Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church

11/17/2019

1 Peter 2:3-6  Our Precious Savior

Intro:  We continue on the theme of last week’s message Our Precious Savior.  Gold, sliver and other ornamental stones are called “precious” because they are very valuable.  What a person calls precious in their life will tell you a lot about them.  What is precious to a person is something of great and lasting value.  Like our children, our church, our Bibles, our families and our friends.  These things forever.  A car, a job, a house may be nice and bless us but we would not call it “precious.”  That is reserved for the really valuable and eternal.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is precious.  That says a lot about Him.  1:00

1. The Lord is Gracious

1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings….Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. So put aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander and hateful speech…

We need to avoid anything that even appears evil.

We need to tell the truth and know the truth.  If we know the truth then it’s easier to tell the truth.

We should not be hypocrites. 

We should not be hateful

We should not speak evil.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:….like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment],   

……..Desire does not mean merely to want something, but rather to long for something with all of one’s being.

……that you may grow: The purpose of studying God’s truth is not only to learn more, but to become mature in the faith.  We MUST spend time in God’s word everyday. God speaks to us through His word.  Not through your feelings and emotions.  God is not moody like us.  He never changes.  Hebrews 13:8 He is the same yesterday, today and forever!  I am the Lord I change not. Malachi 3:6

1 Peter 2:3 "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious."  If you have [already] tasted the goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord. The Lord is precious because He is gracious.  He gives us love, peace, joy, and fulfillment. 10:00

1. The Lord is Gracious  2. The Lord is a Living Stone

1 Peter 2:4 "To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious," Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God.

A stone is called precious if it is.. beautiful, rare and unique.  Jesus is beautiful, one of a kind and the unique one and only Son of God, God almighty.  There is no one else like Him. 

…..living stone: Jesus, as a living stone, is superior to the Old Testament temple. These words also may be a subtle attack on the dead stone idols that the Gentiles worshiped prior to becoming Christians. Thus Jesus is greater than the traditions received from the fathers.  1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He is greater than the temple in Jerusalem, and He is greater than the traditions of the Gentiles with their lifeless stone idols. The new building of God, of which Jesus is the Cornerstone, is living: it is the assembly of all believers, the church.  

….Disallowed means rejected: Not to receive Christ is to reject Him.  John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." You [believers], like living stones, are [b]being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. 

Christians are part of God’s great spiritual building project. Stones here refers to stones that are shaped and ready for use in construction, as opposed to natural rock. a holy priesthood: Unlike the Old Testament priesthood, in which only those who were born into a certain tribe could be priests, all who are reborn into God’s family, that is, all believers, are priests who have the privilege and responsibility of offering spiritual sacrifices to God (see Rom. 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service., 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.; Hebrews 13:15-16.  15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

We are build on the solid rock.  1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.  Our Lord is precious because He is our rock, our living stone which cannot be moved, or changed, or destroyed and so neither can we.  19:00

1. The Lord is Gracious  2. The Lord is a Living Stone   3. Jesus Is The Chief Cornerstone

 1 Peter 2:6 "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen stone, a precious (honored) Cornerstone, And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will never be disappointed [in his expectations].”

….chief cornerstone:

Jesus is the foundation stone from which the placement of all other living stones in the spiritual house (v. 5) is determined.  Isaiah 28:16 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.").

In ancient buildings, the cornerstone was first situated on the foundation and then all of the other stones were aligned to it. Thus as part of the house of God, we need to keep our focus on our Cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

…..shall not be confounded: Those who trust in Jesus will never be embarrassed by making Him the focus of their lives. Heb. 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Lord Jesus is our living and precious cornerstone.  Our nation used to be based on the gold standard.  God intended for us to base our economies on precious Gold and Silver. But we have gotten away from that and now use Fiat Currency.  Or paper instead of God.  Our live are not built on worthless paper.  Our lives are built on the solid, precious, cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ!  27:50

Conclusion:

1. The Lord is Gracious  2. The Lord is a Living Stone   3. Jesus Is The Chief Cornerstone

Our Precious Savior…Is He precious to you?  Is He your precious Savior?  28:04



10/27/2019

1 Corinthians 15:54-58  Death Is Defeated Forver!

Intro:  In verses 54-58, Paul voices his joy at the reality of resurrection by quoting from (Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14). The latter quotes death as if it were a bee whose sting was removed. That sting was the sin that was revealed by the law of God, but conquered by the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection.  In this season of Halloween in which we are obsessed with death and the devil we need to emphasize that the devil, that old serpent and his curse upon mankind has been defeated forever! (1:00

1.  Death Leads To Victory!

1 Corinthians 15:54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

Have you ever lost in order to find something?  Great military leaders have lost battles in order to win the war!  We give ourselves in order to gain victory.  Some died so that others might live!  How many have given their lives so others might live?  Christ gave His life so that we might live eternally!  We surrender ourselves to Christ so that we might have victory over the penalty of sin…..death!

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.   We die so that Christ my be seen in us and may live through us.

Corruption vs incorruption…

We will receive a body that is no longer subject to death (1 Corinthains 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.).  Jesus forever defeated death when He rose from the grave.   Then we in turn defeated death when we accepted life in Jesus Christ. When we accepted Jesus Christ as Savior we at that moment possess everlasting life within us.  When we are raptured or die physically we receive the reward of the victory that was won for us earlier by Jesus. There is no more death. We are eternal from the moment we trust in Jesus Christ.

We have been living as eternal beings from the moment we received Jesus (the Life), but death or the rapture is the realization and the completing of that life.

1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?"  Only those who receive Jesus as their Savior can answer this question. There is no sting to death of the body, when everlasting life of the spirit man within that body is being born. Jesus won the victory for us. It is our victory through Him.  We have the victory! Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

1 Corinthians 15:56 "The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law."

 James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

The penalty for sin is death. If you are a Christian, the penalty was paid for you by Jesus Christ when He shed His blood on the cross to free you from sin. Without a law, you would not be able to break the law. The law was given us to show our need for a Savior. 10:00

1.  Death Leads To Victory!   2.  Our Victory Is Through Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Satan’s apparent victories in the Garden of Eden and at the Cross were reversed by Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Col. 2:15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The gift of the righteousness was given to us, because we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. We did nothing to earn it. We just received salvation through the grace of God. Grace means unmerited favor. The only way to heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ.

From the vantage point of Jesus’ victorious return, Death and Hades (the grave) have no power over Christians, because Jesus has already conquered both. We participate in His victory.  19:00

1.  Death Leads To Victory!   2.  Our Victory Is Through Jesus Christ  3. Live Victoriously

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

 Once you receive the salvation the Lord Jesus Christ provided for you, walk in that salvation.  Rejoice in your salvation. Do not turn back into sin. Stand in Him. Do not be moved by wind of false doctrine. Then determine to live and walk with the Lord every moment, until He comes.

The Corinthians were to continue steadfast, unmovable in the work of Christ, specifically because of the resurrection.  1 Corinthians 15:58……your labor is not in vain: All the work that we do for Christ will be rewarded (see 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.; Rev. 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 27:50

Conclusion

1.  Death Leads To Victory!   2.  Our Victory Is Through Jesus Christ  3. Live Victoriously 

Death is Defeated  28:04

Matthew 14:23-31  We are Sunk Without Jesus

Intro:  The unbeatable Georgetown University basketball team was beaten in 1985 by Villanova.  The unbelievable happened when president Kennedy was assassinated on a Dallas street in 1963.  The Titanic was called unsinkable and sank on its maiden voyage in 1912.  In fact, there is a Titanic II being built as an exact replica of the original Titanic.  It was to launch in 2016, then delayed until 2018 now it’s up to 2022.  Would you want to get on that ship?  I don’t think so…. Man is not perfect and the world is not perfect so things break down and fail, people die and ships sink.  Life is not perfect, bad things happen to all of us, our bodies break down and fail, people sink and die.  But….then there is Jesus…… 1:00

1.  Jesus Went To Them

Matthew 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Between three and six o'clock in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water.  And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

Jesus went to them….They couldn’t come to Him…..

Jesus walked on the water.  There is no obstacle that keeps Jesus from getting to us…..

The disciples had not even prayed yet and Jesus still came to them…..He is faithful whether we are or not…..

1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.  2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.  2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Jesus is faithful to keep His promises to us.  He is faithful to come to us when we need Him.  He is faithful to never leave us.  He is faithful to come and get us before the great day of His wrath. 

If Jesus had not gone to them they would have surely sunk in the storm.  How do people make it without Jesus?  Some manage to barely stay afoat.  Some have already sunk but are walking around like lifeless Zombies. 

We are sunk without Jesus.  9:00

1.  Jesus Went To Them   2.  The Disciples Were Troubled

Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It's a ghost!” they said, and screamed with fear.  When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

The disciples saw Him but did not recognize Him.  How often to we look to something else instead of Jesus and when He comes to us we don’t even know Him…..

We give credit to other things….

They were sure it was a ghost to add to their problems.  Probably they thought it was the god of the sea the Greek god Poseidon….

They were afraid and in great fear.  Have you been in great fear over something in your life before?......

Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Jesus spoke to them at once. “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don't be afraid!”  But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”

At once Jesus said, take heart, don’t be afraid.  He always come to comfort us first….John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

It is I.   What great news Jesus has come to the rescue!  How often has He rescued us in the past……

Be not afraid.   If it is Jesus then what have we to fear?  Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  There are 365 “fear nots” in the Bible.  One for everyday because there is always something to fear in our lives.  But we must not let fear limit us.  We have to use common sense of course.  But we have the power and strength of the Lord Jesus Christ with us. But we are surely going to sink without Him. 17:00

1.  Jesus Went To Them   2.  The Disciples Were Troubled  3.  Peter Takes a Short Walk

Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Then Peter spoke up. “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.”  Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” 

Why did Peter want to walk on the water?  That took great courage or great stupidity?  Lord if it be you……Was he not sure?  I guess Peter was the one who always wanted to be the tough guy, showing up and showing out.  You can see his lack of faith that got him in trouble.  He was more interested in the miracle than in Jesus!  Where were the other disciples?  Why didn’t they come out?  They must have been Baptists…let’s see how this works out with Peter before we venture out….

I think there was no need of it.   Peter had no need to go out into the water.  We do so many things today for Jesus instead of letting Jesus do what He does!  Like keeping ourselves saved.  Like getting ahead of God.   Calling our calling something that is just not our calling.  Jesus did not call them out of the boat.  2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  That doesn’t mean you don’t move out on  faith but you have to make sure you don’t get ahead of God.  Just because there is a need doesn’t mean you are called to meet that need. 

Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

“Come!” answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus.  He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Hey if Peter wanted to walk on the water he certainly could but not in his own power.  He is the only human being to experience walking on water. With God all things are possible.  The impossible is Him-possible with Jesus!

Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried.  But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 

But Peter saw the storm, the wind and he got distracted and started to doubt.  He sank immediately.  What a lesson for us!  When we get our eyes off of Jesus in a storm we will sink.  When we start to thing that this is impossible we will sink!  When we lose our focus on Jesus we will sink!   We are sunk without Jesus!  This is truth!  With Jesus we can walk on water, without Him we will be consumed by the water.  The very thing that held us up will consume us if we leave Jesus out.  Our families will consume us, our job will consume us, our life will consume us, our pleasures will consume us, our religion will consume us. 

But Peter was wise…he knew who to call upon.  He didn’t’ try to swim back to the boat.  He didn’t’ try to tread water.  He was a fisherman and had to be an expert swimmer, and had no fear of the water.  But now he is afraid.  But he does not try to save himself but cries out to the one who can and will save us. 

Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?  At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, “What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?”  Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you [c]doubt?”

Jesus reached out for Peter and caught him just in time.  Jesus is always just in time.

Ye have small faith Peter.  Peter wanted the experience instead of Jesus.  Peter wanted the thrill instead of Jesus.  He wanted to show off to others instead of waiting on Jesus.  How many in service to Jesus are looking for an experience instead of looking for Him? 

Your faith will sink if you trust in an experience.  Jesus didn’t trust the miracle seekers. He did not commit Himself to those who seek experiences instead of Him. 

