Pastor's Message

 

7-21-19 

        JESUS: LIGHT OF THE WORLD

                              John 9

 Imagine…

  Jesus’ disciples saw the man as a Sinner

The neighbors saw him as a Beggar

 The Pharisees saw him as a way to Trap Jesus

 Jesus saw him as one who needed Help

 The Pharisees saw Jesus as a Sinner

 

The disciples asked, “Why?”

 ·       Punishment for sin?

 1.    God? His punishment for sin is Death

 2.    Personal? – all personal suffering is related

  to original sin (Genesis 3)

 Personal suffering can be related to

           personal sin – worry, anger…

 3.    Parents? Sometimes it is…abuse, poor care…

·       Opportunity?

 1.    For God to Work? (John 9:3)

 2.    For us to Testify? (John 9:25, 38)

 Jesus is the light of the world (John 9:5; John 8:12)

John 8:12, "He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,

but shall have the light of life."

 

 

 

7-14-19

7-7-19                           

 

“DECISIONS, DECISIONS”

 

 

 

·        A SELF-EXAMINATION                       [Psalm 37]

 

    Do I…

 

1.     _TRUST___the Lord?

 

2.     Do good, dwell in the land, cultivate faithfulness”?

 

a.     Look to the __SAVIOR__ (Hebrews 12:2)

 

b.     Live in the ___SCRIPTURE___ (Romans 10:17)

 

c.      Lean on the __SPIRIT___ (John 16:13)

 

3.     __DELIGHT_ in the Lord? (Matthew 6:33)

 

4.     Believe that He will “give me the DESIRES_

 

Seek first his kingdom (Mt 6:33)       of my heart”?

 

            Serve the Lord with Gladness (Ps 100:2)

 

·        A NATIONAL EXAMINATION        [1 Samuel 16;

 

2 Chronicles 7:14]

 

               Do we…

 

1.     _Worship__

 

a.     _Consecration (humble, purify)__

 

b.     __Sacrifice (give, serve)__

 

2.     Use _Human__ perspective or _Divine__

 

3.     Watch God _Work   David, harp, Goliath, Jonathon__

 

4.     Follow God’s steps to see His _Promise__

 

a.     _Humble ourselves___

 

b.     _Pray__

 

c.      _Seek His Face__

 

d.     _Turn from our wicked ways__

 

 

His Promise: “I will forgive sins, hear from heaven, Heal Land”

 

 

 

WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF JOY

 

                   John 10:10

 

 

 

Happiness and joy are not the same

 

  Joy comes from __within__

 

 

 

Jesus said the thief comes to _steal__ your joy

 

The “thief” (devil) “prowls about like a roaring lion

 

    seeking someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8)

 

Joy in Jesus is something he can never steal

 

 

 

PROTECT YOUR JOY

 

1.     Avoid Prolonged _Anger___

 

“Don’t give the devil an _opportunity___” (Ephesians 4:27)

 

“_Submit__ to God” (James 4:7)

 

 

 

2.     Avoid __Religious__ _Rules__

 

     Disguised as __Bible__ __Truths__

 

 

 

3.     Accept only the _True___ Source of Joy

 

Jesus came that we might have life…abundantly

 

 

 

ABUNDANT:  _Overflowing____                  (Mark 12:33)

 

ABUNDANT LIFE: “Life of _Contentment__” (J.M. Boyce)

 

 

 

Before we can know “abundant life”,

 

we must first know _Life___        (John 14:6)

 

 

 

“We are made __alive____ together with Christ”

             (Ephesians 2:5)

 

 

                                  

FATHERS: How Are You Doing?  6/16/19

 

  A Tragedy in Shunem [2Ki.4:8-32]

 

A Question for each of us: How are you doing?  [2Ki.4:26]

 

·        As a PARENT? “Is it well with your children?”

 

Focus – Prv.22:6, “train up a child…”

 

   1Thes.2:11, exhort, encourage, implore

 

   2Tim.1:5, Biblical influence 

 

·        As a PARTNER?

 

Eph.5:2, Love your wife, just as Christ also loved

 

the church and gave Himself up for her”

 

Eph.5:1, “Be imitators of God”

 

        5:21, “Be subject to one another” 

 

·        As a PERSON?

 

1.     Priorities

 

Lk.10:27, “Love God totally”

 

Mt.6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God”  

 

2.     Purity

 

Mt.5:8, “Be blessed”

 

1Tim.5:22, Keep yourself pure”

 

2Pt.3:14, “Be blameless…at peace with God”

 

Ps.24:4, “clean hands and pure heart” 

 

3.     Prayer

 

“Pray without ceasing” (1The.5:17)

 

“Pray and not lose heart” (Lk.18:11)

 

“Devote yourself to prayer” (1Cor.7:5)

“Train up a child in the way he should go” (Prv. 22:6)

 

 

6-9-19

                                              ETERNAL LIFE

                                          Matthew 19:16-17

 

Jesus said, “If you _love_ Me, keep My commandments” 

(John 14:15)

His commandments are not burdensome_ (1 John 5:3)

 

Which commandments?

