THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEYMAN

Against The Flow

2012-01-24T10:33:00.004-06:00

Two college students from Moorhead, Minnesota, painted a mural on the wall outside their dormitory room. According to USA Today, it showed a school of fish all swimming in the same direction except for a single fish heading the opposite way. The one fish was intended to be the age-old symbol of Christ. Printed on the picture were these words, "Go against the flow" University officials, arguing that the mural might offend non-Christians, ordered the students to paint over it. (Our Daily Bread,1/22/2005)
Last Sunday I shared a message entitled: "Against The Flow" Peter in his first letter to the Christians of Asia Minor, encourages them to remain faithful to their Christian lifestyle, even though they were facing severe persecution in the Roman world.
(Please read 1 Peter 4:1-6) Peter reminds his readers to remember what Jesus died for. He died for their sins. He suffered and died to conquer sin. And as Christians we must strive, to put to death the sinful nature. That desire to do those things, that we know are against the will of God, for our lives. Peter speaks to them about wasting their lives, by running with the world, and sinning. Don't bring back to life that old man of sin, that Jesus gave His life to put to death. Yes the world thinks it strange that we don't join them in sin, and worldliness, and they criticize our values and priorities. Well God will judge them someday. They will have to give an account for their lives. But just as the Christians who have passed on may be judged severely by the world, because they received the Gospel, and turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, they now have that precious promised reality of eternal life. They are now enjoying all the eternal blessings that God promised. Is it worth it to go against the flow? Indeed it is! (GP)

The Key To Spiritual Progress

2012-01-12T15:36:00.003-06:00

This Sunday I am preaching a sermon on the key to "Spiritual Progress". How can we gain maturity, and sincerity, in our spiritual journey? The key is doing what Enoch did. "And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters....Enoch walked with God: then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:22,24)
The key to spiritual maturity is "Walking with God" like Enoch did. In this message I bring out three things, that are very important principles in our walk with God. First of all we must be going in the same direction as God is going. The Apostle Paul spoke of his confidence concerning the Christians at Philippi; that the good work that the Lord had begun in them, He would complete in time for when His Son would return and take them home for eternity. God is working in the direction of building spiritual maturity in our lives. The question is are we cooperating? The second thing is that we must keep in step with God. Our walk is a walk of balance. Well who keeps us in that balance? It is God, and His Word. Without Him to guide us, and strengthen us, we are sure to fall. And then third, there must be agreement. (Amos 3:3) "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" If we are to walk with God, there must not be a conflict with His will for our lives. He is Lord! And what that means is, that He is in control of our lives, not us.
If we want to gain "Spiritual Progress" we need to pursue our walk with God. Enoch did it for 300 years, and was blessed because of it. What about us?

A Top Priority In 2012

2012-01-06T09:26:00.003-06:00

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) Entering a new year makes us take a good look at our priorities. What may have been important last year, may not be this year. What we focused on, all the time last year, may not be the focus of our lives, this year. Yes, evaluating priorities at the start of a new year is a very important practice. The things that we focus on the most, are the things that will effect our lives the most. The evaluation of what really matters, will help in our obtaining success in this life.
Well that brings me to the most important priority that one should make in this life. A priority that should never change, but be at the top of the list. Jesus told His followers in His sermon on the Mount, just what that main priority should be. We are to ..."seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteusness"...(Mattthew 6:33) In other words, we are to be apart of the Kingdom of God, by accepting Jesus (God's Son) as Savior, and Lord of our lives. And everyday we are to do our part to join the Lord, in being a Kingdom builder. That is, reaching out to people who have not accepted the Lord Jesus into their lives, and bringing them into the Kingdom of God as well. And the promise to us, is stated in the last part of v.33. ..."and all these things (the things that we need in our lives) will be added to you." If we take care of the Lord's business first, He will take care of our business. He will take care of all of our needs. The challenge to us is to be in the Lord, and be Kingdom builders.
We will be surprized how the Lord will bless and build our lives, and the lives of so many others in 2012.(GP)

The Temptation Experience

2012-01-02T06:17:00.004-06:00

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
There is no doubt that the Apostle Paul understood the experiences of temptation. In essence he says that the temptation experience we are going through is the same many experience. In other words, "It's nothing new". People everyday experience the same types of temptation. To be tempted to pursue, and indulge, in worldly activities, is something that every Christian goes through.
But the good news is, that God understands this experience, and He is faithful to help us get through each temptation experience that comes our way.
You and I are not ging to be tempted beyond what we can handle. In fact, God will make a way for us to escape the strong urge, or desire, to sin against Him.
In what ways does God provide this escape?
It could be through a Scripture that comes to mind, that gives us a warning. Or a similar negative experience that someone else had, that reaped severe consequenses. Or something that someone said, that made us think twice before going through with what we were considering.
It is a great encouragement to know, that in dealing with the temptation experience, we are not alone. God knows what we go through, and He is faithful to see us through. God will help us to stay on the right track. The question is: When God provides the way of escape, will we take it? GP

Making Changes In 2012

2011-12-29T09:55:00.005-06:00

"Everything is permissible for me"---but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"---but I will not be mastered by anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12)
As we enter 2012, we are again challenged to make changes in our lives. What changes will you make this year? In our text the Apostle Paul makes a statement that applies to all of us.
Everything (especially in America) is available to us to pursue, whether it is food, drink, or pleasure. But not everything is good for us. There are things that we cannot handle. Things that in time will destroy us. In this section of 1 Corinthians 6, Paul instructs concerning sexual immorality. He says to flee from it (v.18) Our bodies were not meant for sexual immorality, they were meant for the Lord." The many sexual transmitted diseases will destroy the body which is to be the temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19)
Paul says that, I could live my life indulging in sexual immorality, but I will not be mastered by anything. And the only way that he could make that statement is that he had already surrendered his life to the divine master: Jesus Christ. Everything he said and did was in accordance with the word of the Lord. And the Lord was helping him to overcome the challenges of temptation and trial.
Are you allowing the world to eat away at your joy, at your peace and happiness? Why not choose Jesus Christ to be the master of your life? Yes everything may be permissible, but the Lord will show us what things will truly bring us joy and happiness. In 2012, why not give Him a chance?

New Resource Links Added:

2011-12-22T16:54:00.005-06:00

We are adding four new resource links to our list of
resource websites. The list of links we have availabe
cover areas of help in: Bible teaching, Bible preaching,
Christian education, entertainment, retail, business,
news, and weather.
Although I don't agree with the doctrine of salvation,
that some of the websites present; I do feel that the
websites offer a good amount of information that can
be used, in the area of Christian teaching, preaching,
and spiritual encouragement.
I am just going to mention the websites here. They will
be added to the list of website links on the right hand side
of our site. You can access them, and explore what they have to offer.

Pulpit Helps
Pulpit Today
Sermon Illustrations
Crossroads College

Our purpose is to provide access to Christian resources that will
help fellow Christians find the tools for spiritual growth, and ministry.

