Sunday a.m. - September 30, 2008 by Pastor
Luke 16:19-23; Matthew 7:13-20
In this portion of scripture, we have a familiar passage. One that is preached but not really understood. We see Christ talking of two ways. There are two distinct ways but both are in the same path. Let me explain.
Many will find a broad way. This is the way that we all are born onto and are all heading to a life and eternity of destruction without God as the rich man found out. Along on our journey we see Christ, the narrow gate, lifted up and we repent and enter into the narrow way, as did Lazarus.
The key to the narrow way is Christ. John 14 tells us that Christ said He is the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father, or inherit eternal life in heaven, accept by the blood of Jesus Christ. We all need Christ and once we are in the right relationship with Him, we need to show others that narrow gate.
Along the journey, some will try to walk in the narrow way but they did not enter by way of the strait gate vs. 21-24. Many will prophesy and do many wonderful works in the name of Christ, but they did not enter through Him. If we do not enter through Christ, we are not His. We will be cast into the lake of fire that burns forever and our torment will be unquenched. We must enter into the narrow way by
the strait gate.
The Christian life is not about doing “spiritual” things. It is about doing ministry which is living whole-heartedly for Christ and allowing Him to have free reign in our lives as we show others the way. It is not about doing things but it is rather about being a witness. Ministry in the Bible is only defined as leading people into a relationship with Him. We need the church cleaned, buses run, music lead, nursery offered, etc. But ministry is the work of evangelism.
In verses 16 and 20 we are told that those who enter into the narrow way properly through the strait gate will be known by their fruit. What is this fruit? Our fruit is the witness that we have in this lost world. Are you actively witnessing? If not, maybe you are not His. Maybe you are walking on the narrow way bit missed the strait gate. Make you election, or salvation, sure.
Sunday p.m. - September 30, 2008 by Pastor
This afternoon, we started a course called The Way Of The Master. It is an evangelism class that helps us get equipped to reach out to a lost world. The word evangelism is a word that carries a bad connotation in the church but it should be part of each of our vocabularies. It simply means love in action.
Only 2% of American Christians said they share their faith regularly. This is frightening. We know God and His awesome power but do not share the gospel. Why? I believe it is truly a lack of love.
First, it stems from a lack of love for God. God said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” In Acts 1, the church is commanded to propagate the gospel, or tell the world about their need for Christ. We are given the command to evangelize. If you are married, what would your spouse think if they told you something repeatedly and you did not listen? Then on top of that, you make excuses why you are not showing your love. Do you really love them?
We also do not witness because we do not truly love people. We need to see people the way God sees them. They are a creation of God that is fallen from birth and on their way to Hell unless they repent and ask Christ to be their Lord and Savior. We must tell them the truth in love.
There are many who also believe that we must build relationships with people before we can witness to them. Did you know that you can get to know someone in less than three minutes? The idea that we have to spend weeks, months or even years getting to know someone is a myth that I fear has wasted a lot of time and allowed many missed opportunities to witness. People are on their way to Hell, it does not matter if they know you or not, it only matters if God knows them as His own.
What does the moon do? It reflects the sun. It is just a blob of dirt that catches the sun’s rays and sends them out. The church is like a moon. We are God’s creations and our job is to reflect His truth to this world. It also controls the tides. The church is the tool in which God chooses to bring revival into the world. What are you doing to reflect the truth and to bring revival into this world? Time is too short and Hell is too hot for us to keep quiet.
Sunday a.m. - September 21, 2008 by Pastor
Luke 16:19-31
Today we will look at a familiar story. Many debate on whether this is a real life story or if it is a parable. Either way, there is a plethora of challenges to us all and unbelievable principles to follow. It is the account of the rich man and Lazarus.
The account start with details about the rich man. We are not even told his name. Just “the rich man.” He could afford to wear purple and fine linens every day. He also through banquets often. These were not just parties but lavish dinners. We are told that he fared sumptuously. He had no need by the worldly standards.
Then we are told about a poor man named Lazarus. We are told his name and it means, “whom God helps.” We will discuss this in another week are so.
