgiveness of sin that was offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. Some of us have taken His goals and purpose as our own goals and purposes.

3. Some of us have an aura about you that displays the presence of God.
Will the Real Christian Please Stand Up? (17-19)

If we are going to display the image of God as the 'huios', sons of God we are going to do it in this manner:

We are going to be intimate with God, as in verse 17 “whereby we cry 'Abba', Father.”
We are going to share in His sufferings. (17)
We are going to share in His glory. (17)
We are going to recognize the worth of it all. (18)
We are going to conform to His image. (19)
We are going to be the delight of the rest of creation. (20-21)

Are you as close to God and you want to be?

Are you as close to God as you need to be?

Are you the spitting image of the Father?

If you are not all that you know you should be, you can do something about it today.

Come to Him at this altar of prayer and meet with Him.

He is real, He loves you, and He has a wonderful plan for your life.

Don't Forget the Selah!

2007-10-20T11:31:00.000-04:00

Don't Forget the Selah! Psalm 89

In over half a century that I have been attending church services I have listened to a variety of people read from the Scriptures. These people have read aloud the passages that bring life to our souls using a range of vocal inflection from loud and excited to soft and mono tonal. One habit, of many of those loved saints, is to read the word 'Selah' whenever it appears in the text.

Now, if this is your particular practice, I want you to know that my purpose is not to embarrass or discredit you in any way. I won't even ask for a show of hands to display how many of us do read the word Selah aloud. What I do want to do is to have you better informed as to why the word 'Selah' is represented in the text and how to respond to it whenever it appears while you are reading. You can make up your own minds later as to whether you wish to continue to read the word 'Selah' aloud or not. I just want you to know how the writers of the Psalms intended it to be viewed.

Websters Dictionary says this about the word 'Selah':

A word occurring frequently in the Psalms supposedly

to be a liturgical or musical direction, probably to the

leader, to raise the voice, or perhaps indicating a pause.

It really doesn't matter to me if the word 'Selah' means to pause and reflect or to raise our voice, yet when I read these passages I sense something in my spirit wanting to do a little of both. I, on one hand, want to stop and think about what has just been read. The Word of God is filled wit such profound statements. We often glide over like eggs and bacon sliding out of a frying pan that has been properly prepared so that nothing will stick to it. Well, there are times when we are just like those well prepared frying pans and we are so greased up with our own thoughts that nothing of the Word of God sticks to us.

Think of what might occur in our lives if we would raise our voices in honor to the Lord.

Think of what might happen if we would really stop t think about what we read in the Scriptures.

The word 'Selah' is found seventy one times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk.

In each of these places where it is found, the statements made before and after are word to be taken to heart.

Psalm 89

1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen,
I have sworn to My servant David:
4 ‘Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah

There is a song I sing to help me remember this part of this psalm. It also reminds me of the promises that are provided here and in the other psalms.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing,

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.

With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness, Your faithfulness

With my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations.

When i sing this or read these words of this psalm, it reminds me that I should not only raise my voice and pause and reflect, but I should also do what it says.

Now, reflect on what is said in the next lines of this psalm.
5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; If the heavens do, shouldn't we too?
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. Am I declaring His faithfulness?
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
8 O LORD God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O LORD?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them. I recall Jesus in the calming the storm.
10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain;
You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. He has already won the battle.

11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The Battle Belongs to the Lord.
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; God created all things
Mercy and truth go before Your face. He prepared for salvation before
15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! He began creating the heavens and
They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. the earth.
16 In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the LORD, He has covered us with His
And our king to the Holy One of Israel. Righteousness.
19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,^[b]
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found My servant David;
With My holy oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom My hand shall be established;
Also My arm shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him,
Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 I will beat down his foes before his face,
And plague those who hate him.
24 “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,
And in My name his horn shall be exalted. His name is Jesus.
25 Also I will set his hand over the sea,
And his right hand over the rivers.
26 He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 Also I will make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him.
29 His seed also I will make to endure forever,
And his throne as the days of heaven.
30 “If his sons forsake My law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they break My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
And their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him,
Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant I will not break,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
35 Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David:
36 His seed shall endure forever,
And his throne as the sun before Me;
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah God has established the throne of Christ In the heavens forever.
38 But You have cast off and abhorred, the heavens.
You have been furious with Your anointed.
39 You have renounced the covenant of Your servant;
You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
40 You have broken down all his hedges;
You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 All who pass by the way plunder him;
He is a reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
And have not sustained him in the battle.
44 You have made his glory cease,
And cast his throne down to the ground.
45 The days of his youth You have shortened;
You have covered him with shame. Selah There are very few places you will get a better
46 How long, LORD? picture of what happened on the cross of
Will You hide Yourself forever? Calvary.
Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is;
For what futility have You created all the children of men?
48 What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah It seemed so hopeless while
49 Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, Jesus was suffering, and it might seem
Which You swore to David in Your truth? hopeless at times while we go
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants— through the storms of life.
How I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 With which Your enemies have reproached, O LORD,
With which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
52 Blessed be the LORD forevermore!
Amen and Amen.

It all reminds me of the message Tony Campolo tells about his pastor giving on one Good Friday service. “It's Friday, But Sundays 'A Comin'.

Pause and reflect wen you read the Scriptures.

Raise your voice in praise of the marvelous salvation that God has provided in Jesus Christ and the shedding of His precious blood.

Be a participator in the sharing of that salvation.

God’s Love Letters

2007-10-13T22:35:00.000-04:00

Joshua 1:8

I want to take a minute this morning and share one of my pet peeves with you. I can’t stand it when someone calls me religious. I just don’t like the term religious at all. The reason it really bothers is that it does not describe me very well actually it does not really apply to me. When someone is religious they adhere to certain activities and rituals. There is a particular structure to what they believe and do in worship it is well defined and usually that person is expected to adhere to specific instructions for worship. The Jewish faith is religious, so people could say that Catholics are religious. I am not religious however I am a Christian and a follower of Christ, which does mean that I have a relationship with God.

In all healthy relationships there is good communication. One of the first things that you learn in marriage counseling is that communication is important. Most fights that occur in marriages are usually either about money or lack of good communication.

The past few weeks we have learned about prayer. Al has shared with us about this important type of communication that goes on between God and us. When I first because a Christian I never really seen a need to pray since God knows our every though. I have since come to realize how important prayer is. God enjoys hearing from us and wants us to have open dialogue with Him. Not only does God like to hear from us He also wants to speak to us. I am sure some of you are probably wondering what I am talking about. How does God speak to us you wonder. He speaks to us through His word, the Bible.

When we read God’s word He is able to speak to us. God inspired the writing the Bible according to 2 Timothy 3:16 it reads; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” The Holy Spirit helps us understand what is being said to us if we allow Him to. Luke 24:45 tells us that; “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” God can speak to us through His word if we read it and study it daily. God wants to hear from us daily and He also wants to speak to us daily.

How can we know God if we don’t read His word? The truth of the matter is you don’t love God unless you read His word. God has been speaking to me this past week and I know I don’t read His word as much as I should. I really need to not just study His word but to actually take time and listen to what God is saying in it. If you can’t remember what passage you read yesterday then you really were not paying attention to what you read. I just wonder if we would all be honest with ourselves how many of us read the Bible, as much as we should. I have made a commitment to God to read more of His word each day, which else will join me and just take a few minutes out of each day. There are 24 hours in a day and I am going to give at least 10 percent to God that would be 24 minutes out of everyday its not that much time just about the length of one TV show. God loves you, and He is waiting to talk to you now ask yourself are you listening.

Resolutions to Very Bad Days

2007-10-12T09:08:00.000-04:00

Resolutions to Very Bad Days Psalm 88 and stories from 2 Kings 4:8 – 8:6

Psalm 88

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplationof Heman the Ezrahite.

The Psalms have always been a place where people love to go to read when they are feeling down. I have often picked passages from the Psalms to read to those who were suffering in an extended illness. In reading Ken Gire's “The North Face of God,” I became aware of another reason the Psalms are very popular to some people. These people are those who find it hard to justify what God is or is not doing in their lives. When the days drag on with little or no resolution to the problems we face.

What do I say as a spiritual counselor to someone who is going through Job like experiences. I have sometimes resorted to quoting various verses in the Scriptures that might restore hope and peace or assurance. More often I have simply listened and grieved with them. There are times when answers will not come in this life. There are times when our experience with God only leads us to questions of why, how, and when.

The biblical accounts that I am going to recall today could have seemed like these type of situations to the people who were going through them at that time. Some resigned themselves to live as best they could in their circumstances and to continue to serve and love God and trust in Him. Others used every possible means to resolve their calamities. The last one was doomed to live the rest of his life in the shadow of a curse. There is also a surprise ending, so pay close attention.

1 O LORD, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.
2 Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life draws near to the grave.
4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man who has no strength,
5 Adrift among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more,
And who are cut off from Your hand.

6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,
In darkness, in the depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah
8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an abomination to them;
I am shut up, and I cannot get out;
9 My eye wastes away because of affliction.

LORD, I have called daily upon You;
I have stretched out my hands to You.
10 Will You work wonders for the dead?
Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah
11 Shall Your loving kindness be declared in the grave?
Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?
12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;
I suffer Your terrors;
I am distraught.
16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;
Your terrors have cut me off.
17 They came around me all day long like water;
They engulfed me altogether.
18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me,
And my acquaintances into darkness.

A Shunmite's Plight

What do you give the woman who has everything?

She didn't have a son to care for her in her old age.

Elisha asked God to give her a son.

The son died.

Elisha, through the grace of God restored the boy to life.

They had to leave their home because of a famine.

A Servant with a Heart to Serve

She had witnessed the cruelty of being separated from her family.

She chose not to remain bitter.

She loved her captors closer to God.

A Warrior's Worse Nightmare

The curse of leprosy and it's repercussions

Hope in a strange land from a strange man

It doesn't sound severe enough to work.

The coaxing of a servant

The cleansing through an act of faithfulness

The refusal of finances

The joy of a grateful man worshiping the ground that the prophet walked on.
The Greed of Gahazi

A plot to pilfer the praiser

A pile of loot for the plotter

A plan gone bad

A pill hard to swallow

A pain passed on to the family
Four men between a rock and a hard place

Resolve to take a chance

Re con reveals retreated enemy's

Relishing in the spoils of victory

Recognizing the wrong doing

Reporting to the city

Retort from the king's right hand man

Riot of rejoicing in the city

Right hand man run over by rejoicers

Wrongful death leaves king with a void

Re emergents of a remorseful man

In each of these situations there seemed to be no hope, yet hope and deliverance emerged in irregular ways.

Perhaps what you have been going through has seemed to be unending and discouraging?

Perhaps you can see no end to the trial?

Perhaps your resolution is just around the corner?

Perhaps the answer to your prayer will only be revealed when God calls you home?

Remember, it is not just your present that God has in His hand, but also your eternal future.

It is where you spend eternity that matters to Him most.

Sometimes Life Is Like Aaron's Rod

2007-10-05T10:32:00.000-04:00

Sometimes Life is Like Aarons Rod Exodus 7:8-13 Numbers 17:8-11

Tommy Tenney has written a marvelous book called, “The Ultimate Comeback.” He has accumulated some biblical comebacks of enormous proportions. Some of these I have never pondered even though I have read through the Bible hundreds of times and studied it for sermons over the past fifteen years.

Have you ever had a bad day? Maybe it was a bad week or even a bad year? Perhaps it might have been several years in sequence. Maybe your still going through it.

If you have ever heard things like these or if you ever will I want you to pay attention to what this message offers to those who feel they have no hope.

I started out as a nut that fell from a tree in the orchard.
I became in bedded in the ground and started to sprout into a sapling.
The gardener came by and noticed me.
He separated me out and made sure I had no weeds around me.
He gave me special nutrients to be sure that I grew strong.
He tied a strait stick to me to assure that I would grow strait and tall.
My dream was to be the youngest almond tree to ever produce fruit.
I felt alive and vital; I knew I was the best sapling in the orchard.
One day the gardener came by to check on my growth just like he had every week.
This time he gripped my base and rudely snapped my limbs off my trunk.
He took his ax and chopped off the limbs he couldn't break with his hands.
He pulled me sideways and with one swift swing of his ax, he severed me from my base root.
He then proceeded to strip my bark and laid me in the hot sun.
My dreams of becoming a productive almond tree were shattered.
Day by day the gardener would come by and turn me so the another side of me would be exposed to the sun.
Day by day I felt the life fluids drying up inside of me.
I felt for sure I was being prepared for fire wood, but what I couldn't figure out was why me?
When I felt totally dried up the gardener picked me up and gave me over to a man who used me as his staff.
I went with him everywhere he went.
The only time I was not in his hand or on his lap was while he was sleeping.
I found a new purpose in being this mans staff.
I helped him when the footing was difficult.
I drove off wild animals from his flock.
I decided that if I could no longer be an almond tree, I would be the best staff that a man could have.
I was glad to serve in this new roll.
The man was a leader of the people.
He and I were used by God in many ways to convince the people of God's presence and power.
He threw me to the ground one day and I became a snake and I ate up other rods that had became snakes.
I was used to turn water to blood.
I was used to bring frogs out of the streams and rivers.
I was used to make Gnats.
I felt great to be used by the LORD to free the people who were in slavery.
Then one day the men gathered around my master and argued about who would be the leader.
My master again threw me to the ground and the other men threw their staffs on me.
Then my master's brother picked all twelve of us staffs up and put us in a dark place in a tent.
I once again figured that I was going to be used for firewood.
During the night something strange started to happen.
I felt something that I liked but I had not felt in many years.
Life began to flow though my grain.
I felt something like bumps on my side and then they erupted into sprigs and then into branches.
The branches budded and started to grow almonds.
The almonds even ripened.

Aaron's rod was found budded in the morning by Moses, the man of God. God told him to leave it there as a witness to all those rebellious people that God had already chosen the leader of the Children of Israel.

Have you felt dried-up, ineffective and useless.

Have you felt that no one, not even God has any more for you?

If you can hear this message or read this God still has great plans for you.

If you are still alive He can still use you and bless you.

This is not the greatest story even though it might be a good one.

The greatest story is that Jesus Christ made the greatest comeback ever so that we all could make the great comeback.

You can know him personally today and you can start your own great comeback.

Turn your life over to Him today.

The How, Where, When, and Why of Prayer

2007-09-28T11:23:00.000-04:00

The How, Where, When, and Why of Prayer Psalm 95

Are you sometimes puzzled by what might be appropriate in prayer? What is the correct position of prayer. Where should I be when I pray? What is the right time to pray? If some prayers don't get answered the way we like, why even pray?

1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

7For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

10Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

I. The How of Prayer

If I am going to gain anything from the reading of Psalm 95, I need to recognize how the psalmist is coming before God.

He is desiring that we sing with joy to the LORD.

He is desiring that we shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
He wants us to come before Him with thanksgiving.
He wants us to extol Him with music and song.
He wants us to worship and bow down.
He wants us to kneel before the LORD.

It bothers me that when you see believers in Jesus watching or playing sports, they will let themselves go with excitement and enthusiasm when they make a good of bad move or if their favorite teams or players make good of bad moves. Put the same people in the pews on Sunday or mid-week service and you can hardly hear them. God desires that we would be excited to be near Him when we approach Him in prayer.

It might be physically difficult or impossible for some of us to kneel in prayer. Kneeling is only a metaphor of what should take place in our hearts. People can pray in a variety of positions, but whether kneeling, sitting, standing or lying down, we need to remember to remain humble before the LORD.

Here's a quick thought to ponder: If the Word of God tells us to sing, shout, be thankful, to extol Him with music, might that be considered by Him an act of humility?