Why did you doubt Peter?  We all doubt from time to time but there is a time for faith when to doubt is to lead to disaster.  If you doubt the train is coming and you go through the railroad crossing barrier that may be disasterous.  If you doubt that the gun is loaded and you hold it to your head and pull the trigger that can lead to disaster.  If you doubt that the firemen will catch you and stay in the burning building it will be disaster for you.

We are sunk without Jesus…..27:00

Conclusion

1.  Jesus Went To Them   2.  The Disciples Were Troubled  3.  Peter Takes a Short Walk

We are Sunk without Jesus!

A man went fishing with his son.  They were having a great day out on the lake.  Then a large boat went by them and kicked up the waves.  Their little boat capsized.  Frantic the father searched for his son.  He found him floundering and almost ready to sink.  He reached for him and got him to shore.  When they reached safety….the father asked his son…”were you scared son?”  the son said “yes but I knew to stay where I was because I knew you would find me.”  When life turns sour on us and we begin to sink….don’t try to get out it yourself…don’t try to fix it yourself…..Trust in Jesus He will come for you.  He will save you.  He always has and He always will.  28:04

Psalm 18:2  Who Is The Lord?

Intro:  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Who can do everything?  We call baseball players who can hit for average, Hit for power, run, throw, field, a five tool player.  In other words, he can do everything!  But even he fails sixty percent of the time hitting for average.  He only hits a home run every twenty at Bats.  He gets thrown out running the bases ten to twenty times a season.  He also throws to the wrong base from time to time and fails to throw runners out.  And he makes an error trying to field the ball at least 5-25 times a season.   So, he may have the talent to do everything but no human can do everything. No man-made thing has all the answers.  But there is one who does everything because only He can!  In this increasing ungodly, self- determined, demonic world in which we live in today we need to understand…. THAT our Lord is..  ……….Who our Lord is!  2:00

1.  The Lord is our rock

Psalm 18:2   the Lord is my rock….

Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

2 Samuel 22:2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

Rock stand for one who cannot be moved by any force.  Rock means who cannot change or be changed.  Rock means one who stands for truth and righteousness.  Rock of ages cleft for me…cleft of the rock in a safe place…..is a safe abode where God places us.    Better to build our lives on a rock than on the shifting sand.  Better to build our lives on the powerful, unchanging truth of God than on the shifting sands of man’s opinions and trends.   A rock deflects all attempts to damage it.   Our God is our rock in this world of shifting sands of truth and morality. 

A rock deflects heat and abuse.  You can beat some rocks for hours and can’t make a dent in it.  Oh how we need truth and courageous people to stand up for truth.  They can’t get enough referees in Kentucky High school basketball today because there are so many who abuse them and threaten them.   Maybe that’s the reason so many have dropped out of church in America and the Europe?  They just can’t stand the heat and the abuse.  They can’t defend their faith.   Our rock can stand the heat and we can too if we follow Him!

5:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress

Psalm 18:2   The Lord is my rock, and my fortress

Psalm 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 91:2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Fortress means our place of safety and security.   We can turn to our God and His word and know that we have the truth and that we are safe to trust in it and in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!  Jesus is the truth of God and therefore is the truth about everything!   He is the source of everything!  He sustains everything!   I think of the lonely fort outposts in the old west that settlers would rush to as they are chased by the enemy.  They knew they would be safe from attack inside the fort or fortress.  We are safe from all attacks when we are in the fortress of God who is Jesus Christ!  

Where is our place of safety when everything goes wrong?  Drugs or Jesus?  Remember that song?  Your drug can be alcohol, sex, pills, dope, partying, playing, riding, running, working, ignoring the obvious, but God forbid that we would ever turn to Jesus and His word.  It’s just not enough in today’s modern society.  I’m not against medication.  I do what my doctors tell me.  But I also have the great physician! That’s who I trust in today!  He is my fortress…who or what  is yours? 

8:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress  3.  the Lord is our deliverer

Psalm 18:2  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer….

Deliverer is one who rescues us  from danger and trouble.  God delivered His people and He will surely deliver us.  He come to us when we sorely need Him.  He will not leave us nor forsake us.  Though all of our family and friends leave us and forsake us He will never leave us nor forsake us.  We are safe in the arms of Jesus!

The Post office delivers mail from being in a massive meaningless pile to the precious letter or card that arrives at your home.  God takes us from the meaningless of life, the fear of life, the darkness and despair of life to purpose, joy and meaning in Christ.  Christ delivers us!  The Postal Service is very good but they make mistakes everyday!  The Lord delivers for us everyday and never makes a mistake.  He always gets us to where we are going.  John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost…..

Have you ever been delivered?  Were you ever lost in the woods?  Were you ever lost in life and didn’t know what to do or where to turn?  Who delivered you?  Who found you?  Oh, you say I found my way back.  That’s great…. then you weren’t really lost were you?  If you are really lost then you have to have someone find you.  Someone must deliver you.  Who does this world look to as deliverer? 

There is one fact…the one that lost you cannot find you.   The one you followed that got you lost cannot find you.  You cannot find yourself.  Only an outside source can find a lost person.  The world cannot find you, they lost you in the first place.  The devil cannot find you he caused you to be lost.  You cannot find you because you’re lost!   You have to have someone or something that knows the way to deliver you.  Only Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.   Only He can navigate through all of your tangled mess in life!  Only Jesus can deliver you and only then Jesus will deliver us to heaven to be with Him and through all of our trials and tragedies and never lose us again.   11:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress  3.  the Lord is our deliverer

4.  The Lord is our Strength

Psalm 18:2  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength…

God gives us the power and the ability to do what we never thought we could do.  He gives us special power and might when we need it and not before.  And He is our defender who looks out for us.  It’s like having a strong body guard with you wherever you go.  They look our for you and are able to defend you from all attacks.    Our God is able to defend us from all attacks spiritually and physically for nothing will ever be able to happen to us physically unless it is according to God’s divine providence.     

The older we get we get weaker in so many ways.  Weak of mind.  Weak of heart.  Weak physically.   But Christ is my strength when I can go no further.  Philippians 4:13  I can do ALL Things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

The church is weak today.  Caving to all kinds of outside influences.  We are caving to homosexuality, caving to same sex marriage, caving to Islam,  caving to those who don’t believe the Bible is the word of God.  Caving to those who want to save the planet instead of saving souls!  We cave because we are weak.  But we should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!  God wants us to be strong and courageous!   A mighty army of God!  We are the kings kids! As I hear one preacher say all the time!  Stand up, put on the whole armour of God that you may stand against the wiles of the devil!  And in the last day to stand! 

These are the last days.  We can be strong because He is strong!  We can be victorious because He has already won the victory!   14:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress  3.  the Lord is our deliverer

4.  The Lord is our Strength  5.  The Lord Has Our trust

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust….

We can trust in God.  We can always trust in God.  But we have to decide to trust in Him.  In whom I will trust….   It‘s a conscious decision that each of us have to make.   We can trust in God for our salvation which is the most important thing that we need…..so it makes sense that we can trust Him with anything else.  Peter said “where else can we go thou hast the words of life.”  The Bible says in Acts 4:12 that “There is none other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.”   So we can trust in God’s word, the Bible, God’s plan of salvation and God’s man Jesus Christ!

Who do you trust? In what do you trust?  That tells a lot about you.  If you trust in yourself you are going to always be prone to failure.  If you trust in your family you are always going to be prone to doubt.  If you trust in the government you are always prone to be discouraged.  If you trust in a religion you are definitely going to be disappointed.  If you trust in Jesus you will always not be prone to be but always satisfied!  17:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress  3.  the Lord is our deliverer

4.  The Lord is our Strength  5.  The Lord Has Our trust  6.  The Lord is our Buckler

Psalm 18:2  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler

Buckler means a shield.  God shields us from the enemy.  It doesn’t mean the enemy won’t attack and won’t be successful at times.  A shield protected the head and vital organs.  While the enemy might strike a blow to the legs or feet or even the arms he cannot destroy us nor can He defeat us.  The devil might disable us for a awhile but he cannot kill us nor destroy us.  We will come back better and stronger than ever having learned our weakness and strengthened our weaknesses rom Satan’s prior attacks.   The Lord will not allow Satan to kill us nor take our salvation from us.  We are shielded by the the word of God and by the blood of Jesus Christ!   The shield of faith as it is called in Ephesians 6:16 protects us but it does not excuse us from hiding behind the shield.  We should aggressively and lovingly encounter the world with the truth of the word of God!

Captain America carries a shield in the comic books.  It kept him from the fatal blows of the enemy but he also used it as a weapon to deflect his enemies attacks back on them.   Our shield protects us but as our shield protects us it also allows us to plan an attack.  We cannot let our enemies continue to assail us.  Sometimes we have to send their attacks back at them with the courage to tell the truth and speak the truth in love.   Don’t think God just wants us to hunker down.  As we use the shield, we charge the enemy!  We use the shield of faith to defend us as we tell the truth in love to a world that needs truth. 

20:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress  3.  the Lord is our deliverer

4.  The Lord is our Strength  5.  The Lord Has Our trust  6.  The Lord is our Buckler 

7.  The Lord is our Salvation

Psalm 18:2   The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation….

Horn’s are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness as an animal with a horn or horns.  Horns mentioned in Daniel and Revelation represent pride, power, and national strength.  Horn of my salvation means applied to Christ means a salvation of strength or a strong Savior  Luke 1:69

God is the power behind our salvation.  Not our ability to keep ourselves saved.  But It’s all based on His strength, power and might!  We cannot save ourselves, pay our sin debt to God nor can we keep ourselves saved for we don’t have the power.  But God does!  Therefore is the Horn…. The power of my salvation because it’s based on His power and wisdom revealed in and because of Jesus Christ!  It’s because of Christ and the power of God that we can be saved at all!

We need salvation that lasts!  Religion cannot guarantee my salvation.  Only Jesus guaranteed it with the gift of the Holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption!   If God is our salvation and not me, or not my good works, then I know that I know that I know that it will last!  23:00

1.  The Lord is our rock 2.  The Lord is our Fortress  3.  the Lord is our deliverer

4.  The Lord is our Strength  5.  The Lord Has Our trust  6.  The Lord is our Buckler 

7.  The Lord is our Salvation  8.  The Lord is our High Tower

Psalm 18:2  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

David fled to and hid high in the rocks and caves of the mountains where he escaped the hands of Saul.  David here compares God as a high tower to such a place of concealment and security.  Believers are often hidden in their God from the strife of this world.  Are sins are hidden behind the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Outlaws fled to the rocks and high places.  Kings hid their families in a high tower to keep them from the enemies arrows. 

The high tower is a place beyond the reach of my enemies from which I can look down upon their fury without alarm knowing that I am safe. 

Today we look at the enemies all around us be we know we are safe in the High Tower of God through Jesus Christ and our faith and trust in Him.  26:00

Conclusion:

Who is the Lord?……

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Let me break in down to you very simply……

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Who is the Lord..……He just is…..that’s what we must believe.  What does that mean?  He is exists!  He reigns!  He is King!  He is all powerful!  He Is all knowing! He is creator! He is Lord!  He is my friend! He is for me, not against me! He is Savior! He is…..Jesus!  28:04

10/6/19

Hosea 10:12-13 It’s Time

Intro:  Time is so short.  The signs are all around us that Jesus is coming soon. The biggest sign is our own hearts.  The second biggest is Israel is in their land and the world hates them just as Zechariah predicted.  If not now when?  1:00

1. Plant Righteousness

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground:

I said, ‘, Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness. Sow with a view to righteousness [that righteousness, like seed, may germinate; Reap in accordance with mercy and lovingkindness. Break up your uncultivated ground.  Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Righteousness exalted a nation and sin is a reproach to any people. 

It’s time to turn to righteousness for our nation and for your family and for yourself. 10:00

2.  Seek The Lord

Hosea 10:12…….for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.  and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.’  .  For it is time to seek and search diligently for the Lord [and to long for His blessing] Until He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation on you.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

It’s time to seek the Lord.  It now or never for some of us!  It’s time to turn to the word of God and turn away from the world!  19:00

3. But Man Has No Time for God

Hosea 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, . But instead you planted evil. You have plowed and planted wickedness.  Man has been evil instead of Godly.

