Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
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John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, he will speak, and He will tell you things to come.”
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God; a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
During the past 2 weeks I have had plenty of time to read and to meditate on what I have read. One of the books I read was given to me by someone in the church who ask me to read it and tell them what I thought about it. The situation was brought about when this person shared the book with a co-worker who seemed shocked and even scared by some of the content.
The book in question is named ELEVATION by a friend of our church, Terry Tripp. As I read the book, I began to see why it affected the individual mentioned before. Basically, Brother Terry is pointing to the fact that most Christians never reach their potential because they tend to be content on a particular elevations of life.
If our spiritual life moved like an elevator, it is probable that most people entered it on level one or the basement. When we enter the kingdom of God on the first level, it tends to reason we can choose to stay on level one or be elevated to a higher level. Is there any way to know if we have reached the highest level possible? If we have not or believe we can not do the works that Jesus did, then I would say there are more levels that we haven’t reached.
Accepting Jesus Christ is your first level. It seems that many people are satisfied with this situation. “I‘m saved (why should I be concerned about anything else?)” The reason for it being a concern is on each new level we experience a newer measure of grace. Elevating from one level to the next is the key subject of his book.
The key to elevating oneself to a new level is our love for and interest in the Word of God. It is God’s word that must be a key priority in our lives. As we read in the verse above, we must rightly divide the word of truth. Jesus, in His prayer for His followers, asked God to keep them in the truth. He then went on to say, “Your word is truth.” You can elevate as high as you allow God’s word to take you. Its an unlimited trip.
5 REASONS CHILDREN SHOULD BE IN THE MAIN SERVICE REGULARLY
by Tamera Kraft
I am an advocator of children’s church. I always have been. It is important to have children’s services that appeal to their age group for a variety of reasons. That being said, there is a movement in many churches today to always have children separated from adults. Although children should have a children’s church where they can learn and worship God, they also need to regularly be in the main service with the rest of the church body.
Here’s 5 reasons I believe children should regularly be in the main service:
CHILDREN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE MAIN BODY FOR CONVENIENCE SAKE. This is one reason churches remove children. They want a professional church service where adults can enjoy the worship without being disrupted by noisy children. This sounds good, but the Book of Acts never talks about having a professional service nor does the Bible talk about meeting our own selfish needs during church, but it does talk about children not being pushed aside. Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
CHILDREN ARE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST There is nowhere in the Bible where it says children are a separate body. They are an important part of the church and shouldn’t always be excluded when the church meets. During the Feast of Tabernacles, all of Israel could come before the Lord to hear the reading of the Law so that the children would hear it and learn not fear the Lord. In Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, he gave instructions directly to the children to obey their parents. He considered them a part of the church that he was writing to.
CHILDREN NEED GODLY EXAMPLES OF HOW TO WORSHIP If children never see adults in the main service worshipping, they won’t know how to worship or what is expected of them.
CHILDREN NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY. If children are always separated from the body of Christ, they will never feel like they are a part of the church community. And the members of the church will never get to9 know the children and be an example to them unless they work in children’s ministry.
CHILDREN WHO DON’T FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY WILL LEAVE CHURCH WHEN THEY’RE OLDER. Imagine the culture shock of a child who has been in church all his life but has never been in the main service. He has played games every Sunday, sang active songs, and had every message or Bible story illustrated with a skit, object lesson, or interactive device. Suddenly the child turns 10, or 12, Or in some cases, 18 years old. He has graduated to big church. The music is strange. There are no games, skits, or illustrations, only some guy he’s never met preaching for a half hour or longer. He doesn’t know the people. And there is no candy. That’s what happens to a child who is never in the main service.
Within a few months, maybe a few years, he decides he doesn’t want to be there. If his parents make him stay, he’ll leave as soon as he is 18. If not, he will leave sooner. He will look for a church that entertains him and isn’t boring. If he doesn’t find one, he will drop out of church. This may be why so many young people are no longer attending church. They never were a part of the church.
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
John 18:38 “Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, He went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all.’”