• Ten Commandments? (Exodus 20:1-26)
• _Greatest_ commandment? (Matthew 22:36-40)

 

God calls failure to “keep His commandments” _sin_ 

(Romans 3:23),

which results in _death_ (Romans 6:23); 

But because God _loved_ you and gave His Son

  to die for our sins - whoever _believes_ in Him 

  should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16); 

  which is the free  gifts_ of God 

     in Christ Jesus our Lord” (romans 6:23)

 

Life in Jesus involves choices:

1. Obey His commands
2. Not disobey His commands
3. Discover His will when no clear command is evident

 

                      A PATTERN FOR CHOOSING: 

                 1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:9; 10:23; 10:31

• Don’t be _mastered_ by anything you are free to do
• Don’t let freedom make you a

    __stumbling__ _block__ to the weak

• Choose things that _edify___ 
• Do all to the _glory__ of God

 

6-2-19

                                   

  “WATCH YOUR STEP”

 

                                         Ephesians 4:1-6

 

WALK: ____Conduct, behavior____

 

CALLING:  We are called into God’s _Kingdom_  (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

 

    We are called to God’s _glory__ (1 Peter 5:10)

 

WALK IN…

·        Humility - _dependence, attitude, mind of Jesus__ on God (Philippians 2:5-8) 

 

·        Gentleness - _strength _ under control

 

Jesus was “gentle and humble in heart”

 

·        Patience - _slow_ to anger (James 1:19)

 

·        Forbearance - _enduring, not exasperated__

 

·        Unity – “of the Spirit in the bond of peace”

 

“Dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1)

 

“Be _perfected__ in unity” (John 17:23)

 

“Strive to attain to the unity of the _faith_” (Ephesians 4:13)

 

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (v.4)

 

ONENESS:

 

·        Body:  _church, the Body of Christ_

 

·        Spirit:  Holy Spirit__  _”walk by the spirit”__

 

·        Hope : future promise__

 

·        Lord: Jesus Christ

 

·        Faith: personal _faith_ in Jesus

 

·        Baptism:

 

1.     Water – outward expression of faith

 

2.     Spirit – which brings us into unity

·        God: _sovereign_,“over all, through all, in all” (v.6)

 

5-26-19

                                         

“BE GOOD”                                

 

                                   1 Timothy 6:17-19; Mathew 6:21

 

 

 

GOOD? ___beneficial, right, profitable, useful_____

 

“Good news of great joy for all people” (Luke 2:10)

 

 

 

GOOD LOOKS LIKE…

 

·        __GOD__ (Psalm 106:1; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20)

 

·         Jesus, the good __shepherd__ (John 10:14)

 

·        __You__, when I do what I know is right;

 

otherwise it’s __sin__ (James 4:17)

 

“__Overcome___ evil (sin) with good” (Romans 12:21)

 

 

 

“__Learn__ to do good: (Isaiah 1:17)

 

                Seek __justice__
                Reprove the __ruthless___

 

                Defend the ___orphan___

 

                Plead for the _widow___”

 

“Do good while you have the __opportunity___”

 

(Galatians 6:10)

 

 

 

WHAT GOOD IS THERE IN “DOING GOOD”?

 

1.     Godly people __rejoice___ (2 Chronicles 6:41)

 

2.     Doing what God __prepares___ for us to do

 

         (Ephesians 2:10)

 

3.     _Trust___ God (Psalm 37:3)

 

4.     A good __conscience____ before God” (Acts 21:1)

 

 

 

WILL “DOING GOOD” GET YOU TO HEAVEN?

 

1.     Ask the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16)

 

2.     Ask the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 2:8-9)

GOOD?   

 

 

“A PROPHETIC WORD” 

     Haggai  THEN…NOW? 

“We are the temple of the _living__ God”; in which the  

_spirit___ dwells (1 Corinthians 6:16,19; 3:16);   

     “Built together as _living__ stones, on Jesus, 

          the __cornerstone__”1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:22) 

Spiritual _laziness__ can cause the spiritual temple  

to “_lie_   _desolate__” (Haggai 1:4) 

How can we “rebuild” the temple in which God resides? 

Haggai 1:8, “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and  

 rebuild the temple that I may be _pleased__ with it  

 and _glorified__”  

Mountains symbolize the presence of God 

   who is our _help_ (Psalm 121:1-2) 

 

·         _SINCERITY__  (Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8)

 

·         _FOCUS___ (Hebrews 12:2)

 

·         _OBEY____ (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

·         _CONFESS_____ (1 John 1:9)

 

·         _WITNESS__ (Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15)

 

·         _PRAY_ (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

 

·         _LOVE__ (1 John 4:7)

 

 

 

             

 May 12, 2019 

 GOD’S MODEL MOTHER

  Matthew 1:1-18

 

 Proverbs 31 – Wonder Woman

 Two “imperfect” women 

 

·          RAHAB, “a __harlot__” (Joshua 2:1), hid the  

Israelite _spies_ (v.6), professed her _faith_ 

in God (2:11), and was __protected_ by the symbol  

of a _scarlet_ _cord_ when Jericho fell (6:17)  

 Rahab married a Jewish man named Salmon.  

