The Struggles of a Christian: Recent Episodes
Harry Graham
The Bible is Alive and it is more than a dry dusty read. It is absolutely fascinating. God gave us imperfect heroes and the Perfect Sacrifice. Abraham, David, Gideon real men, flawed imperfect just like us but they did God's work. Christ Jesus, God's only Begotten walked and talked as we do here on this earth. Jesus, cleansed the Temple, Healed the lame, and preached a personal relationship with God. Not ceremonies, not rituals, but a close personal relationship.
Christ had to be from the line of David, we are shown that He is.
The star, the wisemen, all unique events for Jesus, the Messiah.
Never again to happen for never again will the be a need for a Savior.
The very ones entrusted with the care of the people, knew not the Creator of the people when He came among them.
Yet the people wanted to hear Him.
When we die it all goes to someone else. Houses, cars, clothes, land money all of it will pass. Only what is done for Christ will last.
These days we are in are not days of the apocalypse, they are days of the apathetic church.
There are so many questions concerning this event. Today we are going to do a surface examination of the rapture: A pre-trib event.
We spoke of how He was like us, but not of us. How He came to show us God, to die and redeem mankind.
This High Priestly prayer He prayer in John 17 answers a lot of questions about Jesus, and who He thought He was. He is God and He unequivocally states it here.
He prays for the disciples, He also prays for all those that believe because of the disciples words. That my friends is you and I! Jesus prayed for us 2000 yrs ago.
We have tried so hard to make Him like as we are. In reality we should be striving to be as He.
Paraphrasing John 7:7 they dont hate you, for you are of them, yet they hate me for I show them their works, and that their works are evil.
Do we show the world a light on their sin. their evil or do we tolerate and accept their sin as if all is well? We love the sinner, but we can not tolerate, condone nor turn a blind eye to their sin.
We are at another crisis, where the doom sayers are out and about and another false prediction has come and gone.
We are called to prepare them for the Rapture to go with us, we are not instructed to prepare them for the Tribulation, the Rupture of the earth.
Tell them of Jesus who died for them so they so not have to face the Tribulation.
A cumbersome title but one designed to make you think and study on it.
A person can pay for their sin, a nation can also pay for the sin of one.
The Collective, the whole starts with one.
We have cheapened our relationship with God..
We have made our part so much bigger than His.
It is time we refresh our covenant we made with Him when we chose Him as our Salvation.
Remember people do not just learn by books and reading.
They learn from watching others.
What are they learning from you? Godly or worldly?
Is it time to refresh your teaching?
God through Gideon gives deliverance from the Midianites.
Yet Gideon then leads Israel into idolatry.
How will they know if you don’t tell them?
You may be the only one they will ever hear it from. You may be the one that was assigned to speak to them, if you do not then they may face an eternity in Hell.
Yes I went there, it is time we realize what our inaction and timidity is going to cost them.
It is time we realize this is life and death, eternity is at stake.
Stop the spirit of fear, be a witness, a light, a truth teller, and preach the Gospel.
Your testimony is your walk and talk in front of everyone else. Family, friends the lost.What is yours?Daniel almost lost his life over his testimony and faithfulness.
What IS yours?
The Disciples saw and heard Jesus pray so much so that they wanted to learn from Him.
Is our prayer life an example to others?
I believe that if we truly understood all that He has done we would daily, hourly be in His Love letter to us -The Holy Bible.
Every now and then it is good to get back to basics. We are going to walk the Romans Road tonight.
50 days, 7 weeks after Passover, the Feast of weeks or Harvest begins. May is the month. This day is the day that 3000 were harvested for Christ in Jerusalem.
Christ, in 3 years, established a legacy that is still being talked of 2000 years later.
What do you think we could do if we had singleness of purpose?
A man leaves and gives to his servants a few talents according to each man's ability. When he comes back he expects a return on his investment.
of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
Yet we are ashamed to call sin - sin. We are ashamed to tell them they are going to Hell if they do not have Christ.
So are we not ashamed?
The bible is an amazing Word of an Awesome God yet we treat it as a lecture book, or a dry dusty read.
Tell them of the God in these pages as you know Him, not just of the rules giver, but of the compassionate One, the Combative with the Pharisees One. The One who gave rest and assurance to Gideon, Paul and Elijah.
We do not get excited and passionate so why should they?
Jesus spoke in the synagogue and you could only do that if invited and llowed. So His theology was not the problem they had with Him, no it was the healing on the Sabbath they had an issue with.
The Lord of the Sabbath was right in front of them yet they never saw Him, they only saw their indignation.
What is so great is God is preparing the hearts of men for us as we prepare them for Him.
This is what is great about our God, He knows what we need when we need it. Gideon is going to war with 300 men against 40,000, and God sends Gideon a 4th sign to bolster his courage.
Here in the 7 churches in Revelations is one church (body of believers not the building) that Jesus has nothing good to say to. Laodicea.
Pride, comfort, complacency and laziness are the sins they are to repent of.
Believers, he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit sayeth to the churches.
The rich man thought I do not have enough space for all my things, let us tear down and rebuild for more space.
But God Said.
God is the authority, He said you fool tonight you will die then who will be the rich man? What will it have availed you?
Why are we allowing the world to tell us what to do? Why are we giving them authority over the affairs of the church?
We are not of this world, when our issues and squabbles make it out to the world it is an embarrassment to us and makes a mockery of God.
In Mark Chapter 15 Pilate to content or appease the people sends Jesus to the cross.
It is never a good thing to give in to mob rule or to appease the people for oonce done they will want more and more.
Every now and again we get so caught up in the deep theological stuff, the Old Testament heroes, we forget to celebrate Jesus for who He is, for what He does.
He is God and He is Great.
The multitudes followed Him and loved Him. We often downplay His effect on the people.
Fascinating thought. You are God's house, His dwelling place. He lives in you. 24/7 even when you are on vacation.
You are His He bought you with a price!
He decides as the home owner what the rule are not you.
We live as if there is no Hell awaiting the world. We live as if it is all fun and games.
We must make it real, personal for us and then once we reinstall the fear of Hell in us perhaps then we might start telling them.
Jonathan and his armor bearer. One Leading in faith, the other following with his life on the line, for he believes in what they are doing.
Faith and loyalty what a combination.
It is not a sin to judge a brother in sin. The world in their ignorance does what the world does, them we do not judge, of them we expect such behavior.
For the Church Member, a professing Christian, such sin as listed here must be confronted and judged. If there is no repentance there must be a loss of fellowship and contact with the church.
Our duty is tor protect the name of Christ and His Church.
The Midianites are oppressing Israel they cry after 7 years. God hears them and comes to a man named Gideon
The church at Corinth had some one openly living in sin, he tells them to get him out of the church or when he (Paul) gets there he will do so.
The testimony of the church and its members was failing because of this situation.
God used a place of Sin and Idolatry to reveal His So. For hundreds of years sin and idolatry was in Israel because of the golden calf. Then God used that Mount for the Transfiguration.
He can do the same for you, do not let the Ending be less because of a mistake at the beginning.
Paul is letting the Corinthians know that false teachers abound, but that they are going to give answer one day.
The lessons we have from 1 Corinthians are amazing.
No one allows a baby to stay a baby, yet in the3 church at Corinth it was allowed and applauded even for them to stay babes in Christ.
Paul was exasperated by this and he is not being sweet and kind about it.
John 3:16 is the mystery of God. Preach that, understand that, then you will be closer to Him.
Paul continues explaining to the Corinthians that it is God that should get the Glory. Christ should be the message.
What an absolutely fascinating start to this book. For all Christians, who have called on the name of Jesus, who are sanctified, and called to be saints.
That right there tells you who it is for.
Jesus says those very words to Peter.
Now, what we can learn from this is - knowing satan will come after us as well.
The first time was at the start of His ministry with a scourge.
The second time was at the end of His ministry, and this time a good old fashioned worship service broke out.
And being in torment he asked for a drop of water and for Lazarus to go back and tell his brethren that they might not come to where he is.
The ple too late, the remorse too late.
Are we witnessing as if we have no time? Do we want them to go there?
Acts 5:29 partial "we ought to obey God rather than men".
yet today we have allowed ourselves to be shut down and shushed.
The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom but fools despise wisdom and instruction
A man gets out of a fish's belly after 3 day and preaches a great revival.
Yet said man is very angry there is repentance and remorse. That 120,000 innocent lives are going to be spared.
It's quite interesting to me how the established religious leaders had no room for the words of John and Jesus. A heart open to God would have done wonders for them.
On that great judgment day many will call Him Lord yet t=He will not know them.
Don't you think it is time for you to be sure?
What does that mean? It means our forefathers gave us a Godly nation and we have done nothing to further it. We are resting in/on what they did and by doing so negating all their work.
Too often we forget that He promised us that if we are His, truly His we will be persecuted. Why? Just as He did, we too, by preaching the Gospel, will shine a light on their sin, and they will hate us for that.
In Acts 1:11 we are given what, in my opinion, is the most comforting promise we could hope for.
Today let us remember the Lord our God and remember all that He has done for us, Lest we forget. Relive it, rehash it, relay it but keep it - Him - fresh and new in your hearts and minds.
In Colossians, just 30 yrs after Christ ascended, Paul is having to re-educate people on this fact.
Jesus is God, Incarnate, the Most High. Not an offspring, or an offshoot, not just a teacher or prophet, He is THE God.
According to the Word of God, Jesus says Hell was created for satan and his angels.
Think about that God never meant for us to go there, man chooses it.
Philippians 4:8. Paul tells us what to think on, to dwell on to meditate on.
Perhaps if we thought more on these things, revival might actually happen.
Love Tough Love.
Communication.
Fathers teaching sons, mothers teaching daughters.
We have lost our way as we waste our lives seeking entertainment rather than Holiness.
Why do we not tell the full Biblical version of the Bible accounts?
Now some of it - I get why we do not tell to the kids, but the adults should know the full version.
Jonah is a very interesting Book.
How many times do we make our plans, ask God for good weather or green lights but fail to ask Him what He would have us do?
How many do we tell of this wonderful place we are going and how they might get there?
Jesus (God) came to this earth, after man rejected Him in the Garden, knowing He would be rejected all over again.
That is love.
Whatever happened to "if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all."
We have gotten so far from that, in fact, if you use a kind word now people will stop and stare for they are not use to that.
Jesus said 3 days and 3 nights He would be in the heart of the earth. So it really does matter when He died, for if it was a friday death then 3 days and 3 nights were not met.
Could He have been wrong? Of course not, we are in our maths.
Jesus is being questioned by the authorities, they are trying to trip Him up. Yet even in that hostile environment one seeks truth and wants to hear and learn.
How often do we conflate Scripture? We know it so well we don't have to look it up, we know it right?