3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
If there is one important thing that we desire, it is knowing we have been told the truth. We live in a world where this is not the practice at all times. It appears that the world’s idea of success involves telling someone a lie. We would not call our information straight out lies, but tactical information. The problem is what we consider suitable information the other person considers a lie.
When Jesus told Thomas that He was the way, the truth and the life, He meant there is no other way; there is no other truth; and there is no other life. The problem we face today is a world that does not recognize the word of God as the Truth. It is sad to say that many Christians side with the world and do not believe God’s word is the truth.
I Timothy 2:3-4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and come the the knowledge of the truth.” It is an easy thing to accept Jesus, but it is not always an easy thing to accept the truth. When Jesus spoke of truth, He was talking about God’s specific information . Within Christianity there are various denominational and non-denominational teachings that are not really the truth. We may be saved, but not living an abundant life because of the things we have been taught.
Years ago I asked myself the same question Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” That set me on a course to where I am today. I have not believed and accepted any teaching without verifying it with the word of God. I am not saying that I have all the truth because I know that I do not. But it is my heart’s desire for you to know the truth that will set you free.
As your Pastor it is my responsibility to present to you God’s truth. God’s truth is first of all–Jesus in whom we have to believe to be saved. Secondly, God’s truth is His Word, the Bible. The Bible contains one true message and that must be what we teach for the truth to set you free.
The one thing that holds most people back is the fear of the unknown. Stepping into uncharted waters is a thought that most people would not take the risk to do– much less think about.
In order for the church to make an impact on the world there will be risks. Are we willing to risk for the cause of the gospel or are we being paralyzed by fear? We are living in a time where there is no gray line. No more straddling the fence so to speak.
It is the love of God that should compel us all as Christians to be risk takers. Being a risk taker is not trying to be a hero and making a name for yourself. But it is a people willing to stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here are some risk takers in the Bible:
To Joab, who took up arms for the cause of God, and said, “May the Lord do what seems good to him!” (2 Samuel 10:12).
To Esther, who risked her life for the Jewish people in exile, and said, “If I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16).
To Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who stood unflinching before the fiery furnace and said, “Even if God does not deliver us, be it known to you, O king, we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image” (Daniel 3:18).
To Paul, who said, “I do not count my life of any value nor as precious to myself– if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
As the apostle Paul said, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ? If so, you are a candidate to be a risk taker. To take a stand for the one who gave His life so you could have life. He is able to keep you.
3 John 2-4 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
KINGDOM DYNAMICS NKJV SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE BIBLE
Prosperity is a result. GOD’S PROSPERITY. It is clear that God wants His children to prosper. How can anyone deny that? However, prosperity should not be the end in itself. It ought to be the result of a quality of life, commitment, dedication, and action that is in line with God’s Word. In this text the word “prosper” (Greek euodoo) literally means “to help on the road” or “succeed in reaching.” It clearly implies that divine prosperity is not a momentary, passing phenomenon, but rather it is an ongoing, progressing state of success and well-being. It is intended for every area of our lives: the spiritual, the physical and emotional, and the material. However, God does not want us to unduly emphasize any one area. We must maintain a balance.
II Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Today I have included a group of short statements related to the scripture in I Timothy from the Spirit-Filled Life Bible. Meditate on them.
4:7,8 Recognize that godliness is necessary to this life and to life eternal. Be disciplined in body, soul, and spirit.
4:12 Conduct yourself in an exemplary manner in every detail of your life.
4:3-5 Reject teaching that bases holiness on works. Receive thankfully the natural blessings from God. Sanctify by prayer what you so receive.
!:3-7 Teach only sound, thoroughly biblical doctrine. Do not attempt to teach what you do not fully understand. Operate from a motive of love, faith, and good conscience in all you do.
4:1,2 Be warned that some will abandon faith in Jesus Christ for demonically inspired teaching. Understand that hypocrisy is an open door to deceiving spirits. Liars will believe “the lie.”
1:8-11 Recognize that the law is to instruct and judge the ungodly, not to induce condemnation in the righteous.
6:20,21 Guard carefully the truth you have been taught! Reject human knowledge that denies the faith.
Acts 20:35 “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
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My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has
gone out of My lips.