II. The Where of Prayer

Before the LORD

This passage only mentions one place where prayer is to take place. There are many other particular places that prayer can and should occur. The list of those places is endless because it is wherever you are. Sitting in church, beside your bed, in your bed, at the store, at work, at play, in the hospital, or out in the natural setting. Wherever you are, understand that you are always before the LORD.

III.The When of Prayer

When you are:

Happy
Sad
Angry
Joyful
Grateful
Knowledgeable
Confused

Whenever you feel the tug on your heart to communicate with God you should do it. Hopefully that tug to communicate with Him will become more and more frequent until you and I are doing it on a continual basis.

If we are continually communicating with God, it will be easier to stay close to Him and refrain from sin.

Cassian: “We pray best when we are no longer aware of praying.”

VI. Why of Prayer

Because of salvation
Because He is great
Because all things are in His hands
because He is our Maker
Because He cares for us
Because He has prepared a place for us to rest from our labors.
Because we need to hear from God

I have constantly been reminded that God gave me two ears and only one mouth as a reminder that I should listen twice as much as I speak. It is true when talking to God too!

The why list can also be endless. There are many reasons that come to mind.

In the book I have just finished reading, Philip Yancey's, 'Prayer, Does it Make Any Difference?', he has a very short section in the last chapter that is headed 'Inappropriate Prayers.' I will conclude with this that he doesn't really list any. He recalls the people who have muzzled themselves from voicing, what seemed to them, as selfish prayer. Then he brings up a group of folks who started coming to God out of personal need and ended up praying passionately for others.

When you pray God will either change the circumstances or you and your way of thinking; I feel often it is the later one that happens for me.

Pray with feeling.

Pray where you are.

Pray continually

Pray because God loves you and wants to talk to you so listen twice as much as you talk.

More About Prayer

2007-09-21T14:31:00.000-04:00

More About Prayer

I have been reading Philip Yancey's book, “Prayer, Does It Really Make a Difference.” These are some of the points that he brings up that I have been pondering this week along with my own reflections.

First he refers to David Mains comment on making sure prayers are on target.

What do I really want? Am I being specific in articulating my hearts desire to the Lord? God required Solomon to be to tell what he desired of the Lord, he wisely chose wisdom to govern the people of God.
Can God grant the request? Is it possible that what I am asking for is actually against the nature of God? There are times that we pray for the absolute destruction and death of our enemies. We forget that God does not want anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance.
Have I done my part? Am I praying to lose weight without dieting or exercising. James declares, “If you know how to do good and do not do it, that is sin to you.
How is my relationship with God? Are we on speaking terms? If I regard sin in my heart the Lord will not hear me.
Who will get the credit if my request is granted? Do I have God's interests in mind? We need to develop view of life from God's perspective with the understanding that it might never become fully developed until we are absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Do I really want my prayer answered? What would actually happen if I received what I am praying for? Think if this is really as good for me as I am thinking, or are there other lessons in life I need to learn before this prayer is fully answered? The Israelites demanded to have a king to rule over them like the other nations around them. Eventually God granted them a king in the person of Saul the son of Kish, but it was to their hurt.

Garth Brooks sings a song about the prayers he made regarding winning the favor of a high school sweetheart. He later figures out that it was not such a good idea as he sings this line in the song:

Just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean He doesn't care.

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

Yancey brings up the prayer of John Ballie:

Teach me, O God, so to use the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.

Let me use disappointment as material for patience.

Let me use success as material for thankfulness.

Let me use trouble as material for perseverance.

Let me use dancer as material for courage.

Let me use reproach as material for suffering.

Let me use praise as material for humility.

Let me use pleasure as material for temperance.

Let me use pain as material for endurance.

In the book he also cites Dr. Harold Koeing, Psychiatrist at Duke University's 'Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health', by bringing up these chapter headings in his book “The Healing Power of Faith.”

Religious People Have Stronger Marriages and Families.

Religious People Have Healthier Lifestyles.

Religious People Cope Well with Stress.

Religion Offers Protection from Depression and Helps Those Who are Affected to Recover Quickly.

Religious People Live Longer, Healthier Lives.

Religion May Protect People from Serious Cardiovascular Disease.

Religious People May Have Stronger Immune Systems.

Religious People Use Fewer Expensive Hospital Services.

Dr Paul Brandt, who has been a friend and co writer with Philip Yancey reminds us that the word 'psychosomatic' comes from the combination of two Latin words psyche, meaning mind or soul and soma, meaning body. He states that he is never offended when his colleagues refer to some of what we call miracles as being psychosomatic, because it still does not demean the fact that the person was healed or that the pain went away. These are evidences that cannot be argued against.

We must always understand that we are looking through the glass dimly as the Apostle Paul put it. We might think we are at the point of full understanding in a particular area of our life, but as Thomas Merton said: We do not want to be beginners (at prayer).

But let us be convinced of the fact

that we will never be anything but

beginners, all our life!

These are ten lessons that Yancey suggests he has learned in prayer; I might say , I concur:

Hearts Desire: I have learned to tell God exactly what I want regardless of how impossible it might sound.
Lament: I have learned to complain; to tell God how I feel.
Confession: I have learned to confess my sin.
Be Peaceful: I have learned to rest in God.
Presence of God: I have learned to understand and experience the presence of God.
Compassion: I have learned that I can and must do something about my concerns.
Gratitude: I have learned to be grateful.
Faith: I have learned to have faith; both childlike and tenacious, even if I don't get what I want, I know that I have whatever I need.
Grace: I have learned what grace really means, a deep assuring peace in the midst of my trials.
Preparations: I have learned to prepare for eternity with the One I Love.

In closing F.B. Meyer says this about prayer regarding the possibility that it might or might not be answered the way or in the time frame that we have in mind:

The greatest tragedy in life

is not unanswered prayer,

but unoffered prayer.

What is on your heart? Please come and talk to God about it today.

Pointers About Prayer

2007-09-13T21:14:00.000-04:00

Pointer About Prayer Matthew 6:5-15

As I come in contact with a number of people who come from a number of backgrounds and faiths, I have found that most of them pray. They might not pray like I do and they probably won't pray for the same results that I pray for, but they pray.

Some approach God as if He were a provider of gifts to meet their wildest dreams.

Some approach God as if they were extremely cautious, treading on ground that is forbidden to be walked upon.

Some lift their prayer to someone they really do not know, while others display a surety and confidence that they indeed have a personal relationship with God Almighty.

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.^[a]' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

There are a variety of styles of prayer that are used throughout the Bible. The prayers also exhibit a variety of emotions that range from knowledgeable to confused, from frustrated and angry to elated and happy, some were searching for the presence of God. Some people were requesting anything from physical healing to deliverance from their enemies.

The posture that was assumed by these masters of prayer had just as much variety as the prayers themselves: some kneeled, some fell prostrate on the ground or floor, some sat, some put their head between their knees, and some stood, with their arms raised to the heavens.

Some of the great people of prayer sang while they prayed, some were silent, some read pre-written prayers, some insisted that it was needful to pray without a script.

I have personally used most of these methods. I didn't do it so that I could find a better way, I just did it because it seemed the right thing to do at the time.

In Philip Yancey's “Prayer, Does it Make Any Difference?” I ran across Some basic principles for prayer.

Principles For Prayer:

Keep it honest.

Keep it simple.

Keep it up.

Not Enough Davids to Go AroundNot Enough Davids to Go Arround 1 Samuel 17:32

2007-08-18T12:38:00.000-04:00

Not Enough Davids to Go Around 1 Samuel 17:32

Perhaps the reason that there are so many gigantic problems that keep raising their ugly heads in life, is that there is such a lack of Davids who will stand up against them in the name of the Lord.

What got David to the battle front? (20) His father sent him.

What did David see when he got there? (21) He saw fear and depression.

Would you want to give a report like that to your father?

How did his brothers and their fellow warriors receive him? (26-30) They rebuked him.

How did King Saul recieve him? (31-33) He berated him at first and then decided to send him to fight.

Possible reasons:

Saul was conceding to defeat and would rather lose a loud mouth kid than one of his warriors.
Saul believed that David had been sent by the Lord to deliver Israel form the Philistines.

Conclusion:

We are the army of the Lord.

We need to determine what or who is our Goliath of Gath.

Who will stand up and be a David?

I hope it will be you.

Peace Through Fogiving Your Enemies

2007-07-27T12:38:00.000-04:00

Peace in Forgiving your Enemies Matthew 38-48

38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies^[c] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This is part of the 'Sermon on the Mount'. As Lee Stroble says it, Jesus is making one outrageous statement after another. I don't know about you, but I have heard some very self-righteous people cite “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” and declare that this is the concept that God wants us all to follow. Now Jesus is going to turn that thinking upside-down.

Read 39-42

Now the first part of this statement makes me stagger a bit, but the rest of these but the rest of these statements simply blow me away.

The only person I ever have let anyone hit me was my cousin Lynn Wasnich. We both loved to box and we both had a set of boxing gloves. The only trouble was that when he came to my house or I went to his house we each would forget to bring the other set of gloves. So, we would go to the basement of the house where our parents couldn't see us and we would trade head hits. We would never swing for the nose of the other person so we never broke our noses of caused severe bleeding.

I have had some people get mad at me and take a swing at my cheek. However, I simply ducked and avoided the contact. Had they met the mark they were aiming for I would have had to dig deep inside for the kind of fortitude it would have taken to turn the other cheek. I am not sure at all that I could have gathered myself, turned my head and said, “okay, now this side.”

The fact is, in my humanness, I find this instruction very difficult to obey. Yet, in the Spirit of God I have found myself being used and wounded by some people who I reach out in love to, over and over again. Yeah! That is turning the other cheek too!

Read 43 Here it comes!

Read 44-45 Here comes the reason...

Read 46-48

So, here is the whole thing in a few words:

God wants us to forgive our enemies, but it is not enough to just say that we forgive them.

God wants us to love our enemies, and it involves more than simply shaking hands, hugging, or kissing and making up like Mom and Dad used to make us kids do when we had a misunderstanding or one or both were just plain selfish.

It involves care and concern that moves us to think of our enemies in a different way than we ever did before. If we really love our enemies we will pray for their eternal welfare. If we really love our enemies we will strive to reach out to them in friendship and love.

An enemy that receives Jesus Christ as their Savior will not only treat us differently. They will be different. The will be our brothers and sisters in Christ.

You could have peace by forgiving your enemies.

The Paradgm Shift:Changing Your Thinking

2007-07-20T18:14:00.000-04:00

The Paradigm Shift: Changing Your Thinking Philippians 4:4-9

The wisest man, other than Jesus, to ever walk on the earth once said, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”

So, how do you think?

Norman Vincent Peale, made the term 'positive thinking' popular back in the late 60s with his talks, sermons and book “The Power of Positive Thinking”.

Dr. John Maxwell spoke of several ways of thinking to address the issues of life in the books he has written.

I was encouraged to read “Psycho Cybernetics” written by Maxwell Maltz about twenty years ago. It expresses that there is potential inside us that can only be brought to the surface by changing our thinking.

In the Bible passage of Philippians 4, the apostle Paul urges us to do something to alter our thinking.

Besides this, there is overwhelming support that we as believers in Christ need to stay on top of our thought proses and control our way of thinking and what we think about.

After all, prior to the first murder committed, Cain was warned by God to get control of his bad mood. God said to Cain, “

Why are you angry and why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do what is not right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Stop and think about it! God would never of instructed Cain or required from me and you what we could not deliver. As we grow in Christ, we also need to change our thinking to think like God thinks so that we will exhibit and show that we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Rejoice always, Amid every circumstance there are blessings of God to observe.
Let everyone see your moderation. Don't be greedy, God is watching.
Be careful for nothing. Understand that God will provide all of our needs if we are doing His will.
Think about the truth. God's Word is truth. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17).
Think about honest things.
Think about pure things.
Think about lovely things.
Think about good reports (and don't make good reports into bad reports just because it's not what you wanted.
Think about virtuous things (good things).
Think about the praises and be thankful, not grumpy.
Think about the good lessons you have learned form teachers who have exhibited those lessons in your presence.
Think about how no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing God is with you and God is for you.

Do you need to change some facet, some part of your thinking?

That begins when you accept the offer of eternal life from God through His Son Jesus.

The price has already been paid by Him on the cross of Calvary.

Perhaps your a believer already but you've gotten trapped into some bad thinking trends where you are looking more on the negative side than the positive side of life.

You can make a new start today if you really want to.

What's Holding You Back?

2007-07-08T03:00:00.000-04:00

Luke 9:57-62

As I was doing some research for this morning’s message I ran across a few statistics I thought I would just throw out to you this morning, plus this is a good lead in for the title of the message. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration one person dies in a fatal crash every 13 minutes; 114 people die every day; 40,000 people die every year. Seventy-five percent of all serious motor vehicle accidents occur within 25 miles of a person’s home. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, raising seat belt usage rates by 5 percent would save 40 lives every year. Raising the rate by 10 percent would save 82 lives. Between May 24 and June 6 of this year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ran a safety campaign called “Click It or Ticket.” The Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Governor’s Highway Safety Office called their part of the campaign “What’s Holding You Back?” And this morning I would like to ask you the same question “What’s Holding You Back?” What is keeping you from serving the Lord, what is keeping you from having a closer walk with God, what is it that is keeping you from turning your life over to Him, what is keeping you from being what He wants you to be? This morning I am going to address some things that hold us back.

I have found that lately when I preach I am preaching also at myself so I am going to go ahead and get to stepping on my own toes now instead of waiting till latter. When God first called me to preach I made up all kinds of excuses and I let me hold myself back. The first thing that holds us back is ourselves. It is so easy to put “self” first before God. God should always be first on our list of priorities our will should be to do His will. Some people get so hung up on the issue of Gods will and they think that it is something that they have to do when it should be something they want to do. God is a gentleman He does not force Himself on someone He created us with free will and we can choose to serve Him or not. I choose to make His will my will. So is there something that you don’t want to hand over to God right now is there something in your own life that is holding you back keeping you from being where God wants you to be or who God wants you to be?

The second thing that holds us back is others. There are many different “others” that can hold us back I am only going to address a few of them right now. I think that most people would agree that peer pressure is probably the main source of influence when we are talking about others. I used to be worried what other people would think of me if they knew I was a Christian. I found encouragement in Matthew 10:22 it reads “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Then after reading Luke 9:26 I realized that I should not be ashamed to be a Christian and that I should not hide who I am. Luke 9:26 reads “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” We should not let what other people think of us get in our way. Our friends, family, and coworkers can also hold us back. Our relationship with other people should not come before our relationship with God. What is holding you back from having a closer walk with God?