Yeah we should probably refresh.
There are verses I call A and B verses. One part says one Truth and the next part says a Truth opposite.
A) He that believeth on Him is not condemned B) but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the Only Begotten son of God.
John 3:18
Train up a child in the way he should go.
Notice that? Train them, in the way they SHOULD go. Train them how they should be.
Huh.
In the Temptations of Christ, we have His way of defeating the tempter and by the way we have Satan's playbook laid out for us too.
What a fascinating section of Scripture
In the courts of this nation there is a dress code, to face man's authority. Why do we fight so hard to deny God's authority with dignity in our dress code?
We are His, why do we dress as them?
A very good learning experience when you read through Lot.
A long list of what not to do.
Christ stated several times the faith of the Roman Centurion and a few samaritans were greater than the faith, the gratefulness, He saw in Israel.
Why?
Does this affect us today?
"Time... it is the only currency we spend not knowing our balance. Use it wisely" Author unknown.
There will be a time and now is when they will not hear the Truth. Paul knew this.
BUT it is cyclical, there is a time for turnaround. People are looking for answers, We have those answers.
What i the Armor of God? What does it do? Where i the Bible do I find it? Ephesians 6
Remember wearing the Armor of God, putting it on daily is a choice, just as ignoring it is a choice made daily.
I hope you saw the very important part of that phrase, "put on". For that is exactly what we must do every day.
Consciously, deliberately put on the Armor of God.
It is also a conscious, deliberate action to ignore the Armor of God as well.
In the Book of Ezekiel God is looking for someone to intercede for His people. He found no one.
Will He find one today who will stand?
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Strait is the gate, narrow is the way. Few there be that find it.
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Depart from Me, I never knew you.
44 times this phrase is use, 42 times as a verb or action, they DID evil in the sight of the Lord.
2 Times it is used as an admonition.
On that First sunday the Angel tells the women He is not here for He is Risen - As He said. If He rose again, as He said then must we not believe every other promise?
Solomon has established his kingdom, his advisors and now he is setting about growing his kingdom.
Here in this chapter we find out what kind of a man Solomon is.
A few tasks left over, some treason to deal with and then the Kingdom is solidified under Solomon
How many of you knew of these horns? the reasons for them?
God tells His people He will tear down the Altars of Bethel and the horns of the Altar. A grave judgment indeed.
His people had built an altar to an idol in Bethel the very place called House of God.
David calls Solomon and they have a final chat. Then David passes on.
David is dead Solomon is King.
If you are a Christian and you do not tell your brothers and sisters (neighbors) of this eternal life, then how much do you hate them? For a loving Christ died for them, but we can not tell them of Him for fear we might offend? or get cut out of their life?
This is the biggest decision of their lives, but how can they make it if we do not give them the information they need?
Solomon is anointed, and announced. Adonijah was celebrating his rise to the throne, in the midst of that party a messenger comes in and says no Solomon is king.
Adonijah is afraid, and rightfully so.
Adonijah thought he was going to be king. He even threw a party for it, but that was not the way Bathsheba, Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah saw it. A fascinating look behind the throne.
John wrote that our Joy may be full, now he writes that we might not sin. Why? Because of the enormity of the price paid for us, of the love that drew Salvation's plan, of the sheer violence committed that we might have life.
David counts the people, angering the Lord. Yet it is the very end when David builds an altar, that you truly see his heart for God.
No He Does not. If you take yourself off the God Standard and live by human standards, you will not get to Heaven. His Gift, His Sacrifice, not through ought that you have done.
Absalom is slain, the kingdom is reunited, until it isn't, Sheba rebels, and here we go again
What fellowship can Death have with Life? None. Therefore we must walk in The Way, The Truth, and The Life so that we may Fellowship with the Father.
Many of us see no problem with a father mourning the death of his son. Yet David did not have that luxury for he was placing the life of his son who was dead over all those that sacrificed to protect David from said son's rebellion.
Because He lives, I need thee every hour, and Down at the Cross Songs for today.
Is your joy full?
John wrote to us of what he had seen and heard, that Your joy may be full. Perhaps we need to talk more of what we have seen and heard that our joy may be full.
If we are Christ's then we are to sacrifice lusts and affections of this earth.
If we are Spiritual creatures, then we must live and walk a spirit filled life.
In this chapter we see David's interactions with people and the results thereof. Some help and aid and work for him. Some try to overthrow.
David messed up, sinned big time with Bathsheba and now is the price to be paid for that. Yet David did not allow that to define him.
Jesus in Matthew chapter 9 is out and about, He is healing, He is calling His disciples, He is showing the people God.
Yet the Scribes and Pharisees scoff and accuse.
Jesus pointedly tells them God would rather have mercy and not sacrifice for His people in Hosea and it still holds true here.
God cares for His people but the "self righteous" would prefer the people stick to the Law that they (the Pharisees) rule by.
Which is Christ the Lord.
Notice the Angel of the Lord says unto you. The shepherds, humans, today a Saviour is born unto.
Our Saviour, our Redemption. How do we not celebrate that?
David flees Jerusalem, Absalom moves in and immediately does the one thing that will never allow a reconciliation.
Absalom and Ahithophel start a coup, Absalom has been planning it for forty years. Yet David is not totally lost yet he has friends in the right places.
Angels announced it, Shepherds carried it throughout the land. A Savior is born.
Ok Great, so what.
Savior? Saved from? poverty? Disease?Traffic jam?
The birth of a Savior led to a life freely given on an old rugged croos. That led to a Resurrection that gave life to all of us.
Saved from? Death and Hell. The penalty of sin.
The wages of sin is death, but the Gift if God is eternal life.
Absalom is in exile for killing his brother Joab sees his king missing his son and sets a plan in motion to bring him back.
As a result of his actions with Bathsheba and Uriah, David was told the sword would never depart from his family.
Tonight we find out the start of what that entails.
David had just lusted and sinned with Bathsheba, David had her husband killed, and then David took her for his own.
God is not happy!
What is our job here? To tell them of Jesus. Not to be rich, not to be wealthy and comfortable. If you are, great, use what He has given you to be a better Witness.
How will they know unless we tell them?
The army is at war, yet David sayed home. David is out walking along the roof top at night. David is out of place and it leads to no good.
David shows kindness to Mephibosheth and to Hanun.
One takes it well, the other does not.
David's men are humiliated and David does not do well when you mistreat his men.
Have you placed your faith in government? Have you taken your eyes off the Throne of Grace?
We are not here for the temporal, we are here for the Eternal.
David was the man after God's own heart and this chapter, more than any other, shows that.
David said God let me do something for you. God you have done so much for me and your people let me do for you.
David is setting up his nation and what's the first thing he does? Gets the ark back so God will bless his nation.
Why has Jesus not come back yet? Why have we not seen the rapture yet?
God is not slack in His promises, the question is why have we not got the Word out to all the world?
He is long suffering, He wants ALL to come to repentance, it falls on us to tell them.
We are the ones slacking not Him.
David is finally anointed king over all Israel and heads to Jerusalem. He makes them put away their idols and has a house built.
Then the Philistines come up to test David, not only does he win but he burns their idols as well.
David's very soul hurt at the sight of the idols, he IS the man after God's own heart.
David saved his family, they returned to Ziklag and started settling things back in. There is where David gets the news that Saul and Jonathan are dead.
Nehemiah, and Daniel interceded for their nation, asked for their sin to be forgiven and the sins of their nation. They begged and pleaded with God to forgive them and their nation.
No excuses, no trying to avoid accountability just a good ole heart baring before God.
David is returning home , the Philistines do not want him in their army, for obvious reasons and so he heads home. Yet in the three days he was gone his home was ransacked, everything taken and the town burnt down. David must go save his family.
Saul, after promising not to, is chasing David again. David, because of who God is, once again does not kill the Lord's anointed.
Nabal insults David, David gets mad and heads, with his army, to Nabal's home swords on.
Abigail, level headedand quick witted intervenes and save David from himslf, and Nabal from himself.
David, on the run from Saul for doing nothing wrong, is in a position to take Saul's life. David does not, he is the man after God's own heart. Not a perfect man, but still a man who delights in the Lord.
Saul has become obsessed with David, to the extent that he takes his army from defending the nation, and sets them to chasing after David. Then the Philistines invade. Saul is far far gone
Jeremiah is the embodiment of a futile ministry. Yet, when everyone else turned away he stayed faithful.
When the people and the representatives of God wanted nothing to do with him, Jeremiah stayed faithful.
The Word of God was a reproach to them, but he stayed faithful.
David on the run from Saul goes to the tabernacle. The priest gives him food and weapons, yet Saul's chief herdsman see him. This will not end well.
Is He Good because you are blessed? Bank account full, new cars, big house?
What if you lost those things? What if you lost a family member? Bank account dried up? Lost your job?
Does that mean He is still Good?
David runs from Saul and seeks help. Jonathan does not believe his father has sunk so low. Yet, he agrees to help David and finds that Saul really is trying to kill him.
Saul is trying to kill David, Jonathan and Michal are helping him. Yet, they are not fully believing in the depths of their father's madness.
We serve a good and gracious God, one who wants to give good gifts. Yet, He doesn't give what we want, He wants to give us what we need for Heaven, not for here.
We are here for a very short period, fix your eyes on beyond for that is where we will be forever more.
Jesus says come serve WITH me, work WITH me. Who else will do that or say that?
His yoke is easy, his burden is light.
Your free will is in play to make this choice to accept or reject Him. Once that choice is made your free will is over.
Once that choice is made you have a master, whether Life and Christ or sin and death. There is no more free once you choose.
Lazarus was raised from the dead.
Lazarus was a tremendous witness for Jesus.
The Chief priests conspire to kill Lazarus and Jesus for many were believing on Jesus because of Lazarus
When we lose folks in death, if they know Jesus there is a tomorrow. We will see them again.
There will be sadness, there will be sorrow, but praise God there will be a tomorrow!
David has killed Goliath, has impressed Saul, and has a lifelong friend in Jonathan. Could it get any better? No, no it does not.
David heard God being insulted and he got offended.
We hear God being insulted and we say meh, the battle is the Lord's.
David was not going to let anyone insult his God, and neither should we.
The Bible is not a dry dusty read. It is alive and exciting.
David goes out to face a giant, a giant that offended his God. A giant almost 4 feet taller than he. A proven fighter, A killer who is the champion of the Philistines.
We are going to go through David's life, in depth and hopefully informative. Tonight I have already learned something new, David anointed king in front of his brothers and father.
This brings a whole new light to the interaction at the battle with Goliath.
We stress that the church should make the world feel comfortable in it's doors.
I say if they are comfortable, then you are doing something wrong. They need to see something different out of us that is why they are there.