   They had a son named _Boaz__ 

 ·          RUTH, from Moab, married a Jewish man.

 Her commitment to her mother-in-law is one of the most

 cherished phrases in all of literature (Ruth 1:16).   

 Ruth married _Boaz__. 

They had a son named _Obed_, the grandfather of  

   ___David__, the forefather of Jesus.  

 Model Mothers: a __Harlot__ and a _Pagen__?  

God can use __imperfect__ people because of  

“His great love with which He loves us;  

He made us _alive__ together with Christ. 

 By _grace__ we are _saved__ 

through _faith__” (Ephesians 2:4-5).  

 God makes us _new__ (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

“A woman who _fears__ the Lord, 

shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30)

                                                                              

 

 

                                                                                 

  “WHAT’S YOUR TROUBLE?” 5-5-19

  

James 1:2, “various _trials___”

 

 1 Peter 1:6, “_distressed____ by various trials”

 John 16:33, “In this world you will have __tribulations___”

 14:1, “Let not your hearts be __troubled__”

 

Jesus knew that troubles are real; in fact,

 

 

He once was “troubled in __spirit___” (John 13:21)

 " Don’t be troubled by __troubles___”

 

Dealing with troublesome testing times?

 

1.     ___Denial____ - hope it will go away

 

 

2.     ___Distress____ - be agitated, “troubled”

 

 

3.     ___Discernment___ - discover the source,

 

 deal with it by relying on God’s Word (Psalm 119:105)

 

James 1:3, “Testing of your faith produces _endurance__”

 

 

1 Peter 1:7, “proof of your _faith___”

 

 

John 16:33, Jesus has “___overcome__ the world”

 

 

and we “overwhelmingly ___conquer__ through Him

 who loved us (because) nothing can separate us

 

from the love of God” (Romans 8:35-39)

 

 

John 14:1, “Believe” __faith_ in a:

 

 

1.     __Person___ - Jesus, “Believe in Me”

 

 

2.     ___Place__ - Heaven, “prepare a place”

 

 

3.     __Promise___ - Eternal life,   

  “ "Where I am, there you may be”

 

God promises, “I know the __plans___ I have for you…

 

 

for welfare, not calamity (_help__ and not _harm__)

 

to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

 

 

 

HE IS RISEN – ARE YOU?    4-28-19        

                 Colossians 1:10                  

   

What does your walk reveal?

 

 

·        _CHOICE________

 

 

1.     Accepting Jesus as Savior

 

 

a.     Confessing sin

 

 

b.     Believing that Jesus died to cover my sin

 

 

c.      Believing that my sins are forgiven (1 John 1:9)

 

 

                            Galatians 2:20   crucified with Christ

 

 

2.     Daily choosing to __SERVE____ God? (Joshua 24:15)

  

·        _CHANGE________

 

     A new __CREATION_____ (2 Corinthians 5:17),

 

 

with a new __MIND___________ (Philippians 2:15)

 

 

and a ___HOLY___________ behavior (1 Peter 1:14-15);

 

 

by being __TRANSFORMED______ (Romans 12:2),

 

 

and letting my __MIND___ dwell on things

 

 

“worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8)

 

 

 

 

·        _CHALLENGE________

 Matthew 16:24, “Follow Jesus:   _DENY___ self,

 

take up my cross and follow Him” -“Set my mind

 

 

on things ___ABOVE_____” (Colossians 3:2) by

 

 “seeking   __FIRST_____ the kingdom of God”

       (Matthew 6:33)

 

1.     Process: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - __PRAY______

 

 

2.     Proof: Galatians 5:22-24

 

 

a.     Revealing the __FRUIT___ of the ___SPIRIT___

 

 

b.     Crucifying the __FLESH___

 

 

c.      Living…walking by the __SPIRIT___

 

 

HE IS RISEN – ARE YOU?

 

  

“WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE”  4-21-19

 John 11:25-26

 

“I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes

 

 in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives

 

and believes in Me, shall never die. Do you believe this?”

 

 

The Easter question: “Do you believe this?”

 

  

·        Do YOU believe this? Faith is __Personal__

 

 

·        Do you BELIEVE this?

 

     BELIEVE: _Faith, Confidence, Trust- not intellectual assent_

        It is not a question of intellectual assent.

  Critics said they would believe in Him,

       “if He came down” (Matthew 27:42)

 James declared, “The demons believe and tremble”

 

 Belief is _Trusting_____ that He is true,

 

    and having __Confidence_______ in the grace-gift of

      salvation (Ephesians 2:8)

 

·        Do you believe THIS?

 

 

1.     His claim about His _DIETY____________

 

 

2.     His claim about ____DEATH_____________

 

 

3.     His claim about ____DESTINY____________

 

 

4.     His claim about ____DELIVERANCE____________

 

   

What do you believe?

 

  

Lazarus died. Jesus called him from death to life; and

 

 

“Because of Lazarus many were believing in Jesus”

 

     (John 12:11)

 

 

 

WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE

 

Eternal salvation is through faith (belief) in Jesus alone.

 

 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness

 

of sins. According to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7)