New Life For The Nations

“Who are you to judge another’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make Him stand.” Romans 14:4(NKJV)

“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” Phil. 4:1(NKJV)

        There are many Scriptures admonishing us to take a stand for what is right in life.  Whether it is conviction of belief or physical threat to our lives, we are encouraged to stand fast in the Lord and in the power of His might.  This puts a terrific burden on the one being required to stand because he does not feel capable to do so under his own strength.

        The glorious truth is that we do not have to stand in our own strength, but God provides the strength we need.  The first verse above says that “God is able to make Him stand.” A small boy might not be able to stand against a wolf, but if “Dad” is there, the boy knows dad will protect him to the uttermost.  He gains a new sense of strength knowing dad will take care of him. We need to trust God that way.  The Scripture in I John says perfect love casts out fear.  This means that if we understand God’s perfect love towards us we will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  God has promised He will not leave us or forsake us.  He promised to be with us all the days of our lives.     

        It is not about whether we are stronger than our adversary but that God is stronger than our adversary.  We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  When David faced the giant, he had a testimony and he gave it.

“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘you come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin.  But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike and take your head from you…….. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” I Sam. 17:45-49(NKJV)  NOW, THAT IS A TESTIMONY!!!

“Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples.  And He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.’  And they launched out.”     Lk 8:22(NKJV)

“And a great storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.” Mk. 4:37(NKJV)

“And He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” Mk 4:38-39(NKJV)

“But He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’  And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who can this be? For He commands even the wind and water, and they obey Him.” Lk 8:25-26(NKJV)

         The above Scriptures tell us about an incident experienced by Jesus and His disciples.  On a routine day they encounter “the perfect storm” on the Sea of Galilee.  It was so severe the disciples thought they were going to die.  When you fear for your life you get moving.  They panicked and rushed to wake Jesus and tell Him they were about to die.  They were not asking Jesus to save them they were just informing Him they were going to die and thought He needed to know and get ready.

        Jesus awoke and took charge of the situation because He knew who He was and what He could do.  Jesus told them in the beginning that they were going to the other side, not out on the sea to drown.  The Words of Jesus are always obeyed.  If He says we are going to the other side then we are going to the other side.  It does not matter what happens on the way there.

        When He asked the disciples “Where is your faith” He was really asking them “What is wrong with you? Did you not believe Me, that we are going to the other side?” How do I know this is what He meant?  The answer is in the story.  The disciples were so surprised by what Jesus did they wondered who He was and how He could do such a thing.  This indicates that they did not wake Jesus for Him to save them.  They had no idea He could.  We have the word of God in our hand and heart.  If God said it, He means it.  God’s word is forever settled, it is up to us to believe.  There is a big difference between going to the other side and drowning in the middle of the sea.  Live by the Word of God, not by the condition of the circumstances around you.

“Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me O Lord; let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.” Psalm 40:11(NKJV)

        This is a hard time for us here at New Life, especially for the Harvey family as we deal with the passing of our dear sister, Rita.  Although the Bible says that the death of God’s saints is precious in His eyes, we are left with an empty place in the family here as Sister Rita has joined the eternal hosts in God’s presence.  She fought a good fight, she finished the course, and she kept the faith.  She has gone to her reward and all of us as children of God will sooner or later join her.

        Now we must deal with our loss here by keeping our faith in God and trusting His tender mercies and loving kindness to sustain us day by day.  We are preserved by the truth that all who live and believe in Him shall never die.  To a child of God death is no longer “death” but is a passage from mortality to immortality, from the temporal to the eternal.  Our mortal self is experiencing sorrow, pain, and separation but our immortal spirit rests in the hope of eternal life in Christ.  That is the truth that preserves us in our hour of sorrow and loss.

        The Holy Spirit is our Comforter that soothes our soul and dries our tears.  We feel the pain but rest in the hope found in Jesus Christ that we will live forever.  When we close our eyes in death here, we open them in the bright light of eternity.  We are not without hope as those in the world but are assured that we are forever in the hands of a loving Father who will not let us go.  Rita cannot come to us but we can all go to be with her.  Comfort one another with these words.

Psalm 42:11  “Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

Part two of last weeks message

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:21-25

     Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. Soul is our mind, our will and our emotions. We are subject to betrayal, offense, hurts and so forth as we live our lives on this earth.    

     Our souls are continually begin saved (healed, delivered) as we receive the engrafted word and apply that Word to our lives. We should continually allow the washing of water with the Word to renew us, to revive us, to heal our souls so we will not be looking through the eyes of a wounded soul.

      James is writing to saved people, church folks when he says, “be you doers of the Word and not just hearers only”. One of the definitions of doer in the Greek is, “performer.” When one performs they are acting out that which they want others to see.     That is why we are to be examples to the world of the saving, changing power of the Word of God.