Moses was heaving under the weight of the millions he was leading. He needed help, God heard and showed him how to get help.
Then God took the Spirit for this burden from Moses and gave it to the 70.
Moses did not say no give me my authority, no I am the leader I get all the power. No, he said thank you for all the help!
Christ had Passion for the cross, where is ours for Him?
We "Christians" are taking Christ out of Christianity.
We have no passion and this is why we are losing to the world. They have to know we care before they will care.
Men have abdicated their positions in the church whether through greed, or searching for leisure.
We need Godly men to mentor other men to be Godly. We will not be here forever, what will we leave in our spaces?
Our God is Good and Merciful, Kind and Loving.
Modern man says "He must accept me as I am" yet they never consider Him or accept Him as He is.
Too often we forget in this world that we have Hope. Jesus is our hope. One day He will come and get us.
In fact the Bible says this Same Jesus will return. That is a promise, that is Hope. Take it to a lost and dying world for they need Hope.
If you are a true born again Christian, and living in sin? God will chasten, the conscience will prick, and the Spirit will hound you.
If none of these are happening and you are living as the world in the world? Check your status.
The Book of Malachi which was authored over 2500 years ago sounds almost like a playbook from the church of today.
If we do not tell them of God and His great works in our lives how will they be remembered when we go?
The blind beggar man, hearing that Jesus was walking by cried out Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me.
Those that went before Jesus rebuked him, told him not to bother the great man. They forgot the blind beggar and those like him were precisely who Jesus was here for.
Jesus came along and said Peter let down your nets. Peter let down his net, and was surprised at the abundance of the blessing.
He says Lord get away from me for I am a sing=ful man, for he had not fully obeyed or believed.
Are we any different? Do we not act partially for we know better than the Spirit or the Word?
The Scribes, Pharisees and religious leaders did not recognize the Messiah when He came. Why?
Because He came in the way He knew was best not in they way they perceived. They wanted a strong good looking fellow, well spoken and of war.
What they got was a Messiah concerned for the eternal not the temporal.
Joshua gives his famous "as for me and my house" speech. Then he concludes it by telling them to go home and put away their false gods if they are going to commit themselves to Him.
Deborah was a prophetess and the only female Judge in the Bible. She leads Barak and his armies to battle but another woman, Jael, gets the victory.
We also give a shout out to Huldah another prophetess in the Old Testament.
Strong women of God are everywhere in the Old Testament.
Abigail, Sarah, Rebekah, Miriam and Hannah, all Godly women.
All I have to do is type that name and you are singing the song aren't you?
Zacchaeus though is much more complicated than that.
He needed Jesus, he just didn't know it until he met Him.
Know ye not that ye are bought with a price?
What price? Who paid it? Saved to?
I kept the prayer list, singing the old rugged cross, and the prayer as well as the sermon in this one I felt it is necessary for the full scope.
248 years ago 56 men signed this document. Given rights by their Creator, to be judged by the Supreme Judge for their intentions, they stood tall against tyranny.
All of them risked honour, integrity, life, possessions, family and jail to do so.
Do you not know how to pray? Ask David. Do you not know how to praise? Ask David. Need deliverance? Ask David!
Covenant: an agreement.
We need men to covenant with other men to pray, to live Godly, example filled lives.
We need to covenant with God to be the men He needs.
We need to covenant to be the Godly men our families and our world needs us to be.
A marriage is a 100% effort from both parties. They and they alone are the marriage, not kids, not mom and dad, them man and wife.
One must put the other first before themselves for a marriage to be successful. Not work, not kids, not family but man and wife together as one alone.
That is God's intention.
Jesus clearly and plainly tells the Jewish leaders Who He is, Why He is here and what His purpose is.
Love is dying for those that reject you. Love is sending your only Begotten Son to die for men.
Love is preaching repent! Love is telling them of Hell and death and damnation.
Love is talking the truth, not sugarcoating it.
God gave you a choice life or death and He will honor whichever choice you make.
That is Love.
My thoughts on the sinner's prayer, and the necessity of baptizing as a tangible factor in the life of a new Christian. We have made Baptism almost an afterthought, instead of the priority it was to the Apostles.
Peter makes a mistake and takes Barnabas with him into error. Paul stands and calls him out on it to his face.
Peter later writes of Paul in a very complimentary manner. He listed him as a beloved brother, he got corrected and he appreciated it.
What ifs will get you. Peter had to address the what ifs.
He had to tell people that he did not follow fables, he followed what he saw and heard and is telling to us that we might believe it to.
He is so convinced about Jesus being God, he is about to die for it. He answered the what if's so that you do not have them.
Interceding for others is good, yet it also keeps you in the Spirit and keeps your fire going.
It is a ministry in and of itself if you have the will power for it.
While you are interceding please keep this ministry in your prayers.
Discipling, prayer teaching, Bible Studying, witnessing, testifying, praise these are all things that have fallen by the wayside.
We must rediscover the joy of our salvation and live it as AS we teach it.
Do you realize that this also applies to your Spiritual Children? They just do not inherently know to pray, praise, read the Word, it's not automatically instilled.
The Christian life is a habit, just like everything else you must work to make it work.
In Matt 6 Jesus teaches the disciples to pray.
In Discipling it is so very important that we teach by word and then we show how important it is by doing it ourselves.
Be the role model you would want to have. Be the Spirit filled leader you wished you would have had.
The power of prayer, do you show how much you believe in it? Or do you just talk of it?
The church is a church for an hour a week, after that? it is a building. The world can't find us, we do not reach out to them. No discipling or teaching.
Remember the Jesus movement? The movement of people searching for a way to worship but the church didn't do it that way so we let it pass by and eventually die out?
If we do not make a point of remembering, we will forget.
Make a memorial for others to ask you what is that date?
That is the date God delivered me from bondage and captivity.
The Garden loved His presence. Mount Sinai? Scarred to this day from His presence.
Oh the difference sin makes!
We are not facing death or jail time for witnessing. Yet we can not be compelled to do so for fear of a dirty look from someone.
How we have failed our God, our Savior by allowing them to shut us up, shut us in.
People are dying for Christ can we live for Him?
Jehoida, a high priest, was given a gift and a chance to fix his nation. Did he stay quiet? Did he stay out of politics? No he stoo for what was right and fixed his nation.
Yes that king Nebuchadnezzar has a 7 year come to Jesus meeting. He does come to Jesus and sees that there is One God and that God is the Lord Jehovah.
Jesus talking to 4 of the disciples in the book of Mark, tells them what the future holds.
The God of the Red Sea parting? our God.
The God that delivered Peter from a locked jail? our God.
The God whose Gospel had 3000 saved at Pentecost? Our God and the same Gospel we should have.
If He and His Gospel have not changed, then we must be the problem.
A title, A name yet, He was of Nazareth, and they rejected Him there. Blind Bartimaeus heard Jesus of Nazareth was passing by and he cried out even louder to get His attention.
Funny how one person can elicit such different reactions from people.
We are saved by grace, but a hefty price was paid for that Salvation. It may be a free gift for us, but it cost Him a lot.
As we look to our daily struggles we see a man like the Apostle Paul, he was beaten, whipped, jailed and snake bit. He got tired, but God took care of him. Paul followed the Spirit, heeded the Spirit, and God rewarded his faithfulness.
God gave us a day of rest, yet the Pharisees want to kill Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. Was God's Law really that restrictive?
I kept the songs in for one is my dad's favorite (Amazing Grace), one is a capella is my moms favorite (The old account) so be warned. The other is just a good Gospel message in song form.
Be careful who you hang out with, they may not always have your best interests at heart.
So many have stopped personal evangelism, we need to get back to preaching through lifestyle that "You must be born again".
He speaks with the Pharisees and will not renounce Jesus, so they kick him out of the synagogue. Jesus finds him, reveals Himself to him and the man accepts Him as the Son of God.
Jesus goes directly into the Good Shepherd Discourse which leads to a big division among the Pharisees.
This man in John 9 was born so that God could Work a miracle for all to see and Glorify Him. Talk about purpose!
A very interesting account from John and one where in the Pharisees start to divide as some believe.
Jesus in Capernaum is being sought after for arrest, His crime? Healing on the Sabbath. The people see Him openly in the Synagogue and wonder why they are not arresting Him, convinced by this they start to believe.
John 6, what a chapter. Jesus walks on the water, the crowd from the free food fest follow Him to capernaum and He tells them why they followed Him - free food. Nothing more. Then they ask for a sign like Moses gave, you know more free food from heaven.
Jesus was not here for Earthly things. He wasn't here for you to be happy healthy wealthy and whole.
He was here that we might be Redeemed. We serve a Risen Savior not for what He is doing but because of what He has done.
Jonah chapter 4 is eye opening. Jonah cries for the people not being destroyed, yes you saw that right, he was mad the people repented. Then he pitied a gourd that gave him cover and shade.
Jonah was more concerned about what directly affected him, than hundreds of thousands being destroyed.
Sound a lot like us today huh?
Jesus feeds the 5000 and I think we often lose our AWE factor until we get reminded just how Great He is.
we have become apathetic, lost interest in our nation and why? Because we are comfortable. Well time for the church to get back in the fight.
How many today do not believe even in the light of all the evidence?
Yet some did believe and for those that Will believe we must continue on
Peter and John were arrested and tossed in prison for preaching Christ. When they were let go they did not go into hiding, or hire a lawyer. No they went to church and prayed for more effective preaching. The whole church prayed with them and the building shook with the power of God!
Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. The rulers only see their customs being broke not the miracles! They do not rejoice, and glorify God. No, they now want to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.
This chapter is known as the woman at the well. Yet we want to focus on the Savior, who ignored societal customs and rules, looked at the heart and met with this woman. When He spoke with her He spoke to her experientially, relatably and of everyday things.
He used earthly things to explain Heavenly things. He "must needs go through Samaria" for this woman and her potential.
God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.
Conversely, God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son. That whoever does not believe, SHALL perish. Shall have everlasting death.
What a chapter we have here in John 3. The insights, the truths. All of it so important.
John the Beloved Disciple, pens a Gospel through the direction of the Holy Spirit.
An eye witness account yet he says all that Jesus did can not be wrote down, for there are not that many books in all the world.
Come along as we get in John the Revelator's Gospel.
We all know of The Temple Cleaning He did, but what about the party afterward? The lame being healed the blind to see in the Very Temple of God? Oh yes what a good ole time they had!
Haman has hanged, Mordecai and Esther are safe, now they must save the people from Haman's plan to kill them.
What have we learned from Esther and ruth? Do right no matter what.
A Revival is the Body of Christ, the Church getting up and proclaiming a Savior that died for them, getting their hearts and mind realigned with His.
An Awakening is when society is changed because of that Revival!
Mordecai just found out about Haman's decree. Esther has to spring into action to save the Jews.