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Psalm 89:34
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When God promised to give Abraham land, Abraham asked, “God, how can I be sure?” And as if His word wasn’t good enough, God went one step further and cut a covenant with Abraham, binding Himself irrevocably to it to reassure His friend that He would do as promised (Genesis 15:7–8, 18).
Let me say something about God’s covenants. They can never be broken, only replaced with a better one. My friend, God will do as He has promised you, and to set your heart at ease, He bound Himself to a covenant with you when He cut it with your representative, Jesus, at Calvary.
So rest easy in the knowledge that you have a covenant-keeping God who CANNOT break His covenant or renege on His promises. Simply lean on His faithfulness and like Abraham, you will walk in your inheritance and healing. by Joseph Prince
“You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.” Job 11
Trouble comes to all of us at one time or another. For some it may be the loss of a child, a sudden loss of a job, unexpected doctor’s report. Whatever it may be, we do have the promise, “this too shall pass.” We sing a song here at New Life- “Troubles they don’t last always— for there is a friend in Jesus who will wipe away your tears—-with Jesus I can take it; with Him I know I can stand; no matter what may come by, way my life is in Your hands.”
Let us consider Job. He was a man who knew about trouble. When he lost everything, his wife told him to curse God and die. He refused and instead, responded to God in faith. In the end Job was given twice as much as he had before. The enemy of our souls wants to wear us out and to wear us down. He does this in very subtle ways, little by little day by day. He wants you to believe that it is always going to be this way. But God–He restores double for your trouble! “Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” Zechariah 9:12
You may have been through some trouble, or are going through some trouble, but God is the One Who brings restoration. Isaiah 61:7 says, “For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.”
I need to prophesy to somebody and tell you that today is your day for a turn around. And I decree to you that in the very same place that the enemy said it was going to end, you’re going to step into a new beginning and the greatest blessing of your life. That thing that has been troubling you is only a launching pad to breakthrough. Just that quick I believe things are shifting in your favor!!!
Isaiah 54:13 “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
There are several ways that the church and parents can fight for their children. The church plays an important role and works with the parents in training the children about God. Yet the parents are more important. We only have them maybe 2 hours a week. You have them the rest of the time. It is your responsibility to train your children.
With school starting back soon, we encourage parents and grandparents to consider what is most important in teaching their children about God. It is your responsibility to train them. Material things do not replace time with Mom and Dad.
1. Love children. *More and more America is becoming a country that loves children less and less. The news media this week placed more importance on a dentist killing a lion than on the fact that some at planned parenthood are selling aborted baby parts. Psalm 127:3 “Children are a heritage from the Lord.” *Our church should be known for its love for all children. It should be evident and contagious, and on display for the whole world to witness.
2. Instruct children. Scripture commands that we “train up a child in the way he should go” and bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” Proverbs 22:6, Eph. 6:4 When was the last time you talked to your children about God or even read the Bible with them. Do you pray with your children? The schools will not teach them about God. They will learn about everything else there. *We should be thinking, praying, planning, and investing on how to teach children to think and feel and act for the glory of God. Do you teach your
children that church attendance is important for their growth and fellowship with other Christians?
3. Give for children. If you don’t have children, give your time and money to help families, your church, and organizations that love , serve, and teach children. * When the world sees us love little ones, they will be forcefully and beautifully confronted with the love of God Himself.
*Source CHURCH LEADERS “Five Ways We Fight for Children”
“…For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7(NKJV)
Man has so many things that he is concerned about. He tries to give a good appearance concerning many things in life. He wants a nice car and a good house. Clothes are important to promote his image. Most people want the way they look to promote their idea of success. Brand name clothing, fashion shoes, and classy accessories all “make the man.”
Many people desire wealth and possessions that enhance the image they want to project. They rejoice in their accomplishments and status in life. They want to feel important and envied by their friends and neighbors. While all this may be important, they may miss a very important thing. The above verse says that while man may be impressed by these kinds of things, the thing that impresses God is the condition of a man’s heart.
