Note From Christian Life On-Line Fellowship

ENJOY THE PASSOVER and Spring Harvest and have a Blessed New Year!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Every good and perfect gift comes from above and it was all created for me--I am a child of God!

God's commandments are there to help elevate me, not box me in--I am set free to think higher and live higher!

What I say matters--I sow good words and good seeds to harvest a good future!

I go to God and He points me in the direction of His will for my life every day!

God blesses me with harvest and there is no sorrow attached!

I respect the wealth God puts in my hand--I serve God with it and it becomes a blessing to my family and a tool to help others!

Be sure to sow your seed into the good soil of the ministries listed below, and may you be blessed 30, 60, 100-fold! (Be sure to name your seed as you sow for what you are believing for!)







Note today's read this August 29, 2010 The Lifeless Church

Do you have a teachable heart or are you in rebellion to God's word?

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. ".....Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has rejected you....." - 1 Samuel 15:23

How many of us are in danger of losing God's blessing due to partial obedience? How many of us have such a need to control people and

circumstances that we fail to fully walk in obedience to God's voice in our lives? Saul provides a great lesson for us as workplace

believers. The need to overcontrol things around us can prevent us from receiving all that God has for us. Today, take an inventory

of your control quotient.

Ask God if you are being fully obedient to what He has called you to do this day, and avoid being put on the shelf for disobedience.

Note: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22b).

Scroll down to this Sunday's message (#87): The Lifeless Church and may God bless your hearing and reading of His Word.

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Today.....

"...Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up

and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are..."

Peter the Apostle, Martyred in Rome, 65 AD (I Peter 3:14,15)

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NOTE:... Come out of the world, simplify your life, prepare to teach, emphasize the family


What is.....The Kingdom of God...?.......The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace, and Joy!

We can be successful through Praise, Worship, and Thanksgiving

The resources on this page are here for you to discover the Truth in marketing, that sets men and women free from the burdens of

the world. These informative sites will help you discover your God-given gifts by His awesome designs for you and

your family to lead productive and meaningful lives by the power of Jesus Christ living in and among our fellowship.

These weekly note passages are from Christian Life On-Line Fellowship and our praise and worship services on Sunday.

Our hope is that you would be encouraged to participate in a Christian Fellowship in your area and be blessed. Our goal is to help

people become more like Jesus in the market workplace by teaching others about Discipleship and the love of

God and His Kingdom Plan for all of His creation, so come join us for insight, encouragement, and joy in thought-provoking

issues according to Biblical Scriptures. Enjoy the life journey through Ventures In Success!

note 1.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 22, 2008: Changing Our Approach to Life.......note: Prov. 3:1-8

Clean out the clutter...

Don't make mountains out of molehills...

Know when to make it a big deal, and when to leave it alone...

Be thankful for what we have...

Have no petty arguments...

Be anxious for nothing....Phil. 4:16

Focus on our Spiritual gifts...

Learn to be content and enjoy the journey...

Note that God's mercy is new every day, leave the past behind, and celebrate the moment...

Note: Not to compare ourselves with others, we are all unique...

(Until we meet again, may God bless)

note 2.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 29, 2008: Wisdom From The Master.......note: Matthew 7: 7-29

You expect little children to do stupid things but why do adults never seem to learn? Note that Christ has given us the foundation

of life both now and forever. "Doing unto others" should have positive emphasis, not just negative. We must give up the search for

a human "guru", Jesus is our "guru". The will of God is no longer 612 points of the Old Testament law. It is the right relationship

with God and men. These relationships,through Christ, give us an unshakable foundation.

Ask, and it will be given to you...

Christian life is bathed in prayer...

In every way and every day go to God...

How much more good gifts will God give to those who ask?...

Engage others in conservation...

Enter by the narrow gate...(through Jesus)

You will know them by their fruits...

Not everyone will enter the Kingdom of God...

It's Jesus plus nothing...

Keep His commandments and abide in Him is the Father's will...

The Rock or sinking sand?...

It is God's good pleasure to give us all that we ask and to do His will...

(Until we meet again, may God bless!)

note 3.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, July 6, 2008: Will these seeds grow?.......note: Matthew 13:1-23

Not that Israel expected a kingdom established by the Messiah to come suddenly.

Jesus said the kingdom was here and now and it was open to both Jews and Gentiles.

There are no "entitled" people in the kingdom. A response is required from all.

Before this response can occur, God must grant understanding.

Our job is not to predict where seed will grow but to sow wherever we can, whether on the wayside, on stony places, among thorns,

or on good ground. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and understand.

All members of the Church worldwide are in this work together. Let's don't worry whose group gets the credit.

Reference: The Parable of the Sower

(Until we meet again, may God bless!)

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Sunday, July 13, 2008 Understanding the Kingdom of God .......note: Matthew 13: 24-52

1. We all have a strong interest in "end time" events.

2. Jesus made it very plain that a time is coming when the age of man's rule, inspired by Satan, will end.

3. There are only two possible outcomes for all humans: you live forever with God or you don't.

4. Almost any work of God on earth starts small and then grows larger.

5. People generally "discover" God in one of two ways: by accident or by searching to fill a need.

6. A good teacher will continually mix new ideas with old ones in presenting God's Truth.

7. Judgment is coming. Be wheat not tares.

When will the suffering of this present age end? [The whole universe groans and yearns for the adoption of God's sons]

When will Jesus return? [Nobody knows the day or hour, so we need to be prepared 24/7]

Matt. 13:24 "...Another parable [a simple part of life that has a Spiritual lesson] He put forth to them, saying.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;..."

v.36-43 "...Then Jesussent the multitude away into the house; and His

disciples came to Him, saying, 'explain the parable of the tares of the field.' He answered and said to them: 'He who sows the good seed is

the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The

enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Note: ("...beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.[wheat or tares?] Do men gather grapes from thorn

bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,

nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their

fruits you will know them..."(Matt. 7:15-20)

Note therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so it will be at the end of this age. But in the meantime, let them [wheat

and tares] grow together to maturity. In other words, we as believers become salt and light to everyone as God moves in and through His

people. Note that the parable of the mustard seed the smallest of the grains [like the worth of a small sparrow ] grows into a tall tree

that the sparrows can nest in. Just like the least to the greatest, we can rest in God's love. With God's blessing and dedication

we experience Spiritual growth. He who has ears, let him hear. All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in

parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them..." v.34

Note: There will be a sorting out, a judgment...don't let the tares choke us out but be ready in and out of season for the hope of Glory

that is in us, for as we are salt and light through God's grace, just as Gentiles were grafted into The Branch, so also some people who

are tares now can come to be wheat through you who are the good seed in this present age, but when the fullness of the Kingdom comes, YOU

MUST BE THE GOOD SEED or be cast into the lake of fire. And The Kingdom can come at any time, so lets be joyous in His love.

(Until we meet again, may God bless!)

note 5.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, July 20, 2008: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

What would God have us to do if we are offended or have offended others? In our walk with the Lord we are going to experience times of

rejection or being offended. Matthew 18:15 "...moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell

him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother..."

The key here is to confront your brother by yourself first, not to the Pastor or church leader. If your brother becomes offensive, or

doesn't agree with you, doesn't like confrontation, or through past experience fears reprisal, or rejection, you can be sure that these

are only excuses to avoid the confrontation.

Remember, this is a brother in Christ and sometimes we think that our brother isn't really in Christ. Some traits to observe would be

humility, friendliness, and calm spirit.

If your brother will NOT hear you, v.16 says "...but if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that

by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established..." In v.17 "...and if he refuses to

hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector..."

"For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I Am in the midst of them...v. 20

How often should we forgive? Jesus says "...I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven..."

Sometimes the situation calls for compassion and to just forgive and forget it , and move on.

Jesus said "...should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?...so My heavenly Father also

will do to you if each you , from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses..." v. 33-35

1. God wants no barriers to remain between His people.

2. If you have a problem with another person, do something about it.

3. Only after this has failed should you involve anyone else.

4. God forgives us without limit. We must do the same with others.

5 If we can't learn to forgive, how can we even have a place in God's Kingdom?

Psalm 103:12 "...As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us..."

(Until we meet again, may God bless!)

Sunday, July 27, 2008: A Father In The Truest Sense

Luke 15: 11-32

1. All too often we picture our Heavenly Father based on our experience with our earthly father.

2. God realizes we must often "learn from hard knocks" before we will appreciate Him.

3. Even while we stray far from God, He continually watches and yearns for our return.

4. God's response to our sins when we "find ourselves" is extravagant and outrageous.

5. While God always has our best interest at heart, He will not force us to accept His love. 6. The Father's response can be best summarized by these five words: loving, forgiving, patient, merciful and sympathetic.

(Until we meet again, may God bless!)

Sunday, August 10, 2008: What makes a person great?

Mark 9:33-50

1 Wanting to be "recognized" seems to be part of all of us...

2 The way Jesus taught was to serve everyone and don't worry about recognition...

3 We should especially serve those who have nothing to offer us...

4 We must constantly fight jealousy toward others God may use who are not a part of our group...

5 God especially notices all the litle acts of service that we render...

6 We should live our lives like salt: (which preserves) Add flavor to everything and resist decay wherever we find it...

Enhance other people; go and do likewise said Jesus; greatness is helping others with no expectation of reward; its the little things we

do for others that makes for greatness.

(Until we meet again, may God bless!)

note 6...............................................................................................................................

Sunday, August 17, 2008: Run Your Race

The Process of Running

Run Your Race by Joyce Meyer

II Corinthians 3:18 "...But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are

being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord..."

Deut. 7:22 "...And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be

unable to destroy them at once, least the beasts of the field become too numerous for you..."

Jn. 5:1-9 "...After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem

by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people,

blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up

the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man

was there who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition

a long time, He said to him, 'Do you want to be made well?' The man answered Him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the

water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me'. Jesus said to him, 'Rise, and take up your bed and walk.' And

immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath..."

Eph. 2:6 "...and raised us up together and made us.....SIT......together in the heavenly

places in Christ Jesus..."

Heb. 10:12-13 "...But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,.......SAT DOWN

.......at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool...."

Enter His rest throughout all the journey...

Jn. 21Jesus has breakfast by the sea, and teaches Peter and the disciples as they are fishing in the Sea of

Tiberias, He restores Peter, and the Beloved Disciple, and learn from His Book.

Eph. 6:11 "...Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to.......STAND

.......against the wiles of the devil..."

After being .......Spiritually seated........in the rest of God, now when you stand, you have God as

your Shield and the Spirit as your guide...

Jer. 31:16-19 "...Thus says the Lord: refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work

shall be rewarded, says the Lord. And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that

your children shall come back to their own border. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: you have chastised me, and I was chastised,

like a untrained bull. Restore me, and I will return, for you are the Lord my God. Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I

was instructed, I struck myself on my thigh. I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth..."

Heb. 12:1 "...Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside

every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us........RUN.......with endurance the race that is set before us..."

As we......SIT.......in the rest of God,

and .......STAND.........with the whole armor of God, now let

us .......RUN.........the race with all the confidence that God has provided for us......to His Kingdom!

Till we meet again, God bless

note 7...............................................................................................................................

Sunday, August 31, 2008: Double For Your Trouble

Heb. 11:6 "...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him..."

Matt. 6:1 "...Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you

have no reward from your Father in heaven..."

v.4 "...that your charitable deed may be in secret; and our Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.."

Not every storm is in the forecast...

Do some maintenance in your life before a breakdown, have a plan response to trouble and above all trust God to intervene...pray about

everything and fear nothing, and keep doing good. Shake it off and continue on. Expect a reward in due season for keeping in faith.

Shake it off and keep going...

This promise of God comes with a condition...

ll Cor. 1:3-4 "...blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of

all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with

which we ourselves are comforted by God..."

Gen. 50" "...(Joseph kept the faith continually through all kinds of tribulation, from the pit to the palace

of Egypt and was rewarded for his faithfulness to God)..."

Attitude! Gen. 50:20 "...but as for you (his brothers) , you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,

in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive..."

Rom. 8:28 "...and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are

the called according to His purpose..."

Be bold in prayer!

It's not all good , but God IS, all the time and in all ways! Press on, press through, shake it off, and keep going!

Isa.61:1 "...Arise, shine; For your light has come! and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you..."

We are a child of the King

ll Cor. 5:21 "...For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness

of God in Him..."

ll Cor. 5:17 "...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all

things have become new..."

ll Cor.8:9 "...For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He

became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich..."

Isa. 53:5 "...by His stripes we are healed..."

Isa 55 "...(an invitation for an abundant life)..."

Wait for a blessing

Talk about the blessing not the trouble, and shake it off and keep going.

Mk. 6:7 "...And He called the twelve to Him, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them POWER over

unclean spirits..." We have the power to overcome all obstacles through Jesus who live in us. When the apostles went from

town to town and were rejected, they were to shake off the dust and move on. Shake it off and keep going..People do not want

you to go where they don't want to go. Everyone is responsible for there own joy.

Luke 10 "...(sending laborers out in to the harvest. Rely on Jesus the shepherd in going to the front line)..."

The proof of being called is in a changed life...

Gal. 1:10 "...For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men,

I would not be a servant of Christ..."

We do not need the approval of man.

Acts 13:49 "...And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region..."

The season of mourning is over, go the extra mile, and expect the coming of a reward. Remember Job? After he lost everything, because of

his faith toward God, he was rewarded double for all that he had lost.

Conclusion: When trouble or adversity comes, have a planned response, pray, shake it off, keep going, keep doing good,

and expect a reward for keeping faith with God.

Till we meet again, God bless

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Sunday, September 7, 2008: Jesus is coming to your house for dinner

Reference: Luke 19:1-27 v.5 "...And when Jesus came to the place, He looked

up and saw him, and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down for today I must stay at your house..."

During this period of time, the tax collectors could collect any amount of tax they wanted so long as they collected the amount dictated by

their Roman superiors, and they were hated by the public. Today, the same unfair taxation is rampant in our political system

for personal gain.

1. Have we categorized, in our mind, the type of people God should or should not call?

2. Jesus loved all people. Do we?

v.7 "...But when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner..."

3. Zacchaeus was overjoyed Jesus would have an interest in him. Do we have joy God has taken an interest in us?

4. The depth of someone's sins does not stop God from calling them.

v.10 "...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost..."

5. Zacchaeus was repentant and ready to change. We should be also.

v.8-9 "...Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and

if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house..."

6. Jesus has given us a path in seeking the lost.

Not to pre-judge as God calls all to repentance, as we are all sinners in need of salvation...

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, November 16, 2008: Doctrinal Purity

Doctrinal Purity Acts 15

Ephesians 4:15a...but speaking the truth in love...

1. Avoid Doctrinal Disaster--The Occasion

a) There were dissentions...Acts 15:1-5

b) There were discussions...v. 6-12; (Gal. 1 & 2)

c) There was a decision...v. 13-20

2. Announce Doctrinal Directives: The Decision

a) Right doctrine is the Foundation for right faith. i) We can discuss points of view on prophecy

ii) We can entertain differing preferences on Methodology

iii) We can kindly disagree on style of Ministry

iv) But we must agree on Salvation

b) Right doctrine is Fundamental for right fellowship

i) Sadly we divide over Personalities

ii) Sadly we divide over Power

iii) Sadly we divide over Preferences

iv) Surely we must be decided on Subject of Salvation c) Right doctrine is the format for real Fruitfulness i) Doctrinal purity gives Encouragement....Acts 15:30-31

ii) Doctrinal purity adds Strength...Acts 15:5

iii) Doctrinal purity promotes Progress...Acts 16:5

Okay, is this really important?

Some people believe in salvation by...Sincerety

Some people believe in salvatiion by...Service

Some people believe in salvation by...Subtraction

Some people believe in salvation by...Submersion

Some people believe in salvation by...Heritage

Some people believe in salvation by...Comparison

Some people believe in salvation by...Jesus Christ and by God's grace, they are saved

Verse 11:...but we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they...

Rejoice Evermore...I Thes. 5:16

note 10.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, November 23, 2008: The Business of Heaven

The Business of Heaven..... Acts 28:17-31

What are the Essentials?

1. Jesus..the Founder and Builder

2. You...are His witness

3. Preaching...Prayer and Power

4. Unity...in community

5. Message: only...Jesus

6. Discipline...Godly fear

7. Servants..willing to suffer

8. Availability

9. Lordship

10. Acceptance

11. Doctrinal...Purity

1) What should we do? Continue what Jesus started... Matt.16:18; Acts 1:1

a) Share Jesus...Faithfully...v. 22-23

b) Share Jesus...Persuasively...v. 23

c) Share Jesus...Expectantly...v.24

d) Share Jesus...indiscriminately...v. 28-30

e) Share Jesus...Confidently...v. 31 i) No person can...Forbid...your witness

ii) No person can...Chain...God's Word (2 Tim. 2:8-9)

2) When should we stop? Continue till Jesus comes (Luke 19)

a) Luke 19:11-13 "Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the

kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself

a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them.......

b) Acts 29:

Isa. 25:6

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 11.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, November 30, 2008: The Mission: The Senders and the Sent

The Mission: The Senders and the Sent..... Acts 13:1-4; 14:21-28

1. Launching Missionaries...Acts 13:1-4

a) Missionaries are...called...by the Holy Spirit.

b) Missionaries are...confirmed...by the Church.

c) Missionaries are...commissioned...by the Holy Spirit and the Church.