Esther is a story of jealousy, bitterness, pride, arrogance and love.
Ahasuerus truly loves her and it is evident by his actions when she prepares a banquet for him.
in the first 2 chapters of the Book we met the principals, now we meet the villain. Interesting to note here that all because of one man not honoring him, he goes off the deep end. Yet he fails to see the thousands that do honor and reverence him.
We use and cherry pick some verses and make them say what we want. Yet, this life here is not about us, it is about Him and us telling them of Him.
We have begun to think God wants us to have our "best" life here. That is not true, God wants us to live for Him here that many many more will go to Him and not to Hell.
He never promised a rose garden, He promised they will hate us for they hated Him.
Ahasuerus acts in an undignified manner, and makes a very bad decision. Vashti makes the right decision even though it is going to cost her everything.
She is a heroine of the story for she did the right thing, no matter the cost.
So many want to say, God isn't real, Jesus never claimed to be God. Yet we have incontrovertible proof in the very words written in Red that Christ Himself said and His audience believed He was equating Himself to God.
Boaz has met Ruth, Ruth has met Boaz. Naomi is glad and sets a plan into motion to provide for her daughter in law who has provided for her.
Ruth and Naomi are back in Bethlehem and Ruth goes to work. She encounters Boaz who, based on Ruth's testimony and reputation blesses her mightily. Yet, she was also blessed by Naomi's testimony, and is blessed by a Godly man.
God has a plan and it includes Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. They just don't know it yet.
Jesus tells us we are to be the Light of the World sndf the salt of the earth.
Salt gives life and flavor.
Light shows us what we need to see.
Are we showing them Christ and a better life through Him?
Naomi and her husband leave Bethlehem for Moab because of a famine. The husband dies, the sons get married, to Ruth and Orpah. Then the sons die after 10 yrs or so.
Naomi is leaving going back to her land, but her witness, her testimony has been such that Ruth will not leave her, but will go with her and nothing but death will separate her from her mother - in law.
Do you remember the blue light? An announcement came over the loudspeaker, you had to rush to get to the section where the sale was.
Church has become the same, you must rush before the doors close again for the week or you miss out on the experience, and it is a full week again before the light comes back out.
David was depressed, Caleb had to wait for 45 years for his promise, and Moses had to mature.
God has given us examples, it is up to us to fully use His Scriptures.
Samson played around with sin, and it finally burns him. He loved Delilah and she loved money. He goes off to his death she heads into retirement.
Be careful who you associate with, be certain they are with you not just for themselves.
Samson and the Philistines are in a vicious cycle of vengeance. The men of Judah, 3000 of them mind you, accost Samson for making their lives worse. Samson goes an a rampage with the jawbone and subdues the Philistines.
In death and in life we need hope. People need Hope in this world today.
That hope is in the Christ, Jesus The Savior. How will they know if they have never heard of that Hope?
Samson prepares a feast for the wedding, the new wife to be betrays him and it only gets worse from there.
Samson is called to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines and he begins to do just that.
Going through this we can learn a lot.
For instance there is one full chapter of just his parents and their message from God.
His mother is asked to adhere to the Nazarite diet during her pregnancy to make sure the baby is pure.
Dad just like Gideon is afraid God will kill them now that they saw Him.
There is power in the Blood. You must be born again. Repent.
All these we have gotten away from. For we are too sophisticated for it. We must return to these terms, this preaching if we are to have an impact.
4 People:
2 who were looking for Him, were rewarded for their faithfulness.
1 who was not looking for Him but new the Messiah was to come.
1 who was actively persecuting the Church.
These met Jesus and their lives were changed, and they changed lives by telling others of Him.
From fulfilling the law of the firstborn, to Simeon and Anna (Anna being the only prophetess mentioned in the New Testament) The Birth of Christ gets more and more Grand. Then we encounter 12 year old Jesus in the Temple with the Lawyers and Doctors.
Mary, and Elisabeth both have their boys. The Angel proclaims to the Shepherd Unto us is born a Savior. Then a whole multitude show up praising God who has made the redemption of man possible.
God did all this that He might fellowship with us. He wants to spend time with US. Think about that.
Luke writes that Theophilus might know with a certainty that these things are true.
That John the Baptist was indwelt with the Spirit from conception. That Mary was a Virgin that the conception was Immaculate.
He has it from first hand witnesses Peter, John, James, and he was a constant companion of Paul's.
We oohhh and awe at the Baby Jesus.
Do you know that hanging on that cross, naked, suspended before God and man, people walked by, reviling Him, wagging their heads, mocking Him?
Without that death, without the burial and the Resurrection? Then the birth would have been just one more among millions. Just another man, just a prophet. Yet the Resurrection, that gives us Hope, that gives us Life for we are not like other men. We have a Savior alive and well and sitting at the right hand of the Father.
So often we discount Joseph when in actuality, without him, none of the Nativity would be. His faith, his honor is amazing.
He stepped in to be a father, to be a mentor, to the baby. He was a husband to a woman he had to, by faith, trust.
He was a just man, and he was a man of faith.
The Wise men came looking for a child who was born king of the Jews. They travelled from afar guided by the star to the Messiah.
Why did Jesus die for even me? Mystery
Why did God so Love the World? Mystery
Why? A Mystery of the faith! Deepest of the deep Theology.
This is what we should proclaim to a lost and dying world.
Ahab that wicked King. Ahad, there was none like him. Ahab, the one that sold himself to evil in the sight of the Lord. That Ahab has been sentenced to die, and so he shall at Ramoth Gilead.
His time has run out, he has ignored his many chances to repent. God is done.
Ahab is going to battle after the year is up as the Prophet of God had said. God once again says I am going to win this victory that you may know I am the Lord.
Yet Ahab messes up, he lets Benhadad go scot free when it was not his decision. He was not the victor God was.
No Ahab knows remorse.
We have been ransomed, Redeemed. Our lives are not our own. We are physically and Spiritually indebted to God.
Yet we want all the rewards and none of the actual life we should be leading.
This ME ME ME has to stop, we should be worried for the One that bought us with so great a price and with those that are lost and dying.
Not us but Him and them, that should be our thought, our life.
God does deliver Ahab from a battle.
Yet God also says, mark what thou doest. Whats that mean?
"Ahab I have delivered you, so remember the God that delivered you. Watch how you live and what you do for the Syrians will be back in one year. Do not offend the God that delivered you or you shall be sorry."
Christians, Remember the God of your salvation, the One that bought you with a price, He is coming back, do not offend Him, mark how you live the life He Redeemed.
Noah gets off the Ark, there is a covenant God makes with all the earth. The Rainbow shall stand as a sign that never again will He destroy the earth by flood.
Noah becomes a farmer and in peace time, he relaxes his guard and slips into sin.
Yet his life 120 years faithful building the Ark, gathering food and feed, 1 year on a floating barge, all of that is not out weighed by sin. Noah was a mighty man of God, and in the Hall of Faith.
This is not a thanksgiving thing this should be a daily thing at work, at the store at home, out loud, out in public etc.
Sing, praise rejoice, not things Christians do anymore unless they are surrounded by other Christians.
Time to get back to entering His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.
150 days until the water stopped flooding, then another 7 months until Noah was able to leave the ark.
120 years building the Ark, 1 year on the Ark. What a life Noah led. A faithful servant, tried and true.
40 days and nights of rain? That was just the beginning. The violence and turbulence of what happened is fascinating. God destroyed all land life, trees, grass, animals, birds all except what was on the ark.
His judgment is real, His wrath is real, but so too is His mercy and His Grace.
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, humans will go there if they reject Christ. It's written in Red all of it, it must be true.
However there is a way out. John 3:16
Notice I capitalized His meaning God's ark.
In all of the earth, approx 1800 years after Creation and 1 man is found worthy, one family saved and God had him build His ark to save that family.
One man, in all the earth found grace in the eyes of God.
On a high note, I can count of 15 I personally know that are righteous men. That does not include those I do not know, so we have a fighting chance of saving this world still.
The Holy Spirit, the indwelling of God and living as His Holy Temple?
Let God be true and every man a liar
If we have historical fact in the Bible that we have proven, then the Bible is real. If the Bible is real - then Hell is Hot, Jesus is The Way, satan is real, and there is a day of judgment coming.
Side note I fully believe every word in The Word, God's Holy Bible.
Claudius sent all the Jews from Rome, the Bible speaks of it, Josephus and Suetonius speak of it. Christ - Suetonius, Josephus and Tacitus all speak of Him.
We will run down the historical fact of Gallio, Claudius, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth.
Paul, on the verge of giving up is given a major victory. Then God gives Him a much needed season of rest.
We often pile on the Pharisees and Sadducees for seeing all they did and not believing. Yet we ignore those that did believe.
My point this morning is this, Jesus preached to men who hated Him so much they ultimately plotted to have Him killed.
However, some believed. When you are down thinking no one is hearing, keep on. They are, we may not know till we get to the other side but keep on witnessing, testifying, and being a testimony.
The Pharisees and Sadducees saw the demons cast out, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk but they did not believe.
They did not want to believe for it would mess up their power, their authority and their money.
The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and the Lord sent a bitter spirit to trouble Saul.
In Matthew 6 we get a Model prayer, A template if you will.
The Apostles ask Jesus to teach them how to pray and He gives them a model that we can benefit from.
That is how the Bible starts. God set all in motion, God made all you see, feel, hear, smell and touch.
If you can not agree with that then throw your Bible out and go fishing. For the Holy Bible the Word of God says God created all. You can not be a Christian and disagree with that.
All of our Bible is predicated on "In the beginning God".
The 7 churches of Revelations, many can name the churches of Ephesus, Laodicea,and Philadelphia, but few know Pergamos.
God has said, in Words written in red, that if they do not repent He Himself will come and will stand against them.
The Nicolaitans have infiltrated the church and they are teaching self indulgence, all things are lawful so do it. God hates that.
They are teaching the ways of Balak and Micah, buying the leaders to hear what they want to hear rather than what God says.
Many will say that Joseph prospered because God ordered his steps, and God did. Many will say Joseph prospered because God blessed him, and God did.
But Joseph could have lain with Potiphar's wife, could have been sullen and morose and not interpreted the dreams, could have been dejected and asked Pharaoh what he, a prisoner, could do to help Pharaoh.
He did not. He stayed faithful to God! That is why he was blessed. Not because he was Jacob's son, not because he was Joseph.
He was faithful.
The big reveal. Now that they know their brother is alive, they have to go tell their father that they have been lying for 20 yrs, that they have been deceiving him.
Oh how he must have wanted to take a belt to them!!
Joseph is the most powerful in all the land of Egypt, yet before wishing you could be him remember the pit, the prison, betrayed by everyone he knew in life to get to this point.