The third thing that holds us back is our feelings. This topic is kind of a loaded one and I am not going to go in to great detail with it or we could be here awhile. If we are not careful our feelings can really hold us back. Our walk with God should be one of faith and not of feelings. Our emotions can try to control us but our faith can keep them in check. Fear is a powerful and sometime crippling emotion that we have to deal with. When I was a child I was afraid of almost everything I think. The dark, fog, noises at night, being alone, heights, ghosts, aliens, and just about anything else there could be to be afraid of. Since I have been a Christian I have realized that some of those things I was afraid of did not even exist and that there was no reason for me to feel that way. As I matured as a Christian I found the best way for me to overcome fear was with John 16:33 it reads, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This verse got me through many bad and sometime scary situations. Another feeling that can hold us back is reluctance or being unwilling to do the things that God wants us to do. When people begin to lack motivation that is a very sad and scary situation to be in. I know I speak from experience. By all rights I should be on a diet right now but for some reason I lack any and all motivation to actually do it. I can name off several reasons why I should be and they are actually really good reason but I just can’t get myself motivated to do it. Whenever there is a lack of motivation to do anything it can be really hard to get it back. It is sad to churches that have people come and sit through worship like it is their duty and then not be willing to serve in any capacity whatsoever. We should be willing to serve God because we want to not because we feel like we have to. When we start doing things because we feel like we have to they become a duty and no longer do we enjoy it. In the interest of time I am only going to look at one more feeling. I believe that this feeling actually ties together all of our previous topics. The feeling of being comfortable or content can hold us back and keep us from being what God wants us to be. Most of us would never think that being content would be bad or that being comfortable would be a problem. When we get comfortable with the way things are and become unwilling to change it becomes very difficult to accomplish anything, I would go as far to say that comfort can kill almost all motivation except the motivation to stay comfortable. Lets return to my example of my lack of motivation to diet. I have become comfortable with the fact that I am overweight and thus I have not motivation to change. Please pray for me that I will no longer be content with my weight. It has been said that when the pain of change is less than the pain to not change, then change will occur. One last point I want to make on being content is that of concern for the lost. There are people that out there that with out Jesus they will suffer an eternity in hell and never know what it means to have peace in their lives. I don’t know why or how but it seems that more and more Christians today are becoming content actually down right comfortable knowing that their friends and family are going to hell unless then know Jesus. I can remember when this alter used to be lined on Sunday mornings with people crying out to God for their lost friends and family hoping that they would turn to Jesus before it was too late. I am just as guilty as the next guy for not being as concerned as I used to be but I want to stand here today and tell you that I have a burden on my heart for my friends that do not know Jesus.

I want to review three things that can hold us back. Others, our feelings, and ourselves can all hold us back from becoming what God would have us to be. If there is something in our lives that holds us back it will fit into one of these categories or maybe even all three like my example of being content. I began this morning talking about why we should buckle up. Now I am going to finish by asking you to unbuckle. We should be wearing our seatbelts and removing our spiritual restraints. So let me ask, “What’s Holding You Back?”

The Purpose of Darkness and Light

2007-07-04T14:07:00.000-04:00

Purposes of Darkness and Light
This week, while I was working out, I struck up a conversation with one of the trainers, who also is a professional wrestler. I ‘m not sure just how we got into the conversation, but at one point he stated he prefers being the bad guy. He sees this role as being needed to facilitate making the good guys look better.
I told him that the way he portrays himself in the ring is a prime example of evil and good, darkness and light, and godlessness and godliness in the world.
Where light shines it exposes sin and wherever the darkness is the greatest it makes the light more evident.
John 1:3-5 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood
it.
When did it all start and what is the source of light and darkness?
Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was
formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
2 Samuel 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Psalm 104:2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.
Job 38:19 "What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
1 Timothy 6:15-16 ...—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
What is the function of light and darkness?
Darkness represents death and sin while light gives evidence of all qualities of death and sin as well as light and godliness.
Job 34:22 There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.
2 Peter 1:19-21 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 4:6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
56:13 For you have delivered me
from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
76:4
You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned. (Also Matthew 4:16)
49:6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

What should we do?
Isaiah 2:5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"
made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all
sin.
Where do you reside?
John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Where do you have fellowship?
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What do your actions tell about you?
Ephesians 5:8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Are you living like chosen people?
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
What is the evidence of the absence of light in our lives?
1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
What is the finality of life lived in darkness?
Revelation 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
What is the finality of life lived in the light?
Revelation 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

Conclusion:
Where do you want to end up at the end of life.
Where you walk and how you walk will make a difference.
If you have not received the pardon for sin that was paid by Jesus Christ our LORD, you are still walking in the darkness. You can accept your pardon today and start walking in the light of the glory of God.

Fathers Fulfilling Their Calling in Christ

2007-06-15T12:12:00.000-04:00

Fathers Fulfilling Their Calling in Christ Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4-5;6-7
Matthew 28:18-20
I. What to do.
1. Use all authority that has been given to us
(1) In heaven
(2) In earth
God has given us the power to go forward. If we stand on faith we will succeed.
2. We are to make disciples of all nationalities.
(1) Baptizing them (baptizo)
(2) Teaching them to obey every command that Jesus gave
3. Realize that the Lord Himself is with us while we are doing His will.
(1) He was with us yesterday
(2) He is with us today
(3) He will be with us tomorrow.
II. How to recognize a believer Mark 16:15-18
1. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.
2. Signs of a believer:
(1) In the name of Jesus they will drive out demons.
(2) They will speak in new tongues.
(3) They will pick up snakes with their hands. (Qualify)
(4) They will drink deadly poison that will not harm them.
(5) They will place their hands on the sick and they will recover.
III. Prepare for the launch date (get ready to do what we are going to do. Luke 24:46-49
1. Preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations. (No barriers)
2. Be witnesses of what has happened (ie) Christ victory over death and hell, other changed lives, your changed life
3. Get what the Father has promised.
4. Become clothed with power
IV. Display the proper attitude. Acts 1:4-5;7,8
1. Wait for the preparation of the Holy Spirit
2. Don’t concern yourself with times and dates that the Father has set.
3. Get prepared and then go and present the gospel of Christ.

Taking Responsibility

2007-06-08T09:18:00.000-04:00

Taking Responsibility

1. God holds us responsible for sins corporately.

Exodus 20:4-5
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

My father and my grandfather had to deal with anger issues and I did too!
My family dealt with substance abuse and I did too!
I would venture to say that nearly every weakness in moral character that was an issue for my ancestors has been an issue that I have needed to conquer in my own life.

2. God holds us responsible for the sins of our nation.

2Kings 22:11-13
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 13 "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."

Even though I have not been part and party of racial prejudice, I am responsible to do what I can for reconciliation with those who have had suffering in their past.
Even though I have not sat in judgment against those who were innocent of crimes charged against them and who suffered the shame of paying the penalty for a crime they did not commit, it does, in no way release me form the obligation to do what I can to correct the wrong and see that restitution is properly made.

3. God has given us a commission and a command to follow. He has been grieved by our inconsistency in carrying it out.

4. We need to take responsibility for the sins of our corporate heritage before God will bless us with success in fulfilling His “Great Commission.”
Matthew 28:18-20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
I have taken the first step in this process in writing a letter to the former congregations that I have served in. I have asked for their forgiveness for my lack of understanding and faithlessness.

What do you as an individual need to take responsibility for as to what happened in you heritage?

What do we as a congregation need to take responsibility for in the misguided ineffectiveness that has occurred over the years that this congregation has been meeting on this hilltop?

Get Out of the Boat

2007-05-28T06:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
A message that the Lord spoke to me about at the prayer gathering was distinct. "Get out of the boat!" I have taken that both personally and associationally. I have made it a part of my life to both live a life that depends on total focus on the Lord and also challenge others to do the same. I am not certain of the full ramifications of the message and I am not sure that I am intended to totally understand or simply meant to follow its concept.
Jesus called four of the disciples out of their boats to follow Him. They left their comfort zones of livelihood and safety to follow Christ and learn from Him.
In a later passage, Jesus was walking on water and urged Peter to join Him. As Peter took his first steps on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, he was successful in doing what our Lord was doing (walking on water). It was only when peter looked down to the troubled waters that his fear overtook him and he began to sink. Event then as he cried out for the Lord to save him Jesus reached down and brought Peter up to safety.
Some of us need to gather up enough fortitude to follow Jesus and learn more about His way of reaching out to the lost. Others of us might even need to gather up enough gumption to try walking on the water with Christ Jesus.
Blessings to you all, Al

Being a Good Soldier

2007-05-23T10:31:00.000-04:00

Being a Good Soldier 1 Timothy 6:3-21

Things to avoid in the battle:
False teachings (v3)
Controversies about words (or wording) (v4)
Trying to get rich (v9)

Things to focus on in the battle:
Righteousness (v11)
Godliness
Faith
Love
Endurance
Gentleness
The example of Christ Jesus (v13)
Hold this command (hold the fort; hold the hill) (v14;20)
Remember how worthy and holy our leader is (v15)
Remind those who are rich to give to the cause and be rich in good deeds (v17-19)
Guard what has been entrusted to you (v20)
Turn away from godless chatter (v20)

Conclusion: Grace be with you (v21)

Let's Be ChurchWhy people don’t go to church:

2007-05-17T14:08:00.000-04:00

Why people don’t go to church:
1. Life is too busy. I have no time.
2. I’ve never been a particularly religious person.
3. It’s boring and irrelevant.
4. I was never brought up to go.
5. I had a bad experience of church.
6. Too many bad things have happened in my life to believe there is a God.
7. You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.
8. I have never truly given it any thought.
9. I was made to go when I was younger.
10. My partner is not interested in going.

Why people should go to church:
1. People make time for what they really want to do.
2. Jesus wasn’t religious either.
3. What can you do to change it?
4. It is your eternal destiny, not church attendance that is at stake here. John 8:24
5. So you’ve had nothing but good experiences outside of the church?
6. Bad things happen because of sin. Job and Jesus had bad things happen to them Romans 8:24
7. I don’t have to live with my wife and converse with her to be married to here but it makes my relationship with her a bit better if I do so.
8. You ought to!
9. That is unfortunate, God never intended for others to brow-beat you into submission to His will. John 3:17
10. Are you willing to spend eternity in hell because your partner is not interested in church?

Let me leave you with this thought. Martin Luther King was once asked how, as a convinced pacifist, he could be an admirer of Air Force General Daniel "Chappie" James, who at that time was the nations highest-ranking black officer. Dr. King replied, "I judge people by their own principles - not by my own".

Getting a Good Report

2007-05-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

Getting a Good Report Hebrews 11:1; 12:1-2
Hebrews 11:1
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Aunt Bessie’s blueberry pie came up missing and no one admitted to taking it, but two small boys had blueberry stains on their shirts and weren’t very hungry at dinner time.

The changed lives of believers is evidence of the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of believers.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. This is a specific course; do not try another path.

4. Keep your eyes on the prize.

2007-04-19T20:55:00.000-04:00

An Antidote for Selfishness James 4:1-12
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
This week there was utter chaos as an angry Virginia Tech student laid siege on his fellow classmates and then turned the gun on himself. Some sixty three students were either killed or wounded in this senseless slaughter of human life by a young man who lived his life thinking he’d been despised by the world. His final act of hate caused me to think about the terrible battle that this young man was fighting inside his soul.
I am reminded that in hundreds to thousands of other places hearts were broken, dreams were crushed, lives were drastically altered, other people were physically wounded and many other lives were lost.
Why? Because of jealousy, greed and hatred that was developed from the seed of selfishness in the heart of Satan as he rebelled against God almighty and fell to his doom with on third of the angels. He said,"I will be like the Most High!" He found out, just as all of us should, that we cannot replace the Living God with ourselves.
James has something to say about that:
1. The cause is our own selfish desires.
A. We want something that we cannot have.
B. We quarrel and fight (at times with ourselves)
C. We do not receive.
2. The reason we do not receive:
A. We don’t ask God
B. We ask for the wrong reasons
C. We become so earthly minded that we become of no heavenly good.
Question: What is adultery in our relationship with God?
Answer: It is any time we let anything or anyone take the central significant place in our lives.
I read somewhere that a man had built a huge business. He had an entrepreneurs spirit. When he was a just a young boy he had a lemonade stand. He would give the first glass to every customer free and then sell the antidote to them for five dollars a glass.
Here’s the antidote for selfishness from James and it won’t cost you anything.
1. Submit to God.
2. Resist the devil.
3. Come near to God.
4. Wash your hands of sin (outward remedy).
5. Purify your heart of double-mindedness (inward remedy).
6. Grieve and mourn: Instead of laughing about your sin be sad and remorseful about it.
7. Humble yourselves before God.
8. Do not slander one another (some people have forgotten what slander is).

Triumphal Entry of the King of Kings

2007-03-30T10:47:00.000-04:00

Setting: Triumphal Entry of the King of Kings Matthew 21:4-9; Mark 11:7-10; Luke : 19:35-38; John 12:12-19
Jesus had sent out two of His disciples to commandeer a donkey foal that He sat on to enter the city. John only mentions that Jesus found the young donkey but if you read the other accounts of the event they seem rather spectacular.
Evidently, these men had no idea, prior to Jesus sending them on the mission to find the donkey, of who the owner of the donkey was or how they would be received. Remember horse stealing was just as illegal then as it is now.
That being what it is, my real focus today is on the possibility of what the people were singing and chanting as they welcomed Jesus to the Passover Feast at Jerusalem. For the main passage let us read John 12:12-19.
The Triumphal Entry
12The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!" 14Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
1. By shouting "Hosanna!" the people were recognizing Jesus as the son of David according to the prophesy concerning the Messiah.
Several of the psalms that were sang in services include the word "Hosanna!". Its direct meaning is "oh save". By directing this shout to Jesus, the crowd was honoring Him as the son of David that had been prophesied to come and deliver them form their sins. They were in actually saying, "Jesus Son of David, save us!" He was a bent on doing just that even though it would not happen quite like they had imagined.
There is more that can be understood about the statements that were made that day if we review the psalms that they chanted and sang as they marched toward Jerusalem.
Just a little caution about getting too harsh in criticizing those people in the crow that day. I have even mentioned that this day they would honor Jesus with their songs or praise and in just few days they would be ridiculing Him in His death.
We often sing songs that we love to sing in the church and our actions later betray the fact that the words we sang did not come from our heart. The songs we sing direct us to make a stand and follow the LORD. However, we are too often spineless disciples of Christ who back down when adversity comes. We normally desire to have everything our way rather than the LORD’s way. We attempt to justify our sin rather than turn from it. We are no different than those people who marched with Jesus that day.
2. Psalm 118 was no doubt one of the psalms that were sang that day. I won’t go through it all but I would like to scan it for you and get some of the highlights that are mentioned here. They are all emphatic statements!
Remember what Dolly told P.J. in the cartoon, "Family Circus". When you are reading and see an exclamation mark, it means you should have shouted what you just read!
1-4 Give thanks to the LORD! His mercy endures forever!
5 He set me free!
6-7 He is with me, I will have victory!(positive attitude)
8 You can really trust in the LORD!
14 The LORD is my strength! The LORD is my salvation!
15 The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! (They were giving this place to Jesus.)
17 I will tell what the LORD has done!
18 He has chastened me severely for my growth and good!
20 This is the Gate! (Jesus of Nazareth, The Son of God)
24 This is the day the LORD has made! (Make my day!)
25 Hosanna! LORD save us!
26 He is blessed!
27 He has made His Light shine upon us! (Jesus) Come and join the procession! (Accept Him)
28 You are my God (Jesus) and I will give You thanks! You are my God (Jesus) and I will exalt You!
29 Give thanks to the LORD for He is good; His love endures forever!
3. Last of all let’s look at Zechariah 9:9-13.
9 Rejoice greatly! Shout! (This is prophecy fulfilled)
10 No chariots (vehicles of war), no horses to pull them, no weapons (God will proclaim peace over all the world.)
11 The blood of my covenant refers to the blood of Jesus shed for our sins.
12 Restoration and multiplication taking place in the family of God
13 Unity of Ephraim and Judah could refer to unity of Israel or the unity of the godly.
Against the sons of Greece could refer to the Gentiles or the ungodly.
It seems more logical that this would apply to the unity of the godly in combating the sinfulness of the ungodly.
Conclusion:
1. It is time for us to open up the gates of our hearts and make Jesus the absolute ruler of our lives.
2. It is time for us to live with a positive attitude that shows the assurance of victory against the forces of sin and death.
3. It is time that we shout and proclaim that the King of Glory has come in.
4. It is time to let Jesus be the LORD of our lives.
Come to Him today!