2. Listening to Missionaries...Acts 14:21-28

a) Listen to their...stories

b) Listen to their...suffering

c) Listen to their...strategy

i) Preach

ii) Disciple

iii) Warn

iv) Appoint...leaders

v) Pray with...fasting

vi) Commend...them to God (Acts 20:32)

d) Rejoice in your...partnership (Acts 14:26)

i) God calls everyone to...pray

ii) God calls everyone to...give

iii) God calls some to...go

iv) God...causes...the project to grow yet we get...rewarded (I Cor. 3:7-9)

Occupy Till Jesus Returns...

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 12.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, January 4, 2009: Freedom from Discontentment

I Timothy 6:3-10; 17-19

In the coming weeks:

Freedom from negative debt to positive impact

Freedom from a hurtful past

Freedom from a harried present

Freedom from a haunted future

Freedom from a selfish and self-centered life

How to be free from discontentment: Trust God

1) Know what you've got and enjoy...v. 17

2) Want what you've got and don't spoil it...v. 6, 8

See also Matthew 6:31-33

3) Control what you want and avoid ruining it...v. 9-10

See also Matthew 6:24

a) Living for your wants can bring destruction

b) Loving the wrong lord can bring damnation

4) Share what's extra and don't hoard it...v. 17-18

a) Failure will lead to pride

b) Failure will lead to futile faith

c) Failure will rob you of Joy..and uncertain riches

(Where our heart is there our treasure will be)

5) Send something ahead and forget it...v. 19

See also Mathew 6:10-21

6) Live for what lasts and you won't regret it...v. 7

See also Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:15

The antidote for greed is...CONTENTMENT

The root of all evil is the LOVE of money, not money itself, as God is the only one who deserves all of our LOVE

If your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall...

Gambling is theft by mutual consent...

See Matt. 6:24, Ex. 20, Deut.6-7, ....the 1st Commandment tells us there is only one God we worship

and the 10th Commandment tells us not to covet things of others...the wise will save for their children's children...and then God

gives us the increrase...

Godly Contentment is great gain

note 13.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, January 18, 2009: Freedom from the Past Psalm 51

1) How guilt can guide you

a).....through CONVICTION: John 16:8

b).....through CONFESSION: Psalm 51:3

c).....through CLEANSING: Psalm 51:2, 7-9

d).....through CONTRITION: [God-Centered Repentance] Psalm 51:4,17 Facing the offense

e).....through COMMUNION: [change and renewal] Psalm 51:10-13

2) How guilt can beguile you: John 3:17; John 12:47; Revelation 12:10

a) Satan will make continually accusations: Revelation 12:10

b) Satan will give constant condemnation: Romans 8:33-34;8:1

i) The one who could condemn you...WON'T...; the one who would condemn you...CAN'T...

ii) When Satan begins to remind you about your past, he needs to be reminded of...HIS FUTURE...THE LAKE OF FIRE...: Revelation 20:10

Here Are the Facts:

...We can not.....DENY OUR SIN

...God will not.....OVERLOOK OUR SIN

...Satan will not.....WINK AT OUR SIN

...But Jesus.....PAID FOR OUR SIN

What God has done with our sins:

ACCORDING TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

He drowns them: Micah 7:19

He erases them: Isaiah 43:25

He dissolves them: Isaiah 44:22

He puts them behind His back: Isaiah 38:17

He forgets them: Jeremiah 31:24

He covers them: Psalm 32:1

He does not record them: Psalm 32:2

He totally removes them: Psalm 103:12

According to the New Testament

He forgives them: Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14

He wipes them out and erases them: Acts 3:19

He takes them upon Himself: I peter 2:24

He does not charge them to our account: II Corinthians 5:19

He charges them to Christ's account: II Corinthians 5:21"

He nails them to the cross: Colossians 2:13-14

He purges us from them: Hebrews 1:3

He does away with and puts away sins: Hebrews 9:26; I John 3:5

He cleanses and purifies us from them: I John 1:7

He sets us free: Revelation 1:5-6

We must also act on these principles and apply them to our every day lives.

note 14.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, January 25, 2009: Freedom from Present Problems Ruth 1,2

Three common sentments that come with problems...

1. Woe is me Lord! v. 1-5

a) Sometimes trouble is Public and you suffer with everyone else.

b) Sometimes trouble is Private and you seem to suffer alone.

2. Why me Lord? v. 6-18

a) We show a preference for solitude v. 8, 11

b) We show a presence of bitterness

i) Doubting God's Plan v. 13

ii) Doubting God's Goodness v. 20-21

iii) Rejecting God's Comfort Walking away.

iv) Giving bad counsel v. 15

3) What now Lord? v. 19-22 Chapter 2

a) See how God is providing Comfort for people. v. 16-18

b) See how God is providing Hope for people. v. 6-22

c) See how God is providing Help for people. v. 2:1

d) See how God is providing A Redeemer for people. v. 2:19b-20.....

The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz, "she said. "The Lord bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter -in-law. "He

has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one our kinsman-redeemers."

Life Lessons

1. Troubles come without....................Preview

2. Troubles come without.......................Prejudice

3. Troubles come without.......................Providence

3. Troubles come without.......................Purpose

Occupy Till Jesus Returns...

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 15.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, February 1, 2009: Freedom from Future Fears Psalm 23:1-3; John 10

Jesus said worry is: "...Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about

your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?..." Matthew 6:25

Jesus said worry is: "...Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6:27

Jesus said worry is: "...Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will

He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?..." Matthew 6:30

So why do we worry?

Because we are...human...and humans...worry.

To be free from fear understand:

1) Sheep feel safe when they know the shepherd is: presentPsalm 23:1-3

"...The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake..."

a) Psalm 46:1 "...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble..."

b) Psalm 121:3-4 "...He will not allow your foot to removed; He who keeps you will not slumber..."

c) Hebrews 13:5b-6 "...For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say:

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?..."

2) Sheep feel safe when they know the Shepherd is: providing

Psalm 23:2 "...He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the stil waters..."

a) Matthew 6:31-32 "...Therefore do not worry, saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink? or what shall we wear?..."

b) 1 Peter 5:7 "...Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you..."

3) Sheep feel safe when they know the ShepherdPsalm 23:1 "...The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want..."

a) Matthew 6:32b "...For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things..."

b) John 10:14 "...I AM the good Shepherd;and I know My sheep, and am known by My own..."

c) John 10:27-30 "...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life,

and they shall never perish; neither shall any one snatch them out of My hand. My Father , who has given them to Me, is greater than

all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 16.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, February 22, 2009: Before You Explode 1 Peter 3:1-2

What would you like your home to be like?

1) Determine your Goal 1 peter 3:10a

"He would love life and see good days..."

a) Health would be good. James 3:17-18

b) Wealth would be nice

c) Peace is primary. Proverbs 30:8-9

2) Identify your Role 1 Peter 3:1-7 "Likewise?"

a) Wives be Submissive 1 Peter 3:1-3

i.) What if?

ii) Husbands be understanding

iii) What if?

b) Everyone be Loving 1 Peter 3:8-9

3) Eliminate the.............?

a) Terrible Tongue

James 3:5-8 "...Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little

fire kindles! Angd the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defies the whole

body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature

of the sea, tamed and has been tamed by mankind, But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

i) The tongue that speaks at the wrong time

ii) The tongue that speaks in the wrong tone

iii) The tongue that speaks in Half-Truths

4) Hurtful habits

5) Commit to being.....in prayer, blessing, of His Glory

What can you do to fireproof your home?

Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

TWO WORDS: Confess and Forgive

James 5:16 "...Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed..."

Eph.4:30-32 "...And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 17.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, March 1, 2009: When the Vow Breaks Matthew 19:1-15, 5:31-32, Geneisi 2:24

"Spoken to the Jewish Leaders"

Equiping the Saints

Eph. 4:15 "...speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, Christ..."

Malachi 2:16 "...For the Lord God of Israel says He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence.

Says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously..."

The principals of marriage can be found in 1 Corinthians 7

(1) God's original Pattern Matthew 19:4-6

a) God made Man Genesis 1:27 "...So God created man in

His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them..."

b) God made Marriage Genesis 2:24a-27 "...Therefore a man shall

leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife..."

c) God made it Permanent Genesis 2:24b "...and they shall become one flesh..."

d) Marriage by covenant, not co-habitation. Malachi 2:14-15a "...she is your companion

and your wife by covenant...did He not make them one?..."

(2) Man's continual Problem Matthew 19:3, 7

a) His mind is Clouded v.4 "...is it lawful for a man to divorce his

wife for just any reason?..." He hasn't read.

b) His heart is Hard v.8 "...from the beginning it was not so..."

He hasn't understood. Deuteronomy 24:1-4

c) His culture is Corrupt v. 3, 8 He looks for loopholes.

(3) God's gracious Provision Matthew 19:8-9

a) Divorce is not just dismissal. It is like Death Deuteronomy 22:22

b) Divorce is not the First Option it is the Last Option

v. 8 (Permitted not commanded)

c) Divorce is not the best Option it is the Gracious option.

(Remember King David, King Solomon?)

d) Divorce is not for any reason but Only One Reason

Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; Rom. 5:19

(4) God's precious Purpose Matthew 19:13-15

a) What about the Children?

b) What about God's Plan?

Malachi 2:15 "...But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly

offspring. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth..."

Remember God's Grace: Where sin abounded grace abounded much more"!

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 18.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, March 15, 2009: The Great Misunderstanding Matt 22:34-40

Why are relationships so important?

* Our relationship to God determines our Eternal Destiny

* There is no such thing as the Fatherhood of God and the

Brotherhood of all men...

John 1:12-13....."But as many as received

Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those

who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will

of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God"

* There is no such thing as an Alternate Route

to the Father in heaven.....

Colossians 1:21-22....."And you, who once

were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now

He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present

our holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight"

* Our fellowship with God is determined by Earthly Relationships

* Love is God's Greatest Command.....

* Love is God's First Command.....

Matt 22:37-40....."Jesus said to him, 'You

shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment, and

the second is like it: 'Your shall love your neighbor as yourself. On

these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets."

* Love is God's Oldest Command.....

1 John 3:11....."For this is the message

that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

Leviticus 19:18....."You shall not take

vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of our people,

but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I AM the Lord"

* Love is God's Complete Command.....

Matt 22:40....."On these two commandments hang

all the Law and the Prophets"

Romans 13:9....."For the commandments,

"Your shall not commit adultery, " "Your shall not murder, " "You shall

not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet,"

and if there is any other commandment, are all summed ujp in this

saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love

does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fullment of the law."

* Our Sonship in God's family is verified

by our relationships with the people of our life.

1 John 4:7-8....."Beloved, let us love one

another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God

and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God

is love."

Summary: So what is the great misunderstranding?

It is the thought that I can be right with God without being right with People.....

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 19.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, March 22, 2009: God's Word to the Unmarried 1 Cor 7

God's Word to the Unmarried 1 Corinthians 1:1a ".....Now concerning

the thngs of which you wrote to me....."

1) Is there something inherently wrong with sex? v. 1-7

a) Sex is Sacred

b) Sex is Safe

c) Sex is Sane

d) Sex is Spiritual

2) What does God say to married people? v. 10-16

a) Stay married. v. 10-11

b) Seek reconciliation v. 11

c) Sanctify your children v. 14, 27

3) What does God say to unmarried people? v. 8-9

a) A general observation

i) Seek after God v. 32-35

ii) Let God Seek after your mate v. 20-24

b) A look at particular cases

i) To widows:

(1) If you can Stay single v. 8-9

(2) If you can't Stay Spiritual v. 39; 1Timothy 5:14

Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

ii) To virgins:

(1) Stay Stay Sexually Pure v. 34; 1 Corinthians 6:18

(a) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immoratlity sins against his own body.

(b) Stay spiritually Active v. 33-34

(c) Stay single Focused v. 24

(d) Stay sensitive to your Parents v. 36-38

iii) To Formerly Married or Single Again:

(1) Reconcile if you can v. 11

(2) Remain single if you can v. 11, 7

(3) Remember God's plan and Jesus' command

(4) Re-marry if you must v. 27-28

(a) Because of self-control v. 9

(b) Because of Peace v. 15

(c) Because of Privilege v. 27-28

(d) Because of New Creation v. 17-24

Summary: Seek God with all your heart; serve Jesus with all your strength; seek grace to wait for His will,

His plan.

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 20.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, April 5, 2009: Crossing Over John 5:24

Crossing Over

1) Sin Separates Us from God

a) We live at a Great Distance

i) Ephesians 2:11-12 "...Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh...that at that time you

were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no hope and

without God in the World..."

b) We live at a Great Disadvantage

i) Isaiah 59:2 "...But your iniquities have separated you from our God; And your sins have hidden His

face from you, so that He will not hear..."

c) We live with a Horrible Destiny

i) Romans 6:23 "...For the wages of sin is death..."

ii) Revelation 20:14-15 "...Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire..."

2) How People Strive to Get to God

a) By Religion: Luke 18:9-14

b) By Good Works Ephesians 2:9

c) By Material possessiolns. Luke 18:18-25

3) Why People Stay Separated from God

a) We are not in danger of eternal separation because we do lots of evil

b) We are not in danger of eternal separation because we don't do enough good works

c) We ARE in danger of eternal separation because of Lack of Life We are dead

i) This is what God offers LIFE

(1) John 5:24 "...Most assuredly , I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting

life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed over (CROSSED OVER)

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 21.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, May 10, 2009: Watchers Matthew 18:1-19:15

Watchers

Malachi 4:5-6 "...Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day

of the Lord. And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike

the earth with a curse..."

Remembering the watching children will help you understand that:

* PRIDE must be deflated. v. 18:4

* People must be VALUED. v. 18:10

* PROBLEMS must be reconciled. v. 18:21-22, 35

* PARDON must be dispensed. v. 18:21-22, 35

* "Putting away", must be PUT AWAY v. 19:3-6

* Prayer must be a priority. v. 19:13-15

Take this with you...

* Turning your hearts toward your children BRINGS BLESSINGS

* Turning your hearts away from your home BRINGS A CURSE

* Communicating how to handle the real life issues is more CAUGHT BY OBSERVATION than it is taught by education.

Psalm 1:27

Unforgivness is ungodly...Matt. 6:14-15

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 22.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, May 17, 2009: FIVE REASONS TO NOT MISS FAMILY MEALS Hebrew 10:19-25

Believe.....Abide.....Know (The Truth)...Free,....results in Peace.

John 14:15 "...IF...you love Me, keep My Commandments..."

Walk by Faith...

............................................

Colossians 2:8 "...Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy amd empty deceit, according to the tradition of

men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ..."

We are complete in Jesus Christ

............................................

2 Peter 1:3 "...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the

knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue..."

.......................................

SUSTAINER: John 6:48 "...I AM the bread of Life..."

ALUMINATOR: John 8:12 "...I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,

but have the light of life..."

MEDIATOR: John 10:9 "...I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out

and find pasture..."

CARETAKER: John 10:11 "...I AM the good shepherd. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep..."

ETERNAL: John 11:25 "...Jesus said to her, I AM the Resurrection and the LIfe. He who believes in Me, though

he may die, he shall live..."

Hebrews 9:27 "...And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the Judgment..."

LEADER: John 14:6 "...Jesus said to him, I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except

through Me..."

SUCCESS MAKER: John 15:1 "...I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser..."

OUR DESTINY: Joshua 1:8 "...This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in

it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,

and then you will have good success..."

.....................................

Isaiah 59:1-2 "...Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy, that it

cannot hear. But our iniquities (sin) have separated you from our God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear..."

Romans 10:13, 11 "...For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.....For the Scripture says, "Whoever

believes on Him will not be put to shame..."

Untill we meet again, God bless!

note 25.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 7, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Satan's Real Desire Isaiah 14:12-17; Revelation 13:1-18

What in the World is Going On?

Who is behind the present push toward globalism?

Isa. 14:12-17 "...How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the

ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the

stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of

the clouds, I will be like the Most High.

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, and condider you,

saying: Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who

did not open the house of his prisoners?..."

Revelation 13:1-18 "...Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having

seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard,

his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast and they worshiped the beast saying, "Who is like the beast?

Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority

to continue for forty-two months.

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And it was granted

to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation

of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and

the faith of the saints.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the

authority of the first beast in his prescnce, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly

wound was healed.

He performs great sign, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who

dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an

image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would

not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to

recive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of

the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the nmber of the beast, for it is the nmber of a man: His number is 666...."

(1) Satan's goal has always been to: Rob God of His glory.

Isaiah 42:8 "...I AM the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images..."

Isaiah 48:10-11 "...Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

For My own sake, for my own sake, I will do it; for how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another..."

(2) Satan's goal has always been to: Rule the world as a god.

Revelation 13:7 "...It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, And authority

was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation..."

(3) Satan's goal has always been to: Receive the worship of mankind..."

Revelation 13:4 "...So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast,

saying, "who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

Revelation 13:8 "...And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the

Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world..."

Revelation 13:12 "...And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes

the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed..."

Revelation 13:15 "...He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the

beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed..."

What are the current crises that are pushing the world toward globalism?

Satan's plan involves a one world government and a one world religion.

(1) World Economic Woes push for globalism-shared planet

(2) World Climate Change (supposed) pushes for globalism.

(3) World Financial Woes push for globalism and redistribution of wealth.

(4) Energy Shortages push for globalism.

(5) Health and Hunger concerns push for globalism.

(6) World Political Aspirations push for globalism.

(7) Worldwide Terroism Threats push for globalization.

(8) Worldwide Nuclear Proliferation push for globalization.