Hosea 10:13….ye have reaped iniquity; and reaped its harvest. you have reaped the [willful] injustice [of oppressors.  Evil actions do not lead to goodness.  Evil sowed produces a crop of evil.  Whatsoever we sow that shall we reap.  And we sow evil because that’s what we are. 

Hosea 10:13 ye have eaten the fruit of lies: You have eaten the fruit produced by your lies. You have eaten the fruit of lies.  We have believed the lies we have been told and the result is that we also lie to others and lie to ourselves.  Lying and lies are rampant today.  Who can you believe?

Hosea 10:13 …. because thou didst trust in thy way, Because you trusted in your chariots. Because you have trusted in your own way.  This is the biggie.  Man has trusted in Himself.  Evolution.  Climate change.  We trust more in our way than God’s word. 

Hosea 10:13 ….in the multitude of thy mighty men.. and in the large number of your soldiers, and your chariots, and in your many warriors.  We trust more in what the majority says than what our hearts tell us.  We are afraid to go against the grain.  We are afraid to stand up for what is right and therefore we will believe the multitude.  Well the multitude is going to hell.  Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many are on that path.    What did your parents tell you when you were little….”if Johnny jumps off a cliff are you going to also?”  

Man has no time for God.  Man has no time for truth.  Man has not time to reason these things out.  Man has decided to follow the majority.  Man has decided to take the easy way of the mob. 

I don’t know how many times I have to hear…the US is a demoncracy.  NO we are not!  We are a constitutional republic.  We follow the law based on the word of God.  Democracy means that the majority rules whether it’s a law or not.  Or in other words MOB rule!   A Constitutional republic means that the law comes first no matter what the mob wants.  That protects all of us! 27:00

Conclusion:”  It’s time to quit saying “I will not” and say “As for me and my family we will trust in the Lord.”



Bible answers to catastrophic climate change.

Intro:  The world is ramping up calls for action on Catastrophic climate change.  Does it exist? Well as I say in the Bulletin….let’s ask God, after all He created the world.  He is the expert on the world. And as believers we need to be informed about this.  It will be the number one priority for those who believe our planet is at a grave risk. And it’s all we are going to hear about.  1:00

1.  God made the earth for billions of Humans 

Isaiah 45:18“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

The earth was made to be populated by humanity.  God knew there would be billions of people on this planet.  He has put in safe guards for its sustainability as well as the materials necessary for the life and welfare of man.  4:00

1.  God made the earth for billions of Humans    2. Jesus sustains all of creation.

Colossians 1:16-17“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Jesus Christ holds everything together.  Nothing randomly happens in creation.  If the world was created by God, there is nothing to fear about some random action of man or nature destroying it!  If the world was created by random actions then we would constantly fear a random action of man or nature destroying it.  8:00

1.  God made the earth for billions of Humans    2. Jesus sustains all of creation.   

3.  God promised seasons for the earth that would not cease.

Genesis 8:22“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

My favorite passage about the fallacy of Catastrophic Climate Change.  God promised after the flood the world will have distinct seasons and continue to have them. The rainbow reminds us that God will never destroy the world by flood and it reminds that the earth will continue to have seasons.  11:00

1.  God made the earth for billions of Humans    2. Jesus sustains all of creation.  

3.  God promised seasons for the earth that would not cease.

4.  God will destroy the earth by his own power and not man’s actions.  

2 Peter 3:7-10“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

God will sustain the earth.  He will not let man destroy the earth.  In fact, God will destroy it.  But He is keeping everything together until the last person repents and turns to Christ in faith.  Then all hell will break loose on this God-forsaken planet.  15:00

1.  God made the earth for billions of Humans    2. Jesus sustains all of creation.  

3.  God promised seasons for the earth that would not cease.

4.  God will destroy the earth by his own power and not man’s actions.  

5.  Man will not change his lifestyle even in the face of his own dire predictions.

There is no sense in arguing with people about man-made global warming or catastrophic Climate Change.  God has turned these idiots over to reprobate minds.  Romans 1:28. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”

But the church needs to be aware of the truth.  The church needs to worry about saving souls to Christ instead of saving the planet.   We cannot be tricked into this lie of the devil and lose our focus on our real purpose….to preach the gospel to lost men, women, boys and girls and to equip the church to do so. 

Listen many predict that some of these actions to prevent catastrophic climate change will take us back to the horse and buggy days. And it’s true that if they get rid of oil….. how will we fly planes, and drive trains, and trucks and keep this great economy going?   It won’t be long until we are back to the early 20^th century with maybe some battery powered cars here and there.  Not planes or trucks.  But no, they won’t send us back to the 19th century.    We know God isn’t going to allow that.  One reason is that the anti-Christ will use modern technology to control the world called The mark of the beast.  

Another reasons is that Jesus Himself, the creator and sustainer of the Earth, said there would be normal buying and selling as in the days of Noah and Lot.  Matthew 24:37-38 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.”

Luke 17:26-30 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”

“They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;”  “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all”

“Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

It will be business as usual until judgment comes.  But great immorality will abound….we see that already…… and No one will be aware that The Judgement of man is coming because they are busy living and trying to be happy and survive.  So……Greta Thunberg can travel all over the world in her yacht (what a joke) and people can cry and howl and make threats against gas, oil and coal all they want…. but is anything really going to change?  nope!  Not according to the Bible.

But Practically speaking…….

The biggest reason that I don’t worry about the climate alarmists very much is this…….....switching from fossil fuels to alternative energies will be detrimental to the poor.  They simply cannot afford the cost of so-called sustainable energy sources.  Our own economy would totally collaspse if we went away from oil and gas and coal.  Think of how our lives would change!  Do you really think that the Middle East, India, China, Japan, and Russia is going to change?  Heck no.  Who is going to make them?  Alternative fuels will never catch on. 

As Christians, of course we should be concerned about our effect on our environment. God appointed man to be the steward of this world (Genesis 1:28), “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

We don’t want to trash the earth and live in filth and disease.  No one wants that.  However, we should not allow environmentalism to become a form of idolatry, where the “rights” of an inanimate planet and its non-human creatures are held in higher esteem than God and man created in His own image.   (Romans 1:25) “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

But  many articles and statements have been made and  published recently put great doubt that there even is a climate emergency

 A global network of 500 scientists and professionals has prepared this urgent message. Climate science should be less political, while climate polities should be more scientific. Scientists should openly address the uncertainties and exaggerations in their predictions of global warming, while politicians should dispassionately count the real benefits as well as the imagined costs of adaptation to global warming, and the real costs as well as the imagined benefits of mitigation.

Natural as well as anthropogenic (man made) factors cause warming

 The geological archive reveals that Earth’s climate has varied as long as the planet has existed, with natural cold and warm phases. The Little Ice Age ended as recently as 1850. Therefore, it is no surprise that we now are experiencing a period of warming.

Warming is far slower than predicted

 The world has warmed at less than half the originally-predicted rate, and at less than half the rate to be expected on the basis of net anthropogenic forcing and radiative imbalance. It tells us that we are far from understanding climate change.

Climate policy relies on inadequate models

 Climate models have many shortcomings and are not remotely plausible as policy tools. Moreover, they most likely exaggerate the effect of greenhouse gases such as CO2. In addition, they ignore the fact that enriching the atmosphere with CO2 is beneficial.

CO2 is plant food, the basis of all life on Earth

 CO2 is not a pollutant. It is essential to all life on Earth. Photosynthesis is a blessing. More CO2 is beneficial for nature, greening the Earth: additional CO2 in the air has promoted growth in global plant biomass. It is also good for agriculture, increasing the yields of crop worldwide.

Global warming has not increased natural disasters

 There is no statistical evidence that global warming is intensifying hurricanes, floods, droughts and suchlike natural disasters, or making them more frequent. However, CO2-mitigation measures are as damaging as they are costly. For instance, wind turbines kill birds and bats, and palm-oil plantations destroy the biodiversity of the rainforests.

Policy must respect scientific and economic realities

 There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm. We strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO2 policy proposed for 2050. If better approaches emerge, and they certainly will, we have ample time to reflect and adapt. The aim of international policy should be to provide reliable and affordable energy at all times, and throughout the world.

The data being used to support anthropogenic (man-caused) global warming is typically based on small data sets, single samples, or measurements taken in completely different regions. This creates questionable results that are ignored by the alarmists because it doesn’t fit their narrative. And The climate change alarmist’s warnings and preparations won’t change anything anyway because we cannot do away with fossil fuels and doing away with them will harm the poorest people in the world and ruin the economies of many nations.  27:00

Conclusion: 

1.  God made the earth for billions of Humans     2. Jesus sustains all of creation.   3.  God promised seasons for the earth that would not cease. 4.  God will destroy the earth by his own power and not man’s actions.   5.  Man will not change his lifestyle even in the face of his own dire predictions.

Bottom line:   God is in control.  He knew there would be billions of humans.  He made the world for billions of people.  He will not let us destroy it.  He will judge this world though so we must be ready for Jesus to appear!  Instead of worrying about the PLANET BEING saved….you should worry about whether YOU ARE saved!

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 28:04

9/22/2019
I Timothy 4:1-8  Man’s Obessions with Himself.

Intro:

1. Departing From the Faith

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2. Lying Hypocrites

2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3.  Not Getting Married and becoming Vegetarians

3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.   4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

4  People are Obsessed with the body

8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Either we are too fat or too obsessed with our bodies. 

5.  Good Doctrine defeats Bad People

6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.



9/15/19

Psalm 37:37 The End of That Man

Intro:  Psalm 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

We have a life to live and a life in Christ.  One day our lives will be completed.  How will it end for us? and what will people say about us?  Will we limp toward the finish line or will be charge through the finish line?  2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Hebrews 12:1 …..let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.   So how do we live knowing that we are all going to come to an end in this life?  1:00

1.   Pay Attention To The Mature Christian

Psalm 37:37  Mark the Perfect man…..

Notice good people, Pay attention to the blameless man [who is spiritually mature]

There are people in this world who Christ dwells INSIDE their hearts.  There are people in this world who love Jesus more than anything or anyone because Christ lives in them!  God show cases these people.  God uses those who follow Him as examples to the rest of us on how to live.  We can only live as mature Christians when Christ lives in us!

Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations (He was blameless in his generation.  Maybe gene pool) , and Noah walked with God.   Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect (blameless) and upright,  Job 1:8 and Job 2:3 all describe Job as perfect (blameless ) and upright. James 2:3 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, (fully developed in character, without serious flaws, able to control himself in any situation.)  and able also to bridle the whole body.

Eccl 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

While men can be perfect or mature or complete and without blame….. but no man is without sin.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  As in Adam all sin so in Christ shall all be made alive.   

There is only one man described as without sin….and that is Jesus!!  Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

We came to Christ because we wanted to go to heaven, but we also wanted to live for Jesus now.  We belong to Him and He dwells in us.  Be mature in Christ.  Be faithful to Christ who lives in us.  Be loyal to Christ who gave eternal life to us.  Life will soon be over and then what?    10:00

1. Pay Attention to the Mature Christian  2. Pattern Your Life After those Who Live right 

Psalm 37:37….and behold the upright

Upright means just, Honest, virtuous, moral, godly, and righteous.  This is how God wants us to live.  Not only mature and complete in Him but upright because of Him.  Observe the righteous; and behold the upright [who walks in moral integrity]; 

Psalm 140:13  Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. 

Upright behavior speaks of our actions because of Christ.   We are mature in Christ.  We are upright because of Christ…. so we want to act like Him.  We do the things that Christ would do. 

Upright means it sits straight.  It’s not crooked or bent.  It’s not lopsided or out of balance.  Upright means a balanced life with Christ as the Lord of our lives and me as His servant, His child, and His friend. 

We are always being watched.  People are watching you to see if Christ is real in your life.  They are looking for something and someone to live for.  They need to see Jesus in your actions and your words and know that if Jesus can do that for you then they will want what you have.  Your life demonstrates that they can have Him also. Paul said to be “imitators of me.”

Would you want someone to imitate your life?

Christ lives in us and We demonstrate that by the way we act and live upright lives.   James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

When we walk with Christ, we are naturally going to act like those we are around.  That’s why husbands and wives after years together start to act like one another.   Our actions do speak louder than words most of the times.  Words are important but words that don’t back up your actions aren’t very helpful. 