People Need The Lord

2011-12-16T10:30:00.002-06:00

My sermon this week is entitled:
"People Need The Lord"
This message is based on the words of a song recorded some years back by Steve Green. The idea for this message was prompted by a senseless shooting that took place, in a town not too far, from where we live.
If people who commit such crimes would have known the Lord Jesus Christ, they would have never been in a situation like this to start with. Even though I read that crime has decreased from prior years, it still is so sad to see people destroying their lives, by taking the lives of others.
In this message I mention. not only the problem of crime, but of drug and alcohol abuse, marriage problems, and the break up of the home.
For these problems, and much more, Jesus has the answers. He said that "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto to the Father but by Me."(John 14:6)
Jesus is the light of life in this dark world.
He can be the light you need in your dark world. The artist paints a scene of a house in the midst of a snow storm. The house is covered with snow, and the scene looks very sad and lonely. But with just a stroke of a yellow crayon, the artist places a light in one of the front windows. With just one stroke, the scene is transformed from one of sadness, to one of comfort and cheer.
That's what Jesus can do for people in the darkness of their lives.
People need the Lord! And We need to be like that artist, showing the light of Jesus, to all who are walking in despair in this life.
If you would like a copy of this message, email me at: garydpatterson@yahoo.com

To Fulfill Our Purpose In Christmas

2011-11-28T08:14:00.001-06:00

"Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child."(Luke 2:17) Is it just me, or have we as Christians missed something? Have we forgot to pursue our part in fulfilling the purpose of Christmas? You ask, what could that be? The most precious gift of the ages came as the angel proclaimed: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!"(Luke 2:11) And after the shepherds worshipped the Christ child they did what we are to be doing today! They celebrated the birth of Christ, by telling people about Him. By focusing on their witness of the Christ Child.
I believe that Christmas programs that proclaim the birth of our Savior, are very important. But just as important, is our testimony of how the Christ Child has made a difference in our lives. People need to hear it, they need to respond to it. They need to come to the Savior…Today!
Our testimony should be made widely known.
We talk about the weather, and about sports, or the economic situation, more than we talk about our Savior. How sad that we can talk about these things, more than we can talk about the most important event that took place in our lives; the accepting of Jesus Christ as our Savior.
I want to challenge us this year, to really make it point to talk about how Jesus saved us, and is working in our lives to help us to be better people, before our God. Let's make widely known the good news of Jesus Christ.
It is a matter of life and death! GP

In Line With The Word

2011-10-05T10:18:00.004-05:00

Have you ever heard these words before. That he/she" is in line with the Word." These words speak of those who are living their lives in accordance with the Word Of God. If the Bible was treated as the final authority in many situations, what a different world this would be. But the Bible is treated more as a book of suggestion, instead of a manual for life. Yes, the Bible is God telling us how to live. And who should know more, than the one who created us. The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:10 "With my whole heart I have sought you; Oh let me not wander from your commandments." The principles in God's Word, are not suggestions, they are commandments. In the building of any house or building, everything must line up with the measuring rule. If anything is off, there will be a weakness in the structure. God's Word is designed for life maintenance. The question in every situation, is not "what I want to do", or "what I think I should do", but it should always be, "is this what God tells me to do, from His Word!" God's Word will always be "a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path."
(Psalm 119:105) When you look at the mess our society is in, because we have looked to ourselves for the answers, and have come up empty; this should motivate us to look to God, and to line every situation in our lives with the truth that is found in His Word. Again, in so doing, what a different world this would be. (GP)

Is There A God?

2011-08-21T19:38:00.007-05:00

"The fool has said in his heart, there is no God" (Psalm 14:1a)
Do you ever question whether God exists? Is there a God? There are many doubters and scoffers; are you one of them? It seems that for us as Christians, the times that we really question the reality of God, is during times of trial. When nothing is going right in our lives. We ask: "Where is God in all of this?"
"I thought He was supposed to be taking care of me, and now look at the mountain of problems that surrounds me."
I propose a little activity that may bring assurance, that God is real, and that He is with you, in the fire of trial. Take your Bible, and find some secluded place, where you can be alone with Him and His Word. Begin to read some of the Psalms, and listen to God speak to your heart. And then pour your heart out to Him, through prayer. In doing this, see if you don't feel the presence of God with you. Yes, the insight will come to handle those problems in your life. The comfort will come, the peace will come.
You will feel the presence of the Lord with you, and you will agree with David, that only a fool will say in his heart, there is no God." (GP)

Evidence That You Are A Christian

2011-07-26T15:15:00.004-05:00

I used an outline by Adrian Rogers for this sermon entitled: "Evidence That You Are A Christian" Maybe you remember this question asked by preachers in the past:
"If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Jesus said: By their fruits you shall know them." (Matthew 7:20) When people look at us, can they see that we are followers of Jesus? Can they see that we are devoted to Him 100%? John in his letter gives us three tests to see if there is evidence that we are walking the Christian walk. Please take time to look up the Scripture for each one of these points.
1. THE COMMANDMENT TEST (1 John 2:3-6)
2. THE COMPANION TEST (1 John 3:14-15)
3. THE COMMITMENT TEST (1 John 5:10,13)
Yes, you can know that you are saved. You can know that you are walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. How? By passing these tests. Let's not just talk the talk, let's walk the walk, and be abundantly blessed by God, now, and forever! GP
To get a transcript of this sermon: Evidence That You Are A Christian, email us at: cjourn05@gmail.com

The Character Of A Nation (Proverbs 14:34)

2011-07-04T15:50:00.002-05:00

I love America. I would not what to live anywhere else. But we all know that America is not well. The Christians principles and values, that we once held dear, in this nation, we have put aside, to pursue our own selfish interests, and activities. The words of Proverbs 14:34 could be chiseled on the tombstone of many civilizations, and it really applies to America. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." For a nation to really be at its best, and to be exalted by the God and the world, the pursuit of righteousness (instead of sin) is the key. The words of Alexis De Tocqueville, a french political thinker, and historian, rings true. "America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
A son asked his mother if she remembered the vase that had been in their family for three generations? The mother said "Yes!" The son replied; "Well this generation just broke it." The laws that God has laid down in His Word, are for Americans to follow, so that America can be good, and as a result, become great in the eyes of God, and the world.
We must remember that our forefathers established that we be one nation under God, not under ourselves. We will be blessed as a nation, when our main goal is to please God first and formost, and to obey Him by keeping His ten commandments, instead of throwing them out in the street. "O Lord, you see what's in the heart! There's nothing hid from You. So Help us live the kind of life, that's honest, good, and true! GP
To get a trascript of this message, email us at cjourn05@gmail.com

The Concept Of Christian Fellowship

2011-06-26T17:21:00.003-05:00

Someone said to me one time, that the greatest problem in
relationships is misunderstandings.
Sometimes we are like the child in a Christian school who
was asked to draw a picture depicting the hymn "Gladly The
Cross I'd Bear" and instead drew a picture of Gladly, the cross-
eyed bear. But if we have problems understanding the concepts
of each other, that is nothing compared to the problems we
encounter understanding the concepts of God, for His thoughts
are not our thoughts, they are a mystery to us.
One concept that is really misunderstood, is the concept of
Christian fellowship. Today, churches have fellowship halls,
fellowship dinners, and fellowship retreats, but very few have
real fellowship. Yet for a church that seeks to be guided in principle
and practice by the New Testament, fellowship is very important.
To examine the truth concerning the concept of Christian fellowship,
I would like us to look at three things.
1. THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (Galatians 2:6-10)
2. THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (Ephesians 3:7-13)
3. THE PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (Luke 22:28)
[To receive a copy of this sermon in its entirety, email us at:
cjourn05@gmail.com ]

More Than A Name On A Wall

2011-05-30T10:27:00.005-05:00

(Written By Jamie Dailey, Darren Vincent, And Jimmy Fortune)
I saw her from a distance, as she walked up to the wall.
In her hand she held some flowers, as her tears began to fall.
She took out pen and paper as to trace her memories.
She looked up to heaven, and the words she said were these.

She said, "Lord my boy was special, and he meant so much to me.
And Oh, I'd love to see him just one more time you see.
All I have are the memories and the moments to recall.
So Lord could you tell him that he's more than a name on the wall!"

She said, "He really missed the family, being home on Christmas day.
And he died for God and country in a place so far away
I remember just a little boy, playing war since he was three.
And Lord this time I know, he's not coming home to me"

She said, "Lord my boy was special, and he meant so much to me.
And Oh, I'd love to seen him but I know it just can't be.
So I thank you for my memories and the moments to recall.
But Lord could you tell him that he's more than a name on the wall."
Lord could you tell him that he's more than a name on the wall."

The nation of Israel had forgotten God. They were involved in such
extensive idolatry. When God punished them through the Babylonian
captivity, they felt that God had forgotten them.
In Isaiah 49:14-16 the Prophet speaks to the people concerning God's
love and faithfulness. No matter where we are, or what we are going
through. God never forgets us, nor forsakes us:
1. The Complaint (Isaiah 49:14)
2. The Consolation (Isaiah 49:15)
3. The Cause (Isaiah 49:16)
God is near. What He wants us to do, is to turn to Him, and allow
Him to care for us. Yes with God, we are more than a name on a wall!