(9) Religious Ecumenism is necessay for globalism.

(10) Prophetic Ignorance makes believers indifferent toward globalism. (Percieved Peace)

1 Thes. 5:2 "...For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night..."

So what? Now what?

Wake up Christians

We only have a little time...

We may be called on to suffer...

We have been called on to evangelize...

Islamic peace, or HUNDA, means total submission to Islam or Death.

Daily life can lull people to Spiritual sleep... Matthew 34-39

Be watchful and abound in the work of the Lord... 1 Thes. 5:6 "...Therefore let us not sleep

(Spiritually), as others do, but let us watch and be sober..."

REJOICE: Isaiah 9:6 "...For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon

His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderfu, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase

of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and etablish it with

judgment and justice from this time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this..."

Untill we meet again, God bless!

note 26.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 14, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Signs of the End According to Jesus Matthew 24:1-14

Are we really headed for an end?

Hebrews 10:37 "...for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry..."

Revelation 22:12 "...Behold, I AM coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work..."

Revelation 22:20 "...He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I AM coming quickly." Amen.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!..."

Acts 1:4 "...And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem,

but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which He said, "You have heard from Me..."

Matthew 16:1-3 "...Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign

from heaven...He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in

the morning, 'It will be foul weather today for the sky is red and threatening.' *Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the

sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times..."

*(see also this site the Master's teaching on Hypocrisy)

Heading for the END?...

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..." Genesis 1:1

This suggests that there is a beginning, and therefore there must be an END.

"But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt

with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up..." 2 Peter 3:10

There are over 300 prophecies in the Bible on the coming of Christ, over 100 have been fulfilled by Christ, 37 were filled in one day,

that leaves over 200 to be filled in this last age.

What did Jesus say about the end?

Revelation 19:10 "...Worship God For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy..."

(1) "...And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Asuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left

here upon another, that shall not be thrown down..." Matthew 24:2

(2) "...And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!'..."

Matthew 25:6

"...But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to

all the nations, and then the END will come..." Matthew 25:13-14

"...Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will by no means pass away..."

Matthew 25:35

(3) Jesus said there will be Birth Pangs before the END.

"...All these are the beginning of sorrows..."

"...Wail, for the Day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be limp, every

man's heart will melt, and they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth;

they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames..." Isaiah 13:6-8

a) Widespread Deception... Matthew 24:4-5 "...Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, See that

you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the END is not yet..."

b) Wars and Disputes.....

Matthew 24:6-7a "...you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See tht you are not troubled; for all these things

must come to pass, but the END is not yet...For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..."

c) Worldwide Devastation.....

Matthew 24:7b-8 "...there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the

beginning of sorrows..."

d) Intensified Persecution and Discrimination.....

Matthew 24:9 "...then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by

all nations for My name's sake..."

e) Wholesale Defection of pretenders.....

Matthew 24:10-13 "...and then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another...then

many false prophets will rise up and deceive many...and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who

endures to the END shall be saved...."

f) Worldwide Gospel Declaration.....

Matthew 24:14 "...And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to

all the nations and then the END will come..."

(4) Jesus said there would be another major sign-- An Abomination

Matthew 24:15-28 "...Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,

standing in the Holy Place, (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Let him who is on the house top not come down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on

the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor

ever shall be.

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone

says to you, Look, here is the Christ or there do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and

wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand, therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the

desert do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to

the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles wil be gathered together..."

(5) Jesus said there would be one final sign: An Abomination

Matthew 24:29-35

"...Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from

heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes

of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together the elect from the four winds, from

one end of heaven to the other..

Now hear this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer

is near. So also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the very doors.

Assuredly, I say to you , this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away,

but My words will by no means pass away..."

(6) Jesus said the END is Not the END!

a) Matthew 25:34 "...Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come you blessed of My Father,

inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world..."

b) Matthew 25:41 "...Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the

everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels..."

Hebrews 10:27 "...(the just shall live by Faith).....but (non-believers or anti-christians), a certain fearful

expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries..."

2 Peter 2:1 "...there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you,

who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction..."

2 Timothy 3:13 "...But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived..."

Conclusion of the Matter

John 14:3 "...And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where

I am, there you may be also..."

Lets be about our Father's business...

Untill we meet again, God bless!

note 27.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 21, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: What Lies Ahead 1 Thes. 1:1-10

What lies ahead?

1 Thes. 1:1-10

v. 9 "...turn from idols to serve the living and trueGod..."

v. 10 "...to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from

the wrath to come..."

Col. 2:13-14 "...And you, being dead in your tresspasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive

together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses..."

Rom. 8:1 "...There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to

the flesh, but according to the Spirit..."

Matt. 16:18 "...I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hades

shall not prevail against it..."

Apocalypse means to unveil or reveal end-time events to reveal Jesus

1Tim. 4:1 "...Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to

deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons..."

1Thes. 2:3 "...For our exhortation did not come form deceit or uncleanness, nor was it in guile..."

Major Rebellion Against God

Reference: Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 6 and the Second Seal Judgment

Dan. 9:24-27 "...Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for our holy city, to finish the transgression,

to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting rightousness, to seal up vision and

prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build

Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again and the wall even

in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, (483 years) and the people of the prince

who is to come shall destroy the city and sancturary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are

determined. Then he shal confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. "

Numbers 24:7 "...He (Israel) shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. His

king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted..."

John 14:1-3 "...Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's

house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you; And if i go and prepare a place for

you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.."

Acts 1:11 "...Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven..."

Our Final Victory

1 Cor. 15:50-56 "...Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does

corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in

the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be

changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption , and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptilble has put on

incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swalowed up

in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory. The sting of death is sin, and ther strength of sin is the law..."

Plea for Purity, Brotherly and Orderly Life, the Comfort of Christ's Coming, the Day of the Lord, Various Exhortations,

Blessings and Admonitions 1 Thes. 4-5

The Great Apostasy and to Stand Fast 1 Thes. 2

Jacob's Trouble

Daniel 9:27 "...Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; (7 years) but in the middle of the

week he shall bring and end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one (the devil) who makes desolate,

even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate..."

The Satanic Trinity: Satan, anti-Christ, and the False Prophet

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon; Satan thrown out of Heaven; The Woman Persecuted; the Beast from the Sea; the Beast from the Land

Rev. 12-13

Daniel 8:9 "...and out of one of them (beast of the north) came a little horn (the anti-Christ) which grew exceedingly

great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land..."

Daniel 11:36 "...Then the King (of the north) shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself

above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished;

for what has been determined shall be done..."

1 John 2:18 "...Little children, it is the last hour; and you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even by which

we know that it is the last hour..."

Daniel 11:31-45 "...(Blasphemies and Conquests of the King of the North)..."

Rev. 6:1 "...Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard oneof the four lilving creatures

saying with a voice like thunder, Come and see..."

42 months, 1260 days, Mid-Tribulation Rapture; After 3 and 1/2 years, the Abomination of Desolation

Daniel 9:27 "...he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (7 years), but in the middleof the week he shall

bring an end to sacrifices and offerings..."

Matt. 24:15 "...Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing

in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand..."

Isa. 61:1 "...The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings

to the poor; he has sent Me to hear the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those

who are bound;..."

The Millennium

Rev. 20:4 "...And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the

souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness ot Jesus and for the word of God who had not worshiped the beast or his image,

and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hand,. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years..."

Isa. 65:20 "...No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;

for the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed..."

The 2nd Gog and Magog War

Rev. 20:7 "...Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison..."

Rev. 19:20 "...Then the beast ...and the false prophet...were cast alive into the lake of fire..."

Psalm 13:9 "...The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 28.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 28, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Trumpet Call to Glory Matthew 24:36; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Trumpet Call to Glory

Christians are people that have Turned to God from idols. (Repentance)

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 "...For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and

how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the

dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come..."

* Are Serving the living God.

* Are Waiting for God's Son from heaven.

So what are you waiting for?

The Trumpet Call from Heaven

1) Creates Anticipation

a) Be Ready. Matthew 24:44 "...Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him..."

b) Be Busy. Matthew 24:45-47 "...Who then is a faithful

and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master,

when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods..."

c) Be Watchful.

Titus 2:11-13 "...For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying

ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed

hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..."

Isaiah 55:6 "...Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near..."

2 Timothy 4:8 "...Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge,

will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing..."

1 John 2:28 "...And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming..."

2) Indicates Evacuation

a) Re-Entry 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "...For the Lord Himself will

descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first..."

Acts 1:10-11 "...And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in

white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you

into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven..."

b) Rapture (Rapio: to depart) 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 "...Behold, I tell you a mystery:

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the

trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed..."

Phillipians 3:20 "...For our citizenship (our conversation ) is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for

the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ..."

c) Reunion i) It is transportation 1 Thessalonians 4:17 "...Then we who are alive

and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord..."

ii) It is transformation Philppians 3:20-21 "...who will transform our

lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself..."

1 Corinthians 15:51 "...We shall all be changed..."

d) Re-United 1 Thessalonians 4:17 "...Then we who are alive and

remain shall be caught up Together (loved ones that were asleep in Christ)...thus we shall always be with the Lord..."

3) Initiates Evaluation: 2 Corinthians 5:10 "...For we must all appear

before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done,

whether good or bad..."

Romans 14:10b-12 "...For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:

"As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God" So then each of us shall give account of

himself to God..."

a) To judge our Motives Revelations 2:4 "...Nevertheless I have this

against you, that you have left your first love..." (fallen away from God)

b) To test our Works 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 "...Now if anyone builds

on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it,

because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it

endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire..."

4) Culminates in Celebration Revelation 19:6-9 "...And I heard as it were,

the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God

Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself

ready."..And to her (the Church) it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous

acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to

me, "these are the true sayings of God..."

a) A reason to Rejoice

b) A royal Wedding

c) A reinvention of Lyrics

Are you ready?

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 29.................................................................................................................................

Sunday, July 5, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Satan's Superman: the Antichrist 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 13:1-18

Satan's Superman: the Antichrist

"...Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken

in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come, let no one deceive

you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who

opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing

himself that he is God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with

the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. and with all unrighteous

deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God

will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had

pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thes. 2:1-12

"...And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and

seize the kingdom by intrigue, with the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the

covenant, and after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come upon and become strong with a small

number of people.

He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers;

he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time...He

shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to

battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall divise plans against him. Yes, those who eat of the

portion of his dilicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain..Both these kings' hearts shall

be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time.

While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the Holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to

his own land. (Syria)

At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. For ships from Cyprus shall

come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the Holy covenant, turn and show regard for those who forsake

the Holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away

the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry

out great exploits,. and those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame,

by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; bu many shall join with them by intrigue. And some

of those understanding shall fall, to refine them, purge them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the

apointed time.

Then the king shall do according to his own will; he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against

the God of good, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall

regard neither the God of his fathers or the desire of women, or regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all. But in

their place he shall nonor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious

stones and pleasant things.

Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall

cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. At the time of the end the king of South shall attack him; and the king of the

North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm

them, and pass through.

He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be over thrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom , Moab, and

the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the and of Egypt shall not escape. He shall

have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans, and Ethiopians shall follow

at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and

annihilate many; And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his

end, and one one will help him..." Dan. 11:21-45

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten

crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast, which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were lilke the feet of a bear,

and his mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been

mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying,

"Who is like the beast?

Who is able to make war with him?

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and

nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of LIfe of the Lamb slain

from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience

and the faith of the saints. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke lilke a

dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship

the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who

dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image

of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

And he causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.

And then no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom.

Let him who has uderstanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666..." Rev. 13:1-18

"...I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him..." John 5:43

Question: Can One Man Rule the World?

1) The Rise of Satan's Superman

a) He will be preceded by two major events:

i) A Catching away.

1 Thes. 4:13-18 "...But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,

lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who

sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by

no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel,

and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words..."

ii) A Falling away.

Matthew 24:3 "...Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying, "Tell

us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Matthew 24:10-12 "...and then many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold..."

b) He will be presented with cruel credentials:

iii) A man of sin

Matthew 24:3,8-9 "..What will be the sign?.....all these are the beginning of sorrows...then they will deliver you

up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake..."

iv) A man of Self

Daniel 11:4, 36-37 "...And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds

of heaven, but not among his posterity for according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for

others besides these...then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall

speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been deterined shall

be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shal magnify himself above them all..."

v) A man of A man of Sinister plots.

Daniel 8:10, 23, 25; 9:27; 11:23-24 "...And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host

and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.....and in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their

fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes...Through his cunning he shall cause deceit

to prosper under his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise

against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human hand.....then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.....and after the league is made with him he shall act

deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places

of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans

against the strongholds, but only for a time..."

vi) A man of Pompous speech.

(1) Daniel 7:8 "...I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them,

before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth

speaking pompous words..."

(2) Peaceful yet intriguing speech: Daniel 11:21 "...And in his place shall arise a

vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue..."

(3) Flattering speech Daniel 11:32 "...Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who

know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits..."

(4) Blaspemous speech Daniel 11:36; Rev. 13:5-6 "...Then the king shall do

according to his own will.....and he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to

continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those

who dwell in heaven..."

vii) A man of signs and wonders Matthew 7:21, 24:9, 24; Rev. 13:11-13 "...Not everyone

who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven

.....Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.....for false christs

and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.....Then I saw another beast

coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the

first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed....."

viii) A man of Satanic connections Rev.13:4, 9 "...So they worshiped the dragon who gave

authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?..."

2) A man of The Reign of Satan's Superman

a) Total Political dominance. Rev.13:1, 7 "...Then I stood on the sands of the

sea...and it was granted him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation..."

b) Total Economic control. Rev. 13: 16-18 "...causes all to recieve a mark...

and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed..."

c) Total Religious intolerance. Rev. 13:4, 8, 12, 15 "...So they worshiped the

beast...all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb from the foundation of

the world. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship

the beast, whose deadly wound was healed...He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the

beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed..."

The Ruin of Satan's Superman

Isaiah 43-46

a) His fatal mistakes

i) He will attempt to Receive God's Glory

ii) He will attempt to Take God's Place

iii) He will attempt to totally rule

Rev. 13:7; 19:19 "...authority to make war with the saints...over every...nation...And I saw the beast, the kings of

the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against his army..."

b) His final end--But look what happens:

2 Thes. 2:8 "...And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth

and destroy with the brightness of His coming..."

i) He will be Blown Away

ii) He will be Outshined

iii) He will be: Rev. 19:20 "...Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked

signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were

cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brinstone.."

4) The Reason this Matters

There is a growth factor a) 2 Thessalonians 2:5 "...Do you not remember that

when I was still with you I told you these things?..."

b) There is the motivation factor 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 "...And now you know what

is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

c) There is the Warning factor 2 Thes. 2:9-11 "...The coming of the lawless one is

according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs , and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,

because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send then strong

delusion, that they shoud believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 30...............................................................................................................................................

Sunday, July 12, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Jacob's Trouble: The Tribulation Matthew 24:3-21

Jacob's Trouble: The Tribulation

Jeremiah 30:6-7 "...Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man

with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it

is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it..."

2 Peter 3:10 "...But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with

a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up..."

Romans 1:18 "...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness

of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness..."

Zechariah 13:8-9 "...And it shall come to pass in all the land, "says the Lord, that two-thirds in it shall be cut off

and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and

test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them, I will say, 'This is My people', and each one will say,

'The Lord is my God.'..."

1. The Tribulation will begin with a great Disappearance

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "...For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an

archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord..."

2. The Tribulation will be a Time of Disobedience and Lawlessness

Matthew 24:10, 12 "...And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another...

and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold..."

3. The Tribulation will be a Time of Incredible Deception

Matthew 24:4-5; 11; 23-24 "...And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceivdes you.

For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many...then many false prophets will rise up and deceive

many...then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ! or 'there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will

arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect..."

Revelation 6:2 "...And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was

given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer..."

4. The Tribulation will be Marked by Death

Matthew 24:6-7 "...And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these

things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be

famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places..."

*.....Death through War

Revelation 6:4 "...And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to

take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword..."

*.....Death through Famine

Matthew 24:7 "...there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places..."

Revelation 6:5-6 "...When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." And

I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four

living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine..."

*.....Death through Disease and Pestilence

Matthew 24:7 "..pestilences,...in various places..."

Revelation 6:8 "...So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and

Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by

the beasts of the earth..."

*.....Death through Natural Disasters

Matthew 24:7 "...earthquakes in various places..."

Revelation 6:12-17 "...I looked when He opened the sixth seal; and behold: there was a great earthquake;

and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a

fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolld up, and every mountain

and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every

slave and every free man, hid theselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mouintains, and said to the mountains and rocks,

"Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has

come, and who is able to stand?..."

5. The Tribulation will be Marked by the Abomination of Desolation Matthew 24:15

"...Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads,

let him understand)..."

Revelation 13:3-4 "...I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.

And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the

beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?..."

2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 "...The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power,

signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,

that they might be saved..."

Daniel 9:27 "...Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring

an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation,

which is determined, is poured out on the desolate..."

Revelation 13:14 "...And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in

the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived..."

Revelation 13:15 "...He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the

beast shoud both speak and cause as many as woud not worship the image of the beast to be killed..."

Revelation 13:16-17 "...He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receie a mark on

their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number

of his name..."

6. The Tribulation will be Marked by an Attempt to Destroy Israel

Matthew 24:15-20 "...Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet

standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on

the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to

those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath..."