     God desires us to propser and be in health even as our soul prospers. The word “prosper” means “succeed in reaching.” Are you succeeding in reaching out to be all God has purposed you to be? Allow the word to renew your soul.

     We apply that Word to the saving of our souls by, hearing the Word, by receiving the Word, by begin doers of the Word and by continuing in the Word.

     Today we are going to be teaching on begin doers of the Word and continuing in the Word.

“But, seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33)

        When it comes to God, the world has a different view about the above verse.  Its version is “Make your worldly plans and then work God into it if and when you can.”  I am not trying to be critical but there was a good example of this at Downtown Days Festival yesterday.  The Adair Ministerial Association was scheduled to have a time of Gospel praise from 10:00 am until 11:30 am on the main stage on the square.  Due to the weather conditions on Friday night the group providing the sound system refused to set up their equipment.  This threw everything off schedule so adjustments had to be made.  When AMA went to start, we found out we were moved from the main stage to a spot on Burkesville St off the square.  This was done to keep the main stage free so “Trick Pony” could get set up.  The festival committee had committed to feature the group on Saturday night, and I have no problem with that.  But, as usual, God had to give up His plans to fit into the “program.”

        There seems to be a general principle at work that holds true through much of our society.  Namely, if plans are interrupted, go on with the program and work God in where you can.  The thought seems to be, “ if you don’t have the time, give God the left overs.”  Even in the church family our lives are so well planned around “earthly things” we work God in when and where we can.  I am not fussing at people but challenging them to work their schedule around God rather than work God into their schedule.

        Matthew 6:33 tells us that God will take care of all our needs if we seek Him first.  What about giving Him that chance?  Instead of attending church when we can, why not plan to attend church and work our plans around that.  Instead of giving to God if we have any money left,  why not tithe first and live on the rest.  I promise it will go further.  We sometimes wonder why certain Biblical promises do not seem to be working for us.  Could it be we are not seeking the right thing first?  Think about it.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11(NKJV)

        Do you ever ask yourself what God thinks about you?  With the wrong mindset that could be pretty unsettling and lead to heavy condemnation.  The Bible tells us in I Cor. 2 that the natural mind cannot understand the things of the Spirit.  It also tells us we have the “mind of Christ” if we are saved.  The question becomes, “Are we using our right mind?”  Do we see things through our natural mind or through “the mind of Christ?

        When Jesus cast out the demons from the man in the tombs it says they saw him sitting with Jesus clothed and in his right mind.  He was in his “right mind.”  What does it mean to be in your right mind?  Would you agree that it means you are thinking the way you should?  When you study the Scriptures it becomes clear that many people saved or not, are not in their right mind or they would not face many of the problems they are facing.

        This is what I am referring to when I make that kind of statement.  Too many Christians are still thinking like the world.  When you do that, you solve your problems by the way of the world leaving the “mind of Christ” unused.  Live by this motto, “think like the world-live like the world; think like Christ-live like Christ.”  We have to have our minds renewed by the Word of Christ then we recognize how we should think about our lives and follow Christ-like ways to deal with our problems.

        The hardest thing to change about ourselves is to change our minds.  Victory over the world and Satan comes by out thinking them.  How do we out-think them?  By using the mind of Christ.  How do we know the mind of Christ?  We do that by knowing and believing the Scriptures because they “are” the mind of Christ.  Believing comes from learning God’s Word.  Our work is to learn who and what we are then we can live like it.

“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17(NKJV)“

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 (NKJV)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)

       It seems that there is a lot of effort going on in the world to bring about peace but little positive results.  Perhaps the main reason is that “peace” can only be achieved if everyone is agreeable to do things “my” way.  That generally means that “I” will stop fighting when “I” am in control.  World peace can only come if every one truly decides to stop trying to control someone else.  Without that leaders will always have to protect those who follow them against forces that wish to dominate and rule over them.

       Can you imagine a world where it is not necessary to have armies or police forces because no one is trying to do anyone any harm?  Sounds like utopia doesn’t it?  What would it be like if billions of dollars spent on defense could be used to better the lives of those who need it?  Many people want what other people have and are willing to use force to get it.  Is it unreasonable to think that real peace is possible?  It could only happen if you could change human nature.

       Jesus understood that there will never be peace on earth as long as man insists on having his own way.  Jesus knew that peace of mind and heart is the only peace possible as long as we live on this planet where God has given man a “free will.”  That is the peace Jesus is talking about in the above verses.  Peace can only come when human selfishness is eliminated.  This can only happen when there is a change in human nature.  Human nature can change only when it is submitted to God. (James 4:7-10)  It can only be submitted to God by our choice to do so. Jesus never forces us to obey and follow Him.  But, when we make the choice to do that it will bring us peace that passes understanding. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

GOD IS WHO?