The Power Of God Displayed Through Simplicity

2011-05-02T17:05:00.003-05:00

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting."(Acts 2:2)
God's power was displayed very dramatically, when the Holy Spirit came like the sound of a strong rushing wind. And when the Holy Spirit came over the apostles, flames of fiery tongues, hovered above their heads; and they were able to proclaim the Gospel in languages they had never learned. Even though this was a dramatic display of God's power, we don't need to see this dramatic display of power, when we share the Gospel. The power is there in our hearts, and minds, when we testify concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether it is a simple one on one interaction, or a simple group setting. All we need to do, is be faithful to share the message of the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. The Gospel must be shared with strong love, desire, simplicity, and sincerity. I believe too often we become so dramatic in our program of evangelism, that we leave little room for the power of God to manefest itself. The apostles were men of simple lives, who allowed the Holy Spirit to use them, to turn the world upside down for Jesus. The Holy Spirit can do the same with us, if only we will humble ourselves, and commit to being that simple outlet of power, that people can plug into, and find Jesus, and be saved. (GP)

Walking In The Footsteps Of Jesus

2011-04-12T09:10:00.007-05:00

I remember as a child, I would try to follow in my father's footsteps in the snow, as we would journey to the barn to do chores. It was not an easy task for a little guy, but I tried to do the best I could. It's not easy to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and in this passage of Scripture (Luke 9:51-56) the disciples learned three big steps in their journey with Him. They are steps that we need to learn as well.

The Step Of Steadfast Perseverance (Luke 9:51) Jesus knew that His time of suffering for the world, was not far off. And even though this was not the journey to Jerusalem, that would result in His crucifixion, He determined (in the process of time) to accomplish this mission, the Father sent Him to do. My question is; why do we as Christians, fail to demonstrate that same determination, and perseverance, in accomplishing the will of the Lord, in our lives? The Apostle Paul warned Timothy to not get attached to "the affairs of this life." (2 Timothy 2:4) We too often are like a cat playing with a ball of yarn. It is both a fascination, and a trap. We become so fascinated with the affairs of this life, that we become trapped by them, and distracted from fulfilling the will of God for our lives. We are fascinated with the thrill, but then deeply trapped in an entanglement of sorrows.

The Step of Strong Patience (Luke 9:52-55) As Jesus and His disciples continued on this journey to Jerusalem, they tried to find lodging in a Samaritan village. But there had been so much conflict, between the Jews and Samaritans over the years, that it was no surprise, they were refused lodging. The Samaritans hated the Jews so much, that they showed hostility towards them, in their journey to Jerusalem, to attend special events. When James and John saw what was happening, they asked the Lord, if they could do like Elijah, and call down fire, to consume them. Have you ever become so angry, so impatient with someone, that you wanted God, to do something to them. To punish them in some way? That's not the love, and patience of Christ. What do you do, when you want to put out a fire? Do you put more fuel on the fire? No, you throw something on the fire, that is cooling, yet consuming, like water, or dirt. The right thing to apply to those conflicts in our relationships, is love. Love is the cooling, yet consuming agent, that will put out the fires of hostility, and hatred, and bring about restoration in time. It takes time to put out a big fire. Patience is the key. In the process of time, the application of love, will surely help, to bring about forgiveness and restoration.

The Step Of Securing A Purpose (Luke 9:56) After Jesus rebukes James and John for their negative response to this situation, He says to them, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of." Is it a self-centered spirit? A spirit of pride, and arrogance? Then following this, He states His purpose for coming into the world. It was not to exercise judgment, by fire and sword, or by plagues of destruction, but to bring salvation to man-kind. "The Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."(v.56) As Christians, that is to be our purpose as well. We know that in the physical body, every organ, every muscle, every nerve, is designed to help the body, to be productive, and to fulfill life's purposes. Each one of us as Christians, have an important role to play, in accomplishing this purpose of reaching out to man-kind, and bringing people to salvation, in Jesus Christ. Do you see yourself this way. This is how the Lord, sees you. The greatest work in the world, is the work of reconciliation. Reconciling people to Jesus Christ. How involved are you? The disciples learned three steps in their Journey with Jesus. I pray that we will learn what is involved in our commitment to Him, and faithfully stay on course. Foot prints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow, We will follow the steps of Jesus, where er they go."

Jesus' Last Words

2011-04-04T15:23:00.005-05:00

I heard Mark Lowrey, a Christian comedian say that when he was a teenager, he had a problem of talking back to his mother. His mother would say, "Mark, "You're going to let me have the last word. "I will have the last word!" He said, "I wanted to give her the last word, but something brilliant would pop into my head, and I would have to say it. It got me in more trouble when dad got home." In John 13:1-17:26, we find in these chapters the extended private teaching that Jesus gave His disciples the evening before His crucifixion. It is commonly called "The Last Supper Discourse." In Jesus' last words, He presented to His disciples, and us, these lessons:

1. A Lesson On Humility (John 13:1-15) No one was going to wash someones dirty feet in the upper room. No one was going to stoop to such a level. But Jesus grabbed a towel and basin, and began to wash the disciples feet. And His words to them was "If I then your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."(v.14) How humble are we? Do we exhibit this attitude of Christ to others? What a difference it would make in our relationships, if we did?

2. A Lesson On Holiness (John 12:6-17) When Jesus came to Peter, to wash his feet, Peter was not compliant. Was it because of his pride? Jesus told him that if He didn't allow Him to wash His feet, he would not have any part with Him. (Strong words) I see this as a lesson concerning what happens to us at baptism, and all through our lives. At baptism, we are cleansed of our sins, and able to have eternal fellowship with our Heavenly Father. All because we allow the blood of Jesus to wash our hearts clean. And all through our lives, as Christians, it is through Jesus that we maintain that purity in our hearts, and in our lives. As the old hymn asks the question" Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?" What is your answer?

3. A Lesson On Hypocrisy (John 13:18-30) The word hypocrite,means to be one way, but to act as if we are something else. Judas pretended to be a follower of Jesus, but he played with sin and lost. Jesus said to Peter, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean, but not all of you" (John adds) For He knew who would betray Him, therefore He said, "You are not all clean." Have I ever been like Judas? Have I ever sold Jesus out in my life? I believe that when I have sinned, and went against the teaching of my Lord Jesus, I have acted as a hypocrite. How it grieves the Lord when we do this. How much He loves us! How much He gave, so that we could live. Sincerity, and faithfulness is what He wants; is that what He will get from us? In these chapters are Jesus last words. Will these last words penetrate our hearts, and help us to be obedient to His will. Because as Jesus said, "If you know these things, happy are you if you do them."(v.17) (GP)

The Truth, And Nothing But The Truth

2011-03-23T10:44:00.013-05:00

If you bite into a piece of bread, that has been around awhile, or take a swallow of milk, that has aged a little, you can tell right away, that something is wrong. That's what our response should be, when we hear something that doesn't line up with the Word of God. But of course you must read, and study, the Word of God, to know what pure truth is. We know what fresh bread tastes like, and we know what fresh milk tastes like, so in that split second, that we take a taste of both, we can tell if it is right, with the standard, or not. In Ephesians 4:15 the Apostle Paul makes this statement: "but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ.. In this section of Scripture, Paul is teaching the Christians at Ephesus, what is involved in a church maturing in Christ. We are to "come to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to be a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."(v.13) We are to come together in faith, to study, and to learn, of Jesus Christ, so that we can know Him fully, and grow up in Him fully. This is where leadership is so important. For one to speak the truth in love, one must know the truth. As the saying goes; "You cannot lead someone to a place, you have never been." Spiritual leaders have the awesome responsibility, to share the truth of the Word of God. We are to share it as it is, not as we would like it to be, to fit our needs. On the witness stand we are told "to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Lord Jesus wants us to live, and share the truth, of His Word. To do otherwise, will always be, nothing but sinking sand. (GP)

Our Place And Responsibility In The Church

2011-03-15T10:41:00.002-05:00

In Romans 12:3-8, the Apostle Paul shares with us some
specific areas of service we can be involved in.
Just as a car has many parts that go together, to make
that car run efficiently, so we as Christian are many members
that are to work together, to make a powerful difference
for the Lord. With our place comes responsibility,
to function in order to help accomplish the pursposes of God.
What are these specific gifts, and places of service, in the
body of Christ? I will mention them, and you can do
your research on them:
1. Prophecy (Romans 12:6)
2. Minstry (Romans 12:7)
3. Teaching (Romans (12:7b)
4. Exhortation (Romans 12:8)
5. Giving (Romans 12: 8b)
6. Leadership (Romans 12:8c)
7. Showing Mercy (Romans 12:8d)
These are at the top of the list, of ways we can serve the
Lord in His church. Making a difference for Him, in the
world, and in His family.
"Living for Jesus wherever I am, Doing each duty in His
holy name, Willing to suffer affliction or loss, Deeming
each trial a part of my cross."