He had to go through a lot to get a lot. Remember this when you have ideas and dreams of grandeur.
Elijah prayed and the rain stopped for 3.5 years. Elijah prayed and it rained again.
Where is our powerful prayer? James tells us of Elijah and his prayer, then tells us why we do not have powerful prayer.
Why?
Because of us.
What impresses me most about this part of the account iof Joseph is Judah's growth. From lead on selling his brother to slavers, to now lead protector and chief negotiator.
Joseph and his brothers are almost reunited.
which had a spirit of an unclean devil.
In the Synagogue according to Luke 4:33 there was a man with an unclean devil.
In the church was a man with an unclean devil, Comfortably sitting there in the church until Jesus shows up.
What a tale is Joseph and his brothers. By far perhaps my favorite account just ahead of Daniel, Micah and Jonah.
In Sunday School they boil the account of Joseph to about 25 minutes, here we are on part 6 and still 2 more to go.
Reuben shows remorse, Joseph shows roughness, and Judah finally matures. A hard tale of grief relived, and con men being conned.
Ananias and his wife Sapphira, Simon the Sorcer they wanted a form of Godliness. They wanted to accolades, the back patting, the cheers of the people but had no idea the God they were trying perform for.
They were professing but not possessing.
God has been preparing Joseph, He has been preparing Joseph's place and now Joseph's testimony, Joseph's faithfulness will be repaid.
Egypt, Pharaoh and all the people of the land are about to be blessed because Joseph stood tall, stood firm in his testimony.
A nation blessed by one faithful man.
Joseph is not a child's story, Joseph is a man who stood tall and should be an example for all men in today's world.
Joseph in a dungeon is given charge, by Potiphar, over the baker and the butler. He comes in one morning, sees them sad and asks why.
That more than anything tells me who Joseph is. He is in a dungeon for 5 - 6 years and when he sees people sad he wants to fix it.
What a testimony.
When he finally gets out of the dungeon and is asked if he can interpret the dream, he does not scam Pharaoh and ask for this that or the other. No he says it is God not me that has the answers.
The saints need to hear of the grace and mercy of God.
The World needs to hear of the wrath and judgment to come.
WE need to hear of the judgment and wrath to come to remind us that their very souls are at stake!
The fear of God, Hell is a place of eternal torment, The Love of God that made an escape, they will go there if they chose to.
A good God will not send them there, but A Good God allows and honors their choice.
In prison God showed mercy on Joseph.
Now we might ask why didn't God show mercy by not letting him go into the pit, or into the prison or face false accusations.
Well he was in the pit for a lesson, he was in the prison to learn. He was a sojourner there getting ready for his place, While God got his place ready for him.
He was never intended to stay in the pit, or to stay in the prison they were stepping stones on the way to God's plan for his life.
Joseph:
The coat of many colors
Beloved by his father, hated by his brothers
Naive, telling them one day they will bow down to him.
Rueben tries to save him, Judah sells him and Jacob mourns him.
What a life Joseph had
Jesus sends us to prepare the way for Him. He prepares the hearts and minds of men, for Him, if we will go.
He does it all if we will but hear and Go.
Our God is an amazing God.
I find the concept that Abraham answered the call and Noah answered the call of God a bit weird. We are use to all being called to repentance, but in the Old Testament frew actually heeded that call.
Abraham did, his son Isaac did and his grandson Jacob did. Yet they each had to decide for themselves. Just as we do today.
Jacob had material possessions, love, children land, all he could want and still he was seeking a blessing.
When Jacob finally accepted God as his God then he was fulfilled.
The twins have a very troubled history, a very troubled relationship. Jacob did some things, Esau said some things and their lives are never the same, nor is their relationship.
Family should not work for "family" Laban and Jacob did not deal well with the other.
Yet God blessed Laban because of Jacob and Laban knew it.
So often we keep God contained in the church, we do not take Him home. Church, while very important, is not the focal point. We have not taught personal relationships with Jesus, with the Father, to our kids. We have failed and because it is not real to us, it is not real to them
Jacob works for 7 years to get Rachel to wife but is deceived. He gets Leah. He works another 7 years and finally gets Rachel.
But never underestimate 2 competitive jealous sisters and the ends they will go to to out do the other. Eventually Jacob is traded off between them, with no sign of shame or chagrin.
Yet, Jacob was faithful and honest in his work dealings and in his service to God and he is blessed for it.
Never forget he was the heir of the Abrahamic Covenant yet he had to agree to serve the Lord God, he had to be faithful, he could not rest on Abraham's name.
All of us must make our own decision to serve Christ, to call on His name. No one else can do it for you, no one else's work can be added to your account. You must know Him and have a personal relationship with Him.
Jacob is on the run from his brother. We shall in this episode see a ladder, a stone rolled away and true love at first sight.
We all kniow the aaccount of the woman at the well. Yet, in reading it Jesus Himself teaches us how to witness and testify.
The woman then takes that lesson into her village and an awakening happens.
Experiential, relatable witnessing of the Goodness of God. That is what witnessing, personal evangelism, is.
A weird story, a family affair and a reputation earned, whether justly or not is up to you to decide.
Abraham's testimony influences Isaac and not for the best. Abimelech scolds Isaac as he had to do to his Father and mother.
The worst part? Isaac was not alive when his father did what Isaac is replicating so he must have heard of the stories. Your testimony will last even after you are gone, it is serious business.
Did you know that just 40 days after the blood covenant was sealed the Israelites forsook their God?
We Christians who are under the blood, the Covenant of Christ, do we forsake all He has asked of us? Do we leave our God to do things our way?
All too often we try to meet with God on our terms, forgetting all He has done to make it possible for us to meet with Him, cheapening His Sacrifice, forgetting His Love and making it all about us.
There is a mocker on the Contemporary Christian charts, there is a mocker in a pulpit in Illinois.
Phinehas and Hophni were priest and God, in the Bible, called them sons of Belial. Why? Because they knew not the Lord.
We have people in the pulpit in so called churches today that are sons and daughters of Belial and they do not know the Lord.
Bible believing Christians it is time to take a stand, if we do not make a stand and push back against the perversions in the pulpit we are going to fall.
Worship is when the Spirit of man meets with the Spirit of God and extols His Holiness, His beauty, His Grace, His Love, His Mercy, His Purity and His Sacrifice.
Too often we try to contrive it, or we sleep walk through what we call praise and worship time.
God wants a relationship with us and that, the fact He wants to talk to us, with us, is a praise in and of itself!
We do not sing of the spiritual warfare anymore, we do not speak of the battles the Christian will face. To our detriment we have become a pacifistic church.
Paul says put on the whole armor of God that you may better preach the Gospel. It is not armor to preserve us, nor is it armor for the easy chair.
It is Armor that we might better be able to proclaim the Mystery of the Gospel.
That time where Abraham's testimony causes Abimelech to be wary of Abraham.
That time where abraham is called to sacrifice his son and he gets up early in the morning and gets going.
Peter was eating with the Gentiles, until the Jews came along and peer pressure set in. Peter took people with him into sin and Paul called him out.
We are justified by faith not of works, not of the Law. Faith in Christ.
The Israelites travelled for 1 year, now next to the Promised land they lack the faith or belief to walk forward and claim the Promise of God.
We in today's world also lack the faith and belief to claim the Promise of God. The Promise that His Word will not return void, His Word can change the world.
Instead we see the wickedness of this world, we hear the unbelief and atheism and we resign ourselves to defeat.
Our God is Able, are we?
Fascinating, the examples we are given in the Bible. For where else will you see such imperfect flawed people called Holy and Righteous? Abraham ,flawed though he is, is used by the Perfect God to accomplish His Perfect Will.
How this encourages and inspires me.
It is amazing that a man as revered as Abraham lied to Pharaoh, lied to Abimelech, took Hagar to wife at his wife's "urging". Yet he is the Friend of God. Interesting.
We were so busy building a life, being comfortable we forgot to fight for their very souls. Now we must, today, affirm that we will stand and fight for the very souls of our nation, our homes and our kids.
Sarai tries to make God's Will happen and in doing so affects countless lives for the negative. Abram was given a promise, Sarai was not sure how that was going to happen for they were too old. But they were not, For with God all things are possible.
A fascinating theological discusiion in the opening of Galatians. Paul lays out the Gospel Christ died for the sins of the World according to the Will of God and our Father.
God the Creator of Life also died on the cross that we might have Spiritual life, hence the "ye must be born again" by Jesus. He has given us life twice, we are bought with a price, therefore our lives do not belong to us.
James, the brother of Christ, tells us why we do not have effectual fervent prayer. He pulls no punches, he says because we pray of our own lusts, or we do not pray, or we pray with an eye to our benefit and not to God's.
We do not have an effective prayer ministry for we do not pray as we should, we in today's world have no idea how to approach the Throne of Grace. We are too prideful, to self absorbed or too lazy to do as God asks.
This is a difficult part of the Bible, it depicts the brutality of life in war. Yet we must preach the WHOLE Book whether it makes us queasy or not, whether we agree with it or not, for the Bible is the Word of God.
What is my legacy? Today we will talk of a woman who had a shady past but 1 right decision and she has a Legacy for the ages. She did the right thing at the right time and it rings through history until today!
Elisha cleans a stew, feeds hundreds at the Word of the Lord and tells a mighty enemy how to be cured of leprosy.
The man sick with palsy was let down, and Jesus said be of good cheer you are going to be healed. NO> What He said was be of Good Cheer they sins be forgiven thee. Jesus cared about sin, about the souls of the people. He did not come that they might be fed and healed, He came that they might have life! Until we get away from the thought that we can live our best life and He will be happy we are doomed. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
An account of love, respect, care, concern and compassion. She does something nice for the man of God and the God of the man does something for her.
The chariot has taken Elijah, Elisha is now the Prophet and things start moving very fast.
Ahab takes the prophets of the Grove, changes them to prophets of "god" and asks them what the Lord says. They eat at his table, they get paid by him, what do you think they said? They said what he wanted to hear that they might continue on in their cushy lifestyle! They did not care for him, they cared for themselves.
Elijah is about at the end of his service, he takes Elisha along as he heads to the chariot of fire.
Yet there is a question I want to examine. Elisha once Elijah is gone does not ask where is Elijah, no he asks where is the God of Elijah. God is the One he needs.
Are you asking where is Spurgeon or Moddy, or Sunday, or Falwell, or Hyles? Don't. Ask where the God of those men is. For He is what we need.
Ahab covets, Naboth dies. God sends Elijah to condemn Ahab and pronounce judgment for his sin. He did not celebrate the sin, or make light of it. He denounced the sin, pronounced death, and Ahab on hearing all this repented.
Ahab finally has someone hold him accountable, finally has someone tell him he is in the wrong and Ahab listens. How will they know of their sin unless we tell them of it?