My Part in the Body

2007-03-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

My Part in the Body Romans 12:3-8
Verse 3: How important am I in the body?
Paul warns us not to think of ourselves more highly that we are in actuality. However, we also must recognize that we each serve a function in the body of Christ that can best be fill by each individual member.
Hold up your hand in front of you and try to move any single digit; if you can your doing better than me. I find that when I try to move any one of my fingers one or more others on that hand will move, even if it is ever so slightly. Now, grip your seat and try to lift yourself with only one hand. If your made like me, when you create stress for one side of your body the other side responds in turn.
My point is that God had made the body of Christ similar to the human body. When one part of the body functions, the other parts assist it in support.
For these reasons alone each of us is intricately important to the entire body of Christ.
Verse 4: What is my God given function in the body?
Each of us need to determine what function we serve in the body of Christ and then fulfill that particular function to the very best of our ability. How we blend together may depend on whether the body that we are attached to is a highly successful and active athlete of an overweight couch-potato.
Verse 5: Where do I fit in the body?
Think about how devastating it would be to have an ear on your hand and a finger where your ear belongs? I will often tell someone their right ear is lower than their left one, but think how it would be if someone literally had no part of their body in the place where it normally is attached; it would either be funny looking or very scary.
Now, think about this being a picture of the body of Christ, the Church. Think about a kneecap or an elbow being the spokesman for the body, or the smallest toe on my left foot telling my right hand what to touch or pick up?
We all need to find out what our gifts and talents are and then do them all to the best of our ability to, not only do them but also get better at doing them.
Verse 6: What can I do to benefit others in the body?
Verse 7: Am I doing what God has given me to do?
This might inter-connect with what has just been said; but be sure that you and I are not trying to take over an area of influence where we are not to be functioning. Often we might do so by becoming critical of others efforts in a particular area of the body. I can recall serving in one church where a number of elderly women desired to cease leading the Vacation Bible School. Three younger ladies who had children in their homes decided to take care of planning and overseeing the Bible School. We had a marvelous attendance and follow-up with families resulted in the church starting to grow until those older ladies became critical about how the younger women were not controlling their children. Ultimately, when things got around to the younger ladies they started to leave the church to go to other congregations that were more inviting and accommodating to their children.
These older women did not wish to carry on with the ministry to children; they lacked the energy to do so, but they didn’t want anyone else to do it either.
Remember, criticism kills growth in the body of Christ.
Verse 8: Do I rejoice that I have found my purpose in fulfilling my calling in Christ?
If you do not wish to get better at doing what you do in the body, or if you get frustrated easily, you may be filling out a position in the body that you were not meant to fill. It may not be possible for you to make an immediate change, but how about taking on someone to train who would like to serve in that particular capacity.
Verse: 9 Do I, as a member of the body of Christ, cause hurt to other members of the Body?
There are various ways that the body of Christ gets wounded, sometimes, all too often, it occurs because of another member of the body of Christ. We are either insensitive to the feelings of others or overtly critical of dress, or behaviors they exhibit.
We need to understand that not everyone has grown in a church family atmosphere. Some people might be searching for belonging and Christian love that we talk about so often but so seldom exhibit in our lives.
Remember "We Are the Body."

CONSIDERING THE WILL OF GOD

2007-03-17T11:55:00.000-04:00

CONSIDERING THE WILL OF GOD

What is His perfect will?
Romans 12:1-16
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual
act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What should my attitude be?
Philippians 2:5-16
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature
God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature
of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out
the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
How should I display my love for God?
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Where is the example?
Hebrews 10:5-10
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.' "
8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
What kind of caution should I exhibit?
James 4:13-15
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
What does the final result look like?
Revelation 4:11
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

People of Faith Pray

2007-03-01T19:03:00.000-05:00

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
I. Consider it pure joy? How? James 1:1-9
1. It is an opportunity for God to display His greatness.
2. It is an opportunity to learn and grow in your spiritual walk.
3. It is an opportunity to gain godly wisdom.
Conclusion: Do not permit your faith to waiver.
The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
II. Christian life in the Spirit James 5:13-20
1. When in trouble - pray.
2. When happy - sing songs of praise
3. When sick - call the elders of the church to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord.
4. When there is national conflict - pray
5. When there is spiritual downfall of a brother or sister - do restoration

Communion

2007-02-14T13:44:00.000-05:00

Communion Luke 22:14-23 2-18- 07
I. The hour has come. (14)
Have you ever anxiously anticipated something only to find out that when you experienced it, it was nothing like what you had anticipated. I have done that several times in my life.
For instance, truck diving was nothing like what I had dreamed of as a young boy. Oh, there were some good experiences, but it ended up being a whole lot lonelier than I had anticipated and a lot more work too! I had dreamed of seeing all those marvelous places that you hear and read about in travelogs. The closest I ever got to most of those places was about one inch on the atlas map. At one point when I totaled up my hours away from home and family to the rate of pay I received, I realized that I was getting far less than minimum wage.
I learned a lot about people and myself as a truck driver and the experience was good for me; it just was not what I thought it would be.
When I went to college, I thought about all the great things that I could do when I got out. I thought about going to a church and seeing disciples added to the church on a regular basis, but I didn’t think about the times that I would be up all night trying to resolve a family issue of traveling to the bedside of hurting and dying people. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade the position and place in ministry that God has put me into for anything; it just isn’t like I anticipated it would be.
I think the disciples experienced the same thing as they sat down to partake of this last meal with Jesus before He went to the cross. Even today, orthodox Jewish families and messianic Jewish families will look in great anticipation to observing the Passover Feast. When I first observed this meal I was startled to find that it is not the food on the table that makes the event fo wonderful. In fact, the only two things on the table that I found pleasant to taste was the cup that was passed and the bread that was shared. Then they had to ruin the bread by dipping it into the bitter herbs. This was far from the Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners that I had enjoyed.
Here the focus was not on the great food that was prepared, but on the purpose for them gathering that night. It was to recall to memory the marvelous event of preparing to leave the bondage of Egypt which represents sin in the life of every believer.
These men did not understand the full ramifications of what was happening and would soon happen. If they had understood they would have not been in the positions that they were in. Had they understood they would have ran as far away from that palace as they could go. Yet, because they were there and Jesus chose to complete the task He was sent to complete we can be free from sin and access eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
II. He eagerly anticipated this hour. (15-16)
This was the culmination of everything that Jesus had come to earth to do. Soon it would be over and salvations work finished.
I enjoy doing something profitable like making changes to the house or accomplishing something in teaching or in ministry. I enjoy getting started, but I absolutely relish the end of every project. It gives me a good feeling that I did what I set out to do. All too often when I set out to do something, it ends up taking much longer and costing much more than I anticipated.
Don’t you think that Jesus was sometimes weary in His physical frame and His humanness as He struggled against the ineptitude of man and the outright attacks of the devil.
He was eager for this all to end.
IV. He passed the first cup. (17-18)
Some people never notice that there were two cups that were passed, this, and the one at the end of the meal.
My mother taught me that we should first see that the guests are served before we start eating a meal. The culture here is different. Jesus takes the cup first because he is assuming the roll of a servant, who, when in the presence of his master, would take the first sip and the first bite of every bit of food to demonstrate that it was good and not tainted with anything that would harm his master. Notice that He says He will not eat again until the kingdom of God has come.
V. He broke and passed the bread. (19)
The bread they eat is to be dipped into the bitter herbs and then ingested.
Something is changing here! Previously they always were to recall the exodus from Egypt and the first night that their ancestors introduced to this custom. Now Jesus has told them to remember Him when they participate in this meal. The change is that there will be no more veil over their eyes as to what this represented. Jesus is declaring that their payment for sins is about to be settled. He will pay the ultimate price on the cross, not only for them, but for you and me also.
VI. He passes the second cup. (20)
With this cup Jesus declared what his purpose in life was. He came to pour out His life for us that we might escape the snare of sin and eternal death. His followers still don’t get the picture of what He was about to do. They are still thinking that the coming of the kingdom means that they will cast the Romans out of the land and hence, ever be free from being subjugated and taxed by a foreign government forever. They think that perhaps they all will share a part in the new government which will bring them from rags to riches as well as spiritual purity. Which leads us to the next and final point.
VII. Someone in the group is a betrayer. (21-23)
After Jesus said this, each one of them turned to the other asking who might do such a thing. Even though there had always been conflict in the group, there was also a certain amount of cohesiveness that held them together.
Jesus said that it would have been better if this man had never been born and indeed it would have. It would have been better to have never been born than to live and commit that last incriminating deed that sends a soul to an eternal depravity of hell fire and torture.
Before we partake of this Eucharist, this Communion, lets all examine ourselves. I am pretty sure that there are none of us who would knowingly do anything that would disqualify ourselves from experiencing the joys of eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord.
However, we should ask ourselves these questions:
1. Have I been loving to my neighbor?
2. Have I been receptive to God’s purpose in accomplishing the "Great Commission"?
3. Have I resolved the issues that stand between me a and a Christian brother or sister?
4. Have I been dismayed that my calling in Christ is not what I anticipated it to be and harbored a grudge between God and myself?
5. Have I claimed ownership of the church when it actually should belong to God who payed the ultimate price for it?
Today, let us really remember what this Communion meal is all about. Let us settle the score with God and those made in His image and get on with the work of the ministry.

Questions Concerning Everlasting Life

2007-02-03T12:40:00.000-05:00

Two Questions Concerning Everlasting Life:
1. Is there a heaven?
An optimist will declare that this is the best of all possible situations that life could possibly offer. The pessimist fears that the optimist is correct in his assumption.
I am not going to argue with people about the earth age or evolution. I stand on a biblical perspective that the Genesis account is God breathed and absolutely right. When it says "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth", it is truthful. As to how that might have happened, I take the literalness of the Scripture as pure and honest.
Isa 14:12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
(Isa 14:13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(Isa 14:14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Here God speaks to the king of Babylon and the spirit that has ensnared him. The spirit is the devil, Lucifer, Satan, the devil who was at one time the second in command to the Almighty Three in One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
He led a rebellion in heaven and was defeated and condemned to the pit of hell. God made that place for the torment of Satan and the angels that followed him in that rebellion.
The apostle Paul gave an account where he was taken up into the third heaven and saw things that he was not permitted to relate to us because it is just to beautiful for us to comprehend.
Yes there is a heaven and the book of Revelation is very depictive in describing just what a marvelous place it is, but when you really get to the meat of it all you need to understand that it is just too marvelous for words.
2. Is there a hell?
If you are going to say that you believe in the Bible and in Jesus Christ then you must also grasp what is related to us concerning hell and its literalness.
It is a real place. Jesus described a picture of hell when He told the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).
Understand that the book of Revelation is not simply a dream that John had while he was suffering in exile on the island of Patmos. The one who is revealing the revelation is Jesus Christ. What He says is true and what He delivers is a wake-up call to the seven churches and we are indeed either one or all of those churches combined. I would contend that we are all of them combined for the troubles that I see in the each of the seven churches I see also in the Church today. The victories that are described are seen in the Church today. The message was not just tto them it is to us also.
God is telling us to get our stuff together and get back in the fight of winning souls because the time is fast approaching when there will be no more time, meaning that time itself will cease on earth, heaven and hell. The situation that we end up in will last forever; it will be either eternal torment or eternal joy.
Bill Wiese has written a book called "23 Minutes in Hell". In the book he describes his experieneses when God took him to hell and permitted him to go through some of the torments of that horrible place. There are some things that I do not agree with that he says concerning theology of angels but I applaud his description of the things he saw. He gives Scripture references that bring to light his personal experience. I am not saying that I totally believe that he went to hell, what I am saying is his description of his vision is what I would expect hell to be.
Questions Concerning Hell:
1. Why did God make it?
A. To eternally punish those who ked the rebellion against God in heaven.
2. Won’t the fire burn everything up?
A. In Deuteronomy 4:24 It says, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire." This refers to the love of God consuming everything in my being and purpose. God wants us to totally consumed in loving Him and obeying Him. However, the fire of hell is not a consuming fire, it is a fire that brings great suffering and pain but does not consume those who are in it. Can you imagine people being burned but not burned up? It never stops!
3. How will people feel?
A. Have you ever been very tired and not been able to sleep, so weak yet not able to rest? In hell people will be that way yet they will have every sense of their being enhanced to the point that they understand everything about the hopelessness of their situation and even though they are so tired they could sleep on live coals sleep will not come to them. They will feel every pain inflicted upon them at the most highest intensity possible. I can recall doctors and nurses asking me to rate the pain that I feel from a one to ten, every pain in hell is going to be a ten or even higher and it never will stop.
4. How will Satan and his angels feel about all this aren’t they having fun inflicting pain on those in hell?
A. No! They are frustrated and in pain themselves of the worst kind possible.
Even though it is not mentioned specifically in any book about hell or directly in the Bible, I think one of the most frustrating things about hell for the devil is the fact that in all the punishment he and the demons can lay upon those condemned to hell, they are not destroyed.
Jesus said about the devil, "the thief comes but to steel, and kill, and destroy" (John 10:10)
Understand that these demons and the devil himself are feeling the same torment that the rest of those in hell are feeling and also their eternal hate has been leveled at all of God’s ultimate creation, mankind. It would be like hitting a rock with your fist and kicking it with your feet; you would do more damage to yourself than the rock and this would go on forever.
Concluding statements about hell:
1. Hell was not made for people. It was made for Satan and his angels. The Bible tells us that God doesn’t will that any should perish but that all would come to repentance through Jesus Christ.
2. Our knowledge about hell and our knowledge about heaven should inspire us to do what ever we can to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We need to get back to the basics and back to the vision that those who erected this church in this particular location had for reaching people with the gospel message. It might include betting bigger and indeed it should.
We should be having discipleship classes for those who are being won to the Lord on a weekly if not also on a daily basis.
All this means there will need to be some soul searching on our part. Do we really love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength, or are we simply playing church.
I want to propose a new philosophy to guide us and a goal that will not actually eve be reached. You have heard the schools and government adopting the motto "No child left behind". Well I heard another one recently and that was dedicated to assure that every father was given the right to see his children... "no dad left behind". I think it is even more important that we adopt a new policy of "No soul left behind." Because "God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Do you have that kind of a goal in life that you will do whatever it takes to make yourself, your that this is the place and the altar is open for you to get serious with God.
Do you need to ask Jesus Christ into your life so that you can escape an eternal hell? Now is the time, you can be sure of where you will be spending eternity in just a few moments if you will come and ask Him to take control of your life.

What's Wrong With THis Picture

2007-01-12T14:09:00.000-05:00

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

2007-01-06T16:55:00.000-05:00

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

2007-01-06T11:51:00.000-05:00

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.

God In me, Gives Me Purpose

2006-12-27T16:32:00.000-05:00

God in Me, Gives Me Purpose

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.

1. If I have indeed been crucified with Christ, I am dead to sin and to this worlds allurements.

2. If I live by faith in the Son of God, I must carry out the mission that He intended for me.

3. The outer trimmings do not matter.

4. It is what is inside that gives me meaning, purpose, and strength.

God’s Coffee:

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned to complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He told them to help themselves to the coffee.
When the students all had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you will notice, all the nice looking cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.
While it is normal for you to want the best for yourselves, that is also the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases it even hides what we drink. What you really wanted was the coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... and then you began eyeing each others cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money, and positions in society arethe cups.
They are only the tools to hold and contain the life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, it is possible, that concentrate of the cup so much that we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided for us.
God brews the coffee, not the cups...enjoy your coffee!
The happiest people are not those who have the best of everything; they are the people who make the best of very thing.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.”