Zechariah 13:8-9 "...And it shall come to pass in all the land, "says the Lord," that two-thirds in it shall be cut

off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refne them as silver is refined, and

test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I wil say 'This is My people; and each one will say,

'The Lord is my God..."

Genesis 3:15 "...And I will put emity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall

bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heal..."

Matthew 2:13 "...Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,

"Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the

young Child to destroy Him..."

Revelation 12:14-16 "...But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness

to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed

water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the

woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth..."

7. The Tribulation will be Marked by a Special Declaration of God's Truth

Matthew 24:14 "...And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the

nations, and then the end will come..."

Revelation 11:3 "...And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred

and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth..."

Revelation 7:9-10 "...After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of

all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in

their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb..."

8. The Tribulation will End with the Defeat of Satan

Matthew 24:30 "...Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will

mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory..."

Conclusion:

Judgment on the Gentile Nations and the Purging of Israel

2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9-12 "...Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling

away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition...the coming of the lawless one is according to the working

of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive

the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 31.................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, July 19, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: The Return of the King Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-21

The Return of the King

Revelation 1:7-8 "...Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him;

and on His account all the tribes of the earth will wail! So it is to be. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, "says the Lord God, who is

and who was and who is to come, the almighty..."

When the King is revealed...

1) Expect Him to be Visible: Every eye will see Him.

Revelation 1:7 "...Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced

Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of HIm. Even so, Amen..."

Psalm 12:6 "...The words of the Lord arepure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times..."

a) His Appearing is glorious.

Revelation 1:11-12a "...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and "What you see, write in a book

and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia,

and to Laodicea."...Then I turned to see the voice that spoke to me..."

Exodus 15:3 "...The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name..."

b) His Apparel is fabulous.

Revelation 1:12b-13 "...And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the seven

lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band..."

c) His Titles are peerless.

Revelation 1:16 "...He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and

His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength..." Ephesians 2:6 "...and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..."

d) His Army is spotless

Revelation 1:14 "...His head and His hair were white like wool, and white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;..."

e) His Armament is flawless.

Revelation 1:15 "...His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;..."

2) Expect Him to be Violent

2 Thessolonians 1:6-10 "...since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in the Day to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed..."

a) Birds are called.

Revelation 19:17 "..Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,..."

Luke 17:34-37 "...I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men wil be in the field; the one will be taken and the other left. And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So Jesus said to them,. "Wherever the body is , there the eagles will be gathered together..."

b) Blood will flow.

Revelation 14:20 "...And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs..." (200 miles)

Isaiah 63:1-6 "...Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?--I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why is Your apparel red and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes, For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold; therefore My one arm brought salvation for Me; and My own fury, it sustained Me, I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury, and brought down their strength to the earth..."

c) Bodies will fail

Revelation 19:18, 21 "...That you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great...And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh..."

Zechariah 14:12 "...And this shall be the plague with whch the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths..."

3) Expect Him to be Victorious

"...He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure:..."

Matthew 25:34, 41 "...Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ...Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:..."

a) All Armies are drawn to Armageddon

Revelation 16:13-16; 19:19 "...And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs,which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon......And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against his army..."

Isaiah 11:4 "...But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips. He shall slay the wicked..."

b) All armaments are useless at Armagedon

Revelation 19:15 "...Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God..."

Colossians 1:16-17 "...For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or power. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist..."

c) The Demonic Duo is destroyed at Armageddon

Revelation 19:20 "...Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who redeived the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brinstone..."

d) The doomed multitudes are destroyed at Armageddon

Revelation 19:21 "...And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh..."

But what about mercy?

2 Peter 3:9-10 "...The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are it it will be burned up..."

Revelation 9:20-21 "...But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts..."

God's love is Eternal

God's justice is Sure and Swift

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 32.........................................................................................................................................

Sunday, July 26, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Peace on Earth--Good Will Toward Men Revelation 20:1-10

Peace on Earth--Good Will Toward Men

The Kingdom was Predicted Daniel 2:44-45 "...In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set upa kingdom that wil never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces..."

The Kingdom was Promised

Isaiah 9:6-7 "...For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of HIS Government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this..."

The Kingdom was Planted

Luke 2:10-14 "...Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!..."

MILLENNIUM? What is that?

The Kingdom will Come

1) By the Revelation of Jesus Zechariah 14:4 "...And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south..."

Revelation 11:15; 19:11-15 "...Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!..." Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean , followed Him on white horses. (Thats us!) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on Hs thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

2) By the The Incarceration of Satan.

Revelation 20:1-3 "...Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand..He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more tiil the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while..."

a) No more Accusations

b) No more Intimidation

c) No more Deception

1 John 2:1 "...My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous..."

Isaiah 65:18 "...But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy..."

Isaiah 11:5 "...Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist..."

3) By the Transformation of the Earth

a) Peace at Last!

Isaiah 2:2-4 "...Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, "come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many peope; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore..."

b) Sickness unheard of!

Isaiah 65:19-20 "...I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying...No more shall an infant from there live but a few days (no more abortions), nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundrred years onld shall be accursed..."

c) Prosperity as a Rule

Isaiah 65:21-24 "...They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and anothar eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shal long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear..."

d) Domestication of the Vicious

Isaiah 11:6-10 "...The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the warters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the peope; for the Gentiles shall seek Him as His resting place shall be glorious..."

e) Restoration of Earth

Romans 8:19-22 "...For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of the corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God..."

4) By the Administration of the Saints

Revelation 20:4-6 "...And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection..Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years..."

Luke 22:28-30 "...But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me..."

1 Corinthians 6:2 "...Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?..."

5) By the Conformation of God

Revelation 20:7-10 "...Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the seas. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire, and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever..."

a) Satan will have brief Liberation of God

b) Sinners will have a brief Revolution

c) Satan will suffer Defeat

Who are the dead? Revelation 20:5 "...But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection..."

Until we meet again, God bless!

note 33.........................................................................................................................................

Sunday, August 2, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: Nowhere to Hide Revelation 20:11-15

Nowhere to Hide

Hebrews 9:27 "...and it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment..."

Psalm 14:1 "...the fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God'..."

a) Some folks die in Christ and God calls it sleep.

i) John 11:11 "...These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up..."

ii) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 "...But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope..."

2) No one can hide from Deity

Proverbs 16:15 "...The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good..."

a) On a Great White Throne

i) The Father is present

Daniel 7:9-10; 13-14 "...I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousand ministered to HIm; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened...I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed..."

ii) The Son is present

Revelation 3:21 "...To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne..."

b) Around the throne are Myriads ofministers

Daniel 7:9-10 "...a thousand thousand ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him..."

c) In front of the Throne are the dead

Revelation 20:5 "...But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished..."

3) No one can hide from their deeds

2 Peter 2:14 "...having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children...(earth dwellers)..."

a) God will open the Book of Books

John 12:47-48 "...And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him inthe last day..."

b) God will open the Books of Deeds

i) Romans 2:5-8 "...But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds"; eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory honor, and imortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath..."

c) God will open the Book of Life Revelation 20:15 "...And anyone not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire..."

4) No one can hide from God's decree

a) Justice will be served

Revelation 20:12; Romans 2:16; Matthew 12:36 "...And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God and books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books...in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel...but I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment..."

b) Judgment will be severe

Revelation 20:15; Matthew 10:28; 25:41 "...And anyone not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire...and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell...then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels..."

5) No one can deny that God is Gracious

John 5:24 "...Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death into life..."

Romans 2:4 "...Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?..."

Sin is separation from God, let us rejoice at all times in the Lord Jesus, our soon coming King!

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, August 9, 2009: What in the World is Going On?: How Then Should We Live? 2 Peter 3:1-18

How Then Shall We LIve?

2 Peter 3:11a "...Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be?

1) Get Educated 2 Peter 3:1-10

a) Let your mind be Stirred

2 Peter 1:12-16, 19-21 "...Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty...We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in you hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of an private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit..."

b) Let your memory be Strengthened

2 Peter 3:1-2 "...Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior..."

c) Let the mockers keep Mocking

2 Peter 3:3-7 "...Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being foded with water. But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men..."

Jude 17 "...But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

2 Timothy 3:1 "...But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come..."

Romans 1:18 "...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who supress the truth in unrighteousness..."

d) Let the Savior keep saving

2 Peter 3:8-10 "...But beloved, do not forget ths one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as somome counts slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any shoud perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it wil be burned up.."

2) Stay Motivated

2 Peter 3:11-13 "...Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells..."

a) Lift up your Standard

2 Peter 3:11 "...what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness..."

Titus 2:11-14 "...For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself His own special people, zealous for good works..."

b) Lift up your Eyes

2 Peter 3:12 "...Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elerments will melt with fervent heat?..."

c) Lift up your Heart

2 Peter 3:13 "...Neverless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in whch righteousness dwells..."

3) Be Dedicated

2 Peter 3:14-18 "...Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be dilligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, as written to you as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen..."

a) Live in peace and holiness:

2 Peter 3:14 "...to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;..."

b) Talk about God's patience and salvation:

2 Peter 3:15, 9 "...account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul...The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, ...not willing that any should perish but that all shouiold come to repentance..."

c) Know God's plan and purpose:

2 Peter 3:17 "...since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked..."

d) Grow in God's grace and hisknowledge:

2 Peter 3:18 "...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Judgement of the Saved

2 Timothy 4:6-8 "...For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the Day and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing..."

Romans 14:10 "...But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ..."

2 Corinthians 5:9 "...Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent (asleep) to be well pleasing to Him..."

1 Cornthians 3:13 "...each one's work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is..."

Jesus the Judge is Coming Again!

The world is looking for a one world leader that will handle all their issues such as:

Globalization

The Weather

Energy

Finances

Health

Political Issues

Terroism

Nuclear Threats

Religions

and a host of other issues, according to mans will.

Prophecy tells us that person is the antiChrist who will rule the whole earth for a short period of time. However the saved will be under the rule of Christ who will return to set up His Kingdom for a 1000 years (the Millinium) then Satan will be put away forever and Jesus will reign with us for eternity! Praise God!

1 Corinthians 15:24 "...Then comes the end, when He (Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end of all rule and all authority and power (on the earth and in heaven)..."

Pray for His Kingdom come, according to His Will, not man's, as Jesus has authority over all.

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, August 16, 2009: Hell is Under Attack!

1. Hell is under Attack.

2 Timothy 4:3 "...For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up teachers for themselves;..."

2 Thessalonians 2:10 "...and with all unrighteous decepton among those who perish, because they did not recieve the love of the truth, that they might be saved..."

2. Hell is Real.

Matthew 5:29 "...and if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell...."

Mark 9:43-48 "...And if your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. And if your eye makes you sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire--where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched..."

3. Hell is Eternal.

Daniel 12:2 "...And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt..."

Revelation 14:11 "...And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name..."

Matthew 25:46 "...And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life..."

Proverbs 11:7 "...When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of the unjust perishes..."

4. Hell is a hopeless place of Eternal Separation.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 "...and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of he Lord and from the glory of His power,..."

Luke 13:27-28 "...But He will say, "I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out..."

5. Hell is a place of Eternal Torment.

Matthew 13:49-50 "...So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth..."

Revelation 9:2 "...And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit..."

Revelation 14:10-11 "..."he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name..."

Revelation 20:10 "...And the devil, who decieved them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever..."

Matthew 18:8 "...And if your hand or foot causes ou to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire..."

Luke 16:24 "...Then he cried and said, "Father, Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame..."

Matthew 8:12 "...But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkenss. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth..."

Matthew 8:12 "..But the subjects of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth..."

Matthew 22:13 "...Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'..."

Matthew 25:30 "...'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'..."

Matthew 16:15 "...And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, August 23, 2009: Heaven! I can't Wait!

Heaven! I can't Wait!

Revelation 21-22

1. I will get a new Body

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 "...Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed --in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortailty..."

1 John 3:2 "...Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is..."

Philippians 3:21 "...who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself..."

2. I will get to eat great Food

Revelation 22:2 "...In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, wich bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations..."

3. I have no need to Fear Death

Philippians 3:20 "...For our citizenship is in heaven, form which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ..."

2 Corinthians 5:6 "...Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent form the Lord..."

1 Corinthians 15:55 "...O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?..."

4. I get a new Home

John 14:1-3 "...Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you..."

5. I am going to experience Awsome Worship

a. I will sing praises to Jesus in Heaven

b. I will serve Jesus in Heaven

Revelation 22:3 "...There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him..."

Revelation 20:6 "...Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years..."

Revelation 22:5 "...And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever..."

6. I will see the Beauties of heaven

Revelation 21:1-2, 5; 18-21; 22:1-2 "...And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven form God, prepared as a birde adorned for her husband,...Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful"...And the construction of its wall was of Jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was Jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. and the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each indiviudual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold. like transparent glass...And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve frutis, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations..."

The heavens declare the golory of God

7. I will have plenty to Explore

Revelation 21:16 "...And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. (1500 miles) Its length, breadth, and height are equal..."

8. There will be things I will not Experience

Revelation 21:1, 4, 8, 22-23; 25, 27; 22:3, 5 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away...But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death...But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God iluminated it, and the Lamb is its light...Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)...But there shall by no means enter it anythng that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life...And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him...And there shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever..."

We will never fail God again for there will be

a. Absence of Grief

b. Absence of Sin

9. I will experience incredible Fellowship

10. I will see Jesus face to face

Revelation 21:3; 22:4 "...And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God...They shall see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, August 30, 2009: Disciples: It Takes One to Make One

Disciples: It Takes One to Make One

We are called to bring glory to God through the Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 "...Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo,I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen..."

Grace Mission Statement: (the What) We exist to Glorify (the How) God by making Disciples of (the Where) Jesus Christ across the Street and Around the World

But it takes one to make one...

Three Levels of Response to Jesus

1. People that are Curious

John 6:26-27; Matthew 4:23-25 "...Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which theSon of Man will give you because God the Father has set His seal on Him...Now Jesus went about all Galiee, teaching in their synagogues, teachng the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. And great multitudes folowed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan..."

2. People that are Convinced

John 6:58-69 "...This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?" It is the Spirit who gives lilfe; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe,and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father. " From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" Then Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Youi have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God..."

3. People that are Committed

Luke 9:23-26 "...Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what advantage is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me nd My words of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels..."

Disciples continually Learn God's Word

John 8:31 "...Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed..."

Disciples constantly Abide in Christ

John 15:7 "...If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you..."

Disciples consistently Live Fruitful Lives

John 15:8, 16 "...By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My dsciples..."

Disciples completely Love God and other Christians

John 15:12, 17; 13:35 "...This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you... These things I command you, that you love one another...By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another..."

Think about this:

* You can't lead people where you have never been.

* You cannot introduce people to Jesus if you don't know Him.

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, September 06, 2009: Follow Me: Again

Follow Me: Again

Matthew 28:18-20 "...Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, bqaptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen..."

God gives second chances...

1) Sometimes we fail

a) We're in the Wrong place

Matthew 26:58 "...But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end..."

b) We're in a lot of Pain

Proverbs 13:15; Luke 15:11-17 "...Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard...Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and not one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my fathers's hired sevants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!..."

c) We're paying a Heavy Price

Matthew 26:75 "...And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Then he went out and wept bitterly..."

2) Sometimes we are foolish

a) We forget our Calling

Matthew 4:19 "...Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men..."

b) We forget our Companions

John 21:2-3a "...Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Gaililee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also..."

c) We forget the consequences

John 21:3b-5 "...They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No"..."

3) Never are we forsaken

a) Jesus finds us when we fail

John 21:5-6 "...Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish..."

Jesus feeds us when we are frail

John 21:9-12 "...Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." Simon Peter went up and draggged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundrred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"--knowing that it was the Lord..."

c) Jesus frees us to Continue to follow

i) Love Me

ii) Follow Me

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Follow Me

What do these words mean to us today? Let us examine this command of our Lord in light of several contexts in which it was given.

1. Follow Me begins and continues with Hearing His Voice

John 10:24-27 "...Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them,

"I told you , and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me..."

Does God speak to you through His Word? If you are one of His sheep, He does

2. Follow Me and take up your cross of Self Denial

Mark 8:31-38 "...And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. And when He had called the people to HIm, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father whith the holy angels..."

Are you willing to pay any price to follow the Lord? He is worthy of all we can give. Spurgeon's lament, "O God, are thine enemies awake, and only thy friends asleep>"

3. Follow Me and not the agenda of Dead People

Luke 9:57-60; Ephesians 2:1-10 "...Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God......And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now wroks in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together , and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them..."

Those who are still without Christ are spiritually dead and do not have our goals.

4. Follow Me even with the promise of Pain.

John 21:18-19 "...Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God, and when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me"..."

The Lord promised Peter that it would cost him his life to follow Him. Are we wiling?

5. Follow Me without Comparisons to others

John 21:20-22 "...Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following , who also had leaned on His breast at at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to nim, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."..."

Jesus said that what God would do with John was not Peter's business. Comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 "...For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise..."

6. Follow Me regardless of Your Past

Luke 5:27-32 "...After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me". And he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. But their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physcian, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance..."

Jesus was criticized for eating with sinners at Matthew's house. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Don't let people who criticize your past sin keep you from following Jesus..."

7. Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men

Matthew 4:18-19 "...Now Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men..."

When fishermen don't fish, they fight. Stop fishing for each other's faults. Reach the lost and stop fighting with Christians! Jesus had beautiful feet. Do you?