What I find interesting here is God did not belittle Elijah, or replace him, or even put him down. God allowed Elijah to hear himself and his excuses. Then God, gives him his next mission and exhorts and encourages Elijah on his way out.
Elijah and the prophets of baal are about to go at it, and it does not end well for baal.
When the word of the Lord was brought to Saul, he did what he wanted to do with it.
When the Word was read to Josiah, he acted in a manner most befitting a God fearing king. He got right with God, cleaned up his nation and cleared out the sin.
This one is an impromptu livestream, my mother sister and I singing, my daughter recorded Amazing grace for me, and a short devotional on Jonah.
I chose Jonah for Memorial day, as we celebrate those that fell in defense of our great Nation, on purpose. Jonah was upset Nineveh was going to be spared from destruction. Jonah was upset people were coming to repentance.
Today as we think of the fallen, we must remember there is a fight going on in this world, we must remember the lost and what happens if they die in their sins.
The drought has become famine. Elijah is to go back to Ahab and tell him it will rain again. Obadiah the governor of Ahab's house serves God faithfully in a wicked man's house, and is asked to do more. Elijah sets up a show for the people. This is one of my all time favorite chapters.
Ahab, who has provoked the Lord to anger more than all the kings that went before him is now on the scene. Today we look at the man of God that was called, CHOSE to heed the call and stood in the gap for the Lord God Jehovah.
Sometimes we get tto caught up in alliteration, catchy titles, or preaching on our favorite subject we forget the Gospel is what can turn this world around. We were in a church for 8 services and never heard the Gospel one time.
The world, the alcoholic, the drug addict they all need to know of Jesus.
Jesus condemns the leaders and they vehemently start asking Him questions. Not to learn, they do not care about hearing the Truth, no they started asking questions that they might trip Him up and find an answer they can use to accuse Him. Once accused He can the be killed.
A Father with a demon possessed son, who has been seeing this for years, the pain and anguish. The physical harm, the attempts to burn in a fire, the drowning attempts, for years he has watched this. When Jesus asks what do you want he says whatever can be done. He didn't ask for a full healing, he did not ask for the moon, he asked for whatever Jesus could do. Jesus says if you believe all things are possible. The man can not believe it can be better, he has spent too many years with this situation, too many years of heartache and pain watching his son.
And he cries out Lord help Thou my unbelief. He wants it so much for his boy yet he is in a cold reality of pain and misery.
Moses talked of the Transfiguration and then he made a cameo in. Jesus on the Mount transforms before their eyes, glistering (sparkling and shining from the inside) as He prays. God speaks and tells them this IS His Son.
Simon brought Jesus into his house but did not give him preferential treatment, did not salute him with the customary kiss, nor did he wash the feet of the Savior. Yet the woman washed his dirty feet, dried them with her hair and worshipped Him fully.
One was a sinner so was the other, the only difference? One was aware they were a sinner, aware they needed Jesus.
Be careful who you pay to pontificate. They may not have your best interests at heart. Ahab was given bad advice, but it was what he wanted to hear and it led him straight to his death.
Moses is having a "shut up and sit down" speech with the Israelites.
They have gotten to where they believe God is blessing them because of who they are.
He is not, He is blessing them because of who HE is.
Free Will, the most perplexing topic ever. We who have been saved by great grace and mercy have free will, yet should we use that free will to sin more? God Forbid.
Free Will, the choice of life or death, Heaven or Hell (and make no mistake that is the choice you make) what a fascinating subject.
This word is used 3 times in the Bible. Never in a positive manner. 3 times God says When people hear of what I am about to do their ears will tingle. Not one but both ears will tingle when they hear of God's judgment.
Tempted as we are, bled as we do, cried, betrayed, hurt over the souls lost and going to Hell, and full of compassion for the hungry and the lost. Jesus, God Incarnate, who can identify with us, was just like us and died for us. God made us in His Image, then He came to earth in our form, gave us breath then gave His last earthly breath for us.
Abram and Lot separate, Lot goes toward Sodom and Abram goes the other way. However, Lot's decisions come home to roost and Abram must ride to the rescue.
David brings food to the armies of the Israelites, he hears the giant, see his brothers, goes before the king, and walks onto the battlefield.
Where were David's brothers? Why did they not intervene or assist?
It is time we as Christian brothers and sisters stand united and face the oncoming battle
Abram is a friend of God. Yet he was not perfect. He lies to pharaoh to protect himself. He did not trust in God to provide and protect and it costs pharaoh and it cost Abram his testimony
The people leave Israel but no trip goes as planned as this one is no different. Pharaoh has decided that he will make them go back, but God says I am God and these are my people.
The Israelites cry, Moses is chided by God, and the Red Sea parts.
God tells Israel to call their "gods" for deliverance. Can He do that to us, in today's world, to those that call ourselves Christians? 2 Chron 7:14 tells us how to redeem our nation.
If My People. Not the politicians, not the actors, not the ball players, not the evangelists or preachers, but MY PEOPLE. Folks we need to be living 2 Chron 7:14 not just reciting it.
God tells Moses and the people get dressed, get ready, make bread but put no yeast in it for it will not have time to rise. I am delivering my people tonight.
Jesus comforts the desiciples with if you believe in God believe also in me. In my Fathwer's house are many mansions and He is going to take them there that they might abide with Him.
We all know thses things and they comfort us. But I find great comfort in what the angels said when Jesus ascend. They said this SAME Jesus will come back for you.
Not a hireling, not an angel, not a prophet, not a king, not an impersonator but this same Jesus!
Locusts and darkness so thick you can feel it. Plagues never before seen and promised to never see again. What a fascinating portion of Scripture the Exodus is!
God is now going to strike at the heart of Pharaoh. Him and his people are now going to directly feel the plagues. God has raised Pharaoh up for this purpose and this purpose alone that He might show His power and all the world to know that He is The God.
The Prodigal son is all about redemption, yet how did the son get to the state that he wanted to leave his home? He forgot who loved him, he took for granted all that was done for him, provided for him, he forgot the one that sacrificed all for him. He was an heir to a fortune yet he forsook his good life, his blessed life as a Son; to live as a servant to the world.
God is now going to put a division between the Egyptians and the Israelites. He will show the Egyptians His power and the Israelites His protection. He is an awesome God, the very flies and ticks obey Him as the Creator! Have you ever known a fly that did not invade your privacy? These flies did not go to the Israelites, did not affect them nor their land.
Each of the plagues gets to a new level. In plague 3 the magicians and sorcerer's could no longer mimic or duplicate. In plague 4 which we breach but do not go fully into this time, the plagues will no longer reach the people of God. God is The Lord God and He is reminding the Israelites as He informs the Egyptians.
The rich man said I am going to make my barks bigger to hold all my riches. But God said, tonight will your soul be required of you, then who will all this belong too.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Moses and aaron are going to Pharaoh in the Might and power of God Almighty. This is where He shows the He is The Lord.
Moses goes before Pharaoh and he is disrespected as is the Lord. The people are paying the price of Moses' request to go three days into the wilderness to sacrifice.
Moses failed to circumcise his 2nd son, he failed to follow the covenant. God is angry and wants Moses dead, for how can Moses lead if he himself does not follow God's commands? God is very serious about His men being in compliance with Him and His Will, His Word.
The demon possessed man of the Gaderenes, filled with a legion of demons meets Jesus. A deaf and dumb man meets Jesus. They were never the same for they met the One who changes lives, changes hearts and fills the emptiness of your soul.
He says "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, and I will give rest unto your souls".
Jesus shows up in a burning bush to a man that is content, living life and for all he knows done with the world he knew 40 years ago. Moses is content, God however has other plans.
As we start the Book of Exodus 2 things stand out.
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The New King of Egypt forgot Joseph.
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The MidWives stood up to an unlawful order and obeyed God rather than man.
Regret can be a paralyzing fear, a fear where you see no future or a fear where you fail to make a decision for fear you will make the same bad decision, bad choice time and again.
But it doesn't have to, regret can be a source of renewal not just of pain.
Samuel returns Israel to the Worship of the Lord God Jehovah, there is a time of peace but his time comes to an end. The people demand a king, Samuel hurt and rejected prays and God says, It is not you they have rejected me, but me.
Is Israel really any different than you or I?
The Philistines capture the Ark, and God makes them pay. He humiliates their idol Dagon, He persecutes them with hemorrhoids and pestilence and they can not wait to get rid of Him!
The perfect Sacrifice without Blemish freely given. That is what the requirements were for sacrifices in the Old Testament. In the New Testament Jesus was they voluntary freely given Sacrifice that we might have life. He could have said no, He could have called 10.000 angels but He did not. He freely, voluntarily gave His life. What is our reasonable service? That we present our bodies a living Sacrifice here on this earth for Him.
Israel is going to battle with the Philistines yet they did not consult with the Lord before doing so. They cheered when the Ark came to the battle but they forgot the Ark was not God but a symbol. They cheered the symbol not realizing the God it is a symbol for had left long ago.
At what point do you have to be so wicked that God wants to slay you so much that you can not hear words of correction? Phinehas and Hophni find out for they are sons of belial and wicked not true priests of God.
It is not about the stuff, it is about where the heart is, where you faith is, where your love is that matters. Jesus did not care that the rich ruler had things but that he valued those things so very much.
All my life I was told of the account of Hannah who prayed all her life for a son, whose husband loves her. However, in the eyes of an adult I read the account of Hannah as a bullied, persecuted woman, loved by her husband, but the husband had two wives. She was not the heir's mother and had no standing. Hannah the account of a woman who in adversity prayed for a son and God rewarded her (and all of Israel) for her follow through on a vow.
Peter, Paul, Jesus all had the same message repent, ye must be born again. That is what the world needs to hear. That is how we turn this world around.
For God so loved the World. That is Love. He gave His only Begotten Son. To die for us in the most painful way ever devised by man. That is Love. He watched, yet He did not interfere for love of us. He did not save His only Begotten Son that He dearly loved, rather He died that we might be saved. That is Love
What must I do to be saved? Call on the name of the Lord Jesus. Believe in the shed blood of Christ, Shed for you and I that we might have eternal life. Yes that is the simplest concept yet so many try to complicate it.
Balaam was going to do what God said, then he saw a loophole. What he thought was a loophole almost got him killed by an armed angel and the donkey saved his life.
The Apostle Paul in Philippians says we are to be like minded as Christ. Fully given to the Will of the Father, living our lives for His purpose no matter what it costs us.
How we have gotten away from this. Even in Paul's day he had no one but timothy to send to them as Timothy was the only one like minded. Not out for his own interests but the interests of God.