2006-12-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

The Real Spirit of Christmas Colossians 3:1-17

Col 3:1) If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
If you are a Christian than live like it.
(Col 3:2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Put your money where your heart is.
(Col 3:3) For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
You have a new Spirit living within you.
(Col 3:4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
Soon we will be hanging out with Christ.
(Col 3:5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Get your self together!
(Col 3:6) For which things' sake the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience:
(Col 3:7) In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
(Col 3:8) But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
(Col 3:9) Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
(Col 3:10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Don’t live like that!
(Col 3:11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put away your prejudice.
(Col 3:12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Put on Christ Jesus.
(Col 3:13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
(Col 3:14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(Col 3:15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be you thankful.
(Col 3:16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(Col 3:17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
How To Give:

1. In the name of the Lord
(Col 3:17) And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

2. Of your own free will
(Exo 25:1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(Exo 25:2) Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering.
(Exo 25:3) And this is the offering which you shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
(Exo 25:4) And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
(Exo 25:5) And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
(Exo 25:6) Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
(Exo 25:7) Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
(Exo 25:8) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

3. Give as the Lord has given to you
(Psa 136:25) Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
(Psa 136:26) O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.

4. Give locally
(Num 30:2) If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

5. Give selflessly
(Phi 2:1) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
(Phi 2:2) Fulfil you my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
(Phi 2:3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
(Phi 2:4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
(Phi 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
(Phi 2:6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
(Phi 2:7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
(Phi 2:8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

6. Give remembering that all things came from God in the first place
(Joh 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(Joh 1:2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(Joh 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(Joh 1:4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Have a marvelous Christmas season and let it become a life-style instead of a single day celebration.

God Bless you all

Are You Willing?

2006-12-10T01:42:00.000-05:00

Matthew 28:16-20

Throughout the Bible we read of others who are willing to be faithful servants of the Lord God. If you start with Genesis and go all the way through to Revelation you will see how God used various people to accomplish His will. This morning I would like to do something a little different I am going to read our main text at the end of the sermon today and instead I want to start off today by looking at one family that was willing to serve God and in doing so accomplished His will. Since we are in the Christmas season I thought the best place to look would be with Mary and Joseph lets begin by reading Luke 1:26-38. As we can see Mary was willing to be the Lords servant. Mary did not make excuses even though people were going to start to ask questions and wonder. She was a virgin, engaged to be married and she was pregnant this did not look very good for her because people would assume that she was unfaith to Joseph even though she wasn’t.
I now want to take a look at Matthew 1:18-25. The Lord sent an angel to Joseph and told him what he was to do. Joseph was to take Mary as his wife and to name her son Jesus or as Matthew quotes here from Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel which means God with us remember this I will be mentioning it again. Joseph also did what the Lord had commanded.
I now want to look at one more example of how Mary and Joseph were willing to obey the Lords directions for them.
Lets look at Matthew 2:13-14 & 19-23. As we can see here God told Joseph to take Jesus and Mary and flee too Egypt. Joseph did what the Lord commanded him to do and went to Egypt and there he stayed until the Lord told him to return.
God had a very specific task for Mary and Joseph to accomplish and they were faithful and obeyed God directions to them. God has also given us directions and a purpose. God has called me to be His servant He has also called Al, Ken, and Russ, God has not only called the four of us to serve Him, He has also called each and everyone of you to serve Him too. Jesus gave us specific instructions as to what we are to be doing in service to Him. Lets take a look at our text for this morning Matthew 28:16-20. Here we are told by Jesus to go and make disciples baptizing and teaching them to obey what Jesus has commanded. Before I conclude I want to look at the end of verse 20 and a very encouraging promise in which Jesus says “and surely I am with you always” Do you remember when I was discussing the first chapter of Matthew and mentioned the name Immanuel means “God with us”. I find it interesting that Matthew’s gospel record begins with the statement “God with us” and then ends with a promise from Jesus that He will be with us always. If you were to ask me a few years ago if I would get up in front of everybody and give a speech for school I would get worked up and worried about it. I used to have a great fear of getting up in front of people. I used to be a very shy person who would keep to myself. I would have never though of myself as a preacher but as I stand here before you today I want to tell you that I have not got to this point in my life by my own power. God has brought me to this point and He has been with me all this way and I know that He will continue to be with me. I used to think that I did not know enough or was smart enough to be a preacher and I would always feel so useless until I realized that God would help me and that I am not perfect. God has called you to serve Him. Not only has He called you but He also has promised that you will not be alone and he will be with you. So let me ask you are you willing to do what God asks of you remember He will be with you and you are not alone.

The Greatest Gift

2006-12-03T01:44:00.000-05:00

John 3:16-18

This is the time of the year that people start talking about gifts and giving gifts. Most people when they think of Christmas their first thought is on giving gifts. What should I get for so and so or do you think this person would like this. It seems like everyone goes out of their way to make sure everyone has the perfect gift sometimes spending too much, I remember one year we put most of our Christmas gifts on credit cards. Not a good idea I would not recommend trying this yourselves. You know with all this talk about credit cards and gifts this made me think: for Emily A binky $1, some paper to tear up 10 cents, gift box and bow 50 cents; Sarah markers and paper $1.50, candy 50 cents, gift box and box 50 cents; Veronica box of rocks free, antique porcelain doll pric.. (Actually an old mud pie I made when I was ten) free, gift box and bow 50 cents; Total cost of gifts for the family $4.60; Eternal life found only in Jesus Christ – Priceless. For everything else there is the hope in salvation. Christmas used to confuse me when I was younger it never made much sense to me. There were three things that I didn’t really understand and tonight I am going to talk about them briefly. The first thing about Christmas that confused me is the saying it is better to give than receive. God gave His Son so that we might receive eternal life. Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we can receive forgiveness for our sins. The second thing about Christmas that confused me is its Jesus birthday but we would get gifts. Whenever I had a birthday I would get gifts and whenever Jesus had a birthday I would get gifts this always seemed to perplex me. When I was really young I just thought people got confused when they were wrapping presents because my name started with a “J” and Jesus also starts with a “J”. As I got older I started to read the Bible then I read about the three wise men bringing Jesus gifts and I felt like we were even since they brought Him gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Since I didn’t know what frankincense or myrrh was at the time I thought it must have been really special. Once I became a Christian I finally realized how this whole birthday / Christmas thing worked. God gave his Son Jesus (that would be Christmas) and in turn Jesus gave His life for ours (that would be Easter but we will save that for another sermon). When we become Christians (our second birthday) we give our lives to Christ and in turn He gives us life eternal. (If you want to know more about second birthdays read all of John chapter 3.) The third thing about Christmas that confused me was recycling gifts. What is the first thing you think of when I say recycled gifts; your answer is probably fruit cake. It is the most passed around and almost never kept gift that seems to have a shelf life in the hundreds of years. You know I actually like fruitcake I have Veronica get me a small one every year to go along with my egg nog. I always thought it was insincere when someone would get a gift and then turn around and give it to someone else. My mom used to do it ever once in a while when she would get something she would never use, and I would get after her about it. Then when I got married Veronica would do it and I would get after her too. This went on for a few years until one day I was given a gift card for a gas station. It was a really nice gift who couldn’t use some gas for their car every now and then. It was great except the closest gas station that I could use it at was in Columbus. I did it yep me Recycled Gift and from now on I keep my mouth shut. We are given a gift from God and this gift He tells us to pass along to others. We are given the gospel message and are instructed to pass it on to others. What is the gospel message some might ask? You can find it right here in John 3:16 and if you are like me you can add in 17-18. God gave His Son so that we may not perish and have eternal life. The Son did not come to condemn but that the world might be saved. If we believe then we are not condemned but if we refuse to believe then we are condemned. I hope this message has cleared up some of your Christmas confusion. During the rest of the month when you are out shopping for gifts I want you to take a minute and think of those who are on your Christmas who have never received the Greatest Gift of all and pray for them. God has given us a gift that He wants us to share with others so my question is are you going to be selfish and keep it to yourself or are you going to share what has been given to you

2006-12-02T08:22:00.000-05:00

James 2:1-13 Rich Man, Poor Man

Are there any prejudices that shackle me?
“The way we behave toward people indicates what we really believe about God.” –W. Wiersbe

I. The Deity of Christ 2:1-4
1. Jesus did not respect persons.
2. Jesus was despised and rejected.
3. Jesus was the very glory of God, “the expressed image of the Father.”
Application: Look at everyone through the eyes of Christ.
1. If they are a Christian accept them because Christ live in them.
2. If they are not a Christian accept them because Christ died for them.

II. The Grace of God 2:5-7
God’s grace surpasses:
1. National differences
2. Social differences
3. Gender differences
4. Racial differences
Application: Jesus broke the walls down that separated mankind; we dare not build them up again.

III. The Word of God 2:8-11
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18
1. This controls all other laws.
2. Obeying it makes you feel good about yourself.
3. Obeying it makes you look like Jesus.
Application: Christian love involves treating others the way that God has treated me.

IV. The Judgement of God 2:12-13
1. Our words will be judged
2. Our deeds will be judged
3. Our attitudes will be judged

V. About Liberty
Obeying the law of love prepares us for liberty.
1. Liberty does not mean license.
2. Liberty means the freedom to be all that I can be in Christ Jesus.
Application: License is confinement; liberty is fulfillment.
Our beliefs should control our behavior. If we really believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that God is gracious, His word is true, and one day He will judge us, then our conduct will reveal our convictions.
Before we attack others who do not follow right doctrines we must be sure that we are pracicing the doctrines we are defending.
Jonah had wonderful theology, but he hated people and he was angry with God.
One of the tests of reality of our faith is how we treat people.
Can you passthe test?

2006-12-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

Jehovah Jireh The Lord Our Provider Genesis 22:1-18

I. Interpretation of Jehovah Jireh
1. Jehovah the Self-existent, ever present God
2. Jireh is Hebrew for provide
A. Provide comes from the combination of two Latin words
(a) pro - meaning before
(b) vide - meaning vison
(c) a literal meaning would be to see the need before
(d) Jehovah Jireh is the God who sees the need before it is and provides for it.

II. The Ultimate Test of Faith
1. God told Abraham to send Ishmael and Hagar away
2. God told Abraham to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah
3. The difference between perfect will and permissive will (Ishmael and Isaac).
4. Abraham told the servants that he and the boy would return
5. ‘Worship’ word origin is worth - ship as well as work - ship
6. They built and altar
7. Had God not intervened, Abraham would have went ahead with the directives that God had
given him.
8. God made a covenant with Abraham that in his seed all the world would be blessed.
9. Abraham was the first in the to believe in the resurrection power of God.
10. Over 1900 years later Jesus Christ fulfilled this promise to Abraham.

III. Application of the name
1. Jehovah Jireh will provide for you.
2. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
3. Do not Doubt God’s willingness to meet your needs nor His capability to do so.
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)
4. We all make trips to Mount Moriah
5. You too must be willing to sacrifice it all
6. You cannot enjoy tomorrow today, but you can ruin today by worrying about tomorrow.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
7. God will provide strength for each day.
“Your shoes shall be iron and brass; and as your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)

Challenge: If you would like to meet Jehovah Jireh, he is here today.

2006-11-18T08:10:00.000-05:00

Maturing In Christ Series: Don’t Kid Yourself James 1:19-27

In the previous messages in this series these questions should have been considered by each of us:
1. Am I becoming more patient in the testings of life?
2. Do I play with temptation or resist it.
In this message the question that is posed is, Do I find joy in obeying the Word of God, or do I merely study and learn it?

I. Receive the Word 1:19-21
It is a matter of the heart Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23
1. A hard heart
2. A shallow heart
3. A crowded heart
4. A fruitful heart
We must be:
1. Swift to hear
2. Slow to speak
3. Slow to anger
James saw the fruitful heart as one that was prepared to receive the message of God’s Word.

II. Practice the Word 1:22-25
1. Examination:
A. Don’t just take a glance of yourself
B. Don’t just glance at the Word of God
C. Don’t fail to be obedient to the Word of God
2. Restoration
A. Cleansing of the priests
B. Nathan confronting David
3. Transformation
A. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
B. Romans 12:2 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
C. Psalm 139:23-24 If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us.

III. Share the Word 1:26-27
The word ‘religion’ means the outward practice.
It is concerning to our:
1. Speech
2. Service
3. Separation from the world

I ask you again: Do you find joy in obeying the Word of God, or do you merely study it to learn it?

2006-11-18T06:46:00.000-05:00

Maturity In Christ Series: Tackling Temptation James 1:13-18

“The mature person is patient in trials. Sometimes the trials are testings on the outside, and sometimes they are temptations on the inside.” ---- Warren Wiersbe

God tested Abraham in the offering of Isaac. God might test us but He never tempts us.
There are three barriers that God has placed in our path to keep us from sin. We determine if we will or will not cross over them.

I. The Wall of God’s Judgement 1:13-16
1. A temptation is an opportunity to accomplish a good or pleasant thing by doing it the wrong
way.
A. To get a job or promotion
B. To pass a test or make money
2. The act of sinning is not a single step, but a process we carry out.
A. Desire–lust –want
B. Deception – 1:14 “drawn away and enticed”
(1) No animal into a trap willingly
(2) No fish bites a hook with understanding
C. Disobedience
D. Death
The more that we follow this method and get desired results, the more we will tend to rely on it to gain gratification and solve our problems.
“Whenever you are faced with temptation, get your eyes off the bait and look ahead to the consequences of the judgement of God.

II. The Wall of he Goodness of God 1:17
“One of the tricks of the enemy (the devil) is to get us to thinking that God is holding out on us.” – Wiersbe
1. The serpent in the garden
2. The temptation of Jesus
A. God only gives good gifts.
B. The way god gives is good.
C. God gives consistently.
D. God does not change.
“The next time you are tempted, think about the goodness of God.” --Wiersbe

III. The Wall of God’s Devine Nature 1:18
1. We have been born into His nature.
2. It was given to us through grace.
3. It was given to us through God’s Word.
4. It is the best of all possible births.
The next time you are tempted, think about your spiritual rebirth.
Conclusion: Mature believers do not blame God for their sinful fall.

Maturity In Christ

2006-11-17T12:30:00.000-05:00

Series: Maturity In Christ

Introduction: Whish James Wrote it?

1. The Writer of the letter of James is not the one who was one of the sons of Zebedee the brother of John.
2. This is not the first James that gave his life as a martyr for the cause of Christ. He was killed at
the order of Herod the King in A.D. 44 prior to this book being written.
3. It was not the James who was depicted as being the father of Judas. The only reason he is mentioned is to depict him from Judas Iscariot the betrayer, a distinction he, no doubt, was happy to have.
4. The most likely candidate for being the writer is James the brother, or rather, half-brother of our LORD. He was not a follower of Christ until just before or just after the crucifixion of Jesus. However, by the time that Peter was forced to leave Jerusalem, James was already a person who was highly valued in the Church and poised to be a leader. He was a man of prayer who spent so much time on his knees that he was dubbed “old camel knees”.

The following outline for this study is adapted from Warren Wiersbe’s book, “Be Mature” 1979 by Victor Books, Wheaton, IL

Theme: Spiritual Maturity
Key Verse: James 1:4
Preaching series: The Marks of a Mature Christian
I. He Is Patient in Testing.
1. Trails on the outside 1:1-12
2. Temptations on the inside 1:13- 27
II. He Practices the Truth.
1. Faith and Love 2:1-13
2. Faith and works 2:14-26
III. He Has Power Over His Tongue.
1. Exhortation 3:1-2
2. Illustration 3:3-12 (six pictures of the tongue)
3. Application 3:13-18
IV. He Is a Peace Maker Not a Trouble Maker.
1. Three wars 4:1-3
2. Three enemies 4:4-7
3. Three admonitions 4:8-17
V. He Is Prayerful in Troubles.
1. Economic troubles 5:1-9
2. Physical troubles 5:10-16
3. National troubles 5:17-18
4. Church troubles 5:19-20

Sermon1 Maturity In Christ
Gaining Triumph In Trials James 1:1-8
Introduction: Dorthy, Toto, and the Scarecrow were hungry on the way the Emerald City, in the Land of Oz. They started to pick some tasty apples from trees that were rather indignant, or should we say ‘Crabb Apples’. When the trees became angry at the Scarecrow, they started throwing their apples at the three travelers. Rather than being caught up in the arguments, Dorthy started to pick up the apples around her and eat.
Someone once said, “If the world gives you nothing but lemons, make lemonade.” I must say that I have seen some pretty bad looking apples make some very tasty cider.