Lazarus was carelessly dropped off at the rich man’s gate. He was so poor that the towns’ people dropped him off there in an attempt to get him help. He is also full of open sores that oozed and the dogs even liked them. He could not even go to see the doctor for help.
We are told that Lazarus desired crumbs from the rich man’s table. This sounds bad but it is much worse than it sounds. What they would do at these banquets is use the bread crust as napkins. When their fingers were dirty they would lick them, whip the remaining food and saliva onto the crust, and feed it to the dogs. This is what Lazarus desired.
Lazarus was totally destitute, as are we. We cannot do anything apart from the power and grace of God. Every heart beat is a gift. Every breath we take is a gift.
We need Christ for life. We need Christ for eternity. Apart from Christ, we face an utter eternity in a place prepared for Satan and his demons. We need Him.
Psalms 34:18, 51:17, 102:17, II Cor. 5:17, II Cor. 12:10, 13, Phil. 4:13
Sunday a.m. - September 13, 2008 by Pastor
Matthew 10:16-28
God calls us sheep several times in the scripture. Sheep are dumb, weak, and dependent. They have no defenses and must be watched all the time or else they will wonder off and get into trouble. It is not very encouraging to be such an animal, but so it is. We are weak and can do nothing apart from God’s grace. We are dumb and need wisdom and constant guidance. We also have no defenses against the whiles of the devil. Like it or not, we are sheep.
In Matthew chapter 10, Christ tells us that He sends us out as sheep amidst the wolves. Wolves are a natural predator of sheep. They hunt in packs and are vicious. Sheep have no defense and will be torn apart by wolves and yet God sends us out as such.
I Peter 5:8 tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking those he may devour. He is an enemy to the Christian. The moment you repent and turn to Christ for salvation, you become an enemy of Satan and he seeks to devour and destroy you.
Matthew 7:15 warns us of false prophets which will try to lead us down the broad path the leads to destruction. It says that they are like ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. Christ is clear about the path to salvation and godliness. It is through Christ himself and His word alone. He completed the work on the cross and there is nothing that we can do to add to or take away from it. We simply accept this gift or reject it.
His Word is absolute truth and life. If you hear something on the contrary, it is from a false prophet. We are to mark such people and have nothing to do with them. They also use a message that is close to the truth. Satan is a wise serpent.
However, we need not fear because Christ is our shepherd. In John 10, we see that Christ is the door and it is He that gives His life. He guides us and protects us through His divine power. Verse 11 says that Christ gives His life for the Sheep. Not gave but gives. This is a promise that His life actively gives us a home in heaven as well as strength for everyday living. He is committed to us and will never leave us or forsake us. He is the Great Shepherd.
Sunday p.m. - September 13, 2008 by Pastor
Psalms 1
Lets take a brief look at the first chapter in Psalms. The first three verses deal with the holiness and happiness of a man lead by the Spirit and obedient to God. Blessed is the word used and carries the meaning of true happiness. Not the emotional high that is tied to it today but true happiness only found through God.
First, we are told the the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly is blessed. We are a peculiar people set apart for God’s service. We should live like it. Too often we are just like the world. We are afraid to be labeled as radical when that is preciously what we should be. Don’t walk in the ways of the world but pursue truth to the end.
Secondly, we are blessed when we do not stand in or with the
way of sinners. There is a progression of wickedness here. First we act like the world and walk with them testing the waters. Then we stand with the world in a more friendly relationship. When we become comfortable with living like the world we are more apt to stand with them in philosophy as well as lifestyle. Don’t cultivate wickedness in your life.
Lastly, we are blessed when we do not sit in the seat of the scorners. Sitting is the most comfortable position. This is when we become so comfortable with the world that we permanently conform to the ways of the world. Are you resting upon God and His Word or are you sitting in the world?
When we walk with God, stand upon His Word, and rest in Him we are blessed. We will be like trees planted by the waters. We shall have fruit and we shall be prosperous. We will truly be happy in Him.