8. Follow Me and set aside your Besetting Sin

Mark 10:17-21 "...Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother." And he answered and said to Him, Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth. Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me..."

This one thing kept the rich young ruler from following the Lord: his love of money! What is your besetting sin?

9. Follow Me but not Afar Off like Peter did because of the Fear of Man

Luke 22:54 "...Then, having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed at a distance..."

Peter suffered from the fear of man which is a snare to our soul

Galatians 2:11-13 "...But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separatesd himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy..."

Porverbs 29:25 "...The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe..."

Being a 'man pleaser' stunts our growth spiritually and blunts our grasp of Scripture.

John 5:43-44 "...I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?..."

Man pleasers filter the Bible through public opinion or someone they want to impress. Dangerous decline to liberalism and unbelief..."

Test your life in light of these truths to see if you are fully following Christ!

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 40.................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Godly Gossip?

Godly Gossip?

Acts 8:1-8 "...Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preachng the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeng the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city..."

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:19-20 "...Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing themin the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen...."

1. What do we know about the Great Commission?

We know who is in chargeJesus

We know who is responsible--We Are

We know what to do--Make disciples and Baptize them

We know where we are supposed to do it-- All Nations

We know how we are to do it--Teach them Everything

We know when we are supposed to do it--From now till Jesus comes again

We even know why we are able to do it--Jesus is with us

2. What do we know about preaching?

1 Corinthians 1:21-24 "...For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of Gpod and the wisdom of God..."

Romans 10:14-15 "...How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? An how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!..."

3. Fast facts about preaching:

Preaching is absolutely Irreplaceable

Mark 1:38 "...But He (Jesus) said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth..."

Preaching is absolutely Intimidating

God calls all to go

Matthew 28:19 "...Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."

God calls some go Herald and Proclaim

Acts 8:5 "...Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them..."

God calls all to go Gossip the Gospel, go everywhere and talk about Jesus

Acts 8:4 "...Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word..."

4. What do we know to be our greatest obstacle?

SILENCE

Acts 18:9-10 "...Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you or hurt you; for I have many people in this city..."

Conclusion:

We need to Gossip about the Gospel

Till we meet again, God Bless!

note 41...............................................................................................................................................

Sunday, September 27, 2009

ARE WE READY?

Romans 1:13-17

We are Obligated to God

1) I am debtor: Romans 1:14 "...I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise..."

a) Regardless of Face

b) Regardless of Place

c) Regardless of Race

2) I am ready: Romans 1:15 "...So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also..."

a) Your Paradigm makes you ready.

b) Your Problems make you ready.

1 Corinthians 2:2-3 "...For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much tremblilng..."

c) God's Purpose makes you ready.

Romans 1:13 "...Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also , just as among the other Gentiles..."

John 15:16 "...You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you..."

3) I am not ashamed

Why be ashamed?

Romans 1:16-17 "...For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith..."

a) The gospel is the Power of God

Romans 5:12 "...Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--..."

The gospel proves the Love of God

The gospel reveals the Rightness of God

i) Every sin ever committed will be (Has Been) punished.

ii) Every sin ever committed can be (Pardoned).

iii) Every sinner That Ever Believed has been pardoned.

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 42...............................................................................................................................................

Sunday, October 4, 2009

When The Bible Gets Trampled

Romans 1:18-32

"...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were dakened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Therefore

God also gave them up to uncleanness,

in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among thmeselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason

God gave them up to vile passions.

For even their women exchanged the natuaral use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,

God gave them over to a debased mind,

to do those things which are not fitting; being filled wih all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them..."

Isaiah 59:14-15a "...Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails..."

*****Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. (Persecution of Christians, especially the young ones.

*****Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.

How Does The Truth Get Trampled?

We Restrain the Truth--supress the truth in unrighteousness. v. 18

We Replace the Truth--who exchanged the truth of God for the lie. v. 25

We Reject the Truth--and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. v. 28

Note the inevitable slide of man when we trample the Truth.

1. Intelligence

v. 21 "...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ......became futile in their thoughts,..... and their foolish hearts were darkened..."

2. Ingratitude

v. 21 "...they knew God, they did not glorify Him, nor were thankful..."

3. indifference

v. 21, 25a "...became futile in their thoughts...exchanged the Truth for the lie..."

4. Ignorance (Willfully)

v. 22 "...Professing to be wise they became fools..."

5. Idolatary

v. 23, 25b "...changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things...and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..."

6. Indulgence

v. 24, 26 "...Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,...For this reason God gave them up to vile pssions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature..."

7. Indecency

v. 24, 26 "...God...gave them up to uncleanness...to dishonor their bodies...to vile passions...women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature..."

8. Insolence

v. 28-31 "...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;..."

Since there is no excuse does that mean there is no hope?

v. 20b "...the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,..."

God does not first seek that we behave, but that we believe, so that we CAN behave!

The just shall live by faith

Untill we meet again, God bless!

note 43...............................................................................................................................................

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Who Are You To Judge? Romans 2:1-24

Romans 1:32 "...who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them..."

Romans 1:18-19 "...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them..."

Errors of Judgment

1) We presume that we have An Excuse to judge others.

Romans 2:1 "...Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things..."

2) We assume that we will Escape Judgment ourselves..."

Romans 2:3 "...And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?..."

3) We suppose that God is Too Lenient

Romans 2:4-6 "...Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with our hardness and our impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds..."

4) We conclude that our Religion make us Special

Romans 2:17-24 "...Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make our boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, an light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, "Do not commit adultery, " do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written..."

Isaiah 52:5 "...Now therefore, what have I here, says the Lord, "That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them make them wail, says the Lord, and My name is blasphemed continually every day..."

Hebrews 4:13 "...And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account..."

Mica 6:8 "...He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of your but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?..."

1) God will judge according to the Truth

Romans 2:2 "...But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things..."

2) God will judge according to our Deeds

Romans 2:6 "...who will render to each one according to his deeds..."

3) God will judge according to Impartiality

Romans 2:7-11 "...eternal life to those who by patient continuance is doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God..."

4) God will judge according to our Opportunity

Romans 2:12-15 "...For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselfves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, thier conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)..."

4) God will judge according to our Secrets

Romans 2:16 "...In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to My gospel..."

a) Ecclesiastes 12:14 "...For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil..."

b) 1 Corinthians 4:5 "...Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one's praise will come from God..."

c) Proverbs 15:3 "...The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good..."

6) But God has judged according to His Grace

Romans 2:16 "...in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel..."

Romans 1:16-17 "...For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith..."

Remember, for the believer, Judgment has already happened at the Cross of Calvery

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 44................................................................................................................................................

Speechless: Nothing to Brag About

Romans 3

When we stand before God

Romans 3:19 "..Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God..."

God already has all the evidence

Why are we speechless and without excuse?

1) God hears the questions in our head.

a.) Why bother with Religion?

* Seize your Opportunity

b. ) Why bother with Responsibility

* Count on God's faithfulness

c. ) Why bother with Righteousness

* Don't make God A Partner in your sin

3) God knows the Conditions in our heart

a.) We are evil at the Root

b.) We produce Evil Fruit

i. No control

ii. No compassion

iii. No knowledge

iv. No fear

Romans 3:18 "...There is no fear of God before their eyes..."

Romans 3:10-18 "...There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all gone out of the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one, their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouths full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes..."

3) God gives the remedy for our guilt

a. God has Given His righteousness to all who believe

Romans 3:21-28 "...But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had pased over sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law..."

Come out of the world and its busyness

b.) God Satisfied His justice by the Propitiation of Jesus

c) God has Eliminated Boasting by supplying His grace

Back to the beginning...

The righteousness of God is revealed:

Romans 1:16-17 "...For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,

Habakkuk 2:4 "...Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith..."

Hebrews 4:13 "...And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account..."

Proverbs 15:3 "...The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good..."

Have you taken advantage of your advantage?

Romans:

Chapter One: The slide of man

Chapter Two: The hypocrisy of God's people

Chapter Three: (Today) Speechless: Nothing to Brag about

Chapter Four: Till we meet again next week, God bless!

note 45................................................................................................................................................

What Does God Want?

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Romans 4:13-25

Worthy, Right, Weightiness

Romans 3:23 "...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

God wants us to be like Abraham--People With Standing

Romans 4:1-15 "...What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something of which to boast, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?, (Genesis 15:6 "...And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness..."),

"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungoldly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin" Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, fatih is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression..."

How did Abraham gain his standing with God?

Not by works but as A Gift by Grace

Romans 4:1-5 "...What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something of which to boast, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?..... Abraham believed God....., and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness..."

When did Abraham gain his standing with God?

Not when he was circumcised but when he Believed

Romans 4:9-11a "...Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of the circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised..."

Not when he Kept the Rules but when he believed.

Romans 4:13-15 "...For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression..."

Why did Abraham gain his standing with God?

Not to be father to a few Jews but to the Family of Faith

Romans 4:11b-12 "...that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncidrcumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not ony are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised..."

God wants us to believe like Abraham

Romans 4:16-25 "...Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

(As it is written: Genesis 17:5b "...I have made you a father of many nations..."),

in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification..."

Clarfy the Object of your faith

Romans 4:16-17 "...Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;..."

A God who gives life to the dead

A God who calls into existence that which did not exist

Identify the Obstacles of your faith

Romans 4:18-22 "...who, contray to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be".

(Genesis 15:5), "...Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be'..."

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred yrears old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore 'It was accounted to nim for righteousness..."

We face Hopeless Circumstances

We face Staggering Promises

Verify the Placement of your faith

(Romans 4:23-25) "...Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification..."

Don't have faith In Faith; have faith in God

Don't depend on big faith; depend on a BIG GOD

So what does God really want?

He wants us To Believe Him!

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 46................................................................................................................................................

Peace with God

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Romans 5:1-11 "...Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation..."

Isaiah 53:6-8 "...All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken..."

Romans 3:23 "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

1) Rejoice that your past sins cannot Condemn

Romans 5:1-2 "...Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God..."

Revelation 12:10 "...Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down..."

a) We have Peace with God

b) We have Position before God

Hebrews 10:19, 22 "...Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water..."

c) We have the Promise of glory with God.

"...Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has hot yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purfies himself, just as He is pure..."

2) Rejoice that your present suffering cannot Harm you.

Romans 5:3-10

a) Problems produce perseverance-- Steadiness

b) Perseverance produces character-- Capability

c) Character produces hope--Reliability

d) Hope does not disappoint--Confidence

3) Rejoice that your future salvation is secure

Romans 5:5b-11

a) The Life of God has moved inside you.

b) The Love of God has overwhelmed you

i) God loved us when we were lifeless, ungodly enemies-- He gave us life

ii) God loves us more since we are His own dear children-- He helps us live

What Wrath?

Romans 5:9 "...Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him..." (Wrath here is upon the present-day sinners, not the hell of judgment)

Tilll we meet again, God bless!

note 47................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, November 8, 2009

My Chains are Gone!

Romans 6:1-2; 15-16; 23

Abounding Grace, saved, sealed, safe and secured...

Romans 1:18 "...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,..."

Romans 5:1,5, 19 "...Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us...For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be mnade righteous..."

*Two constant questions about Grace...

[*Can a person keep on sinning? Certainly not if you know the facts!]

Romans 6:1-2 "...What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?..."

Galatians 2:20 "...I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the lilfe which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me..."

1) Know the facts.

a) You died to sin.

Romans 6:3, 6 "...Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?...Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with HIm, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin..."

b) You buried the corpse.

Romans 6:4, 6 "...Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life...Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with that we shoud no longer be slaves of sin..."

c) You resurrected a new person.

Romans 6:4-5, 8-9 "...Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life...For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection...Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him..."

2) Acknowledge the facts.

Romans 6:11 "...Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

a) Acknowledge your death...

b) Acknowledge your new life...

c) Acknowledge your new master...

3) Act on the facts

Romans 6:12-14 "...Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominon over you, for you are not under law but under grace..."

a) Refuse to sin

b) Refuse to give opportunity to sin

c) Rather choose to give opportunity to God

[*Does a saved person have permission to sin? Certainly not if you know its power!]]

Romans 6:15-16 "...What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, wherher of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?..."

1) No, because of its power to Enslave

Romans 6:17-20 "...But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And haveing been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness..."

2) No, because of its power to Shame

Romans 6:21 "...What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death..."

No, because of its power to Spread death

Romans 6:21b-23 "...For the end of those things is death...For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

a) Death brings Darkness

b) Death brings Limitations

c) Death brings Corruptions

d) Death brings Uselessness

Conclusion

Romans 6:23 "...For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal ife in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

*****Some Christians have eternal life but they don't have Abundance

John 10:10 "...The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly..."

*****Unsaved peolple sin by Obligation as slaves. Slaves can't say no

*****Saved people only sin by Choice even though they have been set free.

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 48................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Winning the War Within

Romans 7:14-25

So, why do we keep on sinning?

Two erroneous aproaches to dealing with the sin:

Antinomianism: Live as if there is no law because grace covers it all. Legalism:

Do the best that you can do and that is what will get you through. Romans 6:14 "...For sin shall not have dominion over

you, for you are not under law but under grace..." Romans 3:19 "...Now we know that whatever the law

says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come guilty before God..."

1) Understand the law's Purview (Jurisdiction)

Romans 7:1-6 "...Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over

a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies,

she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress;

but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren,

you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead,

that we should bear fruitto God. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were aroused by the law were at work in our members

to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the

newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter..."

a) The law lost jurisdiction when I died to my old mate

b) The law lost jurisdiction when I was married to Christ

2) Understand the law's purpose

a)The law Reveals sin.

Romans 7:7 "...What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have

known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."

b)The law Promotes sin.

Romans 7:8-9 "... But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.

For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died..."

c)The law Kills sin.

Romans 7:10-11 "...And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking

occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me..."

d)The law Magnifys sin.

Romans 7:12-13 "...Therefore the law is holy and the commnadment holy and just and good. Has then what is good

become death to me? Certatiny not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin

through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful..."

3) Understand the law's powerlessness

a) The law cannot change you

Romans 7:14 "...For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin..."

b) The law cannot Empower you

Romans 7:15-20 "... For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but

what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but

sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform

what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do; but the evil I will not to do,

that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me..."

Romans 7:21 "...I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good..."

Romans 5:5 "...Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by

the Holy Spirit which was given to us..."

Romans 7:22-25 "...For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my

members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O Wretched man

that I am! Who will deliver me from ths body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve

the law of God but with the flesh the law of flesh

Confess all sin, to others and God, and remember its Grace-based, not works-based, and 1 Thess 5:17

"...pray without ceasing..."

Till we meet again, God Bless!

note 49...........................................................................................................................................

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Our Life in Christ

Romans 7:24-8:39

John 8:34-36 "...Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does

not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you frree, you shall be free indeed..."

Romans 8:1 "...There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the

flesh, but according to the Spirit..."

Sin separates us from God

Romans 5:12 "...Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death

through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--"

Romans 5:5 "...Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy

Spirit who was given to us..."

Titus 3:5 "...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through

the washing of regenerationn and renewing of the Holy Spirit..."

John 11:6 "...And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent..."

Romans 8:28 "...And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called

according to His purpose..."

Romans 3:20-21 "...Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the

knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets..."

1) I am free from Condemnation--No more judgment

Romans 7:24-8:4 "...O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through

Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore no

condemnation now to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the

Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through

the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the llikeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous

requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit..."

a) There is a Constant struggle in the Christian life

b) The struggle is without Condemnation

c) There is no Punishment for the struggle

Hebrews 12:7-8 "...If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a

father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons..."

2) I am free from Intimidation--No more slavery

Romans 8:5-17 "...For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those

who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit

is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal

bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit , you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you

received the Spirit of adoption by who we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children

of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified

together..."

3) I am free from Frustration--No more helplessness

Romans 8:18-30 "...For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with

the glory which shall be revealed in us..For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of

God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;because the creation itself also

will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation

groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. And not only they , but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we

ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what

we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we

shoud pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He

foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified..."

4) I am free from Separation--No more fear

Romans 8:31-39 "...What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not

spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against

God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also the right hand

of God, who also the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall

tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it iswritten: "For Your sake we are killed

all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Yet in all these things we are more thatn conquerours through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels

nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to

separate us from the love of God which in in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

a) All Charges are dismissed--God justified me

c) All Efforts of separation are fruitless-

God's love is eternal

i) The perils of life cast no Doubt on God's love

Romans 8:35 "...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,

or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?..."

ii) Unseen powers cannot Diminish God's love

Romans 8:38-39 "...For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor

things prresent nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thilng, shall be able to separate us from the love of God

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

note 50...........................................................................................................................................

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Relational Leftovers

Matthew 18:15-20

MAIN IDEA: When there is a gap between what we expect and what we experience, as Christians we must believe the best and ot assume the worst of other people. Based on:

what we see

what we perceive

what we believe..............(believe the best)

A. What Creates Relational Leftovers?

1. Human Nature-Sin

Matthew 18:15 "...Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother..."

2. You Talk About the other person instead of Talking To the person.

v. 15 "...if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you..."

3. You don't tell the Truth about the Real Issue

v. 15 "...if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault,..."

4. You expect a certain Response instead of allowing them to Respond

v. 15-16 "...go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses..."

1 Corinthians 13:5-7 "...(Love)...does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things..."

5. You Believe the wrong people.

Matthew 18:16-17 "...But if he will hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector..."

B. How Do I Handle Relational Leftovers?

1. When there is a gap between what I expected and what I experienced, I will believe the best.

Proverbs 16:2 "...All the ways of a man are pure (innocent) in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (motives)..."