Only when our relationship with God is considered very important do we focus on the condition of the heart. Otherwise, we may not work hard on our heart’s health. We hear a lot in medical fields about a “heart healthy diet.” This is about what we eat or don’t eat that promotes a healthy muscle that pumps the blood through our bodies. But, how well do we nourish our “spirit heart”? What do we hear? What do we read? What do we watch? Do we feed our spirit junk food or good nourishing food? It may not make much difference to us but how does God feel about it?
While it is important to be healthy, it is more important to keep our “spirit man” in good condition because that’s what matters most to God. A good heart can make up for anything that is lacking elsewhere. But, nothing else can make up for a diseased heart when it comes to standing before God.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33
In reading 1 Samuel the political affairs and the spiritual condition of Israel continue to go downward. This was a time when the scripture portrays “Every man did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6 (Sounds like America today) This time of darkness was evident by the departure of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was Israel’s most sacred object, and it was the presence of God among His people.
In 1 Samuel 3:1 we see it described as a period of time when God was not speaking to his people very often: “… the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” The spiritual leaders had become immoral. God’s people were not obeying the law. Their hearts had turned far from Him. It seems since the people were not listening to Him why should He bother to speak them?
There was a time when the Philistines captured the Ark. Never in the history of Israel had the Ark of God fallen into hands of the enemy. But as we can see, the capture of the Ark only symbolizes what was already true, the Glory of God had departed from Israel. After God destroyed the idol of their god, Dagon, the Philistines gladly sent it back.
David was king of the Jews and his capital city was Jerusalem. He determined in his heart to bring back the Ark. David longed to bring the presence of God back. When David brought the ark into Jerusalem, he wrote a special psalm. (Psalm 24) David leads his people in worship. He dances before the Lord with all his might, and the entire house of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts and the sounds of trumpets.
When the Jews brought the ark into Jerusalem, they believed that God came in with it. God was so great that they told the gates, “Lift up your heads.” This means, “God is great. He cannot get under you so you must make more room”. The Jews believed that God was their king, and He went everywhere with the Ark. They carried the Ark through the gates. To the Jews this was a symbolic picture of God as king of Jerusalem. The priests shouted, “Who is the king of glory?” All the people answered, “The LORD!“
I pray that we would long to hear the voice of God. That we would make room for the King of Glory to come in by creating an atmosphere for His presence. In His presence is fullness of joy!
Speak to us today, Father God. Our hearts are turned toward you. We celebrate You today for You have made us free and not just barely free but abundantly free!
Galatians 5:6 “Here’s the thing: in Jesus the Anointed whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference. What makes a difference is faith energized by love.”
God has made to us numerous promises regarding the power of faith. As we read in the Word, nothing is impossible without faith. We may know the power of faith but are not seeing any answers to what we are believing for.
We all go through times in our lives where it seems as if nothing is happening, and our prayers are just bouncing off the ceiling. Life happens and it has a way of draining our faith. Your faith is still intact. It may need to be recharged. A good battery may not be able to work because it has been drained after long use. You don’t throw away a good battery–you recharge it! You don’t throw away your confidence that God is able to bring to you what you are believing for. You recharge!!
It is time to refresh our faith in the God that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. Faith works by love and God is love. Our faith may be like that dead battery unable to produce power. Faith is still there. If I have faith to remove mountains but without love, I am nothing. The faith that is in me will be of no benefit without love. If we are going to make our faith strong and see it working in our lives, it must rest on the strong foundation of love. Galatians 5:6 tells us that faith is energized by love. Love is what makes faith work. Without love faith is inactive. Another word for energized is–strengthened, empowered.
Just as the dead battery is recharged by connecting it to a source full of power, so our faith can be recharged by plugging into the power love. God is the very essence of love.
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28(NKJV)
There is an old hymn I want you to think about. Now consider the message of this song.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see, nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone, nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace, nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome- nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Chorus: “Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Today I want us to think about the blood of Jesus and the power of God that flows through it. My first question is this. Which is more powerful, the blood of Jesus or sin and unrighteousness? We would assuredly say it is the blood of Jesus. Why then do we believe and act as though it isn’t? “But, Pastor, how do we do this?” By believing that sin can defeat the blood of Jesus in our lives. Jesus is your righteousness and His blood is our propitiation. Jesus blood not only cleanses our sin, it removes it from us once and for all.