Young people need someone to look up to.  To pattern their lives after.  Communities need people to that contribute righteousness and walk with Christ instead of always taking from and using others.   We need those people more than ever today.  19:00

1. Pay Attention to the Mature Christian  2. Observe those Who Live right 

3.  A good future For A Man Who Has peace with God

Psalm 37:37….for the end of that man is peace.   There is a [good] future for the person who honors Jesus Christ with their life.  because a life of honor blesses one’s whole life and even his descendants!  It blesses all those he comes in contact with. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

That person’s expected end is peace.  If you die in sin you are headed for a Devil’s hell.   You are not going to have peace if you are living a sinful lifestyle.  Habitually sinning day after day puts you at enmity with God.  Not peace with God. 

People don’t care if they have peace with God or not….but they think they can find peace in personal happiness.   A great love, a great job, a new car, a new tatoo, a new hairstyle, a new home, a new life somewhere else.   Losing a few pounds.  All this will make you happy for awhile…..then what? 

The Westminster Catechism addresses the purpose that we are created in question number one.  “What is the chief end of man?  A man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”  I like that.  But the Bible says it better….Micah 6:8 what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Do what is right…….Be good to others.    And walk with God….surrendered to Jesus Christ.  That life…. my friends ends with Peace with God and AFTER all….. that IS all…… that matters.  27:00

1. Pay Attention to the Mature Christian  2. Pattern Your Life After those Who Live right 

3.  A good future For A Man Who Has peace with God

The End of that Man or any man can be peace if you trust in Jesus.

It will be bad if you do not….

How awful it is for many who have come to their golden years and it is not very golden.  More like cheap tin.  It’s full of regrets and betrayals.   They have no reason to expect a good end….but it doesn’t have to be that way.  It can be like this…..2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Christian don’t drop out when you see the finish line in sight.  How foolish that would be?  But many Christians do it every day. Why?  They have lost their love for Jesus.  They have lost their zeal for Jesus.  All because they have lost their focus on Jesus.    They have been led astray by some glittering bobble that isn’t worth anything.  The end of that man is peace who never wavers and never quits.  I pray that it will be that man, or woman 28:04



9/8/2019 

Ezekiel 2:3-6  What Success Looks Like

Intro: The Prophet Ezekiel is the author of the Book (Ezekiel 1:3). He was a contemporary of both Jeremiah and Daniel.  Date of Writing:  The Book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 B.C. during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews.  Purpose of Writing: Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that: (1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God's people need to affirm God's sovereignty; (3) God's Word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshiped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God's Kingdom will come.  Chapter two is the call of Ezekiel.  God did not promise Him success….just His calling.  We must get away from the game of numbers equals success.  God will tell Ezekiel what success looks like.    1:00

1.  God Sent Ezekiel

Ezekiel 2:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. Mortal man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They have rebelled and turned against me and are still rebels, just as their ancestors were.  And He said to me, “I am sending you, son of man, to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people [in both the north and the south] that have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have sinned and revolted against Me to this very day

This is like God sending John Calipari to coach Chicago State that finished 3-29 last year.  He is going to lose and lose a lot!  What coach would take that job?  That’s what God did to Ezekiel. God sent Ezekiel to a losing, sinful, rebellious people what hated God.  The last thing they wanted to hear was a prophet!

Ezekiel 2:4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.

They are stubborn and do not respect me, so I am sending you to tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them.  Not only are they rebellious, they are stubborn and do not have any respect of nor fear of God.  I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [a]God.’ 

God told Ezekiel what to say…..the words from God…the word of God! …..and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God!

Ezekiel was called to speak God’s message to the children of Israel. God describes them as a rebellious nation and more specifically impudent and stubborn—literally “stiff-of-face and hard-of-heart children” (Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted). The Hebrew term for rebellious indicates a breaking of the covenant relationship. Thus says the Lord God: GOD told Ezekiel to emphasize the divine origin of his messages by using these words. Like Moses (Ex. 3; 4), Ezekiel would speak in God’s name only what God commanded him. The term Lord God combines a title indicating God’s sovereignty (Adonai) and His personal name (Yahweh,).

Success comes when God when have served God with loyalty and devotion.  Success comes when we have finished our course and finished our race for Christ.   Who God sends….. God defends, God equips, God prepares, God leads….. but success depends upon our faithfulness to Him not numbers, not accolades from people.  Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.   God rewards faithfulness not success.  Revelation 2:10 be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.  2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Remember this…..God sends us…. He puts us where He can call us.  You live where He has placed you.  And it is there that He will call you.  Success is faithfulness to God.  You have already been successful no matter what people may say or do!  10:00

1.  God Sent Ezekiel    2.  God Called Ezekiel

Ezekiel 2:5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Whether those rebels listen to you or not, they will know that a prophet has been among them. As for them, whether they listen or refuse [to listen]—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them.    God sent Ezekiel and then called Him to be a prophet.  A prophet forthtells God’s words.  They are simply preaching God’s word whether it be about a future prophecy or a current situation.   

The key thing here is that God sent a prophet.  A prophet’s speaks God’s words period!  He is not to inject his own opinions or his own ideas.  What he says it comes from the word of God.   A prophet must tell the truth.   If a person does not tell the truth then their words have no value.  If a prophet fails to tell the truth they have no reason to expect good results from God.  You might get people to love you but God is going to be on your bad side! 

It is a humbling thing to be called to be a prophet.  You know that you cannot quit, back down or retire unless God tells you too.  You can read chapter 3 verses 17-18 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  You better preach and teach God’s word or you will be in deep trouble with God!  That word is truth.  The only truth!  God calls us all to service.  If you are a ditch digger or a corporate giant.  God calls His people.  God places His people.  God uses His people.  Not everything that is good is your calling.  Not every need is yours to meet.  But you will know where you are by God’s leading, your feelings come in somewhat, your abilities, your God given gifts all come into play. 

A prophet will never hear from God that hasn’t already been listening to Him.  God calls the those who are listening to Him.  You say what about the apostle Paul?  Well he was seeking God with all his heart.  He was zealous for his Jewish heritage and the law.  He thought He was serving God with great zeal. God had to correct him when He called him on the Damascus road.

If the rebellious people refused to listen to Ezekiel’s message, Ezekiel would still prove himself a true prophet of Go, called by God by continuing to proclaim God’s messages.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

God gives us His calling or His purpose for our life.  God and it’s by God’s grace.  It’s His gift to us to use us in His glorious work of redemption!  Not everyone can be Billy Graham, not everyone can be president, not everyone is sent to the mission field.  Eccl 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.   Whatever the Lord calls us to do, do it the best you can with all you can!

Philippians 2:12 …….work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  That means to continue to follow the Lord’s call on your life.  Pay attention to what you are doing and why you are doing it.  19:00

1.  God Sent Ezekiel    2.  God Called Ezekiel   3.  God Encouraged Ezekiel

Ezekiel 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.  “But you, mortal man, must not be afraid of them or of anything they say. They will defy and despise you; it will be like living among scorpions and walking through briars.  Still, don't be afraid of those rebels or of anything they say. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words; though briars and thorns are all around you and you sit among scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  You want success, read the word of God and live by the word of God.  In this day people scoff at the one thing that will give them peace and success….the Bible!! 

People are fighting against everything the Bible stands for.  If ever we needed encouragement it is now!  This is an ungodly world now.  One political party is the party of death, and of the death of marriage and the family, and the death of liberty!  But that can’t stop us from preaching the hateful according to them word of God!   1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 

Jesus Christ is all we have when it all comes down to it.  Where the rubber meets the road all we have is Jesus!  And that is more than enough!  Jesus is our life!  Where else could we go but to Jesus!  So take heart we are on the winning side. We will be successful if we follow Jesus!  Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.   We will become successful fishers of men if we follow Jesus!  We will influence people without even realizing it.  We will be showing them Jesus without even realizing it!  We will be Jesus to people and won’t even realize it! 

Dueteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.  27:50

Conclusion:  What success looks like….1.  God Sent Ezekiel    2.  God Called Ezekiel   3.  God Encouraged Ezekiel….  God will send you, God will call you and God will encourage you  28:04



9/1/2019

Jeremiah 8:20   Too Little Too Late

Intro: 

A Demon came to Satan and said..."lets' tell man that there is no God."  Satan said, "That won't work everybody believes in God."  The demon said, "Then let's tell them there is no hell."  Satan said, "That won't work, everybody believes in punishment."  The demon said, "then I've got it...Let's tell them there is no hurry."  Satan said, "That's it, perfect!"

1  The Summer is Past

Jeremiah 8:20 The summer is past,

It isn’t important that you like me, but it’s tremendously important that you’re washed in the blood of the lamb…that you meet God in a saving encounter before that terrible day when you’ll have to cry, The summer is past, the harvest is over and we are not saved.

The Summer is over meaning that the time has come to an end and cold weather and working outside is almost over.  Winter is a time for enjoying the fruits of your labor.  It is time for home and hearth.   If you have not made preparations for the winter it’s going to be a sad time.

You could starve.

Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Proverbs 74:17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

Take that global warming alarmists.  God is not going to let this world die.  He will destroy it.  2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

In a way mankind is responsible for God destroying the earth.  If man hadn’t sinned and rebelled against God none of this would happen. 

The summer is past……

You children depend on you and you have let them down.

Your neighbors depend on you and you have let them down.

Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

If you didn’t make needed repairs on your home you could be in trouble.

Why don’t people prepare?  They are lazy, they are ignorant, they are over-confident. Man trusts in himself and not His God.  10:00

2  The Harvest Is Over

Jeremiah 8:20….the harvest is over…

A sad state of affairs when you have found out you have not prepared for the inevitable.   You have wasted the opportunities and have found out you have been wasting your time on worthless instead of the worthy. 

Proverbs 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Many people today are wasting their time on worthless activities and neglecting the most important things in life.

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few…

Few people care about the things of God in this world.  That is very, very sad.  There is abundance of blessings and satisfying work to do for the Lord Jesus but the world just says….Nah!

3.  We are Not Saved

Jeremiah 8:20…..and we are not saved.”

The saddest refrain in the Bible.  We are not saved.  We have not trusted in Christ.  We have wasted our lives.  We have thumbed our nose at God.  We have ignored the calls to come to Christ.  We have given our lives over to the things of this world instead of trusting in Christ. 

This describes those who have continued to live their lives without any Biblical admonition or knowledge.  We have lived completely for ourselves. 

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

There is only one truth.  The truth of the word of God.  People don’t love the truth they would rather hear the lie.  One writer said…”If the legend is a better story  than the truth print the legend….”  Truth is the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ is better than any legend or made up fantasy.  Yet people would rather hear the lie. 

2 Thesslonians 2:10-11 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ...

Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Believe on Him: Over 185 times in the New Testament the sole condition given for salvation is belief, having faith or trust in Jesus Christ. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day. All those who place their trust in Jesus for salvation will be saved from the coming judgment. To add any other condition to faith for salvation is to make justification a matter of works



John 14:8-11 The Evidence

Intro:  John chapter 10 and chapter 14 are my favorite chapters in the whole Bible because John 10 tells us that we are His sheep and as His sheep know Him and will simply follow Him and John 14 tells us that Jesus is the only way and tells us clearly that Jesus is God.  Jesus answers Thomas questions in John 14 verse five about the way and then Phillip asked this question in verse seven that we will take a look at.  Who is Jesus has been debated for centuries.  Bottom line is this…..He is either God or a mad man.  He clearly, and unmistakably claimed to be God in the flesh.  So He is either God or liar.  How can we know? 1:00

1 Lack Of Belief

John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also:

he said to them, now that you have seen me,” If you had [really] known Me, ,

John 14:7…..and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 “you will know[c] my Father also, you would also have known My Father and from now on you do know him and you have seen him.”

The non-believers biggest obstacle they say is that they haven’t seen God and see no evidence of God.  Well Jesus is the living evidence, the bodily evidence, or actually proof that God is. 

John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father,

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father.

That’s the cry of all unbelief.  Show us.  Give us proof. 

John 14:8.…..and it sufficeth us.

 “that is all we need.  then we will be satisfied.”