Do You Really Love Jesus?

2011-03-07T14:15:00.005-06:00

As Christians we are to really love Jesus. I mean what is the point of being a Christian if we don't love Jesus? But there are times, in the way we act, and in the things we do, it appears that we don't love Him, like we should. In John 21:15-19, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. This really pierced Peter's heart, because on the night before Jesus died, Peter denied knowing Him three times. How hard it was to answer this question three times. To really love Jesus, what kind of love must it be? Let me mention three characteristics of this love.

It Must Be A Supreme Love (John 21:15-17) Peter was asked how much he was willing to give up, in order to live for Jesus, and to serve Him. And Jesus wants to know the same thing of us? Is there a limit to how far we would go in demonstrating our love for Jesus?

It Must Be A Sacrificial Love (John 21:18) Peter was told what type of death he would die for Jesus' sake. He would be crucified. Would we be able to love Jesus, even to the point of death?

It Must Be A Submitting Love (John 21:19) To love Jesus sincerely, totally, means "following Him, wherever He leads. To give Him our total lives, in order to glorify Him, in all that we say, and do. "Oh How I Love Jesus!, Oh How I Love Jesus! "Oh How I Love Jesus! Because He First Loved Me."___Frederick Whitfield

Strength To Stand

2011-02-09T08:59:00.003-06:00

It was the old Charlie Brown from the Peanuts comic
strip, who confessed "There was no problem so big,
that he couldn't run away from it."
Not many of us would praise Charlie Brown for his
courage, but we can't fault him for his honesty.
When trouble comes, there are times we wish, that we
could just run away and hide. It's hard to get up in the
morning, with a mountain of problems, staring down at
us. In Psalm 55:22 David shares some thoughts for us,
that will help us, to obtain strength to stand, in the midst
of trial and difficulty.
1. CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD
2. AND HE SHALL SUSTAIN YOU
3. HE SHALL NEVER PERMIT THE RIGHTEOUS TO
TO BE MOVED.
"On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand." (Edward Mote)

Sticking Together

2011-02-02T09:40:00.002-06:00

Once upon a time there was a man who could not
swim, who was asked to go fishing by a sailor.
He caught an enormous fish, and in his excitement
to land it, fell overboard. He cried "Help, save me!"
The sailor very calmly reached out, grasped the man's
arm, and gave a hearty pull. The sailor had no idea
it was an artificial arm...until the arm came off.
The man continued to kick and splash around, crying
out for rescue. The sailor reached out again, this time
he grabbed for the leg, and gave a tremendous pull...
and the leg came off, because it was a wooden leg.
The man in the water went under again, and came up
yelling for help. The sailor still maintaining his calm,
grabbed the man by the hair of his head, and gave a pull.
When he did, he discovered that the man was wearing
a toupee, and it came off. The man in the water
continued to call for help. The sailor turned in disgust,
and said, "How can I help you, if you won't stick together?"
I have an idea that our Lord at times askes the same
question of us...as the church.
"How can I help you, if you won't stick together?"
The New Testament is filled with instructions on unity.
What can we do, to promote unity in the church?
Here are four things we can do:
1. We Must Be Involved (Ephesians 4:3)
2. We Must Be Positive (Philippians 4:8)
3. We Must Be Supportive (Ephesians 4:15-16)
4. We Must Be Forgiving (Colossians 3:12-13)
We share a common bond of love
That comes from God our Father
And we're dependent on the strength
We draw from one another___Sper

The Art Of Forgiveness

2011-01-17T09:17:00.002-06:00

A girl was asked what forgiveness is. She gave this
beautiful answer. "It is the odor the flowers give
off when they are trampled upon."
Have you been trampled upon lately? We all have
experienced it one time or another. And we all have
hurt other people by our careless words and actions,
one time or another. And as much as forgiveness is a very
difficult thing to do, it is a very necessary thing to do.
In my sermon Sunday, I shared three essentials in the
process of forgiveness. Forgiveness is:
1. A Command To Obey (Matthew 6:15)
2. A Characteristic To Display (Colossians 3:12-13)
3. A Cleansing To Experience (Genesis 45:5)
"Let me turn the other cheek
As You so often did;
Let me feel the joy of love
When saying. "I forgive"

This Is The Life (John 10:10)

2011-01-10T05:47:00.003-06:00

Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief does not come
except to steal, and kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they might have life, and that they
may have it more abundantly."
Who is this thief, this killer, this destroyer?
It is Satan. How much he has taken from man-kind.
How much he has take from you and from me.
But Jesus came to bring us life. An abundant life.
From Alan Carr's sermon entitled: "I'll Take What's
Behind That Door." (http://www.sermonnotebook.org/)
I would like to mention four descriptions of this life:
1. IT IS A PARDONED LIFE (Ephesians 2:12-17)
2. IT IS A PROSPEROUS LIFE (John 10:10)
3. IT IS A PERPETUAL LIFE (John 10:28)
4. IT IS A PRESERVED LIFE (1 Peter 1:5)
Come to the Lord Jesus, and let Him show you the
blessings of living life in Him.

What The Lord Wants For Us In 2011

2011-01-04T09:45:00.005-06:00

They say that hind-sight is always 20/20.
When we look in the rear view mirror of our lives, we can
see how the ways of God have managed our journey.
We can say with the Psalmist in Psalm 92:4
"For You, Lord have made me glad through your work;
I will triumph in the works of your hands."
God has made this promise in Hebrews 13:5
"For He Himself has said, I will never leave you, nor
forsake you." With that Promise in mind, we can move
ahead into 2011 with the utmost confidence.
What the Lord has done for us, He wants to do for others.
I want to mention three things the Lord wants for people
in 2011, and for all eternity.
1. He Wants Us To Be Saved (John 3:17)
2. He Wants Us To Be Sustained (Matthew 7:11)
3. He Wants Us To Be Serving (John 13:14)
Our lives will be truly blessed, when we pursue these things.

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

2010-12-07T13:27:00.003-06:00

In 1865, as Christmas was approaching, an insurance
salesman by the name of William Dix, sat down and
wrote a poem in one afternoon that he entitled
"The Manger Throne" Later an unknown Englishman
took Dix's poem and combined it with the melody
"Greensleeves. It has now become a world famous
Christmas Carol.
This is the question of Christmas.
"What Child Is This?
Alan Carr in his sermon on Isaiah 9:6-7
brings out the truths that answer this question:
"What Child Is This?"
(http://www.sermonnotebook.org/)
1. HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF GOD'S GRACE
(Isaiah 9:6a)
2. HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF GOD'S GLORY
(Isaiah 9:6b)
3. HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF GOD'S GREATNESS
(Isaiah 9:7)
This Child is Jesus Christ. What does He mean to you?

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING

2010-11-22T15:23:00.002-06:00

How do you react to adversity? When everything in going good,
and going our way, it’s easy to praise the Lord.
But when our plans are disrupted, and we have a mountain of
bills to face, or our health fails, thankfulness seems to disappear.
It’s easy to let these things really cloud our thinking, and cause us
to slip into discouragement, and degrees of deep depression.
The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and
encourages them (and us) to look at the benefits of thanksgiving.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we find two instructions on thanksgiving,
that will keep us in the positive, and truly bless our lives.
1. THE EXTENT OF THANKSGIVING
(1 Thessalonians 5:18a)
“In everything give thanks”
2. THE EXPECTATION OF THANKSGIVING
(1 Thessalonians 5:18b)
“For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
“COUNT”
Count your blessings instead of your crosses.
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes.
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears.
Count your courage instead of your fears
Count your full years instead of your lean.
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth.
Count on God instead of yourself ___Selected.