The Israelites were given the perfect food, it fell 6 days a week and double on the 6th day that they might observe the Sabbath. Miraculously given, miraculously delivered and yet ungrateful people murmur and complain.
Are we today any different?
Moses in his distress, asks God Lord if I have found favor in your eyes please kill me. The people drove Moses to this point yet, when the people needed him he still interceded for them.
Achan, his sin, cost the nation of Israel the lives of 36 men. It also cost him absolutely everything, his sons, his daughters, his animals, and his life.
Manasseh 2nd most wicked king ever in Israel's history, repented and sought God. Yet he inspired 2 generations:
1 to be the most wicked ever.
1 to be the most righteous ever.
The New believers, at the Day of Pentecost, remained stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship.
Yet what I want to make clear is this - The first church was not effective because of the converts. No the first church was effective because the Apostles made themselves available day in and day out for the new converts! The new converts would have floundered if the Apostle's had not done their part.
God was not ashamed to be Abraham, Sarah, Abel or Enoch's God, is He ashamed to be our God? Do we give the enemies of God the chance to blaspheme with our sin?
Capernaum saw the miracles, Heard the demons testify, astonished at His doctrine and His Authority. Yet they did not wholeheartedly accept Him. They took the healings, the demon casting out, the shows, they took that and were entertained but did not wholesale repent and believe on Him.
The Holy Spirit. The disciples waited in a house for Him and when He came man did they turn the world upside down. The same Spirit we have accessto today so why do we not have the same results?
When the world is in need, do you have the reputation, the testimony that they will call you for you know the One that can help? Can you point them to
Jesus as He is calling them?
The religious leaders at the tomb of Lazarus doubted Jesus, they made the people to doubt. Then all the rulers, pharisees scribes etc they got together and said If we do nothing to stop Him all men will believe on Him.
They knew His message was true, they knew He was a miracle worker, they knew this and still they conspired to kill Him. Why? Because He threatened their wallets. No other reason.
Too often we gloss over Hell as a final destination. If they do not know Christ they will go to hell and spend an eternity in torment. Should we not get real about telling them?
There is a jump in the middle, we had a drop in signal.
Abigail saves two men, 1 physically The other in testimony and reputation.
A good woman saved a whole lot of trouble for the nation of Israel.
Jesus died on the old rugged cross. It is a transformational place. Have you ever been transfixed by what happened there? Have you ever knelt and been transformed at the foot of the cross?
Lot is called on to make and stand and when he does his testimony is so poor they laugh at him. What is your testimony? When you have to make a stand will they laugh or listen?
Perhaps one of the most famous speeches ever, for if I say those lines in most places in this world people can finish it. Yet it rings true today. New year, New day but the same struggles. Today will you say "As for me and my house we WILL SERVE the Lord?)
Remembrance, God tells Joshua to build a memorial that they might remember and when future generations ask they can tell them what the memorial is for.
Jesus tells a story, a story of being kind. The Good Samaritan. What greater kindness is there than to tell a lost and dying world of the One who died for them?
The most wonderful time of the year, yet there are those suffering unimaginable loss. Jesus cares, Jesus died for you, Jesus lives for you. He came that we might have life. Lean on Him.
Jesus is rejected by a whole city, for doing what He does. Two demon possessed men were delivered and they (the town) valued a herd of swine over the two men.
Matt 8:28 - 34
Whosoever will. That is who can call on the name of the Lord. Anyone and everyone at any given time may call on Him. Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter had no no money but he had Christ for the lame man. He gave a gift that has a legacy of millions of people being blessed by this account.
Reports that the church must change to survive, that if the church does not change they will lose the world.
The World is already lost. Stay on topic, stay on point and give them God's message Death, hell, judgment and sin for if we do that they will respond. Nineveh did and they were exceeding wicked.
Will you hear well done Thou good and faithful servant or will you hear Thou wicked and slothful servant from the Lord.
Rejoice.
tis the season, but the season is not the reason to rejoice. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. That is the reason, for the season of rejoicing.
God, in the Book of Isaiah is talking of His people. He is not happy with them, for they have paid lip service but they do not care about Him. Are we today the same " As this people"?
Rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we do this with the Scriptures, and the Spirit. God is not vague in His Word, He wants all to come to repentance. How can we do that if He or His Word is vague? or of a varied meaning?
Have you ever wondered why God chose the men He did? To give us hope that we too can be used.
Daniel had to face a government, who made a decree that said He could no longer worship his God. What did he do? Did he stand and denounce the government? Did he yell and holler and complain? No he did what he always did and he stayed faithful to his God and to his values. He didn't change his ways, or make a show of his piety, or do a woe is me speech. He did what he did aforetimes.
Daniel's testimony did not change in 70 years, how we should hope that we can even come close to that.
In our text tonight we see Jesus heal the leper, Teach the people, and heal the paralytic man. The Pharisees and Scribes glorified God when they saw this. BUT then Jesus sits with the sinners, and eats with them. The straw that broke the camel's back for the Pharisees? The disciples ate with unwashen hands. They went from Glorifying God over the miracles to sheer disdain for Him because the disciples did not follow customs and traditions.
We check our bank account, we check our emails daily. Yet how often do we check our Spiritual account?
We are growing by leaps and bounds in this ministry. Yet how do we grow in Grace? We delve into that a little here today.
What does saved mean?
Saved to what?
Saved from What?
What is the process?
That's it?
How do I know I am saved?
I woke this morning with an entirely different message yet this is the one God gave. I have "me" in the title for I can fall as fast as those three men, I can sin as fast as they and I can walk away from God as fast as they. Samson, and Solomon came back to God. Saul never did.
Job, Elijah, Peter, Spurgeon all faced depression and despair. They got down, but they didn't stay there.
It's not all love and freedom and life, there is a day we will have to give account for those things we did for Him and those things we did not do for Him.
That pretty much sums up all our life, what we did for Him and what we did not do for Him.
Paul went to the Corinthians preaching Jesus and Him Crucified. Why? Because the Corinthians did not get the concept and needed to be spoon fed. How many are we giving steak to when they need Milk?
Jesus, it's what I have, it's what they need.
The people were neglecting God's house and God is calling them out on it. If you think God does not care about His reputation, His house, His people not going to His house, think again. David the man after God's own heart saw God's ark living in a tent and he was not happy God wasn't living as well as he. How do you think God feels about us today?
Paul was all about the furtherance of the Gospel. He was all about preaching Jesus, in even in prison. The Gospel, the death, burial and Resurrection of Christ. That was all Paul cared about.
170 years ago Spurgeon and Moody also questioned men and their sensitivity to the Spirit. If God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and He has not changed, that means we must have.
There is a hiccup at 10 mins or so I edited as best as I could but the livestream was dropped and had to restart. When David sinned it cost him and another time it cost him and the people. There is a cost to sin. David is also the one who brought the idea of the Temple into being among men. The same David brought judgment as the one that brought the Temple. The people of God, today, can do the same, we can be the source of judgment or revival.
Are we willing to choose?
Are we willing to Sacrifice?
God wants you rich, In Christ Jesus. In Fellowship with Him. In His Mercy and His Grace. Not in money, not in material possessions, but reliant in Him, reliant on Him.
When you make plans you call ahead, register and reserve seats. Are you Registered for you eternal destination? Does He know you and have a seat set aside for you? Have you registered your name in the Lamb's book of Life?
Nehemiah, What a testimony, what a leader, what a man of God. Yet the faith of the laborers, when they heard him detail the plan, is what moves me. They said, in the face of opposition, utter ruin and trouble, Let us rise up and build. What a Testimony!
Satan must have been really working this morning, we were interrupted 3 times during the broadcast. If the edit seems a little blocky I am sorry we pieced it together fairly well I think.
God knew, that is a comforting fact. He knew we would need good and bad examples. He knew we would need examples we could relate too, He knew we would need to know blessed are they that have not seen yet believed. He knew, and I take great comfort in that.
Lot's wife looked back at Sodom being destroyed. She had babies dying there, would we have done less? I know she disobeyed God, but stop villifying her for what we too might have done.
Hezekiah, Rehoboam and the noble of Jerusalem, and the king of Nineveh, all humbled themselves from the Lord. The king of Nineveh even caused a fast among the animals and had them in sackcloth to in the hope that God would relent from His impending Judgment.
Is it not time for us to humble ourselves?
We stress so much that whosoever believes shall not perish, Perhaps we ought to stress that if you do not believe you Shall Perish. Jesus Himself makes this statement, Jesus, God Himself said it. perhaps we ought to pay attention it.
There is a time when sound doctrine will not be endured, but are we teaching what is sound and what is false? Are we living the Gospel we preach and teach? Are we truly as urgent as we should be?
The Pharisees failed to see Jesus for who He was even though they saw His Works, heard the he testimony of John, listened to His Words. Will you fail to hear Him, He cries out in the Temple will you listen?
Jesus Changed history in 3 years. Why can we not? with singleness of purpose, with a group of3 to 10 the world can be rocked if that group can dedicate and follow through to singleness of purpose.
We may say in today's world this is not possible, maybe. But who is willing to try with me? Not rhetorical? I really want to know, who is willing to try with me?
There is a blip in the middle. Last Sunday Morning and then again tonight the message has been sabotaged, satan is attacking. We must be doing something right! I apologize for the poor edit but there was no even way to salvage so I had to do best we could.
False prophets abounded in Jude's day, they abound today.
We see him as he is, we look at his modus operandi and we learn so we can identify the enemy. Satan is powerful but he is not God. Watch out for him, be ready for him and you will not be caught off guard too often.
First thing to know is his limits, his lack of omnipotence. Satan is a created being, more powerful than us, not as powerful as Go. When he is tossed into the lake of fire he will be an occupant of hell, not it's Lord and Master as some believe
A lot of Mystery surrounds this thing we call the Romans Road. It's not mystical or otherworldly, it is there for you to learn. Always remember no matter what you talking of what Christ did for you, experiential testimony is still the best witness.
Solomon, the man called the wisest of all, truly is sharing wisdom. Ecclesiastes is His life in Word. The Preacher, what Solomon calls himself, is telling you how to avoid what befell him.
Just after arriving in Hell the rich man saw Lazarus and Abraham, he was cognizant of who he had been, where he was and what he was seeing. He begged for a DROP of water and for his family to be told so they did not come to where he was.
We need this kind of desperation before they die and go to Hell.
John 9, the blind man sees. The Pharisees question him, and the blind man then questions how they do not know Jesus is of God.
Rahab, Moses, Abraham. They all chose God over the world, and they were rewarded. Yet some in the list chose God and received their rewards in Heaven not on earth. But all stayed faithful.
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
An Acapella duet of I must tell Jesus, plus is it my problem? Is it my job? James says it is.
The Sabbath day was so important God put it in the 10 Commandments. Yet He did not say thou shalt or thou shalt not. No, He says Remember the Sabbath! Observe, sanctify and respect the Sabbath Day.