They say that if we see then we will believe.  But Jesus said “blessed are those who haven’t seen and believe.  It’s my conclusion that seeing is not believing.  But not seeing is believing.  What???

We can see a lot of things but does it really make us believe?  If I have faith by fact is that faith?  If I have faith based on what I see, is that faith?  No, it’s not.  Since we cannot know everything about God because after all…He is God we will always have to take Him by faith and trust based on what we believe about Him.  Seeing is not always believing. 

Jesus had already had this conversation with the Pharisees.   John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

Jesus plainly said they have seen God when they have seen me. 

Doesn’t God want us to know so our faith can be sight?  Yes….He gave us Jesus.  He gave is Israel.  He gave us His word.  He gives us His Spirit when we believe on Him.  He gives us blessings and an occasional miracle here and there.   But He cannot give us more sight because we must trust in Him.  Faith with sight is not faith.  One day we won’t have to have faith.  But because we are sinful and God is holy the just shall live by faith alone. 

God has revealed all that He can safely reveal to us.  Anything else and we would be condemned because we have sight and not faith.  And we would be dead because our God is a consuming fire of holiness and we just aren’t ready for that yet.  We are sinful and He is holy.  We cannot live in His presence.  We would die immediately in the presence of His glory, brightness and holiness!

But another thing and it’s a powerful thing about Faith and trust!

Your parents don’t tell you everything about themselves.  Your spouse doesn’t reveal everything about themselves.  You must trust what you don’t know because you know one thing…..that they love you.  God forever proved that He loves us when He sent Jesus to die of the cross to pay for our sin debt. 

Many will not believe.  Lack of belief will send many to hell.  We must believe, trust and rely upon Jesus for where else can we turn?  10:00

1 Lack of Belief   2 Believe the Evidence

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?

Jesus answered, Jesus said to him “For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, and you do not know Me yet Philip? nor recognize clearly who I am?  What would the Father do that the Son has not done? 

John 14:9…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, ‘How can you say’  Show us the Father’?

Colossians 1:13-15 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.  The preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator of all creation.

There is no attribute of God that Jesus did not possess.  Everything that is true of God the Father is true about Jesus.  The doctrine of the trinity in the New Testament is inescapable.  The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are the God Head all the time and at all times.  John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?  Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? Jesus claimed deity to the Jews who took up stones to stone Him and then He said to them…. John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

John 14:10……..the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:

The words that I have spoken to you,” Jesus said to his disciples, “do not come from me.

The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority…

John 14:10 ….but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. 

1400 years earlier Moses wrote…..Deuteronomy 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.  19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.  There will be consequences for not listening to Him.  This is Jesus.  His authority comes from God for He is God therefore He has all authority!

Believe the evidence.  It’s all we are going to get.  The ball is in your court now.  What will you do? 20:00

1 Lack of Belief   2.  Believe The Evidence  3.  Receive The Evidence

John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.

John 14:11….or else believe me for the very works' sake.

If not, believe because of the things I do.   Otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed].

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

In the book of John Jesus performed seven signs that He was sent from God. 

He turned water into wine. 

Healing the royal official son

Healing the paralytic

He fed the five thousand

He walked on water

Healing the Blind man from birth

Raised Lazarus from the dead

Seven is the number of completion in the Bible .   Jesus completed the evidence that He is God, He is perfect and He is our Savior.  The evidence is in.  What is the world’s verdict?  27:00

1 Lack of Belief   2.  Believe The Evidence  3.  Receive The Evidence

The evidence.

How will you vote on Jesus?  Will you say Yes…He is the Son of God and I trust in Him.  Or will you demand more evidence?  More proof?  How much more will you need.  It’s like how much is enough?  It’s never enough is it?  This is what God has revealed. There will be no more.  We don’t need anymore.  We have the Bible.

We have Israel.

We have the church

We have creation.

We have your own heart that condemns you.

What else to you need?  28:04

8/18/2019
What Are You Anchored To?
Hebrews 6:18-20

A ship or boat has to be anchored or it will drift away.  The other day we were on our boat and we saw a very nice spot on the lake and decided to anchor there and enjoy the beach area.  I thought I had my boat anchored.  I looked up and without even realizing it we had drifted way down the shore line.  Well I then re-anchored.   The boat finally seemed secure.  A little while later several boats sped by and the wake tossed our boat around as is usual when boats pass by.  No problem I thought.  A few minutes later to my shock we had drifted down the shore line again.  This time we went even further down the shore line.  We decided to leave that area and anchor somewhere else.

The point is this….. Practically, If you are not anchored properly in a boat you will drift away. 
Spiritually, if you are not anchored properly in Jesus you will drift away.  It’s not the anchor’s fault.  It‘s not the boats fault.  It’s the one who chooses to let down the anchor who must assure that the boat is anchors securely. There are three reasons we are anchored safely in Christ.   2:00

1.  God Have Placed our Anchor With God.

Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things…. There are these two things, then, here are these two things, that cannot change.  Immuntable means unchangeable.  Two unchangeable things about God are His promise and His oath.

The Lord confirmed His oath to Abraham by swearing by Himself (v. Hebrews 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,) because He alone is beyond deceit. The two immutable things are God’s Word and God’s oath.

Hebrews 6:18….. in which it was impossible for God to lie… and about which God cannot lie. In which it is impossible for God to lie.  Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie….John 17:17 Thy word is truth….

Hebrews 6:18….we might have a strong consolation…. Since God does not lie and since He is all-powerful, He will fulfill all His promises. This unchanging nature of God is the believer’s consolation and encouragement.

Hebrews 6:18…..who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.  We who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. 

So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.  we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. 

Cities of refuge in the old Testament were cities set up so those who accidently killed someone could find safety from those who would want to extract revenge.  This is a type of Christ in the Old Testament.  We flee from the judgment God not to a city but to a person Jesus Christ!  We flee to a city whose builder and maker is God!

God cannot lie, God cannot break His promises to us and therefore God cannot fail.  An anchor will only be secure if properly placed in a place that has the strength to hold up under all conditions.  8:00

1.  God Have Placed our Anchor With God.   2.  Our Anchor Will Hold

Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul….. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. The believer’s hope in Christ is secure, like an anchor.

Hebrews 6:19…..both sure and stedfast….. 19 It is safe and sure, [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope.  Furthermore this anchor is not in sand.

Hebrews 6:19 …..and which entereth into that within the veil. and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary.   Behind the veil refers to the Most Holy Place, the place where God dwells. Leviticus 16:2 And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not:  God said, “Tell your brother Aaron that only at the proper time is he to go behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place,

He that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place since Jesus died as our sacrifice has allowed all who trust in Him  into the very presence of God.   We are accepted.  Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

What is verse saying?  We have cast out our anchor and it has caught hold of the very presence of God Himself in heaven!!!  I cast out my anchor the other day and it did not hold.  Our anchor will hold because it depends upon the very presence and strength and power of God and His promises.  13:00

1.  God Have Placed our Anchor With God.   2.  Our Anchor Will Hold    3. Jesus Not Only is our Anchor but He will also bring us safely into Harbor

Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus…… On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us.  Where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us.  Large ships have forerunners so that when they come into port the forerunner make the way for the ship to safely come into harbor.  Jesus is our forerunner as He has made the way for us to come in to God’s presence safely and permanently. 

Hebrews 6:20  made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.   and has become a high priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.  having become a High Priest forever according to the order of [e]Melchizedek. 

According to God Questions.org….Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was a king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6–11; 6:20—7:28). Melchizedek’s sudden appearance and disappearance in the book of Genesis is somewhat mysterious. Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (Genesis 14:18–20).

 Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tithe (a tenth) of all the items he had gathered. By this act Abraham indicated that he recognized Melchizedek as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than he. Some propose that Melchizedek was actually a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, or a Christophany.

As Hebrews 6:20 says, “[Jesus] has become a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” This term order would ordinarily indicate a succession of priests holding the office. None are ever mentioned, however, in the long interval from Melchizedek to Christ, an anomaly that can be solved by assuming that Melchizedek and Christ are really the same person. Thus the “order” is eternally vested in Him and Him alone.

Hebrews 7:3 says that Melchizedek was “without father without mother, without descent (genealogy,) having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually.” The question is whether the author of Hebrews means this actually or figuratively.

 If the description in Hebrews is literal, then it is indeed difficult to see how it could be properly applied to anyone but the Lord Jesus Christ. No mere earthly king “remains a priest forever,” and no mere human is “without father or mother.” If Genesis 14 describes a theophany, then God the Son came to give Abraham His blessing (Genesis 14:17–19), appearing as the King of Righteousness (Revelation 19:11,16), the King of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the Mediator between God and Man (1 Timothy 2:5).

 If the description of Melchizedek is figurative, then the details of having no genealogy, no beginning or ending, and a ceaseless ministry are simply statements accentuating the mysterious nature of the person who met Abraham. In this case, the silence in the Genesis account concerning these details is purposeful and better serves to link Melchizedek with Christ.

 Are Melchizedek and Jesus the same person? A case can be made either way. At the very least, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, prefiguring the Lord’s ministry. But it is also possible that Abraham, after his weary battle, met and gave honor to the Lord Jesus Himself.

The Priest went into the presence of God and came back out.  People could not enter in due to sin.  But Jesus went into the presence of God and made us able by His righteousness to bring us also in to God’s presence.  Jesus is able by His shed blood for our sins to bring us safely into heaven.  22:00

1.  God Have Placed our Anchor With God.   2.  Our Anchor Will Hold    3. Jesus Not Only is our Anchor but He will also bring us safely into Harbor

We are anchored in Christ, by Christ and through Christ.

Today in the church we are experiencing two phenomina….

1.  Prophecy Derangement Syndrome…..When Christians are scared of teaching and preaching Bible prophecy.

2.  Bible teaching derangement syndrome….When Christians are offended that the Bible offends people. 

Two leaders recently have left the ministry and now claim that they are no longer Christians.  Author and pastor Josh Harris after 20 years of marriage and ministry has left his wife and church and says he is no longer a Christian and has embraced the homo-sexual lifestyle.  He has apologized for writing offending the LGBTQ community over the years.

The Hillsong church song writer and ministry leader Marty Sampson has left the faith.  Saying the Bible is contradictory and does not have the answers.

The Bible has already told us that in the last days people will depart from the faith.  1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.  They can’t lose their salvation.  So, they were never saved or they are backslidden.  1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Bottom line:  We have an anchor that is stedfast and sure and the emodiement of truth.  Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that Christ is our life….

We have all the answers because we have the Bible and we have Jesus.  And Bible prophecy has been given to us to prove that the Bible is the word of God and Jesus rose from the dead to proof that He is the Son of God.  28:04



What Path Are You On?
Proverbs 4:14-19

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

1. The Path Of the Wicked
Warning--14-15
No Sleep-- 16
Eating and drinking--17
Darkness--19

2.  The Path of The Just
Shining light
Shines more and more
Result, a perfect day

Colossians 3:1-4  Guidelines For Last Days Living

Intro:

1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

We are told right here in these for verses how to live in the last days. 

1:00

1.  Seek Those Things

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ,

Therefore, if you have been raised to a new life with Christ, sharing in His resurrection from the dead.  Born Again Christians are the only ones who can be risen with Christ!

Colossians 3:1……seek those things which are above, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven keep seeking the things that are above. 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.  Matthew  6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Where is your affection? What do you really love? Who do you really love?  We are told many times in the Bible to seek…..God provides, He does not hide.  God reveals, He does not steal, and God is not hiding.  Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Colossians 3:1 ….where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Right place of authority and equality.  Seek those things of Jesus Christ.  Focus on Him.  Look to Him. Trust in Him.  10:00

1.  Seek Those Things   2.  Set Your Affection

Colossian 3:2 Set your affection on things above,

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things],

Keep your minds fixed on things there.

Affection is something or someone that you feel strongly about. 

Colossians 3:2……not on things on the earth., not on things here on earth.

not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].  Gain the whole world and lose your soul Matthew 16:26

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, For you have died to this world.  For if we are dead in Christ what is the world to us?  Dead!   We are no longer putting our hope in the world’s governments, the world’s ideas, The world’s dreams, and the world’s schemes and the worlds promises. 