The last three verses of the chapter deal with the sinfulness and misery of the wicked. The wicked are not so. They will face judgment and this will not be pretty. The wicked shall perish and face eternal damnation. What are you doing about it. Are you living like them, or will you be different and be God to them?
Sunday a.m. - September 8, 2008 by Pastor
John 10:15-27
Sheep are dumb. They even run funny. If you Google dumb sheep you will see some videos that will make you shake your head and laugh. They also scare easily. You can scare a whole flock and they will all just roll over and lay there momentarily stunned. When was the last time you saw a sports team with a sheep as a mascot? You don’t because they are DUMB.
They are also weak. They have no defenses or hope if they are attacked. They are so weak that the shepherds have to still the water if it is too rough so the sheep can drink. They are WEAK.
Here in the Psalms 95:6, 7a we have some encouraging words. God calls us sheep. I do not know about you but we are nothing like sheep. We do not do dumb things. We do not follow other people no matter how ignorant they are. We are never scared and we are strong. Right? I want to be something like a bear or a lion. However, when I choose to not be a sheep totally dependent on God, I am living
in rebellion. Like it or not we are sheep!
The gospel of John gives us some more insight on how this works. Verse 27 tells us that God’s sheep, those of us who know have repented and know Him as Savior, hear His voice. The reason we do not hear is because we choose not too. He is always speaking and longing for us to hear. When was the last time that you have truly heard from God? Do you hunger after God and His Word? Psalms 107:1-9; 61:2; 19:6-10; 34:17, 18
We are also told that God’s sheep follow Him. We are dependent sheep but He is the great shepherd. What a blessing to know that our shepherd is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, etc.
When we follow God, He is right in front of us. This means that where ever God leads us, He is going before us. God will never call us or lead us to do anything or go anywhere in which He is not with us. We also have the Holy Spirit our parakletos or helper. He is continually with us no matter where we go. Psalms 95:7b, 8 encourages us to not harden our hearts. Be obedient!
Sunday p.m. - September 8, 2008 by Pastor
Psalms 139, I Cor. 11: 20-f.f.
The Psalmist writes about two attributes of God. The first one we will look at is found in verse 7-f.f. We see that God is omnipresent. God is everywhere. Many believe in a philosophy called Pantheism. This means that God is in everything. God is everywhere and owns everything but is not in everything. Panentheism is another phylosophy that takes it a step farther and says that everything is God which is also not biblical.
The Psalmist asks several rhetorical questions about where can I go that God is not there. The answer is nowhere. This can be scary to some because we cannot hide from God. When we do not want God to see our sinful ways, He does. Also, one day the Bible tells us that all will bow the knee and proclaim that He is God. It can be a great blessing too. No matter how beaten or downtrodden we are, God is there to help and lift us up.
The next thought found in verse 1-6, if that God is omniscient or all knowing. He know our thoughts, our words, our actions, etc. He also knew them before the foundation of the world. Verse 6 says that this idea is too high and wonderful for us to understand. Think about it. God knows everything about us and He still loves us and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die and pay for our sins. He did this to have a relationship with us, a fallen sinful creation.
When we gather together to partake of the Lord’s table, we commemorate this fact. He gave his body which was broken and beaten because of our sins. He poured out His blood to redeem our souls. We should ever be mndful of this truth.
Communion also celebrates Christ’s promise to return to bring us all home. He says He will not eat this bread or drink of this cup until He can do it with us, His bride, in Heaven. Let us examine ourselves, rejoice in what God has done and will do, and lets serve Him with every ounce of our being!
Sunday a.m. - August 31, 2008 by Pastor
John 4:1-29
Today we wrap up our study of the Church. We look at a familiar passage in John chapter 4. First, I want you to notice that Jesus was in Jerusalem and was going north to Galilee. The Jews would normally journey across the Jordan River, then north, then back across the river to avoid travel through Samaria. The Jews and Samaritans were like oil and water. However, Jesus did not do this. He told his disciples that He must go through Samaria. Our responsibility to the world involves reaching all people, no matter what their ethnicity, social standing, location, etc. We are to give the gospel
message to all.