BLESSINGS OF THE NEW AND LIVING WAY

2010-11-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

As we enter into a time of Thanksgiving, I would like for us to look at what the Hebrew writer says is the greatest blessing of all. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary, we now have access to the presence of God. Back in Old Testament times, the only one who could approach God on behalf of the people, was the high priest. Once a year, he entered the most holy place, and sprinkled the blood of the animals, on the mercy seat, of the Ark of the Covenant. This was to atone for the sins of the people. But now because our eternal high priest, Jesus Christ, was the sacrifice for our sins, the veil that separated the most holy place from the rest of the temple, was torn from top to bottom. This means that now each one who has surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, has personal access to the throne of God.
This is truly the greatest blessing one could have.
To enjoy a personal fellowship with the God of the universe, is truly the greatest blessing of all.
In Hebrews 10:19-25 The Hebrew writer breaks down for us the elements of this wonderful blessing. Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can..
1. DRAW NEAR (Hebrews 10:22)
2. HOLD FAST TO OUR CONFESSION (Hebrews 10:23)
3. CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER (Hebrews 10:24)
4. ASSEMBLE OURSELVES TOGETHER
(Hebrews 10:25)

THE QUALITY OF SACRIFICE

2010-11-08T10:44:00.006-06:00

Veteran's Day not only calls us to remember those who
gave their lives for our country, but also calls us to
a desire, a privilege, a responsibility that we as
American citizens, and Christians have;
and that is: To Sacrifice
The Apostle Paul describes this kind of sacrifice in
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
What motivates this kind of sacrifice? Love
Paul does not say "I command you: But "I beseech you
because of what God has already done for you."
We do not serve God in order to receive His mercies,
because we already have them. (3:21-8:39)
We must ask ourselves this question:
How much do we love the Lord?
If we love Him all our heart, soul, and strength, then
we will offer to God this kind of sacrifice, Paul talks about
here.
Let;s look briefly at the qualities of this sacrifice:
1. THIS SACRIFICE IS TO BE A LIVING SACRIFICE
(Romans 12:1a)
2. THIS SACRIFICE IS TO BE A HOLY SACRIFICE
(Romans 12:1b)
3. THIS SACRIFICE MUST BE ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD
(Romans 12:1c)
4. THIS SACRIFICE IS TO BE A REASONABLE SERVICE
(Romans 12:1d)

IS JESUS LORD?

2010-11-02T10:14:00.007-05:00

Have you ever heard these words, or said these words?
"You're not the boss of me!" These words are definitely
an attempt to assert one's independence.
We don't like having someone telling us what to do.
After all that person might ask us to do something we
don't what to do, or put us in a situation we don't want
to be in.
There is a story of a farmer several years ago who was
struggling with a balky mule. He was so frustrated with
this mule that he was starting to lose his patience.
Finally someone asked: "Why Sam, where is your will power?"
He replied, "My will power is fine, but you ought to come
out here and see this animal's "won't power."
When it comes to our obedience to the Lord, what about
our "Won't power?"
In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as "Lord"
far more often than He is referred to as "Savior".
He is called "Lord" 747 time in the New Testament.
In Acts 2:26 Peter preached to the people on the Day
of Pentecost, "Therefore let all the house of Israel
know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, both Lord and Christ."
In Biblical times, when a Jew reading the Scriptures
came to a word translated "Lord" he would bow his head,
and worship. When a Scribe was translating the
Scriptures, and came across the word for "Lord" he would
put down his pen, and get a new pen, just to write
the word.
Theme: Let's look closely at the Lordship of Jesus.
He is the one...
WHO CONTROLS ALL THINGS (Ephesians 1:20-23)
WHO WAS CROWNED WITH ALL GLORY AND HONOR
(Hebrews 2:7-9)
WHO COMMANDS OUR ALLEGIANCE (Hebrews 5:9)
Sermon Outline: The Preacher's Files. http://preachersfiles.com/

EXAMINING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

2010-10-28T08:55:00.006-05:00

As Christians we are called unto the fellowship of
Jesus Christ. We are to find our place in the body
of Christ. As tools in the Master's tool box, we
all have our purpose as instruments of ministry to
the world, and to the church.
It should be as smooth as can be, to take our place,
and do our part. But when there is divison in the
fellowship, when there is self-centeredness, and
an inward focus, it makes it hard to find a space,
and accomplish Kingdom work, as a Kingdom worker.
Our English word "fellowship" is the translation
of the Greek word "Koinonia" This Greek word is
derived from the root, "Koinos" which has a prefix
in Ancient Greek. If you were to add this prefix
to words meaning "living" "owning a purse"
a dispute, and mother, you would get words meaning;
living in a community together, owning a purse in
common, a public dispute, and having a mother in
common. So we see that the root of the word
"fellowship" means "to hold something in common."
It is more than just a word that describes our
social gatherings. As Christians, we hold someone
in common. That someone is Jesus Christ.
Theme: Let's look at 1 Corinthians 1:9-10, and
examine our Christian fellowship more closely.
THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FELLOWSHIP.
(1 Corinthians 1:9)
What is the origin of our Christian fellowship?
It begins with God faithfully calling us into
fellowship with His Son (Read 1 John 1:7)
The vertical relationship (with God) must be
right before the horizontal relationships
(with others) will be right.
THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR FELLOWSHIP
(1 Corinthians 1:10)
The Apostle Paul addresses the problem of division
in the church at Corinth. In so doing, he establishes
here the proper framework for solid Christian fellowship.
We can apply what he presents here. He pleads with
them in the name of the Lord Jesus to:
1. Speak the same thing. (Agree in the Lord)
2. Let there be no divisions among you.
3. Be joined together in the same mind. (Phil.2:1-5)
4. Have the same judgment. (Thought & Purpose)
Conclusion: TEAM=Together, Each, Accomplishes, More.

ONE THING YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK

2010-10-19T09:21:00.003-05:00

Outline By Alan Carr
www.sermonoutlines.org
2 Peter 3:1-9
Every time I visit my hometown in Wisconsin, I see change.
Buildings that were once there, are torn down.
Where farms used to be, there are housing developments.
Its the same with people. When I visit with relatives,
I haven't seen in awhile, I see that the aging process
has been at work.
They see it in me as well.
"We are changing all the time. We change our clothes,
we change our minds, we change directions, we change jobs,
we change cars, and we change moods in an instant." (1)
But the one thing that doesn't change, is the promises of
God. Jesus made it crystal clear in Revelation 22:20, that
He is returning to this world.
"He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming
quickly." Amen. Even so Come Lord Jesus!"
The Prophets prophesied of Jesus' coming to this earth,
years before He came. He fulfilled all the prophecies, right
down to the nail. He will do it again. And that we cant take
to the bank.
Why Can we be Assured Of This Promise? (Three Reasons)
1. THE ASSURANCE OF THE SCRIPTURES (2 Peter 3:1-2)
2. THE IGNORANCE OF THE SCOFFERS (2 Peter 3:3-7)
3. THE PATIENCE OF THE SAVIOR (2 Peter 3:8-9)
(1) Bruce Goettsche

Walking In The Way Of The Lord

2010-10-11T13:34:00.007-05:00

Isaiah 30:18-33
Sennacherib, King of Assyria, was planning to attack Israel.
Instead of turning to God for help, King Hezekiah, who was
King of Israel at the time, sought help from Pharaoh of
Egypt. This did not at all please the Lord.
Theme: Here's the question: Do we trust in things that
cannot help us?
BJ Thomas, in one of his songs, says that when he
was down, he looked around for his friends, and found out
real quick, that he didn't have any friends.
But he found the Lord to be his best friend.
In this passage of Scripture, we find that those who wait
on the Lord, and desire to walk in His way will experience
blessings: Such as:
1. ANSWERED PRAYER (Isaiah 30:18-19)
2. GOD'S GUIDANCE (Isaiah 30:20-21)
3. CLEANSING (Isaiah 30:22)
4. FRUITFULNESS (Isaiah 30:23-26)
5. VICTORY (Isaiah 30:27-33)

WORKING AT OUR WORTH?