The wisest man to ever live, that is what we call Solomon. Well, he was a womanizer, chased after wine women and song. His Ecclesiastes starts out as a biography, let me tell you if ever you want to know King Solomon follow along.
We sing Amazing Grace in a duet, plus "tell it to Jesus" Wha a friend we have in Jesus.
Interesting Chapter here. The sons of Korah rebel for they perceive Moses and Aaron to be taking too much authority upon themselves, and instead of seeking God's Will they rise up against God's chosen. They are men of renown, respected by the people and they lead the people into their doom.
Be careful who you speak out against, be careful who you follow.
So many times we are afraid to pray for God to move for we fear we might be the ones who have to get moving. We are to prepare the world to meet with Him, we are to prepare the people, to meet with Him every Sunday morning, Sunday Night Wednesday night. We are not called to an hour a week but to a life of service.
You can tell what event or holiday it is by the Scripture being read. Yet if we say all Scripture is good for all occasions then why do we pigeon hole? Psalm 23 should be a life Motto a daily encouragement not a funeral dirge.
The very God of the Universe, the one who breathed life into us, came to this earth and gave His very last breath on this earth that we might have life. He gave us the breath of life both physically (in the garden) and spiritually (by expelling His last for us on the cross, dying, and then rising again on the third day).
We have cheapened time, yet we do not fill our time with His Word. On the road to Emmaus Jesus met and talked with two and His Words burned in their hearts.
God's Law says we must have 2 or 3 witnesses, at the Tomb on Resurrection morning we had 7. The 5 women going to prepare the body and then Peter and John. 500 saw Him after that. We have verified proof Christ Arose. At this point if you do not believe He is the Risen Savior it is because you do not want to.
This is a Word to all men of God. This prophet is on a Mission from God, He is full of power and the Spirit until he is waylaid by an old prophet. The old prophet comes along and lies to the young man, costing him his life.
Be careful who you tie up with for there is deception afoot.
Miriam and Aaron speak out against Moses because they did not like who he had married. A tale as old as families. Yet they spoke out against the man God hand picked for this job. They are about to get a "come to Jesus meeting".
Yet what happens here is rebellion and redemption, Love and restoration, Chastisement yet mercy. Fascinating.
Today we look at 2 examples of people who want the title, the recognition, the accolades but have no idea of the God they claim to serve.
Simon the sorcerer, when Peter tells him to pray and ask God to forgive him, Simon responds pray for me. He does not understand the God he claims to believe in. No Simon believes in power, position and authority.
Ananias and Sapphira, they sold property they did not have and gave some. They could have gave it all, none or some. Yet they lied about it and for that they paid. They wanted the cheers, the accolades and the position of prominence without knowing the God the claimed to serve.
Perhaps the worst statement other than "depart from me for I never knew you" is this statement that "if not for Jehoshaphat I would not regard you". Regard to give attention to or have concern for.
Elisha would not have cared had they gone to battle and died if Jehoshaphat was not with them. The king of Israel, God's chosen was going to be allowed to go to his death if not for Jehoshaphat's presence.
Part 2 is the battle between Syria, Judah, and Israel. Jehoshaphat almost dies for following Ahab, Ahab does die, because God wanted him out of the way.
Yes you read that right. God wanted Ahab dead and Ahab died.
This chapter has it all. Prophecy, betrayal, bad alliances, spirits, violence, comedy, Ahab, and Jehoshaphat. God sends a lying spirit to lead Ahab to death, a prophet of God says exactly what Ahab wants to hear and Ahab does not believe him. Fascinating what happens in this chapter.
Three men who did not let their failure define them. 3 men who did not let failure stop them. We are talking egregious failures not just small ones, yet these men were defined by their successes. Peter, John Mark and Onesimus, a run a way slave, a timid and scared boy, and a man who partially obeyed.
Paul is led by the Spirit, in a vision to go to Macedonia. The same Spirit stops him from going to Asia. Paul hears the Spirit, liestens to the Spirit and upon waking, immediately departs for Macedonia.
God is a jealous God. He does not like sharing. Today we discuss the perfume, the people and the priets God set aside for His and Only His Use. Do you think He might just care how His people live for Him today?
Paul went into the Synagogues every week. He preached Christ to those who would be most offended, why? Because they were the ones who needed it most! He was persecuted for his efforts but every time he was right back in a Synagogue on the next Sabbath. He preached Jesus, unashamed and unafraid.
When Peter and John are called before the council they refuse to back down. They are going to preach Christ. Facing this trouble this persecution they get together for a prayer meeting and what do they pray for? Mercy? Grace? For the trouble to pass by? For God to save them? No they prayed for boldness that they might effectively preach and witness more boldly in the face of this trouble.
Paul goes to the synagogue and they ask if he has anything to say. Never ask a traveling preacher or evangelist if they have anything to say! the answer is always more than you expect.
Paul has met Jesus and guess what he does? He starts telling anyone who will listen. He turns from chief prosecutor to chief proclaimer. He met Jesus and his life changed. His life change was responsible for so many countless others, what a testimony. Yet overshadowed by Paul was Barnabas, whose testimony is just as great as Paul's, if not greater. Then there is Ananias who went and met with a man sent to kill him and his. What Faith!
There are 3 a capella songs here all done by me. It is well, when the roll is called up yonder, when we all get to heaven. Yes I love the old hymns and the message contained in them.
Then we get to the woman who washed Jesus' feet, she was all about the Savior but His host barely tolerated Him. How do we know that? Because Jesus says so.
Today we start looking at the life of Saul/Paul not to be confused with King Saul we just finished with. This man Saul is the chief persecutor of the Christians, he meets Jesus and he becomes the Chief Proclaimer.
A fascinating life, one of pain, conflict, faith, betrayal,loyalty, discipleship and inhuman determination. Paul finds a prayer service, a praise service wherever he goes, whether in chains, on a sinking ship or in front of the most powerful people in the land.
Alright, an a capella of "what a day that will be", plus Jesus, the fig tree, the temple cleansing and some good old fashioned miracles. What more can you ask for?
As Always a big shout out to my aunt Maryanne who wrote and performed open and closing music.
King Saul did some good, Saul did some wrong. Here in the end he wipes out one of his victories and breaks God's Law yet again. Saul is sad, lonely, and desperate. He decides to see the witch of Endor, a story we all know2 well, and what Samuel tells him, shakes him to the core.
Really horrific chain of events here. David tells a little white lie, Doeg tells a huge lie and Saul in his madness makes the lie of Dog even worse in meaning. A truly sad day in the annals of the Old Testament.
Saul is officially unhinged, Despite Michal and Jonathan helping David he has to go on the lam. Saul is so far gone he tries to kill his own son, all because Jonathan says there is no reason to kill David. This is truly a heart breaking account of one man's insecurity, jealousy and rage. Yet next to chapter 9 coming up this is very tame stuff.
I understand if the title confuses you, for David and Goliath is what we all know. Yet Saul was Israel's king, Saul should have been the one standing against Goliath.
Instead Saul the goodliest (read it again goodliest not godliest) man in all of Israel according to God Himself is cowering in a tent. Thus David gets all the glory and all the blessing.
Micah stole from his mother, set up his own religion with his very own Levite who was given all authority to make Micah's religion what he wanted it to be.
Now Micah's religion and priest is taken from him, and the priest went along willingly, even eagerly for he was now legitimate and going to serve an entire tribe as priest, but with Micah's false religion.
A whole tribe of Israel led astray into idolatry by Micah, what a legacy. For 360 years Micah's religion was in place in the Tribe of Dan. Not the reputation I would want in the history books.
Micah steals from his mother, she curses the thief, he returns the money, she blesses her son. Then takes 200 of the 1100 shekels she had dedicated to God (yes our God) to make a molten image and a graven image to dedicate her son to God. And it only gets worse from there.
This man makes his own religion, his own rules, and thinks God will bless even though he does not know God.
Saul is given a task from God and he fails miserably, Yet his character is on full display. He disobeys God, he puts his hands on Samuel and he throws the people he was chosen to lead under the bus.
Saul is a trainwreck.
Gideon is tough! He comes across 2 groups who do not help him, and he goes back and administers justice to the fence riders (takes them out back with a switch). He delivers Israel from Midian, but he causes Israel to fall into idolatry again.
Have you ever wondered why the people decided they want qa king? God tells Samuel the people of Israel are rejecting Him, and they are going to get exactly what they want.
Now we get to the fleece Gideon is known for, yet there is more! Gideon starts out with 30,000 men and God whittles them down to 300. Gideon and the men following him get yet another reassurance from God, 1 they did not ask for. God is good and gracious and He knows what you need and when you need it.
You think you know Gideon, the fleece is wet the fleece is dry. Yes that part you know. Did you also know there is an appearance from Christ? Fire comes from a rock? Family drama, Gideon must stand against his father and a city? Gideon is called and Gideon goes to work. Gideon gets 4 signs from God, one he didn't even ask for! Judges 6.
King Saul makes a couple of bad choices causing Israel and his son a lot of problems. Really, the bad choices just keep coming from Saul.
Did you know Jonah cared more for a gourd than 60,000 young children who knew not their left from their right? Did you know Nineveh repented and made the beasts (Cows, sheep, camels etc) wear sackcloth and cry to God? Fascinating stuff.
Jonah is a fascinating Book. 4 miracles in my opinion in the first 2 chapters. The character of men, the power of God, the Creation and Creator all in force. Absolutely mesmerizing!
Saul the first king of Israel has made the mistake that costs him his line on the throne in perpetuity, within the first 3 years of his kingship.
So much is going on here. Daniel's prayer, The war between satan and God, the archangels answering prayers, and the closing of the book of Daniel.
Daniel is conspired against and He stays true as aforetime. That to me is so important, he did as he did before and stayed faithful.
Want to talk about a real life game of thrones here you go. Bad king, good king and wicked stepmother.
King Nebuchadnezzar, One of the greatest kings in the history of the world, testifies of God. His testimony and conversion is fascinating.
Ahab and Jezebel. A couple who live on infamy. God so loathed these 2 that He caused them to be totally wiped off the earth. Their lineage, their heritage all gone, no mausoleum, no crypt, no memorial. Why? Because they led the people of God into idolatry.
God had specific things He wanted from the Israelites, today we Christians call ourselves God's people. if we are God's people why are we afraid of standing up and standing out from the world? This may offend some but God set standards for the Israelites. I believe He has not changed, We have in that we have lowered God to our level, rather than us rising to His.
Daniel 3 is full of intrigue, miracles, pride, and of course faithful witnesses to God.
The Book of Daniel, in the first 6 chapters, is so full of the power of God, that we often forget some of what He did.