2. When other people assume the worst about you, I will come to your Defense

3. If what I experience begins to erode My Trust, I will come direcly to you about it..."

Matthew 18:15 "...go and tell him his fault between you and him..." (Takes Commitment)

Proverbs 16:28 "...A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer (talebearer) separates the best of friends..."

4. When I'm convinced I will not be able to deliver-- On a Promise, I will inform you ahead of time..."

5. When you confront me about the gaps I've created, I will tell you the truth..."

Zechariah 8:16 "...These are the things you shall do; speak each man the truth to his neighbor; give judgment in your gates for truth, justice and peace..."

Ephesians 4:15 "...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ..."

C. Do I need to resolve some Relational leftovers? (Application)

1. Take a moment and list some people who you need to change your perspective of--you have assumed the worst about them.

2. Do you have an issue or do they? If you sit on it, it's your issue. (who you are, what you see, what you perceive.)

3. Is there someone that you need to defend and haven't?

4. Have you created a gap of trust in your family or organization by not beng trustworthy?

5. Who needs to hear the truth from you in love?

Till we meet again, God bless!

Note 51...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Where Are The Nine? Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19 "...Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when they saw Him, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was as they went, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed?" But Where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well..."

Hebrews 13:12-15 "...Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the One to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name..."

Psalms 103:2 "...Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all His benefits:..."

Romans 1:21 "...Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened..."

1) What are the characteristics of ingratitude?

a) They had forgotten the extent of their misery

Luke 17:12 "...ten men who were lepers (A person with leprosy an infectious disease affecting skin and nerves, resulting in mutilations and deformities )..."

b) They had forgotten the greatness of His mercy

v.13 "...Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!..."

c) They had forgotten the magnitude of His Miracle

v.14 "...He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests...as they went, they were cleansed..."

d) They had gotten that they really wanted.

v.17 "...Jesus answered..."Were there not ten cleansed?" Where are the nine?

2) What are the characteristics of true gratitude?

a) His thanksgiving praise was Personal

v.15a "...one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned..."

b) His thanksgiving praise was Prompt

v.15 "...when healed, returned..."

c) His thanksgiving praise was Intense

v.15 "...with a loud voice glorified God..."

d) His thanksgiving praise was Humble

v.16 "...and fell down on his face at His feet giving Him thanks..."

e) His thanksgiving praise was Evidential

v.17-18 "...Jesus answered, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?. Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God..."

f) His thanksgiving praise was Faithful

v.19 "...Arise..your faith has made you well..."

3) What is the explanation for the nine?.

a) More people receive blessings than offer praise

b) More people Pray than praise.

c) Most of us pray more than we praise.

d) More people obey External rituals than they offer heartfelt praise.

e) More people believe than praise.

f) More believers are satisfied with Physical health and Prosperity

g) More people hear the gospel than Obey it!.

v.14 "...He said to them, (gave an instruction that required an action), go, show yourselves to the priests."...as they went, they were cleansed..."

John 6:40 "...And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day..."

Summary:

They (the lepers) wanted: Restoration not regeneration...

They wanted healing not wholeness...

Therefore, hear, understand, and be obedient to respond to His direction and be thankful.

Till we meet again, God bless!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Glorious New Year!

Note 52...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Knowing God John 1:18 ; Matthew 1:22-23

John 1:1-18

"...In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, "He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him..."

Matthew 1:22-23 "...Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

How do we know God?

1. God revealed Himself by Creation (In Jesus)

a. Jesus is God

John 1:1-2 "...In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God..."

b. Jesus is Creator

John 1:3 "...All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made..."

c. Jesus is Life and Light

John 1:4 "...In Him was life, and the life was the light of men..."

2. God introduced Himself in a Cradle (In Jesus)

John 1:14 "...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth..."

a. Because of the cradle we know God is Real

Colossians 1:15-17 "...In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence..."

b. Because of the cradle we know God is Relational

John 1:12-13 "...But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God..."

c. Because of the cradle we know God is Relevent

John 1:17-18; Matthew 1:22-23 "...For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him...Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, " which is translated, "God with us...."

3. God sacrificed Himself On a tree (In Jesus)

Philippians 2:8 "...And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross..."

4. God presented Himself With a Crown (In Jesus)

Hebrews 2:9 "...But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the sufferng of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone..."

Philippians 2:9-10 "...Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth..."

So why is this so important?

Jesus came down So we could go up

Jesus became like us So that we could have a home

Jesus left His home So He could live in us

Jesus kept the Law So we would not be under the penalty of the Law

Jesus died on the cross So we could have eternal life

Till we meet again, God Bless! Merry Christmas!

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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Hearing God

Hebrews 1:1-4

"...God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has apppointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they..."

Last time we talked about knowing God

1. God revealed himself by Creation (In Jesus)

2. God introduced Himself in a Cradle (In Jesus)

3. God sacrificed Himself On a cross (In Jesus)

4. God presented Himself With a Crown (In Jesus)

Five reasons why Jesus is God's Word to mankind:

Jesus is the Beginning of the past

Hebrews 1:1 "...spoke in times past by the prophets..."

Jesus is the End of the future

Romans 8:16 "...The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..."

Jesus is the End of the future

Jesus is the Master of the present

Hebrews 1:3 "...upholding all things by the Word of His power..."

Colossians 1:17 "...And He is before all things and in Him all things consist..."

Jesus is the Answer to our problems

Hebrews 1:3 "...by Himself purged our sins..."

Jesus is the Recipient of all praise

Hebrews 1:4 "...much better than angels... more excellent name..."

Isaiah 9:6 "...For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace..."

Revelation 5:9 "...Your are worthy...and have redeemed us to God by your blood..."

Jesus is God's Last Word to man. There is no Alternative to Jesus

There is no Additions to Jesus

There is no Authority but Jesus

John 10:27-28 "...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand..."

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Loving God

1 John 4:7-5:3

Knowing God Through Love

1 John 4:7-5:3 "...Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and kows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent Hs Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through God

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Consummation of Love

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of HIm. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome..."

Deuteronomy 6:5 "...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might..."

Mark 12:29-31 "...Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these..."

How Can We Love God?

(Look at it from the NEGATIVE)

You can't love whom you do not know

You can't love Him with whom you spend no time

You can't love God if you do not obey

You can't love HIm whom you cannot see

John 1:18 "...No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared HIm..."

Unless you love them you can see

You can't really love God if obedience is a burden

Obedience for the believer is a "Delight."

John 13:35 "...By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another..."

Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God

Reference: Psalms 119

(Study, Insight, , maturity, in the acknowledgement of):

Thy Name

Thy Works

Thy Righteousness

Thy Kindness

Thy Mercy

Thy Salvation

Thy Ordinances

Thy Law

Thy Testimonies

Thy Ways

Thy Precepts

Thy Statutes

Thy Commandments

Thy Word

Thy Judgments

Look it at from the POSITIVE:

To love God is to Know Him

To love God is to Worship Him in every act of life

To love God is to Obey Him

To love God is to Love Others

To love God is to Obey Him Easily

For the sinner and unbeliever, the way is hard and full of strife and burdensome.

For the believer, the way is a delight and not grievious

Till we meet again, have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Planning: Do not boast about tomorrow

James 4:13-17 "...Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin..."

Deuteronomy 8:18 "...And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day..."

1 Timothy 6:10 "...For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows..." (Money of itself is not evil, but the "love of money", that replaces "love of God" in one's life)

Life is not Certain

James 4:14 "...whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away..."

v. 15 "...you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that..."

(The practicing athesist knows God but does not do what God asks of us, but gives lip service instead of life service)

John 6:44 "...No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day..."

Proverbs 27:1 "...Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth..."

James 4:14 "...Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow..."

Psalms 139:13-14 "...For you have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well..."

1 Chronicles 29:15 "...For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope..."

Psalms 102:11 "...My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass..."

We are in a staging stage for eternity, our life will soon be done, and only one life, Christ, will be everlasting

If the Lord wills

Genesis 5:4-8, 11, 14 "...The days of Adam were nine hundred and thirty years...Seth lived nive hundred and twelve years, and then they died...So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died...all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died..."

You can not replace life's priorities

James 4:15 "...you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live..."

Be obedient, trustworthy, teaching character and count on God's providence

Job 14:5 "...Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass..."

Psalms 139:16 "...Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them..."

Psalms 138:8 "...The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands..."

1 John 5:3 "...For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome..."

Don't do anything without asking God's direction. Disaster awaits those who do not ask for God's plan for your life. Do not make a god of your plans, but rely completely on God's way for you

Luke 12:16 "...Then He spoke a parable..."

(The Rich Fool). Storing up riches for later is not being rich toward God, as each day is its own reward, and the guidence and direction of God is needed at all times.

Matthew 6:33 "...But seek first the kingdom of god and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not wrorry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble..."

2 Corinthians 5:20 "...Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God..."

Till we meet again, have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Empty Cupboards

Isaiah 39

"...At that time Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures--the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory--all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezeiah, and said to him, "What did these men say, and from where did they come to you? And Hezekiah said, "They came to me from a far country, from Babylon." And he said, "What have they seen in your house?" So Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them." Then Isaiah said ato Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: 'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be careied to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the Lord. 'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'" Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days..."

Why were the future generations going to find the cupboard empty?

v. 2 "...And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures--the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory--all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them..."

There was a problem of Pride

2 Chronicles 32:24-25 "...In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem..."

Reference:

2 Kings 18-19

Hezekiah Reigns in Judah

Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord

Isaiah Assures Deliverance

Sennacherib's Threat and Hezekiah's Prayer

The Word of the Lord Concerning Sennacherib

Sennacherib's Defeat and Death

Proverbs 16:18 "...Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall..."

1 Corinthians 10:12 "...Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall..."

There was the propensity for Presumption

Isaiah 39:2, 4 "...Hezekiah was pleased with them and showed them all his treasures...They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them..."

2 Chronicles 32:27-32 "...Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made tresureries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works. However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, indeed they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel..."

Psalms 19:13 "...Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression..."

There was the symptom of Short-Sightedness

Isaiah 39:3, 5-7 "...What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?...Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house...shall be carried to Babylon...they shall take away your sons... they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon..."

Ephesians 5:15-17 "...See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is..."

There was the sin of Self-Centeredness

Isaiah 39:8 "...Hezekiah said..."At least there will be peace and truth in my days..."

(Sound familiar? With all the bailouts going on, our children are going to inherit a great debt. We need to pray for our descendents)

Very Pertinent Questions for this Generation:

1) Am I leaving anything of Value to the next generation?

a) Am I giving them a blessing or am I giving them the bill?

b) Am I showing them frugality or am I showing them Foolishness?

c) Do I demonstrate Responsibility or irresponsibility?

2) Am I leaving any thing of value to the next generation?

a) Am I leaving the cupboard bare of Humility

b) Am I leaving the cupboard bare of Integrity

c) Am I leaving the cupboard bare of Sagacity (wisdom)

Ephesians 5:15-17 "...See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is..."

i) What is the wise thing in light of My past history

i) What is the wise thing in light of My present circumstances

iii) What is the wise thing in light of My future hope

d) Am I leaving the cupboard bare of Spirituality

i) Are you are a believer? Do you know Jesus?

ii) Does your family know it by your life?

iii) Do your coworkers and neighbors know it by your life?

Does your finances show that you love the next genertion?

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Fooling Ourselves

Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21 "...Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Then He spoke a parable to them saying, "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, "What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, "You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God..."

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, (The Monster of More), for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses"

(Man has built bank accounts, but have bankrupt hearts)

1. We are fooling ourselves when we equate Wealth with Worth.

v. 15 "...life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses..."

2. We are fooling ourselves when we take Credit for God's work.

v. 16 "...the ground of a certain rich man... (That God created)...yielded plentifully..."

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 "...then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day..."

3. We are fooling ourselves when we fail to seek God's counsel.

v. Luke 12:17-19 (I will) "...What shall I do?...to store my crops...I will do this...my crops...my goods...I will say to my soul..."

Proverbs 3:5-6 "...Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths..."

James 4:13-16 "...Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; wheras you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil..."

4. We are fooling ourselves when we fail to see Man's need

Luke 12:17-19 "...My crops, my barns, my goods, my soul..."

1 John 3:17 "...But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?..."

5. We are fooling ourselves when we mistake the Body for the soul

Luke 12:19 "...by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him..."

Matthew 16:26 "...For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?..."

Matthew 6:19 "...Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal..."

6. We are fooling ourselves when we mistake Time for eternity

Luke 12:19 "...take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry..."

Luke 12:4-5 "...And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!..."

7. We are fooling ourselves when we equate Stewardship with ownership

Luke 12:21 "...So is he (a fool)...who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God..."

Deuteronomy 10:14 "...Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it..."

Psalms 24:1 "...The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein..."

Haggai 2:8 "...The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts..."

Matthew 16:26 "...For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Sacrifice the future for the immediate is not wise

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

God Knows No Bankruptcy

1 Kings 17:1-24

Elijah Proclaims a Drought

1 Kings 17 "...And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land."

Elijah and the Widow

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink. And as she was gong to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." Then she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. "For thus says the Lord God of Israel: "The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth." So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah..."

Elijah Revives the Widow's Son

Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" And he said to her, "Give me your son." So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son? And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!" Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth..."

Teachable Truth for Troubling Times

Genesis 1:1 "...In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth..."

1 Kings 18:17 "...Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?..."

Genesis 18:14 "...Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son..."

Luke 1:37 "...For with God nothing will be impossible..."

1 Kings 17:1-7

God may ask us to recognize his Lordship so that he might show us his Sufficiency (By building up our faith)

1 Kings 17:8-16

God may ask us to endure the Unthinkable so that we might receive the Impossible

What to do when things go wrong when you are doing right

1 Kings 17:4-6

Delight in what God has provided

v.7

Depend upon God not the provision (Don't fall in love with your 'Brook')

v.15

Obey God's word: that is how we pass God's test

v.16

Obey God's word: that is how we tap God's supply

Phillipians 4:19 "...And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus..."

1 Kings 17:17-18

Don't fret: Heartaches received from God Clarify our priorities

1 Kings 17:17-18 (Our shoulders are not broad enough to carry it all)

v.19-24

Don't faint: Heartaches given back to God Magnify His Sovereignty

Till we meet again, God Bless!

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Shame On You

Romans 9

What makes us stumble on the truth?

John 1:16 "...And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace..."

Romans 9:33 "...As it is written, Psalms 118:22, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone..."; Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put shame..."

Isaiah 28:16 "...Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily..."

Revelation 2-3 "...And to the angel of the church, The Loveless church of Ephesus, The Persecuted Church in Smyrna, The Compromising Church in Pergamos, The Corrupt Church in Thyatira, The Dead Church in Sardis, The Faithful Church in Philadelphia, and The Lukewarm Church of the Laodiceans..."

1) Some stumble because they trust their Position of Privilege

Romans 9:4-5 "...Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen..."

2) Some stumble because they depend on their Personal Pedigree

Romans 9:6-9 "...But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son."

We will continue next week on this topic, God bless!

Note 60...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Shame On You (Take Two)

Romans 9:6-23,30-33

What Makes Us Stumble On The Truth?

Three Major Accusations towards God

God does not keep His promises...

God is not righteous...

God is not fair...

Romans 9:20 "...But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" (Humans are not God)

Isaiah 55:8 "...For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,", says the Lord..."

Romans 9:33 "...As it is written: (Psalm 118:22 "...The stone which the builders rejected (Jesus Christ) has become the chief cornerstone...")..."Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame..."

Romans 10:1 "...Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved..."

Romans 9:5 "...of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen..."

1) Some stumble because they trust their position of privilege

Romans 9:4 "...who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises..."

2) Some stumble because they depend on their personal pedigree

Romans 9:6-9 "...But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son..."

3) Some stumble because they are confident of their own Performance

Romans 9:10-13 "...And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac. (For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." As it is written: (Malachi 1:2-3 "...The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malichi. "I have loved you," says the Lord, yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" says the Lord. Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness...")..."...Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated..."

4) Some stumble because they have problems with God's Providence

Romans 9:14-18 "...What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, (Exodus 9:16) "...But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth..."), "Even for this same purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be delcared in all the earth. Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens..."

a) God is not Obligated to show mercy

Exodus 33:19 "...Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion..."

Romans 9:15 "...For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion..."

b) God is not Inhibited in showing wrath

Exodus 9:16 "...But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth..."

5) Some stumble because they are Angered by God's plans

Romans 9:19-24 "...You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?..."

Iasiah 29:16 "...Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me?" Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?..."

a) God needs no Permission to be God

i) Why have you made me like this? (Romans 9:20)

b) God needs no Instruction to act justly

i) ...endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction (Romans 9:22)

c) God needs no Justification to show mercy

i) ...and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy (v. 23)

6) Some stumble because they pursue salvation in their Own Power

v. 30-33 "...What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:33 "...As it is written: (Psalm 118:22 "...The stone which the builders rejected (Jesus Christ) has become the chief cornerstone...")..."Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame..."

Romans 3:19-20, 24 "...Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..."

a) The idea of a humble servant made them trip

b) The idea of a horrible cross gave Offense

Acts 2:39 "...For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as he Lord our God will call..."

But some believe! And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame

SHAME: "kat-ahee-skhoo-no" Translated three ways:

1) Believers will not be Confounded

Ephesians 5:14-16 "...Therefore He says: (Isaiah 26:19; 60:1 "...Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead...Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you...")..."Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because thae days are evil..."