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.  And I will make My covenant between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.” Gen. 17:1-2(NKJV)

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  You shall have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20:2-3(NKJV)

       There seems to be some confusion about which god is God.  The leading contenders are Yahweh and Allah.  Some say they are one and the same; just people using different names to refer to the same “god.”  Of course there are many other deities scattered around the world.  Many of these are local “deities” limited to certain geographic regions.

       For time sake we shall only consider those making the most global impact.  These are Yahweh, God of Christians and Jews, and Allah, god of the Muslims.  It is important to know “who is the real god?’  In Elijah’s day the question was “is it Yahweh or Baal?”  At Mt. Carmel it was proved to be Yahweh.

       Today, we are being forced to make that decision again.  Is it Yahweh or Allah or are they one and the same as some believe?  If they are one and the same then “He” is either schizophrenic or bipolar.  Yahweh is love and blessing.  He is God who cares for His creation.  Allah is hate and destruction.  He seems to be intent on destroying all who refuse to “bow down to him.”  Allah only cares about those who follow him, whereas Yahweh loves and cares for all mankind.  Yahweh desires that all men be saved by using love to attract them.  Allah desires that men follow him or die if not.

       It will make a big difference who your “God” is.  Have you noticed that the secular world seems to side with the religion of Islam?  It is Christianity they are trying to silence and hold up the freedoms of Islam.  Defaming any religion other than Christianity is deemed a “hate crime” but one can say what he wishes about Christianity and nothing is said.  WAKE UP AMERICA!  This is undeniable proof that Jesus was right when He said, “If the world hated Me, they will hate you also.”  To me this is concrete proof that Yahweh is God and the Bible is true.  What is your verdict?

More than 9 million people have their identity stolen every year. Crooks want your personal information so they can impersonate you and charge your credit card without your knowledge.

     I believe there is some thievery going on in the church and we are going to expose it and do self-checking to see if we are or have become a victim of identity thief.

      We all are familiar with John 10:10 “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.”

       The word “thief” comes from the Greek word “klepto” which means to steal. It gives a picture of a bandit, pickpocket, or thief who is so artful in the way he steals that his exploits of thievery are nearly undetectable.

      Satan wants to steal your identity and give you a false one. The devil will try to steal your identity by planting lying thoughts in your mind about who you are.

       I read just recently that there are about 60,000 thoughts that go through our minds a day of which about 56,400 are about our own needs, wants and concerns. That my friend is what the devil plays on. We struggle with thoughts such as, if you really a child of God why are you struggling financially, why are you sick, why did you go through that divorce, why is that child you raised in church on drugs. Those thoughts sound familiar? He wants you to bite on the lie and believe something that’s not true. His initial approach is to destroy you from the inside out by the subtle chipping away at your internal self-worth residing in your God-given identity. That identity is found by the fact that you undeniably know who you are because you know who God is. Once you began to know Whose you are you will began to know who you are and then you will be able to live the abundant life only found in God.

     Your identity comes from what you believe about yourself, even if it’s a lie.

God’s love is kind. God’s love is forgiving.  God’s love is forever.  Love never fails. (Pastor’s paraphrase of I Cor. 13:4)

       We have just finished 24 glorious hours of Kid’s Camp at New Life.  About 50 campers and workers “ministered” to one another in the power of God’s love.  That was the theme for the camp.  They all shared together in finding the “treasure of His love” on our trip to Son-shine Island where the “pearl of great price” was uncovered.

       There were songs, games, Bible lessons, food, and fun.  We want to thank everyone who helped make this (to quote some campers) “one of the best camps we have ever had.”  Thank you, parents, for sending your children.  Thank you, grandparents, for bringing some of them.  THANK YOU, WORKERS, FOR YOUR ENERGY AND LABOR OF LOVE SO WE COULD DO THIS!

       Many hours went into preparing for the camp.  Lots of cleaning, fixing, painting, and other preparations were put in even before camp started.  Once it started it was nonstop until the end.  There were a few hours of sleep but every waking minute everyone there was doing something to make things a big success.

       Today is our finale and the kids are excited about the opportunity to share what they have done and learned.  From the youngest to the oldest they each will take away something that they will never forget.  They may not remember the date and time but will always remember that God loves them no matter what.

       We ask you to help make sure “your kids” will continue in an atmosphere that will encourage their spiritual growth.  The things of the world are not interested in your children’s future, but God is.  You should be also.  Thank you for trusting us with your precious little one.  We hope we returned them in better shape than ever.  God’s blessings rest upon you.  Amen.