If we can become more conscience of our righteousness than we are of our sin, we would understand what it means; “..He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Cor. 5:21(NKJV) When you accept Jesus as your Savior, His blood cleanses you of all your sin, past, present, and future. It puts you in a state of perpetual righteousness. If you can believe this you can overcome “sin” every minute of the day as you see it not as something to continually repent of but as something that is continuously cleansed just because the blood of Jesus is now a living part of us. If this isn’t true, then we live in a perpetual state of flux. We are righteous today, unrighteous tomorrow, then righteous again when we repent then unrighteous if we sin(miss the mark). This is true of anyone whose righteousness is dependent on their works. By believing that we were made righteous by Jesus we can say “I am righteous” as easily as saying “I am saved.” Do you understand? Do you believe?
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8(NKJV)
According to this verse sin is the work of the devil. All sin is associated with the devil and all his works result in sin. The root of all sin rests in the work of the devil. In the Garden of Eden it was the work of the devil that led Eve to violate the “only” negative command given to her and Adam. It was the only “thou shalt not” given to them by God. The “thou shalts” included being fruitful, multiplying, filling the earth, and having dominion over every living thing.
With all the good things they could do, why did they get consumed with the only thing they were told not to do? It was because they listened to the devil. They walked with God every day in the garden and that fellowship must have been wonderful. But they ruined their world because they could not escape “sin consciousness.”
The Son of God was manifested to destroy sin. When did He destroy it? Was it once and forever at the Cross or is it an on going process on a day to day basis? Under the Old Covenant sin was destroyed by the shed blood of the sacrificed animal. It was only good for one year then the procedure was repeated.
On the other hand, the New Covenant is a better covenant resting on better promises. Listen to this. “But this Man, after He had offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOREVER, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by ONE offering He has perfected those who are being sanctified.” Heb. 10:12-14(NKJV) The blood sacrifice of Jesus cleansed our past, present, and future sins. Continuing to repent of your sins in order to make sure you are still saved is the result of your sin consciousness and is as good as saying the blood of the Cross did not do a complete job of taking care of my sin. That attitude keeps the work of the devil alive in you. Therefore you can never have confidence in your relationship with God. The initial repentance of sin when you accept Jesus as Savior is the confession of our sins (sinful state). Any later “repentance” is our admission that we missed it and are willing to change our direction of life to what is God’s will. Even though there is a need to ask God to forgive us of missing the mark and limiting His work in our lives it is not for reestablishing our “saved” state. Remember you are saved because of your faith in what Christ did and not in the works you do. This enables us to have confidence which has great reward.
“…..Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3
Everyone understands that God honors our faith. But, the big problem is what do I have to do in order to show God that I have faith worthy to be rewarded with answered prayers? The answer is that we can’t earn an answer to our prayers; we have to just have faith in Him. When Jesus said “Have faith in God” in Mark 11:22 what did he mean for us to do to have faith in God? What key unlocks the answer or what formula produces results?
It is really a simple problem and has an easy answer. However, we humans want to make things as difficult as possible so we can say we have accomplished something. It is not how much we pray nor how fervent we pray that matters, but it is how much we believe when we pray. Most people pray and then wait to see what happens. Jesus said the Pharisees thought their prayers would be answered because of them being long and wordy. Jesus said that was not the case. It wasn’t the amount of prayer but the confidence of the prayer that made the difference in the answer. It comes down to just how much faith you have in God. Do you dare to believe God? Not just that He is but that He is a rewarder of those that believe Him.
How did David kill Goliath? It was because he believed God would be on his side and deliver Goliath into his hands. It is an issue of what the heart believes and not what the hands are doing. The only thing you can do to release the power of God against your problem is to believe. The results do not depend on what you do but what God has already done. All you do is believe.