2) Believers will not be Disgraced

Matthew 26-27 "...Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall..."

2) Believers will not be Disappointed

Romans 10:11 "...For the Scripture says, (Isaiah 28:16; Jeremiah 17:7 "...Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily...Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord...")..."Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. (or disappointed)..."

We have a soverign God worthy of all praise, worship, and thanksgiving!

Till we meet again, God bless!

Note 61...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Jesus is Calling

Romans 10:1-17

Romans 9:30-33 "...What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law ofrighteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as itwere by the works of the law. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone, as it is written:

(Psalms 118:22)

"...The stone (Jesus Christ) which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone...")...Behold, Ilay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoeverbelieves on Him will not be put to shame..."

Romans 10:1-17

"...Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law,

(Leviticus 18:5

"...You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord...")...The man wo does those things shall live by them. But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way,

(Deuteronomy 30:12-14

"...It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it...", "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'

(that is, to bring Christ down from above)

or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?'

(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth and and in your heart'

(that is, the word of faith which we preach):

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. For the Scripture says,

Isaiah 28:16

"...Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

(or will not be put to shame)..."

For there is no distinction between Jew and fGreek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

As it is written: (Isaiah52:7

"...How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, your God reigns!...")...

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,

(font color="red">Isaiah 53:1

"...Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?..."), "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing , and hearing by the word of God..."

John 6:44-45

"...No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets,

(Isaiah 54:13

"...All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children......And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me..."

How God Calls:

God is calling people to salvation by Prayer Romans 10:1-4 "...Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved...For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes..."

The Bible teaches Evangelistic Prayer

The Bible teaches a Universal Scope --My prayer for the lost is never Limited

1 Timothy 2:1-8 "...Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting..."

Tell It, Hearld It!

God is calling people to salvation by Preaching

You can only call on Him in whom you have believed

You can only believe in Him of whom you have personally heard (must be a message)

You can only hear of Him if Someone tells you

You can only tell of Him if someone sends you

1 Corinthians 1:20-24 "...Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men..."

Acts 8:26-31 "...Now an Angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go towards the south along the road wich goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah, the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him..."

God is calling people to salvation by Providence

Romans 10:15b-21 "...How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But I say, have they not heard?

Yes indeed: (Psalms 19:4 "...Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun...") But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: (Deuteronomy 32:21 "...They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; they have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation..."

But Isaiah is very bold and says: (Isaiah 65:1 "...I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' to a nation that was not called by My name...")...I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.

But to Israel he says: (Isaiah 65:2 "...I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebelliious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts..."...All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

Note 62...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, February 21, 2010

God's Grace: It's So Amazng

Deuteronomy 32:21 "...They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; they have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols..." (Idol Transgressions)

1) Is God through with the Jew?

a) No, because not all Jews have Rejected Christ

Romans 11: 1-4 "...I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scriptures says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life? But why does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal..."

b) No, because by grace He saved A Remnant

Romans 11: 5-10 "...Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Just as it is written: (Isaiah 29:10) "...For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers..."

Isaiah 59: 21 "...'As for Me,' says the Lord, this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forever more..."

c) No, because man's performance does not cancel God's Purpose: Romans 11: 11-24

i) God is reaching Gentiles to reach the Jews

v. 11 "...I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles..."

ii) God will restore the Jews to reach the world

v. 12-15 "...Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I spaek to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry. If by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?..."

iii) God made the first Jews holy and He can make the later Jews complete

v. 16 "...For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches..."

iv) God can convert Gentiles so He can complete Jews

v. 16-24 "... For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the braches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a god olive tree, how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?..."

2) God will do what God will do

v. 36 "...For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen..."

a) God's plan cannot be frustated

v. 25-31 "...For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that hardening in part has happened to Israel untill the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Iarael will be saved as it is written: (Psalm 14: 7 "...Oh, that the salavation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad...")...The deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy..."

b) God's wisdom cannot be calculated v. 33 "...Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!..."

c) God's ways cannot be anticipated v. 34 "...For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?..."

d) God's knowledge cannot be elucidated (illuminated) v. 34 "...For who has known the mind of the Lord?..."

e) God's person cannot be obligated v. 35 "...Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?..."

f) God's mercy cannot be over estamated v. 36 "...For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen..."

God is not a throw-away god, but is the only wise and true God in three persons, The Father, The Son Jesus, and The Holy Spirit

Until we meet again, God bless!

Note 63...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Just As You Are

Matthew 7:24 "...Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:..."

James 1: 23-25 "...For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does..."

Because of God's Great Mercy:

Living Sacrifices to God

1) I should think Rationally

Romans 12:1-2 "...I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Gd, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God..."

a) Be reasonable about God's rights.

b) Responsible about God's requests

c) Be sensible about God's will

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

2) I should live relationally

Romans 12:3-8 "...For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with dilligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness..."

a) I must be honest about my identity

v. 3 "...through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think..."

b) I must recogonize body unity

v. 4-5 "...we have many members..but all do not have the same function..."

c) I must serve according to body diversity

v. 6-8 "...Having then..gifts differing..let us use them..in proportion to our faith...use it in our ministering..with cheerfulness..."

Behave Like Christians

3) I should love sincerely

v. 9-21 "...Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another in brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality; bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in yor own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, (Deuteronomy 32:35 "...Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them...")...Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good..."

a) Live with integrity

Romans 12: 9 "...Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good..."

b) Live with community

Romans 12: 10-15 "...Be kindly affectionate to one another in brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality; bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

c) Live with humility

Romans 12: 16 "... Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in yor own opinion.

d) Live with reality There are enemies.

Romans 12: 17-21 "... Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good..."

What does God really want?

Let Him have what He wants, He knows best!

God wants your body for His purpose

God wants you to sacrifice your plans

God wants you to say no to the world's programs

How can I say yes to God's plan?

Present your body--just as you are.

Philippians 1:20 "...according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death..."

font color="blue">Renew your mind

Colossians 3:9-10 "...Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all..."

Philippians 4:8-9 "...Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. and the God of peace will be with you..."

Until we meet again, God bless!

Note 64...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Things You Can't Do By Yourself

Romans 13:1-14

"...I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptale to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God..." (Romans 12:1-2)

Last Time

Because of God's great mercy we should do what is rational:

a. Present our bodies and our substance to God's will

b. Renew our mind through God's words

Because of God's mercy we can do what is Spiritual:

a. We can serve the Christ body with our gifts

Romans 12:3-8 "...For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts , in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness..."

Today

1) We can submit to God's Authority and Government (Romans 13:1-7)

a) Government is God's Institution

verses 1-2 "...Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resist the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves..."

i) Bad government is better than anarchy

ii) If government is established by God then Christians should not shun serving

b) Governors are God's instruments

verses 3-5 "...For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid, of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake..."

i) He is in a position to minister to you what is good.

ii) He is in power to punish what is evil.

iii) He has the purpose of some eternal security

Hebrews 9:27 "...And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..."

Numbers 35:30 "...Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty..." (Capital Punishment)

c) Goverance is God's intrusion Romans 13:6-7 "...For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor..."

2) We can show Christ's love to this generation

verses 8-14 "...Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer that when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts..."

a) God's mercy and grace keep me in debt

verses 8-10 "... Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law..."

b) God's mercy and grace help cast off the darkness

verses 11-12 "...And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer that when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light..."

c) God's mercy and grace help me walk in daylight

verses 13-14 "... Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts..."

Philippians 4:13 "...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Living Free Without Running Wild

Romans 14-15:13

Galatians 5:19-21 "...Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleaness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God..."

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 "...But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills..."

Living Sacrifices Let the Love Out:

Love will lead us to be Serving

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts:

Romans 12:3-8 "...For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness..."

Love will motivate us to be Sincere

Behave Like a Christian:

Romans 12:9-21 "...Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfast in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written:,

(Deuteronomy 32:35 "...Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them...")..."Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. "Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head..."

Love will enable us to be Submissive

Submit to Government:

Romans 13:1-7 "...Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring to judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom traxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor..."

Love will encourage us to be Spiritual

Love Your Neighbor:

Romans 13:8-14 "...Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, "You shall not murder," "You shall not bear false witness, "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Put on Christ:

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and evny. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts..."

Christians That are Letting the Love Out:

Romans 14-15:3

The Law of Liberty:

1) Don't reject others that God has recieved

v. 1-3 "...Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him..."

2) Don't restrict others that God has redeemed

v. 4-13a "...Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.

Therfore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

For it is written: (Isaiah 2:10-12 "...Enter into the Rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up--and it shall be brought low--)..."As I live says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God...")...So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore,..."

a) We can't change people

v. 4 "...Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand..."

b) We can't convince people.

v. 5 "...One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

c) We dare not condemn people

v. 4, 10-12 "...Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand..."...But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

3) Control their freedom if it causes another's fall.

v. 13 "...Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way..."

4) Curb their freedom if it derails another's growth

v. 15 "...Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died..."

5) Check their freedom if it destroys the work of God

v. 20 "...Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense..."

6) Confine their freedom if it weakens another's faith

v. 21-23 "...It is good neither to eat meat or drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is codemned if he eats, because he does not eat form faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin..."

7) Constrain their freedom when it is good for the family of faith

Bearing Other's Burdens:

v. 15: 1-2 "...We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification..."

Why?

Why should I limit my liberty at all if I am free in Christ Jesus?

To Glorify God:

v. 15: 7-13 "...Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: (2 Samuel 22:50 "...Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name...")...And again he says:

(Deuteronomy 32:43) "...Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people...")...Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!

And again: (Psalm 117:1 "...Oh, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever...")...There shall be a root of Jesse; and he who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope..." Now may the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit..."

Do not insist that your brother walk in the light of your conscience

Do not speak loudly when God is silent

Do not teach preference

Reason: To preserve the unity of the body of Christ

Till we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Power to Perform

Romans 15:25-27

"...But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achia to make a certain contribution to the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things..."

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:3

1) Power to please

(Bearing Other's Burdens)

Romans 15:1-2 "...We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification..."

2) Power to participate

Romans 15:14 "...Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another..."

a) You are full of goodness--your heart is right

b) You are full of knowledge--your head is right

c) You are able to admonish each other--your spiritual health is right

3) Power to preach

Romans 15:15-21 "...Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldy to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient--in mighty signs and wonrders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel., not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's fondation, but as it is written: (Isaiah 52:15 "...So He shall sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider...")...To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand..."

4) Power to prioritize

Romans 15:22-29 "...For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribtion for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors.

For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ..."

5) Power to pray

Romans 15:30-33 "...Now I beg you brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen..."

6) Power to bepersonable

Romans 16:1-16, 21-24 "...I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ, Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsman and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved,

greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord, greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen..."

a) People are not projects

b) People are not tools

c) People are precious

7) Power to perceive

Romans 16:17-20 "...Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine wich you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen..."

a) Make a note of continually divisive people.

b) Make a note of constantly offensive people

c) Mark out the consistently selfish people

d) Mark out the deviously deceptive people

e) Don't fight them, just avoid them

8) Power to persevere

Romans 16:25-27 "...Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scripures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the fatih--to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen..."

a) You cannot live this life because of the divine Command

b) You cannot live this life because of the despeerate need

c) You CAN live this life through the presence of the indwelling Christ

Romans 8:1 "...There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit..." This says you are saved because you are in Christ Jesus

Romans 16:25-27 says you are steady because You are in Christ Jesus

Sacrificial Service for Christ

Colossians 1:24-29 "...I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you , to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations , but now has revealed to the saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily..."

Until we meet again, God bless!

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Lord the Good Shepherd of His People

Psalm 23

(From the perspective of the sheep)

Theme: v. 1 "...The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want..."

A Psalm of David: From God's being his Shepherd he infers that he shall not want anything that is good for him, he was taken from following the ewes great with young, and so he knew by experience the cares and tender affections of a god shepherd towards his flock.

He remembered what need they had of a shepherd, and he once ventured his life to rescue a lamb. By this therefore he illustrates God's care of his people; and to this our Saviour seems to refer when he says, I am the shepherd of the sheep; the good Shepherd.

John 10:11 "...I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep..."

Psalm 23:2 "...He makes me to lie down in green pastures..."

We have the comforts of this life from God's good hand, our daily bread from him as our father. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes that only in which pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture.

John 10:3 "...To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out..."

Proverbs 15:16 "...Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble..."

Christian contentment, and joy in God, make life easy and pleasant. Cheerfulness of spirit will furnish a man with a continual feast, though he has but little in the world--holiness and love. A little, if we keep a good conscience, and serve God faithfully with the little we have, will be more comfortable, than great treasure and trouble therewith..."

Psalm 23:2 "...He leads me besides the still waters..."

God leads His people, not to the standing waters which corrupt and gather filth, nor to the troubled sea, nor to the rapid rolling floods, but to the silent purling waters; for the still but running waters agree best with those spirits that flow out towards God and yet do it silently.

Psalm 23:3 "...He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake..."

Though God may suffer His people to fall into sin, He will not suffer them to lie still in it. God restsores our soul. He leads me in the way of my duty; in that He instructs me by His word and directs me by conscience and providence. The way of duty is truly the pleasant way. In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them.

Psalm 23:4 "...Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I wil fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me..."

Though I am in peril of death, though in the midst of dangers, deep as a valley, yet I am easy. But even in the suppposition of the distress, it is but a walk in this valley, a gentle pleasant walk through the valley, we will not be lost, as the good Shepherd guides us through the valley to the mountain top.

Psalm 23:5 "...You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over..."

When the shepherds in Israel lead their flock during a dry season to green pastures, they prepare the pasture first before the flock goes in to protect them from the adder holes, just as the Lord goes before us, to protect and feed us, even in the presence of our enemies.

Psalm 23:6 "...Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever..."

Even during times of trouble, from valleys of darkness or mountain top revelations, the good Sheperd will never leave us nor forsake us. Even with the loss of a loved one, our Shepherd and Saviour will lead them to His Kingdom and we know that we will see them again sometime in the future.

Conclusion: Stay close to the good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, for by doing so, we have our daily bread, protection, rest, abundant life, restoratiion, salvation and finally, eternal life in His Kingdom.

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Our Savior Lives: He is Risen!

1 Peter 1:3

A Heavenly Inheritance

1 Peter 1:3 "...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..."

Without the sheding of blood there is no remission of sins and therefore we are dead and perishing in the world

1 Peter 2:24 "...Jesus...Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed..."

By Grace Through Faith

Ehesians 2:1-2, 17-18 "...And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience...And...Jesus...came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him And only Him we both have access by one Spirit (Who lives in all believers) to the Father..."

Deuteronomy 5:1, 3, 6, 7 "...Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgmenrs which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them...The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive...I am the Lord your God...You shall have no other gods before Me..."

1 Timothy 2:5 "...For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus..."

John 10:1, 7, 9 "...Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber...Then Jesus said to them again. "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep...I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture..." (Will have eternal life and an inheritance in the Kingdom of God, otherwise the only hope for the unbeliever is the Lake of Fire and eternal separation from God, called the second death)

Revelation 20: 6, 15 "...Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years...And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire..."

Isaiah 59: 1-2 "...Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your inquities have separated you from our God; and our sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear..."

Acts 26:23 "...that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles..." (According to the Prophets of Old)

John 5:24 "...Most assuredely, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment , but has passed from death into life..."

The proof of the ages: That Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and rose again and walked the earth among many witnesses, was transfigured before them, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest, which we as believers have access 24/7 to all that His Kingdom offers.

Praise the Lord! Jesus lives! He is risen!

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Missions At Home

Mark 5:1-20

Missions At Home

Since we already live at home, there is where our hearts will shine, next door to our neighbors, and also where we work. Our God is the God of this city, this is where we are planted for His purpose.

A Demon-Possessed Man Healed

Mark 5:1-20 "...Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.

And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and wordhiped Him. (The demons know Jesus and are subject to Him as every knee will bow to Christ)

And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that you do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

And he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. And all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." (The demons would be right at home in the swine as it is written: Leviticus 11:11 "They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination...")

And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. Now those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled..."

1) Satan is destroying people

a) Through deceit

b) Through degradation

1 Peter 5:8 "...Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour..."

b) Through self destruction and confinement and cutting themselves

Ephesians 5:15 "...See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise..."

Amos 3:4 "...Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?..."

Romans 1: 24 "...Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves..."

2) Society only discards people: v. 3-4; 14-17

a) The sinner is helpless to change themselves

b) Society is helpless to change people.

c) The situation is hopeless-- dismiss them

3) The Savior delivers people v. 6-20

a) Jesus conquers our enemy

b) Jesus controls our lives

i) Salvation changed him 2 Corinthians 5:17 "...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new..."

ii) Salvation clothed him v. 14

iii) Salvation calmed him Psalm 119:65 "...You have dealt well with Your servant..."

iv) Salvation compelled him v. 17

1) His desire was to be with Jesus

2) His duty was to go home for Jesus

Ephesians 4:30 "...And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption..."

James 5:16 "...Confess your tresspasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much..."

All the apples of the Devil have worms

Our God is master of the storms, of the demons, death, the universe, and of this city where He has planted us. He is omnipresent and all powerful. Seek Jesus first and the kingdom of the Father and all things are available to us through the blood of Christ.

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Sunday, April 18, 2010

Prayer: Legal Tender to God

Proverbs 19:22

Special Speaker: Ken Rudolph

In 2009, Ken and Jinner Rudolph began their new ministry through the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism to work with their missionary mobilzation team. They will facilitate church planting, inspire the next generation to plant churches, educate American churches to the unique needs of Europe in church planting and help raise resources to accomplish the great commission. Ken wil also speak in Christian High Schools across Europe and is hopeful of raising up European young people to spread the gospel right where they live!