Second, we see the woman came to get water at noon. Normally, they would get water in the early morning to use it for the rest of the day. It is highly likely that this woman was a social outcast. Upon their meeting, Christ began to give her the gospel through use of the law. He met her where she was. He did not invite her to church. He did not set all these rules in front of her to clean her up. He realizes that this is the Holy Spirit’s job after salvation begins. Not only did Christ go out of His way to reach all people, He also met people where they were.
Lastly, Christ spoke plainly to her with compassion. In verse 25 she says to Christ that she knows that the Messiah is coming and when He does, she would know because He would reveal all things. Remember, Christ just got done telling her about the ever quenching water which He offered. Then he told her about her immoral living arrangements she had and about her past husbands. The truth is that she did not see and yet Christ compassionately told her that the one to who she talked to was indeed the Messiah. Instead of making her feel ignorant or beating her up, Christ simply reached out to her even in her ignorance. People are blind and we are the vehicle in which God chooses to reach them. We are the last line of defense between them and the eternal judgment of a just and holy God. Will you defend to the last or let the devil flank them?
Sunday p.m. - August 31, 2008 by Pastor
Luke 6:14-16
Let’s discuss the last four of the twelve disciples. This should not take long because very little is known about these men. First up is James the less. The title “the less” comes from the Greek word micros. This might be in reference to his stature, his age, his influence, or all the above.
In Mark 2:14 we see that Levi, or Matthew was the son of Alpheus. In the Luke account we see that James the less is also son of Alpheus. This was not a very common name: therefore, it is probable that the two were brothers. Christ liked to work with brothers as he did with James and John and Peter and Andrew and Judas and James. Also, if you compare Mark 15:40 and John 19:25 we see that James the less might also be the cousin of Christ.
Simon the Zealot is next. Zealots were one of four political parties and were very fiery and temperamental in character. I think it is safe to assume the same about Simon. His name is only mentioned in the lists of the twelve and that is all we know.
Continuing on is Judas, the disciple with three names. One was
Trinimious, another is Lebbaeus which means heart child, and the last one is Thaddaeus which means nursing baby. If you put them all together we can see that Judas was a sensitive person with a compassionate heart and apparently taking things personally. In John 14:21, 22 we see he is worried that Christ will only manifest himself to the disciples and not to the world.
Lastly, we see Judas the traitor. Judas is different from the other eleven. His name means Jehovah leads, but through his life we see another story. From Judas we see the evil potential that lay inside all of mankind. We see the possibility of walking with Christ intimately and yet not truly knowing Him. We also see that no matter how evil man can be, God’s plan can never be thwarted. God made you the way He wanted too and longs to empower you if you let Him.
Sunday a.m. - August 24, 2008 by Pastor
II Timothy 1:7-9
One of the most used excuses for not witnessing is that Christians do not want to be offensive and turn people off to the gospel. The problem with this is that according to the scripture, people without Christ are living in sin against God. We are called to give them the gospel, the truth which brings conviction through the Holy Spirit. This will be offensive. However, we are to spread the gospel and then let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.
God calls us to take up our cross daily. The most common command in the Bible is be not afraid. God is telling us that affliction and suffering will be a part of a witness’ life. II Timothy 1:8 tells us to not be ashamed of the gospel. This world does not want it but they so badly need it. Their eternal lives depend on it. So Timothy goes on to tell us to be partakers of the afflictions because it is a small price to pay to reach people.
I Corinthians 3:6-9 says that some plant, some water, some reap, and it is God that gives the increase. It is not our job to save people but to tell them the truth of the gospel and allow God to draw them. We are simply tools to be used by God. Also, the more we witness, the more we will see lives changed. Usually people who use this excuse do not consistently witness. Keep serving our King no matter what the outcome.
God has also promised to give us the words to speak. Remember, we are not giving out some jewel of truth that we came up with but we are giving out the precious word of God. He even has it all written out so we would not be confused on what to say. He also tells us in Isaiah that His word will not return void. Again, keep serving our King.
In Acts 1:8, God also promises strength. It is not by our power, but by His. God is omnipotent so He has plenty of power to give. So, keep serving our King.