Is it to simple? Is it easier said than done? Just remember that the amount of confidence we have in someone depends on how well we know them. How well do we know God? The bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. It is hard to believe in something you don’t know about or really trust in. Believing is the only key you need to unlock the mighty power of God. Find it and use it! Have I arrived? No, but I’m at work on it
“Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.” Ex. 19:18 (NKJV)
“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.” Rev. 10:1 (NKJV)
There is much said in the Bible about clouds and trumpets. Many of these references concern the appearance or presence of the Lord God. The first Scripture above is talking about the meeting of God and Moses on the mountain of the Law. It was such an event the people begged Moses to make it stop. They were in fear and trembling at what they experienced. When God showed up in the Old Testament, it was usually a sight to behold. If you had any doubt as to whether God was angry with you, it was an uncomfortable feeling. We need that same respect toward God today. Ask yourself this question. If God appeared in His awesome Glory, would I want to be there?
The second verse talks about the appearance of a mighty angel. The description of his visage paints a picture that would send chills down anyone’s spine. Most of the Gospels give us a view of Jesus in His humanity, but occasionally His “Glory” breaks through. The primary event is the Mount of Transfiguration where He glowed like the sun. We must learn to see Jesus in all His splendor because He will return in the clouds with power and great glory. He will not return as a cute baby or a mild and meek carpenter but as the Lord of Glory.
Are you ready to face the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? In I John 4:18 it says that perfect love casts out fear. The way we can stand at the coming of the Lord is by knowing without a doubt that He has perfect love toward us as His children. On the other hand, the world will shrink from Him in fear because there is no love relationship with Him. His first coming was in love but His second coming is in judgment. Are you ready? Are you ready, for the Judgment Day?”
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it. Isaiah 43:18-19
How many times are we held back in entering into God’s best for us because of past blessings or failures. Past blessings can hold us back because we are wanting the same thing again. So we put God in a box that this is how He is always going to do it. We may miss on the new that God is wanting to do. Praise God for the past blessing but I believe God is doing a new thing. This is a new day.
Past failures can hold us back. Maybe we tired and it did not work out the way we prayed and believed God for. Paul tells us in Philippians chapter 3 “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things that are before.”
Let’s forget about the past-the good, or not so good -it is nothing compared to what God is doing and going to do. This a new day!!!
For I breathing on you and in my breath I birth a new day and new opportunities. You have thought it is over I am not going to try again. I tried and it did not work out look at what happen. But the Lord says to you that it was in your own strength. But now is the time to try again. For I AM renewing strength were there has been none, I AM renewing the vision again. So take a deep breath and breath out the old and breath in the new. Feel the fresh wind of my Spirit, and receive my visitation today. For in my visitation I AM breaking old traditions that have you set to do things one way for so long you have thought there was no other way. But I AM making streams in the desert and causing things to bloom again for you. Breath again my sons and daughter, yes breath again! For I have come to set upon you and you will bloom again and see my glory. It is not over.
Church I feel in my spirit a reversal taking place. It is our time.
“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:14-16(NKJV)
Things have really changed in the last fifty years. Even then the world recognized the moral position of the church. I am not saying that there was no conflict between Biblical beliefs and worldly ideas but most of secular society still respected Biblical ideas and standards even if they did not live by them. They were willing to admit they were sinning against God and much of their activity in these areas were hidden and kept as secret as possible.
Things that were “done in secret” then are now being done openly and with no sense of guilt. The world has a different position these days. They not only refuse to live by Biblical standards but actively work to silence the Christian voice. The idea of recognizing sin but still doing it has changed to denying that it is even sin at all.
Homosexuality has always been around since Genesis. Even though people were involved in it, they still knew it was sin. Why? It was because the Bible says so. Now man has “realized” that it is just a normal part of life for some people. If people lived together without being married, they would hide it if possible. Now it is treated like it is no big thing, and society doesn’t even notice.
Has the church become so much like the world in an effort to attract them that we have lost our convictions? The church has no right to mistreat sinners, but we have standards from the Bible that cannot be lowered to attract them. If we become like the world in order to attract the world, what are we going to offer them that will change their lives when they do come? If we preach and live a Jesus life, we are certainly “not of this world.”