There are four words that the author (Warren Wiersbe) points out in this passage. They are count, know, let, and ask.

I. Count 1:2 (Joyful attitude)
II. Know 1:3 (Understanding mind)
III. Let 1:4; 9-11 (A surrendered will)
IV. Ask 1:5-8 (A heart that wants to believe)

Examples: 1. A wave, driven of the sea and tossed
2 A double minded man
3. A flower in the heat of the sun

Challenge: Are these areas that you need to grow in?

2006-11-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

“El Olam” “God Eternal” Genesis 21

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change.”
1. This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t do anything.
2. This does not imply that I can ever learn everything there is to know about God.
3. This means that God never changes.
4. He never changes His original intent.

I. He is the God of the Past.
1. Abraham knew that this was the same God Almighty Tarrah to come and live in the land of
Caanan.
2. This was the same God who had changed his name from Abram to Abraham and promeised
he would be the “father of many nations”.
3. This was the same God who had protected him through all his journeys.

II. He is the God of the Present.
1. God fulfilled the promise of a son in Abraham’s old age.
2. God fulfilled the promise through Sarah.
3. He was the God who was preparing Abraham for the ultimate test of faith for an example
to you and me.
A. Send Hagar and Ishmael away.
B. Offer up your only son Isaac.

III. He is the God of the Future.
1. Abraham had to commit Hagar and Ishmael to the care of God.
2. Abraham had to have faith that he was not losing his mind.
3. Abraham had t have faith to believe that even though he offered his only son as a sacrifice.
God would somehow return Isaac back to him.

Conclusion: The God we serve isthe same one Abraham served. Have you met Him as the God of the
Past, Present, and the Future? Are you walking with the eternal God?

God Who Supplies All My Needs

2006-10-27T12:14:00.000-04:00

El Shaddai Genesis 17:1-8

God Who Supplies All My Needs

El = God Shaddai = Almighty El + Shaddai = Almighty God

1. God knows how frail we are.

Abram had messed up badly in following Sarai’s advice to have a child by Hagar. Man’s ways are not God’s ways.
El Shaddai is like a loving mother who understands her children’s strengths and weaknesses. When her children fall while learning to walk, the mother does not scold her little one because they have fell; she simply helps them up and starts them on the right path again. God does that for us too!

2. God knows that we need direction.

Now, what Abram and Sarai had done was far worse than taking too many cookies and spoiling their meal or even redecorating the living room with crayons. So God made sure that they understood

3. God knows that we need a brand new start.

God changed the name of Abram to Abraham, and He changed the name of Sarai to Sarah. He changed Jacob to Israel, and He has given all who trust in Him a name that no one knows.
So we don’t associate our future with our past failures
So we can have a fresh start.
So t hat we can be assured that we are a child of the Living, Loving God, El Shaddai

To know the Almighty God is to know that there is nothing to difficult for Him.
In times of trial, you can trust Him.
In the midst of confusion, He is truth.
In the midst of helplessness, He is our help.
In the midst of hopelessness, He is our hope.
When you don’t know the way, He will show you the path you need to follow.
Abraham knew Him as his sustainer and strengthener.
Jacob found out that He could provide in the middle of a famine.
David testified that He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.
When you realize that you cannot live up to God’s standards; He is the one who will give you a new name and alter the playing field so that you can be a winner.

Have you failed in the past?
Would you like a new start?
Trust the Almighty God through Jesus our Lord today and He will provide for you in ways that you could never imagine.

"El-Roi, The God Who Sees Me"

2006-10-21T09:27:00.000-04:00

Genesis 16:7-14 “El – Roi , The God Who Sees Me”

Sarah made a decision to give Hagar (her handmaid) to Abraham so that she could bare him a son to carry on the family name.

1. Whenever we try to manipulate circumstances to assist God in keeping His promises, we tend to mess things up for ourselves as well as others.

Abraham’s life got…Messed up!
Hagar’s life got…….Messed up!
Sarah’s life got……..Messed Up!

Sarah was upset at the presence of Hagar. So Sarah started being mean to her; she treated her so badly that Hagar ran away into the wilderness.

2. Whenever we treat people poorly, God will step in to help them.

Hagar was reassured of God’s care.

Hagar was told to return to Sarah and to submit to her authority. Later on, when Isaac was born to Abraham through Sarah, Sarah insisted that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. God cared for them and promised that He would bless Ishmael also.

3. Whenever we are earnest and sincere about loving and serving God. He cleans up our messes.

Conclusion:

1. Have you messed up your life in any way?
It could be that you have tried to help God fulfill a dream and got things totally confused.
It could be that you’ve let your passion cause you to sin.
It could be that you have been the victim of someone else’s passion and greed and now you feel the guilt from that experience.

At any rate, if your life is messed up, God can and is willing to clean up your mess; take it to Him today.

Steps to Faith in God

2006-10-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

Mark 12 35-37 STEPS TO FAITH IN GOD

When you read in your Bible the word “LORD” it is the Hebrew word Jehovah or God.
When you see the word Lord it also means God or Master.

There are some steps that are taken in the process of coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
Just prior to this section the scribes and Pharisees are posing Jesus with a line of questions that are meant to trap Him into, first contempt against Rome and then confusion of the Lay of God.
First, they ask Him concerning paying taxes to Caesar. Note that the people who are in front of Him are Pharisees and Herodians. The Herodians were so named because they supported
King Herod who was placed in power by the Romans. If they get the answer they hope for they can go to Pontius Pilate and tell him that this Jesus of Nazareth is teaching the people they should not pay taxes.
Jesus looked at the money and declared that if Caesar’s image was on it then it belonged to Caesar, but they should give to God what belonged to Him too.

Secondly, they came to Him with a question concerning a woman who was married to seven brothers in succession from the oldest to the youngest. It I was to do a criminal investigation, I’d wonder if the gal had a personal grudge with the family. The question is quite relivent since there is a similar scenario in the Book of Genesis concerning Judah, his sons, Onan, Er and Tamar. The question is who’s wife will the woman be in the resurrection.
Jesus set them straight that they had a faulty theology because in the resurrection we neither marry nor are we given in marriage. Mohamed might not like that, but that’s the way it is.

Finally, there is the one scribe who, evidently, is rethinking his line of questions as he is probably feeling some conviction through the Word of God. I don’t know if he is thinking of trying to live the Word of God or understanding that there is no way that he can fulfill the Law of God and come out justified, but he asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment.
Jesus told him the greatest commandment was to, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.” Then He gave the man a bonus: He said the second is like it, “To love your neighbor as yourself.”

These are the steps to faith in Christ:
1. We confront God trying to make Him look unjust.
2. We confront God trying to make ourselves to look just.
3. We realize that we cannot make ourselves just.
4. We trust Christ to justify us through the price He paid at Calvary.

We ask:
1. Who is LORD?
2. What is heaven like?
3. How can I please Him?
4. How can I be like Him?

God asks:
1. Who is Christ?
2. Who is LORD?
3. Who is Master?

Scriptures to Consider in the Plan of Salvation

2006-09-28T19:00:00.000-04:00

Some Scriptures to Read Concerning Salvation:

(Rom 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Does this include you?

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What would you like best, wages of sin, or the gift from God?

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Do you know if you have been born again?

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Why did Jesus come to die?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How can we approach the presence of God?

Rom 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.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
READ IT ALOUD! Read, believe, receive

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Will you let Him in right now?
Will you spend the rest of your life with Him?
(Silence, Pray)

Elohim - The God of Creation

2006-09-27T17:27:00.000-04:00

Genesis 1

Correlating passages:
Deuteronomy 4:32 “God created man.”
Psalm 89:12 “You (God) have created them (heavens ie. everything).”
Psalm 148:5 “He commanded and they were created.”
Isaiah 65:17-18 “I create a new heaven and a new earth.”
John 1:3 “All things were made by Him.”
Revelation 89:12 “You have created all things...for your pleasure...”

Six Things You Can Count On:

1. The God of Creation has no beginning.
Nothing was before God. There was no substance, there was no elements, there were no atoms, there was nothing before God. He made all the stuff that stuff is made of.

2. The God of Creation has no end.
Just as it is reassuring to know that God had no beginning, it is also reassuring to understand that God has no end. He always was and always will be.

3. The God of Creation needs nothing.
God’s existence does not hinge on images that are set up to commemorate His existence.

4. The God of Creation needs no one.
God is not dependent on the people who worship Him to establish His authority. . He didn’t tell Moses to tell the Hebrew people, He thinks He is sent me. He told Moses to tell them that, “ I Am sent” him.

5. The God of Creation made everything.
He made all the plants and animals, all the stars and the planets, including all the atoms and molecules they are made up of.

6. The God of Creation made everyone.
God made everyone from the time of Adam and Eve to the latest baby to come forth from the womb.

Conclusions to take to the bank:

1. A God like this, you can trust to fulfill His promises.

2. A God like this, you can trust for salvation.

3. A God like this, you can trust to take through eternity.

Challenge: Put your trust in Him.

4. The God of Creation

The God Of Truth

2006-09-21T15:06:00.000-04:00

Isaiah 65:6-25

I have often heard people say like, "I'll get even with you" or some other threat of retaliation for what they perceived as an action against them personally.
Well, God does not make vain threats. He will do what He says He will do. When He says something, it is not a threat, it is a promise, and God keeps His promises.
There is an old hymn that we used to sing back when I was growing up that says, "Be not dismayed what er' be tide, God will take care of you." Well there are two ways to understand that old phrase. One is that if you do what God desires, He will take care of you. THe other is that if you do not do what is right in God's sight He will that care of you in that He will see that you get what you deserve.
For those of us who have turned our lives over to Jesus, we don't get what we deserve, we get forgiven.

1. (6-7) God will repay for every evil done.
Sin is any and every wrong that you and I do. It is not just the simple mistake that we make that causes us to spill milk on the dinner table. The proper definition of sin is to miss the mark. Like an archer that tries to hit the bulls-eye in competition and fails. It is a deliberate act that affects either God Himself of another human being made in His image.

2. (8-9) God will spare some.
When there are some good grapes on the vine and some bad ones also, it will not make good sense to destroy all the grapes or the entire vine. What will happen is the salvaging of the good grapes and the destruction of the bad grapes.

3. (10-12) The bad grapes represent the unrepentant people who refuse to follow God in Christ.

4. (13-14) There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.
Provision of food - hunger
“ “ drink - thirst
rejoicing - shame
adoption - disowning, disinherited

5. (16) Blessing is in the God of Truth.
Sins are forgiven.

6. (17-25) All things are new.
Also read Revelation 21:1-8

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 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.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Three Angry Men

2006-09-14T10:18:00.000-04:00

1 Samuel 24 -25

Scriptures pertaining to anger:

(Pro 22:24) Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

(Pro 22:25) Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

(Pro 29:22) An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

(Pro 29:23) A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

(Ecc 7:8) Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

(Ecc 7:9) Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

(Mat 5:22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

(Eph 4:26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

(Eph 4:27) Neither give place to the devil.

(Tit 1:7) For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

(Tit 1:8) But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

(Deu 32:35) To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

(Heb 10:30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

(Heb 10:31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

(Heb 10:32) But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

I. Saul – Let his anger destroy relationships

1. With the loyal David
Even though David had been anointed king by Samuel he vowed not to harm the Lord’s anointed (King Saul).

2. With his own son Jonathan
He accused Jonathan of conspiring against him with David

3. With God
In his impatience he usurped the authority of Samuel. He made sacrifice and then led the people out to battle where he permitted the people to spare the best to the herds of his enemies after God had commanded him to totally destroy them.
He also used witchcraft rather than prayer and faith to learn about his future demise.

II. Nabal – Let his anger destroy him

1. Disgraced himself
Everyone around him knew him as an angry and uncontrolled man.

2. Disgraced and endangered his household
His arrogant reply to the men that David sent to him put his entire house in peril.

3. Died of an evident stroke or heart attack brought on by his anger.
When he heard about what his wife Abigail had done to avert the wrath of David, Nabal’s, “heart died within him”.

III. David – Kept his frustration in check

1. Did not seek retaliation against king Saul.
Even though David had opportunity to slay Saul he refused and even repented when the temptation of it mused him.

2. David did not retaliate against Nabal’s arrogance and stupidity.
David listened to the wise counsel of Abigail and protected his reputation as a just and good man.

3. David let the counsel of God, whether it came from a godly woman or from directly from His Word, guide him.

Conclusion: How are you dealing with your anger and frustration?

Jesus Conqueror and King!

2006-09-10T00:42:00.000-04:00

Revelation 19:11-16

You know when it rains it pours. There have been times in my life when it seems like things are going well then something comes along and it really gets us down. How often do we feel that the world is crushing us? There have been times in my life when I look at the world and wonder how much worse can it get, during these times I pause for a moment and pray that God’s will be done in that situation and that He would help those suffering.
Have you ever sit down to read a book and started to reading a few chapters and the for what ever reason you stop and flip to the last page and read the last sentence or paragraph. Well I am guilty I have done this on more than one occasion. There is one book that I read that I can’t help but read the last chapter, the Bible. When I was younger before I knew the Lord I would sometimes read Revelation it would be difficult for me because afterwards I would almost always be confused and scared by the time I got done. At the time I just thought that I could never understand it and that the Lord would return and I would be left behind.
Now I read Revelation with excitement I know that there is a day coming when the Lord Jesus will return to conqueror His enemies and rule the world as King.
It is still difficult for me to read Revelation but not for the same reasons. Now I read and I get excited and I have to stop and all I can think is come Lord Jesus come, I can’t wait to see you stand over your enemies as the victor.
You know when I feel like the world is crushing me and there is no possible way for me to make it I just think to myself that Jesus conquerors all and that He is the Lord of my life and that one day I will stand with Him dressed in a robe of white free from this sin and this world. Spending eternity with my God and King.
Is the world crushing you, do things in your life seem to big for you to handle, does it seem like everything is falling apart or are you afraid, afraid of the world, afraid of being left behind if so Jesus is waiting and He will help you through.

Go Ahead, Its a Gift

2006-09-01T12:07:00.000-04:00

(Rom 11:25) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

(Rom 11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

(Rom 11:27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

(Rom 11:28) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

(Rom 11:29) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Go Ahead, It’s a Gift! Romans 11:25-29

(Rom 11:25) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

(Rom 11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

(Rom 11:27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

(Rom 11:28) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

(Rom 11:29) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

I have often made a humorous comment to folks that I would not have them be ignorant. I would like them to know something,... anything! Paul made this statement to prepare us for what he is about to tell us. It is meant inform us of an important fact concerning the plan of salvation and God’s will for His “Chosen People, Israel.”

I. Don’t get all puffed-up concerning Israel being blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. It is only for a time.
It is only until the fullness of time which will be the right time when God will again open their eyes to the truth.
2. God will wash away their sins.
This is His covenant with them and God will not break His promise.
3. They are enemies of the gospel for our sakes.
Yet the Lord still loves them.
4. God gives the gift of eternal life even prior to our receiving it.
5. God gives us our calling prior to us following in it.
6. God gives us talents and spiritual gifts long before we learn to properly apply them.