Proverbs 19:22 "...What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar..."

In Hebrew the word desire means the "the kindest gift he can give"

Romans 10:1 "...Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved..."

1) True desire translates into prayer

2) Proverbs 13:12 "...Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life..."

3) Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "...Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he fails, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken..."

a. Desire through much prayer can be a powerful leverage

b. Proverbs 30:27 "...The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks..." (The desire of many brethren for the mission of the Church through much prayer will accomplish many times over what one cannot accomplish)

c. Hebrews 13:18-19 "...Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner..."

The greatest wealth one can give is desire

Where do you spend your desire? Remember, your prayers are legal tender to God!

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Mission Week: Go Ye into All the World

Acts 10:1

Picturing the Mission Field: Cornelius Sends a Delagation

Acts 10:1-15 "...There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and a object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of fourfooted animals of the earth , wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." And a voice spoke to him again the second time "What God has cleansed you must not call common. This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again..."

Peter Meets Cornelius

Acts 10:24-28 "...And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying "Stand up; I myself am also a man." And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean

Preaching to Cornelius' Household

Acts 10:34, 38, 43, 45 "...Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality." "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."..."How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressd by the devil, for God was with Him...To Him all the prophets witness that , through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remssion of sins....And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also..."

Peter Defends God's Grace

Acts 11:18, 22, 26 "...When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch...And when he had found him, he brough him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch...."

As we go into the various mission fields around the world, we now know that God is calling all people of various tribes and tongues to repentance. Pray for all our mission leaders and workers that God would open their hearts to the Gospel of Christ and His soon coming Kingdom.

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Sunday, May 2, 2010

Running Requirements

Hebrews 12:1-4 "...Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your soul. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin..."

1) Requirements for Running

a) Our race requires Effort

v. 1 "...let us run..."

i) 1 Timothy 4:7-8 "...But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness. For bodily excercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that is now is and of that which is to come..."

ii) Hebrews 12:4 "...striving against sin..."

2 Peter 1:5-11 "...But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..."

b) Our race requires Patience and Perseverance

Hebrews 12:1 "...with endurance..."

i) Luke 21:19 "...In your patience possess your souls..."

ii) Romans 12:12 "..rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..."

iii) Hebrews 10:36 "...For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may recieve the promise (an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven)..."

c) Our race requires dealing with pitfalls

Hebrews 12:1 "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us..."

i) There may be many weights

(1) 2 Timothy 2:3-5 "...You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules..."

ii) There is One major sin: Unbelief

(1) Hebrews 3:12-13 "...Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin..."

d) Our race requires God's power

Hebrews 12:2 "...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..."

Plilippians 2:13 "...For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure..."

1 Corinthians 12:6 "...And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all..."

e) Our race requires earthly partners

Hebrews 12:1, 3, 12 "...we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnessess...endured such hostility from sinners...Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees..."

f) Our race is personal

v. 1 "...the race that is set before us..."

c. 13:20-21 "...Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen..."

2) Resources for Running

a) Look To Jesus for salvation--one time act

b) Look At Jesus for sanctification--a continual habit

c) Look For Jesus for glorification--a constant Hope

i) Hebrews 10:37-39 "...For yet a lilttle while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him..."

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Sunday, May 9, 2010

When God Is Silent

Esther: Daniel 4:17 "...This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men...:

Providence: The hand of God working in the glove of history

Time frame: Ezra Esther Nehemiah, 485-465 BC

Psalm 119:87 "...They almost made an end of me on earth, but I did not forsake your precepts..."

1. God cares for His people no matter where they are:

Esther 2:5-6 "...Now in Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Kish had been caried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carreid away..."

2. God cares for His people no matter who they are:

Esther 2:7 "...And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter..."

3. God cares for His people in ways they can't see:

Esther 2:8-9 "...So it was, when the king's command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king's palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women..."

4. God cares for His people when they are unappreciated:

Esther 2:21-23 "...In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. And when an inquiry was made into the mater, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the the book of the cronicles in the presence of the king..."

5. God cares for His people when things seem out of control:

Esther 3:5-6 "...When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sougtht to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai..."

6. God cares for His people when He asks them to do the unthinkable:

Esther 4:8-11 "...He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. So hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: All the kings servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days..."

7. God cares for His people even when He seems to remain silent:

Romans 8:28 '...An we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose..."

You can rest in the sovereighnty of God--His purpose will persevere

You can count on the providence of God--His people will persevere

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Sunday, May 16, 2010

Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel

Isaiah 52:8 "...Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion..."

A greater understanding of the biblical significance of what is occurring today in the nation of Israel. Leaders and their nations have experienced consequences after pressuring Israel to divide the land. The Jewish people have a 3,900-year history with the land of Iarael and a 3,000-year connection with the city of Jerusalem, which is mentioned 812 times in the holy bible. Every world power that has controlled and occupied the land of Israel has become a former world power, or has lost power, such as Britain.

Since Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948, her neighbors have instigated wars against her in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982 and during the 2000-2004 Intifada.

In May of 1967, the hostile forces of Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria surrounded Israel. The political rhetoric had reached a fevered pitch as Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser pledged two years earlier: "We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand. We shall enter it with its soil saturated in blood."

Syria frequently used the Golan Heights, which towers 3,000 feet above the Galilee, to shell Israel farms and villages. While Egypt's Nasser continued to make speeches threatening war, Arab terroists stepped up their attacks against Israel from 35 in 1965 to 41 the following year, and 37 in just the first four months of 1967.

Syria's continued shelling from the Golan Heights provoked a retaliatory strike on April 7, 1967, during which Israeli planes shot down six Syrian MiGS. On May 15, Israel's Independance Day, Egyptian troops began moving into the Sinai and massing near the Israeli border. Nasser ordered the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), stationed in the Sinai since 1956, to withdraw on May 16. Without bringing the matter to the attention of the UN Genereal Assembly, as his predecessor had promised, Secretary- General U Thant complied with the command.

After the withdrawal of the UNEF, the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed (May 18, 1967):

As of today, there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience no more. We shall not complain any more to UN about Israel. The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the exterminatioin of Zionist existence.

Two days later, Syrian Defense Minister Hafez Assad said:

Our forces are now entirely ready not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian army, with its finger on the trigger, is united....I, as a military man, believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of anniihilation.

By May 18, Syrian troops were prepared for battle along the Golan Heights. After telling the world they were about to attack Israel, the Soviet-backed militaries of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were hit first. After just six days of fighting, Israeli forces broke through the enemy lines and were in a position to march on Cairo, Damascus and Amman. A ceasefire was invoked on June 10. But five months later, on November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council passed UN Resolution 242 calling on Israel to give back the land they had obtained in the war of self-defense.

Here is an exerpt from UN resolution 242:

Affirms that the fulfillment of Charter principles reqires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles:

1) Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict

2) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and adknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force;

3) For guaranteeing freedom of navigation through international waterways in the area; for achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem;

4) For guaranteeing the territorial inviolability and political independence of every State in the area, through measures including the establishment of demilitarized zones.

The world's leaders continue to call on Israel to divide her land with an adversary commited to the annihilation of Israel. Israel's neighbors speak peace in English and war and destruction of Israel in Arabic. In January 2006, Hamas gained control of 74 of 132 Palestinian parliamentary seats. Hamas was founded in 1987 for the express purpose of destroying Israel, and since joining politics has publicly clung to that goal. They deny Israel's right to exist.

They consider all previously signed agreements with Israel void. The new Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, plans (as a first step) to drive Israel back to the 1967 borders and establish an Arab state with Jerusalem as its capital. His cabinet brims with hard-line terroists.

Most other Muslim nations in the Midle East do not accept Israel's right to exist and a few nations are outwardly calling for the elimination of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Iran and Syria ae attempting to develop weapons of mass destruction and are funding the terrorist organizations that are attacking Israel. There are other Middle Eastern nations that are covertly funding terroist organizations. Some of these nations are arming themselves with weapons from Rssia, China and North Korea.

Replacement theology churches that teach that the church as completely replaced Israel in God's redemptive plan for the world, and believe that the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, and that God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel, are also calling on Israel to leave the occupied land.

A very large majority of President George W. Bush's political problems and the many record-setting catastrophes and political disruptions that he has experienced during his time in office have a direct connection to his involvement with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Despite their good intentions, President Bush and previoius American president's, and to a lesser degree the international community, are accountable for:

)1) Dividing the land God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descentants;

2) A peace plan that would position Israel in indefensible borders;

3) Interfering with God's plan of having Jews move home to Israel and Judea and Samaria--the biblical heartland of Israel; and

4) Participating in the eviction of Jews from their homes within the biblical heartland of Israel.

Futhermore, Israel is a very small nation --the size of Neqw Jersey-- and makes up less thatn one percent of the land of the Middle East. It is 271 miles long and 81 miles wide at its widest point. The land in dispute is much smaller, but vital to Israel's security and survival.

In Genesis 12:2-3, the Bible proclaims that God "will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Thus, God promised that He would bless those who bless Abraham and his descendants and curse those who cursed them. He also promised that through them all of the families of earth would be blessed. Many world leaders believe that Israel is the key to peace when in reality the continued pressure upon Israel and the subsequent events will rapidly lead the world into the final battle: the battle of Armageddon--the battle for Jerusalem.

Lets pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Psalm 122:6 "...Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you..."

Exerpts from the book Eye to Eye by William Koenig

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Sunday, May 23, 2010

A Tale of Two Queens

Esther 1-2

Chapter One:

Losing a Queen: How to lose a Queen

1) Get intoxicated with your own self

2) Get intoxicated with success

3) Get intoxicated with evil spirits

4) Make your queen a possession and not a partner

Chapter Two:

Finding a Queen:

Qualities of a queen: "It Takes More Than a Pretty Face"

1) Purity of life: "Let young virgins be found"

Esther 2:1-4 "...After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Then the king's servants who attended him said: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. Then let the young women who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. This thing pleased the king, and he did so..."

2) Realing of spirits: "She had neither father or mother"

v. 5-7 "...Now in Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter..."

3) Constancy of faith: "Esther was also taken"

v. 8-9 "...So it was, when the king's command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king's palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women..."

4) Integrity in speech: "Esther had not revealed her people"

v. 10-11 "...Esther had not revealed her people of kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women's quarters, to learn of Esther's welfare and what was happening to her..."

5) Humility : for learning: "She requested nothing but what Hegai...advised"

v. 12-15 "...Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months' preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifuying women. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women's quarters to the king's palace. In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name. Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to to in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the custodian of the women advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her..."

6) Availability for God's purpose.

v. 17-18 "...The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more that all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a great feast, the feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king..."

Think about this:

Beauty may help get people's attention

Godliness will help change people's lives

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Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Power of One

Esther 3-4

(Esther 3:12-15; 4:1-4, 10-17)

1) One person's hatred can doom a nation--Haman

a) It is painful to see the wicked prospering

Esther 3:9 "...If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries..."

b) It is discouraging to watch when the wicked are promoted

Esther 3:1 "...After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him..."

c) It is a scary to imagine when the wicked are empowered

Esther 3:10-11 "...So the King took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, "The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you..."

d) It is scary to imagine when the wicked are prescribing

Esther 3:12-13 "...Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded--to the king's satraps, to the govenors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of the King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar and to plunder their possessions..."

2) One person's vigilance can arouse a nation--Mordecai

a) Vigilance will cost you your anonymity

Esther 3:2-4 "...And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage. Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgrress the king's command?" Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew..."

b) Vigilance may put you in jeopardy

Esther 3:12-15 "...Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded--to the king's satraps, to the govenors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of the King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar and to plunder their possessions. A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed..."

c) Vigilance will awaken you from apathy

Esther 3:14-15 "...A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed..."

d) Vigilance will call for true humility

Esther 4:1-4 "...When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. He went as far as the square in front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them..."

3) One person's courage can deliver a nation--Esther

a) Courage understands the issues at hand

Esther 4:4-9 "...So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them. Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king's gate. And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. So hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai..."

b) Courage understands the risks

Esther 4:10-12 "...Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a commnad for Mordecai: "All the kings's servants and the people of the king's provnces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days." So they told Mordecai Esther's words..."

c) Courage understands the reasons

Esther 4:13-14 "...Then Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the King's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?..."

d) Courage understands the resource

Esther 4:15-17 "...Then Esther told them to return this answer to Mordecai: "Go gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go the the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" Then Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him..."

Remember this:

God has His Purposes

God has His People

God is Patient

God will Prevail

What about me? Remember Mordecai, remember Esther but also remember that God is in charge and the "Great Commission: Go into all the world...and stay busy"

Note 77...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Hands On God

Esther 5-6

1) God's hand is ruling the rulers

Esther 5:1-2; 6:1-3 "...Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter

That night the king could not sleep. So one was coming to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Terest, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Then the king said, "What honor or dignity has been betowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him..."

Proverbs 21:1 "...The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes..."

2) God's hand is arranging the details

Esther 5:9, 14, 6:4-5 "...So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.

Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.

And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. The king's servants said to him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in..."

Proverbs 16:9 "...A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps..."

3) God's hand is reversing the fortunes

Esther 5:10-12; 6:6-10 "...Neverless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, all the ways in whch the king had promoted him, and how he advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she preparerd; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king..."

So Haman came in, and the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" And Haman answered the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!" Then the king said to Haman, "Hasten, take the robe and horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate. Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken..."

1 Peter 5:5-7 "...Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you..."

4) God's hand is rewarding the faithful

Esther 6:11-12 "...So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback throuigh the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!" Afterward Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hastened to his house, mourning and with his head covered..."

Galatians 6:9 "...And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart..."

5) God's hand is holding His children

Esther 5:3 "...And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you--up to half my kingdom!..."

John 10:27-29 "...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand..."

Simple lessons from Esther's Crisis:

1. She was bound with a crushing load

2. She was bound to go to a capricious king

3. She was bold to go risking everything

We have a personal invitation

Mathew 11:28 "...Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and fI will give you rest..."

We have a guarantee of reception

John 6:37 "...All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out..."

We have unlimited access

Note 78...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Grave Digging

Esther 7

Psalm 37:7-9 "...Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret--it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth..."

Proverbs 27:1 "...Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth..."

Proverbs 28:10 "...Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he himself will fall into his own pit; but the blameless will inherit good things..."

Shovel after Shovel

Haman's hatred (the absence of true love) --it had a history:

Esther 3:1 "...After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him..."

Haman's honor--he couldnt handle it

Esther 3:2 "...And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage..."

Haman's opposition--he wouldnt tolerate it

Esther 3:5 "...When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath..."

Haman's anger--he wouldnt control it

Esther 3:6 "...But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai..."

Haman's scheme--he didnt limit it

Esther 3:8-13 "...Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talentsof silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the treasuries." So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded--to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions..."

Haman's pride--he couldnt silence it

Esther 5:9-12 "...So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, all the ways in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorow I am again invited by her, along with the king..."

Haman's heart--it couldnt be contented

Esther 5:13 "...Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's table..."

Haman's counselors--he didnt screen them

Esther 5:14 "...Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made..."

Haman's selfishness--he couldnt contain it

Esther 6:6-11 "...So Haman came in, and the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" And Haman answered the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head.

Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!" Then the king said to Haman, "Hasten, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate. Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken."

So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on hoseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!"

Haman's horror--he could not forsee it

Esther 7:6 "...And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is ths wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen..."

Haman's hanging--he would not escape it

Esther 7:10 "...So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided..."

Don't seal the doom of those you love

Don't let pride blind you...

Esther 7:1-2 "...So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request, up to half my kingdom? It shall be done!"

Don't let evil surprise you...

Esther 3:5 "...When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath..."

Don't let life itself distract you...

Esther 7:6-7a "...And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden..."

Don't let anything delay you...

Esther 7:7b-9 "...but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?" As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, "Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman. Then the king said, "Hang him on it!..."

Galatians 6:7-8 "...Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life..."

We reap what we sow...

We reap later than we sow...

We reap more than we sow...

Till we meet again, God bless!

Note 79...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Rule Change

Esther 8-10

Let's recap God's sovereignty:

God showed his unmistaked providence-- Esther 2

The king made an unchangeable law-- Esther 3

The Queen took an unthinkable risk-- Esther 5

The enemy died an unspeakable death-- Esther 7

1) A new law is inacted

a) The Queen continued to plead for her people

Esther 8:3-4 "...Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil plot of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews. And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king..."

i) The old law of death was still in effect

v. 5-6 "...and said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right to the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to annihilate the Jews who are in all the king's provinces..."

ii) The new law of life was now issued

v. 7-13 "...Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews. You yourselves write a decree for the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for a letter which is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke.

So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third onth, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steads.

By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives--to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assualt them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province and published for all people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies..."

iii) The law of life was sent with urgency

v. 10, 14 "...And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steads...Then the couriers who rode on royal horses went out hastened and pressed on by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Shushan the citadel..."

2) A new life is enabled

Chapter 9 "...The Jews Destroy Their Tormentors; The Feast of Purim..."

a) There was fighting

Esther 9:5-16 "...Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them. And in Shushan the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha--the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews-- they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king. And the king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done."

Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows." So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder..."

b) There was feasting

Esther 9:17-31 "...This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth day of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well on the fourteenth day; and on the fifteenth day of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.

And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their ememies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is the lot), to consume them and destroy them; but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

So they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who should join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and acc