Colossians 3:3……..and your life is hid with Christ in God.  And your life is hidden with Christ in God.  And your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.  Our hope is in Christ!

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, Your real life is Christ. When Christ, who is our life.

We should set our affection, our desires, our purpose is to live for Christ and to seek to please Him for He redeemed us from an awful place and state and future!

18:00

1.  Seek Those Things   2.  Set Your Affection   3.  Ye Shall Appear

Colossians 3:4…….When Christ who is our life……

Christ is our life.   He is our reason to live and our life after we put off this mortal flesh. 
Christ is our existence.  He is our next breath.  He is our real love.  He is our purpose for living.  He is our joy and victory!

Christ is life eternal.  John 17:3.  God is our life. He is the length of our days.  Deuteronomy 30:20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days….

Colossions 3:4….shall appear…  and when he appears.  This means that Christ will make a visible appearance to us. 

Colossians 3:4……..then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Then you too will appear with him and share his glory!  We are going to Him.  Just like John 14:3 says... I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also..

What you gonna do when He comes for you?  Will you go with Him or be left behind by Him?

When is Jesus going to appear?  He will appear again to us at the rapture.  We will see Him.  We will be with Him forever!  He shall appear!  That’s a guarantee!

Then after the rapture we will appear with Him in the glorious return of Christ to this earth!  Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

What a day that will be?  And it will be very soon in my opinion! 

We shall appear with Him!  What a promise.  What a hope!  What assurance!  I’m telling you that with all the signs of Israel, Islam, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Homosexuality, madness, hatred and division so take heart, be encouraged, be glad for it cannot be long until Jesus will come and judge this world and straighten this all out!

27:00

Conclusion:

1.  Seek Those Things   2.  Set Your Affection   3.  Ye Shall Appear

I’ve told you just now, how to live in the last days.  What to seek, who to love and who is coming for you.  Now what will you do?  He is coming whether you like it or not, ready or not.  That should give you a leap in your step, a song in your heart and a brightness to your smile!  They say you can’t have it all.  We have Jesus!  We have it all!  How to live in the last Days….Live for Jesus every day and you will be ready on this great day!

28:04

Mark 1:9-15  Jesus Begins His Ministry

Intro: And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.  13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus was born and lived a normal life, or at least an inconspicuous life. Then at the right time He appears all of sudden to John the Baptist indicating that He wanted to be Baptized.  Agreeing with John’s baptism of repentance.  But Jesus needed no repentance but came identifying and approving of the message of John the Baptist. In fact Jesus is the fulfillment of the message of repentance and salvation.  

John the Baptist said according to John 1:29 Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.  Thus His ministry has begun.  2:00

1.  Jesus Baptism

Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days…., In those days.  AD 27.  It came to pass. The time had come.  All things that come to us here on earth comes to pass.   Nothing lasts very long in this life.  “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning”  But in heaven nothing comes to pass but all things come to stay.  We will dwell in joy forever!  We will be with Jesus Forever! 

Mark 1:9…..that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee.  Nazareth was his adopted city.  He was born in Bethlehem as predicted by Micah the old Testament prophet.  Fled to Egypt after Herod killed all the new born male children and then felt it safer to live in Nazareth.  Nazareth was a city not known for prophets or anything good.  It was out in the sticks,  off the beaten path, not on a travel route.  It had a population of about 500 in Jesus day. 

Mark 1:9…..and was baptized of John in Jordan. and was baptized by John in the Jordan.   All four gospels refer to Jesus baptism in the Jordan river.   The Jordan river is 156 mile long river that flows north to south through the sea of Galilee on to the dead sea.  Today Jordan and the Golan heights border the river to the east while Israel and the west bank lie to the east.  Most of the year it is about 100 feet wide and about three to ten feet deep.  God’s people crossed the Jordan river into the promised land. 

  John The Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan river.  Jesus was baptized!  So we ought to be also. Baptism was used often of the Jews for ritual cleansing.  It points to the work of Christ as no other symbol can.  We are lowered into the water symbolizing our death.  We are in the water symbolizing our cleansing.  We are raised out of the water symbolizing our new birth.  Jesus symbolized His ministry and work of redemption, His death, His buriel and His resurrection when He was baptized. 

Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, As soon as Jesus came up out of the water.  We baptize by bringing people straight out of the water today. 

Mark 1:10……he saw the heavens opened, he saw heaven opening. Heaven opened or opening is mentioned in Matthew 3:16, Luke 3:21, John 1:51, Acts 7:56, Acts 3:10, Revelation 19:11 and Malachi 3:10 says the windows of heaven will be opened.   Heaven opened at His baptism is symbolic for Jesus opening the way to heaven for all of humanity symbolized in baptism’s death, burial and resurrection.

Mark 1:10…..and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.  A dove was sent out of the ark by Moses.  It came back with an olive branch symbolizing the peace between God and mankind.  But It was only temporary.   It would take Jesus to make it permanent. 

At Jesus Baptism the Holy Spirit comes as a dove.  The dove is a symbol of purity and harmlessness and of holiness and innocence.  Jesus was pure, Holy and innocent and since it is Jesus it foretells of the permanent peace with God and men through Jesus Christ!  At Pentecost the Holy Spirit comes as a cloven tongue of fire to symbolize the power of the church indwelt by the Holy Spirit!

Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, And a voice came from heaven…that can only be God.  God spoke from heaven 20 times in the Bible.  Three times God spoke to Jesus from heaven at His Baptism recorded twice and when He told the disciple how He was to die God said He had glorified and would glorify His name.

Mark 1:11….saying, Thou art my beloved Son, You are my own dear Son.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

Mark 1:11….in whom I am well pleased.  In You I am well-pleased and delighted!  God is well pleased with the sacrifice of Jesus. He met all the qualifications.  He was without sin or blemish and was the perfect lamb of God.  God accepted the lambs, bull and goats without blemish to point to the perfect sacrifice of Christ to come.  God is pleased with Jesus and Jesus always pleases the Father.  John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Jesus, The Holy Spirit and the Father are all present at Jesus Baptism. What a day!  The beginning of Jesus ministry of reconciliation of mankind began with a bang!  It was a solemn occasion.  No bands playing, no crowd gathered, no angels singing like at His birth, but just the still small voice of God. 

Jesus announces the beginning of His ministry with His baptism.  We confess our faith and trust in Jesus Christ by our baptism and our agreement that we are dead in trespasses and sin, cleansed by the blood of Christ and raised as new person, born again by His Spirit!  We begin our walk with Christ by the symbol of baptism!  11:00

1.  Jesus Baptism  2. Jesus Temptation

Mark 1:12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. At once the Spirit made him go into the desert.  Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11.  It was the Holy Spirit that led Him to this test.  The Holy Spirit will test us and try us.  Why? To get us to fail. No! To strengthen us.  To prepare us.  To fortify us.  To enable us and to bless us.   Athletes work hard to prepare for success.  No pain, no gain they say.  We should pray hard, read every day and be with other Christians in order to be ready for the test’s that we will go through. 

Mark 1:13…… And he was there in the wilderness forty days.   …where he stayed forty days.  Why forty days?  According to Got Questions.org….

It rained forty days and nights before the flood,

Forty years in the wilderness.

Forty years from the crucifixion to the destruction of Jerusalem,

40 days of Moses on the mount receiving the law,

 Moses life divided into three 40 year periods,

40 days the Israelites spied out the land,

Under Samson Israel served the Philistines for forty years,

Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days,

Elijah traveled 40 days and nights when he fled from Jezebel to Mount Horeb,

40 days were given to Ninevah,

The number forty also appears in the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jonah. 

There were forty days between Jesus resurrection and ascension,

Jesus 40 days of temptation. 

Forty appears to be the number of probation or trial.  Remember that God does not call us to search for secret meanings in numbers, hidden messages, or codes.  There is more than enough in the plain words of the Bible to meet all of our needs and make us complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17.  But forty is a pretty significant number in the Bible.  So also is 12, 10, 7 and 3.  But numbers indicate order and completeness of God.  And it is also shows us that God is in no hurry and not in a rush.  Not in a rush to judge and not in a rush to bless us.  But God is a patient God and a testing God.  And specific numbers indicate actual times and dates that prove the Bible is the word of God. 

Bottom line…if Jesus was tempted, tried and tested we also will be. 

Mark 1:13…..tempted of Satan; being tempted by Satan.  He was tempted to Jump off the temple, turn a stone into bread and to worship the devil from a high mountain.  Jesus passed the test.  He could not fail. He was God.  He cannot sin and is not tempted to sin.  With each temptation Jesus used scripture.  We must put on the whole armor of God to resist the devil.  The Bible is our sword we use to fight him and our legs to escape as we are told to flee from the devil.  James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  “Patience” means endurance and steadfastness. 

Mark 1:13….and was with the wild beasts; Wild animals were there also.  So He was alone but in danger also. 

Mark 1:13….. and the angels ministered unto him.,. but angels came and helped him.   Angels could have come and taken Him off the cross.  Angels ministered to Him after His prayer in Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion.  Two angels told the disciples that Jesus would return in like manner after His ascension.  21:00

1.  Jesus Baptism  2. Jesus Temptation   3.  Jesus Begins To Preach

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and [i]taken into custody.  John is no longer able to preach his message of repentance.  John said “he must increase, I must decrease.” It was time for John’s decrease. 

Mark 1:14….Jesus came into Galilee, , Jesus went to Galilee.  Galilee in the northern part of Israel. Nazareth, Capernaum, Tiberias, Shimron, Jezreel, Nain, Chorazin, Hazor, Magdala, and Cana were the largest cities .  Galilee is west of the sea of Galilee. 

Mark 1:14….preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.  preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God.  It is time for Jesus to begin to elaborate and complete the preaching of John with the preaching of the good news of the kingdom of God.  A kingdom has to have a king.  Jesus is the king.  He is looking for followers into His kingdom built on faith and trust in Him.  The kingdom of God begins in our hearts by faith in Him and culminates in our king coming to rule and reign by our presence with Him.

  Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, The right time has come,” The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled.  It is time for a Savior for the whole world. 

Mark 1:15….and the kingdom of God is at hand: and the Kingdom of God is near! God will dwell in the hearts of men through the Holy Spirit.  “The kingdom of God is within you.”

Mark 1:15….repent ye, Turn away from your sins. change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves you have changed.

Mark 1:15….and believe the gospel. he said, “and believe the Good News!” and saying, “,and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ].”

The time is fulfilled.  It is time.  The law did it’s job.  It gave us God’s requirements.  We now know what sin is. We now know what sin does.  It separates us from God.  Now we must be reconciled.  So Jesus beigns the ministry of reconcilliation, that is the good news. 

The kingdom of God is now.  Jesus invites to this kingdom.  All who trust in Christ become citizens of this kingdom.  All are eligible for this kingdom.  Not just Jews but everyone!  First began by faith and then by sight. 

Here is the gospel.  The good news is this….Repent and believe.  Change your mind about sin and believe, trust in Jesus Christ and His shed blood for your sins.  His substituionary death, he took your place on the cross.  27:00

1.  Jesus Baptism  2. Jesus Temptation   3.  Jesus Begins To Preach

Jesus Ministry begins  Have you let Him minister to you?  Have you been baptized into Christ?  Have you beaten sin by placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ?  Have you realized that the time has come for you to follow Jesus?  28:00

7/14/20149

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13  God Is So Good

Intro:  1 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.  12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.  13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

God is so good isn’t He?  He’s been so good to all of us.  Yes we have bad things happen.  But we have to admit many, many more good things than bad!  Why is He so good to us?  1:00

1.  It Will All Work Out

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:

He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has set the right time for everything. I know bad things happen to people.  Bad things happen to Christians.  Bad things happen to you.  Terrible things.  Indescribable things.  But God when it’s all said and done will make it all a beautiful tapestry.  Romans 8:28 And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  God is smarter than you, understands more than you, knows more than you, has seen it all from beginning to the end so just trust Him okay?  If you are a Christian then rest easy.  I came to pass.   All bad things come and bad things go.  Good things come and good things stay.  Jesus came into our lives to stay.  He is not going away. Thus the Scriptures call people to live in robust faith during times of trial and pain; in the grand scheme of things, God will make everything beautiful. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11…..also he hath set the world in their heart, He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart.  He has given us a desire to know the future.  The Hebrew word for “world” here is the word for Eternity or future things of God.  All of God’s creation is beautiful. The point is that God makes everything the way it is in its time and for its time.  You were made for this time. 