2010-09-14T16:59:00.002-05:00

...that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." (Ephesians 1:18)
What do we need, to help us feel good about ourselves?
Do we need popularity, pleasure, or power to feel good about ourselves? Do we always need to be with the right people in order to feel good about ourselves? Do we constantly have to do great things to earn our value in this life?
As a Christian, the Apostle Paul says that we are apart of God's inheritance. We are apart of His great wealth. This is so amazing that God would look at us this way. But then again, look what He did for us at the cross at Calvary. He sent His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice for the penalty of our sins. He paid the price for us to be with Him for eternity. What more do we need, to feel good about ourselves? What more do we need, to feel valuable in this life?
It seems that we work so hard to look good in the eyes of people. We will do whatever it takes to be in the right crowd, or do those things that will draw attention to us. We will go so far as to hurt other people, to gain the approval, and applause of the world.
If God values us, that's all we need. But God is counting on us to help others to feel His love as well. To feel that God values them, as much as He does us. People will not always value us, will not always provide the affirmation we long for. I am so thankful that God does.
(Read Romans 8:37-39, and rejoice with me. (GP)

OUR FOOD: TO DO THE WILL OF GOD

2010-08-24T08:45:00.007-05:00

A nearby resturant was having a drawing for a 10 speed bike.
So a mother took her son to enter the drawing. She handed
her son an entry blank, and his question was; "Just one"
And he promptly began filling out a handful."
Well son" she said, "You know that if the Lord wants you to
win that bike, you will only have to fill out one." "Oh I know that"
he said. "I'm just signing these in case this is a contest the Lord
doesn't happen to care about one way or another."
It happens with people today. We like to do things our own way.
We don't stop and consider what the Lord's will is for our lives.
Right after Jesus visits with the Samaritan woman, and the
disciples return from town to get some food, Jesus makes a
statement that caught their attention. And it should get our
attention today. "My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of Him
who sent me,and to finish His work." (John 4:34)
There are three blessings that come when we do the will of God
in our lives.
1. TO DO THE WILL OF GOD IS THE ONLY WAY TO PEACE
(Luke 1:79)
2. TO DO THE WILL OF GOD IS THE ONLY WAY TO STABILITY
(Matthew 7:24-27)
3. TO DO THE WILL OF GOD IS THE ONLY WAY TO POWER
(2 Corinthians 3:5)
When we are obedient to God, it shows how much we love Him.
It shows that we are more sufficient in God than of ourselves.
To experience God's blessings, that's the way it should be. (GP)

WHAT IS YOUR DESTINY?

2010-08-18T13:16:00.014-05:00

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended,
but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 3:13-14)
What is your destiny? The word "destiny" comes from the
word "destine" which means"to decree before hand."
to designate", or"assign", or "dedicate in advance."
In regards to your future, what are you decreeing beforehand?
What are your future plans? For some, it will be to make
a good living, and become, materially well off.
For others, it will be, to secure a good vocation, and find a place
of purpose, and fulfillment. As these pursuits are goals for this life,
what about our eternal destiny? Are we decreeing beforehand,
for our eternal needs? The Apostle Paul made a solid statement
about his eternal destiny. He was in pursuit of "the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus."(Phil.3:14) What is the prize?
It is heaven itself. Our eternal home. And it is by faith that we obtain it.
Not by our good works, because our good works could never be good
enough. It is the work that Christ did at the cross of Calvary, to pay for
our sins, that make the prize of heaven possible. But knowing that we
can trust Jesus to have it, we press towards the goal, by faith.
We place ourselves, and keep ourselves, in Christ. Because it is only
through Him, that we can have this eternal prize. It's always good to
think ahead. Financial counselors tell us that one of the best things
we can do to get out of debt, is to come up with a plan. But when it
comes to our eternal destiny, there are a world full of people who
are not preparing at all. The Bible teaches us that we need to accept
Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, now, before it's too late.
We could spend an eternity, separated from him.
We definitely don't want that. So lets allow the Lord help to help us
and others, to have a bright future destiny.
Place your future in His hands today! (GP)

THE WORLD, OR THE LORD?

2010-08-11T09:49:00.003-05:00

In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asks a very challenging question.
For what is a man profited, it he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? or what will a man give in exchange
for his soul?"
The soul is our inner person. When this life is done, our
inner person will go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ for
eternity. But that depends on how we answer this question
by our life's attitudes, and actions.
In essence, we place on the scale of life, the priorities
and pursuits of the world, verses the priority and the
pursuit of the Kingdom of God. You may say, "Well, that's
an easy answer. What is more important is, the pursuing of
the Kingdom of God. But when we look at our lives, has it
just been lip service? Have we really been 100% committed
to this priority? I know I haven't. I may have said yes to
the Lord, but by actions have said yes to the world.
When we lose something very precious, how devastated we feel.
And deep regret comes, when we have given up something,
and now we we wished we had it back.
The word "tragic" will not describe well enough, the losing
of our soul to the world. The Lord Jesus, loves us, and
wants us to be with Him for eternity. Don't we want that too?
Let's place our soul in His love, and in His will, knowing
that with Him, we will be in safe hands, now and forever. (GP)

When You Make A Mess Of Your Life

2010-08-03T10:15:00.002-05:00

Several years ago, I remember a young lady who gave a speech
at my brother's graduation. She shared three things she
remembered learning in Kindergarten. Such as:
1. Learning to share.
2. When you are tired, take a nap.
3. When you make a mess, clean it up.
The last one is probably more of a challenge that the first
two. In Psalm 119:83 the Psalmist uses an illustration of
what we look like when our life is in a mess.
"Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget
your decrees. 1* "As a wineskin hangs in the smoke, and heat
above a fire, becomes smudged and shrivelled, so the Psalmist
bears the marks of his affliction."(NIV Study Bible)
This is how we look, and feel inside, when our lives have
become a mess. And the question that constantly nags at our
heart is: "How can I clean up this mess? How can I make things
right again? The answer is in the Psalmist's words, in the last
part of the verse. Even though my life is a mess,
"I do not forget your decrees."
The Psalmist in essence is saying, The only way to make things
right, is to remember, and obey God's Word, that is right.
God's Word is the tool of correction. The medicine that heals
us from the sinful infection inside of us.
We must never operate out of passion, but rather by principle.
God's principles will set us on a course that is right, that
will lead to peace, and hope for tomorrow.
Yes, when we make a mess in our lives, let's clean it up.
But let's use God's Word to do it. (GP)

KNOWING GOD

2010-07-26T11:52:00.006-05:00

"...And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered"
(Matthew 10:30)
How well does my Heavenly Father know me? According
to Matthew 10:30, He knows you and I, very well.
To know each person on the face of the earth this intimately,
is beyond comprehension. David said in Psalm 139:1
"O Lord, you have searched me, and you know me."
It is clear that God knows all about us, but the question is,
how well do we know God? I can say that at various times,
I have come to know God's love, and direction for my life.
But so much of the time, it was after a struggle on my part,
to find my own answers, and accomplish my own goals.
When I would come up short, that's when I felt I needed,
to seek God, and His Word for my life. And God, in His time,
and in His way, would always, lovingly and faithfully, come through.
Why do we treat God this way? I believe the answer is, selfishness.
Satan would have us question, the value of knowing God, and what
He can do for us. And that's just what we do. We place more
confidence in ourselves, than we do in God.
But in so doing, how many times have we been disappointed.
You have heard this said about people at different times:
"To know him, is to love him."
When you really get to know God, you will learn to love Him,
more than life itself. We need to do as David says in Psalm 34:8
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who
takes refuge in Him." (GP)

SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS

2010-07-20T13:46:00.003-05:00

“Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”(Matthew 26:41)
It was not a time to sleep, but a time to pray. This was a time to pray for strength, to face the tragic upcoming events of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and death on the cross. Peter, who said that even if all the rest fall away, he never would. Even if it meant that he would die with Jesus, he would not deny Him. But he did, just as Jesus told Him He would (Matthew 26:34)
We can criticize Peter all we want, but we know ourselves, how weak we are. We say that we will not do those things that are sinful, those things that are against the will of the Lord. But yet in a moment of weakness, we find ourselves participating in those sinful acts. Yes, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The two things, Jesus told the disciples to do, in overcoming temptation, will work for us as well. He told them to “Watch, and Pray.”
Watch for those urges to participate in a sinful act. When they come, in prayer, bring them to Jesus, and let Him have them. Don’t take them on yourself, but give them to Jesus, to deal with, and destroy. It is always an advantage for something weak to be placed along something that Is strong. Let’s place ourselves with Jesus. There is no one who is stronger for us, than He.
GP

THE SUFFICIENT GRACE OF GOD

2010-07-13T15:38:00.006-05:00

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is
made perfect in weakness."(2 Corinthians 12:9a)
There are many people who find "weakness" a very
revolting condition. We would rather see ourselves as
strong, virle,vigorous, etc. But there are times, when
no matter how hard we try, we cannot be these things.
Does that mean that we are failures in life?
The Apostle Paul didn't think so.
He was a strong Christian man.
But he knew where his strength came from.
We are not sure what the "thorn in the flesh"(2 Cor.12:1)
was, that afflicted him. In the beginning, he had problems
accepting it. He asked the Lord to remove it three times.
But after the third time, he accepted the Lord's answer
to Him. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength
is made perfect in weakness."(2 Cor.12:9a)
How wonderful to know, that in our condition of weakness,
the Lord can work in us, and through us, to help us to make an
impact on this world for Him.
The whole purpose of our Christian experience is to
glorify the Creator of the universe, to magnify our
Heavenly Father. We can do that the best,when we
totally depend upon Him, for the wisdom, and strength
we need. We depend on so many things, to survive in this
life. The power we need is just an outlet away. Well the
power we need, to live a peaceful, and purposeful life,
is a good read, every day, from the Bible, and a prayer of
total submission to the Lord.
Let's plug into the power! GP

FREEDOM IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS

2010-06-30T06:37:00.004-05:00

"My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another, If you have
been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words
of your mouth, then do this my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands;
Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your
neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your
eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle, from the hand of the
hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
(Proverbs 6:1-5)
In this passage of Scripture, Solomon talks about a type
of freedom that from time to time, we all long to have.
There are times, when we put our foot in our mouth,
and say things we wish we hadn't. Or we act before we think,
and cause some hurt, and hard feelings. On this fourth of
July, when we focus on the freedom we enjoy in this country,
there is no greater feeling, than that of being at peace with
our fellow man. And when those times arrive, of careless words,
and actions, Solomon tells us that we need to "go and humble
ourselves." We are to set aside our pride, our self-centeredness,
and make it right, with those we have hurt, in word and deed.
To "press your plea"(v.3c) means to strongly and sincerely,
ask forgiveness, and make it right with our neighbor.
Solomon makes this such an urgent thing.
"Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids."
In essence he is saying: "Don't let a moment go by, when you
can make peace with your neighbor. Your heart will be in turmoil
until you do. And when you do, you will feel that freedom that
is like a gazelle, running free from the hunter, or a bird flying free
from the snare, of the trapper.
To be at odds with someone is a terrible bondage. It is worth
all the effort it takes, to make peace, and experience the
wonderful freedom, and blessings, of a good relationship (GP)

FOR THE GOOD THAT I WILL TO DO

2010-06-07T10:03:00.004-05:00

"For the good that I will to do, I do not do, but the
evil I will not to do, that I practice." (Romans 7:19)
Here the Apostle Paul talks about a spiritual battle
within him. The right things he should do, he doesn't,
and the wrong things, he knows not to do, he does.
If I could say to Paul, "Hey, I have the same problem!"
His response would probably be, "Welcome to the human
race!" The question comes: How can we win a battle like
this? This battle is only won through the Word and
resources of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25).
Didn't Jesus say, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing."
(John 15:5b)? If a limb is severed from a tree, it dies.
The same thing happens to us, when we sever ourselves from
Jesus Christ. Not only do we lose our joy, peace, strength,
and contentment, we spiritually die.
I saw a feature on television, about a worldly man, who tried
to get it all, and then he did some fraudulent things to try to
keep it all. And in the process of this, when he was caught and
arrested for his actions, he lost it all. His business, his family,
his friends, his life, all lost, because of his selfishness.
The key to success in this life, is to embrace Jesus Christ, and
to do all that is under the umbrella of His will. Only then will
we have success in the things that are right, and eternal. (GP)

ALL THINGS?

2010-06-02T09:09:00.004-05:00

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful;
All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify."
(1 Corinthians 10:23)
It is an on-going experience; the constant indulgence of
worldly goods, and the reaping of severe disappointment.
When will I learn? When will I excercise strong discipline,
and develop a continual appetite, for that which is always
helpful, and edifying, to my body, and spirit?
Physically eating the wrong food, is only a small part of
this dilemma. It involves all that we see, read, hear, and
touch. And all of this, is powerful motivation for our
actions. These words of the Apostle Paul, relate very well
to us, who live in America. We have an enormous amount
of worldly goods to feed the mind and body. But a lot of
what looks, feels, and tastes good, is far from being good
for us. I remember when I was a child, my parents placed
restrictions on me, because they knew that as a child, I would
not excercise proper judgment. Our heavenly Father tells us
in His Word, what His restrictions are for us. He knows
that by ourselves, we will not use proper judgment.
How many times have we asked ourselves; When will we learn?
When will we choose the right things, instead of giving in to
our flesh. I believe it will be, when we like the Prodical Son,
end up like the pigs, and we realize that with God's restrictions,
we could do so much better. (GP)

GRADUATE IN CHRIST

2010-05-17T10:29:00.004-05:00

I want to congratulate the graduates everywhere. This is an exciting time. The excitement of entering into the next stage of your life. As exciting as this is, there should be no greater excitement, than when one becomes a Christian. In a way this is a graduation, because you have learned in your struggle with the world, what is most important, and you step up to a higher plane in your life. From a life of so many disappointments, to a life of peace, fulfillment, and victory. The Apostle Paul spoke of the members of the church, accomplishing this goal, "...but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head---Christ....(Ephesians 4:15) The goal of a Christian is to grow up in Jesus Christ, to accomplish spiritual maturity in Him . But how can we do this, if we haven't made the initial step in accepting Jesus Christ as, Savior and Lord? This is the most important decision we will ever make in our lives. In our walk in the world, we can say that we have learned some hard lessons. I would be so bold as to say, that we have learned what life is like, without Jesus. In accepting Him, as Savior and Lord, it is like we are entering a new life of learning and growth. Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and ,learn from Me, For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29) Did you catch the words "Learn from Me"? I would call this the college of Jesus Christ. In placing our lives in Him, we are stepping up higher. We are entering into a place of higher spiritual education. An education that will be more of a blessing, than any type of worldly education,we could ever achieve. Have you learned enough about the world, to say in your heart, I need a change. I need Jesus to show me a new way to find happiness, peace, fulfillment, even in the midst of trouble and trial.
He has it! So my question to you is: What are you waiting for? GP