Conclusion:
1. Let’s not get a big head over our standing in Christ. We should be continually praying for others to come to Him.
2. Let’s learn how to use the gifts what God has endowed us with in wisdom and skill.
3. Let’s come together as one and use our gifts, talents and abilities to glorify God.

Murder in the U.S.A

2006-09-01T09:32:00.000-04:00

Murder in the U.S.A. Deuteronomy 5:17 Thou shalt not kill.

I would like you all to notice the “neither” that separates the following verses. It is a reminder to me that God does not rate one sin higher than another. If we have committed one we are guilty of all. In reality, whenever we are involved with these following offences, there is a bit of spiritual and emotional dying that takes place as the victims of these offences are spiritually and emotionally wounded.
The Hebrew word for kill that is used here is (raw-stsakh). It is used only six times in the entire Old Testament. It means to murder, put to death, dash to pieces, or to slay.
The word that is used in the Greek for this same commandment is (fon-yoo’-o).It also is only used six times in the New Testament. It means to kill, murder, or slay.

There are 11 different words in the Hebrew and Armaic text that make up the Old Testament that are used to express the various extremes of the word “kill.” They range from the expression of the slaying of an animal in sacrifice to the violent act of murder. There is not a specific word for execution, and the most accurate way of interpreting these words is to use the contextual value.

I. We have committed murder by legalized abortion.
1. MAP (Morning after pill)
2. State funded abortion clinics
3. Ignoring God’s Word in regard to life
Psalm 139:13-16
47,282,923 abortions since 1973
Dangers of euthanasia rationalizing
Stem cell research
II. We have committed murder through aiding and abetting criminals with our justice system.
1. Laws that protect criminals and establish their rights
2. Victimizing victims and their families
3. Ignoring God’s Word in regard to dealing with sin.
Deuteronomy 22:21 ... so shall thou put away evil from among you. (22:24; 24:7)

III. We have committed murder by permitting the rich to take advantage of the poor.
1. Permitting overpricing of healthcare
2. Permitting overpricing of goods and services
3. Ignoring God’s Word in regard to loving our neighbor
Psalm 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor.
Revelation 18
Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
James 2:5,6

Am I guilty of permitting these crimes against the innocent?

Jesus Meets You Where You Are

2006-08-30T17:03:00.000-04:00

Jesus Meets You Where You Are

John 4:6-19
People often think that Jesus could not want them the way they are. People want to say that they could not come to Jesus until they clean up their act. It’s an excuse I hear all the time. And it is a logical excuse. It goes along with human thinking, human nature. Let me point out a few things from this account of the Samaritan Woman.
1. Jesus knew this woman. He knew her inside and out. He knew everything she had ever done. Jesus told the woman to call her husband (v18)…. He did this to demonstrate this fact to her. Jesus knows everything you have ever done. He knows where you are, physically and spiritually.
2. Not only did He meet her where she was at, He was there and waiting. He already knew where she was, physically and spiritually. He was waiting on her. He is there waiting on you. Wherever you are, he is waiting for you to come to him.
3. Jesus still offers the woman everlasting life (14). Knowing she was an adulterous woman, a sinner. Jesus was still waiting on her, with his gift of eternal life. Jesus simply did this because that is what Jesus does.
4. You don’t have to try to be acceptable to Jesus before you can come to Him. You don’t have to clean up your act first. You don’t have to meet Jesus where you think He is at. Where you think He wants you to be, If it could be done that way, you would not need Him!
I want to leave the woman at the well with Jesus for just a little bit, let them finish their chat; we will catch up with them in a few minutes and see how things turn out. But I want to share something else with you right now.

Last Sunday Al asked if some of us would put together our “God Moments”. I want to tell you about mine tonight. Some of you know most of this story, some of you know a little of it, a few of you it is going to be completely new to. I imagine it is going to be quite an earful to some of you.
Several years ago I was in prison. How and why is not really important, but that is where I was. One day a pastor came to visit. I went to see him to get out of the cell for awhile. Any excuse was good enough to get out of the cell for awhile…. Now, this man did not really make much of an impression on me. I don’t remember his name. I don’t remember what he looked like. I don’t know what church he was with. I would not recognize him if I saw him again. I don’t remember anything we talked about. But the man gave me one of those little New Testaments that the Gideons pass out. You have all seen them, the little Bibles with the New Testament, and Psalms and Proverbs. That is all I really remember about this man. But one of these days I am going to shake his hand.
Not long after meeting this fellow, I ended up in a place called solitary confinement. Solitary is where inmates end up when they act in a way that is unacceptable behavior for convicted felons…think about that a second. That should show you the depths I had sunk to. I was there about ten days. I only had a few things with me.
Two orange prison jump suits.
One pillow, two sheets, and a blanket
One towel
One washcloth
One pair of boots. They had taken the laces out; because they were afraid I would try to hang myself with them, and I probably would have.
That’s all I had in that cell besides that little Gideon Bible. After a couple days, I got bored, and I started to read it.
I read Psalm 34, and the 6th verse really stuck in my mind. “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved Him out of all his troubles.” Now what really struck me about this passage was the poor man part.
It did not say this great man, it did not say this worthy man, and it did not say this deserving man. It did not say this just man; that would be logical right? This poor man. The thought occurred to me that just maybe this poor man was me. Well, I knew I was a poor man at the time, I was a special kind of person, I was a jerk, I was scum, but the rest did not make any sense to me. What was this business about the Lord hearing him, and saving him? But it started me thinking. I tell you what I was thinking: Why should He… And how could He? That’s what I was thinking.
A few weeks later, I went to a prison church service. Again it was just a chance to get out of the dorm. The evangelist preached on Psalm 34:6, “this poor man cried, and the Lord heard Him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” This was the strangest thing. I knew the Lord was speaking to me. I believed in the Lord. But I hadn’t met him yet. I did not know him. This preacher was using the same passage that was troubling me. Oh what was the Lord trying to say to me?
Like so many people, I just couldn’t understand that Jesus was willing to meet me where I was. Even in that place…. Jesus was waiting on me. I was a little more hard headed than the woman at the well, as you will see shortly. I spent the next two years trying to figure out why the Lord should hear a poor man like me. That was a kind of love that was completely beyond my understanding. I spent the next two years trying to get to where God is. Trying to make myself presentable to God. Trying to make myself worthy to come to Jesus. Trying to make myself acceptable to Jesus. It did not work.
Then I got to thinking about the Samaritan woman. I realized maybe if Jesus was willing to meat her where she was, and Maybe if the Lord saved the poor man the Psalmist spoke of, just maybe he could do it for this poor man too. I was still pretty skeptical…. I still tried to think of an intellectual way to explain that kind of love. I was trying to logically justify a love so deep that it is completely beyond human comprehension. Nothing in the realm of human experience can even compare to it.
One morning I just couldn’t wrestle with it anymore. I just accepted that it was. I went to pastor Ernie, and told him I was ready to meet Jesus. I went to the altar that morning, and Jesus met me there. The same Jesus who was waiting to meet me where I was in prison was also waiting to meet me through my own self reliance and pride, through my own guilt and doubt.
I wasn’t skeptical anymore. Jesus saved the poor man in Psalm 34, He offered eternal life to the Woman at the well, and He did it for me, and I have never been the same. Jesus met me where I was at. That’s my God moment.

Now this is what I am here to tell you tonight. If Jesus can meet the poor man in Psalms, if he can meet the woman at the well, if he can meet this poor man in the depths I was in, he can meet anybody, anywhere. That is why I am up here tonight.

Lets go back to Jacob’s well and see what is going on. I am going to read John 4:28-29, Jesus and the Woman have finished up their discourse, and the woman becomes convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah sent to save those who will accept Him. She becomes a believer, and she left her water-pot in her excitement, and ran around town, giving the invitation; “come and see a man”, come and see a man who told me all I ever did. Is this not the Christ?
I want to extend that invitation to you. Come and see a Man. Jesus will meet you regardless of where you are spiritually.

Honor of Father and Mother

2006-08-25T07:56:00.000-04:00

Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land the Lord your God has given you.

I. We, as Children have not honored Father and Mother.
1. You and I have known people who have fleeced their parents for everything they have.
They have used and abused their positions as caretakers, power of attorney, or estate administrators to further their own greedy causes.
Some have committed their parents to nursing homes so they might gain control of family estates so they could squander what their parents had worked for years to accumulate.
2. Some children have disregarded their Christian heritage and spent their lives in sin. They act as if they never heard the word of God. This is a disgrace to loving parents who pray for them to turn from their wickedness and serve God.

II. We, a parents have shown disrespect for our positions as Mother and Father.
1. Fathers often think it is more important to make a good living and have a blossoming career than to mentor their children.
2. Mothers often think it is more important for the children to have every possible extravagant toy that is on the market than to teach their children to be patient and kind.
3. Both mother and father thinking that each child should be involved with so many activities that they loose their love for being around the people of God, and they loose their desire to learn the Word of God.
4. Fathers and mothers who are so absorbed in themselves that they resign from their responsibilities to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Conclusion: Am I guilty?

Who is Jesus?

2006-08-21T23:58:00.000-04:00

Matthew 16:13-16

Have you ever been to a party or a social event where you play a game to guess what kind of job the other guests have, and you can only give a few clues to each other to guess what job or training that person has. Without knowing the other persons character makeup it is a rather difficult task. When my wife and I were younger before we were married we used to attend church camp every year. This one year someone not knowing us walked up to us and asked if we were brother and sister just making an assumption based on how we were acting. We quickly told that person no and that we were dating. Later in the day someone else that knew us said that we were acting like a married couple. It was interesting how in one day two different people could make such varying statements about us. My point is that we can’t really know who someone is or who they are in relation to someone else if we don’t have any facts about them. Knowing important information about others is something that is necessary to know them, I call this having a Character Profile. We can know who Jesus is by looking at what He has done, said, where He has gone, and the lives He has touched. In the past few years it seems to me that more and more comic books are being made in to movies. While filming those movies you often see the actors being interviewed and they are asked how they were able to portray a certain character so well. The actors would usually answer that by studying comics and reading as many as they could and it helped them to understand the character better and to play that character in the movie. Well we actually have a good profile of Jesus it is the Bible. If you want to know who Jesus is just begin reading the Bible and you will quickly begin to know Him. Right away one thing that we can know about Jesus is that He is the Son of God. There are actually several places in the Bible where Jesus is making a direct claim to be God, the first can be found in John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus is claiming to have existed before Abraham and referring to Himself as I AM. Jesus’ reference to being I AM draws from a statement made by God to Moses, which if found in Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Jesus also is referred to as God in Luke 22:66-71 “And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, 67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: 68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. 70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. 71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.” Jesus was hated by the Jewish leaders because of who He claimed to be. For that reason He was crucified, however after His death He proved once and for all that He is God Almighty and that death has no power over Him when He had risen from the dead.
Ask someone who is Jesus Christ and they will probably tell you many different things mostly incorrect things except those that say He is God. Some of the answers people might give are that He was just a Good Teacher. Well my question is if someone were just a teacher why claim to be God if you are not and you just want to be known as a good teacher. How about a Prophet well why would a prophet claim to be God directly A prophet is someone who would have a message from God. Another claim some people would make is that Jesus was just a made up Bible Character and that He was not real and never existed. Sorry you can’t claim this one because history proves He existed we have the writings of Josephus who was Jewish Roman historian. Tacitus who was another Roman historian., and still another Pliny the Younger also a Roman historian. So now we are only left with two choices as to who Jesus Christ really is, He is either Jesus Christ the Lord God, wholly God and fully man or He is a lunatic, just a man claiming to be God. So let me ask you who is Jesus? Is He God Almighty Lord of your life or is He just a man making ridicules claims to be something He is not. If you don’t think He is the Lord God don’t call Him a good teacher because a good teacher would never make ridicules claims to be God. However I challenge you to open up the Bible and read for yourself to see who Jesus Christ is.

What Great Faith You Have!

2006-08-16T11:54:00.000-04:00

Hebrews 11

(1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
---- We do not display our faith by what Gid has provided us to see, touch, or hold. If we display faith it is by holding on to the promises that God has provided in His Word regardless of ever experiencing them in this present life.

(2) For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
---- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and others believed in God's promises and deliverance before they ever viewed it with their eyes. Indeed some of them never did see the full promise of God in their lifetime.

(3) By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
---- Evelutionists and creationists can battle back and forth and present one argument after another to prove thier reasoning for taking their stands as they do.
However, in the end there is that understanding of faith that is pre-conceived that develops our tenacity to stand where and how we do. We must come to the conclusion that we cannot fully understand nor fully explain why we believe the way we do.

(Read Hebrews 11:4-40)
---- God moments: Everybody has them. You might have had them prior to conversion to Christ but couldn't understand what was taking place. You might have called it luck at one point in your life, but now you know better.
It might have been that day, hour, or moment when God revieled to you the next step of your journey with Him.
It might be when you first asked Jesus to take control of your life.
It might have been that time when you were in such a state of despair that you didn't know where to tour and God revieled His love and purpose for you.

What is your God moment?

Know Jesus?

2006-08-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

John 14:15-21

The title of my sermon is a rather simple question. Know Jesus? I want you to think about your answer to this question and by the end of this message you should be able to answer it. Has anyone ever asked you do you know … and you answered I know of … because you really didn’t know that person personally you just heard of them or what they have done. The same can be true of Jesus you can know about Jesus of you can know Him as your Lord and Savior.
We can read all about Jesus and study day and night about Him but if we don’t know Him personally as our Savior and Lord then it was all in vain. We can have a head full of knowledge about Jesus but if we don’t have Him in our heart what good will it do. To know Jesus is to love Him, and let Him be Lord of our lives, one of the ways in which we can show our love for Him is to obey what He commands.
We are not alone in this world the Holy Spirit is hear with us dwelling in the hearts of every believer. He comforts and counsels us. The Holy Spirit teaches us and helps us to understand God’s word. He also directs us in what we should do and should not do. Jesus said, “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” What does this really mean, well it means that God is with us and we are not alone. Is there something that the Holy Spirit is trying to deal with in your life, if so pray about it and ask for God’s help.

Sing Your Bible

2006-08-10T16:55:00.000-04:00

Sunday evening worship

II Corinthians 4:5-15

(5) For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake.
--- This is why we are here, to preach the Word of the Lord, to tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. Our personal testimonies are only the proof of the goodness of God and the consistency of His Word.

(6) For is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
--- Genesis through Revelation speaks of God revealing Himself therough the man Jesus of Nazareth.

(7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excelence of the power may be of God and not of us.
--- There is nothing that we can brag about; all tht we have or are is due to the grace and goodness of God. We are nothing, but He is everything.

(8) We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
--- People wonder how Christians can go through so much trouble and still enjoy life.

(9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed---
--- Some people marvel at how Christians can continue to get back up when life continually hits them so hard.

(10) Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body.
--- What we share with the world ist he death of our Lord Jesus Christ. We live out to life of Jesus by doing what He would do if He were walking in our shoes.

(11) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
--- If you have not recieved some critisism for your stand in Chirst; it might be because you never really stood for Him.

(12) So then, death is working in us, but life in you.
--- It is an amazing thing, but wherever and whenever the Church of Jesus Christ suffers persecution, the result is a stronger and more active and vibrant church body that wins over even some of those who persecute them.

(13) And since we have the same Spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I bekieved and therfore spoke," we also believe and therefore speak.
--- What we talk about the worl cannot deny; it is the personal experience of each individual believer. Peter told the Sanhedrin that he could not stop telling the truth about Jesus.