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10
Mother’s Day is a special time for honoring those women who have made life possible. This is a secular event and not a Scripture inspired activity. In other words Mother’s Day is not part of church history. Someone came up with the idea of honoring mothers. The church thought it was a good idea, and it was incorporated as part of this May holiday in the Sunday service. I like the idea and the reason behind it.
A ministry named “Proverbs 31 Women” took Proverbs 31:10-31 to show 10 characteristics of a virtuous woman. Don’t condemn yourself if you think you are not living up to par. Just use these ideas as building blocks for your life of virtue and God will help you succeed.
- Faith – A Virtuous Woman serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She seeks His will for her life and follows His ways. (Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 31: 29 – 31, Matthew 22: 37, John 14: 15, Psalm 119: 15)
- Marriage – A Virtuous Woman respects her husband. She does him good all the days of her life. She is trustworthy and a helpmeet. (Proverbs 31: 11- 12, Proverbs 31: 23, Proverbs 31: 28, 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 5, Genesis 2: 18)
- Mothering – A Virtuous Woman teaches her children the ways of her Father in heaven. She nurtures her children with the love of Christ, disciplines them with care and wisdom, and trains them in the way they should go. (Proverbs 31: 28, Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 22: 6, Deuteronomy 6, Luke 18: 16)
- Health – A Virtuous Woman cares for her body. She prepares healthy food for her family. (Proverbs 31: 14 – 15, Proverbs 31: 17, 1 Corinthians 6: 19, Genesis 1: 29, Daniel 1, Leviticus 11)
- Service – A Virtuous Woman serves her husband, her family, her friends, and her neighbors with a gentle and loving spirit. She is charitable. (Proverbs 31: 12, Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20, 1 Corinthians 13: 13)
- Finances – A Virtuous Woman seeks her husband’s approval before making purchases and spends money wisely. She is careful to purchase quality items which her family needs. (Proverbs 31: 14, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 18, 1 Timothy 6:10, Ephesians 5: 23, Deuteronomy 14: 22, Numbers 18: 26)
- Industry – A Virtuous Woman works willingly with her hands. She sings praises to God and does not grumble while completing her tasks. (Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 24, Proverbs 31: 31, Philippians 2: 14)
- Homemaking – A Virtuous Woman is a homemaker. She creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her. (Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20 – 22, Proverbs 31:27, Titus 2: 5, 1 Peter 4: 9, Hebrews 13: 2)
- Time – A Virtuous Woman uses her time wisely. She works diligently to complete her daily tasks. She does not spend time dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord. (Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 19, Proverbs 31: 27, Ecclesiastes 3, Proverbs 16: 9, Philippians 4:8 )
- Beauty – A Virtuous Woman is a woman of worth and beauty. She has the inner beauty that only comes from Christ. She uses her creativity and sense of style to create beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones. (Proverbs 31: 10 Proverbs 31: 21 – 22, Proverbs 31: 24 -25, Isaiah 61: 10, 1 Timothy 2: 9, 1 Peter 3: 1 – 6)
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20(NKJV)
This is a portion of Scripture we refer to as “The Great Commission” as use it as a point of reference with regard to evangelism by the church. There are many ways to practice the command to “Go”. One of the ways is what we will hear about this morning. This is not new to us any more than the Scripture I used. But we all need to be reminded about doing what we can.
We have a Gideon member with us today that is doing his part at his own expense to keep the “Great Commission” vision active. The Gideon organization has taken Bibles around the world making it possible to teach all nations about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we here in the United States have multitudes of commentaries and study books that we can use to study the Word of God.
But, what would it be like if the only thing you had was one Bible? Would you have enough information to know Jesus and how to live a Christian life? The answer is “yes.” The Bible needs no help in presenting the message of life in Christ. All the other sources are like gravy with the Bible being the meat. The Bible itself reminds us that it is “meat of the word.”
You may never have the opportunity to set foot on foreign soil, but you can plant a seed that someone from the Gideons can carry for you. You can start the process today by putting your financial “seed” in the special offering taken at the end of today’s service.
“Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things send from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And My God shall supply ALL YOUR need according to His riches in glory by CHRIST Jesus.”
Philippians 4:18-19(NKJV) AMEN!
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