From God’s perspective, there is no ugliness in the events of our lives. World  or Eternity in their hearts refers to a deep-seated, compulsive drive to transcend our mortality by knowing the meaning and destiny of the world.   We are not like animals.  We are made in God’s image. We have eternity in our souls and in our hearts.  It’s there, just like God’s laws.  We know right from wrong at an early age.  That is a blessing and a curse.  We are cursed due to sin.  We are blessed that we know we are sinners and we can turn from our sins and receive Jesus Christ!

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ….so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. God never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does.  [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end. Because we are made in the image of God, we have an inborn inquisitiveness about eternal realities.

We can find peace only when we come to know our eternal Creator. Even then, we know God only in part (1 Cor. 13:12). from beginning to end: All we see is the short little life….. of our own existence in the grand span of eternity. Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  God is here for it all. The beginning and the end.  He has seen it all so we can trust Him for the things we do not understand.  1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  One day all of our questions will be answered as we become eternal creatures and drop the veil of flesh that keeps us from seeing and knowing more about God.   

God is love so God is good.  God is so good to us to turn our lives into good because He love us.  11:00

1.  It Will All Work Out   2. Rejoice And Do Good

Ecclesiastes 3:12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, So I realized that all we can do is be happy.   I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice.   All we can do, there is nothing better we can do but rejoice in all God has done for us.  Rejoice that God is who He is.  Rejoice that He gave us life.  Rejoice that He has given us blessings and joy.  Rejoice that in the midst of trials and trouble He will be with us and bring us through all these events in our lives. 

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!  Be glad.  We you can’t be anything else be glad!  Don’t be sad.  Some of us look like we drank apple vinegar cider or colonoscopy prep for breakfast and are having turnip greens for lunch.   Just no smiles at all!   It’s not possible to smile when you drink apple vinegar cider or that prep stuff is it?  Awful, awful!

But we are to rejoice always!  Everyday!  Every way! In every situation always look for God’s hand of blessing.  It’s there! I know it doesn’t seem like it but it’s there!

Ecclesiates 3:12 and to do good in his life.  Do the best we can while we are still alive. 

Do good as long as they live.  Biblical faith is a call for joy, even when we live in a wicked world and under terrible stress; this is because we find true joy in the living God.  Of course we know that there is no that doing good that meets God’s standards.  But…..the first good thing we can do is trust in Jesus Christ.  Then we are declared good by God.  Then we can pursue doing good works for our Lord Jesus Christ!

Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.  Don’t do evil, don’t follow evil, don’t let evil in the door.   3 John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

God is so good to us that how can we do anything but rejoice and do good for His glory and tell of His great love for us! God is love so God is good.  19:00

1.  It Will All Work Out   2. Rejoice And Do Good    3.  Enjoy Your Blessings From God

Ecclesiastes 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, All of us should eat and drink.

God gives us varieties of food to enjoy.  God gives us variety of drinks to enjoy.  We enjoy eating and drinking.  Life is full of stress.  It is necessary to eat to live.  So God makes it enjoyable for man.  He gives us the pleasure of preparing and cooking a meal.  He gives us the pleasure of sharing a meal with those we love.  He gives us the pleasure of feeding others.  He gives us the pleasure of seeing others pleased with what we have prepared.  Eating is good. 

Drinking is good.  Is this alcoholic beverages?  No I don’t thinks so.  Now let’s get it out of the way.  Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 5:8 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.  Clearly you are not to get drunk.  That means you can drink alchohol but don’t drink enough to even get a buzz.  So that’s not very much is it?  And also don’t let your liberty in Christ to drink cause your brother who is weaker see you drink and hurt their walk with Christ.  There you are.

Drinking liquids is necessary for health.  We should drink 64 ounces of liquids each day.   Everyone has their favorite foods and drinks.  Mine favorites drinks are tea and Dr Pepper.   God is so good to us to allow us to enjoy food and drink.  There is lots of eating and drinking in the Bible.  Lots of eating and drinking in the Old Testament, And these New Testament eating stories, The marriage at Cana, the Feeding of the five thousand, and four thousand, the last supper, The Lord’s supper, the marriage supper of the Lamb.   Eat and enjoy within limits.  We can get into gluttony. Eating and drinking more than we need.  That leads to all kinds of problems.  Too much of a good thing is too much. 

Ecclesiastes 3:13 …..and enjoy the good of all his labour, and enjoy what we have worked for.  And see and enjoy the good of all his labor.  We enjoy and should enjoy the things we have worked for and built with our own hands.  There is nothing wrong with working to have a nice home.  There is nothing wrong with being happy with the things you have purchased with your hard earned money.  It is satisfying for to see the fruits of our labor.  God looked as all of His work as creator and said it was very good. 

If we think we are going to just sit on a cloud and pluck a harp for eternity you’ve got another think coming.  We are going to be serving our Lord forever and ever!  Service is work. But the curse of work is over our work for the Lord is heaven will be rewarding, satisfying, creative and enjoyable!   We work hard to get what we have today.  Our work on this earth is cursed. Frustrating, not always satisfying, exhausting, and painful at times.

Ecclesiastes 3:13…..it is the gift of God..  —it IS the gift of God. 

It is a wonderful gift that God has given humans made in His image.  What a wonderful thing.  Psalm 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

God’s goodness to us ought to lead us to repent of our sin and turn to Him in faith.  God’s goodness to us is His gift of Salvation in Christ Jesus.  How good God is to us. He gave us life and life full of many pleasures and joys in spite of our rebellion against Him.  He does this so that we will acknowledge His goodness to us that we do not deserve and hopefully we will repent of our sins. 

God is so good to us to give us food and drink and fruitful labor which shows His great love for us.  27:00

1.  It Will All Work Out   2. Rejoice And Do Good    3.  Enjoy Your Blessings From God

God is so Good. 

How will you respond to God’s goodness to you today?  Will you ignore Him as most will.  Will you reject Him as many will.   Will you give yourself credit instead of God and many will.  Will you thank Him for all He has done for you and a very few will.   28:04



2 Samuel 7:21-24  God’s Path to Blessing

21For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.  22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?  24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.    God has put on the heart of King David the desire to build the temple.  He tells David that he won’t get to build it because he is a man of war and blood.  But his descendant will build it.  David who has known the heights and depths of life praises the God is Israel, his uiniqeness and His love for Israel.  2:00

1.  No One Is More Blessed Than God’s Servants

21For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

It was your will and purpose to do this; you have done all these great things in order to get my attention and to instruct me.  Because of Your word (promise), and in accordance with Your own heart, You have done all these great and astounding things to let Your servant know (understand). 

No one can say that He has not been blessed of God.  No Christian can say that they have not been blessed beyond measure!   If it was just salvation and then everything else went wrong then we could still say we have been blessed beyond belief!  But God still gives us blessings on top of blessings.  Even in our sorrow He comforts us.  Even in our sickness He heals us.  Even in our poverty He provides for us.  Even in our dispair He brings us hope.  Even in our fear He brings gives us peace.  There is no person in the world more happy than a follower of Jesus Christ.

God’s Servants, His people are blessed beyond reason and beyond compare!

If you want blessings in your life, if you want joy in your life, if you want peace in your life…..God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ will give it to you.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

There is no way that this world can out give God!  Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.   In fact you are complete in Jesus Christ. You need nothing Else!  Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.  No one is more blessed that God’s servants, God’s people we have all the hosts of heaven and the power of God available to us.  This will ensure our victory over sin, death, hell and the gave!   9:00

1.  No One Is More Blessed Than God’s Servants    2.  No God Like Our God

22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 22 How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is none like you; we have always known that you alone are God. Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 

As far as we can tell there are about 12,000 gods who have been worshipped in history.  In modern times we have about 24 major gods and maybe 100 or so minor dieites and spirits that are worshipped.  It’s hard to pin down because Hindu’s many Asian cultures have a lot of minor gods in their worship.

 Allah wants to kill and take by force.  Allah wants us to hate our enemies and kill them.  The god of this world wants us to lie and steal and kill and live in despair and ruin.  The god of humanism wants us to kill the innocent and destroy the weak.  This god gives the only hope….. the betterment of mankind which is no hope at all.  The god we imagine in our minds sends no one to hell, loves everyone, but gives no answer for the troubles in our own lives and the uncertainty we have in our own faith about justice.  No accountability toward this god and no solution for sin. 

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.  But our God, is the God of creation and redemption and justice!  He is different not only because He says so, but because He has proven it.  He sent Jesus Christ to die for us and provided salvation for us.  All other gods demand we do something to please him and for salvation or for favor.  God says it pleased Him to bruise Jesus on the cross.   The work of salvation is finished in Christ.  We just have to believe and trust in Him.  There is no one like Jesus who was God become man.  We need Jesus because we needed a Savior not another god to please because we cannot please Him.  We needed a way made for us plain and clear and that way is Jesus Christ!

He will always do for those who trust in Him what brings us joy and brings Him glory!   There is no God like our God who creates, He loves and He gives!  God is love.  God is the creator and sustainer of His creation. God gave His only begotten Son.  16:00

1.  No One Is More Blessed Than God’s Servants    2.  No God Like Our God   3.  No Nation Like Israel

23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?23 There is no other nation on earth like Israel, whom you rescued from slavery to make them your own people. The great and wonderful things you did for them[c] have spread your fame throughout the world. You drove out[d] other nations and their gods as your people advanced, the people whom you set free from Egypt to be your own.  What one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do great and awesome things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? 

No nation is like Israel.  God kept them together despite being scattered throughout the world for 1870 years.  Now in these last days Israel is a nation again and is the super prophetic sign to the world that God is going to keep His promises to His land and His covenant people.  How much more will He keep His promises to us under the blood of Jesus Christ!  No nation has benefited the world like the Jews.  The Bible, many inventions, blessings upon those who are good to Israel.  And Of Course we have Jesus Christ born of a virgin Jewish girl into the family of Joseph. 

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God. 24 You have made Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. You established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.

Israel will be the leading nation of the world from now on and into the millennial period.  Right now every eye of every nation is on Jerusalem.   Everybody’s focus is on Israel.  Just like the Bible predicted.  How could this be?  It must be God.  God’s billboard of His presence and proof of His existence is Israel. 

I saw a YouTube video about Atheists saying that Israel in Bible prophecy does not prove that God exists.  Well they just admitted that there is a thing called Bible prophecy.  They just admitted that Bible prophecy is pretty amazing about Israel, but they claim that those prophecies were written after the fact like Daniel chapters 7-12 were written later by someone else. That’s an old argument that has been disproven years ago. 

They say that Isaiah’s prophecies are too vague.   Or that Ezekiel’s prophecies were not about a future Israel.  Of course, that’s what I would say also if I were them.  But the very fact that there seem to be many prophecies in the Bible about Israel in the last days should tell them something.  It should tell them that only God knows the future.   There are no prophecies in the Koran.  There are many false prophecies throughout history and many prophets so the atheists lump Bible prophecies and false prophets like Joseph Smith and the JW’s and the Catholic mystics and other ancient prophets together to disprove Bible prophecies.  

They won’t take Biblical prophecies about Israel by themselves for that would be too difficult to disprove they must disprove Bible prophecies by lumping them together with other written false prophecies and similar prophecies of other writers down through the ages.  That’s what I would do also If I had not argument to prove that there are not Bible prophecies that have come true about Israel.

There is no land blessed like Israel.  Many prophecies tell of Israel’s military might, agricultural production and economic success in the last days.   

Israel is the apple of God’s eye.  But why Israel?  They were chosen of God.  But think about the difficulties they have had because of their faith in the creator God.  They endured many hardships and difficulties because of God’s choosing them.  But God knew that there would be great men and women of faith and trust in Him among the Jews.  Great giants of the faith like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses and Joshua, Esther, Deborah, Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, and David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and all the faithful prophets John the Baptist and Peter and Paul and all of the apostles and of course Jesus Christ Himself.   That’s why God has blessed these people.  God made a world for people, a people the Jews, to introduce Himself to the world and a through them a Savior for all the world’s sins.   Think about this……… before Pentecost all the heroes of the faith were Jews!  No wonder God will keep His promise to bless them and make them a nation forever!  25:00

1.  No One Is More Blessed Than God’s Servants    2.  No God Like Our God   3.  No Nation Like Israel God’s path to Blessing is through the Jew and Jesus Christ. 