OUR GREAT PHYSICIAN

2010-05-03T13:54:00.008-05:00

It's good to be back! I am sorry for not posting any Bible teaching in awhile. I hope I can stay constant now, and keep the posts coming. A question that was presented by Andy Rooney on "60 MINUTES", "What ever happened to the family physician, who could treat a number of conditions? Today we are so specialized." It made me think about our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, who can treat every spiritual condition we have. Broken lives, broken hearts, and most of all the restoration of our souls, for eternity. Jesus can do it all, but the question is, will we let Him? Will we take advantage of His services? I listened to a preacher on TV this week, and he had a good sermon on, attending to the Word of God, which is the medicine for our poor spiritual conditions. If we don't attend to the Word of God, on a continual basis, how can we expect to have good spiritual health? I think of individuals, and families, who find themselves in such ruin these days. If they only would have found Jesus, and His teachings, and experienced what He could do for their lives, life would be so much better for them today. In reponse to the criticism Jesus received for sitting with the publicans and sinners. Jesus said "Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick." (Matthew 9:12) In those times of being both physically and spiritually sick, when I turned to the Lord, He was always there for me. With His wisdom, and His resources, He ministered unto me, the right words, and the right people, to take care of my needs. He will do the same for you. You don't have to make an appointment. Right where you are, you can pray, and study His Word, and receive the best He has to offer. He is a loving and faithful Physician. He won't, let you down! (GP)

THE AFTER-GLOW OF EASTER

2010-04-06T08:04:00.007-05:00

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses to Me in Jeruslam, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The hearts of the disciples were still buring with joy, and excitement after seeing the Lord Jesus alive, and walking among them. How can you come down from this mountain top experience after witnessing such an extrodinary miracle? Jesus told them that they were to be witnesses to what had happened, and to share it with people not only In the local realm, but to the ends of the earth. Of course it would be impossible for the early Christians to accomplish this in their life time. That is why the baton of the resurrection event of Jesus Christ, has been carried by Christians since that time. And we as Christians are called to carry it today. People need to hear about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because it is the pillar of hope for their future. If we leave out the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, what good news do we have to tell? It is the motivation behind what we are, and all that we do. It is the motivation behind the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But even though we were not priviledged to see the bodily form of the risen Lord, back then, we can still experience His presence in our lives today. The way that we do that, is to open ourselves up to Him. Make time to fellowship with Him. Take time to pray, to meditate on His Word, and be patient, and wait for the doors to open for for His will to manifest itself in your life.
We are evangelistic baton carriers, carrying the message of hope to this generation. It is exciting in the afterglow of Easter to be ready, to hand it to someone who is coming our way. If they grab it, and run with it, what a difference it will make in their lives. (GP)

Jesus' Health-Care Plan

2010-03-21T15:00:00.006-05:00

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Matthew 11:28-30.
No matter what happens this week-end, with the vote on national health care, the debate will still be long-running. In this great tug-of-war over this issue, a person wonders, what will work for many Americans, without health insurance today? It will be almost two years ago, since I under-went surgery, for prostate cancer. I wasn’t sure about my health care, but I was sure about my Lord’s care. When I needed Him, He was there. He gave me the strength to endure, that difficult experience. It was a heavy burden for me, because I am not a strong person. He gave me the inner strength, to endure, and to recover. Today, as I write this article, I am cancer free. If you are physically sick today, maybe dealing with a severe illness; (while the world goes on debating on health care) you can count on the Lord, to help you with whatever dark valley you’re going through. And if complete healing doesn’t come in this life, it will come in the next.
Instead of the worry, and sadness, that comes with the yoke of the world; put on the yoke of Jesus. In everything, in Him, you will find the best care you can find. (GP)

Crossroads

2010-03-09T07:39:00.005-06:00

"Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the
world go free? No there's a cross for everyone,
and there's a cross for me."
Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples,
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him
deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."

There are three spiritual entrances to the road
of the cross.
1. The Entrance Of Desire.
Do we desire to follow Jesus? Or The world?
I would rather desire to follow Jesus, and suffer
for Him, than to live for the world, and allow it
to gradually destroy my life, and my soul.
2. The Entrance Of Denial.
It's not easy to deny ourselves, and put Jesus first.
But it is necessary if we are to be in the best
spiritual health we can be in. With Him in our lives,
we do so much better, than with those worldly products,
that promise, but never deliver.
3. The Entrance Of Decision.
If you'r going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk.
That's what Jesus wants. He doesn't want good
intentions, He wants a decision, and a commitment to that
decision. If Jesus set His face like flint to go to the
cross for us, what is our excuse?
The road to glory includes a cross.
If Jesus was willing to take up His for You and for me,
we should never hesitate, to do whatever it takes, to live
for Him, and serve Him, 100%. (GP)

Entering The Family Of God

2010-03-01T16:23:00.005-06:00

Of our three children, Tracy is the oldest.
Her entering our family was very dynamic.
She was born in a snowstorm in 1979.
It took us four hours, to go seventeen miles, to get
to a hospital. It may have been a stressfull
experience, but all in all, it was exciting, and a very
joyful experience.
It is exciting too, when one enters the family of God.
After the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, and one's need
for Jesus, to be Savior and Lord, they enter the waters
of baptism. It is at baptism, where Jesus cleasnes one
of sin, and the Holy Spirit finds His eternal place in
that person's heart, and life.(Acts 2:38)
There are two things we find, in this wonderful experience.
1. Our Placement.
The Apostle Paul says that ..."If any man be [in] Christ,
he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold
all things are become new."(2 Corinthians 5:17)
To enter the family of God, is to be placed [In] Christ.
The old sins, and sinful nature, and lifestyle, is gone,
and we are enabled, by Christ, to take on new life.
A new life, a new peace, and a new hope.
2. Our Postion.
There are two aspects of God's call for the Christian
life: One is Privilege, and the other is Purpose.
We see this in Ephesians 2:8-10.
Privelge: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.."
Purpose: "..not of works, lest anyman should boast,
for we are the workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them."
It is exciting to be apart of the family of God.
To be born again, and to be placed [In] Christ for eternity,
To experience the blessings offered, and to be able to
do our part, to be involved in "good works" for the cause, of
the Kingdom of God. I believe there is nothing more
exciting than this! (GP)
Outline And Helps From "Check Your Life In Christ"
(By Knofel Staton)1993 The Standard Publishing Co.

What Does It Take To Be Happy?

2010-02-22T13:50:00.003-06:00

What Does It Take To Be Happy?
Knofel Staton from his book "Check Your Character"
brings to our attention a very good illustration,
comparing a buoy floating in the water, to a Christian.
"A buoy is made of metal, and is very heavy, but it
floats, for there is air inside." "Let the winds stir, and
the waves surge, the buoy will still be floating.
The storms may be so fierce, that you cannot even see
the buoy, but it will never sink, because a buoy is made
to float.
As Christians, what do we have in us, that will keep us
afloat, in the midst of the waves of trial, and disappointment?
Solomon writes in Proverbs 16:20b...and whoever trusts in
the Lord, happy is he."
If we build our spiritual life, on the things of God, we will find
joy, peace, and contentment. Some would say, well it's not
easy living the Christian life. Not only is their grief caused by
the problems of life itself, but standing up for the Lord, and
for truth, brings added pain as well. How true. But the difference?
There is someone living inside us, that no matter what
happens, will make sure, we stay afloat. Even if we die
to this life, the Lord made it possible for us to have victory
for the next. That's something to really be happy about.
It's the Lord Jesus Christ, who keeps us in the
balance of the ups and downs, of life. What does it take to be
happy? A Relationship with Him, now and forever.
Do you have one? GP

A Spiritual Olympian

2010-02-15T10:19:00.003-06:00

I have been watching the Winter Olympics.
It amazes me, what some of those athletes do,
in their events of competition.
And to think that they have practiced, and worked
hard, for a long time to get ready for this one time
event. The Apostle Paul looked at this life, as being
a time of preparation, for a one time event.
That event, is our homecoming with the Lord Jesus
Christ, and receiving all the eternal blessings He offers.
He said this: "Do you not know that those who run
in a race, all run, but one receives the prize? Run in
such a way that you may obtain it."
(1 Corithians 9:24)
We and the rest of the world are on a life course.
Between our birth and our death, is our running time.
All run, but not all will get the prize. All that are living now,
will not have eternal life, when this life is done.
Paul is saying; make it your main goal to live your life, in a
way that is definately heading toward the eternal rewards of God.
Paul writes to Timothy; "For bodily excercise profits little,
but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise
of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
(1 Timothy 4:8) Everyday of our lives is a time of training
and preparation, to be the best we can be, when we
meet Jesus face to face. We are spiritual Olympians,
heading for the prize, "the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14b) GP
.