(14) Knowing that He who raised up the ord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
---- Hey! This is why we are so confident. Jesus alredy made it to the gates of glory. He also has promised that He will personally come back to get us so that we can be with Him forever. If this stuff dowsn't light your fire you'll burn in hell!

(15) For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, having spread through many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
---- When believers in Jesus are tested and tried, they overcome. We might struggle, we might waiver a bit, and we might even fall; but eventually we get back up and get going and get the job done.
It's like the old Christian that was being persecuted and tortured for his faith in Christ. he kept singing praises and whistling hymns while consoling those around him who were hurting and dying. He was asked how he could suffer so much and still remain cheerful. He said, "I've read the last chapter of in the last book of the Bible; in the end we win."
This is why we are here, to preach the Word of the Lord, to tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may. We are not responsible for how the Word of God is recieved. We are only resposible for the distribution of the Word of God, and only the Word of God. Our personal testimonies are only the proof of the goodness of God.

Keep The Sabbath Day

2006-08-03T15:13:00.000-04:00

Biblical Violations Series:

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

(12) "Keep the Sabbath day to sancify it as the Lord Your God commanded you.
(13) You have six days to do all your work:
(14) But the seventh day is the Sabath of the Lord your God: in it you shall do no
work, You, nor your son , nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your
maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor any of your livestock, nor your
stranger that is within on your property: that they may rest as well as you.
(15) And remember that when ou were servants in the land of Egypt, and and the Lord
brought your out from there with a mighty hand and by a streatched out
arm: therefore the LOrd your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

1. In the beginning God created the hevens and the earth...on the seventh day He
rested.

I have often wondered; why was it that God rested on the seventh day? Was He tired? If He was then we has better beware of wearing Him out with all our many petitions. Relax! I was just kidding! God was not then nor has He ever been wary of doing all that He does. All the people of the earth could be empowered of God and He would not lack a bit of His extreme might and power. So why did He rest on the seventh day?
God knew that we would need a rest at the end of a hard work week and He wanted us to have a special time to pause and reflect on what had been accomplished by His presence in our lives. God didn't rest on the seventh day because He needed it, He did it because we need it. We need time to plan our future and to communicate with Him about our dreams and aspirations.

2. You can have six days to do work.

Some of you can recall when there was litterally nothing open on a Sunday. However, as businesses and social mobility grew, more and more facilities were staying open seven days a week and many have gone to a 24/7 policy. This has been strenuous on minds and bodies as well as machinery; there has been a servere price to pay on the family front as well. We definitely do "Reap what we sow."
We have paid the price of our seven day work week with high blood presure, heart trouble, and an asortment of repedetive motion injuries. There has been a plague of broken relationships in the home and a tremendous rise in divorce and promiscuity among both adults and children.
In all this it seems that even if we do have a day off from work, we fail to find time for our relationship with God.

3. But I have to work on Sunday!

Yes! There are some services that need to be open around the clock on a 24/7 basis and there might even be a need for some of the gas stations and pharmacys to be open. While we're at it I suppose that abourt any business might be capable of finding justification for being open seven days a week. The resposibility for worship and rest then lies on the Christian's who are working and on those who are capable of providing meaningful worship settings for those who need to worship on another day or time.
What time or day do you have? Can I, or another pastor, or perhaps even you organize a worship setting so that you can communicate with God and other believers on your day or time off from work?
Think about it!

Taking the name of the Lord in Vain

2006-07-26T12:40:00.000-04:00

Biblical Violations Series:

Deuteronomy 5:11

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain."

I. Swearing and cursing:

The first way of taking the Lord's name in vain that we will discuss is the habit that we develop of swearing and cursing while using the name of Jesus or God or Lord.
This is one that I had a lot of trouble with in my early Chrstian walk. It was not something that I did intentionally, but from time to time, I would get angry or scarred and use words that I did not mean to say. If I had heard my children say these words I would have sternly reprimended them. I am thankful that I am not the potty-mouth that I once was. I could do better and I am getting better as I get closer to Jesus.
One thing that I have often marvelled at is the thought that I have frequently listened to people ask God to curse their children, pets, their job, their house, and even their spouse and then wonder why thier world is in such a mess.
My dad had a problem with this, but when he caught my sisters and my cousin in the barn trying to find out who could cuss the most, he let them know that he did not approve. He found a board with a nail in it, a hay rope, and he took off his belt. He called the three of them over to him and told them to select the tool he would use to spank them. My oldest sister, Neen, choset the board with a nail in it because she knew he could never use that on them. She was right.
Even though the three little cussers didn't get a spanking they learned not to cuss. It even stopped my cousin Abe till he was in high school. Even then he never cussed around my parrents.
Swearing, or using God's name, or Jesus name to curse is a horrible habit to get into. I want you to know that God can deliver you out of that habit and every dark sin that can darken our souls.
It is an evil thing to swear and curse and have a foolish and foul mouth.
However, I want you to know that is not the only way we take God's name in vain and perhaps it is not even the worst way that we take His name in vain.

II. Claiming to belong to the family of God but not living like it:

Proverbs 30:7-9
"Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me niether poverty nor riches;
feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor,
and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

1. I think God is very grieved when people comet to salvation and then fall back into their old ways.
2. I think God is grieved when go to church whenever the doors are open and attend every church pot-luck then live the rest of the week as if He did'nt exist.
3. I think God is grieved by people who claim a relationship with His one and only Son, the "Living Word" and seldom if ever read thier Bibles.
4. I think God is greived when people refer to themselves as the Children of God and then live like children of the devil.
5. I think God is grieved when the people of God know what is good to do, are capable of doing it and don't.
6. I think God is grieved when we refuseto trust Him to fill in where we are lacking.
7. I think God is grieved when His people refuse to grow spiritually or numerically.

All this is taking God's name in vain. Having it count for nothing is taking His name in vain.

No Other Gods

2006-07-17T12:48:00.000-04:00

Series: Biblical violations

Deuteronomy 5:6-10

I. The Lord brought the Children of Isreal out of Egypt.

1. Egypt is synonymous with sin
There are two actual palces that we can find on anchient maps that the Bible uses to relate to sinfulness. One is the nation and city of Babylon and the other is the nation of Egypt. When God says, "I brought you out of Egypt", He is relating to a time and a place where the people of Israel were degrated to slavery.
We are also degrated to slavery when we are trapped in sin.
Just as the Slavery in Egypt was destructive to the Children of Israel the slavery of sin destroys the soul of all who are trapped in it.

2. What has the Lord brought you out of?
Where were you when the Lord delivered you?
Have you ever been delivered?
To be delivered from sin you need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Recieve Him as your Lord and Savior.
Develop a relationship with Him through prayer, studying God's Word, and fellowship with
other believers.
Confess Him to others.

II. Have no other gods before Me.

The gods that the Isrealites might have substituted, replaced with, or included in thier worship might have been: Amen Ra, Baal, Ashtoreth, Dagon, or many others.
Today the gods that we have on hand or available for idol worship are Buda, Allah, Angels, the Sun, and a plethora of others.

I want to say something that might very possibly get misquoted when you tell others what pastor Al said, so listen real close to what I have to say. God is not so concerned with the heathen that worships another god as He is with the person who claims to be a believer of the true God, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who sent His one and only Son to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world. If you have been saved, delivered from sin and claim allegiance to Christ, if you call yourself CHristian this law applies to you just as much as it applied to the Isrealites that were led out of Egypt and through the wilderness by a cloud by day and a pillar of fie by night.

Now here is another surprise; If you are a Christian, you can avoid worshipping all the other gods that I previously mentioned and still violate this commandment.

As a nation we have become more involved in entertainment than in church attendance.
We have been more concerned with natural resources than our relationship with God and fellow believers.
We watch, listen, and read more about the news and weather than we ingest of the Bible, God's Holy Word.
We have come to rely more on money and power than on our faith in God.

Ask yourself these questions:
1. Is entertainment more important to you than church attendance, Bible study, or prayer?
2. Does family ever keep you from serving God and attending church?
3. Does your work ever get in the way of you sharing your faith?
4. Does anything ever keep you from or get in the way of your fellowshipping and worshipping in the body of Christ?

You might say, "Well, pastor, you just don't understand my situation!"
That might be true, I don't understand or know everything that there is about everyone, but I'm not the one that you need to convince. You need to address your situation to GodHimself and then see what He has to say about it! You'll find His response in His Word the Bible!

What Is Our Heritage?

2006-07-15T08:18:00.000-04:00

What Is Our Heritage? Psalm 16

Read Psalm 16

Our heritage as a nation:

1. Our forefathers came here to escape religious persecution as well as indiscriminate taxes.
Puritans came here because they were continually persecuted wherever they resided in Europe.
The Church of England insisted that all under English rule worship in their settings only.
Where the Catholic Church was dominant there was persecution of anyone that deveated from their teachings.

2. Our forefathers came here to seek out a new life and future.
Georgia was largely settled by those who could not pay the excesive tax that was leveled on them by King George III. Most of the colonists and adventurers who came here form Europe had been restricted by either law or social stature and were looking to use and generate new ideas of how to generate wealth and change in economy of society as well as the church.

3. Our forefathers came here to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Of the 55 signers of the Decleration of Independence were deeply committed Christians. The others were convinced that the Bible was divine truth and believed in the God of its Scriptures as well as His personal intervention in the lives of His creation.
Schools were originally set up by churches for the teaching of the Bible.
Benjamin Harris' "New England Primer" was used for 210 years (until 1900). It consisted of a rhyming alphabet introduced by the reading of Scripture and was used to teach reading and pronounciation.
Benjamin Rush warned that America ever removed the Bible from classrooms, all our time would be spent in the fighting of crime.
In 1781 Congress ruled that a new English edition of the Bible be printed and distributed and used in schools.
John Adams, our second president served as the first leader of the American Bible Society.
This information is assembled with other imposing facts on www.earstohear.net/Heritage/didyouknow.html .

Our heritage as followers of Jesus Christ:

1. We were created by God.
Genesis 1 and 2 tell how God created all the universe and then capped the end of His creating by making mankind in His image. He put us in charge of His creation and gave us dominion over it.
John 1:1-5 gives us the understanding that Jesus is God the Creator and that all hings were made by Him.

2. We are set apart by God.
Genesis 1:26-29 tells that we alone are made in the image of God.
Ephesians 2:10 says that we were created for the purpose of doing good works.
Revelation 4:11 relates to us that all creation was to give pleasure to God.

3. We have salvation through Jesus Christ, who is both god and Lord.
Genesis 6:5-8 makes it clear that after the fall into original sin in the garden of Eden by Adam, mankind freefalled to an exteremely low moral state. Now He wanted to destroy it all. However, "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
Isaiah 45:21-25 lets us understand that, from the very beginning, God wanted to communicate with us and save us from our distress of our sin-stained situation.
Romans 14:11 "Nothing is unclean of itself." However, when we get involved in all things beautiful we can really make a mess of it and corrupt the simplest of what God intended to be good.
Philippians 2:10-11 The only way out of this mess is through Jesus Christ.

"That at the name of Jesus evry knee should bow, everything in heaven and earth, and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

How about you? Is your knee bowing and are you confessing with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord? Your Lord?

7 Things that Men Need

2006-07-12T17:23:00.000-04:00

2Timothy 2:2

While traveling to visit our family, about a month ago, my wife and I tuned into a book revue session. The book was centered on the reasons that many churches lack a balance of male and female attendance. The author had focused his attention on the reasons that men don't like to go to church.
Then a couple of weeks I opened up The "Pastor's Weekly Breifing" and H. B. London was discussing the same thing. He cited 2 Timothy 2:2 and gave these seven needs that men need to have filled to be properly assimilated to the congregation of any church.

1. A safe place
Men need to understand that what they do or say will not be held against them or talked about with the outside world.

2. A clear compelling vision of biblical manhood
Many biblical themes are available to be presented to emphisise the proper ways that men should behave when facing the challenges of life. These need to be used frequently in ministering to men.

3. Time with other men
Men need to spend quality time with other men to develop solid relationships. Men develop relationships by praying, working, playing, studying, eating, and traveling together. This list could go on for some time but it will always involve doing something because men are defined and define themselves by what they do.

4. Practical "how to's"
Men will often skip the assembly manual, but when all else fails to work they need to look at why this isn't working. They do benefit from a list of steps to take in structuring life acttions like prayer, developing and maintaining relationships, avoiding sin, and the list goes on.

5. Male cheerleaders
Men do like the women in their lives to encourage them to do well in sports, business, and work. However, there is something even more assuring in the confirmation by another man, be it fater, son, relative, freind or co-worker. When my dad gave me his approval in a task completed I felt as high as a kite. When the other guys on the team would give me high-fives for a good play I made it was like my feet would never touch the ground.

6. Sacred moments
I don't agree with those who say, "Men don't have the deep feelings that women have." Men do have deep emotions, but they tend to feel the need to disguise and hide there emotions from those who might use these 'tender times' against them. The men I know who feel secure where they worship openly express their emotions in prayer, song, and discussion. However, if we are going to see men worship and experience 'Sacred moments' we will need to purposely present the opportunity to them by giving them biblical examples and personal roll-models.

7. A posetive relationship with Jesus Christ
You can fill in all the above, but if this is lacking the rest is in vain. Without A posetive personal relationship with Jesus Christ anyone can, invalidly, feel safe. He can cite every biblical passage that desribes godly manhood. He can spend 'time with the boys.' He can file list after list of 'how tos' and even follow them to the letter. He can have all the guys on the team and in the business give him high-fives and sing songs about his various accomplishments. He can have meaningful moment after meaningful moment and call them sacred, but if he doesn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ he is still wandering down the road to hell. He will misdefine and misinterpret everything that takes place and he will still be lost.
Every man, woman, and child needs Jesus.

Adapted from "Pastors Weekly Breifing"

Weekly Sermon

Beginning

The First Noel

God with us

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

The Blessing

Genesis 49

Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

If Jesus is the Answer, Then What is the Question

In the Spittin' Image of God

Don't Forget the Selah!

God’s Love Letters

Resolutions to Very Bad Days

Psalm 88

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.

Sometimes Life Is Like Aaron's Rod

The How, Where, When, and Why of Prayer

More About Prayer

Pointers About Prayer

Not Enough Davids to Go AroundNot Enough Davids to Go Arround 1 Samuel 17:32

Peace Through Fogiving Your Enemies

The Paradgm Shift:Changing Your Thinking

What's Holding You Back?

The Purpose of Darkness and Light

Fathers Fulfilling Their Calling in Christ

Taking Responsibility

Get Out of the Boat

Being a Good Soldier

Let's Be ChurchWhy people don’t go to church:

Getting a Good Report

Triumphal Entry of the King of Kings

My Part in the Body

CONSIDERING THE WILL OF GOD

People of Faith Pray

Communion

Questions Concerning Everlasting Life

What's Wrong With THis Picture

Fearless Faith James 2:14-26

ALEPH The Blessings of Keeping the law of the Lord

God In me, Gives Me Purpose

Are You Willing?

The Greatest Gift

Maturity In Christ

God Who Supplies All My Needs

"El-Roi, The God Who Sees Me"

Steps to Faith in God

Scriptures to Consider in the Plan of Salvation

Elohim - The God of Creation

The God Of Truth

Three Angry Men

Jesus Conqueror and King!

Go Ahead, Its a Gift

Murder in the U.S.A

Jesus Meets You Where You Are

Honor of Father and Mother

Who is Jesus?

What Great Faith You Have!

Know Jesus?

Sing Your Bible

Keep The Sabbath Day

Taking the name of the Lord in Vain

No Other Gods

What Is Our Heritage?

7 Things that Men Need

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplationof Heman the Ezrahite.