God made Israel so that they might be the instrument of God’s blessings to the world.  But they have suffered…Oh how they have suffered the burden of bearing God’s name throughout history as no people have been hated and suffered.  They are still today the bane of society. They have paid a high price to be God’s chosen people. 

For those who say what’s so special about Israel…..let me a ask you…would you want to be a Jew?  Would you want to be a Jew in Egypt, in the wilderness wanderings,  and then fight battle after battle for the promised land and always surrounded by enemies. Then later horrible kings who led you into idol worship, then ultimately Assyrian and Babylonian Captivity, then under under Roman rule, finally scattered throughout the world for 1870 years.  During that time millions of Jews murdered for just being Jewish. 

Finally, they found some acceptance.  They found success and led in many cultural and scientific betterments to America and Europe.     But it didn’t last long.   Would you like to have been a Jew in Europe in 1930’s?  Concentration Camps. Six million killed by Hitler.  Now today they are back in their land the size of New Jersey…maybe!  And again, all your neighbors hate you, and the world want’s you out of your land.  Would you want to be a Jew?  I don’t know about you…. but I don’t have the courage to be a Jew!

Don’t ever say “what’s so special about Israel?” They suffered and died to give us the word of God, and they gave us our Savior Jesus Christ!   That is why they are so important!   The world owes the Jews a debt we could never repay them in a million lifetimes!  But God will reward them…….. for the promises He made and the faithfulness of their great hero’s, He will make them the greatest nation in the world during the millennium.  And the greatest city will be Jerusalem where Jesus Christ will rule the world!    Would you want to be a Jew?   

28:04

Psalm 88:12  The Land Of Forgetfulness

Intro:  We used to be called the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Today I would say Amercia has a different description.  Psalm 88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?  We are no longer the land of the free but the land of forgetfulness.  We have forgotten the men who died to make our nation free.  We have forgotten those who gave their lives in the formation of our great nation and constitution.   We have forgotten the principles on which we were founded.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

But our biggest problem is that we are a nation that has forgotten God.  I would even go as far as to say that we are nation that hates God..the God of the Bible to be specific.   America has created a god that they love.  He lets everybody into heaven.  He does not judge sin.  He wants us all to be the same.  He will not send anyone to hell.   He accepts every religion.  It is not the cross of Christ, not the resurrection of Christ, not the grace God, that conquered sin, death hell and the grave, but God’s Love wins over unrepentant sin, death, hell and the grave! (2:00)

1.  America Is In Darkness

Psalm 88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? Are your miracles seen in that place of darkness? Will Your wonders be known in the darkness? 

Luke 11:34 but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

America is in spiritual darkness. 

Same-sex marriage is a sin. But we have Pride marches.  They will destroy any pastor, politician, celebrity, corporation or person or group who tries to oppose it.

Abortion is a sin and we say it’s a woman’s right and will destroy any pastor, politician, celebrity, corporation or person or group who tries to stop them. 

Transgenderism is a mental disorder yet we encourage and protect these people and destroy any  pastor, politician, celebrity, corporation or person or group who tries to stop them. 

They want to destroy capitalism and replace it with socialism.  And will destroy any economist or politician or group who tries to oppose it. 

They want to get rid of national sovereignty to destroy America by creating the climate change agenda and making everyone under the regulation of a world government.  And will destroy any scientist or group who tries to oppose it. 

To many of American’s the Bible is outdated and needs an update.  The Bible says the word of God sharper than any two-edged sword.  The Bible says that the word of God will endure forever.  The Bible says the word of God will never change.  The Bible says the word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  America is in Darkness. 

I was sitting on my porch one day and looking around I saw the bright sunshine glistening off the hills and I thought…The world doesn’t look like it’s in darkness but even the brilliant light of the sun cannot remove the darkness in men’s hearts and souls.   Everything seems okay in our little world but we are a little isolated from the outward sins everywhere. 

We can still buy bread, we can still drive to an event without being exposed to all this darkness.  We can still go to church. We can still live a normal life…but for how long until the darkness of America over whelms all of society.  It won’t be long in my opinion.  God is going to spare the church though.  Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, and 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Right now the Holy Spirit restrains evil due to the presence of the church.  But one day that restrainer the Holy Spirit will be removed with the church. 

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  11:00

1.  America Is In Darkness 2.  America is Happy with Darkness

The saddest thing I can say in this message is that America seems to be happy to live in darkness.  You know some animals are created to hunt in the darkness.  They don’t want to be revealed to their prey so they hunt in the cover of darkness so that their prey is caught unaware of the danger. 

Isn’t that American’s today.  So many lies and deceit from government, corporations, and leadership.  They want to keep people in the dark so that they won’t know what’s happening until it’s too late.

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.   This is why people love darkness rather than light.  Psalm 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High.  They have rebelled against the Lord.  They want to be free to do their evil. 

Psalm 88:12  Shall thy wonders be known in the dark?  We have missed the miracles and the wonders that He does every day because we have fallen into darkness.   You can’t see in the dark.  Jesus said it plainly in  John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.. 

We are not following Jesus so we are in darkness of soul and spirit.  We have chosen the base, wicked things of this world over the joy’s of following Christ.  A king loved his dog.  He prepared a banquet for it every day.  But the dog never ate it.  It would sneak off and eat from the garbage pail instead. Isn’t it funny that an humans too will eat the garbage of life and will not eat of the banquet prepared for them by the Lord Jesus Christ.  19:00

1.  America Is In Darkness 2.  America is Happy with Darkness   3.  We have Forgotten God. 

Psalm 88:12 ….and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

or your goodness in the land of the forgotten? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness [where the dead forget and are forgotten]?

All the good that God does for us everyday and hardly anyone thanks Him for it.  All the blessings God gives to us every day and mostly no one pauses to give Him praises for it. We have forgotten our God!

Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

God says beware!  If you forget me beware!  It is not going to go well with you.  How can a people, a person, a nation be blessed that forgets His creator? Answer they can’t.  God is His mercy and grace gives us blessings we do not deserve.  But mercy, joy and peace only come to those who trust in Jesus Christ! 

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Beware…if you forget God….He will forget you.  If you reject God He will reject you!    If a nation forgets God, rejects God then they will reap what they sow.  Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.  Israel was kicked out of their land.  Strangers took it over because they forgot God.  Is that what is happening to America?  Are strangers coming in to our land to swallow it up?  They say that unrest in central America and in Africa will lead to untold millions coming across our border in the coming few months and years. 

Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Not only will we be over ran with strangers but our nation is going to go to hell.  We hear that all the time that our nation is going to hell.  Well there is truth to that phrase.  There is a reason we are going to hell as a nation.    We have forgotten God.  26:00

1.  America Is In Darkness 2.  America is Happy with Darkness   3.  We have Forgotten God. 

Most people don’t like the darkness.  When we are immersed in darkness we get very uneasy.  We want to find a light.  But spiritually most people in the world are in darkness and  you know by these signs.   Physically if you are in darkness there is fear, then panic.  He are some clear signs that you are in spiritual darkness.  No hope.  No assurance. No peace.  No purpose.  No friend.  A dread of the future.  And of course, fear of death.  These are clear signs that you are in spiritual darkness.  

Jesus gives hope, assurance, peace, purpose, and promises to be with you…forever!  He gives us eternal life which erases the fear…… of life and death.   Remember where you came from and where you are going.  Come to the light of the world….Jesus Christ!  28:04

6/23/2019

Romans 3:10-28  Man’s Dilemma… God’s Answer

Intro:  If a man ignores the warnings and slips away from the safety and constraints of the railing and the tour group.  He goes too far and slips and falls into the raging waters.  Now he is heading down the river and about to go over Niagra Falls…he is is a major dilemma.  He needs Rescued and fast.  His own wandering heart, lack of attention and stupidity has gotten him in trouble.  I admire first responders.  The firemen, EMT’s, Police, military.  They specialize in saving lives.  Most of the time they save stupid people.  That’s just the facts.  People go too far, don’t pay attention or try stupid stunts.  It’s funny we pay professional ball players 31 million a year to play with people, and we pay first responders 31,000 a year to save people.   We worship ball players and throw rocks at first responders.  We praise ball players and curse first responders. 

Every human is in a major dilemma with God.  We have ignored God’s warnings, we have left the safety and constraints He has given us and now we have gotten in big trouble with God.  We need rescued.  We are all headed for disaster that will destroy us.  (2:00)

1. We are in a Dilemma Before a Holy God.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God.

Let’s list the dilemma that mankind has with his God.

1.  None is righteous before God.

2. No one understands that they are not good.

3. No one seeks God who made them

4. They have fled from God

5. They are of no benefit to God.

6. No one is doing good.

7.  Their talk is filthy

8. They lie.

9. Their tongues spew poison.

10. They curse others and God.

11. Their talk is bitter and full of bitterness

12. They use their legs to run to kill another.

13.  They want to destroy and cause misery to others.

14. They don’t want peace but fighting and quarreling

15. They do not fear or respect God

16. They are declared guilty by the law of God.

17. All have sinned

18.  All have come far short of God’s glory that He wishes for us.

We are in deep do-do with God.  We have not even come close to living as He would have us.  So we need help.  We need more than help we need a transformation.   We are certainly in a Dilemma.  The only Hope is Jesus.  He has already come and lived and died and rose again.  He is certainly coming again for His church at any moment .  11:00

1. We are in a Dilemma Before a Holy God.  2.  The Law Brought Knowledge of Our Dilemma

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Justifiied legal term used of the defendant in a trial, justified means “declared righteous.” No one will be declared righteous by doing what God requires in the Law. This is confirmed by the fact that the Law was not given to justify sinners but to expose sin.  Justified..Just As If I had never sinned.

NO one will be declared righteous by being good.  You cannot be good enough.  This disqualifies all religions.  This is why Jesus is so important. Without the shedding of blood shall no flesh be justified.  That blood has to be holy blood, righteous blood.  The Blood of the Son of God only. 

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, both Jew and Gentile there is no difference as far as God is concerned. 

While the gospel if offered to everyone….Only those who know Jesus Christ will be in heaven.  Only those who have repented and turned to Jesus Christ is faith, only saved sinners will be in heaven.  And only those who know Jesus Christ as Savior will go with Him when He comes for His church.  19:00

1. We are in a Dilema Before a Holy God.  2.  The Law Brought Knowledge of our Dilemma

3.  God’s Answer to Man’s Dilemma

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus. 

Jesus is the only way, the only hope, the only truth and the only life.  Remember when Pilate looked at Jesus and asked “what is truth?”  It is no conincedence that he was looking at the embodiment of truth. 

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

This term propitiation is derived from the Greek verb hilaskomai, a word which has three meanings: (1) “to placate” or “to appease”; (2) “to be propitious and merciful”; or (3) “to make propitiation for someone.” The New Testament never describes people appeasing God. Instead, as Luke 18:13 and 1 John 2:2 make clear, the New Testament describes God as being merciful to, or making propitiation, for us.

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  God offered Jesus, so that by his blood[b] he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus and in Him alone! 

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe, trust and rely upon Jesus Christ and Him alone.  Only He died for us, only He rose again for us, Only He is coming again for us.  Only He promise to never leave us nor forsake those who believe, trust in Him and have received Him as their Savior.  To as many as received Him to them He gave the power to become the sons of God. 

27:00

Conclusion: 

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith in Christ, and not by doing what the Law commands.  No one is saved by works… for it is impossible.  That is why Christ is so important. Without Him we do not have life.  1 John 5.  Without Him we can do nothing to reconcile ourselves to God.  Without Him we are done for. 

1. We are in a Dilema Before a Holy God.  2.  The Law Brought Knowledge of Our Dilemma

3.  God’s answer To Man’s Dilemma…Be Justified By Christ Alone…not by your effort.  28:04